This tudor rose motif is from a British sampler dated 1749. Check it out on the V&A's site for more info. I learned quite a bit about samplers while interning at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston, UK. They were used to practice embroidery, experiment with different stitch combinations, and document patterns for future use. Back in the 16th century, professional and amateur needleworkers used samplers instead of pattern books, which were expensive and scarce. By the 19th century, samplers were for inexperienced school children who were learning their letters. Samplers normally have bands of patterns, which were used to decorate hems, and alphabets, which were used to initial household linens. Crowns and flowers are also popular motifs. This sampler from 1749 has all of those things along with a unicorn(?) and some strange looking men. I wonder what they were used to decorate?
Embroidered sampler, 1749, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
There are also three variations of flame stitch on this sampler. Flame stitch was a very popular technique in the 18th century that could be found on furniture to footwear! The hand screen shown below has been completely covered in flame stitch – an appropriate choice considering what it was used for. The panel would have been mounted on a stick (like a fan) and kept by the mantle. People used screens to protect their faces from the heat of the fire. I've heard that women wore wax makeup that melted if they sat too close to the fireplace. This is a good story, but apparently it's a myth!
Embroidered sampler, 1749. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Screen, 1718. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Embroidered sampler, 1749. Victoria and Albert Museum, London (left); Hand screen, 1718. Victoria and Albert Museum, London (right).
Dear Shannon, I ran across this Tudor Rose image recently. I would love to use this in an upcoming design about england but need to verify this is yours and that is indeed free. Please will you verify that? I can always credit you in the design info if you wish.
Hi Shannon, this is Deborah agani at Tempting Tangles. I was able to turn the rose into one with 5 petals so rather different than yours and the one from V&A. I wanted to have it historically right for my SAL. Again many thanks!


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December 11, 2021 December 18, 2021 Master
We were recently notified that a member of our community was reassigned from her role as a teacher because of her hijab. In light of this current event, Imam Hossein Cultural Centre of Ottawa strongly denounces any form of discrimination on the basis of religion, race, gender, cultural and ethnic identity. As a cultural centre serving the Iranian-Canadian community in the national capital region, IHCCO finds laws such as Quebec's #Bill21 unjust and against Canada's charter of rights and freedom which targets the cultural identity of many minority groups in Canada. It goes against values of inclusion and diversity which serve as a foundation for Canada's multicultural society.
To show our continuous support for minority rights and justice, especially followers of all religions who are affected by such laws, we encourage all members of the community to contact their provincial MNAs (those residing in Outaouais) and federal MPs (those residing in Ottawa) to condemn the Quebec #Bill21. Details for contacting MNAs and MPs are provided below.
Quebec MNAs: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/deputes/index.html#listeDeputes
Federal MPs: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search
We kindly invite everyone to read and sign this petition and share it with your friends. This way, we attempt to make this voice louder and stay against such discriminatory laws that target the rights of cultural minorities.
https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-tell-the-federal-government-it-s-time-to-intervene-on-bill-21-today
Together, we can set a better example for our children and create a better world for future generations.
IHCCO Public Relations
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Nvidia's Geforce GTX1070Ti joins the race of price and speed with the sister models and fills in a small gap – more or less optimal. For a gamer, this means; if your budget allows, you cannot go wrong with a GTX 1070Ti graphics card. The game speed is high in 4K and very high in Full HD.
The reference model ("Founders Edition") that we tested comes with a old style built-in cooler that is not suited for the performance of a GTX 1070Ti card; it turns very audible after playing games for a short time period. The various manufacturer cards with much bulkier coolers are therefore a better choice for gamers and overclockers.
AMD's Vega graphics cards have made a bumpy start in the market and Nvidia is taking advantage of this time to place a new graphics card in their arsenal, just a damper for those who had hoped for the Volta generation. Yes, we are talking about the Geforce GTX 1070 Ti with well-known Pascal architecture. But due to a manufacturer's limitation, the graphics card is at least as exciting as Volta.
As the name implies, the Geforce GTX 1070 Ti ranks between GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 – the sister models have been available for a long time. Technically, it is more similar to GTX 1080. The new graphics card has 2,432 CUDA cores, also called "shaders." For comparison, GTX 1070 has "only" 1,920 and GTX 1080 packs 2,560 shaders. The graphics memory is the same size for all three, namely 8 gigabytes. The GTX 1070 Ti, like GTX 1070, is based on the GDDR5 standard and achieves a data transfer rate of 8 gigabits per second and a bandwidth of 256 gigabytes per second. Nvidia specifies the clock rates and the power consumption (Power Target) to artificially lower GTX 1070 Ti performance and maintain a respectful distance to the more expensive GTX 1080. All manufacturer cards therefore work with a base clock of 1,607 megahertz (MHz) and a typical boost of 1,683 MHz. The power target is factory set at 180 watts.
GTX 1070 Ti: Benchmarks & Co.
Just in time for the launch of the Geforce GTX 1070 Ti, Nvidia not only offers the new graphics card, but also various partners like Asus and Gigabyte. The manufacturer's cards do not differ as much as the Nvidia reference model, but the cooling solutions provide scope for overclocking; this however, increases the purchase price. The suggested retail price of the reference model is around $450.
Core i8000 Family Processors: Intel accelerating notebooks!


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Tag: school shootings
Snow days are being transformed into online learning days in some schools across the US. See more national education news here
Frank Moraga | February 5, 2019
More schools across the country are experimenting with eLearning as a way to keep children learning, even when the building closes for inclement weather.
From fires and mudslides on the West Coast to winter storms and hurricanes on the East Coast, many schools have lost valuable days of classes, putting students behind.
For some students in North Carolina, schools were closed for weeks due to impassable roads and lingering damage in school buildings following Hurricane Florence.
School districts decide how they utilize canceled school days due to bad weather, and more are opting for online learning.
Tackling Anxiety Helps Level STEM Playing Field. See more national education news here
Frank Moraga | January 29, 2019
Tackling student anxiety can help close the STEM achievement gap, according to a new study.
Expertise in science and technology can be a great career boost – but it can also be a great social divider: students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to pursue STEM subjects in the later years of high school.
Thousands to march on Arizona's capitol (On March 24) in response to Florida shooting. See related stories
Frank Moraga | February 28, 2018
Two teenagers in Arizona have organized a protest in an effort to call for a change in gun laws, mental health education and school safety following last week's deadly Florida high school shooting.
Samantha Lekberg, a Willow Canyon High School student, and Jordan Harb, a student at Mountain View High School, are two of the organizers of the #MarchForOurLives in Phoenix.
The march is set to kick off at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix at 10 a.m. on March 24.
#NeverAgain: Grand Canyon School ups lockdown drills, safety measures in wake of multiple school shootings
2018 is barely two months old, and already there have been eight shootings at schools across the country.
Although some of these shootings did not involve fatalities, the trauma felt by students and teachers alike is raw, and is leading to very real changes in how schools conduct the business of keeping students safe.


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The Hawk • November 9, 2021 • https://decaturhawk.com/9542/feature/45-years-of-the-iconic-ocean-bowl-skate-park/
45 years of the iconic Ocean Bowl Skate Park
Rowan Wilkins, Staff Writer
After the ban of public skateboarding in 1970s Ocean City, local kids were left with no where to do what they loved. Kids who once spent their winters skating the drained hotel pools and up and down downtown Ocean City with friends were no longer allowed. At the start of skateboarding's rising popularity, it was just as quickly being killed off.
Hoping for a way for her three teenage sons to keep enjoying their skateboarding hobby, Ocean City local Dorothy "Haystack" Marlowe stepped forward. She encouraged the town to build the popular skatepark location that would shape Ocean City's identity.
"Haystack, she was the driving force that got that place built, she's what made it happen," said Pat Truitt, who grew up in downtown Ocean City and was among what would be the first generation of skaters at the bowl.
This past June marked the 45th anniversary of the Ocean Bowl Skate Park's opening in downtown Ocean City. Consistent support from both the town of Ocean City and the local community has kept the park running since 1976, making it the oldest municipal skate park in the country. This title has made the park an exciting destination on many skater's lists.
Over the years, the Ocean Bowl has become so much more than a local skatepark to numerous Ocean City residents. The Third Street and St. Louis Avenue location has become a landmark in the community as well as the origin of countless fond memories for skaters.
"I think everybody has the same opinion. It was a real, second family kind of oriented scene, everyone was close. You knew what you were walking into when you went down to the bowl," Truitt said.
Pat's father, Dorsey Truitt, founded Atlantic Skates, who Truitt says was the world's first skateboard distributor and supplier. Originally running Holiday House, a hotel on eighth street, the Truitt family opened Atlantic Skates after viewing it as a business opportunity after the opening of the Ocean Bowl. Atlantic Skates became the largest skateboarding products distributor in the United States through the 1990s.
Today, the 57-year-old Truitt lives in Southern California, where he runs Brand-X-Toxic Skates, a company which grew out of Atlantic Skates.
Jack Crosby, another concerned and supportive local as well as an art teacher at Berlin Middle School during that time, designed a clay version of the bowl to present as a model.
"Jack was my art teacher – all of ours," said Truitt, laughing. "He was a great presence. Jack built that huge model of that bowl, his physical rendering is what made that layout."
Once the bowl had been built, a steady influx of kids came in and enjoyed having a place to skate. The 1970s were the start of skateboarding's popularity after the creation of the sport in California in the 1950s.
As skating's popularity on the East Coast grew, interest in the skate bowl did as well. It was not uncommon for it to be the site of skate contests that would attract skaters all up and down the East Coast.
Marc Emond, 59, is another Ocean City native who was a first-generation of skaters at the park. Skating was such a large part of his life, from 1980 to 1994, Emond ran the park. During his time running the park, he was able to witness the changes in popularity of skating and the demand for local parks in different areas.
"The Ocean Bowl is original. It set a standard for people all over the country," said Emond. "People would call there and ask how we did this, how we started a skate park. And now they're everywhere."
The number of skateparks has grown a large amount since the 1970s and the first public ones were built. In Ocean Pines they opened their own skatepark in 2009 after it had been in planning for a few years. The town of Berlin has been considering their own park for the last few years as well.
Emond compares the way towns view skateparks now to community pools. They are viewed as something that's expected in a community, something positive for kids.
"The Ocean Bowl was the start of this whole movement of community skateparks," he said.
Throughout all this time, though, other skate parks have come and gone. In the last 45 years Ocean City has had a handful of private parks that have closed down, yet Ocean Bowl keeps going.
Emond believes the driving force keeping it open is the fact that it did not need to show a profit. It just needed to be there for the kids in the town. He explained that not every kid is meant to be on a softball team or a soccer team, but sports like skating were more for them.
"There's a place for these kids to fit in that don't really fit in to team sports," said Emond.
Mark Hordeman skated the bowl when it had just opened. He can recall a time when he was skating on a makeshift board from an old skateboard his father had bought from a hardware store for moving items around. He's yet another example of someone who found lifelong friendships through the park.
Hordeman still lives in Ocean City and remains very involved with the park and keeping it in good condition for the newer generations. He and others working to make improvements with the park would like to bring in professional skaters once again to "keep the town alive" as he puts it, despite the lack of support from Ocean City.
"Right now we're fighting to make it a little larger," said Hordeman. "They say they are, they say they've got the money for it, but they're just doing nothing."
Professional skaters have visited the town in the past with different events. Having a skate park in a small, surf town creates a special dynamic as well as adding to the tourist attraction. So much so, that the Dew Tour, a large competition of the best skaters, snowboarders, and skiers, was held in Ocean City from 2011 to 2014.
In the past, the park received needed repairs from the town of Ocean City when the Dew Tour was first coming to the area. But, before those repairs even, large renovations were made.
In 1984 the 'big bowl' was removed due to wear from tropical storms sweeping the area and then in 1997 what was remaining of the original Ocean Bowl was taken out, leaving the park that exists today.
Now, there lies one large bowl with both a deep and shallow end, as well as a small bowl. There are two ramps and a concrete street course. Though the park is far from what it started out as, the same spirit remains.
Generation after generation has a different story, a different life-changing moment, a different set of friends they made all at the Skate Bowl.
The Ocean Bowl is an example of a time where something that started out small turned out to be monumental. Whether that be found in the lasting memories it has left with so many, or the significant mark it made in skateboarding history.
"I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. We all became a skateboarding family down there. I'm still friends with most of the people from that era," said Hordeman.


When a small detail like the choice of a mattress brings up bigger differences in their ideas on life, everything is about to crumble.
A Mr. Noboby cab driver falls for a beautiful boy even though he is a narcissistic drama queen.
Following one's heart is one thing, but the timing isn't always right.
A lyrical celebration of the male body in all its summertime glory.
David has never thought about homosexuality… Until a discovery changes his mind.
From a fawn painting to the relationship between family, there's no difference between animals and human beings. Bond can form everywhere.


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Amar'e Stoudemire's new $3.7 million digs
By PageSix.com Staff
November 25, 2011 | 8:33pm
Amar'e Stoudemire's new home Planomatic.com
Amar'e Stoudemire's new home (Planomatic.com)
Knick Amar'e Stoudemire has found one heck of a place to wait out the NBA lockout. The power forward bought a stunning $3.7 million home in Southwest Ranches, Fla.
The stately mansion is 14,555 square feet with 2.35 acres of gardens, according to TMZ. The house boasts six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a garage that can fit nine cars, a movie theater, a tropical paradise-style pool with waterfalls and a slide.
While Stoudemire's new home is ultra luxe, the basketball star did well for his money. He negotiated smartly and got the home for just under a million less than the $4.65 million asking price.
A source told Page Six earlier this year that Stoudemire was tightening his belt and had stopped renting his apartment in White Plains, close to the Knicks training camp. "He's known for having ridiculous costs," the source said. "He's thinking if the season doesn't happen, he's going to lose $20 million this year."
Meanwhile, Stoudemire also has properties in Miami, LA and Phoenix, in addition to Manhattan. His rep didn't get back to us.
Lady Gaga posed nude for Tony Bennett


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L-ornithine L-aspartate for prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in people with cirrhosis
Goh, ET; Stokes, CS; Sidhu, SS; Vilstrup, H; Gluud, LL; Morgan, MY; (2018) L-ornithine L-aspartate for prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in people with cirrhosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev , 5 , Article CD012410. 10.1002/14651858.CD012410.pub2.
Goh_et_al-2018-The_Cochrane_Library.pdf - ["content_typename_Published version" not defined]
BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy is a common complication of cirrhosis and has high associated morbidity and mortality. The condition is classified as overt if it is clinically apparent or minimal if only evident though psychometric testing. The exact pathogenesis of this syndrome is unknown although ammonia is thought to play a key role. L-ornithine L-aspartate has ammonia-lowering properties and may, therefore, benefit people with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of L-ornithine L-aspartate versus placebo, no intervention, or other active interventions in people with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. SEARCH METHODS: We undertook electronic searches of The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS and Science Citation Index Expanded to December 2017 and manual searches of meetings and conference proceedings; checks of bibliographies; and corresponded with investigators and pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised clinical trials, irrespective of publication status, language, or blinding. We included participants with cirrhosis who had minimal or overt hepatic encephalopathy or who were at risk for developing hepatic encephalopathy. We compared: L-ornithine L-aspartate versus placebo or no intervention; and L-ornithine L-aspartate versus other active agents such as non-absorbable disaccharides, antibiotics, probiotics, or branched-chain amino acids. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors, working independently, retrieved data from published reports and correspondence with investigators and pharmaceutical companies. The primary outcomes were mortality, hepatic encephalopathy, and serious adverse events. We undertook meta-analyses and presented the results as risk ratios (RR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed bias control using the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group domains; we evaluated the risk of publication bias and other small trial effects in regression analyses; conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses; and performed Trial Sequential Analyses. We determined the quality of the evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 36 randomised clinical trials, involving at least 2377 registered participants, which fulfilled our inclusion criteria including 10 unpublished randomised clinical trials. However, we were only able to access outcome data from 29 trials involving 1891 participants. Five of the included trials assessed prevention, while 31 trials assessed treatment. Five trials were at low risk of bias in the overall assessment of mortality; one trial was at low risk of bias in the assessment of the remaining outcomes.L-ornithine L-aspartate had a beneficial effect on mortality compared with placebo or no intervention when including all trials (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.72; I2 = 0%; 19 trials; 1489 participants; very low quality evidence), but not when the analysis was restricted to the trials at low risk of bias (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.06 to 3.58; 4 trials; 244 participants). It had a beneficial effect on hepatic encephalopathy compared with placebo or no intervention when including all trials (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.83; 22 trials; 1375 participants; I2 = 62%; very low quality evidence), but not in the one trial at low risk of bias (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.07; 63 participants). The analysis of serious adverse events showed a potential benefit of L-ornithine L-aspartate when including all randomised clinical trials (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.90; 1 trial; 1489 participants; I2 = 0%; very low quality evidence), but not in the one trial at low risk of bias for this outcome (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.15 to 4.65; 63 participants). The Trial Sequential Analyses of mortality, hepatic encephalopathy, and serious adverse events found insufficient evidence to support or refute beneficial effects. Subgroup analyses showed no difference in outcomes in the trials evaluating evaluating the prevention or treatment of either overt or minimal hepatic encephalopathy or trials evaluating oral versus intravenous administration We were unable to undertake a meta-analysis of the three trials involving 288 participants evaluating health-related quality of life. Overall, we found no difference between L-ornithine L-aspartate and placebo or no intervention in non-serious adverse events (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.77; 14 trials; 1076 participants; I2 = 40%). In comparison with lactulose, L-ornithine L-aspartate had no effect on mortality (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.11 to 4.17; 4 trials; 175 participants; I2 = 0%); hepatic encephalopathy (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.57); serious adverse events (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.22 to 2.11); or non-serious adverse events (RR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.18). In comparison with probiotics, L-ornithine L-aspartate had no effect on mortality (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.11 to 9.51); serious adverse events (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.23 to 4.88); or changes in blood ammonia concentrations from baseline (RR -2.30 95% CI -6.08 to 1.48), but it had a possible beneficial effect on hepatic encephalopathy (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.90). Finally, in comparison with rifaximin, L-ornithine L-aspartate had no effect on mortality (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.04 to 3.03; 2 trials; 105 participants); hepatic encephalopathy (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.96); serious adverse events (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.42), or non-serious adverse events (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.42). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The results of this review suggest a possible beneficial effect of L-ornithine L-aspartate on mortality, hepatic encephalopathy, and serious adverse events in comparisons with placebo or no-intervention, but, because the quality of the evidence is very low, we are very uncertain about these findings. There was very low quality evidence of a possible beneficial effect of L-ornithine L-aspartate on hepatic encephalopathy, when compared with probiotics, but no other benefits were demonstrated in comparison with other active agents. Additional access to data from completed, but unpublished trials, and new randomised placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are needed.
10.1002/14651858.CD012410.pub2
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012410.pub2
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Inst for Liver and Digestive Hlth


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Antigua Residents Sign Petition Objecting to Robert De Niro's Resort Project: It's Too Excessive
Posted byBy Lena D | Published on December 29, 2016 | Updated on December 30, 2016 CommentsComments (0)
American Actor Robert De Niro (left) and billionaire business partner James Packer are planning to revamp and reopen the K Club.
CODRINGTON, Barbuda, Dec. 29, 2016 – At least one group of Barbudans is still not ready to roll out the red carpet for American actor Robert De Niro and his billionaire business partner, James Packer, who are planning to revamp and reopen the K Club.
The resort, which became famous after Princess Diana vacationed there with her two sons, Princes William and Harry, was closed 12 years ago. Two years ago, the government of Antigua and Barbuda agreed to lease 555 acres of land on Barbuda to Packer and DeNiro's company, Paradise Found, on a 198-year lease for $6.2 million. The investors also are seeking to pump another $250 million into the project over 10 years, but only if authorities agree to lease 300 acres around the site, according to the Telegraph.
However, more than 300 of Antigua's sister isle's 1,500 residents have signed a petition objecting to the development, saying it is too excessive. The petition is being spearheaded by the Barbuda People's Movement, which has gone to court to challenge the development.
Group leader Mackenzie Frank told the Telegraph, "Too much is at stake. … No one objects to the K Club being re-opened, but they want so much extra land."
The BPM also took to the law courts last year to challenge the Paradise Found Act, which the government approved after agreeing to De Niro's proposal in February 2015. Frank insists the act is unconstitutional and contradicts the Barbuda Land Act.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has acknowledged the group's right to protest, but he remains fully supportive of the development.
"We respect their right to protest, and similarly, they ought to respect our right to attract good, sound, tangible investments that grow the economy and put people back to work," Browne said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador-at-large Gilbert Boustany, the liaison officer between the government and the investors, has disclosed that the project is set to get underway during the first quarter of next year. He told the Antigua Observer that the legal action would not affect the project.
"There is no injunction, there is no stop order or anything like that on the project," Boustany said. "And I will go further to say the people of Barbuda and even the ones who brought the action fully support the project and would love it. They are just not happy, from their point of view, with the way government handled the process."


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actresses, Audrey Hepburn, Birmingham, celebrities, theatre
Breakfast at Tiffany's at the New Alexandra Theatre
It is an iconic book that became an iconic movie classic. Now 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' has been turned into a play that opened at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre this week, with pop starlet Pixie Lott stepping into the not inconsiderable shoes of Audrey Hepburn to play Holly Golightly. But fans of the Hollywood movie version may be surprised with the differences in the story, and, if you require a pre-requisite Hollywood happy ending, this may not be the show for you.
Fred (not his real name but we never actually find out what it is.) is an aspiring, but down on his luck writer, living in an apartment block with an assortment of kooky neighbours. Chief amongst these is the beautiful, effervescent Holly Golightly, a charming party-girl with a lot of secrets in her past. Holly has one aim in life, to be rich beyond belief, pursuing the odious Randy Trawler as a means to this end. But love has a way of getting in the way, and as Holly and Fred bond over their similar situations, it seems that maybe money isn't everything. But as the past and present collide, Holly is forced to make choices that will change all of their lives forever.
Pixie Lott as Holly Golightly and Naomi Cranston as Mag in Breakfast at Tiffany's (Sean Ebsworth Barnes)
This version of Breakfast at Tiffany's is an altogether darker proposition than the Hollywood film, closer to the source material of the Truman Capote novel. There is no room for the Patricia Neal character, Fred's trysts for money are with men, and you get the distinct impression that he is at least bisexual. Sex and pregnancy before marriage are all part of the story, and the action is transferred to World War 2 era New York, rather than the early 60s of the film. This makes the play interesting to compare to the saccherine Hollywood love story.
Pixie Lott as Holly Golightly (centre) and the cast of Breakfast at Tiffany's Credit Sean Ebsworth Barnes
As Holly, Pixie Lott is an engaging, elegant presence – a little shrill and shouty at times, but with a graceful poise that makes her Holly very watchable. Her singing voice is strong and powerful and fills the theatre when she sings Moon River. You feel that her Holly is a stronger, harder person than Audrey's version – more suited to the darker edges of the story, but it does mean that Lott as Holly is sometimes cold and hard to love.
Pixie Lott as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Credit Sean Ebsworth Barnes (5)
On the other hand I was really impressed with Matt Barber, who made Fred, warm and adorable. He narrates the play and pretty much holds the whole thing together with wit and charm. One of my fave scenes is when he has a drink with Doc – Holly's abandoned husband. The scene is soft and charming and gives the play heart.
Matt Barber as Fred in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Credit Sean Ebsworth Barnes
The costumes, sets of New York and the apartment block, and the use of newspaper reports to move the action along are great, and I loved the supporting characters Mag and Rusty. But ultimately, as someone who loves the romance and charm of the movie, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is just a little dark for me.
Breakfast at Tiffany's New Alexandra Theatre
Wednesday 20 – Saturday 23rd April 2016
Click here for ticket information
Audrey HepburnBreakfast at Tiffany's theatre showHolly GolightlyNew Alexandra TheatrePixie Lott
By fashion-mommy 5 Comments
Halloween – a feast of dark and gothic looks
Downton Abbey sparks new/old trends.
hayley-Eszti
I would love to see this at the theatre! I'd go home all inspired by the costumes!
Hayley-Eszti | http://www.hayleyeszti.com
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
I soooo want to see this if they come to a location near me.
As a massive fan of the film and the book, I really wanted to go see this when it came up north to Leeds but couldn't make it. Sounds like it was really good! xo
http://rachelnicole.co.uk/
This looks amazing. I would love to see this.
Oh I did wonder where Pixie Lott had disappeared to! I love the fact she's doing something more artistic these days!


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Stocks Rise on Job Gains, Gap's June Sales Pay Off
Wall Street was buoyed by the 287,000 jobs the economy added last month, a gain well ahead of expectations.
By Evan Clark on July 8, 2016
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Alibaba Shares Soar After Jack Ma Makes First Appearance in Three Months
Much stronger-than-expected job gains in June helped set a more positive tone in early trading on Wall Street after many woke up to news that sniper killed five police officers and injured more during a Dallas protest over police brutality.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 138.35, or 0.8 percent, to 18,034.23 shortly after the opening bell. The S&P 500 Retailing Industry Group increased 1.3 percent to 1,327.41.
Traders were heartened by word that the U.S. added 287,000 jobs last month — 107,000 more jobs than the 180,000 economists projected. The unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent from 4.7 percent in May as more people sought to enter the labor force.
One of the strongest stocks at the open was Gap Inc., which jumped 6.6 percent to $23.06 after the firm said late Thursday that its June sales rose 2 percent to $1.57 billion. Gap's comparable sales for June slipped 1 percent while Banana Republic comps declined 4 percent. Old Navy stood out with a 5 percent gain.
"We are pleased to see better performance across the portfolio this month, partly driven by an improvement in June traffic trends, particularly at Old Navy," said Sabrina Simmons, chief financial officer at Gap Inc.
Among the other gainers were: Fossil Group Inc., up 4.1 percent to $29.44; Buckle Inc., 3.4 percent to $26.43; Ascena Retail Group Inc., 3.4 percent to $7.02; Nordstrom Inc., 3.4 percent to $40.45; Kate Spade & Co., 3.3 percent to $21.43; Abercrombie & Fitch Co., 3.3 percent to $18.83; Urban Outfitters Inc., 3.2 percent to $28.97, and Guess Inc., 3.2 percent to $15.17.
European stocks were also on the upswing.
The gainers included Marks and Spencer Group, ahead 5.1 percent to 3.14 pounds, or $4.07; Etam Developpement, 4 percent to 32.77 euros, or $36.21; Salvatore Ferragamo, 3.8 percent to 18.19 euros, or $20.10, and Tod's, 3.2 percent to 47.48 euro, or $52.46.


Neither Conor McGregor nor Eddie Alvarez has fought since November 12th and their battle over the UFC lightweight title at Madison Square Garden.
After that fight, the victorious McGregor announced that he planned to take a break from competition as he awaited the birth of his first child, while Alvarez took some time off to lick his wounds, process a brutal second-round stoppage defeat and come to terms with the loss of his title.
On Friday night, McGregor and longtime partner Dee Devlin welcomed Conor Jack McGregor Jr. into the world at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin. Junior's arrival was confirmed by the fighter's father, Tony, on Saturday.
On Monday, Alvarez, who makes his return to the octagon to face fellow former McGregor victim Dustin Poirier in Dallas at UFC 211 this Saturday, was asked by TMZ if he had any advice on fatherhood for his one-time foe. Alvarez, a father of four, was all class in response.
"It's very terrifying," Alvarez said of fatherhood. "You are just not sure how you're going to do. There is no real book for it, you just got to do it and hope that you're the right person to be a Dad. I've been a champion, I've been a lot of things, I've had no better success…nothing better in my life than being a Dad. That's my biggest success I've had so far.


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Distribution of selected metals in bottom sediments, water, clams, tubificid mnnelids, and fishes of the Middle Illinois River
University of Illinois Extension
Illinois Water Resources Center
Illinois Water Resources Center - Water Quality
Mathis, B.J.; Cummings, T.F.
MathisCummings_1970.pdf (859kB) (no description provided) PDF
Title: Distribution of selected metals in bottom sediments, water, clams, tubificid mnnelids, and fishes of the Middle Illinois River
Author(s): Mathis, B.J.; Cummings, T.F.
Contributor(s): Bradley University
Subject(s): Water resource development--Illinois
Water resource development
Illinois River
Atomic absorption spectrophotometry
Aquatic envirornent
Limology
Lotis environment
Geographic Coverage: Illinois (state)
Abstract: This study was designed to assess the potential application for further research of metal contamination in a large mid-western river that is utilized by industries and certain cities as a source of potable water as well as for sewage disposal. Analyses were made for thirteen metals in bottom sediments, twelve in water, and ten in tubificid worms, clams, and fishes. The study revealed that the ten metals, for which analyses were made in biota, do not concentrate along successive tropic levels as is the case with pesticides. Organisms such as clams and worms that inhabit the mud or mud-water interface where metal concentrations were observed to be the highest, exhibited the highest metal concentrations. At higher trophic levels, however, concentrations were lower, with fishes that are primarily carnivorous in nature exhibiting the lowest concentrations. The problem of metal contamination in aquatic systems is just now being recognized as a potential hazard to human health while the degree to which aquatic biota are affected remains speculative. This study, basically a pilot study, outlines procedures by which similar studies can be made and provides data that others may use in assessing the degree of metal contamination in multiple use rivers.
Publisher: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center
Genre: Report (Grant or Annual)
Sponsor: U.S. Department of the Interior
Rights Information: Copyright 1970 held by B.J. Mathis, T.F. Cummings


Plantings are usually one of the final details of your landscape project. Aspects of the home can be enhanced or camouflaged by using the correct variety of tree or shrub. Year round color, points of interest, and even screenings are also possible when the right plants are chosen. Hardscaping should almost always be completed prior to plantings.


I notice in this second one he completely swaps over his hands and grip compared to what one would normally do.
This entry was posted on July 3, 2012 by Daf. It was filed under Bits of interest and was tagged with COnversation, Interview, photographer, Photography, Steve McCurry, Video.


If you are a cat person you will love this widget. You can select cute cats according to your mood for your screen. A fun app.
Something is wrong with your address, I click on your name but it says not available, please check, thank you.
I think this should be available on istore. Will check out for you. Thanks for reading.
Ya,nothing much to write in it, just cute pictures for screen. I found it to be cute so shared it.


text:
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    jcr:description="Checkout form component for ACS Samples - AngularJS Sample App"
    jcr:primaryType="cq:Component"
    jcr:title="AngularJS App - Checkout Form"
    allowedParents="[*/parsys]"
    componentGroup="ACS Samples"/>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
<!DOCTYPE html>

  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">
  <title>My AngularJS App</title>
  <meta name="description" content="">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

  <link rel="stylesheet" href="app/app.css">
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Events


Lynnda at Oak House Studio is once again spending 24hrs using just the POINSETTIA stamp (well 3 sizes of it) to show just how versatile this stamp can be. I'm joining in here and have done a little preparation although I have no idea what this will turn out to be.
The DT have been busy and there will be inspiration galore over on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO blog starting at 8am in the morning with regular posts till 8pm Sunday night. Others who have this stamp will also be joining in on the ONE STAMP event page on facebook.
I appreciate everyone is busy but please pop back from time to time to see all the projects and hopefully you'll realise that a Poinsettia doesn't have to be just for Christmas. Thanks in advance for looking and for any comments you leave!


End-of-life care is a complex situation that heavily weighs upon the terminally ill patient and caregivers. On the medical side, teams are put in place to reduce pain and increase comfort for the dying patient. There's also the non-medical caretaker side of end-of-life, which often has loved ones, such as children of a terminally ill patient, feeling overwhelmed with stress and often neglecting their well-being. A primary concern of end-of-life care revolves around "anticipatory grief," which is the process of pre-loss grieving.
Anticipatory grief is similar to the usual process of grieving except it happens before death occurs, so there are additional phases. And depending on the length of the death process, these stages can linger, restart and be revisited. The first pre-grief stage involves realizing the inevitability of death. This first phase occurs when a healthcare provider gives the sad news that a cure is not likely. Sadness and depression mark this initial phase.
The next stage involves a significant amount of concern for the terminally ill person. This concern could be over a dying person's feelings or fear of death, and can also involve regret about past interactions with the dying loved one.
A third phase arises when death appears imminent, so loved ones begin to make arrangements. Sometimes, this stage can be harrowing, especially when caregivers ready themselves for the worst but the end does not come.
The final phase occurs when caregivers and loved ones begin to think about what their lives are going to be like without the person in it anymore. Depending on the age of the terminally ill patient, the feelings can range from a certain amount of guilt over feelings of relief to utter devastation.
A professional care team can significantly assist in navigating these phases of the end of life. This team can include nurses and mental health professionals. A palliative care nurse may best be able to assure you that the patient's pain is being reduced as much as possible. If the terminally ill person is spending their last days at home with hospice care, then the hospice care nurse may be able to assist you in preparing for the end.
It's important to note that the younger a caregiver is, the higher the risk becomes that pre-loss grief will be complicated. Younger people still often possess strong feelings of invincibility that can be shattered by experiencing the death of a loved one from the close perspective of caregiving. Physicians are increasingly attuned to this problem, fortunately, and the team approach to end-of-life care almost always includes support for the caregiver.


text:
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It's time for Athena SWAN to be intersectional at the departmental level.
30th April 2019 30th April 2019 Furaha Asani
Deploring the lack of diversity in academia, Dr Furaha Asani calls for greater accountability and reflection within STEMM departments through initiatives like the Athena SWAN award.
During my progression as a researcher I have become more keenly aware of inclusion and diversity in academia, or the lack thereof.
The key is that the whole of the academic community has the power to dismantle a large portion of the harm that injustice and inequity have caused over decades. Some of these inequities are seen in the attainment gaps based on wealth and race, as well as the current lack of diversity in academic jobs. These show that both students and staff are affected, which feeds into an institutional problem. When focusing particularly on Black women academics, one of the ways to dismantle structural inequities specific to this demographic is by using an intersectional approach.
Advance HE (a merger of the Equality Challenge Unit, the Higher Education Academy, and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education) aims 'to build an inclusive culture that values the benefits of diversity, to remove barriers to progression and success for all staff and students, and to challenge and change unfair practices that disadvantage individuals or groups'. This broad aim keeps Higher Education Institutions (HEI) accountable through different equality charters run by Advance HE that necessitates the collection of HEI-specific equality data. The Athena SWAN Equality Charter (Scientific Women's Academic Network) in particular focuses on advancing the careers of women in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine). The incentivization of gender equality initiatives in STEMM in 2011 by the Chief Medical Officer for England, Prof. Dame Sally Davies, introduced the concept that for Biomedical Research Centres to be eligible for NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) funding they would need at least a Silver Athena SWAN award. Importantly, this announcement had a positive effect on Athena SWAN applications.
In Dr. Nicola Rollock's UCU report (University and College Union), which captured the HE experience of 20 of the only 25 Black women professors in the UK, there are 21 recommendations with number 15 being particularly pertinent to HEI accountability on data capture:
UCU (as the principal union to the sector) and Advance HE (as the body supporting the sector on equalities) should lead by example by publishing data on the number, gender and ethnicity of their staff, their progression and attrition over the last five years and their actions for redress'.
Dr Nicola Rollock, taken from the UCU Report, 2019.
The Athena SWAN Charter introduced in 2005 deals with gender equality (inclusive of trans individuals), while the Race Equality Charter (REC) launched in 2016 focuses on race. In the second quarter of 2017, Advance HE also published a report on intersectional approaches to evaluating equality research and data. As of this writing Advance HE requires that in Athena SWAN submissions 'consideration of intersectionality is only required in institutional applications, though departments are also encouraged to adopt this approach'. I would argue that departments should also be required to document their considered policies and research culture that, with respect to Athena SWAN, often leaves Black women (and other Women of Colour) academics behind. To understand my assertion we need to closely inspect the concept of 'intersectionality'.
Intersectionality is often misconstrued as the phenomenon of multiple overlapping identities. However intersectionality, as first introduced by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw nearly three decades ago, was described by Prof. Crenshaw as not being 'primarily about identity. It's about how structures make certain identities the consequence of and the vehicle for vulnerability'. While the Race Equality Charter does indeed capture statistics based on gender, inferring from Prof. Crenshaw's work, analysis of race-based barriers faced by all Black academics often means that the specific experience of Black women academics is masked. Likewise, analysis on all women academics will likely once again miss the nuance of the Black woman academic's experiences and hardships.
One solution as outlined by a recent UCU report is to tie the REC to funding. However, whilst institutions acquaint themselves with the REC over the next few years, Athena SWAN can stand in the gap – it is after all more familiar to HEIs than the REC. It is time to extend Athena SWAN as an accountability initiative when it comes to the intersection of race and gender. In order to engage departments in this accountability and to encourage greater reflection on equity for Black women academics, analysing barriers caused by both gender and race (as well as class, sexual orientation and disability) should not just be a requirement at institutional level with Athena SWAN submissions, but at departmental level too. If we really are for equality and parity of participation then we need to internalize and truly believe that every academic with a marginalised identity is worth the extra effort. This will bring to light the specific hurdles faced by Black women within their departments, and hopefully challenge the harmful research cultures and attitudes impeding their acceptance in the academy.
Dr Furaha Asani is a researcher in the field of respiratory immunology, having first trained in Biochemistry at The University of Johannesburg. She obtained her PhD in Infection and Immunity from The University of Sheffield. Throughout her research career Furaha has also been a part-time teacher, mental health advocate and freelance writer. She mostly writes about healthcare (with a focus on mental health), higher education, and science in pop culture. She always seeks to use her writing as a platform to promote equality and critical thinking, and has been involved in various initiatives to actualise these in her immediate circle of influence. She can be found on Twitter @DrFuraha_Asani and you can read more of her work on Medium.
Posted in Opinion, Postgraduate Corner, STEMTagged: Athena SWAN, Athena SWAN Silver award, Feminism, Gender Equality, Gender equity, Higher Education, Intersectional Feminism, Intersectionality in Academia, Scientific Women's Academic Network, STEM, STEMM, University
Daisy Johnson's Everything Under – a clever, murky retelling of the Oedipus myth
Reflections on the Policed Freedom of Caster Semenya
Dream Ritual by Bongsu Park at The Print Room
By My Ly
Stoke Newington Literary Festival 2019 – a brilliant literary festival that'll make you fall in love with Hackney again
By Victoria Smith
Phoenix Dance Theatre's The Rite of Spring & Left Unseen at the Peacock Theatre
By Eirini Diamantouli


JustforJeeps.com makes it easy to keep your Jeep looking like new with genuine Mopar replacement badges, emblems and decals that exactly match the original emblems that came on your Jeep. This Rocky Mount edition decal (Item # 55157428AA) is original equipment on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Rocky Mountain edition model. These Rocky Mountain edition badges are sold individually. JustforJeeps.com has a wide selection of other emblems, badges and decals for numerous Jeep models.


text:
5 Examples From the Movies That Not Getting Your First Choice May Be a Great "Ding!"
April 7, 2009 - 1 Comment
Categories: Ding!, Lists, Motivation & Success
Often we get so fixated on an outcome we want to have happen that when we don't get it we get dejected and may even give up. This is sad, because sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is to NOT get your first choice. Rather than giving up, if you adopt the mentality of "I will make this work the best I can," you may find the circumstances work out much, much better for you.
Here are five examples from Hollywood where the director did not get his/her first choice, and how we all benefited:
1) Raiders of the Lost Ark
Tom Selleck (yes, Mr. Magnum P.I. himself) was originally cast as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. If that doesn't skeeve you out, I've got five words for ya': Indiana Jones with a mustache. I suppose it may have worked if they also cast John Hillerman (a.k.a. "Higgins") as Sala. On second thought, no, that wouldn't have worked at all…
Four movies and a gajillion dollars later, can you imagine anyone besides Harrison Ford as Indiana?
Trivia according to Wikipedia: Spielberg wanted Ford originally, but Lucas did not. Just goes to show, Lucas has not made a good filmmaking move since her let Irvin Kershner direct The Empire Strikes Back.
2) The Matrix
Will Smith turned down the role of Neo because a) he wanted to make Wild Wild West and b) he was skeptical about the team's ability to pull off the "bullet time" special effects. Strike 1 and 2! (Or in my parlance, Ding 1! Ding 2!).
Choice 2 was Nick Cage, who turned it down too. Yes, the man who after killing a man in Con Air said, "Why couldn't you put the bunny back in the box?" could have been Neo. That would have been truly awful. ("What in the name of Zeus's bunghole, is the Matrix?!?!?")
How the producers didn't think of Keanu Reeves initially is beyond me. Here's a movie based around a guy who is thrust into a new world and spends a good chunk of the film incredulous. Keanu Reeves only has *one* on-screen emotion: Incredulous! ("whoa"). It's a perfect fit.
Fortunately, the stars aligned and Keanu got the role. And we got one great movie, one revolution in special effects, one bad sequel with some great action scenes, and one ridiculously pretentious self-absorbed ending to a once great series. But at least we didn't have to suffer through a Will Smith theme song rap for the Matrix.
Trivia according to Wikipedia: Sandra Bullock was originally offered the role of Trinity, but turned it down because she didn't see herself working with the originally cast lead. I love Sandra (kinda literally; I used to have a huge crush on her) but she would have been an AWFUL Trinity. But if her and Reeves had done it, it would have been SPEED IN THE MATRIX. Three words: Best. Movie. Ever.
Instead, the first re-pairing of Reeves and Bullock was The Lake House. *shudder*
3) Pretty Woman
Julia Roberts was pretty much an unknown when she was cast as Vivian in Pretty Woman. She was also basically the last choice for the role! The part was offered to Daryl Hannah ("Pretty Mermaid!"), Meg Ryan ("Pretty in Seattle!"), Michelle Pfeiffer("Pretty Liaisons!"), Molly Ringwald ("Pretty in Pink!"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("Pretty White Female!"). Could the movie have worked with one of them? Maybe…maybe…but probably not.
Julia Roberts really rocked out the role and earned herself an Oscar nomination. The movie went on to be one of the top grossing romantic comedies of all time. And I got myself a "second favorite movie of all time." Not bad for the last choice of lead actress…
Trivia according to Wikipedia: The movie was originally intended to be a dark drama about prostitution in LA. It was originally going to end with the Edward throwing Vivian out of the car and the two of them not being together. Now that would have been a very, very different movie – which probably wouldn't have grossed $464 million dollars!
4) Beverly Hills Cop
The role of Axel Foley was originally intended for Sylvester Stallone! Let that sink in for a moment. Go ahead and visualize Rambo saying, "It should be more natural, brother. It should flow out, like this – "Look, man, I ain't fallin' for no banana in my tailpipe!"" Or hanging off the back of a truck while Glen fry's "The Heat is On" plays in the background. Can't do it, can you?
Beverly Hills Cop went on to be the second highest grossing movie of 1984 (just behind Ghostbusters). You think the producers and director are sad things didn't work out with Sly?
Trivia according to Wikipedia: "Sylvester Stallone was originally intended to play Axel Foley. After his departure due to differences in scope (he wanted more action than the producers would budget for) the role was re-written for Murphy. Stallone went on to use his version of the film as the basis for his movie Cobra. " Cobra?!?! Cobra vs. Beverly Hills Cop. You tell me…
5) Die Hard
Bruce Willis was not the first choice to play John McClane. Not at all. he was number five. Let's take a look at how the casting conversation might have gone:
Producer 1: "This is going to be a huge action movie. With Schwarzenegger or Stallone, it'll be a blockbuster!"
Producer 2: "We didn't get them."
Producer 1: "Oh. Well how about that Burt Reynolds guy? He's very popular and he's done some great action flicks."
Producer 2: "No, we couldn't get Burt either."
Producer 1: "All right. How about Richard Gere? he's a big box office draw at least…"
Producer 2: "Nope"
Producer 1: "Then who did we get??"
Producer 2: "Bruce Willis"
Producer 1: "Who?"
Producer 2: "Bruce Willis. The guy from Moonlighting. That weird detective agency comedy show."
Producer 1: "Oh boy. This movie is going to flop…"
Of course, Die Hard did not flop at all. In fact, in 2007 Entertainment Weekly heralded it as the greatest action movie of all time (they're probably right) and the movie is credited with redefining the action genre. From this point on, rather than having a ridic
ulously powerful hero, action movies began having human heroes with human weaknesses who usually faced unbelievable odds. That wouldn't have happened if one of the producers' first two choices had been available.
Trivia according to Wikipedia: Die Hard was based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever, which was a sequel to the book The Detective, which was made into a movie in 1968 starring Frank Sinatra. Could you imagine Sinatra, in the late 80's?! How awesome would that have been?? "Dooby dooby do, motherf****r!"
Lesson:
In all of the above cases, the producers and directors did not get their first choice. In some, they didn't even get their second, third, or fourth choice. But in all the cases things worked out soooooo much better.
When Ding Happens (like when you don't get your first choice) great improvisers quickly refocus on how to make the most of what they did get. They don't get hung up on what could have been; they focus on what is and what can be.
Think of it this way: the present is perfect, because it can not be any different. You can intend the future to be different, but make the most of what you have right now.
Bonus lesson: Don't be offended if you are not the first choice. You think Julia Roberts cares now that Gary Marshall didn't think of her first? Make the most of whatever opportunities you have, wherever they come from.
Note: my research is from what I have researched on the internet. If you know for a fact I am wrong, good for you. The lessons still apply…
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Here are five examples from Hollywood. I like these movies/


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France ready to veto any meaningless Brexit delay: Elysee official
By Richard Lough, Jean-Baptiste Vey
PARIS (Reuters) - France is ready to veto any British request for a Brexit delay that either kicks the can down the road without offering a way out of its deadlock or imperils European Union institutions, an official in President Emmanuel Macron's office said on Tuesday.
FILE PHOTO: Britain, European and French flags are seen before a news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 21, 2016. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
The warning came as Britain planned to ask the EU to extend the negotiating period by at least three months after Prime Minister Theresa May's plans for another vote on her twice-defeated divorce deal were thrown into turmoil.
The Elysee official's comments were the strongest indication yet from Macron's office that France will not agree to an extension beyond the scheduled March 29 leave date simply to save Britain from a chaotic exit with no deal.
Asked about a possible French veto, the official said: "it is a possible scenario, yes, if the conditions for an extension are not met." Any extension has to be approved by all 27 EU members remaining in the bloc.
Macron, an ardent Europhile, has championed an EU refusal to reopen at the eleventh hour Britain's withdrawal agreement, the result of more than two years of hard-fought negotiations.
The presidential aide said France would assess any request for an extension against two criteria: is there a credible British plan, or strategy, that can win a majority in Westminster; and what will the impact be on the smooth running of Europe's institutions?
An extension beyond late June, a month after European elections in late May, could see Britain maintain a commissioner in the EU executive, lawmakers in the European Parliament and a seat at the table of EU leaders, with influence on decisions for the bloc's future even as it tries to leave.
A no-deal exit by Britain was "not desirable, was not being pushed by the EU, by France or other member states, but will impose itself on us if no real alternative is put forward in the next few days or even the next few hours," the official added.
May's spokesman said on Tuesday the prime minister was writing to European Council President Donald Tusk to ask for a delay. He did not disclose how long a delay she would seek, but said she believed it should be as short as possible.
May had earlier told parliament that if it did not ratify her deal, she would ask to delay Brexit beyond June 30, a step that Brexit advocates fear would endanger the entire divorce.
French officials say in private that they are not alone in their stance but that they are more willing than other countries to stick their necks out because Britain will always blame the French for their misfortunes.
In Brussels, Germany's Europe Minister Michael Roth complained that EU patience was being sorely tested by London but adopted a softer tone than Paris, saying Germany's main aim was to avoid a no-deal Brexit, which would disrupt business across the continent.
"Everything has been done to avoid a no-deal and a disorderly British exit," the French presidency official said. "Now, we need a clear political choice in the United Kingdom."
Reporting by Jean Baptiste Vey and Richard Lough; Editing by Frances Kerry


A MLB Authenicated Game Used baseball from game 5 of the 2011 NLDS Cardinals vs Phillies on October 7, 2011. This baseball was thrown by Roy Halladay in the top of the 6th inning to Albert Pujols. This ball was grounded Foul down the 3rd base line. This baseball was authenicated by MLB and the Hologram # is FJ 704883. The seller obtained this directly through the Phillies. Hologram number FJ704883 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under GAME-USED BASEBALL. Session Product Description: Session Name: 2011 NLDS CARDINALS @ PHILLIES GAME 5 Session Date: October 07, 2011 Autographer: Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC. Additional Information: PITCH BY ROY HALLADAY TO ALBERT PUJOLS, TOP 6TH, FOULED DOWN 3RD LINE. Chris Carpenter shuts out Phillies in decisive Game 5 to send Cardinals to NLCS. Cardinals won 1-0.


text:
package com.realexpayments.hpp.sdk;

/**
 * An exception class for general Realex SDK errors. All other SDK exceptions will extend this class.
 *
 * @author markstanford
 */
public class RealexException extends RuntimeException {

	private static final long serialVersionUID = -2270549234447218179L;

	/**
	 * Constructor for RealexException.
	 *
	 * @param message
	 * @param throwable
	 */
	public RealexException(String message, Throwable throwable) {
		super(message, throwable);
	}

	/**
	 * Constructor for RealexException.
	 *
	 * @param message
	 */
	public RealexException(String message) {
		super(message);
	}

}


West Indies captain Jason Holder has jumped one place in the latest ICC Test bowling rankings which were released on Sunday.
The 26-year-old is now 12th, inching even closer to a personal milestone of a top-10 spot in the charts, updated following England's dramatic victory over India in the first Test at Edgbaston Saturday.
Holder, a lanky quick, has recently enjoyed upward movement in the ICC rankings, especially following his 16-wicket haul in the two-Test series against Bangladesh last month.
For the first time in his career, his bowling average now stands at under 30 – 29.35 – while he averages 30 with the bat from 34 Tests.
Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel remains the highest-ranked West Indies player at 11th while seamer Kemar Roach lies 20th.
Holder is also fifth in the all-rounders rankings.
There has been no change to the top 10 of the bowling rankings with England's James Anderson still at the pinnacle.
In the Test batting rankings, Windies opener Kraigg Brathwaite remains unmoved in 12th position but has been joined by England's Jonny Bairstow who has climbed four places.
India captain Virat Kohli has dislodged Australia batsman and former skipper Steve Smith at number one following his brilliant hundred in the Edgbaston Test.


This sister restaurant to the one in Sag Harbor has moved into what was the Meeting House. The Meeting House was very good, but the expanse of white tile and hard surfaces made it a most noisy place to dine.
The changes are subtle but noticeable. Structurally, everything looks the same. You enter through an attractive covered patio by the front door and to the right are an open kitchen and high tables with stools. To the left are a long bar and flowery banquettes. Beyond that is a small dining alcove, perfect for romance or parents with screaming babies. Some of the walls are pale aqua and the light fixtures have huge rattan shades or abalone shell spheres. I wouldn't call it "Bohemian," as they do, but it's certainly stylish.
We got lucky on the night of our visit: We were seated on the outdoor patio, which thankfully has overhead heaters. We began our meal with crispy shrimp, grilled calamari, zucchini noodles more zoodles!), and naan bread with hummus and olives.
The crispy shrimp were very good. The three huge, split, and flattened shrimp were in a sturdy, crisp batter, and sitting on a salsa of papaya, mango, cantaloupe, and diced red peppers. The shrimp was drizzled with gochujang, a sweet-spicy Korean condiment that pretty much makes everything taste better. The grilled calamari salad was warm and excellent. The rings and tentacles were tender and smoky, tossed with arugula, orange slices, chilies, and some tiny, red, pickled peppers that tasted like peppadews. We all loved this dish.
The zucchini noodles were a combination of zucchini and summer squash with diced tomatoes and plenty of garlic. This appetizer was okay. We thought a dash of salt might help it. The naan bread with hummus was excellent. The naan was nicely crisped and smoky from the wood-burning oven, and the hummus had a good balance of lemon and tahini with the puréed chickpeas.
For entrees we tried the scallops, cauliflower rice, black lentils with coconut red curry, and littleneck clams with more zoodles.
The five scallops were perfectly seared, caramelized on both sides but not overcooked, served on a bed of super fresh, sweet bicolor corn kernels mixed with shiitakes and other mushrooms, a bit of wilted kale, and drizzled with a buttery sauce. Most excellent. The cauliflower rice was rather bland with a few shreds of kale and some orange zest. The black lentils were more successful: rich and creamy with coconut milk, the red curry flavors not overpowering.
The littleneck clams were in a smoky red broth full of diced chorizo, chickpeas, and shredded zucchini. The clams were teeny and sweet and tender, and the broth was out of this world. A slice of toasted baguette was almost enough to sop up the broth.
The service that evening was excellent. Our waitress, Cornelia, knew her stuff and offered wise recommendations. The prices are moderate and the menu has many interesting options for vegetarians and vegans, which is not only necessary nowadays but quite admirable. There is something for everyone.
It is also worth mentioning the wine list, which is about 80 percent Wolffer wines with nary an Italian or French bottle on the list. There is a smattering of Spanish and Argentinian and a few from California and the Pacific Northwest. The markup of wines at most restaurants is two to three times the wholesale price. At Wolffer Kitchen you can get some of winemaker Roman Roth's fine wines at very reasonable prices — many bottles are only $44.
Prices are $12 to $35 for raw items, salads, tapas, vegetables, and legumes. Wood oven items and main dishes are $24 to $45, and desserts are $12.
For dessert we sampled a banana s'mores sundae, flourless chocolate cake, and carrot cake, all are made in house. The banana s'mores sundae was very entertaining and very large. The banana slices were topped with ice cream, marshmallows, chocolate and caramel sauce. It was described as bananas foster sauce, but that would have been boozier. Maybe this was the PG version. The bowl was rimmed with graham crackers, and the marshmallows torched like the traditional campfire treat.
The flourless chocolate cake was a good rendition of what now seems to be a restaurant staple: gooey in the middle, made with a fine bittersweet chocolate, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and artfully drizzled with chocolate and raspberry sauces. The carrot cake was two slices of roulade, thin cake rolled up jellyroll style with the filling inside. My guest who ordered it was not impressed, but I thought it was quite good. The cake was moist with carrots and shredded coconut, the filling lighter than the usually dense cream cheese frosting.
Midway through our meal, my friend Steven remarked, "This is the perfect marriage of environment, good food, nice weather, and dining outside." Amen.


Vital All In One 120g Powder is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 8.
Rated 5 out of 5 by AussieGal33 from Quality greens powder Good value, good quality greens with probiotics.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Jumpingbeans from Easy to take I have been using this product for at least a year. I love the simplicity of just adding it to your first glass of water for the day. Tasteless and odourless. When I stop I don't feel nearly as good. A little expensive, but worth every cent!
Rated 5 out of 5 by Paid2write from Great as a pick me up Not bad. An interesting taste. When you add water, looks very green. Great as a pick me up I have been buying this for a while and swap them up every now and then.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Leah J B from Amazing x Love this product, expensive but well worth the cost.


On December 15, Wang Guilin, Deputy Director of SASAC Guangzhou led a team to survey the Innovation Park of Vanlead Group. Group General Manager Huang Yong, General Manager Assistant Ma Zhibin and other leaders accompanied the visit.
The team visited Coating Exhibition Hall, Coating Lab, Tire Exhibition Hall and Tire Lab. Then, a symposium was held at the meeting room of Vanlead Rubber Tire Research Institute. Deputy Director Wang listened to the work report on the Innovation Park's development plan and the transformation scheme of the south section of the First Rubber Plant.,He highly confirmed the construction and development of Vanlead Innovation Park, and requested the Group to utilize the national, provincial and municipal supporting policies on international scientific and technological cooperation platform and new R & D institutions, so as to accelerate the development of Vanlead Innovation Park. He pointed out that Guangzhou has introduced a number of policies to support the incubators of technological enterprises. As the transformation of the south section of the First Rubber Plant enjoys great advantage in timing and policy, it shall position itself as a specialized and high-end brand. He hoped that the Group can learn advanced experience from municipal state-owned enterprises and leading enterprise to promote the construction and development of science and technology incubator.


I found these gorgeous Andalusian riding boots online a few weeks ago and knew I wanted to get them! I gave my black boots to Tyler and only had my Western boots. I wanted boots to wear with my English saddle when I started riding in that again. I showed them to my husband and told him this was what I was saving my $$ for. I've always believed my husband spoils me to a fault and sure enough, the boots arrived at my doorstep a week later. I LOVE them!! I LOVE him!! I wore them this weekend and swear I rode better. I wonder what would happen if I start showing him pictures of horses I would like to adopt.
I still have not been able to canter on Arrow. We did some trail riding in the hills but it rained and work has been busy so I have only had 1 lesson in the last few weeks. It was too wet in the arena and round pen to do any cantering. I can't wait until the days get longer so I can ride after work. When I ride by myself I stay at Kingsway. Arrow doesn't really like to be out without other horses and I don't know many of the trails. I do wish I had others to ride with on the weekends. I do not have a trailer so if anyone did want to they would have to come to me. Then we would have to hope I didn't get us lost! While the daylight isn't as long right now, I like to spend some of my time watching the Carson James training videos and browsing the Facebook page. I mentioned in the past that I am a member of that 'horse' group and I love the training videos. I highly recommend to anyone who has horses, becoming a member. It is definitely worth the monthly fee. I think all levels of experience could benefit.
I got new boots and Arrow got new shoes this week. They are lighter than his others. I was also able to watch a lesson with Chloe and he is still coming along very nicely. I found he does protest a little when introduced to new things or when doing things he is not fond of or he finds too hard. He did a little ½ rear with Chloe but nothing major and that was rare. At another lesson, Chloe was jumping him over some shorter jumps and during one of the jumps I guess he decided he was going to make no effort and went THROUGH the jump like it wasn't there knocking everything over. It brought some laughs. I wasn't there but wish I could have seen it. What a character that horse of mine is! He is having a Spa day this Wednesday and getting a massage from Debra and then he will have visitors this weekend. He loves visitors because visitors mean TREATS!!!!


Oil has been sold at average net sales price: USD 36,5/bbl in November.
The reduced price is due to the reduction in Brent, and the increase in the Vasconia differential.
Gas has been sold at average net sales price: USD 18,6/bbl in November.
Operations & Maintenance Contract sales price: USD 17/bbl in November.


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GRE Quantitative Scores by Race, Sex, and Year
When analyzed by race and sex over a three year period, 1997 to 1999, Graduate Record Examination Quantitative scores varied by an average of only 2.5 points, with the largest variation being Indian men with a 19 point difference between 1997 and 1999. Conversely, the average difference between the sexes was 65 points, with the biggest difference being the 73 point spread between White men and women and the smallest being the 42 point spread between Black men and women. The average difference between the sexes was thus 26 times larger than the average error that may be caused by inaccuracies in the test scores. Even the anomaly in the 1997 score for Indian men didn't change the difference between Indian men and Indian women by that much (from 52 to 69 points). Considering that the average difference between the sexes was 65 points, and that the difference between White men and White women was 73 points, it's likely that this anomaly in 1997 was an actual math error made when the scores were being tabulated. No other race or sex showed such a wide variation, and the 1998 and 1999 scores for Indian men were consistent with each other.
The actual correlation between brain size and GRE scores for Asians, Blacks, and Whites by sex for these three years varied from r-squared of 0.872 to 0.8832
Race/sex
Quanti tative
Analy tical
But after these three consistent years, in 2001-2002, average GRE scores increased 13 points, with Asian and White men showing the greatest increase (31 & 25 points respectively) and Mexican and Hispanic women showing the least increase (3 & 4 points respectively). The red "X" on the following chart shows the 2001-2002 scores:
This is a pretty significant increase in scores, and it's not clear how it can be explained:
1. The actual quality of graduate students increased this much?
2. The ETS quietly dumbed down this test even further?
3. The ETS failed to bend to political and politically correct pressure from feminazis and actually printed the TRUTH?
4. Projects like FAME actually backfired on the IDIOTS who sponsored them?
5. The gender gap is actually *increasing*, rapidly?
The scores for males of every race except Puerto Ricans increased much greater than the females of that race. None of the increases changed the ranking of any race/sex pair, except where Mexican men previously scored notably lower than White women, they now score only one point lower.


303Mullen Lowe Perth has told Western Australia that Perth's Children Hospital is opening and the Princess Margaret Hospital is closing via an integrated campaign.
Breaking News: A 'Big News For Kids' exclusive from 303 MullenLowe The crack news team at BN4K (Big News for Kids) are onto the biggest story of the year. Princess Margaret Hospital will officially close its doors from June 10, 7am and the new Perth Children's Hospital Emergency Department will open its doors at the same time – June 10, 7am.
Collaborating with lead sources at the WA Department of Health, creative agency 303 MullenLowe and its media division Mediahub, the BN4K team has had exclusive access to the story and inside the hospital itself.
The BN4K exclusive story broke over the weekend on TV, with ongoing support across OOH, Online, Social, Print and Radio.


Dr. Colodny has lived and practiced in the South Hills for nearly 30 years. She received her bachelor's degree from Mt. Holyoke College and continued her education at the New York Medical College. Specializing in internal medicine, Dr. Colodny is certified as a Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is on the medical staff at St. Clair Hospital and has consulting privileges at Cannonsburg General Hospital.
Are you interested in a career at PPCP? Visit our Career page.to see what job opportunities are currently available.


If you're a beginner to the sport triathlon, you've likely caught the bug and you're excited about training. Welcome. You have found a community of athletes that embraces new folks and has an incredible way of helping people rise in the ranks and achieve everything that they wanted — and sometimes even more than they ever anticipated. The journey is a long one and there will absolutely be challenges on the way. But know that the only thing that can stop you from realizing your tri-potential is you…stopping yourself. Which brings us to the second point: train like a beginner but don't think like one.
Start small. Don't bite off more than you can chew.
Take incremental steps, keep the volume low at first, make it fun, and pick cool events.
Don't over-reach and sign up for an Ironman® in your first year.
Keep it social and have fun with the sport.
Grow with the sport as your physical abilities develop.
But whatever you do, don't THINK like a beginner.
You don't need to handicap your own development by putting yourself in a special wave. Other triathletes certainly won't treat you as second class, and your new experiences and fresh perspective will do a lot to improve the game of everyone around you. You aren't a liability; you are an asset. You don't need to be coddled right now; you need to be challenged.
You can think like a veteran out of the gate.
You can strive to have the best transition in the world.
You can have a pro bike fit, or at least a really solid bike.
You can build a great training schedule.
You can start riding with a local group of roadies and develop an "A" cycling game.
You can bring incredible focus to nutrition and recovery.
You can train with intensity, or power, and start getting stronger and faster today.
Most importantly, you can skip several years down the path to realizing your tri-potential by avoiding all the mistakes your fellow triathletes have made. There are no rewards for following previously blazed paths. No merit badges for making the same mistakes.
This is perhaps the most powerful element of Endurance Nation; the ability to share with — and learn from — your triathlon peers. But it's not something we own or have copywritten; there are awesome triathletes willing to connect with your right in your own neighborhood…you just have to find and engage them.
There are so many different components that make the sport of triathlon highly personal. There's how to train and what to race; there's what you wear and what you eat. There's what you are good at and what you need to practice. You will rise to each challenge along the way, in your own personal way, as part of your journey. In other words, we'll all cross that finish line at the end of the day, it's more a function of how you get there than whether you'll make it or not.
The more you think and behave like a smart veteran triathlete, the sooner you'll actually become one.


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Once a Hobbit hole - from New Zealand to London
04 December 2014 (Updated)
There was once a Hobbit hole ... New Zealand transports a slice of Middle-earth to London for the world première of the final film in 'The Hobbit' Trilogy.
Step into the real Middle-earth - a life-sized Hobbit Hole opens in London's Claridge's hotel as part of celebrations for the global première of 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'.
Credit: Tourism New Zealand
A slice of Middle-earth in New Zealand. Director Sir Peter Jackson steps into a slice of the Real Middle-earth New Zealand - Hobbiton, at the World Premiere of 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'.
A door opens into the real Middle-earth - a life-sized Hobbit Hole in London's Claridge's hotel will host interviews with the stars of 'The Hobbit' Trilogy.
On the real Middle-earth set at Claridge's in London: Actor Billy Boyd - Pippin in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - and Hobbiton Movie Set general manager Russell Alexander. Boyd performs the end title song in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
On the real Middle-earth set at Claridge's in London: Actor Billy Boyd - Pippin in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Billy Boyd performs the end title song in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
To celebrate the third and final film in The Hobbit Trilogy - The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - for three magical days in London's luxurious Claridge's hotel, this life-sized Hobbit hole was host to movie stars and international entertainment media.
This slice of Middle-earth originated from the real Middle-earth movie set - Hobbiton village in Matamata, New Zealand - where 44 Hobbit homes are the main attractions for visitors roaming the country paths, hedgerows, orchards and gardens that fill a delightful English country-style landscape.
From Middle-earth to London - Hobbiton Movie Set's general manager Russell Alexander and art director Brian Massey and their construction team spent three days recreating a life-size Hobbit Hole in London's Claridge's hotel. The door is an original from the Green Dragon Inn used during filming of The Hobbit Trilogy.
Step into the real New Zealand - Middle-earth - a life-sized Hobbit door swings open to reveal a real New Zealand beach scene at Opito Bay, Coromandel, and the forest along the Resurgence Track near Riwaka, Nelson.
Up to 200 entertainment media attending the world première of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) - used the Middle-earth-inspired New Zealand room for interviews during the première media programme in anticipation of the international release by Warner Bros. Pictures.
A slice of Middle-earth in New Zealand. Director Sir Peter Jackson steps into a slice of the Real Middle-earth New Zealand - Hobbiton, at the world première of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
On New Zealand's real Middle-earth set at Claridge's in London: Actor Billy Boyd - Pippin in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - meets Hobbiton Movie Set general manager Russell Alexander. Billy Boyd performs the end title song in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
About the Hobbit hole and New Zealand room
The Hobbit hole was created at Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, with input from Hobbiton General Manager Russell Alexander, The Hobbit Trilogy Art Director Brian Massey, head joiner Peter Hawke and builder Darren Roa.
The Hobbit hole features a door that was originally constructed as part of the Green Dragon Inn and used during filming of The Hobbit Trilogy, but was removed when the set was transformed into a functional part of the Hobbiton tourism experience.
The Hobbit hole served as the location for official publicity activities surrounding the global release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth also had a strong presence on the red carpet for the World Première of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies with destination footage appearing on screens surrounding the red carpet.
About 100% Middle-earth, 100% Pure New Zealand
Tourism New Zealand is working to convert the international attention drawn to The Hobbit Trilogy's production in New Zealand into a campaign which demonstrates how easy it is for people to come to New Zealand, see the cinematic Middle-earth first hand, and experience all the country has to offer.
Investment in marketing New Zealand's association with The Hobbit Trilogy is paying off in increased visitor motivation and arrivals. Thirteen per cent of international holiday visitors said that The Hobbit Trilogy movies were a factor in influencing their initial interest in New Zealand [for the period July 2013 to June 2014].
In addition, research completed earlier in 2014 by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that the marketing of New Zealand as Middle-earth has had significant and quantifiable impact on growth in visitor arrivals from Western Markets.
International Visitor Arrivals data for January-September 2014 show that holiday arrivals into New Zealand are up 7.2 per cent as of last year. Holiday arrivals from the United Kingdom, a key target market for visitors to New Zealand, account for an impressive average stay of 28 days.
About The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a Wingnut Films Production, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. As with the first two films in the Trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the final film is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM. www.thehobbit.net #OneLastTime
The Hobbit world première
Follow The Hobbit into the real Middle-earth
Discover landscapes featured in The Hobbit
Hobbiton, NZ – slice of Middle-earth
Russell Alexander and Hobbiton – from family farm to film fame
Hobbiton fact file
The blockbuster world of Sir Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson fact file
Wellington - Film capital on the edge
Wellington - world's coolest little film capital
Film location - Pelorus River Marlborough
Pelorus River fact file
Film location - Lake Pukaki Mt Cook
Lake Pukaki Mt Cook fact file
Film location - Paradise Queenstown
Beorn's House location fact file
Hobbit Fan Fellowship discovers real Middle-earth
Camera, action, cue New Zealand
New Zealand's film star landscapes
Hobbiton Movie Set Tours website
Weta Workshop Wellington website
The Hobbit Movies website


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The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to exhibit a selection of works by Laura Harper Lake, in the Mayor Harvey E. Bernier Room, in Suite 135 of the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center. The exhibition will be on view from January 9, 2023, to March 3, 2023. A reception will be held on Saturday, January 14th, 2022 from 1pm-4pm. The public is encouraged to attend.
Laura Harper Lake is an interdisciplinary artist and designer who works under the moniker Artful Harper Studios at the Exeter Stations Studios in Exeter, New Hampshire. She has been creatively driven her whole life and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Art from Chester College of New England in 2007.
Laura has exhibited her work in various galleries throughout New England and in virtual publications. In addition to making art, Laura co-hosts a weekly podcast Creative Guts, which is also a nonprofit, that interviews creatives from all disciplines and explores the heart of creativity in New Hampshire and beyond. Harper Lake resides in Epping, NH with her husband.
According to Lake, "in painting figures of varying sizes and shapes, and by accepting myself as I am, I aspire to be countercultural and rebel against our society's ideologies of beauty."
The RMFA is located within the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center at 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH, behind Spaulding High School. Suite 135 is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Visit www.rochestermfa.org to learn more.
The museum is sponsored by the City of Rochester, Rochester Main Street, Waterstone Properties Group, Bernier Insurance, Meredeth Village Savings Bank, and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
RMFA releases mobile app for iOS, Android, macOS
The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts (RMFA) is pleased to announce the release of its new mobile app, available now in the Apple and Google app stores. The purpose of the app is to assist visitors seeking more information about the art in the museum's permanent collection. According to RMFA co-founder Matt Wyatt, the app…


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Son takes mom on 20 European adventures as thanks for 20 years she cared for disabled dad
Following the death of his father, one man is taking his mother on 20 adventures across Europe to thank her for the 20 years she spent caring for the man they both loved. - photo by Jessica Ivins
WOODSTOCK, N.Y. Following the death of his father, one man is taking his mother on 20 adventures across Europe to thank her for the 20 years she spent caring for the man they both loved.
Two decades ago, Carla Brooks husband Karl suffered a stroke that left him handicapped for the remainder of his life, according to Today. The loving wife devoted herself to his care spending every waking moment tending to his many needs.
When Karl passed away a year ago, 77-year-old Carla lost her sense of self, according to her son Barton Brooks.
It wasnt a huge shock when he passed away, but after caring for him 24/7 for nearly 20 years she was just lost, Brooks told Today. She was sad and lonely (obviously), but there was more of a melancholy about what she was supposed to do next.
As he was brainstorming ways to help his mom, Barton Brooks remembered the story of his young mother running away to Europe with her wedding money after discovering her then-fianc had been unfaithful, People reported. From that memory, a grand adventure was born.
For as long as I can remember, whenever she did something impressive (dad would) jokingly say, Howd you do that? Youre just a little girl from Kamas! (Utah) and it would always make her smile, Brooks wrote on his blog, The Little Girl from Kamas. I think its time to find that little girl from Kamas, and prove to her just how much life she has left to live.
Using the slides from his mothers original trip to Europe, Brooks set an itinerary that aimed to re-create her experience and then surprised Carla with the plan.
I was surprised and overwhelmed, and was really excited, but just didnt think I could do it, Carla told Today. But I decided I wanted to try!
So back in September, Carla, Barton and Bartons fianc hopped on a flight to Paris and they havent looked back. The trio is documenting their adventures on The Little Girl From Kamas blog, as well as Instagram and Facebook.
They're also featured on People's website in a section called "Carla's Comeback," where they post videos and stories of their adventures.
Since touching down on European soil, Carla has enjoyed a crepe on the river Seine, road tripped to Switzerland, wandered Stonehenge, bathed in Budapest and explored castles in Prague among other things.
On Nov. 7 Karl's birthday and anniversary of his burial the mother-son pair visited his ancestors' home in Talacre, Wales.
The most meaningful day was in Wales when we had the memory day for Karl, Carla told Today. We spent that day at the lighthouse where his great-grandfather was the lighthouse keeper 150 years ago, and wed been there together before he loved it there.
Barton told Today that through their travels, his mother seems to be finding herself again.
Ive already gotten more than I could have ever dreamed, he said. It was the best decision Ive made.
The trio is about halfway through their trip and has plans to make stops in Rome, Florence, Austria, Germany and France in the coming months. The wanderers are also taking suggestions for potential adventures on the website, so if you know of a European destination that cannot be missed, click here.
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