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Heavy cream is an amazing product to work with and can be used to enhance a lot of your favorite dishes. Whisk it up until it's soft and fluffy like whipped cream, or just simply add it to your morning coffee; you can't go wrong with either of these. In case you're running low on ingredients, don't worry because there are a lot of heavy cream substitutes that work just as well.
Here are 9 great substitutes for heavy cream.
1. Full Fat Milk and Butter
The combination of full fat milk and butter is one of the best heavy cream substitutes around because you probably already have these two ingredients sitting in your kitchen at any given moment. The finished product is delightfully rich and creamy and will thicken up nicely when mixed together.
Can I Use Full Fat Milk and Butter Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, definitely! Full fat milk and butter have a high fat content just like heavy cream and will add a lot of richness to your recipe. However, even though the fat content is quite high, it will not mimic the thick, milky texture of heavy cream because milk and butter simply will not combine into one perfectly homogenous mixture.
For best results, use this heavy cream substitute for cooking rather than baking. It's phenomenal for sauces, dips, and soups, and can really transform an otherwise runny or milky recipe. For desserts, this combo of full fat milk and butter would need a bit more help in the form of a binder such as powdered sugar for example, to help stabilize the mixture (more on that later).
Full fat cow's milk is a great source of protein and calcium. It contains nutrients such as vitamin B12, magnesium, iodine and more for energy production, proper thyroid function, and more. Full fat cow's milk also contains protein, whey, and casein, which help with muscle repair and recovery, hormone production, and weight management.
Best for: cooking, soups, sauces, dips
How to Substitute Full Fat Milk and Butter for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/3 cup of melted butter with ¾ cup of full fat milk and blend together until smooth. Keep blending until there is barely any separation between the milk and melted butter.
Be sure to use full fat milk for this recipe because low-fat or non-fat milk will not yield the same results. Also, it's important to use unsalted butter for this, especially if you're baking sweet treats or desserts.
Substitute heavy cream for full fat milk with butter in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the full fat milk and butter mixture.
The recipe: Healthier Heavy Cream Substitute (Using on 2 Ingredients!)
2. Raw Cashew Nuts and Water
If you're looking for a vegan, dairy-free heavy cream substitute, you can't go wrong with raw cashew nuts and water. This combo yields a mixture that's actually thick and oh so creamy—perfect for a wide variety of recipes. It also has a wonderfully nutty flavor that's to die for.
Can I Use Raw Cashew Nuts and Water Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, as far as heavy cream goes, if there was ever a perfect vegan counterpart, this mixture of raw cashew nuts and water would be it. It's so thick, it can even serve as a thickener in certain recipes.
Definitely give this mixture a try in cooking and baking. In terms of whipping into peaks, it works decently well, although not to the same degree as heavy cream. You'll need to refrigerate the blended raw cashew nuts and water first before whisking it with a handheld mixer to give it more volume and stiffness.
Cashew nuts are so good for you and are excellent sources of folate and tocopherols. These help protect against chronic non-communicable diseases and may even delay metabolic disorders. Cashew nuts have also been shown to contain heart healthy fatty acids that can help relieve high blood pressure, reduce total LDL cholesterol, and improve vascular function.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, dips, smoothies, spreads
How to Substitute Raw Cashew Nuts and Water for Heavy Cream
Combine 1 cup of raw cashew nuts with 1 cup of water and blend them together until smooth. Make sure to soak the raw cashew nuts overnight before using. This helps hydrate the cashews and so that they blend out into a smooth pulp.
Keep blending until there are no visible lumps in the mixture.
Be sure to use just plain raw cashew nuts; nothing salted or flavored in any way. Also, use the freshest raw cashew nuts that you can find for a more enhanced flavor.
Substitute heavy cream for raw cashew nuts and water in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of raw cashew nuts and water mixture.
The recipe: Vegan Heavy Cream Substitute (High Protein, Dairy-Free)
3. Full Fat Milk and Cornstarch
Full fat milk and cornstarch may sound like a simple enough combination, but it's one of the best heavy cream substitutes around for two reasons: it's cream-based and it's actually thick. The cornstarch thickens the full fat milk quite nicely even though the finished product isn't quite as rich as heavy cream.
Can I Use Full Fat Milk and Cornstarch Instead of Heavy Cream?
Definitely! Full fat milk and cornstarch are excellent when mixed together, particularly in recipes that require boiling. This is because the heat only serves to thicken the mixture further, so you can actually get away with less of the milk and cornstarch mixture if you'll be boiling or simmering your recipe for quite some time.
For smoothies, dips, and other recipes of that sort, full fat milk and cornstarch isn't recommended because of the raw cornstarch, which may cause stomach upset in certain individuals.
Full fat cow's milk has plenty of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iodine, protein, and more. Its supports thyroid function, muscle repair and recovery, hormone production, and even weight management.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces
How to Substitute Full Fat Milk and Cornstarch for Heavy Cream
Combine 1 cup of milk with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix the two together until there are no clumps. A good way to do this is to gradually add a small stream of milk to the cornstarch instead of mixing everything all at once.
Use plain, unsweetened full fat milk for best results.
Substitute heavy cream for full fat milk and cornstarch in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the full fat milk and cornstarch mixture.
4. Silken Tofu and Soy Milk
If you're looking for a vegan or dairy-free option, this combination of silken tofu and soy milk is an easy heavy cream substitute that works well for many savory and sweet recipes. It's silky smooth and creamy, just like heavy cream.
Can I Use Silken Tofu and Soy Milk Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, you can. In fact, silken tofu and soy milk together are deceptively creamy even though they're both dairy-free and vegan-friendly. This combination has the added benefit of thickening anything it's added to simply because silken tofu has a lot of volume when blended. It's not a thickener per se like cornstarch, but it does the job well.
What's great about silken tofu is that you can consume it straight out of the package. Unlike other heavy cream substitutes, it doesn't require any cooking to be fully edible.
Tofu is made from soybeans, and is considered mild in flavor hence it's versatility. It's an excellent source of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for good health. Tofu has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect the body from oxidative stress and chronic diseases. Studies show that tofu and other soy-based products may help prevent certain types of cancer, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, smoothies, dips
How to Substitute Silken Tofu and Soy Milk for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/2 cup of silken tofu with ½ cup of soy milk and blend together until smooth. Be sure to use silken tofu (as opposed to firm and very firm tofu) and plain, unsweetened soy milk for best results.
Substitute heavy cream for silken tofu and soy milk in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the silken tofu and soy milk mixture.
5. Full Fat Milk, Butter, and Powdered Sugar
As a follow up to the full fat milk and butter mixture, the addition of powdered sugar helps a ton when it comes to baking because powdered sugar can help stiffen or stabilize your batter. If you like using full fat milk and butter as a heavy cream substitute for cooking, then you're going to love the simple addition of powdered sugar for baking.
Can I Use Full Fat Milk, Butter, and Powdered Sugar Instead of Heavy Cream?
Most definitely! For baking, this combination is the way to go especially if it's a sweet recipe. Anything dessert related would be perfect for this heavy cream substitute. This would also be better for whipping because the powdered sugar helps to stiffen the mixture, which is why it's used for meringue recipes.
For best results, be sure to use the best full fat milk, butter, and powdered sugar that you can find. Also, always use unsalted butter for this.
Consuming cow's milk regularly offers a plethora of benefits thanks to its nutritional profile. It contains a good amount of vitamins and minerals, and it's an excellent source of protein. Together, these are good for boosting overall health, in addition to aiding muscle recovery, muscle repair, hormone production, and weight management.
Best for: cooking, baking, soups, sauces, dips, whipping
How to Substitute Full Fat Milk, Butter, and Powdered Sugar for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/3 cup of melted butter with ¾ cup of full fat milk and blend them together until smooth. Keep blending until you can hardly see any separation between the two. Once it starts to look like creamy butter, add in ¾ tablespoon of powdered sugar.
Add in the powdered sugar with a sift, so that it's evenly distributed throughout and won't result in clumps.
Be sure to use full fat milk for this recipe because low-fat or non-fat milk will not yield the same result. Also, use unsalted butter so as not to change the flavor profile of the mixture.
Substitute heavy cream for full fat milk, butter, and powdered sugar in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the full fat milk, butter, and powdered sugar mixture.
6. Plain Greek yogurt and Full Fat Milk
Plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk is a popular heavy cream substitute because the flavor profile and texture are similar to heavy cream. The combination, however, contains less fat thanks to the plain Greek yogurt. This makes it great for cooking and baking, so long as you're aware of the lower fat content and adjust the recipe accordingly.
Can I Use Plain Greek Yogurt and Full Fat Milk Instead of Heavy Cream?
You definitely can. Plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk share a lot of similarities with heavy cream. The mixture is thick, creamy, and is great with so many recipes. It has the added benefit of being edible straight out of the package, so it works for heat-free recipes as well.
Yogurt is a probiotic food that's rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and B vitamins. It's associated with many positive health outcomes such as a stronger immune system, better weight management, and reduced risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
How to Substitute Plain Greek Yogurt and Full Fat Milk for Heavy Cream
Combine 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt with ½ cup of full fat milk and blend together until smooth. For this recipe, use only plain Greek yogurt with minimal sweetener or added sugars. This is because unsweetened plain Greek yogurt is a bit sour on its own, and can result in a tangy version of heavy cream. The added sweetener would help with this.
Also, be sure to use full-fat milk to add to the overall fat content of the recipe.
Substitute heavy cream for plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of the plain Greek yogurt and full fat milk mixture.
7. Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is one of the best lactose-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly heavy cream substitutes you'll find anywhere. Straight off the bat, it already bears a very similar consistency to heavy cream without having to do anything to it; it's just that good!
Can I Use Coconut Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
You bet! Coconut cream is even thicker than heavy cream, so depending on the type of coconut cream you have, you may need to slightly dilute it to get the desired consistency. Coconut cream is not to be confused with coconut milk, as coconut cream contains more parts shredded/desiccated coconut per one part of water.
Unlike coconut milk which is milder in flavor, coconut cream does have a potent coconut flavor to it, so it will affect the overall recipe. Keep this in mind when using this heavy cream substitute.
Coconut is a saturated fat that's associated with several health benefits such as improved cognitive function, improved lipid profile, lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and stroke, improved metabolic health, and more. Coconut also contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are more easily converted by the body into energy compared to other types of fatty acids.
How to Substitute Coconut Cream for Heavy Cream
Substitute heavy cream for coconut cream in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of coconut cream.
8. Cream Cheese
In terms of flavor and texture, one of the closest substitutes you can find to heavy cream is probably cream cheese. Now that cream cheese comes in whipped and regular variants, you now have two options to work when you're cooking and baking.
Can I Use Cream Cheese Instead of Heavy Cream?
You can definitely use cream cheese instead of heavy cream. Cream cheese is arguably even thicker and heavier than heavy cream, but you can whip it slightly so that it's lighter and airier.
Cream cheese also has a slight tang to it, which can marry nicely with recipes that require heavy cream. If you need to take some of the tanginess out of the recipe, simply add a pinch of sugar to offset it.
Dairy products such as cream cheese are high in fat, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and in some cases, protein as well. Cream cheese however, is a dairy product that does not typically contain a lot of protein so it's not as 'complete' as, say, full fat cow's milk. It may also be high in sodium and saturated fat so definitely keep this in mind in terms of your overall daily macros as well as the composition of the recipe.
Best for: cooking, baking, sauces, dips, soups, casseroles
How to Substitute Cream Cheese for Heavy Cream
Substitute heavy cream for cream cheese in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of cream cheese.
9. Sour Cream
Sour cream is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you're trying to find a heavy cream substitute, but it gets the job done. Sure it has a bit more tanginess to it compared to heavy cream, but it has a similar richness and creaminess to it that you can definitely work with.
Can I Use Sour Cream Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes, sour cream would make an excellent substitute for heavy cream. Sour cream may be less thick compared to heavy cream, but it still delivers a good amount of richness and creaminess to any dish, albeit with a hint of tang.
Similar to cream cheese, sour cream is another dairy product that's high in fat, calcium, potassium, phosphorus. It's not the most nutritious heavy cream substitute out there, but it certainly gets the job done and may have some potential benefits for bone health as well.
How to Substitute Sour Cream for Heavy Cream
Substitute heavy cream for sour cream in a 1:1 ratio. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of heavy cream, you can simply substitute it with 1 cup of sour cream.
(You may also like: Egg Substitutes)


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Notices to reveal new property values in Stamford
Angela Carella
STAMFORD — During the last property revaluation, many taxpayers said they felt blindsided. For this one, they may just feel bewildered.
In 2012, values careened so wildly that some tax bills spiked 25 percent and others fell by about the same amount. The Board of Representatives responded by requiring that the city notify taxpayers in advance of the 2017 revaluation.
Notices are expected to be mailed by Friday.
At a meeting earlier this week, Mayor David Martin warned city representatives that they may hear from constituents once the letters arrive.
"I did not get a chance to review the letter before it was ready to go out, and I think it's a little confusing," the mayor said, explaining that wanted to give taxpayers enough information to gauge how the new property values will affect their 2018-19 tax bills.
He summarized the important, if perplexing, thing about revaluation, which municipalities undertake every five years by state law.
"Your property value can go down and your taxes can still go up," Martin said. That's because "it is not just what happens to you — it's in comparison to everybody else."
Figuring that out begins with the Grand List — the value of all taxable property in Stamford. The 2017 revaluation showed that, in the last five years, the worth of the list increased a healthy 8 percent.
So a taxpayer whose home value increased more than 8 percent will take on a larger portion of the tax burden, and a taxpayer whose value came in at less than 8 percent will take on a smaller portion, Martin said.
"The revaluation is about what your share is of the total," he told representatives.
For this year's assessment, the city hired Municipal Valuation Group, which found that the average single-family home in Stamford increased in value by 5 percent, Tax Assessor Gregory Stackpole said. Because the Grand List grew more than that, the average single-family homeowner can expect a slight decrease in taxes, Stackpole said.
To figure out how much of a decrease, elected officials first have to determine how much the city budget will increase for 2018-19, since tax revenue must cover that cost.
Say, for example, the budget increases by 2 percent. The average single-family homeowner's next tax bill then would be 1 percent smaller, said Stackpole, who emphasized that results will differ based on not only the size of the budget increase but also market fluctuations.
"Stamford is a very diversified market — it's not a suburb with only single-family homes where everything falls and rises at the same rate," Stackpole said. "It's a complex city with distinctly different neighborhoods, and each neighborhood has its own cycles."
Even the single-family market has distinctions, he said — the market for larger homes, for example, is flat.
Len Schwartz, president of the Stamford Board of Realtors, said the same. Single-family homes priced below $500,000 get snapped up quickly in a city where the average selling price this year was $653,000, Schwartz said. Five years ago, it was $634,000, he said.
Condominium prices rose even less during that time — from an average of $330,000 to $338,000 — but the number of sales increased significantly, Schwartz said.
2017 revaluation
Stamford property owners will soon receive letters explaining the difference in property values over the last five years.
Data assumes:
Value of Grand List+8%
City's 2018-19 budget+2%
Based on average assessment of a single-family home: $425,000
Home value change
Estimated tax change
Value of Grand List increased 8%
City's 2018-19 budget increases 2%
"We sold 427 condos in 2012 and so far this year it's 603," he said. "The market is stronger now than it was five years ago."
That's why there are revaluations, said Michael Handler, the city's director of administration.
"It's to capture all the changes," Handler said.
The revaluation showed, for example, that multi-family houses increased in value much more than single-family ones between 2012 and 2017, Stackpole said.
"The average increase for multi-families was about 20 percent," he said. "That market was depressed in 2012 — there had been a lot of foreclosures in the years before that revaluation. But it's on the rebound now."
That's true, Schwartz said. His data shows that the average closing price for a multi-family house five years ago was $350,000. So far this year it's $532,000, he said.
"All of a sudden this year that market took off. They're selling really quickly and everyone is looking for them," Schwartz said. "I think it's property investors coming back."
So owners of multi-family homes will take a larger share of the tax burden beginning July 1.
So will commercial property owners, Stackpole said.
The 2017 assessment showed that the value of retail properties increased about 10 percent, he said. The value of office space is up slightly, especially buildings with multiple tenants, he said.
And the value of apartment buildings — those with five families or more — increased an average of 15 percent, which takes some of the tax burden from residential property owners, he said.
"The apartments are being built where people want to live — not only Harbor Point, but downtown," Stackpole said.
"People think renters don't pay property tax, but they do," Handler said. "When taxes on the buildings go up, rents go up, too."
The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management released a report earlier this year showing that Stamford had the state's fourth-highest increase — 49 percent over five years — in mill rate, which is used to calculate tax bills.
Martin has said that 35 percent of that was because of the 2012 revaluation.
But Schwartz said that, as a realtor, he doesn't get many questions about revaluation.
"I don't hear, 'How do you think my taxes are going to change?'" he said. "There may not be much awareness until letters or tax bills go out."
And now letters are going out.
"I'm sure there will be much confusion," the mayor reiterated in addressing city representatives this week. "I suspect you will want to put it on your agenda for a more in-depth briefing next month."
acarella@stamfordadvocate.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sheffield Offices – A specialist management team leading the regeneration of one of Sheffield's most popular shopping areas has relocated to oversee the project at first hand.
Sheffield's Moor management team has taken office space in the newly refurbished MidCity House, which sits at the head of the soon to be redeveloped The Moor shopping area.
The move by the Sheffield City Council-based team from Milton House in Charter Row to MidCity House, which stands just yards from the site of Sheffield's Heart of the City project, follows a trend by businesses to take up the centrally located office space and be at the hub of the city's renaissance.
Just one small office suite remains in MidCity House, which forms a gateway to Pinstone Street and is also within walking distance of Orchard Square shopping centre and the refurbished Leopold Square.
Tim Bottrill, partner in the Sheffield office of Knight Frank who acted with joint agent Lane Walker, let the suite of 1,000 sq ft to The Moor team on behalf of developers Turner Investments. Gary Newbould of Newbould Commercial acted for Scottish Widows which is planning the redevelopment of The Moor.
Bottrill said: "In what have probably been the worst market conditions we have ever experienced, MidCity House has been an astounding success story over the last 12 months.
"The building underwent a substantial makeover to offer space in an unparalleled location and has brought quality office suites to the market on flexible lease terms at a cost which has appealed to forward thinking business, particularly in the current economic climate.
Knight Frank and Lane Walker let half of the newly refurbished space in MidCity House to three multi-media companies within just 12 weeks of the building's release to market last summer.
Search for Sheffield serviced offices on our website at or call 01932 834 720 to discuss your office space requirement in further detail.


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contemporary / fiction / giveaway / review / romance
Review + Giveaway: An American Girl in Italy
August 19, 2014 August 23, 2014 SissyBear @ Girl of 1000 Wonders4 Comments
Title: An American Girl in Italy
Author: Aubrie Dionne
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Release Date: May 2014
Source: CBB Book Promotions
Find the book: Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
To see all of the goings on for the American Girl in Italy, visit the tour schedule.
*****Synopsis*****
An Italian paradise is the last thing she wants… but the one thing she needs!
Surely any girl would kill for the chance to tour Italy's most famous cities for the summer? To experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun, the culinary delights of the pizzerias and caffés and to stroll along the cobbled streets of the City of Love itself…
Any girl apart from ambitious oboist Carly Davis that is! For her, the Easthampton Civic Symphony's latest European tour is one massive inconvenience. She can't even put her smartphone down long enough to snap a picture of the Coliseum.
Only, there's one Italian attraction that Carly hadn't quite expected to be a part of the tourist route…
Tour guide Michelangelo is as dark and delicious as Carly's morning espresso. And when she needs a few lessons in the language of love to land her an important gig, he's a more than capable tutor.
But with her promising career back in Boston, can Carly really afford to lose her heart in Italy?
*****Review*****
Oh, Italy. The history. The monuments. The scenery. The music. The unexpected romances.
Carly is a struggling musician, on tour with her orchestra in Italy. In the music biz, you've gotta teach, play gigs, and be in about four orchestras to be a somebody. So when one of Carly's orchestras sends out a do-or-die, tour in Italy to keep your full-time status, there's nothing she can do but go, while dreading and cringing how much it will put her music life in Boston down the gutter.
She's worked so hard to get here, she's not letting it go without a fight. While trying to do just that, she comes off as a very rude and pissy American to her tour guide…who is not really a tour guide at all, and Michealangelo struggles with keeping that hidden for the entire length of the orchestra's tour. When Michealangelo is stuck with the rude and phone-checking Carly from the airport to the hotel, they form a strange friendship. Over the course of the tour, he lets certain things about his true identity slip to Carly.
Alaina is Carly's aria accompaniment, the soloist to her oboe. They don't get along in even the loosest sense of the word. Carly struggles and strives for all she has; Alaina flashes her bank account with several zeroes on the end and gets what she wants…which is rumored to how she got her soloist spot with the orchestra. Carly is not looking for anything but her three paid shows in Italy; Alaina is looking for love. Carly agrees to spend extra time with Alaina to work on their aria, and they kind of bond in a mean-girl, nice-girl way.
To make matters worse, Alaina is Carly's roommate for the bulk of the tour. Yep. To make things complicated, Carly's feelings get hurt right off the bat, but Michelangelo doesn't want to do anything to distress any of the orchestra's members because he can't afford to lose the paycheck that comes with being their tour guide – and that means especially keeping Alaina happy.
To make matters even worse, this European tour is Alaina's hope to skyrocket her stagnant career back in the States…and when things don't go quite according to plan, it's no bueno for Carly.
When Carly is stressed about an impromptu gig on one of her free nights, she nabs Michelangelo to learn as much Italian as she can. She doesn't want Dizzy DJ's first international gig scheduling to be her last paying gig and fall from grace.
Michelangelo proves himself to the Easthampton Civic Symphony time and again, but when his real identity is revealed, things happen.
Carly and Alaina also have a unique situation: Alaina is looking for love in all the wrong places, and Carly doesn't even notice when it comes calling at her door. Unfortunately for both of them, that "love" is none other than the one and only Michelangelo.
Michelangelo as an individual character fascinated me, as does the mindset of Italian culture. I'm Italian, and the more I read of even fictionalized settings of Italy, I want to move there. Life is so different, so vibrant, so real in Italy. Heritage and family matter, loyalty and friendships are strong. Compassion and kindness reign supreme. Michelangelo represents all of these in spades.
Carly and Michelangelo were such flawed, realistic characters that I couldn't help but love them both, although Carly did annoy me quite a bit with her whole gotta-check-my-phone-24/7 thing. Their relationship starts with a classic misrepresentation, but pretty spot-on for Americans. (Sorry, guys.) Throughout the book, this notion that Michelangelo has of Carly and her orchestra members is challenged, questioned and reformed. I loved Aubrie Dionne included this aspect in the novel.
This novel is a fast read, with beautiful scenery, lovable characters and just a twinge of girl hate that it's worth the read..and finding out what Michelangelo's secret is! 😉
*****About the Author*****
Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. Her books have received the highest ratings from Romance Times Magazine, as well as Night Owl Reviews and Two Lips Reviews. She has guest blogged on the USA Today Happily Ever After Blog and the Dear Teen Me blog and signed books at the Boston Book Festival, Barnes and Noble, and the Romance Writers of America conference. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Astraea Press, Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Publishing, Inkspell Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she's not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras.
*****Giveaway*****
3 winners get Italy themed notepads (US)
WP Longform
Review: The Girls of August
WWW Wednesdays (August 20)
4 thoughts on "Review + Giveaway: An American Girl in Italy"
Aubrie Dionne (@AuthorAubrie) says:
Thank you for this wonderful review!
candacemom2two says:
I want to visit Italy SO bad! I have read quite a few books that take place there and I'm dying to visit! Awesome review! Thank you so much for hosting a tour stop.
Katherine P says:
This sounds interesting! I love it being a book set in a getaway location without being a typical getaway kind of book. I'll definitely have to give this a try! Thanks for sharing!
Top Ten Tuesday: Historical Settings I Love – Girl of 1000 Wonders says:
[…] I have read a couple of books set in Rome. Rome is one of the ancient civilizations of the world, and they honor their predecessors. It is such a beautiful city. I've read only a few books set in Rome, but they have all been fantastic: Pieces of Tracy, Eros Element, and An American Girl in Italy. […]


This brief survey is designed to gather some facts and identify what library services you want to see offered. We look forward to hearing your thoughts so that we can best plan for your library's future.
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* 3. How well do the services of this library compare to your expectations?
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improved or added to better service the needs of our growing community?
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means an increase in municipal taxes?
* 11. The Library should be open on Sunday?


The proposed method develops a fuzzy rule-based classifier that was tested using features for islandingdetection in distributed generation. In the developed technique, the initial classification boundaries are found out by using the decision tree (DT). From the DT classification boundaries, the fuzzy membership functions (MFs) are developed and the corresponding rule base is formulated for islanding detection. But some of the fuzzy MFs are merged based upon similarity the measure for reducing the fuzzy MFs and simplifying the fuzzy rule base to make it more transparent. The developed fuzzy rule-based classifier is tested using features with noise up to a signal-to-noise ratio of 20 dB and provides classification results without misdetection, which shows the robustness of the proposed approach for islanding detection for distributed generations in the distribution network.


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text:
let wr;
let wr_control; // control WeakRef for testing what happens without deref
(function() {
  let o1 = {};
  wr = new WeakRef(o1);
  let o2 = {};
  wr_control = new WeakRef(o2);
})();

let strong = {a: wr.deref(), b: wr_control.deref()};

gc();

%PerformMicrotaskCheckpoint();
// Next turn.

// Call deref inside a closure, trying to avoid accidentally storing a strong
// reference into the object in the stack frame.
(function() {
  wr.deref();
})();

strong = null;

// This GC will clear wr_control.
gc();

(function() {
  assertNotEquals(undefined, wr.deref());
  // Now the control WeakRef got cleared, since nothing was keeping it alive.
  assertEquals(undefined, wr_control.deref());
})();

%PerformMicrotaskCheckpoint();
// Next turn.

gc();

assertEquals(undefined, wr.deref());

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Audubon Newsletter: Summer 2018
From watershed education to forest management and an exciting opening, learn what Audubon's up to this summer.
Letter from Executive Director Greg Goldman
Greg Goldman outside the Discovery Center
Greetings and Happy Summer!
These are exciting times for Audubon PA, and for our extensive network of committed birders and conservationists, nearly 50,000 strong, and found in every corner of our large, complicated and beautiful Commonwealth.
In the forests of north central Pennsylvania, we are working with forest landowners to protect the places that bird species, such as Scarlet Tanager and Wood Thrush rely on for breeding. Our forests are important to birds up and down the Atlantic Flyway, thus this program is integral to National Audubon Society's Healthy Forest Program that spans the entire Eastern U.S.
In the Delaware River watershed in Eastern PA, we have a strong web of conservation and education efforts that enhance waterways for key bird species in urban, suburban and rural areas. We are educating the next generation of conservationists through our leadership in the Alliance for Watershed Education, and offer a range of innovative programs for children and adults. We are organizing Audubon members to support sustainable climate policy and fisheries management (intertwined with healthy bird life), and to increase funding for watershed protection that will benefit wildlife and people.
Our partners in all these efforts are the amazing staff at the National Audubon Society. Whether is it fundraising or communications support from our headquarters in New York, or policy and programmatic support from our team in Washington, DC, Audubon PA and National Audubon Society are working together to integrate our efforts for greater impact.
This includes our backing of Audubon's suit against the US Department of the Interior to protect the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in its 100th anniversary year, and our partnership with the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team to increase the participation of minority and underserved communities in the conservation movement by tapping into the love of nature that we all share, regardless of our demographic characteristics.
We all know that these are tumultuous times. But, in the words of David Yarnold, Audubon's CEO, Audubon stands, as it has for more than 100 years, "for America's core values around life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…we are inclusive, we're problem solvers, we honor and protect the web of life in all the work we do."
True across the country, true here in PA. We work together across 67 counties, for birds, the places they need, and the people who come together to love and protect them.
Native Plants Help Birds Adapt to Climate Change
Credit Will Stuart
Many of the songbirds in your backyard are stopping to rest and refuel during their spring and fall migrations. Urban and suburban parks and gardens provide vital food and shelter for birds traveling thousands of miles between their wintering and summer breeding grounds, and are becoming ever more important as climate change threatens the future of hundreds of birds throughout North America.
Iconic Pennsylvania favorites, such as the Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, and Purple Finch are among those predicted to decline in our state, as shifting habitat becomes less suited to their needs. One way to help all birds adapt to a rapidly changing climate, is to make sure they have the plants that have co-evolved with them. In addition to benefiting birds, these same native plants will also help manage flooding and reduce storm water runoff. They also look beautiful and make our parks more attractive to people and birds.
Here are just a few of the ways Audubon is working to raise awareness and engage people in opportunities to create habitat for birds:
Climate Champions are hard at work advocating for townships to adopt native plant resolutions. Once in place, these resolutions will help guide decisions and best practices on commercial property that will provide environmental and economic benefits for people and birds.
Elmwood Park Zoo Partnership
Audubon Pennsylvania and the Elmwood Park Zoo are collaborating to educate and engage more than 500,000 Zoo visitors by creating a native plant garden at the Zoo's Birds of Paradise exhibit. The garden will showcase the importance of providing native plants for migratory and resident birds, and will include signage indicating which birds and pollinators are attracted to which native plants. Visitors will be inspired to recreate what they see at the Zoo at home, and to share their stories.
The Central Park Effect Film Screening
More than 100 Audubon friends and members flocked to a screening of The Central Park Effect last month to watch an inspirational film about the birds migrating through Central Park and the birders who eagerly await their arrival. Following the film, we had a lively discussion about the importance of native plants in urban and suburban settings like Central Park, Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, and in our own backyards. Several community meetings and workshops on how to increase native plants on public and private properties have sprung out of this event.
If you'd like to join our efforts, please contact Val Peckham at vpeckham@audubon.org to be added to our Climate Action list and receive updates and invites to programs and social gatherings with fellow advocates for birds.
Ruffed Grouse Help Lead the Way to Healthier Forests
Ron Rohrbaugh joined Audubon Pennsylvania in late May as our Forest Program Manager to lead our efforts in enhancing forest habitat for birds in Central and Western Pennsylvania. Below is Ron's reflection of his recent visit to Allegheny National Forest to meet with partners to discuss creating a forest management demonstration site.
"Wait! Stop," yelled Linda from the backseat. At the same moment, I saw several mottled brown "ping-pong balls" bounce from the left shoulder of the dirt road. Even before the U.S. Forest Service vehicle rolled to a stop, superhero Linda was out and attempting to shoo a momma Ruffed Grouse and her brood of at least six little ones to safety.
Grouse chicks are precocial, meaning that they leave the nest almost immediately after hatching when they are about the size of an adult's thumb. They are surprisingly mobile and can move up to 1/4 mile per day by the time they are three or four days old. They begin flying around day five and resemble giant bumble bees in flight. In the first 10 days after hatching, the hen may lead her brood up to four miles from the nest to a summer brood range. Chicks grow rapidly, increasing from about 1/2 ounce fuzz balls when hatched to nearly 20-ounce, full-grown birds by 17 weeks of age.
My encounter with the young grouse happened in early June while doing a "windshield tour" of Audubon Pennsylvania's forest management demonstration area in the Allegheny National Forest with Collin Shepard, who is a Forest Ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service (USFWS), and Linda Ordiway who is a Regional Wildlife Biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society. The demonstration area is part of an exciting new project that is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and includes partners from the USFS, Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, American Forest Foundation, Audubon New York, and the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture.
The goal of the project is to improve landscape-scale forest health for birds and other wildlife through engaging private landowners, training foresters in bird-friendly practices, and recommending management actions on private and public lands. We work first in demonstration areas that serve as outdoor classrooms for learning and allow us to test and refine management prescriptions. The demonstration areas then provide knowledge and leverage to work statewide.
The Ruffed Grouse we encountered on the Allegheny National Forest is a good example of the importance of our work. Many forest species, like the grouse, Wood Thrush, and Golden-winged Warbler, require forests of multiple ages within a relatively small area to complete their breeding cycles. Many forests in Pennsylvania, however, tend to be even aged after re-growing from forest clearing 80-100 years ago. Our work, which manages forests through strategic timber harvesting, will create healthy, resilient forests with age and structural conditions that better meet the needs of birds and other wildlife.
As Linda returned to the backseat after her heroic grouse rescue, I said, "Nice work, Linda!" With a smile of pride and accomplishment, she said, "that's my job!" We all laughed, as in the truest sense, it really was Linda's job to protect Ruffed Grouse! Safeguarding bird populations isn't always as easy as shepherding youngsters from the road, but our growing, multi-partner initiative ensures that we have capacity to make lasting, landscape-scale changes that improve forest health statewide.
Audubon Launches The Waterthrush Project in Chester and Berks Counties
In conjunction with the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, Audubon Pennsylvania has created a new education and habitat registry program centered around increasing water quality and bird habitat in the Schuylkill Highlands region.
This program focuses on improving bird habitat on properties near or containing creeks, streams, and tributaries. The Louisiana Waterthrush depends on healthy waterways for food and nests on the banks of forested creeks and streams. Waterthrush, is the iconic species for the project and represents the most site-specific and perhaps elusive bird in the watershed. There are many other birds that benefit from stream buffer enhancement including warblers, vireos, and towhees.
This program will educate and inspire property owners to increase their tree canopy coverage to create more shade and cool the streams and reduce runoff, which increase water quality and creates more habitat for birds, especially Louisiana Waterthrush. For more information and how to enroll, visit the Waterthrush page at http://pa.audubon.org
Alliance for Watershed Education Fellowship
Audubon Pennsylvania is happy to welcome four new faces to our team: Amani Reid, Izelliah Nelson, Malcolm Loh, and Alison Kloiber! These four young adults are members of the 2018 cohort of Fellows in the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) of the Delaware River, a collaborative effort of 23 environmental education centers in the Delaware River watershed (DE, NJ and PA) and the William Penn Foundation.
A major program of AWE is this watershed fellowship program, which focuses on increasing individuals' engagement and action toward protecting and restoring the Delaware River watershed. During its first year in 2017, the program hired 23 summer fellows (one per center). The program was so successful that it doubled in 2018. Audubon Pennsylvania is thrilled to have Malcolm and Alison working at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove (JJAC), and Izelliah and Amani at the new Discovery Center in Philadelphia.
Izelliah Nelson at the Discovery Center in Philadelphia, explained why she was excited to take the position. "I joined the fellowship because I saw it as an opportunity to engage with my community and introduce them to a "new" way of interacting with the environment around them. My passion is community engagement, organization and public policy activism. This fellowship serves as an opportunity for me to learn more about environmental conservation and sustainability which, I believe will be our biggest concern for the future as citizens of this earth."
"I wanted an opportunity to actively make a difference by teaching kids the beauty of protecting nature. This experience of understanding how to make a change in my community for the better is what I hoped to gain from this job so when I leave I'll know how to help people help themselves in making a community a better place to live," said Malcolm. This summer, Malcolm is working at the John James Audubon Center this summer and will be working with children in Norristown, where he lives.
All four fellows are focusing on reaching new audiences, through innovative programming, deliberate outreach strategies, volunteer opportunities and educational activities. Each fellow chooses a capstone project for the summer, which is an initiative of their own design and implementation that they can take ownership over, and leave their legacy with the center after the fellowship ends. Their capstones will be showcased at a Summit in August in Philadelphia.
Additionally, the fellowship provides leadership and professional development opportunities, including deeper ecological education, resume building, non-profit operations/management, community outreach and job shadowing. An orientation for all the fellows was held in mid-June at the Poconos Environmental Education Center (one of the 23 centers in AWE) which brought all the fellows together for the first time for an intensive 3-day introduction to the Alliance, to the Fellowship and to each other. Motivated and inspired by the orientation, Audubon's four fellows have started to dive into their work at the Discovery Center and JJAC, and we're excited to see what great things they accomplish this summer! For more information, please visit https://www.watershedalliance.org/.
Join Us For The Public Opening Of The Discovery Center
Audubon's Delaware River Watershed Program Director Tapped to Shape Regional Watershed Plans and Climate Resiliency
With appointments to two regional commissions, Audubon aims to influence conservation and policy to protect the birds and people of the watershed.
Donate to Audubon
Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts.


Are you interested in a career in water resources management? If so, the Water Awareness Day and Conference may be of interest. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday May 26 at the Innovation Lab, 101 Hospital Rd. Sonora.
The Calaveras County Water District will have a booth at the event and staff members will be present to interact with attendees. We hope to see you there!


In the centenary year of the founding of the influential Bauhaus art school in Weimar, Homage to the Bauhaus considers the impact of the school's teachings and aesthetic ideas on artists and photographers in the twentieth century.
Poulsen's drawings are striking abstractions realised in layers of pencil, wax and gouache.
The Easter Bunny has hidden clues around the park – crack the password to win a small prize.
Roger McGough, one of Britain's best-lovedpoets, is the author of over seventy books of poetry and editor of numerous anthologies.
There are 40 million people enslaved today. Ending slavery by 2030 is now a global UN target. But how can we achieve this?
This concert honours legendary Jamaican-born jazz trumpeter Dizzy Reece's accomplishments and artistry as well as celebrating West Indians who departed the Caribbean on the Windrush.


Thesis Papers: The similarities are that archaea and eubacteria are single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus or organelles.
The similarities are that archaea and eubacteria are single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus or organelles.
Both archaea and eubacteria are similar in shape and size. They are both found occurring as rods, cocci, spirals, plates, coiled etc.???
Must include the required headings and content as listed above.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must utilize assessment manuals as necessary to support the inclusion and results of the assessments.
Must use a minimum of four peer-reviewed sources, at least two of which must be from good sources.
Thesis PapersThesis Papers: The similarities are that archaea and eubacteria are single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus or organelles.
Annotated Bibliography Writing Services: visual briefing on the transportation security plan research paper.


text:
Joan Didion: The National Review Years
A collection of the famed essayist's writings for this publication, in honor of her life and career
In the 1950s and 1960s, Joan Didion was a regular contributor to National Review, penning book reviews and essays on a range of topics that caught her eye. Her first piece here was published precisely on her 25th birthday. We've dug into the archives and collected a sampling of her essays from this era, in honor of her accomplished life and career. Joan Didion died Thursday at age 87.
"Et Tu, Mrs. Miniver" — January 2, 1960:
In this essay, Didion attempts to understand the (London) Times Literary Supplement's attempt to understand "the American imagination." Going through the 84-page series of essays on topics from the American Western to John F. Kennedy, she finds them quite wanting, another failed effort by outsiders to make sense of this country.
"Marriage a la Mode" — August 13, 1960:
"I write as one incurably addicted to the women's 'service' magazines: Ladies' Home Journal, McCall's, Good Housekeeping," Didion memorably begins one of her early contributions to National Review. Click here to read.
"Wayne at the Alamo" — December 31, 1960:
Somewhat in spite of herself, she admits to liking the film, largely due to the towering presence of Wayne.
"I'll Take Romance" — September 24, 1963:
Here Didion once again takes dead aim at matters of the heart. It has been supplanted, in her view, by the rise of a kind of commercialized companionship. Click here to read.
"Questions About the New Fiction" — November 30, 1965:
Didion, Joan, ltspan, Reviewltspangt, stylequotfontvariantsmallcapsquotgtNational, years
Cowboys are big winners from 49ers loss to Titans
Love Island USA: Justine Ndiba Updates Fans On Her COVID-19 Recovery
The Jan. 6 committee begins hearings with a big challenge: Capture public attention
Madeleine Albright had a lot to say about Putin — and she didn't mince words
South Korea Presidential Race Too Close to Call


text:
The siege of Trichinopoly (March 1743August 1743) was part of an extended series of conflicts between the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maratha Empire for control of the Carnatic region. On 29 August 1743, after a six-month siege, Murari Rao surrendered, giving Nizam ul Mulk (Nizam) the suzerainty of Trichinopoly. By the end of 1743, the Nizam had regained full control of Deccan. This stopped the Maratha interference in the region and ended their hegemony over the Carnatic. The Nizam resolved the internal conflicts among the regional hereditary nobles (Nawabs) for the seat of governor (Subedar) of Arcot State, and monitored the activities of the British East India company and French East India Company by limiting their access to ports and trading.

Background
In 1714, Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar appointed Nizam-ul-Mulk (also known as Nizam, Nizam I, and Asaf Jah I) as Viceroy of the Deccan. Deccan consisted of six Mughal governorates (Subah): Khandesh, Bijapur, Berar, Aurangabad, Hyderabad, Bidar, and Carnatic region was sub-Subah administered partly by governor of Bijapur and Hyderabad. In 1721, Nizam was commissioned to Delhi and became Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire. His differences with the court nobles led him to resign from all the imperial responsibilities in 1723 and leave for Deccan.

Under the influence of Nizam's opponents, Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah issued a decree to Mubariz Khan, the governor of Hyderabad, to prevent the Nizam from taking the Deccan province under his control. Nizam and Mubariz Khan confronted each other at Shaker Kheda (a valley in present-day Buldhana district, Berar Subah,  from Aurangabad), resulting in the Battle of Shakar Kheda. On 11 October 1724, the Nizam defeated and killed Mubariz Khan, establishing autonomous rule over the Deccan region. Nizam remained loyal to the Mughal Emperor, did not assume any imperial title, and continued to acknowledge Mughal suzerainty. The region was renamed Hyderabad Deccan, beginning what is known as the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Nizam retained the title of "Nizam ul-Mulk", and was referred to as "Asaf Jahi Nizam", or more commonly, the Nizam of Hyderabad. He acquired de facto control over Deccan and thus all six Mughal governorates became his feudatory.

In the 1720s, the Carnatic region of southern India was an autonomous dominion of the Mughal Empire under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1710, the Nizam appointed Muhammed Saadatullah Khan as Nawab of the Carnatic. Saadatullah died in 1732, and would be succeeded by his nephew Dost Ali Khan. Tukkoji Bhonsle, who was a Maratha ruler of Trichinopoly, died in 1736. He left his son Ekoji II to succeed him and his wife Rani Minakshi, who was acting as a regent for her young son. Dost Ali sent Chanda Sahib, his son-in-law and diwan, to the province and to claim that it owed tribute payments (chauth). Chanda Sahib inveigled into the court of Rani Minakshi, abused her trust to the fortress, and threw her into prison where she died of grief. In 1739, Dost Ali rewarded Chanda Sahib with the title Nawab of Trichinopoly.

This decisive act and the refusal of tributary payment by Dost Ali Khan enraged the Marathas. They took advantage of the absence of the Nizam in Deccan due to his engagement in resolving disputes in North India. In 1740, Raghoji I Bhonsle commanded the Maratha army of 50,000 soldiers in an invasion of the Carnatic region. In a Battle at Damalcherry, a pass near Arcot, Dost Ali was killed. His son and successor Safdar Ali Khan negotiated and agreed to make tribute payments to the Marathas. But Chanda Sahib, confident of his defense, refused to negotiate with Raghoji I Bhonsle, pay tribute, or surrender control of Trichinopoly. In Raghoji I Bhonsle's 1741 siege of Trichinopoly, Chanda Sahib initially resisted the siege. The Marathas bribed an officer who betrayed Chanda Sahib and left a free opening to the Maratha army through an important mountain post. The Marathas occupied Trichinopoly and took Chanda Sahib as prisoner to Satara. Murari Rao Ghorpade was installed as Maratha governor of Trichinopoly in 1741.

Prelude

In 1741, the Nizam had just returned from Delhi. He was resolving a dispute between Muhammad Shah and Nadir Shah, who had invaded Northern India. The Nizam demanded that Safdar Ali, who was recognized as the Nawab of Carnatic, settle the debts of Subah Deccan. Safdar Ali, who had recently negotiated with the Marathas to an agreement of the indemnity and tributary payments, was hardly in a position to meet the demands of the Nizam and the Marathas. To manage these double payments, he imposed an additional levy on his regional town administrators. Safdar Ali's brother-in-law, Nawab Murtuza Ali Khan, an administrator of Vellore, refused to pay the increased levy. He prepared a plot with his wife (who was also the sister of Safdar Ali), and murdered Safdar Ali to declare himself as Nawab of the Carnatic. This declaration irritated other nobles and brought Nawab Saeed Muhammad Khan, the son of Safdar Ali who was in Madras, to be recognized as the Nawab of the Carnatic.

In 1742, the Nizam, who was busy with the affairs in Delhi, returned to the Deccan. After the invasion of Nadir Shah in Delhi, the Mughals were not in a position to stop the Marathas in the Carnatic region. The Nizam was enraged to see the rebellion of Nawab of Arcot and the Maratha occupation of the Carnatic, particularly Trichinopoly. He thought about invading the Carnatic to reestablish his authority as Viceroy of Deccan. However, in January 1743, Dalavayi Devarajaiya of Mysore, after establishing his hold on the Carnatic region, offered the Nizam 10,000,000 rupees in exchange for Trichinopoly. The Nizam accepted the offer and assured Dalavayi that Trichinopoly will be brought under his control. In February 1743, the Nizam marched towards the Carnatic region from Hyderabad.

Siege

After deposing Muhammed Saadatullah Khan II in Arcot, the Nizam marched towards Trichinopoly. On 14 March 1743, Nizam arrived at Trichinopoly with a large army of 200,000 sepoy, 80,000 Sowar, and 150 war elephants and 200 elephant carried artillery pieces. Nizam camped in the vicinity of Trichinopoly fort and summoned Maratha Governor Murari Rao to present himself in the camp and surrender the fort, failing to which he would siege the fort. Murari Rao dressed in gauntlet decided to defend the fort with 4000 sepoy, 2000 Sowar and a considerable number of artillery that consisted of canons, guns, mortar and grenades. Nizam ordered a siege and his forces installed barracks strategically in the outer three enclosures of the fort, blocking the gateways and mounting cannons towards the defensive walls, to which initially Murari Rao strongly retaliated by constantly firing cannonballs, bullets and grenades from the turrets and bastions of the fort, which kept the Nizam's forces at a distance and protected the defensive walls from attack and wall scaling. Nizam intended to win the siege through attrition, keeping his numerically superior army and artillery on hold, diplomatically avoiding any aggressive action and conflicts with Murari Rao's army.

Murari Rao could not expect any help from his Maratha superiors, as Maratha Emperor Shahu I was actively engaged in the expeditions to expand Maratha supremacy over the Mughal-held Delhi, Bengal and Odisha. Meanwhile, internal conflicts erupted between the Maratha general Raghoji I Bhonsle and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, which later caused the Maratha empire to disintegrate. Murari Rao surrendered to the Nizam and came to an agreement whereby the Nizam offered him governance of the hill-fort of Penukonda, the adjacent areas, and 200,000 rupees. The six-month siege ended on 29 August 1743. The surrender of Trichinopoly along with the Madurai territory (administered by the Maratha Lieutenant officer Appaji Rao, captured in 1741) brought an end to the Maratha suzerainty of the Carnatic region, which they lost direct rule over; the Nizam regained the authority over the Deccan region.

As per the agreement of Trichinopoly, if Dalavayi wanted control of Trichinopoly he would have to pay 10,000,000 rupees to the Nizam. The Dalavayi could not pay the sum, as he suffered from a financial crisis after paying heavy tributary taxes, which included 50,000,000 rupees to Maratha ruler Raghoji in 1740–1741 after the Maratha invasion of the Carnatic region. In October 1743, the Nizam left for Golconda.

Aftermath

When Nizam took control of Trichinopoly in September 1743, he appointed Khwaja Abdullah as the governor of the city. Khwaja Abdullah accompanied the Nizam to Golconda and left his son, Nimathullah Khan, as deputy governor of Trichinopoly. They reached Golconda in March 1744, the same year Khwaja Abdullah died on the eve of his departure from Golconda. Thus, the Nizam appointed Anwaruddin Khan as regent, and Saadatullah Khan II, being an infant, was appointed as the Nawab of the Carnatic; he was assassinated by Murtuza Ali Khan in 1744. In 1749, when Anwaruddin Khan died in the Battle of Ambur, his son and deputy governor Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah were dethroned by Chanda Sahib and sought refuge in Trichinopoly where he set up his base.

From 1744 to 1746, two expeditions were sent by Maratha Emperor Shahu I to expand the Maratha supremacy over the Carnatic region. Babuji Naik of Baramati led the first expedition, which was defeated when he was confronted by Anwaruddin Khan of Arcot and Muzaffar Jung, who had been assigned by the Nizam. The second expedition took place in 1746, led by Babuji Naik and Fateh Singh Bhonsle of Akkalkot; they were unsuccessful at taking back Trichinopoly and were defeated by the Nizam's army. In 1746, three years after the siege, the Marathas, under the rule of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao, sent a military expedition to Carnatic led by Sadashivrao Bhau. The Maratha army overran the region and brought it under their control. Nizam's army, under the rule of Nasir Jung, tried to obstruct the Marathas, but were repulsed by Sadashivrao Bhau. Maratha influence in the Carnatic subsequently increased but after losing  Third Battle of Panipat their imperial expansion slowed down and all local powers tried reclaimed their lost lands

The subsequent Siege of Trichinopoly (1751–1752) by Chanda Sahib took place during the Second Carnatic War, with Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah and the British East India Company on one side and Chanda Sahib and the French East India Company on the other. The British won and Wallajah regained the throne as the Nawab of Arcot. During his reign, he proposed renaming the city Natharnagar after the Sufi saint Nathar Vali, who is thought to have lived there in the 12th century.

See also
Anglo-Maratha Wars
Carnatic Wars
Nizams of Hyderabad

References

Sieges involving the Maratha Empire
Sieges involving the Indian kingdoms
Conflicts in 1743
1743 in India
History of Tiruchirappalli

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Barclays wants to hire again in Asia. This could be challenging
Barclays plans to slowly build out its investment bank in Asia, but it's recent history of retrenchments might make this recruitment drive a challenging one.
Chief Executive Jes Staley wants Barclays' corporate and investment bank (CIB) to selectively expand in Asia over the next two to three years, reports Reuters. Asian growth is now critical to Staley's ongoing efforts to increase his firm's investment banking market share globally.
Barclays' CIB unit will be hiring both bankers and traders in Asia, although we understand that the bulk of these hires will be made toward the end of that period (i.e. 2021 onward) and that the expansion is dependent on Barclays hitting global returns targets. Don't expect a flurry of new vacancies at Barclays in Hong Kong or Singapore just yet.
More specifically, the markets team within CIB wants to take on about 60 people (about a 10% to 11% rise over its current headcount), with a focus on FX trading, emerging markets trading in Singapore, and credit trading in Hong Kong, Stephen Dainton, head of global markets at Barclays, told Reuters.
"We're seeing increased activity in the credit and convertible bond markets now that there's more value to be had following the fall in prices in Q4 last year. It's not surprising that Barclays is looking to take advantage of this," says Hong Kong-based trader-turn headhunter Matt Hoyle. "FX volumes are still depressed, but it's likely they will rebound in the next couple of years as well."
Barclays may not find that its markets recruitment is entirely straightforward, however. Although the British bank won't be rebuilding in Asian high-touch cash equities, it's 2015 pull-back from that sector is still fresh in the minds of some traders (regardless of product) in Hong Kong and Singapore, says a Hong Kong-based headhunter, speaking off the record.
There are also wider concerns about the viability of Barclays' proposed expansion in Asian CIB. That's because the bank has been bullish on Asia before – and been forced to scale back. Then CEO Bob Diamond announced in 2009 that Barclays was investing in Asia, including across fixed income, currencies and commodities, as well as equities and advisory banking. Barclays' management remained upbeat about Asia until at least 2011.
Things changed in 2016 when Barclays cut jobs and closed offices in second-tier markets like Indonesia and Malaysia. The bank now has Asia Pacific operations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, India, China and Australia. It has seen an uptick in regional performance over the past two years.
Barclays' current strategy – which is not changing under Staley's proposed recruitment plans – allows Asian clients to access markets globally, and international ones to tap local markets. "If you want to be relevant to global clients, you have to be in Asia," Dainton told Reuters.
The 2016 cutbacks mean Barclays will be building from a low base, however. "It appears to be a careful strategy over three years, but it could potentially be hard to execute, given Barclays' comparatively small current footprint," says a senior banker at a European bank in Singapore.
Barclays finished outside Dealogic's top-10 banks for Q1 Asia (ex-Japan) IB revenue – a table dominated by US and Chinese firms.
Barclays could attract strong bankers and traders to its ranks, if it can convince them that its latest (i.e. 2016 onward) strategy in the region is a sensible one. "Although Barclays has previously pulled back from Asia, it's still a recognisable brand name here," says Lucas Yeo, head of banking and finance at recruiters Tangspac in Singapore. "If candidates think twice about joining, Barclays managers must clearly communicate their vision and goals for the region," he adds.
Barclays did not comment on its Asian recruitment.
Image credit: flavijus, Getty
The senior managers who could land you a job at HSBC in Hong Kong and Singapore
A new "battle" between banks and tech firms has kicked off in Asia
Credit Suisse and UBS are fighting for the hottest private bankers in Asia
CONTRACTS SPECIALIST / AEROSPACE
Specialist, Strategic Business Planning, Consumer Banking Group


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Legislators Plan to Use CARES Act Funds to Rebuild Economy
June 24, 2020, 6:36 PM HST
Photo by Wendy Osher.
Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, State House Speaker Scott K. Saiki, Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, and Rep. Sylvia Luke announced the Legislature's comprehensive plan to use $635 million in federal CARES Act funds to provide ongoing, immediate relief to residents and small businesses who are suffering from the devastating economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The plan aims to support and reinforce the social safety net for our residents, rebuild and move our economy forward, and address the ongoing pandemic.
"The Legislature is acutely aware of the daily challenges facing Hawaii's working residents. The economic impacts of COVID-19 in Hawai'i has further exacerbated the need to support working families. The CARES Act funds will provide immediate relief for Hawai'i's families and local businesses," said Rep. Luke, Chair of the House Finance Committee.
The plan sets aside $230 million to support unemployed residents until the end of the year. "These critical funds will provide a new state unemployment insurance weekly benefit that replaces the weekly federal plus-up payments set to expire July 31," explained Sen. Dela Cruz, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. "Beginning August 1, an estimated 117,000 unemployed individuals will receive the State's enhanced weekly unemployment benefit of $100."
Over 34,000 households are expected to receive help from the plan's $100 million funded rental and housing assistance subsidies. The State's most financially vulnerable households will receive rental assistance in the form of a $500 monthly subsidy or 50% of rent, whichever is lesser, for up to five months from August 1 to December 31.
Another $56 million will be used to bring back small businesses, support training and job programs connecting unemployed with local businesses in need ofemployees, and provide manufacturing grants to local companies that can create local supply chains for necessary cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment (PPE).
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"The push to diversify the State's economy has been a priority for years. The pandemic has exposed the urgency with which we need to provide workforce development and businesses with the tools to learn how to thrive beyond the tourism economy," said House Speaker Saiki. "We are proud to announce this plan that will address the immediate needs of residents and small businesses, and in the process will aide in stimulating our economy."
Addressing the public health needs of the COVID-19 pandemic is another pillar to the comprehensive funding plan. "The Legislature's plan devotes $100 million to distribute ample sanitation and PPE supplies for essential workers beyond the health care community including child care facilities, elderly care homes, small businesses, schools, and non-profits that work with populations vulnerable to the coronavirus," said Senate President Ronald Kouchi.
The Legislature's proposed plan builds upon UHERO's estimates that $618 million in spending will generate more than $1 billion in Gross Domestic Product over the coming year and help Hawaiʻi's households and businesses by supporting up to 6,500 jobs. The plan provides discretion to the Ige Administration to spend the remaining CARES funds to pay for unanticipated and emerging needs. This discretionary amount could be used to bolster Hawaiʻi's unemployment insurance funds or support COVID-19 related programs.
Hawai'i Secures $8 Million in CARES Act Funds for… June 30, 2020
CARES Act Funds for Utility Bills Available Through… September 15, 2020
Mayor: Maui Could Potentially Receive $66.6 Million… May 8, 2020
Gov. Ige on CARES Act Funding: $175 Million to be… May 11, 2020
Hirono Interview: National Testing, Postal Service,… May 27, 2020
Senate Budget Chair Proposes $15M in CARES Act… June 29, 2020
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Shevenge Directed By Amber Benson Is Now Available Via Amazon Prime In The UK
Exciting news for UK fans as Shevenge (a short film) directed by Amber Benson is now available in the UK via Amazon Video platform.
Released in 2015 Shevenge was completed with the help of fans and film enthusiasts, myself included, who backed an Indiegogo.com crowd funding campaign to raise funds to complete postproduction.
The film centers on three friends Sam (Emme Rylan), Charley (Jessica Courtemanche) and Taylor (Megan Lee Joy) who while having a slumber party begin plotting revenge on their ex-boyfriends. We then join them on a journey into the darkest part of their imagination as they take Shevenge on each one of them. This dark comedy pays homage to favourite film genres including horror, fantasy and action.
Following a number of successful screenings in the USA the Shevenge team took it to London for its UK debut at the Film4 Fright Fest Film Festival in August 2015.
Earlier this year Shevenge was made available to own digitally in the UK via Amazon Video platform. Now there is more good news for Amber fans who have an Amazon Prime membership, Shevenge is available to stream for free as part of your membership.
Shevenge was released as part of the second season of Etheria horror, an anthology celebrating the work of female directors and other roles both in front of and behind the camera. Shevenge is among 10 short films set in the horror or sci-fi genres.
Amazon Video is available online via computer, smart devices, games consoles and smart TVs. For full details on how to purchase Etheria Season 2 or Shevenge individually or view as part of your Prime Video Membership click the link below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shevenge/dp/B08FRSSQB7/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Shevenge&qid=1609443243&sr=8-1
The good news for Amber fans in the USA is that Shevenge also available to stream as part of a Prime Membership. Like UK fans they also have the option to purchase Shevenge and/or buy the whole of Etheria Season 2. For full details click the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/Shevenge/dp/B08FRVHZDC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Shevenge&qid=1609422133&sr=8-1
I'd like to thank fellow Amber fan Samantha for giving me a heads up about this so I can let you all know.
I'm thrilled that Shevenge is part of Etheria Season 2, congratulations to Amber, Emme, Jessica, Megan and all of the cast and crew. It's fantastic that Shevenge is now available to an even bigger audience both here in the UK and in the USA and I can't wait to watch it again.
Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV was not involved in any way with the making or production of Shevenge. We were not involved in the production of Etheria Season 2 or any of the short films within it. Nor do we have any connection to Amazon Video in the UK or USA. This post is for informational purposes only we are simply trying to spread the word about a new way to see an exciting short film directed by Amber Benson.
Shevenge Directed By Amber Benson Is Now Available Via Amazon Video In The UK
Exciting news for UK fans as Shevenge (a short film) directed by Amber Benson is now available in the UK via Amazon Video platform. Released in 2015 Shevenge was completed with the help of fans and film enthusiasts, myself included who backed an Indiegogo.com crowd funding campaign to raise funds to complete postproduction.
The film centers on three friends Sam (Emme Rylan), Charley (Jessica Courtemanche) and Taylor (Megan Lee Joy) who are having a slumber party and they begin plotting revenge on their ex-boyfriends. We then join them on a journey into the darkest part of their imagination as they take Shevenge on each one of them. This dark comedy pays homage to favourite film genres including horror, fantasy and action.
Following a number of successful screenings in the USA the Shevenge team took it to London for it's UK debut at the Film4 Fright Fest Film Festival in August 2015. Now Shevenge is available in the UK to own digitally via Amazon Video platform.
Shevenge is being released as part of the second season of Etheria horror anthology celebrating the work of female directors and other roles both in front of and behind the camera. Shevenge is among 10 short films set in the horror or sci-fi genres. Fans can either purchase the whole of Season 2 for £5.99 or alternatively you can buy Shevenge and/or the other short films separately for just 99p each. (prices correct on the date this post was published)
Amazon Video is available online via computer, smart devices, games consoles and smart TVs. For full details and to purchase Etheria Season 2 or Shevenge individually click the link below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08FRSSQB7/ref=tsm_1_tp_tc
Good news for Amber fans across the pond Etheria Season 2/Shevenge is also available to purchase via the US version of Amazon Video platform. For full details and/or to buy click the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/Zone-2/dp/B08FRVHZDC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=etheria+2&qid=1600945210&sr=8-2
Shevenge Is Coming To London This August
There was exciting news for Amber fans in the UK recently when it was announced that Shevenge will have its UK premiere at the Film4 Fright Fest Film Festival in August.
Shevenge is a brand-new short film directed by Amber that was completed with the help of fans and film enthusiasts who backed an Indiegogo.com crowd funding campaign to raise funds to complete postproduction.
Following a number of successful screenings in the USA the Shevenge team announced that it would make its UK debut at the Film4 Fright Fest Film Festival which is taking place in London between the 27 to 31 August 2015.
The Shevenge Premiere is part of the Short Film Showcase 1 which will take place on Saturday, 29 August at 11:15 AM at Discovery At The Prince Charles Cinema.
Due to a combination of work commitments and illness it has taken me much longer than anticipated to publish this information on the "Latest Amber News" section and I apologise for the delay. I checked just before I published this post and there are still tickets available for Short Film Showcase 1 which includes Shevenge. Tickets are available online at the link below and click on the Short Film Showcase 1 link and follow the on-screen instructions.
Click here for Shevenge Tickets (Short Film Showcase 1)
Please Note: When you click the link to buy tickets for Shevenge if it displays an error message stating that your session has expired the quickest way to reactivate the link and purchase your ticket is to use the following steps:
Under the words "Search by" towards the bottom of the page click day then the link for Saturday, 29 August then the link for Single Tickets. Under select area click The Prince Charles Cinema and finally the link for Short Film Showcase 1.
I apologise if that seems a little complicated but I assume because the site is selling the tickets it times out as a security measure after a couple of minutes of inactivity. I've tried navigating back to this page a couple of different ways and this is the easiest way that I have found. If you discover an easier route by all means get in touch either by email or social media or if you are stuck I'll do my best to help and remember I'm not involved in the festival in anyway I'm just a fan who is trying to provide the best information I can and I'm happy to help if I am able to of course.
For more information on the Film4 Fright Fest Film Festival please visit their official website at: www.frightfest.co.uk
Here is a link to the official website for The Prince Charles Cinema www.princecharlescinema.com
I hope everyone who is able to attend has a fantastic time!
Disclaimer: AmberBenson.TV is not involved in any way with the production of Shevenge. We are not involved in any way with the Film4 Fright Fest Film Festival. This post is for informational purposes only we are simply trying to spread the word about an exciting short film directed by Amber Benson.


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Newark man receives scooter for good deed, wants to pay it forward
Uncategorized April 2, 2014 September 18, 2019
Brian DeGarmo, a longtime volunteer for Mental Health America of Licking County, recently received scooter to thank him for finding and turning in a lost iPhone. / Anna Jeffries/The Advocate
Anna Jeffries
Advocate reporter
NEWARK — Now that temperatures are finally rising, Brian DeGarmo can be seen riding his electric scooter from his Hudson Avenue home to Mental Health America of Licking County.
Employees at MHA can't help but smile when they see him zipping around the parking lot. They love telling the story of how DeGarmo got his bright red scooter, said MHA Executive Director Penny Sitler.
Right before Christmas, DeGarmo found a cellphone on the sidewalk and turned it in. The owner of the phone bought him the scooter to say thank you.
"We are really proud of him," Sitler said. "We are glad that he did the right thing."
A longtime Newark resident, DeGarmo was known when he was a young man for riding a unicycle around the city; he frequently made appearances in the United Way parade.
But in 1981, he was in a car crash that put him in a coma for six days. When he woke up in the hospital, his doctors told him he had a serious brain injury.
Unable to work or drive, DeGarmo went through a slow, difficult recovery process. He credits former MHA Executive Director Paddy Kutz for helping him get back on his feet.
His friendship with Kutz led him to Mental Health America, where he's been a volunteer for many years. He helps with recycling, shredding and anything else the staff needs.
"I could just sit at home," he said. "But I decided to come here and they can use my hands."
Everyone in the office enjoys DeGarmo's considerate nature and his sense of humor, Sitler said.
"There's never been anything we've asked him to do that he's said no to," she said.
Since he doesn't have a car, DeGarmo walks to the MHA office whenever he can, sometimes picking up cans to recycle. In December, he was walking along Church Street when he saw something shiny.
"I looked at it and said, 'That's not a can, that's a phone,'" he said. "I knew it belonged to someone."
At first DeGarmo didn't know what to do with the iPhone because he wanted to make sure it was returned to its owner, not placed on a shelf or in a lost-and-found box.
"I prayed about it and brought it up (to MHA)," he said.
With help from Associate Director Pam Roberts, they were able to find the owner's phone number and call him.
The owner, who wished to remain anonymous, is a New Albany resident who was visiting Licking County for a funeral, Roberts said. He forgot he put his cellphone on top of his car and drove away.
The phone's owner wanted to say thank you to MHA by making a donation to the organization. But Roberts felt it would make more sense to help DeGarmo.
Roberts had seen him looking at photos of an electric scooter and knew it would help him out. The man agreed to buy it for him and sent it to MHA just in time for Christmas.
DeGarmo was nervous about driving the scooter during winter weather, but now that spring has started, he's using it to get around. These scooters really improved the life of many people who use them for daily commute.
"I won't get as tired," he said
Although the scooter has made a big difference in his life, DeGarmo's focus still is on helping MHA. Sitler and Roberts were especially touched but declined his offer to donate the scooter as a raffle prize to MHA's annual Java and Jazz fundraiser.
"We think he is awesome," Roberts said. "He always brings a smile and wonderful encouragement when he comes here."
DeGarmo said he's happy to help whenever he can.
"I care about this place," he said. "I feel at home here."
ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com
Twitter: @amsjeffries
Red Cross Honors Heroes
Checking Your Mental Health Key
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Above all else, be kind
How are you doing right now? No, really, how are you doing? We're so quick in our society to say,…
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Come along and join our animal feeding sessions and help our farmers to feed the chickens and ducks and collect their eggs. Meet our cheeky little goats, Grethel, Smartie and Bon Bon and make friends with our four alpacas, Treacle, Fudge, Rosalie and Florence – not forgetting our two ponies, Pebbles and Amber and our miniature donkeys, Ember and Taco. You will not be allowed to ignore Ruby and Prudence our Kune Kune pigs who make a lot of noise when they know food is on the way!
Snuffle with Ruby and Prudence our Kune Kune pigs who make a lot of noise when they know food is on the way!
We have two ponies called Pebbles and Amber who are mother and daughter, and a Welsh Dartmoor cross. They are very friendly, always happy to say hello and to share an apple or a carrot with you!
Our other residents include our two alpacas, Fudge and Treacle and their new friends Rosalie and Florence. They are gentle and friendly, yet quite shy. They are also very curious and will approach you, staring intently! They do not like being touched but will sometimes (if they are feeling brave) eat from your hand.
We have a variety of different breeds of hen (including Exchequer Leghorns and Cuckoo Marans) and most of them are good layers – although they do have a short break during the winter. We shut them in at night to keep them safe from the fox. In the mornings they need to be let out, fed and their eggs collected. So if there are any young (or old!) volunteers out there who would like to help Simon, animal feeding begins at about 9am in the morning.
Ember and Taco are gorgeous, little, Miniature Mediterranean donkeys. They are very friendly and love having their backs scratched!
Our ducks have the same routine as the hens, although letting them out in the mornings is a much noisier affair! We have some Indian Runner ducks who like to charge around together and are great fun, also some Aylesburys and some Muscovy ducks. The male Muscovies are unusual to look at but they're very friendly.
Lottie the cat is very friendly and happy to be stroked. We do ask guests not to invite her into the cottages – even if she asks politely!
Last, but by no means least, we have our dog Nell, a blue merle Border Collie. She is always eager to greet guests. You will probably meet her going or coming back from her twice daily walks. Don't worry if your children are afraid of dogs, she is very gentle.