text:
Picking the Low-Hanging Fruit.
Posted by Dan Solomon Published in Books
(this post by Non-MGK author Dan Solomon)
Hey, you know who's still a douchebag? That James Frey asshole who wrote A Milion Little Pieces.
I read a Vanity Fair article about the guy a month or two ago and thought, you know, maybe he's not so bad, he probably deserves a second chance. And then I opened this week's issue of TimeOut London and saw that there was an interview with him in the books section, read it, and had confirmed for me- yup, still a douchebag. But don't take my word for it- take it away, Frey-guy:
"no book has ever been investigated or picked apart the way mine has, before or since."
No book? Ever? People investigated your book more than they did The Bell Curve, or The Population Bomb, or Holy Blood, Holy Grail? Or, I dunno, fucking Mein Kampf? I know that his point is that most memoirs don't get the same sort of scrutiny that his did, but the way he talks about it makes it look like he thinks he's the most specialist writer in the whole world who just got picked on so unfairly.
"if you look at memoirs in general, any one of them that's readable is going to have the same issues that mine had."
Well, not exactly. When Frey started publishing, he tried to pick a literary fight with Dave Eggers, so let's compare A Million Little Pieces and A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. Okay, A-1, Eggers' book's central concept, that a twenty-something kid had to suddenly raise his little brother after the deaths of both of his parents, is true. Frey's book's concept, that he got so fucked up on drugs that he ended up in jail and then met a bunch of strange characters in rehab, including a girlfriend who killed herself, is untrue. So no, any readable memoir can exist without wholesale fabrication of the events of the author's life. Furthermore, Eggers (who isn't the first author to do this) included in the paperback edition of the book a full appendix of errata, explaining where the facts of reality differ from those of the book. Voila, even Frey's literary nemesis was able to write a memoir without those "issues".
"A Million Little Pieces was written as a novel, and its intentions were all literary, all artistic. It was meant to be an insult to self-help books, and somewhere along the line it became one, and I was really uncomfortable with that. I was like, this is me spitting on self-help books… I got put on this pedestal as a recover and addiction superhero, and that was not at all what I wanted… I don't want to be a guy on TV talking about addiction. Fuck that."
The incredibly douchey thing about this statement is that it makes it seem like all of that shit was just stuff that happened to him, rather than things he actively sought to do. He didn't get ambushed by Oprah in the middle of the night and forced to appear on the show to talk about addiction and recovery; he didn't have to turn his book into a brand for a certain school of self-help; he jumped on that pedestal the second it was offered to him. Which is telling, because addicts who haven't taken any responsibility for their addiction do the exact same thing. Claiming that all of the things that happened to you just happened, as opposed to being stuff you did, is a telltale sign of an unrecovered addict. Which is pretty funny, considering who it's coming from.
"most of the writers I love were notorious writers: Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Hemingway, Celine, Bret Easton Ellis, Mailer…"
Yeah, but guess what those guys are notorious for? Hint: it's not lying to Oprah. I get that the guy needs to tell himself that he's some rebel outlaw, but be real- do you think Celine would have ever taken the Oprah's Book Club stamp on the cover of Death On The Installment Plan? Mailer wasn't "notorious" because he fabricated events and got caught- shit, Mailer was steadfast in his dedication to keeping fact and fiction distinct. He didn't try to pass off The Armies of the Night as straight non-fiction, and he was happy to call The Executioner's Song and Harlot's Ghost and Marilyn novels. Trying to pass yourself off as an heir to that when the very thing you're notorious for flies in the face of what he was all about? Douchey, douchey, douchey.
"one of the joys of this being classified as a novel is that none of it has to be accurate or real, and if people want it to be, they can fuck off… I saw the book being discussed on 'Newsnight Review' and one of the guys was like 'well, this information better be real, I feel like he's conning us again,' and I'm like, 'you fucking dumbass. It's a fucking novel. None of it has to be real.' Frankly, he reacted just the way I hoped."
This is in response to a question about his new book being full of facts and history that are totally made-up. And yes, he's technically correct, a novel does not have to have any true things in it if the author doesn't want it to. But check it out- if you're making up the history of Los Angeles and the facts about the city, then you're not writing about Los Angeles. You're writing about a made-up place that exists in your imagination. You might as well be writing about Metropolis. If you have to reimagine the place in order for it to fit into your novel, then your novel is not actually about LA.
And the douchiest thing in the interview? It comes as a response to a question about whether he wished he'd been more emphatic about how A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard were meant to be classified.
"there were mistakes made, sure."
For a writer who's not really known for using the passive voice, this is a pretty unique statement. Mistakes were made? Who made them, James? You know, what's funny about this is the whole construction of the sentence is pretty familiar. Pretty much any time someone fucks up and doesn't want to admit that it was their fuck-up, they'll dip into the passive voice for a response like that. Check out the number of Bush administration dickheads who used it to explain the Iraq War, the attorney firing scandal, civilian bombings in Afghanistan, etc- General Richards, Richard Perle, Alberto Gonzales, George W Bush himself, and even John McCain– and you'll see how powerful a linguistic device it is for people who want to avoid admitting that they fucked up.
So in a single-page interview, Frey manages to avoid admitting responsibility for the lies in his books, treat himself as a victim for having appeared on Oprah, complain about all the unfair scrutiny his made-up memoir received, argue that everybody else does it, so who cares, equate himself with Norman Mailer because he got famous for something that violated one of the main principles of Mailer's writing, and giggle about the dumbasses who expect that a novel that's set in Los Angeles be about the real LA and not the Narnia-LA that the author needed to create for the narrative to work. So, yeah- in case you were wondering, James Frey is still a douchebag.
Open Question: Do You Give Up On a Book? (September 9th, 2016)
BringTheNoise said on August 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Yep, definitely a douchebag.
Talking of writers with a tenuous grip on reality: Scott Kurtz doesn't need to listen to you whiny critics, because he's better than you, so there: http://www.4thletter.net/2008/08/on-criticism-and-art/
Will Entrekin said on August 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
God I hate Frey. Regardless of its level of factual accuracy (or utter lack thereof), A Million Little Pieces was just an awful, awful novel. Horribly written. His 'style,' for lack of a better word, is so utterly pretentious and arch it makes my eyes twitch.
It's kinda like The Da Vinci Code in that both were held up mainly as books for people who don't usually read.
Samus said on August 14th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Douche to the nth power.
I just read some of the forward to the new paperback edition in Borders the other day. I felt so ill I had to go and buy "Mouse Guard" to recuperate. So really it worked out all right.
R.A. Porter said on August 14th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
What the fuck is he doing mentioning good and great writers in an interview about himself? THIS is what's wrong with the 1st Amendment down here.
But wait! This was in TimeOut London. The UK has some pretty strong libel laws. I'm sure Ellis and the estates of the others could all sue for libel for being compared to so untalented a hack.
Andrew said on August 15th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Was this the dude who pretended to be in the Rangers and was writing Stormwatch: Team Achilles?
Zenrage said on August 15th, 2008 at 3:14 am
BTN: The point Scott Kurtz tries to make is that, especially in comics, since its an artform that comes out piece by piece over a long period of time, editors and artists tend to listen too much to whiny critics and wind up second guessing their own aesthetic and risk losing what out of fear of losing their fanbase.
Mainly because the whiny critics are the only ones who talk so much.
This is what's making me lose my productivity big time at my job right now. Where I work, production artists are graded on the amount of work they do versus the "errors" they make and the critics who make the call on what an error is are too fucking well known for making wholly subjective calls based on their own aesthetics even when the instructions clearly state "artist's judgment", not "critic's judgment". Our clients however, rant consistently to our managers about how we don't try to make every single ad a show stopper, but in reality, its simply not worth the risk to our production values to make something beyond average when there's the chance of it being rejected over some critic's personal aesthetic.
Out of economic survival, we have to pass along crap that we fully acknowledge is only average to avoid risking potential production value problems. The other downside is that since we acknowledge that the critics are truly fucked up and no one in the management seems willing to acknowledge this problem, our production goes down because we are second guessing our own aesthetic.
No one is paying Scott Kurtz to view his webcomic, just as no one is paying to see many webcomics online. This allows the artist/editor considerable freedoms in regards to whether or not to listen to his critics and to pursue greater ideas and greater aesthetic risks. I applaud his efforts to spread this acknowledgment to other artists – that while they are able to view it or not view it at their leisure, the audience simply does not have any claim to the ownership the art and where it progresses, and neither do the critics.
Another example, I am starting my own webcomic and I've sent my first chapter to several friends and family and a majority have given me one similar response – that I should try to expand upon the first chapter's main character (even though she dies at the end of the chapter and I wouldn't count her as even a minor character after the main storyline picks up in chapter 4 – I've mentioned her once in 15 chapters and I don't expect to do so again for at least another 50-100). I can say that while I may expand on a couple points before I start posting this, I will not be going much beyond who I've identified her to be – unless I want to go back someday and explore the events her death catalyzes in greater detail.
Personally, I'd rather drive a fanbase right into the ground than let any part of the audience dictate how my story or my aesthetic should progress. It may not be economically sound, but some artists actually place the value of their own work above how well it is received. I am proud to say that I do exactly that.
Dan Solomon said on August 15th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Will- It really is terrible writing, yeah. I can definitely see why that contrived tough-guy prose utterly failed to sell as a novel. It's funny- I think there was just a gap that moment for a character with Frey's persona in the American consciousness which sold it as a memoir.
Andrew- That was Micah Ian Wright, whose story is equally weird and bizarre. He also published a book of "remixed" propaganda posters for the Iraq war after ripping off the concept from a thread on the old WEF. I actually liked some of his writing, but the guy always left a bad taste in my mouth.
Zenrage: It's that sense of gross entitlement that leads to Piss Christ getting thousands of taxpayer dollars, and all of the kiddies on deviantart who just put some photoshop filter on something else thinking they're artists.
Zenrage said on August 15th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
There's nothing gross about the entitlement. Unless you are directly helping with its creation, you don't own it, you don't have a say in its editorial process, you don't have a say in the artist's progression beyond that. Period.
People who toss on a filter on previous works aren't artists. They're violating copyright. The only problem is copyright and trademark laws can only be enforced by the individual artists themselves and artists simply can't afford to go after every single violation. Even if they could, I don't see how you could translate that into any claim on the original artist's work.
As for Piss Christ, its not the first time a large endowment has gone out in return for a product that could have been done for much less by someone else. The problem with this argument is that, when it comes to art, it can only be done in hindsight as its impossible to come up with a timeless masterpiece through a committee – One artist has to be in charge of the final product. Even if "great art by committee" could happen, what the hell makes you think you're entitled to be on that committee? Paying taxes doesn't make you qualified to lead armies, channel funding, choose road crews for highway construction – and it sure as fuck doesn't make you qualified enough to be an art critic. Piss Christ happens from time to time. If you don't like the final product. That's your choice. But neither your aesthetic nor your economic outrage make you qualified to make better decisions that those who approved or worked on projects like this.
Bret said on August 15th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
But Piss Christ isn't any good.
The thought isn't "it could be cheaper" but "geeze, this sucks."
Dan Solomon said on August 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
"Piss Christ" moved people on a visceral level and challenged the very definition of art. It lives on to this day in conversations like this one. How much more successful can a piece of contemporary art be? The ongoing dialogue about what art is that "Piss Christ" started, because of the profound reactions people had to the piece, is well worth the taxpayer dollars spent on it. The odds are very good that, when the great history of late 20th Century art is written, many of the artists whose work you do like will be footnotes, while that one will be a chapter with color plates. It was an incredibly successful product of its time.
Jack Norris (Ed) said on August 16th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I never actually read his stuff, but I derived a bit of mean-spirited enjoyment out of the fact that people who are big "oh, I only read non-fiction" types were tricked into reading something "made up." If you click on my name, my not-updated-for-far-too-long blog still has my post about this at the top of the page.
Matt said on November 28th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Actually using a real place and using it to incorporate your fiction is a commmon method for writing fiction. You are evoking the understood reality of the setting, Los Angels and then using it to elaborate your fiction. Capturing and building on myth. I've read a number of settings that does this, Sanfransisco, New York and on the top of my head, New Orleans with Ann Rice…


2. Police reveal that a woman arrested for shoplifting had a whole salami in her underwear. When asked why, she said it was because she was missing her Italian boyfriend.
3. Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description. It's a Special Branch vehicle and they don't want the public to know what it looks like.
5. At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard and asked him to estimate the wind speed. He replied he was sorry, but he didn't have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff.


This post was first published on the Center for Global Development Views from the Center blog. It offers four ideas for progress towards a more development-friendly immigration policy in the United Kingdom.
The always-insightful Duncan Green discusses on his blog why migration is a 'Cinderella issue' in development, following a talk by Michael Clemens at a lunchtime meeting in London hosted by CGD in Europe and IPPR.
Development organisations cherish a mental image of happy peasants, tilling fields or resting of an evening in a flourishing village with schools, water and the like.
Duncan is clearly right that part of the problem is that migration does not fit our picture of how we want developing countries to be; indeed, the mirage of happy peasants is the source of many unhelpful biases in development policy. This contributes to a general unwillingness to acknowledge the huge benefits for people, and for countries, which come about when people move within and between countries.
But even if we did appreciate the benefits for development of migration, is the whole subject just politically toxic? There is a widespread misconception (despite evidence to the contrary) that immigration pushes down wages of workers, puts stress on public services and creates unemployment. Development organisations do not appear to be willing to challenge these misapprehensions, nor to promote changes in immigration policy which would benefit development. Are they worried that they are wasting their breath, or are they also concerned that they risk alienating the public by seeming too pro-foreigner, and so losing support for aid and other development efforts?
a. The limits on student visas could be relaxed. This is already being considered following lobbying by colleges and universities. The current rules disproportionately hit students from developing countries, even though temporary student visas are not the kind of migration which is most unpopular. The development community could focus on ensuring that the limits should be relaxed in a way which benefits people coming from developing countries (for example, by allowing more visas for secondary education). A famous study by Spilimbergo provides rigorous evidence that developing countries which send more students to study overseas in democratic countries tend to become more democratic themselves. David Cameron wants to promote the 'golden thread' of more democratic, open and accountable institutions: one way that the UK can share these values with the rest of the world is by educating students from those countries.
b. The points system could be amended to remove discrimination against people from developing countries. The current points system for Tier 1 migrants to the UK is discriminatory because it measures a person's skills by looking at their previous earnings, converted to pounds at market exchange rates. So a person from Ethiopia would get fewer points under this system than a person with the same skills who happens to live in Brazil. If the goal of the points system is to give preference to skilled people this would be better achieved by converting salaries at purchasing power parity instead of market exchange rates. The result would be the same number of migrants into the UK, but they would be more highly skilled (which is the objective of the policy) and a greater proportion of them would come from developing countries.
c. We could finance training of medical workers in developing countries, and enable them to work in our health systems. Michael Clemens has shown that there is no 'brain drain' of medical professionals: on the contrary, the opportunity to work for part of a career abroad encourages more good quality people into those professions in developing countries. Countries which export a large number of health professionals are no more likely to have domestic shortages of health workers at home, and there is no impact of emigration of medical workers on health outcomes. In the meantime, our own health systems face a crisis as they are unable to recruit enough nurses. But there is no reason why African countries should use their limited to resources to train medical professionals to work in our health systems. We could use aid to finance training of medical workers in developing countries, including specific training relevant to working abroad (such as language), and then provide opportunities for those doctors and nurses to work in Europe, such as in the NHS. This would benefit the country from which they come, the country where they come to work, and (most of all) the health workers and their families. Australia, which is not a country renowned for being soft on immigration, does something like this for other types of semi-skilled professionals, through the Australia-Pacific Technical College which is financed by Australian aid to train workers in its poor neighbouring countries (such as Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu) so that they can work in Australia This benefits everyone, and it is made possible by cooperation between the aid agency and the immigration department of a kind which is not evident in European countries.
d. More controversially: we could provide humanitarian protection to people who are at risk as a result of a natural disaster. We already provide refugee status to people who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, or whose lives are endangered by armed conflict. We could expand this list of threats to include people who are affected by drought, flood or earthquake (or perhaps a limited number of such people).This would have far bigger benefits for those communities than the modest amounts of emergency aid we provide in the face of natural disasters, and would cost us nothing. The UK could do this, for example, by adding a new category to the Tier 5 temporary worker scheme, similar to the youth mobility scheme but with places for countries which have had a natural disaster on a sufficient scale.
These changes would not only change the lives of the people affected, they would also directly benefit the UK by increasing economic activity and bringing in people who pay more tax than they cost in public services (in contrast to aid, which is a good investment but has a cost).
So why doesn't the UK Department for International Development (DFID) push for these kinds of changes? DFID used to have a 'migration team' in its Policy Division but it has been disbanded. Jonathan Portes, Director of NIESR, told the lunchtime meeting that UK government decision-makers on migration could not give two hoots about the effect on development or the views of DFID. (He should know: he used to be the Chief Economist at the Cabinet Office, and he has worked extensively within the British government on the economics of migration.) If so, that is a sorry situation. DFID has worked hard, with some success, in recent years to be more closely integrated with the rest of government. I support more joined up government, including being willing to use the aid programme partly in support of wider government objectives. But this should not be a one-way street: being more joined up should also mean that other government departments are obliged to consider both how their policies can support (or at least avoid undermining) the government's development objectives. DFID is supposed to be a development ministry, not just an aid agency, but it seems to be more than ever focused on securing an aid budget of 0.7% of GDP and finding ways to spend it well.
That suggests a different answer to Duncan Green's question. Migration is a Cinderella issue in development because there is nobody to speak for the people who are disadvantaged by the current rules. Domestic civil society organisations which work on migration are mainly focused on the rights of immigrants, not on improving the impact of migration on development or creating opportunities for people in poor countries. DFID is largely in retreat from non-aid issues. The big development NGOs at best speak for their own visions of development, and at worst promote the aid industry of which they are part. As a result, people in developing countries are denied some of the most powerful and inexpensive ways in which they could improve their lives.
Please post your comments at the Center for Global Development Views from the Center blog.


Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options begin trading this week, for the October 21st expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 241 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a possible opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration.
American Axle & Manufacturing (AXL) stock is spiking after the company reported its 2015 fourth quarter earnings before today's market open.
Investors will be watching quarterly results from several major companies, along with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's Congressional address.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options become available this week, for the March 18th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the AXL options chain for the new March 18th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
Here are Tuesday's top research calls, including upgrades for Newell Rubbermaid and Texas Instruments, a downgrade for Apache, and new a buy rating for Amazon.
The most recent short interest data has been released by the NASDAQ for the 11/30/2015 settlement date, which shows a 819,710 share increase in total short interest for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc , to 5,356,042, an increase of 18.07% since 11/13/2015. Total short interest is just one way to look at short data; another metric that we here at Dividend Channel find particularly useful is the "days to cover" metric because it considers both the total shares short and the average daily volume of shares traded.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options become available today, for the July 2016 expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 235 days until expiration the newly available contracts represent a possible opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration.
American Axle & Manufacturing (AXL) shares are higher after the company beat analysts' estimates for earnings in the third quarter.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options begin trading this week, for the December 18th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the AXL options chain for the new December 18th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options become available this week, for the November 20th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the AXL options chain for the new November 20th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options become available today, for the January 2018 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 858 days until expiration the newly available contracts represent a possible opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options begin trading this week, for the April 2016 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 234 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a possible opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration.
The most recent short interest data has been released by the NASDAQ for the 07/31/2015 settlement date, which shows a 3,186,113 share decrease in total short interest for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc , to 6,410,487, a decrease of 33.20% since 07/15/2015. Total short interest is just one way to look at short data; another metric that we here at Dividend Channel find particularly useful is the "days to cover" metric because it considers both the total shares short and the average daily volume of shares traded.
American Axle & Manufacturing (AXL) price target was cut to $23 from $26 at Credit Suisse, which maintained its 'neutral' rating.
American Axle & Manufacturing (AXL) shares closed lower Friday after the company cut its full year 2015 guidance.
The most recent short interest data has been released by the NASDAQ for the 06/30/2015 settlement date, which shows a 1,430,120 share increase in total short interest for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc , to 9,691,672, an increase of 17.31% since 06/15/2015. Total short interest is just one way to look at short data; another metric that we here at Dividend Channel find particularly useful is the "days to cover" metric because it considers both the total shares short and the average daily volume of shares traded.
Investors in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc saw new options begin trading today, for the August 21st expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the AXL options chain for the new August 21st contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
Cramer says stay away from Trinity Industries, BlackBerry and American Capital Agency but he likes PNC Financial.
Ambarella stock seems to defy gravity, and stocks that go straight up almost always end badly, Cramer says.
Here are today's top research calls, including upgrades of Finish Line and Lending Club.


text:
Home World Swedish runestones open gateway to ancient Viking civilization
Swedish runestones open gateway to ancient Viking civilization
Vallentuna, Sweden (CNN) — Drive north of the Swedish capital for about half an hour and you will attain the lakeside district of Vallentuna, a nice group with cobblestone church buildings, picnic areas and playgrounds.
It's additionally a journey deep into Sweden's ancient Viking previous.
Scattered amongst Vallentuna's greenery are dozens of mystical runestones that kind the gateway to a 1,000-year-old Viking civilization now believed to be considered one of Scandinavia's most vital historic websites.
Known as Runriket, or Rune Kingdom, this assortment of greater than 100 Viking age runestones — ancient lichen-crusted slabs of Old Norse inscriptions — are lovely relics that shine a lightweight on fashionable Sweden's previous, revealing stunning truths about its ancestors.
Vikings are sometimes depicted as brutish Odin-worshippers who pillaged, drank and made blood sacrifices. While there's fact to the stereotype, the relics of Rune Kingdom really paint an image of dedicate Christian settlers on the cusp of embracing medieval life.
Among them, one man stands out — an 11th-century Viking ruler named Jarlabanke who seems in additional runic inscriptions right here than anybody else — largely as a result of he appears to have been colossally self-important.
"He had many runestones made, both after others but more famously after himself, something that was quite rare," says Eric Östergren, a information at Stockholm's Viking Museum whose personal lengthy auburn beard and gray-blue eyes have a taste of Old Norse about them.
"From these runestones, we can assume Jarlabanke's power grew and he changed the local political landscape," Östergren provides.
Jarlabanke's gargantuan ego — sufficiently big to echo by means of the ages — has left treasured archaeological proof of a civilization which, as a result of Vikings largely used wooden for building, is in any other case scarce.
The runestones created by Jarlabanke reveal the affect of his dynasty throughout 5 generations and archaeologists have been in a position to use them to piece collectively a key chapter for Viking society little recognized exterior of Scandinavia — the arrival of Christianity.
Sweden's first Christians
Norse code: The runestones of Runriket make clear a little-understood chapter of Sweden's ancient previous.
Arash Bahrehmand
On the east aspect of Vallentuna Lake stand two formidable granite runestones that bear an identical inscriptions and face one another. Measuring about 1.65 meters (5 ft, 5 in), their etchings declare they mark the unique location of a bridge constructed by Jarlabanke.
Archaeologists consider this ancient construction was raised as a passage over marshland to a church.
The bridge — regionally generally known as "Jarlabanke bro" — is the commonest start line to conduct a tour of Runriket, which will be carried out by automobile or on foot.
As is widespread with stones linked to Jarlabanke, Old Norse letters are written throughout the winding tail of a legendary serpent that frames a big, artistically drawn cross.
Many of the runestones at Runriket are carved with these unmistakably Christian crosses, some elaborate in design, like the 2 at Jarlabanke Bridge, and others with easy, shallowly engraved strains.
These are among the many first Christian symbols present in Sweden. In truth, archaeologists have linked the arrival of Christianity in Sweden immediately to Jarlabanke by means of the stones at Runriket.
"We know that they (Jarlabanke and his family) must have been the earliest Christians in this area and that Jarlabanke's grandfather Östen traveled all the way to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage as early as the first half of the 11th century," says Magnus Källström, a researcher on the Swedish National Heritage Board and considered one of Sweden's most sought-after runologists.
The stones additionally inform us of an essential transition in funeral practices, signaling the departure of pagan rituals in alternate for Christian burials.
"In Vallentuna's runestones, we can document a change of culture, from a time when a burial mound was built to an embrace of more medieval customs," Östergren says.
'He alone owned all'
Jarlabanke's imposing presence can nonetheless be felt throughout Vallentuna. If he have been round at present, Östergren likes to joke to guests to his museum, the Viking "would probably upload selfies every day" to Facebook.
While there are lacking items to the puzzle, all the things recognized about Jarlabanke has come from the runic inscriptions on the stones.
"Jarlabanke must have been a very important and wealthy person in the vicinity of Vallentuna Lake," observes Källström. "He built his impressive bridge and he arranged an assembly place probably close to where Vallentuna church stands today."
Källström factors to a two-sided runestone that sits alongside the Vallentuna church on a sunny hillside over the lake. It supplies a elementary clue to understanding Jarlabanke's energy.
Tracing his finger throughout runes partially obscured by grey and brown moss, he reads out the inscription in Old Norse, which to the untrained ear sounds rather a lot like a mystical spell from a J.R.R. Tolkien novel.
"Jarlabanki let ræisa stæin þenn at sik kvikvan," he recites. "Jarlabanke had this stone raised in memory of himself while alive.
"And made this meeting place, and alone owned all of this hundred."
Here, the word "hundred" refers to a large administrative region. According to Källström, it's debatable whether Jarlabanke was merely a powerful landowner, or played another more significant role.
"This is a really massive space and it appears not possible that each one this land was in Jarlabanke's personal possession. Most in all probability, the verb æiga — 'to personal' — means one thing completely different right here: that he was the chieftain for this hundred, or the legislation speaker or decide."
The amount of times Jarlabanke writes his name in Vallentuna also suggests that he was quite powerful, and wanted to make sure everyone knew it.
Källström also suggests that there could have been a power struggle with his half-brother, which would explain why Jarlabanke took pains to clearly state that "he alone" ruled the area.
Still, other researchers like Östergren say that the ruthless nature of Viking politics combined with a narcissistic personality would make for a ruler that was likely more "mafia boss" than simple adjudicator.
"Jarlabanke is talked about on 10 of those stones, and 6 of those he has put up in reminiscence of himself!" Källström excitedly points out.
Messages from the past
Experts say the runestones partly represent a Viking ego trip.
Moreover, Jarlabanke's love of runestones likely inspired many others in the area to follow suit in seeking political influence by paying for a craftsman to raise a runestone.
Whatever the motivation, the result was the creation of a kingdom of late Viking Age inscriptions that would endure through the centuries.
Reading the russet-colored Runic letters — some of which are similar to Latin — is one thing. Decoding the meaning of an Old Norse message is another. For this reason, there are still many mysteries left in Viking runestones still to be understood.
This year, for instance, runologists finally managed to decipher the Rok stone, Sweden's most famous runestone.
An inscription that famously mentions Ragnarok, the Viking apocalypse, the Rok's inscription is written in the form of a riddle that tells of a climate change event that impacted the Vikings of the ninth century.
Östergren says that Runriket is a portal through which countless more mysteries may yet be solved.
"Runriket is each a highway to additional data for individuals who need to go in depth, but additionally for these which can be simply beginning to scratch the floor of understanding who the Vikings actually have been."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Law career in need of a change scene? We're recruiting!
HomeNews & UpdatesBlogLaw career in need of a change scene? We're recruiting!
As one of the UK's leading medical negligence and serious injury firms, we've seen a 15% increase in claims against medical professionals and healthcare bodies this year alone. We believe that number will continue to rise, as cuts to NHS funding further impact upon front-line services.
Our recent online debate put the question to the public, "Is it ethical to sue the NHS?" Recent scandals like the atrocities uncovered at Mid Staffordshire have brought widespread negligence into the public domain, and in a culture where mistakes are actively concealed more patients are sadly at risk of harm. By growing our team we aim to combat a shocking trend.
Solicitors with at least four years medical litigation experience are encouraged to consider the move to Southport's sunny shores and the vibrant work environment Fletchers offers. With a focus on career progression and healthy work-life balance, as well as company benefits such as flexi-time, we are a progressive firm with the capacity and drive to truly value our staff. Testament to this is our Investors in People Gold Award, which recognises excellence in developing and supporting staff.
Incentive schemes, training opportunities and an ardent reputation make Fletchers an ideal firm to advance a serious legal career. Paired with more practical company benefits like childcare assistance and discounted gym membership, we actively encourage our employees to share in the community and make a difference with their time both in and out of the office.
Long regarded a quintessential British holiday destination, Southport makes a welcome change from the urban grind and stresses of inner-city living. A cosmopolitan bar and restaurant scene means city dwellers can satisfy their social side at a fraction of the cost of larger cities. With affordable housing and the appeal of natural spaces like Formby Beach, overlooking the Irish Sea, none of Fletchers' out-of-town recruits misses their commute!
Fletchers Solicitors is recognised for handling a significant proportion of the UK's medical negligence claims, but also advocates a personal approach to clients. Compassion and understanding are at the heart of the Fletchers offering, qualities firmly reflected in the management and care of our staff.
For further information on the opportunities available please email alisonpye@fs.co.uk or phone 01704 503111.
Ed Fletcher
World Menopause Day: Signs, symptoms and stats
Sunday 18th October is World Menopause Day. To raise awareness about the menopause, Audit and Compliance Executive, Jen Corcoran writes about what it is and the effects it has. What…


The collection consists of eight stereoscopic photo cards depicting activities related to a moose hunt by members of the Oh You! Scraggy Club in 1910. None of the people in the photos are identified but five of the three-dimensional images have some writing on the back. The collection also includes a viewer for the images called a Holmes stereoscope.


Valuable Strategies for Car In-depth Reviews You Can Use Starting Immediately | Amazing Car Reviews Library!
About Cars blog is about cars. Everybody adores the notion of buying a car over the internet but that's not reality. If you'd like, you are able to also select used cars based on their popularity on the portal.
If you're going to purchase a car, you will probably hunt for auto reviews and ratings. Also think of the potential costs involved after you've obtained an automobile. Purchasing an automobile is not a simple endeavor. Purchasing it is no simple endeavor. To continue to continue to keep your vehicle running as smooth as possible you will require excellent engine oil and quite a good superior oil filter to be certain the oil stays free of abrasive particles that may lead to problems. You've got to design the automobile in a fashion that fulfills the requirements of distinct markets and satisfy the tastes of buyers. Before you decide on your next new automobile, you should research unique models, particularly if you're available in the marketplace for a new SUV.
After you have located the automobile, you must sign all the important paperwork. Don't utilize filters other than that that's suggested for your vehicle as it might damage the components. You also need to consider how you're likely to cover the motor vehicle. You also need to contemplate how you're likely to cover the automobile. Also, the automobile will most likely be under warranty for the entire length of the lease, so parents and young drivers don't have to be worried about the amount of upkeep or expensive repair bills. It needs to have the important equipment. If you want to acquire a used vehicle you need to take some precautions as it will probably be your second most significant purchase you could possibly make, after a home.


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Performance update on probate service
The Law Society updated its members on the current state of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service´s probate service this month (February 2020), relating that HMCTS says the service is in a "good place performance wise".
Professional applications are being returned within two weeks, and the Welsh service has also been launched. This includes the roll out of bilingual new style Welsh grants.
The Law Society sees this as promising but its members are still encountering issues such as needing to wait significant times for grants and experiencing delays in releasing money from estates to the heirs, which in turn impacts on property transactions.
Grants with errors in them
Its members have also reported receiving grants with errors in them and that emails and phone calls to the service centre are not answered. The Society has been told these are operational issues which will be raised with HMCTS´s national services director.
The online probate service was launched in October 2019 and since then more than 1,000 firms have registered to use the service. However, HMCTS has not seen a significant increase in the number of digital applications and is looking at ways to help users manage their expectations of what the service can do.
Finders International's legal support services include searches for missing, dormant and unclaimed assets, including checks with more than 150 financial institutions. If you would like to find out more, please phone Andrew Ritson on 020 7490 4935.
One change is that those appointed as professional executors in the will can now use the online system to apply for grants of probate, whereas previously only named persons were permitted to apply.
Public offices now closed
As the probate service is now a digitally enabled one, the probate sub registries and public offices in various English and Welsh locations are now closed, including the ones in Chester, Lancaster, Carlisle, Stoke on Trent, Nottingham, Lincoln, York, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Exeter, Gloucester, Leicester, Caernarvon, Carmarthen, Sheffield, Maidstone, Norwich and Bodmin.
HMCTS has stated that these closures will have no effect on the time it takes to obtain grants of probate. Probate requests will now be handled by the Courts and Tribunals Service Centres.
The settling service goes to the Newcastle District Probate Registry. The probate service will only check the validity of a will, correct title and clearing and not standard clauses. Nor will it proofread a statement of truth.
Finders International offer a Missing Will Service and Missing Will Insurance. To find out more, please visit our website. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or telephone: 020 7490 4935


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MADMAN'S LULLABY Announce their New EP Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1
MADMAN'S LULLABY has released their debut single "In Your Mind" from their upcoming EP "Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1"
Click here to download the EP for airplay and review
If you would like a digital copy for review just click the link above. Madman's Lullaby is available for interviews.
Please send us any CD reviews/playlist or tag Michael Brandvold Marketing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so we can cross-promote.
Facebook: michaelbrandvoldmarketing
Instagram: michaelbrandvoldmarketing
Twitter: michaelsb
MADMAN'S LULLABY has released their debut single "In Your Mind" from their upcoming album "Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1" to be released worldwide on MR Records on May 27th. The music video for "In Your Mind" was recently world premiered on SleazeRoxx.com and is now available for everyone to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yY9_Q4EIbY
You can stream and purchase the "In Your Mind" single and the EP "Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1" at: https://smarturl.it/madmanslullaby
MR Records is excited to announce the new album release from US rockers MADMAN'S LULLABY titled "Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1". This is MADMAN'S LULLABY's 5th album and the second on MR Records, this album lives up to its name big-time full-on hard rock... just how it should be. Nocturnal Overdrive will certainly rock your soul. - Peter Hoffmann, Director MR Records
"In Your Mind" was the very first song written for Nocturnal Overdrive. The song has always had such a great flow to it, so we had to sneak it into the live setlist at some select shows. The crowd response was enough to tell us, this song deserves to be the first single. We can't wait to get back out to share all the songs with everyone" - Madman's Lullaby
ARTIST: MADMAN'S LULLABY
EP: Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1
First Single: In Your Mind
STREET DATE: May 27, 2021
1. Love Rain Down
2. Next Show
3. Drive Me Crazy
4. Love Don't Come Easy
5. In Your Mind
6. Never Too Late
You can stream and purchase the "In Your Mind" single and the EP "Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1" at: https://smarturl.it/madmanslullaby
Band Members:
Chris Michaels - Lead Vocals
Mr. Brett - Lead Guitar
Luis Barillas - Bass/Vocals
Eric Arbizu - Drums/Vocals
MADMAN'S LULLABY hails from San Jose, Ca, rocking the Bay Area since 2007. 2007 also saw the first release "Unchain My Soul". Mr. Brett - Lead Guitar is the founding member of the band, he and Eric Arbizu - Drums/Vocals have been together since 2008. In 2010 the band released "New Beginning". 2013 saw the release of "Unhinged", this album received glowing reviews from all over. The band was called a cross between Lynch Mob/Badlands with a touch of Black Label Society. In 2013 the band also won San Francisco radio station 107.7 'The Bone's Local Licks' contest and played the Shoreline Amphitheatre with Bad Company, Lynard Skynard and Night Ranger. 2015 MADMAN'S LULLABY played at Vasby Rock Festival in Stockholm, Sweden with the likes of WASP, Michael Schenker, Danger Danger, HEAT and more. In late 2016, after a few line-up changes, Chris Michaels - Lead vocalist and Luis Barillas - Bassist/Vocalist joined the band. 2017 the band release their 4th album "Sins Of Greed".
MADMAN'S LULLABY has supported amongst others, Michael Schenker, Wasp, Lynch Mob, Lita Ford, Winger, LA Guns, Pat Travers, Faster Pussycat, Jake E Lee's Red Dragon Cartel, Great White, Frank Hannon Band (Tesla), Tony MacAlpine, Richie Kotzen (Winery Dogs). MADMAN'S LULLABY has played from California SF Bay Area to Hollywood, Chicago, IL, and all the way to Stockholm, Sweden and the UK.
MADMAN'S LULLABY plays Heavy Blues/Hard Rock, with Melodic Hook Driving Rhythms, Soulful Vocals, Searing Guitar Leads and Thunderous Drums.
Fast forward to 2021 and MADMAN'S LULLABY signs a 'World Wide Distribution Deal' with MR Records (formally known as Melodic Rock Records). Melodic Rock Records was recently purchased and rebranded as MR Records by very passionate industry people that have the artist at heart. 2021 will see brand new music from the guys in the form of two EP's, '"Nocturnal Overdrive Part 1" & Part 2 not long after.
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: http://mmlrocks.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/132277800160512
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madmanslullaby
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/madmans_lullaby
YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/RockMadmansLullaby
About Michael Brandvold Marketing
From working with up-and-coming independent artists of all genres to overseeing online marketing for major acts like KISS, Britney Spears, and Dream Theater, Michael Brandvold's impact on the modern music industry is without question. In addition to spearheading digital strategy creation and online social media management for bands, he has helped create marketing strategies that have made millions of dollars for clients.
Michael's expertise was instrumental in growing and managing the KISS online community from its inception in 1998 to an enterprise generating millions of dollars every year and engaging more than a half-million visitors every month.
In addition to assisting with the band's online community, Michael was also instrumental in the creation of the VIP Platinum Ticket Program, which was first implemented during KISS' 2003 US tour. The concept granted the band's biggest fans face-to-face access to the band, premium seating at shows, and exclusive autographed merchandise.
Over the years, Michael's expertise has been put to use for a number of well-known companies like Universal Music Group, BMG/Sanctuary Records, Rhino Records, Playboy, Roadrunner Records, and Nuclear Blast Records.
In 2014, Michael published a revised edition of his book, KISS School of Marketing: 11 Lessons Learned While Working with KISS. The digital book quickly climbed to the number one spot on Noisetrade's Business & Finance and Arts & Entertainment lists.
http://www.MichaelBrandvold.com


Whether you are a farmer or a manufacturer, Momentum QMS has the solution that will help you improve the safety of your product and stay compliant with food safety standards such as HACCP.
Biological, physical or chemical hazards may occur at various stages of the food production process. By establishing Critical Control Points (CCPs) and by using a risk based approach to manage these CCPs, Momentum QMS allows you to plan, prepare and mitigate such hazards.
The Product Specification module of Momentum QMS allows you to maintain and control recipe information. Furthermore, each ingredient within the recipe can have its nutritional and allergen information recorded which can be used to determine the product's overall nutritional content.
Combined with Momentum QMS' version control and workflow you can now gain full control over your product specification management.
With an increase in the number of cases of Food Fraud around the world there is a renewed focus on vulnerabilities.
Momentum QMS allows you to continuously manage food ingredient fraud vulnerabilities by evaluating the various aspects related to the ingredient and supplier, designing a control strategy and implementation that strategy. The system allows for periodic reviews to keep on top of any changes in the supply chain or changes in tolerance for economic vulnerabilities.
Momentum QMS' Risk Management Software combined with its HACCP Software provides an unparalleled flexibility in achieving your Food Safety objectives.


Time to find out! Be sure to mark the 26th December off because the long awaited Santa's A list is finally here again!
ASCS, ICTSA, JEF Malta, S-Cubed, TDM 2000 and UESA have joined forces to give you this year's edition of Santa's A-list at The Palace Hotel!
Acoustic Session followed by an epic DJ set!
This is truly a night that shouldn't be missed!
Those attending the event can park in the underground car park. A limited 150 places will be available at first come first served basis. The parking is complementary.


SIGN UP AND CONNECT TO US!
The Career Connection Consulting objective is to provide unmatched services to the students, provides career guidance, selection of right courses to study abroad!
Career Connection Consulting 2013 Complete Consulting Company.
Welcome to Career Connection Consulting!


Another Top Shop outfit which I also got on Oxford Street. I wasn't quite convinced to that print at the first sight as it seems a bit of a granny pattern but it worked more than fine at the end. The dress could also be worn in the summer but it's double-lined keeps the body warm and cosy . Flattered bottom and Brigitte Bardot V-neck style make the dress vintage and girly. I've added my cut-out shoes as a main accessory. The quality of the fabric(sheer) is also very good and once again pattern doesn't require any jewelry. As much as I love skirts , shorts and pants I think I will always prefer dresses….


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Portman: Bush budget plan on track
By William L. Watts
Published: May 11, 2006 7:28 p.m. ET
Democrats: Debt explosion a major fiscal threat
WilliamL. Watts
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- President Bush's pick to head the White House Office of Management and Budget said Thursday that the administration's efforts to trim the deficit remain on track, while Democrats charged that exploding debt levels threaten to undermine the nation's fiscal future.
"From a budget perspective, we are on track to meeting the president's target of cutting the deficit in half by 2009," said U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, in testimony prepared for delivery at a Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing.
"We've done this by working with Congress in recent years to focus spending on our national priorities while reducing spending elsewhere," he said.
Bush, as part of a White House shuffle, nominated Portman last month to become OMB director. If confirmed by the full Senate, he would replace Joshua Bolten, who became Bush's chief of staff. Deputy USTR Susan Schwab has been nominated by Bush to replace Portman as the nation's top trade ambassador.
Portman's chief task would be wrestling with a federal budget deficit that congressional experts now predict will total around $300 billion in the current fiscal year, or about 2.3% of gross domestic product. The Congressional Budget Office last week lowered its projection from a previous forecast of $370 billion, citing surging tax receipts.
Bush has said he aims to trim the deficit to around $260 billion by fiscal 2009, which would fulfill a pledge to halve the gap from the White House's preliminary estimate of a $521 billion deficit in fiscal 2004. The $521 billion gap never materialized, and some critics charged that the White House highballed the estimate in an effort to make lackluster progress on the deficit appear more dramatic.
The hearing came on the same day the Senate is expected to pass legislation that would extend $70 billion worth of tax cuts over the next five years -- a top Bush administration priority.
Portman and panel Republicans contend that the extension of Bush's first-term tax cuts is crucial to preserving the ongoing economic recovery.
"I believe keeping these pro-growth policies in place is critical if we are to continue benefiting from strong economic growth and growing revenues that are essential to deficit reduction and entitlement-program solvency," Portman said.
Democrats contend Bush's tax policies have ballooned federal debt levels amid an economic recovery that pales next to previous post-war expansions in terms of jobs growth, median household income and business investment. The House is expected to vote soon on a budget plan that would boost the federal debt limit for the second time this year, bringing the cap to nearly $10 trillion. Federal debt stood at $5.7trillion at the beginning of the Bush administration.
"We agree on economic growth, that's got to be a top priority," said top Budget Committee Democrat Kent Conrad of North Dakota. "The grave doubts I have about this strategy is that it's built on a mountain of debt, and that's unsustainable."
Portman said it was important to restrain rising debt levels, particularly ahead of the retirement of the Baby Boom generation. But he emphasized that federal debt levels as a percentage of the economy remain near their historical average.
While Democrats criticized Bush's fiscal policies, there was no indication any panel member would oppose Portman's nomination. The committee is expected to vote to recommend Portman's confirmation next week.


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Q: How to best optimize a function with a nested for-loop I have a function that has a nested for loop. As the function iterates over more data, it is starting to slow down. How can I best optimize this function so that it runs a bit faster?
function rubicoGVB(arr, range) {
    var res = [];
    for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
        for (var j = i + 1; j < arr.length; j++) {
            if ((arr[i] + arr[j]) / range < 16487665) {
                res.push(arr[i]);
            }
        }
    }

    return res.length;
}

A: (The biggest improvement you could make is described by Fast Snail in this comment: You don't need the res array just to return its length; simply use a counter. Below are other improvements you could make.)

Looking at those loops, there's very little you can do other than:

*

*Caching the length of the array, and

*Caching arr[i] instead of looking it up repeated in the j loop
...which are minimal (but real) improvements, see len and entry below:
function rubicoGVB(arr, range) {
    var res = [];
    var len = arr.length;
    var entry;
    for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        entry = arr[i];
        for (var j = i + 1; j < len; j++) {
            if ((entry + arr[j]) / range < 16487665) {
                res.push(entry);
            }
        }
    }

    return res.length;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Summary: If you're thinking of moving to Jamaica or retiring in Jamaica, deciding where to live is not as simple as you think. Jamaica is a large island with numerous cities and towns that appeal to expats. This article highlights the 7 best places to live in Jamaica.
Jamaica is a beautiful island country located about 90 miles south of Cuba. With an estimated population of 2.7 million and an area of over 4,000 square miles, choosing where to live in Jamaica is not an easy decision. If you are moving to Jamaica with school-aged children, finding a school is often your first priority and influences where you decide to live. Our article, International Schools in Jamaica, offers an overview of schools in Jamaica popular among expats. Most of these schools are in the Mandeville, Montego Bay, Kingston and Ocho Rios areas. If you aren't bringing school-aged children, the list of places to consider grows longer. Proximity to beaches, cost of living, safety and nightlife are other factors to consider. "Areas I'd recommend are St. Ann (Ocho Rios area), St. James (Montego Bay area), Mandeville, Run Away Bay, Discovery Bay, Duncans. If you like the countryside, then Lower Trelawney (Falmouth) and surrounding areas are a good choice and close to the coast (about 15 minutes drive) -- the beach is close also. You can find accommodation in the tourist areas that I mentioned above -- except for Trelawney, which is a bit expensive. My advise is -- if you're looking to live there permanently, rent something just outside the tourist areas, which is cheaper. But, you will still be close enough to get to it within 15 minutes," advised a British expat in Jamaica.
We searched our Jamaica Expat Forum and read through reports written by expats in our Expat Guide to Living in Jamaica and came up with a list of the 7 best places to live in Jamaica based upon our member's recommendations. If we missed your favorite place, please add it in the comments section below!
An expat living in Negril advised, "There are LOTS of rental places in Negril, particularly on the west end. Check the grocery stores for postings, check the fences and electric poles for signs, etc. Get a driver for a couple hours to take you up and down the lanes, talk to people. Most housing is not advertised. Safe area - IMO cannot be guaranteed. Its really about how the apartment is, how the yard it's in is, what the lane it's on is like, and the unpredictable variable will always be the people who come or go from the area, who their associates are, if thieves decide to target an area, etc. Regardless of how 'safe' you think an area is or anyone says, you must still be vigilant and exercise care to secure your place and possessions." Another expat added, "6-700 monthly for rent is definitely doable in negril, even on the 'West End' and opposite the 7 mile beach strip. Re: safety, the other answer is pretty accurate, since there is no huge safe communities in negril, there are more like safe 'pockets' of an area, and just be aware like in any other third world country about your life style and you should be fine. People are warm and Negril folks appreciates the diversity."
Mandeville is an inland city of approximately 70,000 (includes suburbs). Located about 45 minutes from the coast, Mandeville is home to Northern Caribbean University, a Seventh-Day Adventist Institution. "Mandeville is a 'retirement' community. Central Mandeville is best known as the place where returning residents live. It has all the modern amenities but not much by way of night life and entertainment. If most of your business is in Kingston, ensure that you have a reliable motor vehicle, or if you prefer you can take the chartered Knutsford Express bus service. Apart from those things, you should have no difficulties in Mandeville. Your main problem will be the cost of housing, school (if you have school-age kids) and food which are all on the high-end in Mandeville," advised one expat in Jamaica. Another expat added, "There are a lot of expats in Mandeville, especially from the UK. Internet services should be on par, so that's something I doubt you will have to worry about. There are good high schools and preparatory schools if you have kids. The airport in Kingston will be the closer of the 2 and with the new highways constructed, it's pretty fast getting there. They have night clubs, but not as large or upscale as some in Kingston or the North Coast. Badminton Sports Club is a good way to socialize. Electricity bills can be quite high overall (I got a bill for over $20,000 on 1 vacation). Enjoy the cool hills of Manchester and best of luck to you." "Mandeville is a city in which you should settle in nicely. There is excellent internet access as long as you're not in the 'Boondocks', houses around town center and the upscale Ingleside area and surroundings should have utility costs that are on par with any developed side of the country esp since there are a large number of expats in Mandeville. Hidden costs sometimes is gas rate especially if you are driving a lot around town as well as touring other areas frequently," commented another expat.
An expat in Jamaica whose children attend The Belair School in Mandeville said, "My three children hadn't started school in the UK so Belair was their first school. The school has Kindergarten, Prep and High school -- so you don't need to worry about changing schools. There are quite a lot of children there from the UK, US, China, Burmuda and other countries, some are expats and some are here for work. In high school, a lot of the students are boarding, because their parents find it a very good school."
Ocho Rios is a town in the St. Ann Parish on the north coast of Jamaica. With a population of over 15,000, Ocho Rios is a popular tourist town and port for cruise ships. "When we first moved to Ochi, we were staying in an apartment that was rented out by my husband's company. Since the apartment was a bit far from downtown and also very dark, we started looking around for a new place. Our lease was almost up, so we were actively on the lookout. A friend of ours saw a sign right outside a nice looking complex advertising a real estate agency and we called right away. Now we live in an ocean front apt and couldn't be happier. We got lucky with our apartment. We have all the amenities many people in Jamaica go without (running water, washer & drier, hot water, AC etc). We even have a dishwasher which we never use, since electricity here is extremely expensive. Our kitchen appliances are modern and really nice. Our internet is much faster than in the US. We have a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom, with a nice balcony overlooking the ocean and the pool. We take our baby son for a swim almost every day," explained one expat. Another expat in Ocho Rios confessed, "I moved to Ocho Rios area 3 months ago.. I am enjoying Jamaica.. the slower pace when I go to the bank, stores really gets on my nerve.. I need a way to overcome getting so annoyed at slow service. By the way I found a beautiful apartment overlooking the ocean too..missing the A/C.. I find people here to be very nice.. neighbours that share ackee and breadfruit without hardly knowing me. I am loving my new life.. despite some of the USA comforts I am going without."
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James parish and Jamaica's fourth largest city. With a population of approximately 110,000, Montego Bay is a popular tourist destination and the home to numerous hotels and resorts. Jamaica's largest airport, Sangster International Airport, is located in Montego Bay. There are several schools in Montego Bay that are popular with expats, including Montego Bay Christian Academy and Heinz Simonitsch School. "I finally made the move to Montego Bay. I found a great place in Coral Gardens and I'm all settled in," exclaimed one expat.
Falmouth, Jamaica is the capital of Trelawny Parish. It's situated on the north coast of Jamaica about 40 minutes by car east of Montego Bay. With a population of approximately 8,000, the city's population rises dramatically with the arrival of each Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Royal Caribbean spent a reported $170 million building a new port called, "Historic Falmouth, Jamaica," which opened in 2011. This project employed many locals and has been helping to revitalize Falmouth. "I chose my community by asking friends and family for references. I wanted to reside near the airport but not in a commercial zone. I chose Retreat Heights which is located outside of the town of Falmouth but close enough to hotels, airport and entertainment. My housing costs are significantly lower than in the US. I am paying 30,000 per month for a two bedrooms with two bathrooms. I was just lucky to get such a deal but the average cost for this apartment is 45,000-65,000 per month. My light bill is 7,000 per month but I run my a/c unit each night just to fall asleep. My water bill is between 500 and 800 per month," commented one expat.
Hopewell is a fishing village on the southern coast of Jamaica with a population of approximately 4,000. "Hanover is between Negril and Montego Bay. There is a nice little village called Hopewell which is a mix of locals and English, Americans who live there permanently and it's coastal -- you can walk to the beach," described one expat in Jamaica. Many Hopewell residents work in hotels in Montego Bay, which is 20+ minutes away. The historic Round Hill Hotel & Villas is also located in Hopewell.
Kingston is the capital and largest city in Jamaica with a population of approximatly 600,000. One expat in Kingston, Jamaica described the area saying, "I am still amazed at the sight of huge 10 and 20 bedroom mansions in various parts of Kingston, where I live... though I am equally taken aback by the many garrisons (ghettoes) that are a part of Kingston. That's the side of Kingston you will see in most documentaries, juxtaposed against the sights of stunning beaches of Negril, Ochi, Mobay etc..." When asked about the best areas to live in Kingston, one former expat in Jamaica replied, "I used to live off Hope Road in Kingston 10. Very nice area near New Kingston. Also look into Trafalgar Park, which is adjacent New Kingston. Very beautiful safe area, but hard to find a place because people just hang onto it." Another said, "You can use Google Maps, it's quite accurate. Anything ABOVE Half Way Tree Road is OK. Nothing below HWT is suitable for your purposes. That's a general statement, but useful for guidance purposes."
I'm glad to see the best place to live in Jamaica, where I lived on a pristine beach for 8 years, is NOT on the list! I'm still planning to go back there to retire, so hopefully it still won't be 'discovered' and the tourists and commercialism will stay away!


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Phra Chulachomklao Fortress
February 20, 2005 April 28, 2016 Richard Barrow	0 Comments
This morning, I took some people across the river to see the fort. I thought you might be interested to see some of my photos. The Phra Chulachomklao Fortress was built in 1893 on the west side of the Chao Phraya River at the entrance to the estuary. The following is a report of a visit to the Paknam Fort in June 1893, by Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, General Adviser to the King:
"For a long time we inspect the considerable work on the fort which, by its position, commands the river mouth and approximately a mile and a half of its course. There are seven brick towers, each equipped with a heavy caliber Armstrong gun. The masonry is completed. It only needs to be covered with a casing of earth and grass.
A mile into the sea there is a target on which they fire three shots with one gun and two with another. The charge of each shot is from 25 to 30 pounds of powder. The guns are hidden. They are hauled up by a hydraulic mechanism at the moment of the aiming and they disappear by themselves after the shot. The sight of this big, sly machine which ambushes and takes aim like a brigand to hide immediately thereafter, has something ferocious about it."
The following month, on July 13th 1893, a skirmish took place between two French ships and the garrison manning the fort. Both sides suffered casualties. Although a smaller ship which was acting as a pilot boat for the French ships was badly damaged, the gun-ships still successfully bypassed the fort and other Thai gun-ships and made it up-river to Bangkok. (Thai history books at school say a French ship was sunk and that it was a victory for the Thai people.)
The seven Armstrong guns only saw action that one time. However, they are still in good working order as they fired a seven gun salute to celebrate their 105th anniversary in 1998. The fort is now open to the public. Below a statue of King Rama V there is an interesting museum about the conflict with France. Also on show to the public is H.T.M.S. Maeklong, a warship commissioned from the Japanese shipyards, pre-World War II. The ship was in service for 60 years, including duty as a royal ship for King Rama IX. There is also an outdoor museum of guns from various world wars and a boardwalk through a mangrove forest.
Entrance to the park is free, though it is best to arrange your own transport. The fort is located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River in Tambon Laemfarpha, Phra Samut Chedi District, seven kilometres from Phra Samut Chedi on Sukswasdi Road. It is best to arrange your own transport from Phra Samut Chedi.
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Q: Enforce Topology Check PostGIS I would like to know if in PostGIS is possible to define spatial constraints for avoid topology errors?
I have a polygon table and I need to avoid self-intersection and gaps.
Does anyone know more about that?


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Home > Big Story > 'Defence procurement procedures were completely followed'
'Defence procurement procedures were completely followed'
MPOST BUREAU12 Nov 2018 5:52 PM GMT
New Delhi: The Defence Procurement Procedure was "completely followed" in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and the deal was subsequently approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday.
The Centre's stand was reflected in a document submitted to the court, which had asked the government to furnish details and the steps taken in the decision-making process for the procurement of the jets.
The apex court directive on October 31 came after a group of petitioners approached it and sought the court-monitored probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale jets. The document was also handed over to the petitioners, including former BJP leaders and Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie.
The process as laid down in the Defence Procurement Procedure-2013 has been followed in the procurement of the Rafale aircraft and the CCS on August 24, 2016, approved the agreement which was arrived at after negotiations between the Indian and the French sides, said the 14-page document.
The document also said that the Indian negotiating team was constituted which held negotiations with the French side for about a year and approval of the CCS, being the Competent Financial Authority, was taken before signing the Inter-Government Agreement.
The apex court had said details, including the steps in the decision making process for the procurement of jets, which could "legitimately" be brought into the public domain, be made available to the parties who have filed petitions before it in the matter.
It had also asked the Centre to place before it in a sealed cover within ten days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France. Later, the Centre also submitted the price details of the fighter jets in a sealed cover to the court.
The apex court, which will hear the matter on November 14, had categorically told the Centre that if the pricing detail was "exclusive" and could not be shared with the court, then the Centre should file an affidavit in this regard and say so.
India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
The petitions seeking the probe in the Rafale deal were first filed by advocates Manohar Lal Sharma and Vineet Dhanda.
Later, AAP MP Sanjay Singh had also filed the petition.
Sinha, Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan had filed a joint petition.
MPOST BUREAU


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OK, this might be a bit out there, but does anyone know where I can buy pickle juice. Preferably in Ottawa, but if not, something Canadian online. Good source of anti-oxidants, good for athletes also.
It's water, vinegar, salt, then various flavour agents like garlic, herbs and spices.
If you really want to buy it ready made then there are plenty of pickles at any grocery store.


This is the third part of a three part series on a Spirit filled idea called Oro et Creo ("I Pray – I Create"). This idea was started by artists Jamie Medeiros and Deacon Tom Lambert. Please check out the first two parts of this series which have already been posted in order to get a full perspective on what they are accomplishing on the parish level.
What is wonderful about what Jamie and Deacon Tom are doing is that they are providing a simple, no anxiety-no pressure structure through which the Holy Spirit can move the person to unite their artistic and creative impulses to their desire for union and communication with God. This is done in a silent, communal, setting, but it can also be done in an individual setting.
Creativity and prayer go hand-in-hand – it just takes the desire of the individual artist, regardless of the medium, to take the simple step of uniting the creative moment to their spiritual life. How is that done? Simply, it is an affirmation of the will to prepare yourself through short silent prayers, and then to consciously say, "Lord God – I offer this moment of creativity to you, help me to create something which gives You glory;" and then, you create: poetry, stories, visual art, cosmetic design, fashion design, music, photography – whatever appeals to you.
St. Benedict of Nursia, when he established his community of Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino in 6th century Italy, was concerned that his monks balance their life between work and prayer. He developed his Rule which ordered their day into specific moments of prayer, work, and relaxation. Even in the 21st century we can relate to the significance of this type of structure within our busy day.
As I perceive it, when we are involved in the Oro et Creo process we have made the decision to unite ourselves to the Holy Spirit – the Sanctifier – and then, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our creative work. It is through the process of this creative effort that we speak to God and tell Him we love Him.
This process occurs when we are silent, and caught up in the moment of doing our work. It is at these times of intense concentration that we are taken "out of ourselves" (only to come back when we realize that we have been so focused on the creative work that we have forgotten the experience of time).
Jamie and Deacon Tom use the phrase Oro et Creo (I Pray – I Create) which was inspired by the Benedictine motto Ora et Labora (Pray and Work). To this I would add another section of the Benedictine Rule: ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus, "that in all [things] God may be glorified" (Rule, chapter 57.9) which was also adopted and adapted by St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Jesuit motto: All for the Greater Glory of God. So, in our prayer/creative efforts – our intent – whatever results, should always be our desire to give honor, thanks, love, and glory to God. If we enter into these moments with an open heart and pure soul – it will.
Bravo and thank you, Jamie Medeiros and Deacon Tom Lambert, for your faith, prayer, and creativity! I am sure you have inspired many to continue your ideas in their own settings.
Thanks to ad-orientem.blogspot.com/200 for the icon of St. Benedict.
Thanks, and keep up the good work for the Lord!
Thank you for this series of posts. I am considering how to make this work in my parish, how to use the gifts I have to bring it about. It is a lovely idea. I enjoyed your reflection, it says so many important things. The response above from Jen is great, I agree totally with her. The same quote caught my attention, too.
"Creativity and prayer go hand-in-hand – it just takes the desire of the individual artist, regardless of the medium, to take the simple step of uniting the creative moment to their spiritual life." This really got my attention.
Thank you for sharing….this "theme" has been on my mind over the last several weeks. It's nice to find this blog entry, today.
Thank you, Jen! Sorry, I am a little late in getting back to you! Keep up the good work!


Organic posts are one of the most powerful (and simple) tools you can use to establish your business as the authority in your industry. Even better, it's free!
Unlike paid advertisements, organic post are as easy as snapping a pic or typing a catchy phrase, then posting it to your business page.
Unfortunately, that's about all the thought most business owners put into making a Facebook post. Which is fine … if an overall strategy and template has been developed for organic post.
The strategy outlined in this post is a proven method to position your business as the go-to authority in your industry.
Most businesses have a shotgun approach. Making random post with no cohesiveness or thought of how the post fits an overall strategy.
Sunday: Stop in Monday to get 10% off!
This maybe you. If so, that's fine. But STOP IT!
Not only is it ineffective but it's annoying!
Facebook actually has an algorithm to weed out these post. They want the best user experience possible for everyone on Facebook. We've found that Facebook shows those annoying post to about 5% (or less) of your potential reach. Instead of reaching 1,000 people, you reach 50.
You're at a party with friends. Within five minutes of meeting the new guy in the group, he's trying to sell you his product or service. He's given you a card and working on scheduling the appointment. You can't get away fast enough.
But how about the guy you meet, a financial planner, that after some small talk about your kids, he gives you a great tip on a new tax-free college fund for your kid. After that short exchange, the conversation continues onto something else that interest both of you.
The next morning while getting ready for work, you see his ad for financial services on the morning news.
Question: Who from the party are you more likely to do business with? I guarantee it's not the annoying guy that gave you a cold sales pitch.
But what about the second guy. He was genuine. Gave you a free piece of valuable advice with nothing expected in return.
The later built trust. Trust is the single most important factor in any business relationship (or any type of relationship).
Jabs are what Vaynerchuck says when referring to multiple pieces of valuable content . The sell is the right hook. A boxer throws lots of jabs before he ever goes for the knock out punch – a right hook!
Organic post are your jabs. Fill your page with valuable content, funny memes, behind the scenes videos and customer success stories, then throw the right hook with a Facebook Ad.
The step-by-step strategy is the ultimate way to engage customers. It will create a community. A tribe of followers. It will attract new leads. And most important, build trust.
The typical user could see around 1500 post a day but Facebook's algorithm cuts that down to about 300. Only the most engaging 300 are shown.
Post once per week and you're not going to reach much of your audience. Post too much and your followers may miss some important post. We found one post per day is ideal.
With this template, you are going to make some powerful post. You want to give your followers enough time to see the post. Remember, there is a limited number of post that Facebook shows users. The more you post, the less room it leaves for your other post. Again, we found once a day is the optimal post volume.
Following are five different types of post to make as part of the Facebook Jab Strategy .
Educational Content: Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world." It's also a fairly powerful tool to create customer loyalty and engage new ones. People don't care about our brand, store or product. They care about "What does it do for me?" Create valuable content that helps solve your customers' issues. A video that entertains them. A blog post that teaches them how to create something. The more you teach and entertain, the more you can sell.
Engagement: In Seth Godins's book, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, he says "Leaders lead when they take positions, when they connect with their tribes, and when they help the tribe connect to itself." People want to connect. Feel apart of something. The purpose of the engagement post is to prompt communication between the leader (you, the business) and customers and also customer to customer engagement.
This is done by posting an open ended question for the day.
Behind the Scenes: The purpose here is threefold.
Allow the customer to connect with a real person. A custom furniture store may post a video or pictures of them building a dining table. Retailers could could show the unboxing of the latest products. People don't always realize there is an actual person behind the business. A person just like them. Brand connection is powerful. But nothing can match human connection.
Establish the "Why". People don't buy your product or service. They buy the result that it gives them. Show the building process of your physical product. How you test a product. The backend to the service you provide. A web design company could post a picture of their team huddled around the drafting table with mockups and sketches.
People want to be entertained. Some of you reading this are local celebrities in you community or industry. Look at the success of reality TV. Behind the scenes photos and stories is the top way to entertain your audience. Throw in some bloopers.
Celebrity Customer or Employee: Make your customers celebrities and they will love you. Create celebrities out of your employees and they will be loyal for a lifetime.
It doesn't need to be "celebrity" in the terms we typically think. Not a movie star.
This is more about recognition. If your customer runs a 5k, post a congratulations. Even if your business has nothing to do with running. Let your employees write blog post or produce educational content. Establish them as the expert.
Meme: This is a humorous image usually with funny text. People love these. Create your own with the app, Word Swag.
Following is a suggested template. This is not set in stone. We find certain post are more engaging for different types of businesses for different days. The one constant though is the frequency of Educational Content. Aim to post 2 – 3 pieces of Educational Content each week.
The template allows you to know exactly what to post each day. Save time by scheduling your post at the start of each week. Send this article to your team member that handles social media. Send it to your marketing agency.
If you found this article useful, please consider sharing it to your Facebook or Twitter page.
Want to know how to put Facebook to work for your business? Click here to get and we'll share exactly what we're doing for our clients.


Molly Murphy—now Molly Sullivan—is a year into her marriage, expecting her first child, and confined to the life of a housewife. She's restless and irritable in the enforced idleness of pregnancy and the heat of a New York summer in 1905. So when a trip to the post office brings a letter addressed to her old detective agency asking her to locate a missing Irish serving maid, Molly figures it couldn't hurt to at least ask around, despite her promise to Daniel to give up her old career as a detective. On the same day, Molly learns that five babies have been kidnapped in the past month.
Refusing to let Molly help with the kidnapping investigation, Daniel sends her away to spend the summer with his mother. But even in the quiet, leafy suburbs, Molly's own pending motherhood makes her unable to ignore these missing children. What she uncovers will lead her on a terrifying journey through all levels of society, putting her life—and that of her baby—in danger.
The Family Way, the latest entry in Rhys Bowen's bestselling Molly Murphy series, will delight fans and win over newcomers with its elegantly plotted mystery, atmospheric historical detail, and vivid characters.
Rhys Bowen is the author of the award-winning Molly Murphy and Constable Evans mysteries. Her novels have garnered an impressive array of awards and nominations, including the Anthony Award for her novel For the Love of Mike and the Agatha Award for Murphy's Law. Her books have also won the Bruce Alexander Historical Award and the Herodotus Award, and have been shortlisted for the Edgar, the Agatha, the Macavity, the Barry, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She has also written Her Royal Spyness, a series about a minor royal in 1930s England, and she is the author of several short stories, including the Anthony Award–winning "Doppelganger." Her story "Voodoo" was chosen to be part of the anthology of the best of 50 years of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Ms. Bowen was born in Bath, England, and worked as an announcer and studio manager for the BBC in London, before moving to Australia and then California. It was here she started writing children's and young adult novels, and then moved on to mysteries with the Constable Evans novels. When not writing she loves to travel, sing, hike, play her Celtic harp, and entertain her grandchildren. She lives in San Rafael, California.


So is possible to manually add a payments (for example when user sent me money directly to my bank account?) Or is possible to add only minimum amount of dollars to be send but user can send more (donation for example)???
Shade is possible to change the font? It is not clear sometimes... also some diff changes are not readable (similar colors).