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St David's Cemetery, Carmarthen
A special place with a unique history
Churchyard & Grounds
Repairs to the Grade II stone boundary wall
Grave markers and their historical importance
Memorial Restoration
Restoration of some of the memorials (part one) "before and after"
Memorial Restoration (part two)
"EVANS THE BOAT" -THE EXTRAORDINARY FIND OF A MISSING MEMORIAL
William Spurrell, 1813-89
Joseph Park Brodribb 1798-1875
Job Cook 1829 -1897 & Henry Davies (father in law) 1789-1869
Stonhouse Vigor
Margaret (Maggie) Jones 1883-1895
Captain John Jones – Master Mariner 1825 -1901
The Venerable David Archard Williams 1796 – 1879
The Nicholas Family – Water Street, Carmarthen
Master Mariner George Jones – Tragic Hero
The Sackville Gwynne family,the Triple Harp and the Royal Connection.
CWGC Great War memorials
George Nott 1780 – 1855
Sergeant Major John Morgan 1775-1852. The United Kingdom's longest serving soldier.
John Kyle, 1807 -1870, a remarkable & courageous soldier who changed the course of American military history
George Rees ( Caradog Bach ) a celebrated musician and fisherman 1862 – 1908 and his missing memorial
John Samuel –an incredibly brave soldier who cheated death twice, and came face to face with the Duke of Wellington himself 3 days before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Commander Griffith Grismond Philipps RN -the last survivor of the battle of Navarino, and his part in Greece's Independence.
The Reverend Albert William Parry MA.BSc.DSc. Principal of Trinity College Carmarthen for 40 years from 1909 to 1949
The Reverend Thomas Jones 1775 – 1857. Chaplain of Carmarthen Gaol & his part in creating British legal history.
Sarah Woollaston, her attendant and the Will that never was.
The Charles family, and a triple tragedy with the loss of their three young children within the space of six weeks.
JAMES WARDLE – SURVIVOR OF THE CRIMEAN WAR & INDIAN MUTINY
BENJAMIN RICHARDS 1842-1877 By ANDREW MILLER
JAMES AND BEATRICE CURTIS…… BY EMERITUS PROFESSOR TONY CURTIS BA. MFA. D.Litt. TRUSTEE OF THE THOMAS & ELIZABETH MAYHOOK CHARITY
William Price of 24 Mill Street Carmarthen
THOMAS HANCOCK 1836-1875 -A GUARD ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY & HIS TRAGIC ENDING
The LAPHAM children & the 3 "P's"
Police Sergeant David James of Carmarthen Borough Police Force and the triple tragedy of death by drowning.
JAMES BAGNALL 1808 – 1889 & FATHER OF SIXTEEN CHILDREN
VITORI PEDELINA 1798 – 1876 A Swiss Clockmaker, Hawker, and General Dealer.
THE REVEREND THOMAS REES WALTERS MA. RD. 1848 – 1912 PROCTOR IN CONVOCATION who presided over the execution of David Rees –"The Llanelli Murderer" on March 13th 1888 at Carmarthen Gaol.
Mrs Anne Daniel 1819-1904. Daughter of an axe wielding father who fought off the Rebecca Rioters
Mary Franklin Stephens 1818 -1855. Matron of the Carmarthen Gaol & her part in creating one of the world's first photographic records of convicted criminals.
Elizabeth Williams 1763 -1845. "An aged woman who had been left all alone"
GEORGE ADAMS, 1793 -1846. Silversmith, Accountant, Book-keeper & "Pauper Lunatic" & DAVID JOHN REES aged 13 (1883-1896) Pauper.
From South Wales & Monmouthshire Training College to Trinity St David's University and the death of one of its most promising students, David George Phillips aged 19 in 1892.
Charles Connell aged 10 weeks 1856 -1856 & his brother also called Charles Connell aged 3 months 1861-1861 & their famous heroic father.
Frederick James Finglah and his brilliant and everlasting legacy to Carmarthen for over 120 years.
FROM FRAGMENT TO FORTUNE – EDWARDS PHILLIP WISBEY AGED 5 MONTHS, AND HIS SISTER MARY WISBEY AGED 2 YEARS, WHO DIED FROM TYPHOID WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF EACH OTHER AND WERE BURIED IN JANUARY 1845.
Mr Thomas Jones – A well respected local carpenter who committed suicide and was unceremoniously buried in St Davids Cemetery
John Kyle, was born in the village of Tullow in the county of Carlow, Ireland in 1807 and joined the Welsh 41st Regiment of Foot on the 27th March 1825 aged 18 as the Regiment was stationed in Ireland at the time. He served a total of 26 years and 53 days in his beloved Welch Regiment, 17 of those years he served abroad, before his retirement on the 7th June 1851, ironically in Ireland again.
The medals of Sergeant Major John Kyle. Left to right. Army of India medal with bar AVA, Afghanistan medal for 1842, Meritorious Service Medal, & Royal Humane Society medal for saving life.
On looking at his service papers it is interesting to note that after serving for nearly four years as a Private he was tried by Court Martial and imprisoned for six weeks which was remitted to 21 days from 29th December 1829 to the 18th January 1830. Again in 1842 whilst at the zenith of his career and serving as the Regiment's most senior non commissioned officer – Sergeant Major Kyle was tried by a Regimental Court Martial for being drunk and assaulting a Colour Sergeant, for which he was found guilty and sentenced to a reduction in rank to Private for two days, Corporal for a further two days, and then Sergeant for a further five years before finally resuming his rank as Sergeant Major on promotion in 1847. As his discharge papers reveal, he was a brave soldier in the field, which is a very rare comment to have been written.
John Kyle's remarkable service record
Sergeant David Haslock who served with John Kyle throughout the First Afghan War wrote the following in his diary dated 13th February 1845 "The silver medals conferred on us by Her Gracious Majesty for victories gained in Afghanistan were presented to us by Lieutenant Colonel Gore Brown CB who made an appropriate speech on the occasion and we replied with three British cheers. This is an honour that the soldiers are delighted to win and wear on their left breast." "All the armies of heaven and earth who brought me safe through and out of those wars, he ordained that I should escape the edge of the enemies' sword in that campaign , many hundreds of which were never buried but still lie where they fell in the Mountain passes, but many hundreds of us were spared to march in honour under the triumphal arch and return to our native land, meet our dear friends and receive from the throne of our kingdom the very great badge of honour that money cannot purchase."
Colonel Gore Brown CB who served as a Major in the 41st Foot during the Afghan Campaign and who presented the medals to the 41st Foot at Carmarthen in 1845
What most military historians fail to realise these days is that these very special medals were presented to the 41st Regiment of foot whilst stationed at Picton Barracks in Carmarthen as a mark of respect to Major General Sir William Nott GCB, their Commander in Chief in Afghanistan who had died the previous month and was buried in Carmarthen.
One remarkable piece of military history unknown to most historians of today is the connection that John Kyle had in the creation of a small but significant role his former Corporal played in the American Civil War by the name of Patrick Roynane Cleburne…..Patrick Ronayne Cleburne became the highest-ranking Irish-born officer in American military history, attaining the rank of Major General. He was born into a neighbouring County to John Kyle in Southern Ireland. He entered the Civil War as commander of the Yell Rifles, which became part of the First Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became a drugstore owner and lawyer in his new Arkansas hometown of Helena (Phillips County) and was a delegate to the Democratic Convention in 1858.
Pat Cleburne was born in Ovens, County Cork, Ireland, on March 16, 1828, at Bride Park Cottage to Joseph Cleburne, a doctor, and Mary Anne Ronayne Cleburne. He was the third child and second son of a Protestant, middle-class family that included children Anne, William, and Joseph. His mother died when Cleburne was eighteen months old, and his father married Isabella Stewart. There were three half-siblings born to this union: Isabella, Robert, and Christopher. When Cleburne was eight, the family moved to Grange Farm, near Ballincollig. Cleburne attended Church of Ireland Reverend William Spedding's boarding school nearby. His father died suddenly of typhus in November 1843, having contracted it from a patient, and "Ronayne," as his family called him, was expected to carry on the family profession of medicine. He apprenticed for two years, with plans to enrol in Apothecary Hall in Dublin. However, Cleburne failed the entrance exam in February 1843. Too humiliated to return home, he enlisted in the Forty-first Regiment of Foot of the British army, expecting to be sent to India. Instead, the regiment was posted to Mullingar for civil duties in Ireland stemming from the crisis of the Great Famine.
For three and a half years, Cleburne was posted at barracks around famine-stricken Ireland. He served during the turbulent months of the 1848 Young Ireland Rebellion and received a promotion to Corporal on July 1, 1849 on the recommendation of his Sergeant Major –JOHN KYLE. He returned home to find the family farm in arrears for six months rent. His stepmother suggested the oldest four children emigrate.
On November 5, 1849, Cleburne, his older sister Anne, and brothers William and Joseph boarded the Bridgetown for America and landed in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Christmas Day. Employment was a priority, and the siblings headed up the Mississippi River looking for work. Patrick found a job as a druggist at Nash and Grant's Drugstore in Helena after arriving in April 1850. Immediately following his five-year wait for naturalization, he passed the Arkansas bar examination in 1856. He supported law partner Thomas Hindman in his bid for the Senate against Know – Nothing candidate W. D. Rice. Cleburne was wounded when Rice ambushed him and Hindman in a Helena street in 1856.
Cleburne adopted his new country thoroughly. He joined many social clubs and affiliations, which brought him close to the citizenry of Helena. Cleburne's politics mirrored Arkansas's Southern stance, and he joined the Democratic Party in 1855 during their fight against the Know-Nothing party in the 1856 elections. Cleburne never owned slaves and voiced his opposition to the institution, yet he valued the right and desire of a section of the country to govern itself. Much of his philosophy was based on witnessing the Irish fight for independence. This acceptance endeared him to the Arkansans whom he would command in battle.
Local plantation owners and well-respected citizens formed a militia company called the Yell Rifles, named for Arkansas governor Archibald Yell. They elected Cleburne captain, and the company was thoroughly drilled in the skills he learned in the British army under Sergeant Major Kyle of the 41st Foot. The Yell Rifles, along with similar groups from around the state, travelled to Little Rock (Pulaski County) hoping to seize the Federal Arsenal in February, 1861. Federal troops abandoned the arsenal without a fight on February 8. Arkansas seceded on May 6 and joined the Confederate States of America.
The Yell Rifles became part of the First Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Cleburne was elected colonel. The First Arkansas was attached to the Army of Tennessee, the main Confederate army in the western theatre. Cleburne was promoted to brigadier general in March 1862, and his brigade participated in the Battle of Shiloh in April and the 1862 Kentucky Campaign that summer. At the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, on August 30, Cleburne was struck in the face by shrapnel and forced to leave the field. He remained away from the army until his recovery six weeks later, when he returned to duty for the Battle of Perryville in October. On December 14, 1862, Cleburne was promoted to major general. He commanded a division at the Battle of Murfreesboro in east Tennessee. During 1863, Cleburne participated in battles at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. On November 27, 1863, his division made a stand at Ringgold Gap, Georgia, as the rearguard protecting the retreating Confederate army. His 4,000 men held back 15,000 of General Joseph Hooker's Union troops.
Cleburne received a Congressional citation from the Confederate capital for his victory over Hooker's army at Ringgold. He used this show of support from the Confederate government to discuss his proposal to enlist slaves before the Confederate commanders. Cleburne believed that if slaves in the South were offered military service in exchange for their freedom, the foreign support and manpower issues would be resolved, as well as the slavery dilemma. His superiors did not see his vision, and his idea was suppressed, despite a similar suggestion from General Robert E. Lee. Eventually Lee's request was put into writing, and the Confederate Congress passed the act to enlist slaves in 1865. However, it came too late to avert losing the war.
In 1864, Cleburne became engaged to Susan Tarleton of Mobile, Alabama, and a fall wedding seems to have been planned. Cleburne returned to the front at Dalton, Georgia, and faced Union General William T. Sherman's troops during the Atlanta Campaign from May through August. In September 1864, Cleburne, under the command of Confederate General John Bell Hood, proceeded north to Nashville to attack the Union army under General George H. Thomas.
Major General Patrick Cleburne, formerly a Corporal in the 41st Foot under John Kyle
Cleburne died while leading a charge on the Union breastworks on November 30, 1864, in Franklin, Tennessee. He was buried at St. John's Church cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee. In 1870, his body was re-interred in Helena in the Helena Confederate Cemetery within Maple Hill Cemetery.
THE CARMARTHEN RIFLE CORPS AND SERGEANT-MAJOR KYLE.
When the 2nd Carmarthenshire Rifle Corps was established it was singularly fortunate in the appointment of its officers. Capt. Edwardes, who assumed the command at the unanimous request of the corps, was an efficient soldier, having spent several years in one of the regiments of the line, in which he was distinguished for all the best qualities of a well-disciplined soldier. The other officers, although new to the profession, were gentlemen of intelligence, in the prime of life, and with ample leisure speedily to acquire a practical knowledge of their duties. But much as the corps is indebted to the officers who have been most active and diligent, it owes in a very great measure the compliment which was specially paid to it at the Review at Gloucester to Sergeant Major Kyle, who with remarkable patience and ability went through the tedious labour of instructing the volunteers for many hours every day during the last summer. He spared no pains, grudged no amount of toil, never tired in explaining the true principles of the drill. It mattered not who the volunteer was that sought instruction, nor at what hour or personal inconvenience to himself, he was always ready and willing to help him. And, then, there is no drill sergeant in the service more competent than Sergeant Major Kyle-at Gloucester he was the first- and Captain Edwardes says "Of his qualities as a soldier I need not speak – the medals which cover his breast show of what stuff he is made." This soldier-like compliment was confirmed by a hundred voices, cheering most lustily. It was no more, then, than the veteran sergeant deserved, to have presented to him some durable acknowledgment of his valuable services. A subscription list was some months since opened, and £30 was immediately obtained, the subscriptions being strictly confined to the 2nd Carmarthenshire. Many not connected with the corps, but who admire the sergeant's devotion and energy, would have been glad to add their tokens. This was not permitted, and the testimonial is the more complimentary owing to it. The presentation was unavoidably delayed until last night. For two months the corps has not been able to drill regularly on account of the inclemency of the weather. The wool-room has now been fitted up for the purpose, and on Monday the drill was commenced in it. Last night was, therefore, the second time the corps has occupied their new premises, and it was properly chosen as a fitting occasion to present the testimonial. And at the conclusion of the drill, Capt. Edwardes said they were met there this evening, not only for the purpose of drill but to present their late drill-instructor, Sergeant Major Kyle, with a slight token of the respect they bear to him, for the very effective manner in which he had discharged his duties. (Cheers). He could safely say that they were at least as well up in their drill as their neighbours, but that would shortly be-proved. What they had accomplished was due in a great measure to Sergeant-major Kyle, who, from the moment of his appointment, was ever ready and willing to instruct them at any moment not merely in the ordinary hours of drill, but at any hour of the day – it mattered not when. (Cheers). Then, again, he was always punctually at his post. (Applause). They would remember that at first they drilled three times a-day at 7 o'clock in the morning, at half-past 2, and at 7 in the evening, and they would agree with him that no exertions were spared to make the corps really efficient. (Cheers.) He believed that if they had been inspected two months ago they would have mustered much better than they could now. The weather had been very much against them for the last two months, and having no suitable place for drill, they had not been as attentive as he deserved. But now he had obtained the use of this large room, which was suitably fitted up, the winter would present no obstruction to drill, and he hoped they would be able to perfect themselves before the spring. (Cheers). He thought it right to mention that some members of the corps had to his surprise said, "Catch me in the Wool Room," and if he did catch them here he would tell them something they did not like. (Applause). He had his eye upon them, and should watch them closely. On Monday next he should commence the fines, and unless just cause was shown the fine should be enforced. What did they enroll for? Was it to wear a uniform – or to carry a rifle? Surely they aimed at becoming efficient soldiers. (Cheers). He could safely say that they were extremely fortunate in securing the services of Sergeant Major Kyle, on whose qualities as a soldier it was useless for him to dwell-the medals which covered his breast showed of what stuff he is made. (Loud cheers). The gallant Captain then formally presented to Sergeant Major Kyle a purse containing thirty gold sovereigns, amidst the vociferous cheers of the corps. The purse, specially knit for the occasion, is of silk, with steel beads and rings, and is very handsome. On a silver plate attached to it is the following inscription Presented by the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Privates' of the 2nd Carmarthenshire Rifle Volunteers to their late drill-instructor, Sergeant Major Kyle – October, 1860." Sergeant Major Kyle, who was heartily cheered, said he begged to return them his most sincere and heartfelt thanks for the handsome and substantial testimonial which they had presented to him. He never dreamed that his poor services would have been so richly rewarded. When he commenced instructing them, seven or eight months ago, he knew well the good materials he had to work upon, and that the efficiency of the corps rested very much with himself. He had, therefore, given himself to his duties earnestly, and they had responded to his call nobly, and the result of their drill was seen at Gloucester, where all he had told them was fully borne out, for they were universally admitted to be second to no corps on the field, and in his heart and soul he believed they were not. He had now left them officially, but he was ready at their call at any moment when it did not interfere with his military duties elsewhere. He should be most happy to help them in any way. (Cheers.) But, they should attend drill – nothing call be done without it. He knew what they could do if they liked-they might become perfect in drill. If they were regular in drill during the winter they would soon be as efficient as any of the best disciplined regular soldiers of the line. (Applause) They had from the first given him the utmost satisfaction and pleasure. He bad received every support and assistance from the officers and particularly from Captain Edwardes, who from his practical knowledge on the parade ground where it was given in a most gentlemanly and handsome manner, and by his internal organization of the corps it has attained a proper footing. (Cheers.) If ho had on any occasion, in his anxiety to push them forward in their exercise, over- stepped the bounds of courtesy, he hoped they would forgive him. (Applause). He again thanked them from his soul for this (holding the purse in his hand) very beautiful and handsome testimonial, which he should ever retain as a lasting memorial of his gratifying connection with the 2nd Carmarthenshire Volunteer Rifle Corps. (Applause). He had unintentionally forgotten to thank Colonel Scott for the valuable advice and assistance which he had afforded him in the execution of his duty. (Cheers), Capt. Edwardes said that the formation of a second company was in progress, and those who wished to volunteer into it could obtain all the information they require at the office of Mr. George Thomas, solicitor. He had already twenty-five to draft off, and he under- stood others were prepared to enrol, and the sooner they did so the better. The proceedings terminated, and the corps was then dismissed. The above article appeared in the CARMARTHEN JOURNAL PAGE 5, 23RD NOVEMBER 1860
Finally, It would be inappropriate not to mention that shortly before his retirement from the army whilst the Regiment was stationed at King Charles Fort on the Southerly outcrops of Kinsale in Ireland, John Kyle rescued a Private soldier from drowning and saved his life by diving into the raging waters of the Irish Sea, regardless of his own personal safety and whilst in full uniform, brought him ashore between the jagged shoreline.
A copy of the Royal Humane Society certificate awarding John Kyle a bronze medal for successfully saving a man from drowning
Unfortunately we don't have the name of that soldier but it goes to show that right up until the end of his career he thought nothing of his own safety but the safety of his men, now that's what you call a real hero.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A VETERAN
We regret to record the death of Sergeant-Major Kyle, well known in the town and county from his being for many years on the staff of Carmarthenshire Militia as drill instructor to the volunteers of Carmarthen. In early life he saw a good deal of active service in India, and, on the regiment being ordered home, it was sent to Carmarthen about the time of the Rebecca riots, and soon afterwards the deceased retired, receiving a pension. He was then placed on the staff of the militia, but left a few years ago, much to the regret of the regiment. Sergeant-Major Kyle was warmly attached to the volunteer movement, and from the formation of the Carmarthen corps (with a slight interval) he acted as their drill instructor, and he will be remembered with affection by his comrades in arms. His conduct as a soldier, husband, father, and friend was that of an upright and worthy man, and his somewhat sudden decease will be lamented by many friends and acquaintances. He caught cold at drill on the 11th inst, inflammation of the liver supervened; and, after severe suffering, he expired on Thursday, He will be interred with military honours this afternoon.
WESTERN MAIL 21ST FEBRUARY 1870 PAGE 4
John Kyle's grave at St David's Cemetery Carmarthen.


As so often before in history, Poland is divided by hostile neighbours. It is 1944, German-occupied Warsaw and the Uprising has collapsed. Many of the young freedom fighters who had fought so courageously for 63 days - guns against tanks - escape hidden among thousands of Polish refugees being deported by the Germans. Their fate is, as yet, unknown. Within this group emerges Marcin Warsaw is in ruins and shortly before their violent separation, Wiska, gives Marcin a token of her love: a 'horse -hair ring' inset with a tiny crowned eagle - a symbol of a free and united Poland. She vanishes from his life, but her memory and the ring remains. In hopeless solitude, he is rescued by Janina (Adrianna Biedrzynska). Her unrequited love for him never falters but, in the end, becomes her downfall - she is guilty only of having loved him. The Germans have now retreated, enabling the Russians to take over Warsaw, on their way to Berlin. Our young heroes now face a second enemy. Trapped within a growing web of intrigue and betrayal, Marcin is considered a traitor by his friends and a trusted collaborator by his enemies. Searching for a compromise, he pays the ultimate price for his illusions.


HALLANDALE BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - UPDATE: Hallandale Beach Police say Jordan has been found safe.
Police are asking for the public's help to find a missing child in south Broward County.
Hallandale Beach Police say 12-year-old Jordan McPherson was last seen Monday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. in the area of 835 West Hallandale Beach Blvd.
McPherson was last seen wearing beige khaki pants with black and bright green shoes. It is not known what color shirt he was wearing.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (954) 457-1400.


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Inside #StartWithThem – the new advertiser pitch helping Twitter win on Wall Street
By Katie Deighton-23 April 2019 23:13pm
Twitter's #StartWithThem events kicked off in Paris
Twitter's first quarter earnings have all but cemented its comeback on the Street, topping analyst predictions with year-on-year revenue growth of 18%. Behind the scenes, the company has been working to foster advertiser spend with a global roadshow and campaign promoting the quality of its audience.
The social brand today (23 April) posted total advertising revenue at $679m, an increase of 18% year-on-year, while overall income grew by the same vector to $787m.
Ad sales in the US dominated other markets, increasing by 26% year-on-year to $363m. In a letter to investors, the board noted that North American strength lay in the "continued execution across product and sales, coupled with broad-based advertiser demand".
It's this demand – as well as education on said products – that Twitter is hoping to cultivate outside of the US. Despite climbing 10% year-on-year, international ad revenue was posted at $317m in Q1 – signifying enormous growth potential in markets where advertisers are mulling cutbacks in duopoly spend after a multitude of brand safety hits.
Sarah Personette is leading this international push as the global head of client solutions. A former Facebook exec twice over, she was brought on board in October after Matt Derella was elevated to the expanded role of head of customers. Her team's goals are ambitious: double the business by 2020, become advertisers' most recommended partner and make Twitter the number one place to work.
Personette hopes to achieve all three through the lens of #StartWithThem – the company's latest pitch to advertisers. "Them," Personette explains, is "the audience that matters most," a definition she and her team have spent the last six months preaching at events and meetings from Tokyo to Dubai to Las Vegas.
Completely in awe of #ExpoTwitter at @TwitterFrance: an exhibition of the most engaging and powerful moments on @Twitter in 2018. Each moment is connected to a feeling and a hue #GBMCreatespic.twitter.com/KshELs61Gf
— Ariel Adkins (@artfullyawear) December 5, 2018
"I've been in maybe 10 different markets around the world talking with customers about this and in each one I say that Twitter moves at the speed of culture and it moves at the speed of conversation," she said. "This is why people come to Twitter each and every day: to lean into what's happening. "So, if you are a brand or business that is looking to launch something new ... or to connect to what's happening in culture and in conversation today, Twitter is where you should start, because this is where you will find the most leaned-in audience, the most receptive audience." This message has manifested in Twitter's decision to stop disclosing monthly active users and focus on its daily user base instead. Jasmine Enberg, a senior analyst at eMarketer, noted the move is "in keeping with its value proposition to advertisers – a committed though not very large user base when compared with other social platforms." #StartWithThem has now evolved into a fully-fledged B2B campaign comprising out-of-home, digital and experiential, having quietly launched internally last August. The live element, which Personette described as "a beautiful, museum-like exhibition," was unveiled at the company's expo in Paris last December and will continue to tour internationally in the coming months. "We physically bring to life different tweets," explained Personette, referencing features such as a mini gallery of art posted on the platform and a literal conveyer belt of 280-character musings. "We have, from a materials perspective, certainly brought a lot of the feeling, depth and emotion of our audience into the way we build our collateral and the way we tell our stories."
#StartWithThem : Retour en vidéo sur la soirée et les interventions de @LettreAudio, @F_Descraques et @supermegadrivin  pic.twitter.com/029rcAVPA7 — Twitter Marketing FR (@TwitterMktgFR) December 12, 2018
On a call with investors today (23 April), chief financial officer Ned Segal was positive about the success of the central campaign, hinting that the team behind it might grow in the future.
"We feel like the messages that we have been talking to advertisers about are really resonating," he said. "We continue to invest in the tools and the people who are connecting with advertisers, as well as working on the products that they are selling, to make sure that we are best positioned to help advertisers.
"This is an ongoing part of our strategy and we are pleased to see how it's playing out."
This marked pivot to elevating the quality of Twitter's audience over its quantity plays into two market shifts: the ongoing bad actor storm facing rivals Facebook and Google on a weekly basis, and Twitter's overarching focus on health.
Founder and chief executive Jack Dorsey described the metric as his "first and foremost priority" and re-emphasized its recent clean-up tactics on today's investor call.
New tools include the simplification of its reporting process, and the implementation of AI that deletes abusive tweets. The platform has been cleaning up its act for brands, too: Personette said Twitter is continuing to invest in partnerships with the likes of Moat and DoubleVerify "that help to deliver against the needs of brand safety."
"We're not ... [painting it] on an out-of-home billboard," she said, when asked how the company was communicating this sweep to advertisers. "But brand safety is just one of the top topics we continue to lean into proactively with clients in order to make sure they understand what we're doing, the measures that we take, the way we move quickly, and that we deeply care about their business.
"That that's not connected to a value proposition; that just is the core to who we are and what our business is."
This conveyor belt of funny tweets that came as reactions to the news is one of my favorites. pic.twitter.com/zH0RnrrLZy
Nevertheless, Twitter is hoping that a healthier platform will eventually translate to revenues.
"Over the long term, we do believe that work will ensure people find a place that they can contribute, they can participate in and want to do that more and more every single day," said Dorsey. "So, health is a number one priority [and] we believe this, ultimately, will lead to growth.
"Advertisers know that you come to Twitter ... because we have the most valuable audience when they are most receptive. They come with a specific campaign objective in mind. They come to launch something new. They come to connect with what is happening. And they know exactly what they are buying."
As for what's next – advertisers shouldn't hold their breath for a shiny new product reveal in which to deposit their innovation budgets.
While Segal noted its ad load is still "more demand constrained than supply constrained" and admitted the platform can "do better" with its Direct Response API offering in particular, he tactfully managed advertiser expectations of a big, quick fix.
"We know that there is more that we can do for them over time," he said, "but this is going to be a rolling thunder, not a big reveal. You will see ongoing improvements from us as opposed to something that happens all at once."
This article is about: World, Twitter, Advertising, Social Media, Digital, Brand
Twitter is an online news and social networking service where users post and interact with messages, known as "tweets."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


So this story starts, as it brings you and your kids into the world of these twelve cute little monsters.
Targeted at kids, ages 2-6, this children's story features a variety of colorful monsters that kids can get to know while reading about them. Written in a rhythmical manner, the story integrates colors, shapes, and numbers into each line. Take this opportunity to either teach children some new words or reinforce what they already know. They won't even realize they're learning as they get caught up in the story of these monsters.
The story starts with an introduction of two little monsters, Patty (who is pink with two eyes and four teeth) and Gus (who is dark green with three eyes to see). It then goes on to introduce their friends and family. Meet Jack and Jen, and Jody, John, Jasper, Joe, and Jamie. Learn each monster's name and his or her distinguishing characteristics, using colors (she is purple), shapes (he is round), or numbers and body parts (three eyes). This fun story also features a great underlying lesson about friendship and making new friends, when these nine monsters meet Fred, Becky, and Bruce on the playground. Will this tight knit group be open to making friends with these new monsters?
Encourage reading in young kids by getting them started with "Twelve Little Monsters" and have fun as you read each line together. Build vocabulary and reading skills, learn colors and numbers, and have fun with rhyming words and silly looking monsters. Parents, teachers, and caregivers – read this during story time, bedtime, or whenever you and your little ones are looking for a bit of feel-good fun.
Visually appealing with bright colors and fun animations, this little monster story is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Patty and Gus and their friends are waiting for you to join them in their little monster world.


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Welcome to Camping des Varennes, a 2 stars campsite with an familial atmosphere, quiet, shaded with lot of greenery.
You can both camp, rent a mobil-home or bungalows next to the river, le Louet, where you will be able to go fishing and walk along the pedestrial paths GR3 or by VTT.
The campsite is located at about 15km from Angers.
Welcome to Camping des Varennes, a 2 stars campsite with an familial atmosphere, quiet, shaded with lot of greenery. You can both camp, rent a mobil-home or bungalows next to the river, le Louet, where you will be able to go fishing and walk along the pedestrial paths GR3 or by VTT. There are lots of touristic places to visit around (castles, museums, zoos, and underground villages) The campsite is located at about 15km from Angers.
Located near to the Louet river, the campsite is quiet and well shadowed. You will be able to fish and to walk along the pedestrial paths GR3 and VTT, there are also lots of places to visit (castles, museums, zoos, underground villages, famous winaries, …).


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text:
A Young Man in a Hurry is a collection of short stories by American writer Robert W. Chambers.  A collection of light romantic tales in which Chambers' love of fishing and hunting and natural scenery prevails. The stories are set in America.  The title story is a comedy of coincidence which has an atmospheric setting of nocturnal snow in New York.

Table of contents
"A Young Man in a Hurry"
"A Pilgrim"
"The Shining Band"
"One Man in a Million"
"The Fire-Warden"
"The Market-Hunter"
"The Path-Master"
"In Nauvoo"
"Marlett's Shoes"
"Pasque Florida"

Publication
The collection was originally published by Harper & Brothers, New York City, in 1904. It was published in Britain by Archibald Constable & Co Ltd, London in 1905.

1904 short story collections
Harper & Brothers books

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Concerns of Americans from all Political Persuasions Ignored in Immigration Policies
Published on February 27th, 2016
Blog, Border Security
America's immigration laws were enacted to achieve two primary goals – protect innocent lives and protect the jobs of American workers.
Democrats generally focus on the concerns of working Americans and the wages that they receive, while Republicans tend to focus on issues concerning national security, although in this perilous era, most Americans, irrespective of political orientation, are greatly concerned about the threat of terrorism.
Prior to World War II, the primary responsibility for enforcing and administering our immigration laws was vested in the U.S. Department of Labor. It was understood by the political leaders of America's "Greatest Generation" that Americans must do well for America to do well. The responsibility for enforcing our immigration laws shifted to the Justice Department out of national security concerns.
The American Dream was created by shielding American workers from foreign competition. Understanding that today's students would ultimately become the employees of tomorrow, American companies were greatly concerned about their education. The leaders of these companies sought to create scholarship programs and provide other incentives to convince American kids to seek the education and skills that would prepare them for important jobs that would help those companies succeed.
It was understood that education provided the key to good-paying jobs.
In recent decades, American politicians from both parties have sought to import a veritable army of foreign workers who were willing to work for lower wages than their American counterparts. Many of these workers entered the country illegally or sought unlawful employment. At the same time, increasing numbers of foreign workers have been imported with visas that legally enable them to work here.
Organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have successfully pushed their open borders agenda to pressure the government to increase the number of countries that participate in the wrong-headed and dangerous Visa Waiver program that enables aliens from 38 countries to enter the U.S. without first applying for a visa.
There are many horror stories about the displacement of Americans through the H-1B visa program, which is only one of several methods by which American workers are losing jobs to foreign workers and finding their wages declining because of increasing numbers of foreign workers who are willing to work for substandard wages.
Contrary to Orwellian lies, foreign workers do not contribute to our economy, but destroy our economy through massive remittances (money wired back to their home countries), wage suppression and tremendous public costs of providing health care and education.
While Democratic candidates tout their goals of creating wage equality by boosting minimum wage, immigration policies undermine American workers and have obliterated the American Dream.
Then, there is the threat of terror attacks conducted on American soil, a threat that has never been greater. Most Americans consider the threat of terror attacks to be their No. 1 concern. The admission of Syrian refugees into the U.S. has ignited a firestorm by Americans who are concerned that these aliens cannot be vetted. What is being ignored is that illegal aliens who evade the inspections process conducted by CBP (Customs and Border Protection) inspectors at ports of entry are not vetted either. Indeed, there is no record of their entry into the U.S. and no way of even determining how many of these illegal aliens are actually present in the country.
Additionally, there is an abject lack of integrity to the process by which aliens are lawfully admitted into the country and by which they are granted various immigration benefits that range from being granted political asylum, lawful immigrant status and even U.S. citizenship.
In point of fact, nearly all of the terrorists who carried out or attempted to carry out deadly terror attacks in America had been admitted through U.S. ports of entry. Several terrorists who have carried out deadly terror attacks here, or who attempted to carry out such attacks, had become naturalized citizens just months before they launched attacks.
The engineered failures of the immigration system by the current administration and previous administrations of both political parties are justifiably at the root of much of the anger and frustration of betrayed Americans, of all political persuasions, against both political parties.
Federal Immigration Law, political parties, politics, security
Where is our Civilization Headed?
Georgie Anne Geyer: Journalist with a heart…and a brain
Michael W. Cutler


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text:
Crimsonstreak Central
II Crimsonstreak Central
Essential Posts
Review | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Episode IX of the Star Wars saga arrived last weekend in the form of The Rise of Skywalker, the J.J. Abrams-directed "final" installment in the (recently made up) "Skywalker Saga."
First off, I had a blast.
I understand some fans have a lot of complaints. That's fine. This movie stuff is subjective. These days, people think we have to have a "hive mind" on big-ticket genre stuff, and it's pretty ridiculous.
Love The Last Jedi? You're not a real Star Wars fan.
Hate The Last Jedi? You're not a real Star Wars fan.
That's kind of the world we live in these days, this hyper-polarized "us vs. them" mentality that makes it impossible to discuss a movie on its merits. It's either "The Best Thing Ever" or "The Worst Thing Ever" with no room for criticism or nuance.
The unfortunate thing about this movie is that you can't really discuss it without discussing The Last Jedi. In a normal world, this wouldn't be an issue because, naturally, you'd look at the second movie in a trilogy and see how it informs the third movie in the same trilogy.
The problem is The Last Jedi and how people feel about it.
I'll just say this: The Rise of Skywalker felt like a Star Wars movie to me in ways The Last Jedi didn't at times. How you will feel about the new movie will largely depend on how you felt about The Last Jedi. If you hated it but liked The Force Awakens, you'll probably like this one. If you felt The Last Jedi challenged the Star Wars status quo and set a bold new direction for the franchise, you probably won't like it that much.
In general, though, I'm very positive on The Rise of Skywalker. Let's dive a little deeper below...
First off all, the biggest buy-in for this movie is that Emperor Palpatine is back. It's asking a lot from the audience, given that this wasn't really set up in any meaningful way in the movies that came before. There is a lot of canon/expanded universe stuff about the Emperor's plans for the Empire after his death--he definitely had something cooking--but this is the primary thing fans have to accept and just kind of "go with" at the beginning.
(One of these days, I'll get into a discussion about Disney's befuddling approach to creating this sequel trilogy without giving it a unified vision, but that'll have to wait.)
If you can accept that Palpatine--or at least his spirit--survived at the end of Return of the Jedi, most things in this movie will work. If you can't, then it probably won't.
While it's never explicitly stated in the sequel trilogy that Palpatine's alive, it does make sense. I don't think a powerful being like Snoke could exist in the universe without Palpatine knowing about it. Palpatine says he created Snoke--cloned him--and that would work a lot better if Snoke had been portrayed differently in The Last Jedi. Palpatine's plan revolved around resurrection through his granddaughter, but I got the feeling Snoke planned to destroy Rey if he couldn't turn her, so that contradicts the Emperor's plot. In fact, Snoke was going to have Kylo kill her until Kylo, um, sort of swerved from that. I can't really buy the Emperor "foreseeing" all of that, but, you know, okay.
In The Last Jedi, "master of subversion" Rian Johnson failed to pick up a lot of threads from The Force Awakens or took them in a much different direction (some in ways that infuriated fans). In turn, Abrams strays quite a bit from the things Johnson set up to close out the trilogy, which really feels like two movies that are similar in tone (The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker) with a middle child that kind of does its own thing (The Last Jedi). To me, you have to think of The Rise of Skywalker as a direct sequel to The Force Awakens that sort of acknowledges that some things from The Last Jedi happened.
It's not a smooth transition in tone at all. I have no problems admitting that.
Not having an overall plan for this trilogy showed. You couldn't avoid it. Tonally, Episodes VII, VIII, and IX are all over the place, with The Last Jedi really feeling out of place since Johnson has such a distinctive creative voice. TLJ is meandering and takes its time with characterization while Abrams wants, in George Lucas "faster, more intense!" fashion, to move things along, boom, boom, boom. There are quiet moments in Abrams' films, yes, but overall, things are propulsive. You can't say the same about Johnson's approach in The Last Jedi.
So, okay, you get the point, right? This trilogy has to have a messy ending because of the messy way its individual parts were assembled and built upon one another.
That said, I'm a big fan of The Rise of Skywalker! As I wrote earlier, it felt like Star Wars to me in ways the last movie didn't. The main characters spent a lot of time together, something we didn't get a ton of in the previous two movies. There are some incredible callbacks. The Kylo Ren/Ben Solo stuff is phenomenal (and Adam Driver is incredible). Daisy Ridley shines as Rey. The dialogue is fun and quippy, classic characters get incredible moments, and we learn Leia went through full Jedi training.
Let's dig into a few different topics...
Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. If anyone comes out of this sequel trilogy in flawless fashion, it's Adam Driver's character. He's incredible. He goes from villain to doubting villain to lost hero to redeemed hero in a good three-movie arc. His internal struggle between the darkness he clings to and the light we know must be within is one of the most compelling things in the trilogy. I feared a redemption arc for Kylo Ren, indeed I dreaded it for many reasons, but it worked.
Rey Jakku Scavenger Jedi Trainee Palpatine Skywalker (fit that on a business card). Since The Force Awakens, we understood there was something special about Rey. She was immensely gifted in the Force, much like Anakin and Luke. Many fans thought she had links to a classic character, such as the Skywalkers, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Palpatine (yep, some people thought it a long time ago). She gets her answer in The Last Jedi--she's no one, her parents are nothing (although Kylo's admission, "Not to me," is very stirring). The Rise of Skywalker goes a different direction here, fudging the "no one" stuff by saying her parents chose to be no one because she was Palpatine's granddaughter and they wanted to protect her from him. I will say that in The Last Jedi, Luke notes that Rey went "straight to the dark" when training her--something you could view as evidence of her bloodline.
Giving Rey lineage is controversial for some fans who liked Rian Johnson's approach. However, I feel like The Force Awakens wasn't going in that direction at all. Abrams reclaimed this for himself instead of going with what Johnson established. The message, though, is essentially the same: no matter who Rey is, she gets to choose her path, either as no one or as the granddaughter of the most powerful Sith who ever lived.
I find it kind of weird, though, that Leia knew this and never told her. Given the Skywalker family history, that seems kind of hypocritical to hold that back, no matter the "certain point of view." On the other hand, I can also see that Leia felt it was important for Rey to choose her own path without having to worry about the baggage that goes along with being a Palpatine.
I'm not mixed on the lineage--if you're going to make Palpatine the big bad again, it makes a lot of sense--but it did feel a hint clumsy in execution.
Emperor Palpatine. How is Palpatine back? I'll go with "ancient Sith magic," "cloning," and "because." Don't overthink this because the movie sure as heck doesn't. Again, you have to "just go with it" and accept that, in a world with the powerful, mystical "Force," things like this can happen. I couldn't help but think of the old Dark Empire comic in which the Emperor had the ability to project his consciousness into a series of clone bodies. The Sith were obsessed with learning the secret of immortality, and based on the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis, I think Palpatine mastered this (until he...um...exploded at the end?).
Oh, there were also Sith cultists or acolytes or something.
Listen, it was a pleasure having Ian McDiarmid back. I don't think that was the Emperor's original body but rather a cloned vessel that was malformed and deformed by dark side corruption. The Emperor was crazy powerful, too, summoning a Force Lightning Storm capable of destroying capital ships! Was he ever that powerful? In the old Expanded Universe, he could definitely pull off these types of things.
C-3PO. If you liked the droid pairing of C-3PO and R2-D2, you didn't get to see them spend much time together. Threepio tells Artoo he's been his best friend, and it's a poignant moment, especially after you find out Threepio has to get his memory wiped. I thought Threepio was the best he's been since Return of the Jedi. I'm also glad Artoo was able to restore his primary memory, although "mind-wiped" Threepio was pretty funny. When they fell into the sand cavern and Poe asks everyone if they're okay and Threepio tells him he's fine even though Poe didn't mention him by name, I laughed.
Is this Star Wars or National Treasure? The first part of the movie involves a series of fetch quests for an important item (the Sith Wayfinder that leads to Palpatine's new digs on Exogol). There's a dagger that plays an important role, too, and our heroes have to go from one place to another to decode ruins and find the next clue. I felt like, if this trilogy had been planned out, this idea could have played a small but important role in the previous movies.
That Han Solo scene. My favorite 20-minute span of the movie involves the lightsaber fight between Rey and Kylo Ren, Leia's death, Ben Solo's redemption, and Rey's return to Ahch-To to visit with the Force ghost of Luke Skywalker.
I couldn't believe Harrison Ford came back for a final go-round as Han Solo. I imagine him, in his grizzled voice, telling Disney to keep backing up money trucks until the pile of cash was large enough to suit him.
I loved, loved, loved this scene. Adam Driver sells it so hard here. The conflict. The regret. The pain. It was a perfect mirror to The Force Awakens, only this time, Ben Solo makes the right decision. He could've turned away from the Dark Side earlier and returned to his parents, but he did what he thought he had to do to serve his dark master. The fact that he got to make amends, even if it was just to a memory of his father, was deeply touching. I cried in the theater; Anne gave me a napkin to dry my eyes.
If this scene hadn't worked, Ben's redemption wouldn't have worked. But to have his mother gather her remaining Force energy to reach him and then have him talk to his father was very impactful.
That Luke Skywalker scene. Rey's return to Ahch-To was expected, but I thought she'd go there specifically to consult Luke. Instead, after learning her true heritage, she goes there to live out the rest of her life without having any impact on the galaxy. She even throws away her lightsaber, which Force Ghost Luke catches (giving a not-that-subtle dig about how a Jedi should take better care of their weapon). I was glad to see Luke come back as a Force ghost, and I was glad Rey got to see him again. This was an evolution of his arc in The Last Jedi, in which he learned he was wrong to give up on the Jedi and the galaxy at large. And then he raised his own X-Wing like Master Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back (music cue included) so Rey could fly it. Red 5, standing by!
Jedi Master Leia. Luke trained Leia! It's been a thing since after Return of the Jedi, yet no one mentioned it. I'm fine with a retcon, especially a good one, and I feel this is a great one. It also fixes the out-of-left-field Mary Poppins scene from The Last Jedi. At the time, I thought it was just a reaction from Leia, who was strong in the Force. However, The Rise of Skywalker proves she was powerful in the Force and had been trained. Probably one of the changes TLJ diehards will support.
You broke my heart, Chewie. Chewie's breakdown upon learning about Leia's death may have been the most heartbreaking visual in the new trilogy. This really hit me--the mighty Chewbacca driven to his knees in pain and anguish. Hasn't this poor Wookiee lost enough?
Lando! Billy Dee Williams had the time of his life. I liked how he first appeared in disguise, which reminded me of Return of the Jedi. I kept wondering, though, it he'd stayed on the desert planet for years waiting for someone to pick up on Luke's search for the Sith Wayfinder. However, he does mention in a throwaway line that Leia contacted him, so I'm guessing he simply beat Rey and the others to the planet and was watching out for them. God bless you, Billy Dee.
Wedge! The most exciting two-second cameo of my life happened when Wedge Freaking Antilles showed up in the movie. He'd appeared in some of the canon Star Wars novels, but Denis Lawson turned down the chance to reprise the role in The Force Awakens. I'm glad he came back...even if I wanted MORE WEDGE ANTILLES. It gave me the same feeling I had when Gold Leader and Red Leader showed up in Rogue One.
Feel the Force, Finn. Finn's Force-sensitive, right? I feel like this seed was planted in The Force Awakens and abandoned in The Last Jedi in favor of whatever the hell Canto Bight was supposed to be. Was that what he wanted to tell Rey? Why didn't we get closure on that point? Did he want to tell her he loved her? We may never know.
Poe Dameron, intergalactic spice runner and spurned ladies' man. Will someone kiss Poe already? I don't think it's a big deal that Poe used to run spice (it's a sort-of-contradiction of established canon, but it still kind of works). I do think it's a big deal that Zorii Bliss is immune to his obvious charms. Zorii was pretty cool, by the way, as was Babu Frik (freakin' adorable!).
Voices of the Past: At the beginning of the movie, Rey begs past Jedi to "be with me." No one answers. She feels she's alone. At the end of the movie, when it seems like all hope is lost, Jedi throughout the history of Star Wars deliver a poignant pep talk. We've got Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), Yoda (Frank Oz), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson)--basically your Jedi All-Star Team.
But that's not all! Some deep cuts are in there, too, along with characters who got a lot more screen time in TV shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels: Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Aayla Secura (Jennifer Hale), Luminara Unduli (Olivia d'Abo), and Adi Gallia (Angelique Perrin).
Forced Perspective. I feel like the menu of movie-used Force powers expanded significantly here. We got Lightsaber Throw (Darth Vader used a version of this in Jedi), Object Transference, Force Heal (a staple of video games and also seen in The Mandalorian), Force Lightning Storm, and Dark Side Transference. As a longtime player of Star Wars video games, I found this pretty satisfying.
The Millennium Falcon's dish is round again. The rectangular dish got knocked off at the end of The Last Jedi. The replacement is circular, which means the venerable old ship looks like it did in the original trilogy. Not a huge deal--just something I noticed.
A new lightsaber. Rey obtains a "new" lightsaber in the form of Leia's old one when Luke gives it to her on Ahch-To. This comes in handy when the redeemed Ben Solo rushes to Exogol to help Rey deal with Palpatine. I love the fact Leia got deep enough into her training that she made her own lightsaber. I also liked that Rey went back to Tatooine and buried the sabers--while showing off one she'd clearly made for herself. Rey's lightsaber featured a yellow (or yellow-orange) blade and appeared to be made from part of her quarterstaff.
Brother and Sister. Luke and Leia are Force ghosts now. Pretty cool, I thought.
Leia footage. I'd be curious what someone who didn't know Carrie Fisher was dead would think of her role in the movie. I think the effects artists did a spectacular job of bringing her back and featuring her. They just didn't have a ton to work with, and it showed a little bit because her reactions and lines were never very specific. Still, as far as reverse-engineered performances go, I think it was successful overall.
Humor. Most of the humor really landed. I think this is something Abrams is very good at--keeping the action going and letting the characters react accordingly. Threepio had some great lines, and Finn and Poe also landed some laugh-out-loud moments (Poe's flashlight comes to mind). Even Ben Solo got in on it--when he jumped from a height on Exogol and landed with an "Ow!" That guy had a tough day.
The Rise of Skywalker isn't perfect! A few nitpicks...
Knights of a Renaissance Fair. The Knights of Ren were Sith cosplayers and nothing more. They looked cool, stood around, and got their asses handed to him when Ben got a lightsaber. This is one of those things Abrams set up, Johnson ignored, and then Abrams didn't have enough time to really dig into because there was so much going on. I'm sure people would've viewed it as a repetition of the really awesome throne room scene from The Last Jedi, but it would've been great if Rey and Ben had to cut through the Knights of Ren together to defeat Palpatine.
And Now Star Destroyers are World Destroyers. Palpatine never met a world-killing superweapon he didn't like. I can buy that decades of construction in the Unknown Regions led to a large fleet of Star Destroyers; I didn't like that each one had a Starkiller Base/Death Star strapped to the underbelly. Isn't a really large fleet crewed by evil Sith personnel enough of a threat, especially given Palpatine's return? It just felt a little excessive, but then again, Palpatine's never been one for understatement.
Death Fakeouts. The movie leans into three pretty significant death fakeouts: Chewie, C-3PO, and Ben Solo. Each of them comes back (Chewie and C-3PO are just fine while Ben eventually dies after he comes back to help Rey on Exogol). I felt like these could've been handled a little more deftly. The Chewbacca one, in particular, could've been excised with little detriment to the plot.
I'm glad C-3PO's memory got restored and am uncertain why we had to make such a big deal about this when it was clear Artoo would have a thumb drive containing Threepio's programming. It undercut the drama and sacrifice.
Reylo. The kiss at the end did not ruin the movie at all. It's not the worst decision in the world. I just felt like it pandered a little bit too much to Reylo fans; it felt excessive. I think it would've been far more effective for Ben to die with their feelings unrequited--it would've been tragic that way. I don't think it was out of character--Rey and Ben certainly had feelings for each other--but a little restraint here would've really paid off.
Plan? What Plan? Rian Johnson didn't leave a lot to be wrapped up, plot-wise, in The Last Jedi. It's mostly a character movie and not plot-heavy. The middle part of a story is supposed to set things up for the home stretch; TLJ doesn't do this. That meant whoever wrapped up the sequel trilogy had to pretty much come up with a plot from scratch. This led to the "Palpatine's back" plot and the fetch quest setup at the beginning. The characters had to have a goal, and Abrams did his best to provide one.
To be clear, the idea that George Lucas had a definitive storyline in mind for the original trilogy is a myth. He made it up as he went along, and it worked spectacularly. Star Wars is pretty much an accident. The major difference--and it's a MAJOR difference--is that Lucas' creative vision oversaw Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi (and The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith). This sequel trilogy lacks that singular creative vision, which is why there is so much tonal dissonance between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi and the lack of continuing plot threads from The Last Jedi into The Rise of Skywalker.
Posted by Matt Adams at 3:12 PM
I write superheroes, sci-fi, and a touch of the fantastic. I live and work in Indianapolis, Indiana, with my wife, Anne, a (possibly) man-eating turtle named Willy, an adorable dog named Howard, and a noble leopard gecko named Lenny. I'm the author of a trio of comedic superhero novels: I, Crimsonstreak II Crimsonstreak, and III Crimsonstreak. You can Email me here.
Amazon.com Author Page
By Michael West
R.J. Sullivan, Writer of Horror, Science Fiction, & Fantasy
Adam Christopher, Author
Frank Bill's House of Grit
Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds
Author Michael R. Hicks - Best-selling Amazon author of the In Her Name series
Midwest Writers Workshop
Studicus Selects 2019
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Let's kick off week 2 of my Star Wars ABC's with the letter "I." I is for "I know." This is one of the mos...
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Continuing my series, Star Wars ABC's, we bring you the letter "E." E is for the Emperor. In a galactic sense, Emperor P...
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text:
using System.Globalization;
using System.Reflection;

namespace Bit.BlazorUI;

public static class CultureInfoHelper
{
    private static readonly FieldInfo _cultureDataField = typeof(TextInfo).GetField("_cultureData", BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance)!;

    private static readonly FieldInfo _iReadingLayoutField = Type.GetType("System.Globalization.CultureData, System.Private.CoreLib, Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=7cec85d7bea7798e")!.GetField("_iReadingLayout", BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance)!;

    public static CultureInfo GetFaIrCultureByFarsiNames()
    {
        var cultureInfo = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fa-IR");

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.MonthNames = new[]
        {
            "فروردین", "اردیبهشت", "خرداد", "تیر", "مرداد", "شهریور", "مهر", "آبان", "آذر", "دی", "بهمن", "اسفند", ""
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedMonthNames = new[]
        {
            "فرور", "ارد", "خرد", "تیر", "مرد", "شهر", "مهر", "آبا", "آذر", "دی", "بهم", "اسف", ""
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.MonthGenitiveNames = cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.MonthNames;
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedMonthGenitiveNames = cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedMonthNames;
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.DayNames = new[]
        {
            "یکشنبه", "دوشنبه", "ﺳﻪشنبه", "چهارشنبه", "پنجشنبه", "جمعه", "شنبه"
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedDayNames = new[]
        {
            "ی", "د", "س", "چ", "پ", "ج", "ش"
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.ShortestDayNames = new[]
        {
            "ی", "د", "س", "چ", "پ", "ج", "ش"
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AMDesignator = "ق.ظ";
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.PMDesignator = "ب.ظ";
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.ShortDatePattern = "yyyy/MM/dd";
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek = DayOfWeek.Saturday;

        var cultureData = _cultureDataField.GetValue(cultureInfo.TextInfo);

        _iReadingLayoutField.SetValue(cultureData, 1 /*rtl*/); // this affects cultureInfo.TextInfo.IsRightToLeft

        if (cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.Calendar is not PersianCalendar)
        {
            cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.Calendar = new PersianCalendar();
        }

        return cultureInfo;
    }

    public static CultureInfo GetFaIrCultureByFingilishNames()
    {
        var cultureInfo = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fa-IR");

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.MonthNames = new[]
        {
            "Farvardin",
            "Ordibehesht",
            "Khordad",
            "Tir",
            "Mordad",
            "Shahrivar",
            "Mehr",
            "Aban",
            "Azar",
            "Dey",
            "Bahman",
            "Esfand",
            ""
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedMonthNames = new[]
        {
            "Far",
            "Ord",
            "Khr",
            "Tir",
            "Mrd",
            "Shr",
            "Mhr",
            "Abn",
            "Azr",
            "Dey",
            "Bah",
            "Esf",
            ""
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.MonthGenitiveNames = cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.MonthNames;
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedMonthGenitiveNames = cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedMonthNames;
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.DayNames = new[]
        {
            "YekShanbe",
            "DoShanbe",
            "SeShanbe",
            "ChaharShanbe",
            "PanjShanbe",
            "Jome",
            "Shanbe"
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AbbreviatedDayNames = new[]
        {
            "Yek",
            "Do",
            "Se",
            "Ch",
            "Pj",
            "Jom",
            "Shn"
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.ShortestDayNames = new[]
        {
            "Y",
            "D",
            "S",
            "C",
            "P",
            "J",
            "S"
        };

        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.AMDesignator = "G.Z";
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.PMDesignator = "B.Z";
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.ShortDatePattern = "yyyy/MM/dd";
        cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.FirstDayOfWeek = DayOfWeek.Saturday;

        var cultureData = _cultureDataField.GetValue(cultureInfo.TextInfo);

        _iReadingLayoutField.SetValue(cultureData, 1 /*rtl*/); // this affects cultureInfo.TextInfo.IsRightToLeft

        if (cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.Calendar is not PersianCalendar)
        {
            cultureInfo.DateTimeFormat.Calendar = new PersianCalendar();
        }

        return cultureInfo;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


There are a number of various methods so you can get money for that online sport of FarmVille. This is really a game performed on Facebook in which you expand crops and raise animals. You'll be able to use the money to purchase much more crops and buy family members pets for the farm. The much more you need to do the more money you deliver in. This does usually bring a lot of time to construct up and it calls for lots of appreciate time. Listed here are some recommendations on how to acquire FarmVille money.
When you have a child that loves CastleVille Legends Cheats games, be sure to setup some limitations. Clearly specific how much time a youngster can put cash into 1 day and adhere to it. You may also use video clip video games being a reward when your child completes chores around the home. By way of instance, you could set up a process where every chore they actually do offers them 10 minutes of game time.
On the other hand, Xbox Live has its personal payment services. But users require to complete the payment and then leave the game. They frequently go and buy Call of Obligation and other large game updates associated to the Contact of Obligation. Sport micro-payment solutions will opposite with this.
There are also companies that make yearbooks online. Two teenagers has first produced an online yearbook for individuals. And eventually this became a social networking website and has elevated a lot of cash, encompassing the capital.
All you require is a pc, keyboard and web link if you want to perform these incredible thrillers on-line. There are numerous types of them on-line. Some of them require you to use the mouse and keyboard. Furthermore, you get various circumstances to handle in different video games. In some cases, of you are needed to achieve a specific mission while in some others, you can get just by killing the enemies. For fantastic animation and a fantasy globe look, you can go for the ones wherein having a spaceship, you have to shoot the meteorites and other targets in space.
The home and garden games are also one of the most popular on-line woman games. The girls can adorn their personal digital doll houses with out using any home loan on-line. Style a house strategy for your doll and also select rooms for the exact same. A lot of these games permit women to make the backyard with variety of vegetation, walls and landscapes. Be the designer of your doll use. You will certainly have gala time playing these Path of Exile Orbs.
I tried different methods for a number of many years, some were my very personal development plus some had been bought web soccer betting solutions and that i just about gave up about 3 a lengthy time in the past and after that I discovered Soccer Betting Tipsters. This technique genuinely is efficient and so they provide you with the video games to wager on and assist you each inch of your way. I only attempted it since it experienced an absolutely free demo so I thought 'might as well give it a try'. Almost nothing to get rid of suitable. It labored a deal with!
Just as we want to know about the great deals that other people discover, we also want to know what other individuals have discovered to be a squander of cash all together. We use online lookup engines this kind of as Google, Yahoo, and Inquire to discover out valuable info on reductions and what not to buy at all. If gaming is your thing and you spend a great deal of cash on it, no question you are looking for methods to conserve in this region as nicely. There are many posts that will inform you of which video video games you ought to avoid and not squander your money on.


The quantum world is both elegant and mysterious. It is a sphere of existence where the laws of physics experienced in everyday life are broken--particles can exist in two places at once, they can react to each other over vast distances, and they themselves seem confused over whether they are particles or waves. For those not involved in the field, this world may seem trifling, but recently, researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have theoretically described two quantum states that are extraordinary in both the physics that define them and their visual appeal: a complex quantum system that simulates classical physics and a spellbinding necklace-like state. Their study is published in the journal Physical Review A.
The quest for these states begins with a doughnut, or rather, a doughnut-shaped container housing a rotating superfluid. This superfluid, which is a fluid that moves with no friction, is made of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) comprising particles with no charge that are cooled to near-zero degrees kelvin, a temperature so cold, that it does not exist in the universe outside of laboratories. At this temperature, particles begin to exhibit strange properties--they clump together, and eventually become indistinguishable from one another. In effect, they become a single entity and thus move as one.
Since this whirling BEC superfluid is operating at a quantum scale, where tiny distances and low temperatures reign, the physical characteristics of its rotation are not those seen in the classical world. Consider a father who is swinging his daughter around in a circle by the arms. Classical physics mandates that the child's legs will move faster than her hands around the circle, since her legs must travel further to make a complete turn.
In the world of quantum physics the relationship is the opposite. "In a superfluid...things which are very far away [from the center] move really slowly, whereas things [that] are close to the center move very fast," explains OIST Professor Thomas Busch, one of the researchers involved in the study. This is what is happening in the superfluid doughnut.
"The shortest boundary [between the components] is in the radial direction," Dr. Angela White, first author on the study, explains. The two components separate into different halves of the doughnut along this boundary, which is created by passing through the doughnut's radius. In this configuration, they will use less energy to remain separated than they would via any other.
"In a very abstract way, [spin is] just a thing that has two possible states," Busch explains. "It can be this way or it can be that way." For this experiment, which involves particles that have no charge, or no spin, the researchers "faked" a spin by assigning a "this or that" property to their particles.
When coupling the particles based on this property, the two semicircles inside of the doughnut break into multiple alternating parts, thus forming the necklace configuration (Figure 2). By digging further into its composition, the researchers found that the number of "pearls" in the necklace depends on the strength of the spin-orbit coupling and, more surprisingly, that there must always be an odd number of these pearls.
Researchers have predicted quantum necklaces before, but they were known to be unstable--expanding or dissipating themselves to oblivion only a short time after being created. In this theoretical model, the OIST researchers believe they have found a way to create a stable necklace, one that would allow for more time to study it and appreciate its refined majesty.


text:
Q: Inventory with parent and child I have created inventory
[dev:children]

d2-dev

jms-dev

[d2-dev]

 host1

[jms-dev]

 host2

[test:children]

d2-test

jms-test

[d2-test]

host3

[jms-test]

host4

[stage:children]

...
I am passing variables with
ansible-playbook  test.yml -i hosts --extra-vars '{"env":"dev"}'
for dev/test/sgate.
In playbook I am checking
- name: Stop Service

  service:

    name: httpd

    state: stopped

  when: inventory_hostname in groups[d2-{{ env }}]

I am getting error
[WARNING]: when statements should not include jinja2 templating delimiters such as {{ }} or {% %}. Found: inventory_hostname  in
groups['d2-"{{env}}"']
My objective is to have one inventory and one playbook and call with extra variable and replace with env. How can I acheive this

A:
I am getting error [WARNING]: when statements should not include jinja2 templating delimiters such as {{ }} or {% %}. Found: inventory_hostname in groups['d2-"{{env}}"']

It is correct for two reasons: as it stated about the mustaches, but also because even if it did what you asked, the expression would resolve to the string 'd2-"dev"' which is very unlikely to be what you wanted
The correct fix for that is to set a task-local variable, in which you can use jinja templates as you wish, then use that variable in the when::
- debug: msg="like this"
  when: inventory_hostname in groups[the_group]
  vars:
    the_group: d2-{{env}}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It took me a few projects (months…) to figure this one out, now let me save you the effort and share it with you.
In The Netherlands, the majority of the customers prefer to pay online using iDeal.
In terms of usability and conversion rates it comes down to supporting what your customers prefer to pay with.
Like it or hate it, iDeal is simply the most trusted online payment method in The Netherlands.
Laravel Cashier does not support iDeal. So bye bye Cashier!
So what is a nice payment gateway supporting iDeal?
For projects targeting The Netherlands, I integrate Mollie's payment gateway.
Mollie redirects the customer to a highly optimised payment page, offering a multitude of payment methods including iDeal and credit cards. After payment a) the customer is redirected to a URL of your choice and b) a configurable webhook is called to notify you of any payment status updates.
Like other major payment providers it offers helpful integration libraries, extensive documentation, a rich API, a testing mode, the necessary payment handling tools (i.e. refunds) and a nice dashboard to keep an eye on your revenue. Support for recurring payments has been added recently.
Oh, and the pricing is competitive for sure.
Supporting iDeal payments with Mollie is actually quite easy. You can take several routes.
You could call the Mollie API directly (i.e. using GuzzleHttp). Probably not the best idea as it is cumbersome and error-prone to implement.
HOWEVER, this only will help you let the customer complete the payment. After that it gets a bit messy. So what comes next, after the customer has paid?
You will need a way to process the payment. Make sure your application gets notified of payment status updates and generate invoices.
After implementing and testing this in a few projects, I have decided to start packaging the whole Mollie payment process functionality and share it with you. Stay tuned for next blog posts.
So it would be great if we could simply swap out the payment gateway and benefit from the other functionality.
After analyzing the Cashier code, extending Cashier to support iDeal unfortunately appears to be a no-go. The package code is strongly tied to (initially) the Stripe and (later) the BrainTree payment gateways. It is not engineered (yet) to support other gateways in the future. It also surprised me that the invoice generator is not covered by a more generic interface.
Stripe and BrainTree allow the customer to pay without leaving the merchant website using a payment token under the hood. iDeal requires the customer to pay using a redirect. This significant difference in the payment process (token vs redirect) is another reason why it will be very hard to implement iDeal into Cashier.
And how about Laravel Spark?
When it comes to supporting other payment gateways, Laravel Spark suffers from the same issues as Laravel Cashier does, because it is based on / architected the same way as Laravel Cashier.
Therefore I use Cashier and Spark only for projects targeting a highly international customer base.
What will be the best Laravel payment and invoice solution for your project depends on what payment method the customers prefer. For credit card payments, be sure to check out Laravel Cashier. It will fulfil most projects' requirements.
If you need to support iDeal, go with Mollie and one of the packages described above. And be sure to stay tuned for my next blog posts, as I am launching some packages to help further integrating Mollie payments and invoicing in Laravel apps.
What if we want to use Stripe's iDeal and SEPA gateways ?
Stripe does support that nowadays.
Thanks for pointing that out. I have been keeping an eye out on these developments as well, but so far it has not been of any use to me. That's a pity, because implementing custom billing processes is a chore.
I'm assuming you are talking about recurring payments (a.k.a. subscriptions) here. For one-off payments, the Laraval Cashier docs suggest to look for another solution.
iDEAL sources are single-use and can only be used to create a payment once. To support recurring payments, you can make use of a modified SEPA Direct Debit flow that allows you to create further payments. After first creating a successful payment with iDEAL, the source is then used to create a new SEPA Direct Debit source. This is used to perform subsequent charge requests without each payment needing to be authorized by the customer.
Before you can accept SEPA Direct Debit payments, your Stripe account needs to have regularly processed card payments for 60-75 days. If you would like to discuss starting sooner, please get in touch.
By the way, the Mollie gateway offers a similar "iDeal + SEPA = subscription" approach at cheaper rates. And as it seems without the "60-75 days" requirement. I am currently building a custom Mollie solution with the mandate payment amount set to the first subscription amount, so the customer does not experience a separate "mandate payment". I have yet to see that it works in production.
The Laravel Cashier repo tells me (#504, #582) that these new payment methods are not supported yet. Bummer.
Given the fact that the subscription flow for iDeal subscriptions are really different from creditcard subscriptions, I don't expect it to happen soon. The "up to 14 days" of processing also is very different from creditcard processing. But who knows?
Like Cashier, I am hoping Laravel Spark will be supporting recurring iDeal/SEPA payments one day. But today, that's not the case. Let met know if you find another solution.
Mollie has contracted me to look into support for Laravel Cashier. Here's a writeup of my first impressions.


text:
What is Pre-Settlement Funding?
Mark Scott — December 9, 2022
Image by nattanan23, via Pixabay, CC0.
If you are successful in your suit, you can use the money from the settlement to pay off the funding costs.
Many people find themselves in the situation of needing money before their lawsuit is over. It can be because they need more money to continue the case or use the funds for other purposes.
Others may receive a letter informing them that a debt collector has purchased a judgment, and if they do not pay it, the decision will affect their credit. In these situations, waiting for the lawsuit to settle through the court can be long, slow, and expensive. Many people seek certain funds to get money before their case ends.
Pre-settlement legal funding is a source of collateralized, guaranteed financing that replaces or supplements the funds you would ordinarily have access to during litigation.
Plaintiffs use it in civil lawsuits to pay ordinary and necessary expenses during litigation, such as expert witness fees, deposition costs, and other legal expenses while awaiting the outcome of their lawsuit.
The pre-settlement legal funding market is a new way to finance your case. It finally allows anyone facing litigation to access working capital without jeopardizing the outcome or value of their case. There are no hidden fees for the funding and no obligations. You can keep control over your own money, whether in a settlement or after court proceedings are concluded.
Where Can I Go to Get Pre-Settlement Funding?
The pre-settlement industry is open to anyone. However, it is best to seek out a funding company that has received the latest legal guidance, licensing, and compliance information. It will ensure that they will respect all requirements of various state attorneys. Anyone using or wanting to sue to obtain a judgment or money could be eligible.
For legal reasons, payments are only made after a lawsuit is resolved. It excludes cases or circumstances where pre-settlement is inappropriate, such as bankruptcy cases and situations involving minors or missing persons.
The Funding Process
The process of obtaining this funding is similar to that of a traditional loan transaction. However, it differs because the budget is only available to plaintiffs who are currently suing or will be suing shortly. The funds for litigation costs can range from $10,000 to 10 million dollars. The funding is tied to the outcome of the case.
If the plaintiffs are victorious, the settlement or judgment is used to pay back their lenders. Pre-settlement generally comes at a high-interest rate, but these cases tend to settle quickly.
What Are the Advantages of Legal Funding?
Pre-settlement funding can offer you the financial support you need to pursue justice. If you are not sure if this is the best path for you, consider the following advantages and consult an expert.
1. Get Working Capital Without Devaluing the Case
Pre-settlement funds provide clients with access to cash before their lawsuit is resolved. It means there will be less pressure to give up pursuing compensation. The terms of a settlement are often more favorable when the plaintiff is not in financial distress.
2. Improve Your Chances of Success
It allows you to invest in your case and litigate aggressively, increasing your chances of success. You can then use a favorable settlement to pay the costs of pre-settlement funds and other post-settlement fees.
3. Increase the Settlement Values
It improves the chances of getting a more favorable settlement if you succeed in your suit. The higher the settlement value, the more money you can recoup with funding.
4. Use The Settlement to Pay for the Costs
If you are successful in your suit, you can use the money from the settlement to pay off the funding costs. After all settlement costs are calculated, it will leave you with an overall profit.
5. Reduce Stress & Pressure From Legal Battles
When the clients have a bank account flush with cash, there is less stress about the legal battles they are fighting against creditors and debt collectors. If you lose your case, you can use the money to continue with plan B.
Legal Funding Might Be the Answer
Pre-settlement funding has become a popular option for plaintiffs who need money to pay off their creditors and debt collectors. By giving them immediate access to cash, they can focus on the essential part of the case–winning.
About Mark Scott
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by "translating" the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.
Read more articles by Mark Scott
Truck Accident Statistics Nobody Talks AboutLearn Your Rights After a Motor Vehicle Accident
lawsuit fundinglegal fundinglitigation fundingpre-settlement funding for plaintiffsthird-party funding


Airline Travel – The Air Transportation Authority of the United States require that all airline passengers 18 years of age and older must have a government issued photo identification that exactly matches the name on the ticket or you may be denied boarding.
Passports – International travelers must have a valid passport with an expiration date of at least 6 months after the return date of the trip.
Country Entrance Requirements – Every country has different requirements for entry and can be changed with no advance notice. Some countries will accept proof of citizenship and others will require a Visa. It is the responsibility of the travelers to maintain a current understanding of the entrance requirements for the countries they will be visiting. Spears Travel acts as an agent in providing current information to our clients, and assistance in obtaining this information or documentation, but in no ways guarantees client's admission into other countries.
Minor Children – Some countries including Mexico and Canada require written consent of both parents for entrance of a minor child less than 18 years of age. If minor is with one parent, that parent must hold a notarized letter of consent from absent legal parent or copy of legal document giving that parent sole custody. If one parent is deceased a copy of the death certificate is necessary. If minor is without legal parents a notarized letter of consent must be submitted by legal guardian. All children under 18, including infants, need a birth certificate. The birth certificate must be Certified State issued with a raised seal.
Travel Warnings – Spears Travel makes the best effort to keep current information on travel advisories for international destinations. However, we cannot ensure the safety of any destination and acts only as an agent for products we sell. It is the client's responsibility to keep current on any travel advisories and make their own determination in regards to traveling to these areas.