You are currently browsing Aviad Heifetz's articles.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report leaked on Nov 8, 2011 confirmed the obvious: Iran is striving to obtain military nuclear capability, and at this point it is a few months away from materializing it. The spiraling debate about the steps that the US, NATO or Israel should now take mask an important point – namely, that Iran itself has a strong incentive to stop just short of having a nuclear arsenal, and convince the world that it can arm a bomb on a few months notice but that at the same time it is deliberately avoiding this last measure.
To understand why, it is worthwhile considering the motive behind the Iranian military nuclear plan. One potential motive is that Iran simply wants to destroy Israel physically. The Iranian president Ahmadinejad has made it clear, time and again, that he would have liked to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth. It is therefore conceivable that once Iran builds a nuclear arsenal capable of destroying Israel, Ahmadinejad and the Iranian leadership will immediately order to launch it at Israel.
This scenario is conceivable but not necessarily very likely, though. Ahmadinejad cares about his country – he has, for instance, expressed concerns that in a confrontation of Iran with the west over its nuclear plan Iran might receive a blow which will not allow it to rise again for 500 years; he also believes that upon a nuclear strike against Israel mainland, Israel will still be able to respond with a nuclear strike against Iran's main cities from its submarines – a strike that might withdraw Iran much more than 500 years back.
For this reason, a more likely motive for the Iranian military nuclear plan is to gain prestige and influence as a regional power. Being by now just a step away from possessing a nuclear arsenal, Iran has already gained this payoff from its nuclear plan. It is feared by its neighbors and it is considered a bigger threat than before by Israel, Europe and the US. But somewhat paradoxically, by making the last move to own an armed nuclear arsenal it might jeopardize its own achievement.
The reason for this is the policy that Israel (and likewise the US and Europe) is most likely to adopt upon a nuclear armament by Iran. Israel will have to declare that it will consider Iran, its only known nuclear rival, as responsible for any nuclear attack whatsoever it might suffer – even though *conditional* on a nuclear attack against Israel, its most likely source will not be Iran but rather some evasive terrorist organization, which got its bomb in the international black markets, and against which it is extremely difficult to retaliate. Iran does not control all the organizations which might want to launch a nuclear attack against Israel. Nevertheless, by making itself the unique nuclear Muslim power in rivalry with Israel, technically able to delegate nuclear capability to organizations like Hamas or Hezbollah (even if Iran will never willfully do so), Iran makes itself vulnerable – from its own perspective – as the sole target for Israeli unavoidable retaliation.
There are additional low-probability but pivotal scenarios in which nuclear armament by Iran might literally back-fire. Israeli radars detecting an approaching missile launched from the Shat-el-Arab region might not be able to discern whether it was fired from Iraq or from Iran. Since Israel is such a small country, it might have no choice but to adopt a zero-tolerance policy, treating any such missile as a nuclear one and launching an automatic extreme response. However, Iran cannot actually control any missile launching that Israel might suspect as coming from Iran.
Currently, Iran seems to be humiliated by the IAEA report and by the response of the international community. Humiliating Germany and impoverishing it in the Versailles agreement at the end of World War I led to the rise of Hitler and to the worst atrocities ever in the history of mankind, during World War II. Iran is a large nation with an ancient and rich culture, and humiliating it can only be counter-productive.
In early December 2010 a proposition was made with the suggestion that "all public monies for the arts should cease… a better case could be made to fund professional wrestling—it's what the working class enjoy." It should not be difficult to google out the context in which this proposition was made, with its heavy bag of politics, religion and gender. But instead of digging out again those juicy details, it is also a good opportunity to re-think why public sponsorship of beauty is actually vital.
Public provision is typically deemed justified in cases of coordination or market failure. Vaccination is a classical example: if all kids but one are vaccinated against a particular disease, the parents of the remaining kid have little incentive to vaccinate her, since she would never catch that disease from her friends. But if all parents free-ride with the hope that others will vaccinate their children, then too few might actually do so. Hence schools mandate a certain vaccination schedule as a pre-requisite for admittance (exempting very few on religious grounds), and health services provide vaccinations for free for those who haven't received them otherwise.
Against what disease does beauty immunize us? Thousands of years ago, our sweet tooth for hoarding fat was selected for, since fat and glucose were hard to get; likewise, our instinctive attraction to flickering movement was fit, because it meant either predator or prey. Today, however, our favorite greasy meals do not nourish our body, but rather make us obese and ill. Likewise, when we zap to the next glittering channel, website or chat-room we ride ever faster the roller-coaster of gratification; we produce more rapidly content that others consume, and the economy is growing. But all too often this content does not nourish our mind. It sums up to no more than zero-drift white noise, that makes us comfortably numb.
Beauty is the antidote to white noise. Beauty, in the sense meant here, is not in the eye of the beholder, not a matter of taste. The Taj Mahal, Bach's ciaccona, the double helix, Godel's incompleteness theorem don't gratify us – almost the opposite: they arrest us. They strike us against our boundaries, against the inevitable necessity of the world, with tension, proportion, balance.
And when beauty strikes us, we wake up. We no longer just passively swallow the external sensations from the world. We begin to perceive the world actively. We willfully move not only towards the steepest gradient of pleasure, but also against our limits. This to-and-fro dance turns our sensations into sense, and some tasks emerge as meaningful challenges for us. At least for a while, we become entrepreneurs. And possibly, part of the challenge in our enterprise is not just to take advantage or to buy the time and effort of the people with whom we interact, but actually to engage with them and with their own enterprises.
Beauty cannot be provisioned in a decentralized market. Unlike with vaccinations, the problem has nothing to do with free riding. The point is that there is no way in which beauty can be marketed: there can be no promo to genuine surprise. We cannot form demand for an experience which will alter our outlook, because the new outlook makes no sense to us before we actually have it. Our only chance to have beauty is to commission it by a centralized, public initiative.
There is an additional important difference between vaccination and beauty. If a vaccination program is ever frozen but the disease bursts again, it is easy to de-frost the vaccines and start re-administering them. Beauty, in contrast, cannot be stored. Among all the books in the world that Google can scan for us there is no manual for beauty, because invigoration can be encapsulated in no formula. Beauty is always a living experience, and one can be apprenticed to beauty only by others who are already striving for it and have already been apprenticed. So if the sponsoring of beauty is ceased for a single generation, it might take many generations to restore. Unfortunately, many parts of the world have experienced such long, dull and dark periods.
It is true that funding beauty is extremely frustrating, because most of the time we get only second and third and fourth – rate imitation of beauty. The artists who wish to strike us with beauty all too often manage merely to provoke and unnerve us. In some better cases they manage only to confront us with the fractures of our era, but in a way that preempts any balancing catharsis. In worse cases we are handed pompous kitsch. And those scientists – they ask us for billions to build particle accelerators in which maybe, only maybe, they would be able to catch a glimpse of an elusive quark which would confirm the super-symmetry of the world.
But if we do not want to drown in white noise there is simply no alternative to the centralized funding of beauty. This is the only way to allow for few apprentices to eventually come up with beauty that would nourish our mind. And when this happens there is a slim chance that beauty will percolate further in society, as wide-eyed entrepreneurship is, after all, contagious.
And sometimes, just sometimes, beauty can actually pay off. Like when one college dropout Steve Jobs audited a calligraphy course, which he attested to be "beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture", so that ten years later he and his partners "designed it all into the Mac." Or when those physicists at the particle accelerator of CERN invented the internet only so as to share among themselves the huge amount of data, didn't even think they should patent their invention, and delivered to the world more bang for the buck than could ever be imagined.


Union Jack murals are very popular and this particular mural features the Union Jack flag in a paint effect on a large brick wall. This is an easy hang, paste the wall non woven wall mural that can be hung in just 1 hour! Much easier to hang than most murals as this is a paste the wall product reducing time and difficulty dramatically. Supplied in 6 easy to hang strips and full detailed instructions are on the label. Available in 2 sizes; 3.06m x 2.45m (10ft x 8ft) and 3.57m x 2.85m (11.7ft x 9.4ft). *Please allow 2-3 working days for delivery of this item. Return period for this mural is just 14 days and if opened cannot be returned.


Today many of us walk, cycle or run on Wimbledon Common but how observant are we of what is around us? The geology of the area has shaped what plants grow and which animals live on the Common. Our natural history collection gives us a flavour of what is out there and why.


Montague Metals Scroll Series Column Style Address Plaque is the Victorian and traditionally styled vertical address plaque for your home or business. This is the type of vertical address plaque is a very detailed look with incredible Victorian scroll work on each end.
The Lincoln Vertical Address Sign is rust free, 100% cast Aluminum and includes wall mounting holes to attach the sign to any flat/wall surface.


text:
Leslau steht für:
 den deutschen Namen der polnischen Stadt Włocławek

Leslau ist der Familienname folgender Personen:
 Wolf Leslau (1906–2006), polnisch-US-amerikanischer Sprachwissenschaftler

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Mongodb aggregation pipeline size and speed issue I'm trying to use a mongodb aggregation query to join($lookup) two collections and then distinct count all the unique values in the joined array. *Note: I don't necessarily know what fields(keys) are in the metaDataMap array. And I don't want to count or include fields that might or might not exist in the Map. So that's why the aggregation query looks like it does.
So my two collections look like this: events-
{
"_id" : "1",
"name" : "event1",
"objectsIds" : [ "1", "2", "3" ],
}

Objects
{
"_id" : "1",
"name" : "object1",
"metaDataMap" : {
                     "SOURCE" : ["ABC", "DEF"],
                     "DESTINATION" : ["XYZ", "PDQ"],
                     "TYPE" : []
                }
},
{
"_id" : "2",
"name" : "object2",
"metaDataMap" : {
                     "SOURCE" : ["RST", "LNE"],
                     "TYPE" : ["text"]
                }
},
{
"_id" : "3",
"name" : "object3",
"metaDataMap" : {
                     "SOURCE" : ["NOP"],
                     "DESTINATION" : ["PHI", "NYC"],
                     "TYPE" : ["video"]
                }
}

My results are
{
_id:"SOURCE", count:5
_id:"DESTINATION", count: 4
_id:"TYPE", count: 2
}

What I have so far is this:
db.events.aggregate([
{$match: {"_id" : id}}

,{$lookup: {"from" : "objects",
        "localField" : "objectsIds",
        "foreignField" : "_id",
        "as" : "objectResults"}}

,{$unwind: "$objectResults"} //Line 1
,{$project: {x: "$objectResults.metaDataMap"}} //Line 2

,{$unwind: "$x"}
,{$project: {"_id":0}}

,{$project: {x: {$objectToArray: "$x"}}}
,{$unwind: "$x"}

,{$group: {_id: "$x.k", tmp: {$push: "$x.v"}}}

,{$addFields: {tmp: {$reduce:{
input: "$tmp",
initialValue:[],
in:{$concatArrays: [ "$$value", "$$this"]}
    }}
}}

,{$unwind: "$tmp"}
,{$group: {_id: "$_id", uniqueVals: {$addToSet: "$tmp"}}}

,{$addFields: {count: {"$size":"$uniqueVals"}}}
,{$project: {_id: "$_id", count: "$count"}}
]);

My issue is were I marked line 1&2. The above works but takes around 50 seconds for 25,000 values in the metaDataMap array fields(objectsResults.metaDataMap). So for example having a 25,000 values in object 1 metaDataMap SOURCE array. That's way to slow. My other faster way to do it was to replace line 1&2 with:
 ,{$project: {x: "$objectResults.metaDataMap"}} //Line 1
 ,{$unwind: "$x"} //Line 2

This is way faster (under 3 seconds) but can only be run on datasets that have ~10,000 items or less. Anything higher and I get a error saying "exceeds maximum document size".
Please help!

A: If you're able to alter your schema design on the object collection to include a parent_id field, you can immediately remove the first 4 stages of your pipeline (the first $match, $lookup, $unwind, and $project). This will make the concern about Line 1 and Line 2 disappear.
For example, a document in the object collection would look like:
{
  "_id": "1",
  "name": "object1",
  "metaDataMap": {
    "SOURCE": [
      "ABC",
      "DEF"
    ],
    "DESTINATION": [
      "XYZ",
      "PDQ"
    ],
    "TYPE": [ ]
  },
  "parent_id": "1"
}

Thus you don't need the expensive $lookup and $unwind. The first 4 stages can then be replaced with:
{$match: {parent_id: id}}

Based on this idea, I did further optimization of the pipeline, which resulted in:
db.objects.aggregate([
     {$match: {parent_id: id}}
    ,{$project: {metaDataMap: {$filter: {input: {$objectToArray: '$metaDataMap'}, cond: {$ne: [[], '$$this.v']}}}}}
    ,{$unwind: '$metaDataMap'}
    ,{$unwind: '$metaDataMap.v'}
    ,{$group: {_id: '$metaDataMap.k', val: {$addToSet: '$metaDataMap.v'}}}
    ,{$project: {count: {$size: '$val'}}}
])

This will output:
{ "_id": "TYPE", "count": 2 }
{ "_id": "DESTINATION", "count": 4 }
{ "_id": "SOURCE", "count": 5 }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Stories For Oprah Insiders
Set Your Intention With Oprah!
SHOP: The Oprah Daily Planner
Oprah's Favorite Things
Skin & Makeup
These Christmas Movies Are the Real Classics
35 Classic Christmas Movies That Will Put You in the Holiday Spirit
Y'know what they say: Every time you watch a holiday movie, an angel gets its wings.
By DeAnna Janes and Elena Nicolaou
December is fast approaching, which means it's time to don your finest fuzzy socks and matching family pajamas and hunker down for a holiday-themed movie or enchanting Christmas book. If you choose the latter, you can search the digital annals for the best picks on Netflix, spend your Saturdays with Hallmark's 2020 list, or watch Lifetime's original holiday fare. Or, if you really want the spirit of the season to overtake you, may we suggest tuning into one of these classic Christmas movies that are steeping in nostalgia?
We've included some black-and-white favorites like It's a Wonderful Life, Bing Crosby's feel-good musicals of the 1940s and 50s, and more than a few versions of Charles Dickens tales. If it's Christmas-set romances you're searching for, then The Holiday, a modern classic, makes for the ultimate follow-up to Love Actually. Seeking family-friendly choices? No list of Christmas traditions is complete without a screening of the timeless claymation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but we've got other animated picks on the list, too.
No matter your mood, there's a classic Christmas movie below that will transport you straight out of your current state. Scrooges, enter at your own risk.
Set during the WWII era, the movie follows a love triangle that unfurls at a hotel over the holidays. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire's characters sing their way through various crushes. Irving Berlin wrote 12 original songs for the movie—including the iconic "White Christmas," which ended up inspiring a movie of its own in 1954, also starring Crosby.
John SwopeGetty Images
Why there are two snowy Irving Berlin tales that each star Bing Crosby and the General Waverly's Inn—White Christmas (1954) and Holiday Inn (1942)—we'll never really know. We just look at it as though it's a gift from cine-Santa and a good reason to cue up a double feature. Our favorite of the two, though, has to be the one where Crosby and Danny Kaye sing and dance to save their inn from closing.
The Family's Stone
Everett Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams all star in this Christmas classic. When Dermot (Stone) wants to bring his girlfriend Meredith (Parker) home for Christmas to meet his family, the pressure is high as they highlight her uptight personality. She even has to call her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come help her win over her boyfriend's family's love!
LMPCGetty Images
This is a comedy about a food writer (Barbara Stanwyck ) whose perfectly latticed persona as a housewife with supreme cooking skills gets exposed as the sham over one traditional Christmas she never agreed to host. It's the holiday rom-com you never knew you needed.
The Shop Around the Corner
You've Got Mail borrowed its tech-age narrative from this 1940 gem about a pair of shop workers whose feud grows with every holiday sale, and whose love blooms with every letter of written correspondence. Yep, it's pen pal mystery love all the way with this one. And though there may not be a Santa cameo, it does star the season's other most iconic presence: James Stewart.
It's a Wonderful Life
Whichever version you choose, Frank Capra's classic is an exercise in depicting "the grass is always greener" proverb. Although, should you prefer the black-and-white original, "the grass is always grayer" might be more appropriate. A seminal holiday classic, it stars James Stewart as a man who gets a glimpse at what life would look like without him.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Maureen O'Hara and John Payne star in the original film about that time New York City authorities committed a man to a mental facility because he thought he was Santa Claus. And though it can be debated which version of the classic film—this one or the John Hughes contribution starring Mara Wilson—is your favorite, there simply would be no miracle without the George Seaton 1947 prototype.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey was the Grinch in this 2000 adaptation of Dr. Seuss' iconic children's book, about the ultimate holiday grump—well, right up there with Scrooge. Don't worry: The green-hued, mountain-dwelling loner's heart ends up "growing a size" thanks to Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen), one of the cheery Whos from Whoville.
If Ralphie Parker didn't rattle off his desire for an "official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time," did Christmas even happen? It's become an unofficial rule—thanks in part to 24-hour airings on cable networks—that every year, we all watch the Bob Clark tale about a kid in the '40s try and convince Santa to gift him with a BB gun.
Good for little drummers and little drummers at heart, this animated Claymation gem is arguably the best of the Videocraft classics. About a toymaker elf who wants to be a dentist, an illuminated reindeer who wants to be accepted, and all their misfit friends in between, it's iconography of the 1960s that is just as quintessential 55 years later.
The Preacher's Wife
The Preacher's Wife isn't the first Christmas movie to feature an emissary from heaven helping a human with his quest to be a better person (see: It's a Wonderful Life). But it is the only version of this story to do so with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. Washington plays a heavenly guest who, during his stay on Earth helping a preacher, ends up falling for—you guessed it—his wife.
Bleecker Street
The Man Who Invented Christmas
If you've already seen every single Christmas Carol adaptation—and there are many, including a few on this list—then check out this movie about the man who created so many Christmas tropes: Charles Dickens himself. Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) plays the successful author as his life intersects with one of his most famous stories.
The Holiday is essentially two Nancy Meyers rom-coms for the price of one. Cameron Diaz and Kate play women who decide to swap homes over the holiday season—changing scenery between a gorgeous home in L.A. and a charming English cottage. Under the twinkling lights and dropping temperatures, they each find transatlantic beaus.
This whimsical story is best served by the movie's animation style, which brings the cold of the North Pole and the magic of a train headed to the North Pole to life. The Polar Express is based on Chris Van Allsburg's picture book of the same name.
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" has been told over and over, in Muppet form to dark miniseries on FX. But Scrooged, a satire starring Bill Murray, is one of the most memorable and unique interpretations of the classic morality tale. Bill Murray's version of the troubled protagonist is a crass television executive who has lost his way. A series of over-the-top ghosts help reorient his priorities.
A Christmas Carol (1951)
Watching the time-honored Charles Dickens classic about a miser who changes his tune after visiting with three ghosts, is a no-brainer. But choosing which version from an abundance of adaptations can actually make your head hurt. But we got you.
If you're after satire, you want the Richard Donner/Bill Murray comedy Scrooged. If it's animation you're after, you want Mickey's Christmas Carol. But if you're a stickler for tradition, go with the Brian Desmond Hurst/Alistair Sim crowd-pleaser, A Christmas Carol.
The McCallisters head from Chicago to Paris for Christmas, accidentally leaving their eight-year-old troublemaker son at home, where he finds himself defending their three-story house against a pair of bumbling bandits. It's the film that turned Macaulay Culkin into a household name and John Hughes's box-office beast into a household holiday classic.
We're not sure which part of Richard Curtis's gloriously British Christmas ensemble film we love most: Bill Nighy as a pelvis-swiveling rock star, Colin Firth getting lost in translation, or Hugh Grant cold-knocking on residents' doors to find his one true love. In a romp that is as funny and heartwarming as it is sad and heart-wrenching, Curtis delivers a holiday film that "To us, it is perfect."
Though the word vacation appears in the title of this 1989 classic, the only place the Griswolds, led by patriarch Clark, are going is to Crazy Town. Preparing to host a big family get-together at their home in Chicago, Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) brace for the dysfunction that inevitably comes along with Cousin Eddie, Aunt Bethany, and a Rottweiler named Snots.
Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, those iconic Peanuts dance moves: It's beginning to look a lot like A Charlie Brown Christmas. Relive the animated special you grew up watching, as your favorite shy and dispirited comic strip character wades through the holiday's trademark commercialism to unearth the true meaning of Christmas.
Searchlight Pictures
Warm up those vocal chords before watching Black Nativity, a movie teeming with star power, high notes, and earnest conversations around the meaning of the holiday season. Based on a Langston Hughes play, Black Nativity is about a single mother who travels to New York to be with her estranged relatives, including a reverend and his wife. Kasi Lemmons wrote the moving film, which stars Jennifer Hudson, Angela Basset, Forest Whitaker, and Jacob Latimore.
Countless holiday movies feature a serendipitous twist—but Trading Places is the only one set in the world of high finance. In the movie, a suave street hustler (Murphy) trades places with a preppy commodities broker (Dan Aykroyd) on a dare, and ends up having a knack for the job. While not about Christmas, per se, the movie is set during the holiday season and is consistently ranked among the best Christmas-set comedies.
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
Spend the holidays with Dolly Parton, Lee Majors, John Ritter, and a slew of Dolly's own Christmas carols. Though this one was just a simple made-for-TV flick back in the '80s, Dolly's yuletide fun-fare about a country western superstar who finds respite in the backwoods of Tennessee is required viewing in our household. Fun fact: Happy Days alum Henry Winkler directed it.
The Best Man Holiday
Frequent on-screen couple Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan ignite their chemistry again for a sequel to Malcolm D. Lee's The Best Man. Now that the rivalry dust has settled between Diggs' Harper and Morris Chestnut's Lance, they reunite with the rest of their friend group for one last Christmas before, well, we won't spoil it. We will, however, tease this New Edition homage performed by the actors.
Archive PhotosGetty Images
The Santa Clause
Tim Allen dons a bushy beard and big ol' belly to play the season's most famous man in red. The Santa Clause—note the spelling—tracks the recruitment of a divorcee named Scott Calvin who haphazardly becomes the next in line to command the mythological world of elves, magic, and toy making. Who's with us in declaring Allen the best Claus in all the candy lands?
A double entendre, The Family Stone refers at once to the Stone family at the heart of this dramedy and also to the engagement ring the brood's matriarch, played by Diane Keaton, is trying to keep off the finger of her son's despicable girlfriend, played by Sarah Jessica Parker. It all makes for a holiday of spilled manners, spousal swapping, and crying sessions.
It's simply not Christmas until Will Ferrell puts on that kelly-green Buddy tunic and frolics through the streets of New York City like a kid in a candy store. As a spirited man-child on a quest to find his estranged biological father, Ferrell stars as Santa's titular helper in the instant classic directed by Jon Favreau and costarring a blond-topped Zooey Deschanel.
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
Just a few blocks over from that one miracle, another Christmas surprise was going down. A homeless man, his dog, and his friends have taken up residence inside the lavish and often vacated digs that belong to the second-richest man in Manhattan. One Christmas the millionaire's daughter comes home, finds the men in her father's home, and decides to pull a fast one of her own.
This sweet blast from the past isn't pretending to be anything but what it is: a so-sentimental-it's-almost-saccharine story about two O'Fallon siblings hatching an elaborate parent trap over the Christmas holiday to get their family back together. It stars the cherub faces of Ethan Embry and Thora Birch, while Lauren Bacall stars as Grandma and Leslie Nielsen as Mr. Claus.
He may not have a nose so bright, but Prancer has just as much star power as the most famous reindeer of all. As an injured and abandoned animal, he meets the little girl who will nurse him back to health and—of course—save Christmas for the entire world. Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman, and Rebecca Harrell Tickell take the reins for a classic that may do a number on non-believers.
30 Gifts to Pamper Your Stressed-Out Loved Ones
More From Holiday Essentials
20 Black Christmas Movies for the Best Holiday
The Most Useful Gifts for New Moms
44 Gifts For the Harry Potter-Obsessed
57 Unique Gifts for Book Lovers
Delightful Gifts for Tea Lovers
Delightful Stocking Stuffers for The Whole Family
45 Best Secret Santa Gift Ideas
Stylish Gifts for Tech Lovers
Dennis Basso Shares His Top Entertaining Tips
Festive Christmas Pajamas for Your Holiday Photos
Oprah Daily participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
©2022, Oprah Daily LLC. All rights reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
A Robbie Basho Tribute Concert and Documentary Film Benefit
Berkeley Arts presents
When: May 8, 2013 8PM
Where: Berkeley Arts, 2133 University Ave. Berkeley, CA
Cost: $10-20 Suggested donation
Berkeley Arts presents a concert in tribute to the late guitarist and Berkeley resident Robbie Basho. The event is also a benefit to raise funds to complete the first ever documentary film about Basho - titled Voice Of The Eagle: The Enigma Of Robbie Basho - currently in the works by London-based filmmaker Liam Barker.
The lineup includes several Bay Area performers whose work has been inspired in some way by Robbie Basho's music, including two guitarists who personally knew Basho: fingerstyle guitarist Rich Osborn and renown improvisor Henry Kaiser.
The concert will include short sets by:
Henry Kaiser
Rich Osborn
Bill Orcutt
Danny Paul Grody
Aaron Sheppard
We think this will be an historic event, and a fitting tribute to Basho's legacy - in the same spirit as the John Fahey memorial concerts that took place at the Freight And Salvage in 2002.
About Robbie Basho
Robbie Basho (1940 - 1986) was a Berkeley-based composer, guitarist, and vocalist and one of the foremost proponents of steel string acoustic guitar as a solo concert instrument. Along with John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Basho was part of the triumvirate of pioneering guitarists on the Berkeley-based Takoma label in the 1960s. Basho went on to record for Windham Hill, and was an important influence on the label's founder, guitarist William Ackerman. His innovative guitar compositions incorporated American folk, European, and Eastern influences, and he is credited for developing the improvisational "American raga" style.
Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho is a journey into the heart of an artist's lifelong struggle - designed to illuminate and satiate existing fans while serving as a perfect starting point for the uninitiated. Self-funded entirely to date by director Liam Barker, Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho features interviews with Basho's former students, contemporaries and few close friends; interspersed with abstract employment of archive footage and photography of the natural phenomena and localities that informed Basho's work. Basho claimed to paint America with music; the film will attempt to transfigure Robbie Basho with sound and images.
Principal photography began on Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho in October 2012, with the filmmakers shooting (and intermittently battling superstorms) in Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Colorado and California. A Kickstarter campaign is set to launch in spring 2013 to enable the film's continuing production and subsequent post-production costs.
Liam Barker - Writer, Director, Producer, Editor
Justinas Vabuolas - Director of Photography
Robbie Basho Film.com
Labels: Aaron Sheppard, Acoustic Guitar, American Primitive, Chuck Johnson, Richard Osborn, Robbie Basho
A Robbie Basho Tribute Concert and Documentary Fil...


text:
Taliban ruling council agrees to temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan
US & World // World
By Rahim Faiez and Kathy Gannon Dec. 29, 2019
KABUL — The Taliban announced Sunday they have agreed to a temporary cease-fire nationwide in a move that provides a window during which a peace agreement with the United States may be signed.
A peace deal would allow Washington to bring home its troops from Afghanistan and end its 18-year military engagement, America's longest. The U.S. wants any deal to include a promise from the Taliban that Afghanistan would not used as a base by terrorist groups. The U.S. currently has an estimated 12,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The Taliban chief must approve the pact, which is expected. The duration of the cease-fire was not specified but a 10-day span has been suggested.
Members of the Taliban negotiating team met for a week with the ruling council before they agreed on the brief cease fire. The negotiating team returned on Sunday to Qatar where they maintain their political office.
The Taliban officials familiar with the negotiations spoke on condition of anonymity.
A key pillar of the agreement, which the U.S. and Taliban have been hammering out for more than a year, is direct negotiations between Afghans on both sides of the conflict.
Those intra-Afghan negotiations are expected to be held within two weeks of the signing of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal. They will likely decide what a post-war Afghanistan will look like, and what role the Taliban will play. The negotiations would cover a wide range of subjects, such as the rights of women, free speech and the fate of the the tens of thousands of Taliban fighters, as well as the heavily armed militias belonging to Afghanistan's warlords who have amassed wealth and power since the Taliban's ouster.
The temporary cease-fire had been proposed by U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad during the last round of talks.
The announcement came only a day after a Taliban attack in northern Afghanistan killed at least 17 local militiamen. The attack apparently targeted a local militia commander who escaped unharmed, said Jawad Hajri, a spokesman for the governor of Takhar province, where the attack took place late Saturday.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rahim Faiez and Kathy Gannon are Associated Press writers.
Russian president's new tactics preserve same object — power
Shelters scramble to stock supplies for volcano crisis in Philippines


Live Updates Kannada: Kotigobba 2 Movie Review & Rating Hit Or Flop :- Kotigobba 2 is recent release Kannada which is getting good reviews from the critics of Kannada cinema. Kotigobba 2 is also released today in Tamil cinema with another title. People have good buzz for the Kannada version of this movie because here people have not that much options to watch in cinema. Also, the presentation and other related work is good and same as the tamil Version of the movie.
Kotigobba 2 is a today's release Kannada/Tamil action Movie directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The Movie produced by M. Babu in Kannada as Kottigobba 2, is not a sequel to Kotigobba (2001). The movie features Kichcha Sudeep and Nithya Menen in the lead roles. The Kannada and Tamil version of the movie are reportedly being released on 12 August 2016 coinciding the Varamahalakshmi Festival day.


Graduated in business administration FGV ( Fundacao Getulio Vargas).
MBA in finance – BM&f.
GV Angels(group of Angel Investors) – Co-Founder and director.
Allasia(venture builder company, focused in e-commerce)– Founder and CEO.
Portpress(importer and distributor) – Founder and member of the board.


Subsequently, in 2015, the three European standards bodies issued an updated version of EN 301 549, which contained minor editorial changes only relative to the 2014 version. See ETSI/CEN/CENELEC, EN 301 549 V1.1.2 (2015-04), Accessibility Requirements Suitable for Public Procurement of ICT Products and Services in Europe (Apr. 2015), available at http://www.etsi.org/deliver/.
The existing 508 Standards require that technology provide at least one mode of operation and information retrieval not requiring visual acuity greater than 20/70 in both audio and enlarged print output, working together or independently. 36 CFR § 1194.31(b). The limited vision FPC in the existing 255 Guidelines is similar; it requires that the technology provide a mode that permits operation by users with visual acuity that ranges between 20/70 and 20/200, without relying on audio output. 36 CFR § 1193.41(b).
The Joint Working Group on eAccessibility consists of the three European Standardization Organizations, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI.
For example, the final rule and EN 301 549 vary significantly in their respective levels of specificity of technical requirements for ICT with closed functionality. In EN 301 549, the requirements for software with closed functionality are a subset of the requirements for software that does not have closed functionality (compare, e.g., EN 301 549 Clause 11.2.2 with EN 301 549 11.2.1) and, as such, they fail to offer technical criteria that adequately and unambiguously address closed functionality. The only affirmative requirement for such ICT in EN 301 549 is that it be operable without the use of assistive technology (Clause 5.1.2.2), which is essentially the definition of closed functionality. EN 301 549 does not require ICT with closed functionality to be speech output enabled (cf. Clause 5.1.3.1), which is critical for persons with limited vision. The final rule, on the other hand, affirmatively requires ICT with closed to have this critical functionality. See 402.2 (Speech-Output Enabled).
See also Office of Management and Budget, Circular A-4 (2003); Office of Management and Budget, Regulatory Impact Analysis: A Primer 3 (2011), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/inforeg/regpol/circular-a-4_regulatory-impact-analysis-a-primer.pdf.
Examples of CPE include wireline and wireless telephones or computers when employed on the premises of a person to originate, route, or terminate telecommunications (e.g., Internet telephony, interconnected VoIP). Only a computer with a modem or internet telephony software can function as telecommunications equipment and only the modem functions are associated with telecommunications. Therefore, the requirements of the final rule apply only to the modem or internet telephony software functions and incidental functions required for turning the computer on and launching the telecommunications programs. All other functions of the computer not related to telecommunications would not be covered, such as word processing or file searching or video conferencing.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments. The Census Bureau provides detailed NAICS information on the agency's Web site. See U.S. Census Bureau, Introduction to NAICS, http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ SBA provides, on its Web site, small business size standards for each NAICS code. See U.S. Small Business Administration, Table of Small Business Size Standards, https://www.sba.gov/contracting/getting-started-contractor/make-sure-you-meet-sba-size-standards/table-small-business-size-standards (updated Feb. 26, 2016).
SUSB employer data is collected and produced by the U.S Census and contains, for each NAICS code, such information as: number of firms, employment figures, estimated annual receipts, and annual payroll. In accordance with Federal law, certain SUSB data elements are "masked" (e.g., receipts for a particular establishment size range) when publication would disclose the identity of individual business establishments. See U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S Businesses (SUSB) – Methodology, http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb/technical-documentation/methodology.html (last revised June 8, 2016); see also 13 U.S.C. 9. As a result, when calculating average per-firm annual receipts presented for each NAICS codes in Table 9 and Table 10, it was occasionally necessary to estimate missing data elements using other available, pertinent data for that NAICS code.


text:
Wild Olympics' prospects rise thanks to inclusion in 2022 national defense funding bill
A decade in gestation, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would protect 126,500 acres as wilderness – portions of Olympic National Forest surrounding the namesake national park – while extending Wild and Scenic River status to nineteen rivers and tributaries.
6:38 PM on Friday, July 15th, 2022
Our Environment, Policy Topics
SurveyUSA validates NPI's finding that most Washingtonians want an assault weapons ban
The validity of NPI's assault weapons ban research has been affirmed by an entirely separate poll backed by KING5, The Seattle Times, the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, and Washington State University's Murrow College of Communication.
10:54 AM on Friday, July 15th, 2022
Civil Liberties, Policy Topics
Poll Watch, Secure Firearms Ownership


We are a family run business located in the center of the Golden Circle where we have many of Iceland's most precious attractions around us, such as Geysir hot spring, Gullfoss waterfall, Þingvellir national park and Skálholt an episcopal and one of Iceland's historical places for hundreds of years.
We offer two types of accommodation, Blue Grove Guesthouse (Fagrilundur) and Blue View Cabins. Just "next door" to the guesthouse we have a great restaurant, Mika, famous for their great pizza, lobster salad and hand made chocolates. Also next door we have mini-market Bjarnabúð, a self service gas station, a public swimming pool with hot tubs. The guest house is next to Friðheimar – a famous greenhouse farm and a restaurant that mainly grows tomatoes and offers a wonderful lunch (soup / pasta / tortillas) which you enjoy inside the greenhouse.
Please note that OUR Reykholt is in the South of Iceland on the Golden Circle route (there is another Reykholt in the West of Iceland, in Borgarfjörður).
Blue Grove Guesthouse is a small log house located in the center of Reykholt Village. Many of our guests there like the cozy atmosphere in between trees. This house seems to have a good spirit.
Blue View Cabins are located on top of a hill about 5 minutes drive away from Reykholt, with great view and quiet surroundings. Many of our guests have said they feel that they are in the middle of nowhere but still close to many of Iceland's most popular sites, like Gullfos, Geysir and Þingvellir.
This is the team that started our operations by building the cabins and adding Blue Grove Guesthouse Fagrilundur by purchase in 2017.
Blue Vacations Iceland is a brand name of Stök gulrót ehf. (can be translated as One Carrot ltd. 🙂 ) an Icelandic company with registration ID 440907-0910 and VAT number 95488. The address of Stök gulrót ehf. is Hlíðasmári 4, 201 Kópavogur, the phone number is +354 772 6869 and the email address is info@bluevacations.is. Blue Vacations offers accommodation services at Blue Grove Guesthouse. located at Skólabraut 1 in Reykholt village, postcode 801 Selfoss and Blue View Cabins, located at Eiríksbraut near Reykholt village.
Here you find our Terms and Conditions.


text:
Home Covid-19 Coronavirus RECAP: Thailand finds 23,418 daily Covid-19 infections with 184 additional deaths, breaking...
RECAP: Thailand finds 23,418 daily Covid-19 infections with 184 additional deaths, breaking another new high of infection rates in the past 24 hours
Friday, 13 August 2021, 13:37
Thailand discovered a total of 23,418 daily Covid-19 infections with 184 additional deaths, breaking another new high of infection rates in the past 24 hours, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported today, August 13th.
The fatalities were 100 men and 84 women with the most numbers recorded in Bangkok with 71. Of that, 177 were Thai nationals, five were Myanmar nationals, and one each were Lao and Indian nationals. The age range was between 12 and 105 years old.
Most of them were reported with underlying health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, kidney disease, and obesity. Eight of the fatalities were bedridden patients.
Regarding the non-prison local infections, the highest numbers of patients were reported in Bangkok with 5,140, followed by Samut Prakan with 1,936, Samut Sakhon with 1,847, Chonburi with 1,408, Nonthaburi with 731, and Ubon Ratchathani with 537.
A total number of 219,840 people nationwide have received Covid-19 vaccines in the past 24 hours. Of that, 171,488 people had received their first shots, 28,359 people had received their second shots, and 19,993 people had received their third shots.
As of today, 20,083 people fully recovered in the past 24 hours and have been released from field hospitals and quarantine centers. Thailand has now reached a total of 863,189 cases with 643,884 recoveries and a total of 7,126 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter and get all our news delivered to you in one spam-free daily e-mail Click here! OR, enter your e-mail below!
Help support The Pattaya News in 2021!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, Pinterest, Flipboard, or Tumblr
Join the discussion in our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/438849630140035/or in the comments below.
Want to advertise with us or inquire about promoting your business, event, charity, or sporting event? E-mail us at Pattayanewseditor@gmail.com
Have a General news tip, press release, question, comment, etc? We are not interested in SEO proposals. Mail us at Pattayanewseditor@gmail.com


I was invited to try this newly opened restaurant located along "The Shoppes" at Marina Bay Sands. The restaurant concept is modern Indonesian food, which so far hasn't really been done in Singapore. The Indonesian born Chef has been trained in French cooking and has been working in renowned restaurants in Australia, including Tetsuya. Her vision is to redefine Indonesian cuisine maintaining the traditional flavours, but selecting the best ingredients and utilising French and modern cooking techniques to bring Indonesian cuisine to a whole new level.
The restaurant enjoys a spacious, elegant and contemporary dining room, with plenty of natural light filtering through the venetian blinds around its perimeter. The view over the bay makes it a perfect place for an evening dinner, but it's also a relaxing sight over lunch. The deco is simple and modern, with materials such as stone and wood, and a few Indonesian motifs to recall the theme of the menu.
While waiting for the food, we were served an amuse bouche together with some Indonesian chips and the Chef's signature selection of Sambal. Apart from the garlic sambal I enjoyed the rest, in particular the less mashed one, with roughly chopped chillies, ginger and shallots.
For starters we had a selection of sate. Each one was served with its own sauce, although they didn't actually need extra sauce as they were perfectly flavoured. The Sate Padang Lidah Sapi ($27 for five skewers) was the biggest surprise. I have been familiar with beef tongue since I was a child, as it's commonly eaten in Italy. Having it as Sate was a bit of a novelty. It didn't actually feel like eating tongue and I wouldn't have guessed it if I hadn't been told, but the tender and succulent texture of this skewer was one of the highlights of the lunch. The charcoal grilled Angus Beef ($25) and Sakura Chicken ($22) skewers were also outstanding, although the beef tongue is really what I would come back for.
To clean the palate, we were served a Soto Ayam Lamongan ($15), a spiced chicken soup with shredded chicken. The flavours were clean and delicate, and half way through it I enhanced the flavour by adding a touch of squeezed lime which gave it a tad of sharpness.
Udang Blado Padang ($35) was a fried king prawn with sambal and cherry tomatoes on top of a grilled aubergine. I found this slightly under salted so the flavours didn't really strike my senses as hoped.
I was a lot more excited about the Ayam Sakura Tangkap Aceh Selada Mangga ($19), a green mango salad served with deep fried chicken and herbs. The chicken was crispy on the surface and juicy inside, but the crunchy herbs really added another dimension to it. A well executed classic!
Here comes what in my opinion was the best dish of all, the Ikan Bakar Jimbaran ($35). This fillet of sea bass was cooked sous-vide and brushed with a dark, slightly sweet, intensely flavoured sambal sauce. The roasted cherry tomatoes and pickled cucumber slices completed the range of flavours, freshening up the dish. The thick cut of sea bass was tender and succulent, and there was no unwanted "fishiness" to it. I would highly recommend trying this to any fish lovers!
Next, another surprise from the Chef: Angus Steak Rendang ($35). Instead of the classic beef Rendang, this dish combined a French steak with this well known classic. You can actually ask for the steak to be done to your preference, and it will come cooked to perfection, tossed in a rich Rendang sauce. While I personally prefer a braised cut to go with this kind of sauce, all of my dining mates enjoyed this dish the most for innovation and flavour.
The last savoury dish of the meal was a Confit Sakura Ayam Tuturaga ($33), a confit of succulent chicken cooked in its own fat (all rigorously free range!), served in a sharp curry sauce. This was certainly a beautifully executed combination of French cooking techniques, which brought out the Indonesian flavours while maintaining the natural juiciness of the meat. This would be another one of my recommendations.
Frankly speaking, I am not a big fan of Indonesian desserts, but the dessert is where the Chef could really make use of her French cooking skills to cater to a more international palate, while bringing Indonesian flavours into the equation. The dessert platter came with two creme brulee and one ice cream. I started off with the Gula Melaka ice cream. Perhaps because I like this kind of sugar and I am happy to eat it on its own, this flavour was absolute perfection for me. The wonderful rounded sugary flavour, with mild tones of caramel and licorice, was true heaven. For obvious reasons, I equally enjoyed the Gula Melaka Creme Brulee, which was less intense and less sweet than the ice cream, with the bonus of a light, crispy shell on top of it. I wasn't too keen on the Sri Kaya Creme Brulee ($17), coconut based with pandanus flavour, since it had that "Indonesian dessert flavour" that I usually tend to avoid, but you would surely like it if you are accustomed to that taste.
Chef Alicia Tivey introduced herself and explained some of the techniques and thinking that went into her dishes. It's always wonderful to hear from inspired Chefs who have such dedication and believe in creating an experience for the customer.
The Moluccas Room might come across as slightly expensive for an Indonesian restaurant if you simply compare it to other restaurants of the same cuisine, but that wouldn't be a fair comparison. Besides considerations on the location and service, you must acknowledge that the ingredients used are of the finest quality, all selected by the Chef, just as you would find in a fine dining French restaurant. Therefore, this cuisine is positioned at that level both in terms of food quality and price. If you are looking for regular Indonesian food, then this might not be the place to go, but if you are looking for a South-East Asian fine dining experience then this restaurant is really a rare find, and it is guaranteed to deliver to its promise.


"We have much pleasure in recommending Alteration Specialists for any building or alteration work. The alterations done to our property are exactly what we asked for and we are thrilled with the results. Company Director Justin Green was prompt in providing us with a quote and plan for our kitchen and bathroom alterations. He listened to our ideas whilst making helpful suggestions. He was consistently reliable, approachable, professional and was always prompt in responding to our questions!.
Much care was taken on our property and we were always contacted and consulted over any problems that arose and these were always taken care of professionally. The team of builders/trades people we had working on our property were great – friendly, professional and we always felt they were striving to do the best for us.
Alteration Specialists take much pride in their work and this can be seen in the quality of finish. They only work with skilled tradespeople so our tiling and paint work etc are of a very high standard. We have no hesitation in recommending them and would definitely use them again! Thanks Justin."
"We wish to add a brief note of appreciation for the preparation and work carried out by your company. Over more years than is good to remember we have undertaken a gradual transformation of our house chiefly through the architecture of Colin Campbell and 'alterations' he has drawn. Of all the tradesmen that have worked here, Justin must rank as one of the most punctual, meticulous, tidy and accommodating. You said your objective on completion of the work was to leave the place as if you hadn't been here. We interpreted that to mean that everything would look as it should - nothing out of place. That has well and truly been achieved."
"We wanted a top quality job on our renovations, and Justin and his team provided us with just that - fantastic workmanship and loads of care and attention to the details. You wouldn't know we "added on", they melded the old and the new perfectly - we now just have a larger more comfortable, quality home. Despite being a big renovation, Justin did a great job at making sure that we could stay put for as long as possible, which was really important to us. We were amazed at how tidy the team were, despite all the mud of a winter time build. They always left the site secure and safe at the end of each day, so we didn't have to worry about our young children living in the middle of a construction zone! Justin has a fantastic team working with him, they are all polite, respectful and courteous – and they were accommodating to our needs. A big build or renovation can be stressful, but these guys made it enjoyable....we were delighted with the finished product, but we were also sad to see Justin and his team go! These guys are honest and hard working. They know how to quality build, they know how to manage a large project and they take the time to communicate with their clients, even when it is wet, muddy and super busy!"
"Hi Justin, We have been very impressed with your team and will certainly be recommending you anyone who needs some alteration work done. Our special thanks to: Kevin for his overall client communication and excellent attitude, Jason for quickly dealing with the one un-related issue we had and turning his hand to being a locksmith, Brian- again for excellent communication, great manner with clients, flexibility and timely organisation (his team were exceptional in their client attitude and politeness).
Finding out you have a major water issue with your house is stressful, dealing with you guys wasn't.
Please pass our comments on to the individuals you are a great team."
"Hi Justin, I don't usually write these kind of letters. I wrote one for the real estate agent but she asked me to... I want to start by saying I was very nervous about having builders come into my house. Your builders quickly put my fears to rest as they were at all times very professional and approachable. Your foreman Robbo was friendly and informative at all times with all aspects of the job we had asked of your company. Johno and Kevin were also incredibly hardworking (as I know others were but don't know their names) and thoughtful toward my boys. At one point my shed uplifted in the strong Palmerston North winds and your builders kindly managed to stop the shed from blowing out of my property and secured the shed to the fence. I am very grateful for that. I am very also happy with the work that has been done. The two rooms look great and I feel more secure now that I know that the ceiling and floors in the two rooms have been corrected by your builders. I would be happy to recommend Alteration Specialists. Thank you"
"I can't say enough good things about Justin. Just one example of his quality of work were the two outside rafters that he mitred into the beam, not easy to do since the rafters are on an angle and not as wide as the beam so he had to check the rafter in as well as do the mitre. Not a single little gap. Really skilled work. Very professional work all round, I think you are lucky to have such a competent craftsman working for you!"
"We had a leaky conservatory adjacent to a seldom-used deck, so we decided to convert these areas into extensions to the master bedroom and living room. In addition, we needed a new iron roof, raised in height to make room for better insulation, and a skylight. We chose Alteration Specialists because, as the name implies, they specialise in altering homes in such a way that an extension will look like it was always there, rather than being an obvious add-on. They responded promptly to any questions we asked by e-mail. Neighbours commented on the team's excellent work ethic, and that they didn't have to put up with 2 months of swearing! The new extension to our Lockwood house looks like it has always been there. The workmanship is superb and the extension survived nature's 6.2 magnitude 'earthquake test' unscathed. We are very pleased with the final result and recommend Alteration Specialists for roof alterations and house extensions that blend in with the existing building."
"Thank you for all the work you have done for us, to such a high standard!.
We have been hugely impressed by your skill, professionalism, friendliness, unflappability & considerateness (such as word?). We will happily recommend you to others as a reliable and top notch team.
All the best to each of you in your futures, Regards"
"Many thanks for an excellent job to which your team and the respective tradesman made great contributions – please pass on our appreciation to all them for their workmanship, cleanliness and courtesy. Regards"
"You managed to achieve all that we wanted from the plans and contributed many good ideas of your own. We were most impressed with, and grateful for, your ability to really listen to what it was that we thought we wanted - and then get on and find a way to do it. We thoroughly enjoy working with you and have no hesitation in commending your services to others who are planning alterations."
"Last year we undertook renovations to our home & had the pleasure of working with Alteration Specialists. The initial consultation with Steve was invaluable. He listened to what we wanted, suggested options we would never have considered and ultimately came up with something that met our budget. Our builder, Jason was patient as some decisions were made along the way & we appreciated the way he tried to minimise the disruption to our household as we lived amongst the dust & rubble. We are really pleased with the high quality of workmanship and mostly importantly love the end result. We have no hesitation in recommending or using Alteration Specialists again"


text:
Two receive Rhodes
By Misty Allen | 12/11/1995
For the first time in the history of the University, two students were awarded Rhodes Scholarships in the same academic year. Trinity senior Eric Greitens and Adam Russell, Trinity '95, received the scholarship this weekend, marking the third consecutive year that University students have won the award.
"I think that this is a great sort of change for the University," said Richard White, dean of Trinity College. "This is a new streak for Duke."
White said that these awards signal not only an overall improvement in the quality of the student body, but also an increased sense of initiative on the part of students.
Greitens and Russell were two of 32 Rhodes scholars selected from a nationwide applicant pool of 1,041 students. They will spend two years studying at Oxford University in England. The scholarship program supports students from the United States and 18 other countries.
Prospective scholarship recipients are judged on several criteria, including scholastic achievements, athletic endeavors, strength of moral character, leadership ability and compassion for others.
To compete for the prestigious scholarship, students must submit an extensive written application and then go through state and regional interviews, which Greitens called "unexpectedly fun."
A Program II ethics major, Greitens said that he plans to enroll in the philosophical theology masters program while at Oxford. Speaking about the actual application process, Greitens said he thought that it was more than beneficial. "It helped me think through a lot of important questions about what I want to do in the future," he said.
Greitens said that after his two-year tenure at Oxford, he hopes eventually to be a leader in a non profit humanitarian organization. Greitens served during the summer of 1994 as a volunteer in Croatian refugee camps with the Project for Unaccompanied Youth in Exile, an international humanitarian endeavor to help Bosnian Muslim refugees. Greitens has also served as a humanitarian volunteer in Rwanda and China.
Russell said that, for him, the application process involved a broad spectrum of experiences. "It ranged from the truly aesthetic, almost the divine, to a kidney stone," he said.
He said that he has thought about applying for the scholarship ever since his senior year of high school. Russell, a cultural anthropology major, said that he hopes to continue the same course of study while at Oxford. Russell's honors thesis centered on anthropological and chaos theories, bodybuilding and physical fitness gyms.
On a less serious note, Russell said he also hopes to study Oxford's "turf." A four-year member of the rugby team, Russell said that Oxford's team could certainly use an "infusion of new blood."
Members of the University community said they were "thrilled" with Greitens and Russell's successes. "[Russell] will bring a splendid mind to Oxford," said Reynolds Price, James B. Duke professor of English to whom Russell is currently an assistant. "He's a tremendously amicable, witty and compassionate human being. They'll be lucky to have him for two or three years." Price is a former recipient of the scholarship.
Greitens and Russell are the 24th and 25th Rhodes Scholars selected from the University since the scholarship program was established at the turn of the century.


text:
Casting Call: TV Reality Show 'Jingles' To Hold Auditions In Nashville This Month
Fun In The Neighborhood, Travel
Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) has created yet another Reality TV show. It's called Jingles and they're holding auditions in Nashville at the end of May.
Mark Burnett has reportedly combined elements of The Apprentice and Rock Star to create Jingles, a new CBS reality series that will see contestants concocting commercial ditties for real products … Home viewer votes cast following each broadcast will then determine a weekly winner, whose jingle will be used in and actual commercial. Source
If you would like to audtion for the show, read on…
Do you think that you could use your quick mind and comedy skills to wow Fortune 500 companies with your talent?
Are you ready to prove that you possess the competitive edge and talent to win over a live audience and industry professionals all at once?
What they're looking for:
The greatest undiscovered marketing genius for this new show called "Jingles."
Fun, high-energy performances mixed with a competitive spirit.
Teams of 2 to 3 people to write and perform product jingles.
A team could be anything from an improv troupe to a singing comedy duo or a barbershop quartet.
Teams will compete weekly for a chance to win $100,000 and a contract with one of the companies!
A team could be anything from a sole singer-songwriter to a brother/sister team to a hip-hop group or a barbershop quartet," Bank said. "Their performance onstage will really determine the vote." [Roy Bank heads development for Mark Burnett Productions] Source
For information on how to apply (and get specific details about the audition dates, times and places), contact Jonathan Tanzman, casting director for Mark Burnett Productions at 310-903-5400 x5610 or jtanzman@markburnettprod.com
Because weekly winners will see their jingles used in actual commercials, contestants don't have to win the entire competish to see some benefit. "If someone comes up with the next great Oscar Mayer jingle, it could be on TV for the next 20 years, even if they're voted off in week three," Burnett said. Source
Jingles will begin airing on CBS Sunday, July 27 at 9PM ET/PT. The show will be featured in 8 one-hour episodes.
Good luck, everyone! We'll be looking for our Franklin, TN and Nashville neighbors on TV…
Categories Fun In The Neighborhood, Travel Tags Reality TV In Tennessee
Historic Franklin, TN License Plates On Sale Now
Aspen Grove Park: Hidden In The Heart Of Cool Springs, TN


Greenskills Training Centre building is the embodiment of sustainable technology demonstrating this within the architecture, construction, landscaping and engineering principles. The facility received a 6 Star Green Building Council rating with the building itself integral to the education of its students and visitors. DCI supplied and installed a variety of different wall and ceiling types, depending on the required thermal and acoustic ratings needed to achieve the 6 Star rating the building achieved, and the practical requirement of each of the rooms end use. Some of the wall types were especially designed to cope with the "star rating" requirements, as well as the unusual height and demanding wind loads. The unique design of the "Peel Back" construction required an "out of the box" mind set to frame and line the walls to the towering void areas to include partially exposed sub structures. As well as the internal framing and lining, DCI provided the framing insulation and cladding of the 9mm Compressed Fibre Cement cladding to the external facade and soffits of this truly unique building.


Proper care and wash for all types and sizes of area rugs.
Persian, Antiques, Loomed Rugs, Shag, Karastans, Flokati and more!
Hypoallergenic, safe for pets and children!
While we all love our pets, they can certainly lead to some pretty big frustrations at times! The Oriental Rug and Carpet Clinic repairs damage from our little loved ones.
Our clinic can remove different types of stains including pets stain, wine, coffee, ink and more. Ask us about our Personalized Stain Lifter spray!
We are skilled at fighting and preventing the arch-enemy of your rug, the moth. we also offer Moth prevention to keep away them away from your valuable rugs.
The clinic can stop and repair color run damage to your rug. We will color correct the affected areas making your rug look like new again.
As at any clinic, health is our top priority. Our process ensures a healthier rug for a healthier home! We use ORGANIC chemical free substance that disinfects and deordorizes your rugs completely.
Doing renovations and need a professional to store your investment? We can help and ensure your valuable rugs are kept safe and clean!
Moving? We can help in properly packaging and ship your handmade rugs anywhere in the United States.
We can bring new life into your old rug and give it an updated look with this service.
It is important to keep your rugs from slipping and it feels great to have a cushy rug. Our pads are an excellent choice for your rugs!
Need or have question of any service? simply fill out the form below!


text:
Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences
Publish wih us
Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences
Embargo Period
Publishing Ethics And Malpractice Policy
Publication to Ahead
Structural Changes to Immune Organs in Rats after Intermittent Fasting Following a High Carb and Fat Diet
Ika Fidianingsih, Titis Nurmasitoh, Aulia Dian Ashari, Desi Yana and Dwi Nur Ahsani
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2018.08.01.2
Abstract: Background: A diet high in carbs and fat puts people at risk of obesity. Obesity causes changes in the immune system and increases the risk of premature ageing, including in the lymphoid organs ― such as the thymus and spleen. Fasting is expected to improve the immune system. The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of intermittent fasting on images of the structure of the thymus, the number of fat cells, Hassall's corpuscles of the thymus, the area and density of pulp white spleen, and the number of leukocytes in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) fed a diet high in carbs and fat.
Chemotherapy Regimen and Incidence of Malnutrition after Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Buntitabhon Sirichancheun, Jantanee Thanomsakcharoen, Piyanuch Intakut, Yaowapan Kaewpan and Chuleegone Sornsuvit
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29169/1927-5951.2019.09.02.1
Abstract: Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and in Thailand. The treatment of non-small cell lung (NSCLC) with chemotherapy might affected on nutritional status which could correlate with the treatment response and quality of life. Thus, the objectives of this research were to study the nutritional status of patients after chemotherapy and the incidence of malnutrition. This retrospective longitudinal descriptive study was gathering the information from medical records January, 2013 to December, 2014. A 114 patients were met the inclusion criteria which were completed 4 or 6 cycles of treatment. Body mass index (BMI) and percentage of weight loss were used to assess the nutritional status. Malnutrition was classified when BMI under 18.5 kg/m2 and weight change more than 5%. The average age, baseline weight and BMI were 60.4±10.1 year, 55.0±9.0 kg and 22.0±2.5 kg/m2, respectively.
Increase of Healthy Food Quality among the Kazakhstan Population
Z. Yessimsiitova, N. Ablaikhanova, S. Sagyndykova, G. Tussupbekova, M. Kulbayeva, G. Atanbayeva, M. Aitzhan and Z. Bissenbayeva
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2018.08.03.10
Abstract: At present, one of the most important urgent issues is the study of healthy nutrition of the population of Kazakhstan. Proper nutrition ensures the growth and development of children, contributes to the prevention of diseases, increase the capacity for work and prolong the life of people, while creating conditions for adequate adaptation to the environment.
Most of the population of Kazakhstan because of technological processing, the use of inadequate food raw materials, influence of other causes, does not receive the necessary amount of essential components of food, which lead to illnesses, premature aging and shortening of life.
Evanie D. Deenanath and Abdulkadir Egal
Centre of Sustainable Livelihoods, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, 1900, Science and Technology Park, Sebokeng, South Africa
Abstract: The use of extrusion can be regarded as beneficial due to its short production time and wide variety of foods produced by this method. South Africa as a developing country has been involved in food extrusion since the 1980's and this technology is gaining momentum in academic research areas. A number of research efforts related to extrusion in South Africa have shown the consumption of extruded dry beans can reduce plasminogen activator inhibitor levels in hyperlipidaemic men; the production of sorghum-cowpea extruded instant porridge resulted in a nutritional acceptable product and can be used to supplement the diet of young children to assist with protein deficiencies.
Caffeine Associated with Exercise Actions on Glycemic Metabolism and Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Animals
Luiz Augusto da Silva, Jéssica Wouk, Vinicius Muller Reis Weber, Leandro Ricardo Altimari, Antônio Carlos Dourado, Carlos Ricardo Maneck Malfatti and Raul Osiecki
DOI: https://doi.org/120.29169/1927-5951.2018.08.04.8
Abstract: Objective: evaluate glycemic metabolism and its relationship with insulin resistance in diabetic animals after caffeine consumption associated with exercise.
Material and Methods: 48 animals, of 60 days, divided in four groups: Control, Diabetic, Control+Exercise, Diabetes+Exercise, Caffeine, Diabetes+Caffeine, Exercise+Caffeine and Diabetes+Caffeine+Exercise. Diabetes model was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 120 mg/kg of alloxan.
Lactic-Acid Bacteria Supplement Fermented Dairy Products with Human Behavior-Modifying Neuroactive Compounds
Alexander V. Oleskin, Olga G. Zhilenkova, Boris A. Shenderov, Adelaide M. Amerhanova, Vladimir S. Kudrin and Peter M. Klodt
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.03.5
Abstract: Using high performance liquid chromatography, we established that probiotic Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus helveticus 100ash, L. helveticus NK-1, L. casei K3III24, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) grown on two milk-containing nutrient media produce important neuromediators such as biogenic amines, their precursors and deamination products, as well as neuroactive amino acids. The concentrations of biogenic amines (such as catecholamines and, with L. helveticus 100ash, also serotonin) equal or exceed those contained in the bloodstream of healthy adult humans, whereas those of most amino acids are comparatively low, except for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Of paramount importance is the fact that the bacterial cultures can release micromolar amounts of GABA and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)into the milk-containing media.
Aims and Scope:
Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences (JPANS) is an international journal to contribute advancement and dissemination of knowledge in two segments; Pharmacy and Nutrition sciences. The journal also covers the relationship and the increasing trend of integration of these fields to discover possible natural / nutritional cures for various diseases. This journal is designed to provide an outlet for advancement and dissemination of original and high quality information in the fields of Pharmacy and Nutrition science. Therefore it's aimed towards public health globally through providing and exchanging information on across a wide range of disciplines.
Regular features in this journal highlight current topics in Pharmacy and nutrition science which includes clinical studies, clinical case seminars, and practice management issues, evidence-based publications related to Pharmacy and nutrition education research, practice and policy and other significant new studies related to human health.
Prof. Rafeeq Alam Khan
University of Karachi, Pakistan
Veiw Biography
Effect of Drinking Ration with Reduced Deuterium Content on Brain Tissue Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Rats with Acute Hypoxia Model – Pages 42-51
Alexander A. Kravtsov, Stanislav V. Kozin, Ekaterina R. Vasilevskaya, Anna A. Elkina, Lilia V. Fedulova, Konstantin A. Popov, Vadim V. Malyshko, Arkady V. Moiseev, Denis I. Shashkov and Mikhail G. Baryshev
Caffeine Associated with Exercise Actions on Glycemic Metabolism and Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Animals – Pages 205-211
Prevalence of under Nutrition and Associated Factors among Khat Chewers in Khat Chewing Shops at Gulalle Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Pages 144-152
Tesfaye Girma Legesse and Debela Gemeda Bedane
Indexing / Abstracting Agencies
Copyright © 2019 | Powered by Set Publisher. All rights reserved.


text:
Employment Law/Restrictive Covenants
By Alfred Kempf December 16 2019
Categories: Blog, Employment Law
A recent case in BC illustrates the danger of employers using restrictive covenants that are too broad. A restrictive covenant is a clause that prohibits an employee from competing with the company after termination of the employment, usually for a specified period of time and usually in a specified geographical area.
There is a different type of protection available in the form of a non-solicitation covenant. Non-solicitation covenants prevent an employee from targeting other employees of the company or customers to try and induce those employees or customers to leave the former employer to do business with the departed employee's new employer or business.
The courts have said that clauses that provide more protection than necessary to protect former employers' genuine business interests are generally not enforceable. It is the employer's obligation in these cases to prove that the clause is no broader than is necessary. In a recent case, 0777792 BC Limited v. Da Costa, the employer tried to obtain an interim injunction restraining a former employee from competing with the company.
The restrictive covenant in this case was drafted to prohibit the former employee from competing with respect to all services the company was engaged in, including services that he was not engaged with. Further, the covenant had no geographic restriction. In other words, on the plain language of the clause, it applied throughout the world. The employer argued that, practically speaking, the clause only applied to the Lower Mainland where the employer carried out its business, however, the court disagreed and said that if the employer's business was indeed restricted to the Lower Mainland the clause should have so provided. The court further pointed out that the former employee was not a manager but was a technician. Finally, the court indicated that a non-solicitation clause would have been sufficient to protect the company's interest. The Court stated: "when a non-solicitation clause could have substituted for a non-competition clause in an employment agreement, the non-competition clause will generally be unenforceable".
The lesson for employers who have a legitimate interest in restraining the ability of departing employees to compete is to ensure that their clauses are no broader than reasonably necessary to protect their business interests.
Alfred Kempf
Alf Kempf is a litigation partner with Pushor Mitchell LLP who serves both individual and corporate clients with labour and employment [...]
Share On: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email
Leneigh Bosdet Presenting at Kelowna Women in Business Dinner and AGM
By Pushor Mitchell LLP January 14 2020
Categories: Firm News
Leneigh Bosdet will be presenting at the Kelowna Women in Business dinner and AGM on Wednesday January 15th.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2020!
By Pushor Mitchell LLP December 13 2019
We wish you all the joys of the season and happiness throughout the coming year!
Eric Ledding Appointed To Professional Issues Committee of CBABC
By Pushor Mitchell LLP December 4 2019
Eric Ledding has been appointed by the Executive Committee of the CBABC to the Professional Issues Committee.
More Firm News »
Subscribe to Legal Alert Newsletter
Legal Alert, Pushor Mitchell's free monthly e-newsletter, includes articles on developments in the legal industry as well as firm news, lawyer profiles and more. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Pushor Mitchell LLP 301 - 1665 Ellis Street
Copyright © 2020 Pushor Mitchell LLP. All rights reserved.


DJs as Cultural Brokers. The Performance and Localization of Recorded Music Across Time and Space.
In this doctoral dissertation in musicology, I study DJ practices in contemporary Finland. I am particularly interested in how DJs function as cultural brokers when music in recorded format travels across time and space. The main question my study seeks to answer is how are musical cultures localized, or made meaningful in a new socio-cultural environment through DJ performances and therein related activities. This question is investigated over four research articles in three distinct case studies, each focusing on a specific musical category, conceptualized as a "disc culture" (Thornton 1995), emphasizing the centrality of recorded sound as a medium of the music. The three categories of music investigated in my thesis are dancehall reggae, Finnish iskelmä music and Latin American music. These categories, which from the local audience perspective represent remote musical cultures, are not to be understood as fixed, but rather as narratives that are constructed in the performance setting. The concept of performance, following Auslander (2004), is applied as an analytical concept to all empirical material. As such, although the study also includes analysis of DJs' stage performances in a nightclub setting, I am also concerned with how the DJs work as brokers off stage. This work, which could be characterized as taking place in the space between production and consumption, influences values and meanings that listeners ascribe to the music. Methodologically this study combines ethnographic accounts with theoretical investigations. Empirical material analyzed in the study includes interviews with DJs, observational field research in nightclubs, media discourses, promotional material, individual recordings and set lists from DJ performances.
My research shows how the function of records as a medium is under constant negotiation, as records are in various ways altered and embedded into a DJ's work. The authority of a discrete musical work is questioned in my case studies in several ways, as ideas behind records find new forms of expression and as industry driven distinctions between the live performance of bands as collective audience experiences and recorded albums as objects intended for domestic private listening are discarded. I argue that genres moving to another cultural sphere will not maintain all their inherent values and meanings, as the terms for the adaptation of the music is negotiated between the DJ and the local audience. The audience intimately involved in the localization process is, however, not a homogeneous group and members of the audience who are less engaged in the performance setting can become outside observers to the unfolding drama of the events. The DJs' strategies to facilitate the process of localization include various practices of framing through the choice of musical repertoire, and through verbal and visual communication. I maintain that DJs play a significant role mediating between the remote production and local consumption of a musical genre. Through their work, DJs can challenge dominating cultural narratives and explore alternatives to established discourses.
Denna doktorsavhandling i musikvetenskap är en studie i dj:ns roll som kulturell medlare i situationer där musik i inspelad form förflyttas över tid och rum. Den huvudsakliga forskningsfrågan är hur musikkulturer omlokaliseras och görs betydelsefulla i en ny sociokulturell omgivning genom dj-uppträdanden och däri relaterade processer. Frågan granskas i fyra forskningsartiklar genom tre fallstudier, som alla behandlar olika kategorier av musik. Den forskade musiken närmas här främst som "skivkulturer" (Thornton 1995), vilket betonar inspelningarnas centrala roll i musiken. Avhandlingens tre musikkategorier, som ur den lokala publikens perspektiv kan anses representera avlägsna musikkulturer, är dancehall reggae, äldre finländsk schlager ("iskelmä") och latinamerikansk musik. Kategorierna betraktas inte som fixerade eller givna, utan undersöks som konstruktioner vilka tolkas i samband med framförandet. Avhandlingens empiriska material innefattar intervjuer, deltagande observation på nattklubbar, diskurser inom media och reklammaterial, enskilda inspelningar och låtlistor från dj-uppträdanden.
Min avhandling visar hur inspelningarnas funktion som medium ständigt omförhandlas då de manipuleras och bäddas in i dj:ns arbete. Jag hävdar att genrer som förflyttas till en annan kulturell kontext inte bibehåller alla ursprungliga värderingar och meningar. I denna lokaliseringsprocess använder sig dj:n av olika strategier för att rama in den nya musiken. Det här sker till exempel genom valet av repertoar samt genom verbal och visuell kommunikation. Avhandlingen belyser dj:ns centrala roll som en länk mellan en avlägsen musikkultur och dess lokala konsumtion. Genom sin verksamhet utmanar dj:n dominerande kulturella narrativ och utforskar alternativ till etablerade diskurser.


text:
Music notes: Britney Spears, Lil Nas X, Glass Animals and moreMusic notes: Britney Spears, Lil Nas X, Glass Animals and more
By | April 5, 2022 | Comments Off on Music notes: Britney Spears, Lil Nas X, Glass Animals and moreMusic notes: Britney Spears, Lil Nas X, Glass Animals and more
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Britney Spears confirmed she's writing a memoir, announcing on Instagram, "I'm writing a book at the moment and it's actually healing and therapeutic." While she said it's "hard" revisiting bad memories of the conservatorship, she vowed, "I'm here to remind people what NOT TO DO like my family did to me so we can be better people for the next generation." A title and release date are forthcoming.
Glass Animals' "Heat Waves" is again number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a fifth week. In third is Latto's "Big Energy," who is primed to take the crown thanks to her remix with Mariah Carey.
Speaking of Mariah, she claims she has a documentary in the works. She recently spoke on Stationhead, but was not ready to reveal all the details.
Despite their global fame, South Korea's Ambassador to Great Britain said BTS is not exempt from military service, TMZ reports. Men between ages 18 and 28 must serve for at least 18 months. No time frame for BTS was given.
Lil Nas X was nominated for five Grammys but didn't win a single one — so he sang about it. He joked how being shut out "hurt my feelings."
Ed Sheeran's "Bad Habits" scored a billion views on Spotify, becoming his 10th song to do so. "I'm super, super grateful," he gushed when sharing the good news on TikTok.
Sam Smith is reportedly working on "dancey" new music, reports The Sun. An insider claimed Sam has a new song called "Love Me More," that is due out soon.
Shawn Mendes added 13 new dates for his North American Wonder World Tour! Ticket presales begin Wednesday.
Speaking of tours, Halsey also added some new dates to their tour, announcing they're going to Idaho and Arkansas. Tickets go on sale Friday.


text:
MOFFATT BROTHERS SECURE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR THE FASTEST TIME FOR THREE CARS TO COMPLETE TEN DONUTS IN A FAN FORMATION
February 26, 2016 / Gemma Price
Stunt Driving Brothers, Trevor, Alastair and John Moffatt have secured a new Guinness World Record for the Fastest Time for Three Cars to Complete Ten Donuts in a Fan Formation.
This amazing feat was recorded for CBBC's Officially Amazing on 28th August 2015, held under BBC embargo until the programme aired on Friday 26th February 2016.
Gloucester based stunt driving Brothers, Trevor, Alastair and John Moffatt have claimed a new Guinness World Record for the Fastest Time for Three Cars to Complete Ten Donuts in a Fan Formation during filming for CBBC programme Officially Amazing at Bentwaters Airfield on 28th August 2015, in a time of 54 seconds.
This new Guinness World Record is calculated by timing how long it takes three cars to perform ten complete rotations around a central point without touching and within an outer perimeter.
Alastair, a Master Instructor at Stunt Drive UK also holds Guinness World Records for the Tightest Single Parallel Park, Tightest Double Parallel Park and Tightest Gap Driven through on Two Wheels. Whilst John also jointly holds the Tightest Double Parallel Park with Alastair and the trio also jointly hold the record for the Tightest Triple Parallel Park.
Commenting on their achievement, John noted, "With a team World Record its really important that all three of us are at the top of our game at the exact same time. Its taken lots of practicing to achieve this record today and create a new precision driving record" The Moffatt Brothers' astounding display of precision driving is also available for viewing on BBC iPlayer.
Stunt Drive UK is the leading provider of car based stunt driving experience days in the UK. With four venues located throughout England and Wales, visiting members of the public can learn to perform stunts from the movies such as High-Speed Parallel Parking, Donuts and Driving a Car on Two Wheels.
February 26, 2016 / Gemma Price/
alastair moffatt, john moffatt, stunt, guinness world record, trevor moffatt, world record, cbbc, officially amazing
Gemma Price


I looked at my teen who had just asked this question, thinking he had to be joking. But he stared at me with all seriousness.
My teenager thought we didn't have paper plates when I was little? Yikes!
"Believe it or not, we did," I replied. Seeing that his history class wasn't teaching him anything about the reality of life in the 20th century, I took it upon myself to educate him about the past.
"But there are a lot of things you take for granted that were different when I was growing up," I told him.
We had to lick the back of stamps before we stuck them on an envelope. No self-adhesive stamps for us.
We had to carry our luggage onto the plane. In fact, that's why they are called carry-ons. They didn't have wheels or retractable handles.
People didn't get cash when they won on Wheel of Fortune. They had to use their winnings to go shopping for things like a sofa and a ceramic dog sculpture.
Wrapping paper didn't have lines printed on the inside. We had to wing it and hope that we could cut straight.
We found our way to new places by using a map. No, not Google Maps. A folded paper version.
During most of my childhood, the phone was attached to the wall by a cord.
If I wanted to know the weather or what time it was, I had to make a phone call. I also called the movie theater and listened to a recording of movie showtimes.
Speaking of the movies, there was no stadium seating movie theaters. If someone sat directly in front of me, then I got a view of half the screen around someone's head.
My generation also endured the New Coke fiasco. New Coke replaced the original formula. But no one liked New Coke and we went back to old Coke. It was a confusing time.
The internet did not exist. If I had a question, I had to ask someone, use an encyclopedia, or visit the library.
Email and texting didn't exist either. If I wanted to reach people, I wrote them a letter, passed them a note in school, or called them on the phone.
When I liked a song on the radio, I had three choices to listen to it again: tape it off the radio with a tape recorder; buy the cassette at the mall without listening to any of the other songs; or buy the single as a 45 and listen to it on my record player.
"What's a 45 or a cassette?" my teen asked.


POLICE are investigating an incident at Frodsham in which an 80-year-old woman was swindled out of £2,000 by bogus gardeners.
They are warning householders to be aware of the dangers of tradesmen calling at homes offering to do work.
In the case under investigation, a woman living in the Townfield Lane area received a leaflet through her door offering to do gardening work.
She wanted some ivy removing from a garage wall and called the mobile phone number on the leaflet. It went to voice mail and later someone called her back.
Two men came to inspect the work and quoted £2,000 – and said they would want paying in advance.
The victim, noting that there was a Helsby address on the leaflet, agreed and handed over the money.
The men left, promising to return, but failed to do so.
Subsequent enquiries have revealed that the Helsby address does not exist. The men took their leaflet away with them so the original telephone number cannot be traced.
A relative of the victim said: "She is obviously very upset. She cannot afford to lose £2,000 but it seems unlikely she will get it back. But she wants to make sure other people are put on their guard and that the same thing doesn't happen again.
There was a comment on Frodsham Facebook about this incident which indicated payment had been made by cheque. If that was correct surely the Police can establish what happened with cheque via the bank and seek to recover money under Proceeds of Crime Act? There are a number of cold callers and those 'in the area' who seek work and it pays to be vigilant, never pay cash, never pay until job done and get a receipt.


SSH Electrical has been in the industry for over 20 years. They offer high-quality electrical services and make sure that customers are satisfied with the job.
They take on any electrical job no matter the size. No job too big or too small. Plus, they offer unbeatable prices. Their electrician is friendly and trustworthy. He understands the customers' needs and only uses the best quality supplies. He can work on your job as safely as possible. You can count on him to work according to your requirements.
Feel free to contact us for more info or for a free quote.
"Semaan did a first class job for us on a last minute commercial project encompassing electrical, data and security. Excellent attention to detail."
"Simon did exactly what he said he would. Turned up on time. Worked efficiently and cleaned up afterwards. I have no hesitation in recommending his business. Kerry. Nth Parramatta. "
"Simon did a top job. Very professional and efficient.Work was completed 100% using high quality material."
"Excellent service and advice. Simon is all about getting the job done. Thanks for great job Simon - you're permanently in my phone contacts for future work!"
"Noting is too much trouble for this gentleman. The personal touch and very reliable."
"We're very happy with the job that Simon did for us - he's very friendly and completed within the quoted time frame despite us adding onto the job once he was onsite. Simon and his team are very skilled, a very fine and clean finish. Thanks!"
" Very friendly, and professional. Arrive just on time and spend 3 hours. I am very happy with his work!"
"Simon was fantastic in getting all required Electrical lighting fixtures installed. He is very friendly and trustworthy. I would recommend him anytime."
"Work done was OK. "


Earning a secondary income or working a side business often requires trading time for money and taking on large start-up costs without training or the guarantee of long-term stability. People are looking for a better way to earn an income and enjoy their lives to the fullest. At Isagenix, we believe we've found the solution. Say hello to the next entrepreneur!
Contact me and request free Strategic Plan Part 1. Let's work together.
Myself and my sponsor have over 50 years combined experience in the network marketing business.
We will share what worked, what didn't and all the secrets in between as we assist you in your Isagenix journey.
My personal success story is just one of the thousands of success stories of Isagenix Associates shared by people who have experienced incredible results using Isagenix Systems. You can be confident that Isagenix is committed to your success by offering you the opportunity to live a healthy, clean, and lean lifestyle—and to create wealth while doing so.
You can email me and tell me that you're ready and I'll quickly get you started.
Should you have all your questions answered you can even enroll directly on my site by clicking the Sign up and Save button on the upper right hand corner.


text:
What To Binge Watch
A great week of TV viewing can be before you, no matter what kind of shows you like to watch. (NAPS)
(NAPSI)—"Westworld" on HBO. "Stranger Things" on Netflix. "The Alienist" on TNT. "This Is Us" on NBC. "The Good Doctor" on ABC. The list of shows you've heard your friends, family and co-workers talking about probably goes on and on. If only there were one place to find and catch up on all of them. Enter Watchathon Week on Xfinity On Demand, considered the biggest and best binge-watching event of the year. From April 16 to 22, Xfinity TV customers (and their kids and pets) can enjoy free, unlimited access to the most-buzzed-about shows and movies from Netflix and HBO, to NBC, AMC, DogTV and more.
With carte-blanche access to thousands of the best TV shows and movies, there may be no better time to hunker down and catch up on all you've been missing. Not sure where to start? Find your Watchathon personality and get started:
The FOMO Inflicted:
You have such fear of missing out and if one more person laments to you over how Jack died or asks what happened to Barb you might just lose it. Keep calm because this could be your chance to catch up on all the buzziest TV you've been hearing about, such as NBC's "This Is Us," Netflix's "Stranger Things," ABC's "The Good Doctor," FOX's "The Gifted," FX+'s "Better Things," SHOWTIME's® "Billions" and Starz's "Counterpart."
The One-Show Die-Hard:
You've been there since Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody came home. Since Ned Stark left for King's Landing. Since "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" became a mantra. Relive every single moment of your favorite series' greatness from start to finish. From SHOWTIME's "Homeland" to HBO's "Game of Thrones" to NBC's "Friday Night Lights," you can let the episodes roll on Xfinity On Demand.
The Procrastinator:
The new season is here or will be soon and you still haven't watched the last season. Don't fall victim to the spoilers; during Watchathon, you can get up to speed on shows such as HBO's "Westworld" and Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" before their new season premieres.
The Aspiring TV Guru:
You know that show you always wanted to watch but never did? Regret no more. Many of these critically acclaimed shows are available in their entirety during Watchathon Week, including HBO's "The Wire," Fox's "The X-Files" and NBC's "Will & Grace"—so you can have another chance to experience some of the best and most-popular shows in recent history.
The Traveler:
You have wanderlust. Watchathon Week has you covered from your couch. Take a trip across the pond without a passport by catching up on Netflix's "The Crown," check out one of the many British and international shows and documentaries available through Acorn TV, and even travel back in time with Starz's "Outlander." Even if you just like to wander, you can watch thousands of options on the go through the Xfinity Stream app and Web portal.
The Indecisive:
Can't make a decision? It's hard when there are so many options. Don't worry—Xfinity's team of entertainment experts has you covered with a long list of recommendations on www.Xfinity.com/Watchathon to help you make the most of the week.
"Xfinity TV customers (and their kids and pets) can enjoy free, unlimited access to the most-buzzed-about shows and movies from Netflix and HBO, to NBC, AMC, DogTV and more during Watchathon Week. http://bit.ly/2EGmChe"