If you've ever wondered where to buy a pregnancy test in Japan, you've come to the right place. Whether one is trying to conceive or concerned by a late period a pregnancy test offers the confirmation you desire. Luckily, finding a pregnancy test in Japan is fairly cheap and easy.
How to acquire a pregnancy test in Japan?
Finding a pregnancy test is not very difficult in Japan, as they are available at pharmacies by the name: 妊娠検査薬 (にんしんけんさやく, ninshin kensa yaku) or妊娠判定テスト (にんしんはんていテスト, ninshin hantei testo). The following is a list of the top 5 most common chain pharmacies all across Japan at which one can buy a pregnancy test.
If one of these stores does not exist close by, a local drug store should carry pregnancy tests as well. Alternatively, one can also order a pregnancy test in Japan over the Internet on an online marketplace such as Amazon or Rakuten.
What is the cost of a pregnancy test?
A pregnancy test in Japan will cost about 500 to 2000 JPY depending on the brand and type, and can come in test packs of one or two. In addition, there are two varieties to choose from, analog (regular) or digital, but the function remains the same. The only difference between the two is that the digital kind displays a written message "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant", whereas the regular kind displays symbols such as a stipe or a circle accompanied by a chart on the box to decipher the results.
The following is a list of Japanese pregnancy tests along with their cost at the time of this article.
How does a pregnancy test work?A pregnancy test works by checking for the presence of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) within one's urine. HGC is a hormone made by the body after a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. If used correctly, with the right timing, a pregnancy test should be 99% accurate. However, regardless of the test's outcome, if one is indeed trying to get pregnant, one should schedule an appointment with a doctor to confirm any positive results with an ultrasound, in addition to getting a general check-up.HealthyTOKYO is more than happy to help in this area, and can set up an appointment through its concierge service with an English-speaking medical professional who can answer any questions. Simply contact HealthyTOKYO with the chat feature located on the bottom right of the webpage.
When to use a pregnancy test?
A pregnancy test should be used 6 to 8 days after a missed period. As HCG levels increase over time, the test will be more accurate starting from about one week after the missed period, at which point HCG levels will be high enough (or none existent) to determine if one is pregnant.
There are two basic techniques for using a pregnancy test accurately. The first method is to urinate directly onto the absorbent end of the test; otherwise, one can collect the urine in a cup into which to dip the test. Please note, depending on the brand, the amount of time one should expose the test to urine changes, usually about 5 seconds (5秒) for urinating directly onto the test, and 10 seconds (10秒) when using a cup.
Whether excited or unsure about the impending results, finding a pregnancy test in Japan should not be an issue, as they are inexpensive and easy to acquire. If you are having trouble getting pregnant, read our article on fertility therapy in Japan here.
As stated before, if one would like to follow up the results of your pregnancy test with an English-speaking doctor, HealthyTOKYO's concierge service is a great option.
Have a question about the concierge service, or anything else? Please contact HealthyTOKYO through the site chat feature on the bottom right of the page.
There are two kinds of pregnancy tests, analog and digital, but they work the same.
A pregnancy test will cost about 500 to 2000 JPY on average.
If you think you are pregnant, wait 6 to 8 days after your missed period to check with a pregnancy test.
It is recommended to consult a doctor after the results of the pregnancy test, and HealthyTOKYO can arrange an appointment.


text:
Joe Todd-Stanton
Eiko Kadono
Joe Todd-Stanton (Illustrator)
Emily Balistrieri (Translator)
Soar into this modern Japanese classic about a young witch and her clever cat with this new translation by Emily Balistrieri which will delight fans of the beloved Studio Ghibli animated movie as well as new readers.
'A magical, joyous read, brought to life by the most beautiful illustrations' - Harriet Muncaster, author of Isadora Moon
'A charming and beautifully written story' - Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang
Kiki is a trainee witch. On her thirteenth birthday she must follow tradition and leave home to find a new village. She knows she has to use only her powers to make a living, but Kiki's no good at potions or spells...can she use her flying abilities to make her own way in the world? She sets out with her beloved black cat Jiji on an exciting journey, making new friends along the way.
A Puffin Book
Eiko Kadono was born in Tokyo in 1935 and after living in Brazil returned to the ancient Japanese city of Kamakura. Eiko is one of Japan's most prolific and well-known children's authors. She has written and translated over two hundred books and won many awards including the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 2018. Her most famous work is Kiki's Delivery Service which was published in 1985 and made into a hugely popular anime film.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kelly Services, Inc. is happy to exclusively present a contract opportunity for a full time & long-term role as an Embedded Software / Firmware Engineer at Bausch & Lomb in St Louis, MO. The Details:.
You will be receiving job alerts for Engineering Jobs in Hillsboro, MO 63050.


text:
EMSA Outlook 2023
Now online: the EMSA Outlook 2023, presenting our activities for the year ahead to deliver our annual work programme in line with our multi-annual strategic objectives. The Outlook 2023 is based on the information contained in the Single Programming Document (2023-2025) as adopted by EMSA's Administrative Board
EMSAFE Report
The first comprehensive overview of maritime safety in the European Union, the European Maritime Safety Report (EMSAFE) is a factual overview of a wide range of maritime safety topics, as well as an in-depth analysis of specific technical areas. EMSAFE combines information from all the databases hosted by EMSA to give detailed insights into the status of maritime safety in the EU.
emsa.europa.eu/emsafe
MAR-ICE support for chemical emergencies at sea extended by another five years
Maritime Digital Services Catalogue
[Read more news]
EMSA/AD/2022/14
Visits to Member States on passenger ship safety
Visits to Member States on marine equipment
Visits to Member States relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels
More EMSA Videos
The EMTER report
Available in all EU Languages
EMSA e-portal for experts and speakers
Discover the EU Maritime Profile
This publication presents the main steps the Agency plans to take in 2022 to deliver on its multi-annual strategic objectives based on the information contained in the Single Programming Document (2022-2024) as adopted by EMSA's Administrative Board.
Strengthening the EU capacity to protect the marine environment, manage climate change and respond to new environmental challenges at sea.
Strengthening EMSA's role as the core information management hub for maritime surveillance.
Contributing to higher maritime safety standards, anticipate new maritime safety challenges and expectations and provide knowledge-based solutions.
Facilitating the simplification of EU shipping by supporting EU-wide digital maritime solutions.
Contributing to the strengthening of maritime security in Europe and globally, where there is a European interest.


text:
//
//  DOMStrengthGestureRecognizer.m
//  DOMATI
//
//  Created by Jad Osseiran on 2/11/2013.
//  Copyright (c) 2013 Jad. All rights reserved.
//
//  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
//  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
//
//  Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
//  list of conditions and the following disclaimer. Redistributions in binary
//  form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
//  the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
//  provided with the distribution. Neither the name of the nor the names of
//  its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
//  this software without specific prior written permission.
//
//  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
//  AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
//  IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
//  ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
//  LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
//  CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
//  SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
//  INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
//  CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
//  ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
//  POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

#import <UIKit/UIGestureRecognizerSubclass.h>

#import "DOMStrengthGestureRecognizer.h"

#import "NSObject+Extensions.h"
#import "UITouch+Extension.h"

#import "DOMErrors.h"

static NSString *kTouchInfoPhaseKey = @"phase";
static NSString *kTouchInfoTimestampKey = @"timestamp";
static NSString *kTouchInfoRadiusKey = @"radius";
static NSString *kTouchInfoXKey = @"x";
static NSString *kTouchInfoYKey = @"y";

static CGFloat const kAccLowerSoft = 0.0;
static CGFloat const kAccLowerNormal = 0.0525;
static CGFloat const kAccUpperNormal = 0.1505;
static CGFloat const kAccUpperHard = 1.0;

static CGFloat const kRotLowerSoft = 0.0;
static CGFloat const kRotLowerNormal = 0.1585;
static CGFloat const kRotUpperNormal = 0.458;
static CGFloat const kRotUpperHard = 1.0;

static NSTimeInterval const kMaxAcceptableDuration = 1.2;

@interface DOMStrengthGestureRecognizer ()
{
    /// The queue running on a different thread to process the data.
    dispatch_queue_t dataProcessingQueue;
}

@property (nonatomic, strong) DOMPassiveMotionManager *motionManager;

@property (nonatomic, strong) NSMutableDictionary *touchesInfo;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSMutableDictionary *allPhasesTouchesInfo;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSMutableDictionary *motionsInfo;
@property (nonatomic, strong) NSMutableDictionary *motionItems;

@property (nonatomic) CGFloat strength;

@end

@implementation DOMStrengthGestureRecognizer

- (instancetype)initWithTarget:(id)target
                        action:(SEL)action
                 motionManager:(DOMPassiveMotionManager *)motionManager
                         error:(NSError *__autoreleasing *)error
{
    self = [super initWithTarget:target action:action];
    if (self)
    {
        self.automaticallyResetDataBuffers = YES;

        // Create the serial queue to ensure FIFS
        self->dataProcessingQueue = dispatch_queue_create("data_processing_queue", DISPATCH_QUEUE_SERIAL);
        dispatch_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
            // Initialise storing objects on the dataProcessingQueue
            self.touchesInfo = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
            self.allPhasesTouchesInfo = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
            self.motionsInfo = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
            self.motionItems = [[NSMutableDictionary alloc] init];
        });

        [motionManager startListening:error];
        self.motionManager = motionManager;
    }
    return self;
}

- (instancetype)initWithTarget:(id)target action:(SEL)action
{
    NSError *error = nil;
    self = [self initWithTarget:target
                         action:action
                  motionManager:[[DOMPassiveMotionManager alloc] init]
                          error:nil];

    if (error)
    {
        [error handle];
    }

    return self;
}

- (instancetype)init
{
    return [self initWithTarget:nil action:nil];
}

- (void)dealloc
{
    // Stop recording the device motions when the gesture
    // recogniser is dealloced.
    [self.motionManager stopListening];
}

#pragma mark - Logic

- (void)resetDataBufferForTouch:(UITouch *)touch
{
    NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

    [self.motionsInfo removeObjectForKey:pointerKey];
    [self.touchesInfo removeObjectForKey:pointerKey];
    [self.allPhasesTouchesInfo removeObjectForKey:pointerKey];
}

- (void)resetMotionCache
{
    [self.motionManager resetDataStructureIfPossible];
}

- (NSDictionary *)touchesInfoForTouch:(UITouch *)touch
{
    NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

    __block NSDictionary *touchesInfo = nil;

    dispatch_barrier_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
        touchesInfo = self.touchesInfo[pointerKey];
    });

    return touchesInfo;
}

- (NSDictionary *)motionsInfoForTouch:(UITouch *)touch
{
    NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

    __block NSDictionary *motionsInfo = nil;

    dispatch_barrier_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
        motionsInfo = self.motionsInfo[pointerKey];
    });

    return motionsInfo;
}

/**
 *  Gets the location of the touch in relation to the whole screen.
 *
 *  @param touch The touch who's location to grab.
 *  @param view  The view in which the touch has been made.
 *
 *  @return The point of the touch in relation to the whole screen.
 */
- (CGPoint)locationOfTouch:(UITouch *)touch onScreenForView:(UIView *)view
{
    CGPoint location = [touch locationInView:self.view];
    CGPoint viewOrigin = view.frame.origin;

    return CGPointMake(viewOrigin.x + location.x, viewOrigin.y + location.y);
}

- (CGFloat)normalisedValueFromValue:(CGFloat)value
                           boundaries:(NSArray *)boundaries
{
    NSSortDescriptor *sortOrder = [NSSortDescriptor sortDescriptorWithKey:@"self" ascending:YES];
    boundaries = [boundaries sortedArrayUsingDescriptors:@[sortOrder]];

    NSUInteger numBoundaries = [boundaries count];
    if (numBoundaries <= 2)
        return value;

    CGFloat minBoundary = TO_CGFLOAT([boundaries firstObject]);
    CGFloat maxBoundary = TO_CGFLOAT([boundaries lastObject]);
    CGFloat sizeFactor = maxBoundary / (float)(numBoundaries - 1);

    if (value < minBoundary)
        return minBoundary;
    if (value > maxBoundary)
        return maxBoundary;

    CGFloat normalisedValue = 0.0f;
    for (NSInteger i = 1; i < numBoundaries; i++)
    {
        CGFloat upperBoundary = TO_CGFLOAT(boundaries[i]);
        CGFloat lowerBoundary = TO_CGFLOAT(boundaries[i-1]);
        if (value > lowerBoundary && value <= upperBoundary)
        {
            normalisedValue = ((i - 1) * sizeFactor) + ((value / upperBoundary) * sizeFactor);
            break;
        }
    }

    return normalisedValue;
}

- (CGFloat)strengthForTouch:(UITouch *)touch
{
    __block CGFloat strength = 0.0;

    dispatch_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
        NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

        CGFloat duration = TO_CGFLOAT(self.touchesInfo[pointerKey][kTouchInfoDurationKey]);
        if (duration > kMaxAcceptableDuration)
        {
            strength = -1.5;
        }
        else
        {
            CGFloat avgAcceleration = TO_CGFLOAT(self.motionsInfo[pointerKey][kMotionInfoAvgAccelerationKey]);
            NSArray *accelerationBoundries = @[@(kAccLowerSoft), @(kAccLowerNormal),
                                               @(kAccUpperNormal), @(kAccUpperHard)];
            CGFloat acceleration = [self normalisedValueFromValue:avgAcceleration boundaries:accelerationBoundries];

            CGFloat avgRotation = TO_CGFLOAT(self.motionsInfo[pointerKey][kMotionInfoAvgRotationKey]);
            NSArray *rotationBoundaries = @[@(kRotLowerSoft), @(kRotLowerNormal),
                                            @(kRotUpperNormal), @(kRotUpperHard)];
            CGFloat rotation = [self normalisedValueFromValue:avgRotation boundaries:rotationBoundaries];

            strength = (rotation + acceleration) / 2.0;
        }
    });

    return strength;
}

#pragma mark - Storing & Processing

- (void)processTouchesInfo:(NSSet *)touches
{
    dispatch_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
        for (UITouch *touch in touches)
        {
            NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

            NSArray *touchAllPhasesInfo = self.allPhasesTouchesInfo[pointerKey];
            // Need the start and end times to calculate duration
            NSTimeInterval startTimestamp = 0.0;
            NSTimeInterval endTimestamp = 0.0;

            // Used to calculate the x & y deltas.
            CGFloat startX = 0.0;
            CGFloat endX = 0.0;
            CGFloat startY = 0.0;
            CGFloat endY = 0.0;

            // Variable to store the maximum radius found for the touch.
            CGFloat maxRadius = (CGFLOAT_IS_DOUBLE) ? DBL_MIN : FLT_MIN;

            // Enumerate through each of the touch's phase info.
            for (NSDictionary *touchPhaseInfo in touchAllPhasesInfo)
            {
                // Save the start variables on UITouchPhaseBegan and the end
                // variables on UITouchPhaseEnded.
                if ([touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoPhaseKey] integerValue] == UITouchPhaseBegan)
                {
                    startTimestamp = [touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoTimestampKey] doubleValue];

                    startX = TO_CGFLOAT(touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoXKey]);
                    startY = TO_CGFLOAT(touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoYKey]);
                }
                else if ([touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoPhaseKey] integerValue] == UITouchPhaseEnded)
                {
                    endTimestamp = [touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoTimestampKey] doubleValue];

                    endX = TO_CGFLOAT(touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoXKey]);
                    endY = TO_CGFLOAT(touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoYKey]);
                }

                // Get the current touch radius.
                CGFloat radius = TO_CGFLOAT(touchPhaseInfo[kTouchInfoRadiusKey]);
                // Save it if it is the new maximum.
                if (radius > maxRadius)
                {
                    maxRadius = radius;
                }
            }

            NSDictionary *touchInfo = @{kTouchInfoAllPhasesKey: touchAllPhasesInfo,
                                        kTouchInfoDeltaXKey: @(ABS(endX - startX)),
                                        kTouchInfoDeltaYKey: @(ABS(endY - startY)),
                                        kTouchInfoMaxRadiusKey: @(maxRadius),
                                        kTouchInfoDurationKey: @(endTimestamp - startTimestamp)};

            self.touchesInfo[pointerKey] = touchInfo;
        }
    });
}

/**
 *  Helper method to store the touches' touch and motion data.
 *
 *  @param touches The touches who's data we want to store.
 */
- (void)storeTouchesInfo:(NSSet *)touches
{
    // Make sure we are processing the data on a different queue.
    dispatch_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
        for (UITouch *touch in touches)
        {
            NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

            // Get the tail for the linked list on touches began.
            if (touch.phase == UITouchPhaseBegan)
            {
                self.motionItems[pointerKey] = [self.motionManager lastMotionItemWithTouchPhase:UITouchPhaseBegan];
            }

            // Retreive the touch location on the scren.
            CGPoint touchLocation = [self locationOfTouch:touch onScreenForView:self.view];

            // Store all the relevant touch info in a dictionary.
            NSDictionary *touchInfo = @{ kTouchInfoTimestampKey : @(touch.timestamp),
                                         kTouchInfoXKey : @(touchLocation.x),
                                         kTouchInfoYKey : @(touchLocation.y),
                                         kTouchInfoPhaseKey : @(touch.phase),
                                         kTouchInfoRadiusKey : @([touch radius]) };

            // Get the existing touch info for possible other states.
            NSMutableArray *touchAllPhasesInfo = self.allPhasesTouchesInfo[pointerKey];
            // If there are no other touch info states stored create
            // an array to hold them.
            if (!touchAllPhasesInfo)
            {
                touchAllPhasesInfo = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
            }
            // Store the new touch info.
            [touchAllPhasesInfo addObject:touchInfo];

            // Store the touch info phases in the overall dictionary.
            self.allPhasesTouchesInfo[pointerKey] = touchAllPhasesInfo;
        }
    });
}

- (void)storeAndProcessMotionsInfo:(NSSet *)touches
{
    // We are about to do somewhat intensive work, let's keep that away form the main queue.
    dispatch_sync(self->dataProcessingQueue, ^{
        for (UITouch *touch in touches)
        {
            NSString *pointerKey = [touch pointerString];

            // The head of the linked list is the item stored when
            // the touch was in its UITouchPhaseBegan phase.
            DOMMotionItem *headMotionItem = self.motionItems[pointerKey];
            // Set a new pointer to enumerate with.
            DOMMotionItem *currentMotionItem = headMotionItem;
            // Get the new tail from the linked list.
            DOMMotionItem *tailMotionItem = [self.motionManager lastMotionItemWithTouchPhase:UITouchPhaseEnded];

            // We have a stored scope reference to the head of the
            // linked list, therefore we can remove it from our
            // class collection.
            [self.motionItems removeObjectForKey:pointerKey];

            // Variables which will be used to calculate raw motion
            // data attributes.
            double totalAcceleration = 0.0;
            double totalRotation = 0.0;

            // Allocate array to store the touch's motions.
            NSMutableArray *motions = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
            while (currentMotionItem != tailMotionItem)
            {
                CMDeviceMotion *motion = currentMotionItem.deviceMotion;
                [motions addObject:motion];

                // Good old pythagorus to get an abstract measure of
                // the combined acceleration on the device.
                CMAcceleration acc = motion.userAcceleration;
                totalAcceleration += sqrt(acc.x * acc.x + acc.y * acc.y + acc.z * acc.z);

                // Using pythagorus on rotation values gives a
                // scalar value which can be used to determine the
                // level of rotation of a touch.
                CMRotationRate rot = motion.rotationRate;
                totalRotation += sqrt(rot.x * rot.x + rot.y * rot.y + rot.z * rot.z);

                // Iterate the pointer to the next linked list item.
                currentMotionItem = [currentMotionItem nextObject];
            }

            // Work out the averages for the acceleration and rotation.
            NSUInteger motionsCount = [motions count];
            CGFloat avgAcceleration = (totalAcceleration / (motionsCount * 1.0));
            CGFloat avgRotation = (totalRotation / (motionsCount * 1.0));

            // Save the values in a dictionary for future possible reference.
            self.motionsInfo[[touch pointerString]] = @{ kMotionInfoMotionsKey : motions,
                                                         kMotionInfoAvgAccelerationKey : @(avgAcceleration),
                                                         kMotionInfoAvgRotationKey : @(avgRotation) };
        }
    });
}

#pragma mark - Touches

- (void)touchesBegan:(NSSet *)touches withEvent:(UIEvent *)event
{
    [super touchesBegan:touches withEvent:event];

    [self storeTouchesInfo:touches];
}

- (void)touchesMoved:(NSSet *)touches withEvent:(UIEvent *)event
{
    [super touchesMoved:touches withEvent:event];

    [self storeTouchesInfo:touches];
}

- (void)touchesEnded:(NSSet *)touches withEvent:(UIEvent *)event
{
    [super touchesEnded:touches withEvent:event];

    [self storeTouchesInfo:touches];
    [self processTouchesInfo:touches];
    [self storeAndProcessMotionsInfo:touches];

    // The touch has ended and reset the linked list if the motion
    // manager is not using for anything else.
    [self.motionManager resetDataStructureIfPossible];

    self.strength = [self strengthForTouch:[touches anyObject]];

    if (self.automaticallyResetDataBuffers)
    {
        for (UITouch *touch in touches)
        {
            [self resetDataBufferForTouch:touch];
        }
    }

    // Set the gesture recogniser to a recognised state.
    if (self.state == UIGestureRecognizerStatePossible)
    {
        self.state = (self.strength == -1.0) ? UIGestureRecognizerStateFailed : UIGestureRecognizerStateRecognized;
    }
}

- (void)touchesCancelled:(NSSet *)touches withEvent:(UIEvent *)event
{
    [super touchesCancelled:touches withEvent:event];

    self.state = UIGestureRecognizerStateFailed;
}

- (void)reset
{
    [super reset];
}

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


There are some repetitive tasks that almost all of us do.
Sometimes, it's arranging certain files. Sometimes, it's typing the same old text content. And sometimes, it's about renaming a huge bulk of images.
As it happens, you spend a lot of time on these tasks — and you could have spent the time productively.
Let's state the obvious: repetitive tasks are boring. You don't want to sit in front of your computer, select one hundred files and move them to a particular folder. Would it not be easier if you could click one button and got the job done for you?
According to Harvard Business Review, from a technical standpoint, work that occupies 45% of employee time could be automated by adapting currently available or demonstrated technology. And for 60% of existing US jobs, 30% of their time could be reduced by automation.
Automating your Mac can certainly save you a lot of time. Unlike what you think, you will be hours per week in keeping your Mac more organized and accessible. I, for one, spend several minutes a day in decluttering my desktop and arranging my files. So, that's a win-win situation, I believe.
Trust me, automation is fun too. Imagine typing two letters to paste the letter template you attach with an email. You would not write something random because of the laziness to write the whole thing. And, you'd feel like a nerd when your desktop smartly organizes itself in a single tap.
Last but not least, automation is not just about maintaining your file system, but also about automating tasks to free up your time and attention.
Yes, macOS has had a built-in automation solution for a long time. It's aptly called Automator.
Automator allows you to create workflows, where you can add individual actions. For instance, one of these workflows may include actions to copy a file, rename it and save it with another extension. Now, any file to go through the workflow would be changed accordingly.
I would not say Automator is bad, but it's not the most usable automation solution for Mac. If you are not a Pro user, you may have trouble in setting up workflows and applications while using this utility.
At TheSweetBits, we believe in software that is easy to use. Apparently, Automator isn't one of them. There is no difference in the case of AppleScript either. Both of them are capable, but only when you have time.
So, what would you do when you want easy automation in Mac?
Enter third-party automation tools for macOS.
Unfortunately, you cannot find the ultimate third-party automation app for macOS. Nevertheless, we have found a total of seven software you can use for automating tasks in your Mac.
We are sure that you will love using them.
And, we have dedicated four of these apps for certain purposes.
File Organization is perhaps the area that needs the maximum amount of automation. If you hate a cluttered desktop, you would be spending hours cleaning up stuff. Well, that's not easy.
Fortunately, we have something like Hazel to help.
Hazel is an automation app that brings automated file/folder organization into your Mac. You can set up the tool to watch select folders on your computer for certain activities. Then, based on this information, folders and files would be modified. Let's talk practical stuff to make things clear.
But, wait, that's just the beginning.
Hazel is one of the easiest to use automation apps out there. Once installed, it becomes a part of your macOS Preferences pane. You can access it from the menu bar as well. As you can see, the interface is pretty simple and straightforward.
First, you have to select the folder that you need to put under watch. Then, from the right pane, you will be able to choose the set of rules you want to impose. For instance, this rule will rename music files from Docs folder and move them to another folder named Music.
Once you hit OK, this rule will be active. So, whenever you add an MP3 file to Docs, it goes directly to Music.
As far as file management goes, the possibilities of Hazel is endless. You can set up multiple conditions and multiple actions with every rule. For instance, you can move the files to Music only if the MP3 file was created within a year. Similarly, you can add certain tags to the file before moving it to the selected folder.
For instance, in the following rule, Hazel will sort the file into a subfolder if the file has not been modified in the past month. Not only that, Hazel will also add the date-created to the sub-folder name. Just so you know, it's impossible to list out what you can do with the filing options in Hazel.
Hazel can also keep an eye on your Trash folder. For instance, you can delete files from the Trash if they've been sitting in the Trash for a week/month/day. Hazel can also be automated to keep Trash under a specific size.
This automation app also offers some extra features like App Sweep and support for macOS technologies. It includes native support for Apple Script, Automator, macOS tags, Spotlight Integration etc. The whole deal of automation is as simple as it gets.
Hazel is available for macOS and you can purchase it from the official website.
A single license of Hazel costs you $32, but there is a 14-day trial you can check out.
So, if you want to automate file organization, go for Hazel.
Typing the same stuff again and again is boring. At the same time, you can't use random words or phrases in all instances. So, what do you do?
Enter text expansion, and we have the best tool — TextExpander.
TextExpander is a text expansion app that you can have for your Mac. You can create snippets and when you type these snippets, TextExpander will replace it with the actual text. For instance, when you type signature, it will paste your actual signature. Doesn't it sound awesome?
We had covered TextExpander in our best text expansion apps for Mac as well.
It's very easy to set up and start using TextExpander. Once installed, you can go ahead and create the very first snippet. As you can see on the screen, you have to type in the abbreviation as well as the content that you actually want on the screen.
For instance, I've created a snippet for my sign. So, whenever I type 'sign' on my Mac, it would be replaced with the content that I've typed above. The best part is that you are not limited to plain text. You can also insert variables such as date, year, month, clipboard content etc.
Similarly, you can create as many snippets as you want.
TextExpander is surely one of the smartest automation apps you can find today. Not only does it save time, but it also makes suggestions. For instance, if you have been frequently typing some words, it would suggest you making a snippet.
Similarly, you can engage with the community and download pre-set snippets. When you are in the industry, this would help you reduce the time you spend in typing. TextExpander also has an option to group snippets — making the learning process easier.
Unlike some of the basic text expansion apps, TextExpander offers ample customizability too.
There are so many options of customization within the TextExpander interface. You can decide how the text appears and when it appears. For instance, you can decide whether space should be there after the expanded word.
TextExpander also offers almost complete control over appearance and accessibility. For instance, you can turn on and turn off the expansion service using a bunch of keyboard hotkeys. What's more, TextExpander even shows you a Statistics bar, where you know how much time you have saved.
TextExpander is available for macOS, iOS and Windows.
It comes with a subscription that costs $3.33 per month. There's a fully-fledged trial for 30 days though.
Long story short, TextExpander is a time-saver and a smart way to type.
Do you know what's as boring as typing the same thing over and over again? Cleaning copies. I'm not talking about grammatical or spelling errors here, but rather issues like lack of capitalization, extra spaces etc.
And, it's pretty impressive that we have TextSoap.
TextSoap is a text cleanup software that is designed for macOS devices. You can use TextSoap to remove an immense variety of unwanted elements from a piece of document. It basically automates a task, which could have taken a few hours from your hectic schedule.
As it happens, there is more to TextSoap than simply removing extra spaces.
Once the installation is done, making use of TextSoap is easier than you imagine. As you can see below, the tool has a standard text editor interface. On the right side, however, you can see a number of pre-set cleanup commands.
There are hundreds of pre-set cleaning commands to choose from. For instance, you can turn all characters to capital, capitalize sentences and even capitalize common technical terms. In this case, it easily capitalizes macOS in a proper way.
Is it a time-saver? Well, in every way possible.
If you write for the web, you know how hard it is to manage quotes and present them uniformly. At this point of time, tools like TextSoap would surely come in handy. All it needs is a single click to clean the entire text document.
By the way, if you don't find the right pre-sets on the tab, you can make the new one. The Custom Cleaner is a great way to make your own clean-up algorithm. Just like we did in other automation tools, you can bring multiple tasks together and arrange them for continuous work.
Once you are done, you can preview and save the clean-up pre-set.
The latest version of TextSoap packs so many features that we love. For instance, there's a wonderful text editor that you can count on. The interface is minimal and it does all the job. With some tweaks, you can use TextSoap for editing imported documents as well.
TextSoap does an incredible job when it comes to Find and Replace. Compared to what Microsoft Word can do, there are more possibilities. There is also a Live mode, which makes it easier to keep track of the options and pick the right one.
TextSoap is available for macOS only.
You can purchase it from the official website and it costs $65. You can get TextSoap via Setapp as well.
TextSoap would be a great companion for the editor in you.
So far, we saw some of the dedicated macOS automation apps, right? This one, Keyboard Maestro goes a lot deeper into automation. If you want better control and customizability over automation, here you go.
Let's delve into Keyboard Maestro then.
Keyboard Maestro is one of the best macOS apps for deeper automation. It does not matter which task you want to automate; Keyboard Maestro will be there to help you. You can pick from a variety of triggers and assign one or many actions. Macros like these would be overseeing the whole automation ordeal.
Compared to Automator, however, Keyboard Maestro is very easy and more powerful.
You can get started with Keyboard Maestro in less than a few seconds. Right after installation, the app would show you a fully-fledged tutorial. From the menu navigation of the interface, you can select the Global Macro Group and add macros as you like.
Once again, this involves choosing a trigger and corresponding actions. The difference is that there are many options to choose from. Not only that, the whole process is easier than Automator would ever be. We are not exaggerating when we say Keyboard Maestro can automate almost anything.
And, there are additional features too.
Keyboard Maestro has been designed to take full leverage of your Mac hardware and software. It's one of the very few third-party software that would allow you to launch applications through touchpad gestures or hotkeys.
You have several types of triggers to choose from. In addition to this, you can customize each trigger as per your needs. For instance, if a USB device is the trigger, you can choose the specific device as well. And, when you come to actions, there is a LOT to choose from.
From opening files to starting new Incognito windows in Chrome, you can assign almost any action.
There are some built-in macros in Keyboard Maestro that turn out to be cool features. For instance, it comes with in-built clipboard storage. Everything you copy would be stored by Keyboard Maestro. Similarly, you can use the tool for text expansion as well.
As we said earlier, Keyboard Maestro brings total system control as well. You can, for instance, control iTunes playback, manipulate windows, record macros and even generate notifications. You just have to pair all the tasks to the right triggers.
Keyboard Maestro is available for macOS only.
You can get it from the official website for $36, and it comes with a free trial too.
On any day, Keyboard Maestro is the epitome of Mac automation.
There are also some other cool automation apps you can find for macOS. However, most of them are a bit more focused. We have chosen three of the best options out there.
Alfred is a hidden gem for Mac users. It comes with a lot of features and many people use it as an alternative to Mac Spotlight. First things first, you can use Alfred to search for everything on your Mac. When you go premium, with the Powerpack, however, there are more features like text expansion and clipboard history.
If you have Powerpack, you can also take control of music playback, Workflow creation, hotkey management and snippet expansion etc. The big sell is that Alfred has a library of community workflows created by other users to perform a variety of different tasks. You may not even have to build the workflow yourself!
We really love how minimal Alfred is, despite the native performance. Once set up, the app becomes an integral part of your Mac. If you have the premium versions, you can even get web search results on your Mac, without opening anything. Alfred is free, but the Powerpack costs you £23.
If you have a Mac with a touchpad or Touch Bar, you may want to consider getting BetterTouchTool. It is a customization tool, but can be used for automation purposes as well. This automation tool actually provides you full control over input devices of your macOS device, including mouse and keyboard. It means you can set up keyboard shortcuts and assign certain actions to it.
You may already have understood the catch here. In BetterTouchTool, you can set triggers based on input devices only. For instance, you cannot set triggers based on system situation or a particular application. On the other hand, if you are looking forward to maximizing your trackpad, touchpad or keyboard, you must take a look at it.
BetterTouchTool standard license costs $6.50 and you can get it via Setapp.
Last in the list, Script Debugger is recommended only if you have a developer's enthusiasm. It isn't technically an automation tool, but something that helps you understand and comprehend Apple Script well. Not only that, Script Debugger would help you in crafting scripts that would automate your Mac. The Explorer section is where you start the journey.
Despite all the claims of easiness and transparency, we cannot ignore that Script Debugger is an IDE. If you're not familiar with the basic conduct of development, it won't be a nice experience. On the other hand, if you are good with code and want advanced development settings, Script Debugger is the right option. As the name says, it would help well in debugging too.
Script Debugger costs $99.99 but it offers Lite version and Free Trial that you can check out.
Using these automation apps on your Mac can not only save your time but make your life easier. Personally speaking, Hazel seems to save several hours from my schedule. When we view things from the perspective that time is money, spending for these macOS automation apps is an investment indeed.


text:
Todd Whitting Baseball Store
Cougar Baseball All-Star Day Camp IV
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park – Houston, TX
Monday, July 24, 2023 to Thursday, July 27, 2023
Starts: 9:00am / Ends: 3:00pm
Cancellation Protection ($30.00)
Consistently recognized as one of the nation's elite college baseball program each year, Houston Baseball has elevated its program over the last several seasons and now remains among the Top 25 under head coach Todd Whitting.
2023 will mark the 13th year for Whitting at the helm and under his guidance, the Cougars have won four American Athletic Conference Championships (two tournament (2014, 2017) and three regular-season titles (2015, 2017, 2018). Houston has been awarded two NCAA Regional host bids (2015, 2017), while advancing to an NCAA Super Regional following a Regional Championship in Baton Rouge, La. in 2014.
34 Cougars were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft since 2011 and of the 34, 25 were undrafted out of high school – showing the development of the Houston program. The 2017 Draft class saw a first-round selection, a third-round selection, and a fourth-round selection, while former Cougars Austin Pruitt (2012-13) Patrick Weigel (2015) Daniel Ponce De Leon (2013) are excelling in the Major Leagues.
Houston Baseball has not only succeeded in Championship play, but have accomplishment much more off the field, landing a 3.0 team cumulative GPA every semester since Whitting took over ten years ago.
Please make sure the email information is correct when signing up as that will be the way communication is sent out to you as the camp gets closer.
Campers will be instructed by UH players and staff on the fundamentals of hitting & defense. Campers will be split into groups and will rotate through stations in the morning followed by games in the afternoon. A 45 minute break will be given around 12:15 for campers to have lunch. Snack and water breaks will be given throughout the duration of the camp.
Cougar Baseball Camp will have lunch available for purchase for $5 per day or campers can bring their own lunch. Campers will get hamburgers Monday/Wednesday and pizza on Tuesday/Thursday.
All campers will need to bring their own glove, bat, helmet, batting gloves, baseball hat, turf/tennis shoes (cleats are optional), and catchers equipment (if needed for camp). Please make sure the campers name is clearly printed on all pieces of equipment that he brings to camp. All other equipment will be provided.
Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder park is equipped with turf as well as having indoor cages, indoor turf, and our indoor player development facility. Camps will be held rain or shine.
All parking on campus is paid parking, if you are staying for the full day please park in the "Guest" Parking Garage located down the street from the baseball field. Due to the construction of our new building the parking lot that was located between the cages and the field is no longer available. There will be NO full day parking in the lot between the softball field and tennis courts (15H). There will be a 30 minute drop off and pick up window at the beginning and end of the day in 16B (directly across the street from the baseball field toward Cullen)
Check in will be Monday morning starting at 8:30am at the front gate of Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park, campers will get their camp t-shirt and put into groups Monday morning.
Waiver Information
Waiver & Medical Release Form will be attached to your e-mail confirmation and is also available HERE
Please print fill out, sign and deliver this form to the registration check in on the first day of camp. You will be unable to attend camp without this form.
Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
3100 Cullen Blvd.
There will be UH merchandise (hats, DVD's) for sale each day of camp, the table will be set up in the mornings at drop off, lunch and again at the end of the day for pick up.
What if I have to cancel a camp?
We do not offer refunds on canceled campers, just a future camp credit if you decide to cancel, but we do have what is called "Cancellation Protection". We offer basic Cancellation Protection to allow participants some peace of mind in
case plans change. This allows us to keep our prices low and provide the best service possible. Due at the time of registration, Cancellation Protection entitles you to a full refund of camp fees should you cancel your registration more than 14 days prior to the start of an overnight camp, and 7 days prior to the start of a day camp. If you cancel within 14 or 7 days of the start of your session, we will give you a camp credit for all money paid. The credit is valid for three years from camp date at any of our camps. Credit with insurance is transferable to family members or friends, and good toward a future camp.
Full time trainer on duty throughout completion of camp.
Questions? Please contact mdlucas@central.uh.edu
Please make sure you sign up using an email account that you frequently check as this will be how I get information about the camps to you. Having the proper email account will help to eliminate any miscommunication.
Per NCAA rules all camps and clinics held by the University of Houston are open to everyone, enrollment is only limited based on age, grade level or number restrictions be each camp.
© 2023 Registration Software by ABC Sports Camps


Momentos by Maria Cintron is a wedding photography company based in East Hartford, Connecticut. The goal of this family-owned business is to capture beautiful moments and help couples feel completely at ease in front of the camera. Owner Maria Cintron uses contemporary, natural, photojournalistic, and traditional photography styles and works with you to discover your desires and expectations for your session, ensuring an event that is truly special and memorable.
from now until 04/21/2019....My birthday, who ever book and pay deposit will receive 10% off discount of the booking price.
im happy and honor to work with wedding wire...a dream come true.
and is my birthday coming up....!
Celebration with a discount...let's do it.....!


Using the UPDATE API, you can Update Public and Private bins.
secret-key is an optional header. It is required when you need to Update a Private record. You can find your secret-key on the API Keys page after signing-in.
versioning is an optional header. You need to pass versioning: false header to disable versioning while you are Updating a record. Note that you can disable versioning on Private records only.
Use versioning: false header to disable versioning if you are going to update the records frequently.
You cannot Disable Versioning on Public Records (even if you've created a record using a secret-key).
Updating a newly Created Bin, using versioning: false header will result in updating the base record only. No further versions will be created whatsoever.
Updating a Bin where the versions were created already, in this case, the last version of the bin will get updated. For example, a bin having 7 versions already, and then you start passing the versioning: false header, it will keep on updating the 7th version of the bin.
Success response will slightly differ if versioning is disabled.
Fix: You cannot store an empty JSON record, hence, you need to pass some data to store it.
Fix: You need to pass a valid Bin ID in-order to Update a bin.
Fix: Check your Bin ID and pass a Valid Bin ID.
Fix: While Updating a Private record, you need to pass secret-key header to update the Private record.
Fix: Ensure you provide a valid secret-key while Updating a Private record.


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text:
All the Leicester restaurants that have closed during 2018
Burrito, pizza, burger and dessert restaurants have all closed
Becky JonesWhat's On Writer
A kitchen sink at Rickshaw Rick's
Leicester has a strong offering when it comes to food and drink - from well-known chain restaurants to quirky independent venues.
It's always great to see new eateries popping up in the city, adding more exciting options to the mix.
Unfortunately though, not all businesses stand the test of time, and this year, we've said goodbye to a number of places.
From established eateries like The Peking and The Boot Room to relative newcomers like Mission Burrito and Boneyard, several once popular places have shut up shop.
The city also waved goodbye to a number of chain restaurants as tough conditions on the high street claimed yet more victims.
Here, we've taken a look back at the restaurants that have closed in Leicester during 2018.
Leicester restaurants that have closed during 2018
Cured at The Cookie, High Street - closed February
Cured meat specialists Cured closed in February.
Cured was started almost two years earlier, by friends and fellow chefs Martin Powdrill and Oliver Norman, who wanted to bring great, homemade, fresh food in an independent environment to Leicester.
They focused on home curing meats, using the best local produce and mixing classic techniques with modern styles.
Known for their trademark platters, they brought us the likes of gin and blueberry cured salmon, rum and orange cured duck, and bourbon and maple bacon.
Originally based at BrewDog, Cured's most recent home was within The Cookie.
The Peking, Charles Street - closed March
One of Leicester's oldest and best known Chinese restaurants closed after more than five decades in business.
The Peking Restaurant, which staged spectacular and colourful traditional lion dances each Chinese new year, was well known to generations of people from the city and county.
The restaurant, which claimed to be Leicester's oldest a la carte Chinese restaurant, catered for 60 diners downstairs while the function room upstairs had space for 70 guests.
Prezzo, Silver Street - closed April
The Leicester city centre branch of Prezzo closed in April, along with another 93 branches across the country.
Prezzo offered a casual dining experience and authentic Italian cuisine.
The closure was part of the restructuring plan announced by Prezzo Limited earlier this year.
The Silver Street unit is now occupied by board games cafe Bean Gaming.
Rebus Domes, Granby Street - closed May
Rebus Domes was launched in October 2017 by Ali Imdad - who appeared in the 2013 series of the Great British Bake Off - together with business partners Michail Khan and Anees Ahmed.
It specialised in mouth-watering desserts which also offered a theatrical experience. Tempting treats included melting chocolate domes, macaron platters with dry ice, freak shakes, and smoking mocktails.
The dessert parlour closed soon after Ali left the business.
Mission Burrito, Highcross - closed May
The Mexican restaurant chain opened in Leicester in 2015, serving its trademark burritos, along with tacos, salad boxes and rice boxes.
In February this year, the company launched an eating challenge involving the 'biggest, hottest burrito ever'.
Customers were encouraged to take on 'El Criminal' - a colossal 5lb burrito, loaded with three meats, rice, beans, salad and cheese, smothered with sour cream and increasingly hot salsas and served on a bed of tortilla chips.
However, at the end of May, the last burrito was rolled.
It was replaced by Benito's Hat in June.
The Boot Room, Millstone Lane - closed June
Independent city restaurant The Boot Room closed after nine years.
The Boot Room - so named as it was housed in a former shoe factory - was opened by Manish Sharma in 2009.
It aimed to offer customers the best ingredients cooked and delivered in a modern British style.
The restaurant gained a coveted recommendation in The Michelin Guide every year since 2011, and was also awarded a certificate of excellence by TripAdvisor in 2013 and 2014.
Manish told us there were a number of factors which contributed to his reluctant decision to close the restaurant.
The main reason he cited was the lengthy roadworks in Millstone Lane. He said the traffic diversions and removal of street parking meant that potential customers were lost.
Rickshaw Rick's, Granby Street - closed June
Rickshaw Rick's closed its doors for good after just over a year in the city.
The restaurant opened in July 2017, serving global comfort food with a street food take.
It closed in June this year, apparently for refurbishment and essential maintenance works.
However, the Rickshaw Rick's sign was removed in November.
It has now been replaced by Smoke and Spice, serving 'Indian food on fire'.
Byron, Highcross - closed June
Burger chain Byron closed its Leicester restaurant in the summer.
The closure came after Byron revealed earlier this year that it was in financial difficulty.
A statement announced that the Leicester restaurant - which opened in 2014 - was one of 20 Byron restaurants (out of a total of 67 nationwide) at risk of closure under a restructuring plan.
Chimichanga, Highcross - closed August
Tex-Mex chain Chimichanga closed its Leicester branch in August, as part of the restructuring plan announced by Prezzo Limited earlier this year.
Chimichanga focused on serving Texan and Mexican food in a friendly environment.
It has been replaced by MOD Pizza.
Plan Burrito, Granby Street - closed September
Leicester restaurant Plan Burrito closed its doors for the final time after failing to maintain the brand's standards.
The Tex-Mex restaurant, at the top of end of Granby Street, was launched in May last year.
It was a franchise store which employed its own staff.
The plan was to bring to Leicester the same delicious food and cool vibe that had been impressing diners at Plan Burrito's two Loughborough branches since 2015.
However, according to company director Stephen Hopper, the Leicester franchise store wasn't maintaining the brand's standards, and therefore he made the decision to ask the owners to close it.
Boneyard, Granby Street - closed September
Boneyard, which served a menu of Asian and American inspired street food, closed it doors to focus on serving food at pop up events and festivals.
The restaurant, which opened in November 2016, had live DJs, cocktails, and party packages.
Earlier this year it launched a new menu and a gin and fizz bar.
However, just 21 months later the restaurant closed.
Boneyard says it has 'exciting new pop up events in the pipeline', with their festival team 'hitting the big bashes around the UK'.
Their mobile street food van and and cocktail bar is also available to book for private events.
Mem-Saab, Highcross - closed September
Award-winning restaurant Mem-Saab closed in September, with owners blaming a rent rise for the decision to close.
The family-run restaurant had been at Highcross since 2008, having moved from Vaughan Way where Mem-Saab had been since 1996.
Mem-Saab won the title of Best Spice Restaurant in the Midlands in the British Curry Awards in 2013, and was named Best Newcomer in 2010 in the same competition.
Sundaes Gelato, Granby Street - closed October
This dessert parlour closed after a year of serving up sweet treats.
Sundaes Gelato opened in October last year, offering bold, colourful desserts in equally colourful surroundings.
It opened in the former home of Whipee Gelato, and specialised in sundaes, with 21 different varieties on offer – including Banoffee Burst, Twisted Tropics, and Chocolate Delight.
Oscar and Rosie's Canteen, Market Place - closed October
After initially closing for maintenance work, Leicester independent pizza restaurant Oscar & Rosie's Canteen remained shut.
It announced on social media at the start of November that it would not be re-opening.
Oscar & Rosie's was founded in Nottingham in 2013, offering pizza made with restaurant grade ingredients.
Having proved a hit in Nottingham, the independent pizza company opened a more casual canteen-style venue in Leicester's Old Town in April 2017.
The menu featured the likes of the Barcelona Sausage Party, Boom Chicken Wah-Wah and the Tyrannosaurus Veg.
Grillstock, St Martin's Square - closed October
The barbecue restaurant announced it had 'ceased trading' in a statement posted on Facebook.
Known for its 'meat, music, mayhem' slogan, the restaurant served a US-inspired menu of ribs, chicken and burgers.
It also featured a bar serving cocktails and craft beer.
After starting out as a music and food festival in Bristol, Grillstock opened its first permanent site in 2012, before expanding to cities including Leicester, which opened in 2015.
The group went into administration in late 2017, but announced that a buyer had been found a month later.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Highcross- closed November
Restaurant chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen, also known as GBK, closed its Leicester branch in November.
It followed the announcement in October that the handcrafted burger specialist had earmarked 17 restaurants for potential closure after running up millions of pounds of losses.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen opened the Leicester eatery - one of its largest to date - in July 2017.
The menu featured delights such as the Major Tom - a 30 day dry-aged steak patty, blue cheese slaw, crispy bacon, Red Leicester cheese, beef ketchup and dill pickle, and Hernan the Lamb - a lamb patty, pan-fried chorizo, avocado, basil mayo and relish.
We want you to be able to get your news whenever and however you want it.
As well as our website, we have a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, @leicslive, and for a daily snapshot of the top stories, you can sign up to receive our newsletters.
If you prefer to use an app, we've got apps for both Android and Apple devices which can be tailored to deliver the news and sport that you're interested in.
And if you download our app, you can sign up for push notifications, which means you'll get alerts about the biggest breaking news stories.
We've also got Facebook groups for traffic and travel, crime, things to do with the kids, shopping and homes for sale.
Things to do in Leicestershire
Leicester City Centre
Food & DrinkPhotos show when Hinckley town centre had a McDonald'sHere's what it looked like inside 30 years ago
Food and DrinkReview: We try top-rated restaurant - where you can get a large Sunday carvery for less than £10It's the best place for 'cheap eats in Leicester' according to TripAdvisor
EasterMicropub plan for Shepshed given the green light'We are hoping to be open for Easter'
FacebookWicked Hathern Fest music festival near Loughborough cancelled for 2020Precious years have seen The Feeling, Scouting For Girls, Dodgy and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas perform
Leicester City CentreLeicester events being held to celebrate Chinese New Year 2020There's plenty of ways to see in the Year of the Rat


Home » In Denver Times: let's put on a newspaper!
In Denver Times: let's put on a newspaper!
You pledge to pay as little as $4.99 a month, and if we reach our goal of 50,000 pledges by April 23 we will go live with our site to revive a tradition of distinguished reporting and editing with 21st-century electronic delivery.
Now, it would be easy for you to laugh at them and say, "sorry, but we don't like newpaper reporters in these parts because they constantly lie and instead of doing things like following the money they try to cover up the trail. While that might be less true of reporters for outlets situated between completely corrupt small town papers and the completely, absolutely corrupt national MSM, it probably wouldn't be difficult to find those who've signed on offering biased reportage. Sorry. Hey, I like Denver, it's a great city. But, sorry. However, I hear that McDonalds is hiring." However, saying that would be cruel, so don't do it. Instead, let someone else send them money.
It is sad that they lost their jobs. But had they put down their Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky and other New Left nonsense they read in college along with their bongs and read something like William McGowan's "Coloring the News" they might have saved their livelihoods. The rigid following of predefined politically correct narratives and slavishly fanboy ravings for corrupt political hacks in both parties instead of hardnose skeptical reporting that including all members and dimensions of the community is what is killing the newspaper business.
They need $250,000 a month to run an online newspaper? That's ridiculous. An AP feed, several staff reporters and a few stringers doesn't come anywhere near that amount. That's about all most newspapers are these days anyway. And there's almost no overhead online. Your average reader can find anything this group is planning on producing free of charge via news sites and local bloggers. $250k a month that comes with plenty of bias. And they wonder why they went out of business? Pffft.
I agree with Anonymous 4:27 am that Bill McGowan's "Coloring the News" is well worth reading. It is a devastating, detailed analysis of the techniques of deceit used by the New York Times and others to lie to readers.
Digger, I really don't believe that it is the cost that is driving lots of folks to cancel the paper. It is all that missing from the local paper because of slavish adherence to political correct guidelines and predefined narratives. It makes the local paper absolutely worthless as a source of information. For instance when major corporate controlled(Gannett, McClatchy, Hearst, MedianNews..) local papers report crime they will make sure never to mention an accurate description of the suspect less the divulge any racial information. Likewise with immigration and gang affiliation. It all becomes absurd after a while.
In Los Angeles, half the population is functionally illiterate anyway. With the change of demographics (systematic displacement of English speaking citizens) championed by the LA Times, who is to blame if they go under? Good riddance to all of the newpapers. These people need to find a real job instead of being mouthpieces of political correctness, leftist anti-white social policy and a minority occupation government.


I don't frequent the city centre often but today we dropped by Berjaya Times Square to run an errant. I've read somewhere that they have a grand musical staircase but the last I was there last year, I could not find it. Maybe I did not look thoroughly.
I told Ethan to walk up and sure enough, each step he took plays a beautiful tone.
A beautiful melody is played when many people walk up and down the staircase. Each footstep makes a tone, playing a soothing sound to our ears.
If every shopping mall makes their staircase musical, I bet more people will start climbing up the stairs and lesser people will use the escalator or elevator. It will ultimately lead to a healthier lifestyle, won't it?
Besides the grand musical staircase, the boys are also fascinated with the colored liquid floor that moves upon contact. The purple liquid will spread under your weight that prompts Ethan and Ayden to keep running on them.
Same old gigantic Christmas tree but it's okay. It is still beautiful as it is though I'm longing to see something new instead.
This is the decor on Level 2, East Wing.
Lovely Christmas decor. I wonder what sound it will make if I step on that staircase. LOL!!!
I also don't usually go to BTS because it's just another bigger Sungei Wang, other countries punya Times Square are better!! haha.. anyway, I've seen that piano staircase but I've never stepped on them leh, dunno lah, just never feel like doing that when I see the crowd..


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Rainy and awfully crappy Sunday morning. By the look of it, seemed like I would be confined indoors for the rest of the day and definitely this wasn't an option for me. So, after a short brainstorming with my friend Crina we decided to run south. In this case south means, Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. There was a logic behind our decision. We were hoping to leave somehow the rain behind and we knew that Veliko would be an interesting destination as well. Actually, that day we did not have a better option..therefore, against all odds, it turned out to be a good choice after all.
The distance to Veliko Tarnovo is 182 km and implies a border crossing since it is in Bulgaria. The trip there it can take up to 3 hours or even more if there is a long queue at the border control.
I was not expecting to like that much this city. It is true, I visited only the old city but even so, I realised I would not mind if I will return one day to see more of it.
The old city is placed on three hills forming a gorge on Yantra river. Tsaravets hill where an impressive fortress was built, the last stronghold against the Ottoman Empire and the capital of the second Bulgarian Empire, home of the Bulgarian Emperors. Trapezitsa hill on which nobility villas, numerous churches were built. This hill seemed to be inhabited since 2nd Millenium BC.
Veliko Tarnovo is the oldest inhabited place in Bulgaria and by 12th to 14th century it became an important cultural and religious centre in Bulgaria and Balkans claiming to be the third Rome. Being a cosmopolite town was home for Armenian, Jewish and catholic merchants. It greatness disappeared when it was conquered by the Ottoman armies which destroyed the fortress after 3 months of siege.
The surrounding walls are tall and thick being quite impressive, reminding me about the Saint John Castle from Kotor Montenegro. The fortress itself has a strategic position being able to control those passing through the gorge on their way to the south of the county.
Destroyed after the Ottoman conquest, for centuries, the fortress was mostly made out of the ghostly ruins, a reminder of what Bulgaria once was. The restoration begins in 1930 and it was finished in 1981. Part of the surrounding wall was rebuilt, also the remains of the palace and the Baldwin`s Tower. On the top of the hill in 1981, the Patriarchate was rebuilt as well.
I walked around the fortress aimlessly being bewitched by the autumnal atmosphere and by the serenity of that place. Although, once upon a time it uses to be full of life, the very centre of Bulgaria. People were living their lives between those walls. People were executed between these walls. People were dying defending those walls. Despite all this, the autumn colours were turning that grim fortress into a magic place.
A lesser known place in Veliko Tarnovo is Trapezitsa Hill, the twin hill guarding the Yantra River along with Tsaravets Hill. Trapezitsa hill was the home of the nobility and numerous churches were built there. The clock tower was the only one surviving the passing time and in recent years an assiduous Restauration work was taking place. 1.2 million of the Restauration money were donated by Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The access to Trapezitsa Hill is made by a cable similar with the one in Porto, Portugal.
I was running away from the rain but somehow the rain managed to find me. But, by the time rain found me I was already having a late lunch at a restaurant not very far from the fortress. I was attracted by the interior design being so friendly and cosy and the big windows overlooking the Trapezitsa Hill. Usually, the restaurants with a beautiful view have crappy food. Here, on the other hand, it was delicious ,the taste reminded me of my mother`s cooking. The name "The Green Restaurant" did not say to me much but the food and the interior were speaking very highly about it.
At the end of the day, on my way back to Romania, I was thinking…I had my coffee, I had my trip to a city which forced to me read another page on the history of the Balkan states and I had my delicious meal. All`s well that ends well…in this case, that ends wonderfully….