text:
Ginger Snaps (Film) Review
Published on February 15, 2015 February 22, 2015 by Christa Bass
I have a new favourite film blogger (and movie buddy); it's Jillian of The Pink Panther Snipes Again.
Jillian reviews films on her blog that could be considered a little bit off the beaten track. It's not like they are all obscure though, Sabrina Goes to Rome and Sabrina Down Under were quite popular TV movies back in the late nineties, though I had forgotten about both of them until Jillian reviewed them in her inimitable style.
It was when she reviewed Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same that I knew this was a girl after my own heart (before, actually but what? I'm playing it cool here). A bit of back and forth by email culminated in us arranging a virtual movie date and this is it. Welcome to our virtual movie date!
Since Jillian and I live on opposite sides of the world, we have been forced to watch the same film at different times, rather than share a tub of popcorn on the same couch. We're aiming to post our reviews on the same day (today).
I think this is such a fun idea and it was all Jillian's. I know we have to see how the first date goes but if it works and we both have a good time, I hope we'll do this again. J, I've sort of based the structure of this post on yours as a tribute and… next movie choice is yours.
NB: Beware of spoilers. If you haven't seen this film yet but intend to, you might want to look away now.
The Film:
Ginger Snaps (2000)
After shortlisting a few gems on Netflix (both the US/UK versions), we decided on this one. I've seen it before and am a big fan, while this will be the first time for Jillian (who had to source a copy as, surprisingly, US Netflix doesn't have it). UPDATE: She has seen it before, I lied. My bad.
Where to Watch:
UK Netflix
The Premise:
The Fitzgerald Sisters are obsessed with death and suicide, and in keeping with this theme, have made a pact to each other to get 'out by sixteen or dead on the scene' (which I think means killed themselves). Unfortunately, the sisters' bond is tested when Ginger is bitten by a werewolf.
The Trailer:
Viewable here.
The (Very) Uncondensed Version*:
*This sh@@ is looooong
Ginger Snaps opens with a fairly innocuous establishing shot of a normal overcast day in suburbia. A mother is raking leaves in the yard while her young son plays in the sand pit. The kid appears to have blood on his face but as he has his back to his mother, she doesn't notice straight away. Oh but we do, we dooooooo!
As she approaches to check on him, she notices the dismembered dog's paw in his hand. She reacts in exactly the way you would imagine, screaming hysterically. Cut to a close up of their dog's kennel, which is covered in elaborate blood splashes and claw marks, a twisted mass of entrails decorating the entrance like ribbon.
Terrified, the mother runs with child into the street and screams to a group of playing children; "It got our dog!". They stop for a split second and gaze at her dispassionately, before returning to their game. For yes, this is a horror comedy and the comedy is pitch black.
Next we meet the sisters. First up Brigitte Fitzgerald, who enters their shared bedroom from outside, where she's just witnessed the dead dog scene. She announces to her older sister, Ginger that "Baxter's fertiliser". She seems neither worried nor surprised, which suggests (and is later backed up) that this is not the first dog in the neighbourhood to meet a grisly end.
Ginger is holding a knife, practicing cutting her own wrists, though it's not long before she proclaims that "Wrists are for girls. I'm slitting my throat". She suggests that B hang herself. Brigitte is worried that suicide may be a little cliché but Ginger reassures her that it is the "The ultimate fuck you" and so them. She reminds B of the pact they made when they were eight: to kill themselves and remain 'together forever' by sixteen. N'aw so sweet.
When I was a kid, I had Mickey Mouse wallpaper
Cue the suicide montage in which we see the sisters in various 'dead' positions: impaled on a white picket fence, squished beneath the wheels of a car, dead in a freezer, pinned to the soil by a pitchfork through the throat and more. The girls are nothing if not imaginative.
I've realised that if I work my way through every scene so thoroughly, we'll be here for months so, now I've set the scene, I will be sparing with the deets. You're welcome.
The girls present their video montage as part of a school project which 'sickens' their teacher. Their classmates don't mind so much and the boys are starting to notice Ginger, which becomes apparent in this scene. Ginger is an edgy redhead who is starting to come into her own as a woman, while Brigitte is the dowdy one, swathing herself in layers of unflattering clothing. Ginger is the more conventional hottie basically.
Dial 'T' for 'Teenage Angst'
That day, Ginger and B have an altercation with Head Mean Girl, Trina on the playing field. As revenge, the girls plan to kidnap Trina's beloved dog and fake his death. On the way to dog-nap the mutt, the Fitzgerald's stumble across another dead dog in the park and figure it will save them time and effort if they pretend it's Trina's dog.
As they gather up the limbs and entrails (love that word), B notices that Ginger has blood running down her thigh. "You've got some on you". Ginger is unimpressed about finally having "The Curse" (both girls are 'late bloomers') but she doesn't have much time to worry about it as she is attacked by a snarling beast, who snatches her and drags her into the woods.
We glimpse the beast during this frenzied attack and he's all teeth, knobbly spine and ribs. As B fights the beast off Ginger, she startles him by snapping her Polaroid camera in his face. The girls manage to get away and the beast is hit by a vehicle as they rush across the road.
Once home, the girls are surprised to discover that Ginger's fresh wounds are already healing. As she falls asleep, B manages to retrieve the snapshot taken during the attack. The image on the Polaroid is distinctly wolf-like.
My milkshake brings all the boys to the halls…
After the attack, Ginger begins to change, in more ways that one. As well as being all sassy, smoking weed and getting off with boys (well, one boy); she is also getting hairier by the minute and growing a tail.
B makes friends with the local drug dealer, Sam who also happens to be the driver who hit the beast with his van that night. The two discuss their theory that the beast may have been a werewolf. B keeps it to herself that she thinks that her sister is turning one too.
Ginger meanwhile, loses her virginity to one of the jocks, and kills the neighbour's dog to cure her 'hunger'. Sam and Brigitte discuss lots of different ways to cure the 'infection', and he gives her a silver ring while she later uses to pierce Ginger's bellybutton. It doesn't purify her blood as she'd hoped. B has told Sam that it's her that got bitten.
Trina gets mad when she sees Sam talking to B 'cos she fancies him. In a rage, she attacks B again and this time Ginger intervenes, punching her several times in the face.
That night Trina comes to the girls' home and asked them to give her dog back. B knows nothing about it but Trina swears that Ginger has taken him. Ginger attacks Trina, dragging her into the kitchen, much to B's horror.
In the furore, Trina is accidentally killed. Later, the girls bury Trina's body, which has been stored in the freezer chest out back. While trying to chip her out of the chest, B chops off two of her fingers by mistake, which she unwittingly drops before placing Trina in the ground. The girls plan to let the drama surrounding Trina's disappearance die down before running away together.
B conveniently finds some rare Monkhood (in her own home, obvs!), which is a vital ingredient that may cure the werewolf infection, and takes it to Sam. He tells B that she should prepare herself for it not to work, since they don't know exactly what it will do. He tells her that he knows it's Ginger who is infected and not Brigitte.
While B is with Sam, Ginger goes back to school. She gets caught flashing Jason's friends and the guidance counselor sends her to his office. By time B gets there, having been summoned on the tannoy, Ginger has killed him. Her first intentional (human) kill.
Ginger tells Brigitte that she doesn't want to go back to being a 'nobody'. She is visibly becoming more Lycan before our eyes. Next Ginger kills the school janitor. She tells B it's because "I don't like the way he looks at you". B accuses Ginger of enjoying herself. Ginger likens killing to masturbation (!!!)
She then asks B to be in a pack of two and reminds her that they had agreed to stay together forever. B is not into this idea and Ginger goes mad then runs off.
Their parents find the missing fingers in their back garden, and the girl's mother pretends that the fingers are props from their death games. She doubts herself though and goes looking for a body, finding Trina in her shallow (and obviously not that well hidden) grave.
Ginger goes to a Halloween party (duh) at the Greenhouse (where Sam lives). Once there she tries to get off with Sam. He says no thanks. Meanwhile, the girls' mum picks up Brigitte as she is making her way to the party herself and they drive there together.
Mum tells B that they have done a terrible thing but she has plan and "won't let them take my babies".
B finds Ginger. Ginger is furious and screams that she doesn't even know Brigitte anymore. B cuts herself, then Ginger, clasping their hands together so their blood intermingles. She tells her, "Now I am you". She persuades her to come home, where she has the ingredients for the antidote (although Ginger doesn't know), which she will use to cure them both.
Sam misunderstands and knocks Ginger out. B explains the plan and they put her in the back of Sam's van. On the way to the house, B's health deteriorates as she is starting to turn herself.
When they get to the house, Ginger (in full werewolf-mode, for she has changed in the back of the van) gets loose and into the house. Sam and Brigitte cook up the antidote and Sam convinces B to let him inject Ginger. Just as they've agreed, Ginger attacks Sam and drags him into the basement.
Who's a pretty girl, then?
B, syringe in hand, heads downstairs but is disorientated. At the end of the corridor she finds Sam, but Ginger the beast is standing over him. Sam is still alive so B crawls closer and drinks some of his blood to convince Ginger that she has turned too. It works until she pukes. She screams at Ginger that she can't and won't do it. Ginger kills Sam.
B runs away and Ginger chases her. They meet together in their childhood bedroom and B tells Ginger she will not die with her in that room. B stabs Ginger in the stomach and she falls to the floor. Brigitte crawls over to Ginger and holds her as she dies.
Fin. Fade to black.
The Critique:
Well, I loved this film ten years ago and I thought some of its charm may have rubbed off in the time that has passed since my last viewing of it. As with most nostalgic things, when I look back at them I usually expect to mock them. I didn't feel like that with Ginger Snaps.
I think this is a pretty solid horror movie. Obviously it's a low-budget independent without all the bells and whistles of the identikit horrors of today and I think that's the beauty of it. The acting isn't horrible, although Emily Perkins' Brigitte is a little heavy-handed to begin with. Some of the secondary characters as well.
The premise is pretty standard but the fact that Ginger dealing with her new identity coincides with her newly blossomed femininity, I think it's doubly effective. It's a coming of age werewolf flick and it's also pretty snappy (pun intended) in the dialogue stakes. Of course it's dripping with teenage sarcasm and I can only wish I had been so good with the comebacks at 15.
The effects are okay too I feel when you consider the film had a budget of just $5m. The transformation into beast is no An American Werewolf in London but it tries. There's a lot of gore and it's better than some I've seen in more recent films.
In short, I still love it and I'm tempted to re watch the sequel, Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed tomorrow (Did Brigitte take the antidote in the end, or what?).
The Rating:
I haven't got any Pink Panthers to illustrate my rating, so I've sourced the next best thing:
4 over friendly werewolves out of 5
I'm very interested to see what Jillian thinks. Head over and see for yourself soon!
Categories A Voluptuous Mind, Blogging, Halloween, Internet, Jillian & Christa's Great Blog Collab 2015, Nostalgia, Opinion, Other Blogs, Proud Pleasures, Regular Feature, Stuff I Dig, The Movies•Tags An American Werewolf in London, Film, Ginger Snaps, Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed, Jillian & Christa's Great Blog Collab 2015, Low Budget, Nostalgia, The Movies, Werewolves
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11 thoughts on "Ginger Snaps (Film) Review"
Pingback: Ginger Snaps: Great (Voluptuous) Minds Think Alike | The Pink Panther Snipes Again
jilliansheilas says:
Excellent! I'm so glad we're in agreement over the number of werewolves/pink panthers appropriate for Ginger Snaps.
Ha ha…T for Teenage Angst. YES. All of this…YES.
You have done well, grasshopper. 😉
Oh damn, I'm picking next?
The pressure is ON.
Yes please! Shall we? Can we please?! x
YES. WE MUST (INCREASE OUR BUSTS).
I'll email you with some ideas!
Hayley Margaret says:
Pahaha, love it. You definitely have the snark down! (Also, did you really have Mickey Mouse Wallpaper? Awww).
Are you guys gonna do the sequels?! Cause that s*** just gets weirder.
HM xx
PS: Over-friendly werewolves = brilliant.
I did indeed! I think Goofy and Pluto also made an appearance somewhere… we are discussing the next film as we speak, man it's gonna be goooood! Bad good obvs but goooood. I actually did watch the 2nd GS on Sunday and man, it is not great. Definitely lacked the wit and intelligence of its predecessor… still enjoyed it though 
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text:
from pg_requests.tokens import CommaValue

class Function(object):
    """Basic function implementation. Use this for aggregation functions"""

    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    # NOTE: python 3 syntax only
    # def __call__(self, *args, alias=None):
    def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        value = CommaValue(args)
        alias = kwargs.get('alias')
        if alias:
            fn_str = "{}({}) AS '{}'".format(self.name, value.eval(), alias)
        else:
            fn_str = "{}({})".format(self.name, value.eval())
        return fn_str

    def __repr__(self):
        return "%s(name=%s(*args))" % (self.__class__.__name__, self.name)

class FunctionFactory(object):
    """Neat and natural function factory

    Usage:
        fn.COUNT('*') --> 'COUNT(*)'
        fn.COUNT('*', alias='count_all') --> 'COUNT(*) AS count_all'
    """
    _FUNCTIONS = ('COUNT', 'AVG', 'MIN', 'MAX', 'SUM')

    def __init__(self, rtype=Function):
        self.rtype = rtype

    def __getattr__(self, name):
        # NOTE: probably make sense to restrict function names
        # if name.upper() not in self.FUNCTIONS:
        #     raise AttributeError("Wrong function name '%s'" % name)
        return self.rtype(name=name)

fn = FunctionFactory(rtype=Function)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text: select count(*) from store_sales;


text:
import {IHookOptions} from "../../interfaces/IHookOptions";
import {implementHookDecorator} from "../../services/hooks";

export function BeforeUpdate(target: any, propertyName: string): void;
export function BeforeUpdate(options: IHookOptions): Function;
export function BeforeUpdate(...args: any[]): void|Function {
  return implementHookDecorator('beforeUpdate', args);
}


Why did you become an insolvency accountant?
I became interested in insolvency work for three reasons.
First, I find the strategic side of the work very interesting and challenging. I also find it rewarding to come up with a solution for an individual or company that means they avoid bankruptcy, voluntary administration, receivership or liquidation.
Second, I like project-based work. I enjoy analysing problems from a number of perspectives and formulating the best possible solution for a situation. I also find it satisfying to apply the solution and make sure it works. With individuals who are facing financial difficulties, I like knowing that someone we have advised is now equipped (provided they follow the plan and strategies we have set out for them) to move on to a financially secure future. With companies, too, I find it satisfying to analyse a problem, or set of problems, devise a strategy (whether it involves restructuring, new management strategies or an innovative marketing plan) and see it applied. Of course, it is satisfying to see a company that has faced financial difficulties moving on to a bright future.
Third, in relation to insolvency appointments (bankruptcy, voluntary administration, liquidation and receivership, I like knowing that we have provided the best possible service at a fair price.
Why did you set up David Clout & Associates?
I could see there was a need in the market for an insolvency accounting firm that would provide sound advice to clients at a reasonable cost.
I also wanted to assemble a small but very capable team of like-minded people who were excellent not only at number crunching and procedure but also at strategy.
My other objective, and this may sound like a bit of a cliché, was to create a firm where people enjoyed coming to work each day. The corporate sphere doesn't have a great reputation among gen Ys. Also, older generations often accuse gen Ys of not wanting to work. However, I don't see them that way at all. I think they are an interesting generation who don't mind hard work as long as they feel they are learning something and they find the work personally rewarding. Many of them are reluctant just to function as cogs in a big money-making machine. In many ways, I think they are more thoughtful than we were at their age.
Why should clients retain David Clout & Associates?
I think there are four main reasons.
First, we are good on the details. Not only is our team highly educated, but all my managers have had experience of working for other firms, across a broad range of industries. In short, they know insolvency procedure backwards.
Second, we are strong on strategy. All our people have a flair for strategic thinking; in fact, I would say that our willingness to analyse problems from a number of perspectives is the main reason why clients should talk to us first.
Third, we have a strong team-based culture. By that, I mean our managers know how to manage junior staff. They not only help train them, but ensure they get a range of experience when they work on a matter. This means that everyone is highly motivated. Our graduates don't become bored and disgruntled with the work they are doing, because we make sure everyone who works for us gets experience in a range of areas. For clients, this ensures that the work being done on their matter is of the highest quality, as our staff don't feel they are merely seen as a 'resource'.
Fourth, we have adopted a flexible approach to billing. If you come and talk to us, we will work out the best way to charge you, depending on the nature of your matter. This involves exploring both time-based billing and fixed-fee options.
Are you or your company facing an uncertain financial future? David Clout is a highly regarded expert in insolvency, an experienced negotiator and strategic thinker. As a registered Liquidator and Bankruptcy Trustee, he is qualified to accept a range of insolvency appointments. Call +61 7 3129 3316 to arrange a consultation.


text:
Lifestyle & TravelMalaysia
The Kingdom of the Netherlands
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If I say the Kingdom of the Netherlands, you are probably thinking of the country in Europe that is really flat, where they ride bikes, have windmills, and grow tulips.
Well, that is only partially correct. Well, technically 98% correct.
There are other parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and they are actually located closer to Miami than they are to Amsterdam.
Learn more about the Kingdom of the Netherlands on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
This episode is sponsored by MasterClass.
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You can start learning from the world's best for only $15 per month. Just go to Everything-Everywhere.com/MasterClass or click on the link in the show notes.
I'll start by noting that I was very specific in my word usage in the introduction to the episode.
I spoke of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, not simply the Netherlands.
That is because the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a distinct entity from the country of the Netherlands. To be sure, there is a great deal of overlap, but they are not technically the same things.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is analogous to the United Kingdom, in so far as the kingdom is made up of four different countries.
To explain how this came about, I first have to give a whirlwind history of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands was actually a republic before it was a kingdom. It gained its independence from Spain in 1649 and declared itself a republic. This was the high period of the Dutch trading empire.
This was lead by the Dutch East India Company which established small trading colonies all over the world. This included trading posts in what is today India, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, Malaysia, and Vietnam. There was also a Dutch West India Company that operated in the Americas.
The Netherlands was conquered by Napoleon and he established the Netherlands as a Kingdom with his brother Louis Bonaparte as its king.
In 1815, William, the Prince of Orange proclaimed himself king, and the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands was born.
The Dutch certainly wasn't the biggest colonial power in Europe, but they were a colonial power. In 1799 the Dutch East India Company was dissolved and the colony of the Dutch East Indies was established.
By the time of World War II, the Dutch empire consisted of the Netherlands, the Dutch East Indies, Netherlands New Guinea, Suriname, and several assorted islands in the Caribbean.
The Dutch East Indies became independent in 1949 and is known today as Indonesia. That is a story for another episode, but I will share this fun fact. The Indonesian flag can be thought of as the flag of the Netherlands with the blue stripe at the bottom ripped off. When Indonesians were fighting for Independence, they would often take down the Dutch flag, tear off the blue stripe, and raise the remaining red and white stripes.
Indonesia then took over Dutch New Guinea, and today it is the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
Suriname went from being a colony to a constituent country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954 and became a fully independent republic in 1975 and left the kingdom.
The remaining Dutch territories were a collection of five and a half islands in the Caribbean. Prior to 1954, these islands were called the colony of Curaçao and Dependencies. In 1954, its name was changed to the Netherlands Antilles and it was a full constituent country of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
The Netherlands Antilles consisted of the islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius, and half of the island of St. Martin.
Around 1980, the Kingdom of the Netherlands had just two countries: the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles.
However, these islands didn't necessarily have much in common other than being in the Caribbean and having been colonized by the Dutch.
This started to come to a head in 1986 when Aruba left the Netherlands Antilles and became a constituent country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, bringing the number of countries to three.
The Netherlands Antilles wasn't a happy marriage. Some of the islands were very far apart from each other and they had very different concerns.
The Dutch addressed this in the 1990s by holding a series of referendums on each island.
Each island was given four options:
Become closer to the Netherlands
Continue the status quo with the Netherlands Antilles
Autonomy as a constituent country of the Kingdom
Complete independence
The results were sort of all over the place.
Sint Maarten and Curaçao, the two largest islands, voted to become constituent countries.
As for the smaller islands, Saba and Bonaire voted for closer ties to the Netherlands, and St. Eustatius voted for the status quo.
After lengthy negotiations in the 2000s, the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in 2010.
Curacao and Sint Marteen became constituent countries alongside Aruba.
The remaining smaller islands became a part of the country of the Netherlands.
Yes, the island of Saba, Bonaire, and St. Eustatius are as much a part of the Netherlands, the country in Europe, as Hawaii is part of the United States.
If you aren't familiar with the islands, they are geographically in two groups. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are known as the ABC Islands. All three are located off the coast of Venezuela.
Curacao is the largest of the Dutch islands in the Caribbean in both area and population. It has about 163,000 people on the island.
Auba is the second largest in both area and population and it has a population of 116,000 people.
Bonaire has only 20,000 people.
All three of the islands are rather arid. Succulents such as aloe vera are grown on the islands and are the biggest cash crop.
The primary language spoken by most people on the islands is Papiamento. Papiamento is a creole language that was derived from Portuguese and Spanish and it also has elements of French, English, and other languages. This is what most people speak at home and in everyday life.
Most people will also speak Dutch and English. Dutch is the administrative language, and English is taught in schools at an early age as their islands are highly dependent on tourism from the United States.
About a third of the population will also know Spanish given their close proximity to South America.
I found these islands to be some of the most multilingual places on Earth.
The other three islands are about 500 to 600 miles to the northeast of the ABC Islands. They are in the Leeward Islands in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles. Papiamento usually isn't spoken on these islands. The primary language is English, and most people also know some Dutch and maybe some French.
The main island is Sint Maarten. It makes up the southern half of the island of Saint Martin, with the northern part being part of France. The legend holds that the border between France and the Netherlands on the island was determined by two people walking from opposite points on the islands, and where they met was the border.
Saba and St. Eustatius are two islands that most people aren't as familiar with. They aren't very big, they have small populations, and they don't get many visitors.
Both are located very close to St. Martin. In fact, on a clear day, you can see the islands from each other.
Saba is a volcanic island with a population of about 1,900 people. It is known for its creative names. The island has one main road, which is called "the road". The capital is at the bottom of a volcanic caldera and it is called "the Bottom". There is a settlement on the windward side of the island called "Windwardside".
Saba is also the answer to a great trivia question: What point in the Netherlands has the highest elevation? The answer is Mount Scenery, the highest point on Saba.
It also has the shortest commercial airport runway in the world and the flight from Saba to St. Martin is only 12 minutes. Pilots have to be specially trained to fly there.
St. Eustatius has a great deal of history. It used to be the richest country in the Caribbean back in the 18th century. It was the first place in the world to recognize an independent United States and it was a huge supplier of arms during the Revolutionary War. You can still see the ruins of some of the trading warehouses on the beach, and the ruins of Fort Oranjestad can still be visited.
All of the places I've just mentioned in the Caribbean only make up about 2% of the total land area and population of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. For all practical purposes, most of the administrative, defense, and other diplomatic functions of the kingdom are performed by the country of the Netherlands.
It is the Kingdom of the Netherlands which is a member of the United Nations and other international organizations, save for the fact that Aruba has its own Olympic team.
So, the next time you think about the Netherlands, remember that it isn't just canals and windmills, it is also beaches and volcanoes as well.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


"It is important to realize that American Muslims are being singled out," says Karam Dana, the Director of the American Muslim Research Institute and a professor at the University of Washington, Bothell. "It is very unfortunate. We know what happened in Germany in the 1930s."
"American Muslims are good, law-abiding citizens," says Dr. Dana, "I'm not surprised that they are being singled out, though."


Like the Inbound Tour, this course is also designed for students who intends to runs a travel company and offer tour packages for local tourists going to overseas for excursion or for tour. It's equally important for those who desire to be employed in a travel agency that runs such an operation.
In this course, various aspects of the outbound operations will be covered and at the end , the student will be able to design, conduct and manage the outbound tour operations.
- Negotiate with the suppliers and wholesalers.
- Calculate the cost for the packages.
- Execute the outbound tour operation.
- Prepared all the necessary documentation for traveling overseas.
- Analyze the satisfaction of the customer.


Avengers: Infinity War has been out long enough for just about everyone on the planet to have seen it a few times, but fans are still thoroughly shook by its higher-than-expected body count.
Most fans seemed to anticipate that Infinity War would off a few minor characters and then deliver one or two major Avenger deaths - the smart money being on either Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans) - but the Russo brothers instead went in a whole other, more horrifying direction.
While only a scattered few heroes die ahead of act three, by the end of the movie, 21 major characters have died, and while it's clear that a good number of these deaths will be reversed in Avengers 4, that didn't stop them leaving the audience shocked, excited and maybe even a little depressed.
The MCU has a real problem with stakes when it comes to its characters' mortality, and even though the general lack of finality to the death scenes here is undeniable, the Russos and the actors did generally terrific work making it all feel as definite and terrifying as possible.


text:
Sheriff's Deputy Makes Man's Day, Then A Miracle Happens
A sheriff's deputy from Whiteside County, Illinois, was simply doing his duty in early January when he dropped off a homeless man at a McDonald's restaurant in the town of Morrison. Little did he know that a citizen's Facebook photo and the accompanying story behind the picture would show just how big of heart deputy George Depuy has when it comes to his job.
The homeless man was walking along U.S. Highway 30 on a cold morning in early January when Depuy gave him a lift, according to SaukValley.com. The 15-year veteran of the force did more than just drop him off at a warm place of business. Depuy talked to an employee and asked her if the man could stay for awhile. The employee agreed with the officer, notes Alex Fischbach's Facebook post.
This picture is a quick snap of one of the most beautiful things I`ve ever seen. We pulled up to the McDonalds in…
Posted by Alex Fischbach onSaturday, January 2, 2016
Just before Depuy walked out, Fischbach says a beautiful thing happened. The officer gave the homeless man money to buy a meal. The man tried to refuse the money, but Depuy said, "I'm not asking you to take it, I'm telling you to take it." The two shook hands and then the officer left the building.
The World's Reaction
Fischbach's Facebook photo went viral with more than 8,000 shares and several hundred likes. Fischbach told the Huffington Post that the officer was simply doing his job, but such a compassionate act shouldn't go unnoticed. With all of the "bad" press that cops get, the Facebook post shows that law enforcement officers deserve every ounce of praise possible for doing a great job despite the danger.
The officer declined to do any interviews with the media, according to ABC News. Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi says this is not an uncommon situation where his officers go above and beyond for ordinary citizens. He's proud of Depuy, and all of the deputies in Whiteside County, for jobs well done.
That's Not the Whole Story
The story doesn't end at McDonald's. The homeless man went to a church in a nearby town, and the pastor of that church took the man to a shelter where he could get warm. People who work at that particular shelter recognized the man from the viral photo on Facebook, proving that social media can make a real difference in someone's life. The homeless man got a meal from a kind soul but ended up with so much more thanks to a bystander who saw it all.Sometimes, a mere ride to a warm place or a simple meal can make all the difference in the world to someone. Help fight hunger in America by donating to Operation Sandwich.


This web quest bundle allows students to create a mini book about any or all of the 50 states. Each mini book has been custom made for individual states.
This whimsical reader's theater teaches students about animal adaptations.
This whimsical reader's theater teaches students about heat energy in a fun way. It can be used to introduce a unit, or reinforce concepts about heat.
This Camp Classy Character classroom management system contains complete lessons for each of the six character traits plus behavior management forms with a camping theme.
This "Tech the Halls" technology unit includes an introductory interactive PowerPoint lesson entitled "How to Search the Web Successfully." plus 10 high interest web quests.
Handwriting can be fun! Cursive writing activities for grades 1-5.
This whimsical reader's theater teaches students about the changes in states of matter in a fun way.
Printable version like the classic children's game.


Say you still love me.
Say when you kiss me, you can taste stardust.
Say you misplaced your trust in the trunk of my car. We left with the ignition running.
Say you can see the scars through this shirt and wouldn't we rather just stay in anyway?
Say I'm a commodity, say I am all you need, say my affection can be bought for a fee.
Say you'll bury me in the prairies, say you'll hide me under the red leaves.
Say there are worse things than high expectations.
Say we should have known better, but we didn't.
Say my body is a prison but yours will set me free.
Say you can't stay, but you'll wait.
the skull with their divisive, medicinal terminology.
but I've laid down with the lamb and it will guide me home.
I know you only from that time and in that space.
and struggle to make their way through pursed lips.
feeling all the while that our time is static.


Microblading Pen with #9 needle.
Excellent for beautiful tapered microblading eyebrows. Popular needle.
Microblading Pen with #9 needle, excellent for beautiful tapered microblading eyebrows, popular needle. Disposable onetime use.


text:
module.exports = {
	BACKGROUND: 'blue'
}


I wonder how hard it'd be to take an original Logitech TrackMan (one in pic isn't mine, mine has a gray cord/plug instead of a black cord/plug), gut it, and stick the insides of a newer optical trackball into it? And would I want to go with USB or PS/2??


text:
Andrew Tyndall Quotes
7 Andrew Tyndall quotes:
"The only place I've seen an equivalent velocity would be on the tabloid entertainment shows."
Author: Tyndall Quotes Category: Entertainment Quotes
"I can't see how that would be an improvement. In her heart of hearts, I think she wants to be a serious journalist. And, there's no room for serious journalism in the 'Oprah' hour."
Author: Tyndall Quotes Category: Heart Quotes
"Generally speaking, it's the wave of the future."
Author: Tyndall Quotes Category: Future Quotes
"This is someone who cares about what the future of his organization will look like and who will represent it. He can't go back on this plan."
"If that's the way you're going to be growing your audience in the future, by innovating in terms of what medium you're going to be using, I don't see that hiring a celebrity broadcaster is going to help you with that strategy."
"She knows how to do live television. She would be the one doing the nine-hour stints in the anchor chair, and doing morning television prepares you for that."
Author: Tyndall Quotes Category: Television Quotes
"Generally speaking, it's the wave of the future. But the future will not arrive on November 7. This is a stepping stone for the future."


text:
Q: Regular Expression in Java for validating username I'm trying the username chains in Java with following rules:

*

*Length >=3

*Valid characters: a-z, A-Z, 0-9, points, dashes and underscores.

Could someone help me with the regular expression?

A: Sarkiroka solution is right, but forgot the dash and the point should be escaped.
You should add as \ to escape it, but mind that in Java the backslash is itself used to escape, so if you are writing the regex in a java file, you should write
String regex = "[a-zA-Z0-9\\._\\-]{3,}";

Note the double back slashes.

A: BTW, if there is an extra requirement: the starting letter of the username must be a character, you can write
try {
    if (subjectString.matches("\\b[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9\\-._]{3,}\\b")) {
        // Successful match

    } else {
        // No match

    }
} catch (PatternSyntaxException ex) {
    // Invalid regex

}

Based on an example here.

A: try this regular expression:
^[a-zA-Z0-9._-]{3,}$

A: What about:
    username.matches("[a-zA-Z0-9.\\-_]{3,}")

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Pectin Complex
Structure of the company
/Hanoi air quality improves, still among Southeast Asia's worst
Hanoi air quality improves, still among Southeast Asia's worst
People wear protective masks while riding on a street in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters
Hanoi has seen air quality improve over the past year but it remains one of Southeast Asia's most polluted cities.
The city's average PM2.5 level last year was 40.8 micrograms per cubic meter of air as opposed to 45.8 in 2017, according to Switzerland-based air quality monitor IQAir AirVisual's 2018 World Air Quality Report.
IQAir AirVisual, which generated data from public, ground-based and real-time monitoring stations, surveyed air quality in over 3,000 cities globally by measuring PM2.5 levels, referring to particulate matter of up to 2.5 microns in size, regarded as the pollutant with the most health impact.
But the Vietnamese capital remained among the most polluted capital cities in the world, ranked the 12th worst in the list of 62.
In Southeast Asia, Hanoi was the second most polluted city behind Jakarta, Indonesia, which had a PM2.5 level of 45.3.
PM2.5, also described as super fine particles, is a fraction of the width of a human hair, which is released from vehicles, industry and natural sources like dust. The World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guideline recommends an annual mean exposure threshold of 10 μg/m3 to minimize health risks.
But 64 percent of the cities surveyed exceeded this guideline. In Southeast Asia, the rate was 95 percent.
Saigon's air quality worsened during last year to 26.9 from 23.6 in 2017. The southern Vietnamese metro was the 15th most polluted city in Southeast Asia.
The top 15 most polluted cities in Southeast Asia, with Hanoi ranked second and Ho Chi Minh City ranked 15th. Photo screenshot from IQAir AirVisuals 2018 World Air Quality Report.
Vietnam ranked 17th globally and second in Southeast Asia with an average PM2.5 level of 32.9.
The report blamed pollution in Southeast Asia on the burning of biomass and vehicular emissions.
In urban areas, there is a strong correlation between transportation and industry and air pollution, it said.
Hanoi in particular, which has 7.7 million people, has more than five million motorbikes and 550,000 cars.
The city chairman, warned that air pollution had reached the level of "red alert", and blamed it mainly on vehicles.
The report said governments should increase the number of air quality monitoring stations to generate more public data, while the average citizen should make lifestyle changes such as choosing environment-friendly modes of transport like cycling and walking and reduce household energy usage to combat pollution.
Protection of the health from pollutants is the paramount and top necessity for everyone living in Vietnam. Wearing a protective mask when going outside cannot fully be a barrier that will prevent hazardous chemicals from getting into the body.
In addition, air pollution is not the only issue that undermined our health. We are also exposed to extensive food contamination and drinking water pollution. The solution to ensure good health for you and your children is natural periodic body detoxification. Thus we should apply highly effective products that can eliminate toxic compound that accumulate in our blood, internal organs and bones.
It's difficult to find a product that can cope with such a complicated task.
After careful work and research, The National Institute of Occupational and Environmental health of Vietnam initiated to bring and supported the spreading in Vietnam of a revolutionary product for natural body cleansing from Ukraine called PECTIN COMPLEX.
PECTIN COMPLEX is a 100% natural product for complex body detoxification on the cellular level that has a scientifically proven effect of effective elimination of chemical toxins of various origin from the body.
In Vietnam, PECTIN COMPLEX , a natural detox health supplement imported from Ukraine is the only one product that is recommended and used by the Ministry of health of Vietnam and the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health of Vietnam for the national program of support treatment of lead intoxication of children and adults living in populated areas of Vietnam like Hung Yen , Bac Ninh , Ninh Binh , Bac Can, Thai Nguyen and others.
Unlike other detox products, PECTIN COMPLEX is the only one natural supplement that has a scientifically proven effect of significant elimination of lead and other heavy metals from the body in a natural way. This product is absolutely safe and is officially approved for pregnant and breastfeeding women and children. It also strengthens the immune system and decreases the frequency of seasonal diseases in children.
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Harmful Effects of Air Pollution on Health and Environment
Air pollution and child health: prescribing regular body detox
Pollution: Threat to children's health
PECTIN TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd honorly introduce to Vietnamese people health supplement PECTIN COMPLEX – a unique natural dietary detox supplement from Ukraine for total cleansing of the body on the cellular level.
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© Bản quyền thuộc về Avent Team | Cung cấp bởi Bizweb


text:
Contract Cheating's African Labor
By Xian Bu
Shironosov
Kenyan academic writers, who number more than 20,000, perform work for students in the United States, Britain, and elsewhere. "In every apartment building in Nairobi," says one, "you could find two, three writers."
On the outskirts of Kenya's capital city, behind a shopping mall near a highway, stands a six-story apartment building where, in a unit on the top floor, a couple have just eaten breakfast. While their young child sits playing, the couple share a table in the living room, each on a laptop, performing academic work for hire.
The husband, 32, and wife, 27, whose covert industry makes them not want to publish their names, grew up in the countryside and attended universities here in Nairobi. He studied physics and became an intern at the Kenya Bureau of Standards. But after eight months without pay, he says, living in the Mukuru slum, he gave up on a job at the agency. A friend invited him to train as an academic writer, to learn how to do research and write in accordance with American and European standards.
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Two months later, in 2011, he passed the tests in grammar and writing given by the company for which his friend worked, and began writing papers for students in the United States, Britain, and elsewhere. The woman, a bank clerk earning less than $500 a month, soon saw the opportunity. Others have, too. "In every apartment building in Nairobi," he says, "you could find two, three writers."
As the field gains popularity among Kenyan college graduates, competition is fierce. The network of academic writers here is a hierarchy governed by the companies that control the work, as well as local rules.
After passing the tests, beginner-level writers usually complete several papers free to demonstrate their skills. They then start to earn $2 to $5 a page. Those with premium accounts on essay-writing websites can fetch $7 to $11 a page. In a local twist, they often subcontract to trainees, paying them a fraction of the wages and editing their work.
A representative at the company for which the man now writes confirmed that it produces academic papers for college and graduate students and said it was based in New York. The man doubts that, but if clients ask, he is supposed to tell them that he is American or British. A web administrator has warned him: Do not reveal that you are African.
He has risen in the ranks. Orders come through the companies' websites, and sometimes a dozen writers will vie for one. Whoever acts fastest gets it. So he uses fiber-optic internet access and a laptop with only three applications installed — Google Chrome, Microsoft Word, and a PDF reader — with no antivirus software, which can slow the machine down. "Even if it takes a microsecond," he says, "that is too much for me."
Grabbing as many assignments as he can on his premium account, he distributes them among four trainees, all college graduates. He checks their papers word by word, he says, making revisions, citing sources, and correcting references. He doesn't want any mistakes to threaten his livelihood.
On a private Facebook group — not even its name is public — Kenyan academic writers exchange information. They number more than 20,000. Some, looking for a shortcut or a quick payout, arrange to buy and sell accounts on the companies' websites. An intermediate one might go for $1,000 to $3,000, the man says — he has sold a few. He would consider an offer of $10,000, he says, for his premium account, one level from the top.
Kenya's per capita gross national income is about $1,300 a year. With the woman also having become a premium writer, the couple can make about $5,000 a month in slow seasons, he says. In peak seasons, that income doubles. Their monthly record is $14,000. The company makes direct deposits to his bank account every two weeks, he says.
Although the pay is good, the work is not easy. Sometimes he completes assignments for Ph.D. students. Business and medicine he likes better than history. He won't touch computer programming, which he says he knows nothing about. To communicate with clients, he often wakes up in the middle of the night. In the United States, for example, the Eastern time zone is seven or eight hours behind Nairobi. "If the customer sends you a message, and you're asleep, you reply after eight hours, the customer will get mad," he says.
In writing papers, or editing trainees' work, the couple must absorb a lot of information and guard against plagiarism. "For you to get paid, the customer has to pass, to get a good grade. So you have to be really, really smart," he says. "It's very stressful." An incorrect reference or a missed deadline can mean not only docked pay, but a fine.
They generally log 10-hour days, researching and writing and pausing to look after their child. When dinnertime comes, the woman takes a break and cooks. On some Saturdays they work, but Sundays are always family time. They live modestly, sending money home and investing in new businesses, like used-car sales.
The man describes his work as "capitalism": The companies take a cut before paying the writers, and the writers take a cut before paying the trainees.
And he doesn't seem to blame his clients for cheating on their assignments. "They don't do it because they're lazy," he says, "but because of the circumstances." Some are busy with other assignments they believe are more important, he says. Some have language barriers or difficulty typing. Others struggle with personal issues. He recalls a mother whose work he did while her baby was in the hospital.
In a country with high unemployment, he will take on that work, he says. "You have to do whatever to survive."
Editor's note (12/1/2016): The writers' names have been removed from this article to protect their identity.
Xian Bu has reported, in English and Chinese, from the United States, China, and Africa.
A different version of this story first appeared in January on the Initium Media website, in Chinese.
A version of this article appeared in the September 2, 2016, issue.
The New Cheating Economy


how hard is this ride gonna?
ahhhh shizzle when did Blue Al get here?
New bike admiration, aka regroup.
engine room what you got?
give it the stick sir!
JL came all the way from Denver to escape Colorado summer.


Les Baladins du miroir is a theater group that performed "1914, Le Grand Cabaret" in 2014.
The show "1914, the Grand Cabaret" was created in 2005. In relation to the commemorations of the Great War, the city of Namur (Animation Citadel Committee) asked Les Baladins du miroir for a new version of the part. This time the story is set in Belgium and not in France.
Original idea and directed by Gaspar Leclere. Screenplays by Vincent Zabus and Gaspar Leclere. Composition by Line Adam.
The poster is made by Etienne Schreder and François Schuiten. Schuiten is also the artistic advisor of the play.
At the end of the show a silent film by cinematographer Jean Cippolini is presented. It is a loosely inspired remake of "Journey to the Moon "by Georges Méliès.
The Story Board is by Etienne Schreder. He also designed the decor together with Schuiten. François took also care of the costume design.
Presentation "1914, Le Grand Cabaret"


text:
Tax Reliefs
Theatre Tax Relief
Video Games Tax Relief
Orchestra Tax Relief
Film Tax Relief
Research & Development Tax Relief
Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief
Animation Tax Relief
Children's Television Tax Relief
High-End Television Tax Relief
Charitable Companies
Introducing SME R&D
In April 2000 Research & Development tax relief was introduced for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
For Large Companies, the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) was introduced in April 2013 and has now replaced the previously existing Large scheme.
The relief is processed through the corporation tax system and can be claimed by companies that are undertaking qualifying research and development (R&D).
How does R&D tax relief work?
R&D tax relief for SMEs works by enhancing qualifying expenditure which gives the company an additional deduction. This additional deduction will either reduce a company's taxable profit or create or extend a loss.
Subject to certain rules, HMRC allows the loss not exceeding the qualifying expenditure and the enhancement to be surrendered for a payable tax credit.
Therefore, by claiming R&D tax relief, a company will either reduce their Corporation Tax liability or receive a payable tax credit.
For large companies, the RDEC scheme allows a taxable credit at a rate of 13%. For loss making companies the tax credit is fully payable subject to certain restrictions.
You can find out more about R&D tax relief and whether your company is eligible to claim it by visiting SME R&D
Introducing SME R&D We are delighted to welcome Colm to the team We have now claimed over £4 million of Creative Industry tax credits for our clients We are delighted to become a member of Game Republic New factsheets
November 2020October 2020June 2020February 2020January 2020February 2019November 2018May 2017April 2017
"I found Graham and Creative Tax Reliefs through a Google search as we had a client that was eligible for Theatre Tax Relief (TTR). I and a colleague had read through HMRC's guidance a number of times and felt confident that we understood how it worked, however, we had no experience in claiming TTR. It seemed a no-brainer to work with Graham because Graham, as a former Creative Tax Reliefs specialist with HMRC, knew how to prepare and present claims to HMRC, would be certain of the calculations, knew where the boundaries were and would achieve maximum benefit for the client. We prepared the accounts and submitted the CT600 as per usual with input from Graham whilst he liaised directly with HMRC's Creative Industries Unit in respect of the client's TTR claim. The client received their tax credit without issue and in an amount greater than expected. Our client was delighted as were we and we look forward to working with Graham going forward. "
Ian Bragger, Partner at Harris & Co (https://www.harrisaccounts.co.uk/)
"I am so pleased and relieved that Graham got in touch with me about Theatre Tax Relief. I had mistakenly thought that we were not eligible but so far Graham has claimed nearly £100,000 in tax credit for us. This is not only an enormous benefit and can be ploughed back into the work that we do but it would have been extremely short-sighted of us not to be claiming the money that is due to us. Graham has made the whole process so simple and easy. I cannot recommend him highly enough"
Sarah Gobran, Co-Founder & Producer of The Guildford Shakespeare Company (https://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk)
"NCO engaged Graham at the start of 2019 and has developed a wholly positive and ongoing relationship ever since. Not only has Graham increased our understanding of OTR and how it applies to NCO, he has taken all the stress and strain away from the process. His previous experience as a tax specialist at HMRC has proved invaluable as has his ability to explain the complexities to us in a way we can understand! I cannot recommend Graham more highly. "
Sophie Lewis, Managing Director of the National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain (https://www.nco.org.uk)
"Graham explained very clearly what was needed and then delivered exactly as he said he would. Graham prepared the computations and submitted the claims on our behalf and we didn't have to deal with HMRC at all. This was the easiest piece of tax work that we have ever had to do"
Matthew Quirk of The Merry Opera Company (https://www.merryopera.co.uk)
"Our accountant struggled with VGTR so we engaged Graham and his company. Graham prepared all the necessary computations and submitted the claim on our behalf. This was paid by HMRC without question and in an amount in excess of what we had previously expected. We are delighted and cannot recommend Graham or his company highly enough"
Ashley Stancill, Director at HyperSloth Games (https://www.hypersloth.co.uk)
"It was a pleasure working with Graham on our claim for Film Tax Credit for Stuffed. For independent creators working in Film and TV, the Tax Credit is a vital part of making your film a reality. Graham is an assured and calm voice in the often-intimidating world of tax. I'd highly recommend Graham to my colleagues working in Film and TV. "
Carys Lewis, writer and director of the 2019 BAFTA Cymru Nominee short film Stuffed (http://www.caryslewis.ca/)
"With no clear guidance on how to claim Theatre Tax Relief and after spending a considerable amount of time consulting with colleagues, accountants, reading huge, incomprehensible HMRC guidelines and generally worrying that the company was missing the TTR boat, I spoke to Graham. Everything was plain sailing for us after the initial consultation – with very little effort on our part, Graham made a successful submission and we have just received a substantial payment. I am delighted at the outcome and have no hesitation in recommending Graham and his company"
Sue Andrews, former Executive Director of Northern Broadsides Theatre Company (https://www.northern-broadsides.co.uk)
"It was a pleasure to work with Graham. He explained the process very clearly, prepared all the necessary computations and submitted the claims on our behalf. We are extremely delighted with the outcome and have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Graham and his Company to others"
Sylvia Collins of the Huddersfield Light Opera Company
"I have been aware of Theatre Tax Relief for a few years now but the process of claiming the money was daunting. We didn't have the resources or the expertise to make the claim. Graham made the process of claiming Theatre Tax Relief very straight forward. He kept me informed of developments and answered all my questions. I provided him with information and he did the rest"
Shona Rattray, General Manager of the Hopscotch Theatre Company (https://www.hopscotchtheatre.com)
"Thanks so much Graham! You and Creative Tax Reliefs are the best. "
Ellie Claughton, Producer with Lung Theatre (http://lungtheatre.co.uk) and Barrel Organ (https://www.barrelorgantheatre.co.uk)
"For a small theatre company like us navigating Theatre Tax Relief was a daunting prospect. Having the support and expertise of Creative Tax Reliefs was absolutely brilliant. Graham explained everything and did a fantastic job sorting out the different projects we had been working on, calculated what we could claim and did all the leg work. The Tax Relief we received from HMRC helped us take our show to the Edinburgh Fringe, something we certainly couldn't have done without this extra funding. We would highly recommend Creative Tax Reliefs and will certainly be using them again in the future. "
Jasmine Cole of Jasmine Cole Productions
"When I first heard from Graham I have to say I was more than a little sceptical. Why had no one mentioned this to us before? The information seemed so monumental – shouldn't it have been on the news? Within a few emails and phone conversations, we had provided all the information necessary and had everything thoroughly explained to us. Within two weeks we had received the tax credit into our bank account! Creative Tax Reliefs are amazing!"
Clare Molyneux, Artistic Director of Open The Door (Theatre in Education) C.I.C.
"When Graham first contacted us, we hadn't heard of Theatre Tax Relief, which made us fairly wary. Graham took the time and care to explain it all to us and how the process would work. Initially, we were sceptical and worried about the time it would take for us to collate all the information needed for the claim. However, we needn't have worried, Graham helped us every step of the way and made the process simple and quick. We would recommend working with Graham in an instant."
Fliss Green, Senior Strategy & Project Manager of Chain Reaction Theatre Company (https://www.chainreactiontheatre.co.uk)
CREATIVE TAX RELIEF UPDATES
Research & Development tax relief In April 2000 Research & Development .....Read More
We are delighted to welcome Colm to the team
Creative Tax Reliefs is delighted to welcome Colm Seeley to the team. Colm.....Read More
We have now claimed over £4 million of Creative Industry tax credits for our clients
We have now claimed over £4 million of Creative Industry tax credits.....Read More
We are delighted to become a member of Game Republic
We are delighted to join Game Republic as an affiliate member. Game Republ.....Read More
To find out more about Theatre Tax Relief or any of the other Creative Tax Reliefs simply get in touch using the contact form or details below.
www.creativetaxreliefs.com
Creative Tax Reliefs Ltd. site by sizzle. All Rights Reserved


Developing better feel is a matter of practicing the right way. Dan Martin explains in the easy-to-learn drill.
Dan Martin, PGA, explains how hitting hooks and slices intentionally can actually help you hit the ball straight.
Dan Martin, PGA, explains a great drill to help ingrain a smoother golf swing.
Dan Martin, PGA, explains the bounce angle of a wedge and how to use it properly.
Rising LPGA star Paige MacKenzie and GT instructor John Stahlschmidt, PGA, explain a quick and easy drill to help improve your iron ballstriking.
Understand how you can benefit from stronger hips and how it can help your golf swing. By Katherine Roberts.
Get more power out of your swing by implementing some baseball into your golf game.
Need to wrap a shot around a tree? Rick Sessinghaus explains how, and the details are in how you setup over the ball.
PGA Tour member Ryan Moore demonstrates how to make solid contact.
PGA Tour pro Jay Williamson passes on two tips for better full swing contact: a good set up and a flat left wrist.


text:
NASDAQ:EXPE
Expedia Group - EXPE Stock Forecast, Price & News
Adding Expedia Group, Inc.
Expedia Group MarketRank™ Forecast
$63,614 Sold Last Quarter
Retail/Wholesale Sector
Transportation Services Industry
3rd out of 16 stocks
Expedia Group has received a consensus rating of Hold. The company's average rating score is 2.46, and is based on 13 buy ratings, 12 hold ratings, and 1 sell rating.
According to analysts' consensus price target of $143.00, Expedia Group has a forecasted upside of 23.1% from its current price of $116.18.
Expedia Group has been the subject of 11 research reports in the past 90 days, demonstrating strong analyst interest in this stock.
2.82% of the outstanding shares of Expedia Group have been sold short.
Expedia Group has a short interest ratio ("days to cover") of 1.7, which is generally considered an acceptable ratio of short interest to trading volume.
Short interest in Expedia Group has recently decreased by 7.56%, indicating that investor sentiment is improving significantly.
Expedia Group does not currently pay a dividend.
Expedia Group does not have a long track record of dividend growth.
Expedia Group has received a -13.67% net impact score from Upright. Expedia uses resources or causes negative impacts mostly in categories "Scarce human capital", "GHG emissions", and "Biodiversity". The negative contribution in the "GHG emissions" impact category seems to be driven mostly by its "Car rental sites and applications", "Homestay services", and "Hotel booking sites and applications" products. See details.
The Environmental Impact score for Expedia Group is -2.80.
Expedia Group has a news sentiment score of 0.40. This score is calculated as an average of sentiment of articles about the company over the last seven days and ranges from 2 (good news) to -2 (bad news). This is a lower news sentiment than the 0.53 average news sentiment score of Retail/Wholesale companies.
MarketBeat has tracked 24 news articles for Expedia Group this week, compared to 9 articles on an average week.
14 people have searched for EXPE on MarketBeat in the last 30 days. This is an increase of 56% compared to the previous 30 days.
18 people have added Expedia Group to their MarketBeat watchlist in the last 30 days. This is an increase of 100% compared to the previous 30 days.
In the past three months, Expedia Group insiders have sold more of their company's stock than they have bought. Specifically, they have bought $0.00 in company stock and sold $63,614.00 in company stock.
Only 7.52% of the stock of Expedia Group is held by insiders.
89.89% of the stock of Expedia Group is held by institutions. High institutional ownership can be a signal of strong market trust in this company.
Earnings for Expedia Group are expected to grow by 27.30% in the coming year, from $5.64 to $7.18 per share.
The P/E ratio of Expedia Group is 42.56, which means that it is trading at a less expensive P/E ratio than the market average P/E ratio of about 127.45.
The P/E ratio of Expedia Group is 42.56, which means that it is trading at a more expensive P/E ratio than the Retail/Wholesale sector average P/E ratio of about 38.57.
Expedia Group has a PEG Ratio of 1.16. PEG Ratios above 1 indicate that a company could be overvalued.
Expedia Group has a P/B Ratio of 5.09. P/B Ratios above 3 indicate that a company could be overvalued with respect to its assets and liabilities.
About Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) Stock
Expedia Group, Inc. is an online travel company, which engages in the provision of travel products and services to leisure and corporate travelers. It operates through the following business segments: Retail, B2B and trivago. The Retail segment provides a full range of travel and advertising services to worldwide customers through a variety of consumer brands including: Expedia.com and Hotels.com. The B2B segment offers Expedia business services organization including Expedia Partner Solutions and Egencia. The trivago segment generates advertising revenue primarily from sending referrals to online travel companies and travel service providers from its hotel metasearch websites. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA.
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EXPE Stock News Headlines
Is Airbnb Setting Up To Rally 38%, As Analysts Are Forecasting? (EXPE)
Airbnb has attributes of both a growth and value stock at the moment. Does that mean it's one to keep an eye on, or even determine whether it's worth a buy?
January 28, 2023 | skift.com
Vacasa Slashes Workforce and Other Top Stories This Week
Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) PT Raised to $129.00
Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) Price Target Raised to $143.00
UBS Group Boosts Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) Price Target to $125.00
Expedia Group to Webcast Fourth Quarter 2022 Results on February 9, 2023
Zacks Market Edge Highlights: Microsoft, Alphabet, Airbnb, Expedia Group and Booking Holdings
Expedia Group Working With Tech Startups to Make Travel More Accessible
Expedia Group Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day
Booking and Airbnb Stock See Downgrades. Wall Street Is Worried About Travel.
Zacks.com featured highlights include Clarivate, Expedia Group and Haemonetics
Bookings and Airbnb Stock See Downgrades. Wall Street Is Worried About Travel.
Expedia And Hilton: A Pair Trade For The Streamlined Travel Sector
Geotourism Market | Rising Sales of the Industry Are Set To Drive for Growth Prospects and Innovations | 2029
Expedia Group Announces First Cohort for Startup Accelerator Focused on Underserved Travelers
Eco-Tourism Market Growth, Size, Share, Opportunities, Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023 To 2028
Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) Short Interest Update
The Expedia Case For and Against Keeping Orbitz and Travelocity
Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) PT Lowered to $115.00 at Morgan Stanley
January 20, 2023 | stocknews.com
1 Small-Cap Stock to Buy for 2023 and Beyond
Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) Price Target Cut to $140.00 by Analysts at Wells Fargo & Company
Expedia: The Selloff Seems Overdone
Tourism Market Size, Share and Forecast till 2028 with Top Countries Data
Sports Tourism Market 2023 : Share and Outlook of Regulatory Scenario by 2029 with Top Countries Data
Agritourism Market 2023 By Trends, Latest Research, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast Till 2028
EXPE Company Calendar
Internet Retail
www.expediagroup.com
Peter M. Kern
Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Julie P. Whalen
Chief Financial Officer, Director & Executive VP
Rathi Murthy
CTO, President-Expedia Product & Technology
Lance Allen Soliday
Chief Accounting Officer, Senior VP & Controller
Zuhairah Scott Washington
NYSE:DRI
NYSE:BBY
NYSE:QSR
NYSE:BURL
Match Group
NASDAQ:MTCH
Sold 13,202 shares on 1/27/2023
Asio Capital LLC
Arcus Capital Partners LLC
EXPE Stock - Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy or sell Expedia Group stock right now?
26 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Expedia Group in the last year. There are currently 1 sell rating, 12 hold ratings and 13 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" EXPE shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in EXPE, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares.
View EXPE analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks.
What is Expedia Group's stock price forecast for 2023?
26 analysts have issued 1-year price objectives for Expedia Group's stock. Their EXPE share price forecasts range from $85.00 to $275.00. On average, they expect the company's stock price to reach $143.00 in the next year. This suggests a possible upside of 23.1% from the stock's current price.
View analysts price targets for EXPE or view top-rated stocks among Wall Street analysts.
How have EXPE shares performed in 2023?
Expedia Group's stock was trading at $87.60 at the start of the year. Since then, EXPE stock has increased by 32.6% and is now trading at $116.18.
Are investors shorting Expedia Group?
Expedia Group saw a decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 4,400,000 shares, a decline of 7.6% from the December 31st total of 4,760,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,530,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days.
View Expedia Group's Short Interest.
When is Expedia Group's next earnings date?
The company is scheduled to release its next quarterly earnings announcement on Thursday, February 9th 2023.
View our EXPE earnings forecast.
How can I listen to Expedia Group's earnings call?
Expedia Group will be holding an earnings conference call on Thursday, February 9th at 4:30 PM Eastern. Interested parties can register for or listen to the call using this link.
How were Expedia Group's earnings last quarter?
Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November, 3rd. The online travel company reported $3.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.51 by $0.05. The online travel company earned $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.55 billion. Expedia Group had a net margin of 4.95% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 24.05%.
What is Peter Kern's approval rating as Expedia Group's CEO?
231 employees have rated Expedia Group Chief Executive Officer Peter Kern on Glassdoor.com. Peter Kern has an approval rating of 87% among the company's employees.
What other stocks do shareholders of Expedia Group own?
Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other Expedia Group investors own include NVIDIA (NVDA), Walt Disney (DIS), Alibaba Group (BABA), Netflix (NFLX), Tesla (TSLA), Micron Technology (MU), Intel (INTC), Starbucks (SBUX), Boeing (BA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).
What is Expedia Group's stock symbol?
Expedia Group trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "EXPE."
Who are Expedia Group's major shareholders?
Expedia Group's stock is owned by many different institutional and retail investors. Top institutional shareholders include Assenagon Asset Management S.A. (0.43%), Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC (0.18%), New York State Teachers Retirement System (0.10%), Natixis Advisors L.P. (0.08%), Grimes & Company Inc. (0.07%) and Greenwood Capital Associates LLC (0.06%). Insiders that own company stock include Dara Khosrowshahi, Eric M Hart, Jonathan L Dolgen, Jonathan L Dolgen, Lance A Soliday, Peter M Kern, Robert J Dzielak and Susan C Athey.
How do I buy shares of Expedia Group?
Shares of EXPE stock can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include WeBull, Vanguard Brokerage Services, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Robinhood, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab.
What is Expedia Group's stock price today?
One share of EXPE stock can currently be purchased for approximately $116.18.
How much money does Expedia Group make?
Expedia Group (NASDAQ:EXPE) has a market capitalization of $18.13 billion and generates $8.60 billion in revenue each year. The online travel company earns $12 million in net income (profit) each year or $2.73 on an earnings per share basis.
How many employees does Expedia Group have?
Does Expedia Group have any subsidiaries?
The following companies are subsidiares of Expedia Group: AAE Travel, Apartment Jet, Auto Escape Group, BEX Travel Asia Pte. Ltd., CanadaStays.com, CarRentals.com, CarRentals.com Inc., Classic Vacation, Classic Vacations LLC, Cruise LLC, EAN.com LP, Egencia, Egencia LLC, Expedia Inc., Expedia Lodging Group Sàrl, Expedia Lodging Partner Services Sàrl, Expedia do Brasil Agencia de Viagens e Turismo Ltda., Expedia.com Limited, HomeAway, HomeAway.com Inc., HotelClub Pty Ltd, Hotwire Inc., Interactive Affiliate Network LLC, Liberty Expedia Holdings, Mobiata, Newtrade Technologies, OneTime, Orbitz LLC, Orbitz Travel Insurance Services LLC, Orbitz Worldwide, Orbitz Worldwide Inc., Orbitz Worldwide LLC, Pillow, SYNERGI Glbl Travel, SilverRail Technologies, Travelocity, Travelscape LLC, Travelscape.com, Trip Network Inc., TripAdvisor, Trivago, Trover, VacationSpot.com, Venere, VirtualTourist, Vrbo Holdings Inc., Wotif, and trivago N.V..
How can I contact Expedia Group?
Expedia Group's mailing address is 1111 EXPEDIA GROUP WAY W., SEATTLE WA, 98119. The official website for the company is www.expediagroup.com. The online travel company can be reached via phone at (206) 481-7200, via email at ir@expedia.com, or via fax at 425-564-7240.
This page (NASDAQ:EXPE) was last updated on 1/28/2023 by MarketBeat.com Staff


Discover the life that will truly fulfill you.
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Get ready to trade it in for something a whole lot bigger and infinitely greater!
Who Am I - Today?
The book you are holding in your hands is not one to be taken lightly. As you go through this book you will laugh, you will think, and most of all you will grow through Tim's revelation on this message of Abandonment. It will give you, the reader—the inspiration you need to strengthen your relationship with Jesus regardless of where you are in your faith.
If we all were to be brutally honest, we know what it is like to feel like everything is going in the opposite direction of what we may have planned or thought. In times like that, the ability to give the control over to God makes all the difference. It gives us Godly direction; and it sets us on the charted course God has laid out for us. Abandon will cause you to look up for your help, and look inward for your change, it reminds us that if we are willing to leave the old behind in search of the life God desires for us to live, He will give us a life far better than the one we Abandoned.
Tim's genuine challenge to Lay Aside Our Own Plan for God's Purpose is timely, bold, and emphatic. Pick up this book with an earnest and expectant heart, lay aside your own ambitions, and discover God's dream for your life, and begin to live a life of purpose.
Choices, challenges, and changes. Tim Timberlake's Abandon is a spiritual handbook for anyone struggling to fully give their life to Christ. By taking an in-depth look at the life of Jacob (one of my favorite Bible characters), this book shows how to see God's faithfulness as the greatest reminder, in any situation, of the radical love and grace He's already given us.
Tim has an incredible knack and God-given ability to help anyone who has the desire to gain crystal clarity of God's desired plan and purpose for their life. Abandon is a strident call to leave the old things behind, ditch the doubt, and take the exhilarating step into the path that God has for your life.
Provide your email address along with first and last name.
Tim Timberlake is the lead pastor of Christian Faith Center in Creedmoor, North Carolina. He is a gifted communicator and teacher and has the ability to minister to people of all cultures and generations through his in-depth Bible teaching, sense of humor, and leading of the Holy Spirit.
God has given him a vision and a heart for helping people meet Jesus, and each week he teaches the Word in a format for people to apply it in their daily lives.
Tim is a graduate of the Pistis School of Ministry in Detroit, Michigan. He is an avid sports fan and a popular thought leader.
© Copyright 2016 Tim Timberlake. All Rights Reserved. Designed by BigHype Media, LLC.
Tim Timberlake ("us", "we", or "our") operates the http://TimTimberlake.tv website (the "Service").
Our Service may contain links to third-party web sites or services that are not owned or controlled by Tim Timberlake.
Tim Timberlake has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third party web sites or services. You further acknowledge and agree that Tim Timberlake shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such web sites or services.


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Q: Add custom claims to Azure Active Directory token calling APIs I want to rely on Azure Active Directory to protect apps and APIs. The end users are the employees of the company (they are in the AD). We have a very specific configuration for security that implies to get information outside Active Directory and to add them as claims in the token.
So my question is the following:
Is there a way in Azure Active Directory to add custom claims by calling rest APIs?
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/active-directory-optional-claims
I know that I can do that in Azure B2C with custom policies.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory-b2c/restful-technical-profile
Or could I use Azure B2C for that with a custom policy even if the end users are our employees ?  :
Step 1: rely on Azure AD as an OIDC provider
Step 2: call rest API
Step 3: forge and return the token
Thanks

A: Add custom claims to access token using claims mapping policy.
Expose an API on the application
Call the API to pass the claims in the access token
Reference Links:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/active-directory-optional-claims#configuring-optional-claims
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/access-tokens


text:
<?php

namespace Moulino\Framework\Auth\Exception;

use Moulino\Framework\Core\Exception\InternalErrorException;

class SaltIsEmpty extends InternalErrorException {}


Description: CP 6013 sits at the Engine Terminal getting ready for a long day of work.
Description: CP 5736 and CP 6013 pass through the Diesel Shop at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Description: CP 5736 and CP 6013 move into the yard at Sudbury while CP engines 5962 and 6072 wait near the sanding tower.


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Where Are They Now? Sarah Eubanks
by CMSTeam | Jan 24, 2023 | Where Are They Now?
Sarah sits at a desk littered with papers. She swipes them to the side as she adjusts her camera. Her phone rings constantly. She glances at it, ignores, and then four calls later apologetically takes the call. Clearly, Sarah is a woman who is used to putting out fires in her new role as a property manager of a busy apartment complex. A natural helper and despite her hectic schedule, she makes herself available to support disabled veterans dealing with complex paperwork. She stocks sugar-free snacks for the many elderly diabetics who stop by her office for a visit. At her core, Sarah is welcoming, kind, and exceedingly sassy.
Since leaving the abortion industry in 1993, Sarah has walked a winding and often rocky path that eventually led her back into the arms of God in 2003. After her father's death when she was 16 years old, Sarah told God that she no longer needed him and went her own way.
"A friend invited me to church to study the book, The 7 Deadly Sins," she said. "I told her that I would come to make sure I was doing them all right."
Did we mention that Sarah is sassy?
She still considers herself to be a bit of a feminist, but now she realizes that women do not need abortion to have it all. Initially, Sarah struggled to find her voice in the pro-life movement.
"'Pro-choice' has always been popular. The cool kids were pro-choice," she said. "But I realized that there is value to all life, and God wants me to speak the truth."
Today, Sarah is an active and vital member of the pro-life movement. She speaks publicly about her experiences as a former abortion clinic worker all over the country and in her community. She takes part in marches, sits on panels with fellow former abortion clinic workers, and was featured in the documentary She Was Stronger, which tells the stories of three "Quitters" who have found healing, peace, and forgiveness through the ministry of And Then There Were None. Filmed at the height of the pandemic, She Was Stronger follows the lives of Sarah, Nallely, and Adrienne, Quitters from Alabama, California, and Pennsylvania, respectively.
Anyone who has questioned how and why a person would work in the abortion industry gain empathy and understanding for them by watching She Was Stronger. By getting a glimpse of the humanity behind the dehumanization process of abortion, one can identify with the souls on the other side—people made in the image of God and in desperate need of saving.
Sarah is an integral part of this unique tribe of former abortion workers. She enjoys deep and meaningful friendships with the Quitters she has known for years and is intentional about welcoming new Quitters into the fold and helping them feel connected and loved.
"Being pro-life may not be the most popular stance," she said with a laugh, "but it is absolutely where the cool kids are."
For Sarah, being featured in the She Was Stronger documentary was both a cathartic and profoundly difficult experience. Part of the filming took place inside of the actual abortion clinic where Sarah had an abortion and was later employed.
"It was wild, scary, and intimidating, but also healing and empowering to have filmed inside the abortion clinic where I not only worked, but also had my own abortion," Sarah said. "I had a meltdown after shooting a scene. I just broke inside the room where I assisted with that first abortion on my first day of work. I knelt on the table between the stirrups and cried till I had nothing left in me."
As difficult as it was, Sarah is grateful for the opportunity to take part in the She Was Stronger project. "I've received much healing, and God protected and guided us all with everything," she said. "Watching for the first time was so hard. We had to pause it a few times. To hear my story in my own voice was sobering. Plus, I am extremely critical of my appearance," Sarah said. "I am learning to accept what I see as worldly imperfections and focus on the beauty that God created. I am created in His image."
Sarah hopes that the She Was Stronger film will ignite a fire in others to reach out to abortion clinic workers as well as spur current workers to reach out to And Then There Were None for help.
"I want someone to step outside of their comfort zone and help the lost who still work inside the clinic, to pray daily for abortion clinic workers who have left and are dealing with trauma. I hope that someone will smile a little more because they know they are a child of God and reach out to help the next person heal," Sarah said.
In the eight years that Sarah has been a part of the tribe of Quitters, life has not always been easy. Through her mother's declining health and admittance to a nursing home, family drama, the loss of a relationship, and later, the death of her mother, she sank into a deep depression. There were moments when she wondered if the world would be a better place if she was not in it. Thankfully, deep down, Sarah knew each life was precious and valuable, and that included her own.
Sarah reached out for help and continues to work with ATTWN therapist Dr. Amanda Willie. In the past, she did not understand the need for counseling and did not spend much time focusing on mental health. 'Get over it and get on with it' was more of her mantra. However, she was desperate enough to try anything, and now Sarah treasures her time in therapy and prioritizes her healing.
"I want to understand myself better, feel better, and do better," she said. "Life isn't easy, but it's a process. At ATTWN, we have each other, and we have access to great therapists. I wish all former clinic workers would use this service."
Today, Sarah continues to actively work on her healing and says that she is in a much better place emotionally. Spiritually, she is eager to grow and is working to put God first in all things. Physically, she is growing stronger every day and setting goals for herself.
"I am working to lose over 100 lbs.," she said. "Not to look good in a bathing suit or to fit any mold. I want to be healthy and fit to do the work that He has for me in the Kingdom."
Sarah completed the fiftieth March for Life in Washington, DC in 2023 in full gear with her "Quitter" flag held high. She Was Stronger was screened four times in the afternoon and evening preceding the March, and she remained for a question-and-answer panel after each screening along with other Quitters. Some questions are a reminder that there is still work to be done in helping others understand
forgiveness and grace, but most are an overwhelming outpouring of unconditional love. Apologies flowed as viewers saw the humanity of abortion workers for the first time, and the need for continued prayers for those still mired in the industry.
After the last screening of the day, Sarah was approached by a woman who thanked her for her vulnerability in sharing her story. Sarah jokingly said that it was selfishly motivated because it helps her heal a little more each time she shares. The woman responded with a confession that she had had two abortions. Sarah reached out and took both her hands in her own. "As a former abortion worker, please let me tell you how sorry I am," she told her. "Please forgive me."
"You're going to make me cry," the woman responded.
Tears flowed as the women exchanged hugs and forgiveness. And both healed just a little bit more.
"He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." – 1 Peter 2:24-25
Click To Read Sarah's Original Story Here


We started the day in Dublin, checked out of our hotel after breakfast, left our bags in the luggage lock and made our way to the last few things we wanted to do. I had to pick up a final souvenir for my Dad (I'm not saying what it is because that would ruin the surprise) and then we went to St. Patrick's Cathedral. This place was absolutely breathtaking. They have historical exhibits inside, an interactive portion, and a lot of Jonathan Swift Information. If you are in Dublin I definitely recommend going.
Once we were done inside the Cathedral we explored the park which has a plaque near where the well would have been when St Patrick did his first Baptism in Ireland. We looked everywhere for the plaque and were just about to give up and suddenly there it was. It is literally right by where we entered and I have no idea how it took us so long to find it!
The plaque that took forever to find!
We picked up some wraps on our way to the hotel from O'Briens (not the same as the pub from yesterday) which were absolutely delicious and just what we needed before heading over to the train station.
It was extremely difficult to get a good picture from a moving train. To anyone who has successfully accomplished this I bow to your prowess!
We got to Galway and walked to the B&B (Dun Romain on Beach Court) we had booked. It was a longer walk than we expected because Google didn't know that there was a short cut to get to the house quicker but it gave us a nice taste of how beautiful this city is. Once we checked in and dropped off our bags we went back out and took some pictures before heading over to the restaurant that the Owner of the B&B, Larry, said had the best Fish & Chips. Just take a look at a little slice of the beauty of Galway.
Larry was right about the Fish & Chips, they were absolutely delicious. The restaurant is called Mc Donaugh's. They have two sides of the establishment, if you want the fried fish & chips, which we obviously did, you go up to the counter and order but they also have a sit down restaurant with more grilled options. They have been around since 1902 for good reason, definitely worth going to if you are in Galway.
McDonagh's, best fish & chips!
Look at the deliciousness in this picture!
They don't have a bar there but they told us to order at the pub next door and you could bring the beer into the restaurant (at least for the fried side) so that's what we did. Once we were done eating we went to the pub next door, The Spanish Arch. They has live music which was absolutely fantastic and completely Irish. It was the exact pub experience we have been looking for. The place was packed! The band finished at 9:30 pm and the pub emptied quite quickly. They end the live music early as it also functions as a hotel and people want to sleep. I loved the vibe of this place. It was just exactly what we needed. There was also a Football match on so it made the experience even better!
We walked back to the B&B after and called it a night. We have an early start in the morning. We are exploring the Aran Islands!


text:
Convivial evenings, fine food, and outdoor entertainment are key to French village life. © InnaFelker/iStock.
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By Tuula Rampont June 6, 2020
An Archetypal French Festival…Once We Found it
It was my first summer living in the South of France. My French was coming along, and, somewhere between bonjour and je ne sais quoi, I decided it was time to take the plunge. My husband, Nicolas, and I would attend our first summer festival.
In the summertime, festivals spring up in the seaside villages that dot the Côte d'Azur. Here, close to Toulon, many of them celebrate something called aioli, a tangy, garlicky type of mayonnaise and the accompaniments that go with it: seafood and cooked vegetables like potatoes, cauliflower, and green beans. From what I know of French cooking, everything has a plan and a reason for being. If pungent, kick-you-in-the-backside mayo goes with salt cod, so be it. We were just going to have to try it for ourselves.
Summer "aioli parties" were so prolific that I had no problem finding one in a town about 15 minutes from where we lived, La Crau. The tiny announcement on a local events website gave a phone number to call for reservations. At $16 a person, it seemed like a steal, so I took a deep breath, rehearsed my best French, and made the call.
A certain "Jimmy" answered the phone among a cacophony of clinking glasses, blaring French music, and boisterous laughter. "Oui, allô?"
"Je voudrais…I would like…to reserve, reserver pour l' aioli, Saturday…trois personnes. We are three people." It was pretty awful, but it worked.
As Saturday rolled around, we all donned our best summer apparel. My friend Kathy had the foresight to tie a small chiffon scarf around her neck. We couldn't have been any more French if we'd tried. I tossed a mini English-French dictionary into my tote bag and hoped for the best.
As we reached the town center in La Crau, it struck me as a bit odd that, apart from a few older gentlemen playing petanque, the square was almost empty. I hopped out, dictionary in hand, and approached one dapper Frenchman who gave us the scoop on where we'd gone wrong.
It turned out that the aioli festival wasn't in La Crau but in a "hamlet" of the town about another 15 minutes away. Back we piled into our tiny car, phones in hand, and began navigating the narrow roads that led to the village known as La Moutonne. As we climbed into the hills, the modern, slate-grey structures of the Côte d'Azur were replaced by terracotta-hued, stone-worked houses adorned with bougainvillea, flowering jasmine, and the odd village cat perched high up in a windowsill.
I finally saw a sign announcing La Moutonne come into view. It was a small victory, if a bit short-lived, because as we exited the car and made our way to the town square, it became clear that this wasn't your average aioli festival.
The square itself was tiny, like an extended stone version of someone's backyard. About eight tables had been set up for the evening, and a small crowd was gathering on the terrace in front of Jimmy's Bar. Small children chased one of the many cats roaming about, a group of teenagers sat huddled in a corner over a tiny transistor radio, and an older gentleman in his 70s, dressed all in white, was ceremoniously waltzing across a makeshift dancefloor…to a music all his own.
A slim Frenchman emerged from the bar, glass of rosé in hand, cigarette dangling artfully from the corner of his mouth, and grinning ear-to-ear.
"Ahh, les anglais sont là!" The English have arrived. I decided this was probably no time to split hairs, as Jimmy made his way over and enthusiastically kissed us all on both cheeks.
"Bienvenue, welcome! Your table is right over here. You'll be with Claude, Marie-Francoise, Martine, and Bernard. The wine is included, and the band starts at eight."
We were in for a very special evening.
We all looked sheepishly in the direction of Claude, Marie-Francoise, Martine, and Bernard, who in turn, smiled, and waved us over to join then. After introductions were made, and we explained to our curious tablemates how we came to find their tiny village, I had a feeling we were in for a very special evening.
The aioli dish came and went, and as the rosé started to flow, we really did have a new set of best friends. They shared with us their lives in the villages, anecdotes about life in Southern France, and their passion for traditional Provençal food— aioli being a big part of it. It was closer to nine when the band took the stage, belting out 80s cover tunes with decidedly French overtones. Bernard graciously rose and offered his hand to accompany him to the dancefloor for Lionel Richie's "Hello" while Kathy got whisked away for a few "Billie Jean" moves with Claude.
By the end of the night, we'd all done a slow dance, or two, with La Moutonne's resident "Don Juan," Pierre—the elegant gentlemen we'd seen dressed in white who was indeed a fantastic dancer—and participated in a conga line with everyone else. Seeing the whole village rolling with laughter as we snaked our way around the square to the tune of "Super Freak," I knew I'd found my kind of Southern France. One that was much more open and accepting than I'd ever imagined.
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