We do the minimum amount of work necessary to deliver a feature.
This sounds like a bad thing. And I've not often told our clients that this is what we do. But we definitely feel that it the best way to do things - but why?
We use test driven development, and try to use it 'properly'. That is think about what it is that we want to get from this unit of code, then think about the tests, pick one, write the test and then write just enough code to make it compile. The test needs to fail first to make sure that it is valid (or that the feature that we're adding doesn't already exist!). If we overthink earlier pieces of development we potentially won't get past this step. We do the minimum amount of work, write tests that fail, and then write enough code to ensure that *all* of the tests pass.
YES! The advantages of properly following the test driven development techniques clearly outweigh the cons.
Yes, there is more code (in terms of the additional tests) which is an easily measurable indicator. But in terms of productivity? Or time taken? I haven't done the controlled tests (odd that I'm writing about TDD without tests!), but subjectively I'm sure that our team is more productive and can produce new features faster.
Development techniques that have stressed thinking about the problems and solutions have been around for a while, and there is evidence that they are 'better' than competitive practices. I see the biggest advantage of TDD as just this – ensuring that enough thought is put into the solution before a single line of code is written. Developing valid tests that properly test a new feature is more difficult than most developers new to the practice imagine, and the mind-set change to thinking about how to test a feature from how to write code to produce the feature encourages thinking about the corner cases and limits; this then translates to much better finished code.
How does writing the minimum amount to get tests working add to this? Well, it's a side-effect. The majority of the time is spent developing a feature is spent on the tests, and thinking about solving the problem. Once that's done in most cases it's almost trivial to write the code. And the temptation to overthink or future-proof is minimised when presented with a very finite list of things that the code *needs* to do.
Another big advantage is that it keeps the code much simpler. My view is that maintainability is the key to good programming. Agile helps, as does keeping things simple (which many agile techniques encourage). But having a lot of simple tests that are supported by simple code increases maintainability.
Generally as more features are added the complexity of the system increases, and as the complexity increases the time to implement new (bug free) features increases. By keeping things simple we change the features vs complexity of the project to allow that future features aren't much more difficult to implement than previous features.
Initially the system is more complex as it needs to take into account the test framework and dependencies (such as dependency injection – which isn't a bad idea anyway!), but the crossover point where agile projects become less complex than the 'old-way' is around 8 weeks in, when a new big feature comes in and it goes into the working project with far less upset than the team thinks it will have. Often this is an eureka moment for developers new to TDD.
Having used TDD in a number of projects, both small and large, I'm sure that I won't go back. Agile has been proven to work even in avionics, and I've graduated from someone who likes the ideas promoted by TDD and other agile techniques to someone who is an absolute advocate.


Raiders Duty Roster: 2019 Jan-season end here.
Want the full list of instructions?
Eastern Raiders has a long-standing tradition of requesting that every player and family contributes to the myriad jobs that keep the competition running. The committee have set up this roster trying to consider when players are at the grounds for games, general experience and ability. If you can't make the duty that's been assigned to you – it's YOUR responsibility to swap it or make other arrangements. The committee will usually send you a reminder via SMS or email, but don't rely on it.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Trump Team Defends Bannon Choice Despite His Affinity For White Nationalism
Trump surrogates are backing the controversial appointment of Steve Bannon. Opponents worry about an alt-right leader influencing policy.
April Watts | aprilwattslive
Celebrity Birthdays March 26
NANCY PELOSI (75), DIANA ROSS (71), STEVEN TYLER (67), ELLIA ENGLISH FROM THE JAMIE FOXX SHOW (55), KIERA KNIGHTLEY (30)
NewOne Exclusives | Kevin Lankford
Steve Scalise Courted White Supremacists, But Doesn't Today's GOP?
More often than not in America, it's perfectly fine to be in support of or facilitator for policies that perpetuate White supremacy so long as you…
Top GOP Lawmaker Spoke To White Supremacist Group In 2002
Advisers confirmed on Monday that while serving as an elected official in 2002, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House majority whip, spoke at an event…
News | Cortney Hicks
I Pray Hillary Clinton Runs For President
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday at an event in Little Rock, Ark., that she prays former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will run for president, saying it would send a powerful message to women in the world. Read More
Historic Health Care Reform Bill Passed
VIA THE WASHINGTON POST: House Democrats scored a historic victory in the century-long battle to reform the nation's health-care system late Sunday night, winning final approval of legislation that expands coverage to 32 million people and attempts to contain spiraling costs. The House voted 219 to 212 to approve the measure, with every Republican voting […]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I have been having a week of indecision and I blame it all on a damn set of curtains. You see, it has taken me over 5 years to finally buy curtains for our bedroom so of course I couldn't settle for anything. So after purchasing (and hanging and steaming) three different sets we are finally settled. And if I am being honest - well they are just going to have to do. I can't buy and return another set out of sheer embarrassment.
And that's just curtains. I have also returned a swimsuit, a pair of snow/rain boots for P and three different shirts. Like I said I am having an off week!
We were supposed to head out of town this weekend but decided last minute to stay home. Lots of travels coming up and my photography schedule is crazy packed. So I think I am just going to enjoy this last weekend of no plans. I also managed to convince David that I am going to take our holiday photos - with a remote and tripod. So this should be...interesting.
I see it as a challenge and I am kinda oddly excited - and hey any excuse to buy better photography gear has me saying yes. So I am on the hunt for a great tripod. If you have any recommendations let me know in the comments.
So just random this and that and some pics of my lady from last night. Happy halfway through the week!
Girl, you are so talented! P is just adorable!! I am awful at choosing curtains. I can never make up my mind and by the time I do I want to redo the entire room. Ha ha!
You go girl!! I'm so impressed you're going to take your own Christmas card photos! I bet they turn out amazing!
I'm pumped to see how your photos turn out! I know they'll be amazing.
I thought about attempting our photos myself and then was like...yeah right. Hired that shizz right on out. But then again, I'm not talented like you are.
I can so relate to this since I get severe buyers remorse. It's terrible. So cheers to finally settling on curtains!
Oh! If this whole "shooting your own family photos" thing works out for you, you must share tips/tricks on how you managed. We had our session last night and I'm pretty sure the children ruined every single shot. Surprisingly, Mim was the WORST. I don't know what got into her, but she wasn't having it at all. UGH. I'm just praying for ONE good pic!


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Last month, longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre dropped a bombshell on the MMA universe: He's had enough.
After nine consecutive title defenses and 21 total UFC fights, St-Pierre announced his retirement from the sport.
While the door wasn't completely shut on a potential return, GSP is no longer an active mixed martial arts fighter, for the time being at least.
The once-dominant champion cited personal problems as his reason for stepping down. It wasn't a huge secret. Following a controversial decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, St-Pierre told Joe Rogan that he needed to get his personal life in order.
That was all the mainstream media needed to hear to launch a full-out assault on St-Pierre's privacy.
In November, infamous media outlet TMZ reported that St-Pierre was retiring because he impregnated a woman and that his father was dying.
According to St-Pierre's close friend and coach, Firas Zahabi, this was when they crossed the line.
"I can take [the media harassment] and so can Georges, but they went a little too far when they started running after people in his family," Zahabi told Alchemist Radio on Sunday night.
St-Pierre denied both of TMZ's allegations.
At the end of the day, we may never know what's going on in St-Pierre's personal life. And that's completely fine. The man is entitled to some privacy, and whether he decides to return or not, that is ultimately his decision.
St-Pierre was arguably the biggest blockbuster superstar in the entire sport. The decision to hang up the gloves couldn't have been an easy one, but Zahabi is glad that he did it.
The Tristar head coach has known St-Pierre almost longer than anybody else in MMA. He's been with him throughout St-Pierre's entire reign as champion, and before it.
Yes, he's GSP's trainer, but at the end of the day, Zahabi is St-Pierre's friend and he only wants what's best for him. Since stepping away from MMA, Zahabi believes that the former welterweight king is beginning to find his smile again.
"He's doing fantastic. He's found a happy medium between training and living his life. He's only training once a day now, which is something he would never do before—he used to train twice a day at the very least," Zahabi said.
While a future return to the Octagon hasn't been ruled out, Zahabi doesn't think that St-Pierre has anything left to prove. He's broken seemingly every record there is to break and has beaten a laundry list of contenders in the welterweight division.
But if St-Pierre does return, it won't be for a while. His body needs time to recover.
"The body has its limitations. He's spent more time in the Octagon than anyone else. He broke the record in his last fight. If you think about it, most of his fights were title fights, so that's a lot of mileage," Zahabi said.


Quick! We need Doc Brown and Marty McFly to go to 2038 to let us know we're all going to be safe! After all, they proved the Mayan calendar was wrong.
Around the time the 1st pentium processors came out, the bios chips went to 2038 as well. I think this was the source of the programming matching that. I've been wondering if everything will get superseded by then. Likely it will. I'm not worried.
I'm not worried about the 2038 bug a much as it will open an opportunity for those with ill intent to affect a good portion of the Unix backbone. Think of the current crop of Fly by night roofing repair companies that show up after hail storms only to rip off consumers. I do however doubt that any equipment that could be impacted if it happened today would still be in the field in 2038.
I found my old Garmin in the drawer last night.
Everyone can come out of their bomb shelters now.
I am not going to worry about it. By 2038 I will not be around to worry about it.
I'm worried about being worried about not being around to worry about it.
There there Rick, rest assured that "WERE ALL GONNA DIE !!!", eventually.
Well, all us realists know we won't live forever. But, it seems the elite liberals think they're immortal.


text:
Ириси (Перуники, ) е картина на нидерландския художник Винсент ван Гог. Нарисувани са докато е в клиниката за душевно болни, близо до Сен Реми де Прованс, в годината преди да почине (1890 г.)

В картина се вижда влиянието на японската гравюра укийо-е, така както и в други творби на Ван Гог и някои негови съвременници. Това сходство се проявява в отделяне с контур на обектите, необичайни ракурса, наличие на детайлно нарисувани области и области "залети" с плътни цветове, не съответстващи на реалността.

Собственици
Първият собственик на платното е френският изкуствовед и анархист Октав Мирбо, платил за него 300 франка. През 1987 г. "Ириси" става най-скъпо платената картина, постигайки рекорд, който удържа в продължение на 2,5 години.; по това време картината е продадена за 53,9 млн. долара на Алън Бонд, но той няма достатъчно пари, за да довърши сделката. През 1990 г. "Ириси" е препродадена на музея Гети в Лос Анджелис.

През 2008 г. картината заема седма позиция в списъка на най-скъпите картини (при отчитане на инфлацията) и 18-о (без да се отчита инфлацията).

Източници

Картини на Ван Гог

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It's happened to us all time and time again. You fly into a cool destination, but you have 24 hours or less before your next flight. You start researching places to see, things to do, the costs, and everything in between. Thankfully, there are often many tourist attractions near airports so you can quickly see some of the most popular sights. So what now? You land, jump in a taxi, and make your way to your first destination. It's on! Here are my top things to do in Taipei when you only have 24 hours.
Taipei 101 is a 101-floor skyscraper and the eighth tallest building in the world, and it's located in Taipei's Xinyi District. This bamboo stalk replica towers over the city and features a shopping mall, observation decks, and food courts.
If you're looking to do a little hiking with a view but you don't have enough time to make your way to Taroko Gorge in Hualien, then Elephant Mountain and the smaller mountains surrounding Taipei are the perfect moderate hike. These mountains are great for a short day trip or watching the sunset with Taipei as your backdrop.
In Asia, hot springs are believed to raise energy levels while possibly treating chronic fatigue, eczema, and arthritis, a pretty good reason to give the popular Taiwanese hot springs a try. I have been to both Wulai and Beitou for the springs, and they will not disappoint.
This gondola near the Taipei Zoo takes you to the tip of Maokong Mountain. Here, food carts and a beautiful view of Taipei await you.
Qi Xing Shan is the highest peak in the Yangmingshan National Park and only 50 minutes away from Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. In Yangmingshan you can also find bamboo trails, sulfur geysers, hot springs, and lots of hiking trails.
I could spend a whole day here roaming through the temples, watching the guards perform at the Memorial Hall, and even sitting in the middle of all three structures with some Taiwanese beer and yummy dumplings. This tourist hotspot is really cool for a number of reasons. It's definitely a selfie haven that's worthy of Instagram.
I actually never visited the National Palace Museum when I was in Taiwan. It's one of those things I told myself I would get around to but just never did. However, it's still a popular spot, so I would still highly recommend giving it a shot!
Shilin Night Market and Keelung Night Market are the two most popular night markets in northern Taiwan, and for good reason. These markets offer a wide array of foods to eat, including Taiwan's signature stinky tofu dish, beef noodle soup, tons and tons of seafood, and if you're trying to play it safe, lots of dumplings and noodles. Along with the delicious food, night markets offer games for kids and shopping!
All of the above are within an hourlong car ride or less, and you can access them by train, car, or bus. Use this guide to Taipei as a starting point to create your ideal itinerary for a quick trip in the city.


The laboratory processes a broad range of specimens for the diagnosis of bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections.
Each of the department's seven consultants is a Consultant Medical Microbiologists (CMM) and between them they have substantial experience of providing a laboratory- and ward-based infection service.
All positive results are authorized by a CMM with due attention to the release of antibiotic susceptibility results for antibiotic stewardship.
Each of the King's CMMs has an area of specific interest reflecting the complex-in-patient mix at King's: liver failure and transplantation; the immunocompromised including haemato-oncology (and invasive aspergillosis specifically); infective endocarditis; critical care units; complex orthopaedic infections / trauma; diabetic foot infections; neurosurgical infection and sexually-transmitted infections. Our laboratory also has substantial experience in processing and interpreting clinical specimens from respiratory medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, dermatology, renal medicine, neonatology, paediatrics and Accident & Emergency. For several of these services the laboratory offers a 'bespoke' service with customised standard operating procedures and this flexibility is available to external customers.
The diagnostic laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory no. 9863 and is a key part of the infection service provided at King's. Co-location of CMMs and the laboratory ensures seamless processing and interpretation. Biomedical scientists (BMSs) have immediate access to senior medical colleagues for advice, and CMMs can review specimens, slides and plates during processing and before authorization. This model permits short turnaround times and a service of the highest possible quality.
The laboratory processes around 350,000 specimens a year - with approximately 30% being direct access - and benefits from a cadre of very experienced BMSs familiar with the processing and interpretation of complex specimens. Appropriate automation (such as BacT/ALERT, Vitek 2, automated urinalysis etc) realizes cost-efficacy whilst maintaining essential bacteriology skills 'in house'.
As well as microscopy, culture, identification and susceptibility testing the laboratory offers testing for pnemococcus and legionella urinary antigens, cryptococcal antigen (blood & CSF), Helicobacter pylori stool antigen and, for Clostridium difficile, an ELISA, GDH and confirmatory PCR. The laboratory has an expanding portfolio of tests for the culture, serological and PCR diagnosis of superficial and systemic fungal infections.
As well as the general bacteriology laboratory space, there is well equipped R&D laboratory and two modern and spacious CL3 laboratories. Specific areas of interest include infection in liver disease and transplantation (especially invasive yeast infections), multiply-resistant healthcare-associated pathogens; diagnostics for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, survival and susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, bacterial vaginosis, infections in cystic fibrosis , rapid pathogen diagnostics and dermatophyte pathogenicity and diagnosis.
The laboratory retains the ability to prepare and develop solid and liquid microbiological media and manipulate micro-organisms for research, development and funded projects.
Triazole antifungals used for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal disease in adult haematology patients: Trough serum concentrations in relation to outcome.


The latest edition of the Twin Cities Naturalist Podcast! Thanks for listening to this month's show. We discuss phenology, interview a special guest, do the community calendar and of course, there's the trivia challenge.
On the show this month our special guest is Bonnie Sample of Audubon Minnesota. Bonnie talked with us about the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas.


text:
Why Denver fans say "This is my favorite…
Why Denver fans say "This is my favorite Nuggets team of all time"
Thousands of fans gathered outside the Pepsi Center early Saturday night to celebrate the Nuggets' first postseason berth since 2013.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
A Denver Nuggets fan dresses as the Joker to cheer the team on against the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The Denver Nuggets hosted the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the teams' first round NBA playoffs series at the Pepsi Center.
Quincy Helsel rocks a Denver skyline before the first half between the Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The Denver Nuggets hosted the San Antonio Spurs during the teams' first round NBA playoffs series at the Pepsi Center.
Thomas Welsh (45) of the Denver Nuggets rocks a pair of custom Nikes during the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The Denver Nuggets hosted the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the teams' first round NBA playoffs series at the Pepsi Center.
Denver Nuggets fans file in as they prepare for the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The Denver Nuggets hosted the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the teams' first round NBA playoffs series at the Pepsi Center.
Denver Nuggets dancers perform during a break in the first quarter between the Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The Denver Nuggets hosted the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the teams' first round NBA playoffs series at the Pepsi Center.
By Sean Keeler | skeeler@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
It took the blankety-blank Golden State Warriors to make Ben Ouaglal a Denver Nuggets season-ticket holder. Seriously.
Quick backstory: Ouaglal, a native of Paris, and Anne Schulte, who hails from Evergreen, lived in the Bay Area for a half-dozen years before moving to Denver last October. While in California, the pair fell in love with a young, talented Golden State squad, then a rising power in the NBA Western's conference.
"And he was thinking of getting season tickets to the Warriors," Anne chuckled as she headed to the Nuggets pregame fan tailgate outside the Pepsi Center early Saturday night, a few hours before tipoff of Game 1 of Denver's first playoff series since the spring of 2013. "But he didn't. And then they took off."
Y'all know, as they say, the rest of the story.
"That squad had David Lee and (Leandro) Barbosa, they were scrappy guys," Ben recalled. "That changed. Now they're all superstars."
And hey, fool me once …
"I brought him back (to Colorado)," Anne said, "and introduced (Ben) to this team. And this team reminds me a lot of (those) Warriors."
At the start of the 2014-15 campaign, Steph Curry was 25. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, two more pillars of an oncoming NBA dynasty, were just 23. Fast forward to 2018-19 and the thousands of fans partying along Chopper Circle, posing for pictures next to life-size cardboard cutouts of Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris, both 24. The Nuggets, the second seed in the West, have the youngest squad still kicking in the NBA Playoffs and have been tapped by pundits as having the pieces — and potential — to produce a dynasty of their own.
"So this time, we're committing," Ben chuckled. "We initially did the winter (ticket) package and then I really liked the spirit at the Pepsi Center. And you could see, through the season … the fans really pushing the team when they needed it the most."
Given a second chance, Ouaglal wasn't going to turn his back on a rising stock twice.
"Yeah," Ben said, "we decided to become season-ticket holders for next year."
A few yards away, Eddie Encinias of Arvada was ready to welcome Ben and Anne to the party, rocking a white hockey sweater in Avs colors with the Nuggets' retro Maxie Miner logo stitched to the front.
"I've been waiting six years now," said Encinias, a Nuggets lifer whose passion for Mile High Basketball stretches back to the salad days of Alex English, Fat Lever and Dan Issel in the mid-1980s. "Melo (Carmelo Anthony) broke our hearts, man. I'm not over that. I still cry over that. It was terrible seeing him go."
But Encinias is living proof that, even when a franchise player leaves town, you can — eventually — fall back in love with a roster again.
"This (year's team) is my favorite Nuggets team of all-time," he said. "The Alex English teams, those teams in the '80s, were so great. The Doug Moe (coached) teams, man, they were great. But this is my favorite Nuggets team ever.
"With these guys, I think there's something special about each of their personalities. (Paul) Millsap, Jamal Murray, Jokic — just seeing Jokic play, he's going to be the greatest big that's ever played. So we're seeing history made. He'll go down as the best center to have ever played the game."
Encinias sees Jokic and the Nuggets emerging from a tough San Antonio series in seven games, and that home court at the Pepsi Center should have enough juice to counter any mojo veteran Spurs coach Gregg Popovich brings to the table. Hopefully.
"The last regular-season game (against Minnesota), the energy was so crazy," he said. "So I think it's just going to spill right into this (series). It's going to be intense.
"And people who are new to town don't really remember them getting bumped off (in the first round) every year. So there's a whole new energy here. I hope they fall in love with this team. It's something everybody can get on board with."
Dan Issel
More Nuggets News
Sean Keeler
Sean Keeler is an award-winning writer who joined The Denver Post in 2018 after stints with Cox Media Group (2016-18), FOX Sports and FOX Sports Midwest (2012-2015), The Des Moines Register (2002-2011) and The Cincinnati Post (1998-2001).
Follow Sean Keeler	smkeeler Follow Sean Keeler	@seankeeler
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Kiszla: If Nuggets don't start playing Michael Porter 25 minutes every game, it's darn near basketball malpractice
Michael Porter Jr. is the X factor that will determine if Denver can become a legitimate championship contender in 2020 and beyond.


text:
Бона Савойска (; * 10 август 1449 в замъка в Авиляна, Савойско херцогство, † 17 ноември 1503 във Фосано, пак там) от Савойската династия е чрез женитба херцогиня на Милано и регентка на сина си Джан Галеацо Мария Сфорца след убийството на съпруга ѝ.

Произход
Бона е дъщеря на савойския херцог Лудвиг Савойски (* 1413, † 1465) и съпругата му Анна дьо Лузинян (* 1419, † 1462), дъщеря на краля на Кипър Янус и съпругата му Шарлота Бурбон. Има десет братя и седем сестри:

 Амадей Савойски (* 1 февруари 1435 в Тонон, † 30 март 1472 във Верчели), 3-ти херцог на Савоя, принц на Пиемонт, граф на Аоста и Мориен под името Амадей IX Блажени, от  1452 г. съпруг на Йоланда Френска
 Мария Савойска (* 10 март 1436 в Морж, † 1 декември 1437 в Тонон)
 Лудвиг Савойски или Женевски (* 1 април 1437 в Женева, † 16 юли 1482 в замъка Рипай до Тонон), граф на Женева и крал на Кипър, от 14 декември 1447 г. съпруг на Анабела Шотландска и от 7 октомври 1459 г. – на Шарлота Лузинян
 Маргарита Савойска (* април 1439 в Пинероло, † 8 март 1485 в Брюж), от 1458 г. съпруга на Джовани IV, маркграф на Монферат, и от 1466 г. – на Пиер II Люксембургски, граф на Сен-Пол и на Соасон.
 Йохан Савойски (* 8 ноември 1440 в Женева, † 22 декември 1491 в Анси), граф на Женевa
 Карлота Савойска (* 16 ноември 1441 в Шамбери, † 1 декември 1483 в Амбоаз), съпруга на френския кра Луи XI, майка на краля на Франция Шарл VIII и принцеса Ан дьо Божо
 Аймон Савойски (* 2 ноември 1442 в Женева, † 30 март 1443 пак там)
 Филип (* 5 февруари 1438 или 15 ноември 1443 в замъка на Шамбери, † 7 ноември 1497 Шамбери), родоначалник на династическия клон на Брес и 7-и херцог на Савоя (1496 – 1497) с името Филип II Савойски, нар. Безземни, от 6 април 1472 г. съпруг на Мулан Маргарита дьо Бурбон и от 11 ноември 1485 г. – на Клодин дьо Брос Бретанска.
 Жак Савойски (* 29 ноември 1444 в Женева, † 20 юни 1445 пак там)
 Агнес Савойска (* 1445, † 1508), от 2 юли 1466 г. съпруга на Франсоа I Орлеански-Лонгвил;
 Петър Савойски (* ок. 2 февруари 1446 в Женева, † август 1458 в Торино), абат на базилика "Сант'Андреа" във Верчели, епископ на Женева, архиепископ на Тарантез
 Йохан-Лудвиг (Жан-Луи) Савойски (* 26 февруари 1447 в Женева, † 11 юни 1482 в Торино), църковно лице, администратор на Женевската епархия и администратор на Тарантез
 Мария Савойска (* 20 март 1448 в Пинероло, † 13 септември 1475)
 Жак Савойски (* 12 ноември 1450 в Женева, † 30 януари 1486 в Хам), граф на Ромон, господар на Во
 Ана Савойска (* септември 1452 в Женева, † 1 октомври 1452 пак там)
 Франциск Савойски (* 19 август 1454 в Анси, † 3 октомври 1490 в Торино), архиепископ на Auch и администратор на Женевската митрополия
 Йоана (Жана) (* ок. 1456).

Биография

Начални години
След смъртта на майка си през 1462 г. Бона е изпратена в двора на краля на Франция Луи XI. По онова време Савойското херцогство е под френско влияние: разположението му е отличен аванпост за бъдещи военни цели в Италия. През 1451 г. Луи XI, още докато е дофин, се жени за сестрата на Бона – Шарлот Савойска с намерението да засили състоянието на зависимост.

През 60-те години на 15 век херцогът на Милано Франческо I Сфорца установява добри дипломатически отношения с френския двор, тъй като е наясно с опасността, която представлява Кралство Франция за италианския политически баланс. Следвайки разумна и прагматична политика (улеснена и от уважението на първородния му син Галеацо Мария Сфорца, и от нежеланието му да се ожени за Доротея Гондзага), Сфорца предлага на крал Луи XI Галеацо Мария да се ожени за Бона. Тези преговори са продължителни и това е предизвикано от редица пречки:

 Военните ангажименти на Галеацо Мария Сфорца, който е начело на експедиция, целяща да окаже помощ на крал Луи XI срещу Шарл Дръзки, херцог на Бургундия
 Смъртта на херцог Франческо I Сфорца през 1466 г., която забавя брачните преговори.
 Враждебността на Савоя към Сфорца: Савоя смятат Сфорца за узурпатори на миланския трон,<ref>"През 1447 г., след смъртта на Филипо Мария Висконти, следвайки инструкциите на баща си (Лудвиг), той действа с оръжие и дипломация, за да бъде признат за господар от миланците..", във Francesco Cognasso, Ludovico di Savoia, op. cit.</ref> зает навремето от Мария Савойска в ролята ѝ на херцогиня-консорт (съпруга на Филипо Мария Висконти). След като влиза в конфликт с Франческо Сфорца, Лудвиг Савойски не успява да вземе миланския трон. Оттогава Савоя се чувстват притиснати между Кралство Франция и Сфорца.

От третата точка е разбираем неуспешният опит на херцог Амадей IX Савойски да отвлече Галеацо Мария Сфорца, докато той се опитва да се върне в родината си, за да вземе трона. След натиска на Луи XI върху малката държава Амадей IX се съгласява на брака на племенницата си Бона: бракът чрез пълномощник е сключен в Амбоаз на 12 май 1468 г., след което на 26 май Бона пристига на пристанище Генуа. Тя е посрещната от Лудовико "Мавърът" – брат на съпруга ѝ и от техния полубрат Тристано Сфорца. Те я придружават до Милано, където Бона пристига на 26 юни. Бракът е потвърден с тържествена религиозна церемония на 7 юли на площада пред Миланската катедрала.

Очевидно Галеацо Мария Сфорца е добре информиран за чертите на бъдещата булка. В началото на 1468 г. той изпраща своя художник Дзането Бугати във Франция да нарисува бъдещата му съпруга и да прецени дали му харесва. Когато се връща през март, Галеацо успява да покаже удовлетворението си. Когато двамата съпрузи се срещат за първи път, Галеацо потвърждава видяното на картината:

 Херцогиня-консорт на Милано

През осемте години, в които заема ролята на съпруга на Миланския херцог, Бона Савойска никога не се намесва в политическите дела на съпруга си, въпреки че е енергична жена. За разлика от предишната херцогиня-консорт – тъща ѝ Бианка Мария Висконти Бона се посвещава почти изключително на отглеждането на четирите си деца като грижовна майка. Тя живее предимно в замъка в Павия. Съпругът ѝ показва своята почит и благодарност, като ѝ дава град Новара през 1470 г. и приходите от парка на Павия през 1474 г. Докато съпругът ѝ е жив, тя се стреми да поддържа добри отношения между Савоя и Сфорца и прави две държавни посещения заедно със съпруга си: едното във Флоренция през март 1471 г., известно с демонстрираната пищност на миланския двор, а другото – в Мантуа през юли същата година в двора на Гондзага.

 Проблематичното регентство (1476 – 1479)

Преждевременно овдовяла след убийството на съпруга си на 26 декември 1476 г., Бона показва силен характер в защитата на бъдещето на децата си, особено на най-големия си син Джан Галеацо Мария Сфорца. Разчитайки на компетентността на херцогския секретар Чико Симонета, Бона е провъзгласена за регентка на 9 януари 1477 г. от името на 7-годишния си син. Позицията на невръстния херцог, укрепена от способния Симонета, е оспорена от шуреите ѝ, които нямат търпение да контролират волята му: Сфорца Мария Сфорца – херцог на Бари и Лудовико Мария Сфорца "Мавърът", по онова време във Франция, се опитват през май 1477 г. да изключат Бона и Симонета от опекунството над херцога. Те се връщат в Милано, където обединяват сили с тези на лидера Роберто Сансеверино и на благородниците гибелини, за да прогонят Симонета. През февруари 1477 г. Бона постига кратко примирие благодарение на посредничеството на кондотиера Лудовико Гондзага. На 25 май обаче, когато правителството предприема мерки за предотвратяване на евентуална конспирация, бунтовниците се опитват да вдигнат Милано на оръжие. Въпреки това те не намират консенсус и Сансеверино бяга. Бона подкрепя Симонета и праща в изгнание двамата братя Сфорца.

Регентката продължава съюза на Франческо Сфорца с Медичите начело на Флорентинската република, но това води до тежки военни разходи и в същото време излага Миланското херцогство на интригите на краля на Неапол Феранте I. Тези интриги водят до загубата на Генуа, където авторитетът на Бона е разклатен, и до нахлуването във Валтелина на швейцарците. През това време Сфорца и брат му Лудовико са базирани в Лигурия и от февруари 1479 г. действат там с Роберто Сансеверино.

Отмъщението на Лудовико "Мавърът" не чака дълго: подпомогнат от Сансеверино, той създава армия, с която окупира Тортона на 20 август 1479 г. Той е улеснен и от постепенното изпадане в немилост на Симонета пред Бона. Бона междувременно е в сантиментални отношения със своя камериер от Ферара Антонио Тасино – личен враг на Симонета. Не е изключено влиянието на Тасино върху сърцето ѝ да е причинило падението на Симонета, улеснено и от напредването на "Мавъра". Факт е, че на 8 септември Бона се помирява със своя шурей Лудовико, пристигнал предходния ден в Милано, и на 9 септември праща в ареста верния си секретар.

"Ваше Величество, моята глава ще бъде отрязана и Вие ще загубите държавата си с течение на времето." Присъдата, произнесена от Симонета, е вярна: въпреки че Бона все още официално остава регентка, подпомагана от новия ѝ канцлер Бартоломео Калко, Лудовико "Мавърът" държи политическото положение на страната в свои ръце. На 7 октомври 1480 г. Лудовико, под предлог че защитава живота на племенника си от замислите на Антонио Тасино, които уж иска да стане господар на Милано, кара да преместят младия херцог в ла Рокета – най-непревземаемата зона на Кастело Сфорцеско. Там Джан Галеацо Мария подписва документ на 3 ноември, с който провъзгласява чичо си за свой настойник в ущърб на майка си Бона. Тя е принудена да напусне Милано предходния ден, отказвайки се доброволно от регентството, и да отиде да живее в замъка в Абиатеграсо със свита, състояща се главно от шпиони на "Мавъра".

В следващите 15 години Бона живее в Абиатеграсо. Отношението към майката на херцога дълбоко възмущава както роднините ѝ Савойци, така и крал Луи XI. Ако от една страна те оказват натиск върху новия регент тя да получи по-голяма свобода, от друга страна тя подкрепя, без да участва пряко, заговорите срещу "Мавъра" в началото на 1481 и през декември 1483 г. Вторият заговор поставя Бона под още по-строг контрол, от който тя успява да се освободи едва през 90-те години, когато присъства на брака на сина си – херцог Джан Галеацо Мария Сфорца през 1490 г. и на дъщеря си Бианка Мария Сфорца през 1493 г. Тя си кореспондира редовно със сина си и е до него в замъка в Павия, когато той умира на 21 септември 1494 г. на 25-годишна възраст.

С пристигането на Шарл VIII в Италия, наследник на Луи XI на френския трон, Бона отива във Франция през декември 1495 г. в двора на Амбоаз: тя вече не се чувства в безопасност в Милано, а ненавижданият ѝ шурей Лудовико "Мавърът" най-накрая става херцог. Дадена ѝ е резиденция в Тур, а през 1498 – 1499 г. живее в Лион. Въпреки това, тъй като не се чувства спокойна във Франция, тя моли племенника си – херцог Филиберт II Савойски да ѝ даде убежище в Савойското херцогство. През април 1500 г. ѝ е дадено имение във Фосано, където Бона умира на 17 ноември 1503 г., забравена от света. Погребана е в църквата "Сан Джулиано" в Савиляно без официална церемония.

 Потомство
Бона Савойска и Галеацо Мария Сфорца имат двама сина и две дъщери:

 Джан Галеацо Мария Сфорца (* 20 юни 1469, † 22 октомври 1494), 6-и херцог на Милано''' (1476 – 1493), ∞ 1489 за първата си братовчедка Изабела Арагонска (* 2 октомври 1470, † 11 февруари 1524), от която има един син и две дъщери
 Ермес Мария Сфорца (* 10 май 1470, † 1503 в Инсбрук), маркиз на Тортона
 Бианка Мария Сфорца (* 5 април 1472 в Павия, † 31 декември 1510 в Инсбрук), ∞ 1494 за император Максимилиан I Хабсбург (* 22 март 1459, † 12 януари 1519), бездетна
 Анна Мария Сфорца (* 19 юли 1473 в Милано, † 30 ноември 1497 във Ферара), ∞ 17 януари 1491 в Милано за Алфонсо I д'Есте (* 1476, † 1534), 3-ти херцог на Ферара, Модена и Реджо; умира при раждане и бездетна.

Ревнувайки съпруга си, който има доста любовници, Бона приема само извънбрачните деца, които той има преди брака им. Двата сина и двете дъщери, които му ражда любовницата му Лукреция Ландриани, са осиновени от Бона. Те са въведени в херцогския двор и са поверени на грижите на баба им по бащина линия Бианка Мария Висконти, която ги образова в изкуството на дипломацията, управлението и боравенето с оръжие.

 Вижте също

 Източници
 Mariana Frigeni Careddu, Ludovico il Moro. Piacenza, Sperling e Kupfer 1997. ISBN 88-200-2434-9
 Euweb.cz: Galeazzo Maria Sforza, genealogy.euweb.cz
 Généalogie de la maison de Savoie
 Dinastia Casa Savoia
 Bona di Savoia, на sapere.it

 Библиография на италиански език
 Mariana Frigeni Careddu, Ludovico il Moro. Piacenza, Sperling e Kupfer 1997. ISBN 88-200-2434-9
 Caterina Santoro, Gli Sforza: La casata nobiliare che resse il Ducato di Milano dal 1450 al 1535, Lampi di Stampa, Milano 1999
 Guido Lopez, I Signori di Milano – dai Visconti agli Sforza, Newton&Compton Editori, Milano 2013
 Daniel M. Bueno De Mesquita, BONA di Savoia, duchessa di Milano, in: Dizionario bibliografico degli italiani, volume 11/1969
 Gaudenzio Clarett, Gli ultimi anni di Bona di Savoia duchessa di Milano, in: Archivio storico italiano, Firenze, 1870
 Carlo Maria Lomartire, Il Moro. Gli Sforza nella Milano di Leonardo'', Cles, 2019, ISBN 978-88-04-71289-3.

Бележки

Милански херцогини
Савойска династия
Сфорца
Миланци
Жени
Италианска аристокрация
Ломбардци
Италианки


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When it comes to closet styles, there are commonly similar in functions but different in designs. As you may have experienced before, there are many ways to organizing things. Sometimes you only need to store it up, the other times you need to give it space. A makeup organizer, unlike the other, simply stores the cosmetics in one place. Clothes, on the other hand, need a some space.
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This infamous closet style provides you with the luxury of space. If you have a large amount of clothes, you will need to store it in one room. You will need large space to create this style. The closet will be made in one room with the help of wardrobes and cabinets. To further explore the walk-in closet styles, you can take a look at the different designs of walk-in closet below.
A dresser room will need all the things you can do to dress up. A mirror cabinet can do the job in providing you the assistance. You can take a look at the mirror to see if the dress fits. Another thing is a vanity table to help you put on makeup. In short, put everything you need to get your own functional dresser room.
Hanger rail can perfectly provide the space for clothes organizing. It's not as occupying as a cabinet and not as small as a shelf. With the hanger rail, you can also avoid getting creases on your clothes. At last, you can wear your smooth and clean dresses at the ready.
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A loft should fit all the kinds of things you need. A dresser room in a loft can use a small space of the apartment. For instance, you can split between the folding bed and the TV room to install several wardrobes. That way, you can have a functional dresser room to use.
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This style of closet is the best choice when you have a small room to spare. Unlike the large walk-in closet, a reach-in style will allow you to store the clothes efficiently. You will simply need to get a large cabinet and a hanger rail to organize your stuff. There won't be a room to get into instead, only a closet to reach in for your clothes.
Accessories collection can sometimes be difficult to organize. Since there are many small stuff to be stored, you will need a proper organizer. With this style of closet, you can organize your vast accessory collections. You can use a storage cabinet and a board where you can install small nails to hang several pieces of accessories.
A reach-in closet style will help you organize your bathroom necessities. All linen fabrics will be stored in one open cabinet. There should be several shelves where you can store the towels and bathrobes. When you have an empty space to spare, you can use it to store some bottles of soaps and shampoos as well.
A woman's closet should always be organized in styles. By using a reach-in closet, you can hang some of your freshly ironed dresses without fearing they will have creases. In order to keep everything in one place, you can store your shoes on some of the designates shelves as well.
A man should always prepare his suits. You shouldn't have gone out with the creases on the suits, therefore you can hang the suits in styles along with the shirts to avoid getting creases. At last, to keep the closet functional, you can store up your other belongings on the designated shelves of the closet as well.
An armoire closet uses a big wardrobe to store up your clothes. The wardrobe can have variations of shelves where you can keep your stuff safely. For instance, you can use the one with the hanger rail to hang your shirts. On the other hand, you can use the low shelves to store up your ties and watches as well. In short, the armoire can be efficiently used to organize your belongings properly.
At last, those are the closet styles you need to know. Each of the styles has its own characters, therefore you need to consider one that suits your room interior design best.


More details on that triple-murder in Guntersville — one of the victims a 7-year old boy. Investigators says the supsected killer — Jimmy Spencer — was just released from prison earlier this year. With an acquaintance from a halfway house, he made friends in the neighborhood where the murders happened. Police say Spencer took money from Martha Reliford — beat her to death — then went to a neighbors home, where he killed Marie Martin and her great grandson, before stealing her car.


I was about seven years old when A League of Their Own came out in 1992; when I first watched the movie, I had no idea the Rockford Peaches were a real-life team, let alone one that hailed from my very same town. The movie depicts a fictionalized version of the Peaches' role in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was formed during World War II to keep major league baseball going while male baseball players were away at war. According to the Rockford Register Star, the Rockford Peaches played at Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois, from 1943 to 1954. That's about 10 minutes from where I currently live, and maybe 20 minutes from where I grew up.
I wish I would've known as a kid that all those characters were based on real people who had actually lived in my town. Gender roles were a little stricter back in the early '90s, but I didn't really fit the mold. Sometimes I liked presenting as traditionally female, but I also really enjoyed things that people back then considered to be traditionally male. I liked playing football with my brother and his friends and jumping off of big hills and getting super dirty. So when the women in A League of Their Own pushed back against being "ladies" and wearing short skirts, seven-year-old me was in awe.
One of my favorite scenes from the movie was when the players first saw their uniforms. I didn't know what sexism was at that age, but even as a seven-year-old kid, I felt the power behind the players' protests at how it would be impossible for them to slide the bases in those uniforms. I remember thinking to myself that you can't expect a real athlete to wear uniforms like that. It's moments like this throughout the movie that made little girls across the country sit up and recognize that we were feminists in the making — even if we didn't quite know it yet.
Back in Rockford, the legacy of A League of Their Own will carry on through a $6 million International Women's Baseball Stadium at Beyer Stadium that will be the home to a museum and various special events, according to the Rockford Register Star. Over the years, I've seen Rockford grow to embrace its love for the Peaches more and more. My friends were part of fund-raising efforts to re-open Beyer Stadium a few years ago, and in 2018, the city celebrated the Peaches' 75th anniversary with several days of festivities.
But while my town is rightfully proud of this really important and progressive legacy, my experience as a biracial, queer, feminist writer living in Rockford has not been as positive as that of the players who formed the Rockford Peaches. As someone who's in a league of my own, I have firsthand experience with just how tough it can be living here for people who are different. I know I'm supposed to throw in a "there's no crying in baseball" joke here somewhere, but I'm so grateful to Marshall for showing Rockford how progressive it can be, and leaving my town a legacy of greatness that shows Rockford what it truly can be. Me? I'm gonna walk through my city tonight and remember the night my dad gave me my first baseball card.


text:
Indonesia to Mongolia
Official name: Mongolia
Area: 1,565,000 square kilometers (604,247 square miles)
Highest point on mainland: Orgil, also called Huyten Orgil or Mount Huyten (4,374 meters/14,350 feet)
Lowest point on land: Hoh Nuur Depression (518 meters/1,709 feet)
Longest distances: 2,368 kilometers (1,471 miles) from east to west; 1,260 kilometers (783 miles) from north to south
Land boundaries: 8,161.9 kilometers (5,072 miles) total boundary length; Russia 3,005 kilometers (1,867 miles); China 4,673 kilometers (2,904 miles); also touches Kazakhstan at westernmost point
Coastline: None
Territorial sea limits: None
Mongolia, the world's largest landlocked nation, is located in east-central Asia between China and Russia. It covers an area of 1,565,000 square kilometers (604,247 square miles), or slightly more than the state of Alaska.
Mongolia has no territories or dependencies.
Mongolia has two climatic zones: the continental zone in the north, and the desert in the south. The country's high altitude results in inhospitably cold, dry, and harsh weather. Temperatures can fluctuate radically each day, dropping drastically at night, and they differ greatly from season to season. Winters are especially long, with freezing temperatures from October to April. The temperature can plunge to as low as -52°C (-62°F) in January. Mongolia's average winter temperature is -24°C (-13°F) with an average range of -21°C to -30°C (-5° to -22°F). Spring is a brief windy and stormy transition period of five to six weeks around May. Summer lasts from June to August, with an average temperature of 20°C (65°F), ranging from 10° to 27°C (50° to 80°F). Autumn is a five-to six-week transition period around September. Mongolia's average humidity is 65 percent in summer and 75 percent in winter.
Most of Mongolia's rainfall occurs from May to September. The country usually has at least 250 sunny days each year. Rainfall is considerably heavier in the north, and nearly nonexistent in the southern Gobi Desert. Mongolia's annual average rainfall is a low 20 to 22 centimeters (8 to 9 inches), receiving an average of 36 centimeters (14 inches) in the north and fewer than 10 centimeters (4 inches) in the south. The country experienced devastating heavy snowstorms in the winters at the start of the twenty-first century.
Less than 70 percent of Mongolia's land has a consistent supply of water. Winter freezes often cut off access to surface waters and wells. Melted snow and ice then become the water sources during the winter for residential and commercial use. The water situation is relatively better in the north, because it has major rivers and heavier precipitation.
Mongolia has five topographic regions: the Altai range (the largest mountain system); the Great Lakes Depression (lakes and plains); the Hangayn-Hentiyn Mountains (medium-altitude older mountains with gentle slopes and valleys); the uplifted eastern plains (smooth and rolling terrain, sprinkled with pastures, forests, and rivers); and the Gobi Desert (hilly in the west with salt lakes and marshes in flat lowlands and sand desert).
Mongolia is a landlocked nation. The closest ocean is the Pacific's Yellow Sea, which is 700 kilometers (435 miles) to the east across northeast China.
More than four thousand lakes, mostly of glacial or volcanic origin, relieve the dry landscape of Mongolia. For the most part, the lakes are located high above sea level and they freeze over every winter; those with outlets usually have fresh water. Most of the sixteen biggest lakes are found in the northwest. The country also has developed more than two hundred sites of hot and cold natural mineral water springs.
The Great Lakes Depression of northwest Mongolia contains at least three hundred lakes, as well as high waterfalls and springs. Uvs Lake, a saltwater lake at 759 meters (2,490 feet) above sea level in this region, is Mongolia's largest, with a surface area of 3,366 square kilometers (1,300 square miles). Also in the Great Lakes area, the Har Us, Hyargas, and Dörgön Lakes are a trio of connected, large, shallow lakes within Har Us Nuur National Park. Mongolia contains many salt marshes and a variety of lake-centered wetland environments. The basin of Uys Lake is subject to extremes of cold and warm weather. It is one of ten worldwide locations being studied in the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program, which is researching global climate change.
With more than twelve hundred rivers, Mongolia has three drainage systems: to the Arctic Ocean, to the Pacific Ocean, and to the desert or salt lakes. Rivers draining north to the Arctic Ocean include the Selenge River, as well as the Shishkhed and Bulgan Rivers. The Selenge River arises in the Hangayn uplands of northern Mongolia, and flows north into Russia's Lake Baikal; it has a total length of 992 kilometers (616 miles), about 595 kilometers (370 miles) of which is within Mongolia. Among the Selenge's numerous tributaries are the Orhon which, at a length of 1,126 kilometers (698 miles), is the longest river entirely within Mongolia, and the Tuul (703 kilometers/437 miles), on the banks of which is located the nation's capital, Ulaanbaatar.
The Kerulen, Onon, Uldz, and Halhïn Rivers of northeast Mongolia flow into the Amur River of Russia, which continues east to the Pacific Ocean. The longest of these rivers is the Kerulen, which is 1,086 kilometers (675 miles) long. Mongolia's other river systems are found in the Great Lakes Depression and in the Central Asian basin, including the Dzavhan (804 kilometers/500 miles), Tesiyn (563 kilometers/350 miles), and Khobdo (499 kilometers/310 miles) Rivers.
The river system in the Gobi region is negligible; the few small rivers of the northern portion of the desert zone rise in the Hangayn range but vanish into salt lakes.
The great Gobi Desert occupies one-third of Mongolia, and it extends far south into China's Inner Mongolia region. It is the world's largest cold-climate desert. Less than 5 centimeters (2 inches) of rain falls in the Gobi each year, with no rainfall occurring at all in some parts of the desert. There are two types of desert within the Gobi. One is a scrubland with coarse, stunted bunchgrass and hardy bushes, which is dry but can be used for camel grazing. It contains numerous plant species, many of which bloom in the summer if they receive enough moisture during the year. The other type of desert in the Gobi is a landscape of sand dunes mixed with stone or gravel, with little to no vegetation.
Mongolia's elevations decline from northwest to southeast, decreasing gradually from alpine snow peaks to rolling contours, mesas, ridges and low hills, and eventually to completely flat plains. The foothills of the Altai Shan (Mountains) stretch south and east into the Gobi, forming a terrain of bare desert hills. Mongolia is famous for its beautiful grasslands. The southeast is an area of particularly extensive grasslands, known as steppes in Central Asia. The steppe hills and plains are covered with many varieties of grasses, and are grazed by domestic animals including sheep, goats, horses, cattle, yaks, and camels, as well as wild antelopes, including enormous migratory herds of gazelles.
The high mountains of Mongolia rise mostly in the west. Some of the peaks are long-extinct volcanoes. The lofty Altai Shan range is part of a chain that continues over the border into China, Russia, and Kazakhstan; it runs northwest to southeast in Mongolia. Some two hundred glaciers cascade through the Altai range. Mongolia's highest mountain is Nayramadlïn Orgil (Huyten Orgil or Mount Huyten, also called Mount Nayramadlïn) rising 4,374 meters (14,350 feet) in the Tawan Bogdo group of the Altai at Mongolia's westernmost extension, where the country meets Russia, Kazakhstan, and China. The second-highest mountain in Mongolia, Mount Chajrchan Uul, 4,362 meters (14,311 feet), is in the central Altai range. The Hangayn (Khangai) range in central Mongolia has generally lower mountains. The highest peak in this range is Otgon Tenger (3,957 meters/12,982 feet). Another chain of low mountains is the Hentiyn (Khentei) range in north-central Mongolia, sprawling along and across the Russian border.
In the Dalanzadgad region of the Gobi Desert, Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park contains winding canyons of colorfully streaked sandstone, including Yolym Am (Yol Canyon), which surrounds a permanently frozen stream. Also within the National Park are the Flaming Cliffs, overlooking the Nemegt, Khermiin Tsav, and Bayanzag Canyons.
With an area of approximately 2,600,000 square kilometers (1,000,000 square miles), the Mongolian plateau spans both the independent nation of Mongolia (also called Outer Mongolia) and the Chinese province of Mongolia (called Inner Mongolia). The Gobi Desert separates the two regions. The plateau has an average elevation of 1,580 meters (5,184 feet), with passageways between mountain ranges varying in length from 1,931 to 3,218 kilometers (1,200 to 2,000 miles).
Mongolia has few bridges or paved roads. One of the few Buddhist monasteries that survived Soviet military invasions during the twentieth century is found in Kharakhorum, the Mongolian capital under the rule of Genghis Khan in the late twelfth century. Located within a large, walled compound, the monastery contains the remaining two of four giant turtles carved out of the rock.
Ovoos , large ritual mounds made from rocks piled into a low pyramid, can be found throughout Mongolia. In many places, objects such as coins, bottles, animal skulls, and pieces of fabric are thrown onto ovoos . In northern Mongolia, the mounds are covered with wooden poles, creating a structure that resembles a teepee.
The canyons of the Flaming Cliffs contain archaeological sites that were first excavated in the early twentieth century. Early examples of dinosaur eggs have been found there, as well as many significant dinosaur skeletons from the late Cretaceous period.
Lawless, Jill. Wild East: The New Mongolia. Toronto: ECW Press, 2000.
Man, John. Gobi: Tracking the Desert. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1999.
Novacek, Michael. Dinosaurs of the Flaming Cliffs. New York: Anchor Books, 1997.
Destination Mongolia. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_east_asia/mongolia/ (accessed April 24, 2003).
Mongolia World. http://plaza.harmonix.ne.jp/~michie/mongolia.html (accessed April 24, 2003).
Visit Mongolia. http://www.visitmongolia.com/ (accessed April 24, 2003).
Also read article about Mongolia from Wikipedia
Mongolia forum


by: Candace Alnaji, mother lawyer.
1. Get all the kids ready. Like, ALL the kids. These are a lot of kids.
2. Change babies, put them in sweaters that make them look like bears, and strap them into their car seats. Put a blanket on each baby's lap.
3. Dress 3-year-old in probably way too many layers. He'd probably be OK with less, but he'll be exposed to the elements. The sun is shining and it feels sort of warm, but kind of cool. Is it actually cold? No one knows.
4. Prepare bottles for everyone including the 3-year-old and myself. 1% milk in a sippy cup for him and ice water in an adult water bottle for me. We're not weirdos.
5. Return from making bottles to find someone smells funny because of course.
7. Go outside to get double stroller from minivan.
8. Try and fail to open stroller. Cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've definitely done this before.
9. Continue struggling for a while. Like, a really long while. Like what is even going on?
10. Consider setting stroller on fire. We don't need a stroller.
11. Text my husband for help and hope he's not dealing with real adult problems, but still very dramatically tell the tale of this broken stroller that's about to be set on fire.
13. Never mind, I got it.
14. But wait, there's an extra piece. An extra piece is never good. Where does this thing even go?
15. Text picture to husband asking where does this thing even go.
17. Sure hope not. Decide I don't need this thing.
18. Retrieve babies from house. Place car seats in stroller.
19. Retrieve 3-year-old from house. He's been pressing his face against the glass asking what's taking so long.
20. Grab shoes for 3-year-old. Can't walk without shoes.
21. Grab backpack harness for 3-year-old. Yes, a leash. Wonder if it's really necessary. I could babywear a twin and put him in the stroller, but I want him to be able to walk beside me and explore things too.
22. Briefly ponder whether I could hold 3-year-old's hand and push double stroller with one hand.
23. Decide that I cannot.
24. Strap backpack on 3-year-old. This is fun. It's like an adventure.
25. Feel a little weird, but on the other hand, I don't want him getting hit by a truck. Truck > feeling weird.
26. Mailman walks over and 3-year-old introduces him to our entire family.
27. We're finally on the road. Until a gust of wind blows one of the car seat covers and my 3-year-old rushes to save the baby from the wind.
28. Run over the 3-year-old's shoe with the stroller.
29. Stop stroller to readjust heel of 3-year-old's shoe.
30. Pat myself on the back for how well things are going. Only like 300 hours have passed since we started.
34.-40. Stop for every stick and pine cone we pass. Literally all of them.
41. Feel confident in my choice to use the harness.
42. Spot a man walking a dog with a small towheaded child following closely behind. The dog is on the leash. The child is not. Immediately re-think harness.
44. Immediately confident in the harness once more.
45. Sticks and pine cones. What, did you think he forgot about those? Stay on your toes, people.
46. Continually redirect 3-year-old off people's lawns.
47. Explain trespass law to 3-year-old.
48. Have flashback to the bar exam. Not today, Satan.
49. Continue walking, picking up every piece of nature within the 4-block radius we walked, including an enormous stick. Like, where do you even find such a stick.
50. 3-year-old puts giant stick down and picks up smaller stick to keep for his records.
51. Arrive home, safe and sound. Promise we'll do it all again tomorrow.
Candace is a practicing attorney, working parents advocate, freelance writer, and proud mom. Checkout her Facebook Pageand email here at candace [at] themomatlaw [dot] com. This articleoriginally appeared on April 30, 2018 on www.themomatlaw.com and is republished here with permission of the author.


David calls in surrounded by goats. Ben is hanging out with Mrs Splinter, and is 'unable' to join the show today. We have an interesting catchup about goats. Feedback from LoneSQRL concerning the subject of people who die young, and how we should help them. Leigh would be an AMAZING farmer! Interesting points about the goldern triangle. Concern over Piers Morgan and our mission statement. Leigh gives important top tips about how to flirt while at school. Tashabella is planning to go to Drag Queen show in New York. Pants vs Trousers.
In hour two, Brian joins us. A prosecutor Tuesday told an English jury Mick Philpott and his wife set a fire that killed his six children to frame his former mistress. Survey: Swedes friendlier than Brits. Coca-Cola addiction linked to death.


The Hot Octopuss Pocket Pulse with remote is the latest in a series of Guybrators. This lightweight vibrating stroker can be used when one is flaccid or erect. Once an erection is achieved, the Pocket Pulse can be used completely hands free. The remote allows your partner to be in complete control of your stroker.


Whether it's time for a fun-filled family adventure, a spur of the moment getaway or a stop-over on the great Australian journey, Dubbo has something for everyone. So take the time to explore, time to indulge, time to relax and time to discover why visitors keep returning to the 'City of Smiles' year after year.
Experience a unique adventure in the City's great outdoors.
Get the blood pumping and the camera snapping when you skate Australia's first and only 'full pipe'.
of the 240 metre competition grade BMX track.
Pull out the pushbike and take a leisurely cycle along the 6.38km off road cycleway.
Delve into a non-stop feast of discovery, learning and fun.
Get up close and personal with the giraffes, hand feed the big cats or laugh with the meerkats as you discover over 700 majestic animals.
Tee off from the sun and putt your way into a spiraling black hole as you explore the universe while playing 18-hole astronomically themed mini golf.
Skip along the 'gumnut walk' and through the fairy garden to discover a bottle house created from 3000 bottles filled with rice grains, toys, photos and messages.
Discover a taste of pioneering life in 1800's Dubbo.
Hear hair raising tales of the savagery and woe of 19th century penal life when you wander the chilling cells and hangman's gallows.
Peek inside Australia's oldest standing timber slab homestead and get a snapshot of rural life in our pioneering days. Wander the sandstone stables and 'working areas' of the four hectare property before relaxing with a Devonshire tea.
Explore the streetscapes of Dubbo and discover the hidden stories within when you move through the People Places and Possessions exhibition.
Stroll the streets of Dubbo on a historical walk and see where Sydney underworld Queen Kate Leigh owned a casino called 'Flash Kate's'.
Be captivated by the City's vibrant emerging cultural scene.
10 hectares of recreational land.
Observe touring and in-house curated exhibitions in the largest gallery space west of the Blue Mountains with over 706m2 of exhibition space.
or get lost in the Australian landscape with striking colourful painted works.
Get those tastebuds tinging with Dubbo's dining scene.
Sink your teeth into everything from gourmet cuisine to diverse multicultural fare, meze style menus to hearty bistro meals.
Embrace the paddock to plate approach with seasonal fresh produce, free-range eggs and high quality meats direct from the farmer at the local farmers markets.
Savour a drop of light bodied red or fruity soft white from one of Dubbo's warm-climate wineries.
Unwind and unearth the hidden gems of the region with a tour.
Feel the sun warm your skin and the wind whip your hair when you discover the sights of Dubbo on a powerful 1.9L Volkswagen engine Trike.
Canter through the countryside and see the City from a new angle with a relaxing trail ride.
Meander through the Macquarie Valley and let the scenic river be your guide as you explore the art, nature, heritage and produce of our rich farming region.
For more reasons to smile visit the friendly team at Dubbo Visitor Information Centre.