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Posted on 14 August, 2015 by Tricia Fort
Clyde Cycle Tunnels to new hospital: UPDATE
On Monday 10 August, 2 members of the GoBike committee, plus 2 doctors from the new hospital, met with Andrew Brown, Projects Manager with responsibility for cycling infrastructure in Glasgow City Council, and his assistant, Steve Gray on site near the hospital. Andrew and Steve were able to see for themselves the chaotic state of affairs on Govan Road where southbound cycles and motor vehicles exit the tunnels – into the Fastlink construction site. At present cyclists and pedestrians have to fend for themselves to cross Govan Road in between cars, buses, lorries and cars, to get to their homes, to the shops or to their place of work. We were also at the entrance to the northbound cycle tunnel between 5:15 and 5:45 pm and saw the constant stream of people cycling home from the hospital via the tunnel. Many of these people have never commuted by bike before; a big modal shift has been brought about because these people have realised that using a bike provides a practical means of getting to and from the hospital.
What did come out of the meeting is:
An agreement by Andrew Brown to speak to his colleagues dealing with Fastlink to explore what can be done for cycling (and no, they have not been in close liaison during the Fastlink design and construction process).
News that the segregated cycle lane proposed for Peninver Drive, and unnecessary in our view, is now on hold because of concerns about other aspects of the Traffic Regulation Order for the area.
A commitment from the Council to look with some urgency at the crossing from Peninver Drive across Moss Road into the heavily used cycle and pedestrian access to the hospital opposite.
Acknowledgement from the Council that the very narrow northbound cycle lane marked on Moss Road with faint, white paint, just outside the double yellow lines, is inadequate.
The view from GoBike that the Council's proposal for cyclists exiting the southbound tunnel, and wanting to go west to the hospital, to go east towards the roundabout on very narrow redetermined footways and cross over one side road and 2 independent Toucan crossings before heading west, is adding distance and time to the cycle journey, is impractical, over-engineered and unrealistic.
The observance that the desire line for cyclists exiting the southbound tunnel is to directly cross Govan Road before heading west to the hospital. Andy Winter, the GoBike member who was one of the two doctors at the meeting, has already stated to the Council that this is the route that should be formalised. (The photograph accompanying this post was taken at 08:35 on the morning of 14 August; in under 10 minutes 20 cyclists were seen exiting the southbound tunnel and everyone of them used the route shown on the photograph.)
Confirmation from the Council that the area leading to the northbound tunnel is to be resurfaced soon.
Confirmation from the Council that they are actively looking at improved surfacing within the tunnels; it has been suggested to them that trials of the proposed surfacing materials are carried out.
Confirmation from the Council that signage directing people to the cycle tunnels and the hospital is to be erected soon (we were told that this had been delayed because of the change of name of the hospital!)
In addition the hospital staff told us that cycle parking and showers are available for staff, the Bike to Work Scheme has been promoted within the hospital, there are moves to set up a Bicycle Users Group and hospital management are working with cycling commuters to draw up a cycle-centric guide on routes to the hospital
From all of this it is clear that cycling is rarely considered within Glasgow City Council, apart from by the staff in Andrew Brown's section; ie there is little, or no, joined up thinking and, overall, traffic planning for the new hospital has not been realistic. In particular a frequently used excuse that the state of the road layout was 'due to Fastlink', where cycle and pedestrian safety appears to have been completely ignored, has worn rather hollow.
GoBike objected to the Fastlink proposals because of the exclusion of cycles and the potential danger posed to people on bikes by the new traffic layout, but we were ignored, although concessions are now creeping in in response to realisation by the Council of the need to improve cycle provision.
So while a great new hospital has been delivered on time and in budget, there has been a failure within the City Council to adequately respond to this in terms of cycle and pedestrian access. GoBike will be bringing our concerns to the attention of the councillors for the area and we suggest that you do likewise. The local councillors are:
Councillor James Adams, Labour Party, e-mail: james.adams2@glasgow.gov.uk
Councillor Stephen Dornan, Scottish National Party, e-mail: stephen.dornan@glasgow.gov.uk
CouncilLor John Kane, Labour Party, e-mail: john.kane@glasgow.gov.uk
Bailie Fariha Thomas, Labour Party, e-mail: fariha.thomas@glasgow.gov.uk"
CategoriesGoBike
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Navajo-Inspired Home Textiles Land at Macy's
Ohio Automation Alliance Challenges China PPE Production
By Sarah Jones
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Two Ohio manufacturers are partnering up to boost domestic personal protective equipment production by leveraging automation and sharing knowledge.
The Ohio Manufacturing Alliance, which is a coalition among the Ohio Manufacturers Association, Ohio Development Services Agency, JobsOhio and the Ohio Hospital Association, together with The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), connected Stitches USA and Buckeye Mask to allow both parties to cut costs and improve efficiency in mask production.
Earlier this year, the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance and MAGNET came together to search for candidates in the state to operate automated sewing machines for cotton masks. The two companies chosen for the program are receiving a combined $530,000 from the Ohio PPE Retooling and Reshoring Grant Program and a total $3 million in loans from JobsOhio and to acquire equipment.
"The state of Ohio, between March and May, was actively trying to make PPE locally, and was finding that the demand of going back to work and everybody having masks in the state of Ohio was so much greater than what Ohio could produce that they wanted to invest alongside of companies who are willing to add this to their product line," said Carla Macklin, president of Buckeye Mask Company.
Stitches USA, a division of Superb Industries, typically produces flags, hazmat suits and equestrian gear at a plant in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Meanwhile, Buckeye Mask is a startup incorporated in May between Macklin and two executives from National Safety Apparel, an 85-year-old firm based in Cleveland that produces workwear, PPE and thermal protective wear.
Both Stitches USA and Buckeye Mask are using an automated sewing machine model that was built specially for this project by a German firm in a matter of months. The machines feature three sewing heads, as well as feeders, pullers and sensors that ensure that the fabric is moving properly. This sewing process is entirely automated, and operators only have to feed new inputs into the machine. It is also adjustable to fit a variety of face sizes. Stitches is running six machines, while Buckeye has nine.
Levi's Says Robots Took on 25,000 Hours of Work Last Year
How Mexico Nearshoring, Logistics Tech Could Impact Supply Chain in 2023
The Ohio companies are the first to exclusively test out these machines. "They will likely go into the market and try to sell these machines to other manufacturers interested in producing these masks, but as it stands right now Stitches and Buckeye Mask are the only companies who own the equipment at this point," said Macklin.
While they would usually be competitors, Stitches USA and Buckeye Mask have come together to share other operational efficiencies. From a technical standpoint, the partnership has allowed them to speed up their discoveries, such as determining which fabrics work best with the machine and which adjustments need to be made on the equipment.
The project is able to produce 1.5 million masks per month, and the partnership is said to be competitive with Chinese manufacturing output when at full capacity.
Stitches and Buckeye are also working together to compete on price. This includes bulk ordering raw materials, and jointly bidding on projects to offer customers a better deal. They are making masks for governments and institutions that are buying PPE for their employees or constituents, rather than going direct to consumer.
Macklin has seen pricing for masks change in a short period of time. In the beginning of the pandemic, when masks were in shorter supply, prices were higher. But now additional domestic players are entering the category, and international suppliers are back up and running. "It will likely continue to become a really competitive marketplace—we're essentially making a commodity, and that will be competitive as the market ages," she said. "Since it's so new right now, there's been advantages to be first to market with a product like ours."
While there are benefits to sharing information and resources for now, Macklin sees a future where Stitches and Buckeye are "pure competitors" again in part due to pricing pressure.
As fashion takes a renewed look at nearshoring, this model of collaborative price optimization could be adopted by other governments and product categories to support local production.
"Everybody's talked for decades about how all production of goods have gone offshore, and with an investment by the government into for-profit companies while encouraging competition, it may be a really smart way to leverage state dollars to bring jobs and products back onshore, bringing automation into play to keep costs down and providing a healthy manufacturing environment," said Macklin.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Rolling Stones on North American Tour
1, Feb 2013 | ULTIMAS NOTICIAS
The Wanted's fans have been taking to Twitter to hail praise the band's new single 'Walks Like Rihanna' as «perfect» and «beautiful» after it was exclusively played for the first time on Capital FM this morning (29th April).Jay, Max, Tom,...


As a Senior Data Analyst, you will contribute to the vision of your team and with the different business units to establish and maintain best practices for data-driven decisions, including the data supply chain, data storage, reporting solutions, and analysis.
With 450+ employees from 50 nationalities, GetYourGuide is on a mission to turn trips into amazing experiences, using our product and technology to change the way travelers find and book things to do and explore their destination. We connect these travelers to our vast catalog of amazing experiences through our online marketplace.
The Analytics team's mission is to enable the organisation to take action based on data. We work on a variety of problems and datasets as members of cross-functional mission teams. We take ownership of the entire analytics funnel from exploration through recommendations to impact measurement and take pride in the insights we generate.
5 Crucial Questions About A/B Testing Answered.
Thanks for applying to our Senior Data Analyst position and welcome to the GetYourGuide Talent Pool!


Experience the best Nature Adventure tour package the Philippines has to offer. This tour package includes a visit to the amazing Banaue Rice Terraces, sunrise watching at Kiltepan peak, spelunking inside Sumaging or Lumiang Cave, watching the locals weave their magic while creating works of arts and a taste of some of the sweetest strawberries from La Trinidad Benguet. Rates quoted is per person and based on minimum of 10 pax per booking. If your traveling alone or less than 10 pax. Message me first so that I could create a customized tour package for you and your group.


BW is a professional cutter manufacturer. Above photo is new developed portable compound sharpener of end mill and tap.
Compound grinder may assemble two functions, re-grinding end mill, drill, tap, or carbide rod. For End Mill+Drill Sharpener, it apply to re-sharpen dia 2mm – 13mm, of square end mills with flute 2,3, 4, and 6 to make cutter sharp again.
It may use fine diamond cutting wheel during re-grinding process to increase the surface smooth and decrease cutting scar.
Adjustable grinding holder of central rake angle : grinding end, central rake angle, 2nd relief angle at the same time. And the re-grind end mills are over central point after sharpening.
The right side of machine is for sharpening taps. It may re-grind carbide and HSS taps of 3-4 flues, dia M16 – M32, edge angle 5°-30°. It may grind correct angle of tap through adjustable grinding holder of central angle.
Both sides of diamond cutting wheel could be applied, which may promote efficiency.
CBN400-200 wheel may reach fine surface of cutter and decrease cutting scar of work piece.Break tap will influence the quality of work piece. The portable sharpener may be used in time, very flexible in usage.
BW tool sharpener weight 12-15 kg, pilot angle from 5°-30°, power AC110 and AC220 50/60Hz, 6000 R.P.M. It may cut the broken cutter and re-grind the head of end mill. Very efficient in the short time and cost saving.
Convenient in usage, precise, speedy, and cost saving, which is very good for factories.


leucovorin and 5-FU for patients with stage II and III rectal cancer.
pelvic radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
tumor tissue specimens with treatment efficacy.
preference and then randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms.
concurrent fluorouracil IV continuously 7 days a week for 5 1/2 weeks.
leucovorin calcium IV continuously for 4 days on weeks 1 and 5.
NOTE: *Regimen C is allowed only for patients enrolled on protocol NSABP-R-04.
on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36. Treatment repeats every 8 weeks for 3 courses.
days after complete surgical resection, patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms.
arm II for 4 courses.
and 2 additional courses of adjuvant chemotherapy for arm III.


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________________________ Spreading the Love of Reading One Book at a Time _______________________
This blog is for anyone whoever picked up a book and couldn't put it down. It's for anyone who loves to read and reads often. It's for anyone like me who's been seduced by a book and can't wait to discuss it.
Rating Scales
Wall of Blurbs
My Picks for September
My Picks for January:
Early Review of Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4) by Ilona Andrews
Title: Sapphire Flames: A Hidden Legacy Novel
Classification: Adult Fiction
Series: Hidden Legacy (Book 4)
Format: Paperback; 400 pages
Publisher: Avon (August 27, 2019)
Author's Website: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/
Notes: I received and eARC loan from the publisher. This in no way affected my rating.
A century and a half ago, the Osiris serum was discovered by scientists which unlocked a person's magical abilities. The serum was given to soldiers so that wars could be won, but scientists didn't comprehend what they'd truly done until much later. The serum was locked away, but the damage had been done because it was soon found that magical talents could be passed from parent to child. The world, as we knew it, was changed forever as a restructuring of power occurred. Money no longer guaranteed power, influence, and prestige in this magically oriented new world, rather, one's magical abilities did. For with the power of magic, one could acquire the rest.
Talents varied among people, but each person who gained magical abilities from the serum showed potential toward one specific type of magic. Among the varying classifications, ranges of talent were soon noted, and magic users were categorized into five different ranks: Minor, Average, Notable, Significant, and Prime. The highest and strongest being Prime. Soon magical dynasties, as the most powerful of magical families came to be called, were broken into Houses and attempted to manipulate and enhance their family's magical potential by arranging marriages which would bring about the most gifted and talented of offspring. Certain magics, it was found, complimented one another and had a high potential of producing offspring with stronger and greater magical abilities. Still others, when their magics were mixed, were found to be incompatible and produced offspring with no magical talents whatsoever.
Three years ago the Baylor family had undergone the trials to prove that their family possessed at least two Primes, and were granted permission to declare themselves a House. The family talents were verified by the Panel of Prime judges, and their records were sealed, so no on outside the trials could find out what the family talents were. Being a new house, they were granted the courtesy of immunity from attacks by other houses for three years. That reprieve is about to expire, and that is when the fun (I say in jest) will begin.
Catalina Baylor has recently taken on the position of head investigator of her family's business--Baylor Investigative Agency. A position her sister, Nevada, held until she married into another House. The firm specializes in small-time investigations, but lately, since their house was declared, a new clientele has emerged with more difficult and magically inclined cases. Catalina's just been asked by Augustine for a favor. He wants her to help him stop Ragnar Etterson, a Prime, from committing suicide by jumping off the top of a building. Catalina has a talent which has deemed her a siren because she can call people to her and make them love and become obsessed with her to a disturbing level. That means once she unleashes her power Ragnar will do anything she asks just to please her. The question is, can she reach him in time?
Two days ago, Ragnar's mother and sister died in a fire. He is not taking the loss well. What Catalina has yet to discover is that the deaths are very suspicious, and are most likely the result of a feud between houses. When she realizes which family Ragnar is a part of, she'll become embroiled in something that could get her and her family killed. The Baylors owe Ragnar's family a debt and will do all they can to get down to the bottom of what happened, and do all they can to keep the two remaining siblings safe.
This is the fourth book (fifth story--there is a novella, Diamond Fire, you should also read) of the Hidden Legacy series. I highly recommend you don't jump in the deep end with this one if you've not read the previous books. There is a lot of history between characters as well as family dynamics from the previous stories that will be missed if you do. You'll most likely feel a bit lost. Plus, the other stories endear you to the Baylor's because you'll know what they've been through, what they've dealt with, and how far they've come. Additionally, you'll miss out on seeing each of the Baylor family, especially Catalina in this book, come into their own because you won't have witnessed their transformations. At the very least, read the novella. It is not to be missed, and gives you an idea of what you're in for. Side Note: If you haven't read the novella, but have read the first three books, read the novella. It gives you a frame of reference as to why and how Catalina changed so much.
Usually when a series changes main characters after having several books I tend to get upset. That was not the case with this one. Perhaps this had something to do with the novella, Diamond Fire, where Nevada voices the prologue, but Catalina voices the rest of the novella. All I know is that I was all in from the beginning, and loved seeing how Catalina had become a strong and confident young woman. While she is still finding her footing, the expression, "You've come a long way baby!" whispered in my head. She understands what she's up against and will do what she needs to to accomplish it. Family is everything to her, and she'd do anything for them even if that means selling a bit of her soul.
Alessandro Sagredo was a real surprise. While there was no doubt he'd be Catalina's love interest, he was a twist I never saw coming. He is so very different from who I knew him to be, or rather thought I knew him to be. Everything I thought I knew about him was wrong. I loved learning a little of his back story, and look forward to learning even more about him. I loved how he always had Catalina's back and he's so much more than just a pretty face. We quickly learn, he's a multifaceted character with many secrets and layers.
The mystery of what happened to Sigourney Etterson and her daughter kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. There were twists and surprises at every turn. The story had depth and layers to it which Catalina had to uncover one secret at a time in order to unravel the mystery of it all. Drama, suspense, and questions abound as what is being hidden comes to light.
I couldn't help but give this story 5 out of 5 roses. The world the writing team of Ilona Andrews has created is fun, complex, complicated, and dangerous on a grand scale. The mystery kept me guessing but unable to solve whodunit until all was revealed. I love when that happens. I enjoyed the romance that is slowly blossoming between Alessandro and Catalina. I loved how the Baylor women make their men work for their favor. I also loved how almost everything isn't all what it first appears to be. It's like one giant puzzle box that once one puzzle unfolds, another is unearthed. On the Lisarenee Romance Scale, this one earned a BLUSH rating--at the beginning stages of romance where something is just starting to be stirred. Like many urban fantasy stories, this romance will take its time to increase in intensity and come to full bloom, and I can't wait for when it does. I HIGHLY recommend this series. I love where Ilona Andrews is taking us! It was so good.
Order of the Hidden Legacy series:
Posted by Lisarenee at 10:13 PM
Labels: avonromance, Early Review, Hidden Legacy, Ilona Andrews, Sapphire Flames, Urban Fantasy
Early Review of Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4)...
Early Review of The Duchess in His Bed (Sins for A...
Giveaway/Sneak Peek/Review of The Wallflower Wager...
"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth."— William W. Purkey
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About My Homework


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San Diego Padres' Josh Bell reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the first inning of Game 1…
San Diego Padres' Josh Bell reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the first inning of Game 1 of a National League wild-card baseball playoff series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Guardians add power, officially sign former Pirates' slugger
by: Chad Krispinsky
CLEVELAND (WKBN) — The Cleveland Guardians have officially signed first-baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell to a two-year free agent contract.
The deal is reportedly worth $33 million, and includes a player opt-out after the 2023 season.
Report: Baker Mayfield finds new NFL home
The former Pittsburgh Pirates' slugger has played seven seasons in the Major League, and is career .262 hitter with 130 home runs.
Against American League opponents, Bell has batted .307 with 29 doubles, 22 homers, and 76 RBI.
Since 2017, Bell ranks fourth among Major League switch-hitters in homers (127), total bases (1303), and extra base-hits (294).
Bell split the 2022 season between Washington and San Diego, collecting career-highs in hits (147) and walks (81), helping him earn his first career Silver Slugger award.
During the 2022 campaign with the Nationals and Padres, he posted a combined average of .266 with 17 homers, 3 triples, 29 doubles and 71 RBI's in 156 games.


Matti Niebelschütz is Entrepreneur from Berlin, Germany. He is founder of UNIQUE, an innovative company that produces custom fragrances, and co-founder of Elite Startups, a private equity company. On this blog he shares his experiences and opinions on Entrepreneurship.
Gemeinsam neue Wege gehen: Die Crowd macht's möglich!
Party vorbei? Mehr Unternehmergeist wagen!
Copyrights © 2014 Matti Niebelschütz. All Rights Reserved.


Congratulations and thank you so much for booking with EmVision Photography for your wedding! I am so excited to work with you and capture your wedding day from start to finish! This is such an exciting time for you and your families. I am honored to be a part of this special day!
Are we to cover the bride's preparation?
If yes, what is the address of the bride's prep?
Are we to cover the groom's preparation?
If yes, what is the address of the groom's prep?
Please list all formal family photos to be taken (example: bride + mother and father, bride + mother, father and siblings, etc.). Please try to limit to 10.
Please list your ideal timeline for the wedding ceremony + reception. Please make this as detailed as possible. If you have a wedding planner/coordinator, please send your timeline in a separate email.
Other vendors I that may not have included?


Instructions: White cardstock is the background. Cut 2 strips of the striped patterned paper that are 1.25" wide. Cut 2 strips of the dark pink patterned paper that are 1" wide and tear one edge on each. Adhere these layers together and attach to the white cardstock background on the top and bottom. Find and cut out the small journal block with the decorative green border. Cut off one corner and add to the top of the layout in the middle.
Paint both chipboard pieces with the white Distress Paint. Let dry. Using my finger and the gold Metallic Lustre, I added shading on both chipboard pieces. Using a liquid adhesive, add Crystal Clear glitter highlights around the oval frame. Die cut 1 scalloped oval mat from black cardstock. Die cut your photo with a smaller oval die. Adhere these layers together. Hand cut a piece of white cardstock to fit behind the oval chipboard frame. Adhere the matted photo to the white cardstock using 3D foam squares. Attach the chipboard frame to the white cardstock using 3D foam squares. Set aside.
Die cut 2 Arianna Lace from white cardstock. Using circle dies, cut 2 large green patterned paper circles, cut 2 slightly smaller light pink patterned paper circles, cut 2 slightly smaller orange patterned paper circles, and then cut 2 slightly smaller again light green patterned paper circles. Adhere the smallest light green circles to the edges of the layout, then the light pink circles and then the dark green patterned paper circles. Adhere the orange circles to the white Arianna Lace and adhere on top of the dark green patterned paper circles using 3D foam squares. Add the oval chipboard frame piece using 3D foam squares in the middle of the layout.
Stamp and die cut 1 set of the Large Camelia Carnation leaves in Early Espresso ink. Add color to the leaves using Green Apple ink and daubers. Stamp and die cut 2 sets of each of the large and medium Small Camelia Carnation images using Early Espresso ink. I added color to the dark pink carnations using Berrylicious ink and daubers, by just dusting the edges of the petals. I added color to the light pink carnations doing the same dusted edge technique using Blush ink. I added color to the orange carnations using Spiced Marmalade ink, and dusted the edges with Pumpkin Spice ink using daubers. Using the 3D Floral Basics Mold, shape all of the flowers. I did a little additional shaping using my shaping tool. Assemble the flowers. Using a liquid adhesive add Crystal Clear to the edges of the petals. Adhere an orange and light pink carnation to the bottom right of the oval frame. Add leaves and buttons. I added a mini flower, with a pearl in the middle. Adhere the "adore" title to the bottom right hand corner of the layout.
Add dark pink carnations to either side of the layout without leaves. Add an orange carnation to the top of the oval frame with a pearl in the middle and leaves. Also add buttons in a cluster around that area. Add a pearl to the patterned triangle at the top of the layout.


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It's our mission to keep piston engine aircraft in the air. It's our vision to build strong relationships with piston engine operators and engineers. Our outreach work helps us achieve our mission and vision by getting out there to spread the word.
Stories Unwritten
By John Pineau, MCP
When you head into the middle-of-nowhere with Nestor Falls Fly-in Outposts expect the weekend to produce a lot of stories. In fact, there's not enough space here to tell about everything happened, so I'll just focus on the highlights.
As a supplier to Gregorash Aviation I'm not normally invited to these kinds of company retreats, my seat on the aircraft reserved for a more deserving staff member, but someone had to back out in the last minute, creating the opportunity for me to experience a once in a lifetime event: four days in the wild with fifteen other guys including Gregorash owner Alvin Gregorash, lots of fishing rods, perogies, steaks, eggs, various beverages.
Two aircraft took off from the docks next to Selkirk Air / Riverside Maintenance, an Otter and a Beaver. As we flew above the rugged Canadian Shield, it was assuring to know that Nestor Falls Fly-In had worked with Aero Recip for many years. The flight was calm and uneventful, but for guys who'd rather have their feet in a fishing boat our safe landing at Larus Lake couldn't come quickly enough.
The first evening involved a quick fishing expedition onto the lake while Alvin and I protected the cabin from dangerous animals like squirrels. Chopping wood kept them at bay, not because squirrels don't like work, but because they don't like noise, and we had an axe.
While we did our part in the fire wood department, the rest of the crew was out on the lake making sure we had enough fresh Pickerel for the evening feast. And a feast it was, some of these multi-talented guys "wilderness chefs" as well as fisherman. The result was a mix of barbecued potatoes and breaded pickerel like you've never tasted before.
While the weather the next day wasn't necessarily ideal for fishing, it didn't stop the guys from eagerly heading onto the lake to begin the Fishing Derby, protected by layers of rain clothing. In the end it was Ben Picard of Ultimate Oil Coolers who won the Fishing Derby while Alvin and I caught a total of three fish, mostly because we were focused on protecting the cabin from squirrels with an axe.
I expected to see a lot of wildlife on this trip. But you never really know how awesome it is until you've actually experienced it.
Many an eagle can be seen on the lake, most perched high in the trees as they watch for unsuspecting prey to emerge from the depths of the water. We stopped to drop a few hooks near a majestic waterfall that created a break in the tall trees around us. The eagle quietly watched over us some 100 feet in the air atop one of the conifers. After catching a few fish we decided to throw another line in the water. Within seconds the eagle soared down toward us, its wings creating a shadow across the sky. In routine fashion, the eagle skimmed the water, devouring a fi sh near the surface, and flew effortlessly back to his perch.
Speaking of flying, I caught the first flight home as the guys hung out at the cabin waiting for the next plane to arrive. As we traced our tracks back toward Winnipeg we saw a few moose in a swamp down below, again, an awesome sight even from five hundred feet in the air. As I watched them quietly eating grass and drinking swamp water to pass the time, fur on their necks drooping like an old blanket, I realized how similar they looked to many of the guys back at camp, the effects of a weekend in the wild slowing them slightly as they packed their bags.


Orcas and commercial salmon fishermen share a common crisis — both need more adult Chinook salmon to return to the Columbia River; orcas to avoid starvation, fishermen to sustain their livelihoods and families.
Northwest orcas are starving and their population is declining — only 74 remain, in large part because their primary prey, Chinook salmon, have been pushed by dams, dewatering and habitat destruction to near extinction almost everywhere.
Salmon fishermen know this because for years, they too have seen reduced catches, reduced fishing seasons and spreading closures. Salmon fishermen too are now effectively an endangered species, and for the same reasons as orcas — their Chinook salmon prey are rapidly disappearing.
So, when six of the world's leading orca scientists banded together recently and wrote to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Task Force to share their conclusion that restoring Snake River spring Chinook is critical to preventing orca extinction, salmon fishermen from Astoria, Ilwaco and other coastal communities took note. These scientists are talking about their futures as well.
Since the mid-1990s, salmon scientists have said the single biggest step we can take to restore healthy salmon runs in the Snake River is to remove four low-value, high-cost dams on the lower river above its confluence with the Columbia. This step has been vigorously opposed by those who benefit from status quo dam operations.
But just as our understanding of the connection between orcas and Chinook salmon from the Columbia has evolved, so too has our understanding of the role these four dams play in damaging our regional salmon economy. We now know the region could bypass these four obsolete dams and still thrive.
A recent analysis by Energy Strategies, a Utah-based consulting firm that primarily works for utilities, concluded that the power these four dams combined produce could readily be replaced with clean energy and conservation, with little or no increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and at a low cost to consumers — about $1.25 per month on the average bill. The economic costs of these lower Snake River dams, in terms of thousands of lost salmon-based jobs (in Astoria and elsewhere), costs the region staggeringly more.
Once, the hydropower produced by the four lower Snake River dams was useful and valuable. But over the past 17 years, the average annual 943 megawatts these dams produced was actually "surplus power," amounting to less than 4 percent of the total power generated from the Federal Power System, which today generates a 17 percent energy surplus. The Northwest is so awash with surplus power that it can often be sold only at a net loss. In other words, instead of making money on it, the Bonneville Power Administration often has to pay California and other states to take it! In short, as power producers, the four lower Snake River dams are now economically obsolete.
The dams' agriculture transportation functions are also replaceable. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data show barge shipping on the lower Snake has been in steady decline since at least 2000, so much so that, under Corps' criteria, the lower Snake would today be classified as a "low use" waterway.
Today, the only thing shipped by barge on the lower Snake waterway is grain, chiefly wheat. But increasingly, wheat is being transported by rail. In fact, because of increased rail efficiency, more wheat is going to market by train every year. It is only massive subsidies that keep barge shipments economically viable at all.
Removing the lower Snake River dams would require some reinvestment in rail capacity, but doing so would improve efficiency even more. It could even cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the distance grain has to be moved by truck, which is both costly and highly polluting. And grain could still be moved by barge on the Columbia from the Tri-Cities to Portland, an economic opportunity for the Tri-Cities, an area that was a booming grain shipment port before the Snake River dams were built in the 1960s — and could be again.
Those opposing restoring the lower Snake River often cite irrigation and flood control in defending the dams. But irrigation from the lower Snake only serves 13 farms, all around Ice Harbor dam, irrigation that could be easily maintained by modifying the current system to include stronger pumps and longer pipes, a simple plumbing problem. And, because the lower Snake River dams have no water storage capacity, they play no significant role in flood control.
So where does this leave us? As a region, do we continue failed policies that push the orcas, and salmon fishermen and their communities, further toward extinction? Or do we want to do something to save them both?
The message couldn't be clearer: it is past time for bold action to bring back the Chinook salmon that sustain mother orcas and their pods as well as salmon-dependent human communities. And the biggest champions should be salmon fishermen, sport and commercial alike, who depend on bringing back the same Chinook the orcas so desperately need.
Many fishermen are already at the forefront of salmon restoration efforts, through organizations like Salmon for All and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. But we're at a tipping point. If we don't take steps like removing the lower Snake River dams soon, we risk losing our orcas as well as our own salmon heritage and the lives, communities, cultures and jobs salmon support.
It's time we all raised our voices to insist that we can restore the Snake River, find ways to meet the legitimate needs of those who also depend on it, whether for power or irrigation, and bring back our salmon. Please be part of that effort.
Glen Spain is the northwest regional director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, a trade association for commercial fishing families on the West Coast.


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Q: Detect if an OCR text image is upside down I have some hundreds of images (scanned documents), most of them are skewed. I wanted to de-skew them using Python.
Here is the code I used:
import numpy as np
import cv2

from skimage.transform import radon

filename = 'path_to_filename'
# Load file, converting to grayscale
img = cv2.imread(filename)
I = cv2.cvtColor(img, COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
h, w = I.shape
# If the resolution is high, resize the image to reduce processing time.
if (w > 640):
    I = cv2.resize(I, (640, int((h / w) * 640)))
I = I - np.mean(I)  # Demean; make the brightness extend above and below zero
# Do the radon transform
sinogram = radon(I)
# Find the RMS value of each row and find "busiest" rotation,
# where the transform is lined up perfectly with the alternating dark
# text and white lines
r = np.array([np.sqrt(np.mean(np.abs(line) ** 2)) for line in sinogram.transpose()])
rotation = np.argmax(r)
print('Rotation: {:.2f} degrees'.format(90 - rotation))

# Rotate and save with the original resolution
M = cv2.getRotationMatrix2D((w/2,h/2),90 - rotation,1)
dst = cv2.warpAffine(img,M,(w,h))
cv2.imwrite('rotated.jpg', dst)

This code works well with most of the documents, except with some angles: (180 and 0) and (90 and 270) are often detected as the same angle (i.e it does not make difference between (180 and 0) and (90 and 270)). So I get a lot of upside-down documents.
Here is an example:

The resulted image that I get is the same as the input image.
Is there any suggestion to detect if an image is upside down using Opencv and Python?
PS: I tried to check the orientation using EXIF data, but it didn't lead to any solution.

EDIT:
It is possible to detect the orientation using Tesseract (pytesseract for Python), but it is only possible when the image contains a lot of characters.
For anyone who may need this:
import cv2
import pytesseract

print(pytesseract.image_to_osd(cv2.imread(file_name)))

If the document contains enough characters, it is possible for Tesseract to detect the orientation. However, when the image has few lines, the orientation angle suggested by Tesseract is usually wrong. So this can not be a 100% solution.

A: Assuming you did run the angle-correction already on the image, you can try the following to find out if it is flipped:

*

*Project the corrected image to the y-axis, so that you get a 'peak' for each line. Important: There are actually almost always two sub-peaks!

*Smooth this projection by convolving with a gaussian in order to get rid of fine structure, noise, etc.

*For each peak, check if the stronger sub-peak is on top or at the bottom.

*Calculate the fraction of peaks that have sub-peaks on the bottom side. This is your scalar value that gives you the confidence that the image is oriented correctly.

The peak finding in step 3 is done by finding sections with above average values. The sub-peaks are then found via argmax.
Here's a figure to illustrate the approach; A few lines of you example image

*

*Blue: Original projection

*Orange: smoothed projection

*Horizontal line: average of the smoothed projection for the whole image.

here's some code that does this:
import cv2
import numpy as np

# load image, convert to grayscale, threshold it at 127 and invert.
page = cv2.imread('Page.jpg')
page = cv2.cvtColor(page, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)
page = cv2.threshold(page, 127, 255, cv2.THRESH_BINARY_INV)[1]

# project the page to the side and smooth it with a gaussian
projection = np.sum(page, 1)
gaussian_filter = np.exp(-(np.arange(-3, 3, 0.1)**2))
gaussian_filter /= np.sum(gaussian_filter)
smooth = np.convolve(projection, gaussian_filter)

# find the pixel values where we expect lines to start and end
mask = smooth > np.average(smooth)
edges = np.convolve(mask, [1, -1])
line_starts = np.where(edges == 1)[0]
line_endings = np.where(edges == -1)[0]

# count lines with peaks on the lower side
lower_peaks = 0
for start, end in zip(line_starts, line_endings):
    line = smooth[start:end]
    if np.argmax(line) < len(line)/2:
        lower_peaks += 1

print(lower_peaks / len(line_starts))

this prints 0.125 for the given image, so this is not oriented correctly and must be flipped.
Note that this approach might break badly if there are images or anything not organized in lines in the image (maybe math or pictures). Another problem would be too few lines, resulting in bad statistics.
Also different fonts might result in different distributions. You can try this on a few images and see if the approach works. I don't have enough data.

A: Python3/OpenCV4 script to align scanned documents.
Rotate the document and sum the rows. When the document has 0 and 180 degrees of rotation, there will be a lot of black pixels in the image:

Use a score keeping method. Score each image for it's likeness to a zebra pattern. The image with the best score has the correct rotation. The image you linked to was off by 0.5 degrees. I omitted some functions for readability, the full code can be found here.
# Rotate the image around in a circle
angle = 0
while angle <= 360:
    # Rotate the source image
    img = rotate(src, angle)
    # Crop the center 1/3rd of the image (roi is filled with text)
    h,w = img.shape
    buffer = min(h, w) - int(min(h,w)/1.15)
    roi = img[int(h/2-buffer):int(h/2+buffer), int(w/2-buffer):int(w/2+buffer)]
    # Create background to draw transform on
    bg = np.zeros((buffer*2, buffer*2), np.uint8)
    # Compute the sums of the rows
    row_sums = sum_rows(roi)
    # High score --> Zebra stripes
    score = np.count_nonzero(row_sums)
    scores.append(score)
    # Image has best rotation
    if score <= min(scores):
        # Save the rotatied image
        print('found optimal rotation')
        best_rotation = img.copy()
    k = display_data(roi, row_sums, buffer)
    if k == 27: break
    # Increment angle and try again
    angle += .75
cv2.destroyAllWindows()

How to tell if the document is upside down? Fill in the area from the top of the document to the first non-black pixel in the image. Measure the area in yellow. The image that has the smallest area will be the one that is right-side-up:

# Find the area from the top of page to top of image
_, bg = area_to_top_of_text(best_rotation.copy())
right_side_up = sum(sum(bg))
# Flip image and try again
best_rotation_flipped = rotate(best_rotation, 180)
_, bg = area_to_top_of_text(best_rotation_flipped.copy())
upside_down = sum(sum(bg))
# Check which area is larger
if right_side_up < upside_down: aligned_image = best_rotation
else: aligned_image = best_rotation_flipped
# Save aligned image
cv2.imwrite('/home/stephen/Desktop/best_rotation.png', 255-aligned_image)
cv2.destroyAllWindows()

A: You can use the Alyn module. To install it:
pip install alyn

Then to use it to deskew images(Taken from the homepage):
from alyn import Deskew
d = Deskew(
    input_file='path_to_file',
    display_image='preview the image on screen',
    output_file='path_for_deskewed image',
    r_angle='offest_angle_in_degrees_to_control_orientation')`
d.run()

Note that Alyn is only for deskewing text.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The USA is once again Leading the World on the forefront of auto-technology!
from USA TODAY: "SAN FRANCISCO - Call it a car with night vision goggles.
Ford engineers working on the company's autonomous car technology recently succeeded in making a self-driving Ford Fusion lap its Arizona Proving Grounds in complete darkness, using laser radar, or Lidar, as its guide.
OK, so obviously they are making a point, and a great one at that.
It is possible, NOW, to have a car get around without any lights and so the cameras on board are not really cameras at all. They are LIDAR devices, a kind of radar that many engineering firms use to survey terrain, buildings, and all conditions of the environment.
It's not just Google doing this stuff.
The car drove with no headlights, and no driver.
It collected environment object and terrain data by beams of laser light shot out into the desert.
On-board computers instantly concluded where the car was in relation to the landscape data provided by those laser scans.
Ford is testing dozens of these vehicles all over. So are other car companies. This phenomenon is happening all over the world. The auto makers know it is coming, and being pushed by Google they are moving quick to implement.
Google is also expanding its self-driving car test program, but Google lacks the car manufacturing capability, for now.
a week ago... Ford and Google Teamed Up (alliance) to Support Driverless Cars!
DETROIT — In an unusual alliance between a traditional automaker and a technology company, Ford Motor and Google on Wednesday joined to lead a coalition of companies that advocate federal approval of driverless cars in the near future.
By teaming up to promote regulations that favor fully-autonomous vehicles, Ford and Google may be moving toward closer cooperation on the actual development of driverless models.
Ford's chief executive, Mark Fields, has said in recent months that his company is evaluating potential partnerships with other firms on autonomous vehicles, but has not made any formal moves in that direction.
Still, by forming a public policy coalition that includes Google, Ford is aligning with Silicon Valley's most prominent supporter of cars that can operate without a driver.
The nation's top auto safety regulator, Mark Rosekind, said the federal government wants to reduce the death toll in auto accidents, and thinks driverless technology could help reduce the annual death toll from traffic accidents: 32,675 people died in auto accidents in 2014! He said 90 percent of vehicle accidents are human error.
It seems like a no-brainer that computers can do a better job at reducing these mistakes, many of which are from distracted driving, something a computer has no problem with.


text:
Home » USA Online Casino News » NHS Says Premier League Clubs Must Help Tackle Gaming Addiction
NHS Says Premier League Clubs Must Help Tackle Gaming Addiction
The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, has issued its overall assessment of the health and social welfare of its citizens. It has stated that it is concerned with the level of gambling in the country, especially among its younger citizens. The NHS has criticized the Premier League football teams for their part in the amount of gambling in the country, especially with sports books.
The Position of the NHS
The chief executive of the NHS Simon Stevens has labeled compulsive gambling as a health threat. He has warned the government that the overstretched health service does not have the capacity to handle all of the mental health needs that may arise from problem gambling. The NHS believes that in particular, foreign gambling entities and sportsbooks are not contributing to the NHS through tax revenues. Instead gambling entities are exacerbating the mental health challenges within the country.
In particular, the NHS is calling out the betting companies who support Premier League Clubs. They are required to pay into a fund to aid addiction and mental health for UK citizens, but they have not.
Problem Gaming in the UK
An estimated 2% of the gaming population have a gambling addiction, and approximately 5% more are problem gamblers. NHS research indicates that there is a link between those gamblers with a gambling addiction and mental health problems. The gambling addicted experience higher levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and other addictions, including alcoholism and drug abuse. The NHS research also says that two-thirds of problem gamers worsen with time. The NHS doesn't offer treatment by specialists so the gamblers are left to fend for themselves.
By NHS estimates, 430,000 people in the UK are dealing with a gaming problem. Research has also found that 370,000 teenagers (11-16 years old) spent money on gambling during one week of 2017 alone.
Other Countries' Response to Advertising and Sport Gaming
Other countries are taking action by banning the advertisement of sports teams. For example, Australia has banned all advertising on television during live sporting events from five in the morning until after 10 p.m. Italy has banned all advertising on television for any sports team, as well. Other countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom, have considered legal restrictions on sports gaming and team sponsorship as well as advertising. This would mean that sportsbooks might not be able to put their logos on team gear, at the stadium, or on travel equipment for the team.
Meanwhile, the NHS is working to ensure that sportsbooks operating in the UK contribute to a public health fund aiding the gambling addicted. Australia has been using a point of consumption tax for foreign gaming companies, in part to fund social service programs within their states. Other countries within the EU have also been considering funding to aid mental health programs. Some provinces in Canada as well as those in the United States also have requirements for taxation of gaming companies to pay for social services.
Previous articleJohn McCain: Loved Gambling, Not a Fan of Sports Betting
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https://muckrack.com/richard-m-holmes
Richard Holmes was born in Tampa, Florida and studied computer science at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola Florida. A devout Baptist, volunteer Sunday School teacher and online gaming fan, Richard works as a part-time systems administrator at Baptist Hospital and part-time professional blogger specializing in statistics, probability and computer science issues. He is an ardent believer in the future of artificial intelligence as a tool for transforming human society for the better, particularly in the area of health care and modern medicine. A chess player, and competitive online gamer Richard actively participates on online gaming tournaments in his free time.


Today N.A.T. make version 2.17 of the firmware for the NAT-MCH-Family of products as well as the improved and extended version 2.18 of the well known JAVA based GUI NATview available to customers.
Both releases include both improvements as well as new technical features, for details please refer to the release notes contained in the respective archive.
Customers who had registered for the firmware update service have automatically been notified by e-mail about the availability of the software updates.
If you would like to benefit from this service for future updates please register here. As soon as your registration is complete, you will receive all necessary information how to access the release archives.
For any specific question on these new releases please contact the support team using our support form.


A thinning lawn often benefits from rejuvenating practices like aerating and overseeding.
An attractive lawn requires a maintenance routine that usually includes irrigation, fertilizer application and mowing. Infrequent but still important lawn care practices include aeration and reseeding. A heavily trafficked lawn may benefit from annual aeration that allows moisture and air to reach grass roots, while reseeding, or overseeding, fills in bare spots or adds a turf species that will stay green during winter months. Dethatching is usually performed in conjunction with aeration or overseeding.
Aeration is necessary when damage from heavy traffic is visible or water puddles on or runs off of lawns without penetrating the soil. Aeration should not occur during hot summer months or after pre-emergence herbicides are applied. Overseeding is warranted when the lawn appears thin but is otherwise healthy or if the existing turf species is warm-season and turns brown in the winter, requiring the incorporation of a cool-season species to maintain a green color through winter.
Some species of turfgrass, including Kentucky bluegrass and zoysiagrass, are especially prone to thatch buildup. A thick layer of thatch, grass debris, that forms between the soil and grass blades makes it difficult for moisture and air to reach the grass roots. Machinery choices for thatch removal include power rakes and vertical mowers, or verticutters. A vertical mower is best if overseeding is also planned. That removal debris is raked up before aerating or overseeding.
Soils with a high clay content or lawn areas subjected to significant traffic require more frequent aeration than other turf areas. Aeration, which typically follows dethatching and debris removal, incorporates removing soil cores up to 1/2 inch wide and 3 to 4 inches deep spaced 4 to 6 inches apart. Thoroughly watering the turf area a few days before aerating softens the soil and makes it easier to work with. For small areas, a hand aerifier often proves sufficient, but for large areas a piston-driven or roller-type aerifier is far more efficient.
Prior to overseeding, the turf should be mowed short, or no more than about an inch high, dethatched and aerated. A top dressing with organic matter will improve soil quality. Seed is sown over bare spots or across the entire lawn at the rate recommended for the specific grass species or cultivar and tamped down or rolled over to ensure that the seed is solidly in contact with the soil.
A starter fertilizer intended for use at the time of grass seed planting will encourage vigor early. Frequent, light irrigation to keep the soil moist but not wet will encourage turf establishment. Young grass seedlings are particularly vulnerable to wear, so traffic on freshly overseeded lawns should be limited. Mowing is acceptable once the new turf grows at least one-third higher than the regular mowing height for that species.
Ryczkowski, Angela. "Aeration & Reseeding." Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/aeration-reseeding-29899.html. Accessed 23 April 2019.


I am following up on recent DC theatre community hullabaloo and this New York Times piece about Oscar nominees.
It does close to nothing to advance individual theatre artists or arts organizations. Being nominated or receiving one. That is not meant to be an ungracious statement in the least. But really: let's dispense with this belief.
Matt Wilson, J. Argyl Plath & Jon Reynolds from 2011 premiere.
I was shocked, like scene-from-a-movie said "did they just say Beertown?" shocked when dog & pony dc received its first and only HHA nomination for Outstanding New Play or Musical for Beertown. Making the show had nearly broken up the ensemble, and to have made it through the 14-month devising and production in one piece, have the show critically well received, have decided to remount a show for our first time ever, then suddenly be heading into the remount with either an HHA nomination or an HHA winner felt like a triumph for a barely 4-year old company. More importantly for us, a company no one seemed to understand, we got to the the first ensemble to be nominated for this award: 17 of us were "the playwright." 17 of us attended together with significant others and sat together and had a lovely reunion. When they didn't say Beertown had received the award, we breathed a strange sigh of relief. When they showed the Beertown artwork last in the coming-soon montage, all of us agreed this was the Awesomest Night Ever. Because we were there with each other.
Yes, d&pdc lists the HHA nomination as an accomplishment because it gave us street credit and matured us slightly in the eyes of some larger funders, out of town producers, etc. However: no one locally sought to hire any of us, book any of us, or give any of us money. No one who saw Beertown in summer 2012 reported on our audience survey they came because they heard about the HHA. Most reported they heard it was a great show that they missed the first time around.
The largest thing Washington, DC's theatre service organization, theatreWashington, does for theatre companies and artists is to produce an annual awards ceremony and party. Instead of questioning that fact, the community always seems to be questioning the way tW is coordinating and producing the awards and party. In every sub sector of our community, at every budget scale level.
Radical inquiry, but are we experiencing a tension here between service priorities and community needs? Possibly a tension DC theatres and artists are unable to see because we just accept the status quo of service?
Who is in control of the service–needs narratives in our personal and professional lives?
How can providers be responsible and accountable to their communities?
How can communities see beyond a set needs or a sphere of interests to one that is more broad or limited, more strategically short or long term?
How can a community leverage agency?
Video Postcard: Viva la Sol!


text:
Israel Attacks Hamas Media Operations in Gaza
IDF also appeared to take over the frequencies of the radio stations of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group to broadcast a recorded, Arabic-language warning to the people of Gaza to stay away from Hamas installations and personnel.
The Israel Defense Forces widened its offensive on the Gaza Strip on Sunday to include the media operations of the Palestinian territory's Hamas rulers, sending its aircraft to attack two buildings used by both Hamas and foreign media outlets.
Israel Drops in Press Freedom Ranking
The IDF also appeared to take over the frequencies of the radio stations of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group to broadcast a recorded, Arabic-language warning to the people of Gaza to stay away from Hamas installations and personnel.
"To the people of Gaza, Hamas is playing with fire and gambling with yourfate," said the message, which was broadcast every five minutes. "The Israel Defense Force is moving toward the second phase of its operation. For your safety, you should stay away from Hamas infrastructure and personnel."
The message did not say what the "second phase" was, but thousands of Israeli troops are massed near the Gaza border, awaiting an order to invade should Israeli leaders decide on that course. Israeli Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon told Army Radio on Sunday that Israel has to be prepared to widen the operation if militants don't back down.
The military spokesman's office said it could not immediately confirm it was broadcasting this message, but said it has issued similar warnings over ther adio several days ago.
The attack on the second media center shattered a lull in rocket attacks from Gaza that had taken hold the previous night and coincided with Egyptian-led efforts to negotiate an end to the five-day-old confrontation.
Bassem Madhoun, an employee of Dubai TV, said two missiles hit the 15thfloor of the building where Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV studio is located. Rescue workers evacuated several people who had been wounded.
Building windows were blown out and glass shards and debris were scattered on the street below. Some of the journalists who had been inside the building at the time were taking cover in the entrance hallway.
Mohammed Shrafi, a Palestinian cameraman, said he was in the street filming when he was hit by shrapnel coming down from the building.
Asked why Israel was targeting media centers, he replied, "they want to keep us from telling the truth."
Meanwhile, Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra reported that the Palestinian death toll from the operation had risen to 49 after a civilian died of wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike. Earlier Sunday, he said two Gaza teenagers were killed when another building was hit.
Three Israeli civilians have also been killed since the confrontation began on Wednesday.
Israel is reluctant to let up without signs a truce would hold.
Overnight, aircraft targeted dozens of underground rocket launchers, and a major Hamas training base and command center, the military said. It said it also attacked a communications antenna.
Israeli gunboats also fired on militant sites on the Gaza shore line, the military said in a statement, without elaborating.
Israeli soldiers running during a drill simulating a possible ground invasion into the Gaza Strip, at a base south of Hebron, November 17.Credit: Reuters


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text:
'Education is the solution': the Gloucester excessive school imposing a digital detox
ourteen-12 months-old friends Hannah Cox and Libby Shirnia admitted they were a bit shocked whilst their college introduced stringent new policies on cellular phones, smart watches, and Fitbit pastime monitors.
Increasing the Impact of the Intranet
TAKE A TRIP TO LOS ANGELES' NEW INTERNET CELEBRITY SUMMER CAMP
"Everyone's response turned into: 'This is so stressful.'" said Libby. "But then we chatted approximately it and the notion it might be an amazing issue. It's the worst element while you're having a verbal exchange and a person is doing that [Libby mimes tapping and sliding on a smart screen].
Darbi
Pupils at Stroud excessive faculty with their smartphones.
Pupils at Stroud excessive school with their smartphones. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt for the Guardian
Hannah stated it did get perplexing whilst you tried to maintain more than one conversations happening or 3 specific media structures. "Maybe you need to simply communicate to your pals in real lifestyles – stunning, I realize."
Libby and Hannah's faculty, Stroud excessive in Gloucestershire, hit the headlines this week after it emerged that it turned into clamping down on cellular devices. What grabbed the attention was the idea that the flow became in part because of concerns that some ladies have been becoming obsessed with counting steps and energy – and skipping food to make certain they met their targets.
But the drive isn't always just about that. The school, an academy broadly speaking for ladies, is involved that mobile gadgets are main to dependency to social media – in addition to counting steps.
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When students return from their summer spoil, girls in years seven to nine will be banned from the use of their devices at all at some point of the faculty day. Those in years 10 and eleven can be allowed to apply their devices at lunch, whilst scholars in the sixth form – which includes boys – could be allowed to apply them freely except in training.
Stroud excessive faculty is speedy turning into something of a pioneer in its willpower to cope with problems due to cellular devices. Hannah and Libby had been amongst a set of ladies who penned a letter addressed to the "boys and younger guys of Gloucestershire, Great Britain and the world" explaining why they did no longer need to be forced to send explicit images and did now not want to receive such images.
The school has additionally begun to paintings with neighborhood primary colleges, mental fitness services, and nearby government to draw up programs and techniques aimed at tackling issues due to social media.
"Girls are constantly comparing themselves to every different," said deputy headteacher Cindi Pride. "'She has got longer hair, blonder hair, higher clothes, higher vacations.' People handiest ever put up the golden parts of their lives. That consistent evaluation is highly damaging."
Hannah Cox, Libby Shirnia and Jess Houston
Hannah Cox (left) and Libby Shirnia (right) who initiated a sexting focus campaign, with Jess Houston (centre) who took component in the digital detox week. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/for the Guardian
Earlier this yr the school ran a survey in which almost three-quarters of college students said they take a look at or reply to social media "continuously". More than half of had been taking their telephones to mattress. But the statistic that alarmed Pride turned into that extra than half of of key degree 3 pupils (elderly eleven-14) stated they would really like to feel more in control in their use of social media.
"If that wasn't a cri de coeur, I don't realize what was. They need greater control, they patently don't recognize a way to do it, or they would be doing it. We want to attempt to assist them. A school is a place wherein you ought to be capable of learning, have a laugh, have actual friendships, now not be speak me to every different across the room via Snapchat."
The findings tally with a string of educational studies. The Office for National Statistics discovered, as an instance, that 12% of youngsters who spend no time on social networking websites on a regular school day have signs and symptoms of intellectual ill health; the discern rises to 27% for people who are on the websites for 3 or extra hours a day.
Around 400 scholars and adults at Stroud high college took component in a week-long "digital detox" after they gave up their devices and at home. Benefits the ladies reported protected having more free time and feeling less confused.
Pride said the focal point on Fitbits were blown out of share. But she stated: "I for my part don't assume that fit and healthful young girls in an surroundings like this want to be counting every step. The quantity of Fitbits and clever watches on young girls with perfectly normal frame shapes is quite alarming. I don't recognize why people have this obsession monitoring each breath they're taking."
Pupils at Stroud high college.
Pupils at Stroud excessive faculty. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt for the Guardian
Jess Houston, 16, is one of the folks who took element inside the week-lengthy digital detox. "It wasn't as difficult as I predicted," she said. "The first couple of days have been extraordinary, however by way of the end of the week I didn't pass over it."
Jess said her work stepped forward. "I used to warfare with homework. Usually, you write a sentence and you then test Snapchat. You rewrite the identical sentence. Homework that should take half an hour takes an hour and a half. That week I did the fine homework I'd finished in a while. I wasn't worn-out. Usually, I would go to bed, however, be on my phone for an hour earlier than going to sleep. That week I awoke to have eight hours' sleep and awakened feeling better, which turned into stunning actually."
Actually, Jess thinks banning Fitbits is a shame. "I've visible how it may help. I've been using one for two years, it's been instrumental in my combat to lose weight. There will always be a set of people who have the mentality to apply it in a bad way.
"Education is the answer. The venture is to alternate how human beings suppose. The technology in itself isn't a problem – it's how humans use it."
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… we have a small favor to ask. More humans are reading the Guardian than ever, however, marketing sales across the media are falling speedily. And not like many information businesses, we haven't positioned up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we will. So you may see why we want to ask for your assist. The Guardian's impartial, investigative journalism takes plenty of time, money and difficult work to provide. But we do it because we believe our attitude topics – due to the fact it might nicely be your perspective, too.
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JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - A-State hosted its second annual Mom's Day at the Chancellor's house where students got to bring their mothers for a little treat.
Hostess Beth Damphousse hosted a tea party to show their appreciation for mothers and mother figures to the students on campus.
A brunch, photo booth, painting and boutiques were set up for some memory making.
Damphousse said the students are like her own kids.
"We realize that these moms have played an instrumental role and mom figures in their lives. We just want to say thank you for creating such wonderful students that they're sending our way and trusting us with their care and education, and letting us have a little bit of a part of their lives," Damphousse said.
Saturday's event was all about mothers and mother figures, but one outshined them all.
The "Mom of the Year" award was presented to Kim Reeves and it was nominated by her daughter, Morgan.
Students wrote letters of nomination were reviewed and chosen by a committee.
Damphousse said future events focus on the entire family in the fall.


Every couple of years I come across John Pearson, either playing live or on a new CD, and I always enjoy what I hear. He is a master of the acoustic blues and his one-on-one performances at the Bothy Folk Club in Southport, for example, are masterly. This CD features him with a band but despite the cover photograph from the International Guitar Festival in the Wirral, the performance was recorded at the Astor Theatre in Deal, Kent.
The record features 'no overdubs, fixes and edits', so we hear just what the audience experienced that night in October 2001. Obviously, John's voice and guitar are prominent, and he is ably backed by Kenny Craddock (accordion, mandolin, piano, slide guitar), Jem Turpin (harmonica), George Pearson (bass) and Nana Appiah (percussion). John allows other instruments to shine as in Mississippi John Hurt's Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor or the dominant harmonica and accordion in Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend. George Pearson steps forward on Sitting On Top Of The World and I was surprised to find that a bass could be that melodic.
Although John Pearson does not possess a large vocal range and is not an aggressive singer, his world-weary vocals suit the blues and add conviction to the material. He sounds like a man who has seen and done it all (and judging by the stories he can tell, he has!). A good example is his reworking of the traditional Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend.
His guitar playing is exemplary. The show opens with a low-key instrumental showcase Mortality Drag and it continues throughout the album. He plays both six and twelve-string guitar, invariably fingerpicking, and with typical thoughtfulness, he credits his guitar makers on the sleeve.
In addition, John Pearson has an extensive knowledge of the blues and as well as familiar items, there are songs that are not heard often like Roebuck Staples' spiritual Let's Go Home and Alton Delmore's Deep River Blues. John's own Death Dream Blues isn't compromised by being next to Bob Dylan's Buckets Of Rain.
The CD is taken up to its 70 minute playing time by two studio cuts from 1990, Taj Mahal's John Ain't It Hard and Mose Allison's Don't Worry About A Thing: a very pleasant bonus.
The live album is an unpredictable beast to handle. More often than not it's a contract filler, a holding operation when creativity is ebbing, and very rarely a recording that can hold a candle to an outfit's studio standards. This is one of the uncommon ones that has both ends burning. Luckily Last Days is John's own label, so no suit-wearing exec. is threatening to withhold advances unless product appears. Recorded in the main in 2001 at Deal's Astor Theatre, the title taken from the included 'No No Blues ' its 12 tracks are augmented by 2 studio cuts from way back in 1990 and all feature the late Kenny Craddock. Pearson's multi-instrumental cohort and friend of long-standing was tragically taken from us in 2002 in a Portuguese car crash and the CD is dedicated to his memory. It's a real tour de force owing as much to the accomplishments of the band as to its leader. With, in the main, brother George Pearson on fretless bass (lovely, cheeky pilferings on 'Sitting On Top Of The World') Jem Turpin on harmonica, Nana Appiah on percussion with Kenny's keyboards, accordion and various frets, the playing is as impressive as John's understated singing and guitar bounciness are deceptively effortless.
It's hard to select individual tracks for special endorsement ; 'Live' works as a whole and there's no point in comparing and contrasting studio versions, drawn from recordings that go back as far as 'Streamline Train' (now out of catalogue) right up to the recent 'Rhythm Oil', to these. The whole album has a life of its own and exists on its own terms, a measure of how Pearson just goes from strength to strength, his singing so assured and controlled. He has an intuitive identity with Country Blues, viewed with a town-dwellers eye, - a combination of Lowell George and Mose Allison with whom he shares a certain vocal similarity.
Lyrically, the material is not blissful – that's not the way of the Blues, but a certain calmness of heart prevails even on the apocalyptic Dylan cover 'Man Of Peace.' Energetic yes, but Blues & Beyond don't do break-neck! The disciplined musicianship backs up thematically, clear and simple songs – sometimes private, inwardly-searching ('Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend') sometimes with a world-weary resignation ('Deep River Blues') they paint pictures of the world that go far beyond C&W crying over a bottle of Michelob.
Check it out, it's no transparent bid for the pocket money of completists – never disappointing, and a fine and fitting testament to Kenny Craddock's enduring talent.
This is a very interesting release.Combining the seductive blues playing and Claptonesque vocal styles of the very talented British acoustic guitarist John Pearson, with the diversely influenced musicians who comprise Blues & Beyond. John's bassist brother George currently plays funkier blues in Sonny Black's band; accordion and mandolin man Kenny Craddock has more of a folk-rock background. Harmonicist Jem Turpin mixes Latin touches with R&B; African percussionist Nana Tsiboe is a major worldbeat experimenter - Rhythm Oil is a carefully textured piece of work that really carves its own musical niche.
Several of the songs may have previously appeared elsewhere in the Pearson canon, but this is a major new work in every sense. And just as the title brings to mind both the actual mojo lotions and potions sold along Beale Street, and some intangible quality inborn in the blues and its practitioners, so actual composite of exotic flavours and the source of some unidentifiable essence which seems to be much more than the sum of its constituent parts.
The programme itself consists of excellent blues songs by Skip James, Willie McTell and Leadbelly, a lovely Bahaman number 'Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend', strong, global flavoured originals 'Rhythm Oil', Island Sunrise', and tracks which cleverly suggest earlier pieces before heading off in a whole new direction. In short it's a very impressive experiment, and a CD which really grows on you with each successive play.
Are you a lover of acoustic guitar masters like John Fahey, Stephan Grossman, Davey Graham, Leo Kottke and blues heroes like Blind Willie McTell, Joseph Spence and Lonnie Johnson? Are you not averse to the African 'blues' of Ali Farka Toure or Habib Koite? Maybe English folk appeals to you as well? In that case this sixth album of John Pearson, guitar specialist from England, will certainly please you, because Pearson's Blues & Beyond do exactly what their name promises: go beyond the blues.
Without sounding forced or unnatural and seemingly without effort they couple blues with folk, Lonnie Johnson style jazz and African rhythms.
For some years now Pearson has been playing on occasion with Nana Tsiboe, master drummer and percussionist from Ghana, and harmonica player Jem Turpin, Complemented with Kenny Craddock, mandolin and accordion, and brother George Pearson on fretless bass, Blues & Beyond forms a remarkable and very surprising band. Pearson's clear, sparkling guitar carries the CD. His slow-drawling voice, sometimes sad like Skip James, works rhythmically, as if he keeps pulling on the words. Tsiboe and Turpin manage to keep it unusually exciting without becoming too pushy. The combination Tsiboe-Pearson is a rare find!
You can hear how much both have influenced each other. Especially the self penned instrumentals 'Rhythm Oil' and 'Island Sunrise' are a remarkable synthesis of African rhythm, country blues and English folk. Delicious! This excellent CD bursts with invention delivered with such subtle craftsmanship that you don't even stop to wonder about the whole new musical genre which is being created.
Reviewing this has been time consuming; I just couldn't stop dropping my pencil and paper and revelling in the music - if Taplas reviewers got to vote for their CD of the year, this would be mine.
John Pearson has perfected the art of being British and playing American music. No cod Mississippi accent, no shouting or thrashing, just the cleanest guitar playing and the smoothest voice on the acoustic blues scene today. Davey Graham likens Pearson's voice to Mose Allison in his brief 'blessing', but there's more than a hint of Mr Graham himself here and I wonder if the CD's subtitles Blues, Gospel, Ragtime & Beyond isn't more than just a coincidental reference to Graham's own, Folk Blues & Beyond.
A strong collection, mostly from the American country blues/gospel traditions, but including a Dylan number, a couple of stunning Irish tunes and three originals, make up a fine showcase for his driving swinging guitar style. Percussionist Nana Tsiboe, Jem Turpin's harmonica and Kenny Craddock's accordion provide tasteful accompaniment.
I was going to comment on a pet hate of mine - the increasingly prevalent habit of 'thanking' hundreds of people on CD liner notes, but then spotted my own name among the 106 other - great album, John but how did you know I was going to review it!?
John Pearson makes lovely, easy on the ear acoustic blues albums which are endlessly re-playable and beautifully programmed, featuring some splendidly picked guitar and gorgeous caramel vocals. His latest 17-track CD, which bears the qualifier: "Blues, Gospel, Ragtime & Beyond", is as the title suggests slightly broader in scope than usual, but also, I'm pleased to report, well up to the extremely high standard we've come to expect from this artist.
It features seven completely solo tracks - just John, a 6 or 12 string guitar, and frequently a footboard - as well as several others on which Pearson is usefully joined by harmonicist Jem Turpin and/or the extraordinary Ghanaian djembe and percussion player Nana Tsiboe. John is clearly pleased with the results of this unusual collaboration, and justly so. Tsiboe's rhythm work, when you analyse it is frequently quite astounding, but so totally appropriate that it rarely calls attention to itself.
Producer and occasional Van Morrison cohort, Kenny Craddock, plays accordion on the closing instrumental Great Dreams From Heaven, which along with Living on the Hallelujah Side, are associated with one of John's quirkier heroes, Nassau's Joseph Spence. Other regular Pearson favourite's in receipt of a tugged forelock include Leadbelly's Grasshoppers In My Pillow, Mississippi John Hurt's Make Me a Pallet On Your Floor and Mary Don't You Weep plus Muddy Water's Drive My Blues Away.
But there are a few more surprising choices nestling here, too. Bob Dylan's Man of Peace, never a personal favourite in the master's known 'Infidels' version, is totally transformed by Pearson into an insistent little riffer and is, for my money, far more successful here. The medley The Blackbird/An Comhra Dohn, a slow air hitched to a sprightly hornpipe, is pure folk, transcribed for guitar by Pearson from a traditional piece for pipes and fiddle.
All of these are supplemented by a bunch of great Pearson originals - blues and rags -which show him to be more than capable of adding to the tradition as well as personalising the already extant. The results are as comfortable as a favourite old easy chair, the sort of thing to which you'll return time and again. In short, here's an album I can't recommend highly enough.
Busy Bootin' is a compilation of live recordings made of John Pearson and Roger Hubbard during the 1991 International Guitar Festival. John Pearson plays six and twelve string guitars and shares vocals with Roger Hubbard who plays a National resonator steel guitar. The material is borrowed from the likes of Huddie Ledbetter, Leroy Carr, Cripple Clarence Lofton, Fred McDowell and Robert Johnson and played with due regard and respect to these great Blues artistes, while adding their own touch and personality in their arrangements.
The songs included range from the well-known "Walkin' Blues', 'Barrelhouse Woman' and 'Write Me a Few Lines' to 'Fort Worth and Dallas Blues' and Jitterbug Swing'. The excellent guitar work from both players is a reflection of the extensive experience they have gained over the years, playing 'on the road' and in recording sessions. The singing is an apt demonstration of less being more, conveying the message and emotion without resorting to larynx damaging excesses or 'Amurrican' vowel twisting.
"Recorded live' often translates from 'promotional speak' as the excuse, 'yes but it was recorded live', however 'Busy Bootin' has gained much through being recorded live. The sound is clean and clear while retaining enough ambient feedback to capture the feeling of 'being there', and left me stamping my feet and shouting for more.
Both these men are well-known on the British blues circuit, with Roger Hubbard being perhaps better-known internationally due to his early seventies album 'Brighton Belle' on the Blue Goose label, a subsidiary of Yazoo Records, They are both highly respected and highly rated guitar players and the subtitle of this CD 'Live At The International Guitar Festival Of Great Britain' should give readers a good indication of the focus of this set - acoustic guitar blues, with the emphases firmly on the virtuoso picking skills of both men, running through a programme of vintage country blues and gospel. The vocals are, however, perfectly acceptable, and the whole CD is handsomely packaged - so if you are looking for some classy playing, here it is!


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Trailer Frenzy
New Jupiter Ascending Trailer Finally Merges Scifi Spectacle With Story
Rob Bricken
The early trailers for the Wachowskis' Jupiter Ascending have always looked impressive, but they seemed like they wanted to bludgeon people into theaters by assaulting them with an overabundance of chaotic scifi/CG action. But this third trailer is the first one to makes me want to see the movie.
Of course, we've known the plot details of the movie for a while — Mila Kunis is the reincarnation of the queen of the galaxy, the evil Eddie Redmayne wants to keep her from inheriting the space throne and Earth — but the trailer lays it out cleanly and efficiently, from the secret origin of humanity on Earth to why and how Mila somehow doesn't know she's space royalty, to why her emergence puts the Earth in danger. But it also has no lack of amazing visuals, including elf-eared Channing Tatum fighting a winged lizard alien.
The chaotic madness of the early trailers had me assuming Jupiter Ascending was also going to be a bit of a mess, but this new trailer has made it much easier to wrap my head around. Hopefully it will do the same for the larger populace, or the Wachowskis will have made yet another epic, gorgeous scifi film that no one seems to want to see.
Quint forever grey
1- There's a dragonman in it. I'm in.
2- I wonder how Sean Bean will die?


Kids Castle prides itself on providing high-quality preschool education with daycare amenities and service in a warm, nurturing environment. We understand that choosing the right centre to fit a child needs is an important decision and we strive to meet the expectations. Our programs are carefully researched and thoughtfully taught and we approach every day with a sense of imagination, innovation and fun to help young children learn comfortably and confidently.
Develop your child socially and emotionally.
Help your child to understand student - teacher relationship thereby creating an environment of learning with discipline.
Assisting your child to gain confidence and be prepared for a formal school learning experience.
Understand social behaviour through circle time and stage activities.
Assisting your child to develop fine motor skills through our montessori teaching methods.


Experience the US Capitol Building & Capitol Hill Walking Tour.
Capitol Hill is one of the most storied and beautiful neighborhoods in Washington, DC. We'll begin our tour at the most visited site in the whole city: Union Station. From there, we'll take in all the Monuments and Memorials around Capitol Hill. We'll ascend Capitol Hill and visit the Supreme Court, then walk inside the stunning Library of Congress Jefferson Building which boasts some of the most beautiful architecture in the city.
Later, we'll stroll across the street and visit the United States Capitol Visitor Center. With your tour, you'll get reserved access to the Capitol Building as well as a docent-led tour of the Capitol. Reserved Access can help you save hours in waiting time, and will get your right in to the Capitol Building immediately after your neighborhood tour ends.
This tour will meet at Union Station. Your guide will meet you outside the train station by the Columbus Statue and Freedom Bell. From the main entrance/exit, stand with your back to Union Station and directly in front of you, is a flag pole, a large bronze bell, and a white monument. Your guide will meet you by the Freedom Bell. The closest metro station is Union Station (red line).
Your tour will start promptly at the scheduled time. Please plan to arrive at the meeting point 15-20 minutes before the start of the tour. Because of our scheduled entry at the US Capitol Building, we may not be able to accommodate late arrivals.
We will make every effort to minimize disruptions to our tours caused by third-parties. We are not responsible for any loss associated with events out of our immediate control.
Anyone suspected of being under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted on tour and will not be refunded.
Due to security restrictions at the US Capitol Building, the following items are not permitted. Please do not bring any of these items with you on tour or security may force you to throw them out.
The tour will meet at Union Station. Your guide will meet you outside the train station by the Columbus Statue and Freedom Bell. From the main entrance/exit, stand with your back to Union Station and directly in front of you, is a flag pole, a large bronze bell, and a white monument. Your guide will meet you by the Freedom Bell. The closest metro station is Union Station (red line).
Reservations are required for every tour we offer. All walk-up customers will be accommodated in the best possible manner based on guide and availability. We limit our group size to 14 in order to ensure a personal and excellent experience for all. Due to the Reserved Access into the Capitol, we highly recommend booking in advance for this tour!
This walking tour does include Reserved Access entrance into the US Capitol Building and does go inside the Library of Congress. During the walking tour, we take the time to stop at major monuments so you can take photos as well as hear fascinating stories from our expert guides.
When you reserve a tour, we schedule our exceptional guides and support staff to make your tour the best experience possible. For this reason we require a minimum of 72 hours notice for cancellations and/or rescheduling of tours. If you fail to meet your appointment, we still incur the same expenses, we probably have turned away others guests that would like to go on tour, and tour guides may have shown up just for your group. Therefore, there are no refunds for those guests who fail to show for a reservation or cancel without 72 hours notice.
No, all of our tours run rain or shine.
Your tour will have no more than 16 guests.
We welcome all ages on this tour, but please note that the majority of the 2.5 hour duration is spent on our feet! Some stories told on tour deal with real life crime, assassinations and scandals which may be inappropriate for younger children.
Expand/Collapse Is this tour wheelchair-accessible?
Yes, we are happy to include guests who require wheelchairs on this tour.