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सेतो चिया
This high quality tea uses a rare method of preparation: soon after picking the delicate buds of the opening tea leaves during 'Second Flush' (mid-June to mid-August) they are handled with extreme care, withered very carefully for a longer time and dried properly. As this tea is not fermented, it contains three times as much antioxidant as compared to other teas and is considered to be the Queen of quality teas. This gently aromatic tea liquor has yellowish white, light straw or delicate brown hues with soft herbal and subtle delicate nuances.
where and story.....Less


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Top Benefits of Buying or Building a Green Home
Even though building or buying a green home is mostly beneficial for our planet, there are also numerous benefits such buildings offer to homeowners. They allow you to save money, they are very durable and they offer a better quality of life, and many other benefits you'll find listed in this article. So, before you start building your new home or searching for a new home on the market, stop to consider investing in an eco-friendly home.
Water conservation
Besides energy saving, green homeowners can also benefit from water conservation. By building or buying homes with low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets they can prevent water waste and put a few extra dollars in their pocket. Water can also be conserved by choosing the appropriate landscaping plants and collecting rainwater, but make sure to check your local laws before you build your system since rainwater harvesting is actually illegal in some countries.
Sustainable and recycled materials
Even though building or choosing a home made out of sustainable and eco-friendly materials has no direct benefits for homeowners, it affects us all indirectly. By choosing green, reused and recycled materials we reduce the environmental impact of our homes and help keep landfills empty. Also, the amount of energy that is consumed during the repurposing process is much lower than during the production process. All of this helps keep our environment less polluted, and the people in it healthier and happier.
Energy savings
Energy conservation is one of key elements and one of the biggest benefits of having a green home. Energy-saving strategies aren't cheap to implement, but with them you can save quite a lot of money. For instance, by implementing some advanced insulation techniques and materials (like structural insulated panels) you can reduce your energy bill by almost 50% even though you might spend some extra money from the start. You can also choose to buy or build a home with energy-efficient lighting and appliances, or invest in renewable energy sources like solar or geothermal energy. Of course, when it comes to mounting energy-efficient lighting, it's best to do what the Australians do. For example, future homeowners from Sydney always consult the best Sydney electrician before doing anything. All of these green improvements might cost you money, but they will certainly pay off in the long run. On the other hand, there are green building techniques that cost basically nothing. Before you start your building, you can check out passive design strategies that will cost you very little but that will save you a lot of money. The goal of the passive design is to reduce the consumption of energy from non-sustainable sources without compromising the comfort. Elements like building size, shape, orientation and composition can all affect the passive design and reduce the building's energy requirements.
Safe and healthy indoors
A sick building syndrome is affecting many people who spend a lot of time indoors. It is believed to be caused by toxic building materials and paint, inappropriate ventilation, odours and biological organisms that are found in most of the non-eco-friendly buildings. The indoor air quality in these buildings is usually two to five times worse than outdoor air. However, green buildings contain as few of these toxic elements as possible which reduces the risk of a sick building syndrome.
A green home is just as durable – if not even more durable – as any traditional home, but, unfortunately, not many people know that. Owning a green home means that you can save money on repairs, updates and maintenance in the long run. Durability is especially important in areas with extreme temperatures like Australia, but the number of green homes there is still low, so many homeowners in the Land Down Under opt for contacting an experienced buyer's agent to help them find a home that's sustainable and affordable at the same time if they can't build a house themselves.
Higher market value
Today, green homes have a higher market value than their non-green counterparts. The reason buyers opt for homes with a sustainable design is that they know their utility bills and maintenance costs will be lower and they can even get some tax benefits. That's why green homes tend to cost more.
Opportunity for tax benefits
To encourage building and buying of green homes, some federal governments offer great tax benefits for green homeowners. Also, some state and local governments also have benefits for people who buy energy-efficient appliances and make green home improvements like opting for Energy Star windows and doors, efficient heating and cooling, green roofing and insulation.
As you can see, homeowners can benefit a lot from building and buying green homes. If they decide to go green they will have more durable, energy-efficient, water-conserving, and generally healthier and more beautiful homes. Plus, they will help our struggling environment and leave a better future for their kids and grandkids.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, January 12, 2012
What to do When Your Local Scrapbook Store Closes
Today, I'm gonna take a few minutes to share what to do when your Local Scrapbook Store (LSS) closes. Back in 2004 our LSS announced it was moving. It moved about an hour north and finally closed about 2 years later.
Being a quilter, I had been to my sister's quilt guild a few times, and had even checked out my local quilt guild. I wondered, why can't we have a scrap booking and paper crafting guild? So, when the store closed, I got serious and took the following steps:
1) Contacted a local artisan guild, such as a quilt guild for help on how to form a guild. and information on by laws and running a guild.
2) Got the book, "Non-Profits for Dummies"
3) Found a meeting location. Check your local library, ours offered a free meeting place when we started. They did add rent, but it was reasonable for non-profits.
4) Called a few paper crafting friends and asked them to join me.
5) Put a free add in the paper. Most local papers will list up coming local events. Write a blurb for this section. Now, you can create a Facebook Group to promote too!
6) Contacted my local scrap booking home sales reps for contacts, ideas and support.
7) Determined my first topic
8) Made a to do list and asked for volunteers at the 1st meeting.
All this happened back in 2006 and our guild is small but still going with around 50 members. We try and have one fundraiser crop a year, one make and take project a quarter (see photo above for our make and take for January), one free all day crop, meetings once a month, and we do some charity work too!
Now you may not want to go to all this trouble, so here are some idea for you:
1) Start a stamp camp, and rotate a hostess.
2) Contact your local sales reps and find out what events they host. For example, your Stampin' Up or Close to My Heart local reps may have regular events too!
3) Google your states name and scrap booking events.
4) Check out this site, they list events all over the US: http://papercrafterscorner.com/illinois/
And if you live in northern IL, near the towns of Sycamore, DeKalb or Genoa, please come check out the S.C.R.A.P. Guild of Northern IL! We meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:00-8:45pm in Genoa, IL. Every meeting is open crop time, even if we have a make and take or speaker. So bring a little project to work on! Want more information on the S.C.R.A.P. Guild? Just email them at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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R&D Tax Credits for your work in the space sector, could be the rocket you need to launch your business into the infinite world of innovation!
It is often said that to claim R&D Tax Credits 'you don't need to be making the very latest in space technology to be eligible.' But what if you are making the very latest in space technology? Can you claim? The answer to that question is most likely – yes!
HMRC define R&D as "activities that seek to:
We know that all sounds very 'jargon-y', so in the simplest terms, what types of R&D activities in the space industry could be considered eligible?
Think about your current business activities, are you doing any of these things? If you are, is your business currently making an R&D Tax Credit claim?
Even businesses that are conducting grant funded research and development work can be eligible to claim through the RDEC scheme.
When thinking about if your activities are considered R&D from a HMRC perspective, it is crucial you are being advised by an expert – someone who understands your business and technology in order to give you open and honest advice, such as our consultants at TBAT.
If you are already claiming R&D Tax Credits, whether that be through your accountant or through another consultancy, we can review your previous years' claims to ensure they have been maximised.
Get in touch with us for a FREE consultation with one of our experts to discuss your R&D Tax Credit claim!
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If you were too busy sleeping the hours away this past weekend, then you probably missed the all-Toyota car festival in Pasay City on May 26th. Bummer.
Custom and classic Toyotas alike lined up for the Toyota Car Fest 2019 at the Met Live parking lot in Pasay City. Leading the way were presenters Met Live and Toyota Manila Bay, in collaboration with Grupo Toyota.
The event was an absolute haven for Toyota owners and enthusiasts. Both rare and common sights filled the venue, varying from the staple Vios, Corolla, and Yaris models to vintage Coronas and a seemingly perfect old-school Land Cruiser that we're pretty sure we've seen somewhere before.
Official Toyota and TRD parts and accessories, including several aftermarket goods, were also on sale at the venue. Booths by NGK, Motul, and Shell were also set up around the main stage.
There were 23 different car clubs and groups that officially participated in the festivities, and a total of more than 700 people attended the event over the course of the day—some people even came in from as far as Bicol and Baguio. You can check out the complete list of participating groups below:
All sorts of raffle prizes were also up for grabs, including replacement parts and accessories, car tint, and even car-insurance packages. Awards were also handed out to the best cars on display—you can check them out below:
Despite the stormy afternoon weather, the show went on to be a huge success. Grupo Toyota founder and president Robert Tan and his wife Jill are looking forward to an even bigger showing for 2020.
You may view the official event video from the Toyota Carfest Facebook page below:
Are you looking forward to grander festivities next year, too? Because we sure are.


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Two Middle School Students Participate in National Geography Bee Competition
May 30, 2016 05:54AM
● By Wendy Erlien
Pictured left to right: Deb Pearson, Paul Kochenderfer, Thomas Beskow and Julie Spanier (photo provided by Osseo Area Schools)
Maple Grove Middle School student Thomas Beskow and Osseo Middle School student Paul Kochenderfer beat thousands of students in the National Geography Bee competition to qualify as two of the top 100 Geography Bee Scholars in the state of Minnesota.
Thomas tied for first place in the first round, which qualified him as one of the top 10 students in the state. After 10 rounds in the finals, Thomas ended up in seventh place.
At the state level, Paul received third place in the initial round but was eliminated in the next round. He still finished in the top 100 of the state.
Teachers Julie Spanier and Deb Pearson attended the Geography Bee to support their students.
(Information provided by ISD 279 - Osseo Area Schools)


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University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS)
- Profile
- Courses
- Contact
- Key Personnel
Institution Profile
University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) is the culmination of the State of Sarawak's vision and commitment in establishing a world-class institution of higher learning founded on science and technology to spearhead the development and production of technical human resource for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). UCTS is committed to facilitating student access to an affordable world-class university education that nurtures creative and entrepreneurial leaders through a broad education in science and technology while combining the career benefits of an applied approach for SCORE-related research and career opportunities.
Situated in Sibu, one of the main gateways into SCORE, UCTS is owned by the State of Sarawak through the State Financial Secretary Incorporated. It was established on 8 August 2012 upon receiving approval from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (now Ministry of Education). UCTS aims to be the very first university in Malaysia to achieve a Green Building Index (GBI) "Platinum Index" rating through its futuristically designed campus and state-of-the-art facilities. The campus incorporates planning, design and green architecture simultaneously and effectively to create a fully integrated, comfortable, user-friendly and conducive teaching and learning environment. Some of the green-building features incorporated are the rain-water harvesting system, recycling of waste water for gardening use, solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation, as well as light and motion sensors for lighting. UCTS will also establish a science and technology park next to UCTS main campus to support techno-entrepreneur development and provide the high-tech infrastructure needed for industrial-based research, development and innovation activities in collaboration with other institutions and industries in the region.
To be a global technical university founded on science and technology
To provide world-class educational programmes and learning environment to nurture creative and entrepreneurial leaders through a broad yet specialised education in science and technology
Academic Strengths
Over 31% of our academic staff teaching courses at degree level have a doctoral degree (PhD), whereas 49% have a master's degree. In line with the government's plan to transform technical education, UCTS will provide the route and opportunity for students in technical and vocational education pursuing certificate and diploma level studies that lead to applied oriented bachelor programmes and also postgraduate level studies at UCTS.
Working closely with industry to adopt a broad-based curriculum with specialisation and using an applied approach towards teaching and learning with world-class facilities, UCTS will ensure that its graduates are groomed with the right values. UCTS graduates will be knowledgeable, highly-skilled and competent, market ready and able to meet the challenges of globalisation. UCTS faculty members will also undertake applied and industry-oriented research to support the development of local industries.
Programme Outline
Foundation in Arts furnishes students with fundamental knowledge and analytical skills which enable them to undertake bachelor degree programmes in non-science or non-engineering fields. About one-third of the subjects taught are to equip our students with the necessary soft skills like communication essentials, professional writing, presentation skills, etc.
Foundation in Science aids in the development and inculcation of good communication, leadership and social skills, as well as high ethical values in the students. The subjects are specifically designed to prepare the students to go into science or engineering fields.
Bachelor of Business Administration prepares students to enter the world of work by providing them with the knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories and approaches of business administration and management, developing leadership and teamwork skills, understanding of the contemporary business environment as well as analytical skills for decision making purpose. The programme links with FPT University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Bachelor of Civil Engineering nurtures in students engineering knowledge, analytical and problem solving skills, as well as other technical and soft skills. The curriculum is in sync with the current development of the construction industry and the engineering practices, particularly in the aspects of structural design and consultancies, construction technologies, modern tools and technical software usage, project management approaches, etc. Laboratory work that covers various fields of engineering such as structures, materials, hydraulics, geotechnical, highway, survey, etc., further equip students with practical and investigative skills.
Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical & Electronic equips students with the various skills necessary to adapt new scientific knowledge to new products. Technical elective subjects are offered in the senior year to provide some degree of specialisation (in high voltage engineering, automation and robotics, marine electrical and electronics), but all graduates receive a well-rounded basic education in electronic design principles. This includes an applied and hands-on based programme; extensive laboratory experience; value-added certificates and promising job placement.
Bachelor of Quantity Surveying provides strong theoretical and practical foundations in the quantity surveying discipline, preparing students for the employability of construction workplace by developing generic and specific competencies. This includes the development of analytical capability, creativity, problem-solving capability and costing techniques that are essential for the long term sustainability of built environment. The programme curriculum and content closely reflect the demand of construction industry since it is developed and built upon the input of all related stakeholders, i.e. construction professionals, industrialists, academicians, statutory bodies, external examiners, etc. The programme emphasises multiple transferable skills and broad knowledge i.e. construction, technological, management, and research issues underpinning the growth of this industry.
Courses to be offered in September 2014 (Subject to MQA Approval)
- Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Food Technology
- Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Power)
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Bachelor of Accounting
- Bachelor of Computer Science in Software Engineering
- Bachelor of Computer Science in Network Computing
Outline of Scholarships/Financial Aids
- Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN)
- Yayasan Sarawak
- Titanium Foundation Scholarship
- KTS Scholarship
Recognition & Achievements
All programmes are approved by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) and Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).
- Our Bachelor of Quantity Surveying is recognised by the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) and Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (ISM).
- Our Bachelor of Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC), allowing graduates to be recognised as practising engineers under the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), in conformance to the Washington Accord.
- Our School of Business & Management is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. It is a global, non-profit membership organisation of educational institutions, businesses, and other entities devoted to the advancement of management education.
Courses Offered
Click on a programme name for full details.
Pre-University/Foundation Studies
Foundation in ArtsLevel: Pre-University/Foundation Studies
Fees (Local): Refer to University
Duration: 1 yr
|Add to Educart
Foundation in ScienceLevel: Pre-University/Foundation Studies
Fees (Local): Refer to University
Duration: 1 yr
|Add to Educart
Bachelor's Degree Level
Masters Degree Level
Master of Business AdministrationLevel: Masters Degree Level
Fees (Local): FT:23000/Course; PT:24100/Course
Duration: FT: 1.5-3 Yrs ; PT: 2-4 Yrs
|Add to Educart
Master of EngineeringLevel: Masters Degree Level
Fees (Local): FT:14000/Course; PT:19500/Course
Duration: FT: 1.5-3 Yrs ; PT: 2.5-5 Yrs
|Add to Educart
Master of Science in Business ManagementLevel: Masters Degree Level
Fees (Local): FT:14000/Course; PT:20500/Course
Duration: FT: 2-4 Yrs ; PT: 3-6 Yrs
|Add to Educart
Doctoral Degree (Ph.D) Level
Ph.D.(Business Management)Level: Doctoral Degree (Ph.D) Level
Fees (Local): FT:22000/Course; PT:27700/Course
Duration: FT: 3-6 Yrs ; PT: 4-8 Yr
|Add to Educart
Ph.D.(Engineering)Level: Doctoral Degree (Ph.D) Level
Fees (Local): FT:27000/Course; PT:31200/Course
Duration: FT: 3-6 Yrs ; PT: 4-8 Yr
|Add to Educart
Contact Details
University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS)
Kolej Universiti Teknologi Sarawak
868, Persiaran Brooke
96000 Sibu
Type: Private CollegeTel: 608-4311 888
Fax: 608-4319 888
Website: http://www.ucts.edu.my
Key Personnel
Professor Dato' Dr Abdul Hakim Juri
Vice Chancellor , University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS)
Professor Dato' Dr Abdul Hakim Juri was the founding Vice Chancellor of University College of Technology Sarawak in February 2013. Prior to his appointment, he was President and Chief Executive of Universiti Kuala Lumpur for seven years.
Abdul Hakim graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering in 1989 and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1984 from the University of Leeds, UK. Abdul Hakim started his career as a lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya. He later joined the automotive manufacturing industry before returning to education to help start up the German Malaysian Institute (GMI) in 1992. GMI was a joint-venture project between the governments of Malaysia and Germany to qualify highly skilled technologists and technicians for the Malaysian industry in the areas of precision production technology and industrial electronics. Abdul Hakim was appointed the Director of GMI in 1996 and led the institute for six years until September 2002. In appreciation of his contributions in strengthening bi-lateral relations between Germany and Malaysia, Abdul Hakim was conferred the Bundesverdienstkreuz, Federal Cross of Merits, by the President of the Republic of Germany in March 2003.
In October 2002, Abdul Hakim was appointed Deputy President (Academic) to help establish Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and later became President and CEO of UniKL in September 2005. Abdul Hakim was conferred the DSAP award by the Sultan of Pahang in October 2006.


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How to Delete an Entry
This article will show you how to delete both the step entry and any converted activities logged on that date. If you just want to remove steps but preserve converted activities, you could simply edit the step count to 0 instead. Please note, that in order to adjust the step count to 0, you will need to make sure a device is disconnected. Click here to view the article that explains why you must disconnect a device in order to edit a step entry:
- Edit Your Activity
Find the activity you would like to delete in your dashboard and click Edit
- Delete Activity
Click delete in the bottom right
- Delete Step Entry Confirmation
Click OK to confirm that you want to delete your step entry
- Done!


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Welcome to Alpha Medical Practice
We are using this webpage to provide you with an information platform covering all aspects of our medical practice. Find out here about our services and our practice team.
Extended Access At evenings and Weekends
We are now open from 6.30pm - 8.00pm and weekends. We will be operating out of Alpha medical practice. Please speak to reception for details of how to book.
Online access is now availible to book appointments and order medications. Please ask at reception for further details.
Our services
From diagnosis to therapy: This is where you can find out all about the services we can provide for you.
Look at our services


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Teaching English in South Korea as an Asian-American - Alumni Q&A with Maysa Kitpetnee
Interested in teaching English in South Korea with EPIK? Maysa discusses her time teaching in Asia as an Asian-American with EPIK in South Korea.
Feeling Inspired? Teach English abroad with International TEFL Academy! Get the latest details about salaries, hiring seasons, visas and more in your free country chart ⇒ https://ita.fyi/MediaTEFLBrochure


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Democrats Spin Their Ossoff
The Democrats spent more money on the Georgia 6th District special election than on any Congressional race in history. Despite the full support of Hollywood, the elite media, and the Democratic Party, John Ossoff still lost (and don't let anyone tell you it was close). How are the Democrats spinning their loss? Sam tells you.


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Hey folks, you are reading this post this means you are interested in obtaining quality promotions of your website by means of effective and quality Search Engine Optimization.
The importance of SEO is now more than ever and it is very necessary for every web master to understand the true meaning of SEO and what is its actual potential for an improved promotion of each and every online business. Those who have realized the importance of the process, prefer hiring the professionals for the job. This leads the demand of SEO company in the USA.
A better interpretation of the process
Why I say SEO a giant is because it is the core process of making a successful promotion of an online business through internet. The need of this doesn't seek for any explanation. Everyone is running after an effective global exposure of their venture and at this point following a set rule of optimization will promote them the best on the search engines.
Google is often compared as the "search engine giant" – that I admit too, but, there are others search engine too namely – Yahoo, Bing, etc. if you want your website to be in a good ranking position in all these search engines, you need to perform optimization as per the different rules of the different search engines. There are no major differences between the search algorithms and rules.
Why it is important?
Do I really need to tell you that? Come on, without an effective SEO it's hard to make your website known to the search engines. And in today's competitive market, promotion being the core part of the process, you cannot let go the chances of surpassing others with effective seo techniques.
Let me make a summarized note of why this is important for every website:
- Users' behavior is the foremost important thing to select SEO for your website. On an average, they are very likely to take up to 5 results on the result pages. If you are not there, you are actually nowhere.
- Good SEO is not about improving the ranking of your website, it fetches more visibility to your website and improve the viewer experience as well.
- Regular users generally grow a faith on the search results and the search engines and if you can place your website amongst the top results, you certainly gain users' faith.
- Search engine optimization is very much associated with social media presence. Yes! You know that it's important to make your presence count on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and others similar social networking websites – SEO helps that. People, who find your website on the top results of Google or Yahoo, are very likely to promote it on their social profiles and media channels.
- SEO is also a helpful process for smooth running of big websites that has more than one author. You will find both direct and indirect benefit out of that process. The direct benefit is obviously having more traffic to the website and the indirect benefit includes having a common framework to use before bringing on the contents on the website.
Those who are just starting, it is important for them to have an elementary concept of the process, means how it is performed and what are the important aspects of it. The entire optimization process is largely divided into two big parts and those are: On-site SEO and off-site SEO. While the first part takes care of the optimization of the title tags, meta tags, meta description, internal links and all, the off-site SEO is primly responsible for social media promotion, content promotion, keyword optimization and etc.
Who to put your bet on
So far, you must have got the idea that SEO is an essential and tough business and you need someone experienced and reliable to put your bet on. Well, if you are searching for such an SEO company in the USA, you can unquestionably hire Brandnetizen!
This web development and marketing company has been providing customized solutions for search engine optimization for over years and they have experienced professionals to take care of all possible needs for a successful promotion of your website. You can find more details about them from their website brandnetizen.com and better thing is that you can have live conversations with them regarding your project. What are you waiting for then, ask for a quotation today!


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Vikings fan stabbed seven times after inflatable vandalized
A Wisconsin man was stabbed outside his home on Sunday after another man vandalized the Vikings inflatable in his yard, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Dave Moschel, 36, was sitting down to watch Sunday Night Football when he heard someone outside his house. He went out to find a 21-year-old man using a box cutter to slice up his inflatable Viking. When Moschel confronted him, the man turned the box cutter on Moschel, stabbing him seven times in the head and near his eyes.
Moschel was not critically injured, but was taken to the hospital to receive stitches. Moschel said he has no plans to take down the inflatable, despite living in Packers country.
"Luckily, I didn't have my concealed carry on me at the time," Moschel said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time I leave the house, I never leave without it. And this is the one time I did. I'm kind of glad I did, because he would have been dead, and I would have had to live with that."
The vandal was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangerment and criminal damage to property.
The Vikings were informed of the incident and have invited Moschel to attend a practice and Minnesota's game against the Cardinals in Week 11.


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Catch The Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker live in cinema near you on 5 December 2017
1 December 2017
The classic Christmas production will be relayed to audiences around the world.
Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor relayed live to cinemas on 25 April 2016
19 April 2016
Katie Mitchell's new Royal Opera production of the iconic bel canto tragedy will be screened in 25 countries around the world.
Watch: 'It's strong and it's epic' – Members of the cast and creative team on Boris Godunov
23 March 2016
Bryn Terfel and Antonio Pappano share their thoughts on why Musorgsky's opera is a masterpiece.
Boris Godunov relayed live to cinemas on 21 March 2016
11 March 2016
Bryn Terfel stars in the live cinema relay of Richard Jones' new Royal Opera production.
Rhapsody / The Two Pigeons relayed live to cinemas around the world on 26 January 2016
20 January 2016
Two works by Frederick Ashton showcase his range of choreography, from virtuosic to romantic.
The Nutcracker relayed live to cinemas on 16 December 2015
11 December 2015
Christmas magic comes to a cinema near you with Peter Wright's classic production.
Opera as an emotional healer: Simon Callow on Mozart the Dramatist and Le nozze di Figaro
2 October 2015
The acclaimed actor, director and writer explores Mozart's dramatic genius and the unique qualities of The Marriage of Figaro.


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Humanity and the Planet
Alan Finkel, Office of the Chief Scientist
This week's release of the special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has put scientific evidence on the front page of the world's newspapers.
As Australia's Chief Scientist, I hope it will be recognised as a tremendous validation of the work that scientists do.
The people of the world, speaking through their governments, requested this report to quantify the impacts of warming by 1.5℃ and what steps might be taken to limit it. They asked for the clearest possible picture of the consequences and feasible solutions.
Read more:
The UN's 1.5°C special climate report at a glance
It is not my intention in this article to offer a detailed commentary on the IPCC's findings. I commend the many scientists with expertise in climate systems who have helped Australians to understand the messages of this report.
My purpose is to urge all decision-makers – in government, industry and the community – to listen to the science.
It would be possible for the public to take from this week's headlines an overwhelming sense of despair.
The message I take is that we do not have time for fatalism.
We have to look squarely at the goal of a zero-emissions planet, then work out how to get there while maximising our economic growth. It requires an orderly transition, and that transition will have to be managed over several decades.
That is why my review of the National Electricity Market called for a whole-of-economy emissions reduction strategy for 2050, to be in place by the end of 2020.
Read more:
The Finkel Review at a glance
We have to be upfront with the community about the magnitude of the task. In a word, it is huge.
Many of the technologies in the IPCC's most optimistic scenarios are at an early stage, or conceptual. Two that stand out in that category are:
carbon dioxide removal (CDR): large-scale technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
carbon capture and sequestration (CCS): technology to capture and store carbon dioxide from electricity generation.
It will take a decade or more for these technologies to be developed to the point at which they have proven impact, then more decades to be widely deployed.
The IPCC's pathways for rapid emissions reduction also include a substantial role for behavioural change. Behavioural change is with us always, but it is incremental.
Driving change of this magnitude, across all societies, in fundamental matters like the homes we build and the foods we eat, will only succeed if we give it time – and avoid the inevitable backlash from pushing too fast.
The IPCC has made it clear that the level of emissions reduction we can achieve in the next decade will be crucial. So we cannot afford to wait.
No option should be ruled off the table without rigorous consideration.
In that context, the Finkel Review pointed to a crucial role for natural gas, particularly in the next vital decade, as we scale up renewable energy.
The IPCC has made the same point, not just for Australia but for the world.
The question should not be "renewables or coal". The focus should be on atmospheric greenhouse emissions. This is the outcome that matters.
Denying ourselves options makes it harder, not easier, to get to the goal.
There also has to be serious consideration of other options modelled by the IPCC, including biofuels, catchment hydroelectricity, and nuclear power.
My own focus in recent months has been on the potential for clean hydrogen, the newest entrant to the world's energy markets.
Read more:
How hydrogen power can help us cut emissions, boost exports, and even drive further between refills
In future, I expect hydrogen to be used as an alternative to fossil fuels to power long-distance travel for cars, trucks, trains and ships; for heating buildings; for electricity storage; and, in some countries, for electricity generation.
We have in Australia the abundant resources required to produce clean hydrogen for the global market at a competitive price, on either of the two viable pathways: splitting water using solar and wind electricity, or deriving hydrogen from natural gas and coal in combination with carbon capture and sequestration.
Building an export hydrogen industry will be a major undertaking. But it will also bring jobs and infrastructure development, largely in regional communities, for decades.
So the scale of the task is all the more reason to press on today – at the same time as we press on with mining lithium for batteries, clearing the path for electric vehicles, planning more carbon-efficient cities, and so much more.
There are no easy answers. I hope, through this and other reports, there are newly determined people ready to contribute to the global good.
Alan Finkel, Australia's Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Nanthi Bolan, University of Newcastle
Australia has never been a stranger to droughts, but climate change is now super-charging them.
Besides taking a toll on human health, droughts also bake the earth. This means the ground holds less water, creating a vicious cycle of dryness.
Our research has investigated ways to improve the health and structure of soil so it can hold more water, even during droughts. It's vital to help farmers safeguard their soil as we adapt to an increasingly drought-prone climate.
Read more:
Australia moves to El Niño alert and the drought is likely to continue
The immediate effect of drought is complete loss of soil water. Low moisture reduces soil health and productivity, and increases the loss of fertile top soil through wind and water erosion.
To describe how we can improve soil health, we first need to explain some technical aspects of soil moisture.
Soil moisture is dictated by three factors: the ability of the soil to absorb water; its capacity to store that water; and the speed at which the water is lost through evaporation and runoff, or used by growing plants.
These three factors are primarily determined by the proportions of sand, silt and clay; together these create the "soil structure". The right mixture means there are plenty of "pores" – small open spaces in the soil.
Read more:
How to fight desertification and drought at home and away
Soils dominated by very small "micropores" (30-75 micrometres), such as clay soil, tend to store more water than those dominated by macropores (more than 75 micrometers), such as sandy soil.
If the balance is skewed, soil can actually repel water, increasing runoff. This is a major concern in Australia, especially in some areas of Western Australia and South Australia.
Good soil structure essentially means it can hold more water for longer (other factors include compaction and surface crust).
Farmers can improve soil structure by using minimum tillage, crop rotation and return of crop residues after harvest.
Another important part of the puzzle is the amount of organic matter in the soil –it breaks down into carbon and nutrients, which is essential for absorbing and storing water.
There are three basic ways to increase the amount of organic matter a given area:
grow more plants in that spot, and leave the crop and root residue after harvest
slow down decomposition by tilling less and generally not disturbing the soil more than absolutely necessary
apply external organic matter through compost, mulch, biochar and biosolids (treated sewage sludge).
Typically, biosolids are used to give nutrients to the soil, but we researched its impact on carbon storage as well. When we visited a young farmer in Orange, NSW, he showed us two sites: one with biosolids, and one without. The site with biosolids grew a bumper crop of maize the farmer could use as fodder for his cattle; the field without it was stunted.
The farmer told us the extra carbon had captured more moisture, which meant strong seedling growth and a useful crop.
Read more:
On dangerous ground: land degradation is turning soils into deserts
This illustrates the value of biowastes including compost, manure, crop residues and biosolids in capturing and retaining moisture for crop growth, reducing the impact of drought on soil health and productivity.
Improving soil health cannot happen overnight, and it's difficult to achieve while in midst of a drought. But how farmers manage their soil in the good times can help prepare them for managing the impacts of the next drought when it invariably comes.
The author would like to thank Dr Michael Crawford, CEO of Soil CRC, for his substantial contribution to this article.
Nanthi Bolan, Professor of Enviornmental Science, University of Newcastle
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Mark Howden, Australian National University and Rebecca Colvin, Australian National University
A landmark report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, commissioned at the breakthrough 2015 summit that brokered the Paris climate agreement, outlines what's at stake in the world's bid to limit global temperature rise to 1.5℃.
The report, released today, sets out the key practical differences between the Paris agreement's two contrasting goals: to limit the increase of human-induced global warming to well below 2℃, and to "pursue efforts" to limit warming to 1.5℃.
Read more:
The UN's 1.5°C special climate report at a glance
Two and a half years in the making, the report provides vital information about whether the Paris Agreement's more ambitious goal is indeed achievable, what the future may look like under it, and the risks and rewards of hitting the target.
Here are five key questions to which the report provides answers.
There is no clear yes or no answer to this question.
Put simply, it is not impossible that global warming could be limited to 1.5℃. But achieving this will be profoundly challenging.
If we are to limit warming to 1.5℃, we must reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030, reaching near-zero by around 2050.
Whether we are successful primarily depends on the rate at which government and non-state bodies take action to reduce emissions. Yet despite the urgency, current national pledges under the Paris Agreement are not enough to remain within a 3℃ temperature limit, let alone 1.5℃.
Global warming is not just a problem for the future. The impacts are already being felt around the world, with declines in crop yields, biodiversity, coral reefs, and Arctic sea ice, and increases in heatwaves and heavy rainfall. Sea levels have risen by 40.5mm in the past decade and are predicted to continue rising for decades, even if all greenhouse emissions were reduced to zero immediately. Climate adaptation is already needed and will be increasingly so at 1.5℃ and 2℃ of warming.
Rapid action is essential and the next ten years will be crucial. In 2017, global warming breached 1℃. If the planet continues to warm at the current rate of 0.2℃ per decade, we will reach 1.5℃ of warming around 2040. At current emissions rates, within the next 10 to 14 years there is a 2/3 chance we will have used up our entire carbon budget for keeping to 1.5.
The report says "transformational" change will be needed to limit warming to 1.5℃. Business as usual will not get us there.
Global emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases need to reach net zero globally by around 2050. Most economists say putting a price on emissions is the most efficient way to do this.
By 2050, 70-85% of electricity globally will need to be supplied by renewables. Investment in low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies will need to double, whereas investment in fossil-fuel extraction will need to decrease by around a quarter.
Carbon dioxide removal technology will also be needed to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. But the IPCC's report warns that relying too heavily on this technology would be a major risk as it has not been used on such a large scale before. Carbon dioxide removal is an extra step that may be needed to keep warming to 1.5℃, not an excuse to keep emitting greenhouse gases.
Production, consumption and lifestyle choices also play a role. Reducing energy demand and food waste, improving the efficiency of food production, and choosing foods and goods with lower emissions and land use requirements will contribute significantly.
Taking such action as soon as possible will be hugely beneficial. The earlier we start, the more time we have to reach net zero emissions. Acting early will mean a smoother transition and less net cost overall. Delay will lead to more haste, higher costs, and a harder landing.
Reducing emissions quickly will also ensure warming is capped as soon as possible, reducing the number and severity of impacts.
Yet severe impacts will still be experienced even if warming is successfully capped at 1.5℃.
Although the Paris Agreement aims to hold global warming as close to 1.5℃ as possible, that doesn't mean it is a "safe" level. Communities and ecosystems around the world have already suffered significant impacts from the 1℃ of warming so far, and the effects at 1.5℃ will be harsher still.
Poverty and disadvantages will increase as temperatures rise to 1.5℃. Small island states, deltas and low-lying coasts are particularly vulnerable, with increased risk of flooding, and threats to freshwater supplies, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
Warming to 1.5℃ also poses a risk to global economic growth, with the tropics and southern subtropics potentially being hit hardest. Extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, and droughts will become more frequent, severe, and widespread, with attendant costs in terms of health care, infrastructure, and disaster response.
The oceans will also suffer in a 1.5℃ warmer world. Ocean warming and acidification are expected to impact fisheries and aquaculture, as well as many marine species and ecosystems.
Up to 90% of warm water coral reefs are predicted to disappear when global warming reaches 1.5℃. That would be a dire situation, but far less serious than at 2℃, when the destruction of coral reefs would be almost total (greater than 99% destruction).
Impacts on both human and natural systems would be very different at 1.5℃ rather than 2℃ of warming. For example, limiting warming to 1.5℃ would roughly halve the number of people globally who are expected to suffer from water scarcity.
Seas would rise by an extra 10cm this century at 2℃ compared with 1.5℃. This means limiting global warming to 1.5℃ would save up to 10.4 million people from the impacts of rising seas.
At 1.5℃ rather than 2℃:
up to 427 million fewer people will suffer food and water insecurity, climate risks, and adverse health impacts
extreme weather events, heat-related death and disease, desertification, and wildlife extinctions will all be reduced
it will be significantly easier to achieve many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, including those linked to hunger, poverty, water and sanitation, health, and cities and ecosystems.
The Sustainable Development Goals aim for a world in which people can be healthy, financially stable, well fed, have clean air and water, and live in a secure and pleasant environment. Much of this is consistent with the goal of capping global warming at 1.5℃, which is why the IPCC notes there are synergies if the SDG initiatives and climate action should be explicitly linked.
But some climate strategies may make it harder to achieve particular SDGs. Countries that are highly dependent on fossil fuels for employment and revenue may suffer economically in the transition towards low-carbon energy.
Carefully managing this transition by simultaneously focusing on reducing poverty and promoting equity in decision-making may help avoid the worst effects of such trade-offs. What works in one place may not work in another, so strategies should always be locally appropriate.
Limiting global warming to 1.5℃ will require a social transformation, as the world takes rapid action to reduce greenhouse gases. The effects of climate change will continue to shape the world we live in, but there is no doubt we will be far better off under 1.5℃ than 2℃ of global warming.
Read more:
Why is climate change's 2 degrees Celsius of warming limit so important?
The choices we make today are shaping the future for coming generations. As the new report makes clear, if we are serious about the 1.5℃ target, we need to act now.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the substantial contribution to authorship of this article by of Lamis Kazak, an Australian National University Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (Sustainability) student, as part of a Science Communication Internship with the Climate Change Institute.
Mark Howden, Director, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University and Rebecca Colvin, Knowledge Exchange Specialist, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Iain Stewart, ClimateWorks Australia
The long-awaited special report on the science underpinning the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5℃ has been released today by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
It tells us that hitting this goal will be challenging, but not impossible. And it highlights the benefits of hitting the target, by pointing out that global warming will be vastly more damaging if allowed to reach 2℃.
Read more:
The UN's 1.5°C special climate report at a glance
The report says that for a 66% chance at limiting global warming to 1.5℃, an additional 550 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (or its equivalent) can be emitted globally from the beginning of 2018. Increasing the risk to a 50% chance at limiting global warming to 1.5℃, that figure becomes 750Gt CO₂e.
Based on previous calculations, Australia's fair share of the global carbon budget is roughly equivalent to 1%. That would put Australia's remaining carbon budget at 5.5Gt and 7.5Gt for a 66% and 50% chance, respectively.
The simplified trajectory below shows that Australia would therefore need to reach net zero greenhouse emissions by 2038 for a 66% chance of limiting global warming to 1.5℃, and by 2045 for a 50% chance.
In practical terms, this gives Australia two decades to deliver on our part, for a good chance of avoiding the most devastating impacts of a warming climate. Globally, we must reach net zero greenhouse emissions by 2047 for a 66% chance of limiting global warming to 1.5℃, and by 2058 for a 50% chance. Australia will have to hit net zero before it is achieved globally because we currently have among the highest per person emissions, so our decarbonisation trajectory needs to be steeper.
From 2006 to 2013, Australian emissions decreased, but they have since begun to rise again. As shown in ClimateWorks Australia's recently released report, Tracking Progress, we are not yet on track meet our current Paris commitment of cutting emissions by 26-28% relative to 2005 levels by 2030. Nor are we on track to reach net zero.
Yet our research also showed we have the potential to get back on track. There have been recent periods when sectors of our economy have cut carbon at or near the pace required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Read more:
Australia is not on track to reach 2030 Paris target (but the potential is there)
Reaching net zero from here will require rapid, economy-wide action, including:
There are already many examples of these kinds of approaches. For example, since 2010, solar photovoltaic prices have fallen by around 70% and battery prices by around 80%, while uptake rates have surpassed expectations. This has been the result of research, investment, government incentives, shifting consumer preferences, and economies of scale.
Consumers are beginning to embrace trends such as electric vehicles and 3D printing, and we can expect more technological disruptions throughout the economy such as building optimisation, smart grids, and solar-hydrogen, which all have the potential to reduce emissions significantly.
The new IPCC report is adamant that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5℃ is still achievable – despite previous fears that it is already out of reach. Yes, it is tight, but the challenge is in going faster, not the lack of solutions.
Crucially, the report also points out that 2℃ of global warming would be vastly more damaging than 1.5℃, and that 2℃ cannot be treated as a "safe" limit.
At 2℃, the report predicts it is "very likely that there will be at least one sea-ice-free Arctic summer per decade". In contrast, holding warming to 1.5℃ rather than 2℃ would protect an extra 10.4 million people from rising sea levels.
Some of these people are our neighbours in Pacific Island nations, many of which are implementing some of the most ambitious climate policies in the world. For low-lying countries and island states, the reality is "1.5 to stay alive".
Closer to home, the impacts of climate change on Australia will continue to manifest themselves in extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and bushfires. Increasing impacts are expected to extend to water, food and even border security, creating the potential for millions of climate refugees in our region before the end of the century.
As a wealthy, emissions-intensive country with abundant natural resources, in a region highly vulnerable to climate impacts, Australia should take its Paris climate targets very seriously. Australia has the means to become a regional leader in climate action, positioning ourselves as a "clean energy superpower" and helping our neighbours work towards becoming carbon-neutral.
Read more:
Lack of climate policy threatens to trip up Australian diplomacy this summit season
There are many examples within Australia of commitments already made to reach net zero emissions. States and territories representing 80% of Australia's emissions – along with the federal opposition – have committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Tasmania has already reached net zero. The ACT has legislated to do so by 2045.
Other organisations have also pledged to go carbon-neutral or use 100% renewable energy, including multinational companies, major cities such as Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, and universities.
These initiatives prove that setting targets for emissions reduction actually ignites action. The IPCC's new report sets us perhaps the most important target of all: the world must hit net zero emissions by mid-century if we are to stand a good chance of avoiding the worst impacts of global warming.
Iain Stewart, Analyst, ClimateWorks Australia
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Emil Jeyaratnam, The Conversation; Madeleine De Gabriele, The Conversation, and Michael Hopkin, The Conversation
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a special report today on the impacts of global warming of 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels.
The report outlines the considerable challenges of meeting the Paris Agreement's more ambitious goal of limiting warming to 1.5℃, the global effort needed to achieve the target, and the consequences of not.
The highlights of the report are presented below:
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the Australian Labor Party had a goal of reaching 50% renewable energy by 2050. But the ALP hope to achieve the 50% target via an emissions intensity scheme by 2030.
Emil Jeyaratnam, Data + Interactives Editor, The Conversation; Madeleine De Gabriele, Deputy Editor: Energy + Environment, The Conversation, and Michael Hopkin, Section Editor: Energy + Environment, The Conversation
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


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|The Blessed Sacrament Chapel
The restored St. Michael's Cathedral is truly magnificent. One can only appreciate this restoration in person. This past week was the first time I have been in the downtown area for several years, and I managed to visit the Blessed Sacrament and also visit my Mother Church.
The crypt has a new chapel, with the Blessed Sacrament in the centre. There are two fine busts of the recently sainted Popes: John XIII and John Paul II. The ceiling has been superbly restored and is a work of art.
I shall be uploading for readers many more photographs* that I took.
*You may use my photographs (for strictly non-commercial use only). Please credit "Toronto Catholic Witness".
|The High Altar
|A panoramic view of the Cathedral


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|Main page
- No Chance of Survival Trail
- Florgandorf Slide
- Tarantula Town
- Slides of Pits-a-Plenty
- Get To Mort
- Collect Fruit For Wilbur
- Slide
- Cross the Spider Pit
- Beat The Croc
- Fruit High Score: 40
Watch the Cutscene.You have to do this part FAST.You have to reach mort before the time bar ends.Keep going forward and jump the first gap,towards your right. Jump ahead and sneak under the leaves blockade.Continue forward and long jump over the next gap.Proceed and sneak under the leave blockade.Quickly take out all spiders using your kick.Jump down.Avoid the spitting flowers and jump over the gap.Careful for the spitting flowers.Continue forward.Take out the spiders at the end and continue.Sneak under the leaves blockade and avoid the spitting flower.Take out the spiders and sneak under another leaves blockade.Procceed ahead avoiding all spitting flowers and go to the end for a cutscene.
Ok,its very simple.Avoid the fruit which that pig pointed out and collect all sorts of other fruits.You have a time limit and you have to collect 30 pieces of good fruit.You can pick up a magnet while collecting,it pops up randomly. This will atrract all good fruit to you and you dont have to jump to move at it to collect it.It's only for a limited time.Plus while gathering fruits,a spider will randomly come down.Avoid it,because if it catches you,its restart point. Collect 30 fruits for a cutscene.
You have to cross this slide in the given time.Use the current flow boosters every now and then to boost your current flow.Try to maintain some control over your flow.There are absolutely no obstacles so just focus your attention your your manuvering.The time limit is a little tough.This might require a little retries.Watch the cutscene.
Jump on the ledge in front of you.Now jump on the ledge infront of you,the one with the spider.Kick the spider out of the sky.Now jump on the ledge on your leftand then onto the next ledge.Follow it.You will see a familiar bomb.Kick it in the spider's directions.Jump on the ledge on your left and then on the next one and another one.Again jump on the next ledge.Climb the two small ledges here and continue forward.Use the bomb to take out the spiders.Continue forward and jump over the gap.Climb the ledge and use the bomb to take out the spiders.Jump onto the ledge on your right.Climb the ledges nearby for a cut- scene.
SLIDE OF PITs-A-PLENTY
This is a slightly tough race.Use the current boosters to enhance your currents AVOID all pits.If you get a little too behind the crocodile then DIE.Yes,i say die because when you restart he is very near you.Keep at it,use the current boosters to jump on top of him to get a little advantage.This is all the advice i can give.Win the race for a cutscene and this level is done.


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The Befana Drama
By Gianna Hartwright
Welcome to fictional fabulousness and witch-dust of the most wondrous kind in the form of The Befana Drama… a book every child aged 8-11 will wish to put on their Christmas list and which will bring a unique sparkle to every Christmas sack or birthday bag as the must-have book of the year.
The Befana Drama is a thrilling, magical adventure that sees the main character 'Bef' travelling around the world as she tries to regain the hearts of Italian children and settle a few scores at the same time! It is full of exciting tuber-charged broomstick flights, wicked (and sometimes wonky) spells, intrigue and suspense of the highest order, fearsome foe and great giggles… not to mention the odd snowball fight. And why is this? Well, naturally, to decide which VIPB is going to have the right to deliver presents to children this year.
So what's a VIPB, we hear you cry! Well, a VIPB is a Very Important Present Bringer. Many of you will know that Santa is one of these. Italian children will receive coal or candy from the Befana – an old witch who the Three Wise Men turned to for help in finding the baby Jesus. Unfortunately, her obsession with cleaning got in the way and she didn't travel with them.
Well, in this book, Santa and the Befana have a bit of a falling out, to put it mildly. You see, the Befana believes that children truly love her and she is very proud of the fact that she has her own festival and her own postbox for children's letters. In fact, her life is perfect until one day she learns that… HER FESTIVAL IS BEING DOWNSIZED AND HER POSTBOX SEALED UP!
If this weren't insult enough, she is told the reason for this is that her town and the rest of Italy are adopting Santa Claus as their VIPB! Well, this is certainly more than an old witch can bear and bear it she will not, especially as she once got engaged to Santa at a Very Important Present Bringers' conference and agreed to split most of the present-bringing world with him!
As she steams like a pudding in a pressure cooker, she learns even worse news … Santa has, for some time now, been married to a Mrs Santa Claus (Capriccia) and their wedding photos even appeared in 'Gello' magazine! The Befana has, effectively, been jilted! Oh dear, that spells trouble and, in fact, bats are already flying out of the church by daytime… a very bad sign indeed!
As candy balls bounce down the street, the Befana fires up her broomstick with potatoes and horse manure and heads off to find the descendants of the Three Wise Men, who happen to be a boy band in Dubai. Having made sure they will help her, she makes a flying visit to Old Father Time and, with his help, becomes Bef leaving her life as an old, wart-ridden witch behind her to become someone who is pretty in a certain light – an ingenious disguise!
So what does the trendy and cool Bef get up to? How can Gaspar, Thaz and Mel help her? What part do Bernhardt Bürstenfrisür, Jeremiah Needlebaum, Natalia Lebedev, Rocky Candymeister and Lars Llangfjord play in her journey around the world, as she heads off in search of enough coal and candy to take over Santa's deliveries?
All of these are very good questions, but there's one that needs answering more than any other. How will a peeved and rejected witch react when she meets Capriccia Claus and has to face the 5-storey pink monstrosity of a building that is Capriccia Claus's Casa of Contentments?
Will Bef manage to win back the hearts of Italian children? Will she and the best reindeer whisperer the world has ever known take over Santa's deliveries? Will Capriccia get her just desserts or will she and the very sly 81st elf foil Bef's plan? Only the lucky young reader, or their parent reading the bedtime story will find out!
PRESS/BOOKSHOPS WISHING TO HAVE A REVIEW COPY SHOULD FILL IN THE FORM AT www.thebefanadrama.com or email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 00 44 1253 891114.
Bookshops worldwide can place direct orders by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com
All other enquiries for book signings, attendance at events, competitions, reader offers and other promotional opportunities should be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com Alternatively, please call 00 44 1253 891114.


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April 3, 2020 - Latest: What has happened to markets this year? by Darius McDermott
10th October 2014
The pay gap between private and public sector employees has reopened but civil servants' generous pensions means they are still better off.
A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that private sector pay is likely to rise faster than wages in the public sector over the next four years. The think-tank said the gap between public and private sector workers, which was closed during the recession as private sector wages dropped, has now reopened as public sector pay has remained static and private sector pay increases again.
However, wages are not the full story as public sector workers are better off than private sector workers when pensions are taken into consideration. It said a 'large majority' of public sector workers are members of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes while only 12% of private sector workers are part of these gold-plated pensions, which pay out a multiple of final salary and years worked in retirement income until a member dies.
Most private companies now operate defined contributions (DC) schemes where the outcome is reliant on employee contributions and stockmarket returns.
The think tank said 'on average across public sector workers this [DB] pension was worth about 19% of pay in 2011'. When the pay and pensions deal is taken into consideration, public sector workers are 17% better off than their private sector peers.
Jonathan Cribb, a research economist at the IFS, said: 'The biggest differences between public and private sectors remains the value of employer contributions to public service pensions. These are on average, much more generous in the public sector than in the private sector.
'Over the last 15 years, changes in the gap between total remuneration in the public and private sectors has been driven more by the changing value of pensions rather than headline pay. Pay and pensions need to be considered together.'
The report also identified that women benefit more from public sector roles, receiving 8% more pay than if they were working in the private sector while there was no significant difference for men. Those with low wages and low levels of qualifications are also better off in the public sector, while higher earners and those with higher qualifications can earn more in the private sector.
The IFS said there was 'some evidence that the size of the public-private sector pay gap has implications for the ability of the public sector to attract and retain workers with particular qualities'.
Commenting on the report, Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said: 'The pay squeeze looks set to go on and on, which will not only make public sector workers suffer further years of cuts in their living standards, but also hit the quality of the services that bind our society together.'
"When the pay and pensions deal is taken into consideration, public
sector workers are 17% better off than their private sector peers."
And as John Maynard Keynes said "in the log run we are all dead" so let's hope those public sector workers live long enough to enjoy that pension……
There seems to be only you and me commenting on these pages.
May I interject some possibly doubtful internet data on the gap between public sector and private sector compensation. This data is available to think tanks but think tanks generary reflect and give added weight to the positions of their sponsors. That is why they sponsor them.
1. Policy Exchange calculated that the total remuneration of the public sector employee was 44% greater than the private sector worker doing the same job some three years ago. This was due to combination of less hours, 8% higher pay, more holidays, earlier retirement and better pension provision.
2. Some reports stated that the private sector worker would have to put 35% of income into pension for the whole of his working life to match the public sector worker's pension.
3. One in five UK workers work in the public sector and before we had the WGA many estimated that public sector pensions liability was three times the ONS estimate of Nationl Debt. The estimate for the 1.3m NHS workers alone was £1.5t prior to the WGA.
4. Public sector pensions reform has resulted in a reduction in the public sector pensions liability to the numbers disclosed in the latest WGA (just google WGA). You have kindly informed me of these reforms and I have informed you of how many gain the system.
5. Despite the reduction of 600,000 heads in the public sector the wage bill has only risen. Birthday rises has been a significant factor. For many in the public sector you get two pay rises pa, one general increment and one for being a year older. Unheard of in the private sector.
6. The WGA identifies that pay in the public sector is now 14.37% higher than the private sector and up from 14.05% the previous year.
7. The strike action is about the limiting of pay rises to those not getting birthday rises. And about time too. Low income earners in the public sector have been protected from austerity cuts. Indeed, low income earners across the land have benefitted from the reduction in the tax threashold. None have to pay a cent towards the education of their children or the NHS.
Hi David,
Yes, the other posters on Shaun's blog who commented occasionally on other items seem to have forsaken this site now simply following Shaun. For myself it is still worth a read.
Firstly I don't know what the WGA is so googled WGA and got a load of nonsense about the Writers Guild of America etc but nothing that looked like a
financial analytical organisation to which I guess you are referring, could you tell me the full name please as I should like to see their research and evidence to back up their conclusions.
For me, I can speak authoritatively on all things public sector as I have stated in the past I am an ex public sector employee (prior to that I was a private sector employee) who secured a redundancy in 2007 which I had to fight tooth and nail for. Consequently, I have many ex colleagues I keep in touch with to monitor developments in public sector
at the coal face rather than the garbage spouted by the MSM, with public sector pensions being my speciality as I have 23 years service in and
keep a close eye on what the Government is getting up to with my pension, should I live long enough to actually receive it.
Following my release from prison, excuse me, the civil service, I set up in self employment and as I was saying to a friend on Saturday would never return, so I don't get all this "it's so easy in the public sector
garbage". My response is if you think it's so easy get your arse into the public sector and find out just how "easy" it is!
Now, to specifics:
The reports you talk about, as you say seem doubtful and conflict with each other as does this report we are commenting on. Policy exchange come up with an arbitrary number of a 44% advantage based on:
1. less hours (that would be 37 per week as compared to my self employed 40 hours a week or my neighbours 36 a week in private industry!!)
2. 8% higher pay (that would be why DWP in Warrington and Child Support Agency in Birkenhead are losing their lower paid staff to private sector for "pay" reasons and are currently in a continuous recruitment mode). It's difficult to compare the work of my company with the DWP where I worked, as it is a technical but manual job but trying to do that: I pay about 20% more than I would expect to pay if they were Public Sector workers (although I wouldn't employ the majority of people I worked with in the Public Sector on efficiency grounds but that is no excuse for lower pay – if they're not good enough you retrain them, give them time to improve and if still not good enough sack them on inefficiency grounds)
3. more holidays – I don't know about private sector but what I do know is that you get 22 days paid holiday a year with 10.5 public holidays on top which rises to 30 days paid holiday a year after 10 years. This compares to the 20 days and 8 days respectively I give to my guys, although, if we're talking corporate private industry which I think we have to, to get anything that vaguely compares to the size of the Civil Service/Public Sector, my private industry corporate friends tell an identical story to public sector holidays with the exception of public holidays being 8 days a year.
4. earlier retirement and better pension provision – point taken in respect of any Public Sector worker who started before August 2007 but flat wrong on any Public Sector worker commencing employment after July 2007 -they will be entitled to their pension at State Retirement Pension Age which is currently 66 – 67 depending on your age and which will continue to rise. In terms of "better provision" what does that mean exactly? My private industry corporate friends enjoy final salary schemes based on 1.65% of final salary for each years service although this closed to new private industry corporate employees whilst my Public Sector ex colleagues enjoy final salary schemes based on 1.25% of final salary for each years service -AHEM!! Maybe they are talking about widows and dependants payments and death in service benefits available in Public Sector and the provision of which I have no idea in the Private Sector???
You say some reports state a private sector worker has to put 35% of their pay into a pension to match Public Sector pensions. Did you know that DWP/Civil Service workers pay is held down by 26.5% to take account of the "value" of the employer's contributions into their pension? And that's before we get into the 1.5% that employees have deducted in respect of widows and dependants pension making a total of 28%. I have my old pay slips to prove this but will not be publishing them on the net.
I don't give a toss about pension liabilities – I didn't ask the Government NOT to invest my "contributions" (i.e. that amount of my pay that was withheld to take account of the value of my pension that may be provided). Equally, if I was given all my pay and told to arrange my own pension provision and I just spent everything (as the Government has) I wouldn't come whingeing and wining to you when retirement came upon me. In other words the Government got it self into this and it is up to the Government to get itself out, there was no coercion from civil servants forbidding the Government from investing all those contributions, the Government chose not to invest and depend on a fantasy of ever increasing tax revenues to fund Public Sector pensions – a scheme, the scale of which makes Charles Ponzi look like a rank amateur!! But again – NOT – MY – FAULT!!
What is your information source re "birthday rises" They were abolished in the DWP (which currently employs 65000) for all but the lowest paid in 2007 – I WAS THERE! Nor have they been re-instated.
NI contributions allegedly fund the NHS and Social Security System and start at £111 per week on a paye basis currently so it depends on how low you are going when you say people on low pay don't pay a cent towards these things.
Again, I should like to see these WGA stats re pay levels including:
1. A list of job duties of each comparator in the Public Sector and the private Sector so I have assurance of the accuracy of comparison
2. Total pay including bonuses and hours worked per year.
3. Type of Pension scheme and all benefits accruing from it like calculation of pension entitlement, any life insurance attached to the [pension, any widows and dependants pension entitlement etc
Somehow, as has been a depressingly familiar experience in my time in self employment I expect to see just a shallow suck your thumb stick it in the air and see set of calculations, which is why I've been making so much money as I am afraid that your average Private Sector Joe has no depth to them and consequently under calculate health and safety risk which results in a calamity, which is where my company gets called in to sort out the mess and I find myself sitting in on numerous meetings of various companies in a consultative capacity as a condition of their continued Public and Employee liability insurance where I am continuously amazed at the scale of shallowness of management boards who consistently fail to see the risks inherent in their operations. But what do I care? They have to pay me a fortune to tell them what to me is the bleedin obvious!
I have just come from such a meeting earlier today when I could have been out helping my guys neutralise a chemical spillage with side effects of 3 poisonous gases being created which had to be contained and doing what I consider to be "real work" instead of poncing around in another Board Room meeting. Said spillage happened because the idiot manager at the company we were called out to didn't understand the toxic capabilities of the chemicals they were storing and therefore didn't know how to safely store them – Oh well, that will be another company whose meetings I'll have to attend (well paid of course) if they wish to continue with their Public and employee liability insurance. So, David, I am immensely underwhelmed by the "quality" of private sector management and employees and can honestly say there seems little difference between their effectiveness at their jobs and the effectiveness of their Public Sector counterparts except they are paid more money, in my experience any way.
There is one factor you are forgetting.
I don't have to pay the wages of an imbecile in private industry, unless I choose*.
That doesn't affect the argument above, as to whether it's true or not that the public sector is overpaid, but it is the reason people actually care, so can't be discounted.
*Arguably I have paid the wages of numerous imbecile/criminal bankers, do they still count as private sector though?
Thanks for reminding me – you are right of course but equally you do have to pay the wages of an imbecile in private industry if you choose to buy e.g. the paint made by a certain manufacturer whose facility we were making safe yesterday as it was an imbecile who chose to store reactive chemicals incorrectly and next to each other. Part of the money you spend to buy that tin of paint goes to the imbecile's wages.
Today I have had the "pleasure" of attending yet another meeting which was an inquiry into the incident with representatives of Health and Safety Executive and the company concerned. The company was adamant that it was"one of those things" and "couldn't be foreseen" in spite of the report I furnished making it crystal clear as to correct procedures to follow and what had not been followed. The only "unknown" was whether it was staff or management inefficiency (although in my book the responsibility always lays with management – that's what we get the big bucks for) but it was clear the company would take no action against any personnel although it accepted it had to improve it's procedures, so the imbecile(s) continue in employment and whoever buys that manufacturers paint unwittingly pays the imbeciles wages.
I take your question to be rhetorical but just to leave no doubt, Lloyds group,what's left of Northern Rock, RBS and Nat West became Public Sector when they were bailed out with Public funds and remain Public Sector if/until they repay their bailout loans and stand on their own 2 feet and yet I hear very little complaint about these grossly incompetent organisations and their diamond encrusted pension schemes as most people labour under the mis-apprehension that they are still in some bizarre way "Private Sector"
It is of course up to Public sector management to ensure they employ efficient staff and for politicians to ensure management do their job effectively and indeed, that pension contributions are invested instead of squandered on cheap loans to banks, so maybe you need to have a long in depth chat with your MP about his/her responsibilities.
Thank you, you always reply. And you always know what you are talking about.
1. The WGA, Whole of Government Accounts, is a 204 page document available on the internet. I refer to it as a modern Doomsday Book. Like the OBR it is independent. It is produced by accountants so every number is accurate to the $. Only accountants could put quantum on the public sector pensions liability and PFI. Both are less than we questimated when all these numbers were secret. Prior to the WGA the conservatives had been trying to establish the quantum of PFI using the Freedom of Informtion Act. PFI is off-balance sheet accounting that was hidden from the National Debt and has bankrupted two NHS Trusts.
2. The WGA is a team of accountants combing through the annual accounts of 38,000 gov funded bodies; army, navy, councils, police … It forces these bodies to get a grip on profit and loss/assets and liabilities. It is a massive professional audit that has discovered where all our money goes, how much is wasted and since its inception it has brought professionlism to 38,000 institutions saving a lot of our money.
3. The Policy Exchange work on public/private remuneration differential is now some 3/4 years old and there have been many reforms since then, some, as you state going back to 2007. The WGA reflects all the latest reforms.
4. I wouldn't for a minute disparage the public sector worker or his work. Nor the private sector worker. We did have a mangement problem but I am sure that most managers did an excellent job. I could list many dissaters in the public sector due to bad mangement; North Staffs hospital and others, the £30b MoD black hole. And, nearer to home, the DWP employees doing nothing for two weeks because the computer was down. The WGA will do more than the NAO to prevent such future occurrances.
5. There are lots of workers on low pay. 40% of the 1.8m new jobs are self-employed and I beleive that 32% of these will earn less than £10,000 pa. Whilst not receiving JSA they will still be on some benefits such as WTC and housing benefit. We should talk of the median salary and not the average salary. We should also remember that 80% of new businesses fail.
6. We have just learnt that 55% of the 1.3m NHS staff receive what I call birthday pay. I can see the benefits and the downsides of progression-in-job pay. The bottom line is that it still exists.
7. You didn't address the issue of there being 600,000 less public sector workers since 2010 but the wages bill has only increased.
Hallo David – thanks for the reference, a weighty document I intend to read over the next couple of weeks.
A further check and I see progression pay does indeed still exist in the NHS so possibly elsewhere, which would go someway to
explaining an increasing wage bill along with the pay rises MP's have voted themselves and I intend to check this carefully – I suspect but currently have no evidence to back this up, that all employees of bailed out banks are, or at least should be considered "Public Sector" as they are now "owned"by the Government, consequently, their costs(wages being but one cost) are backstopped by the Government and need to appear in Public Sector accounts. If this is happening then the continuing astronomical rises in bank employees pay despite their continued failure would provide the rest of the explanation for increasing public sector wage bills.
In the final analysis, if an employer doesn't pay enough, be they Public or Private Sector they won't attract enough employees of the correct calibre and will fail.
In my case, I came to the conclusion both Public Sector and Corporate Private Sector management sucked and felt I was already doing a better, unrecognised job than my "superiors" and was therefore being significantly underpaid. So I left and if my earnings since leaving are anything to go by it looks like I was grossly underpaid.
This is the final test – employers who can't keep staff (like the DWP) due to poor pay/ poor management style or archaic employment policies, simply cease to function and all the moaning in the World about "high Public/Private Sector pay, pensions and working conditions won't stop that.
Whilst I am still in a rage about events my company had to deal with in the last 2 days and this has turned into a rant on my part I should still like to see this "WGA" stuff – full name of WGA please.


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A Noise in the Night
Season 4 • Episode 7
Sisters Bre and Kayli Lasley have just moved into the perfect apartment in downtown Salt Lake City, unaware that a recent parolee is living close by. That is until one quiet night when suddenly their lives cross paths in an explosive way.
42 min|TV-14|Premiered 01/14/2018


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Oh, You're Disappointed After Eight Seasons?
So there are many people out there who were disappointed with they way the season ended for Game of Thrones. Pull up a chair. Browns fans have some stories to tell you. Here's hoping we're at the very beginning of a VERY long renaissance for our team! That's Cleveland BabyRead More →


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- 12 whole Graham Cracker Ground Into Crumbs
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 1/2 cups Root Beer
- 1/2 cup Whole Milk
- 4 whole Egg Yolks
- 1/2 cup Thickened Root Beer Mixture
Cook time: PT7M
Total time: PT12H0M
Yield: 10 Servings
- 1 2/3 cup Graham Crackers, Crushed (about 12 whole crackers)
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter, Melted
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup All-PurposeFlour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 1/2 cups Root Beer
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 4 whole Egg Yolks, Whisked
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- For Serving: Sweetenend Whip Cream And Maraschino Cherries
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large bowl add graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar, mix until well combined. Drizzle in melted butter and mix well. Press graham cracker mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate. Bake for 7 minutes or until light brown, cool completely.
- In a large saucepan whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and flour until well combined. Slowly pour in root beer and milk to prevent lumps. Bring mixture to a simmer while stirring and cook until thickened. Remove from heat.
- Whisk 1/2 cup at a time of cooked root beer mixture into egg yolks until 2 cups of root beer mixture has been added.
- Stir egg yolk mixture into root beer mixture and return to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour root beer mixture into baked graham cracker crust and refridgerate until cold.
- Freeze pie until frozen about 6-12 hours.
- Use a knife run under hot water and dried to slice pie. Serve with sweetenend whip cream and a cherry on top.


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DFO is one of Australia's largest factory outlet group with centres across Australia. In 2016, Omnyfy was engaged to redevelop the DFO web platform to create a more contemporary experience for customers, whilst delivering more flexibility to individual centre marketers.
The Challenge
Before developing the DFO web platform, Omnyfy conducted extensive user experience research into the behaviour of DFO's customers and how they approached the brand. Our findings indicated that customers who wanted to shop at DFO didn't differentiate between the specific DFO centres, i.e. they were driven by the deals and offers rather than any specific DFO centre. They would look for an offer and then find out if it was available at their nearest DFO centre. This indicated a need to house all DFO centres under a single brand umbrella so that customers simply navigated to one DFO address, dfo.com.au rather than to the address of each specific centre. Additionally from this landing page, they would need be directed to their nearest centre (Proximity Based).
The requirement to house the new DFO websites as part of the existing Vicinity Centre's platform provided an additional layer of complexity as it required us to create a routing solution that enabled Umbrella structures on the existing CMS, while retaining the individual centre structure of all other Vicinity Centre websites.
What we delivered
Omnyfy architected and implemented a seamless Umbrella landing page for DFO – complete with proximity based content for mobile devices, that immediately directed visitors to their nearest centre based on their location. The routing architecture enabled each centre to be housed as a child of the parent DFO.com.au website, while also enabling access via its own domain (such as dfohomebush.com.au). As the solution was built on the existing Vicinity CMS base, DFO inherited all of the advanced functionalities that was available to the rest of Vicinity's 90+ websites with virtually no additional cost, the benefit of a multi-tenanted solution.


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Driving from St Louis, MO to Indianapolis, IN, Mommy And Me Travels stumbled upon the cutest little town that had some amazingly largest world things to see. That town is Casey, IL. The town boast its worlds largest things with its motto "Big Things Small Town". If you are looking for a kids friendly break along I70 to burn off some energy, we definitely recommend stopping in Casey, IL. Here are just a few highlights of the town that you can view and see these awe inspiring worlds largest things. As an added bonus for you, don't forget to stop at Union Station St Louis while you are there as your kids will definitely thank you for an amazing day at Union Station and then a stop here at Casey, IL.
You may ask yourself, how did so many of the worlds largest things end up in the small town. Well 'The man behind the idea of Big Things Small Town is Jim Bolin. Bolin is a local business owner. Born and raised in Casey, he felt like he owed something to the community that has given him the opportunity to build a life, home, and business. All of the items were constructed by him and his crew from Bolin Enterprises, In." – https://www.bigthingssmalltown.com/faq
Casey Illinois Attractions – "Big Things Small Town":
Plan your stop at Casey Illinois Attractions, located conveniently right off of I70 between St Louis and Indianapolis, by knowing what your family would be most interested in viewing, or scope them all out because they are all a wonder to see.
This town has seven attractions that are categorized by the Guinness World Records as the World's Largest Attractions. These are: World's Largest Pitchfork, Worlds Largest Golf Tee, Worlds Largest Wind Chime, Worlds Largest Rocking Chair, Worlds Largest Mailbox, Worlds Largest Wooden Shoes, and Former Worlds Largest Knitting Needles & Crochet Hook (2013-2017).
If your family enjoys viewing big things, don't forget to also check out the other Big Attractions that this town has to offer. Above and beyond the worlds largest attractions are also these Big Attractions that are definitely worth paying a visit to while you are in town: Wooden Token, Toy Airplane, Yardstick, Key, Ear of Corn, Pencil, Barbershop Pole, Bird Cage, Minion, Spinning Top, Twizzle Spoon, Baseball Bat, Teeter-Totter, and Bookworm. You can also check out the TripAdvisor reviews here.
Worlds Largest Wind Chime:
Does your family enjoy the sounds of a wind chime? Well what if that wind chime could be heard for miles? That is exactly what you can see with the Worlds Largest Wind Chime in Casey IL. Not only can you view it but you can ring it. Don't miss this fun and free kids activity.
The wind chime construction started in 2011 and completed in 2012. Shortly after completion it was added as the Worlds Largest Wind Chime to the Guinness World Records book. The structure stands 56 feet tall with the largest chime being 42 feet tall.
Address: 109 East Main St, Casey IL, 62420
Largest Rocking Chair:
Who doesn't love to sit and relax in a rocking chair? Especially if you have a new baby that you are trying to rock to sleep. Well what if that chair was so large that it took a latter to reach it, not to mention that it does actually rock. That is exactly what this small town has built in the worlds largest rocking chair. It is definitely a chair built for a giant mom to rock her baby 🙂
The largest rocking chair had to actually rock to be considered for the Guinness World Records book. This proved to be a difficult task to accomplish but the build set out to make it a success. The worlds largest rocking chair took 2 years to complete and after completion was added as the largest rocking chair in the world. An amazing fact about this chair is that it is made entirely of reclaimed and recycled material. The chair is 56 feet tall and weighs 46,200 pounds.
Address: 117 East Main Street, Casey IL, 62420
Worlds Largest Mailbox:
I know my kids love checking the mail. Well this time they got to be the mail. What I mean is the worlds largest mailbox is functioning and you are able to climb a few flights of stairs and stand inside the mailbox to "become mail". This is also the location to take in a great view of the small town of Casey, IL.
Like the largest rocking chair, to qualify as the worlds largest mailbox it had to be functioning. That means that the red flag can be lifted to signify that mail is available for pick up. The worlds largest mailbox is 5,743.41 cubic feet.
Address: 19 West Main Street, Casey IL, 62420
World's Largest Pitchfork:
Does your family like to farm or going picking at a local farm on the weekends? Well what if you had to do it with a pitchfork that was 10x the normal size? The world's largest pitchfork is just that, 10x the size of a standard pitchfork. You will be amazed at the fine details that you can view at this beautiful location. The site of the world's largest pitchfork is placed at Richards Farm. At one time it was a working farm, now it is a quaint family restaurant with a buffet style homegrown menu.
Similar to the worlds largest rocking chair, the world's largest pitchfork is also made of reclaimed wood and metal. The world's largest pitchfork was the first of its kind so there was no record that had to be beat. This meant to get into the Guinness Book of World Records that the pitchfork had to be 10x the size of a normal pitchfork. The world's largest pitchfork was completed and added into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2015 with its size of 60 feet long and 1940 pounds.
Address: 607 NorthEast 13th Street, Casey IL, 62420
Worlds Largest Golf Tee:
Do you have a golfer in the family, or maybe many golfers? Then check out the worlds largest golf tee that sits on a functioning golf course. When you enter the country club area you have to walk through the shop and sign in on the guest book. You will then be directed to the best viewing location which is right outside the golf shop. The best place to get pictures of the worlds largest golf tee is to climb a small flight of stairs and you will be directly lined up with the golf tee. The sunlight is perfect either early in the morning or later in the day for pictures.
The worlds largest golf tee is constructed of laminated wood and claimed was added as the Guinness World Record in 2013. The construction of this magnificent piece was to encourage people to visit the public golf course and take more interest in another activity the Big Things Small Town had to offer. The worlds largest golf tee is 30.5 feet tall with the head dimensions being 6 feet 3 inches, and weighs 6,659 pounds.
Address: 203 NorthEast 13th Street, Casey IL, 62420
Giant Knitting Needles & Crochet Hook (Formally Worlds Largest):
Is your favorite past time while traveling to knit? What if you had to do it with giant knitting needles. For this item to get into the world records that is exactly one of the criteria for entry, they had to be functioning enough to be used to make a 10×10 square. You will definitely want to check out these giant knitting needles and crochet hook, formally the worlds largest entered in 2013. To view these up close you do have to enter the Yarn Studio store and then walk to the back. If you are visiting while the store is closed then you can see them through a glass window where they are displayed.
This pair of giant knitting needles held the world record from 2013-2017 when a UK art student claimed the record with a pair of just over 14 feet. This pair of giant knitting needles and crochet hooks 13.75 feet and 3.25 inches in diameter, weighing 25 pounds each. Jeanette did knit the 10×10 square needed for the world record entry in front of a group of children. She stated "I want the children to see that they can set a goal and pursue a dream".
Address: 2 East Main Street, Casey IL, 62420
Wooden Shoes – Worlds Largest:
We all know you need shoes to travel. Well what if you had to wear wooden shoes? Since we are lucky enough to not have to wear wooden shoes, it is still definitely exciting to see the worlds largest wooden shoes that are on display inside The Casey Candy Depot. These wooden shoes are easily visited be entering The Casey Candy Depot after visiting the worlds largest mailbox as the store sits right behind the entrance to the mailbox. At this stop you can see both the worlds largest mailbox and wooden shoes.
The wooden shoes were made by piecing together wooden boards then using a chain saw and sander to get the perfect shape. The wooden shoes entered the Guinness World Record in 2015. Each wooden shoe is 4 feet 9 inches tall, 11 feet 5.5 inches long, 5 feet 3 inches wide, and weigh 2500 pounds.
Address: 20 West General Robey St., Casey IL, 62420
Wrap Up!
Take a drive to visit the worlds largest attractions in Casey Illinois a town with the motto "Big Things Small Town". In this article we covered the worlds largest wind chime, largest rocking chair, worlds largest mailbox, world's largest pitchfork, worlds largest golf tee, giant knitting needles and crochet hook, and the worlds largest wooden shoes. If you are planning a visit also check out our Big Attractions for Casey Illinois article (coming soon).
Have you seen any of these World Record Largest World Attractions? Do you know of others that we can check out? Leave us a comment and help us visit all of the Largest World Attractions.
Also, check out our ideas for Planning A Family Vacation or how to do Day Trips With Kids.
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