text:
Rinden's Story
No one knew it could happen. Not even the gods. The rising and falling of an animal's chest stirred the darkness of the confining cave.
Khan was sitting outside, like a sentinel guarding the savanna. He had been there all night, watching the moon rise like an egg through the tenebrous womb of the sky. The stars pierced the heavens, then slowly withdrew as the great golden sphere began its ascent from the eastern mountains, reflecting in His eyes.
At the sound of a cry from within the cave, Khan turned and padded in, his tail rippling with the movements of a black-and-white snake. Surina lay panting in the darkness, her mouth stained with blood, like the red of the rising sun. A scraggly, damp cub was by her side, licking her nipples in an effort to taste her milk. She raised her head and nuzzled her alabaster-skinned mate and let him lick her own golden coat. The cub was also golden, and like his parents, spotted all over, with shadows of black trailing from his eyes to his mouth.
I thought it could never happen, said Khan. And look what we have here!
They left the cave during a glistening summer day. The yellow grasses snapped under their paws, reflecting the vulnerable state of the plains. Rinden had grown into a healthy young cub, sprinting ahead of his parents, then reappearing behind them. His father spoke to him about the balance of life, and how everything eventually must die, then be reborn. The cub asked questions, and his father gave answers.
Everything was peaceful and serene. Then, a panicked flock of birds alerted the attention of the three animals. A mud-stained, sun-scorched safari jeep screeched to a stop beneath a baobab tree several hundred yards from the cats' position. Rinden's mother told him to remain silent and still while she and her mate led the predator away. The cub obeyed, and watched as his parents sprinted around the great tree, past the fierce, metal monster and nearly barreling into two creatures standing beside it. They were strange, hairless, ape-like beasts standing on their hind legs, clutching strange, long rods in their hands. Humans. They had to be.
The gaunt one raised his rifle and brought it down on the head of the cub's mother. She fell like a broken tree. Her mate halted and walked towards her body, greatly concerned. Instantly, the larger of the two humans threw a net over the animal, who snarled and tried to escape from his spider-web prison, but in the end, he was won.
The fat man hoisted the captured beast into the rear of the jeep. The other picked up the female's battered carcass and did the same. Then both of the humans got into the jeep and sped off, leaving a cruel set of tire-tracks behind.
Rinden knew that he was on his own now. The only thing he could do was run. So he did. He careened across the plains, tripping on a sharp rock once and injuring his leg. No time to worry about future scars. He had to leave. He ran on, away from the only home he had ever known, unaware of the small pair of eyes that watched him from the tall grasses.
For two days Rinden ran, seldom stopping to rest. The cruel, sharp grasses bit his feet and huge mountains seemed to leer at him. Thoughts stabbed at his mind, sometimes drawing tears from his eyes. Dad is gone. Mom is dead. No one. Alone. Alone. Help. Must find…
The cave. Rinden was born in a dark cave which led out onto a stone ledge, a precipice. It was on a high hill, and it faced another cave nearly identical to it.
The lions. A family of lions lived there. So close, yet they left his family alone. Father said that when Ahieu created the animals, he gave the cheetahs more speed and the lions more strength. The two cats were jealous of each other, and had a strong enmity towards each other as well. But…
The cub. Rinden met a lion cub while he was hunting. Sandy fur with moist green eyes. A tail with a mind of its own and an orange tuft of fur between the ears. It was a male. Said his name was Stuart. Stuart. What a funny name. The cub didn't like that. But he never asked what Rinden was. Why?
Then his father called him away. Oh, Father, Father. Gone. Taken.
What was he like. So different. Fur like a cloud. Probably soft as one too. With pinprick black spots and tear lines from his eyes.
Why was Rinden yellow like the grass. Oh, yes. His mother. Lean and muscular, silky and smooth. She had fur spun from the fabric of the sun. Golden and speckled. Raspy tongue to lick Rinden, to keep him pure…must run…must…
He stopped and collapsed, his thoughts weighing heavily in his heart and lungs, slowing his breath. His coarse mane was interwoven with grasses and dirt, his young paws were calloused and scarred. The cut on his left foreleg had also left a scar, not large, but not small enough to pass by, like the other memories that were still pounding in his head.
A grove of trees…yes. Good place to stop. Must stop. Must drink. Water…yes, here.
Rinden dropped to his knees and lapped up the reviving, cool water from the sheltered oasis. His cramped stomach slowly subsided and his breath reached a steady rhythm. The lilac sunset reflected and distorted in the still pool. New thoughts now began to reverberate in his mind.
How will I live. I must hunt…but I am so young. Who will teach me. How can I…how can I…
His tear-stained, swollen eyes began to close and blur his vision. Images from old dreams flashed before him. Lions' manes. Violet butterflies. Bloodied skin and torn muscle.
Suddenly, a new picture walked past Rinden's eyes. A huge cat, with rounded ears, delicate whiskers, tawny fur and spots…not the splattered coat of his parents, but rather a repetitious pattern of dark rosettes, black and brown flowers blossoming on the animal's hide. He was about to brush it off as another daydream, but then it spoke.
Well, well. What have we here? A runaway?
She had appeared more than a week ago. Every night she gazed at the moon with her water-droplet eyes, reminiscent of Rinden's father. Rinden did not know who she was, even when she told him her name. Sarala. Like a roaring waterfall or whispering grasses. He asked questions. So did she. How long have you been here? Why did you come here? Well, the leopard, Huanu, took me in. Taught me to survive.
Sarala didn't know who he was until she saw the ebony gash on his left foreleg. A flaw in a crystal. Then she remembered.
Rinden, you're alive.
How did you know, he asked.
I saw you get that. I watched you. I saw Them. They took your parents. Khan. Khan, your father. Pure white. Stuart told me about you too.
Stuart? You mean the lion cub, Prince Stuart?
He's not a cub anymore, Rinden. His mane is fully-grown and he has taken a mate. Elfleda of the fiery eyes.
What about his father?
His father died a year ago and his mother was kicked in the head by an antelope. May they rest in peace.
But that makes Stuart king, doesn't it, Sarala?
Yes, it does. But I think you are more regal than any lion, Rinden.
She rubbed her cool cheek against his and purred like spring grasses in the wind. Then she gently breathed in his ear:
We're going home. Together.
The yellow shape darted about in the grasses, a fly on the pelt of a cat. Two spotted figures watched it in silence. They had returned home more than a year ago, and their only son, Jacko, was growing stronger and smarter by the day. He could now hunt and run nearly as fast as his father.
Now he darted about in the laughing grasses, on his own. He spotted a ground squirrel and sprinted after it, clearing rocks and dodging trees, the burning sphere in the sky causing his cub's mane to perspire. The squirrel swerved under a large rock, and Jacko nearly ran into it before he screeched to a stop.
It wasn't a rock. It was a strange, metallic creature with four round legs that felt like the hide of an elephant. Huge, glassy, unblinking eyes. Fearful memories began to pound in Jacko's young mind. Was this creature the same one that his father told him about?
A hoarse voice resounded across the plains. Jacko snapped his head in the sound's direction and saw a huge, hairless beast advancing toward him, yelling and waving its arms. Gasping in fear, the cub ducked under the heavy, metal monstrosity, trying to hide from the other creature, which reached a calloused, long-fingered hand right after him. Jacko shrieked and escaped from behind the rubbery, rounded structure, sprinting for his father's cave. Strangely, the hairless creature did not pursue him.
At the sight of his son running as if the spirit of death was snapping at his tail, Rinden called Jacko to his side and asked what was wrong. After listening to the ragged, gasped descriptions of the clothed, ape-like monster, Rinden's memories suddenly broke through the wall of his mind. He remembered the vision he had several weeks ago, shortly after his son's birth. His father's face in the vault of the night sky, speaking in His voice, telling Rinden that They had returned.
The humans had returned.
They had returned. There were two of them, hairless, pale and standing on their hind legs. Humans. The same ones that had killed Rinden's mother and abducted his father had returned.
He was ready for them. His mate Sarala and the rest of the cheetahs in the region would fight with him. Huanu the leopard had formed a pact with King Stuart. The lion agreed that he and his wife would defend their pride and their spotted neighbors. Negasi, Stuart's young son, and Rinden's son, Jacko were going to be watched by the lionesses while the battle raged on.
By now, Rinden had learned much about the humans. Huanu told him how they destroyed his forest home and forced him out. They tore the land apart, establishing their own crude villages. The humans were now closing in on Rinden's home, and he would do anything to defend it.
The day of the battle dawned gray with an approaching thunderstorm. Rinden and his comrades were posted near an enormous crevice in the earth, waiting for the two humans.
The sun was setting when they appeared, but it was invisible behind the raging, dark clouds. The gaunt one tapped his partner on the shoulder and gestured towards the line of wild cats. The fat human raised his rifle and fired it in Rinden's direction, near the front of the assembly. Rinden ducked just in time, but the bullet seared the hair on his back. The others knew the war had begun. They rushed at the two beasts, ready to defend the land that was rightfully theirs.
The battle that took place that day would not soon be forgotten. The lionesses and the cheetahs were snarling and leaping on the two humans, trying to convince them that this land wasn't theirs. Rinden careened around the battlefield like a spark of electricity, dodging bullets from the rifles and baying in his dog-like voice. Sarala clawed at the fat human's neck once, but he reacted quickly and threw her off. Stuart, his mane blazing, roared and reared up on his back legs, claws unsheathed. His mate, Elfleda fought with incredible endurance. The thin human cut her chest with a knife once. She was wounded but still ready to attack.
Though the cats fought bravely and vigorously, it was obvious that they were loosing the battle. Most of the cheetahs and lionesses were so injured that they could no longer help, and the number of able-bodied cats was dwindling.
Rinden was growing desperate. He needed help, and soon. The deafening rumble of the thunder suddenly forced his father's name out of his lungs.
Before the echoing call had died away, the great feline demigod himself exploded out of the bushes. Lightning reflected off his coat, pure white, speckled with black spots. Two black lines ran down from his burning amber eyes to his muscular jaw. Khan had come.
The humans looked shocked, then angry. As the white cheetah raced towards them to bring them down, the gaunt one struck the animal's head with the butt of his rifle. Khan sailed through the air and collapsed to the earth several yards from the deep crevice.
Rinden felt tears come to his eyes. The humans that killed his mother had now murdered his father. Deep anger welled in his heart, and suddenly he opened his jaws and unleashed an earthshaking roar.
Cheetahs have never been known to roar; only to purr, chirp and bark like dogs. But when Rinden actually did this, the whole world seemed to stop. It was a mixture of wrath and despair, a screaming call that seemed to last an eternity. The humans looked nervous. They stood near the fissure, their backs to it. As if in slow motion, Rinden flew through the air and struck both humans in their chests, sending all three of them into the air and straight to the very bottom of the great crevice.
Sarala dared not look over the edge of the crevice. She could not even imagine what lay at the bottom. She wept softly while the other females tried to comfort her. Suddenly a pattering of paws alerted the attention of Stuart and Elfleda. Jacko and Negasi had escaped from their lioness guardians to find their parents. Jacko looked into his mother's eyes and realized that something was wrong. Sarala drew him close and sobbed. Negasi hung his head and Stuart sighed deeply at the loss of his friend. Rinden had avenged his parents' deaths and killed himself in doing so. It couldn't be true, thought Sarala sadly.
She was right. Against all odds, Rinden was alive. There have been many speculations as to why he survived the fall; some say his father's immortality reached out to him, sparing his life. Others say the humans' bodies cushioned his landing, but whatever the truth may have been, Rinden awoke on the floor of the crevice, rain splattering his bedraggled coat. He heard voices coming from the top of the fissure, so soft that he could barely make them out.
Poor friend.
Son of Khan.
Khan, the Lord of the Cheetahs.
Son of a god.
Rinden could hardly comprehend what he was hearing. Son of a god? But that would make him a god himself. It couldn't be true…but still, no son of Khan would give up without a fight. He rose to his feet, his legs quivering. The chasm grew less steep at one end, forming an earthen ramp leading to the surface. Rinden thought he felt several broken ribs and possibly a broken femur. His pains slowed him little as he ascended, his skin growing wet with the falling rain.
Meanwhile, at the top of the crevice, Sarala had ceased her weeping and had gone into a praying chant with the other cheetahs. Stuart and his wife hung their heads in mourning. No one saw Rinden crawling out of the fissure until he collapsed near the top, panting heavily. No one came to him to ask how he survived his fall. They were mourning for another death.
Khan. His body still lay near the great crevice, pale and still in the light of the moon, which had finally emerged from the shroud of the clouds. Rinden limped over to his father's carcass and rubbed his head against the white fur. The others watched in silence, barely breathing. Rinden sat down and closed his tear-stained eyes.
Suddenly, a golden light shone through his eyelids. Rinden lifted his head and was startled to see that his father's body was glowing with a light brighter than the sun. Slowly, Khan's still form was lifted from the ground and into the air. He hung suspended for a moment, then the light exploded from his body, dazzling the cats' eyes. Spotted silhouettes burned into the dry earth around them, then vanished. Still glowing, Khan slowly descended and was placed on the ground before Rinden.
Whether Khan turned golden like his son or retained his pure white fur is uncertain. But whichever color stayed with him, Rinden slowly walked up to his father's body and watched in amazement as Khan opened his hazel eyes, smiled and rose to his feet, alive as the grasses of the savannah.
All the tears Rinden had shed before were nothing compared to those that flowed from his eyes to see his father alive. Khan nuzzled his brave, youthful son and spoke to him gently, in the voice of a god.
You have done well, Rinden. The two humans who murdered our people and invaded our lands are gone. But there will be more of them. They will attack your successors and do many things best left unmentioned. Not all humans are like this, Rinden, but you must defend your land against those that are. Perhaps someday we can trust them. But until then, do as I say, Rinden. Raise your children and rule with peace.
Rinden expected his father to vanish, but this did not happen. Khan walked his son over to the anxious lions and cheetahs. Sarala embraced her mate and Jacko licked his father, knowing that they were safe.
There was much celebration afterwards when Rinden's mother, Surina, returned to her son's birthplace. She wasn't killed, or so many believe. She may have only appeared in spirit, but regardless of what form or shape she took, Rinden was overjoyed to see her again. Several months later, Sarala gave birth to a saffron-coated female, whom she named Xandra. As Rinden looked into his daughter's eyes, he could see visions of future peace, a time when humans would let them be. But now, he had to defend his country and his fellow beasts. Humans still enter his land and bring death and destruction, but some are rumored to heal the lands and bring hope to the animals.
Are you one of these people?
If so, may Khan bless your heart.


text:
This outdoor switch disconnector is suitable for MV distribution grids, especially for end side-lines of the ray distribution grid. This new extinguishing system has a better switching characteristics (I1=36 A) and higher electrical and mechanical parameters in general. That creates our technically higher level of horn-device production range.
Standard warranty: 10 years
Rated voltage: 25; 38,5 kV
Rated current: 400, 630 A (800A)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome to the ECBS website and thank you for your interest in working with us. ECBS is a specialist agency supplying staff to the catering and hospitality industry throughout central London.
The senior management at ECB have many years experience of working within the catering industry at different levels, and have a thorough understanding of both the needs of our clients and our staff. At ECB we know that our people are the foundation of our business. Without you we would not exist and this means that our commitment to our team is one of our highest priorities.
We believe that by developing our teams skills, providing ongoing, in-house training and placement centred mentoring we can not only provide the best people to our clients, but offer an un-rivalled working environment for our staff.
We supply many leading hotel chains with staff for various roles, from front-of-house to domestic staff. With a constant and growing demand we are always looking for well qualified and professional workers. If you feel you can demonstrate a commitment to service and have a sound experience in the hotel and catering industry.


text:
Michael began practicing various styles of yoga in 2007. Not long after his initiation into the physical experience of Yoga, he sought out practices of meditation and dove deep into an array of philosophy.
Michael's desire to share the gift of Yoga was the motivation to complete his 200-hour Yoga teacher training through the Kripalu Institute of Yoga and Health in 2012. After integrating, applying, and teaching what he had learned, he completed an additional in-depth 300 hours of training. Today, a 500-hour certified Kripalu yoga teacher, Michael passionately leads various teachings and classes rich with awareness and the opportunity to deepen the relationship within the individual's scope of body, mind, and spirit.


text:
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
A simple dishrack is all you need to get the job done of laying your dishes and utensils to dry after a good wash. Neat-O's Deluxe Chrome-Plated Steel Small Dishrack gives you space to dry your dishes, cups and utensils all at once. The color coated base creates a soft barrier to protect your dishes from any harm. You can remove the plastic cutlery cup to allow for more room if you need it.
This model measures at 12.8" x 14.2" x 5.2" in depth. It will definitely fit in most kitchens comfortably. If you have a double sink, this would be great to place on one side while you use the other to wash. Or you can also place it on the counter beside the sink. The capacity is always something to think about, so if you have a large or medium family, don't be afraid of the small size of this model. Just note the tray is sold separately.
Small spaces can be difficult to work with. If you have an apartment or just a generally tiny kitchen in your home, you don't have the luxury to waste any space. You may need a simple dishrack that can just hang out beside your sink. The Home Basics 3-Piece Dishrack comes equipped with a tray that collects the water that may run off your dishes and send it dripping back into your sink for a mess-free experience every day.
You can purchase this model in black, bronze, red, silver or white. It measures at 5" x 12" x 19". It is barely elevated in the back to ensure drips and excess water ends up in the right place. The tray and rack both have a compact design that won't take up too much room wherever you decide to keep it. It comes with a small utensil cup as well.
Everyone has a preference in material. Perhaps wood goes best with your cottage inspired décor in your kitchen. Sagler's Wooden Dishrack is collapsible, so you can store it away when you finish using it. It's also made with bamboo to ensure its lasting ability. The design gives you various options when it comes to drying your dishware.
The two-level design has fourteen slots on each level so you can use up each one for a regular sized dish, or for bread plates. You can lay flatware in between plates. Or simply use the top level for dishes and the bottom for cups and utensils. Plus, when it comes time to clean the dishrack, you can use water and mild soap which won't stain the bamboo wood. This design measures at 17.6" x 3.5" x 1.6". You can use it in more confined spaces as well, without worrying about it taking up too much of your counter space.
Speaking of small spaces, many people choose to leave out their dishracks for everyday use, while others prefer tucking theirs away by the end of the night. This depends on your preference, and how you choose to dedicate your kitchen space. Or perhaps you just have guests every now and then that require more dishrack space. The OXO Good Grips Foldaway Dishrack just may be your favorite game changer.
This model is meant to be folded up and stored away on its side, so it's out of your way, and you can easily pull it back out whenever you need to use it. The plate rack was made to fold down to fit any large bowls, pots, or pans comfortably. The tines can hold cups, mugs, and glasses, plus you can also remove the utensil cup to make room for more dishes. When folded out this model measures 20.2" x 13" x 4.1".
Forget your regular, old dishrack. If you are looking for one that makes a statement, then simplehuman has you covered. Their Steel Frame dishrack combines function and aesthetics in such a beautifully crafted, multi-use kitchen must-have. This model measures at 20.2" x 21.8" x 14.3".
It features an innovative drainage system that will lead any water to the sink rather than your countertop. The fingerprint-proof stainless steel finish stays clean and sleek throughout use. You also get a wine glass holder that fits four glasses and hangs upside down so water drips onto the designated tray. A dish rack that keeps just about everything in mind is quite rare to stumble upon.
The tray sports an advanced anti-residue coating which causes water to spread rather than gather. The drainage system has a swivel spout that rotates in three different directions so you can position the dish rack to your liking.
Why store across when you can store vertically? Toplife's 3-Tier Chrome Kitchen Dishrack is modernly designed to fit in small spaces, and large spaces alike. Because you store up, rather than horizontally, you are saving space on your counter with this durable chrome dishrack. The top rack has designated slots for plates, while you can use the bottom two racks for bowls, pans and mugs. The sides have a wire utensil box and cup holders.
Unfortunately, this model doesn't come with a tray to capture any drainage. So you either have to purchase one separately or risk a wet counter that may end up dripping on the floor. This is especially tricky for small spaces. You could also always lay a dish towel beneath this if you haven't purchased a tray yet. This stacked dish rack measures at 22.5" x 9.65" x 20.15". It does add a fresh look to any modern kitchen.
If you have a double sink, then chances are that you plan on using one of those sinks for dishes. This is the perfect way to save space, while making practical use of your kitchen as well. The Surpahs Over the Sink Roll-Up Dishrack is a true space saver when in and when not in use, equally. It's made of high quality, silicone coated steel which is rust resistant, anti-slip and durable. It is also heat resistant, making it dishwasher safe.
Plus, Surpahs boasts a lifetime warranty with your purchase. The rack measures at 20.5" x 13" x 0.3" in thickness. It is a standard one-piece dish rack, so there isn't a separate cup for your flatware. You also may feel comfortable laying your dishes flat on this rather than on their sides. It is a good multi-use item that can work well in small kitchens. However, if you tackle many daily dishes, then you may want to think of a bigger rack.


text:
Tamil Nadu Government unveils 24 hour Toll Free Helpline to provide information on education:
- Tamil Nadu Government announced 24-hour helpline has been set up for the first time in the country that would provide information on education and offer guidance to students.
- Chief Minister K Palaniswami formally launched the toll free number 14417 through the 24-hour Education Guidance Centre set up at the Secretariat.
- Capital: Chennai
- Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami
- Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
Maharashtra government ties up with Wikipedia to promote Marathi:
- The Maharashtra government has tied up with Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, to propagate the Marathi language and increase its usage online.
- The state government made its announcement via a press release on Marathi language day (Feb 27th).
- It said this will help spread the language across the globe and give Marathi-speaking people a single platform to interact.
- It is also expected to help reach Maharashtrians who have settled in the United States.
- Capital: Mumbai
- Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
- Governor: Vidyasagar Rao
World's largest solar park Shakti Sthala launched in Karnataka:
- The Karnataka government inaugurated the first phase of a 2,000 megawatts (MW) solar park in the drought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district, about 180km from Bengaluru.
- The first phase of the Rs.16,500 crore park called "Shakti Sthala" will generate 600MW, while the balance 1,400MW is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year.
- The solar project, touted as the largest in the world, is spread over 13,000 acres and five villages.
- It is part of the "Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-2021" which aims to decrease dependence on traditional power sources and move to environmentally friendly ones to meet the growing power needs of the state.
- The park ties in with the centre's scheme to generate 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2020.
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
Bharti Defence Delivers C 162 Interceptor Boat to Coast Guard:
- Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd (BDIL) delivered an interceptor boat – C-162 – to Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at BDIL jetty in Mangaluru.
- The vessel will be based at Kochi and Deputy Commandant Pawan Koyar will be the commanding officer of ICG C-162.
Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority:
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) and creation of one post of Chairperson, three posts of full-time Members and one post of Secretary for NFRA.
- The decision aims at establishment of NFRA as an independent regulator for the auditing profession which is one of the key changes brought in by the Companies Act, 2013.
India, Russia, Bangladesh sign pact for Rooppur atomic plant:
- In a landmark development India for the first time signed a tripartite agreement with foreign partners Russia & Bangladesh for civil nuclear cooperation.
- Nuclear Power Cooperation of India Limited (NPCIL) will play a key role in building a nuclear power plant on foreign soil with the proposed supply of equipment and material for the power station being built by Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom in Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
- The agreement was signed in Moscow by Deputy Director General of Rosatom (Russia's Alex civil nuclear body) Nikolay Spassky, Ambassador of Bangladesh in Russia M. Saiful Hoque and Indian Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran.
- Capital: Dhaka
- Currency: Bangladeshi taka
- Currency: Russian ruble
- Capital: Moscow
- Russian President: Vladimir Putin
RBI allows higher position limit for FPIs in interest rate futures:
- The Reserve Bank of India has eased position limit in Interest Rate Futures (IRFs) for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).
- The banking regulator has allowed a limit of 5,000 crore for FPIs to go long in IRFs. An Interest Rate Futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a debt instrument at a specified future date at a price that is fixed today.
- The underlying security for Interest Rate Futures is either a Government Bond or a Treasury Bill.
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Urjit Patel
Government raises import tax on crude, refined palm oil:
- India has raised import tax on crude palm oil to 44 percent from 30 percent and lifted the tax on refined palm oil to 54 percent from 40 percent, India is the world's biggest importer of edible oils.
- It buys mainly palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia and soyoil from Brazil and Argentina.
India has the third highest number of billionaires in the world – Hurun Global Rich List:
- With 31 new Indians on the list, India comes third after China and USA on Hurun's Global Rich List 2018.
- However, China (819 names) and USA (571 names). The total wealth of these billionaires increased by 31% to USD 10.5 trillion – that is 13.2% of the global GDP.
- Although Mukesh Ambani (USD 45 billion) remains the richest Indian. Lakshmi Mittal, (USD 18 million) is the second-richest Indian on the list.
- The richest person in the world is Jeff Bezos of Amazon, with USD 123 billion, followed by Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway with USD 102 billion, Bill Gates of Microsoft with USD 90 billion, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook with USD 79 billion.
Rangarajan Raghavan appointed director & managing director of HCL Infosystems:
- IT major HCL Infosystems Ltd. announced the appointment of Rangarajan Raghavan, the president of the company as its director and managing director, effective April 1.
- The appointment follows the resignation of Premkumar Seshadri as the executive vice chairman and managing director of the company.
Armenian parliament elects ex-PM Sarkissian as country's president:
- Armenia's parliament voted to make Armen Sarkisian the new president as of April 9.
- He was prime minister in 1996-97 and served in diplomatic posts, including ambassador to the United Kingdom.
- Sarkissian, 64, a former prime minister who once served as the country's ambassador to Britain, was elected to serve a seven-year term.
- Capital: Yerevan
- Currency: Armenian dram
Indian-American scientist Navin Vardarajan awarded grant for cancer research:
- An Indian-American scientist Navin Vardarajan has been awarded a grant of over USD 1.1 million for his ground-breaking research on cancer (to improve effectiveness of T-cell immunotherapy).
- Along with another University of Houston researcher Sanghyuk Chung (to define molecular targets for the treatment of cervical cancer), were awarded huge grants by Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), an organisation that funds pioneering cancer research and prevention programmes in the state.
Navjot Kaur clinches India's first gold in Asian Wrestling Championships:
- Navjot Kaur has scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a Gold medal by defeating Japan's Miya Imai at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships.
- She clinched the coveted yellow metal in the 65 kg freestyle category at the tournament being held at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
- Rio Olympics Bronze medalist Sakshi Malik won a bronze in the 62 kg division after getting the better of Kazakhstan's Ayaulym Kassymova.
- The two medals took India's medals tally to six – 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze.
- Capital: Bishkek
- Currency: Kyrgyzstani som
World Wildlife Day – March 3rd
- World WildlifeDay was proclaimed to celebrate and raise awareness of the world's wild animals and plants.
- World Wildlife Day celebrated in 2018 under the theme "Big cats: predators under threat".
Tripura Fisheries Minister Khagendra Jamatia passes away
- Tripura fisheries and cooperative minister Khagendra Jamatia died at the AIIMS in New Delhi following a brief illness. He was 64.
Click here to view Previous Current Affairs Quiz


text:
Organized by: Michele Scanze, Kelly McFadden
This single-overnight hiking adventure was a romp through Rothrock State Forest. The trip went out under perfect hiking weather in the early spring. An easter egg hunt was held in the morning of the second day to the joy of all the participants. No one died, and much easter candy was eaten by all.
Members in Attendance:
- Michele Scanze
- Kelly McFadden
- Molly Burbank
- Kate Lalancette
- Helena Kotala
- Rob Justice
- Dan Trew


text:
Drop the demand to "speak English"
The story I tell every person who looks at me with pity when I admit that my sons don't speak Spanish is straightforward: My first-born had a worrisome speech delay. Doctors, believing he might literally be tongue-tied, considered cutting my silent toddler's frenulum.
We passed on surgery but did take the doctors' advice to stick to one language in our home to avoid delaying his development any further. Dad doesn't speak Spanish, so we ended up in a monolingual household.
When they were young teens, my sons had great English language skills. Yet despite their upbringing in a Hispanic household, they really wanted nothing to do with being Latino. And no amount of after-school classes or attempts at home immersion succeeded in getting them to be able to express themselves in Spanish.
I still hold out hope they'll find Spanish-dominant partners who will romance them into learning their mother's native language. But even that'll be a tough row to hoe — by and large, Latinos are super-judgmental about fellow Hispanics' Spanish skills and very hard on those who don't speak it at all.
Just ask presidential candidate Julián Castro, who, after a strong debate performance late last month had to defend his lack of Spanish fluency after several candidates had spoken during the forum en español.
"In my grandparents' time, in my mom's time, Spanish was looked down upon. You were punished in school if you spoke Spanish. You were not allowed to speak it," he told NBC News' Kasie Hunt.
His grandparents' time? This is very much still going on today.
Research has made clear the link between knowing more than one language and higher lifetime earnings, and with increased cognition and better health.
And yet … 2018 was the year of white people going viral on social media for telling people of color to "speak English" while in public parks, at restaurants, grocery stores, etc.
Children haven't been spared this indignity.
Dual language instruction is an exception, not the norm. English as a second language services in public schools are almost exclusively focused on English-language acquisition, even if that means ignoring other language skills a student may possess. Many teachers still snap at students who have the gift of bilingualism to "speak English" in their classrooms, which means speak only in English.
I'm privileged to be fluently bilingual, but it was still painful to watch Castro sustain criticism for his language abilities — not least because he has been especially criticized by fellow Latinx people.
And the hurt has rippled out to others who share his experience.
Here's how author Julissa Arce recently described her childhood on the Latino Rebels website: "I grew up in San Antonio in the mid-'90s, and as a seventh grader, I was ridiculed for not speaking English. A classmate yelled out in class, 'Why is she (Julissa) in the honors math class? She is a Mexican, she doesn't even speak English.' We are oppressed on every side. I am now bilingual, but when I visit my family in Mexico and search my mind for a Spanish word for a little too long, a tía is sure to say, 'Ay no, ya se le olvidó de dónde viene' ('oh no, she forgot where she comes from')."
Conjuring her monolingual fourth grade self, also in the mid-1990s, University of Arizona linguist Megan Figueroa wrote on her blog: "It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, that it would be assumed I speak Spanish. And it wouldn't be the last time I would have to lie or equivocate or else explain myself to family, to friends, to peers, to strangers. I don't have a quick sound bite about my Spanish. I have years and years of scar tissue built up around a wound, passed across generations, that is constantly being reopened."
My theory of humanity posits that everyone, no matter how vulnerable or underprivileged, will find another to belittle. It's a coping mechanism — and people of Latin American descent in this country have a lot to cope with these days.
But instead of getting angry at my fellow Latinx people for policing each other's language skills, I have to ask all of my monolingual readers for a favor:
Can you please vow to never demand that someone "speak English" around you if they aren't actually talking directly to you?
Trust me, you'd be making this country a safer, happier place for millions of people just trying to mind their own business.


text:
Recently I've been thinking about whether we should purposely try to drop off body and mind or attain a state of dropping body and mind or whether we should attain some kind of samadhi when we practice zazen. Master Dogen mentions dropping off body and mind and samadhi from time to time. On the other hand master Dogen seems to teach that just practicing here and now is enough, no matter how we feel - confused, eager, impatient or whatever we feel. Just practicing is enlightenment and realization of the way. So it seems both is important, so which one is correct? Should we just practice zazen no matter how we feel or should we somehow cultivate zazen in order to attain the state of dropping off body and mind? This is what I have been thinking about.
In Eihei Koroku, a record of master Dogen's short talks, master Dogen says: "Dropping off body and mind is the beginning of our efforts." I see, so we should start with that ultimate thing! That's a very interesting point. Master Dogen says that we shouldn't hope to gradually improve our zazen and one day drop off body and mind and then we will attain something. No. He basically says: Start with the ultimate. And that explains the problem whether we should try to make our zazen something wonderful, step by step, improve zazen, so one day it will be some kind of wonderful samadhi, that kind of enlightenment that you could talk about when you come across the teaching that zazen and satori is one. Some people may admit that if their zazen is some kind of great samadhi, then it is enlightenment. But master Dogen basically says something else: Start with the ultimate, which explains what I have been wondering about recently. To start with the ultimate means that just when you sit down, at that very moment, immediately, drop off body and mind. That means, just sit, don't worry about enlightenment, don't worry about the depth of your zazen, don't worry about how you feel, or who you are, just sit, start with the ultimate, drop off body and mind right away.
It is like holding a knife: instead of thinking about how deep or shallow your state is, you just cut through the meat. You don't care if the knife is sharp or not, steel or not, you just cut. That's not different from dropping off body and mind. With this imperfect body and imperfect mind, and with doubts and confusion, just sit, just act, that's dropping off body and mind. Of course we have lots of ideas, Buddhist philosophy is complex and does cover a lot of issues and aspects. But all these theories should help us to always return to the ultimate, which is just reality here and now. Studying Buddhist philosophy and practicing zazen is not an idea that one day suddenly I will become enlightened, or that I will become enlightened gradually. Buddha Dharma, practicing zazen means that you have to give it all from the very beginning. That doesn't mean having to leave your family or practice zazen eight hours a day. It doesn't mean you have to make some fantastic efforts. To give it all just means that when you sit down and begin to practice zazen, at that moment, just let go of everything. And then an idea comes up, like I am not... you are....and she, and buddha... just let go of such ideas. Over and over again. And again. Zazen is a simple action here and now. Like this, you solve all your problems, you have realized what Buddhism is, you've dropped off body and mind and you have attained enlightenment. Just do it. So I am talking to myself: Just do it!
It is common to think: "Maybe I should try harder. I am not wise enough, not peaceful enough, what is wrong with my practice? I simply practice zazen, over and over again, so maybe I should practice in a way that would give me more balance, more strength, more confidence? What if the way I practice is not good enough? What if I have made my practice a routine without sincere efforts?" These are important questions. We should definitely practice sincerely. But the thing is that we completely realize the way when we just use that knife and cut the meat. When we do this, or whatever we do, completely. In that single moment, you do something completely. We are human, so we have positive and negative thoughts. We may have ideas about what is wise or deep and what is stupid and shallow. But we tend to underestimate or totally ignore the value of a simple action that we just simply carry out, sincerely carry out something mundane.
Yesterday I went to a party and I was thinking: "Why am I not more balanced and confident?" I thought I had to improve something in my life. Today I was looking for master Dogen's teaching about dropping off body and mind and I was thinking, if zazen is just sitting here and now, so what is dropping off body and mind, is that some kind of advanced state of zazen? No, later I found out that it is about beginning with dropping off body and mind, so no matter what we do, no matter how we feel, we can always drop off body and mind, which means we can always act in the present moment. If you feel strange at a party, you can still pour some wine and have a sip. You can go or you must go to the toilet. You can go home. You always have to act. So rather than thinking too much, we can focus on the single actions and find freedom there, freedom from our subjective thoughts and relax, just drop off everything, and do something.
If you come to a teacher and you tell him or her that you would like to learn what Buddhism is, maybe you will say: "What am I supposed to do?" Actually, that teacher will say, first of all, you must wake up. I have never realized that it is like that. Whenever you come to a Buddhist temple or zen center, you always hear things like: First of all, take off your shoes, or first of all, have some tea. That means: First of all, wake up. You have to start with waking up. All this first of all, first of all, is not different from first of all, wake up. So start with the ultimate. So when you want to practice and study Buddhism, you always begin with the ultimate. If you come across a teacher who keeps talking about how you will gradually become enlightened or gradually become wise, and how you are not a buddha yet, make sure it is a true teacher. A true teacher can recognize your true self and point to it, a true teacher does not say you are not a buddha, they just give you a push so you stop dreaming. And the teacher will be a living example of someone who simply acts, no matter how busy he or she is thinking from time to time, but someone who simply drops off body and mind in the middle of a simple, direct action.
My teacher Mike Luetchford sometimes says that learning Buddhism is similar to learning a sport or craft. Is this a big contradiction? Before I said you start with awakening. So how can you gradually learn to be some kind of mature person? This is a paradox, but both is true. You do start with simple actions, simple awakenings, and for twenty years you may have lots of questions, but the difference after twenty years may be that some doubts have disappeared. Besides that, you may develop some kind of mature attitude, for example you stop believing in some advanced states of zazen or masters who are superhuman and make no mistakes. So you can gradually learn that Buddhism is not an idea or feeling or wonderful samadhi or interesting talks and impressing others, rather a very sloppy everyday life. Not sloppy in terms of sloppy actions, but sloppy in terms of being far from perfect. A life that has all kinds of problems and mistakes and pains. You can get used to this truth and find a strange kind of comfort there.
Anyway, somebody might wonder: Has master Dogen attained dropping body and mind after many many years of practice and questions and travels looking for a true teacher? It seems that when he said: "Body and mind dropped off," he meant that it took him decades. But he didn't say: "It took me decades to drop off body and mind." He just said "body and mind dropped off". Which doesn't mean he had never dropped off body and mind before. So why did ho go and tell his teacher? I think he had realized that a simple action of zazen (I mean zazen could be called a series of many simple actions of zazen) is not different from body and mind dropped off and that he had never failed to drop off body and mind when practicing zazen. But now he realized the importance of that simple experience and told his teacher. I don't think master Dogen meant to brag about something he attained after many years of hard practice. But maybe until then he never completely realized the meaning of a simple action of zazen.
You may be a cook and you may use a knife for years, and you may be an excellent cook. But you may have doubts: What is the meaning of cooking? And one day you realize that the meaning of cooking is this simple action here and now in the kitchen. While actually living, moment after moment, we often ask questions like what is the meaning of life, what is the truth, what is right and what is wrong? A cook, using this knife, over and over again, hardly ever asks, what is this knife, what am I doing, why am I cooking? Maybe some cooks do ask such questions. But most just keep cooking, keep acting, keep using the knife. So what we may realize after practicing zazen for some years, is that our sincere effort here and now is the ultimate thing in life. And this sincere effort, this simple action, is not different from dropping off body and mind, so in our simple, sincere efforts, we fulfill the ultimate task of a Buddhist life, something master Dogen was looking for in China. He wanted to know, what is the ultimate task of a Buddhist, and later he realized it was just living this life, no matter what, despite all kinds of problems.
There is no limit, no category, not a single person, not two people, not many people, not all sentient beings, when you drop off body and mind, it is the ultimate state of the whole universe. So it must be something ultimate. When you use a knife, and just do it, in that action, the subject, the object and everything else disappears. This action is complete and it is the complete action of the whole universe. Dropping off body and mind is not a state in the future, it is not a state in the past. It is not something you think about or feel. You may say that master Dogen noticed dropping off body and mind. Not his or somebody else's. The whole universe dropped off body and mind, and body and mind dropped off the whole universe. That is something beyond all kinds of levels of all kinds of samadhi. It is our life here and now, when we just do something, when we act simply and directly, when we put down the plate or when we move a chair.
When master Dogen returned to Japan, he said he came empty-handed. He had left China in China and brought Japan to Japan. So we can also act like that. When going to the kitchen, leave the living room behind and when coming to the living room, don't bring the kitchen with you. Although our lives may be very complicated and difficult, if we do not move kitchens to living rooms, our life will have a bright side. If we just practice zazen like children, not trying to attain a special state, our zazen practice will surely have a quality of buddhas.


text:
|Product Code
|100% Polyester
|Floor Heating Safe
Norbury Blue Hand Woven Modern Shaggy Rug - 50mm Thick
Blue is a rich colour that can suit most colour schemes. It helps make a statement if needed, and give personality to a room that needs one. Its vibrancy helps please the eye for any visitor.
This rug is thick, meaning it is comfortable and luxurious underfoot. It adds depth and texture to a room moreso than thinner rugs, but should be used in low traffic areas to maintain greater longevity.
Shaggy rugs add luxury like no other. Not only do they feel beautiful underfoot, but their instantly recognizable long pile look adds fun, uniqueness and depth. They are practical too in terms of generating warmth which means your heating bills wont be as high.
UK Delivery
Here at Rug Mountain we believe in giving you the best possible service for the best possible price. That's why we offer free delivery throughout the UK and Europe on all orders through our website.
We offer one standard delivery method which is a 2/3 working day service where your goods are delivered within this timeframe. But don't be surprised if your delivery arrives before then, we like to get our deliveries out promptly. Over the many years we have worked alongside DPD who offer a great service by making sure you deliveries arrive on time and in one piece. Rug Mountain is based in the UK but this doesn't prevent us offering our 2/3 day delivery all across Europe free of charge. When we dispatch any goods from our warehouse we can make sure all our goods are tracked allowing the end user to know which day the goods arrive. All consignments require a signature accepting receipt of the goods however if nobody is at the property the driver will drop a missed delivery card through your letter box and the item will go to the local depot for collection or we can arrange another delivery day.
Speedy international deliveries now available,
we can delivery all round the globe at low rates!


text:
Reimagined bar, box office opens October 3
On Monday, October 3, New Mountain AVL celebrates the grand opening of The Summit — taking over the top floor of the New Mountain complex located at 38 North French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville.
The grand opening event on Monday Oct. 3 begins at 5 p.m., featuring a free performance from indie outfit Iska Dhaaf at 9 p.m., and is the first of many $3 Holla nights at The Summit. That's right; order your favorite drink, whatever it may be, and pay just $3. There's no cover, so bring your friends and dance the night away with your favorite drink in hand.
Attendees can enter to win tickets to many of New Mountain AVL's upcoming shows, including Desert Dwellers, TAUK, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and more.
The Summit will open its doors 7 days a week with music, daily drink specials, dancing and bar games like pool and ping pong.
Every Monday, The Summit kicks off the work week with $3 Holla.
On Wednesdays, enjoy The Summit's signature margaritas for half price and kick back on the patio with a beautiful view of the breathtaking Blue Ridge sunset.
Thursday nights, join us for Summit Jam — a free, weekly open mic that will start on Oct. 13.
Every Friday, SOL Vibes lives on, bringing the best regional electronic producers and DJs to The Summit stage for a free night of dance music.
On Saturday night, Summit hosts an old school dance party for our patrons ages 30 and up, and on Sundays, watch the game and enjoy $2 PBR tallboys.
The Summit will also serve as the venue's box office during our business hours (Monday, Wednesday-Sunday: 5 p.m. – 2 a.m., Tuesday: 5-11 p.m.) where visitors can purchase tickets to any of New Mountain AVL's upcoming shows.
For a full music schedule for The Summit and the rest of the New Mountain AVL complex, visit www.newmountainavl.com


text:
What is a Libertarian?
Let's start with Webster's definition:
libertarian: A person who upholds the principles of individual liberty especially of thought and action.
Libertarian: a member of a political party advocating libertarian principles.
Libertarians believe in, and pursue, personal freedom while maintaining personal responsibility. The Libertarian Party itself serves a much larger pro-liberty community with the specific mission of electing Libertarians to public office.
Libertarians strongly oppose any government interfering in their personal, family and business decisions.
Essentially, we believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another.
In a nutshell, we are advocates for a smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
I've been saying that I lean libertarian well I have officially declared myself to be a Libertarian.
It's fitting that they were founded the year I was born.
I'm so flabbergasted by what is going on in the government right now that I'll refrain from commenting at this time.


text:
When you go to the Trinity downloads page, you may see more than 1 update available.
The first update listed will always be the latest "full release". -- for example: Trinity Crom 1r06 - 67J_trinity-1r06.crom
Under this "full release" revision update, you may often see incremental updates. These updates (identified by the _UXXX predator based part number - i.e. 1r06a-u7135) are updates that will bring the Trinity support up to the current level of Predator support.
The incremental update will also state which "full release" revision you need to have applied to your Trinity first, before applying the incremental update. -- for example: Trinity Crom 1r06a-u7135 (this crom needs 1r06 update first!)
For example, lets say Dodge released a bunch of new calids for the SRT8. We update the Predator and make a incremental update for Trinity, since there is no reason to spin a full Trinity release, since only people with SRT8s are concerned about this update.
So, if you already had the base full release revision applied to your Trinity, you would just need to download the incremental revision update - a, b, c, etc etc - whichever was the latest/newest letter-release.
Once the next "full release" Trinity crom is released, it will contain everything that was previously released in the incremental updates.


text:
I am a 42 year-old American man who drives a mini-van. I don't feel weird about it. I like my mini-van. I would like it a lot more if it had better gas mileage, but hey, we are who we are. My mini-van happens to be a large, red, gas-guzzling vehicle that transports my children and IKEA flat-packed furniture with equal aplomb.
I've discovered, however, that most men don't like to drive mini-vans. This was based on anecdotal evidence (i.e. pretty much every man I've asked about it) until I bothered to Google it. Then I found a study that announced "Men Who Drive Mini-Vans are Less Attractive than the UPS Guy." Only "mail truck drivers" fared worse in the survey's attractiveness scale than "men who drive mini-vans."
What the heck? First of all, my UPS guy is awesome! Second, my mailman is a mailwoman. Deal with that, Kiplinger-research-associate-with-an-agenda!
My concern isn't that the mini-van is some kind of vehicular pariah. I would simply like to know why I don't feel the same way.
The research, backed up by dude-bros
My conversations with other men have borne this trend out. My brother has sworn that he would never buy a mini-van, and only drove one at work out of sheer necessity. Some men must be threatened with unemployment before they will drive one.
I asked my co-worker, a responsible young man and adamant mini-van opponent, what circumstances it would require to get him in a mini-van. "If someone gave one to me, I would totally drive it."
Ah! Makes sense.
"Until I sold it, of course," he continued. "I would sell it right away. But I would be okay driving it until then. But I wouldn't tell anybody I was driving it."
The root of my masculine tone-deafness
Perhaps one's opinion of mini-vans is a function of gear-headedness or lack-thereof. When it comes to mechanical or automotive matters, I know nothing. My aptitude is nil. I first became aware of this fact in 1988, when I was a freshman in high school.
My father, a barrel-chested manly man who used to fashion engine parts out of scrap metal, drove a 1970 Ford Mustang fastback at the time. A very sporty car. A very manly car. Once, after my dad dropped me off at school in the Mustang, a huge athletic boy happened to be walking by.
"Your dad's car is sweet!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, I guess" I said. "He likes it."
"What size is the engine?" asked the young man.
My mind raced. "Ummm, V-4?" I offered, mashing facts together in my brain for an answer that I hoped would impress him.
The boy snorted (literally) and went on his way. I told my dad about the encounter later. He shook his head gently.
"Scott," he said, "There are no V-4s, at least not in America." He opened the hood and showed me the eight cylinders lined up in a V-shape, and gently explained that four-cylinder engines usually align the cylinders in a straight line, not a V. I then asked him what a cylinder was.
This is my automotive background, for what it's worth.
The Prince of Ignorance or the King of Not-Caring?
When it comes to the mini-van's reputation as the less-than-manly-mobile, I can't decide if I've missed the pulse of masculine taste (again), or if I have known it all along and I just don't care. I would like to believe it's the latter.
Because dammit, I like what I like. I enjoy seeing over the little cars as I'm driving along, and not having to drive a mega-pickup truck to do it. Honestly, what would I do with a mega-pickup truck? Drive around a construction site until someone hoisted a pallet of cement blocks into it?
No, give me the non-threatening mini-van any day. I enjoy roominess. I enjoy pulling up next to sports cars at stoplights and not engendering a drag race. And if that puts me in the same category as UPS drivers and United States Postal Service mailwomen, then so be it. We'll be out in our vans, getting stuff done.


text:
Monthly Archives: February 2013
Titus Salt alighted from his conveyance at Crow Nest Park and stretched out his long frame in relief. He breathed deeply of the fresh air, pleased to have left behind him the stench of the city for another day. George Weerth had the right of it when he had said "If anyone wants to feel how a poor sinner is tormented in Purgatory, let him travel to Bradford."
Salt's hound, a huge black beast the colour of his own hair, lolloped up to him and rested her big head against his leg in greeting. He ruffled the dog's ear, and gave her his newspaper to carry before striding towards the big front door of the mansion. He slowed down as he felt the cramp in his calves after a day on his feet.
"Come, Kanute!" he called to the dog, which happily trailed in his wake as he entered the large front door.
"Hello, the house!" he called, before remembering that his wife was away this day, taking their daughter Fanny to visit relatives in Harrogate. He laid down his hat and topcoat for the maid to find and clean later and ambled to his study.
He was delighted to find that the maid had already lit a fire in the grate. Kanute padded over to the rug on her great paws and sat before the warmth, dropping the soggy newspaper on the floor. A stuffed owl on the mantlepiece looked down on the dog disapprovingly.
The flames flickered merrily, their glow brightening the darkening room, their warm reflections dancing from the clutter of objects filling every corner. A telescope, a globe, inkwells on the desk, shelves groaning with books and geological samples, plants and stuffed birds – all the accoutrements that a successful gentleman might be expected to gather to him in Victoria's proud and prosperous realm.
Salt scratched Kanute's head, and the heavy tail thumped against the floor. He crossed to his desk and sat down. He opened a drawer and withdrew a rolled paper. He unrolled it across the desk, weighing it at either side with inkstand and blotter. He peered closely at the paper, lowering his head.
Hmmm. He twirled his greying beard between his fingers. Cheerful though the firelight was, the rich dark oak-paneled walls drank too much of the radiance before it reached him.
He returned to the fireplace and lighted a spill, carrying the flame back to the desk where he lit the Argand oil lamp. A soft yellow glow illumined the desk, driven by best colza oil. He sat down and looked again.
A section of the Aire Valley lay depicted before him. The area he had chosen for his new mill was fully three miles from Bradford's throttling stench. Surely people would work better in the clean air than in the centre of that stinking, breath-clogging hellhole.
He peered again at the map, trying to ascertain the exact boundary of the land that he had purchased. It was still too gloomy, and he sighed wearily.
"Though God Himself demand it, I cannot stand again," he thought.
He took up a heavy brass hand-bell and shook it vigorously, dispatching a loud summons through the house.
Shortly, the door opened and a maid entered. She was dressed in her working attire of dark ankle-length dress protected by a white pinafore. Her red hair was tied back, and her only adornment was a necklace from which depended a small silver skull. When he had first seen the necklace it had seemed to Salt a peculiar piece of jewellery for a young woman, but he was not one to hold harmless affectations against a person.
Kanute's tail thumped rhythmically against the rug as the maid entered. Kanute liked the maid. Indeed, Salt liked her too. She performed her duties well.
"You rang, sir?"
"Eileanora, yes," he replied, "Would you please light the candles? My legs seem to have decided to withdraw their labour."
"Yes, sir." Eileanora bobbed a quick curtsey and crossed to the fireplace, where she lit the several wicks of a candelabrum set on the mantlepiece in front of a mirror.
"Thank you," Salt said, "Perhaps you could also bring a pot of tea? And perhaps a dish of those delicious comfits from Harrogate?"
"Sir," she curtsied, and left the room. Salt turned his attention back to his plans. Perhaps if he could persuade Lady Rosse to sell him her land to the west, he might consider further building.
His train of thought was interrupted by Eileanora's knock at the door. For goodness sake, she had only just left.
"Yes?" he enquired, a little sharply.
The maid bobbed into the room once more.
"Begging your pardon, sir, but there are some gentlemen to see you."
"Who are they? Do they have cards?"
"No, sir. I did ask, but they wouldn't tell me who they were. Shall I fetch the groom, sir?"
Salt sighed deeply. He'd better go and see what they wanted. Perhaps they were workers looking for a job. He stood up with a groan.
"Very well, Eileanora, you can—"
The door behind the maid crashed open, sending her flying across the room. She sprawled across the floor by Kanute, who jumped up, barking loudly.
Three men burst into the study with a clattering of boots on the wooden floor. Kanute barked even more deafeningly.
"Shut that fucking dog up!" barked the ruffian at the front, brandishing a pair of pistols. The two with him each bore a knife and a club. Thieves! Desperate ones, too, if they had the nerve to break into a gentleman's house.
"There's no—" began Salt.
"Shut it!" ordered the one with the pistols. Salt took this as a sign that he was the leader of the trio. One of the others moved over towards Eileanora and pointed his knife at her.
"You shut that cur up now or I'll bash its brains in!" he snarled. The maid got to her feet, stroked Kanute, and spoke quietly to the dog. The barking ceased, though the dog sat alertly, watching carefully.
"There is very little money in the house," explained Salt.
"We don't want your money," spat the leader. He wore a brown jacket and trousers, neither of them displaying the threadbare appearance that one might expect of a ruffian thief. In fact, he did not have the appearance of a member of the working class at all.
"What do you want?" asked Salt.
"Well," said the man to the left, "I wouldn't mind availing myself of the maid service." He leered at the demure servant. She looked down at her feet, avoiding his gaze.
"Watch your manners," ordered the leader, and his henchman took a step back, chastened.
"Well now, Mr. Mayor," began the head ???ruffian, lowering his pistols, "You have been ruffling a few feathers lately. Very important feathers. For example, with all this claptrap that you've been trying to push through the council, trying to force a by-law to compel factory owners to use these expensive Smoke Burners."
"It would significantly improve the health of—"
"Bollocks it would," interrupted the intruder, "There's nowt wrong with a bit of smoke. Exercises the lungs, it does."
"I disagree," Salt argued. The leader of these men, at least, seemed quite articulate. Perhaps he would be open to reasoned argument.
"Might you be a medical man then, Mr. Salt?" enquired the intruder.
"I am not, as you must know. But I see all the cholera in the city. What causes that, pray, if not for filth, for grime, and a lack of clean air?"
"Lustful living," said the man, "Lustful urges and the drinking of cheap alcohol. That's my honest view, sir, but my honest view is not what matters. What matters is the view of my employers."
"I am no supporter of lustful living. I am no supporter of any sin, Mister..?"
"Chuff off. You don't need to know my name."
"Very well," Salt replied calmly, raising his hands to mollify the man. He'd been getting somewhere then, he was sure, but had put a foot wrong by asking the man's name. He should try to take this gently.
"I can see that you are a reasoning man," he began. "Come and look here, at these plans."
He beckoned the man over to his desk, where the Aire Valley map was spread out. The ruffian approached, pistols held loosely at his sides now.
Salt indicated the area below the River Aire.
"This is about three miles west of the city, along the Aire," he explained, "Mill workers here would have unsoiled air and clean living, and that, I maintain, can benefit not only the workers, but we owners, too. A happy worker is a good worker."
"According to my superior, who is paying me a great deal of money to visit you today, a happy worker is nothing of the sort. A happy worker is a worker who then imagines he has a right to that happiness. And once a worker has one right, he'll want others. Higher pay, more expensive housing, costly doctoring. Once the lower class gets a foothold, there'll be no stopping them."
The man's voice rose as he espoused thoughts obviously dearly held by himself as well as by his mysterious superior.
"I have evidence to the contrary," continued Salt, "From my own woollen mills. I have fitted the Rodda Smoke Burners. I therefore have a healthier workforce. They are sick less often, for a start."
"And it cost you a packet, didn't it? These burners are expensive things. You might be able to afford such doings, but others cannot. You just desire to drive others out of business so that you can obtain their mills for yourself and grow your empire. I know greed, and I see right through your fancy words, Mr. Salt!"
"But I…." Salt paused, unsure of how to proceed in the face of this man's rising anger, then continued, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Look, what would you say if I told you that I will soon build a new mill in this place." He swept his hand across the map, "Out in the countryside, where I can properly test my hypothesis. Perhaps even houses, with running water on tap from the river? What would you say then?"
"I'd say that you've signed your own death certificate, Mr. Mayor."
The man's lip curled, and he pushed Salt back down into the desk chair. He raised a pistol and pressed the barrel against Salt's forehead. Salt stared up wide-eyed at the anger in the man's twisted face and prepared to meet his God.
A narrow beam of pale blue light shone out of the man's left eye, and the eyeball melted. The beginning of a scream was cut off as the light swept through the face, slicing away the top of the man's head.
As the body of his assailant fell away and the pistols clattered to the floor, the figure of Eileanora was revealed to Salt. She stood erect, a determined look on her face. Her right arm was outstretched, and in her hand was a bizarre device from which emerged the thin beam of blue light.
Her left hand gripped the throat of one of the henchmen, and as Salt gazed on aghast, a simple twist of her wrist dispatched him from this life. His corpse fell to the floor. Kanute yipped approvingly.
The thin blue light swept inexorably across the room and sliced into the third man's chest. He too fell lifeless, tumbling like one of Fanny's rag dolls.
Eileanora touched her skull necklace with her left forefinger and spoke.
"Hey, it's Tabby. I'm done here. Extraction, please."
She shimmered, then simply disappeared, her maid's uniform falling still warm to the floor as it was left behind.
Ukulele Babes
Inspired by this pic of Lou & The Llamas now infamous 'Naked Ukelele" gig, I went looking on the internet for other uke-playing babes. What better way to fill my time between writing books? Here you can enjoy the fruits of my labours.
And fear not, there will be a follow-up 'Ukulele Dudes' post, although those are slightly harder to find although rather funnier when you do.
Here's a likely lady. She's hung out her washing to dry in the sun, and now wants nothing more than to don a swimming cossie and warble 'Princess Poo-Poo-Ly' with the breeze on her thighs. You'll see as we go along, it's a popular thing to display some degree of nakedness while playing a ukulele. I do it myself all the time.
Yet more thigh-flashing here as a gaggle of nymphettes defy park regulations and perform a bench-borhne version of 'I Want To Marry A Lighthouse Keeper'. Interesting wrist action from the lady bottom right.
A daring flash of knee is all we get from this smiling lassie, thumb-strumming along to 'Honolulu Baby' while shaking her sable coverings. From the smooth reflection and the way that it flows and curves, the uppermost question in my mind has to be 'Is that made of real silk or is it her actual hair?'
Those of you who know me well will have long been aware that I do like a woman who fills a big trouser, and this buxom foursome certainly tick my boxes, although I doubt I'd be allowed anywhere near theirs. They're obviously about to launch into 'It Must Be Jelly Cos Jam Don't Shake Like That'. Lovely socks.
A rare early shot of @bossarocker and @imacosmicgirl before they found any boys to play with. I imagine that they are working on an embryonic version of 'Wonky Face'.
Oooh, sexy. Sexy and louche. Yeah baby, nice shoes. Play 'Chippy Tea' for me, you beguiling temptress. Of course, if she's still alive she'll be well into her nineties by now. There's a sobering thought.
Three right happy pluckers here, judging by they're right hands. What in the name of Satan's pointy penis are they wearing though? The dress on the right looks like it was ironed by me. Bananarama here will be entertaining you tonight with 'Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots' or I'm a Dutchman.
Anyone for ten knees? See what I did there? Ha ha haha! Running through the snow in odd frocks makes for big old smiles despite those head-dress thingies. What song could you play in those temperatures, I wonder? 'When Hilo Hattie Does The Hilo Hop', I'll be bound.
I'm not 100% convinced that these delights of femininity aren't blokes in drag, actually, but let's give them the benefit because they're so well turned out. Now, to keep up with the theme I so cavalierly started earlier, I have to think of a song for these moptops to perform. 'Donald Where's Your Troosers?' obviously.
Oh, she's nice, what with the stockings and the headscarf and that come-hither expression and all. 'Yes Sir, That's My Baby!' … is the song that she would sing, sitting on her front steps there waiting for me to carry her indoors and ravish her. Ahem, sorry, as you were.
Blimey, look at her second from left. "Look into my eyes the eyes not around the eyes in the eyes you're under". Is probably her favourite chat-up line before launching into a wild abandoned version of 'Purple Haze' and setting fire to her ukulele. She's pretty on the right, mind.
If that's a fag hanging out of her mouth, she's pretty cool. If it's the single tooth she has left in her mouth, then no. Nice plant, love, now sing 'All I Want For Christmas' for me.
More knees and those delightful knitted swimsuits that showed off a girl's figure so well. Not sure about those socks, though. Honorary cool guy on the right there is well proud of his flag shirt, isn't he? "Oh yeah, it's got a flag on it. Flags are cool now." Their chanson du jour? 'Oh Lord Won't You Buy Me A Mercedes Benz' cos her with the uke reminds me of Janis Joplin. A bit.
Here's another Janis for you. Janis Paige, apparently. I have no idea who that is, but she has succumbed to the naked thighs fashion of ukulele playing. She also hes extremely pointy boobs, which must get in the way of her upswing when strumming along to the likes of 'Like A Virgin'.
You can more or less make-up your own jokes for this one, can't you? The girls look like a big load of fun, so they'd probably start singing 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' don't you think? I wonder if they've nailed that bloke by the ankles to that board, and the bowl's to catch his blood when they drain him. Probably not.
Cor, look at the fretboard on that. She's a 'Come, Josephine, on My Flying Machine' girl and no mistake. And yes, Flying Machine is a honking great euphemism.
This may be a competition to find Miss Spalding Maid or…. oh hell, I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. While you try to spot the ukulele, I'll just sing you a short snippet of 'I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate'.
Swimming costumes and ukuleles again. They go together like bacon and banana in a butty. The boy at the back is well impressed by their three-part harmonies on 'My Little Stick Of Blackpool Rock'.
Hippy ukulele chick probably playing some song about flowers, or something by Joni Mitchell. Ooooh, I wonder what 'The Hissing Of Summer Lawns' would sound like on ukulele?
Back to the cossies and the naked thigh meme. These girls are very happy in their silly hats, walking along, singing 'I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside'. Prom prom prom.
I warned you but you still looked, you rude lot. This lassie has forgotten her vest, and will probably end up with croup. Look at her hair! No, not those, her hair. Now, if only I knew a song about nipples, I'd have her singing that, but I don't, cos I am so INNOCENT. She can be singing a Frank Zappa song instead. This one.
Funeral Fun
Arthur Harold Raby, my father-in-law, died on Tuesday 5th February. He was eighty-five. A bluff Yorkshireman with a dry wit, he drove railway engines for his whole working life. His final journey as a driver was an Inter City 125 express from London, terminating at Doncaster. Arthur terminated at Scarborough at about half past four in the afternoon.
This post is not so much about Arthur, however, as about his funeral, and the people I met there. East Riding Crematorium in Octon, near Driffield, is a quiet and beautiful place. Grassy lawns and reflective pools, and inside a lovely stained glass window showing a boat buggering off into a beautiful sunset beneath a rainbow. 'Ship of Souls' it is called, and made me think of the ending of the Lord of the Rings.
Amongst many cards we received was this from Arthur's Salvation Army friend, Albert Skinner, one of only three people ever to be made an honorary citizen of Filey. "Please excuse scribble," he says, in writing far better and more legible than mine, "But it's not easy at 94." Albert did attend the funeral, although it is hard for him to walk now, and he proudly wore his Sally Army uniform. The service was led by the lovely Major Susan, although I kept forgetting and almost called her 'Major Barbara' a few times, and once 'Major Tom'.
I also had lovely talks with relatives not seen for a very long time, including a fascinating chat with Mary's Uncle Bob, a one-time FIFA referee. He once sent off three players and booked eight in one match. For swearing. Imagine that happening now, eh? One of Arthur's domino mates was an ex-goalkeeper who had played at Rawmarsh Welfare, the now-defunct football club next to the street where I grew up. We used to sneak in through a hole we'd dug beneath the boundary wall.
Arthur was a demon at dominoes and triominoes, hence the floral tribute you see on the left there. Worth clicking to read the card.
I called shotgun to sit in the front of the limo going back through the picturesque villages that dot the East Yorkshire countryside. Wood-panelled dashboard, gorgeous interior, and a driver who was also a grave-digger when he wasn't driving. Another fascinating chat.
We'd arranged a 'do' at Arthur's Snooker Club, one of the places he played his dommies, and a belting 'spread' it was. They also had Theakston Mild on draft – win! A tear came to mine eye when they told us that they have honoured Arthur by creating 'The Arthur Raby Memorial Trophy', to be competed for annually by the club's domino players.
Arthur would have loved that. Sithee, Dad.
Photographs of people walking
My friend Thom recently posted on Twitter this happy pic of his loved ones just walking along a snowy street. It struck me as a perfect example of how such photographs capture one of those moments in time that aren't special or posed, but just normal life passing by. This type of candid photograph shows normality, since people rarely pose or pretend when walking. A photo like this is capable of encapsulating the very feel of a point in history far better than any overthought pic. In this case, check out the clothes, the cars, and the bright lighting. How might this photograph seem to folk in fifty years time?
Looking through my own family photographs I have come across several like this. My immediate emotional response to these windows into the past is that I could simply step forward and say hello to my forebears, and carry their shopping.
My In-laws on the left, and my parents on the right, both couples striding out into the sunshine of a bright new future shortly after the Second World War.
Here's Mabel & Wilfred, my grandparents, at the seaside on what looks like a rainy day in the late Twenties. Much of the joy of this sort of photograph is in the background. I love the boy running in this one, and the bloke scratching his arse. Nice sartorial choice, Grandad.
That's Wilf & Mabel on the left, with my Dad in cap and short trousers carrying a spade. Uncle Norman wears a wonderful cap.
Mavis's grandparents on the right, Jim and Kate. Look at the lovely cars, and the bus. Both pics from the Thirties.
Off to late-Fifties Scarborough now, a shot more remarkable for the teddy-boy in the background than for Mavis's rotund Grandma Vera, ubiquitous bag o'stuff clutched in her sweaty palm.
Schoolkids in the Sixties here. Yes (sigh) that's me on the left. The girl I'm walking with is, if memory serves, Alex Kolundzic. She was very pretty.
Three working men on their way to… well, who knows? Work, home? Perhaps a football match or the pub? I love the expression on the face of the feller with the cap. I'm pretty sure this is in Mexborough in the Fifties, and the bloke on the right is Mavis's Uncle Jimmy. A sign at the back advertises the Victoria Restaurant, which serves North Sea Fish and caters for parties.
Another shot from Mexborough, from a winter many years earlier than the above. Mid-Thirties, I think. More bikes, fewer cars, and a lovely Woolworths that I remember had a gorgeous wooden floor and old-fashioned counters even in the sixties. This is Mavis's great grandmother, Ann-Eliza.
FOG – where to buy it
"Yes, Wombie," you say, "I'd love to buy a 'sexy, funny, violent and thrilling' adventure, but where can I find the different versions?" Let me be your guide, delicious reader.
Here's your paperback version for reading on the loo. As usual from Lulu, the quality is superb. CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS.
Special Edition
A luxury hardback version with an especially beautiful cover design by Thom White. This'll look ace on your coffee table, and you'll be the envy of your mates (if they're a bit sad, that is). In addition to its hardbackness, this features graphics and pics inside, extra aords from the author, and the inclusion of the word 'bosky' in the text, a word not found in the paperback. CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS.
An e-version for you modern kids that can be used on Nook and iThingies. The book will appear on the Nook and iBookstore sites shortly, but for now you can CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS.
You all know what a Kindle is by now. This version will fit nicely on yours. You can get hold of a free Kindle app for your phone if you don't want to buy the actual tech, and then you can


text:
I know this is on a lot of people's wish lists! Head over to Amazon and get this Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering (Hardcover) for Only $14.99! (Reg. $30). Keep in mind that Amazon is also offering $5 off a $20 book purchase (Just use the code NOVBOOK18) , so if you have other books to buy, it might be worth throwing another $5 book into your cart and bringing your total price down even more!
Magnolia Table is infused with Joanna Gaines' warmth and passion for all things family, prepared and served straight from the heart of her home, with recipes inspired by dozens of Gaines family favorites and classic comfort selections from the couple's new Waco restaurant, Magnolia Table.
Keep in mind, Amazon pricing can change at any time! Don't wait to purchase this deal or it might be gone when you come back!


text:
I recently started a job at Bristol Aquarium as a guest experience assistant, so I thought I'd take you on a virtual tour of the place, starting with the biggest tank in the aquarium, the natives tank.
As a UK diver I love that the aquarium showcases how impressive our British marine life is. Four of the eight shark species in the aquarium are in this tank. My favourites are the starry smooth hounds, which are so incredibly pretty. I haven't been lucky enough to see one in the wild on my diving adventures yet, but I will definitely have to keep an eye out as they are found around South and West England, so very close to home for me!
There are also a lot of very impressively sized fish in this tank. When taking kids on school tours it's always good fun to point out the massive pollock and explain that these are their 'fish finger fish', helping them to make the connection between animals and food.
We also point out the flatfish – sole and plaice – and explain how when they are born they swim upright, with an eye on each side of the head. However, at about two weeks old, one eye migrates to the other side and they become 'flat' (a fun point of contention between creationists and scientists over the years, as you might imagine, but also a fun way to gross out small children).
In the same area (the "Sunken Ship"), although a different tank, is Dale the lobster. At 80, Dale is the oldest animal in the aquarium, who was donated by a fisherman. Fact for children – lobsters wee out of their eyes! A firm favourite, although not strictly true – they have urine release valves under their eyes. They do urinate in each others faces to communicate when fighting or mating, however, which I imagine would go down just as well, but I wouldn't want to be responsible for anyone deciding to 'play lobster'.
Upstairs in the "Bristol Harbourside" area you can look down on the open top of the large Natives tank, while around the side you can find our baby sharks and rays, wolf fish, and the giant Pacific octopus, Gloria. Everyone wants to see Gloria but since she can squeeze down to the size of a 50p, and change the colour and texture of her skin to match the background, the question is more whether Gloria wants to see everyone. Occasionally she obliges and puts on a good show, doing a few laps of the tank or playing with the aquarist up at the top. She's more active mid-afternoon since she is largely nocturnal (and that's when she gets fed).
Next up – the Bay of Rays and Amazing Amazon!


text:
Eliminating the danger, damage, and nuisance of unwanted animals.
Family Owned
We're a local, family-owned company with deep roots in the community.
We know Alabama, we know Alabama wildlife, and we know how to help you.
Humane Removals
We love animals as much as anyone and have no desire to see them injured or killed.
Our goal is always to remove them in the most humane manner possible.
Common Questions
If you're having a wild animal problem, you probably have lots of questions.
The good news is you can find answers here.
Why Alabama Wildlife Pro?
Dealing with wild animals in your home or business can be annoying, stressful, and frightening. But removing them on your own can put you and your family in danger. When you need help with wildlife, you need professionals. At Alabama Wildlife Pro, we'll get to you quickly and solve your animal problem promptly and safely.
Thank you Scott Long and Alabama Wildlife Pro for helping us with our situation in Trussville last night ! Scott was prompt coming out , thorough in his inspection and fair in his prices . If you prefer honest , Christian businesses and have a wildlife removal need , please give Scott a call ! Thanks Alabama Wildlife !! God bless !!
Scott Scholl
Personality is so important. Thank you for your professionalism and jovial personality!
Cherone Jackson
It was a pleasure to meet Scott Long yesterday. We had a rodent in our house. I called Scott, he immediately answered the phone and within 15 minutes he was at our front door. He found where the rodent entered our home. After contacting 2 other critter removal companies, with no success, I called Alabama Wildlife Pro with the suggestion of Wayne's Pest Control. I highly recommend Scott Long!! He was caring, kind, professional and a good man. Thank you Scott.
Laura Lucas


text:
Managing CAA Records
Posted by Network Operations, Last modified by ZoneEdit Support on 07 May 2019 07:46 PM
CAA Records specify which certificate authorities are allowed to issue certificates for a domain.
2. Click on the wrench for CAA RECORDS
3. Enter your settings and click on NEXT
4. Confirm your changes
Once the changes have been confirmed, your CAA records will be visible via DNS and will look like the following:
markjr@markjr:~$ dig -t caa anarchy.fm [snip] ;; ANSWER SECTION: anarchy.fm. 10799 IN CAA 0 issue "rapidssl.com" anarchy.fm. 10799 IN CAA 0 issuewild "geotrust.com"
Also See:


text:
750g packet frozen sweet potato chips
8 x 100g pork loin medallions
300g bag creamy kale coleslaw kit
1⁄2 x 60g bag baby spinach leaves
250g packet cooked whole beetroot, drained, chopped
1⁄3 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra to garnish
1 tblsp bottled light balsamic salad dressing
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cook chips according to packet directions.
2 Heat an oiled, large, non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add pork in two batches. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until just cooked through and tender. Remove and stand, lightly covered with foil, for 1 to 2 minutes.
3 To make salad, combine coleslaw with herb and yoghurt dressing from kit, spinach, beetroot, mint and balsamic dressing in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss well.
4 Serve pork with salad and sweet potato chips. Garnish with extra mint.


text:
According to a story on the Mt. Juliet News web site, posted today, the committee appointed to review the town center overlay district has voted 6-3 to recommend repealing the town center overlay completely.
The Mt. Juliet News has details, along with an editorial urging the Planning Commission and City Commission to follow the recommendation of the committee and repeal.
Mayor Linda Elam called the town center overlay her baby, and she offered a series of amendments to the motion to recommend repealing it. All but one died for lack of a second.
It appears that the Mayor could find little support for the overlay district among the members of the committee.
There's a carnival being held on the old elementary school property this weekend. You have to wonder, do the carnival rides comply with the town center overlay zoning?


text:
Egypt pharaohs, rotund little yellow minions from the Despicable me iPad 4 case movie series and giant dalmatians mingled whilst made their way to the 2km finishing reason for the annual Sedan Chair Compete on The Peak yesterday.
The twelve pharaohs carrying their sedan picked up the Best-Dressed Team award. The item their first such race they had spent three months preparing for them.
"We chose Egypt as involving theme because it is one of the emerging stock market, and we felt that the pharaoh most appropriate represents the country, " the team's cheerleader Karman Fung said.
They had bought their costumes within the web, and lined their eyes and as a consequence drew on moustaches to make these characters appear more lifelike.
Finally the pharaoh team was not the only local community that put so much effort constantly in their costumes.
A group of "dalmatians" sacrificed these personal comfort to better play these parts as the spotted dogs, wearing self-decorated canvas shoes that were not solely ideal for running.
"It's really hard to exercise in these shoes, but we reckoned it necessary to match the wardrobe, " said So Tsz-fung, a town University student who was collaborating with the Lead Dogs Association for the race. "We wanted to show that guide most dogs can play many roles throughout human lives, " he says.
The team also incorporated Cruella Fitness Vil, the dog-fur-wearing villain in a Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, as well as the Toy Story's slinky dog and as a consequence green army men into their ambiente. Their film-camera sedan earned the company the Best-Decorated Chair award.
Finally the sedan race also saw on average 20 organ transplant recipients be involved, turning up dressed as Superman.
Chan Kwok-ming, leader of the team by means of Transplant Sports Association, took task in his first sedan race and after his kidney transplant three years no more. "I feel so much better is often a transplant, " said the 50-year-old sports lover who completed the marathon this year.
Martin Wong Yim-wah, the association's founding chairman, says they hoped to promote awareness of body organ donation. "Our Superman outfits point out to the others that they, too, can be a good guy when they take part in organ donation, inch he said.
And while the yellow spectrum umbrella has become a popular symbol throughout Hong Kong because of the ongoing Occupy Middle democracy movement, it made no more appearance among the crowd of thoroughly decorated sedans in the race.
Eris Lau Ching, director of the Compact Chair Charities Fund that tidy the race, said she weren't surprised. "As our event keeps charities, we do not wish to get involved in national politics. Most of our participants are expatriates, and the extent to which they are getting local current affairs is not even as large as that of the lieu. "More information about Despicable me new iPad case. It is a helpful resource for your refer


text:
Pakistan's ailing national airline has sacked three of its pilots after discovering they had faked their qualifications.
Asif Yasin Malik, the chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has also promised to launch an investigation to root out any other staff whose degrees turn out to be forged.
"PIA is a bleeding organisation at this juncture and needs some time for recovery before getting rid of fake degree holders and incompetent and corrupt officials," he told a parliamentary committee investigating the airline's performance.
The sacked pilots had flown thousands of hours for the airline including time spent flying government officials. One had recorded 25 years service.
PIA has lurched from crisis to crisis in recent years as its ageing fleet and bloated workforce haemorrhage cash. A report prepared for a judicial probe – launched after the country's chief justice was delayed – found it had lost almost a billion pounds during the past decade.
On Sunday, passengers described seeing smoke billowing from an engine as a PIA 747 jet prepared to leave Karachi bound for Islamabad. Although the airline insisted there was no danger, merely a technical fault, it faced a barrage of criticism from ministers and parliamentarians on board the plane.
"Smoke billowing out of the burning engine escaped into fuselage after they opened the emergency exit hatch," Maula Bux Chandio, political affairs minister, told a TV news channel. "It was so asphyxiating in there. I saw many passengers, who were not feeling well at all, gasping for air." However, Pakistan's fake degree scandal is nothing compared with India's aviation problems. Last year it emerged that 57 Indian pilots had been caught with excessive alcohol in their blood before taking cockpit controls.
And in 2011, 14 pilots were dismissed when it was found they had used forged documents to obtain flying licences.


text:
Republican leader: Trump's alter ego 'a little odd'
Imagine an alternate recent history. Imagine if, on Friday morning, Donald Trump were asked about the times he pretended to be his own publicist when talking to reporters, and he replied, "You know, 'John Miller' and 'John Barron' were jokes that went awry. This was years ago and I was just kidding around."
created a bizarre alter ego for himself still would have been a story – if you're pretending to be someone else in order to feed praise about yourself to reporters, you probably have some issues – but it probably wouldn't have been quite as captivating a story.The proof that Trump
Except the Republican candidate just can't help himself. Trump felt compelled to lie reflexively, denying what he's already admitted, and pretending his voice on a recording isn't really his.
The new challenge is coming up with a defense. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, for example, hasn't quite figured out exactly what he wants to say on the subject. CBS's John Dickerson asked Priebus about this yesterday on "Face the Nation."
DICKERSON: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask you about a report that Donald Trump in the 1990s served as his own spokesman under another name. What do you make of that?PRIEBUS: It's just – it's a little bit odd, but I will just tell you that I think, of all the things facing this country right now, and after being through this primary for a year, I can assure you that that particular issue is not going to move the electorate.
Maybe, maybe not. Trump has no record of public service, and no real policy platform, so voters are left to evaluate the presumptive Republican nominee on some of his more personal qualities. The fact that he pretended to be his own publicist, making up an alter ego to brag to reporters about his professed greatness in third person, only to lie about it years later, might very well move some of the electorate.
Paul Manafort, one of the Trump campaign's top aides, tried a slightly different tack with CNN's Jake Tapper:
TAPPER: In 1990, under oath, he testified that he did use the name John Barron. And in 1991, he told People magazine that he did use the name John Miller. So, this has already been admitted previously. I don't understand why now.MANAFORT: I don't – I don't know those facts to be true or not. I just know that he said it's not him. I believe him. I don't even know the relevance of this, frankly, other than it's 25 years old…. Why the media is spending so much time going back 25 years old to talk about a People magazine interview – article – tape that may or may not be Trump, totally irrelevant.
That might be a decent response, were it not for a few glaring problems. First, Manafort believes the recording of Trump isn't a recording of Trump, which is a little silly. Second, again, if all we have to judge Trump on is the force of his personality, it's relevant for Americans to know he's the kind of guy who makes up alter egos in order to pretend to be his own publicist.
Third, he lied about this a few days ago, not 25 years ago. When presidential candidates get caught lying in the middle of a campaign season, it's "relevant."
And finally, as Tapper was quick to remind the candidate's aide, Donald Trump has spent a fair amount of time recently making the case that Bill Clinton's sex life in the 1990s is of great interest in 2016 – and Bill Clinton isn't even a candidate. In other words, as Team Trump sees it, Americans should care about Bill Clinton's misdeeds from 25 years ago, but not Donald Trump's behavior from the same period.
The Republican candidate's allies have had a few days to come up with a compelling explanation for Trump lying about his bizarre alter ego. So far, they evidently haven't come up with much.


text:
Minneapolis is buzzing with excitement for the Final Four college basketball games. It's going to be the place to be for basketball fans.
During March Madness, we get the whole family involved. Even I have filled out college brackets trying to guess what college basketball teams I think are going to make it to the Final Four. Unfortunately, my bracket is busted this year as many of the teams I chose lost. But that's okay, we still plan to celebrate by going out and participating in the Final Four fun.
Now it's time to make sure the rest of you is all put together. Basketball gear? Check. Hair looking tight and crisp? Check. Smelling fresh and clean? Double check! Let the games begin. Time to head out and enjoy a weekend of Final Four fun!