text:
Righthaven LLC v. Smith
USDC D. Nevada March 1, 2012
District court dismisses plaintiff assignee's copyright infringement complaint in this and nine other cases, holding that plaintiff had not received, by assignment, the exclusive rights necessary to confer standing, and that subsequent agreements, executed after suit was filed, could not create standing.
This case is one of 10 similar copyright infringement actions filed by plaintiff, Righthaven, against various defendants, in which plaintiff alleged that it is the owner of copyrights in works originally published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, pursuant to an assignment made in a Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) between plaintiff and Stephens Media, the original owner of the copyrights in the works at issue, and that defendants infringed on Righthaven's exclusive rights in the works—specifically, the rights of reproduction, preparation of derivatives, distribution, and public display.
The court granted defendants' motion to dismiss (in this and the nine other cases), holding that plaintiff did not have standing to sue because the SAA did not transfer to plaintiff any of the exclusive rights necessary to maintain standing in a copyright infringement action. Section 501(b) of the Copyright Act establishes that only the owner or beneficial owner of an exclusive right under a copyright law has standing to sue for infringement. Although the different exclusive rights, as defined by Section 106 of the Act, may be transferred and owned separately, the right to sue is not one of those exclusive rights, and the assignment of a bare right to sue does not confer standing on the assignee. A party can only obtain the right to sue on a copyright if that party also obtains one of the exclusive rights in the copyright. Agreeing with other courts in the district that the language of the SAA grants Righthaven only the bare right to sue and deprives Righthaven of any of the rights normally associated with ownership of an exclusive right, the court concluded that Righthaven lacked standing and dismissed the claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The court also rejected plaintiff's argument that additional agreements conferred on Righthaven the standing to sue. Righthaven and Stephens Media executed two amendments to the SAA: a Clarification and Amendment to Strategic Alliance Agreement, executed after Righthaven's complaints were filed, and an Amended and Restated Strategic Alliance Agreement, executed after other courts in the district held that Righthaven lacked standing sue for copyright infringement based on assignments made under the original SAA. According to the court, neither of the two amendments could create standing because the existence of federal jurisdiction depended on the facts as they existed at the time the complaint was filed. "Although a court may allow parties to amend defective allegations of jurisdiction, the parties are not permitted to amend the facts themselves." The court ruled that it would consider only the actual assignment and language of the original agreement at the time plaintiff filed the complaint. Because the SAA did not confer standing to sue, the court dismissed all 10 cases for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. The court also held it would disregard Righthaven's amended complaint because plaintiff sought to add facts that did not exist at the time it commenced the actions —namely to allege standing under the amendments.


This blog is authored by Krista Capone, Sr. Manager, Corporate Marketing at C3i Solutions. Krista has over 10 years' experience leading marketing, branding, lead generation and communications initiatives. At C3i Solutions, Krista is focused on strategies for advancing the company's position in the marketplace.
This blog was first published May 31, 2018 on the C3i Solutions blog.
Earlier this year, a client was interested in learning more about millennial channel preferences for consumer affairs and how they've changed over the past 5 years. Though much has been written about how these consumers prefer to shop, and which industries they're killing (casual dining chains, diamonds, cereal, to name just a few), there wasn't a lot of information available to discover how they prefer to initiate consumer affairs inquiries with brands.
We could guess, of course, that text-based mediums like chat and SMS would be their channels of choice, while actually talking on the telephone would be much less popular. As a borderline Millennial myself, I know that I'd rather spend 30 minutes in an online chat with a customer service agent than 30 seconds on the phone with one.
But does the research support that? And how much has it changed in the last 5 years? In order to find out, we conducted an informal survey via Google Survey of 250 US-based Millennials (aged 18-34). As a side note: Marketers, have you tried Google Survey yet? You must. It's a great, inexpensive way to survey those outside of your usual subscriber/follower base. I highly recommend it.
Though preference for phone has decreased significantly from 5 years ago (24%), it was still the channel of choice when contacting customer service. Email has remained popular too—holding steady as the most popular channel for about a third of respondents both now and 5 years ago. The same holds true for both younger (aged 18-24) and older (25-24) Millennials.
phone and email. Some of this may simply be driven by the explosive growth of smartphones enabling anywhere, anytime access—even at the point and time of the retail sale. Or maybe it's because they simply don't like making phone calls.
Regardless of channel, Millennials expect fast, convenient and seamless resolution of their customer service inquiries. Learn about how an omni-channel approach to consumer engagement can help, regardless of your consumers channel preferences. Read more about it here.


Communications Minister Amy Adams has announced the completion of the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) Phase 1 new tower programme, with 154 new cell towers now built ahead of schedule.
Adams was on site to celebrate the completion of the programme in Waipu, claiming that under the RBI, nearly 300,000 rural families and businesses are now able to access high speed 3G and 4G broadband services.
Under original specifications, the fixed wireless broadband service was to provide at least 5Mbps peak download speeds - recent testing shows the 4G service is delivering speeds nine times faster than originally promised.
"The new tower build has extended nationwide mobile coverage by 6200 square kilometres to reach a total of 125,700 square kilometres of coverage in rural New Zealand," Adams says.
In 2011 the Government signed a $60 million contract with Vodafone for the supply of services under the RBI and alongside this, 387 towers will be upgraded nationwide by June 2017.
"The contract we signed with Vodafone allowed co-located operators to install their own equipment on the towers to provide their own mobile or broadband services," Adams adds.
"This agreement has been very successful, with approximately four out of every five new cell towers hosting a mix of competing operators.
According to Adams, the second phase of the RBI programme will see a further $150 million allocated to extend rural and mobile connectivity.
Budget 2016: Can money buy innovation?


text:
Kirk hace referencia a:

Filología
G.S. Kirk, filólogo clásico británico;

Cine, televisión y cómic
Kirk Douglas, actor de cine estadounidense;
James Tiberius Kirk personaje ficticio, capitán de la nave Enterprise del universo de Star Trek;
Kirk, revista de cómics editada por Norma Editorial entre 1982 y 1983;

Música
Kirk Hammett, guitarrista de Metallica, ex-Exodus;

Miscelánea
Quavas Kirk, futbolista estadounidense;
Thomas Kirk, abreviatura como autoridad taxonómica "Kirk".
Kirk, cráter con ese nombre.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Conklin's fountain pen ink comes in a pleasing range of colours. Advanced ITF™ Ink Treatment Formula improves ink flow and lubrication of ink feed, allowing for smooth writing and extended cap off time. Manufactured in Austria using leading European ink formula.


May 01, 2014 // Franchising.com // MADISON HEIGHTS, MI – Hungry Howie's Pizza is continuing its growth in the state of Georgia with the opening of a new restaurant in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna. Known for being the originator of the flavored crust pizza, Hungry Howie's Pizza offers eight delicious flavors including: butter, butter cheese, cajun, garlic herb, onion, ranch, sesame and asiago cheese.
In celebration of the Smyrna restaurant opening, Hungry Howie's Pizza will be making a donation to Hosea Feed the Hungry, an organization whose mission is to increase public awareness of the struggles families and individuals face while living in poverty. Additionally, they will be offering one customer free pizza for a year.
This will be Hungry Howie's Pizza franchisee Preston Starr's second restaurant, with his first located in Douglasville. Prior to opening his first Hungry Howie's Pizza, Starr worked as an insurance executive, and upon making the decision to open his own business immediately chose Hungry Howie's Pizza for their fresh, mouthwatering product.
"I am proud to be opening my second Hungry Howie's Pizza location in Smyrna," says franchisee Preston Starr. "Giving back to the communities we are in is essential, and I am very proud to make a donation to an organization that is as impactful and important as Hosea Feed the Hungry. We look forward to bringing excellent pizza to our new fans in Smyrna!"
"Preston operates his restaurant in Douglasville exceptionally and with great passion for the industry," said Jennifer Jackson, director of development at Hungry Howie's Pizza. "We look forward another successful restaurant in Smyrna."
Hungry Howie's Pizza is located at 400 Village Green Circle #300, Smyrna, GA. To reach Hungry Howie's Pizza, call (678) 309-1112. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. For more Hungry Howie's Pizza information, franchising or order other flavored crust pizza online, please visit www.hungryhowies.com or franchising.hungryhowies.com.


A Series of Unfortunate Events//RP//Very limited spots.
Say that Violet, Klaus and Sunny's house wasn't burnt down, it was yours. Now Olaf's trying to steal your fortune, and your on a rambling adventure through A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Appearence: she has long blond hair that goes down to her waist and is usually up in a high ponytail. Blue eyes.
Special skill:(like Sunny's teeth) Violet's skill.
Oh my god you made this! I was going to, but I couldn't think of a plot. Thank you sooo much!
Appearence: Dark and wavy long blue hair, blue eyes.
Accepted, and Jin, do you still say like all the time?
Huh? Oh... you read that. I still have a problem with it.
We gonna start or we need more people?
I roll out of bed, slip on my slippers and tiptoe out the room. I look at the clock, 6:30 AM, perfect. I kneel in front of our old toaster, pull my hair up into a ponytail, and set to work.
An hour later I pulled my hair out of the ponytail, success! Luna comes downstairs. "Look, we can finally have toast." I say.
Me, Luna and Amber are all eating breakfast while mom and dad are packing for our trip to England. "I smell smoke." Amber says.
"Well, blame it on Jenny, she fixed the toaster." Luna says.
"But you made the to- wait, is that smoke?" I gasp.
"That's what I was trying to tell you, smoke!" Amber yells.
"Get out of the house!" Luna shouts. We rush to the elevator (we're rich, remember?) "In the event of a fire do not use the elevator." Luna recites perfectly because of her photographic memory.
We quickly run down the four flights of stairs and out the big french doors. "Wait, mom and dad were on the top floor!" I shriek.
"They'll be fine." Amber says, trying to reassure me. Then the top floor of the house falls down, engulfed by flames.
"Maybe they're made it down some." Luna suggests, but all but the first floor isn't engulfed by flames yet.
"I'm going to find them!" I shout, I try to run in but Amber catches me. "Let me go!" I shriek, and collapse in a fit of tears as the whole house goes down.
"*sniff, sniff,* I smell smoke."
Jenny exclaims, "But you made the to- wait, is that smoke?"
I yell, "That's what I was trying to tell you, smoke!"
Luna yells, "Get out of the house!"
We rush to the elevator and Luna recites, "In the event of a fire do not use the elevator."
Photographic memory. It's getting on my nerves! At least she can remember what happens if she sees someone commit a murder. We quickly run down the four flights of stairs and out the big french doors.
Jennifer yells, "Wait, mom and dad were on the top floor!"
I tell her, "They'll be fine." hoping she'll be comforted, then the top floor of the house falls down, engulfed by flames.
I look at her and ask in my head, "Seriously?"
"I'm going to find them!" Jennifer shouts, and tries to run in, but I quickly grab her arm and stop her from going in.
She yells, "Let me go!"
I sniff. the home crumbles.
I sigh, "I'm sorry Mum. but at least we survived."
We all start crying. I hear a car pull up behind us. I turn.
I turn and see our bank manager, Mr. Foe (Mr. Poe with an f), pulling up in a car. "Don't worry kids, I've already found someone for you to live with, your 6th cousin 1 time removed." I turn to him and gasp.
"You knew, did you murder our parents!" I start sobbing and Amber pulls me into her arms.
"No, I got an anonymous call." he says. We all get into the car and he take us to our new home with a 'Count' Olaf. I turn and stare out the window. "Bye mum and dad." I whisper.
It's mister Poe! he tells us, "Don't worry kids, I've already found someone for you to live with, your 6th cousin 1 time removed."
Jennifer turns to him and gasps. "You knew, did you murder our parents!"
She starts sobbing so I pull her into my arms to comfort her. She has a good point.
"No, I got an anonymous call." he says.
We all get into the car and he take us to our new home with a 'Count' Olaf. Jennifer turns and stares out the window.
"Bye mum and dad." she whispers.
I think about this cousin. How did he find him? I don't remember any cousins in our books.
I ask Luna, "Did you read any books about our cousins?"
Luna thinks and answers, "I don't remember any."
I think more. Who are our "Cousins" that we will meet?
This is my favorite series! I know you have started, but I'd love to be in this too!
Wait, I just saw that I accidentally gave Aless the same special ability as Amber has. Can I change Alessandra's skill to reading like Klaus?
I woke up to the smell of smoke. I had always been a deep sleeper and sometimes slept through my alarm, which seemed to have happened today, but this smell was too pervasive to ignore. As soon as I realized what was happening, I ran out of bed and toward the room where we usually ate breakfast so that I could tell my siblings. But they weren't there! I didn't know where our parents were either. I took one deep breath-- which made me cough, because the haze was already drifting over to where I was-- and knew that I had to get out right then or I wouldn't be able to.
I raced to the stairs and went down them as quickly as I could. I felt the fire start burning where I had been standing as soon as I started running and was scared again for my family. Maybe they had made it out? I really hoped so.
When I got to the first floor and ran outside, I was so happy to see my sisters. I ran to them, and we all hugged. "I'm so glad you all made it out!" I exclaimed. "Us too," said Amber, "But we were too worried for you and Mom and Dad to pay attention to that!"
"Wait," I processed, "you mean Mom and Dad didn't leave the house with you guys?"
As Luna shook her head and Jenny looked at the ground sadly, I gazed at our house, which was now covered in fire. Our home and everything in it was goe. And our parents...I tried not to cry but did. "We have each other, at least," I said to try and make my siblings and myself feel better. I don't think it worked.
Then a car pulled up in front of us, and a man's head popped out. "Don't worry, kids," he said, "I've already found someone for you to live with, your 6th cousin once removed." I slowly recognized the man as our parents' banker, Mr. Poe, but how did he get here and everything so fast?"
"You knew!" Jennifer gasped, "Did you murder our parents?"
She started crying, and Amber pulled her into a long hug. Mr. Poe replied that he had gotten an anonymous call, but that still seemed strange to me. Who called him? Someone planned this fire and then set it? Why? Besides, we didn't have cousins that I knew of.
While my sisters talked to each other about everything that had just happened, I swallowed to try and calm myself down, then I asked Mr. Poe: "How did you find out about our sixth cousin once removed? Who are they?"
Accepted, and that was a great POV.
Jin, I think it's your turn.
Fiona. What is with your little invisible ink you put everywhere? It's getting kind of weird. I am having a hard time figuring out what I'm writing!
Right, my bad. Also, no offense, IVORYMERMAID577, but Luna barley talks with others. You know, the part where you said "My sisters talked about everything that had happened." or somthing.
I stand in front of our burnt down house, gaping. I couldn't believe it. Mr. Foe comes, but I didn't listen to what he was saying. In the middle of it, I walked away. No one noticed. So while they were somewhere else, I was in the bushes, crying. I heard a growling noise. (What?! They are unfotunate!) 'I shouldn't have walked away.' I thought.
I got an idea, I'll go for a while.
In the car, I can't hear anything. my mind's become mush. I can't see how it could be destroyed so easily. I try to calculate how it could be destroyed, but I can't figure out how! there is no way it could've just burned down! Someone set it on fire somehow. Someway that is hidden from the rest of the world. We then stop at this, "Count Olaf's" house. I hop out of the car and hold my siblings tight. we walk into this creepy building. My mind quickly said that this house belongs to a serial killer. I don't want to believe it, but my head keeps calculating and every time, answer equals psychopath in the house. Mr Foe knocks on the door.
I look at my siblings and they all have the face that says, "I have a bad feeling about this."
The peephole that looks like an eye opens and I feel a shiver down my spine.
"DON'T GO IN, AMBER! DON'T GO IN! IT'S A TRAP! YOU'RE GONNA DIE!" My mind shouts.
the door opens and we walk in. I look everywhere and I'm ready to faint, it's so creepy!
The ride to Count Olaf's was uneventful, but I could hardly believe the house we stopped at. It looked like something from one of the horror stories I'd read. Any other day, I would have been interested to explore, but today my heart sank as Mr. Foe opened the car door to usher my siblings and I out. We walked to the doorstep reluctantly as Foe knocked on it. "I'm afraid this will have to be a quick drop off," he smiled apologetically, "Banking hours, you know."
Before we could respond-- as though any of us knew what on earth to say to that--, the door swung open to reveal a skeleton. Well, okay, not a real skeleton, but he was tall and skinny, with sunken eyes and a dusty old suit. "Hello, hello, hello..." he creaked, "...children." When we didn't move at first, Mr. Foe stepped behind Luna to urge us inside. The best I can say about the inside of this house is that it looked like the sort of place someone like Count Olaf would live. The man was talking, going on and on about how lucky we were to come live with his "illustrious" self. I listened for a few moments in case he said some kind of clue as to all the strange things that were already happening to us, but he didn't. He was, apparently, too interested in getting an obliviously cheerful Mr. Foe to leave. The banker called something about going to him if we had any problem, then Count Olaf locked the door behind him.
My hand keeps twitching. It does that when I'm creeped out. Count Olaf asks us each our names so he can remember. Or so he says. We each introduce ourselves, with me last, because my mouth is almost frozen.
He asks, "What the devil is going on with your hand?"
I lie very convincingly "It does that at random moments. Or when I've had a traumatic experience. Gets very annoying."
He seems to believe it. I look at my siblings. We each have a different amount of fear. I breath slowly to calm myself down. I fear something bad's coming. He leads a tour through the house.
I whisper to my siblings, "This place needs a paint job."
Then we see the kitchen.
He says, "I know, this place needs a little TLC."
I gasp, "Forget TLC, This needs an exterminator!"
So many unwashed dishes and cockroaches, and other pests. My hand won't stop twitching. My siblings know I'm calculating a way to prove this place is horrible and this guy can't raise us. The kitchen is just one piece of proof.


As an innovative first from the Perth Mint, comes the very first figure eight shaped coin in the world! In Chinese culture, the number eight is considered extremely lucky as the Chinese word for "eight" which means good fortune or money.
The number eight is also uniquely symmetric and, when laid on its side, resembles the mathematical symbol for infinity.
Obverse: Displays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2018 year-date, and the monetary denomination.
Reverse: Features two dragons wrapped around one another and holding coins in their claws. The Perth Mint's traditional "P" mintmark also appears in the design.


text:
Six Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso
By: Dr. Helen Ofosu
blog, Bullying & Harassment , Leaders & Executives , Workplace Culture
allyship, inclusion, leadership, organizational climate, organizational culture, psychological safety, workplace culture
https://ioadvisory.com/wp-content/uploads/speaker/post-13539.mp3?cb=1642859486.mp3
Like so many others, I've discovered the Apple+ show Ted Lasso, in which Jason Sudekis plays a successful American college football coach from Wichita, Kansas who moves to the UK to coach professional soccer (aka the sport known as football outside of North America).
Many of my executive coaching clients have referenced the show. In particular, they've made note of Jason Sudekis' portrayal of a kind and caring leader who emphasizes relationship building, leads with empathy, and empowers others to be the best version of themselves, on and off the field.
I've recently rewatched the first two seasons – which is a first for me, as I don't normally rewatch anything!
Since the earliest months of the pandemic, I've been thinking about the unique demands being placed on leaders. With such an immediate and profound organizational cultural shift in March 2020 that happened in so many workplaces, leaders were finding themselves leading from home and suddenly needed much stronger interpersonal skills than ever.
Most employees are still dealing with their own new stresses, pandemic grief, and the worries and preoccupations of ongoing uncertainty. In addition, employees who are members of equity-seeking groups have concerns related to their sense of workplace belonging (or exclusion).
So, partway through rewatching season one of Ted Lasso, I was inspired by what I was seeing and hearing. Here are some of my reflections on what we can learn about leadership and workplace culture by watching the series.
1. Star performers who mistreat others are not worth keeping around.
In the show, Ted subs his star player Jamie Tartt out of a pivotal match because of his dreadful behaviour towards his teammates. In real life, I've seen many instances of workplace bullying where "star" employees who are productive yet extremely toxic bullies are rarely fired. Their supposed "productivity" prevents them from being fired, even when they are ruining the organizational climate and productivity of others because of their cruel, mean-spirited behaviour.
This issue is addressed in further detail in "The Office Without A**holes" episode of Adam Grant's WorkLife podcast, which I also highly recommend.
2. Good ideas can come from anyone.
Despite his original role of soft-spoken "kit man" on the team, Ted and the other coaches remain open to good ideas from Nate. Leaders like Ted aren't concerned about the position or identity of the person who contributes the idea, but rather the idea itself. I've heard of so many instances where ideas are immediately discarded because of where the idea came from – an employee who is too junior, or in some other way not "one of the boys."
Take a look at how hiring for contribution, not fit and the unique value that BIPOC/underrepresented leaders can deliver also touched upon these themes.
3. Psychological safety is important.
As Brene Brown says, "The playground isn't safe if anyone is getting beat up." Everyone's psychological (and physical safety) matters. On Ted Lasso, Coach Ted, Coach Beard, and Higgins act in ways that make others feel emotionally and psychologically safe, valued, and welcome. When the tables turned and Jamie Tartt needed some emotional support, he got a healthy dose from Roy Kent in front of the entire team. Everyone is treated with respect and dignity, no matter their role or title in the organization. I would love to see a world in which this was the norm and not the exception.
4. Allyship matters.
Impromptu, full-team Dubai Air protest featured in Ted Lasso, Apple+. Photo credit The Sponsorship Space (thesponsorshipspace.com)
There are so many simple yet powerful examples of allyship in this show. Team members support Sam Obisanya when he needs to take a stand against a sponsor who is violating environmental and human rights in Sam's home country. Rebecca stands up with Sam despite the financial risk that the team will face, and Ted gives Sam a platform to explain why he is uncomfortable with the stance that the sponsor is taking. If you'd like a refresher on how allyship can play out at work, check out this two-part blog series on What is Allyship? and in my two-part series on Why Your Organization Needs a BIPOC Mentorship Program.
5. We must not leave anyone behind.
Essentially, this is another way of saying that everyone matters, and inclusion matters. On at least two occasions, Ted notices that soft-spoken Nate is missing from the team bus. It turns out that Nate had been locked in the baggage compartment when he was under there organizing the luggage. It sets a tone for the entire organization when everyone is treated as a valued member of the group and shows that everyone matters and everyone is included without saying a word or jumping on a soapbox.
6. There is more than one style of leadership.
Several months ago, a former client contacted me partway through a multi-day training session on "executive presence" that she was attending. She was disappointed with and even offended by the content. Her employer had sent her on expensive training that was really missing the mark. The toxic message from this training included the idea that there is only one "correct" way to be an executive or leader. It was a very narrow-minded, "cookie-cutter" approach that left no room for alternative styles or approaches.
Thank goodness Ted Lasso wasn't forced to accept that false doctrine! He is an unapologetic original who many of us can learn from, and would follow anywhere.
Can you think of other leadership lessons that you've picked up by watching Ted Lasso? How about life lessons?
If you haven't watched Ted Lasso, as I said, I recommend it, for so many reasons. Rotten Tomatoes.com rates it at 94 percent, and with good reason. You can find it on Apple TV.
Do you want to discuss a career, HR, or training-related matter? Reach out today for a free and confidential initial consultation by phone, email, or via direct message on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
More than career coaching, it's career psychology®.
I/O Advisory Services Inc. – Building Resilient Careers and Organizations.™
by Dr. Helen Ofosu | Jan 21, 2023
by Dr. Helen Ofosu | Jan 7, 2023
by Dr. Helen Ofosu | Dec 10, 2022
by Dr. Helen Ofosu | Nov 26, 2022

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


My name is Peter, and djrocks is one of my best friends. We're both 6th graders.
Bird watching, and taking photos of birds and animals and funny things!
Thank's for playing my game!!!!
The Over 80% Awesomeness Award!
you got the cool name award!!!


text:
Budget 2018: The only certainty is continued uncertainty
Joel Charles, Director of Government Relations and Impact, Future Care Capital
The Chancellor has a difficult tightrope to walk next week as he attempts to navigate spending pressures on several fronts. His Budget will need to take account of the ongoing Brexit negotiations which are going right down to the wire, calls from MPs to pump more funding into the Universal Credit roll-out and confirm more detail on health spending. His colleagues will also be hoping that he pulls a few rabbits out of the hat, although I doubt there will be any tax cuts.
Philip Hammond does seem to have some potential wriggle room. We learnt this week that the Treasury will benefit from better than expected tax receipts, which has contributed to a £13 billion cut in the Government's budget deficit. This follows on from news that public borrowing was lower than expected in September – down on the original Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast.
Despite the expected tax windfall, the Chancellor will be hesitant about committing to additional public spending given the current political climate. As the Brexit negotiations rumble on, Philip Hammond's calculation might be that it is more prudent to restrict the flow of new spending and continue to build a war chest to stimulate the economy in case extraordinary circumstances arise.
Universal Credit is another area that has been under increasing scrutiny. MPs are urging the Chancellor to plough additional funds into the roll-out to support people transitioning on to the new benefit payment scheme. Rumours suggest that the Government is considering putting an additional £2 billion into supporting the roll-out.
The Chancellor is also expected to explain how he will find £20 billion for the NHS, but there are some administrative hurdles to overcome first. NHS England has yet to produce a final plan that takes account of the funding, so it is unlikely that we will get all the details next week. Commentators took the view that it would take six months to deliver a plan when the Prime Minister made her announcement in June. The pressure to raise taxes imminently in order to fund the pledge has, nonetheless, eased because of the growth in tax receipts.
There are other financial challenges the NHS needs to tackle, hospital trust deficits have reached £12 billion[1] collectively, and Trusts are reported to face repair backlogs totalling a record £6bn.[2] The Government is being pushed by NHS insiders to write-off the deficits so that new funding is not spent on servicing debt repayments and is, instead, directed primarily to improve health and care provision.
Local authorities are also demanding additional funds. The National Audit Office has warned that one in ten larger local authorities in England with responsibility for social care could entirely deplete their reserves in three years' time.[3] The sector hopes that the Chancellor will recognise these challenges and offer greater support in this year's Budget because the three year £2 billion grant funding announced by the Chancellor in 2017 is said to have been insufficient to meet growing demand and curb unmet need.
What the Government should take seriously is the OBR's cautious assessment of the state of public finances. It has previously told the Government that without tax rises to cope with an ageing population and higher health spending, the deficit could increase to £176 billion a year by 2068.[4] The OBR will adjust its forecasts now that borrowing is lower and tax receipts are up, but the costs associated with our ageing population continue to grow.
In future years, Chancellors will need to think carefully about the long-term impact of our ageing population. Deciding when to deploy the Treasury's spending power is always a difficult balancing act for Governments. The timing for an announcement on adult social care is made more difficult this year because the Government hasn't published their Green Paper yet, which is likely to set out potential funding options for consultation. This means the Government will not make any substantive changes to adult social care funding until the Green Paper consultation is concluded. It is far more likely that the Chancellor will say more about adult social care in his 2019 Budget.
Next year the Government will be conducting a full departmental spending review, the country is set to leave the European Union and the Chancellor will be expected to deliver a Budget that sets out a vision for life after austerity. This year's Budget is more about anticipating uncertainties that are on the horizon. The only certainty is, it seems, continued uncertainty for both commissioners and providers of health and care provision for another year.
[1] Dennis Campbell, The Guardian, NHS £20bn boost risks being spent to pay off debts, experts warn, October 2018 [online], available from:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/21/nhs-20bn-cash-risks-paying-off-debts
[2] The Times, NHS trusts face a record £6bn backlog of repairs, October 2010 [online], available from (paywall): https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/nhs-trusts-face-a-record-6bn-backlog-of-repairs-2nthx3g5c
[3] Ben Chu, Economics Editor, The Independent, Local councils at financial breaking point due to austerity, warns National Audit Office, March 2018 [online], available from: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/local-councils-finances-budget-cuts-austerity-services-national-audit-office-a8242556.html
[4] Russell Lynch, Evening Standard, Tax bonanza and austerity hands Philip Hammond £7 billion extra to spend, July 2018 [online], available from: https://www.standard.co.uk/business/tax-bonanza-and-austerity-hands-philip-hammond-7-billion-extra-to-spend-a3892296.html
Where is the Green Paper? We need a new data-driven adult social care model.
Fit-for-purpose adult social care provision is achievable if we embrace a new positive vision #socialcarefuture


It's a blistering hot day in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, as I stand outside the home of Eight Degrees Brewing with Caroline Hennessy, broadcaster, author of Slainte – the complete guide to Irish Craft Beer and Cider and also head of marketing at the brewery.
We are stood where the grain silo used to be staring out across a patch of scrubby grass towards a monolith of a building, gleaming in the sun.
That's B2, the new super-capacity brewery site where Eight Degrees Brewing will begin a whole new set of beer adventures. The new brewery is pretty close to being finished. It was, in fact, ready to go until Irish Distillers asked them to construct all of the six enormous fermentation tanks, so now it maybe September/October before the beer starts to flow. But more on that later.
The spot where I stand, bereft of its malt silo, is outside B1 – the original home of the brewery. Or not quite? "We have a B3," says Caroline. "It's at home," referring to the home brew kit founders Scott Baigent and Cam Wallace no doubt first experimented with brewing, and maybe still do.
Inside the shiny B2 building is a giant mechano set. A spaghetti junction of pipes, towering forests of fermentation tanks and vertiginous platforms from which to peer into the cavernous brew tuns.
There's Scott in overalls, frowning as he toils with another member of the team to figure out the new packaging conveyor that will eventually box the beer ready for distribution.
That was in 2014, just three years after Eight Degrees first went into commercial production. Quite the gamble. Around January 2015, the brewery arrived to Ireland, but without a building to put it in, the kit idled for the next two years in storage before finally arriving in its new home in Mitchelstown. When you know, you know, they say – and clearly Scott and Cam knew that their vision for Eight Degrees had substance.
Caroline is showing me around, first around B1 where I meet Dan and Derek, the two chief brewers busy starting a brew on a batch of Barefoot Bohemian Pilsner. Brewing capacity is measured in hectolitres. The brewhouse in B1 can brew 15 hectolitres, the Kaspar Schulz brewhouse in B2 can brew 60 hectolitres.
The jump in capacity is staggering, but as Caroline says, the recipe is the recipe – it's just a matter of scaling up. The relaxed response does have a feint swan-like whiff, but I accept that these are matters best not dwelled upon for too long.
B2 is a far cry from the days when friends and family would help out on bottling days, paying them in "wonkies" for their efforts. But at the same time, whether you're in B1 or B2, the atmosphere is one of family. Everyone mucks in – owners, long timers or fresh in the door.
It feels amazingly ego-less, more like a co-operative, I suspect because of it. It is also the spirit of adventure that keeps driving everyone forward: "What will I try next" could almost be the mantra of Eight Degrees Brewing, and comes from a place of being naturally adventurous and naturally curious.
As my tour of the brewery ends, I get a chance to sit down with Scott Baigent whilst everyone heads back to B1 for the weekly pizza lunch delivery. I want to ask him about their recent acquisition by Irish Distillers, the group behind the Jameson brand (amongst others), and whether this wholly unexpected event will alter the way of Eight Degrees Brewing.
The surprise offer from IDL came off the back of an experiment, one that resulted in the Caskmates range of infused Jameson Irish Whiskey.
"The Caskmates Project started about two or three years ago. Shane Long of Franciscan Well brewery in Cork reached out to IDL looking for some whiskey barrels to age their beer in. Shane was seasoning some of his stout with the whiskey to produce a barrel-aged stout, then IDL decided to put some whiskey back into the beer-seasoned barrels. IDL got a really strong reaction to the whiskey produced from that process, and almost the rest is history.
There's no denying that both Scott and Cam could also see the massive potential to piggy back on the success of Jameson and Caskmates in the US with Eight Degrees Brewing own beers – a move that is set to open even more avenues.
"For us in Eight Degrees Brewing we see the massive benefit of the partnership. We will have unprecedented access to whiskey barrels that really the world has never seen before." The craft beer industry in Ireland is still small in comparison to other craft beer nations, such as the US.
IDL have acquired 100% of the Eight Degrees Brewery business, but they have retained Scott and Cam to manage the brewery, "and fairly autonomously too," admits a surprised sounding Scott. Space to innovate – the best thing they can give to this duo and their team of happy beer makers.
Naturally adventurous they have always been, and, nestled under the wing of IDL and the Pernod Ricard group, it looks like they still will be. Cheers to that.


Hi Everyone , Yes only 11 more days until Santa comes so everyone is on their best behaviour including me so I will recieve what I wish for Xmas but my main joy comes from my grandchildren when they open their presents and the smiles it produces .
Sunday morning started with mother nature deciding to slowly increase the wind speed so it was always going to be a struggle for everyone who came for a sail . Due to the increasing wind speed a lot of sailors stayed away as they all know now to check the wind speed and make the decision to try something else for the day .
We set up a couple of lasers so at least people could get on the water and get their sailing fix . Charlie and Casey had a tribe on board their lasers with Charlie absolutely flying past Casey on every lap but Case did have a full boat so tacking was a bit of an issue . Unfortunately conditions slowly got worse and we finished the session early so everyone could go and have a shower due to the fact everyone was drenched which might have had something to do with me making more waves in the powerboat .
We were definitely not sailing at 10.30 as the winds had increased to 18/20 knots and the waves were around half a metre so we decided to set up Public Nuisance for a sail instead but even that failed as firstly we had to reset our bridle as someone had run over it and shifted the anchor causing the yacht to start rubbing on the pontoon . Sounds an easy job but not really just ask Charlie next time how heavy was the anchor that was chockers with mud , by the time we reset everything it was even too windy for Public Nuisance to sail with winds reaching 30 knots so we just sat around talking using up time before we could head off to the Xmas Party ! The Xmas party at the bowls club was a great night with everyone joining in barefoot bowls and with expert commentary from the benches ( me and Charlie and Casey ) it turned in to a fun afternoon . As usual the bowls club put on a great dinner and desert for everyone including Christmas decorations and party favourites.
Despite the very ordinary weather conditions ( 29 knots at the seaway ) on Monday we still ran our junior camp by towing the boats up to the top of Sovereign and with the help of Charlie , Dallas and Sienna we managed to get all the kids on the water and yes there was a lot of capsizing but slowly a few people started to get the hang of it . Tuesday was a better day with winds down to 20 knots but only averaging 12 knots back at Sovereign . Some of the first timers really went well with Griffin going well at steering Fletch really getting the hang of the main sheet Aidan and his crew of two keeping on course , Josh and co also getting the hang of sailing then Edwina who despite quite a few capsizes ( running aground ? ) and drifting all the way down the channel at one stage joining Charlie who had also drifted down there everyone sailed well and the best part was how everyone pitched in to help clean and pack up at the end . Sorry next weeks camp is full but there are still spaces in the new year !


text:
Obama's Foreign Policy Makes Medical Sense
In medicine, sometimes we have to wait. "Tincture of time" is a traditional strategy. You have to let the body react, you have to see what is going to happen, you have to resist the temptation to treat right away, because it might not be necessary, and because treatment later on might work better. Yes, it's most often best to catch an ailment early, but when you do, the judgement of the clinician is sometimes just to wait. And when the time comes to act, sometimes the best intervention is not dramatic, but just a well-aimed lance, perhaps; boom boom and it's done.
And sometimes you just don't know what you're dealing with. When I was a senior medical student I made rounds with infectious disease specialist Sam Katz. He would be called in for a case of infection on the wards of Children's Hospital in Boston. Often it wasn't clear what the infection was. So he would say, take the child off all antibiotics and reculture in three days. The housestaff (residents) would protest – this kid's sick! I know, Sam would say, but we need to know what we're dealing with. Take him off all antibiotics (it would take time for the antibiotics to clear from the system so we could get a good culture) and we'll see if we can find the bug after three days. Have some confidence here that the kid is not going to expire – if he gets a lot worse, we can restart early.
Which is a roundabout way of saying that I am one of the apparently few defenders of Obama's foreign policy. Everybody's dumping on the guy with I told you so's. As though it's obvious that an earlier intervention would have prevented the ISIS Syria-Iraqi insurgents from coming this far this fast, and as though it's obvious that this is far too dangerous a place for us to be. Hillary opened her big mouth to distance herself from a sensible policy once again – she claims to have learned the lesson of Iraq, but I doubt it.
Myself, I think Obama, in his very understated way, did the subtly courageous thing to do, he let the infection come to a boil that could be lanced. While doing it, he effectively got rid of the noxious Maliki side infection. Don't want us? Fine, we're out of here. Let's see what will happen. Let's be confident we can handle it in the future. Let's not let ourselves be wagged by the noxious tail.
Now the body has reconstituted itself, we have started to mobilize our forces with a better constituent body to wage the counter-war, and we'll supply some medicine while that tail won't be wagging us any time soon. We also found another functional organ to support in the north, the Kurds. They want us, they have a state that is working (Erbil has a Jaguar dealership), their army will fight. Obama has been quite right to say that they have to want it at least as much as we do – we'll just have to see if the Iraqis do or don't.
Meanwhile, for the situation just a little north of there, Obama refuses to speak out dramatically against the posing-against-the-sky-as-background Putin. Patiently and privately, he says, you don't want to do this. He counters every bishop move with a pawn blocker, and moves his pieces behind the lines of attack to more powerful positions. He has a sense of proportion.
I have been quite critical of Obama in the past, and maybe I'm just the kind of guy who looks for an opportunity to take the other side. Nonetheless, let's see what happens. My sense is that his caution and his subtle risk taking will prove in the end to be admirable and effective.
An Electoral Strategy
Yes, there are huge questions facing our country. War or peace, renewal of the cold war? Immigration? Economics? All important. But we know enough to understand that elections don't often hinge on important questions; they hinge on feelings, emotions, and immediate concerns. As in, abortion, gay marriage, giveaways to the lazy poor.
Thus comes my proposal for a cogent electoral strategy. Hear me out.
Last week, my security was breached. My bank was contacted for a transfer of funds to a third party. All my financial institutions were contacted in a similar manner. Later, all my email contacts were spammed for information, and false invoices were mailed to them (and to me.) And yesterday my bank was presented with a check with my wife's forged signature that was cashed at a Southern California credit union (my corporate account was defrauded via a credit union too, some years ago. What is it with credit unions?) The fraudsters have not received any money from me that I know about, and I have taken the laborious but necessary steps of changing my bank account number, changing all passwords and User ID numbers, cleaning up my computer, etc. A pain, and emotionally disorienting, but so far, so good.
I am not alone. Everyone I have talked to has told me I am only one in a long line. Many of my friends who have been spammed have recounted their own family's misadventures. Anyone who has visited Target knows the feeling. The amount of resources expended by institutions on this sort of fraud must be enormous. I wonder what the total population impact and total cost is. It's got to be huge.
At the same time, it is excruciatingly difficult to identify the miscreants in these frauds, and difficult even to report them. I can't find a way to tell Google that someone created a new email address called budshenkin@gmail.com – one "d," such an insult and abomination! There is no fraud unit ready to jump into action. The bank said originally that their major function would be to deny payment on the fraudulent check, and leave it at that. They said I could do something personally if I cared to. I demanded to see a senior officer who said he would contact the FBI. I doubt that this will lead anywhere; after all, I haven't even lost money. My wife's identity was stolen last year. Amazingly they caught the people involved trying to charge on her account in a Sacramento store – and the Sacramento police let them go! WTF?? In essence, there is precious little enforcement.
Now let's look somewhere else in the public policy sphere. We know that the prisons are overflowing, and needlessly so. The failed War on Drugs is a major source of all the incarceration; everyone knows that. Why the War on Drugs has not been able to be shut down and replaced is a mystery of the usual public policy and bureaucratic stagnation. (In my own field of pediatrics, the self-maintenance of the bureaucracy around lead poisoning – an affliction that sank to very low levels decades ago as soon as gasoline was made unleaded – has been absolutely astonishing. The public health bureaucracy employs thousands. But I digress.) But there is clearly movement as marijuana is being legalized, despite the entrenched interests who benefit from maintenance of its illegality.
So, let's put this all together. My proposal is this: Let's take the money from the War on Drugs and devote it to the War on Credit Care and Online Fraud. And let's do a Prisoner Exchange – let the marijuana offenders out of the clink, and refill it with the Fraudsters. That should keep the Prison Guard Union happy. I'd call it The Great Pivot, "Out of drugs and into fraud!"
Sounds like good public policy to me. If someone were to run on this platform, can there be any doubt it would be an overwhelming winner? Any doubt at all?
I thought not.


In a city of old, we love hard work, character and perseverance. To pay tribute to those who do, we present to you: The Amsterdam of Old. It nurtures strong, warm colors. A unique tribute to our Dutch Capital.


These mini chicken pot pies are SO EASY with only 4 ingredients! Such a fun and delicious 30 minute meal idea when you have a craving for comfort food!
This recipe contains boneless pork loin chops, fingerling potatoes, granny smith apples, extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider and more.
Chicken? Check. Vegetables? Check. All in one pot? Check check. This teriyaki one-pan meal is kid-friendly and easy — what more do you want?
We've fallen in love with deep-dish pizza, and, luckily, you don't have to travel to Chicago to get it. In fact, you don't even need an oven. Just a slow cooker.
When you call Dorie Greenspan to say you're coming over, this is what she bakes. "It takes longer to preheat the oven than to put these cookies together," she wrote to me. "I love them for a million reasons, but chiefly because they're a simple pleasure that can be shared on the spur of the moment." She includes a perfectly round variation in her book using muffin tins (and plenty of baker's spray to help them break free), but we preferred the ease and charm of the freeform version. Adapted slightly from Dorie's Cookies (Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016).
This Pop Tarts recipe contains sifted flour, shortening, unsalted butter, salt.
10 ways to appreciate rhubarb in it's simplest form: cooked stove-top into a compote.
This Stuffed Peppers recipe contains ground beef or turkey, shredded cheese, bell peppers, Stove Top stuffing, tomato sauce and more.
Show your colors with red, white and blue stripes in this top-rated, deliciously smart and fruity dessert.
This recipe contains cheddar, rye, oil, butter, guinness and more.
We're swapping in cauliflower for white rice to give this easy stir-fry a healthy twist.
This meatloaf has all the great flavor of a bacon cheeseburger! Top slices of meatloaf with ketchup, mustard and relish to get a true burger flavor.


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A peak land value intersection is the region within a settlement with the greatest land value and commerce. As such, it is usually located in the central business district of a town or city, and has the greatest density of transport links such as roads and rail. Other hallmarks indicating a PLVI are tall buildings (in order to maximise the use of land) and a relatively great number of pedestrians.

This model is the urban equivalent of von Thünen's rural land use model in that both are based upon locational rent. The main assumption is that in a free market the highest bidder will obtain the use of the land. The highest bidder is likely to be the one who can obtain the maximum profit from that site and so can pay the highest rent. Competition for land is keenest in the city centre.

The most expensive or 'prime' sites in most cities are in the CBD, mainly because of its accessibility and the shortage of space there. Shops, especially department stores, conduct their business using a relatively small amount of ground space, and due to their high rate of sales and turnover they can bid a high price for the land (for which they try to compensate by building upwards and by using the land intensively). The most valuable site within the CBD is called the peak Land value intersection or PLVI. Competing with retailers are offices, which also rely upon good transport systems and, traditionally, proximity to other commercial buildings (this concept does not have the same relevance in centrally planned economies).

One basis of this model is 'the more accessible the site, the higher its land value'. Rents will therefore be greater along main routes leading out of the city and along outer ring roads. Where two of these routes cross, there may be a secondary or subsidiary land value peak. Here the land use is likely to be a small suburban shopping parade or a small industrial estate.

See also
 Urban planning

Further reading
 Geography: An Integrated Approach by David Waugh. 2000.

References

Urban studies and planning terminology


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If you're a music producer or composer, you'll know that an instrument's sound can significantly impact the overall feel of a piece.
That's why DustBowl Cinematic and Audio Brewers are so excited to present their one-of-a-kind bowed instrument – Peace! Let's explore just what makes this innovative instrument so unique.
Design and Craft Process
Finding the Best Sonic Spots
Power and Versatility of Next-Gen Adaptive Polyphonic Legato
Stamatis Stringaris Pushes Boundaries with One-Of-A-Kind Missile Shell-Bowed Instrument
Audio Brewers and Dust Bowl Cinematic Collaborate to Bring Unique, Expressive Instrument to Life with Intuitive User Interface
Peaceful Sound Achieved: The Complex Process of Crafting and Sampling a Calming Instrument
Revolutionary Polyphonic Legato Technology Brings New Level of Peace and Harmony to Musical Performances
Revolutionary Adaptive Polyphonic Legato Liberates Musicians, Revolutionizes Music Production
True Panning and Dolby Atmos
4 Stereo Mixes Included
Experience the Future of Sound: Immersive Perspectives Revolutionizes Music Listening with Ambisonic Technology
Created by master luthier Stamatis Stringaris through a laborious transformation process, Peace was crafted from a decommissioned Soviet missile shell.
The delicacy and precision required for such an endeavor is truly awe-inspiring.
Audio Brewers partnered with DustBowl Cinematic during the creation process to capture every minute detail of this unique instrument to create the highest quality samples possible.
The team at Audio Brewers then set out to find the best sonic spots where they could capture the sound of Peace in its purest form.
This involved creating an immersive sonic ambiance for each note and adjusting each sample until it perfectly reflected the instrument's original sound. As a result, listeners can expect crisp, detailed notes that evoke feelings of peace and tranquility with each listen.
Peace by Audio Brewers – An Overview, the Innovative Bowed Instrument 6
What sets this bowed instrument apart from other musical offerings is its use of Next-Gen Adaptive Polyphonic Legato technology which allows it to automatically adapt to playing speed and dynamics without any mouse or DAW control needed – freeing musicians from being slaves to technology.
Additionally, Voice Movement Awareness ensures that even when using many voices simultaneously, each one will remain distinct and true to its original sound.
Stamatis Stringaris has taken his artistry to the next level by creating a one-of-a-kind bowed instrument crafted from the shell of a missile. Stringaris, the founder of DustBowl Cinematic, was inspired by unconventional materials such as found objects and fabrics to create something truly unique.
Using his skill and creativity, he fashioned this instrument out of all things industrial – an object built for destructive purposes now fashioned into something musical. He is pushing boundaries with his new design and immersing himself in the world of neo-traditionalism.
Audio Brewers and DustBowl Cinematic have come together to bring a unique instrument to life. Through the detailed sampling of the instrument, its true personality can be heard.
Every nuance is captured, recreating a one-of-a-kind sound perfect for any artist. This expressive creativity is further amplified with the bonus of an intuitive user interface, making it easier than ever before to come up with seriously professional-looking results.
With the combined efforts of Audio Brewers and DustBowl Cinematic, this instrument's power can be unleashed from studio productions to everyday music creation!
The development of peace is a highly complex process, beginning with the initial design and crafting of the instrument. Subsequently, finding its best sonic spots requires meticulous attention to craft an instrument that meets the desired specifications.
Sampling and mixing using immersive techniques isn't quick or easy either; much trial and error must be used to find the optimal combination for a peaceful sound. Ultimately all of this work helps create a truly calming listening experience when these elements are brought together perfectly.
Peace and harmony can now be achieved with the aid of enhanced Polyphonic Legato technology. This revolutionary product is adept at automatically adapting to the nuances and dynamics of an individual's playing speed, allowing players of all levels to express themselves much more naturally.
A wide range of sound types, instruments, and evolution techniques make this a truly unique product that provides crystal-clear sound quality no matter the genre or style. Finally, players can enjoy unrivaled performances thanks to this innovative technology that takes their musical talents to new heights.
Adaptive Polyphonic Legato technology liberates musicians from restrictive editing and production methods, revolutionizing the way music is made.
Adaptive Polyphonic Legato (APL) is musicians' next big game changer. The vision of APL was born out of a need to break free from the often daunting and restrictive areas of using a mouse for music editing and a DAW for music production.
It is designed, coded, and explicitly adapted by and for musicians so that they can be liberated from tedious click-and-drag tasks. By harnessing the power of APL to its full potential, creatives can produce more freely and create groundbreaking music faster than ever before. Ultimately, this powerful new technology looks to revolutionize the way music is made in the 21st century!
When it comes to mixing, True Panning is an innovative technique that Crescent has pioneered. It allows users to place a strings ensemble around the listener's head in three-dimensional space, creating an immersive experience unlike any other. It utilizes Ambisonics technology to achieve this, allowing for a much more realistic representation of the performance than traditional stereo hard panning.
Dolby Atmos is another technique that can take advantage of the spatial capabilities presented by Crescent products. Instead of simulating spaces and then placing a stereo signal in them like most other methods, Atmos uses a fully spatialized recording and unfolds it around the listener's head – providing an incredibly accurate representation of what you would hear if you were present during the recording session. Furthermore, this process can be done in a matter of seconds and requires minimal effort on the part of the mixer.
Both techniques provide users with unprecedented levels of immersion and accuracy when compared to traditional processes, thus making them invaluable tools for achieving superior recordings and mixes.
The ease-of-use and impressive sound quality provided by both True Panning and Dolby Atmos make them essential components for any musician or engineer looking to take their productions to the next level.
A Mix offers great balance from the Musician's perspective. You'll feel embraced by the sound of the instrument plus you will hear the sound of the helmet complementing it with a reverb-like sensation.
A BODY Mix offers the sound the shell emanates. The sound contains much more body and colour in the lower end.
A HELMET Mix offers the sound that comes from the military helmet. Filling your music field with a thin reverb-like sound.
A BINAURAL Mix offers the best Immersive type of sound if you are wearing headphones.
Stereo mixing is essential in music production, allowing the engineer to create a well-balanced mix that suits their artistic vision. By combining audio signals from multiple sources into a single stereo output, the engineer can create a sonic landscape that is truly unique and engaging.
At its core, stereo mixing involves combining two separate audio tracks – each of which has both left and right channels – into one complete mix. This technique also allows engineers to create various effects such as panning, spatial placement, reverb, compression and more. Commonly used to refer to the practice of blending different instruments or elements together to form a single soundscape, stereo mixing creates depth and texture in recordings.
One type of stereo mix is known as the 'Mix', which seeks to provide a balanced sound from the musician's perspective. It combines all of the audio sources together by blending them into one cohesive mix. This type of mix ensures that each instrument is given equal weight within the recording and creates an immersive listening experience for the listener.
A 'Body Mix' on the other hand focuses more on creating a fuller overall sound through accentuating bass frequencies whilst still providing clarity for each instrument. Meanwhile, 'Helmet Mixes' offer a more reverb-like sound as they use military helmet microphones to capture sounds with thin reverberations that fill out the overall sound field.
Lastly, binaural mixes are explicitly designed for headphone listening experiences, offering an even more immersive sonic experience because they take advantage of directional cues inherent in natural 3D sound fields.
In conclusion, stereo mixing offers multiple options for creating engaging sonic landscapes that use various techniques such as panning, reverb and compression. Whether you're looking for a balanced 'Mix' or something with greater body such as a 'Body Mix' or Helmet Mix' – there's sure to be something that meets your needs!
Immersive Perspectives offers a different listening experience than traditional stereo or surround sound mixes. These mixes are created using Ambisonic technology, replicating a real-life environment's sound to create a fully immersive 3D soundscape. Ambisonic technology captures sounds from all angles by using multiple channels and microphones placed strategically around the room, giving listeners an unprecedented level of realism and immersion.
In these real-world scenarios, sounds come from all directions—above and below our heads, from behind us and ahead of us, and from above and beyond us—creating a much more realistic listening experience than what could be achieved with a traditional stereo or surround sound mixes. With Immersive Perspectives, listeners can feel as if they're actually in the recording space with the artist as they play their instrument.
Immersive Perspectives also offers true panning capabilities—listeners can move through virtual space as if they're physically inside it. This enables engineers to place instruments at varying distances throughout the mix to create dynamic depth and movement in the soundscape. The result is a mix that provides more accurate localization of sounds within the mix and allows for greater control over how those sounds interact in various playback systems.
Beyond providing an increased level of realism, Immersive Perspectives also adds storytelling elements to music production. Musicians can place instruments at different points in the mix to influence how their story is told through sound—where each instrument should be placed for maximum impact on both the listener's ears and emotions. By using this approach, artists can transport their listeners into another world through their music without having them leave the comfort of their own homes.
As you can see, Peace is genuinely an innovative bowed instrument unlike anything else currently available on the market today that has been crafted with meticulous care and precision by master luthier Stamatis Stringaris in collaboration with Audio Brewers & DustBowl Cinematic.
Combining Next Gen Adaptive Polyphonic Legato technology with Voice Movement Awareness ensures that every note sounds crisp and accurate to its intended source – no matter how fast or slow it is played – allowing musicians more creative freedom than ever! Who knew something as simple as a decommissioned missile shell could revolutionize music composition? We did! And now you do too!
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Video Walkthrough Audio Brewers – The Upright
Pianoforte 360 Ambisonics Demo and Library Walkthrough
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New Ambisonics Instrument The Upright
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SKU: 1819P Category: Training Videos Topic: Diversity Brand: VisionPoint Productions, Inc.
F.A.I.R. in Action applies the F.A.I.R. approach to real-life business situations to help the participants learn how to transfer the approach to their own work environment, to be fair, and to be culturally competent.
This program works in conjunction with Just Be F.A.I.R.


He had his hands full rising star Grigorij Zhyknjak for most of the game, but veteran center Saun Vandiver was able to lead Estudiantes to a thrilling 87-77 overtime against visiting Zalgiris of Lithuania and preserve the Madrid team's solid position in the Group A playoff race.
Estudiantes' redoubled defensive efforts in extra time certainly didn't hurt. The Baltic team scored only five points and went home empty-handed despite a fantastic fourth-quarter comeback that tied the game with 10 seconds left in regulation time.
Estudiantes led by eight points five minutos before the buzzer (65-57) but let the former continental champions tie the game thanks to shooting guard Donatas Slanina (2s points), the best of the Lithuanian squad, and steadily improving center Grigorij Zhyknjak, who set his own laws inside the paint.
Zalgiris guard Steve Woodberry, who was held to 13 points by Estudiantes, nonetheless started the comeback with a drive, then a basket by Zhyknjak and a three-pointer by Slanina gave Zalgiris a slight lead, 69-70 with 18 seconds to play.
A basket and a free throw by Nenad Markovic allowed Estudiantes to retake the lead, 72-70, but the home team chose to foul on the last posession, which allowed Woodberry to make the tying foul shots.
In overtime, it was all Estudiantes and all Vandiver. The American center scored eight of his game-high 23 points in the extra time, which never gave Zalgiris the chance it seemed to have when regulation time ended.
Markovic added 16 points and Carlos Jimenez 15 to pace Estudiantes, which gave itself a one-game advantage over Zalgiris in the Group A, which is the only one of the four with no ties. Peristeris is first at 6-1, Paf Bologna second at 5-2, Estudiantes third at 4-3 and Zalgiris fourth at 3-4.


text:
Q: Simple HTML DOM Library While including the simple HTML DOM library, I get the warnings:
Warning: file_get_contents() [function.file-get-contents]: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: No such host is known. in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple_html_dom.php on line 70
Warning: file_get_contents(http://www.google.com/) [function.file-get-contents]: failed to open stream: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: No such host is known. in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple_html_dom.php on line 70
The line 70 in simple_html_dom.php file(downloaded from http://sourceforge.net/projects/simplehtmldom/files/latest/download)  is
  $contents = file_get_contents($url, $use_include_path, $context, $offset);

Also 1 error:
Fatal error: Call to a member function find() on a non-object in C:\xampp\htdocs\domdoc2.php on line 15
where line 15 of the code(below) is
foreach($html->find('img') as $element)

The web page i was referring in my code below is google.com
Code follows:
     <?php

include('simple_html_dom.php');
$html = new simple_html_dom();
$html = file_get_html('http://www.google.com/');
// Find all images
foreach($html->find('img') as $element)
       echo $element->src . '
';

// Find all links
foreach($html->find('a') as $element)
       echo $element->href . '
';
?>

What am I doing wrong??

A: This is because your host was unable to resolve DNS, this happens when simplehtmldom uses file_get_contents instead of curl.
PHP Simple HTML DOM Parser is a great HTML parsing PHP class BUT it is slow since it uses
file_get_contents (which is disabled on almost all configurations) instead of cURL (4-5 times faster and with lots of options, almost every server has it).
Only file_get_contents is replaced so you can safely overwrite previous version and everything will work as before, only faster
Link to source code:
http://webarto.com/static/download/simple_html_dom.rar
//output should be

/intl/en_ALL/images/srpr/logo1w.png
http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&tab=ww
http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
https://play.google.com/?hl=en&tab=w8
http://www.youtube.com/?tab=w1
http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn
https://mail.google.com/mail/?tab=wm
https://docs.google.com/?tab=wo
http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/
https://www.google.com/calendar?tab=wc
http://translate.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wT
http://www.google.com/mobile/?tab=wD
http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp
https://www.google.com/offers/home?utm_source=xsell&utm_medium=products&utm_campaign=sandbar&tab=wG#!details
https://wallet.google.com/manage/?tab=wa
http://www.google.com/shopping?hl=en&tab=wf
http://www.blogger.com/?tab=wj
http://www.google.com/reader/?hl=en&tab=wy
http://www.google.com/finance?tab=we
http://picasaweb.google.com/home?hl=en&tab=wq
http://video.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wv
http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/
https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?hl=en&continue=http://www.google.com/
http://www.google.com/preferences?hl=en
/preferences?hl=en
/url?sa=p&pref=ig&pval=3&q=http://www.google.com/ig%3Fhl%3Den%26source%3Diglk&usg=AFQjCNFA18XPfgb7dKnXfKz7x7g1GDH1tg
http://www.google.com/history/optout?hl=en
/advanced_search?hl=en
/language_tools?hl=en
/intl/en/ads/
/services/
https://plus.google.com/116899029375914044550
/intl/en/about.html
/intl/en/policies/

However if you are completely new to HTML parsing in PHP Please Consider reading : How do you parse and process HTML/XML in PHP?

A: That's not in any way related to simple_html_dom. Your server has no internet access and it fails to resolve google.com. Check the DNS settings and maybe the firewall.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I find the front head-lamp to be quirky. A part of Kinetic design? Don't think so. Seems they changed for the sake of changing something.
Figo has a dated design compared to competition and it was the front which was probably the better part and more more modern part. With the new design the round headlights might improve the overall quality of illumination but definitely has compromised the balance in the design and looks little quirky to me.
Super-dislike the new front end ! The smoked element bought character to the headlamps . And all that is gone . Even the Alto 800's headlamps look better than it .
I agree completely , they look massive in proportion to the car and not in a good way. Almost a bit 'DUH' !
Last edited by puchoo : 17th September 2012 at 19:16.
Man the front lights look like they are from a Chevy Beat with a hint of Hyundai thanks to the chrome strip above the indicator housing in the headlamp.
The facelift does not look as clean as the original but I guess a change was needed since the Figo was looking a bit dated. Not everyone likes clean simple lines. Also, the headlamp design change must have been considered due to the several complaints they received of poor illumination.
Its looks quirky, but it could as well be because of the picture shot through the rear view mirrors which is slighty convex and the front of the car looks a bit skewed!
It looked better in the scoop posted by FZ_RIDER!
This one is too frustating. The white car is Maruti 800 which got complete makeover and yet to be launched. Do not understand who copied whom?
Last edited by HighOctane : 18th September 2012 at 13:13.
The new face lift has completely ruined the frontal look of the figo. I am glad that I have the old one. The face lift could have been more on features or some additional stuff on the inside. What's wrong with ford to have spoilt a perfectly balanced car&design.
Sorry it was too tempting.
All the old Figo owners must be thanking their lucky stars right now. The new facelifted version is so damn ugly!
Why can't we get proper looking cars? And why is it absolutely necessary to have a facelift for a car that looks good? Just throw in some more features and go home and maybe drink a beer!
This coincidence discussed by us is written in Indianautoblog.
We have to wait and see what are the Indian Automobile Press' reaction on these similarities.
I am ok with new headlamp design if it can offer better spread and lighting. Even with powered bulbs on the current Figo, the spread is poor and not good for night driving!
Reliable sources indicate that its the 1.0Lt 3 cylinder Eco-boost engine that will make way in new Figo (Petrol) as the 1.2lt will be phased out. The 1.4lt diesel will remain and there is no change or plans for diesel engine. It will be a hoot to drive the 1.0Lt Petrol in Figo.
It doesn't look attractive but what Ford has done is change the shape of the reflector to a more square one from the current rectangle. The spread and throw could be better.
But Ford should have kept the very attractive black bezel on the headlights. They shouldn't have gone chrome.


Extreme floods have become more frequent in the Amazon Basin in just the last two to three decades, according to a new study. More here.
Amazon River, Western Para Province, Brazil June 1996. This image shows the flooded condition of a small section of the Amazon River,including the jungle towns of Obidos and Oriximina. The sun's reflection off of the muddy looking river water, called sun glint or sunglitter, helps to identify land-water boundaries in this section of the Amazon River which is roughly midway between Manaus and the Amazon River Delta. By comparing this image to a detailed map of the area it is obvious that the river is flooding in the low lying areas that are adjacent to the floodplain of the main channel of the river. Large areas south of the main channel of the Amazon River are covered by standing water. Patches of cleared land can be identified within the densely vegetated terrain along the northeast side of the Amazon River. The main channel of the Rio Trombetas can be traced southeastward from the right edge of the picture until the river merges with the Amazon just west of the small jungle town of Obidos. Satellite image by NASA.


UPDATE 19 July: We are happy to say that Norman is leaving hospital today to recover at home. Thanks again for all of your kind messages of support and thanks to the NHS for being so incredible.
so relieved to hear that. We were really worried when we saw him being taken from the stage. Please pass on our best and let's hope he'll be back in the saddle soon.
I did think he looked suddenly very anxious to get off – guessed illness – I am very glad he decided to leave and not hang on, very best wishes to him.
Glad Norman is recovering and ok.
So sorry to hear he is unwell. I wish him a full and speedy recovery.
Up until that point, his playing was superb.
I was there too and very sorry to see Norman in trouble. I hope he recovers soon and the band get back to the great form they were producing last night.
Was really enjoying the gig until Norman felt ill, delighted to read he is ok, best wishes from one heart patient to another…..
Best wishes. Rocking good night that ended so sadly.
Norman. Don't you bloody dare snuff it. You're too important. It's only a soddin' heart attack. We've all had 'em. Put your feet up for a bit and then be so good as to get back on the horse.
Dude, please don't leave us . Take some time to recover.
Dude, don't get leaving us. Speedy recovery fella.


They had me at the mention of a charcoal bun, but when I realised it was inspired by one of the Queensland Art Gallery's works on display, the deal was sealed.
So that's how I came to eat a black bun filled with a black angus meat patty, a layer of jamon plus obligatory burger basics such as lettuce and tomato, all brought together with black mayo and Monterey Jack cheese at QAG Cafe. It's called the Wolken Burger and it has been inspired by Michael Sailstorfer Wolken's work Clouds, on show until May 24.
The QAG Cafe is located at the end of the Watercourt and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Outside you can sit next to the water under shady trees, a very pleasant dining location.
The menu is full of intriguing options such as Scenic Rim carrot and West End honey soup with pickles and nasturtium or Brisbane buffalo halloumi with field mushroom orecchiette pasta and Queensland olive oil. Great to see local produce staring.
Our other lunch choice was the tempura short shell crab which came with a salad including shaved fennel and blood orange segments topped with preserved lemon mayo.
The dessert cold cabinet offered plenty of choices but it was the white bavarois topped with red rose petal that I couldn't go past. It tasted as good as it looked with intriguing lemon and biscuit layers inside. I could have matched it with a glass of champagne, but that will have to be next time.
Of course I wasn't there just to try the food - we were checking out the fashion exhibitions - Future Beauty - 30 years of Japanese Fashion at GOMA and Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion at Queensland Museum.
Best tip: Save money on both exhibition entry fees by buying a joint ticket. Better still, max your return by walking across the river to Brisbane City Hall to see Costumes from the Golden Age of Hollywood exhibition until May 24.
Best for: Art lovers of all ages.
Bottom line: Mains range in price from $13 to $19, sandwiches are available for $8 to $9.


Summer has been wonderful so far. I think the best part has been the spontaneous day trips that we've taken to the beach, the lake, and now to the water park. And not just any waterpark, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, the water park of all waterparks. And as an added bonus, we get to celebrate Miss Emmie's 3rd birthday while we're there! I don't know who is more excited to go to this week, the kids or myself!
This is just one area of the massive park at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels.
There are so many fun attractions for kids of any age!
I'll make sure to post all about our trip, but first I'd like to share some things to bring to make the best of your trip to the water park with little ones. I know on our last trip (with a 4, 3, & 2 year old) to Schlitterbahn Galveston, these things really helped out. I was so overwhelmed anticipating all that could go wrong, but turned out to be an awesome trip! And I'm anticipating an even smoother adventure this year as the kiddos are all potty trained--yay for no more swim diapers!
Of course you'll want to bring water resistant sunscreen and lip balm, but there's also a few extra things that I like to bring along for sun protection. I love that rash guards are in style for both boys and girls. My kids all have them for those long days in the sun. Also, sunglasses for my hubby and I. We've got a few pair of cheap sunglasses we keep around for the lake and trips like this. And we'll bring along hats for everyone, but I'm not sure how long they'll keep them on.
The great thing about Schlitterbahn is that you're allowed to bring coolers and outside food in to the park! This is a really good money-saver as our kids are constantly snacking to keep up that energy. Think healthy! We like to bring a cooler full of lots of mini waters, mini sports drinks, fruit, veggies and dip, and drinkable yogurts. No one likes soggy snacks, so I like to make everything single serving. I'll split all of our snacks into ziplock bags, including the fruit and veggies in the cooler. We'll probably pick up some sub sandwiches for a sit down lunch and eat out for dinner. We also like to bring some special treats, so our kids aren't begging us to buy snacks all day.
The ground between attractions tends to heat up and little toes may refuse to walk. Plus uneven and sometimes slippery surfaces may cause unexpected accidents. To avoid carrying your kiddos all day, bring along water shoes for everyone. Flip flops work, but they're really easy to lose on waterslides and along that lazy river. A comfortable pair of water shoes will stay on all day and protect those little toes. I'm picking up some cheapos from Walmart or Target. You can't beat $5 shoes!
We're bringing our GoPro because it's waterproof, and takes excellent photos and video. We bought this floating wrist strap so that we can hold onto it and hopefully rescue it if it leaves our hands. I can't wait to capture those faces as we're going down a waterslide!
Lifejackets are usually available at the park for no additional cost, but we prefer to bring our own. The kids really don't mind wearing them, and we give them breaks depending on the ride. We have strong swimmers, as my 4 and 5 year old are on swim team, but I'd rather be safe.
We keep most of our things in a locker most of the day, but it's nice to have cash and a few cards on your person. I really like this waterproof wallet on a lanyard.
Lockers at Schlitterbahn cost $8 with a $2 deposit. We usually like to get the kids (and ourselves a treat) and like to have a little extra cash for those unexpected wants or needs.
Towels are usually available for purchase at waterparks, but you'll want to bring your own to avoid costs. We bring enough for everyone plus a terrycloth coverup for the girls.
After a long day of being wet, chances are, your toddlers will want to wear comfortable dry clothes. I usually bring a jacket for each of the kiddos so they don't get cold in the restaurant or car. Depending on your plans, you may want to leave these in the car for a quick change at the end of the day. We try to lug around as little as possible!
I usually bring a mini first aid kit complete with bandaids, antibiotic ointment, butterfly closures, pain & fever reducer, and tissues. Compact is better, as you hopefully won't need it! You don't want to pay park prices for these, or spend time in the park filling out paperwork at the first aid station for something small.
Be sure to check back to read all about our visit and some tips and tricks I found along the way. I can't wait to share our trip to Schlitterbahn New Braunfels!
This is a sponsored post that contains affiliate links. All opinions and ideas are my own.


text:
Q: Why a component moves up and overlaps another component in mobile view in React? But it is ok in min-tablet and desktop view. Why? I am  learning React and trying to build single page portfolio . When I tried to list my projects using grid, the problem ocurred. Is there any grid property to solve this problem. I am tired of trying.
This is my jsx:
const Project = () => {
  return (

React Projects

        {Data.map((item) => {
          return (

{item.title}

                    Demo

                    Code

          );
        })}

  );
};

this is my css:
.p {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100vh;
  padding-top: 2em;
  background-color: beige;
}
.p-heading {
  text-align: center;
}
.p-card-container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(250px, 1fr));
  grid-gap: 2em;
  padding: 2em 5em;
  background-color: white;
}
.p-card {
  padding: 2.5rem;
  box-shadow: 10px 10px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
  box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 6px 20px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.19);
}
.p-card img {
  width: 100%;
  border-radius: 1em;
  border: 1px solid #ddd;
  border-radius: 4px;
  padding: 5px;
}
.p-btns {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
}
.p-btns .btn {
  text-decoration: none;
  padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
  background-color: #59b256;
  color: white;
  font-weight: 500;
  text-align: center;
  cursor: pointer;
  border-radius: 8px;
  width: 100px;
}
.p-btns .btn:nth-last-child(1) {
  margin-left: 0.7rem;
}

Note: I have used autofit for grid-template-column. Is it the reason for overlapping upper component.


Spring is here (and, depending where you live, has been for awhile)! That means the number of new releases is starting to pick up -- this list is on the short side, but lots of new releases here in the next few weeks. If you want to catch my list from March you can see that playlist here.
Rock 'n' Rainbow - "I Like to Ride My Bike"
Lloyd H. Miller - "Trapped in the Attic"
Lucky Doug and the Stinkbugs - "Pop-a-Wheelie"
Earthworm Ensemble - "Mole vs. Coyote"
Turkey Andersen - "If a Sandwich Was a Sandwich"
Vered - "All I Want"
Caspar Babypants - "Sad Baby"
Posted in Playlists and tagged with Rock 'n' Rainbow, Lloyd H. Miller, Lloyd Miller, Lucky Doug and the Stinkbugs, Earthworm Ensemble, Turkey Andersen, Vered, Caspar Babypants, Spotify, new music.
April 20, 2015 by Stefan Shepherd.


[Update: Oreo] Xiaomi Releases Kernel Source Code For Mi A1 - AndroGuider | One Stop For The Techy You!
Xiaomi released it's first Android One smartphone - the Mi A1 - in September last year. Now after a long wait of four months, Xiaomi has released the kernel source code for the Mi A1. Although one would expect the kernel sources to be that of Oreo (the Mi A1 was updated to Oreo last year), Xiaomi has released the Nougat based kernel source code.
Android is based on the kernel of Linux, which is licensed under GPLv2. The version 2 of the General Public License (GPL) requires companies to share the modifications they make to the Linux kernel. Since Android uses the Linux kernel, companies are obligated by the terms of GPLv2 to share the kernel source code. Kernel source codes help Android developers in building stable custom ROMs, recoveries and kernels for a device.
It's ironical that Google — the company that develops Android and backs Android One smartphones — didn't step in to ensure timely release of the kernel sources. We may never be able to figure out what took Xiaomi so long to release the kernel source code of the Mi A1, but now that the kernel source code is out, you can soon expect to see custom ROMs for the device. Popular Android developers like Francisco Franco have expressed their interest in developing for the A1. If you are interested in the development of the Mi A1, I would recommend keeping a tab on the XDA forums of the handset. If you would like to take a look at the kernel source, please visit the link in the source.
If a device is updated to a newer Android version, the terms of the GPL mandate the release of the updated kernel sources. The Mi A1 was updated from Nougat to Oreo update on the last day of 2017, and after two and a half months, Xiaomi has released the kernel sources of Oreo. Although the kernel sources should have been that of Oreo in the first place, it's great to see Xiaomi improve, especially given that Xiaomi has updated already released kernel sources only a handful number of times. The Oreo sources can be found at the link in the source.


This is a re-post that I've just updated from a few months ago, so if you've seen it before, you know why! My process has changed a little in the past few months though, so I updated where needed.
Monday: Grocery list is published on iheartpublix.com. I usually just kind of glance through it, print out the coupons that look like good deals (or that might run out soon), but don't make too much of a list yet.
Tuesday: The Super Deals come out on iheartpublix. This is the point I really make my list! I usually buy anything that's more than 90% off and/or under a quarter (you never know when you can use/donate some things!). I also look through the regular ad for things I might need or definitely use.
Wedneday: Grocery shopping day! This used to be on Sunday, but they changed the penny item day. I'll admit, it is a little inconvenient to shop on a work day, but something for (almost) free is definitely worth it! I usually always put my grocery list on the blog on Wednesdays – partly because people are interested, partly because I like to sit there and break everything down!
Saturday (usually): The drug store ads come out on southernsavers.com. I am open to going to any of the local drug stores, but Rite-Aid has been KILLING it lately with good deals! With the drug stores, I only buy the free/monkeymaker items (unless I see something we need in the ad). The past few weeks I have MADE money! Southern Savers posts a scenario at the bottom of each drug store list to show you how to shop there…those are really helpful!
Sunday: I go to the drug stores as early as possible, because the good deals sell out quickly.
-Go in with a list. Don't try to just shop for whatever – you WILL waste money!
-Organize your coupons, from one side of the store to another (I usually go from right to left). That way, you aren't digging through trying to organize in the store!
-Don't buy it if you can't use/donate it. Even if you buy it for 5 cents, that's a wasted 5 cents if you don't put it to use! Anytime I see a good deal on toiletries, I stock up as much as possible. Some things do expire (toothpaste off the top of my head, I'm sure there are others), but even if they do they have a LONG shelf life!
-Write down the price after coupons on your grocery list. That will give you a pretty good idea of how much you're going to spend.
For example, Totino's pizza rolls were on sale this week. They are normally $3.99, but were B1G1 and I had $1/2 coupons. I was buying 8 bags of those (yes, we will eat them…it might take a year, but we will). So, since they were $1.50 each, I wrote ($12) next to Totino's on my list. That way, when the whole list is done, I can go back and get a good idea of how much I'm going to spend!
-Organize your coupons. The only coupons I actually buy are in the newspaper each week (I get 2 newspapers on Sundays – 1 Tuscaloosa News, 1 Birmingham News). I take the inserts out (they vary each week, but usually a RedPlum and a SmartSource), write the date on the front of each booklet, and paper clip the ones from that day together. They are all in order in a binder I have. I also save the Publix flyers at the front of the store, and any random ones I find. I Heart Publix has all of this on their site, including a link to any internet printables you can use!
I've discovered recently that a lot of people do coupon exchanges online. These are AWESOME if there's a staple item on sale that you don't have a coupon for! You can also pay for someone to send you a coupon (note: It is illegal to actually sell coupons, but you can pay someone for their time/postage). I've used http://couponbeat.ecrater.com/ before – and I'm sure there are a bunch more!
-A lot of people have asked how I make menus with the stockpiling method of grocery shopping (buying when it's on sale, instead of when you need it). I usually wait until after Wednesday to make my menu for the next week. I go through what I have and see what works. The ingredients tab of allrecipes.com will let you put in your ingredients and show you what recipe will work with them. It's great!
-Make room in the budget for meat/produce. This is one that gets a lot of couponers. Yes, we could probably live off of $10 a week, but I would be buying processed, dried, preserved food all of the time. I'm not saying there's anything necessarily wrong with eating that stuff – I usually have some of it on the list every week. However, you have to learn moderation. I have a budget of $25 a week, and if I'm under that, I fill the rest of the budget with fresh produce. Publix (and most other stores) actually has pretty good deals on fruits every week. I like Winn-Dixie for my meats (they usually run the best sales!). For meat – STOCK up when you see a sale. I usually buy 8-10 pounds of a meat when it gets to the right price (I very rarely pay over $2/lb. for meat), and freeze it.
Also, I use a lot of frozen veggies. I've heard from so many places that you don't lose a ton of nutrients in the freezing process. While it is better to eat fresh, frozen isn't that bad! And you'll find a ton of good sales on frozen produce.
Dairy is another item that most people don't know you can freeze! Last week, I bought 8 half gallons of milk. Well OBVIOUSLY we're not going to drink that before it's expired, so I froze most of it. When you need a new one, just pull it out of the freezer! Cheese freezes really well, and yogurt does too. I'm sure there are others!
IF YOU DON'T HAVE PUBLIX: It might not be as easy, but you can still follow this general process! Southernsavers.com has a lot more grocery stores than just Publix, so you can make your list there. Publix has the best deals I've found, but there's a lot of other good deals out there too! I've always been jealous of those who have Kroger – they are really good. Food Lion (which I don't have either) has really good internet coupons! Check out that website above – they have most of the grocery stores in the Southeast I know, probably some out of this region too!
I think I could write a book about this, so if you have any questions, put them in the comments and I'll try to answer!


New Jersey's own Guy Harrison releases his fifth solo project with the Entry Level EP. Short and sweet with 8 tracks, the new project will stand out to recent college grads who are struggling to find their place in the world, let alone an entry level job.
With recent graduates and independent artists both understanding the obstacles of reaching dreams as they work through their respective "Entry Level" positions, Guy's perspective is a good one. Check out the Entry Level EP.
The post Guy Harrison – "Entry Level" [EP] appeared first on Mechanical Dummy.


Same day, different death. Netflix's new original "Russian Doll" definitely does not disappoint. It hooks audiences in with its incredible cast, soundtrack and fascinating plot. Natasha Lyonne's performance is nothing short of outstanding.
The story begins with Lyonne's character, Nadia Vulvokov, staring at her reflection in a bathroom on her birthday. Unbeknownst to her, she will have to become very familiar with that bathroom. Each death she experiences always ends the same, waking up in the same bathroom listening to the same song and hearing the same knocking.
However, only she remembers the events that lead up to that perpetual moment. Though the characters are doomed to repeat the same day over and over, this does not mean the plot lacks in twists and turns.
The writers allow the viewers to experience frustration along with the characters who struggle to find answers to those questions and constantly have to start over after any progress is made.
Created by Leslye Headland, Amy Poehler, and Lyonne herself, "Russian Doll" has already been making headlines, despite its recent Feb. 1 debut. A fusion of drama, mystery and a hint of comedy, this is a show that is unsurprisingly binge-watchable.
The characters, plot and soundtrack will stay with you long after you've finished it, and that's not just because the deaths reset to the same song each time. With great performances by Charlie Barnett, Elizabeth Ashley and Natasha Lyonne the show consists of eight episodes all 25 minutes in length.
Viewers experience what the characters do more so than other shows by continuously keeping them on edge. There's humor, heartbreak and at times, even horror. Overall, "Russian Doll" is perhaps one of the top Netflix original shows to have been released. If you're itching for a new Netflix binge, give "Russian Doll" a go. You will not be let down.


Functional sculpture, this upcycled lamp combines a vintage galvanized can and a punched tin planter. Quirky yet fabulous, it will assert itself wherever you put it.
The body of the lamp is an oil can with some embossed lettering on front (see photo 3) and back. It sits on a heavy flame tamer with its own bits of detail (including a little rust). The shade is a tin plant container wrapped in chicken wire. I punched and drilled holes of various sizes into the shade to lend additional texture and sparkle. The pièce de résistance is a vintage spigot handle on top holding the shade in place (photo 4).
- Stands about 19 inches tall.
- 7-inch footprint, 10-inch diameter shade, 17 inches from spout to handle.
- Takes 1 ordinary light bulb, up to 60 watts.
Note that all major external parts are used, but clean, and most are truly old. They bear the marks of their previous incarnations. All electric parts are new.


I don't often get asked to review something outside of the food/ beverage world. I was recently asked to check out a wonderful gluten free children's book titled Celia and the Glue Man: A Girl's Journey to Becoming Gluten-Free and Happy by Maggy Williams.
As a Director of a very special Celiac Camp for kids I am very sensitive to the many levels Celiac Disease impacts a child's life. Beyond the health issues and pain of being sick these kids need to deal with always being different, often feeling left out in activities when food is involved. Having to double check before eating and often remember to bring food just in case something is not avalaible makes being spontaneous almost impossible. This book does an outstanding job of showing the many challenges. "Celia" the main character learns to navigate learning what to eat and the consequences of making the wrong choice by using the image of an imaginary glueman monster as the "gluten". This book truly paints the full picture of what gluten free kids deal with but all in a fun, easy to read very colorful read.
If you have a gluten free school age child I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this wonderful book. Check it out today on Amazon.