Dinogami is a fab new book from Parragon Books RRP £8.00 the kit includes an awesome book of ideas with 20 scaly papers and a ready-made dinosaur as an example.
The book starts with a Pteranadon, using one sheet of the pre-printed papers this is a great and easy starter model. The boy enjoyed making this model and there were two papers supplied so we were able to sit side by side and the boy copied my folds.
Here is another chance to win a copy of Dinogami from Parragon books in this rafflecopter giveaway.
Win Free Glasses for life!
A diplodocus because they are a bit dopey so I could just eat, sleep and poop!
Hi, http://over40andamumtoone.com sent me over to say hello!
A Stegosaurus. I think I'd quite like all those plates on my back!
I would be a Triceratops, just because I like them!
I would like to be a Stegosaurus – it's also fun to say!
a t rex because its my sons favourite!
T-Rex – would like to be taller.
A pterodactyl, as I'd like to fly. It is a quick way to travel, and whilst flying I would have a wonderful view of my surroundings.
T-Rex then I could do some stomping!
I would be a pterodactyl as I would love to be able to fly.
A pterodactyl so I could fly away from the scarier dinosaurs!
The T-rex I like to be in charge.
Well done on winning Dinogami, its our favourite Dinosaur folding book ever!!
Definitely a Tyrannosaurus Rex – they look super scary and ferocious!
T-Rex, what can I say I would like to be tall and fearsome for a change instead of a short scaredy cat!
T-Rex as I need to become more assertive and confident lol!
A T-Rex. I'd feel a lot safer! Funny – we are off dinosaur hunting this afternoon (at my 2 years olds requested). Apparently they might be in the trees at the park….
the T- Rex ! ferocious and unforgiving …… i need a little more strength !
I would be a T-Rex, the biggest and the best!
a T rex. Id want everyone to fear me!
A pterodactyl so I could fly over everything and take a good look around.
A T-Rex just like the wife on a bad day.


This week has gone with an absolute blur. We'll most of the summer has to be honest. I start school on Tuesday and I think my last week has had some of the best crack of the entire summer.
On Monday I went to town with my mate for a dander just to pass the time. It was pretty good catching up because I hadn't seen him in ages. We ended up getting a Micky Ds and going home early. Town is absolutely dead.
Tuesday I headed to another friend's house to stay over. It was great, staying up, watching scary movies, and eating a ton of ice cream. That's what I love about summer not having to worry about tomorrow because it's another free day. That's why I stayed over on Wednesday as we'll haha.
To top it off on Friday we went to see a movie in the cinema, great, movie and great company, possibly the highlight of the week. Usually the last thing I'd want to do is go back to school, right? But really I'm too tired to keep this up.
Although I've had loads of fun this week I'm doing my best to readjust to my routine before school starts, which is the hardest thing. My biggest worry is sleeping in and missing my bus. Hopefully, that won't happen… Again. In hindsight of the first time I leave time for error which means I will have a few extra minutes if I forget to do something etc.
If I'm honest I'm looking forward to going back to school. I love it, especially seeing my friends who I haven't seen that much over summer, along with my teachers. Once routine starts I.e. Getting up, getting the bus, going to school, coming home, homework etc. it's easier to organise things around my time.
To end this week I'm sitting writing this blog, listening to music, and eating a big bowel of ice cream. I'm ready for school and what it has to throw at me…this week.
I wasn't in until Tuesday and I waited at the bus stop as usual in the morning. My mates were too tired to function so I just put my earphones in and waited patiently on my bus. My uniform looked well on me and I was excited to see my friends. Wouldn't you be? When the bus turned around the corner my excitement turned to panic, there was 3 seats maximum left on the bus. With 9-10 people getting my bus I made sure I wouldn't miss out. Fortunately when I stepped on the bus my friends had saved me a seat. Thank goodness.
When I got to school I was ready to hug and laugh left right and centre. But nooooo they decided to herd the year 12s into assembly so the best I could get for now was a few awkward waves. Our assembly was plain boring but the rest of the day was great. Seeing everyone reminded me of why I love school.
Over the next few days nothing exciting happened nor anything boring. It simply just happened. I'm hoping I'll have a bit more to write about next week because I've scheduled a band practise and I'm selling a guitar to build one from scratch so stay tuned.
Monday morning. Went a bit like this: eyes open. Grunt. Get out of bed. Grunt. Look out window. Got blinded by sunlight. Of course at this point I hadn't realised it was 6 am and I didn't need to be up for another hour. I walked into the bathroom and hit the shower button then it hit me. Silence. Nobody was up… I looked in and my brother was still in bed. I then looked at his alarm clock 06:13.
On Monday throughout school I was tired. I was more or less eyes partly open mouth shut. My PE was the last 3 periods as well so it was too late to be woken up by it. Tuesday was a better day though, even though I had to go through the one subject I can't seem to enjoy or be good at; Science. I was more looking forward to after school, Band practise. I love it, one of the days where in can be as loud as I want with my guitar and nobody will be bothered. We practised a few green day songs and a Metallica one but we still need way more practise.
Wednesday and Thursday went with a breeze. Especially because I had the energy and sleep for it. Sleep is possibly the most important thing when you're going to school or so I believe. Although if there is one thing I can't stand during school is people zoning out when they're walking down the corridor and then they bump into something or someone and cause a scene.
Friday was an exciting day because I was going to M&Ds in Scotland on Saturday. Hence I had to use Friday for the "I can't wait for tomorrow" section of the week. On Saturday M&Ds was unreal apart from the 4am start and 1am finish. The rides and the craic were mighty. Although all the rides seemed super intense, I went on one which brought you really high in the air on the end of this arm and held you there for a few minutes then you went backwards and upside down and forwards repeat.
So now today I had band practise and had pizza for dinner. Even though I was insanely tired, band practise was pretty good. (Not to toot my own horn of anything haha). That's me for now.
So this week was good but I am shattered from revealing my embarrassing local celebrity status to the school to Acting Romeo and Juliet in front of my class outside. It's been crazy.
Monday. What a day. The hype about prefects being picked is high and mighty. Even when I walked to form class mummers were in the air. Everyone was holding their breath but I'm afraid they were disappointed. Myself on the other hand, I was greeted in assembly by the director if my web series : the gifted. She was there to present the trailer to everyone. I was happy until she pointed me out too everyone. It was embarrassing to say the least but I did get quite a few hellos from people who I didn't know in the halls.
My band practise on Tuesday was cancelled along with my guitar lesson on Wednesday and Thursday was just a walk in, be there, walk out kind of day. To be honest nothing compared to the weekend. Friday night was only the set up. Let's cut to the chase. My big brother was 18 on Friday and we planned to have a huge party at our house for him on Saturday. Only problem was my best friend was going camping for her 16th. Mental right? So I had to plan my time so that I could be in Lisburn, my brother's party then to my friend's house to camp.
So at 12:15 I headed to Lisburn on the train, went to the cinema and returned for 7pm to my own house. Have to say I would've stayed longer than 11 but I'd have to walk a fair bit if I didn't leave with my auntie. There was good craic at my house, I even played happy birthday on the guitar and few Johnny cash tunes for my brother. And then headed out the door. Guitar, sleeping bag, and hoodie in hand.
When I got to the tent it was pitch black so I decided to give everyone a scare. Funny enough they were in the house having more cake and I was standing out the back like an eejit. The night was great and the singalongs were unreal. Even just lying under the stars was an experience that I'll never forget. Definitely has to happen again.
So today I chilled out and I'm just waiting to go to bed.
This has been a crazy few days ending the week. Tomorrow I may find out if I'm prefect, Tuesday I'm at my own premiere, and who knows what else is to come?
First things first, I have to apologise for not posting last week but I went to bed early Sunday night due to sickness and had lots of controlled assessment and homework to do. It's been a hectic week. To be honest nothing really went on apart from a concert last Friday night.
This week though, was unbelievable! Let's start with Monday's issue (of course it had go be Monday) I had left my school shoes in my aunt's house on Friday as I got changed there and headed to the concert. So, I ended up wearing my vans sneakers with my uniform until she dropped them off. By the time she had left them to me and I quickly put them on in the car I was 10 minutes late for form and a few of my friends who knew made a few jokes but I had my school shoes so I was okay, also my teacher said it was okay because my friend signed me in and explained my situation. After 5 minutes of form the bell rang and we headed to assembly. And yes! They finally picked the prefects! Hallelujah! And unbelievably I got prefect. Pretty good right? So anyway the rest of the day we got stick from people all in good taste of course but it was nice to be able to say I got prefect. My mum was so pleased she bought me new shoes for skating.
Tuesday was in school was just same old same old, but the whole prefect thing was still in people's system. Tuesday night I worked on sub task 1 and 2 of my LLW. Wednesday brought an end to my LLW controlled assessment. If there is one thing I have to say about it, if you do have to do it, is that you get as much done as you possibly can. Because if you slack off you have so much catching up to do and it gets very difficult. Also the feeling of being able to print a 27 page document felt pretty good to be honest. The hard work and the effort pay off. Trust me I know. After school I went with my two friends for hot chocolate in a cafe uptown before my guitar lesson. When I got home it was revise revise revise because Thursday was gonna be a heavy day.
Thursday was heavy because I had to finish my business studies controlled assessment in class. In fairness I had it done in due time and had time to do my bibliography along with it so I was done early but it was stressful enough. My new shoes were waiting for me when I got home which was a bonus. Alongside that I had a ton of maths revision. I understand all this talk of revision and controlled assessment sounds scary but trust me, it's not all bad and this has just been a very busy week.
Friday was a "let me out of here" kindve day. Everything seemed to run on and on and on. I guess it was because I had made plans with friends to come to my house, eat Chinese, and watch movies. Yep sounds about right. Saturday was also a pretty big day; I had to go and find guitar strings because I had a gig and was down a string. It took me 4 hours to walk to and from the music shop because my brother had the car and he was at work and couldn't give me a lift. By the time I got back I needed another shower, to get dressed, eat, restring practise and panic in the space of an hour and a half. If I'm honest we absolutely murdered our first song (nerves related and too much distortion plus bad timing). Then we played knocking on heavens door and everyone was up on the dance floor. Redeemed was what came to mind. I had to work in the bar in the venue at the meantime and didn't get home to 3am, but I got paid again so it was worth it.
Today I got up surprisingly early and chilled out the whole day. I watched Stephen king movies and overate. Good day right? So that's pretty much it. I'll do my best to keep these on track from now on.
Okay, so Monday was uneventful. No morning drama, no complications just wake up, shower, dress and go get the bus. There was something though… Oh yeah… I managed crack my toe off the door making it swell up like a balloon. Great. Just great. Walking was a pain the whole day, and I couldn't do games. What a swell day. Get it? Swell? Sometimes I'm easily amused okay?
I'm trying to remember Wednesday but absolutely nothing comes to mind, I cannot remember anything, it's really weird. Thursday though I won't forget because I had 3 hours of maths 2 of which were during school. Because people are behind in maths we have to stay behind to catch up an hour every other Thursday. It's just awful. At least I got to go out to dinner with my family which was pretty fun.
Friday was short and most definitely sweet day. Got my test results back for science and I got a C, which is good for me to be honest, I got a free bit of potato bread at break and I got offered a slot for a gig on Saturday night (see next paragraph). After school I went and got guitar strings and just chilled out for the rest of the evening.
Saturday was excellent. Woke up and got ready to go to town with all my equipment for the gig. My brother dropped me off and a mate met me to help set up because my bassist was at work. I pushed the handle down on the door of the basement and it wouldn't budge. I knocked the house door and no answer. My Aunt had forgotten about me. Great, just great, I put my gear in the garage hoping it would be safe and went into town with my friends as practise wasn't going to be till 6 and the gig wasn't till 9. After town and practise we headed to the venue and blew the house down. It was the best I've ever played live (3rd time lucky eh?) we also got a great reaction from the crowd so it wasn't bad at all. When I got home I saw photos from the gig and I was red as a tomato. Doesn't matter, still killed it haha.
Today my brother brought me a fry in bed, I had band practise, youth club and now I'm going to bed with no hesitation. Till next time.
A week off? Yes please! This relaxing week has been great!
Monday instead of getting up earlier than humanly possible I got up at 10:30 went for a run, had a shower, had breakfast and did the extra work I had to do over half term break all by 1:30. I was talking to the band on facebook about how I was expecting a drum stool and my new fender telecaster guitar in the post when the door knocked I burst through the kitchen door and there was the big YODEL delivery van outside. After signing for the stuff I brought my parcels inside. When I unbowed my guitar I couldn't believe it. It was beautiful, Sunburst body with a white pickguard and a maple neck. I couldn't wait for band practise on Tuesday.
By the time I was ready to leave on Tuesday to go to band practise I had learnt 15 new songs on my guitar. 57 in total to be exact! A lot of the day was spent talking about what we were going to play, how we were going to play it and who was going to what. The outcome is that all positions I.e. Drums, bass, rhythm guitar and vocals, and lead guitar were filled and we were ready to go. Also they were all well impressed with my new guitar haha.
Wednesday I lazed about through the day simply because I had no work to do for school and everything seemed like a pointless endeavour. I had a guitar lesson at 5 so I had to wait for it and I had family coming from Essex at 6 so I had to wait for that too. The last part of the night was just me playing tony hawks on the Xbox with my little cousin so it wasn't all bad.
Thursday I was out of the house by 2 to go for lunch in town with my family. Afterwards I went and met my friends at the shopping centre for the fireworks later on that night which I'll be honest weren't great but I got new clothes so I was happy. On Friday night I went to my friend's house where a bunch of us watched a bunch of awful horror films, ate junk food and slept in the living room. It was good fun because I got to see a lot of friends I wouldn't normally see from other schools.
On Saturday I had lunch with my family and had work at 8. It was an incredibly slow night at work so I had to go home early but I still got full pay and a McDonald's. Today I had another band practise and I'm watching movies on Netflix. I'm looking forward to school on Tuesday and seeing my friends.
Monday I was off and did the homework I was given over half term other than that I lazed about. On Tuesday when we went in there was two things I kept hearing. Grumbling about being back and "we had homework? You're kidding". It annoys me that people do that. We are obviously given homework over breaks but we have lots of opportunities to do it. Its 5th year, GCSE EXAMINATION YEAR!!!! It's the year we need to focus and get our heads screwed on. After school I had an interview with my form teacher and mum about my grades and behaviour. All was well and I got 1's (excellent) for behaviour and attitude.
Wednesday was an extremely slow day. I must have been slowing the clock down with my mind when I looked at it haha. A lot of the lessons were reviewing what we've done over the past few weeks and how were moving on and such. I'm not going to lie, science has me worried. I'm struggling with it, well, chemistry anyway. If I can't grasp it after this week I'm going to have to get help from the teacher. Never feel discouraged to ask a teacher if you don't know something because the longer it's left the worse it gets.
Thursday was the quickest day (apart from the double period of maths *grunt*) and Friday was remembrance assembly. I think I was zoned on Thursday and Friday, which isn't like me at all, because I was invited along with my band to play in the oh yeah music centre in Belfast. I was excited for it but it was weird. I would be standing where I had just seen a band perform not a month ago.
Saturday I headed to Belfast and we played. It wasn't a massive crowd but it was an unbelievable experience. It was actually my first ever acoustic gig. The band before us even came and told us they thought we were great. We walked about Belfast afterwards and went to see the giants play in the odyssey on Saturday night which was a good way to finish off the day as they won 7-3.
Thursday I find to be a rougher day lesson wise. There is a double period of maths and business studies. I do like those subjects but double periods can be strenuous and concentration can deteriorate. I always find drinking water makes me more alert when my focus begins to lack. Although a lot of it is down to getting enough sleep.
Friday was a quick day, which is weird when you're excited. I was heading off to an ADYC weekend and I couldn't have been more excited! I got home, packed my bag and waited ever so patiently. When the time came to go I got even more excited. Mum brought me to the bus and I was on my way. A few friends from school and some from youth clubs were there so I was glad I knew people. When we got to the place we were staying we dropped our bags in our allocated rooms and went for a beach walk followed by supper. Me and a few other people actually stated up talking til 3am. And me and my pal Sam got up at 7 to use the hot water before everyone else.
Saturday was the early start of 7 as I said, and it was an action packed day. Breakfast, trip to town, zip lining, rock climbing, and leap of faith. It was mighty craic. When we got back we had fibber and I couldn't believe it when it was only 6pm. After dinner I got my guitar out and everybody had a sing song with me. That lasted nearly 2 whole hours! I love to see music bringing people together. Soon after 8:30 we had to start a campfire and we toasted marshmallows followed by a game of man hunt. As the night drew in we all got tired out and went to bed pretty early like 1;45 was the last time check and I was in bed at that point.
Tuesday is not my day. Not at all. Maths and science are right after each other and it's too much to cope with. I think a lot of not liking a class is to do with how much you understand it. I get maths but it bores me to tears and science I can't understand to save my life. I have to consult my teacher this week about getting help. If you're struggling you should do the same. As I've said before the longer you wait the worse it gets. I actually enjoy English, history and technology. So Tuesday is sortie my day haha. Plus there's band practise and pizza after school. Unfortunately our PA bust so we had to arrange to get a new one and we got no recording or anything done.
On Wednesday I continued controlled assessment in technology, had a free study period in ICT, and made chips in core science (so much for struggling). On Thursday I basically carried myself through school. Not a good sign. I had a very rough night's sleep and wasn't very well but I did my best to get through school because as much as it sounds nerdy and boring being in school is so important, I haven't missed a day this year and don't plan to unless absolutely necessary. I may not feel the best but is that going to stop me from getting my GCSEs? No. I don't think so.
On Friday it was prize day so there was nothing to behold in school apart from me sitting at the back of the hall with the rest of the prefects watching people getting prizes. Saturday I went to the cinema with my friend whom I hadn't seen in quite a while and we had food and caught up, then I went home and continued watching movies.
Today I had a very long band practise but the new PA system was here so all was good and then my aunt treated me and my band mates to a takeaway which wasn't half bad and we just enjoyed ourselves. It was probably the best band practise to date. Now I'm going to finish my homework and go to bed.
Sorry I have 3 controlled assessments this week and I'm not very well so skipping this week.
Wednesday was the worst! I was so sick I couldn't even contemplate going to school. That's my first day missed this year. Thursday was again back to the English controlled assessment. I'm glad to see the back of it after the work I put in prior to the exam. On Thursday night I had work but it was actually quite a chill night, and I got a fair wee bit of money.
Hallelujah! Exceptional closure day! I was free to do whatever I want! Including being dragged to shop with my family. Yay… Then another night of work with not so great pay. Continuing onto Saturday I lay in my bed and watched movies so I didn't have to face being sick and mobile. I did however get my band mates round and we had pizza that night and practised a little before the gig on Sunday. On Sunday we practised from 2-4 and headed to the venue we started at 5:30 and played a fair wee show and we were actually asked to come back after Christmas. Honestly I'm proud of myself and the guys because that was our first full gig and we brought the house down.
Woke up on Monday with a blocked nose that was just unbearable. I could've corked my nose and been able to breath better. I couldn't even face the thought of sitting in assembly never mind actually placing myself on the cold floor of the hall. Fortunately it was cancelled! That was really the upside to Monday I did start to feel better throughout the day but it repeats it's self the next day.
Tuesday was controlled assessment..again…history is one of my favourite subjects but taking notes for an hour of prep is a little too much for me, prep is vitally important if you're allowed it and you should take advantage of it. I filled a page with all the information I needed next, it was the plan! But that wasn't til Friday. After school I met with the band and had coffee to talk about plans for how were going to get our next gig, a few suggestions were good but later on in the evening I was asked to represent my youth club (band included) in some festival in the town hall. Of course I jumped at it and I can't wait for next week.
Wednesday was an easy day if I remember so; a lot of teachers were doing reports so we just got on with whatever. Thursday was tests left right and centre. Maths, and science. My not so great subjects. On Friday I was surprised though. I got a B in science and maths! Hard work does pay off I guess haha. Then I planned my essay for history during controlled assessment and it was the weekend!
So I'm back go school. It's been a long week and at points there seemed to be no end in sight. As you know I struggled through it and came out on the other side! I've been exhausted though so I had to chill out on the weekend.
On Monday we all gathered in assembly and seen everyone who we hadn't seen since before Christmas. It's all smiles until the novelty wears off. Throughout the day we got information on the controlled assessment like every other day… It was generally all the same story all week. Also we had cross country which was absolutely dreadful. Hinting that I hate PE like I do in most other blogs.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were all the same, come in, sit down, listen, move to next class, repeat. Although I took time to take notes during the listening. It's an important factor of keeping up with or ahead of work. Take notes as much as you can because they benefit you in the long run. I also had to stay behind for extra maths on Thursday which wasn't awful.
Friday was such a great day. Everything went really quickly. Before I could even realise it was lunch, then home time. Two of my new guitar effects pedals came as well so I had something to mess with on Saturday. On Saturday I lazed about and recovered from my long week at school and then had a movie night at my house with a few friends.
Finally on Sunday I went to sort sound out for band practise as we've been offered a gig in the local city marketplace. I made the sound as loud and as clean as I possibly could. It took ages but I'm pretty sure we're sorted. I'm sorry this one has been short but it hasn't been an exciting week. Til' next time….
Well. That was an uninteresting week. It began with a great episode if target setting! YAY! (Sarcasm in case you didn't know) target setting is one of the worst things we have to do. It's just awkward. Though I did reach one of my targets I still find it useless. I also miss out on two periods of solid learning so thanks SELB. Thanks a bunch.
Wednesday was a pretty chilled day. Usually because it's all double periods and teachers are pretty easy going because there's more time but that way I feel I learn more. I think if you relax, listen, and do your best you'll always do well. At least I do. Thursday was the same because again it's mostly doubles.
On Friday I was invited to go to the cinema and for food. I did manage to complete the first part of my controlled assessment to a high standard. And I'm glad that I did it well. If you crack in exam and don't do as well as you hoped your controlled assessment can make or break your grade.
On Saturday I headed to Belfast for my mates birthday. The whole squad got the train down and walked about Belfast for a bit then headed to the cinema. It was a really good day and my friend enjoyed his birthday.
Basically after this week I used Sunday to chill out and do nothing. I just sat around, overate and watched movies. Too many movies this weekend haha. Honestly feel like nothing is happening anymore around school.
I am exhausted. Please send help. I've had so much work this week. I feel like I've had the life drained out of me. There have been good points though so I'm excited as well.
Monday I can say was fairly easy, it is always calm and mellow even though I usually have a panic in the morning. I had a lot of maths homework though because I've a mock next week. Mocks are really important because they provide a predicted grade. If you're sick or unable to attend an exam then that is your next resort. Treat it like the real thing!
Tuesday was hectic because I had more history controlled assessment work to do and my head was completely fried. Even going to youth club felt like a chore and I love it. On Wednesday I actually got a break at the end of the day, we were doing swabbing to test for bacteria and it was actually kindve fun.
Thursday I had a lot of maths. I'm talking a double period and an extra hour after school. I really struggle sometimes with maths but with it all crammed in a day it just won't go in.
On Friday after school I possibly got two of the best offers I could get. The first was a representative from Newry telling me that there was a battle of the bands in two weeks and the winner gets to play in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin! The second was a slot in a small music festival in Armagh the week after. I can't believe the luck.
On Saturday I got together with my drummer and we wrote some stuff and on Sunday we all gathered and practised our set list for Armagh and agreed on the songs for the battle. It's unreal how far we have come and there's still more to come.
Monday was a normal Monday, very boring, and over very quick, although I forgot my kit for games which was a bummer. I had to sit around for three periods which was awful. There's being bored and then there's counting the cracks in the floorboards.
Tuesday was very much the same. Come to think of it I never got to see my bacteria in science which is disappointing now that I think about it. We have been growing bacteria in a science and as strange as it may sound I am incredibly excited to see how it turns out. Okay?
On Wednesday we had our mock exam which *brushes shoulders* I got a B in. I pushed myself and achieved my result and it was totally worthwhile.
Returning to the nothing to report, I was off on Thursday due to being snowed in and I had a banging headache (probably from all my overthinking in maths) and Friday again, I was off. I did go to my mate's house on Friday night and watched movies and ate pizza which was pretty fun so I can't complain.
Saturday was quite a lazy day. Prone to the fact I had no plans and nothing to do. I literally spent my day planning for band practise and what I was gonna have for dinner. I know, I'm good at doing nothing. I even spent 5 hours writing songs which actually got me nowhere because my iPad ran out of battery before I could save them. Cheers apple!!
Sunday was the day we united as a band and aced our songs for the battle of the bands. We're playing 'Otherside' and a song I wrote called 'Origins'. I can't wait. Next week is busier, I promise!
What. A. Week. I'm actually surprised I survived it. I'm sorry but school was the second thing on my mind. I've been so stressed about the battle of the bands and organising getting us there, getting our friends there, and getting the equipment there. But you know what? It was all worth it.
On Monday I had my normal day at school. Although it did start with my English teacher being extremely stressed. We're doing our controlled assessment this Tuesday and Wednesday so we've to be extremely prepped for it and if I'm honest I think I can get my A if I do this well. English is my strong suit and I believe that I should do my best, focus and play by my strengths, then everything else I can work with.
Tuesday again was our double period of English. Then organisation mode set in for Friday I had to get numbers, money, ideas, ask favours, ugh it was awful.
Wednesday and Thursday was an absolute blur. My head was so fried getting ready for this gig that I forgot to remember what I had done. I just remembered a guitar lesson and an Ulster project meeting. I'm surprised I remember that much. And yes I do still go to guitar lessons because you can always improve yourself no matter how good you get.
Friday. Friday. FRIDAAAAY!!! It was unbelievable! From getting on the train to getting the taxi home. We went to the station and hopped on the train. My hands had been shaking from when I bought my ticket. We got off in Newry and got the bus to town. I met my ever so great equipment manager, my mum, who brought us the kit as we packed it the night before. We carried our kit up the stairs, into the venue, and mum left. We sound checked and then the arguing began. "I can't do this" "I did this so you should do that" "I'm leaving the band!" Yep it went that far all because we were stressed we didn't speak a word until the stage manager came in and said "kit.stage.now!" This was the moment! Everything we've worked for. We played Othersided and everyone loved it. Then we played our original and they went absolutely mad! They moshed, jumped, pitted, everything they could do to show they loved it. It was the most amazing experience and I'll never ever forget it. After we played we realised that this is what we want to do while we still can and were gonna go as far as we can until exams and other commitments take over for a while then we're gonna dive back into it.
Over the weekend I just chilled out and watched TV. For now I'm just going to chill out play guitar, and wahey we're playing Armagh next week….bye.
So half term came to an end on Wednesday. I can't really say I did a lot because 3 days off is no time. I did go out with friends on Monday and stuff but nothing really spectacular. Unfortunately this blog is shorter as I'm starting slap bang in the middle of the week but it has my best efforts.
Wednesday was the dreaded return. Fortunately I had a reasonably quick day off school. It started with a class test in technology which was pretty easy and we didn't have to work for the rest of the double period which was a pretty sweet way to return to school. The rest of the day was also fairly short because I had double IT and finished my CA before we left.
Thursday was the day of reckoning. Business studies was really mundane and usually it's great and it's disappointing because it's one of my favourite classes. Then double maths! I was definitely ready for that so I wasn't!! Then the rest of the day was one big long yawn.
Friday! Couldn't have been happier. Getting back into routine was killing me. I know, three days off and suddenly I'm out of sync. It's not as easy as you think. I did have a fairly easy going day. I like English and LLW which is great because I have a double of both and we were in the ICT room for history so the day moved steadily.
Saturday I didn't do a lot. I went to town, seen a few mates, went to the cinema with them and came home.
Sunday was… Let's say eventful. The band have paid to get a new drumkit so all 4 of us decided we'd completely gut the basement and get it ready for the new kit. It came to 4pm and the singer hadn't shown up, nor had he told us he wasn't coming. It really annoyed me and the others. We got on with it and the basement looks unreal now and the kit gets here tomorrow so I'm looking forward to next week.
I'm sorry this blog will be very short. I've been studying like mad all week for an English mock I have on Wednesday. I'm going to a concert on Tuesday night so I have to be ready. It really has been ram stam all week long and it's not letting up whatsoever. Hopefully I'll be able to get a really good full blog next week with lots of details about what's going on.
So this week has been slightly more eventful in school and outside of it.
Monday was the beginning of the events, I'm skipping the school end because there is barely enough information to write, the band finally got the new drumkit! It's beautiful! A galaxy blue marble finished premier with sabian cymbals and a tama snare. Of course that means nothing to some people but to us it's the world.
Wednesday all I got were mock dates left right and centre. I can actually understand why bug, I feel they're a tad late. Either way I'm going to work as hard as I can because mocks give you room for improvement whereas the real thing you only get one chance.
Friday I got more results. If I achieve the controlled assessment mark my teacher thinks I'll get I could be looking at an A* in LLW. That wasn't the best thing either. We were offered a supporting slot for a band in Newry next Saturday night! We were so happy to be offered the opportunity.
I'm really sorry I haven't sent blogs but I've had so much work to do lately. I think I'm going to have to take a break !!!!


text:
Volta Insider | Episode 15: Artist/psychotherapist Andrew Purchin at the RNC & DNC
A web of intriguing interviews on the ever-changing realms of art, innovation, and politics.
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Episode 15: Artist/psychotherapist Andrew Purchin at the RNC & DNC
in Artists, News, Politics
When I landed in Cleveland to be an intern for Bloomberg Politics at the Republican National Convention, I had 14 pages left of Game Change. I didn't know what to expect, had never been to a convention before, and while the collective media conjecture of a "total sh*tshow," however amusing, it was not helpful.
That prediction proved accurate for the first 48 hours, then escalated in the final two days, even before Ted Cruz took the stage Wednesday night. It was mid-afternoon when a crowd assembled around the entrance of the Quicken Loans Arena right outside Bloomberg headquarters. I abandoned my laptop and armed myself with a camera, running outside to see what all the commotion was about. At first it was just media, aiming their massive black cameras over each other's heads and inching closer and closer to the assembling protestors.
Then groups of police, on horses, bikes and on foot, yelling for the press to move back and some sort of liquid was sprayed, forcing those in front of me and behind me to press backwards without dropping their equipment. I ducked out of the way after the man in front of me stepped on my foot. The crowd had grown at this point, but maintained a humble volume. There was no roaring chant, no clear message. I looked around, wondering what the point of this "demonstration" was. I stood on my toes, trying to read the signs placed in front of the entrance.
They read:
"REVOLUTION – NOTHING LESS."
"AMERICA WAS NEVER GREAT."
It was supposed to be a flag burning. But where was the smoke? Behind me a train of police swept by, escorting three men with three tiered signs. Sporting phrases like "The Pope is the Antichrist!" On their tail was a much shorter man holding up a piece of canvas that had "End the War on Drugs" sprayed in red and black ink.
I stepped back to the sidewalk to try to get a clear shot of what was going on. The masses were evenly matched with police, who maintained all the composure of a statue. Patient but firm, the police sought order in squads of 4 and 6. A loud crack tore a hole in the murmurs and whistles as one of the three-tiered signs snapped and fell two feet from where I stood.
"Go home you Nazi scum! Go home you Nazi scum!" They cried.
At this point, I was just confused. The flag burners were communist and the evangelicals, however dramatic, were far from anti-Semitic nationalists. I learned later that the lady who had attempted to burn the flag had accidentally set herself on fire.
But, on the same street I found a man whose only goal was to bring peace through art therapy to the people in Cleveland (and later at the Democratic National Convention). Andrew Purchin is his name. Some of you may remember the 1,000 artists gathering at the 2008 Inauguration.
He is an artist and therapist and has created The Curious End to the War Against Ourselves to give people an artistic outlet for their anger and frustration. He said he didn't expect to change minds but he wanted to help change people's hearts as we head back to work and school. I think he has a unique and timely message. I hope you agree and will listen and watch this episode of Volta Insider.
Subscribe to the Volta Insider podcast on AudioBoom or iTunes.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Lesalon Kasaine
Performing artiste Sharvin (provided)
Peter Njoroge Kagwe, who goes by the stage name Sharvin, is a music artiste. He recently dropped a new music video on Youtube, Baki na Mimi (Stay With Me), and he runs a youth organization called Focused Youth Movement. The mandate of his organization is to empower the youth and help restore those who lost themselves in drug abuse.
A businessman in his mid-twenties, he readily offers an affable smile that quickly makes you realize he is a kind and sociable young man. His dreadlocks have however made some people judge him wrongly at first impression, and when he started his music career journey, the same dreadlocks tore him apart from his relationship with his parents.
Sharvin narrated his story to me, of how passion for music broke his ties with his family, sent him to the streets, to remand prison at Industrial Area, and then back on track as a gospel musician and mentor to many youths in Kenya.
The year is 2012. Peter Njoroge is a student at St. Stephen's Secondary School in Narok, a town he was born and brought up in. Peter is passionate about dancehall music, and to pass time, he writes down the lyrics of dancehall songs and sings along with their original artistes (on radio). Redsan, mostly. He adores Redsan. If he ever becomes a musician himself, he wants to be just like Redsan.
He is popular in school as an entertainer who during break time, sings Redsan songs and buoys the moods of other students in this mixed secondary school. The school is a mixed day and boarding institution. Peter and most of his friends are day scholars.
He is just a young kid with fire for music burning in his heart. But unbeknown to him, there is a ticking clock, drawing him nearer to disaster. His life is about to plunge into unthinkable darkness. Tick, Tock.
While in form four, one of his friends records a song at a local music studio. It goes without saying, that as a "musician", Peter hangs out with others like him. It's that thing that they say about birds of the same feathers.
"Hey, I have recorded my own song. Unlike you who can only sing along to Redsan lyrics, I'm better than you" the friend boasts.
"That sounds like a challenge to me. And you know, I'm never one to back out of a challenge."
With that, Peter writes his own lyrics, guided by dancehall music instrumentals he downloads on the internet. He diligently practices, sings it to some of his schoolgoing friends, and the flow blows them all away.
"You're the GOAT!" They tell him.
Armed with this uplifting validation, Peter walks into a small recording studio in Narok town and from his savings, pays one thousand two hundred shillings to record an audio song. The producer wants to support him.
Soon, he has a new track out, his own, and he's never been more proud of himself. A club banger titled, "Party Time".
"Goodness, I really can do this!" He shrieks, punches the air. Elated. Dreamy. Visionary. A music career is what he wants to pursue as soon as he completes high school. Kenya and the world, are you even ready for his talent and prowess at verse-spitting?
Tick, Tock.
Peter has sat for his KCSE examinations and is now at home, with all the time to write more music. The results won't be out for months. His song, Party Time, gets him a few gigs in local clubs and bars and events where he is invited to perform. Most of these are at night. Now, that rubs his parents the wrong way.
Strike one.
Peter has clearly proven that he can act the part, by rapping alongside Redsan lyrics. But can he look the part? Oh yes, he can! He starts rolling his hair into small locks.
Strike two.
His parents are mad at him, they have a tiff with him every now and then, but nothing really serious. Yet.
The adolescent in him tells him to go all the way, look like an artiste. He gets a couple of piercings.
Strike three.
At this stage, their home has turned into a fighting ground. Peter's little sister, about three years old at the time, witnesses as her brother is berated and punished on a daily, for his waywardness. The parents can't let him spoil under their watch, not after all the effort they put to raise him up in a Christian setting.
Narok revellers are elated, because Grand Pa records are coming to town, and music like never before will go down at a local club. Among the upcoming local artistes called to curtain raise, is Peter. By now, he has already picked his stage name; Sharvin.
The wheels to his devastating cut-of-ties with his family keep rolling.
Event organizers print posters and stick them on electricity posts and walls all over Narok town. On the posters, although a tiny picture, is that of Sharvin. The baby locks and bad-ass artiste style are visible in this picture that sells him as one of the curtain raisers for the event. Which will be at night. In a club. His dad comes across one of these posters, and that's his anger's tipping point.
"I've seen your face all over the town, on posters. I tell you, you will not perform at that club. Not under my watch. You go ahead and perform, and I will disown you. You pack your bags and leave my house."
Sharvin promises his dad that he won't perform at the club. On the night of the event, however, he sneaks out of his home and goes to the event his dad warned him against.
The show is great. Sharvin is a Beast, he entertains masses at the club. They take note of his name, saying, "That young man will be a great musician, someday. Remember his name."
A teenage Sharvin is paid five thousand Kenyan Shillings. In the mind of a high school leaver, this is a lot of money. Whoa! Dreams really do come true.
Early in the morning hours, precisely 4 a.m., the following day, Sharvin sneaks back home. But something is seriously wrong. He angered his dad, a man who is not to be crossed. Retaliation is a must. Sharvin's small house which is separate from his parent's main house stands in the same compound. It has a cemented floor, iron-sheet walls, and a wooden door. This dawn, the door is missing. The dad ripped it off its hinges, and also brought down an entire wall. It's no longer what was once Sharvin's house but an open space with three walls. And memories of what used to be a house.
At the first hint of sunrays, Sharvin and his dad are at it again. The fighting. This time, the dad wants his son gone. Sharvin's mother has been indirectly supportive all along, but now that the dad is raging and dead serious, she can't dare take her son's side.
"Okay, I'll go! I'll be fine by myself. Music is what I choose!"
Sharvin, angry and adolescent, packs a bag and leaves. He crashes at a friend's place. In his teenage mind, he knows, no, he is sure, that his parents will come looking for him, soon. Weeks pass by, and then months. Nothing. The threat was real, and his dad is making good on it. The little money Sharvin had soon runs out. He can't keep burdening his friend. He resorts to taking walks near his home, hoping that his parents will see him and call him to patch things up.
A mother's love is always strong, and true to this battered yet profound saying, Sharvin's mum lets her son in whenever she sees him. On only one condition, that her husband has to be away. She quickly feeds him and gives him some money. Their little secret, however, crumbles like a rock made of loose particles, when, Sharvin's innocent three-year-old sister tattles on her mum and brother to daddy.
"Ata Peter hukuja hapa ukiwa umeenda." (My brother comes here when you are away.)
Sharvin's mum gets in trouble, and it soon escalates from angry questions to beatings, because, upon investigations, the dad figures out that his wife has been sending some money to their "notorious" son via M-Pesa. A son he cut off.
When word of his mother's suffering reaches Sharvin, it breaks his heart. He tries to reach out to his dad and make amends, but his efforts are unwelcome. His dad wants him gone. Amidst so much pain and faced with nothing but hopelessness, he vows to leave Narok for Nairobi, hustle hard, make it big in the music industry, and prove his dad wrong.
A courageous Sharvin goes home one last time to face his dad.
"I want my national identity card. I'm leaving for Nairobi."
"You will not have it!" his dad fires back. "I won't let you use the family name."
Clearly repulsed and disappointed by his son, Sharvin's dad adds comments that would live with Sharvin, forever.
"With those dreadlocks, they will shoot you dead in Nairobi. I wait for a day they will call me to come collect your body!"
When Sharvin gets to Nairobi in 2013, it's his first time setting foot in the city. He doesn't know anyone. It's just him, his dream, a backpack, and hope that a deal he is close to clinching will go his way. A record label in Nairobi has promised to sign him and give him accommodation.
The deal goes sideways.
This leaves Sharvin with no place to go, apart from the streets of Nairobi. He had sold his battered phone at a loss to get money for fare to Nairobi and has none on him to travel back.
The Modern Coast bus stage in Nairobi becomes his home. He walks the streets during the day, and then sleeps at the bus stage at night, in the company of night travellers waiting to catch an early morning bus. Soon, he changes his "home" and takes it to Nyama Kima stage.
Weeks pass by. He has to eat. He is tired of begging. Filthy and stinky, he needs a good bath. But more importantly, he needs food. Sharvin begins rummaging garbage cans for food. In Nairobi, the streets have rules. There are areas you can't go to sleep or look for food if you are not in the family of the street kids.
Performing artiste Sharvin
A stranger who must have been observing a frail and skinny and dirty Sharvin approaches. It's mid-2013. (Sharvin left home before his KCSE results came out. When they came out, he didn't even know what he scored. He learned about his grades three years later.)
The stranger proposes a deal. He wants to recruit Sharvin to help him make drop-offs to clients. Drugs. Some are hard drugs, and Sharvin is the best for the job because he is "tiny" and "no police will stop a kid like him."
It's seemingly the only option Sharvin has. To entice him, the stranger gives him money. Good money, enough for him to eat and clean up. He says yes to the deal.
Months later and Sharvin is making a decent income from the random drop-offs in Nairobi. Enough income that he has rented a small room in Rongai. He doesn't know the source of the drugs, but from the phone calls he overhears, though one-sided, he can tell that his employer is only a middle man. He doesn't care, though. There are clients. He doesn't need to know their details. His job is to collect the drugs and drop them off where he is told, and then get paid. He has a small room. And food. He will save up the money and do music, maybe even start a business.
All this time, he hasn't tried to reach out to his family. And neither have his parents reached out. Sharvin is bitter, and he has an ego. Definitely not a healthy one, but he has sworn to prove his dad wrong.
On a balmy Saturday afternoon, as he is walking towards Kirinyaga road for a drop-off, home-clothed police stop him.
"Kid, what do you have in that bag?"
Sharvin can't really tell how he is the specific one that they stop in a street bustling with activity. Did someone rat him out? Maybe.
On this day, he is carrying drugs. Although in very small amounts, but drugs all the same. Illegal drugs.
Sharvin spends the night at Kamukunji Police Station. When reality hits him hard like a slap on the face with a bucket of cold water, his mind calls back his father's last words to him,
Things happen so fast. The world beneath his feet is swirling. He cries. He is scared. They interrogate him, wanting him to give up the name of the guys who own the drugs. He doesn't know, as he has been picking the package from different people, introduced to him by the stranger he met. It's a chain, and he has no real name he can give up.
Sharvin ends up in remand prison, Industrial Area, for six months as he awaits a court hearing.
Six months later, after a court hearing, a single one, Sharvin is released. He is unable to clearly tell what and how it happened. A miracle, he calls it. He only recalls telling the judge that he was underage (he lied). The feeling was that someone forced a minor into this, and that person was the one the government was after. A minor had served time at remand prison for six months. Let him go. With a warning, and a lot of pep talk that he should go back home and make something out of his life.
Sharvin doesn't talk much about the things that happened in remand. Maybe he isn't ready, yet, but some details sneak out clothed in some of the lyrics of his gospel music, some recorded, some yet to be released publicly.
He thanks God after being released. He cries. He can't believe that he is alive and free. Sharvin can't go back to the streets, or to Rongai. There are rules and assumptions. Once you are caught and then freed, it's likely you have struck a deal with the police to be a rat. A disgusting sell-out.
Sharvin borrows some money and travels back to Narok, his home town.
He can't go back home. He is bitter that his people never looked for him. He misses his mother and baby sister. He hates his father.
Sharvin gets a job at a car wash. He cleans vehicles and earns enough to survive on. 2013 is coming to an end.
Narok is a small town. Word quickly reaches his family, that Sharvin has been spotted in town, washing cars. His father doesn't care. His mother does. She takes her younger daughter and goes out looking for her son.
On a random day at the car wash, from a distance, Sharvin sees his mother and baby sister, stranded, throwing eyes allover the place as if looking for someone. He is emotional and happy to see them. He drops his work gear and runs toward them. When his mother spots him, however, she lets fly a wail that quickly attracts attention.
It is then that Sharvin realizes he is dirty and thin, worn to a frazzle. He can't stand his mum's screams, as they hurt him. He notices how big his baby sister has grown, before turning and running away.
That scene at the car wash haunts him. He is hurt that he has hurt his dear mother. Sharvin vows to work so hard and make something out of his life, then go looking for his mother.
Do you believe in miracles? They do happen. Ask Sharvin, for he knows better.
With the little income he earns at the car wash, he buys a new phone and replaces his old sim card. Just then, a strange call from a guy who introduces himself as Alan comes through.
"Is this Peter Njoroge Kagwe?"
"Yes. And who is this?"
"Alan. I worked with Nairobi Aviation College some time back, during a talents show where you emerged position two…"
While in the streets of Nairobi, before getting arrested, Sharvin had bumped into a childhood friend from Narok. The friend schooled at Aviation College. During their fresher's night, he sneaked Sharvin into the school under the disguise of a fellow first year. Sharvin performed at a talent show and bagged first runners-up. He was awarded some cash money, and gifts. Then that was it.
And now, a year later, Alan, a man who runs some businesses in South Africa, is calling him. He had made a promise to sponsor top talents, and he is calling to keep it. He wants Sharvin to show up at his office in Nairobi. The promise is that as from second year, he will pay half of Sharvin's school fees (Alan believed Sharvin was a student at Aviation College)
It's a shaky opportunity for Sharvin because he is not a student at the college. He however sees it as a rare chance to go back to Nairobi and change his life. As Eminem asks in his music Lose Yourself, "will you capture it, or just let it slip…"
This time, however, Sharvin decides to involve someone. His dear mother.
Months into 2014, Sharvin is in school, Kenya Institute of Media and Technology, pursuing a diploma in Mass Communication. He says it's God.
After seeing his mother and explaining what was happening, they whipped up a plan. Behind his father's back. Sharvin's mum took her son to Nairobi to meet Alan, and the rest is history. There are good people out here, and Alan is one of them.
Sharvin feels eternally indebted to him.
Alan begins to pay half of the fee, and then Sharvin secretly works with his mum to raise the other half. He enrolls in Kenya Institute of Media and Technology, Aviation College's sister school.
Raising the fee is tough. His mum can't make huge payments without his dad taking notice. Sharvin has to get off-class jobs to help his mum out with the new burden.
And then his life changes, for good.
At his new school, he makes Christian friends. They are upcoming musicians. Gospel artistes. Walking with them inspires him to record a gospel song, Guide Me, although he isn't really saved but only does it for fun. Later, his new clique invites him to church where he meets their pastor and mentor. It only takes a few months and Sharvin gives his life to Christ. He begins to grow spiritually under the pastor.
His next music is gospel, this time from his heart. The title is, Unanipenda (You love me)
He records it and it becomes an instant hit, especially in Narok town after masses hear of their "boy" testifying on radio and TV interviews. His name and the story spread in Narok like a bushfire. Peter a.k.a. Sharvin is saved. He is doing gospel music. His new music is dope. He has a new father, a mentor who is a pastor.
Word reaches his dad, who discovers the secretive moves his wife made to support their son. This time, he isn't angry. He is emotional. He regrets some of his actions. He wants his son to come home so they can talk and patch things up, and he wants to organize a launch for his music, Unanipenda.
At first, Sharvin wants nothing to do with him, but after talks and guidance from his pastor, he agrees to talk with his father, and salvage what's left of their relationship.
Sharvin performing at the event of a politician in Kirinyaga
It's 2022. Sharvin cleared his diploma and graduated. He made amends with his family. He doesn't have a super close relationship with his father, but they are trying. Each day palms out a new opportunity to be closer. He loves both his parents.
Sharvin lives in Nairobi and works as an events planner. He also runs Focused Youth Movement, a group he uses to mentor youths. He still has his dreadlocks. He is passionate about Media. He has released other gospel hits, including Unikumbuke (Remember Me), Nisamehe (Forgive Me) featuring Simbo Owade, and a few weeks ago, Baki na Mimi (Stay With Me). The shoot of Unikumbuke has a scene (act) of Sharvin injecting drugs.
In 2019, Sharvin gave an interview to CS Online TV.
Watch his latest music:
Lesalon Kasaine colloquially known as L.K. is a Kenyan writer based in Nairobi.
One of Kenya's thriller writers, his latest book is a crime thriller anthology: 'Three Bolts From The Blue'. He has also authored 'Around The Campfire', a collection of flash fiction and poetry, and 'Through The Eyes Of A Pastor's Wife', profiling Dr. Mary Njambi Kambo.
LK currently serves as a content strategist at Qazini.
Latest posts by Lesalon Kasaine (see all)
Personality of the Week: Joan Mero on Her Love for Books, a Monthly Bookish Event, and an Annual Reading Challenge She Runs - January 17, 2022
Personality of the Week: Peter "Sharvin" Njoroge on His Music Career Marred With Family Fall-Outs, Hard Drugs, Prison, and Finally Sweet Redemption - January 10, 2022
Demystifying Hypnotherapy: Tazim Elkington Talks About Her Practice and Why It Is a Life-Changer - December 1, 2021
Gospel Music Life Lessons Music Music Industry True Stories
How to Finally Make This New Year "Your Year"
One response to "Personality of the Week: Peter "Sharvin" Njoroge on His Music Career Marred With Family Fall-Outs, Hard Drugs, Prison, and Finally Sweet Redemption"
Kath machatha says:
With God everything is possible..all the best and as you sign… you will go far…just trust and obey the heavenly daddy..all the best son


The company has around 230 people in NZ, and currently counts delivery of outcomes around big data, business intelligence and analytics as some of its primary focus areas.
"We have around 12 people in Australia. We will be hiring there to support growth. We operate our workforce as a virtual capability. People are quite mobile and quite a lot of the work we are doing in Australia is supported or the delivery is assisted by the NZ workforce. We think that is a really good model and we are also capable of operating in the other direction.
"We have people in Sydney and Canberra. We would look to hire in both cities. I would describe the growth as measured rather than looking to get scale in terms of number of people on the ground extremely rapidly. We would look to reach around 20 people in the next 12 months; that would be within the range of expectations," says Neil Butler, executive chairman at Optimation.
The company, which has gone from success to success in the last two decades, has around 230 people in NZ, and currently counts delivery of outcomes around big data, business intelligence and analytics as some of its primary focus areas.
"We have some very interesting work going on in the life insurance space. We are working with business partners called Intelligent Life based in Auckland. Together we have business in UK and Asia which is developing very nicely. All of them technology work is done here. We do that out of Auckland and that is the model we intend to continue. By working within market partners, we are reaching those other geographies," says Butler.
The company plans to target the US and Chinese markets with a similar format of on-the-ground-partners, and is targeting the end of the year to get operations going. The firm is also building its own IP in the life insurance space that, it believes, it will be able to leverage between different geographical markets.
"We could potentially use the IP across sectors as well. The life insurance sector on its own is a very large one. The nearest adjacent is health insurance and then there are certainly possibilities to extend that, but really we are focusing on the life insurance one, but pursuing a number of geographies. We also have a Chinese language platform about two thirds of the way through development at present," says Butler.
According to Butler, the company continues to grow, but it does need to question itself all the time to prevent the drift towards becoming less relevant.
Having the courage to challenge your established business with the new models is really a challenge. A lot of the opportunity lies in where there are substantially lower cost models for doing things and that means less of our cost as well as less of vendors product costs. We need to keep that orientation to the customer's goals and objectives so that we are taking ourselves into that space," says Butler.
"Skills is always an issue. If you speak to any of the organisations operating in the sector you would hear that. We all strive for that talent and it is not a deep talent base in NZ," he adds.
According to him, Optimation will possibly look to hire from overseas, and continue to work with current outsourced service providers as part of its business model and the advantages that it provides.


text:
Q: SET NOCOUNT ON and Cursors I have a stored proc that calls several store procs, each of which insert dummy data into a single table each. It works fine except that for each loop in the cursor a single row of results is dispayed - just showing ClubcardId = 2, ClubcardId = 3 etc.
I have used the SET NOCOUNT ON but this doesn't seem to help. I'm looking for this stored proc to create several million rows so, SQL printing the result for each row will be an issue.
Could anyone please advise how to prevent the output from being displayed. I have copied the parent stored proc below. I can be sure that the display is not coming from the child stored proc - lap_CreateClubcardTransaction.
If I change:
DECLARE Clubcard_Cursor CURSOR FAST_FORWARD FOR
SELECT ClubcardId FROM Clubcard

...to:
DECLARE Clubcard_Cursor CURSOR FAST_FORWARD FOR
SELECT ClubcardId as 'TEST' FROM Clubcard

...then the I get the value 'TEST' displayed for each row of the cursor.
Here's the parent stored proc:
ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[lap_CreateDummyData]
AS
SET NOCOUNT ON

DECLARE @NumberOfCustomers bigint
DECLARE @NumberOfTransactions bigint

SET @NumberOfCustomers = 50000
SET @NumberOfTransactions = 10

EXEC lap_CreateCustomer @NumberOfCustomers = @NumberOfCustomers;
EXEC lap_CreateCustomerPreference @NumberOfCustomers = @NumberOfCustomers;
EXEC lap_CreateClubCard @NumberOfCustomers = @NumberOfCustomers;
EXEC lap_CreateClubCardOffer @NumberOfCustomers = @NumberOfCustomers;

--get static data details to use when creating transaction records
DECLARE @TransactionType tinyint
DECLARE @TransactionReasonID tinyint
DECLARE @TescoStoreID int
DECLARE @PartnerID bigint
DECLARE @PartnerOutletID bigint
DECLARE @ClubcardID bigint

SET @TransactionType = (SELECT TOP 1 TransactionType FROM TransactionType)
SET @TransactionReasonID = (SELECT TOP 1 TransactionReasonID FROM TransactionReason)
SET @TescoStoreID = (SELECT TOP 1 TescoStoreId FROM TescoStore)
SET @PartnerID = (SELECT TOP 1 PartnerID FROM PartnerOutlet)
SET @PartnerOutletID = (SELECT TOP 1 PartnerOutletID FROM PartnerOutlet)

DECLARE Clubcard_Cursor CURSOR FAST_FORWARD FOR
  SELECT ClubcardId FROM Clubcard

OPEN Clubcard_Cursor
FETCH NEXT FROM Clubcard_Cursor
  INTO @ClubcardID SET NOCOUNT ON

  WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
  BEGIN
    EXEC lap_CreateClubcardTransaction @NumberOfTransactions = @NumberOfTransactions, @ClubcardID = @ClubcardID, @TransactionType = @TransactionType, @TransactionReasonID = @TransactionReasonID, @TescoStoreId = @TescoStoreID, @PartnerID = @PartnerID, @PartnerOutletID = @PartnerOutletID;
    FETCH NEXT FROM Clubcard_Cursor;
  END;

CLOSE Clubcard_Cursor;
DEALLOCATE Clubcard_Cursor;

A: You need to direct the FETCH into variable inside the loop as well:
WHILE ...
BEGIN
  ...
  FETCH NEXT FROM Clubcard_Cursor INTO @ClubcardID
END

A: Under no circumstances would I use a cursor to insert a million rows one row at a time. That will take hours. This is an example of a poor use of a cursor. Create a proc that will do a set-based operation.

A: SET NOCOUNT ON is useless inside the fetch, so remove it from there. It seems lap_CreateClubcardTransaction contains a SELECT statement inside its code. Can you check if this is true?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Ant build -- optionally override location of java executable I have several java projects on the same machine which really need to be built with different java compilers, one with java 1.6 and one with java 1.7. (No, it's not sufficient to build them with the higher version of java and specify source and target for the project that requires the lower version-- the differences between them produce test failures).
My colleagues do not have this problem -- they have only one project that requires 1.6. I would like to put in some configuration that enables me to override the java compiler without requiring them to add environment variables. I'm imagining something like this:
<javac executable='${java.executable.path}' srcdir='${src.dir}' destdir='${dest.dir.classes}' source='1.6' target='1.6' fork='true'  />

where ${java.executable.path} is defined earlier in the file as:
<condition property="java.executable.path" value="${env.PROJ_JAVA_HOME}" else="${DEFAULT_JAVAC}">
    <isset property="env.PROJ_JAVA_HOME" />
</condition>

except... there is no ${DEFAULT_JAVAC} that I can find. Is there a better way to do this that I'm missing? Or is ant just not built for things like this?

A: you could default to whatever javac is on the path.
its possible to set an ant property by executing a shell script, so you'll need to execute something like which javac


text:
Q: bash - obtener posición anterior de una busqueda hexadecimal Estoy intentando hacer una búsqueda en hexadecimal de un patron.
Tengo un fichero y busco un patrón sobre el archivo en bash con...
xxd -g 2 -c 32 -u archivo | grep "0045 5804 0001 0000"

Esto me devuelve las lineas que contienen ese patrón.
FFFF FFFF FFFF 4556 4E54 0000 0116 0100 08B9 0045 5804 0001 0000 2008 0000 0001

Pero lo que yo quiero es que me devuelva los 4 dígitos anteriores a ese patrón.
En este caso el 08B9
¿Como podría hacerlo?

A: Partiendo desde la linea y el patron:
linea="FFFF FFFF FFFF 4556 4E54 0000 0116 0100 08B9 0045 5804 0001 0000 2008 0000 0001"
patron="0045 5804 0001 0000"

Lo unico que debes hacer es entender estas 2 opciones que grep te brinda:
grep -o: Devuelve unicamente la coincidencia dentro de la linea.
echo $linea | grep -o "$patron"
$ 0045 5804 0001 0000

grep -b: Devuelve el numero de bytes de desplazamiento dependiendo de la linea que grep imprima y separa el numero de la linea con ":"
echo $linea | grep -b "$patron"
$ 0:FFFF FFFF FFFF 4556 4E54 0000 0116 0100 08B9 0045 5804 0001 0000 2008 0000 0001
echo $linea | grep -ob "$patron"
$ 45:0045 5804 0001 0000

Ahora solamente podemos usar cut o awk para capturar el numero de bytes el cual representa el numero de bytes de la linea en donde el patron empieza:
echo $linea | grep -ob "$patron" | cut -d ":" -f 1
$ 45
echo $linea | grep -ob "$patron" | awk -F ":" '{print $1}'
$ 45

Una vez tienes el numero de bytes de desplazamiento usas el mecanismo de parameter expansion para capturar 4 caracteres, partiendo desde ese numero - 5. -5 por que existen 5 caracteres(incluyendo el espacio) antes del patron y quieres empezar ahi.
numero_de_bytes=$(echo $linea | grep -ob "$patron" | awk -F ":" '{print $1}')
echo ${linea:numero_de_bytes - 5: 4}
                |                 |
                |                 |
                |                 |
       empiezo en (45 - 5) = 40   |
       osea en el caracter "0"    |
                                  |
                       Me extiendo 4 caracteres
                          hacia la derecha

Y el resultado es:
$ 08B9

Espero haberme hecho entender.


text:
NJ man who sped past police barricades toward Trump's plane sentenced to year in jail
A West Orange man who breached police barricades and sped toward Morristown Airport as President Donald Trump flew out on Air Force One last year was sentenced Thursday to a year in jail.
Christopher Morocho, 19, stuck his hand out his car window and waved to police as he drove around the barricades on Aug. 18, 2019, and then led officers on a chase through Hanover, Florham Park and Livingston. He was arrested after abandoning his car on the side of a highway in Harrison, according to court documents.
When questioned by the Secret Service and local police, Morocho said, "God made me do it." He declined to speak and offered no further explanation during his online sentencing in state Superior Court in Morris County on Thursday. Morocho's attorney and prosecutors said they struggled to understand Morocho's motive despite multiple conversations with him.
"God may give options to people, but he doesn't force you to drive a car around a barricade when a presidential plane is taking off at Morristown Airport," Judge Stephen Taylor said. "To me, that is just an excuse. It's a failure to accept personal responsibility for your actions."
The Secret Service found no connection between Morocho's actions and Trump, but the incident caused pandemonium that endangered police and the public, Taylor said.
Air Force One was traveling down the runway with Trump and first lady Melania Trump on board when Morocho ignored police orders to stop, court documents say. Trump frequently uses Morristown Airport when he visits his golf club in Bedminster.
Lawsuit:NJ GOP, business owners sue Murphy over stay-at-home order
Airports:This is what happens at NJ airports when Trump visits Bedminster
Crime:Crime in NJ is way down amid coronavirus outbreak, state police chief said
Morocho pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and will serve two years of probation in addition to jail time. He will also be required to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations. Police found 50 grams of marijuana, less than 5 grams of hashish and drug paraphernalia in Morocho's car, according to court documents. He later admitted to a history of substance abuse, including smoking marijuana daily since he was 16, Taylor said.
Morocho had racked up about 65 driving offenses by the time he was arrested, Taylor said. His license will be suspended for a year under the sentence. Morocho will begin his jail term once the Morris County Correctional Facility loosens its limitations on accepting new inmates due to the coronavirus pandemic.


JOE LEDLEY believes Celtic will know by the end of August whether or not next season is going to be one to remember.
He insists that reaching the last 16 of the Champions League kept everyone at Parkhead buzzing until February, while the domestic title race turned into a procession.
And he admits that the whole of 2013/14 rests on getting through two sets of qualifying rounds and a play-off just as the school holidays are ending.
"It's important for the club and the players," he said. "We want to compete against the best. That's our main aim for next season.
"We'll be in early for pre-season to be ready.
"Hopefully, the majority of the players will stay to help us get there.
"We're hungry players and the season wouldn't be the same without the Champions League.
"It's a fantastic journey to be part of. We'll only get three weeks off in the summer as a result and, for me, that's not long enough. But that's football - it takes over."
Ledley resisted offers from Stoke City and Roma to join Celtic in 2010 and insisdts he can realise his ambitions in Scotland.
"Glasgow is a great city and Celtic is a great club," he said. "I'm very happy here. I get on well with the coaching staff and the players.
"I've been here three years and I fell in love with the club as soon as I came up to take a look at it. I knew I'd be here for a long time.
"It's a massive club. That's why I signed a long deal.
"The Champions League is the best competition in the world to play in.
You don't really want to go to the Premiership to play for a team that's struggling week in, week out. There's no fun in that.
"Don't get me wrong - it's a fantastic league and, hopefully, one day I will play in it.
"But the Champions League is a much better place to be than fighting in the relegation zone."
However, Ledley argues that securing a second successive title has been the best achievement of the last 10 months.
"The day we clinched it against Inverness I thought we played some great football and winning the title was the highlight," he said.
"Both games against Barcelona were fantastic. Even though we lost over there, I thought we played well and defended brilliantly as a team.
"The Champions League run was fantastic for us. We really enjoyed it. Our home game against Barcelona had an incredible atmosphere.
"I don't think I'll play in anything like that again.
"Hopefully, we can back into the Champions League next season.
"It's a big ask and it will be difficult because there will be some very good teams in the qualifying rounds.
"We played some fantastic football in last year's qualifiers and adapted really well.
"The season before, when we were in the Europa League, really helped us out. It gave us the experience we needed."


text:
Electroplankton Nanocarp
indies zero
Our Review: Scroll Down
Electroplankton Nanocarp Review (DSiWare)
Version Reviewed: North American
review by Corbie Dillard Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:37:00 +0000
Back in 2006, a talented and eccentric media artist named Toshio Iwai developed a very unique title for Nintendo's DS system that allowed the user to interact with various forms of plankton on both a visual and musical level. In fact, it was this combination that gave the game its unique feel and ultimately produced one of the more original playing experiences available on the system. While it didn't fare very well as a commercial proposition, it has gone on to garner quite a cult following among DS owners, even costing more now than it did when it was first released. Obviously Nintendo felt the game deserved another chance and has released the first five Electroplankton games from the retail release as individual DSiWare releases.
Electroplankton Nanocarp takes a more eccentric approach to its gameplay formula than the other releases in the series. In this game you'll have a group of sixteen plankton that will move into various formations. You can cause them to move into these formations by making various noises into the DS microphone. Everything from claps to blowing and singing into the microphone all have varying effects on the plankton that are swimming around. As these plankton move around you can even use the D-Pad to create waves in four different directions that strum the plankton while they swim and produce a unique chorus of musical notes. You can even get creative and tap the touchscreen with your stylus to make smaller circular waves that also bring out various sound effects from the plankton. And if you feel like being a bit less involved or don't feel like making noises into the microphone, you can always just hit the SELECT button to move the plankton around into different formations. How much involvement you have is strictly up to you.
While the play control system in Nanocarp is similar in style to the other Electroplankton titles, it's also a much more relaxing atmosphere and is very easy to get caught up in the hypnotic movements and sound effects going on around you. But much like Hanenbow, it's also an experience that tends to grow stale more quickly than you'd like it to. If you're looking for a quick fix of some relaxing and simple gameplay, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more soothing experience than this one if you can overlook the slightly repetitive nature of the experience.
From a musical and visual standpoint you have to appreciate what the developers have accomplished with the Electroplankton releases. The individual graphical elements might be very basic and simple in design, but the way they move around and the way they interact with the stylus gives the game a very unique feeling of everything being alive onscreen. Even the bubbles that flow up through the water add yet another relaxing elements to the game's visual presentation. Couple all of this with the ability to manipulate the chorus of notes via waves and you have what is one of the more unique audio/visual experiences available for the system.
Electroplankton Nanocarp is certainly one of the more unique experiences of the series, and while it does offer a nice alternative to your normal gaming routines, it just feels a little empty when it's made available as a solo release. It's one thing to have all of these titles in a package deal, but even at 200 Nintendo Points, it just feels a little bare as a single release. If you've really enjoyed any of the other Electroplankton releases, this one is definitely one you might want to consider, but it's a lot like the other releases in the way that it will likely appeal more to some than it will to others.
Average 5/10
Egg_miester
nanocrap was a fun but confusing game it was hard for me to get half of the poses with clapping
warioswoods
Actually, I think this review is about right, and offers me no room for nitpicking.
Grumble
NanoCrap. LOL I give it 4/10
sonic_brawler95
It was confusing to be honest, but was still charming and fun!
Tap here to load 4 comments
9th Nov 2009 (USA), 200 points
22nd Jan 2010 (UK/EU), 200 points
8th Jul 2009 (JPN)
Electroplankton
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Meaning and definitions of incessant, translation in Haitian language for incessant with similar and opposite words. Also find spoken pronunciation of incessant in Haitian and in English language.
What incessant means in Haitian, incessant meaning in Haitian, incessant definition, examples and pronunciation of incessant in Haitian language.


..not surprisingly, Stockholm and in industrial cities, according to an investigation presented by Sveriges Radios Ekot. By looking at 100 zip codes where young people made most money, it was established that 83% of them were in Stockholm, 4% in Göteborg and the remaining 13% in, among other places, Gällivare, Oskarshamn, and Västerås. The trend is pretty clear – if you want to make money, it's the capital or industrial towns that count.
The average income for this age group was 10,800 SEK ($1,700) a month, and that hasn't changed much during the past decade. But those 30 years and older increased their income during the same time from 16,500 SEK ($2,600) to 23,000 SEK ($3,600) per month. Åse Löfström, National Economist at Umeå University is not surprised. She says the employment numbers were high during 2009, and that we are older now when we establish ourselves at the job market than we used to be.
"Twenty years ago that happened when we were 22, now we are 28," Löfström says. The place where young people make the least amount of money is Hammarkullen in Göteborg. The differences in salaries are also increasing geographically: Compared to ten years ago, there are today greater differences in average salaries between northern and southern Sweden. The average monthly salary in Norrland is 24,000 SEK ($3,800), whereas someone in southern Sweden makes 26,500 SEK ($4,200) monthly. 96 of the 100 wealthiest zip codes in Sweden can be found in Stockholm.
Money, money, money… Your salary depends greatly on where you live in Sweden. You'll make more in the south and in industrial cities, less in the north and the most in Stockholm.


Mark as a boys name was first used in 1880. It was most popular in the 1960s. It peaked in popularity in 1960 when 58735 baby boys called Mark were born. There have been 1345859 Mark's born since 1880 and we estimate 1208974 are still living.
Similar names to Mark: Marc, Marco, Marko, Merrick, Marek, Marque, Markee, Marck, Marico.
Mark is also a girls name.
Or check out: Alex, April, Arizona, Callie, Cristina, Derek, Jackson, Meredith, Miranda, Owen, Richard, Abby, Doris, Elizabeth, Haleh, Jerry, John, Kerry, Luka, Malik, Peter, Atia, Castor, Lucius, Marcus, Niobe, Octavia, Titus, Becky, Beverly, Dan, Darlene, David, Fred, Jackie, Leon, Roseanne.


The unemployment rate for the technology industry stood at 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2016, a slight decline from the fourth quarter of 2015, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In keeping with the trend of the past several quarters, the tech industry continues to perform better than the general economy, where the unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in the first quarter.
Not all segments within tech perform equally. For example, the unemployment rate for Web developers climbed from 4.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 to 6.6 percent in the first quarter of this year. But during the same period, computer systems analysts, support specialists, network and systems administrators, and programmers all saw their unemployment rate tick down.
The BLS data also suggests that the average rate of voluntary quits in January and February stood at 558,000 per month, a strong number and a notable increase from the fourth quarter of 2015. Many pundits and analysts believe that a higher rate of voluntary quits means that tech pros are confident enough in the health of the economy to search out new positions that offer better salaries and perks.
For more data—and an in-depth breakdown of how various tech segments performed, complete with nifty graphics—check out Dice's latest Tech Employment Snapshot.


Getting a first look at Karl Lagerfeld's ever more ornate sets for the Chanel shows that he holds at the vast Grand Palais has recently become one of the highlights of Paris.
What greeted guests, including Katy Perry, today was a futuristic crystal catwalk punctuated with clusters of huge shards exploding up from the floor. Was Karl in apocalyptic mood once more – he showed against the backdrop of bleak scorched earth this time last year?
This time round his space-age setting looked more like a landscape from Superman's home planet Krypton. And Super Karl was on sparkling form with a collection that packed in plenty of hits – inspired by the jewel colours of minerals.
Oversized coats came thick and fast – some with molding on the sleeves that picked up on the geometry of the crystals on the catwalk – others were lush with feather embroidered collars or speckled with chunky jewels. Coloured stones appeared everywhere from belts and cuffs to the slick of crystals that adorned the models' brows.
Lagerfeld gave a nod to many of the season's now established trends from layering – tunics or skirts were worn on top of skinny trousers or velvet leggings – to dense embellishment and eccentric combinations such as the light chiffon blouses that came layered over sequinned ballerina skirts and leggings.
There were colourful statement knits and the classic Chanel tweed suit came in jewel colours like amethyst and jade. It was a colourful and eclectic show and Lagerfeld even broke into colour himself, taking his bow in a very au courant purple frock coat.


text:
Hawaii (The Big island), Hawaii, U.S.A. • Floyd Manzano/Flickr
Home›Destinations›North America›USA›Hawaii›Hawaii (The Big Island)›Best Nightlife
Hawaii (The Big Island)
Best Nightlife in Hawaii (The Big Island)
With few exceptions, the Big Island tucks in early, all the better to rise at daybreak, when the weather is cool and the roads (and waves) are open. But live Hawaiian music is everywhere, and it's easy to catch free, engaging hula shows, too, at several open-air resort malls (see Shopping).
When the sun goes down, the scene heats up. Among the hot spots: Gertrude's Jazz Bar, 75-5699 Alii Dr., pairs tapas with live jazz, Hawaiian swing, Latin dance and more, 6 to 9pm Tuesday to Saturday and 4 to 7pm Sunday (https://gertrudesjazzbar.com; 808/327-5299). On the Rocks, next to Huggo's restaurant (p. ###) at 75-5824 Kahakai Rd. (www.huggosontherocks.com; 808/329-1493), has Hawaiian music and hula nightly, from 6 to 10pm (until 11pm Fri–Sat). Inside Huggo's, the stylish, oceanview hBar (www.huggos.com/hbar) offers the area's best artisanal cocktails; it's open till midnight Friday and Saturday, with live music 7:30 to 10:30pm.
Farther afield, Rays on the Bay, at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa, lures locals and visitors to Keauhou with fire pits, a great happy hour, nightly live music, and free parking. The motto of the lively, gay-friendly MyBar, 74-5606 Luhia St., a block makai of Hwy. 19 (www.mybarkona.com; 808/331-8789), is "We accept everyone as long as you want to have fun." It has darts, drag nights, and $6 cocktails.
Sharing Stories & Aloha Under the Stars
Twilight at Kalahuipuaa, a monthly Hawaiian-style celebration, takes place on the lawn in front of the oceanside Eva Parker Woods Cottage on the Mauna Lani Resort (www.maunalani.com/about/big-island-hawaii-events; 808/881-7911). On the Saturday closest to the full moon, revered entertainers and local elders gather to "talk story," play music, and dance hula. The 3-hour show starts at 5:30pm, but the audience starts arriving an hour earlier, with picnic fare and beach mats. Bring yours, and plan to share food as well as the fun. Parking is free, too.
The Kohala Coast
All the resorts have at least one lounge with nightly live music, usually Hawaiian, often with hula. Members of the renowned Lim Family perform at varying times and venues in the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, while award-winning singer Darlene Ahuna typically sings from 5 to 8pm Tuesday to Thursday at the Westin Hapuna Beach Hotel. Enjoy creative cocktails and choice small plates with nightly music and hula at the chic Copper Bar at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The lively Lava Lava Beach Club offers nightly music and hula on the sands of Waikoloa Beach Resort, where the three-screen Waikoloa Luxury Cinemas includes a restaurant, bar, and leather loveseats (http://hawaiicinemas.com).
For a uniquely Big Island alternative to a luau, try An Evening at Kahua Ranch (www.kahuaranch.com; 808/882-7954), a barbecue with beer and wine, line dancing, rope tricks, live country music, campfire sing-along, and stargazing. The 3-hour event costs $139 for adults and $70 for kids 6 to 12 (younger free) with shuttle to the ranch; drive yourself and it's $115 and $58, respectively. Festivities start at 6pm Wed in summer, 5:30pm in winter; call to check for additional evenings.
Hilo & the Hamakua Coast
Opened in 1925, the neoclassical Palace Theater, 38 Haili St., Hilo (www.hilopalace.com; 808/934-7010), screens first-run independent movies and hosts concerts, festivals, hula, and theater to pay for its ongoing restoration. Hilo Town Tavern, 168 Keawe St. (808/935-2171), is a Cajun restaurant and dive bar open until 2am daily, with a pool room and live music ranging from hip-hop to Hawaiian. The Grand Naniloa Hotel offers nightly live music 6 to 8pm in either its Hula Lounge lobby bar or poolside restaurant Hula Hulas. Quaint Honokaa boasts the island's largest theater, the restored 1930 People's Theatre, 45-3574 Mamane St., seating 525 for first-run movies, concerts, and other events. The town also holds a festival the first Friday of each month, with sidewalk vendors and live music from 5 until 9pm.
Puna District
Although the revered founder of Uncle Robert's Awa Club (808/443-6913) passed away in 2015, the bustling Wednesday-night marketplace (5–10pm) continues at Robert Keliihoomalu's Kalapana compound with live music from 6 to 9pm. Sample the mildly intoxicating 'awa (the Hawaiian word for kava) at the tiki bar, or come back Friday at 6pm for more live music. In Pahoa, Kaleo's Bar & Grill offers nightly live music, including jazz and slack key.
Luaus' new taste of Old Hawaii
You may never have a truly great meal at a luau, but on the Big Island you can have a very good one, with a highly enjoyable—and educational—show to boot. Buffets offer more intriguing, tasty items such as pohole ferns and Molokai sweet potatoes, while shows feature more local history, from the first voyagers to paniolo days, plus spectacular fire knife and Polynesian dance. Try one of these oceanfront affairs:
Haleo (www.haleoluau.com) at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa is simply the best in Kailua-Kona (Mon and Fri 4:30pm; $95 adults, $45 children 6–12).
Hawaii Loa (www.gatheringofthekings.com) at the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, has the best selection of island-style food, including the taro leaf stew that gave lū'au its name (Sat 5:30pm; $115 adults, $79 children 6–12).
Legends of Hawaii (www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com/resort-experiences) at Hilton Waikoloa Village is the most family-friendly, with pillow seating upfront for kids (Tues, Fri, and Sun 5:30pm; $128 adults, $70 children 5–12; free for children 4 and under). Add VIP options for $29 more per person.
Frommer's Hawaii 2020 Buy Now
Frommer's Shortcut Hawaii Big Island Buy Now
Frommer's Shortcut Kauai Buy Now


text:
IFP ExclusiveAsiaMediaSelectedTranslated by IFP
Afghan Journalists Slam BBC for Divisive News
The Afghanistan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) has harshly criticized BBC's reports on the country, saying that it will not allow the British Broadcasting Corporation to continue such divisive process.
Head of the AJSC, Najib Sharifi, who was speaking at a press conference called 'Violence against Afghan Journalists' in Kabul, said using a phrase like "Attack in the Shiite-populated area of Kabul" is an example of the discriminatory behaviour of the media.
According to a Farsi report by IRNA, he said there is no Shiite and Sunni-populated areas in Kabul, because they live in all parts of the city.
Afghanistan is not like Iraq and Syria where BBC could sow discord among Shiites and Sunnis, Sharifi noted, adding that Afghans will not allow such propaganda to continue.
He also referred to BBC's recent report on the son of the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, and described it as an effort to promote violence.
Sharifi asked BBC what the reliable source is for the news concerning a suicide attack carried out by Akhundzada's son.
"A media outlet should not believe in the propaganda of a particular group who are pursuing specific goals and their own political interests via publishing such reports," he noted.
Earlier, Mujib Khalvatgar, the head of NAI Supporting Open Media Institute in Afghanistan, had also criticized BBC News on the Al-Zahra Mosque suicide attack during the holy month of Ramadan in western Kabul.
"On that case, BBC reported a Shiite mosque in West Kabul came under suicide attack."
He also expressed concern over the rise of violence against Afghan journalists, saying that in the first six months of 2017, 73 cases of violence against journalists were recorded, which shows a 35-percent surge in comparison to the previous year.
He added that this includes 10 cases of killing, 12 injuries, 19 beatings, 18 mistreatments, 5 detentions, and 3 cases of threatened expulsion.
"Such terrorist groups as ISIS and the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the killing of journalists, but 34 percent of the mistreatment cases were carried out by the government officials."
Khalvatgar also said that MPs, governors, and members of provincial councils have mistreated or used violence against the journalists because of their revelations of illegal activities of these government-affiliated individuals and institutions.
AJSC Head finally expressed concern over the decline in the number female journalists in the country, saying that there are no female journalists in 10 provinces. He noted that insecurity, mistreatment and violence have caused women not to show interest in this job.
Afghanistan News
UNSC members call on Taliban to reverse restrictions on Afghan women
Iranian legal scholar threatens to take Fars News Agency to court
Blast outside Afghan foreign ministry in Kabul causes casualties
Afghan aid at risk due to Taliban restrictions on women: UN
Pentagon misled public on deadly drone raid in Kabul: Report
Taliban accuse British royal of committing "war crimes"
Pakistan says won't allow others to shelter militants amid tensions with Afghanistan
Casualties reported as blast rocks military airport in Kabul


22 New Home Wifi Plans – With NuBryte, it is easy to update your house's light switches to swiftly include house automation features to your life. If you are like many other individuals, you will likely acquire a house that differs from what you assumed you desired. If you're taking into consideration developing a residence, or other structure, you may wish to take a look at a slab basement to see whether it is appropriate for you. A bigger home can also raise your property taxes. If you intend to reside in your brand-new residence for a relatively large amount of time, you shouldn't base your new construction choices entirely on resale worth. As an example, no one will notify you how much you require to pay to develop a brand-new house. You make certain to obtain from a high-value home, which you're pleased with.
Be Broad-minded It's vital to be open-minded when appearing at houses. Not every house might stand until the very long trip of being shipped to a few other site! Developing a residence lets you personalize your brand-new house especially to your way of life. Every person can reveal you a house and also maybe good enough yet we wishes to use you a brand-new residence you will cherish for years to find. If you're prepared to get a residence, it does not make good sense to linger for spring to begin looking. Very comprehensive summary of all you will certainly require to build your modern-day residence.
With cautious evaluation, you will certainly discover what you desire about developing your residential property. To be reasonable, not everyone must have a residence. Or else you'll need to step down when you enter your house from the garage. A modular house is a factory-built residence that's delivered to its long-term location after it's constructed. Modular houses are made in pieces and get here in a number of floor plans and dimensions. If you watch for a less costly, less complex to create, as well as more sustainable residence, after that a prefab modular house could be simply what you've been imagining. Folks look for a number of residence plans as well as dream to have one-of-a-kind residence layouts that can leave a long-lasting impact upon others. Definitely, a residence program is very important in building a home. Multi-family Home strategies are made to have numerous systems and get here in various plan styles and dimensions.
Although there are numerous pre-drafted home strategies, none may concur with your demands flawlessly– modifications could be important to suit your desires. Search on the net or magazines and also you will certainly get a concept of the latest patterns in the styles of residences, interior decoration, heating, air-conditioning, fire places, etc. Furthermore, the strategies enjoy smaller sized teams making it easy for consumers to come across the kind of plan they require. After they are accepted, the process of construction will certainly start. A home intend on paper is just a plan for a dream. Always check before you acquire home plans on the web or from a magazine. Really, there are numerous strategies than the appearance and also layout of the house.


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Bumi Kawa is een bestuurslaag in het regentschap Ogan Komering Ulu van de provincie Zuid-Sumatra, Indonesië. Bumi Kawa telt 2237 inwoners (volkstelling 2010).

Plaats in Zuid-Sumatra

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