text:
Continental mapping of forest ecosystem functions reveals a high but unrealised potential for forest multifunctionality
(2018) Continental mapping of forest ecosystem functions reveals a high but unrealised potential for forest multifunctionality. . : -.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12868
Isotopic methods for non-destructive assessment of carbon dynamics in shrublands under long-term climate change manipulation
Andresen L.C., Domínguez M.T., Reinsch S., Smith A.R., Schmidt I.K., Ambus P., Beier C., Boeckx P., Bol R., de Dato G., Emmett B.A., Estiarte M., Garnett M.H., Kröel-Dulay G., Mason S.L., Nielsen C.S., Peñuelas J., Tietema A. (2018) Isotopic methods for non-destructive assessment of carbon dynamics in shrublands under long-term climate change manipulation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9: 866-880.
Doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.12963
Long-term climate change experiments are extremely valuable for studying ecosystem responses to environmental change. Examination of the vegetation and the soil should be non-destructive to guarantee long-term research. In this paper, we review field methods using isotope techniques for assessing carbon dynamics in the plant–soil–air continuum, based on recent field experience and examples from a European climate change manipulation network. Eight European semi-natural shrubland ecosystems were exposed to warming and drought manipulations. One field site was additionally exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2. We discuss the isotope methods that were used across the network to evaluate carbon fluxes and ecosystem responses, including: (1) analysis of the naturally rare isotopes of carbon (13C and 14C) and nitrogen (15N); (2) use of in situ pulse labelling with 13CO2, soil injections of 13C- and 15N-enriched substrates, or continuous labelling by free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) and (3) manipulation of isotopic composition of soil substrates (14C) in laboratory-based studies. The natural 14C signature of soil respiration gave insight into a possible long-term shift in the partitioning between the decomposition of young and old soil carbon sources. Contrastingly, the stable isotopes 13C and 15N were used for shorter-term processes, as the residence time in a certain compartment of the stable isotope label signal is limited. The use of labelled carbon-compounds to study carbon mineralisation by soil micro-organisms enabled to determine the long-term effect of climate change on microbial carbon uptake kinetics and turnover. Based on the experience with the experimental work, we provide recommendations for the application of the reviewed methods to study carbon fluxes in the plant–soil–air continuum in climate change experiments. 13C-labelling techniques exert minimal physical disturbances, however, the dilution of the applied isotopic signal can be challenging. In addition, the contamination of the field site with excess 13C or 14C can be a problem for subsequent natural abundance (14C and 13C) or label studies. The use of slight changes in carbon and nitrogen natural abundance does not present problems related to potential dilution or contamination risks, but the usefulness depends on the fractionation rate of the studied processes. © 2018 The Authors. Methods in Ecology and Evolution © 2018 British Ecological Society
Assessing ecosystem isoprene emissions by hyperspectral remote sensing
Balzarolo M., Peñuelas J., Filella I., Portillo-Estrada M., Ceulemans R. (2018) Assessing ecosystem isoprene emissions by hyperspectral remote sensing. Remote Sensing. 10: 0-0.
Doi: 10.3390/rs10071086
This study examined the relationship between foliar isoprene emissions, light use efficiency and photochemical reflectance index (PRI) throughout the canopy profile and explored the contribution of xanthophyll cycle pigments versus other carotenoid pigments to the isoprene/PRI relationship. Foliar isoprene emissions within the canopy profile were measured in a high-density poplar plantation in Flanders (Belgium) during the 2016 growing season. The results confirmed that PRI was a promising estimator of isoprene emissions at canopy level. Interestingly, xanthophyll cycle pigments contributed more to isoprene biosynthesis than chlorophyll and drove the isoprene/PRI relationship. The simple independent pigment index and novel defined indices, such as the hyperspectral isoprene index and simple hyperspectral isoprene index, showed promising results and could be suitable estimators of isoprene emissions due to their strong relationship with the xanthophyll pool. © 2018 by the authors.
Trophic transfer from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems: a test of the biogeochemical niche hypothesis
Bartrons M., Sardans J., Hoekman D., Peñuelas J. (2018) Trophic transfer from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems: a test of the biogeochemical niche hypothesis. Ecosphere. 9: 0-0.
Doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2338
Matter and energy flow across ecosystem boundaries. Transfers from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems are frequent and have been widely studied, but the flow of matter from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems is less known. Large numbers of midges emerge from some lakes in northern Iceland and fly to land. These lakes differ in their levels of eutrophication due to different intensities of geothermal warming and nutrient inputs. In the context of this material transfer from an aquatic to a terrestrial ecosystem, we investigated the relationships between the deposition of midges and the elemental composition and stoichiometry of organisms in low-productivity terrestrial ecosystems. We analyzed several terrestrial food webs in northeastern Iceland with similar food web compositions of terrestrial arthropods but different inputs of midges and analyzed the stoichiometric composition of the different trophic groups. Elemental composition differed among trophic groups and taxa much more than within each trophic group or taxa across the midge deposition gradient. Specifically, the change in N concentration was significant in plants (up to 70% increase in the site with maximum input) but not in predators, which had a more homeostatic elemental composition. These results thus show (1) a significant movement of matter and nutrients from an aquatic to a terrestrial habitat via the emergence of aquatic insects and the deposition of insect carcasses, (2) a larger impact on the elemental composition of plants than arthropods, and (3) support for the biogeochemical niche hypothesis, which predicts that different species should have a specific elemental composition, stoichiometry, and allocation as a consequence of their particular metabolism, physiology, and structure. © 2018 The Authors.
Plant functional trait change across a warming tundra biome
Bjorkman A.D., Myers-Smith I.H., Elmendorf S.C., Normand S., Rüger N., Beck P.S.A., Blach-Overgaard A., Blok D., Cornelissen J.H.C., Forbes B.C., Georges D., Goetz S.J., Guay K.C., Henry G.H.R., HilleRisLambers J., Hollister R.D., Karger D.N., Kattge J., Manning P., Prevéy J.S., Rixen C., Schaepman-Strub G., Thomas H.J.D., Vellend M., Wilmking M., Wipf S., Carbognani M., Hermanutz L., Lévesque E., Molau U., Petraglia A., Soudzilovskaia N.A., Spasojevic M.J., Tomaselli M., Vowles T., Alatalo J.M., Alexander H.D., Anadon-Rosell A., Angers-Blondin S., Beest M., Berner L., Björk R.G., Buchwal A., Buras A., Christie K., Cooper E.J., Dullinger S., Elberling B., Eskelinen A., Frei E.R., Grau O., Grogan P., Hallinger M., Harper K.A., Heijmans M.M.P.D., Hudson J., Hülber K., Iturrate-Garcia M., Iversen C.M., Jaroszynska F., Johnstone J.F., Jørgensen R.H., Kaarlejärvi E., Klady R., Kuleza S., Kulonen A., Lamarque L.J., Lantz T., Little C.J., Speed J.D.M., Michelsen A., Milbau A., Nabe-Nielsen J., Nielsen S.S., Ninot J.M., Oberbauer S.F., Olofsson J., Onipchenko V.G., Rumpf S.B., Semenchuk P., Shetti R., Collier L.S., Street L.E., Suding K.N., Tape K.D., Trant A., Treier U.A., Tremblay J.-P., Tremblay M., Venn S., Weijers S., Zamin T., Boulanger-Lapointe N., Gould W.A., Hik D.S., Hofgaard A., Jónsdóttir I.S., Jorgenson J., Klein J., Magnusson B., Tweedie C., Wookey P.A., Bahn M., Blonder B., van Bodegom P.M., Bond-Lamberty B., Campetella G., Cerabolini B.E.L., Chapin F.S., III, Cornwell W.K., Craine J., Dainese M., de Vries F.T., Díaz S., Enquist B.J., Green W., Milla R., Niinemets Ü., Onoda Y., Ordoñez J.C., Ozinga W.A., Penuelas J., Poorter H., Poschlod P., Reich P.B., Sandel B., Schamp B., Sheremetev S., Weiher E. (2018) Plant functional trait change across a warming tundra biome. Nature. 562: 57-62.
The tundra is warming more rapidly than any other biome on Earth, and the potential ramifications are far-reaching because of global feedback effects between vegetation and climate. A better understanding of how environmental factors shape plant structure and function is crucial for predicting the consequences of environmental change for ecosystem functioning. Here we explore the biome-wide relationships between temperature, moisture and seven key plant functional traits both across space and over three decades of warming at 117 tundra locations. Spatial temperature–trait relationships were generally strong but soil moisture had a marked influence on the strength and direction of these relationships, highlighting the potentially important influence of changes in water availability on future trait shifts in tundra plant communities. Community height increased with warming across all sites over the past three decades, but other traits lagged far behind predicted rates of change. Our findings highlight the challenge of using space-for-time substitution to predict the functional consequences of future warming and suggest that functions that are tied closely to plant height will experience the most rapid change. They also reveal the strength with which environmental factors shape biotic communities at the coldest extremes of the planet and will help to improve projections of functional changes in tundra ecosystems with climate warming. © 2018, Springer Nature Limited.
Satellite passive microwaves reveal recent climate-induced carbon losses in African drylands
Brandt M., Wigneron J.-P., Chave J., Tagesson T., Penuelas J., Ciais P., Rasmussen K., Tian F., Mbow C., Al-Yaari A., Rodriguez-Fernandez N., Schurgers G., Zhang W., Chang J., Kerr Y., Verger A., Tucker C., Mialon A., Rasmussen L.V., Fan L., Fensholt R. (2018) Satellite passive microwaves reveal recent climate-induced carbon losses in African drylands. Nature Ecology and Evolution. : 1-9.
The African continent is facing one of the driest periods in the past three decades as well as continued deforestation. These disturbances threaten vegetation carbon (C) stocks and highlight the need for improved capabilities of monitoring large-scale aboveground carbon stock dynamics. Here we use a satellite dataset based on vegetation optical depth derived from low-frequency passive microwaves (L-VOD) to quantify annual aboveground biomass-carbon changes in sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2016. L-VOD is shown not to saturate over densely vegetated areas. The overall net change in drylands (53% of the land area) was −0.05 petagrams of C per year (Pg C yr−1) associated with drying trends, and a net change of −0.02 Pg C yr−1 was observed in humid areas. These trends reflect a high inter-annual variability with a very dry year in 2015 (net change, −0.69 Pg C) with about half of the gross losses occurring in drylands. This study demonstrates, first, the applicability of L-VOD to monitor the dynamics of carbon loss and gain due to weather variations, and second, the importance of the highly dynamic and vulnerable carbon pool of dryland savannahs for the global carbon balance, despite the relatively low carbon stock per unit area. © 2018 The Author(s)
Global trait–environment relationships of plant communities
Bruelheide H., Dengler J., Purschke O., Lenoir J., Jiménez-Alfaro B., Hennekens S.M., Botta-Dukát Z., Chytrý M., Field R., Jansen F., Kattge J., Pillar V.D., Schrodt F., Mahecha M.D., Peet R.K., Sandel B., van Bodegom P., Altman J., Alvarez-Dávila E., Arfin Khan M.A.S., Attorre F., Aubin I., Baraloto C., Barroso J.G., Bauters M., Bergmeier E., Biurrun I., Bjorkman A.D., Blonder B., Čarni A., Cayuela L., Černý T., Cornelissen J.H.C., Craven D., Dainese M., Derroire G., De Sanctis M., Díaz S., Doležal J., Farfan-Rios W., Feldpausch T.R., Fenton N.J., Garnier E., Guerin G.R., Gutiérrez A.G., Haider S., Hattab T., Henry G., Hérault B., Higuchi P., Hölzel N., Homeier J., Jentsch A., Jürgens N., Kącki Z., Karger D.N., Kessler M., Kleyer M., Knollová I., Korolyuk A.Y., Kühn I., Laughlin D.C., Lens F., Loos J., Louault F., Lyubenova M.I., Malhi Y., Marcenò C., Mencuccini M., Müller J.V., Munzinger J., Myers-Smith I.H., Neill D.A., Niinemets Ü., Orwin K.H., Ozinga W.A., Penuelas J., Pérez-Haase A., Petřík P., Phillips O.L., Pärtel M., Reich P.B., Römermann C., Rodrigues A.V., Sabatini F.M., Sardans J., Schmidt M., Seidler G., Silva Espejo J.E., Silveira M., Smyth A., Sporbert M., Svenning J.-C., Tang Z., Thomas R., Tsiripidis I., Vassilev K., Violle C., Virtanen R., Weiher E., Welk E., Wesche K., Winter M., Wirth C., Jandt U. (2018) Global trait–environment relationships of plant communities. Nature Ecology and Evolution. 2: 1906-1917.
Plant functional traits directly affect ecosystem functions. At the species level, trait combinations depend on trade-offs representing different ecological strategies, but at the community level trait combinations are expected to be decoupled from these trade-offs because different strategies can facilitate co-existence within communities. A key question is to what extent community-level trait composition is globally filtered and how well it is related to global versus local environmental drivers. Here, we perform a global, plot-level analysis of trait–environment relationships, using a database with more than 1.1 million vegetation plots and 26,632 plant species with trait information. Although we found a strong filtering of 17 functional traits, similar climate and soil conditions support communities differing greatly in mean trait values. The two main community trait axes that capture half of the global trait variation (plant stature and resource acquisitiveness) reflect the trade-offs at the species level but are weakly associated with climate and soil conditions at the global scale. Similarly, within-plot trait variation does not vary systematically with macro-environment. Our results indicate that, at fine spatial grain, macro-environmental drivers are much less important for functional trait composition than has been assumed from floristic analyses restricted to co-occurrence in large grid cells. Instead, trait combinations seem to be predominantly filtered by local-scale factors such as disturbance, fine-scale soil conditions, niche partitioning and biotic interactions. © 2018, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.
ORCHIDEE-SOM: Modeling soil organic carbon (SOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics along vertical soil profiles in Europe
Camino-Serrano M., Guenet B., Luyssaert S., Ciais P., Bastrikov V., De Vos B., Gielen B., Gleixner G., Jornet-Puig A., Kaiser K., Kothawala D., Lauerwald R., Peñuelas J., Schrumpf M., Vicca S., Vuichard N., Walmsley D., Janssens I.A. (2018) ORCHIDEE-SOM: Modeling soil organic carbon (SOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics along vertical soil profiles in Europe. Geoscientific Model Development. 11: 937-957.
Doi: 10.5194/gmd-11-937-2018
Current land surface models (LSMs) typically represent soils in a very simplistic way, assuming soil organic carbon (SOC) as a bulk, and thus impeding a correct representation of deep soil carbon dynamics. Moreover, LSMs generally neglect the production and export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from soils to rivers, leading to overestimations of the potential carbon sequestration on land. This common oversimplified processing of SOC in LSMs is partly responsible for the large uncertainty in the predictions of the soil carbon response to climate change. In this study, we present a new soil carbon module called ORCHIDEE-SOM, embedded within the land surface model ORCHIDEE, which is able to reproduce the DOC and SOC dynamics in a vertically discretized soil to 2gm. The model includes processes of biological production and consumption of SOC and DOC, DOC adsorption on and desorption from soil minerals, diffusion of SOC and DOC, and DOC transport with water through and out of the soils to rivers. We evaluated ORCHIDEE-SOM against observations of DOC concentrations and SOC stocks from four European sites with different vegetation covers: A coniferous forest, a deciduous forest, a grassland, and a cropland. The model was able to reproduce the SOC stocks along their vertical profiles at the four sites and the DOC concentrations within the range of measurements, with the exception of the DOC concentrations in the upper soil horizon at the coniferous forest. However, the model was not able to fully capture the temporal dynamics of DOC concentrations. Further model improvements should focus on a plant- A nd depth-dependent parameterization of the new input model parameters, such as the turnover times of DOC and the microbial carbon use efficiency. We suggest that this new soil module, when parameterized for global simulations, will improve the representation of the global carbon cycle in LSMs, thus helping to constrain the predictions of the future SOC response to global warming. © Author(s) 2018.
Foliar C, N, and P stoichiometry characterize successful plant ecological strategies in the Sonoran Desert
Castellanos A.E., Llano-Sotelo J.M., Machado-Encinas L.I., López-Piña J.E., Romo-Leon J.R., Sardans J., Peñuelas J. (2018) Foliar C, N, and P stoichiometry characterize successful plant ecological strategies in the Sonoran Desert. Plant Ecology. 219: 775-788.
Ecological processes are centered to water availability in drylands; however, less known nutrient stoichiometry can help explain much of their structure and ecological interactions. Here we look to the foliar stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) of 38 dominant plant species from the Sonoran Desert, grouped in four different functional types to describe ecological characteristics and processes. We found that foliar N, C:N, C:P, and N:P stoichiometric ratios, but not P, were higher than those known to most other ecosystems and indicate P but not N limitations in leaves. Biological N fixers (BNF) had even higher leaf N concentrations, but bio-elemental concentrations and stoichiometry ratios were not different to other non-N-fixing legume species which underscores the need to understand the physiological mechanisms for high N, and to how costly BNF can succeed in P-limiting drylands environments. Stoichiometry ratios, and to lesser extent elemental concentrations, were able to characterize BNF and colonizing strategies in the Sonoran Desert, as well as explain leaf attribute differences, ecological processes, and biogeochemical niches in this dryland ecosystem, even when no direct reference is made to other water-limitation strategies. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature.
Correction to: Spatial Variation of Soil CO2, CH4 and N2O Fluxes Across Topographical Positions in Tropical Forests of the Guiana Shield (Ecosystems, (2018), (1-14), 10.1007/s10021-018-0232-6)
Courtois E.A., Stahl C., Van den Berge J., Bréchet L., Van Langenhove L., Richter A., Urbina I., Soong J.L., Peñuelas J., Janssens I.A. (2018) Correction to: Spatial Variation of Soil CO2, CH4 and N2O Fluxes Across Topographical Positions in Tropical Forests of the Guiana Shield (Ecosystems, (2018), (1-14), 10.1007/s10021-018-0232-6). Ecosystems. : 0-0.
This paper was published with several formatting errors. It will be republished with corrections in place. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
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Body Xtreme Fitness Tri-Base Heavy Duty Rowing Machine with Bonus Cooling Towel (White/Blue) – This product was exactly what I needed. The price was right and the shipping was right on time as advertised.
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There were 21 in attendance at last month's meeting, the Treasures report was very positive and though approval was given to purchase a new club ice shanty a replacement has not been found at this time. It was reported that the Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival in Ann Arbor was very good as usual and that the OWU display section was smaller than last year but that the program selections were good. It was mentioned that going to "Ghost Ships" in Milwaukee will be of value to anyone interested in an opportunity to learn about and try several rebreathers. There was reminders of Wolfs open house on the 19 & 20, and mention that a presentation on "What Lies Beneath-The St. Joseph River" in Buchanan, discussion on participating in the Midland Baptist Church Sportsman evening on April 23 and announcing that "Thirsty Thursdays" begin March 31. A question was asked if we were going to order any club jackets, hoodies, or T-shirts in the near future – No decisions made to date. Discussed underwater emergency tips, boat safety and methods to recall divers on a boat or shore. It was noted that the club will obtain a Papa (recall) flag for boat & shore use.
Papa flag – International Meaning: All personnel return to ship (or shore).
The water is still very chilly for most wet suiters so remember that the Club changing shed and heater are available for pickup with prior arrangement.
If you're over weighted, you have to put more air into your BC to float it and be neutral. The inflated BC is larger (more drag) and requires more energy and oxygen to push it through the water. An extra eight pounds of lead means your BC is one gallon bigger when inflated enough to make you neutral.


One strategy for addressing anxiety in individuals who deal with this challenge, including those with ASD, is to teach relaxation strategies that the individual may use "in the moment" when he or she is facing a situation that causes anxiety. Unfortunately this is often more difficult than it sounds. The PowerPoint presentation below may provide some helpful information if you are working with a learner who experiences anxiety, or assisting school personnel who are looking for some strategies to support a learner dealing with anxiety.


Lmp Roe is a public elementary school located in Peru, IL in the La Salle/Marshall/Putnam Roe School District. It enrolls 33 students in grades 1st through 12th. It has 9.6 students to every teacher.
The form below lets you find Lmp Roe alumni info and Lmp Roe students.
The percentage of Lmp Roe students on free and reduced lunch assistance (75.8%) is higher than the state average of 52.9%. This may indicate that the area has a higher level of poverty than the state average.


Earlier this week, I mentioned that Nigel Short was returning to Baku for the first time in 20 years. In what looks a strong open tournament, Nigel co-leads on 3/3 with 6 other grandmasters including fellow 2600+ players Loek van Wely, Alexei Fedorov and Vadim Milov.
You can follow the event online.
Interestingly Malcolm Pein reported this week that Nigel Short is being charged with 'bringing the game into disrepute' by FIDE. Throwing stones in glass houses comes to mind!


Awards host and veteran BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration.
Some of the finest businesses in the region will come together this evening at an exclusive event for the finalists of this year's Harrogate Advertiser Excellence in Business Awards.
The event, to be held at the Fat Badger bar and grill in Harrogate, will be a valuable networking opportunity, as well as a chance for the shortlisted companies to meet their rivals on friendly terms.
It will also be an opportunity for them to get to know the award sponsors.
The awards, now in their 14th year, are sponsored by Harrogate estate agent Verity Frearson. Individual category sponsors include Cicada Communications, Berwins Solicitors, Leathers the Accountants, Rudding Park, Si Recruitment, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.
The winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on Thursday, April 4 at Pavilions of Harrogate.
The event will be preceded by a drinks reception hosted by Harrogate energy company CNG Ltd and will be presented by veteran BBC Look North anchorman Harry Gration MBE.


what are your top 3 workarounds?
Ask for Old Job back/compensation change?
How to handle making money off of a friend.
Tax Loss Harvesting In 401k/IRA?
Wash the salt off my car?
Reader Case Study: Have any Badassity Boosting Advice?
About to take A big spendy trip to Rome.. How do I make it more mustachian?
Is anyone considering non-employer health insurance for 2014?
Does paying off debt early always lead to an earlier retirement?
Spending too much money getting "Set Up"
Penny Wise, But Pound Foolish: What Do You "Invest" In?
Frugal X-mas gift ideas for co-workers?
New to financing, don't know where to start?
is it worth paying for auto insurance without a car?
Which Debt to Pay Off First (Snowball vs Amortization)?
Where to start?/Maybe I need a Face-Punch.
To keep or sell my car.
Should I wait for a better Amex Blue Preferred Card deal?


What is it exactly that the U.S. cannot understand in a vote that was 138-9 in favor of Palestine?
"Amb. Chas Freeman (ret.) spoke to a Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) forum on U.S. Grand Strategy — or, in his words "Grand Waffle" — in the Middle East on Capitol Hill yesterday and has graciously agreed to have the text posted on Lobe Log. Readers of the blog are already well acquainted with Freeman, a victim for 4 years, when he was appointed to chair the National Intelligence Council (NIC), of a McCarthyite-like campaign driven by many of the same neo-conservatives and Israel lobby activists opposed to Chuck Hagel's nomination."
Bernard Avishai is an Israeli-American writer in Jerusalem. Sam Bahour is a Palestinian-American business consultant in Ramallah, the West Bank.
"For me, the bottom line is this: the cornerstone value of my religious tradition commands me to stand in solidarity with all who are oppressed. It would thus be a profound betrayal of my own Jewish heritage if I consciously choose not to stand with the Palestinian people."
You think you know Israel? Well, think again...this is a long read but well worth the insights gained.
By Stephen Downs, Esq. and Kathy Manley, Esq.
Like Canada's First Peoples, the Palestinians' nationhood cannot be measured in numbers.
One should not use the phrase "extinct nations" within earshot of indigenous people in Canada. I learned this about a year and a half ago from a French-speaking friend from Quebec with whom I visited the Mohawk village of Kanesatake. In 1990, the village embarked on a struggle to prevent the nearby town of Oka from taking over its lands, including a burial site, to expand the town's golf course. Apparently thanks to the presence of that friend, who had participated in the village's land struggle about 20 years ago, I was not asked to leave after uttering that hurtful phrase.
This is not a question of political correctness or the reading of history but rather of political understanding and choosing a side: for the repressive regime or against it. Three regrettably short weeks of conversations with members of native communities in Canada have reminded me that the reciprocal relations between a group of people and its surroundings is an essence that goes beyond the head count, the number of groups, the level of education, the level of income and the other measurable data the ruling bureaucracy relies on when it imposes its machinations.
In recent months, the First Nations in Canada have been fomenting a popular uprising that dwarfs the measurable data even further. Rights, justice, belonging, caring and historical memory are not arithmetic-dependent. This realization nullifies the traditional definitions of "minority" and "majority." This is especially so since the First Nations' demands are connected to the struggle to save the environment (soil, water and air) from the unrestrained aspirations of capital and the mining industry.
Likewise the Palestinian citizens of Israel, whose memory of being robbed is far fresher, are not a minority. And this is a truth that is above any election campaign. In the entire land, from the sea to the river, they are one people (no more and no less invented and real than other peoples) despite their erasure from public opinion polls and despite the walls and the prohibitions on movement and the categorizations and sub-categorizations the Israeli bureaucracy invents for them.
They are not a minority because they were not a minority before their families' members were expelled in 1948 and because their families' members and their people in exile are still attached to the land some with personal memories and others with memories they inherited along with photographs and land ownership documents. They are not a minority because they have the potential to grow in numbers, and though distinct in culture and history are attached to other peoples in the region especially by bonds of language and religion.
They are not a minority because "minority" is not a neutral term but one that aims at perpetuating inferiority and unequal rights. By arithmetic logic, if the Palestinian citizens of Israel are not a minority, we Jews are not a majority. It is this fear that engenders all the government manipulations: not recognizing Bedouin communities or connecting them to the water grid, blatant discrimination against all Palestinian citizens in the allocation of resources, letting them descend into poverty, passing racist laws and proposals for laws that are even more racist, cutting them off from the rest of the Palestinians who live in the land beyond the 1967 borders and running brainwashing Birthright campaigns for youngsters visiting Israel from the United States.
By non-arithmetic logic, the minority that isn't a minority should understand the majority that isn't a majority and respect its rights, since rights and the connection to a place are not measurable data. It is natural that we, the non-majority, expect our rights to be respected. It is natural that we object to being a tolerated religious non-minority living here by conditional grace and that we expect it to be taken into account that it wasn't just a colonialist ideology but also the Third Reich that brought us here.
But our wishes are meaningless as long as we, the non-majority, are maliciously exploiting our numerical and military superiority. The vision is distant. And in the meantime we must prepare ourselves for more governmental manipulations that will make the tyranny of the non-majority even more sophisticated in the only Jewish democracy in the Middle East.
By: Shlomi Eldar for Al-Monitor Israel Pulse. posted on Mon, Dec 31.


Since the kick was directed upwards, Elliot tucks into a front flip and lands on a chunk of debris as it flies up towards him. he then grits his teeth as he realizes that his opponent had vanished and got the feeling that she was testing him. Elliot was slightly annoyed at the thought and considered trying out the gloves Gregor gave him a few days back, but he quickly shook the thought from his mind because he didn't know what the gloves could do yet and they could possibly be too dangerous for a sparring match. Instead, Elliot jumped from the boulder to a nearby tree branch, grabbed it, swung himself around it, and then landed on top of it to give himself slightly more stable footing as he began scanning the area for Lya.


Introduced in January last year under the 2017 Criminal Finances Act, UWOs (Unexplained Wealth Orders) make it compulsory for people to explain where they obtained the money to purchase assets with a minimum value of £50,000. However, court action can be both time consuming and costly when dealing with such cases. When included as part of the investigation, lie detector tests for unexplained wealth order cases could easily speed up the process.
In the first case of its type, defendant Zamira Hajiyeva failed in her bid to remain anonymous today in the High Court. The media contended that the public should be made aware of the facts.
She is required to reveal where her wealth originated from. Failure to provide the NCA (National Crime Agency) with an adequate explanation may result in her losing her residence in London valued at over £11 million.
Married to Jahangir Hajiyev, her husband formerly worked at the International Bank of Azerbaijan in the capacity of Chairman. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2016, following a conviction for his part in a crime which involved embezzling millions of dollars from the bank.
'Coincidentally' a property that was valued in exactly the same amount and in the same location as Zamira Hajiyeva's London home, was purchased in 2009 via a British Virgin Islands company.
Other points brought to the court's attention were that she had spent £16 million over a period of 10 years in Harrods. The store is located close to her home. Among other assets she also purchased a Berkshire golf course in 2013 at a purchase price of £10 million and a private jet in the sum of $42 million. Putting an entirely new meaning on "shop till you drop" Ms Hajiyeva allegedly spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury items including jewellery, wine and perfume. Click on BBC News to read the full story.
The introduction of UWOs came about as a result of the UK government feeling it necessary to do something about foreign money laundering. In the case of the Hajiyevas it doesn't take too much of a leap in imagination to surmise that the money being spent is in some way related to the missing cash from the Bank of Azerbaijan. If proven, assets will be seized by the NCA.
According to the NCA it is difficult to successfully prosecute these types of cases because there usually isn't sufficient evidence. However, they believe that multi billions of pounds has been laundered via property investments.
We believe that lie detector tests for unexplained wealth order cases could provide new leads and assist in these investigations.
Often the mere mention of a polygraph examination will elicit a confession. With carefully worded questions a polygraph examiner can also uncover unexpected, valuable information.
We invite the National Crime Agency to explore the use of polygraph examinations to enhance their investigations.


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MEFF launches wind derivative contracts
MEFF, BME's derivatives market, makes it available to its Members derivative contracts allowing producers of renewable energy to enjoy easier access to hedging instruments in the electricity forward market
As of 13 December, MEFF, the derivatives market of BME, will launch risk-hedging derivative contracts geared to producers of renewable energy.
The launch of these new products is the response to the growing interest among producers of renewable energy seeking access to specific hedging instruments in the electricity forward market.
MEFF will rely on the work of Market Makers, who will provide liquidity from the first trading session.
The launch of this wind energy contract, which helps producers of short-term renewable energy manage market-risk, coincides with the launch of the "Mini-Power" contract so as to accommodate derivative contracts of a smaller size than those already listed and thus allow a larger number of agents access to gain access.
The launch of these new products has been authorised by the Spanish stock market regulator, the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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HealthMindfulnessWhat is mindfulness in the age of social media
Mindfulness is more than meditating on a mountain, like any practice, it involves serious daily effort.
Alexa Mena4 months ago12 min
Mindfulness has fallen prey to the same malady as yoga. Mention the word and the mind flips through a photographic — actually, let's say it, Instagram — catalog of people apparently oozing serenity out of their pores. But just as yoga is a lot more than social media posts of handstands and spiral contortions, real mindfulness is more than five minutes of meditation done without training.
Mindfulness has caught the interest of the health and wellness community with training centers and programs popping up all over the world, the UAE included. Many of these programs are run over a weekend or are one-day sessions, where self-indulgence is mistaken for self-awareness. In reality, reaching a state of mindfulness involves a complete lifestyle shift.
One day, or even a full weekend, won't get you there. That would be like expecting to lose 10kg after dieting for one weekend. Try two months. For as with all things, it usually takes eight weeks to form a habit, said Bahar Wilson, Mindfulness UAE founder and a trained mindfulness teacher. Her mindfulness-based stress reduction (mbsr) program takes precisely that long — eight weeks. The sessions typically last between 1 and 3 hours and meet once a week, but don't let the one day commitment fool you. You have homework every single day.
So, what is mindfulness? It is a Buddhist practice of being aware of the present moment, a state usually achieved and maintained through meditation.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, a Zen Buddhist student and professor of medicine emeritus at University of Massachusetts Medical school, noted the psychological benefits from his own practice of the discipline. Then, combining his background in Buddhism and medicine, he developed a secular mindfulness-based stress reduction program.
But that doesn't mean his program is Buddhist. It is non-religious. Dr Kabat-Zinn said of mindfulness in an interview with the Guardian: "I got into this through the Zen door, which is a very irreverent approach to Buddhism."
In the secular practice of mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation and other tools are used to investigate "present experience, including body sensations, internal mental states, thoughts, emotions, impulses and memories, in order to reduce suffering or distress and to increase well-being" — according Dr Kabat-Zinn, in his paper Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Context: Past, Present, and Future.
Stress is a known precursor to major health risks, and a high level of perceived stress may cause depression, burnout, anxiety, sleep disturbance, fatigue and substance abuse. According to a study published in the American Journal of Psychology and Cognitive Science, more than half of Dubai residents are stressed. For anyone who lives in the emirate, that may not come as a surprise.
In a study published in Neuroreport, Dr Kabat-Zinn's mindfulness-based stress reduction program has been shown to improve focus, attention and the ability to be present. MBSR is not easy. It is a long-term, if not lifelong, commitment.
Bahar, the mindfulness teacher, always emphasizes to her students that mindfulness training is not a race. In order for it to take effect, you must do a little everyday. It can't be hurried, she explained. So don't fall for the instant gratification of the Instagram mindfulness movement.
Dr Kabat-Zinn said of mindfulness in an interview with the Guardian: "If this is another fad, I don't want to have any part of it," he says. "If in the past 50 years, I had found something more meaningful, more healing, more transformative and with more potential social impact, I would be doing that."
"Mindfulness" has fallen prey to the same malady as yoga. Mention the word and the mind flips through a photographic — actually, let's say it, Instagram — catalog of people apparently oozing serenity out of their pores. But just as yoga is a lot more than social-media posts of handstands and spiral contortions, real mindfulness is more than five minutes of meditation done without training.
Mindfulness has caught the interest of the health and wellness community with training centers and programs popping up all over the world, the UAE included. Many of these programs are run over a weekend or are one-day sessions, where self-indulgence is mistaken for self-awareness. When in reality, reaching a state of mindfulness involves a complete lifestyle shift.
One day, or even a full weekend, won't get you there. That would be like expecting to lose 10kg after dieting for one weekend. Maybe, try two months. For as with all things, it usually takes eight weeks to form a habit, said Bahar Wilson, Mindfulness UAE founder and a trained mindfulness teacher. Her mindfulness-based stress reduction (mbsr) program takes precisely that long — eight weeks. The sessions typically last between 1 and 3 hours and meet once a week, but don't let the one day commitment fool you. You have homework every single day.
In the secular practice of mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation and other tools are used to investigate "present experience, including body sensations, internal mental states, thoughts, emotions, impulses and memories, in order to reduce suffering or distress and to increase well-being" — according Dr Kabat-Zinn in his paper Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Context: Past, Present, and Future.
Stress is a known precursor to major health risks, and a high level of perceived stress may cause depression, burnout, anxiety, sleep disturbance, fatigue and substance abuse. According to a study published in the American Journal of Psychology and Cognitive Science, over half of Dubai residents are stressed. For anyone who lives in the emirate, that may not come as a surprise.
In a study published in Neuroreport, Dr Kabat-Zinn's mindfulness-based stress reduction has been shown to improve focus, attention and the ability to be present. MBSR is not easy. It is a long-term, if not lifelong, commitment.
Dr Kabat-Zinn said of mindfulness in an interview with the Guardian, "If this is another fad, I don't want to have any part of it," he says. "If in the past 50 years, I had found something more meaningful, more healing, more transformative and with more potential social impact, I would be doing that."
Alexa Mena
Alexa Mena is a multidisciplinary artist and staff writer for livehealthy.ae. When she's not writing for livehealthy, she's thinking about design and how it shapes the human experience.
#recipe: Chicken Tenders from the soon-to-be open Marl's Organic Cafe in Masdar City
Baby Belly Mom provides doulas in Dubai
Melanie Swan
Abu Dhabi UAE Ramadan yoga Dubai livehealthy.ae fitness vegan featured CrossFit


Ogilvies of Haddington designs and builds high quality, handmade kitchens, wine cellars, furniture and cafe/shop cabinetry using locally sourced timber and materials. Each commission is unique, drawing on the character of the building that will house it and incorporating design elements linked to the client's life and experiences. Local suppliers of sustainable timber and materials are used to minimise our environmental impact and ensure the provenance of our raw materials is known. We aim to provide an alternative to the low quality, mass produced, disposable furniture that is transported vast distances at significant environmental cost, only to end up in landfill a few years later.
Clients are welcome to visit our workshop in Haddington to view their commission during construction, where we also carry out furniture repairs and restoration.


The following rates apply every day, inclusive of public holidays.
Season parking permits are available (subject to availability) for purchase at S$150.00 per month at the car park station located outside Hall 5. Payment by cash or cheque only.
Changi Airport (Terminals 1 to 3); take the MRT to Expo MRT (one stop away).
Near SIMEI MRT Station; take the MRT to Expo MRT (two stops away).
Near TANAH MERAH MRT Station; take the MRT to Expo MRT (one stop away).
Information is correct at the time of writing, and is subject to change.
The bus arrives at 10 to 15-minute intervals from 11.45am to 2pm. The last bus departs from MAX Atria at 1.45pm.
© 2016 SingEx Venues Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.


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Chanukka, Chanukah eller Hanukkah (hebraisk: חנוכה) betyder "indvielse" og er en jødisk fest, der falder den 25. kislev (hvilket plejer at være i december i den Gregorianske kalender). På Chanukka fejres et mirakel, der fandt sted i år 165 f.Kr.

Historie

Grækere i Israel
Grækerne havde besat Judæa. Under ledelse af Antiochus forbød grækerne bl.a. jøderne at studere Torah. Jøderne ville ikke finde sig i denne undertrykkelse og besættelse, så under ledelse af Jehudah Makkabi gjorde makkabæerne oprør mod grækerne. Efter flere års kamp lykkedes det at smide grækerne ud af Israel, men der ventede makkabæerne et chok.

Vanhelligelsen af templet
Da makkabæerne kom ind i templet i Jerusalem, så de, at grækerne havde vanhelliget templet. I jødedommen havde (og har) man monoteisme, så at se en række græske afguder stillet op, hvor man ellers havde holdt jødiske gudstjenester var vanhelligelse. Det værste var dog, at den syvarmede lysestage, menorah'en, der altid skulle være tændt som et tegn på jødernes evige tro på Gud, var blevet slukket! Menorah'en måtte kun brænde på jomfru-olivenolie. Man fandt en "reserve-beholder" af olivenolie frem, men dér var der akkurat kun olie til at lade menorah'en brænde én dag. Og det ville tage otte dage at skaffe mere olie.

Chanukah-miraklet
Man sendte et sendebud ud for at skaffe mere olie og satte så menorah'en til at brænde på den reserve-ration, man nu havde. Og så skete det som de kaldte et mirakel: Olien varede i 8 dage, dvs. længe nok til at skaffe mere olie. Dermed var det ikke nødvendigt at lade menorah'en stå slukket igen.

Jøderne kunne efter den græske besættelse igen bede frit til deres gud. Miraklet kan imidlertid ses som en metafor for det faktum, at jøderne – selv i svære tider – holdt stærkt fast i troen på deres gud.

Chanukah-festen
Chanukah fejres i 8 dage og 8 nætter. Den første aften tændes ét lys, den anden aften to, osv., således at man den ottende aften tænder otte lys. Chanukah kaldes også "lysenes fest", og det er et gennemgående tema, at man i vintermørket spreder lys med denne fest.

Med henvisning til miraklet er det mens Chanukah varer, skik at spise retter stegt i olie. Særligt populære er latkes, ashkenaziske kartoffelpandekager, og de israelske sufganijot, en form for meget søde berlinere.

Kilder
 http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/chanukah
 http://www.history.com/minisites/hanukkah

Se også
 Weihnukka

Jødiske helligdage

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: Action of the Alternating Group on the Riemann Sphere Let $G$ be a finite group acting on the Riemann sphere. Using Hurwitz' formula, it can be easily seen that the quotient map $\pi: G \to $ there could be two or three branch points. The case of two branches gives rise to a cyclic group. If we have three branches, four cases occur. One of them is the case $|G|=12$ (order of $G$ is $12$).
Miranda (Algebraic Curves and Riemann Surfaces) says that in this case $G=A_4$. So, my question is: how is it possible to define an action of $A_4$ on the Riemann sphere?
Using the presentation $\langle r,t: \, r^3=t^3=(rt)^2=1 \rangle$, I have to find two maps $r,t$ on $\mathbb{C}_\infty$ having order $3$ and whose composition has order $2$. I have no clue.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Georgia Politics
Pence Stumps for Kemp in Dalton: "This ain't Hollywood. This is Georgia."
Vice President Mike Pence stumped for Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp at the North Georgia Rally Thursday.
A number of elected officials at the local and state levels were also in attendance. State Representative Jason Ridley welcomed the crowd of roughly 1,200 supporters. Micah Gravely offered an opening prayer and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black led the crowd in the National Anthem. Candidate for Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, PSC Candidate Tricia Pridemore, Attorney General Chris Carr, Vick Reynolds, House Speaker David Ralston, the Republican Party Chairman John Watson, Congressman Tom Graves and U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue addressed the crowd. Governor Nathan Deal was on hand to introduce Brian Kemp.
"It was the strongest show of Republican support that I have ever seen, not only from elected officials but also from the voters of North Georgia," said Representative Ridley.
The crowd began gathering at 6 a.m., hours before the event start time of 11:30 a.m.
Kemp took the stage with his wife, Marty, and their three daughters. Kemp thanked his family, Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump on their "unwavering support".
"As governor, I'll invest in public education and give our teachers a raise. We will cut taxes, like last year, and lower healthcare premiums. And I will fight hard to always protect the HOPE scholarship and keep our kids safe at school," said Kemp.
He ended his short speech by urging Republicans to rally their friends, neighbors and relatives to the polls.
"This is the fourth quarter. I need you to show up like the Dawgs did in Jacksonville last weekend," said Kemp.
Kemp introduced Vice President Mike Pence.
Pence addressed the crowd for just under thirty minutes, telling Kemp supporters he was happy to be back in Georgia in support of Brian Kemp for Governor and also letting the crowd in on a little secret, it was also Kemp's birthday. The crowd responded to the news by singing Happy Birthday.
Vice President Mike Pence said a vote for Brian Kemp is a show of support for President Donald Trump. This was Pence's second trip to Georgia to stump for Kemp. He headlined a rally in Macon in July before the runoff.
Pence spent a good portion of time talking about the accomplishments of President Trump. "It's been two years of action. It's been two years of results," said Pence. "It's been two years of promises made and promises kept. And we're just getting started, Georgia. That's why we need Brian Kemp in the governor's office."
"Y'all have a choice to make. The people in Georgia in just a few days are going to face a choice and it could not be more distinct…the choice between Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams couldn't be more stark. Brain Kemp is going to cut your taxes after he becomes Governor, Stacey Abrams says she's going to raise your taxes by more than $300 million dollars. Brian Kemp is going to cut regulation, get government off your back. Stacy Abrams is going to make Georgia's government bigger than ever before," said Pence.
Pence claimed Kemp's opponent Stacey Abrams is "bankrolled by Hollywood liberals," he continued by saying "I heard Oprah is in town today and I heard Will Ferrell was going door-to-door the other day."
"I'd like to remind Stacey and Oprah and Will Ferrell, I'm kind of a big deal, too," said Pence. "And I've got a message for all of Stacey Abrams' liberal Hollywood friends: This ain't Hollywood. This is Georgia. And Georgia wants a governor that's going to put Georgia values and Georgia first. And Brian Kemp is going to do just that."
"Brian Kemp basically is Georgia. He embodies Georgia values," said Pence.
Dalton was the first of three Georgia stops for Pence, followed by rallies in Grovetown and Savannah.
3 Gubernatorial Candidates Comment on Canceled Debate
Court of Appeals Sides with ACLU of Georgia on Absentee Issue


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Marakkar review: This Mohanlal-starrer is a mixed bag
Few films have generated such hype recently as Priyadarshan's Marakkar
By Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl Updated: December 02, 2021 15:44 IST
Biopic of a mystical but historical figure. Check. One of the biggest stars in south Indian cinema. Check. A prominent yesteryear Bollywood hero. Check. More popular names from down south. Check. Big budget. Check. Hype generated. Check.
A flawless and a must-watch film then? Err….
Few films have generated such hype in Malayalam cinema recently as Priyadarshan's Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea. Most of the reasons are listed above. The uncertainty over the theatrical release, along with reports of an OTT release instead, added to the frenzy.
The magnum opus starring Mohanlal is based on the life and actions of Kunjali Marakkar IV, the legendary naval chief of the Zamorin of Calicut. The costliest film in Malayalam film history was made for the big screen. Period.
Marakkar has all the highs and lows of a typical historical film. The production design handled by the irreplaceable Sabu Cyril takes the viewer back in time to the era of the Zamorin and the Portuguese on the Kerala shores. Though, to a careful eye, the shades of a contemporary brush are hard to miss on this extravagant canvas, be it the language used or the costumes worn (interestingly, one of the three National Awards that the film won was for costume design).
As a visual spectacle, Priyadarshan's film scores high. Be it the elaborate sets or the battle scenes between Marakkar and the Portuguese army (which might remind one of the sea battles in Pirates of the Caribbean series), Priyadarshan has left no stone unturned, going by Malayalam's cinema's technical standards. Even the storm scene in the sea is pretty convincing.
The performances are the other high point of the film. It needed someone of Mohanlal's stature to carry the film, and the veteran actor does what is expected of him. He is out of his comfort zone and it shows in places, but kudos to the actor for taking up this challenging project despite his limitations. (It's hard not to notice shades of Robin Hood-esque Ithikkara Pakki in Lal from his cameo in Kayamkulam Kochunni.) Along with Lal, Hareesh Peradi as Mangattachan and Nedumudi Venu as the Zamorin, deliver power-packed performances, which linger on in your minds. In fact, the way Venu owns the role, it shows the vacuum the late veteran and versatile actor has left in the film industry. For Peradi, it is definitely the best role in his career. See it to believe it. Another veteran actor who leaves his mark yet again is Siddique. Arjun Sarja is another bright spot in the stellar cast and brings the gravitas required for the role. Most of the others add to the casting coup.
Surprised that there's hardly a mention of the female actors, which includes proven actors like Suhasini and Manju Warrier and promising young talent like Keerthy Suresh and Kalyani Priyadarshan? Watch the film, and you will know why.
A word about Pranav Mohanlal, though. The son portrays his father's younger self in the film. The lad has improved a lot from his Aadhi days, though he is not yet done with showing off his parkour skills! His performance is like a promising trailer of what to expect from him as an actor in his upcoming film Hridayam.
The disadvantage for Marakkar, or for any mythological or historical drama now, is that the comparisons with Baahubali films are bound to be there. In fact, S.S. Rajamouli has set the benchmark so high with the films, it's almost impossible to come anywhere close to it. Baahubali films scored with the original though fictional script and mind-blowing detailing. Marakkar doesn't have the luxury of the former, nor the patience for the latter.
Also, the son-of-the-soil versus the foreigners is a template as old as time now. Be it in Prithviraj's Urumi, Chiranjeevi's Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy or Mammootty's Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (And we are not even treading into Bollywood). The filmmakers keep discovering a new 'India's first but forgotten freedom fighter' every other day. But that is not to say that the tale of the Marakkars need not be told. However, creative freedom and dramatisation have often proved to be the undoing of many a historical film. History is never complete, and in the world of cinema, the holes are plugged as per the wishes of the one who wields the camera. Marakkar follows the same time-trodden path. Unsurprisingly so.
The first half, which starts with Pranav's extended cameo and ends with a Lal-esque 'climax', seems like a film in itself. The second half is where the rest of the story unfolds, but drags on, testing the viewer's patience, before the crescendo is reached, literally.
And there's even a bit of Gladiator-like ending, complete with a soulful song, thrown in at the end.
Just another 'inspiration' in a film on an inspiring figure.
Film: Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea
Director: Priyadarshan
Cast: Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu, Arjun, Suniel Shetty, Manju Warrier and others
'Homebound' review: An elegy to plight of India's migrant workers during the pandemic
The friendly cousin
Problem of plenty


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The South River is a tributary of the Black River, approximately  long, in southeastern North Carolina in the United States.

It rises 2 miles Northeast of Falcon, North Carolina on the Cumberland and Sampson County line at the confluence of Mingo Swamp and the smaller Black River.  The smaller Black River flows 30 miles from northeastern Harnett County, in Angier and approximately 25 mi (40 km) south of Raleigh. The smaller Black River flows SSE past Benson, then SSW passing west of Dunn. East of Fayetteville, the South River turns SSE and joins the larger Black River near Ivanhoe, North Carolina approximately 30 mi (48 km) northwest of Wilmington.

Fishing
The South River is home to a wide variety of fish species, including Largemouth Bass, chain pickerel, various species of sunfish, longnose gar, and catfish. To navigate through the river, a kayak or a small jon boat is recommended.

See also
 List of North Carolina rivers

References

Rivers of North Carolina
Rivers of Harnett County, North Carolina
Rivers of Johnston County, North Carolina
Rivers of Cumberland County, North Carolina


VW is ending the long run of the Beetle.
The car was in production, in various forms, for 80 years.
A few years back, I tested an offbeat trim level - the Dune Beetle - and I was impressed.
You have to be versed in VW Bug lore to fully appreciate the "Dune" Beetle, which along with all other Beetles is on the way out after an eight-decade run .
VW doesn't see a market anymore for the Beetle, when what consumers are clamoring for are compact SUVs and crossovers.
The last Beetle will be produced next summer, VW announced.


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package main

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
Home / Trading / Trading Advice / Trade of the Day: Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX)
Trade of the Day: Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX)
Gold is the biggest loser in a rate-hike scenario
By Ken Trester, Editor, Power Options Weekly Oct 10, 2016, 8:13 am EDT October 10, 2016
To receive further updates on this Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX) trade as well as an alert when it's time to take profits, sign up for a risk-free trial of Power Options Weekly today.
While my indicators are giving sell signals — pretty solid sell signals, for that matter — I'm still somewhat neutral at this point. Historically speaking, October is one of the most volatile months of the year and, although we can't rule out the possibility of recurrence, this happens to be an October within a presidential election cycle in which the incumbent party will do everything in its power to pass the torch to the party's next standard-bearer.
One area of the market I'm watching especially closely is gold. Last week, the precious metal bumped up against important resistance, and it is trapped in a very bearish pattern right now. I think one of the reasons gold is breaking down is due to the anticipation of future interest-rate hikes. Gold doesn't generate any yield at all — so, therefore, the shiny stuff is less appealing in comparison.
As I expect the price of gold to move lower from current levels, today's recommendation is for a bearish play on Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX).
Buy to open the ABX Dec 15 Puts (ABX161216P00015000) at $1.05 or lower.
InvestorPlace advisor Ken Trester brings you Power Options Weekly, which delivers 5 new options trades and his latest trading advice to you each Friday. It's the perfect 'bridge' between investing in ordinary stocks and the turbocharged world of options trading.
Trester has been trading options since the first exchanges opened in 1973 with a winning streak that goes back to 1984 with money-doubling average annual profits since 1990. Try Power Options Weekly today and receive 2 weeks for the price of 1 for only $19.95.
Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2016/10/trade-day-barrick-gold-corporation-usa-nyse-abx/.


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Craft beer fans can be passionate about their beer preference, but even factory beer drinkers have standards it seems.
Clarence Sturdivant, 64, shot his 66-year-old neighbor, Walter Merrick, said Col. John Fortunato, spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
The beer showdown occurred Saturday afternoon (March 7) at a complex of single-story apartment buildings in the 1500 block of Esther Street in Harvey. Merrick told investigators that he and Sturdivant were chatting in the parking lot when Sturdivant asked for a beer, a Sheriff's Office incident report said.
Merrick returned with a can of Busch beer -- apparently not Sturdivant's brew of choice. An angry Sturdivant declared his preference for Budweiser, according to the report.
The two men continued to quarrel over beer brands until Merrick said Sturdivant shot him and left, the incident report said.
See "Budweiser or Busch: Argument over beer brands ends with shotgun blast" for more on this beer debate among friends.
Links to Related Musings: Crime, Factory Beer, Humor, Idiots
Adventure Blazing Trail IPA
We spent a pleasant weekend afternoon at Adventure Brewing in Stafford County. Sunday afternoons at this local brewery are a great time to relax with good beer and good company. The brewery currently has 10 beers on tap so there's something for every taste. Our choice for the afternoon was Blazing Trail IPA.
Adventure Brewing Blazing Trail IPA is made with all Virginia-grown hops. (I've seen the name listed as both Blazing Trail and Blazing Trails.) The beer pours marmalade in color with a pleasant citrus aroma. A thin head leaves behind moderate lacing. The Virginia-grown "west coast" hops give a fresh citrus pithiness to the flavor. A earthy malt base completes the flavor profile. This IPA is hop-forward but does not kill the tastebuds. And at a moderate 5.6%, it's well-suited for Sunday afternoon enjoyment.
Adventure Brewing food truck regular, STEVE-O's BBQ, Burgers & BACON was on hand to provide food to go along with the ale. We opted for Steve's signature bacon cheeseburger and tater tot side. It made for a tasty pairing.
One goal for the visit was to pick up some bottles of the barrel-aged Wicked Nymph Imperial Stout that was released on Saturday. Colleen and I had a tiny taste a couple weeks ago, and were excited to pick up a few bottles for ourselves. The brewery obtained three barrels from the Bowman Distillery which had aged bourbon since 2005, 2009, and 2010. The bottles from the 2005 barrel were sold out, but we picked up some from the other years. I haven't decided if we'll be enjoying them soon, or letting them age. Stand by....
Links to Related Musings: Adventure Brewing, Beer Review, Bowman, Craft Beer, Food, Fredericksburg
When Mom Needs a Quick Pick-Me-Up
Because it would be crass to drink directly from one of those single serving wine bottles.
Links to Related Musings: Convenience, Humor, Wine
Range Time - A Sunny Respite
A cool, rainy morning turned into a warm sunny afternoon, perfect for a trip to the range. Checkered Flag was in town so he, Colleen, and I spent an afternoon honing our skills in the 70° spring air. The warm air was accompanied by strong wind gusts, which played havoc with our targets stands. Appropriating a few logs from the fire pit (mostly) solved the problem. (No, I still haven't picked up those spikes.)
We spent most of our time at a close 7 yard distance. We often try to make a "game" of our range practice, within the restrictive rules of the club. The theme of the day became accuracy and trigger control. We warmed up on IDPA targets but soon switched to the more challenging Pincus "Balance of Speed and Precision" targets. Colleen was the "caller" and we reacted to her cues. "Three, Blue" she might yell out, and we'd draw and engage all of the target spots that matched any of the descriptors. Or "Round, Yellow" and we'd shoot all points that were either round or yellow. Not only were varying degrees of accuracy required, you had to analyze the targets to find the matches, geometric, numerical or color. It was quite a bit of fun and we went through many rounds playing that game.
Later we added some of CF's target cards he keeps on hand, with 1 inch squares and the even smaller "little man" targets and went for extreme accuracy trying to remove the pattern from the cards. When the target is smaller than the front sight, even at 7 yards, a smooth trigger press is critical.
A couple hundred rounds later we a good practice session, and a whole lot of fun, under our belts. It was good to get to the range on a beautiful afternoon, especially since the forecast is calling for more cold and rain over the next couple days.
Links to Related Musings: Practice, Range Time, Shooting Sports, Targets
Devils Backbone The Devil Went Down to Oregon
This is another of the beers in the March Collaboration Adventure Pack from Devils Backbone Brewing. I posted thoughts on another beer in the mix, Double Gooch IPA, previously. The Devil Went Down to Oregon Imperial Rye Ale is the result of a collaboration with Ninkasi Brewing Company of Eugene, Oregon.
The Devil Went Down to Oregon pours an attractive dark amber color with a persistent beige head. The aroma is mild and a mix of caramel and dark fruit with a hint of grassiness. In the flavor you get a bit of sweetness at the start, followed by toasted malt and nuttiness. The rye adds notes of pepper and grass. There's a earthy undertone to the flavor profile. A very mild hop bitterness lingers in the finish. The mouthfeel is creamy and moderately "thick."
This member of the Collaboration Pack is unique from the others in that the big hop flavors are not the main feature. The ale is more reminiscent of a English Brown Ale, but with a twist. It's a smooth, easy beer, and at 7.5% ABV, it goes down way too quickly.
Links to Related Musings: Beer Review, Craft Beer, Devils Backbone, Ninkasi Brewing Company, Virginia
Celebratory Gunfire
No, not that kind. I celebrated my birthday by shooting an IDPA match at the Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club in Charlottesville on Saturday. I arrived early to attend the mandatory "new shooters" briefing that is required of first time shooters at the range. Even though I'm not exactly a new shooter, it never hurts to hear the reminders again.
One of the usual bays used by the club for matches was not available due to the rains last week, so the match directors set up three stages together at the end of one of the rifle ranges. Due to the space constraints, only one shooter could shoot at a time, and we alternated through the three shooters on three stages before scoring and pasting. It was as if we had a squad of 40 shooters, which meant it took quite a while to get through the match. But, despite the extra long day, any day on the range beats a day not on the range! And the people are friendly so the time passed easily.
The first stage had us seated in front of a spread of targets and a few non-threats. At the start, the four close targets all got two required head shots. (A hit on the "body" was a miss.) The remaining three targets were engaged near to far with two rounds each. Coincidently, the last stage I shot at the last match I attended was also a seated scenario — I guess it's not such a rare scenario in IDPA.
Next up was a challenging two-string stage that tested our one handed shooting ability. On the first string, after the draw you transferred the gun to the support hand and engaged the first two targets. After transferring the gun to the strong hand, the last two targets were taken care of. Moving back to a barricade at around the 20 yard line for the second string, you repeated the same pattern except this time you could use the "other" hand for support. I was actually pleased with my hits on this stage. However, I did earn a procedural penalty for failing to pie around the barricade and instead shooting the last two targets "inside to outside." Some USPSA habits are hard to break.
The last course of fire was a nine-target stage with the targets arranged among the walls. It was an interesting stage that offered numerous options for engaging the targets. There were quite a few different choices made by the shooters. You could engage the targets at 3 or 4 positions total, depending on the distance you were comfortable with, choose slide lock or tactical reloads, as well as where you did your reload, all the while keeping in mind to not expose yourself to any unengaged threats.
The weather was unexpectedly cool and damp for a good part of the day, the sun finally coming out late in the match. Nonetheless, I still came home with a sunburned neck. Despite the long time it took to complete the stages, I had a great time and it was a fun way to spend the first part of my birthday. My results were fair, 14th out 25 in my division and 23rd overall.
Of course, upon arriving home I quickly started my enjoyment of some tasty craft beers. And those are possible fodder for future musings. Later in the evening I put some thick steaks on the grill for dinner, after which we enjoyed a family movie night. And there was cake! A fitting celebration it was indeed.
Links to Related Musings: Birthday, Craft Beer, IDPA, Match Journal, Rivanna Action Pistol, Shooting Sports
Flying Dog Supertramp
I admit it, I didn't want to like this beer. Last week when I opened the package from Flying Dog Brewery and saw the bottle of Supertramp Tart Cherry Ale, I thought, "Oh, a fruit beer." But, I was intrigued nonetheless, as I do enjoy the occasional sour ale. So despite my consternation, I was looking forward to trying it, for research purposes only of course.
As I poured the ale, others in the room exclaimed, "Oh, it's pink!" It wasn't really pink, but there was indeed a pink hue to the orange-amber color. The aroma has faint fruit notes and a hint of breadiness. The initial flavor that hits the tongue is the mild fruit sweetness that morphs quickly over to tart. The cherry tart and bitterness fade quickly to a clean finish. Moderate carbonation tingles the tongue and cleanses the palate, leaving very little behind in the aftertaste.
Despite my skepticism, in the end I had to admit I liked the Supertramp Tart Cherry Ale. Even though we tasted the beer on a cool, almost Spring evening, I actually think this would be a very refreshing summertime drink. The low 4.6% ABV, the tingling carbonation, the mildly tart flavor and clean finish seems a good combination with which to cool down after an afternoon of sweating in the garden, or after returning home from the range.
The beer reviewed here was a promotional sample from the brewery. My impressions are provided of my own free will.
Monica Lewinsky's Boyfriend's Wife
Too good not to share.
There are members of the current administration who are probably thinking, "Cool, how do I order?"
If these offend, all I can say is "What difference does it make?"
Links to Related Musings: Elections, Hillary, Humor, Liberalism, Politicians, Politics
St. Patrick's Day IDPA Match
While many folks were out celebrating with beer and good food, I marked the St. Patrick's Day Feast by shooting another Colonial Shooting Academy IDPA match.
As usual, three quick stages were set up for our enjoyment. The first stage started with a holstered and unloaded gun. At the start the shooter loaded and engaged two close targets with three rounds each, before retreating up range to finish with two final targets on the other side of wall, also with three rounds each. An added challenge here was a high non-threat in front of the last target that caused some folks to get on their toes to shoot over it and avoid a penalty.
Stage 2 consisted of a large group of barrels strategically hiding six targets. Not all the openings between barrels held targets so it was a bit of a search if you didn't have your plan of attack well in mind. The final stage started with four targets partially blocked by non-threats and shot in tactical sequence from a seated position. You then moved to engage the final two targets around a barricade. Shooting while seated isn't something I've done often so it was a welcome challenge.
After accumulating an abundance of points down last week, I made a concerted effort to slow down to get my hits. Accumulating just 3 points down this week, I again finished 9th in my division. And even more interesting, for the third week in a row, ended up 15th overall. There's something to be said for consistency I guess. Now to work on speeding up and keeping the hits in the "down zero" zone.
These quick, weeknight matches are a lot of fun and don't require a large investment of time or ammo to shoot. The courses of fire are interesting but not overly difficult. Still, I wish it wasn't quite so far of a drive, but that's one of the things we accept living in Fredericksburg — it's a far drive to get most places! Now that the days are getting longer and I should be able to get to the practice range more, and also reinvigorate my dry fire practice, the weekly CSA IPDA matches will be a great way to confirm what I've practiced.
Links to Related Musings: Colonial Shooting Academy, CSA IDPA, IDPA, Match Journal, Shooting Sports
Round Up Your Mates for St. Patrick's Day
A humorous Guinness ad from a few years ago.
Have a Happy and Safe St. Patrick's Day celebration, however you choose to mark the feast day. Sláinte!!
Links to Related Musings: Guinness, Humor, St. Patrick
On March 16, 1780 George Washington issued a General Order granting St. Patrick's Day as a holiday for the Continental Army.
George Washington's General Order of March 16, 1780,
granting Saint Patrick's Day as a holiday to the troops
Document from the National Archives.
Links to Related Musings: History, Holiday, St. Patrick
[Originally posted March 17, 2013]
Ah, St. Patricks Day. Such a confusing day. To the Irish, the day honors a great Saint. For too many others, it's a day dedicated simply to green beer and debauchery. Our family has long had a devotion to St. Patrick. Our admiration was made all the more tangible when we were blessed to take a pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle last year. During that visit I was reminded just how much the Irish love Patrick. To honor this day, and St. Patrick's memory, I'll share these depictions of St. Patrick from our trip.
The Black Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland
Tapestry, Knock Shrine
Ballintubber Abby
Croagh Patrick, County Mayo
St. Patrick Cathedral, Dublin
And finally, since St. Patrick is also our parish patron, one of our church window.
Bishop Patrick
All photos taken by Colleen T.
Links to Related Musings: Catholicism, Holiday, Ireland, Saints, St. Patrick
Sights and Sounds of Spring
Okay, it's not officially Spring for another week, but after the cold and rain and snow of recent weeks, the 65° plus temps, it's close enough! Nice weather combined with longer days culminated in a welcome trip to the range. The last time I was able to shoot outdoors was back on January 2nd. On Sunday evening I grabbed my gear and a couple target stands and headed for the range. No one else was shooting so I was quickly set up and enjoying the solitude. Unfortunately it was so windy I had to use the second stand as an anchor for the first, so didn't get in any multiple target practice. (Note to self: Pick up some metal spikes at the hardware store.)
Most of my time was spent drawing from the holster and just putting one or two shots on target. Starting at 7 yards, then 10, then 15, I fired about 50 rounds from each position. I did mix it up a little with some movement, and switched between taking body and head shots.
A beautiful sight — brass on the ground
My solitude was short-lived when a guy came by and asked if I had found any ear protection. I replied I hadn't and he left. He returned a short while later with his young son who had apparently left the gear behind earlier. They searched around the bench area, all the while he was berating the boy for his carelessness. (And don't think I missed his surreptitious glance into my range bag and back of my car.) After a while I was thinking, "Give it a rest, dude." Fortunately by this time I was on my last string of practice and was soon picking up my brass, all the while he continued his chiding of the boy. Not all the sounds on the range are enjoyable, but despite this interruption, I was still thankful for the time spent outside shooting. Let's hope this is the start of a trend!
Links to Related Musings: People, Practice, Range Etiquette, Range Time, Shooting Sports
An Early St. Patrick's Day Celebration
Saturday afternoon Colleen and I headed over to Blue & Gray Brewing for their 13th Annual St. Patrick's Day parade and celebration. We arrived after the parade, so headed immediately to the beer line for a couple pints of Stonewall Stout. As I've noted often, this is a well-done English Stout and perhaps my favorite Blue & Gray libation. Nicely balanced with roasted malts and a mild sweetness, it goes down easily. And at just 5% ABV, it's fit for an afternoon of festivity.
We ran into some friends and enjoyed good conversation, along with Irish music and dancing. As so often happens during this festival, a steady rain soon began to fall — Irish Sunshine I dubbed it. We crowded under the tents and managed to keep our fronts dry, though the backs of my pants and jacket got quite wet. But there's nothing like another glass of Stonewall Stout to ward off the chill.
Not an actual picture from the festival
Eventually the weather won out and we headed into the Lee's Retreat brewpub to dry out and enjoy some tasty Rueben sandwiches, made with corned beef brisket cooked in, naturally, Stonewall Stout. And of course, another pint of the Stout to wash it all down.
After that fitting lunch, we joined a friend and his daughter for dessert at Carl's Frozen Custard, then Colleen and I headed up to Adventure Brewing to continue honoring our patron Saint. In addition to live Irish music, Adventure had three new beers on tap to celebrate St. Patrick's Day; Scotch Ale, Red IPA, and Invasion ESB. Given they were covering some of my favorite styles, I was itching to try them out. Colleen ordered the Scotch Ale while I started with Invasion ESB. The ESB had a toasted malt flavor, but for my preferences was a little too mildly flavored. The Scotch Ale was very nicely done. Slightly sweet, it had a dark malt and roasted nuttiness that Colleen enjoyed very much.
Soon we found ourselves in need of food once again. The food truck on hand was Martina's Cantina, a somewhat juxtaposed option given the celebration. Colleen selected a burger, topped with carnitas and spicy Mexican "fixin's." My choice was a chicharons and porkito sandwich. Honestly, I didn't ask exactly what it was, but only know it was extremely tasty, and spicy. To accompany this meal I ordered a pint of the Red IPA. I had a preview of this ale a few weeks back and was glad to get a chance to enjoy it again. Full of citrus hop freshness, I'd have to rank it as my favorite Adventure Brewing beer, at this time anyway.
The final treat of the afternoon was a tiny taste of the upcoming barrel-aged version of Wicked Nymph Imperial Stout. The Stout has been aged in barrels from the Bowman Distillery and will be available in corked and caged bottles. This, the first bottled beer from Adventure, should be out in about two weeks. I intend to get some to enjoy right away, and also some to put away in the cellar for aging.
After a long day of celebration, we headed home. My shoes were still a bit wet from earlier and it felt good to get into dry clothes. Although the Feast of St. Patrick is still a few days away, our Saturday celebration was a fun and fitting way to spend the day.
Links to Related Musings: Adventure Brewing, Beer Review, Blue and Gray, Celebrations, Craft Beer, Food, Fredericksburg, St. Patrick
Devils Backbone Double Gooch IPA
Devils Backbone Brewing recently released their March Collaboration Adventure Pack, consisting of four beers designed with the hop fan in mind — Devils Tale Black India Pale Ale with Coronado Brewing, The Devil Went Down to Oregon Imperial Rye Ale with Ninkasi Brewing, Double Gooch IPA with Fat Head's Brewery, and Devils Backbone's own Eight Point IPA.
I got to enjoy a draft pint of Devils Tale last week at Park Lane Tavern and found it quite enjoyable. I was focused on dinner and company, so a review of that one will have to come later. I opened a bottle of Double Gooch Imerial International Pale Ale at home the other evening. After I took a sip and handled the glass to Colleen, she took a sniff and a sip, and declared "I'll have one too!"
Double Gooch is a very bright, clear orange color. The first pour produced very little head, and it took a very hard pour on the second glass to create the short head shown here, which very quickly dissipated. The aroma is slightly earthy, with oily pine and citrus notes. The citrus aspect really shines in the tasting. It's fresh and rich, and juicy grapefruit came immediately to mind. And interestingly, I thought specifically of pink grapefruit. A pleasing bitter pithiness lingers for a bit, but the finish is otherwise quite clean and short-lived. The 8% ABV is not noticeable at all in the flavor.
We both liked this beer quite a bit. It's not your typical IPA, and seems more like a ramped up Pale Ale. I enjoyed the crisp, fresh citrus happiness that didn't overwhelm. I also lamented that there are only three bottles in the box. Hopefully, it will be available locally on draft too.
Links to Related Musings: Beer Review, Craft Beer, Devils Backbone, Fat Head's Brewery, Virginia
Tuesday Night IDPA
I made it back to Colonial Shooting Academy last night for another go at their weekly IDPA match. We've had a long week here at home dealing with plumbing issues, and the evening match was a most welcome way to ignore it diversion.
The first stage had a total of six targets, engaged from four positions. I managed to get confused at one position — looking for a second target where there was just one. The second stage started with the shooter seated facing downrange, magazines staged on a chair behind the shooter, and the unloaded gun in a tool bag on the other side of the wall. Each of the four targets required three shots each as added twist. The final course of fire featured 6 targets well hidden around barrel stacks making it somewhat of a memory stage. I found all three stages challenging as well as fun.
This match seemed tougher, to me at least, than last week's, with more tight shots and targets that could be easily forgotten. The stage designers did a good job of making us think, that's for sure! I didn't feel I shot as well as I did previously, and certainly had more points down overall. It seemed to me I was rushing more, and not getting set up well. Despite that, I managed a 9th out of 28 finish in my division, so I was pretty happy with that. Although it's still easy to morning quarterback myself, "If only I had done that run differently...." But that's what makes it fun, there's always next time!
I'm glad to get in some more match shooting after a long winter off. After the last couple matches, I'm inspired to get my dry fire practice ramped up again as well. I won't be able to make it to the CSA match every week, but I'll sure try to make as many as possible. It really is a great stress reliever.
Today is my mother's birthday, and although we can't celebrate with her in person, but I will indeed celebrate her memory today. Holidays and birthdays still bring sadness, but her ever-present smile remains fresh in my thoughts and that memory is a great comfort.
I love you mom, and miss you everyday. Happy Birthday, Mom.
Links to Related Musings: Birthday, Family, Mom
Flying Dog Single Hop HBC-431
"I've been through a storm with a beer with no name." (With apologies to Dewey Bunnell and the band America.) Sorry, couldn't resist, but that tune, with altered lyrics, was playing in my head as I enjoyed the Single Hop HBC-431 from Flying Dog during our latest winter storm earlier this week.
According to the brewer, "HBC-431 is a hop so new, it doesn't even have a name. It's an experimental variety from a cutting-edge hop supplier. With a unique combination of melon, tropical fruit, stone fruit, pine and earth notes, our head brewer said it's unlike any beer he's ever been with."
The beer pours a deep golden color with a persistent head. The aroma has strong tropical fruit notes with hints of pine. It's a unique change from the citrus or sweet-forward aromas usually found in Double IPAs. The flavor continues the same tropical, citrus fruit theme, but with more pine and biscuity notes. The flavor is not all that sweet but there is a bit of a syrupy aspect. Overall this Imperial IPA is well-balanced and richly flavored.
Single Hop HBC-431 is the first of the Single Hop Series from Flying Dog in 2015. I've enjoyed quite a few of the previous releases, and this one is no different. It does seem more balanced than some of the others, and despite the reliance on a single hop for flavoring, offers a broad palette of flavors. We should look forward to seeing more beers that make use of the HBC-431 hop.
Ammo Vending Machine
I thought the idea of a free beer vending machine was a great idea, but I'm liking this machine's offerings even better. It's at a range in Beaver Falls, PA.
But of guns or ammo are involved, you can be sure someone objects. Amazingly, it's some members of the club who have their knickers in a twist over this innovation.
A vending machine operated by a candidate for Beaver County Sheriff that distributes firearms ammunition is raising some eyebrows. The machine is installed inside of the Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club, offering both rifle and handgun ammunition and operating in the same fashion as vending machines commonly used to sell snack foods.
The Beaver Countian received several tips from members of the Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club (BVRPC), located next to Brady's Run Park in Brighton Township, who said they have concerns about the appropriateness of using a vending machine to sell firearms ammunition. This publication was provided with several photos taken of the machine by the members.
The club's vending machine is operated by Master Ammo Company, a small ammunition manufacturing business owned by Sam Piccinini, a Rochester Township patrolman and Republican candidate for Beaver County Sheriff.
Members of the club who are under 21 must be accompanied by an adult when they are at the club, so there doesn't appear to be an issue with those under 21 getting unsupervised access to dangerous pistol ammo. When I first heard about this, I thought the objections were coming from the hoplophobes in the public. Sounds like another case of the "I'm a gun owner, but..." rhetoric we hear so much from the anti-2nd amendment politicians. I don't understand how the objecting members can rationalize allowing young adults in the club, but at the same time objecting to their access to ammunition.
Links to Related Musings: Ammunition, Hoplophobes, Vending Machine
IDPA Again
I haven't been able to shoot competitively since the Fredericksburg USPSA Monster Match on November 2. I've made a few trips to the range since then, but have been itching for a little more excitement. I knew there is a year-round Tuesday evening IPDA match at Colonial Shooting Academy in Richmond, and that's been tempting me for a while. For one reason or another, weather, work, or family commitments, shooting that match kept eluding me.
This week the stars aligned, so my friend Greg and I made the trip down. When we arrived the shooting was underway and we got queued up for the next group. That was good as it gave us some time to watch and get re-familiarized with the rules and other differences from USPSA matches.
The first stage had six targets shot from three positions. It was pretty straightforward and a great ice breaker for a "return" to the sport. The second stage was an "El Prez" type of stage. The shooter started facing up range, hands over shoulders, turning and drawing to engage three targets. After a mandatory reload, the targets were shot again. As an added challenge, the center target was upside down, which meant the down 0 area was lower than usual — a switch that dinged some shooters. The final stage had 6 targets shot from 4 positions while moving down an L-shaped "hallway." They were all quick, fun stages.
It was apparent to me while shooting, and after watching the video of my first stage, that I need to practice getting into position from behind cover. In a USPSA match there's generally little shooting from behind cover, and as you approach a shooting position you are often able to see the target and have the gun lined up. In two of the IDPA stages at this match, which is typical, you are moving to target that it is hidden on your approach. As you "pie" around the barricade, the targets come into view to be engaged. Also, there is no walking the stage in advance and air-gunning in IDPA to burn the movement into memory.
The other "gotcha" for USPSA shooters is that magazines with rounds still in them must be retained, and not dropped on the ground. Most of the time though, you will shoot to slide lock and have an empty mag which can be dropped. When I finished the second stage mentioned above, I didn't even look at my hits, I was simply thrilled I remembered to not drop the mag when reloading!
When it was all said and done, I was down 10 points at the end, adding a total of 5 seconds to my time, and finishing 8th out of 26 in the SSP division. I'd like to speed up a bit, especially getting settled to shoot from behind cover, but I was very happy with how I shot. It was especially satisfying after the long break and lack of practice. The folks running the match do a great job of setting up interesting stages in a limited space. I've watched videos of other matches at Colonial and they seem to get in a good variety of challenges. Some of this week's stage setups overlapped in their space, but were arranged so that only the appropriate targets were visible to the shooter. The shooters were also run through in an efficient manner.
I had a great time at the match, and I know I'll be back for more. I really like the idea of a quick match, especially on a weekday evening. It's hard to get time away from other commitments to devote an entire Saturday or Sunday to shooting (no matter how much I enjoy it.)
That's Enough to Make Me Stopping Eating It
I ran across this in my news feed reader this morning. See what happens to you when you eat anti-biotic laced food?
Yep, lost my appetite right there.
Links to Related Musings: Food, Humor, Politicians
They Closed Schools Again
All I encountered driving to work was cold and fog.
Over the last few weeks, it seems the rule here is schools close one day for each inch of snow.
Links to Related Musings: Schools, The South, Winter


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#Reflections after the solo show #Ocean #Dharma ... I'm taking some time to reflect and magnify the vibration of the new works channeled through the inspired wave of healing colours. For now, I settle for contemplative mood and enjoy the daily splash of beautiful sunrises and sunsets. May the force of the Dharma be with you Beloveds! Ahbwoonnn!!!
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