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Gaudie Arts
Magical MUBI, an alternative to Netflix?
by Aedan Brennan
Netflix and Amazon Prime have changed the big screen and made its smaller alternative far more accessible to the everyday viewer like you and me. These commercial juggernauts have brought a lot of positives to the filmic landscape, as directors now have a wider range of opportunities to create original and entertaining spectacles that might not have brought a large enough audience to see the cinematic light of day. However, in turn, such streaming platforms have to cater to an ever-growing audience, hungry for the Hollywood experience to be brought to their living rooms, rather than a jam-packed cinema. Although some of these films may be more creative than your average big-budget thriller, they are increasingly morphing into a shape that fits a certain type of cookie-cutter mould. A mould that is starting to affect the universal streaming experience as a whole, what brings in the viewers and the most money gets advertised. This sounds rather bleak, doesn't it? My answer to the current streaming boredom is MUBI.
MUBI is a relatively cheap alternative, costing around £3.99 per month with the applied student discount, adding a new film every day.
Courtesy: Mubi Webs via Wikimedia Commons.
With its focus on arthouse cinema, some may say this a suitably snobby and niche solution to a problem affecting the masses. However, MUBI may open your eyes to films you haven't even heard of, directors making big, beautiful films that don't quite fit the algorithm of popular streaming services. With this in mind, it's the perfect solution, as it's almost the antithesis of Netflix or Prime. It's open and vulnerable yet trusting. It offers films that don't guarantee a dedicated audience yet trusts the viewer to find a picture that might make them laugh or cry, or even change the way they think. I came to this verdict after viewing two very different films on the platform, Michael Mann's Heat and Aurel's Josep.
Heat screams 90s. Classy yet subdued, this utter masterpiece will have you glued from the word "go". With a quite frankly outrageous cast boasting Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Michael Mann's cops and robbers film screams style yet offers a subdued melancholic vision of life in the balance.
The film pits Neil (De Niro), head of a crackpot group of highly sophisticated robbers, against Detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), a cop possessed by the chase, whose one goal in life revolves around stopping attempted heists.
Courtesy: Warner Bros.
To understand why Heat is so good, one has to look no further than its modern counterpart Den of Thieves. A dull script is butchered by the cast who can't get to grips with the attempted tone of the film. Heat's cast nails this to a tea. The script isn't masterful, yet the credentials of these actors manage to seamlessly travel through the sometimes cringey dialogue. The allure of the heist takes a backseat, and the lives of the renegades steal the show. MUBI isn't pushing the boat out with this selection, and I wouldn't be shocked if I saw Heat on Netflix or Amazon Prime. This enhances the viewing experience of the platform further, as if you're looking to relax to a film that may take you by surprise, Heat is the film for you.
Contrastingly, if you want to cry MUBI can also cater for you. The French film Josep, directed by Aurel, is essentially one cartoonist displaying another's in the utmost regard. The movie centres around the life of Josep Bartoli, an artist who led a fascinating and harrowing life. Aurel expertly crafts a deeply sensitive and thought-provoking narrative that discusses the wartime treatment of Spaniards fleeing Franco's fascist coup. Refugees like Bartoli are crammed into hastily made concentration camps in France and treated like animals by their guards. However, one guard is an exception — Martin, who treats the ravaged Spanish prisoners with kindness. Voiced by Emmanuel Vottero, Martin drives the narrative forward and the viewer is brought with him through different time spans.
Courtesy: Sophie Dulac Distribution
The infusion of Bartoli's haunting drawings of the concentration camps throughout the film adds a layer of real-life horror to the surreal atmosphere of a cartoon. Grounding the film in such a reality brings forth the notion that the situation Josep faced could happen to anyone.
The fact of the matter is that Josep is a must-see film, yet before I came across MUBI it was nowhere to be found. Heat is ready-made for Netflix, but its three-hour run time means that it's not snappy enough to enter that platform. Cinema is meant to be diverse, yet the range of foreign films, short films and even cult classics is becoming quashed. I want to be engrossed, I want to scroll and be left mulling over too many options instead of scratching my head, choosing between The Matrix or The Matrix Reloaded. MUBI offers diversity, it gives a voice to directors who need to be heard, in fact, who need to be screaming out at unsuspecting viewers, grabbing their attention. I implore you to give MUBI a go.
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aedan brennan

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"The perfect body". Something we all want, but only see in movies and on social media. The quest for the perfect body is one we can all relate to. There's only one problem, though.
What exactly is a "perfect body"?
I'm going to let you in on a secret — well, less a secret, more just a chunk of wisdom that took me forever to learn — there's no such thing!
If you're looking to find your happiness in a dress size or on the weighing scale, you will remain forever miserable. Your body shape and size is determined by multiple factors — genetics, lifestyle, diet, ethnicity. You know what the idea of the 'perfect body' is determined by? Society.
There was a time when women compromised their breathing in order to corset their insides into a teeny tiny little waist. Then came the era of Marilyn Monroe, a gorgeous Size 16 whose curves were the subject of many male (and perhaps a few female) dreams. Years later, along came Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Cara Delevingne.
But here's where I feel the media — social media included — plays with our self-esteem and our body image. Every day, we're bombarded with tonnes of visual information, and every day, it etches its way into our brains. We see images of sculpted abs, bulging biceps, slender waists, and jiggle-free thighs. And we start to believe that that's the way we should all look.
And yes, men are affected by the myth of 'the perfect body', too! And no, they don't deserve it either.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am by no means saying that people who have worked hard to get their bodies toned and muscular are doing anything wrong. Nothing of the sort. What I do feel is wrong, is how everyone else is made to feel inferior. More often than not, this isn't even at the hands of the aforementioned muscular people. Rather, the bullying and bashing comes from a nameless, faceless entity whom we can neither pinpoint nor identify. Because it's within us.
We have been so intensely conditioned to believe we need to look a certain way to be attractive, we automatically believe we're unattractive. After all, let's face it, how many of us look anything like Angelina Jolie or Chris Hemsworth?
When I started TwitterGetsFitter, I received several messages from participants, telling me the reasons they were doing this. While a few of them simply wanted to get healthier and stronger, the vast majority were fighting body image issues, some of them crippling. Several are still not comfortable taking or sharing selfies, because they hate the way they look.
And it pains me. So much.
So to everyone reading this, I want you to know — Please, please, love and accept your body. It doesn't matter what it looks like, it matters what it can do! Are you healthy? Hormones, digestion, everything works fine? No joint issues? Can you hold a plank? Or climb 5 flights of stairs without feeling out of breath? Are you happy? Not depressed? Have good relationships with your family and friends?
Remember, your body will never look the same for all your life. It's normal, it's natural. Things will get saggy, or a little dimply, or a little squishy. And that's okay. As long as you're healthy, and happy.


You deserve wedding photos that tell a story. When you look through your gallery, my goal is for you to feel as if you're re-living your big day. Your big day is one of the most important days, but yet its the fastest to come by. Your photos are what will last you a lifetime and bring back the greatest moments.      If you're looking for someone to genuinely care about you, your big day and capture it as if it were their own wedding, then we'd be a good match! My goal is to get to know my couples so I can capture photos of your loved one for what your relationship is, and for who you actually are. When you look through my gallery, I hope you see real life couples. Not those super posed and perfect looking couples.  At the end of the day, you should look at your photos and be like "This is our LOVE"      I'm ready to capture some of the best memories of your life!
I'm a South Florida based destination Wedding + couples photographer who loves traveling the world and meeting new people! Capturing love for what it is and telling your story through the art of photography is what I do best.
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Emily is a wizard. That's really the best way I can describe her. My husband and I are not the most comfortable in front of a camera or being the center of attention, and Emily was great at making us feel comfortable and as relaxed as possible. The pictures came out fantastic and she got them to us so quickly! I really like that she guides you subtlety and your photos don't come out overly posed and are very natural. She perfectly captured who we are. I've heard wedding photographers can take months to get you your photos and Emily had them to us within like 2 weeks. Couldn't be happier with her and would 10/10 recommend and rebook.
Let me start off by saying that it has been 5 days since our engagement photoshoot session with Emily Prada and my fiancé and I are still raving about how amazing the whole experience was. Emily made everything feel so natural and comfortable, which is absolutely necessary for us because we are both awkward when it comes to the camera! From her little secret techniques of capturing real genuine laughs to allowing us to just be us. Emily also helped choose the 2 locations to shoot at and it was so much more than what I ever envisioned. She's a dream to work with! Let's just say Emily was born to do this! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Memories to last a lifetime.
Emily is by far the BEST out there! I wish I could leave her more than 5 stars because she absolutely deserves it. From the very first time we met with her we instantly felt so comfortable with her and didn't need to meet with any other photographers. Emily gave us the confidence and peace of mind in knowing that she would capture the best moments of our night and that we would have the best pictures to be able to always look back on. She was always in touch with us and made our wants her priority. Emily listened to all our requests and found a way to make sure that every little detail worked out. She thought about everything that we didn't and on the day of our wedding everything turned out even better than we planned. She was so organized and present and made sure that everyone was included when they needed to be. We actually ended up asking her to stay longer than expected and even through that she had a smile on her face and was happy to be there. Our pictures came out beyond perfect and all the emotion was captured in such an amazing way! We have received so many compliments about our pictures and it comes with no surprise. If you're looking for someone stop right here and book Emily! She is the best choice and the sweetest! Thank you so much Emily for absolutely everything!
Fianlly!!! I've been wanting to post my review about Emily Prada since the day after she did our engagement photos cause she was that amazing! We were so happy to have chosen Emily for our engagement photos. We originally wanted her for the wedding as well, but unfortunately she was already booked. So we settled to have our engagement photos taken with her and we were more than pleased at the phenomenal job she did! She has a very nice demeanor to her and just let's you be you. She has a great eye for where to place you and her composition is on point! She doesn't necessarily tell you what poses to perform, because she rather you be yourself. What we loved and found pretty cool was that she walks around with music playing to keep the vibe just right. When we received the pictures, we could not believe how good they looked! She made us look like magazine models, lol. Everyone raved at how great the pictures came out. She has great depth of field and works with natural lighting which is the style we love. We are bummed she isn't available for our wedding day, but if you're lucky to have her be a part of your special day, you will not be disappointed because she really is AMAZING!!!!


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Peace in Afghanistan: Decoding The London Trilateral
Monish Gulati
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari were in London on 03 February 2013 for a trilateral summit meeting with the British Prime Minister David Cameron. The current talks in London were the third in the series with the first two having been held in 2012. The inaugural meeting was in Kabul in July, which was then followed by a meeting at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. In the London talks, the Pakistani and Afghan army and intelligence chiefs took part for the first time. It was reported that the Afghan and Pakistani military and intelligence officials also met informally on 03 February ahead of the summit.1
The Afghan peace process, primed by the release of Taliban detainees by Pakistan, had not been progressing as hoped by all stakeholders. On the other hand, Pakistan in return for the Taliban detainees it had released, expected further cooperation from Afghanistan including a role in training of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Some analyst also felt UK was best placed to resolve the issue of the Durand Line which has never been officially recognized by Kabul, and has been a major cause of tension between the two countries. 2
Leading up to the London trilateral, there were two events of significance after the Paris peace talks in December 2012. First was the visit by Karzai to Washington where he and President Obama announced on 11January that a negotiating office for the Taliban would be opened in Qatar. However Karzai, on return to Kabul, said there will be no deal until Qatar meets his earlier stated conditions in writing. Second was the core group meeting in Dubai where the Pakistan's foreign secretary had said that Pakistan plans to release all Afghan Taliban prisoners still in its custody.
The Afghan President in his imitable manner set the tone for the trilateral meet with an interview to the Guardian and ITV released late on 03 February. He suggested that Pakistan was preventing the Taliban from entering into peace talks with his government. Karzai also said that the biggest threat to peace in Afghanistan was not the Taliban, but meddling from foreign powers. He took a swipe at the British when he remarked that Helmand situation and security was better before British troops were deployed there in 2006.Hinting at the Taliban safe havens in Pakistan he added that the drawdown of Western troops appeared to have been because they had realised that "they were fighting in the wrong place."
Taliban for Talks
The US has tried to accelerate the peace process by working with Britain, Norway and Germany to reach out to the Taliban. 3 All these efforts were to work around the Taliban demands for changing the Afghan constitution, withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and the most uncomfortable of their entire refusal to recognize the Afghan government while being more amenable to negotiating directly with US.
Taliban Office
The heart of the disagreement regarding opening of Taliban office in Doha is Karzai's demand that Qatar produce a written memorandum of understanding agreeing to his preconditions. These demands include assurances that the office would not be used for any "political purpose" other than direct negotiations with Afghanistan, that it have a fixed time frame and be closed if talks do not take place, and that all Taliban negotiators provide "documentation" proving they are legitimate representatives.4 Qatar has not agreed on the demands of Karzai Administration that the office should be closed down within six months if Taliban do not start direct talks with HPC.
Release of Detainees
Pakistan's lack of monitoring the whereabouts and activities of Taliban prisoners it released in recent months as frustrated Afghanistan. Pakistan says doesn't have the resources to keep track of the freed detainees. The HPC had handed Pakistan the list of prisoners, including Turabi, that it wanted freed. They have also asked for the release of the Taliban's former second in command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, but Washington has urged Pakistan not to release him.5 There are indications that at least more than half might have rejoined the ranks of the insurgency.6 In some cases, the released Taliban resorted to suicide attacks. Further Pakistan had released more detainees than Afghanistan had asked for. There has been at least one report of tension between Taliban leadership as a released Taliban leader asked to be reinstated to his former post. The US Embassy in Kabul has called for "responsible release" of Taliban prisoners and that it was up to Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach to a solution.7
US Interests
Top on the US agenda is jump-starting the peace and reconciliation process which is not in-step with its drawdown plans and its exit strategy. Without a meaningful outcome of the political planned in Afghanistan, the US fears will again be accused of abandoning the region, just as it was at the end of the Soviet Union's Afghan occupation in the early 1990s. Worse, if a civil war breaks out, it may do an 'Iraq' in South Asia. In addition, U.S. hopes of positioning a post-withdrawal counterterrorism force in Afghanistan while in the near term negotiations are critical to secure the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only U.S. service member known to be a Taliban captive.
Pakistani Demands
Pakistanis want a secure Afghan border, an end to the Balochistan insurgency, coordinated action against anti-Pakistan guerrillas in both countries and reduction of Indian role in Afghanistan. According BBC News, Pakistan does not want a repeat of the 1989 pullout by Soviet forces, which left Kabul in the hands of what it regarded as "unfriendly" forces. It fears this may extend Indian influence to its western border.
Trilateral Summit
Following talks the joint statement issued from Downing Street said, "All sides agreed on the urgency of this work and committed themselves to take all necessary measures to achieve the goal of a peace settlement over the next six months." They urged the Taliban to join the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Cameron said both Karzai and Zardari had agreed at the summit to initiate 'an unprecedented level of co-operation' between their nations and they hoped to sign an agreement strengthening ties on economic and security issues, including trade and border management, later in the year. He added that discussions at the summit had focused on ways of advancing the Afghan-led peace process as well as strengthening relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.8
All sides affirmed support for the opening of a Taliban office in Doha for the purpose of negotiations with the HPC. They called on the Taliban to take steps necessary to open an office and to enter into dialogue. However there were reports that Pakistan viewed the Afghan conditions as detrimental to further progress on the peace talks.9 Another significant commitment was to "strengthen co-ordination of Taliban detainee releases from Pakistani custody." In future Islamabad will send the list of the Taliban inmates to the HPC that would be released from Pakistani prisons. It had been speculated that the Afghan Government will indirectly recognize the Durand Line in a pact "titled Border Management and Strategic Agreement", and in turn Pakistan shall push the Taliban for peace. As per Afghan media when the US pressurized Pakistan for supporting insurgents, General Kayani justified Pakistani action in a 100-page report claiming that NATO, India and Afghanistan wanted to divide Pakistan.10 The Afghan presidential spokesman, on 10 Feb clarified that the issue of the Durand Line had not been discussed at the trilateral.11
Transitional Government
It has also been reported that the Pakistan's delegation during the London talks demanded that negotiations be carried out between Afghan political groups and Taliban to establish a new legitimate administration in Kabul. It is said that Pakistani delegation had told President Karzai that they were not able to get the Taliban to accept the Afghan Constitution and the Afghan Government, therefore, there is a need to establish a 'new political system'.12 According to sources, Pakistan held a meeting between warlords, Hezb-e-Islami and the Taliban commanders in the Shamshatoo Refugee Camp in Pakistan where the establishment of a transitional Government in Afghanistan was discussed.13
An Afghan Taliban spokesman on Wednesday dismissed the outcome of a conference in London and said that the conference and other "horse trading" were "the real obstacles of effective and fruitful negotiations between the factual sides".14 The US on its part said that it supports the Pak-Afghan deadline for finalising a peace deal with the Taliban and urges insurgents to open a reconciliation post in Qatar. Such a process was "the surest way to end the violence and ensure lasting stability in Afghanistan and in the region". "Our goal here has been to support the creation of a process to make it possible … for willing Taliban participants to talk directly to the Afghan High Peace Council".15
The trilateral was followed by two visits. First was a two-day visit by the British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond to southern Afghanistan to visit U.K. troops on 05 Feb 13. He also met with new Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi in Kabul. 16 The second visit was by Pakistani Prime Minister Ashraf to meet David Cameron on February 12, 2013. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed matters of bilateral interest including the aftermath in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO troops. Prime Minister Ashraf also put in a bid for military hardware for Pakistan. The meeting also covered Indo-Pakistan relations apart from discussions on matters of bilateral and international importance. Cameron, hailing the recently concluded trilateral meeting, said that Pakistan's role was constructive and he would be visiting Pakistan this summer to carry the process forward.17
The trilateral summit meets are organised taking in consideration certain ground realities. For one it is not possible to discuss Afghanistan with India and Pakistan in the same forum. Therefore, US conducts a trilateral involving India while the UK manages one with Pakistan. Second, UK has been more active in dealing with the Taliban representatives and involving them in the power sharing mechanism in Kabul( since the Saudi organised peace talks in 2009) and the same time it mitigates the turbulent relationship Pakistan shares with US particularly for the political constituency in Pakistan. The present meet involved the military and intelligence chiefs giving due recognition to the various power centres in Pakistan, and possibly signaling a more direct and on the table approach to speed up the process.
Although the Taliban appear more ready to talk than ever before, peace talks remain tenuous on account of a rising number of interlocutors on either side — all trying to get some kind of negotiations started with various combinations of stakeholders. Reportedly, members of the Taliban are in contact with representatives from 30 to 40 different countries. Recent informal talks in Doha had the intervention of a Pakistani politician Mullah Fazlur Rahman and Yusuf al-Qaradawi who has contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The timeline of six months set by the trilateral summit, deemed overly optimistic by most experts, is most probably derived from the imperative to get the Taliban to participate in the upcoming provincial and Presidential elections in Afghanistan and the filing of nominations for the same. There is also this need to settle the border issue and Pakistani requirements at the earliest to get on with the peace process in right earnest.
Second, the idea of the transitional government being introduced into the peace process aims at finding a way around the Taliban's refusal to deal directly with the Karzai government. The idea of transitional government also puts pressure on the Afghan government to dilute its demands concerning the Taliban office in Qatar.
Another issue of note is the Pakistani demand of weapons from UK. The armaments in question would most likely be those being moved out of Afghanistan by the British troops as a part of their drawdown. Pakistan has made a similar demand to the US coinciding with the move of the first lot of containers from Afghanistan through Pakistan. Third is the Pakistani desperation to get the SPA through comes from the fact that NATO/ISAF countries are basing their training mission in Afghanistan post- 2014 on their respective SPAs signed with Afghanistan. India, unlike Pakistan, having signed an SPA with Afghanistan is better placed to ramp up its training role post- 2014. India has viewed with unease the British efforts to push through the SPA between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It is widely believed that British interlocutors had a leading role in the drafting of the five-point peace process roadmap for Afghanistan which mainly addresses Pakistan and Taliban interests in the region. There is a sense that the elements of the erstwhile Northern Alliance, more favourable aligned to India, are being sidelined in the peace process. India is also uncomfortable with the distinction US has made between Al-Qaeda and other militant groups operating in the region for pushing through the peace process. Taliban, TTP, IMU etc may not pose any threat to the US but they definitely have security implications for India.
Indian apprehensions also stem from the fact that it believes the entire peace process is Pakistan-centric and does not address the regional concerns. To that end India is contemplating talks with Russia and China to give the peace process a more regional outlook. India is also of the opinion that due consideration must be given to the interests of countries which are investing, particularly in the infrastructure sector, in Afghanistan. India feels that British intervention through a hastily-cobbled deal between Afghanistan and Pakistan including bringing the Taliban into the power structure in Kabul, aims to give the NATO and the US an honourable exit from Afghanistan.
When viewed favourably it can be said that the London trilateral represented a convergence of three of the most important players in Afghanistan on the urgency of resolving issues and making efforts towards peace through a political settlement. The big question however remains whether Karzai has accepted the need to have a Taliban office in Doha sans conditions and in turn his demand to be the sole Afghan interlocutor with the Taliban has been accepted by the other concerned parties.
Michael Lipin. 'Britain's Cameron Hosts 3rd Summit With Afghan, Pakistani Leaders', February03, 2013. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2013/02/mil-130203-v...
Trilateral Summit in London, Outlook Afghanistan, February 03, 2013. http://outlookafghanistan.net/editorialdetail.php?post_id=6545
Taliban hint at sharing power, yet Afghan peace effort fraught with mistrust, confusion, Washington Post, February 04, 2013. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taliban-hint-at-sharing...
Mariya Karimjee. 'UK PM Cameron to host peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan',Globalpost, February 03, 2013
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/afghanistan...
Taliban hint at sharing power, yet Afghan peace effort fraught with mistrust, confusion, February 4 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taliban-hint-at-sharing...
'Freed Taliban fighters return to insurgency, frustrating peace efforts in Afghanistan,, Fox News, February 21, 2013. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/21/freed-taliban-fighters-return-to...
Tolo TV Headlines, February 10, 2013.
Pak, Afghan Leaders To Seek Peace Settlement Within Six Months, February 05,2013. http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2013-02/25886260-pak-afghan-...
Kamran Yousaf, 'The Qatar initiative: JUI-F chief features in Doha talks', The Express Tribune, February 11, 2013. http://tribune.com.pk/story/505597/the-qatar-initiative-jui-f-chief-feat...
Cheragh Daily, February 11, 2013.
Pajhwok Afghan News, February 11, 2013.
Hasht-e-Subh Daily, February 10, 13
Sarnavesht Daily, February 10, 2013.
Taliban dismiss outcome of Pak-Afghan-UK conference, Dawn, February 06,2013.
http://dawn.com/2013/02/06/taliban-dismiss-outcome-of-pak-afghan-uk-conf...
US supports Pak-Afghan deadline for Taliban deal, Dawn, February 06, 2013
http://dawn.com/2013/02/06/us-supports-pak-afghan-deadline-for-taliban-d...
UK Defense Secretary Visits Afghanistan, ABC News, February 7, 2013.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-defense-secretary-visit...
Pakistan seeks military hardware from Britain, The Nation, February 13, 2013 http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/na...
Labels: Afghan High Peace Council, Afghan peace process, ANSF, Asif Ali Zardari, David Cameron, Hamid Karzai, Hezb-e-Islami, Muslim Brotherhood, NATO, Shamshatoo Refugee Camp
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Happy 3rd Birthday, Roswelle Gray!
Roswelle is THREE!! Per her request, we had a "princess party." Her little friends came in their princess dresses. They made jewelry, ate cake, and played well past the party ended. It was a very sweet day with people that love Roswelle as much as she loves them!
Every time I think about this being the last few months (and particularly her last birthday) of it being just the three of us, my eyes fill up with tears. Clearly I wanted a second baby and a sibling for her, but it has felt so good to pour love, affection, and energy solely into Roswelle. Watching her grow and develop over these few years has just been the best and I'm so thankful to continue to be a part of her becoming the woman she is supposed to be, including becoming a big sister.
I ordered the cake from Sweet Life Bakery in Dorchester (they are the BEST in Boston), my mom ordered the princess carriages from Amazon, and the crafts/decorations are from good ol' Target.


text:
Function components in ng

        Name
        Description

        angular.errorHandlingConfig

Configure several aspects of error handling in AngularJS if used as a setter or return the
current configuration if used as a getter. The following options are supported:

        angular.lowercase

Converts the specified string to lowercase.

        angular.uppercase

Converts the specified string to uppercase.

        angular.forEach

Invokes the iterator function once for each item in obj collection, which can be either an
object or an array. The iterator function is invoked with iterator(value, key, obj), where value
is the value of an object property or an array element, key is the object property key or
array element index and obj is the obj itself. Specifying a context for the function is optional.

        angular.extend

Extends the destination object dst by copying own enumerable properties from the src object(s)
to dst. You can specify multiple src objects. If you want to preserve original objects, you can do so
by passing an empty object as the target: var object = angular.extend({}, object1, object2).

        angular.merge

Deeply extends the destination object dst by copying own enumerable properties from the src object(s)
to dst. You can specify multiple src objects. If you want to preserve original objects, you can do so
by passing an empty object as the target: var object = angular.merge({}, object1, object2).

        angular.noop

A function that performs no operations. This function can be useful when writing code in the
functional style.

function foo(callback) {
  var result = calculateResult();
  (callback || angular.noop)(result);
}

        angular.identity

A function that returns its first argument. This function is useful when writing code in the
functional style.

        angular.isUndefined

Determines if a reference is undefined.

        angular.isDefined

Determines if a reference is defined.

        angular.isObject

Determines if a reference is an Object. Unlike typeof in JavaScript, nulls are not
considered to be objects. Note that JavaScript arrays are objects.

        angular.isString

Determines if a reference is a String.

        angular.isNumber

Determines if a reference is a Number.

        angular.isDate

Determines if a value is a date.

        angular.isArray

Determines if a reference is an Array. Alias of Array.isArray.

        angular.isFunction

Determines if a reference is a Function.

        angular.isElement

Determines if a reference is a DOM element (or wrapped jQuery element).

        angular.copy

Creates a deep copy of source, which should be an object or an array.

        angular.equals

Determines if two objects or two values are equivalent. Supports value types, regular
expressions, arrays and objects.

        angular.bind

Returns a function which calls function fn bound to self (self becomes the this for
fn). You can supply optional args that are prebound to the function. This feature is also
known as partial application, as
distinguished from function currying.

        angular.toJson

Serializes input into a JSON-formatted string. Properties with leading $$ characters will be
stripped since angular uses this notation internally.

        angular.fromJson

Deserializes a JSON string.

        angular.bootstrap

Use this function to manually start up angular application.

        angular.reloadWithDebugInfo

Use this function to reload the current application with debug information turned on.
This takes precedence over a call to $compileProvider.debugInfoEnabled(false).

        angular.injector

Creates an injector object that can be used for retrieving services as well as for
dependency injection (see dependency injection).

        angular.element

Wraps a raw DOM element or HTML string as a jQuery element.

        angular.module

The angular.module is a global place for creating, registering and retrieving Angular
modules.
All modules (angular core or 3rd party) that should be available to an application must be
registered using this mechanism.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Get FREE "How To Fix Your SEO Without Needing A Guru"
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Aaron Parker
In this SEO Case Study we look at how we took Robin Storey's author site, Storey Lines, turned it into a ghostwriter site, and in 12 months increased traffic by over 500%.
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DA Increase
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Robin Storey is an author of 7 books in the crime/comedy genre and 1 memoir of her own experience of breast cancer.
Over time, Robin's writing moved from fiction to fact and soon she realised that her strengths, and her ability to best serve people, lay in the role of a ghostwriter.
That is, writing other people's life stories.
This led to a decision to change the direction of her website. It also led to discovering that the overall site structure, SEO and existing content was..."not so hot".
Note: The original site was built on Thrive Themes so a decision was made to stick with this but update the theme used to take advantage of better site design options.
The biggest threat was losing the existing audience and traffic.
Tailoring the site alteration without losing existing traffic/optins
Deciding which existing content should go or be update and what new content to add
Restructuring the site design, seo, content and link profile to attract a new audience
The main problem with the website was that it didn't drive conversions, and that all content was 'stand-alone' and didn't link to create a user funnel.
Our first step was to update the theme to the latest Rise theme available from Thrive Themes.
Next, came the in-depth analysis of all existing pages to determine whether they stayed, got updated or archived.
Lastly, came the design and implementation of 2 silo pages, breaking down the content into fiction and non-fiction books and creating post grids related to individual genre keywords, like Thriller Fiction and Memoir for example.
SEO REVAMP
After conducting a site audit, every single page and post (left over after the clean-out) was updated to include all the basic SEO elements such as keyword driven headlines, sections, links and meta descriptions.
SEO is not an author's strong suit and so a lot of work was done here but it was also the factor that created the most immediate gains in traffic.
Particular attention was paid to the link structure, both internally and externally and using appropriate anchor texts.
CONTENT REVAMP
This was another long process but it was also another winner in terms of traffic and especially metrics like time on site.
Robin's site still suffers from a relatively high bounce rate but we were able to get this down considerably just by keeping people engaged with the content.
Making the content longer was also a big benefit as was the inter-linking.
Turning traffic into subscribers and then ultimately ghostwrting clients was obviously high on the agenda, so a main ghostwriter sales page was created (outlining Robin's services).
Numerous blog posts related to ghostwriting, both from a writing perspective and from a client needs perspective were written and released over time.
This kept some of the existing fiction book subscribers from leaving the list (although that was and still is inevitable), but it helped to create the new ghostwriter client audience.
After reviewing the site and making the "right" kind of changes, I saw real progress in the ranking and also a huge increase in traffic. I now hold the number one (or at least top 2 or 3) spot for all my main keywords and best of all, I'm getting more clients.
The initial site re-design took about 4 months in total, combined with updating and adding in extra social sites and implementing a dedicated content plan.
That plan ran for about another 6 months and combined regular blog posts, continual existing page/blog updates and testing and tracking of keywords.
Site stats were gathered through various programs, Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
As you can see from the semrush.com search below, organic traffic increased exponentially after the April-May 2020 project start, dropped off as the site "settled" and then took off again as the content started to attract visitors.
It reached a peak of over 4,500 visitors in June 2021 and has since reduced, mainly due to a slow-down in content creation (because Robin is actually spending more time with clients).
One or two Google updates affected the site, although that can't be blamed entirely. It's really a content issue more than anything.
You can see however, that the organic keyword volume has continually increased from 834 total in May 2020 to 2,072 in October 2021. Impressive.
The table below shows the current status of Moz and Majestic rankings and scores taken from serped.net.
Before the project began, the Moz Rank was 1.4, Domain Authority 16, Page Authority 20, Citation Flow 2, and Trust Flow 0.
These improving metrics have played a big part is Robin's site acheiving its impressive ranking where she currently holds 21 positions in the top 10 for high traffic keywords.
I thoroughly recommend SEO Artillery to any business that wants their website to perform.
Robin Storey ● Ghostwriter
There's a lot more that can be done to Storey Lines to make it an even better site. In fact, it will be going through another iteration of the SEO audit process later this year.
We'll be re-designing the home page to move away from the author books listed and more toward an actual ghostwriter look and feel.
Watch for a new SEO case study in 2022.
The only reason why this hasn't already been done is because of the large email list that Robin has for her reader base.
It's been a "gentle" process to transition this list to people interested in non-fiction material and away from purely fiction readers.
Now that this is almost complete, the home page can be changed.
There are basically two main takeaways that have come from this project and not surprisingly, they are old-school tactics:
1. Take the time to do a complete site SEO and content audit to determine what needs to be done immediately, what needs to follow that and what can be left for a later date. The key is get quick wins without sacrificing the integrity of the site.
2. The old but trusted method of siloing is still going strong from an SEO perspective and should be used wherever possible on a wesbite to help create content authority. Google loves it when you make it easy for them to understand your site.
What did you think of this case study?
Did we cover everything? Did we miss anything?
Let us know in the comments below.
Get Immediate Access To This Simple Guide:
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Aaron has been an SEO forever. Well, sometimes it feels like it anyway. When he's not unlocking the mysteries of SEO you can usually find him bushwalking or simply taking in the scenery.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post.
If you want me to help you get massive amounts of traffic, just book a consultation.
Enter Your Details Here


text:
the best news you can get without a security clearance
Guns and Gadgets
The Butcher's Notebook
Dr. Strangelove's Notebook
Space & Aviation
← Analysis: Federalists vs. Technocrats
Analysis: Two Terms is Too Many →
Printed Protection and the Future of Defense
Posted: November 7, 2013 | Author: Pundit Planet | Filed under: Guns and Gadgets, Science & Technology | Tags: Bitcoin, Chuck Schumer, Cody Wilson, Defense Distributed, Gun politics, New York, University of Texas at Austin, World War II |2 Comments
Jeffrey Tucker writes: We crossed another milestone in industrial history last week. Over the weekend of May 4-5, 2013, the world's first handgun was printed on a 3-D printer. It was fired and it worked. The implications are dazzling for people all over the world. The printers will become cheaper over time. The files for printing can be distributed all over the world through the Internet.
And no government in the world is in a position to stop it.
That's not to say that governments won't try. "It's stomach-churning," said New York Sen. Charles Schumer of this remarkable innovation. "We're facing a situation where anyone — a felon, a terrorist — can open a gun factory in their garage, and the weapons they make will be undetectable."
A big advocate of gun control, his real goal is not to make the world a more peaceful place. He simply wants government to have all the guns and doesn't want to make it easier for you and me to get them. He wants to retain the present disparity of power between government and the people and senses that something is upsetting the balance.
Therefore, of course, he wants to amend the law to make printed guns impossible. If you haven't noticed, this seems to be the main thing government does these days. It puts barriers in the way of progress and tries to stop technological advance.
Legislators just can't reconcile themselves to the new reality that they have less and less power each day as the digital age progresses. It's the force of innovators and consumers the world over — creating and exchanging to their mutual benefit — compared with the clunky and blunt instrument of the regulatory state.
The driving energy behind the printed gun is Cody Wilson, a 25-year-old law student at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the visionary behind Defense Distributed, a website that releases the plans, provides updates, and accepts donations in Bitcoin. He calls his new weapon "the Liberator" after the inexpensive, single-shot gun manufactured by the U.S. government during World War II. They were dropped all over Europe to scare and demoralize occupying armies.
Mr. Wilson thinks like the entrepreneurs of old. He had an idea and believed it was achievable. He saw every barrier not as something that would stop him, but as something to overcome. His crowdfunding project was removed by the website that first hosted it. His first rented printer was recalled by its owners. The regulatory barriers were huge, but he responded with overcompliance. And of course, the gun-grabbers consider him to be enemy No. 1.
I've been intrigued to watch his vision unfold over the last year. He clearly saw that the 3-D printing revolution has profound implications for the future. Among other things, it challenges the whole basis of government regulation of the economy, which is very much tied to controlling manufacturers and the buying-and-selling process itself.
With distributable and localized manufacturing, the core power of the regulatory state is faced with a fundamental challenge. Patents and other forms of "intellectual property" become irrelevant. If a design is constrained by regulatory controls, it is a simple matter of changing the design to produce an uncompromised product.
With or without printed guns, this new technology is going to lead to continuing upheaval in the years ahead. It is already deeply embedded in the manufacturing process. Boeing has installed some 20,000 different printed parts. Pratt & Whitney, GE, and many other companies depend on it for profitability.
As the revolution advances, printing will gradually replace shipping. More people of the world will have access without transportation costs, making prosperity affordable in a way that was previously unimaginable. (For more on the origins and development of this industry, see the wonderful book Makers by Chris Anderson.)
A crucial element in this disruptive technology is the role of open source sharing. This is a completely different approach from what prevailed from the Industrial Revolution until very recently. Usually, it was believed that a company's profitability was bound with its proprietary control and its trade secrets. But through open source innovation, companies have discovered that they can extract better ideas by drawing on the energy and skills of people all over the world, resulting in a better product and a faster pace of development.
Defense Distributed uses the open source model. It allows the company to get from here to there faster and to distribute its results universally. Open source approaches also instill the manufacturing process with that crucial element of trust. Think of this as a globalized system of peer review in which nothing is hidden. It's sort of the opposite of how governments do things.
Think of how the pace of change is accelerating compared with the past. The Gilded Age saw astonishing changes: railroads crossed the country, internal combustion became common, homes were lit with electricity, and steel replaced iron as the building metal of choice. But all of this took 25 years to come about. We are now seeing innovations proceed at a pace that makes the Gilded Age look like slow motion. It is affecting every sector of life — now even gun manufacturing and money and banking.
None of this would be possible without two critical institutions: the Internet and entrepreneurial dreams. Put the two together and you have miracles in the making.
How will Mr. Wilson's gun change the world? Over time, it could fundamentally upset the balance of the relationship between citizens and their governments, not just here, but around the world. It makes 20th-century-style tyranny less likely, or at least gives the people a fighting chance to hold onto their rights and liberties. Public and private predators can be checked.
Freedom is the victor here, and one would suppose that this would be something to celebrate.
Instead, we get carping politicians, annoyed regulators, and legions of peanut-gallery critics who make fun of the gun's design and functionality. This misses the bigger picture. We are living in the dawn of a new age, and the future is going to be much different from the immediate past. People like Cody Wilson are society's benefactors.
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2 Comments on "Printed Protection and the Future of Defense"
Printed Protection and the Future of Defense - iVoter.com | iVoter.com says:
[…] The Butcher Jeffrey Tucker writes: We crossed another milestone in industrial history last week. Over the […]
Brittius says:
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
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Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran. Team Oddbins are a little unsure how the lovely people at Berton Vineyards in Australia managed to squish it into wine bottles and why the city's disappearance has gone unnoticed in the world's press. Let's just pretend it never happened. How about we just tell you it was made from the Shiraz grape variety instead, and that this is not quite the very predictable drop you'd expect. It has real complexity at the price with very delicious notes of black cherries, plums, coffee, vanilla, caramel, toast and some unusual Persian spices.
Bob and Cherie Berton set up the Berton Vineyard in the High Eden subregion of Barossa in 1996. Due to a lack of water for a couple of years it took a while for the vines to really flourish, but now these hardy little vines are producing some incredible grapes. This wine was one of the first wines that Berton produced and is therefore one they, and we, are very proud of. A deep dark cherry colour with vibrant hues, it has aromas of black cherries and raspberries, while the palate displays ripe plums, cherries and sweet vanilla. Rich with rounded tannins, this is great with spicy lamb dishes, beef stews or mushroom risotto.


text:
Some short notes on Short-toed Eagles in Northern Ukraine in 2014
The high availability of prey ↓
Earlier leaving nests and the departure ↓
Conflicts with Ravens and Black Storks ↓
Aerial games at the breeding site ↓
Building a nest on June for the next season ↓
Treatment of nesting trees against Martens ↓
Replacements of flight feathers and use of the same nest ↓
Territorial conflicts above sites of other pairs ↓
Konstantin PISMENNYI
Ukrainian Birds of Prey Research Centre
• The high availability of prey
Judging by all, the past year was really rich in prey for Raptors at all, and rich in reptiles for Short-toed Eagles in particular. That was expressed not only in relatively more frequent records of Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix) and lizards at the usual eagles' hunting grounds, but also in some indirect signs. The weather was mild, without notably long hot and rainy periods. Short-toed Eagles of different pairs were back with prey at their nests after departure to the hunt sooner than usually. Hunting for snakes was highly efficient. Looking for prey and catching it took less time and the eagles allowed themselves to spend hours for roosting, flying or even playing air games at the breeding sites. That all indicated that the breeding success would be high (Data on breeding of Short-toed Eagle in Northern Ukraine, XLS file with formulas).
• Earlier leaving nests and the departure
The earliest leaving nest by juvenile Short-toed Eagle was recorded this year. It was on August 9th. That day a juvenile Short-toed Eagle was already perching not on the nesting tree (like in 2009), but at a distance of about 100 m from it (Findings of the eagles in the Chernihiv Polissya). Also other juveniles left the nesting sites sooner in comparison with previous years, probably, as a result of good uninterrupted feeding. The latest date of observations of Short-toed Eagle at their home ranges in Northern Ukraine this year was September 13th. One of pairs with the juvenile had departed from the breeding site a week or two earlier than in 2013. It looks like a readiness of the juveniles to accompany their parents in migratory journey determines the beginning of their autumn migration as well as of the adults' one. Parents expect when their eaglets reach the above-mentioned ability and this is the only thing that forces them to stay at the home ranges until the end of September.
• Conflicts with Ravens and Black Storks
For 2 controlled pairs of Short-toed Eagles the following behaviour was observed. The STEs regularly attacked Black Storks (Ciconia nigra) and Ravens (Corvus corax) which were approaching the eagles' breeding sites. One of the mentioned pair chased Storks, other Ravens. Those birds were quite numerous at the home ranges of both pairs. But Ravens behaved aggressive and, probably, the STE female accompanied her partner with prey bought for their chick to protect him from ravens' attacks in the vicinity of the nest (Short-toed Eagles in flight. Northern Ukraine. 2014). When the male chased Ravens it reminded games whereas the female was serious, she rushed at the Raven with loud alarm cries and the bird could be harmed in a case of being overtaken. Chases of Storks by the other pair were performed like typical following after Short-toed Eagles the intruders in the course of intraspecific territorial conflicts (the B11 STE in the photos).
• Aerial games at the breeding site
Aerial games of male and female Short-toed Eagles of one pair while their feathered chick was in the eyrie were observed for the first time. Probably, this behaviour was associated with the same high availability of prey during the season. In 2008 such flights were performed in August by a pair without a chick which would need to be fed. The flights are imitations of attacks when both partners rush at each other aiming the talons forward. At the start, the partners slowly circle and hover on curved wings at times with lowered legs, then rapidly close approach to, but don't grasp each other. When doing this sometimes the male turns out above the female, sometimes she does. Soon the eagles fly away again and continue the slow flight. On 20th July 2014 the partners were performing such movements at the breeding site within 5 minutes.
• Building a nest on June for the next season
In June a pair of Short-toed Eagle whose breeding had been interrupted were observed in the evening in a joint flight at a region of their traditional breeding sites of 2006-2014 years. The male had recently risen from somewhere with a tree branch in his beak. The branch had green leaves notable from a distance. The eagle circled and hovered over the forest; his partner, big old female, kept not far from him. Then the male took the branch into his talons and both the partners headed for their old breeding site that is located farther from the forest's border and hadn't been occupied since 2009. That year this pair also used a nest which had been built yet a year before. This should be checked out in 2015, but probably it was a case when Short-toed Eagles build a nest for the next breeding season aiming to not waste valuable time of it.
• Treatment of nesting trees with turpentine against Martens
The treatment of 2 nesting trees with turpentine was done with a goal to protect the chicks of Short-toed Eagles from possible attacks of Martens (Martes martes). The nesting trees and neighbour ones were treated in the beginning of July when the chicks were too small yet to attract the attention of Martens by movement and voice. Eventually, the both juvenile Short-toed Eagles have left the nests successfully. The method is described well on a film about the conservation of the Greater Spotted Eagle in Poland «The Greater Spotted Eagle – a bird like no other» by Ireneusz Chojnacki. In Northern Ukraine 1 liter of turpentine was used for the treatment of trees at 1 breeding site. A part of each tree trunk at a height of 1-1.5 meters above the ground was sprayed with the substance around the entire circumference. After that the surface of the trunks were smelling during at least 2 months. Certainly, Martens felt it stronger. Both times we approached to the nesting trees early in the morning and managed to not disturb the owners of the nests, but it was difficult indeed at that period and it is difficult to recommend something to avoid the disturbance. Obviously, the action cannot be conducted when it rains or if there is a chance that the rain will begin, to avoid the risk of the chick's death due to the hypothermia. We must admit that when eaglets are very young the mere treatment of nesting trees is risky and should be done only if the danger of Martens' attacks is real.
• The shortest period between replacements of flight feathers and the longest use of the same nest
A replacement of the same big flight feathers after less than 1 year of wearing (the L11 bird in the photos) was observed for the first time (Replacement of the biggest 14 flight feathers). Distinct defects of the same feathers regularly appear probably because of using the same nest and perches by the Short-toed Eagle female. As the result her wings regularly stumble on the same obstacles and the feathers are damaged on them. This pair occupied the nest for the 4th year running. Thus, this is the longest use of the same eyrie within 11 years of the monitoring in Northern Ukraine. On the other hand, the defects could appear because of certain individual habits of certain birds not only at their breeding sites. Thanks to presence of those defects and their changes the following inter-replacement periods were determined: at most 9 months for both the 6th primaries; 9 months for the left 5th one; 10 months for the right 9th primary and 11 months for the left one. Also the left 8th and right 9th primaries of another STE female (the A11 bird) were replaced with new ones after 12 months of wearing. Before that the shortest known intermoulting period was 13 months (B11), the longest one clearly determined also by a presence of a significant defect is 22 months (A11) and the longest one uninterrupted with a high probability is 27 months (L11). Such a large spread of values could be explained if it is supposed that Short-toed Eagles remove the defected feathers forcefully in periods of intensive moulting between migratory ones, whereas feathers in a good state could be worn within a couple of years.
• Territorial conflicts above sites of other pairs
Territorial conflicts when one, judging by all, adult Short-toed Eagle chased another one in an intermediate plumage over breeding sites occupied by other pairs of Short-toed Eagles were observed two times (Short-toed Eagles in flight. Northern Ukraine. 2014). Both times the owners of the breeding sites didn't react anyhow. Although, they couldn't miss the conflicts. It is still unclear why their aggressive behaviour wasn't observed, as well as if the chasers were eagles of neighbour pairs well known to the owners or they were some wandering adult birds.
Please, view the related gallery of photos illustrating the notes; images of the same eagles taken in previous years are available as well.
« short-toed-eagle.net


It is difficult to miss the Sugar Loaf mountain from any direction as you approach Abergavenny in Monmouthshire. It is one of the main three peaks surrounding the town, together with the Blorenge and the Skirrid.
On a gloomy day, the mountain can look foreboding. It has been claimed it was the inspiration for the volcanic Mount Doom in 'The Lord Of The Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is believed that the famous author spent some time in a nearby village and used much of the local area as the stimulus for Middle Earth. Whatever the truth actually is, this peak offers some fantastic opportunities for walking.
The Sugar Loaf is maintained by The National Trust. At 596 metres high, it may not be the largest mountain in the area but it can provide a challenging ascent in places. However, there is a car park further up for those who just want to reach the summit and take in the views. If you are looking for more of a strenuous hike, it is best to walk from the town of Abergavenny. The cricket ground is an ideal starting place.
There are a number of routes to follow. My most recent ascent started on the Rholben side. This is one of the steepest paths to gain height quickly. The final destination comes into view early on. For a long while, it does not seem to get any closer but then you will suddenly find yourself at the base of the mountain for the final push to the top.
The trig point with snow-capped mountains in the distance.
From the trig point, it is possible to see for miles in all directions. On this particular day, the snow-capped mountains in the distance declared that winter still had a firm grip on the landscape, even in late March. The Brecon Beacons are visible in the distance including the peak of Pen y Fan, the highest point in Southern Britain.
The view towards the Brecon Beacons.
There are so many well-defined paths that it is easy to choose a different descending route. During this walk, I selected the path through St. Mary's Vale which meanders its way through ancient woodland including some of the oldest beech trees in the country. However, after any rainfall, be prepared to be covered in mud! Following weeks of heavy snow and rain, it was more like a flowing muddy rivulet than a footpath but usually, it is a pleasant forest trail scattered with tree roots, twigs and branches. It is especially spectacular in the autumn when the fallen leaves are frosty and crisp.
All routes lead to the lowland foothills where in spring, the lambs can be seen filling the fields with cotton wool cuteness.
The Sugar Loaf is an excellent mountain offering an introduction to the Black Mountains. There are plenty of walks available on the internet and in local books.
So, if you need to clear your mind and stimulate your creative or critical thinking, the Sugar Loaf provides the perfect balance of challenge and enjoyment.
This article first appeared in 'Bwrdd' – The Newsletter for Mensa Cymru, June 2018.


text:
EU Green Deal ignores its own biggest clean energy source
The European Commission yesterday unveiled its plan for at least EUR1 trillion (USD1.1 trillion) in sustainable investments over the next decade. The European Green Deal Investment Plan (EGDIP) is the investment pillar of the Green Deal, which aims to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050.
In December last year, all member states agreed to green their economies over the next 30 years to tackle the effects of climate change, but Poland said it would wait to see financial incentives. The plan aims to help coal-producing regions, like Poland, move away from fossil fuels, but it is not opposed to financing of gas infrastructure.
Transition fund money under the plan will not finance construction of nuclear power plants. This is despite the fact that the 126 nuclear power reactors in operation in the European Union provide more than half of its low-carbon electricity output. The use of nuclear energy in the EU avoids the emission of 700 million tonnes of CO2 each year.
The Commission said yesterday the target requires significant investment from the EU and the national public sector, as well as the private sector. The EGDIP - also referred to as the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan - will, it said, mobilise public investment and help to unlock private funds through EU financial instruments, notably InvestEU.
Complementing other initiatives announced under the Green Deal, the EGDIP is based on three dimensions: financing, enabling, and practical support. The plan aims to mobilise at least EUR1 trillion of sustainable investments over the next decade.
"A greater share of spending on climate and environmental action from the EU budget than ever before will crowd in private funding, with a key role to be played by the European Investment Bank," the Commission said. The plan also aims to provide incentives to unlock and redirect public and private investment by "putting sustainable finance at the heart of the financial system". The Commission will also provide support to public authorities and project promoters in planning, designing and executing sustainable projects.
Just Transition Mechanism
"While all Member States, regions and sectors will need to contribute to the transition, the scale of the challenge is not the same," it noted. "Some regions will be particularly affected and will undergo a profound economic and social transformation."
It has therefore also launched the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM), aimed at providing "tailored financial and practical support to help workers and generate the necessary investments in those areas."
The JTM will consist of three main sources of financing. Firstly, a Just Transition Fund which will receive EUR7.5 billion of fresh EU funds, above the Commission's proposal for the next long-term EU budget. Secondly, a dedicated just transition scheme under InvestEU to mobilise up to EUR45 billion of investments. Thirdly, a private sector loan facility with the European Investment Bank backed by the EU budget.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "The transformation ahead of us is unprecedented. And it will only work if it is just - and if it works for all. We will support our people and our regions that need to make bigger efforts in this transformation, to make sure that we leave no one behind. The Green Deal comes with important investment needs, which we will turn into investment opportunities. The plan that we present today, to mobilise at least EUR1 trillion, will show the direction and unleash a green investment wave."
'Hard to justify'
Foratom, the European nuclear trade body, said it welcomed the EU's goal of providing financial support to coal-dependent regions in order to assist them in their decarbonisation efforts, but that it regrets the Commission's proposal to exclude such funds being used for nuclear power plants.
It noted that a number of reports published over the last 18 months - such as by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Energy Agency and even the Commission itself - had highlighted that low-carbon nuclear is an essential component of a low-carbon economy. In addition, at the end of last year, several Member States made it clear that in order to commit to the 2050 decarbonisation targets then they must be allowed to invest in nuclear power, Foratom added.
"The benefits of transitioning workers from the coal into the nuclear industry have already been demonstrated in both France and the UK", Foratom Director General Yves Desbazeille said. "We therefore find it hard to justify such a proposal by the Commission. At the end of the day, the EU should be focusing on helping people in these regions to transition into low-carbon industries. Limiting the low-carbon sectors which will be eligible for such funds will make achieving our low-carbon targets without leaving anyone behind a lot more difficult - if not impossible".
The European nuclear industry currently sustains more than 1.1 million jobs in the EU and generates more than half a trillion euros in GDP according to a study by Deloitte. Looking ahead to 2050, the authors believe that, on average, the industry would support more than 1.3 million jobs annually and generate EUR576 billion per year in GDP. This shows, Foratom said, that nuclear offers benefits both in terms of decarbonising the power sector and providing European citizens with much-needed jobs.
Climate change Energy policy European Union Politics
Czech support for nuclear rises in energy crisis
Digital platform launched for repowering coal plants
Foratom proposes changes to Taxonomy CDA
Hinkley Point C cleaner than renewables, study shows
Nuclear and gas criteria set for inclusion in EU taxonomy
Nuclear part of UK's strategy for reaching net-zero
Nuclear to be included in Delegated Act of EU taxonomy
Ten EU nations call for nuclear's inclusion in taxonomy
The real challenges to nuclear are external, says panel
New EU rules agreed on 'green' investments Nuclear forms part of climate change solution, says European Parliament
Nuclear Power in the European Union Policy Responses to Climate Change
European Commission Foratom


text:
<?php

namespace Wasp\DI\Pass;

use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Compiler\CompilerPassInterface;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ContainerBuilder;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Reference;
use Wasp\DI\Pass\CompilerHelper;
use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Storage\MockFileSessionStorage;

/**
 * Redifines the session reference in the DI to include the Mock File Session Storage
 *
 * @package Wasp
 * @subpackage DI\Pass
 * @author Dan Cox
 */
class SessionFilePass implements CompilerPassInterface
{
    /**
     * Process the compiler
     *
     * @param \Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ContainerBuilder $container
     * @return void
     */
    public function process(ContainerBuilder $container)
    {
        $helper = new CompilerHelper($container);
        $helper->createDefinition('session.storage', new MockFileSessionStorage);
        $helper->updateDefinitionArguments('session', [new Reference('session.storage')]);
    }
} // END class SessionFilePass implements CompilerPassInterface