text:
Many Ramayanas:
The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia
Paula Richman (editor)
University of California Press 1991
Many Ramayanas is a collection of papers exploring the diversity of the Ramayana tradition and some of the ways it permeates Indian culture and religion.
After an introduction by Paula Richman, the key essay, to which the entire volume is a kind of response, is A.K. Ramanujuan's 1987 paper "Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation". This compares Valmiki and Kampan's versions of the Ahalya story and touches on Jain tellings, South Indian folk Ramayanas, and a Thai version.
Frank Reynolds explains how the Ramakien tradition in Thailand "tilts more toward Buddhism than Hinduism", even if it doesn't exhibit "the full-fledged Buddhist structure characteristic of earlier Buddhist tellings".
Kathleen M. Erndl compares five versions of the mutilation of Surpanakha, in Valmiki, Kampan, the Sanskrit Ahdyatma Ramayana, Tulsidas' Old Hindi Ramcaritmanas, and a mid-20th century version in modern Hindi verse.
"The analysis of a single episode as it appears in selected tellings and interpretations can provide a telling glimpse into the dynamics of the Ramayana as a whole ... the catalyst for the key events ... raises complex questions about Rama's supposedly exemplary character ... sheds light on Hindi attitudes to female sexuality."
David Shulman examines the testing of Sita in Kampan's Iramavataram, contrasting it with the account in Valmiki's.
"There is no doubt that this couple's reunion is far more embittered, in the Tamil text, than in its Sanskrit prototype. They speak to one another with shocking verbal abandon. Rama's doubts and suspicion have turned into violent denunciation, an a priori pronouncement of guilt that focuses on Sita's alleged hedonism and lowly birth."
Velcheru Narayana Rao describes the oral tradition among women in Telugu.
"Like most of the participants in the tradition, these women believe the Ramayana to be fact and not fiction, and its many different versions are precisely in keeping with this belief. Contrary to the usual opinion, it is fiction that has only one version; a factual event will inevitably have various versions, depending on the attitude, point of view, intent, and social position of the teller."
Clinton Seely explains how Michael Dutt's Bengali poem Meghanadavadha Kavya (The Slaying of Meghanada) is on the surface a retelling of a Ramayana episode, but undercuts that by its polysemy and its choice of similes: "one is also presented with a vignette from the Mahabharata as well as the mythic tale of Durga, each bittersweet stories, each in its own way countering the emotional impact of Meghanadavdha Kavya's main story line."
Ramayana shadow puppet plays in Kerala use "a classical Tamil text [Kampan] in a Malayalam folk context"; along with physical separation of audience and performers, this makes performances inaccessible if not incomprehensible to most potential audience members. Stuart Blackburn describes how the puppeteers instead create conversations among themselves, performing to an "internal audience",
Paula Richman describes E.V. Ramasami's reading of the Ramayana, which attacked Hinduism and the worship of Rama and glorified Ravana and "Dravidian" culture.
Patricia Mumme looks at how the Tenkalai school of the Srivaisnava (centering worship of Lakshmi and Vishnu) uses episodes from the Ramayana tradition in its theology; this is compared with the use of parables in the New Testament.
Philip Lutgendorf describes the rasik tradition, which involves a kind of role-playing, intense identification with followers or participants in the story of Rama and Sita. This is usually set in an idyllic period in their life, with detailed visualization of the setting and sometimes with romantic or erotic elements.
The Ramnamis of Chhattisgarh are a sect of untouchables, started in the 1890s, devoted to chanting Rama's name and key couplets from Tulsidas's Manas. Ramdas Lamb describes how this practice cuts across common categorisation of Hindi sacred texts.
"With the realization [as sect members became literate] that the Manas also contained teachings antithetical to their philosophy, however, the Ramnamis were forced to reevaluate the role of the text in their religious life. Their increased awareness of the contents of the Manas subsequently opened the door for the inclusion in their chanting sessions of verses from other texts and alternate tellings of the Ram story."
These are all academic papers, concerned with context and nuance and backed by references, but none of them invoke much theory and all are accessible — they are not performances to an "internal audience". They are scattered and disconnected, but that is perhaps the only way to give a feel for such a manifold tradition.
- more South Asian literature
- more literary criticism
- books about theatre + performance
- books published by University of California Press
%T	Many Ramayanas
%S	The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia
%E	Richman, Paula
%I	University of California Press
%O	paperback, notes, index


Assorted TLS typed signed letter and ALS signed collection. 7 items. Among them are Charlie Chester, George Tonypandy, Billy Dainty, Eric Sykes, Michael Kitchen and more#. Good Condition. All signed pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £3.99, EU from £5.99, Rest of World from £7.99.


Why is the economy in trouble? People are not buying houses because they are not sure of the market price for any given house and there is an over supply at this time. People are not buying automobiles because they are reacting to the rapid run up in gasoline prices and want more fuel efficient choices. They are not buying much of anything else because they are fearful of losing their jobs and they are maxed out on debt currently.
The most important problem is that the entire country has been running on borrowed money and there is too little savings to allow a rapid recovery from the three problems above.
What caused the 2008 Economic Meltdown?
The primary cause of the 2008 Economic Meltdown was too much money in the US economy due too deficit spending by the Federal Government.
Unregulated Capitalism does not work. It is unstable and the benefits are not shared among everyone in a reasonable manner.
Q. What should individuals do to prevent another melt down?
A. Individuals should start living on 90% of their income. If everyone starting saving for a rainy day, they would be in a better position to prevent adverse effects of economic down turns.


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AM STEREO STATIONS
THAT CONTINUE TO CARRY THE TORCH
WJIB RE-LAUNCHES AM STEREO BROADCASTS TO THE GREATER BOSTON AREA IN 2016!!
WJIB "THE memories STATION" returned AM stereo C-QuAM broadcasts playing adult standards music since 2016, after a local electrical power surge of 600-volts to the collocated studio and transmitter location deemed the stereo exciter, and other transmission components beyond economical repair years ago. WJIB is listener supported from annual donations, has a playlist of over 5,000 songs, and is owned by Bob Bittner Broadcasting, licensed to Cambridge, Massachusetts USA, which serves the greater Boston DMA!
meduci visited the WJIB transmitter site on August 16, 2021 in Cambridge. We also recorded some airchecks from meduci MW-2A PLL tuner during this same visit. Play the video by clicking >> here:
KYMO-AM 1080kHz LAUNCHES AM STEREO IN MAY 2020 !!
We received a nice note from Broadcast Engineer Dave Obergoenner on May 30th, 2020 informing us that KYMO-AM 1080- which is a medium wave 500-watt non-directional daytime licensed station, serving Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky USA- was converted to AM stereo on May 22nd, 2020. KYMO(AM) plays a "Classic Hits" format, which is totally locally produced, with a real local on-air staff. This is a link to their web page. There is not a mention for the AM station on the web site, yet; because they are considering a format change to the AM to another music format.
Dave was surprised to be able to listen to the AM stereo signal, with good separation in Cape Girardeau, quite a distance from the KYMO transmitter site. KYMO's BROADCAST ELECTRONICS AM-1a transmitter is fairly new, and was purchased in 2019. AM stereo is achieved using the internal AM stereo generator card. The processing is "a mixture, finally ending up with a refurbished, later model CRL 900A Matrix Processor...which sounds AWESOME! Much better than an Orban Optimod for music programing," in Dave's humble opinion.
Dave also says, "When AM Stereo is implemented, considerable work is performed to balance, phase-align, and equalize the individual (upper and lower) side-bands, which is where the modulation resides. So, although the average AM radio can't decode the AM Stereo (left minus right) phase modulation of the carrier, the sound CAN be somewhat improved, even on mono AM radios. This is one of the reasons I've been talking-up AM stereo for a long while now (since the early 1980's). The other point is, there are still a few AM stereo radios out there, which when they detect the AM stereo pilot, will jump to a wider bandwidth. Whether there is actual stereo information there or not, suddenly the sound becomes brighter and clearer. It was common for those radios to have only a 3kHz bandwidth for mono stations, but on hearing the AM stereo pilot, they would open up to 6kHz or 7kHz bandwidth. ... which certainly sounds dramatically better. As a broadcast engineer, I honestly believe that AM stereo is still quite viable in 2020, and encourage AM stations I handle to implement it, if at all possible. I've been a proponent of AM stereo, since I first put it on the air at the first AM stereo station in St. Louis (550 KSD, later KUSA). That was the early 1980's, and it helped that AM station survive, and thrive, getting great ratings for many years to come. ... even beating its primary country music formatted competition, a 100kW FM [station]."
Dave says, "Kahn stereo system can (to some extent) be decoded by using two AM radios. There were at least 1000 times as many Motorola C-QuAM stereo receivers produced, and for several pretty good reasons. There are still C-QuAM stereo radios available. I don't know of any Kahn radios presently for sale. Nearly every digital "HD Radio" is capable of decoding C-QuAM stereo. ... and most of the early ones produced did [decode C-QuAM]. On more recent HD Radio production, however; the AM stereo pilot detection has been disabled. I'm not sure why, but I assume some lawyers figured out that they were actually supposed to be paying royalties to Motorola for that. I don't think Motorola has ever asked for it, though. Leonard Kahn hated my guts, BTW. We were on an NAB panel together years ago, and when I challenged him on a couple of his claims, he stood up, and told me he would make sure I'd never work in radio engineering again. That was the early 1980's. He even had some of his lawyers following me around at the convention, to make sure I wasn't slandering him. What a wind-bag! Kahn is also the reason the FCC withdrew their standardization for C-QuAM. ... he and his lawyers sued them. He also sued receiver makers, who incorporated C-QuAM stereo. And that is absolutely what killed AM stereo."
4WK IN DARLING DOWNS, QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES FULL STEREO SEPARATION TO THEIR BROADCAST DAY
Marc McCreadie, who is 2CA�s program director, is very pleased to report that Australia now has a new AM stereo station in operation, due to the enthusiasm, efforts, and hard work of 4WK Manager Paul James Batchelor, Brandon Gordon (VK4VIP), Andrew Chapman, and others. AM stereo card was added to Broadcast Electronics transmitter model AM6A to make it happen. Marc was the former announcer at 7AD Devonport.
WATCH FRONT PANEL LIGHT UP !!!
Play the video by clicking here>> BROADCAST ELECTRONICS AM6A TRANSMITTER PLAYING DOOBIE BROTHERS.
"BATTLE OF THE BANDS"-- DIGITAL DAB+ VERSUS ANALOG C-QuAM
HIGH QUALITY PRO1k AND AMX2000 TUNERS WERE FEATURED IN Australian hi-fi MAGAZINE JULY-AUGUST 2011 ISSUE !!
Australian hi-fi magazine is Australia's number-one premiere guide to home audio and home theatre technology. In the Australian hi-fi July-August 2011 magazine issue, beginning on page 82, Timoshenko Aslanides discusses analog AM stereo C-QuAM broadcasting to the more recent broadcasts from AM medium wave stations using the new DAB+ digital stereo technology in Australia. Timoshenko listened to 2CA from Canberra using his meduci AMX2000 tuner, and he directly compared those analog stereo signals to the simultaneous DAB+ digital audio stereo broadcasts. Can you guess which technology format was victorious in the listening wars, and which won the battle of the radio bands? Read this feature article here>> at this link. 2CA, as heard at 1053 kHz in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, later discontinued their analog C-QuAM stereo broadcasts to their listeners in October 2017, due to some fault in the audio chain, and/or with their Harris C-QuAM stereo exciter. 2CA Program Director Marc McCreadie said that he did not have the knowledge to repair the fault. He requested for some technical assistance. Please contact Marc to get 2CA returned to analog AM stereo.
WOAP "STEREO 10-8-0 THE O" RETURNS AM STEREO MUSIC IN C-QuAM FORMAT TO THEIR MANY LISTENERS IN OWOSSO, MID-MICHIGAN!
WOAP HAS "SEEN THE LIGHT" (THE STEREO LIGHT, THAT IS) -- THEY DECIDED TO DEPLOY THE STEREO CARD AT THEIR TRANSMITTER AND TO REWIRE THEIR ENTIRE SOUND STUDIO FOR LOCAL STEREO ORIGINATION!
WOAP station management confirms that on Monday, February 2th, 2015 "SUPER HITS WOAP STEREO 1080" stereo music is broadcasting again from their huge tower in Owosso, Michigan USA. WOAP has a very wide listening range, serving Owosso, Corunna, Shiawassee County, and approximately 475,000 potential listeners during the day. If you love super hit music, you will be crazy about SUPER HITS WOAP STEREO 1080!
According to reception reports -- from Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Flint, to other Michigan cities -- they have not lost any coverage and signal strength since their AM stereo signal was re-launched! They conducted a two-week test to prove it.
You can also stream in stereo world-wide at>> SUPER HITS WOAP STEREO 1080. Their full program schedule is also on display.
We received a very nice note from Tony Burkhead (Operations Manager/Co-Owner at Modulation Media Group) on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 confirming that WOAP(AM) was broadcasting BIG oldies stereo music, which lasted for approximately one year, until brokered mono programing returned to the air. Congratulations WOAP on your successful re-launch for your AM stereo station in 2015! Thank you for sharing this fantastic grand news! Your music format is ideal for AM stereo. Please let the stereo music stay ON-AIR this time!
CONGRATULATIONS TO WOKR(AM) IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK -- NOW BROADCASTING CBS SPORTS RADIO NETWORK IN C-QuAM STEREO !!
We received a very nice e-mail from Brian P. McGlynn (President / CEO at Genesee Media Corporation) on Sunday, February 22nd, 2015 confirming that WOKR(AM) "THE TEAM 1310" is now broadcasting sports from national CBS Sports Radio Network in Canandaigua, New York USA. Brian says, "This year, I hope to switch WDNY and WRSB to stereo as well. The equipment is in place for WDNY, whereas WRSB needs some custom equipment to boost the PWM modulator to 72vpp to interface with the Nautel rig." WOKR also operates their mono FM translator station, temporarily being fed off-air from WRSB-AM using Carver TX-11a tuner. Conratulations, Brian and WRSB staff. Keep up the great work.
KYET AM STEREO 1170 BROADCASTS C-QuAM STEREO WITH CLASSIC TRADITIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC FORMAT INTO MOHAVE COUNTY ARIZONA!
KYET(AM) in Kingman, Arizona signed on for the first time at 1170 kHz on October 14th, 2012. KYET is owned by broadcast veteran Joe Hart and Route 66 Broadcasting company. They have Harris DX-10 transmitter combined with the ever elusive Harris STX-1B AM stereo C-QuAM exciter. KYET is licensed by the FCC for 6kW days and one-watt nights into an omni-directional antenna pattern.
KYET's Chief Engineer says that they experienced very little difficulty in making their Harris transmitter play with the Harris stereo exciter. Rather, it was much more challenging to get the stereophonic sound from the studio to their transmitter site. "Most AM stations only need either a single narrow-band STL channel, or a dry telco circuit, or even in some cases, a POTS [plain old telephone service] line. But because we are an AM stereo music station, we need the best sounding dual-channel STL possible." KYET's transmitter is approximately 2.5 miles from the studio, and it sits on the other side of a mountain pass. So not even the tip of the 190-foot tall tower, near the junction of US93 and SR68, is visible from the roof. "Because there was no [telephone] service to our area, and the nearest telco junction box is 7,500 feet away, the local phone company wanted $42,000 to run a single residential grade phone line, with no guarantee DSL would work on it. About the only thing we could do was to partner with Datamax Wireless, who brings us 20Mbps up and down to make the I.P-based STL run. And that is actually better than the DSL connection we have at the station," says KYET's Chief Engineer. "We are currently using a pair of Barix Exstreamer 500's running MP3 compression 16-bit Stereo 48kHz, at about 256kbps, and it sounds pretty good when it hits the air. ... We are using the built-in limiter, typically running at six to 10dB of compression, and there is no other audio enhancement gear in the air chain." Since the exciter sat unused for about 12 years, the power supply required some initial repair, and the exciter was also recently modified to provide the proper NRSC pre-emphasis curve, with 10 kHz low-pass filtering.
KYET claims to be heard in Barstow, California, Wickenburg, California and loud and clear to north Las Vegas, Nevada. KYET will originate local news and talk, while maintaining the traditional country music format.
ALBUM ROCK 540 WXYG LAUNCHED AM STEREO IN SAUK RAPIDS, MINNESOTA!
WXYG "THE GOAT" now broadcasts magnificent C-QuAM AM STEREO to their many listeners in St. Cloud and all of central Minnesota, as of Friday, May 3, 2013. WXYG formats album oriented rock music, playing from a large library of deep classic rock album cuts. WXYG is locally owned and operated, not a satellite feed from somewhere. WXYG's goal is to make the music they play an (un)boring listening experience. There is so much great music from the golden age of the progressive rock era. Therefore, this is not a classic rock station where they play the same 200 songs over and over again. Now presenting a new age in broadcast radio - WXYG returns the power of great music to the people. WXYG was officially launched at 5:40 A.M. on June 25, 2011 -- which was owner Herb Hoppe's 77th birthday! WXYG has Nautel ND1 transmitter with Gates BC-1G as back-up transmitter. WXYG power is 250 watts day/night using four towers from their daytime pattern, as well as three towers on their night transmission pattern. You can listen world-wide at>> WXYG AM STEREO.
WYLD IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA BROADCASTS URBAN GOSPEL FULL TIME AM STEREO IN THE "BIG EASY"
AM stereo has returned to the New Orleans, Louisiana "Big Easy" USA radio market !! Chris Boone, an avid medium wave stereo lover, wired the WYLD(AM) 940KHz station studio and transmitter for full stereophonic C-QuAM sound on April 27, 2020. Chris placed the existing tired Broadcast Electronics 10,000-watt AM10 medium wave transmitter into secondary service, after ordering and deploying the new Nautel NX10 STEREO READY "out of the box" transmitter. This new transmitter had to be un-crated from its wood shipping container outside, in order to fit it into the door of the WYLD transmitter room! That took the crane crew three minutes, at most. Chris took the time to check the directional transmitter arrays with the OIB, wired the new remote control, and prepared the studio-to-transmitter link in stereo.
REVITALIZE THE AM BROADCAST BAND
GO TO: AIRCHECKS
GO TO: IN MEMORIAM
GO TO: OFFICIAL AM STEREO STATIONS LIST
GO TO: MEDUCI PRODUCT REVIEWS
GO TO: AM STEREO LINKS
Proceed/Back to The AM Stereo Page

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Need more information about booking Home 372848 ?
Very comfortable, well maintain coastal property , delightful cottage garden.
This charming detached farmhouse is surrounded by National Trust land in an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only a stones throw from the coastal path.Five minutes walk to the safe sheltered harbour beaches, shops, cafes and pub and a ten minute stroll on the nearby coastal path to the beautiful Vault Beach. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are ten minutes drive away as is the picturesque fishing village of Mevagissey with many gift shops and restaurants. The Eden Project is nearby.The accomodation comprises of a fully equipped spacious and comfortable first floor flat with sea views and own entrance.
This detached farmhouse offers first floor accommodation with sea views and its own private entrance and comprises of 2 bedrooms, 1 double and 1 twin with 1 bathroom with shower over bath. separate w.c. Many facilities such as washing machine, dishwasher, TV and DVD player. Separate lounge with open fireand kitchen/dining room.
Enclosed garden with garden furniture and BBQ for your own sole use. Smoking is not allowed. Superfast Fibre Wireless broadband is available.
This Farmhouse has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and sleeps 4. It's been listed on Holiday Lettings since 26 Mar 2013. Located in Cornwall, it has 5 reviews with an overall rating of 5. The average weekly rate varies from £436 to £928.
You can get in touch with TRUDI (the owner) through the contact form on this page.
Send TRUDI (the owner) an email through the contact form on this page. Alternatively, if there's a phone number on this page, you can call them.
How do I contact TRUDI (the owner)?
If you've already booked, go to Manage your holiday booking to view TRUDI the owner's contact details or send them a message.
Or send TRUDI (the owner) an enquiry through the Contact the owner/manager form if you'd like a quote or more info first.
When you pay online through the Book your stay form, a booking request is sent to TRUDI (the owner). You'll find out within 24 hours whether they've accepted - no money will leave your account before then.
You can also request a quote from TRUDI (the owner) through the contact form. The owner will email you the total cost for your dates and a link to book and pay online.
Use the Book your stay form to pay provisionally online. You can pay by credit/debit card or PayPal. TRUDI (the owner) will have 24 hours to accept the booking and no money will leave your account before then.
Why can't I call TRUDI (the owner) before booking?
You'll need to contact TRUDI (the owner) to do this. Send them a message in Manage your holiday booking or through the contact form on this page.
You can request to change the dates or number of people on your booking via the Manage your holiday booking page. To change your holiday dates use the Edit booking button. If you need to change the number of guests staying then send TRUDI (the owner) a message.
If TRUDI (the owner) agrees, they'll send you a revised quote outlining the changes. You can review and accept/decline this from the Manage your holiday booking page. You'll have 48 hours to take action before the revised quote expires.


The HTC D30 is a very powerful, single-phase dust extractor with three large vacuum motors. Three HEPA H13 filters, as well as a conical filter with a 4.5 m² filter surface, enables the HTC D30 to effectively collect both coarse and fine dust. It's also equipped with time counter, vacuum gauge and Longopac® system for safe dust handling.
What does the H-Classification mean?
What is a HEPA H13 Filter?


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Tag: young adult fiction Page 1 of 31
A Creepy, Atmospheric Young Adult Story From Kevin Wignall
An interesting exploration of teenage relationships within a creepy ghost story.
Speaking of books by longtime friends. OK, maybe that is a slight exaggeration. I have never met Kevin Wignall, unlike Jim Geraghty, but I have been reading his books since 2004 and interacting with him via email and blogs nearly ever since. We are "friends" on Facebook so perhaps that counts nowadays.
Anywhoo… Mr. Wignall recently released a short horror story for young adults, This Place of Evil (he also has another book coming out soon, Those Who Disappeared, but more about that closer to publication).
This Place of Evil
Kevin Wignall
young-adult, horror
Hamsun Press
It was an enjoyable and quick read but definitely not something I would have picked up or read if not for it being written by Kevin. It's basically an exploration of teenage relationships set against the backdrop of a ghost story in an abandoned school (jock. popular kid, underachiever, girls, etc.).
The backstory, in the form of journal entries from their teacher when he was at the school, continues to provide more context/history interspersed with current events, but the creepiness is really just the perception of what it would be like to be trapped in an old, abandoned building with no way to reach anyone after your teacher just disappeared.
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Here is another book I'm not sure how it ended up on my reading list. I think When We Were Vikings was an Amazon recommendation; one of so, so many books I have on my Kindle thanks to a $1.99 impulse buy.
Anywho, it did have an interesting description which led to my buying it:
When We Were Vikings	Andrew David MacDonald	Fiction	Gallery/Scout Press Kindle	336 pages	Amazon
Sometimes life isn't as simple as heroes and villains.
For Zelda, a twenty-one-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother, Gert, life is best lived with some basic rules:
1. A smile means "thank you for doing something small that I liked."
2. Fist bumps and dabs = respect.
3. Strange people are not appreciated in her home.
4. Tomatoes must go in the middle of the sandwich and not get the bread wet.
5. Sometimes the most important things don't fit on lists.
But when Zelda finds out that Gert has resorted to some questionable—and dangerous—methods to make enough money to keep them afloat, Zelda decides to launch her own quest. Her mission: to be legendary. It isn't long before Zelda finds herself in a battle that tests the reach of her heroism, her love for her brother, and the depth of her Viking strength.
When We Were Vikings is an uplifting debut about an unlikely heroine whose journey will leave you wanting to embark on a quest of your own, because after all…
We are all legends of our own making.
Looking for some light but engaging bedtime reading, I metaphorically pulled this from the Kindle pile.
I have mixed feelings about this book as well. First of all, the publishers description above might not give you a complete picture of the story line here. Zelda has cognitive disabilities from fetal alcohol syndrome. The story is told from her perspective and with that challenge in mind.
The positive side of the book is clear: Zelda is a great character and has a great voice. She really drives the story and gives it depth and meaning.
1/100 – The White Hare by Michael Fishwick
I am trying for the first time in my life to read 100 books in 2020. I plan to document all 100 here. Hence, the 1/100 above.
I saw The White Hare at the local library and was intrigued.
A lost boy. A dead girl, and one who is left behind.
A village full of whispers and secrets.
When the white hare appears, magical and fleet in the silvery moonlight, she leads them all into a legend, a chase.
But who is the hunter and who the hunted?
It turned out to be the first book of 2020 for me and it is a good one.
A tad too much teenage angst for me (I'm clearly not the target audience) but a wonderful mix of tension and mystery with just enough myth and otherworldly aspects. A definite page turner despite not being a thriller or action style plot.
Kirkus captures what makes it such an enjoyable read:
Finely tuned prose, a rich sense of place, magical folklore elements, multidimensional characters, and a well-paced plot create a suspenseful contemporary tale of grief, retribution, and healing.
Evening Standard gets at some of the awkwardness as to target audience:
Michael Fishwick, a publisher-turned-novelist, retells the white hare legend in this coming-of-age story which wavers uncertainly between young-adult fiction and a crossover modern folk tale.
Forward Reviews artfully describes both the subjects touched on and the writing style:
Fishwick wields strangeness rather than certainty, and specificity rather than answers, in this rare offering filled with mystery and emotional depth. A treatise on the brutality of love and the pain it frequently leaves behind, The White Hare looks to the wild places and feral people that grief creates. The beauty of its prose lingers, a grace note amidst the heartbreaking realization that, often, "it's hard to know how guilty you are."
Like I said, solid start to 2020. Outside of some ambiguity about the age or message, and that ambiguity can be a strength, The White Hare is a lyrical and engaging read for ambitious readers of varying ages.
2019 Books in Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon
There has been a odd phenomenon of late with me (really going back years). I still read quite a bit but I rarely post reviews. There are lots of reasons for this which I won't go into because I have blogged about the subject enough around here. But one of the things I want to work on in 2020 is focus. ANd figure forcing myself to commit to something and working on putting my energies toward that is a good place to build focus. So I had the idea of going back through the books I read in 2019 and blogging about each of them in a simple format. This would allow me to get back in the practice of blogging/writing regularly and find out if such regularly blogging would revive this near-dead blog. So find below the first attempt.
Book: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Owned or Borrowed: Own
Publishers description:
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna's thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge–with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth's surface. And the woman with the Tiger's heart is on the prowl . . .
Why I read it…
I have a habit of picking up popular young adult/middle grade/children's books because they are often creative and interesting in ways that "adult" books are not. Or they just grab my attention for some reason. This was one such book. I marked it To Read in 2016, started reading it in fall 2018 and finished early 2019. I believe it was the first book I marked as "Read" in Goodreads. The book was something of a hit, which I am guessing sparked my interest:
Winner of the 2017 Newbery Award
The New York Times Bestseller
An Entertainment Weekly Best Middle Grade Book of 2016
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2016
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2016
An Amazon Top 20 Best Book of 2016
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2016
Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2016
2017 Booklist Youth Editors' Choice
Why I liked it…
This is tricky when I don't put down my thoughts at Goodread quickly. The star system is not much help given how inconsistent I am in rating something 4 stars when I enjoyed it but it didn't wow me but also when I really enjoyed it.
When We Were Lost by Kevin Wignall
I'm a fan of Kevin Wignall. I believe I have read all of his books (even those under the KJ Wignall moniker). But as faithful readers will know, I haven't been the most dedicated book blogger of late (heck, for a while). So gone are the days of offers of advanced reader copies and author interviews and instead I live in the world of request books from the library (Ok, with some exceptions).
All this is to say, after some procrastination, and failing to win the Goodreads giveaway, I finally got ahold of a copy of his latest novel When We Were Lost and read it. It is a young adult mystery/thriller put out under the James Patterson imprint:
Survival. It's a concept these high school students never had to consider–until their plane crashes in a remote rainforest with no adults left alive. With many of them falling prey to threats from both the jungle and man, they soon realize that danger comes in many sinister forms.
Tom Calloway didn't want to go on a field trip to Costa Rica, but circumstances had him ending up sitting in the back of the plane–which was the only part that was intact after the crash in the remote South American wilderness. Tom and a small group of his classmates are fortunate to be alive, but their luck quickly runs out when some of them fall prey to the unfamiliar threats of the jungle–animals, reptiles, insects, and even the unforgiving heat. Every decision they make could mean life or death.
As the days go by and the survivors' desperation grows, things get even more perilous. Not everyone can cope with the trauma of seeing their friends die, and a struggle for leadership soon pits them against each other. And when they come across evidence of other people in the middle of the rainforest, does that mean they're safe–or has their survival come to an even more vicious end?
Put aside any bias my relationship with the euphoniously named Mr. Wignall, this was another one where I struggled with the star rating (give us half stars Goodreads!).
I enjoyed this book and found its plot quite interesting but its simplicity almost seemed to undermine its power. In the end I went with four stars because it made me want to keep reading and the creative nature of the story. There isn't a great deal of depth to the characters, although you learn about Tom by seeing the experience through his eyes and in backstory shared along the way. What powers the story is a very basic idea: what would I do if I was in this situation? Put in incredible circumstances practically every decision has real consequences. Watching this play out under the heightened tension of a teen leadership battle allows the reader to explore their reactions and instincts along with Tom and the other kids.
I wish I cold get my teenager daughter to read it and tell me what she thinks because as is often the case it is hard to judge sometimes when you are not the target audience.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read. Adventure, mystery, danger, and teenage angst and personalities all play a role. Wignall's butterfly effect intro and outro even give it a philosophical spin. Very different from the early amoral contract killer stories that introduced me to his writing but different in a good way I think.


24option Review - Scam or Legit Broker?
24option has always been associated with trading since time immemorial and now this well-established brokerage has expanded their services into forex and CFD trading. Do they offer the same high quality service and features that they are known for in this competitive market or should you just stick to a dedicated forex brokerage instead? You may continue reading this review to find out.
Practice trading is possible thanks to the free demo account which will only be valid for 1 week after you register. This is preloaded with a $10,000 virtual funds which you can use for doing test trades on their platform.
24option doesn't offer welcome bonuses anymore in accordance with the guidelines of the CySEC. However, they have 5 types of accounts: Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond which have different perks and benefits.
As a CFD trader, you will have access to the customized Scipio trading platform which is very user-friendly platform. And if you're used to the MetaTrader4, don't worry because they also offer this popular platform which pretty much has all the features that you're looking for, such as advanced charting tools and other resources. If you want to trade forex, you can do so by just clicking on the link on the top of the platform.
If you prefer mobile trading, you can install their MT4 apps which are available for Android and iOS-powered devices. The functionalities are basically the same as the desktop version so you won't get left behind.
Trading micro lots is allowed and you can set the minimum size to 0.01. This matches the minimum lot size that the majority of brokers allow for their clients.
With 24option, you can apply a leverage of up to 1:400 which gives you a higher purchasing power. If let's say you have a $1,000 capital then you can trade on forex and CFD's with a maximum worth of $400,000. With a higher leverage ratio comes greater profit but also keep in mind that this also comes with greater risks.
You will be able to enjoy very tight spreads even on major currency pairs with this brokerage. The EUR/USD pair for example can be traded with a spread of 0.0003 pip.
As of this writing they have 46 currency pairs and more than 100 assets for the CFDs which are composed of commodities, stocks, indices and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and more. This allows you to explore more markets.
The minimum deposit that they accept is $100 and this is the same with the initial deposit requirements of the majority of brokers today.
You can fund your online trading account using credit cards, OKPAY, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, Wire Transfer and other alternative payment methods. Basically, you have plenty of choices for banking and this is a great advantage.
They only allow withdrawals once the account has been verified. This process is very simple and would only require you to send documents including your proof of ID, proof of residence, complete assessment of appropriateness and verification of the payment method used. If the withdrawal request was received during business hours (Mondays to Thursdays, 9am to 4pm and Fridays, 9am to 1:30pm), this will be processed on the same day, otherwise, it will be processed on the next business day.
Aside from phone support, they also have an email and live chat support.
Their support lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can talk to their agents any time you wish to.
They support clients who speak English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Norwegian and Polish.
24option.com review was provided by various users and its value is taken from the accumulated votes that were given by actual traders who have tested this broker.
Similar to other foreign exchange platform, they have done a terrific job in making their forex and CFD platforms very user-friendly. Switching from forex to CFD trading can be done with just a click of a mouse.
They are known for providing first rate 24/7 customer support in the foreign exchange market and they are doing the same thing for their clients who are interested in trading forex and CFDs.
24option already has a well-established reputation in the foreign exchange trading industry so it's really not that surprising that they have expanded their services for traders who are also interested in forex and CFDs.
With 24option's new and enhanced services, investors who are interested in forex and CFD trading now have a better option as this well-established brokerage has also ventured into this profitable industry offering favourable trading conditions and first class customer service which they are known for. If you're in search of a promising brokerage to trade with then 24option is definitely a good choice.
24option is just a new broker for fx and cfd but still I can see that they can offer a good competition between the other new and established broker of forex. Since they are regulated by the majority of the EU members, traders are going to be certain about their investments.
I checked out the regulation section of 24option and it seems that they are working really hard to be regulated, that means a lot because they are particularly aiming for a more legal operation in the EU.
Do you think that the minimum deposit for the fx platform will be a lot smaller now?
I don't think that there will be changes, I chatted with their support and they confirm that they do ask for the same minimum deposit imposed before. Hope that helps.
The latest platform from 24option is simple and easy to understand, and now as I see, they do offer MT4 platform too.
Yeah I noticed the same thing too. The platform is okay but I bet there were major changes in the future because they are now working on forex relentlessly.
I just heard a real good news from 24option, is it true that they lowered the amount of minimum deposit for their FX platform?
Yes, this news is very real. You can now start an account with them so easily.
Well I think the minimum deposit with 24option whatever it is, is very reasonable.
I have to agree with you on this, it doesn't matter how much initial deposit this broker required because they remain true to their words for the quality customer service.
Are there any trading contests from 24option?
Yes they have trading contests, or they called it trading competition.
Is it easier to open a demo account with 24option?
It only takes 1-2-3 to open a demo account with this broker, all you need is a valid email address for verification.
Do you need to deposit anything to start trading with the demo account?


Merica gets off the bus, Orgood describes her to Crawley as she jaywalks toward the Eagle Eye catty-corner in over-the-calf spike/\heeled black boots.
"Crawley, what'd think of this one?"
Crawley rocks to and fro. Rinnie paces about, his eyes reflecting the blue noon sky. Merica perfects her lipstick in the back bar mirror cutely.
'twas happier in a subtle Midwestern highrise. Right now: Gloria's blaring Best of Glenn Campbell, OM's got his face in some kinda goggles soaking in the South Shore Water Frolics and I'm hedging my bets for best cyber coitus.
Sure nuff: Diamonds & Rust (here I sit. Tiny speaker on this (10 years ago we both know) slid to 27.
Obviously I lost deadline what with the Kashhoggi + Foley philght if facts, Short-changing the best and the brighest.
You're faster than Kris Kristofferson whom I heard ran down the road when and wherever the Four (4) Horsemen bus waysided.
Wouldn't you know. I get the Oscar when it's the Year of the Ghost-Host.
Robert, my profound hope (I hope to Hendrix) is that DaFoe brings it on home as Best Actor for At Eternity's Gate--of late I've some fair-to-middling unbeknown writerly production with a short story: Dialogues With St. Peter. I'll be with a VG friend, industry insider--with a crowd of sound and lighting specialists and, yo, other scribes. I may have to describe the mixology of the French '75 and will imagine to indulge.
Minnesota está viendo Telemundo and the mundo tells us, better get back in touch with that vast love, amigx.


Our Connewarre Personal Injury Lawyers focus on helping injured individuals. Our focus is on supplying an individual, expert and friendly service to ensure that our clients get all the payment they are due, when they are due it, in a tension free and cost effective manner.
Whether your injury is the result of an accident on the road, or at work, or assaulted by a pet, or as a result of being a victim of a crime or a mishap in a public place, e.g. a shopping center, then we can help you.
If you have actually been injured in an automobile mishap in Connewarre 3227, and whether you were the motorist, passenger, pedestrian, motorcyclist or cyclist in the accident you have a right to claim settlement for your injuries, even if it was partly your very own fault. Payment is paid by the Insurance if the negligent party was driving a Victorian registered vehicle (or an unknown vehicle).
Previous and future loss of incomes, medical expenditures, cost of a carer, house cleaner etc.
It is very important that you seek legal recommendations as quickly as possible after suffering an accident to make sure that your claim is protected. We are professionals in Road Accident Settlement claims and will make sure you get every single dollar and entitlements you are entitled to.
If you have actually been injured due to a risk on another individual's properties, such as a supermarket or shopping centre, or as a result of another individual's breach of duty of care, then you may be able to pursue a public liability claim.
If you have been injured due to a risk on another person's property or due to another individual's breach of responsibility of care, you need to right away seek legal guidance to secure your rights. You ought to not react to any offer of settlement without first looking for legal guidance. We are professionals in public liability settlement claims and will make sure you get each dollar and entitlements you are entitled to.
Workers Compensation Claim Lawyers. If you have actually been hurt at work in Connewarre you might be entitled to claim workers' payment. A worker is entitled to compensation for an injury suffered in the course of employment under the arrangements of the Workers' Compensation & Injury Management Act.
The workers' compensation system is very complicated and there are lots of pitfalls that have to be prevented. There are also stringent limitation periods that apply to your capability to pursue common law damages. It is very important that you look for legal advice as rapidly as possible after suffering an injury at work to make sure that your claim is protected.
Victim of Criminal Offense Payment Claim Lawyers If you have been injured physically or mentally as a result of the commission of a criminal offence, such as an attack, then you might have the ability to claim criminal injuries compensation. You might have the ability to claim even if the wrongdoer has actually not been charged or founded guilty of an offence.
We are professionals in dealing with compensation claims for victims of criminal activities and will make sure you will get each and every single dollar and entitlements you are entitled to.
Future medical expenses excluding Medicare and personal health benefits. (Any award for future medical costs will not be paid immediately. The award will be readily available to fulfill medical expenses as and when they are incurred so long as the expenditures are claimed within 10 years from the date of the award.).
If you have actually been hurt as a result of a criminal offense in Connewarre you ought to instantly report the offense to the police and you must look for legal advice to ensure that your rights are protected. We are professionals Victim of Crime Settlement claims and will make sure you get every single dollar and entitlements you are entitled to.


Was your dad as brainless as mine?
Back in the nineties, I decided to marry the sexiest loser in the city. My dad was so naive, he ran a background check on the guy to make sure unemployment was the worst thing he had going for him. I mean, who does that?
Then my dad turned 50. My siblings and I threw him a great big party, and he was clueless enough to prepare a speech of all the things he learned in the first half of his life. Luckily, we averted that snore-fest by jumping into the pool and ditching him for a gay bar. And none of us are even gay.
A few weeks ago, my dad turned 70. You wouldn't believe how sharp he's gotten! He's actually right about a whole lot of things now. Maybe it was his competitive chess games. Or all the late-night poker. Or maybe my 46-year-old lenses are just seeing things more clearly these days. But when I asked him to spill his secrets, here's what he told me.
1) Be afraid. Be very afraid. "If you've still got to ask if you're ready, you are not ready." My dad knows a thing or two about waking up every day, waiting for the next shoe to drop. He taught me that haste never wins over discernment. Whether I was considering a career move, a relocation, or a relationship commitment, Dad showed me that feeling scared is a good thing. It gives you pause to wait for what you want rather than try and force it from what you don't want.
2) Take care of you. "See that person staring back at you in the mirror? They have to live with ALL of your decisions. You must take care of you." Dad spends an hour on his stationary bike every single day. He eats exactly 1/2 cup of oatmeal for breakfast. And he pours himself into shiny black cowboy boots whether he's going to Walmart or a Christmas party. He's taught me how important it is to exercise, eat smart, and groom like I meant it.
3) You've only got one shot in the talent show. "Understand the innate abilities that your Creator gave you. Know that they are few and limited. In other words, a donkey will never win the Kentucky Derby." No matter how obscure your capabilities, latch on to them. They're the one thing you'll always be good at. My dad never discouraged a good argument. He taught me that even though my relentless confrontations could get annoying, arguing was something I was good at. I always remember that developing a better argument is more important than developing a louder tone.
4) Ditch the time-wasters. "Some people just waste your time. Don't let them." It's one thing to stop doing stuff that wastes our time. It's another thing to lose the people who squander our time entirely. My dad can chat up a roomful of stuffy colleagues over cocktails like a pro. But he always knew what was in it for him. He taught me to give myself permission to reach for my goals and surround myself only with the people who support me along the way.
5) Pay attention when people care about you. "No one's an island. But no one owes you anything. If you want friends, be a good friend." At the end of the day, we get what we put out there. And none of us wants to go it alone. Who doesn't want at least one other person on the planet who gets us? Dad showed me that sometimes you've got to reach out. Listen as much as you speak. And call sometimes instead of texting.
It's shocking what a genius my dad grew into over the years. He taught me how to succeed with calculated discernment, show up with authenticity, and practice the art of paying it forward. I only hope it doesn't take me 70 years to get as smart as he got.
Anne Bechard is the author of the popular book Stop Working for Free: How Beginner Bloggers Finally Turn a Profit.


SMi Group Reports: Senior military officials from the US Army Aviation Center and British Army are set to present at Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe in May.
London, United Kingdom, March 13, 2019 --(PR.com)-- SMi's 5th Annual Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference is returning to Prague, Czech Republic on the 22nd-23rd May 2019 as Europe's leading regional event focused on helicopter technology.
Conference attendees will receive focused briefings over the course of two days on key topics of modernisation and readiness of regional rotary fleets, procurement goals, national security, operations and interoperability, platform and programme upgrades, and more.
In the run up to the event, SMi Group caught up with Lieutenant Colonel Stein, SO1 FD Strat Plans, Cap AM, Capability Directorate, Army Headquarters, British Army, to get his thoughts and perspectives on the latest developments in helicopter technology, as well as the upcoming conference.
Q: What is your organisation doing to enhance helicopter operations?
Q: What are the key areas for the development of military helicopter units?
SMi Group also interviewed Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Kelly, 110th Army Aviation Brigade Operations Officer, US Army Aviation Center, to gain insight on his organisation, future challenges, key areas for development of military helicopters, and his role.
Q: How can networking with different nations improve capabilities?
Delegates at the conference in May will have the chance to hear the valuable perspectives and experiences of other regional senior military experts from the Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, UK, US, Sweden, Slovakia, NATO, Hungary, Joint Air Power Competence Centre, and more.


text:
News / Local News
Nadi farmer in custody for alleged possession of marijuana
Felix Chaudhary
16 June, 2019, 1:23 pm
A RAID at a 62-year-old farmer's residence in Malamala, Nadi, on Friday resulted in the discovery of dried leaves and cash in a white sack. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said a search of the suspect's farm also resulted in the discovery of plants believed to be marijuana. She said the suspect remains in custody as […]
Britain plans additional warship presence in Gulf
2019 Pacific Games: Athletes and officials told to take cover
Trump says U.S., China still have a long way to go on trade deal
New quarters for teachers


It's hard to believe, but today is this blog's 5th anniversary. Perhaps it's why I've been feeling something of a five-year itch with it. Over recent months, in a scattered way, I've been reflecting on where I'm at with both my research and blogging. My prevailing sense has been that my blogs, and my research, have got away from me – another way to say I think I've bitten off more than I can chew, despite chewing furiously.
When I bought a large mobile whiteboard about a year ago, I wrote at the top "Beware of the tiger's tail". What I meant by that, was to be strategic in my blogging rather than catching hold of the tiger's tail and having it drag me along willy-nilly. Sure, I've written lots of stories relevant to my research but I'm equally sure I've not been strategic in my approach. I've been tempted to take myself off to Kakadu for a couple of days sans technology and take the chance to step back and decide what's important to my family history research, my blog and what I want to achieve in the future.
So where do I go from here…other than Kakadu?
In the past my practice has been to write up my family history in narrative form – partly because I started in the pre-computer age, and partly because it suited my style, following an example demonstrated by two academic researchers I met.
Genealogy programs tend to make me feel claustrophobic and for a long time I felt that the Australian program, Relatively Yours, solved my needs best. However the time has come to jump ship and make the move to another program, probably Family Historian. I definitely want one that permits more than a restrictive view of what constitutes "family". After all I'm interested in my ancestors' broad life experiences, not just the hatches, matches and despatches. I want to know the nuances of their lives, the place, siblings, neighbours and former neighbours etc as they so often break down brick walls.
I have published my Kunkel family history but with so much coming online, especially via Trove, there are always new additions. Similarly I have unpublished narratives for several of my other lines: McCorkindale, Melvin, Gavin.
Project: Transfer my RY data to Family Historian. Because of the particular aspect of Relatively Yours I don't find the gedcom works as well as it might.
Project: Prepare a spreadsheet which lets me check which certificates and records I've explored, hold or am still missing. Work on timelines for my tricky ancestors.
A couple of months ago I wrote a post for the Worldwide Genealogy blog called My Three Rs of Genealogy Research: Review, Record, Revise. It certainly seems pertinent within this context.
Overall I feel my genealogy (the structure of who's who) is accurate: I'm a Doubting Thomas and will worry at something like a bone until I find the answer. If it's not certain, then I will only add it as an hypothesis in my narrative, clearly stated as such…another advantage of the narrative model.
A month or so ago I added this note to my whiteboard as I wrestled with the "where to from here" question: Back to Basics.
Project: Review my many notes in over 50 notebooks from archive and library visits, LDS microfilms etc (and continue to digitise them). Incorporate the information into my narratives and genealogy program. I will also focus on whether my assumptions have been correct or whether I need more data.
Thomas MacEntee's new Genealogy Do-Over Program is opportunely timed for me, as I think it will be complementary to what I'm trying to do here. However, I won't be packing away my 28 years of research as I don't think I need to…after all my data doesn't come from online trees or other's research. In (almost?) every case I've started with the basics and gone from there.
However, I will be going back to revisit my basics as mentioned above, and putting the research microscope over the conclusions I've reached, the gaps in my research, and where I can pursue further information. In short, be more strategic. I'm confident there'll be lots of tips in the Genealogy Do-Over Program that will help me with what I want to achieve.
Project: Follow along with the Geneabloggers' Genealogy Do-Over Program and implement strategies as appropriate.
I'm expecting 2015 to be a big year for the Cassmob clan as a lot is planned. Hopefully I'll be able to tackle these tasks along with the family goals.
Reflect, Review, Revise and Record.
There are also other decisions to be made about my Dorfprozelten blog, which has been languishing unattended, and my East Clare Emigrants blog.
As this fifth year draws to a close I'd like to thank you all for reading. Blogging may have sometimes taken me off-track research but it's given me a wonderful world-wide community of friends, some I've already met, and some I hope to meet at Roots Tech and the FGS Conference in February.
Thanks so much for reading my blog posts, commenting and being supportive!! You're all stars!


103. Thinking Beyond China When Dealing with North Korea: Is There a Role for Russia?
107. What's next after Theresa May's spectacular own goal?
108. Brexit and the Challenge of Citizenship: British passports for EU citizens living in the UK?
Abstract: This paper presents the testimony delivered by John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland, on 27 April 2017, before the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The Special Committee was established by the Seanad on February 27th to consider the implications of Brexit for Ireland. Mr Bruton began his testimony by commending the committee for its work and also the government for ensuring, through effective diplomacy, that the particular problems of Ireland have been publicly recognised in the negotiating positions of both the EU 27 and the UK.
111. Trump's Paris Exit A blow to climate politics, but a boon to regional climate policy?
114. Could the decrease in Belgian government debt-servicing costs offset increased age-related expenditure?
130. India and Israel: A Strategic Alliance?
131. The Gaza Strip: An Opportunity for Change?
132. Trump's gas doctrine: What does it mean for the EU?
133. Smart Specialisation: championing the EU's economic growth and investment agenda?
135. The US exits Paris Can the EU drive international climate action?
139. North Korea: The Agitator of East Asia?
145. Defense of Animal Agriculture Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense et al.
149. Catalonia's independence bid: how did we get here? What is the European dimension? What next?


text:
package net.tmclean.rna;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

import net.tmclean.rna.jaxrs.ModelBuilder;
import net.tmclean.rna.jaxrs.RESTBuilder;
import javassist.CannotCompileException;
import javassist.ClassPool;
import javassist.NotFoundException;

public final class RNA
{
	private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger( RNA.class );

	private static final Map<String, Class<?>> modelRegistry    = new HashMap<>( 0 );
	private static final Map<Class<?>, String> revModelRegistry = new HashMap<>( 0 );
	private static final Map<String, Class<?>> resourceRegistry = new HashMap<>( 0 );

	public static final RESTBuilder newEndpoint() throws NotFoundException, CannotCompileException
	{
		logger.debug( "Creating new endpoint with default ClassPool" );

		return new RESTBuilder( ClassPool.getDefault() );
	}

	public static final RESTBuilder newEndpoint( ClassPool pool ) throws NotFoundException, CannotCompileException
	{
		logger.debug( "Creating new endpoint with provided ClassPool" );

		return new RESTBuilder( pool );
	}

	public static final void registerResource( String resourceName, Class<?> clazz )
	{
		logger.debug( "Registering new resource with name {} and class {}", resourceName, clazz.getName() );

		resourceRegistry.put( resourceName, clazz );
	}

	public static final List<String> getResourceNames()
	{
		logger.debug( "Retrieving resource names" );

		List<String> names = new ArrayList<String>( resourceRegistry.size() );
		names.addAll( resourceRegistry.keySet() );
		return names;
	}

	public static final Class<?> getResource( String resourceName )
	{
		logger.debug( "Getting resource class mapped to resource name '{}'", resourceName );

		return resourceRegistry.get( resourceName );
	}

	public static final String getResourceClassName( String resourceName )
	{
		logger.debug( "Getting resource class name mapped to resource {}", resourceName );

		return resourceRegistry.get( resourceName ).getName();
	}

	public static final void registerModel( String modelName, Class<?> clazz )
	{
		logger.debug( "Registering new model with model name '{}' and class {}", modelName, clazz.getName() );

		modelRegistry.put( modelName, clazz );
		revModelRegistry.put( clazz, modelName );
	}

	public static final ModelBuilder newModel() throws NotFoundException, CannotCompileException
	{
		logger.debug( "Creating new model" );

		return new ModelBuilder();
	}

	public static final List<String> getModelNames()
	{
		logger.debug( "Retrieving model names" );

		List<String> names = new ArrayList<String>( modelRegistry.size() );
		names.addAll( modelRegistry.keySet() );
		return names;
	}

	public static final Class<?> getModel( String modelName )
	{
		logger.debug( "Getting model class mapped to model name '{}'", modelName );

		return modelRegistry.get( modelName );
	}

	public static final String getModelClassName( String modelName )
	{
		logger.debug( "Getting model class name mapped to model {}", modelName );

		return modelRegistry.get( modelName ).getName();
	}

	public static final String getModelNameForClass( Class<?> modelClass )
	{
		logger.debug( "Getting model name mapped to class {}", modelClass.getName() );

		return revModelRegistry.get( modelClass );
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Thank Republicans for leading the charge against the opioid crisis: Kevin McCarthy
The GOP-led House of Representatives is hard at work to support the president's efforts to stop the opioid crisis.
Thank Republicans for leading the charge against the opioid crisis: Kevin McCarthy The GOP-led House of Representatives is hard at work to support the president's efforts to stop the opioid crisis. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2s4by9y
Kevin McCarthy, Opinion contributor Published 6:00 a.m. ET May 23, 2018
Opioids and other narcotics(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Our nation is in the midst of the deadliest drug crisis in history — a crisis fueled by opioids.
More than 630,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses since the turn of the century. That means almost as many people have died from drugs in less than two decades as those who died in the Civil War. More than half of the deaths in 2016 involved opioids.
This death toll is staggering, but the consequences of drugs are not limited just to the more than two million Americans who are addicted to them.
Drugs inflict enormous damage on American families and communities by tearing spouses, parents, friends and neighbors away from the relationships that make life meaningful.
In Kern County, Calif., my home, opioids killed 51 people just in 2016. Citizens of Ridgecrest, a nearby town, hold an Overdose Awareness Day each year to remember the neighbors they lose to overdoses.
More: To fight opioid addiction, call it what it is: an emergency and a preventable disease
More: What it will take to fight the opioid epidemic: Sens. Roy Blunt and Shelley Capito
The drug trade endangers brave law enforcement officers who are on the front lines of the opioid crisis.
Drugs even harm the youngest and most vulnerable among us. The number of babies suffering from withdrawal because of their mothers' opioid abuse has increased five-fold since 2000. So even as we attempt to heal the current generation of people addicted to drugs, the next generation is being exposed to drugs in the womb.
Beating the deadliest drug crisis in history will require nothing less than the biggest response in history.
That response is already under way, led by President Trump and Republicans in Congress.
In 2016, the Republican-led Congress passed and President Obama signed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA, which provides critical resources to states, cities and nonprofits to fight opioid abuse.
Because of CARA, more health care professionals are licensed to prescribe addiction treatment medications to patients. This reform is important especially for patients in rural areas with few doctors.
CARA was an umbrella attempt to limit the damage of the opioid crisis. As the carnage from drugs continues to mount, Americans should know that more help is on the way.
Trump has declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, instructing federal agencies to increase their efforts to stop illegal drugs at the border and raise awareness about over-prescription of painkillers.
More: Congress is feeding opioid addiction with this bill. Why haven't they repealed it yet?
POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media
The House of Representatives is hard at work to support the president's efforts. No fewer than eight committees are working on bills to combat the opioid crisis. The Energy and Commerce Committee considered and advanced 25 opioid bills last week alone.
Congress is advancing bills that would help precisely those people who are most threatened by opioids.
For example, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act would reform an outdated law so that patients' substance abuse history can be listed in their medical records. This bill, promoted by Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will give doctors access to information that can prevent tragic overdoses and improve patient safety.
The STOP Act, promoted by Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Mich., would reduce the flow of Chinese fentanyl into our country by giving law enforcement new tools to detect suspicious packages in the mail.
These are just two of the more than 60 bills the Republican-led Congress is considering to combat the opioid crisis.
As important as our legislative agenda is to solving this crisis, healing the wounds of drug abuse will take more than government.
It will take a commitment by every citizen to fulfill our duties to one another. That means supporting people near us who are struggling with drug addiction — and supporting their family members and loved ones, as well.
In illegal drugs, America faces an enemy that has claimed more lives than the bloodiest war in our history. We need all hands on deck to defeat it.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is the majority leader in the House Representatives.
You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.
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/content/basf/plastics-rubber/global/en/performance_polymers/corpus
/content/basf/plastics-rubber/global/en/performance_polymers/corpus/architecture
/content/basf/plastics-rubber/global/en/performance_polymers/corpus/architecture/summer-in-the-city
Ideas and Solutions
Hardworking facade
The Wonder of "Under": Dining in the Deep
Artfully serious – Balkrishna Doshi receives 2018 Pritzker Prize
Innovating in an ideal world
New energy for a residential complex
Cutting-edge thermal insulation: Neopor® Plus
Two rooms for the future
Minimalism in Miami
Living in a box
Renaturing architecture: Biophilic Design for a healthier and more productive life
From a stadium to urban development
Challenging: Sustainable architecture in 3D
Going high
Greener Buildings for Everyone
Test Home
Eco-architecture: Facade for butterflies
To be an architect is an enormous privilege
Summer in the City – How Our Urban Eco-Systems Stay Cool Even in Extreme Heat
Keeping Cool - How We Can Equip Our Cities for Rising Temperatures
The Sky's the Limit - The Finalists of the International Highrise Award
Designing for the Future: Harmony of Health, Home and the Environment
Series: City of the Future
Not only does the heat seem to build up in cities in summer, but the so-called urban heat island effect is also measurable. On an annual average it can amount to as much as 3°C more than in the surrounding area, and sometimes 5°C on hot days and even more in the following nights. As a result of global warming, temperatures in our cities will continue to rise – with serious consequences for health and the environment. Individual buildings can be cooled, but what about entire cities? We have been scouring the globe for strategies and solutions. A new part of the City of the Future series.
Portland as warm as San Antonio? Berlin as warm as Canberra? According to research by the Crowther Lab of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), this could be reality in 2050. The experts in Zurich looked at 520 cities with populations of over 1 million and the changing climate forecast for them. According to the study, 77 percent of the world's cities will experience significant climate change. This will be starkest in the northern hemisphere. In Europe, for example, cities could then be 3.5°C warmer in summer than they are today. Translated, this means that London would have the climate of today's Barcelona, and Stockholm that of Vienna. In tropical regions, temperatures will change less, but precipitation will shift significantly. In short, the rainy season will be wetter, but, more importantly, the dry season will be significantly drier.
Even today, our cities are measurably warmer than their hinterlands, and climate change will reinforce this effect. The consequences are serious, as high temperatures and heat waves will endanger our health and claim human lives, energy consumption due to air conditioning will increase, and productivity can be expected to fall. But how can entire cities be cooled? All around the world, there are many different approaches to doing this, and these can make a significant contribution to quality of urban life.
But, first of all, why do cities heat up so much? Several factors come together here. Concrete and asphalt surfaces literally absorb the heat and trap it in the urban environment; unfavorable building arrangements can inhibit air circulation, while emissions from traffic, industry and – ironically – air conditioning do the rest. But, as so often, these problems also point to possible strategies for really cooling cities down.
Trees not only provide welcome shade, but also release water vapor via their leaves, which cools their immediate surroundings. The more parks and gardens a city has, the more agreeable the microclimate. Now the horizontal space available for new green spaces is often limited – so it's worth turning to the vertical. Singapore, for example, has greened 100 hectares of building facades – by 2030 the surface area is set to double, which will be achieved through regulation, among other things. The Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises Ordinance calls for the integration of green spaces on the same scale as the plot of land for each new building. The German city of Karlsruhe is following a similar approach and has greened the roofs of 5,000 buildings. It is also increasingly planting so-called "trees of the future", i.e. species that are not necessarily native but are likely to cope better with the anticipated higher temperatures.
MOBILIZING WATER
Evaporative cooling is also what gives ponds, lakes and wells their cooling effect on the environment. In addition to these so-called passive systems, there are also active cooling solutions based on water. In Japan, sidewalks and gardens have been sprinkled with water since the Edo period to keep the environment cool. Meanwhile, devices are now in use that distribute a fine spray – in the Chinese city of Chongqing, for example. At bus stops, water cooled to 5 to 7°C is sprayed to cool the surroundings as well as those waiting. With these solutions it is of course important to bear in mind that water is sometimes in short supply, especially during heat waves.
LET THE WIND BLOW
We all know that the wind has a cooling effect. However, in many cities it is virtually stopped in its tracks by the building layout. Stuttgart in southern Germany suffers particularly from summer heat and smog due to its location in a basin. In order to channel the cooler air from the surrounding hills into the city, the city has so-called ventilation corridors – wide, tree-lined streets that extend through the city and act as "wind channels". In addition, no new buildings may be built on certain hills, so that the air can continue to circulate as freely as possible. The principle works well, and Beijing, for example, is considering an adaptation, taking account of local wind patterns, of course. A fresh breeze is also very welcome in Abu Dhabi, given the prevailing temperatures. In the model desert city of Masdar City, an almost 50-meter-high wind tower, among other things, provides cooling. It "captures" the cooler wind at height and feeds it through the streets like a kind of large air conditioner. Thanks to this and other measures, it is possible that, despite temperatures in the surrounding desert of 35°C, the prevailing temperature in the city itself is only 20°C.
And in the next part of our series City of the Future: Why short distances are important for quality of life and how this idea is shaping urban planning in Melbourne.
Looking ahead – The art of designing modern city concepts
How should the city of the future look? This question, which is so central to society, is now the subject of a dedicated series that will create a forum for different perspectives, approaches and opinions. To start off, we are talking to the architect and urban planner Professor Christoph Mäckler about aesthetics, individuality and the question of whether the wheel really does have to be completely reinvented.
The lull before the storm
Extreme natural events will increase significantly worldwide: Storms, floods, and earthquakes often cause serious damage. BASF's Disaster Durable SolutionsTM bundle applications to protect buildings and infrastructure.


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Frank Darien
A Stolen Life
Stolen Life (album)
Stolen Life (1939 film)
A Stolen Life (1946 film)
Frank Darien (March 18, 1876 – October 20, 1955) was an American actor. He appeared in 225 films and between 1915 and 1951.
The Miracle Man (1932)
Professional Sweetheart (1933)
Marie Galante (1934)
Service With a Smile (1934) early Technicolor short
Jim Hanvey, Detective (1937)
Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
Long Shot (1939)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
King of the Texas Rangers (1941)
Hellzapoppin' (1941)
The Panther's Claw (1942)
The Fabulous Suzanne (1946)
Frank Darien at the Internet Movie Database
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Frank_Darien
A Stolen Life may refer to:
A Stolen Life, a memoir by kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard
Reckless Behavior: Caught on Tape, a television film distributed as Stolen Life in Australia
Stolen Life (album), an album by Arch Enemy
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/A_Stolen_Life
Stolen Life is an EP by melodic death metal band Arch Enemy.
Alissa White-Gluz − vocals
Michael Amott − guitar, keyboards
Jeff Loomis − guitar on tracks 1, 3, 4
Nick Cordle − guitar on tracks 1, 2, 5–9
Sharlee D'Angelo − bass guitar
Daniel Erlandsson − drums
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Stolen_Life_(album)
Stolen Life is a 1939 British drama film directed by Paul Czinner and starring Michael Redgrave, Elizabeth Bergner and Wilfrid Lawson. It was adapted from a novel by Karel J. Benes and was remade in 1946 as A Stolen Life. The film score was composed by William Walton.
↑ imdb.com
Stolen Life at the Internet Movie Database
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Stolen_Life_(1939_film)
A Stolen Life is a 1946 drama film starring Bette Davis, who also produced, and directed by Curtis Bernhardt. The supporting cast includes Glenn Ford, Dane Clark, Walter Brennan, Charles Ruggles, and Bruce Bennett (formerly "Herman Brix"). The movie is a remake of a 1939 British film Stolen Life starring Elisabeth Bergner and Michael Redgrave.
The second time Davis played twin sisters was in Dead Ringer (1964).
Kate Bosworth (played by Davis) is a sincere, demure girl and artist who misses her boat to an island off New England, where she intends to meet her sister Patricia and cousin Freddie. She persuades Bill Emerson (played by Ford) to take her home in his boat. Their relationship grows while she paints a portrait of Eben Folger (Walter Brennan), the old lighthouse keeper, and Kate is very much in love.
However, her sister Pat (also played by Davis) happens to be a twin. A flamboyant, man-hungry manipulator, she fools Bill at first, pretending to be Kate. Then she pursues him on a trip out of town, and they return announcing to Kate their intention to marry.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/A_Stolen_Life_(1946_film)
havingahealthylife.com
workforalife.net
alittlemorelife.com
gobuildalife.com
athinlife.com
lifeisaadventure.com
reggaelife.com
frankzappalive.com
daytodaylife.org
healthylivelife.com
denmarklifeinsurance.com
Stolen Life, Fifteen
Stolen Life, 8 Foot Sativa
Stolen Life, Pink
Stolen Life
Wake up in the morning go to work
Fire up the truck and drive to Sonoma
Hop on the forklift and load up the truck with 10, 000 pounds of newspapers
10, 000 pounds of racist, classist lies
Drive the truck back to Santa Rosa
Get the newspapers in the recycle
So the rich white man
Can print up the same batch of lies again and again
Like "it's too bad the cops had to that man, but he had a broomstick
And he was asian
And we all know they're all Kung Fu masters.
Samurai warriors, they're all just like Jackie Chan
It's too bad they had to restrain his wife,
'cause she was a registered nurse and she tried to save his life
That goes against regulations, We'll just chalk it up to a bad night.
We're so proud our boys in blue
'cause they always do what's right"
I saw Aylene today
I saw her children play, in the front yard
The thought occurred to me, how does a mother
Tell her children their daddy got killed by the police
Drive the truck back to Santa Rosa Get the newspapers in the recycle
Like, "It's too bad the cops had to kill that kid
But someone called in a stolen walkman
The cops had to chase him down
But he refused to lie face down on the ground
He just walked away, the cops said
His black skin walked away into the black night
So I had to shoot him in the back of the head from 50 feet away
I had to kill him it was self defense
I was afraid he would circle back around behind and kill me"
I saw Cornelius speak today, at Hayward Bart
About how his son's life was stolen away
Over a walkman that wasn't worth more than change
How does a father find justice for a son stolen away
I don't want to hear your newscast anymore, it's bullshit
I don't want to see your headlines anymore, 'cause they're bullshit
I don't want to hear your press release anymore, 'cause it's bullshit


By now, there's a fairly good chance your personal information has been exposed, to one degree or another, to hackers. Personally, I've received notifications from several companies and my college about hacking attempts they've suffered that made my personal information vulnerable to identity thieves, and you or someone know likely has, too. It's the reality of living in the 21st century - hackers are constantly attempting to access our information, which requires us to take extra precautions to protect our important information. If only government were so concerned.
In 2013, 40 million customers of Target stores had their credit and debit card information stolen. The Equifax hack exposed nearly half the country, almost 150 million people's personal information to hackers. Even the federal government suffered a breach when, in 2015, it was announced that the records of 21.5 million government employees and others who had gone through background checks for security clearances for the Office of Personnel Management had been stolen, likely by Chinese hackers.
If it's digital, it vulnerable.
That truth presents the federal government with a special problem. The feds amass more data than just about anyone. And, more importantly, more sensitive data than anyone. And that sensitive data is a prime target for hackers, both from hostile states and anyone willing to sell to them. The potential rewards for bad actors are limitless, which makes the danger limitless as well.
The federal government is left scrambling to stay one step ahead of the hoard seeking to breach those secrets. This race had led to some necessary innovations and strategic thinking, like a decentralized system so no one can access everything by accessing one system.
Well, they used to have a decentralized system, but in a boneheaded move only the government could concoct, the Pentagon is looking to create a single, giant database for our nation's secrets in the cloud.
Being the government, they don't have the ability to create their own cloud; they're farming it out. Just imagine: the most important bits of intelligence our nation gathers — names, dates, spy satellite photos, bank accounts, everything required for our intelligence agencies to keep us one step ahead of our enemies, to keep us safe — all entrusted to one company.
And which company? Amazon. It's not yet official, but the Pentagon has a "winner-takes-all" bidding process they're advancing that even the other competitors for the contract admit Amazon will win.
This decision is, quite simply, crazy. Why would the government award a contract, this contract, to a company the president routinely puts in his crosshairs? As it turns out, you can thank President Barack Obama for that.
The swamp didn't become so swampy by itself.
So, we have a national security system on the verge of consolidating all of its intelligence in one place, making it a prime target for hacking. And the company set to get the multi-billion-dollar, multi-year contract to house all of those secrets is owned by the richest man in the world, who just happens to be one of President Trump's targets for criticism. Add to that the fact that the government bureaucracy that set this in motion is populated with people loyal to the previous administration and you begin to see the scope of this mess.
With all that has come to light about the intelligence community in the past month, the exposure of the Obama administration's spying on the Trump campaign, the idea of trusting his appointees with protecting our nation's secrets seems, at a minimum, ill-advised. And putting them all under one umbrella while trusting Amazon with them makes even less sense.
This is the swamp President Trump promised to drain.
The president, at a minimum, needs to stop the centralizing of our national security data. Unless and until we can protect our personal data and our credit card transactions, we should not put the biggest prize in international intelligence in one place. That would just be stupid.


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Yes, Virginia, There Is A Reggae Santa Claus!
Just like Santa Claus, I've pulled through the frigid winds, drifting snow and near blizzard like conditions and pulled off the seemingly impossible! I honestly didn't think I would be able to do it this year with the bullshit I've got going on outside this blog and I definitely didn't want anyone to think I was terminally ill or anything so I did it anyway! Distinctly Jamaican Sounds has become like the mafia to me... every time I think I'm out it keeps dragging me back in! And all of the warm wishes from those of you out there who take the time to read and listen to the things I post are my inspiration for keeping this Yuletide tradition alive... hold on I think I've got something in my eye. :)
Let me tell you... this was a marathon! But I got it done on a whim over the course of the last two days and I hope it is as well received as previous year's installments! To save valuable time I didn't split it up this year and now you can get the entire Distinctly Jamaican Christmas Mix 2008 with one download!
Here's what you're gonna hear...
We start off with the man Nigger Kojak AKA Floyd Perch and a wicked tune called "Christmas Style" taken from a 1978 7" on the Joe Gibbs label and riding the classic "Still In Love" riddim.
Bunny and Skully follow it up with their version of "White Christmas" borrowed from a various artists Christmas CD called Vintage Christmas on the Sonic Sounds label. They don't do it like Bing either, it's more in the classic Drifters doo-wop style; a real nice interpretation.
We then take a turn for the calypso with Lord Nelson and one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, regardless of genre, called "Party For Santa Claus." It was originally released as a 7" in 1963 on the Jump Up label and I got it off a CD called Mas! A Caribbean Christmas Party on Rykodisc.
The Wailers, with Peter Tosh doing the lead vocals, are up next with "Go, Tell It On The Mountains" from a generic Best Of The Wailers compilation CD featuring a nice sampling of music recorded for Leslie Kong at Beverly's circa 1969. The song's lyrics have been modified from the traditional versions we usually associate with Christmas but nonetheless it goes with the Christmas vibe we've got goin' on!
Frankie Paul is up next with the song "Merry Christmas" from the 1985 various artists Rub-A-Dub Christmas LP on the Black Solidarity label and recorded at Tuff Gong.
It pains me to say this but... the late great Alton Ellis is up next with the song "Christmas Coming" taken from the Heartbeat CD Reggae Christmas From Studio One.
Glen Adams follows it up with a nice rockin' organ driven tune called "Xmas Rock" and it comes from a 7" on the Gem label.
The DJ duo of Papa Michigan and General Smiley give us the next tune... it's called "Little Drummer Boy" and comes from the 1984 LP RAS Records Presents A Reggae Christmas. Not exactly comparable with their best non-holiday work from the same era and even before that at Studio One but a decent reggae interpretation of a Christmas classic.
Slipping out of the reggae groove completely with the next tune... Desmond Dekker And The Aces give us "Christmas Day" originally released as a 7" on the Pyramid label in 1968 and lifted for our purposes from the crucial Trojan Christmas CD boxset. You might get to this track and think that I've tried to slip in some R & B but I guarantee you that it's Desmond Dekker!
Up next we've got "Natty Dread Christmas" from the group Iron Phoenix and backed by the Revolutionaries and it comes from a late 70's 45 on the Thing label. This is an absolutely killer roots tune regardless of the holiday subject matter and I've also included the B-side version "The Rise And Fall Of The South African Regime" for your skanking pleasure.
Gregory Isaacs gives us "It's Christmas Time Again" a mid-80's King Tubby's digital production released on the Taurus label. Not one of my favorites but since I used my favorite Gregory Christmas tune last year when I gave you "White Christmas" so this will have to suffice.
Following that up we've got Johnny Clarke and his smooth adaptation of the song popularized by Jimmy Boyd in 1952 and actually commissioned by the department store Neiman Marcus to promote their Christmas cards designed by New Yorker magazine's artist Perry Barlow. The song is "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and the version you're gonna hear was produced by Bunny Lee and released on the Total Sounds label in 1975.
Winston Groovy is up next with an early reggae tune appropriately titled "Merry Christmas" and lifted from the 2005 Pulse various artist CD The Reggae Christmas Collection.
The fourteenth tune in the mix is from the classic Jacob "again not to be confused with Jacob Marley of Christmas Carol fame" Miller album Natty Christmas (alongside DJ Ray I) originally released on the Jamaican Top Ranking label in 1978 and eventually made available to a larger worldwide audience by RAS Records in the 80's. The song is "Silver Bells" and as Miller has been known to do with all his holiday interpretations he strays far from the originals lyrics but stays miraculously dead-on with the original melody. I think I probably said this in years past but I'll say it again... if you're in the market to buy one reggae Christmas album in your lifetime, this is the one to get!
That brings us to the next tune... from the same album and this time we give Ray I the mic. He gives us a little number called "Natty No Santa Claus" on the same riddim as the aforementioned "Silver Bells" and sounds nearly as wicked. If you're in the market to buy one reggae Christmas album... oh wait! I already told you that! Sorry...
Staying with the DJ stylee... we've got a smooth cut by Jah Walton called "DJ Christmas" and it comes to us from a 1983 Carlton Patterson produced 7" on the Black And White label and riding the Weather Balloon riddim.
The soulful sound of Toots & The Maytals are up next with a tune called "Happy Christmas" and no it's not a rendition of that annoying John Lennon song either. This one comes from the late Byron Lee's Christmas album Christmas Party Time In The Tropics on the VP label. One of the real gems hidden on this release.
Horace Andy gives us his sweet toned rendition of "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" and in my opinion, this is one of the best tunes in this year's mix. Horace Andy's voice really does this classic Christmas carol justice and the Joe Gibbs production make it a real killer! This is borrowed from the VP CD reissue of the 1979 Joe Gibbs Family Wishes You A Merry Rockers Christmas originally pressed on his namesake label and at one time featuring a festive ganja Christmas tree on the sleeve. "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" was never released on previous pressings of the same album and thankfully came to light when VP got ahold of it.
Up next we've got the Silvertones from the 2002 Heartbeat Christmas Greeting From Studio One CD with a little number called "Bling Bling Christmas." I know what you're thinking... "first he snuck in that Desmond Dekker R&B song and now he's slipping in some hip-hop!?" But no it's not the "bling bling" that popular culture stole from gangsta rap lyrics and adopted a couple years back making it a household expression that even Grandma added to her vocabulary. Believe me, Studio One and the Silvertones weren't hyping up diamond and platinum jewelery.
Sticking with Studio One for the next track... Freddie McGregor follows up the bling with another smooth Coxsone production called "Irie Christmas." This is a nice mellow one and it comes from the other Heartbeat Christmas album; Reggae Christmas From Studio One from 1992.
And yet another Studio One tune! This time from the man named Charley Fresh and its called "Jam Down Christmas," and is taken from the 1993 Studio One Christmas CD called Christmas Vibes. This is not the best Studio One Christmas release and to be quite honest with you aside from a couple classics made available on the Heartbeat releases and Half Pint's title track which I shared last year, the majority of it is un-listenable digital style... definitely not my cup of egg nog.
DJ duo Tippa Lee and Rappa Roberts are up next with a song called "Christmas Is Coming" from a 1986 7" on the Moodisc Records International label and produced by the man Harry Mudie. I'm actually kinda surprised that I like this record as much as I do but Lee & Roberts do a good job delivering the festive lyrics.
The first lady of Jamaican song, Hortense Ellis, gave us her interpretation of the 1940 Irving Berlin Christmas favorite "White Christmas" but hers is a little more in keeping with positive Afrocentric vibes instead of sentimentality. As you've probably guessed by now it's called "Black Christmas"... let's see Bing Crosby wrap his lips around this version! It's from the Top Ranking International LP African Christmas featuring Hortense and DJ Trinity circa 1979-80.
Speaking of Trinity he's up next. He gives us the title track from the aforementioned album "African Christmas" and he chats over the same Black Christmas riddim that Hortense Ellis utilized. Another nice tune!
Finally... we've reached the end! The 25th and final track in 2008's Distinctly Jamaican Sounds Christmas Mix and it is from yet another Studio One Christmas album. This is a funky organ instrumental by the man Richard Ace and it wraps it up on a nice up-note! This is lifted from the Studio One LP Christmas In Jamaica and was recorded somewhere between 1965-1970.
Distinctly Jamaican Sounds Christmas Mix 2008
I hope you enjoy this year's mix! I'm confident that it will add a bit of welcome Caribbean spice to your holiday season and give you a break from the well-worn Christmas music that you're accustomed to hearing since the day after Halloween... man it's so clique to say it but the retailers do start earlier and earlier each year!
I want to thank everyone ahead of time for your comments and I wish anyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year... I know right now the world seems like it's on the brink of a major meltdown with all the violence, financial crap, terrorism in India, recessions, suffering, unemployment, wars, etc. But keep your head up, hope for the best, stay strong, remember to tell those you love how much you love them and spend quality time with those people because they are the glue that keeps our sanity in place!
Also, every now and then do yourself a favor and listen to some Jamaican music... because like Bob Marley sang, "one good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain!" Lots of love everyone!
JUST ADDED!
2007's Christmas Mix
Posted by John AKA Reggaexx at Thursday, December 25, 2008 19 comments:


Barbara Reich formed Resourceful Consultants, LLC in 1999. Barbara has appeared on the Today show and has been featured in The New York Times, New York Post, and Real Simple, among other publications. She and her husband live in Manhattan with their twins. For more information, visit SecretsOfAnOrganizedMom.com.


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www.kansascityaccidentinjuryattorneys.com A lot of people wonder what to expect when they receive a free consultation with an attorney. In this video, Vic Finkelstein of Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys helps clarify that question. It is important to remember that there is no cost or obligation - so if you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else's negligence call us at (816) 348-2616.
A free consultation is a perfect time to get questions answered as well as discover if you have a valid claim. The attorney will be able to give advice and discuss possible losses that may be recovered such as medical bills, property damage, or lost wages. Contact our Kansas City personal injury attorneys for your FREE consultation.
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What is a Temporary Key?
A temporary key is a key that is held by the Security & Concierge team for a limited time before being returned to the owner.
Here is an example scenario where a temporary key would be used: when an owner is selling their unit and their real estate agent is showing their unit, the owner would leave their key with the security desk. The security team would log this into the system as a temporary key.
Every time the key is checked out to a real estate agent, the security team would log this in the system as a check-out. When the agent returns the key, the security staff would then check in the key.
After the unit is sold or the owner returns for the day, the security team would then return the key to the owner and remove it from the system.