To help you at the start of your tenancy and during your time at the property we have put together the following FAQ's which may answer queries that you have? If your question doesn't feature, just drop us a line and we'll help as best we can.
We've broken the question down into Pre-Tenancy. During Tenancy, and Giving Notice and Vacating the Property.
What is the Administration Fee for? The administration fee we charge covers the administration and direct cost of credit checks, referencing, and preparation of documents for your new home.
When I pay fees am I guaranteed to get the property? The fee you pay reserves the property for one week whilst we complete your references. When you pay your fees we cannot provide guarantees that you will be accepted by the landlord of the property as we do not know what the references will say when they are returned. Rejected applications are very rare (if we think there is a reason you won't pass, we won't take your fees!) but most rejections are due to adverse credit history. If you are unsure of your credit history we recommend a pre-application credit check that only costs £25.
Is the Administration Fee non-refundable if I fail referencing? If you're application is rejected by us or the landlord for whatever reason we will refund half the fees you have paid.(pre-application fees will not be refunded) If however you have passed our references and you subsequently choose to pull-out of the application, the administration & holding fees you will have paid when you paid the deposit, will not be refunded. We do everything we can prior to taking fees to try to ascertain whether a tenant will pass referencing. We always fully explain that fees are only partially refundable before payment is taken, so please do bear this in mind before you apply. We will ask you for a verbal signature when we take admin fees to ensure that you have been advised of this point.
Why do you need more information than my last agent? Our properties are priced fairly and maintained to a high standard. This can only be maintained if we have good tenants that pay their rent promptly. Our level of referencing reflects this requirement.
Why do you want to contact my previous employer and landlord? We need to complete as comprehensive a picture as possible. If you have recently changed jobs, or have only been at your current address for 6 months we will need to speak to your previous employer or landlord to obtain a reference from them as well as your current ones.
How do I set-up my utilities? We work with a company called Tenant Shop who will set up all of your utilities on your behalf. We ask you to complete a document alongside your tenancy agreement which will give authority to Tenant Shop to transfer utilities into your name and to a cheaper provider if possible. Tenant Shop transfer gas, electricity, water and council tax, and they can also assist with TV & Broadband.
If you wish to set up your own utilities, we will still require you to complete a Tenant Shop form but this will be shredded once you have provided us with proof that you have set-up the utility supplies directly.
Why does it say that I have to pay for check-out at the end of tenancy? We charge £50 for the administration of the check-out at the end of your tenancy. If the property is returned to us without requiring any repair work or cleaning the administration charge is normally waived.
When do we sign contracts for the property? Once your referencing has been signed off, an appointment will be made for you to come into our office to sign your Tenancy Agreements, standing order mandate, and utility transfer form.
Do I meet you at the property when I move-in? Your check-in will take place at our office. You will have a pre-arranged 30 minute appointment where we will go through our check-in pack, discuss any questions that you have, and handover keys to your new home.
I have a poor credit history, what can I do to secure the property? Initially it would be advisable to carry out a pre-application credit check. The check is £25 per person, which is non-refundable, but this cost would then be deducted from your overall fees. The result of your credit check will give us the opportunity to better advise what your options are without you having to commit to the full application costs.
I don't agree with the condition of some things on my inventory. What should I do? If there is anything in your inventory that you don't agree with, or if there is something that you feel was missed, you should advise us within 7 days of collecting keys. To do this, please email us noting what the discrepancy is, note down the time stamp, and preferably include a photograph. We will then respond to confirm receipt. Please make sure that you have an acknowledgment of receipt as we cannot accept amendments after the 7 day period and your inventory will be used when you come to check-out of the property. Should we disagree with your amendments we will call you to discuss.
Can I pay my rent with cash, or by debit card rather than Standing Order? It is a condition of your tenancy that payment is made by standing order. If you wish to pay by another method e.g by debit card, there is a charge of £10 to cover the extra administration involved on each occasion.
How many pictures can I put up? You can put up a reasonable amount of pictures in your rental property. A reasonable amount would be considered to be 1 or 2 picture in each room. These must be hung using proper picture hooks and any damaged caused to the wall must be rectified at the end of your tenancy.
Can I decorate? We would not encourage you to decorate the property but if you wish to we can ask for permission from your landlord. If you are given permission then we would insist the painting be done to a professional standard, i.e. paint should not mark skirting, door frames, ceilings or carpets. You would normally only be allowed to use neutral colours.
Can I take furniture out of the property? If there are items of furniture you do not require in your rental property you should highlight this before your tenancy commences and we can try to arrange removal with your landlords permission. Should you need something removing once you have moved into the property we will always do our best to arrange this, however, in most cases the landlord will ask that you store the item in a secure place and then return it in its original condition to its original location at the end of your tenancy.
Can I get a pet? The majority of our properties have a NO PETS policy, however, some of our landlords will relax this rule with a few adjustments to the terms of your tenancy. You should ask us BEFORE you buy a pet to check that your landlord will allow you to keep a pet in the property. Please be aware that you will normally be asked for an increased damages deposit.
Why do I need a Gas Safety Check every year? It is a requirement by law that the landlord ensures that all gas appliances within the rental property are safe. A qualified gas engineer carries out the necessary checks and produces a certificate; this certificate is valid for 12 months. Our gas engineer would normally collect keys from our office to carry the inspection out, alternatively, you can be present if you wish. If we are unsuccessful in obtaining access to your property to carry out the safety check before the certificate expires we may have to send an engineer to disconnect the supply.
Who do I contact if something breaks, and who pays for it? If the property is managed by Granger & Oaks you should call us if something is broken. If the landlord manages the property themselves you should contact them directly. For items in the communal areas, you would need to contact the management company. The landlord would normally cover the cost of repairs in your property unless it is considered that the item has been broken due to misuse or neglect. Items such as changing light bulbs, replacing shower curtains, smoke alarm batteries, topping up boilers and bleeding radiators, tightening door handles & hinges are considered to be tenant responsibilities.
Why do you come to do inspections of my home? We take a pro-active stance on property maintenance. For instance, a loose door hinge can cause damage to the floor-covering, an unventilated house will suffer from black mould, and a frosted freezer could result in cracked and broken trays. We inspect the property to ensure there are no immediate & forthcoming maintenance requirements. These inspections have to be carried out during normal office hours, normally take around 15 minutes, and you do not have to be present.
Firstly switch off your boiler so the pump is no longer running. Use a radiator key, (can be purchased from a hardware store), to open the valve which are normally located at the top of the radiator at either end. Hold a rag or tissue under the valve because as soon as the air has escaped water will come out. This water is usually black from being in the system so you must take care of carpets below; you need to ensure you screw the valve back up quickly and tightly.
Can I move my partner, or a friend in? In most cases it is ok for you to move a partner or friend in but you MUST inform us before they do as they'll need to pass our referencing to ensure they are a suitable tenant BEFORE they move into the property. You will then be issued with a new tenancy agreement with the new details on. There is also a cost related to this of £50 for referencing & £48 for a new tenancy agreement to be drawn up.
I can't afford to pay my rent – what do I do? The sooner you inform us that you cannot pay rent the better. In most cases if you have a valid reason for not being able to meet a payment landlords will be willing to negotiate a repayment plan. Any plan that is agreed to must be kept to, failure to inform us or keep to any arrangements will result in a late payment fee being applied to your account and could ultimately result in you losing your home.
What do I do if we split up but I want to stay in the house? Unfortunately, we deal with tenant break-ups quite frequently. The good news is that in most instances the party that wishes to stay in the property does remain. You can only end a fixed-term joint tenancy if your landlord and the other joint tenant agrees. Presuming that this is the case, the tenant that remains would need to satisfy our tenancy criteria and a revised tenancy agreement can be drawn up. In some instances, you may perhaps require a guarantor? We would also need to ensure that it is agreed that the deposit can be transferred?
In the unlikely event that the tenant that wishes to remain is not in a position to take up the tenancy on their own, the joint tenancy will remain in place and you may both need to give notice so that we can find tenants to replace you. You should remember that the landlords remarketing fees will apply if you are within a fixed term tenancy.
Please do call us if you need clarification and help - we appreciate that these are difficult circumstances.
How do I renew my tenancy when it comes to the end of my fixed term? If you're landlord wants to offer you an extension you will be contacted around 40 days before the tenancy expires. You will be given the option to give notice, extend on a periodic basis, or extend on a fixed term. A response is required within 14 days along with £48 renewal fee if you do wish to renew.
I paid 6 months in advance when I moved in, can I now pay monthly? If your circumstances have changed since you moved in, you may be able to pay rent monthly, subject to our normal tenancy criteria. In these circumstances, we would normally need to carry out fresh references and an up to date credit check. We charge £50 to re-reference current tenants, and you would also need to pay the renewal fee once the references are complete.
How much notice do we need to give if we want to move-out? There is often confusion surrounding what notice is required. The confusion primarily relates to the 'one month notice' that tenants should give. One month should more properly be referred to as 'one full rental period' which you will need to consider when you are giving the notice. As a guide, say you want to move out in December and you normally pay rent on the 15th of the month. We should have received your notice in writing by the 14th November at the latest. If you are late handing in your notice and we don't get it until the 18th November for instance, you would have missed the rental period so your tenancy wouldn't then end until the 15th of January.
If you are in a fixed term tenancy you cannot give notice any earlier than one month, ie one rental period, before the end of your tenancy agreement. If you are unsure we recommend clarifying your likely tenancy end date before you make arrangements to move home!
What is a full rental period? This is the time period your rent payments cover. Rent is normally paid 1 month in advance and the full rental period normally runs from the 1st day of the tenancy, unless you have requested to change your rent payment dates. For example: if your tenancy started on the 7th of a month your rental period would be from the 7th of the current month to the 6th of the following month.
What if we want to move before the end of our tenancy? You will need agreement from the landlord if you wish to move out before the end of your tenancy agreement. Depending on how close you are to the end of your tenancy you may be required to pay the landlords remarketing costs to find suitable tenants to replace you. The remarketing costs need to be paid to us before the new tenants sign their tenancy agreement to replace you - it cannot be deducted from the deposit. The amount you will need to pay will depend on whether or not we manage the property. You should contact us for clarity. If we do need to find new tenants you would still be responsible for all rent and utilities up until the day that the new tenant moves-in. Please contact us for clarification should this situation occur.
Can you give me a reference for my future landlord? Once you have found somewhere new to live we will certainly be able to complete a landlord reference for you (providing we managed the property during your tenancy). You will need to ask your new agent or landlord to send over the reference request. Unfortunately, if your landlord managed the property himself, you will need to contact him to complete the reference for you.
Can I be home when you come to do viewings? You are obviously welcome to be present for viewings however we only conduct accompanied viewings so you do not need to be at the property. We will have a set of keys so will be able to arrange access without you being present.
Can I be present at check-out? You cannot be present whilst the check-out is carried out by us, but, you can meet us at the property straight after check-out to discuss the findings. It is very important that the check-out is carried out as accurately as possible, so we can assess whether your landlord will need to instruct any repairs and potentially make any deductions from the deposit. We encourage tenants to attend post check-out walk-throughs wherever possible.
How do I get my deposit back? A check out inspection will be carried out to ascertain if there are any dilapidations to be made to the deposit. We will contact you to make you aware of proposed deductions. Once any dilapidations have been agreed, we will notify DPS of any deductions and they will then contact you for your agreement. Once agreement is reached by both parties DPS will return funds by bank transfer. If we cannot agree on deductions DPS will ask you to complete the deposit dispute paperwork and the case will be considered by one of their adjudicators. Find out more about DPS dispute resolution here.
How do I return my keys? On the day your tenancy expires you will need to bring your keys to our office (during office hours). If your tenancy expires on a Saturday or Sunday you can either bring your keys to our office on the Saturday, we are open between 9.30am and 1.30pm, or ifr you are moving out during the day, you can return the keys to us 1st thing on the following Monday. Please bear in mind that rent will be charged at a daily rate where keys are returned late.
What is fair wear & tear? The House of Lords defines fair wear and tear as "reasonable use of the premises by the tenant and the ordinary operation of natural forces". 'Reasonable' depends on the type of property and who occupies it. For example, mid to low level minor scuffs to a busy magnolia painted hallway would constitute wear and tear. A burn or a stain on a carpet would not constitute wear and tear and would be considered damage.


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Mercedes and Linde Group Hydrogen World Tour
March 2, 2011	0 By Bret Williams
Mercedes-Benz launched their hydrogen powered world tour back in January and their 3 B-Class vehicles arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this week.
The F-Cell World Drive is the manufacturer's way of proving that hydrogen fuel cells are commercially viable for mass produced vehicles. The car will make stops at several automobile conventions on their way across the nation.
As hydrogen refueling stations are a sparse commodity in the U.S., the Linde group, leading suppliers of industrial gases, are tagging along to ensure the tour keeps moving. Linde has supplied a tanker to accompany storing hydrogen to accompany the vehicles on their journey around the world.
Before arriving in the U.S., the vehicles traveled through several European countries, trekking over 3,600 kilometers. The next step is to travel another 7,500 kilometers by March 18, bringing the tour to Seattle, Washington. After that, the tour will head to Australia.
The B-Class cars are powered by a 136 horsepower motor and can travel some 250 miles before needing to be refueled with hydrogen.
The fuel cell used in the cars is the same that would be used when Mercedes-Benz plans to release commercial vehicles in the near future.
The major drawback of hydrogen fuel is the lack of infrastructure to support it on a massive scale. The scarcity of refueling stations limits the operational range of hydrogen powered vehicles, making them a poor contender when faced with gasoline/electric hybrids. Steps are being made to alleviate this problem, but hydrogen is still being considered a "future" power source rather than a contemporary one.
CategoryBusiness Environmental Featured News International United States
TagsB-Class F-Cell eco-friendly cars F-Cell World Drive fuel cell cars fuel cell industry hydrogen fuel cell Mercedes Mercedes Linde Group Hydrogen World Tour
Raising awareness to hydrogen fuel is no easy job!
Private funding for hydrogen fuel research continues to keep the dream alive!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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£10.5K pledge as Pop Chorus partner with Ipswich food bank charity FIND
Pop Chorus has announced a year-long partnership with charity Families in Need (FIND), pledging to raise over £10,000.
Pop Chorus is adopting FIND as its charity of the year to support the £100,000 FIND needs for its services each year. They've got off to a flying start with a donation of £1,000 from Festival Republic in lieu of a fee for the choir's second performance at Latitude Festival.
Maureen Reynel MBE (centre front, white shirt) with Yula Andrews, choir director (centre front) and the rest of the Pop Chorus choir.
Choir Director, Yula Andrews, said: "FIND is the perfect fit for Pop Chorus. The work that FIND does each day to help those struggling across Suffolk is phenomenal and is an inspiration to us all. We are proud to support the charity and pledge to raise £10,500 to help those in need."
Pop Chorus are well known in Suffolk, selling out concerts at the Ipswich Regent, performing on the pitch at Portman Road and playing at Latitude Festival on the BBC Sound Stage two years running. The choir is offering to sing for companies and businesses who are raising money for FIND through an event during 2019/20.
Maureen Reynel MBE, founder of FIND, said: "This is an exciting partnership for FIND. The support Pop Chorus and Yula have given Iceni and other Suffolk charities in recent years has been astounding. We are so thankful for the support they are giving us and look forward to the next year working with them."
FIND provides thousands of food parcels to people in crisis each year. The demand for food parcels and other items has grown year on year to over 100 per week, stretching the charity's 80+ volunteers, who have been working in cramped and unheated facilities.
The money raised will help fund FIND' to deliver its services from the new food bank and headquarters on Braziers Wood Road in Gainsborough. The charity's provision of emergency food parcels, white goods and other services for people in crisis exceed £100,000 per year. The new food bank is near completion and is due to be open in the Autumn.
Donations are welcome to help with the operational costs associated with the food bank each year.
Find out more and get in touch with Pop Chorus for more details.
Covid-19 Appeal
Vital new home for food bank charity FIND officially opens
Local businesses join forces to spread festive cheer with food bank donation


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Director Destin Cretton to start working on 'Shang-Chi' sequel
Maharashtra,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood
Cinema/Showbiz, India, Hollywood, Maharashtra Read Latest News and Articles
Mumbai, Dec 7 (IANS) As a part of his exclusive multi-year deal with Marvel Studios and Hulu's Onyx Collective, director Destin Cretton will soon start working on the sequel to 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' as a writer and director.
Following the new deal, Cretton will develop TV projects for both Marvel Studios on Disney Plus and the Onyx Collective for Hulu and other platforms.
Destin's new production company named Family Owned, which he is launching with partner Asher Goldstein, will take care of these productions. The two will focus on projects in film and TV that highlight the experiences of communities that have traditionally been overlooked by pop culture, as reported by Deadline.
Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios and Chief Creative Officer, Marvel, said in a statement, "Destin is an amazing collaborator who brought a unique perspective and skill to 'Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings'. We had a fantastic time working together on the film and he has so many intriguing ideas for stories to bring to life on Disney+, so we're thrilled to expand our relationship with him and can't wait to get started."
"Working on 'Shang-Chi' with Kevin and the Marvel Studios team was one of the highlights of my life. I can't wait to explore new stories and build new worlds with this community," Cretton said in a statement.
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' made history for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the first to feature an Asian lead and mostly Asian cast, which included Simu Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina and Tony Leung.
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(SPOT.ph) Living in a constantly bustling Metro often leaves many of us longing for a laid-back day by the beach. Often, we resort to planning out-of-town trips weeks in advance, even driving for hours to far-off spots just for a taste of sun and sea.
Enter The Mactan Newtown, an up-and-coming community perfect for those who crave the picturesque beach lifestyle without completely leaving the busy and dynamic environment of the city. Megaworld's 30-hectare project is the first major township development outside Metro Manila, a thriving hub that encompasses their "live-work-play-learn" concept.
Although it's still steadily growing, here are more reasons to be excited for The Mactan Newtown, whether you're a Cebu resident or a tourist eager to visit the vibrant city.
It will give residents and visitors the perfect sunset view.
Ready those cameras because The Mactan Newtown will boast stunning views of the famous Mactan Bay, Mactan Shrine, and the Hilutungan Channel. The township will feature a picturesque beachfront that stretches for as long as 11.5 hectares!
Its strategic location will put you at the center of Cebu tourism.
Whether you're a newcomer or regular visitor, The Mactan Newtown is conveniently located near major luxury resorts, as well as the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, which links Mactan to more of Cebu's amazing sights and sounds. Its proximity to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is a major plus for visitors, too!
There will be three luxury residential condominiums.
Fallen in love with Cebu and everything it has to offer? Settle in one of three luxury condominiums that cater to a variety of lifestyles.
8 Newtown Boulevard will feature a Japanese aesthetic with four 18-storey residential buildings. Residents can access amenities such as hot springs, indoor and outdoor spas, a koi pond, and Niwa-Japanese gardens. The highlight, of course, is a jawdropping 60-meter horizon-edge pool with an amazing, panoramic view of Hilutungan Channel and Mactan Bay.
Meanwhile, One Pacific Residence is composed of three 18-storey towers that boast an elegant and contemporary design. One of its most exciting features is a swimming pool complex complete with a sunken pool lounge, a 20-meter lap pool, and an aqua gym pool. They will also have a culinary station, as well as a rock wall climbing area!
Lastly, One Manchester Place incorporates a modern and contemporary feel. It features unique amenities such as a state-of-the-art game room, a day care center, a reading nook, and a business center. For those who love to bask under the sun, check out their in-pool lounge, paved sundeck, and Tai Chi area.
Residents will enjoy a mix of work and play within the community.
Almost like a city on its own, The Mactan Newtown is already home to BPO companies that are spread throughout the development, each with over 6,000 square meters of office space.
Get ready for the rise of a upscale lifestyle mall, Plaza Magellan, conveniently a stone's throw away from the beachfront. The township will be home to several hawker-style dining establishments in The Mactan Alfresco, a giant gazebo that will also have coffee shops and convenience stores.
For more information, log on to The Mactan Newtown's official website or visit their Facebook page, Instagram account, and Twitter account.


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Latest News, Updates & Happenings in UK
The InSight lander shows active faults in the planet's crust
Susan E. Lopez
Most space missions investigate the surface or atmosphere of a body. But NASA's InSight probe, which landed on Mars in November 2018, is different – it is the first mission dedicated to studying the interior structure of the planet and whether it gives rise to "marsquakes". Now the results from its first ten months on
Most space missions investigate the surface or atmosphere of a body. But NASA's InSight probe, which landed on Mars in November 2018, is different – it is the first mission dedicated to studying the interior structure of the planet and whether it gives rise to "marsquakes". Now the results from its first ten months on the martian surface have been published in a series of papers in Nature Geoscience and Nature Communications (see overview here).
Artist's impression of InSight on the martian surface. The seismometer is under the white dome to the left of the landing platform.
NASA/JPLK-Caltech
InSight touched down via parachute and retrorockets on the plains known as Elysium Planitia – lying between the ancient volcano Elysium Mons, and Gale Crater where the Curiosity Rover is exploring. Although it is still trying to find a way to hammer its heat probe adequately into the ground, other aspects of InSight's surface activities have worked well.
For example, it successfully managed the crucial operation of using a robot arm to place a seismometer (a very sensitive vibration detector) on the ground well clear of the landing platform, and then to cover it with a wind and thermal shield. This was to isolate it from vibrations caused by wind or lander itself and that could otherwise drown out any vibrations caused by quakes.
Seen from InSight's fisheye camera, its seismometer undisturbed on the martian surface under its dome-like wind shield, while nearby the robotic arm adjusts the digging instrument.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Up to 30 September 2019, 174 seismic events had been recorded. None was stronger than magnitude 4 on the Richter Scale, which is commonly used to measured earthquake sizes on our own planet. There were 24 whose magnitude was in the range 3-4, meaning the energy released would be similar to exploding about a ton of TNT. It might sound a lot, but would pose very little risk for future astronauts on Mars unless they were unfortunate enough to be very close to the epicentre of a quake.
The sound of the first detected Marsquake, 7 April 2019, speeded up 60 times. In this extract, there is first noise from the local wind, then the seismic event itself, and the spacecraft's robotic arm as it moves to take pictures.
Unlike the Earth, the outer layer of Mars is not broken into moving tectonic plates. It has therefore been suggested that vibrations caused by meteorites hitting the surface may be to blame for any "marsquakes". But so far as can be told, the quakes were all generated inside the planet itself.
Though less strong than the biggest earthquakes that would be detected on Earth during any ten-month period, these marsquakes are a lot stronger than the moonquakes recorded by Apollo seismometers. And whereas moonquakes appear to result from the slow contraction of the Moon, the situation appears different on Mars.
Locating the sources
In the best determined events it was possible to distinguish two kinds of vibrations: first the compressional "p-waves" and then the slightly slower-travelling sideways-shaking "s-waves". The time-lag between the two gave an idea of the distance from their source, and in two cases it was also possible to deduce the direction from which the vibrations travelled.
This placed the sites of those two marsquakes at or near Cerberus Fossae. This is an array of fractures where the crust – the outermost layer of a planet – has been stretched, possibly by volcanic activity, and which may also have been the source of some catastrophic water outflow. A previous study had identified boulders in this area that had apparently cascaded down slope as a result of recent marsquakes, already suggesting that this system is active.
600 km wide region of Mars, with the fractures known as Cerberos Fossae running diagonally from westnorthwest to eastsoutheast.
ESA/DLR/FU Berline (G Neukum)
There can be no doubt now that Mars is seismically active. But this does not mean that it has plate tectonics like the Earth. Rather, Mars' crust experiences stresses, caused by local deformation, leading to fractures similar to what occurs in earthquakes in the interiors of Earth's continents – well away from plate boundaries.
Inside Mars
As additional marsquake data accumulates, we will learn more about the exact locations of each event, and how they relate to what we can see in the surface landscape. In addition, the first evidence-based picture of Mars's interior is beginning to build up.
We know that Mars has three distinct layers: the relatively thin rocky crust, a mantle and a metal core. But we know little about the state of the material in each of those layers.
The seismic waves from the smaller marsquakes appear to have originated within the planet's crust, and to have travelled only within the crust. Beneath the lander, there is a few metres of regolith (loose rock) overlying solid rock in what is probably just the upper layer of the crust extending down to 8km to 11km. In an unexpected twist, some properties of the regolith were deduced from the details of how the ground trembles when a mini-tornado known as an atmospheric dust-devil passes by.
In contrast, the larger events probably began in the mantle. The paths of those seismic waves went deeper into the mantle before curving back up to InSight's seismometer, giving a way to probe how the planet's mantle varies with depth.
Already there are hints of a "low velocity layer" in the mantle where the s-waves are slowed down, possibly because it is not fully solid. There is nothing in the data yet that can help us explore the depth of the iron core that almost certainly lies at the planet's centre, but that may come.
Ultimately, a planet's composition is determined by its formation, so uncovering Mars' structure could one day help us understand how it formed.
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I loved Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series (even if I think it didn't entirely stick the landing), so I'm not sure why I let THICKER THAN WATER languish on my Kindle so long. When I did start it, I devoured it in a single sitting.
When the book opens, Thomas Bellweather is getting ready for his mother's funeral. She was strangled in her bed while he was home. He is, understandably, a suspect. He doesn't realize how much everyone in his new home suspects him until he shoves Charlotte Rooker aside when she accidentally causes him to flash back to finding his mother's dead body. This arouses the wrath of her older, overprotective cop brothers.
What follows is a Romeo and Juliet story that fits the forbidden love pattern that showed up so often in the Elemental series. Because I was familiar with Kemmerer's other books I suspected a paranormal twist was coming, and I wasn't wrong. While THICKER THAN WATER shares much of the appeal of Kemmerer's debut series, it has its own strengths.
Thomas is wonderfully free of guile. He's been stripped to the bone by the changes in his life, and all he wants are answers - and Charlotte. Charlotte, meanwhile, is struggling to define herself in a paternalistic family and worries if her attraction to the "bad boy" really is as dangerous as everyone else says. Thomas is thrilled to find someone who believes him, but even Charlotte has her doubts. I found it realistic that she questioned her instinct to just believe him because he seemed to be telling the truth, but at the same time it makes some of her decisions dumb even from her own point of view.
THICKER THAN WATER is a standalone novel, although the ending leaves some ends open for a potential sequel. I was very satisfied with the ending, but I must admit I'd love another story about Thomas and Charlotte.


When bicycle sharing service oBike abruptly announced that it would be pulling its operations out from Singapore today, its statement left a couple of questions unanswered. Firstly, who'll be clearing all the abandoned silver-and-yellow bikes from the city streets and ditches? Secondly — and more importantly — where's our damn deposit refund?
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) answered those questions. Sort of.
According to LTA's media statement (reproduced in full by TODAY), the authority will be engaging oBike on their exit plans, "including the removal of shared bicycles from public places". According to this Business Times report from last year, the local startup's fleet size is in the "tens of thousands" — so best of luck to all parties involved in the cleanup.
Regarding our refunds, well, LTA is simply handing off the matter to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE). Hundreds, if not thousands of oBike users were left severely frustrated today after attempts to get their deposits refunded failed to see any results.
You see, oBike users have to plop a $49 deposit to use the company's bike-sharing services to ensure user "responsibility while using (their) service". Refunds can be requested anytime, according to oBike's FAQ section — it would just take 14 working days for the whole thing to process.
Our writer's own failed attempt at trying to get the deposit refunded.
But today, it seems like nobody could get their deposit righteously returned. According to online chatter, the button to get deposits refunded mysteriously disappeared. Even if one did manage to tap it, nothing would happen. It was so maddening that someone started a petition about the issue.
Ok is it just me or the obike refund deposit button just disappeared mysteriously??????????? WHAT?!!!!! EXCUSE ME OBIKE JUST BC YOU ARE PULLING OUT OF SG DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T RETURN US OUR DEPOSIT.
It came to no surprise to some who requested their S$49 deposits refunded even before today — this Reddit thread has former oBike users complaining that the process takes months.
While the firm has yet to issue any statement regarding the #refundmyobikedeposit hullaballoo, LTA believes that the best move for anguished users is to simply contact CASE. The thing is, CASE is just a non-governmental organization which acts as a watchdog and has no legislative powers at all. In the past, critics have called CASE "toothless", capable of simply sending strongly-worded warnings to errant businesses without having the authority to actually penalize them.
Unless CASE really has a strong case (hur hur) against oBike, we might as well wave goodbye to our S$49 deposits. You have to remember that oBike also pulled out from Melbourne earlier this month, and Australian users too had issues getting their deposits returned. Like them, Singaporean users probably had their deposits converted into long-term subscription plans without their knowledge.


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WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE ?
In the 1950's, approximately 35% of the total land area was covered by forests. Today that figure has sunk to less than 3%.
Areas of Central Eastern Africa, including parts of Ethiopia, have seen dramatic deforestation due to drier climate, population growth, increased demand for farmland and extensive use of wood as a building material and for firewood. The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to the environment and biodiversity, and has significantly reduced the environment's ability to capture CO2.
In the following section, we will discuss the causes of deforestation and try to put the wood-based household into a wider perspective on deforestation. How big is the problem? And what are the consequences, for individuals and for the environment?
CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION
The major factors responsible for the drastic loss of forests in Ethiopia include rapid population growth, forest areas cleared for agriculture, and house-building and food preparation traditions that are based on wood. Let's look more closely at each of these consequences.
Ethiopia has the highest current birthrate in Africa with 3.13% (2017). This leads to more food production to feed more mouths. Increased food production requires that more forests need to be cleared. This makes Ethiopia's rapid population growth one of the main drivers of deforestation. Forests have been cleared for much needed agricultural land, needed to feed a rapidly growing population. People with relatively large families have only a small amount of farm land at their disposal. As a result, they cannot afford to allow their fields lie fallow. Over cropping quickly depletes the soil of nutrients, the land loses its ability to produce food without chemical fertilizers. More than 70% of Ethiopia's population is living on degraded lands.
About 85% of the Ethiopian work force gains their livelihood from agriculture. Most people live in rural areas or small villages, close to their land. But Ethiopia also needs to generate hard currency, and the government's current policy is to move towards more intensive food production for domestic consumption as well as to attract foreign investors (agribusinesses) that can help to build infrastructure and raise exports (e.g. flowers). Coffee is Ethiopia's most important export and generates the most foreign exchange. With a growing population, Ethiopia needs more food to feed its own rapidly growing population. During the past 30 years, more and more forest has been cut down and cleared in order to increase agricultural production. This has been one of the major drives for deforestation.
Wood-intensive households
Another important – yet largely neglected – factor that has contributed to deforestation in Ethiopia is the fact that millions of households have, for centuries, been wood-based. That is to say, the house itself is built of wood, food is cooked using wood, and lighting in the evenings is often a wood fire. SEA's mission is to support Ethiopians in making a transition from wood-based households to wood-saving households.
For hundreds of years, the only affordable house for the vast majority of Ethiopia's population has been the traditional chika house. This well-known wattle and daub design is wood-intensive. Rough estimates indicate that building an average size chika house (4 x 6 m) uses 3-5 m³ of wood and costs the equivalent of 3-4 years' salary. Where it once served a smaller population well, this house-building tradition has become a significant threat to Ethiopia's remaining forests and a significant burden on the individual household economy.
In addition to the wood-intensive design that characterizes traditional houses, approximately 70% of Ethiopia's population of 100 million uses wood for cooking food and lighting. We know that food preparation in Africa as a whole accounts for an astonishing 65% of all wood – used for any purpose!
It is interesting to note that while the Ethiopian government's Climate Resilient Green Development Program (CRGDP) discusses alternatives to wood-based cooking; it does not mention alternatives to the wood-based chika house. SEA wants to play a vital role in filling this gap.
Many Ethiopians today are hoping for a better standard of living and a more modern and technically improved house. Unfortunately, the traditional chika house that most of them are living in has become more and more expensive. Perhaps more importantly it has become a growing threat to the environment and one of the significant drivers for deforestation.
SEA's addresses wood-intensive drivers for deforestation directly. In the following this 3 factors will be explained in more depth. Only one of these causes – the use of wood for food preparation, admittedly the most significant one – is being addressed by the Ethiopian government's Climate Resilient Green Development Plan (CRGDP). Wood used in the building houses as well as for lighting accounts for about 35% of all wood/bio-mass produced annually. This means that SEA is addressing two major, yet almost completely neglected, drivers for deforestation! We want to be a voice reminding policy makers that mitigating the effects of deforestation in in these two key areas should be added to the existing measures being taken to address the challenges posed by deforestation. These challenges directly affect the country as a whole, as well as individual Ethiopian households in particular.
A house-building tradition that uses wood
A growing population means more houses are needed each year. Ethiopians are used to building their houses with wood which was once a plentiful resource. Not anymore! At the turn of the 19th century about 30/45% of Ethiopia was covered by forest. By the early 1950's this figure had dropped to about 16% and by the early 1990's it had further dropped to under 3%. These figures present a devastating conclusion: A building tradition which once served well when there were fewer people and more trees, now contributes to poverty and threatens Ethiopia's few remaining forests.
Wood houses that don't last as long as they once did – Why? Indigenous species like juniper, acacia and kosso that grow slowly have largely disappeared and been replaced by eucalyptus a species introduced from Australia in the early 1900's. Eucalyptus grows very quickly but has several drawbacks. It rots quickly, draws so much water that where eucalyptus dominates, the water table is lowered. And it is particularly susceptive to attacks by termites. The aggressive spread of termites, particularly in certain parts of the country, means that even more wood houses need to be built.
Cooking food with wood and charcoal
Over 90% of the energy consumed in Ethiopia comes from bio-mass — wood, charcoal, branches, dung and agricultural residues. All of these produce smoke and harmful emissions when burned.
About 80% of the food in Ethiopia is cooked on a wood or charcoal fire, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! This means that over 80 million people use wood to prepare their food.
It is estimated that the average household uses 11 kg of wood-equivalent per day, or 4 metric tons annually. Assuming 5 persons per household, this translates into a total of 16 million metric tons of wood per year!
Wood used for cooking accounts for about 65% of all the wood cut down in Africa.
A rapidly growing population not only needs more food but more wood to prepare that food.
Government and NGO efforts to introduce more clean-burning fuel stoves have generally met with limited success in Africa in general, and in Ethiopia in particular.
Wood used for fires that give light
Wood fires are used in the evening so that families without electricity can have light. The sun goes down early in Ethiopia, around 6:00 pm, and young people need light to be able to do their homework.
CONSEQUENCES OF DEFORESTATION
SEA has chosen to concentrate on deforestation because, more than any other single factor, deforestation has made the wood-based household a poverty trap. Deforestation drastically threatens food-security. Future generations will not be able to grow enough food. And finally, less forests mean that more CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This contributes to changing patterns of rainfall and global warming. Let's look more closely at each of these consequences.
Wood for building houses has become more and more expensive
As wood has become scarcer, it has become more expensive. The result is that fewer people can afford to buy the wood needed to build houses which need replacing. This in turn means that the living conditions for millions of children, youth, women and men are worsened.
Wood for cooking food and building fires for lighting is harder to find
This is a particular burden for those who cannot afford to buy charcoal. Cutting down trees and producing charcoal are illegal in Ethiopia, though this law is currently not being enforced. What else can people use to cook their food? In the poorest families, women and children are those who must walk farther and farther from home to find firewood—and water! Gathering firewood is very hard work indeed!
Loss of forests results in erosion, and erosion results in drastically reduced food security
Increased deforestation means that roots no longer hold on to the upper soil layers and are more easily eroded by wind and water. Each year the Blue Nile carries with it Ethiopia's "black gold", depositing it in Sudan and Egypt. Combined with soil depletion where fields on not left to lie fallow, erosion is another driver for reduced soil fertility. The result is that Ethiopia's arable land will produce less and less food per person. During the previous 25 years, food production per person was steadily on the way up, and the number of malnourished persons was on the way down. But with an exploding increase in population and continued deforestation, this trend is now reversed. During the next 35 years, food production per inhabitant is expected to drop by almost 50%, from 2300 calories/day in 2015 to 1300 calories/day by 2050
The soil has been depleted of natural organic matter and minerals. In Norway, if the erosion rate exceeds 100 kg of topsoil/dekar/year, compensational measures must be taken. In Ethiopia, the current average rate of erosion is 20,000 kg/dekar/year. And in the Lake Tana area, close to the source of the Nile River, the loss of "black gold" is an astonishing 70,000 kg/dekar/year! Another major factor impacting reduced food production is changing patterns of rainfall
Termites and the use of eucalyptus have drastically reduced the lifespan of the traditional chika wood house
Lacking a natural habitat, termites attack wood houses. Reforestation in Ethiopia has had several negative effects. Instead of planting indigenous species of trees like juniper, the government, starting in the early 1900's decided to import eucalyptus from Australia (picture). While eucalyptus grows much faster than indigenous species, it draws up enormous amounts of water. This results in lowering the water table. Also, the structure of eucalyptus wood is much less dense than indigenous species, making it more susceptible to termite attacks.
Termites are a relatively recent threat to the traditional house-building technique in Ethiopia. They can do great damage to unprotected buildings and other wooden structures. Their habit of remaining concealed makes detecting their presence difficult. In areas of severe deforestation, termites can reduce the lifespan of a traditional chika house to as little as 5-7 years.
Development goals
How Solid Earth Africa's work supports UN and Ethiopia development goals:
Ethiopia's Climate Resilient Green Economy – Green Economy Strategy
info@solidearthafrica.com
© 2017 Solid Earth Africa. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Published: December 25, 2018 6:49 PM EDT
Updated: December 29, 2018 10:52 PM EDT
Fort Myers diversity committee makes sure all voices are heard
Naples retirees start scholarships for future generation success
Child with autism gives special bags to the homeless
A Bonita Springs boy is on a special mission to help the homeless.
Jessica Berube's son, Lincoln Berube, has was diagnosed with autism. Berube said she discovered her 6-year-old son's huge heart for the homeless shortly after he began his treatment.
"We started going to Sarasota for special therapy for him," Berube said. "And what we noticed is there's a lot of homeless people. Then, the next time, he said, 'Wait, let's go get some snacks and give it to our homeless friends.'"
Items in blue bags Lincoln brings are special to him.
"It's a soft blankie. Feel it," Lincoln said. "Crunchy bars, blueberry bars, my favorite."
But his favorite part of the special mission he is on is giving these treats away.
"Giving it to the homeless persons," Lincoln said.
"Every week we bring them something," Berube said. "It's really cool to see him just being so thoughtful and kind and having that empathy and compassion."
Lincoln looks forward to his weekly trips to see his friends.
Homeless recipients Lincoln donated items to. Photo via WINK News.
"I say, 'Here you go,' and give them stuff like tents and sleeping bags," Lincoln said.
Lincoln is fulfilled when he gets to watch the people his is helping use his gifts.
"After we give them snacks, we drive by and usually he wants to look to see if they're eating the snacks we gave them," Berube said.
And Lincoln's mother sees her son gaining much in return, as he continues to make a difference in his community.
"He feels empowered and he feels important," Berube said. "It's helped him realize that it's okay to be a little bit different."
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Yet another cry for help on radio code.
John that's my code thank you very much!
Please can someone help with the code for my radio?
John you are the master, first code worked for me. Thanks.
Another desperate help i dont have my radio code, it would be sooo much appreciated if someone could please help.
Hi, I just swapped my battery but need the code to unlock my radio. Can anyone help me ?
Could anyone help with a micra radio code please?
Could you help me mate..
Hi! Please help med with the code to the radio in my Nissan Micra!
she recently had a blown radio/audio fuse and now she needs a code as she has looked and she has lost it, we found a number at the back of the plastic housing (1653) but it has not worked, is there any chance you could help, would be a very appreciated and less hassled/pestered Dad.
Hi I have a number here please help?
You need to post the radio serial number, starts with 'BP' followed by twelve numbers. I can get the unlock code from that.
The unlock code is shown on that card, it is 5767?
Hi thank you very much. Very helpful indeed.
Hi, could you please help, need radio code, radio number is bp 538865051173.
No, it doesn`t work. Both of them.
Strange, the only ones that I haven't had success with before are the much later sat-nav models that start BP000.
When you say it 'doesn't work' do you get 'wrong code' or is the number just not inputting when you press the code enter button? If the latter try pressing other buttons to accept the entered code..
Hi all looking for the unlock code for my wife's micra.


text:
HeadlinesSportsTennis
Women's Tennis Picked Tenth in SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Ole Miss women's tennis was picked to finish 10th in the SEC in the conference's annual preseason coaches' poll released on Wednesday afternoon.
The Rebels received 6points, 21 behind Arkansas and three in front of Alabama. Ole Miss placed fifth among SEC West programs directly behind No. 9 voted Arkansas. Defending SEC champion Georgia placed second overall with 185 points while Texas A&M took the top spot. The Aggies are currently ranked fifth in the latest ITA NCAA Division I Women's Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Ole Miss ranked tenth in the SEC to finish the 2022 season. Ole Miss ended last season with ninth-best record in the conference at 5-8 and also had a winning overall record at 13-11.
The Rebels kickstart the 2023 season this weekend at the Michigan Spring Invitational starting Friday and concluding on Sunday. Ole Miss then makes its dual debut at home with two matches on January 22 against ETSU and North Alabama. The match is scheduled to occur inside the William F. Galtney Center. Ole Miss host Vanderbilt in the teams' conference opener on March 3.
SEC Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Rankings
1. Texas A&M 190
2. Georgia 185
3. Vanderbilt 165
4. Auburn 144
5. Florida 128
6. Tennessee 124
7. South Carolina 105
8. LSU 103
9. Arkansas 90
10. Ole Miss 69
11. Alabama 66
12. Mississippi State 40
13. Kentucky 37
14. Missouri 24
Sound Enhances Sea Turtle Conservation
New Construction in Oxford Increases in 2022


Thank you for your commitment to Risers 4 Rett. We are looking forward to gathering with all of you at the end of April. Please enjoy the preview of our live auction items. Get a jump start on the auction by getting approval from your spouse, talking to your friends, and planning ahead!
A once-in-a-lifetime experience at a one-of-a-kind destination – that's what awaits you at the Lodge and Spa at Three Forks Ranch. Located on the Colorado and Wyoming border, Three Forks Ranch will offer you and three others an unimaginable blend of world-class service and dining at a luxury resort and spa tucked into 200,000 private acres on the dramatic range of the Sierra Madres Mountains, home to the pristine Little Snake River and teeming with thousands of elk and other wildlife. For three nights and two days, you'll enjoy a vast array of activities, including best-in- class fly fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, and sporting clays.
WinterWonderGrass: Featuring top tier bluegrass artists, unbeatable venues and a wealth of experience, WinterWonderGrass invites you to come to one of our 3-day Bluegrass Music located in Vermont, Colorado and California.
Campout for a Cause includes 3 days of yoga, music, workshops, kids activities, wellness classes and more on 200+ acres of green meadows with cool Cottonwood Creek and Colorado's 14th foot Collegiate Peaks in the background.
Streamer and Grasshopper Fishing at its best. Jet boat takes you upstream from Pleasure Park (Hotchkiss) 4-5 miles to a Drift Boat which was brought up the day before. Upper float is in Canyon inaccessible by foot, lower part of float is hilly terrain with tall grasses, bushes and trees with lots of terrestrial life. Two anglers. Donated by Al Degrange at Gunnison River Expeditions and Hunter Pierson.
WorldCast Anglers is proud to offer our premium South Fork Hilton Overnight Trip. The South Fork Hilton Overnight Fly Fishing Adventure is a two-day experience takes anglers to one of the premier dry fly rivers in the country and treats them to two days of exceptional fly fishing. For a detailed description of the trip click here.
Starting from the town of King Salmon. 10 week season starting July 1 – first week of September. Trip is available fro 2020 or 2021. Meals prepared daily by chef, all gear provided with exception of personal gear. Beer and wine included.


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Banquets and Humility
Yesterday at Mass our pastor had a very interesting take on the Gospel. This is a summary of his homily, in my own words.
It's not about the party. It's about our need for approval.
He said that we all need approval, affirmation and recognition--and that it's OK to need those. It's not even a contradition of the virtue of humility to need these things.
But the Gospel is calling us to think about whose approval, affirmation and recognition we seek.
Do we seek the approval of our friends? Do we only do what they would consider acceptable and admirable, for fear of losing their approval?
Do we seek the approval of those with whom we wish to associate--those up a few rungs on the social ladder? Do we edit our actions and words so that they would meet the approval of those people?
Or do we seek the approval of those who are truly in need? Do we put aside our own desire to be liked by our friends, family and social class, our desire to climb higher on the social ladder, in order to do what we know is needed to help someone else who can use a hand? Do we encourage our children to include the less popular kids in their lunchtime games on the playground?
That's humility: being ready to take the social consequence of acting in a loving manner toward those that have been deemed "unlovable" by the very people whose approval we so fervently desire.
After all, whose banquet do we really wish to enjoy? If it's God's banquet we're after, then we need to think very differently about whom we want to impress.
Labels: Homily
Grandparents Behaving Badly
Mom's at Home. Kids are in School.
And I Shelve This One...Where?
AAAAAAUGH!
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Bakery Industry: Sigpack Systems AG Renamed Bosch Packaging Systems AG .
Sigpack Systems AG Renamed Bosch Packaging Systems AG .
Sigpack Systems AG was taken over by Bosch in Fin year 2007-2008 . Sigpack systems have been used by bakeries all around world . Its packaging machine under series of GS , HS ,HM , HBM are widely used by bakery manufacturer. Now named as Bosch Packaging Systems AG .
Bosch Packaging Technology, a leading supplier of holistic packaging and process technology, is changing the company names of its subsidiaries Sigpack Systems AG and Paal Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH, effective February 1. Sigpack Systems AG, based in Beringen, Switzerland, will become Bosch Packaging Systems AG. Paal Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH in Remshalden, Germany will become Bosch Packaging Systems GmbH.
The renaming highlights Bosch's strategic approach to provide an even wider variety of solutions from one source. With technologies from feeding and distribution to wrapping, cartoning, handling and case packing, Bosch Packaging Systems offers a comprehensive portfolio for primary and secondary packaging.
Bosch Packaging Technology, based in Waiblingen (Germany), is one of the leading suppliers of total solutions for packaging and process technology. The company develops and produces in 16 countries and distributes worldwide modules and systems for the pharmaceutical, confectionery, and cosmetics industries, as well as other food and non-food industries. The product range is rounded off with service solutions.
For more information, please visit www.boschpackaging.com.


text:
Q: OpenTok is saying Safari 13 ScreenSharing is supported The tokbox code for checking screensharing support is
OT.checkScreenSharingCapability(function (response) {
    console.log('checkScreenSharingCapability response = ', response);

    if (!response.supported || response.extensionRegistered === false) {

        // This browser does not support screen sharing
        console.log('screen share not supported');
    }
});

The output in Safari 13 I get is
checkScreenSharingCapability response =
extensionInstalled: undefined
extensionRegistered: undefined
extensionRequired: undefined
supported: true
supportedSources: {screen: true, application: false, window: true, browser: false}

Therefore, it says it's supported, and does not work (the documentation says it's not supported).  This is the same response that Chrome (supported) returns, so the resposne itself seems wrong using opentok/client 2.16.3

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Beauty and the Beast - 3D: a work of art and still a joyous musical
More than 20 years after it first came out, the film has been given a 3D re-release.
Joanna Berry
Beauty and the Beast - 3D
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Voices: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Angela Lansbur
Excluding the wilderness years of the late 1970s and early 1980s (when they made forgettable movies such as Oliver & Company and The Fox and the Hound), the animation studios at Disney could always be relied upon to deliver beautifully crafted, enjoyable and fun movies for children and their parents. With the release of 1991's Beauty and the Beast, the studio went one better, making a film that was a work of art and a joyous musical to be appreciated by everyone - whether or not you have children - and one that deservedly became the first animated movie to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. More than 20 years later, and following last year's successful reboot of The Lion King, the film has been given a 3D re-release. And happily, while the film doesn't need the 3D treatment, it doesn't suffer because of it, either. The rose in the glass dome looks just as beautiful and alive as it did in two dimensions, the ballroom sequence now seems to sparkle even more and great care has been taken to make sure the whole conversion looks as lush and stunning as possible (shame the same can't be said of other 3D conversions, such as fuzzy-looking The Phantom Menace). It helps that the movie was so fabulous to look at and enjoy to begin with. Based on a classic fairy tale and buoyed by the memorable Oscar-winning score and lovely songs, it remains a classic love story told with wit and charm that was always meant to be appreciated on the big screen.
* Joanna Berry
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text:
Iran Has the World's Worst Military Service Program, Says Majlis Deputy
Abolfazl Abutorabi, a member of the Majlis (Iranian Parliament) Committee on Council and Internal Affairs, has described the Iranian military service program as the worst in the world.
Mr. Abutorabi said: "There are different types of military service: career soldiers, conscription, general service and Basij volunteers. Unfortunately, we have the worst system."
Source: Kayhan London
"There are eight countries in the world which conscript for military service," he said. "Iran is the only one that requires a year and a half of compulsory conscription. The length of service in the other seven countries is only one year."
Abutorabi said some conscripted soldiers developed psychological and emotional problems that could lead to suicide.
He added that the proposed Basij program calls for volunteers who will serve between two and five years at a military base of their choosing and get paid salaries. Abutorabi said the scheme had already been implemented in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.
[Translated from Persian by Fardine Hamidi]
Link to the Farsi page


Employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. The Department of Computer and Information Technology (CIT) at Purdue provides educational opportunities that apply information technology (IT) to solve societal problems. Degree programs in information systems technology and network engineering technology focus on four core areas: software development, systems integration, data management, computer networks. The drive to solve problems extends to industrial and corporate partners and funded faculty research projects as well.
It might help to imagine it like this: Computer engineers are architects and construction workers. They design and build a house. Computer scientists are the electricians, plumbers, and installation specialists who put lights, running water, and appliances in the house. IT professionals live in the house and use appliances effectively and efficiently for a desired effect. There is some overlap within these three fields. Essentially, they exist in subsections of the same discipline, performing complementary different tasks that fit together like a gear. Hopefully the distinctions between the three professional areas are now clear. If IT is where you want to be, King University can get you there. Earning your online Bachelor's in Information Technology is the first step toward a high-paying, in-demand career.
Design, implement, and maintain the architecture for computer systems and networks. New advances, business models, regulatory issues, strategic management and "go-to-market strategies" provide expanding opportunities for graduates with a business technology degree. Students with a Bachelor of Computer Science will achieve an in-depth understanding of advancing software paradigms, and develop new ways to create and interpret data that generate robust, effective applications.


I thought I will give this blade a try. speed same as stiga clipper wood and I don't find it stiff nor hard.( I'm using mxp 2.2 both sides) Top spin play this is where hard Raw shines. It picks up the ball really well and I can generate a great amount of spin and speed. I find it very effective to close to mid distance play. away from the table still okay but you need to engage the sponge of your rubber and need to have a good consistent stroke. good for serve and received serve. All this is my personal opinion and experience with the blade. I been using it for almost a year now. I'm using the Innerforce ZLC before as my main blade and moved to Had Raw.
Very fast hard blade. Great for top spin. Bad in receiving service.


I was a waitress, cocktail waitress and bartender through high school and college. These were some of the best days of my life. Of all the jobs I have held in my life, I miss the restaurant work most! I actually have visions of going back to waiting tables or bartending.
I have been really into baking this past year or so. It makes me happy and has a way of making all the sadness fall away. Before though, we never had time. So with our Honeymoon and modified program, there has been more time to whip some stuff up lately. Nothing has been off limits. We have made cookies, breads, cakes, bars of every sort, cupcakes, and much more. We have been eating so much dessert and decided we better slow down. The urge to create has never subsided though, so I thought it a great idea to watch one of my very favorite movies to try to satisfy my baking urge, rather than make more dessert that we will inevitably have to ~ at least try ~ before giving it away to our neighbors.
Well, it didn't work...we watched Waitress and all I wanted to do was make pies, pies, and more pies. Keep in mind, we have never in our lives made a pie from scratch before, but suddenly thought it the best idea ever. We were super proud of our pies.
1. We ate a piece, so I didn't want to show you the whole pie.
2. I didn't realize coconut cream pies require extra love, patience and attention and decided to make it with a time deadline in the near future. It was SO GOOD, but just not the perfect consistency.
If Christian had been a girl, I was going to name him Lucila just so I could have a little girl I could call Lulu like in the movie.
Love the pies. I was in a pie frenzy last month with peach raspberry crumb pie and peach pear crumb pie. Why not just peach? Because my mother in law would come over and eat all my peaches so I always had to get a fill in. And I, too, seriously have to chill with the baking. It's getting ridiculous but I just can't stop. Happy baking!
Perfect names for the pies! I loved that movie too although I've only seen it once. I love to bake when I get stressed but I don't like anything I make....except my Rice Krispie Treats which I am officially cured of. I think anytime you vomit something so violently you don't want to eat it ever again. What pie crust recipe did you use? Norm found this cool bulk dry pie crust where you just add water and it's AMAZING!!!
OMG, those pies look delicious! But, I stopped reading at bread....you actually bake bread? Bread (or actually toast) is my favorite food, especially if it's made from good bread, not cheap white bread.


Answer time 0s (0s). 56% have previously answered correct on this question. The question was created 2008-04-23.
The main character in 'Lethal Weapon I-IV' is called Martin Riggs. The films in the series were made in 1987, 1989, 1992 and 1998 respectively. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover play the LA cops Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh.
Who directed the 1995 film 'Braveheart'?


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The firs option is the regular design by predetermined grids. We design your dissertation according to a chosen grid. Then you still have one correction round to put the finishing touches on the design and make it as desired. Curious about the grids? Take a look at the grids below.
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In this package, the layout of the PhD thesis can be completed according to your wishes. The document is formatted according to the delivered document. After the design of the first chapter, there will be one correction round in which eventually changes can be made. After the entire design there follows another correction round. You are always welcome to discuss the layout with us.
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In addition to the inside pages, we naturally can also design the cover of your PhD thesis for you. Herein, we have developed two different options for you.
Includes formatting invitation in the same design.
Including formatting invitation in same design.
For both options, you can use a stock photo. When you choose for a stock photo you are guaranteed you may use the particular photo for your cover and invitations. In additions you can be sure that the resolution is of high quality. Would you like to use a stock photo for the cover of your PhD thesis? Send the link of this photo and we will make the cover for you.
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Top recipes for hearty tortellini soup, cool tortellini salad, and tasty tortellini sauces.
This refreshing and simple pasta salad has marinated artichoke hearts, tomatoes, olives, onion, and carrots tossed with dry-type stuffed tortellini (the kind in the pasta aisle) in vinaigrette dressing.
Zucchini slices and diced red peppers float with tortellini in a beef and sausage broth in this tomato-based soup. Serve with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan.
Sweet cherry tomatoes are roasted with olive oil, quickly made into a sauce, and served with prepared tortellini for an Italian-inspired dish that's fast and fresh.
This delicious cheese tortellini-spinach bake comes out of the oven golden brown and sizzling in just 30 minutes! Your guests will think you spent hours on it. You can add cooked Italian sausage, too! Great with a salad and garlic bread.
Delicious portabello mushrooms cooked with wine, garlic and parsley enhances a creamy rich and ready-made Alfredo sauce. Serve over cheese tortellini for a quick yet impressive dish.
This delicious Italian baked tortellini dish will have you coming back for seconds.


HAPPY 31 ANNIVERSARY CHARLIE !
HAPPY 31 ANNIVERSARY _ LORI & CHARLIE !!!
BEST DESIGNER 2017 I'm so proud to announce that I'm the winner of Elle Style Awards 2017 in category the Best Designer So happy! Thank you Elle !


Sellers Archives | Page 27 of 29 | Reynolds Realty Gulf Coast, Inc.
You make the call! I get the question from people all the time: short sale or foreclosure, which is the better option? My knee-jerk reaction is always "Are you kidding?


text:
Motorcycle Riders' Toy Run to Callington returns to original route
The end of COVID restrictions allowed SA's famous Toy Run charity motorcycle ride to return to its original format and route on Sunday.
Santa weighs up the advantages of motorcycles over reindeer. Photo: SA Infrastructure and Transport/Facebook.
Sunday has marked the 44th Motorcycle Riders Association of SA Toy Run, in which the community donated gifts and money to families in need at Christmas.
The St Vincent de Paul Society distributed the toys, and motorcyclists transported the toys on their bikes from Adelaide to Callington.
The big cheese himself, Santa Claus, led the ride.
The toy and motorcycle parade travelled from Victoria Park through Hutt Street to Glen Osmond Road and the South Eastern Freeway.
The state government helped make the toy run possible and safe.
Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services Minister Jo Szakacs described it as a "wonderful, enduring event that supports those in need at Christmas".
Motorcyclist Mick Peake has been doing the toy run on his beloved Ducati for the past 22 years.
"I used to donate toys to the kids, but now I donate cash, as there are only so many stuffed toys you need in the world," he said.
"I love motorcycles, but it's also a good fun day, a public exhibition, and it raises money for a great charity, St Vincent de Paul."
Donate to the toy run: vinnies-sa.grassrootz.com.


text:
## 1. Description
Ratio of code committed by contributors other than original project initiator
Contributions are going up beyond the core team

## 2. Use Cases

## 3. Sample Filter and Visualization

## 4. Sample Implementation

### GHTorrent:

The assumption is that the first person to commit to a GitHub repository after it is created is the creator of the repository.

We need to figure out how many commits were made by that user.

```SQL
SELECT count(commits.id), projects.name, WEEK(commits.created_at)
FROM users
JOIN commits on users.id = commits.author_id
JOIN projects on projects.id = commits.project_id
WHERE (users.id, projects.id) IN
	(SELECT user_id, project_id FROM
    	(SELECT users.id as user_id, projects.id as project_id, min(commits.created_at)
	    FROM commits
	    JOIN projects on projects.id = commits.project_id
	    JOIN users on commits.author_id = users.id
	    WHERE commits.created_at > projects.created_at
	    group by projects.id) as earliest_committers)
GROUP BY projects.id, WEEK(commits.created_at)
```

Commits made by users other than that user:

```SQL
SELECT count(commits.id), projects.name, WEEK(commits.created_at)
FROM users
JOIN commits on users.id = commits.author_id
JOIN projects on projects.id = commits.project_id
WHERE (users.id, projects.id) NOT IN
    (SELECT user_id, project_id FROM
	    (SELECT users.id as user_id, projects.id as project_id, min(commits.created_at)
	    FROM commits
	    JOIN projects on projects.id = commits.project_id
	    JOIN users on commits.author_id = users.id
	    WHERE commits.created_at > projects.created_at
	    group by projects.id) as earliest_committers)
GROUP BY projects.id, WEEK(commits.created_at)
```

## 5. Known Implementations

## 6. External References (Literature)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Jailbird county clerk Kim Davis announces she will run for reelection
The disgraced "public servant" went to jail for refusing to do her job and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
By Bil Browning Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Kim DavisPhoto: mugshot
Disgraced Bible beating jailbird Kim Davis, a county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, has announced she will run for reelection.
Last seen cruising through Romania with members of a Christian hate group and her lawyer to try to scare Orthodox church members into believing recognizing same-sex relationships will destroy the fabric of society, Davis' antics cost Kentucky taxpayers over $200,000 in legal fees.
In 2015, the hate group/law firm Alliance Defending Freedom breathlessly announced that Davis had met with Pope Francis during his visit to the United States to discuss religious freedom, a claim the Vatican quickly debunked. The Pope did not know who Davis was when an Archbishop snuck her into a private reception. The Archbishop was later replaced and the Vatican issued a strong response to say clarify the meeting was not a show of support for the lawless government official.
Davis spent five days in jail before being released after her staff agreed to issue the licenses without her involvement.
county clerk, Kim Davis, reelection campaign
Gay soccer star Robbie Rogers announces retirement
Carrie Underwood & Brad Paisley openly mocked Trump at the CMA Awards show
More in Election News
Rosie O'Donnell calls on Joe Biden to drop presidential bid & advise eventual candidate
"Your time has passed in terms of being the President of the United States."
Megan Rapinoe would beat Donald Trump in 2020 election according to new poll
She doesn't have to visit the White House; she could kick Donald Trump out.
So what exactly is Mayor Pete's road to winning the Democratic nomination?
Buttigieg raised more money in the second quarter than any other candidate, but just how he can clinch the nomination still needs to be worked out.
A queer black man wants Pete Buttigieg's campaign to 'be honest' about racial police violence
Buttigieg's local record on racial relations could cripple his campaign unless he substantially addresses it soon.
Pete Buttigieg was one of the stars at the Democratic Debate. Joe Biden wasn't.
But with a gay candidate and a lesbian moderator, NBC made the unfathomable decision to skip a question about LGTBQ rights.
The first Democratic primary debate moved trans rights front & center
For a party that was skittish about marriage equality not that long ago, the vocal support by for trans rights is a major step forward.
Here are 5 questions about LGBTQ rights moderators should ask at tonight's Democratic debate
Since the start of his term in office, President Trump and his administration have issued more than 115 attacks in policy and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.
Evangelicals are pledging to spend tens of millions to reelect Donald Trump
The American Taliban is going to spend money that could be used for the sick and poor to re-elect the nation's most decidedly sinful president.
Joe Biden dropped by the Stonewall Inn to buy a round of drinks
He bought the surprised patrons a round of beers.


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Actually, a study of office workers demonstrates how a weekly session of one hour of strength training for neck and shoulder muscles decreased neck and right shoulder pain after 20 weeks in contrast to no training. They reported a decrease in work disability, too. (2) Think Severna Park neck pain workers would like this?
A second report shows that integrated cervical, scapulothoracic stretching and strengthening help pain relief after treatment and at follow up as well as enhanced function in the short and current term for chronic neck pain. Neck pain patients were also content with their therapeutic exercise care. (3) You'll like ours, too!
So if you have neck pain, contact your Severna Park chiropractor at Back And Neck Care Center. We can work together for neck pain relief with easy exercises, suited to you.


text:
Astros clinch final AL playoff spot despite loss to Rangers
Posted: Sep 26, 2020 / 01:32 AM CDT / Updated: Sep 26, 2020 / 12:36 AM CDT
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)Houston clinched the final spot in the expanded American League playoffs when the Los Angeles Angels lost about two hours after the Astros fell 5-4 to the Texas Rangers in 10 innings Friday night.
The Astros were a strike away from clinching a franchise-best fourth straight postseason berth themselves when Ronald Guzman hit a tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning for the last-place Rangers, who stopped a four-game losing streak.
Houston went up again 4-3 in the top of the 10th on a sacrifice fly from Alex Bregman, who homered in the sixth inning. Nick Solak matched Bregman's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning before Joey Gallo's run-scoring fielder's choice forced Houston to wait a little longer.
Plagued by the offseason sign-stealing scandal that tarnished their 2017 World Series championship, the Astros (29-29) enter the playoffs as the second-place team in the AL West, seeking redemption with an injury-depleted roster.
Houston, which already had its three-year reign atop the division ended by Oakland, currently is the only AL playoff team without a winning record.
The Angels' 9-5 loss to the Dodgers made Houston's Dusty Baker the first manager to lead five different franchises to the playoffs.
Hired just before spring training after AJ Hinch was fired almost immediately after Major League Baseball suspended him for a year over the cheating scandal, Baker has already taken San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati and Washington to the postseason.
Rookie catcher Sam Huff homered twice, his second and third, for the first two Rangers runs. The 22-year-old Huff is the second-youngest Texas catcher with a multihomer game, behind Jarrod Saltalamacchia in a 30-3 win over Baltimore in 2007.
Enoli Paredes (3-3) walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa to start the Texas 10th, and the bases were loaded after first baseman Yuli Gurriel's throw to second was wide on a sharp grounder from Willie Calhoun.
Brett Martin (1-1) got the win, giving up a single to Kyle Tucker after Bregman's sacrifice before getting a popout from Gurriel, who put the Astros ahead 3-2 in the eighth on a soft single inside the bag at first with Guzman playing well off the line on a shift.
Guzman's fourth homer of the season barely cleared the wall down the line in right.
3,000 STRAIGHT FOR PA MAN
Chuck Morgan of the Rangers is set to call his 3,000th consecutive game as a major league public address announcer Saturday. Morgan has spent 37 of his 38 seasons with Texas. The other was in Kansas City. It's hard for him to call it a celebration in a season without fans.
"It would really be much better for me tomorrow night if we had 40,000 people in the ballpark," Morgan said. "I don't like it, but I accept it."
Astros: Baker said C Martin Maldonado got his legs tangled on the final play at the plate, but he hoped he would be OK. Maldonado stayed down on the field as the Rangers celebrated before walking off slowly on his own. … RHP Josh James was placed on the 10-day injured list for an unspecified reason, and RHP Chase De Jong was brought up from the taxi squad.
Rangers: Manager Chris Woodward said rookie 3B Sherten Apostel won't play again this season after leaving Thursday's game with back spasms following an awkward dive to field a ball.
The Astros were waiting for the LA outcome to decide who would start the third game in the four-game series to finish the regular season. RHP Kyle Gibson (2-6, 5.87 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rangers.
SAN DIEGO (AP)The San Diego Padres brought right-hander Joe Musgrove to his hometown team Tuesday, adding yet another starting pitcher in a seven-player trade involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.
The Padres, who believe they can contend for the World Series title, will send major league reliever David Bednar and three prospects -outfielder Hudson Head, left-hander Omar Cruz and right-hander Drake Fellows - to the Pirates. As part of the agreement, the Padres will send left-hander Joey Lucchesi to New York, and the Pirates will receive catcher Endy Rodriguez from the Mets.


Translation of the cuneiform:"For whom of my (kind) ran dry the blood of my heart?"
Gilgamesh has been searching for a way to restore Enkidu to life. At this point he realizes that Enkidu is dead forever and will not come back. The airplane refers to Gilgamesh's journey, but also to my own life. I wonder, like Gilgamesh, if the search was for no purpose.