Hmm, wel, adleast he's not making him say Uncle.
I'm gonna have to side with Mayor here. Kurgh the Conqueror sounds way better.
Well, judging from the background of panel 3, lets hope that Kurgh chose "Your home town, Cragnar, right now" as the place and time, and not Shitropolis.
Also, yeah, "Team Kurgh". Been in his camp ever since he became mayor.
nah, he chose the neighbouring town that refuses to negotiate water rights.
Spoiler alert; said neighboring town is also run by a certain Cragnar who before the negotiation offer was presented, had no idea that Kurgh was in charge of the town literally right next to his.
Half of Shitropolis gets burned down every other month by some alien invasion anyway. Keeps the economy running.
Political experience, military experience (so no bonespurs), actually honest about being evil… yeah, I'd vote for him, too, if he ran against our current So Called Commander in Chief.
Lets not forget he can actually get stuff done is Shitropolis.
Considering how well Shitropolis is doing under the reign of Kurgh, i doubt he's being very evil. Either that or he's being effective without bothering with all kinds of political correctness and just does what needs to be done.
Good thing he still has the axe in office.
At least he knows what responsibility means.
Don't worry the power group who without question were credited as saving us from that demon a few months ago will save us…they once they get round to answering the call. It's been ringing 150 times and counting now.
Anyone got Mary sue's number.
Kurgh actually conquered Shitropolis (admittedly, by landslide electoral victory, but still).
What's Cragnar ever conquered? Training wheels?
Not even an electoral victory, the previous mayor literally gave it to him.
Finally, an ADVANCED debate between alien barbarians.
With the background in the last panel, I think that "Kragnar, the burninator" suits him better.
I'm thinking that all of the implied action that occurred off-screen between panels 2 and 3 could have filled about a year's worth of monthly comic books with the smashing and the crushing and the bodies launched horizontally through a whole series of office buildings before leaping back into action. I kind of miss all that.


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Home » TV & Movies » Love Island's Yewande blasts show racism claims and says she was just unlucky
Love Island's Yewande blasts show racism claims and says she was just unlucky
Love Island's Yewande Biala has blasted claims the show was marred by racism and insisted she was just unlucky not to find a partner.
The show had previously come under fire from viewers over the first coupling – when contestants of colour were ditched in favour of white stars.
The row was reignited last night when the Irish scientist, 23, got dumped by Danny Williams in favour of blonde model Arabella.
However, Yewande has insisted she wasn't aware of any racial bias during her stint in the show
She said: "I don't think there's a race issue at all.
"It's unfortunate that he [Danny] broke my heart. It never crossed my mind that there was a race issue on the show."
During the chat, she went on to defend Amy Hart, who has been branded a snake over her treatment of on\off friend Lucie Donlan.
Yewande insisted that the air stewardess has been totally "misunderstood" by viewers.
She explained: "Amy is one of my good friends. It was strange that people think that [she's a snake].
"She's probably one of the most genuine people in there. I feel like she's so misunderstood, she's genuine, she has so much love to give.
"It's sad that people think that."
Danny and Yewande had been coupled up before new girl Arabella, 28, caught his eye, and last night he chose to recouple with her – leaving Yewande single and sending her home.
Danny, 21, attempted to apologise for his decision but Yewande was having none of it.
As she was packing up her things, Danny said: "I just wanna say I'm sorry for how this turned out and if it could have been another way, I would.
"You know it's just… this isn't easy and again I'm sorry."
A stony-faced Yewande brushed him off before leaving the villa with an incredibly sassy put-down, telling Danny: "I hope you enjoy your time in the villa.
"What goes around comes around and have a nice life."
Do you know any of the Love Island cast? Contact [email protected] to tell your story

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Why would highly successful boys basketball coach Ken Kazmarek want to be athletic director at Broadneck High School?
Why would anyone want to be an athletic director, period?
Friday, Kaz, who has led the Bruins for the past eight years, became athletic director, a position that ranks as one of the county's most thankless, if not the most thankless job.
Kevin McMullen, who succeeded his brother, Tim, as the Bruins' A.D. resigned after just one year on the job.
The McMullens say the job consumes too much time and offers little compensation for anyone who is married with a family.
County athletic directors are given one free period a day to perform a full-time job.
The job involves hiring and firing coaches, scheduling boys and girls varsity and JV contests, and arranging transportation and game officials. The A.D. must keep abreast of student eligibility, monitor gate revenues and fund-raisers and attend scores of meetings -- school, county, state and community.
Add to that the headaches created by the student-athletes, coaches and parents when problems arise.
All problems related to athletics ultimately end up on the A.D.'s desk, and if one allows the immense stress to get to him, it can turn a 37-year-old, such as Kaz, into a 50-year-old overnight.
Heart attacks and health problems are not uncommon for athletic directors.
"I guess some people would congratulate me and some would feel sorry for me," said Kaz of his new job.
"After spending some time with Mr. [principal Lawrence] Knight and Tim [McMullen], I realized the importance of keeping the consistency in the athletic program at our school. The last thing we wanted to happen was to bring in somebody new. I'm an instrument of maintenance."
In other words, Kaz sees himself as someone who will carry on the winning tradition at Broadneck orchestrated by Tim McMullen in 1982 (first varsity teams) and carried on by his brother, Kevin, for the past year.
The McMullen era featured nearly 30 county and 30 regional titles and 12 state championships, including the 4A boys lacrosse title this spring.
Imagine, all those championships from a school that has had varsity sports for only a decade. That is quite a compliment to Tim McMullen, who still offers valuable advice and is the JV baseball coach.
At the same time, Tim will be the first to tell you that the Bruins are successful because the people in the department work together. Look at any successful high school athletic program, and I'm sure you will find a very cohesive staff.
During the "McMullen Decade," Broadneck has ranked among the county's best, and there is no reason to believe that the excellence will not continue under the colorful Kaz.
The average sports fan and parent around the county pictures Kaz as the brilliant coach with the often-annoying squeaky voice. His ability to make the Bruins competitive year in and year out has been well documented.
In his eight years at the helm, the Bruins have gone 140-54 (.721 percentage), making the playoffs every year and extending his personal string of consecutive playoff appearances to nine. Last year's team was upset in the first round of the 4A Region IV playoffs by eventual region champion Old Mill and finished 14-10 overall.
The three prior years (1989-1991), the Bruins went 62-11, finishing as Region IV runner-up to Annapolis all three seasons. The 1988-1989 team was 22-2, with both losses to Annapolis.
Twice named The Anne Arundel County Sun Coach of the Year (1984-1985 and 1987-1988), Kaz joined the Broadneck faculty as a science teacher and coached the Bruins' JV basketball team for one year under Jim Morris. He was head coach at Arundel High for one season (1983-1984), going 11-12 overall, before taking over as Bruins head coach in 1984.
The 1983-1984 campaign was the last time the Arundel Wildcats have been to the boys hoops playoffs.
In addition to his success on the court, Kaz has been making other contributions to the Broadneck athletic program that may have gone unnoticed by the fans at other schools. For the past eight years, Kaz also has served as an assistant in football and baseball, responsibilities he may have to relinquish with his new job.
"I'm going to have to give up at least one assistant coaching position, but with football just around the corner I can't leave Jeff [Herrick head football coach] hanging without an assistant," said Kaz. "I've been looking to rid myself of coaching three sports, and we will work it out because that's what we do at Broadneck.
"Athletic director at Broadneck is not just a one-man job. It's often a four- to five-person job. Bruce Villwock, who will stay as assistant A.D., is invaluable to our athletic program, and, of course, Tim and Kevin will be a lot of help to me, too."
Kevin will remain head coach of the boys soccer team and will offer his services to Kaz whenever he needs them.
"Things should continue rather smoothly because of the staff we have at Broadneck," said Kaz. "Mr. Knight likes to be able to turn over the athletic department to people he can trust to get the job done.
"Somebody has to do this job, and it's hard to say who would have applied if Mr. Knight had opened it up to interviews. There are a lot of good people around the county, like Jim Dillon [Old Mill] and Mike Baker [North County], who still want to do this job. And, thank God, those schools still have people like them."
Kaz pointed out that it is important for an A.D. to know his school. And that's precisely what appealed to Knight when he made Kaz his choice.
"Mr. Knight will have someone willing to do the legwork as he has had in the past, and someone who will put in the time," Kaz promised.
Broadneck has an enrollment of approximately 1,150, and Kaz sees the school continuing to grow. He would like to see ninth-graders, who are eligible for interscholastic and extracurricular activities, relocated from middle schools to the high school building.
"I attended a County Council meeting about a month ago, and, at that time, money was approved to start construction of an addition to our school for ninth-graders," said Kaz. "But until we see the trucks and workers out there, we can't get too excited. But I do expect to see it happen within the next five years."
athletic director's position in the "family," and find someone with the perfect attitude for the job.
You don't get rich being an A.D. The full-time job with part-time compensation starts at just under $3,000 and escalates with experience. Anyone who takes the job and gives it his best is not doing it for the money, but rather for the kids, school and community.
For that, people in the Broadneck community should be thrilled and appreciative that Ken Kazmarek is succeeding the McMullens. It should be business as usual in Cape St. Claire, because as McKazmarek -- er Kaz -- says, he's merely "an instrument of maintenance."
The Bruin tradition will be maintained.


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Kanye West Gets Gospel Choir to Sing "Heard 'Em Say," "Lift Yourself" and More
KimKardashian via Instagram
Kanye West was in a churchy mood on Sunday (Jan. 6), but instead of going to church, he brought church his way, in the form of a gospel choir.
For a good duration of the morning, 'Ye's wife Kim Kardashian was posting video on her Instagram Story of Kanye leading a decent-sized choir in what looks like a studio. Instead of kicking church hymns, the singers bust out Kanye cuts like "Heard 'Em Say," "Father Stretch My Hands," "Lift Yourself," "Reborn" and more.
It is unclear whether this was actually done for a purpose other than making Kanye's day but he definitely looks like he is having a good time. Providing a small about of insight, Kim put the words "Rehearsal for Sunday Service" on the videos.
She also tweeted about the event posting, "Our new Sunday Service is starting. Check out the rehearsals on my Instagram stories ✨."
At the conclusion she added, "Just hearing music as our Sunday Service was super inspiring. See you next Sunday ✨," which still does not exactly provide enough details on what the new weekly happening is. Has Kanye pulled a Ma$e?
Kanye did not provide any more details via social media. Yeezy has not tweeted since the first day of the year when he shocked some by reestablishing his allegiance to President Trump after claiming he would distance himself from politics.
In other Kanye-related news, it was recently revealed that the rapper and his wife are expecting their fourth child.
Check out Kanye's tracks being sung by a choir below.
See Photos of Kanye West's Different Looks Over the Years


This enchanting 2-room suite is your perfect gateway to Bald Head Island. With first floor entry; your golf cart is right at your doorstep. The 30 foot covered veranda adds incredible space as you relax and watch the boats coming and going in the marina.
The decor is pure Nantucket in style and relaxed comfort with a sectional sofa, flat panel television, hardwood and beaded board throughout. The master bedroom includes a romantic four-poster bed, and a handicap accessible bath and walk-in shower. There is also 1/2 bath and granite kitchen to enhance this beautifully appointed suite.


+ +25 game win streak!
INF- +17 game win streak!
MEH@ +14 game win streak!
t[ +9 game win streak!
sZ` +8 game win streak!
asc +7 game win streak!
imp' +7 game win streak!
asc` +5 game win streak!
uLL +5 game win streak!
wCb +4 game win streak!
Clan N4A created by pOOci!
Mr Removed due to inactivity.
_sc Removed due to inactivity.
uK Removed due to inactivity.
WS Removed due to inactivity.
Tk Removed due to inactivity.
2. x-it PunisheR 0 pts.
10. Mr. Good Cop 0 pts.
-- clanwars news wire -- "Everything just fell into place today, I don't know how else to describe what happened out there" said Maldad who was savoring his clans big upset victory over uLL.
Earlier today the scene at no map selected told it all...locals were still stunned at the carnage left in the wake of the big battle claiming to have never seen the devestation they did Saturday.
"When things got quiet that's what was the most un-nerving…you knew it was coming because everyone was regrouping and no one was giving up today." said T4zZz!! almost as if not believing what occurred out on the field today. Members of stR though felt they deserved the win and in fact expected to win "People die in war, is it unfortnate? Yes it is, but cross me and you get what you deserve." said winning warrior Maldad contemplating the days action after the smoke began to clear.
In This HPT-DVH, i want to congratulate the Women Shot Clan 'WS', for being the first Halo Girl Clan that participate in this kind of tournament.
En este HPT-DVH, quiero felicitar al clan Women Shot 'WS' por ser el primer clan de chicas en particpar en este tipo de torneos.
You will need to contact an administrator before you can make an account on this league..simply post in league assistance sub forum of the forums.
Monthly playoffs and monthly prizes for both winning league warrior and clan, aswell as prizes for the winning clan of playoffs. Read & understand the rules!
Be sure to register on http://hptforum.com to post auto reports, request match videos and to be informed about the Halo community/league in general. New prizes have been announced and HPT has sprouted a new leaf to competitive Halo PC, check out forums for more details.
Please don't forget to read the rules on the forums aswell, we have set strict rules which we expect everyone to abide by when they play in this league otherwise result in a exile from the league. We set rules to ensure everyone gets the most fun out of Halo PC.
There are no announcements to show.


Mary McAleese said that 'faced with Brexit' we are " reminded of the sheer miracle that brought France and Germany out of enmity and into partnership" after the second World War.
The former Irish president gave a resounding endorsement to the European ideal after she was bestowed with one of France's highest honours on Monday night.
Ms McAleese received the Dignité de Grande Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite at the French Ambassador's residence in Dublin.
Expressing her gratitute to French president Emmanuel Macron "for this special honour" which she "deeply" appreciates, she spoke of "the web of history" uniting Ireland and France.
"I think of the man who first coined the phrase that caputured the idea of a united nations of Europe 'totus Europa ', the Irish monk Columbanus," in the sixth century, she said.
"Most of all today I think of those great Frenchmen and founders of our European Union, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman. Directly after the second World War, after 50 years in which Europe was a massive killing field, in both desperation and at the depravity of humanity and with faith and hope in the goodness of humanity they turned to Columbanus's vision of a Europe of the nations, each proud of its own identity, all working together in a voluntary partnership, for peace, progress and prosperity," she said.
She recalled how in 1950 at an event in France's Luxeuil to mark the 1,400 anniversary of Columbanus's birth, both men revealed "their great ambition" to other European leaders.
"Schuman spoke of 'St Columban, this illustrious Irishman who willed and achieved a spiritual union between the principal European countries of his time. He is the patron saint of all those who now seek to build a united Europe'," she said.


There are so many explanations why vaping is a bit more fun that smoking, it's a medium that creates smoking better. It will take each of the risk associated with smoking making it up as an advantage for you personally; it would also pursue to make it so simple for you to transit from smoking towards the abstinence. Like smoking, vaping runs on the burning agent that generates smoke after it's being burnt. In this case nothing is being burnt to avoid residues and contamination from air that lead to toxins being deposited inside your blood, but instead you eliquid has vaporized to give you smoke. This really is far healthier than it has ever being. One eliquid to try is the naked vape juice.
The eliquid vape juices has a lot of benefits in vaping. The eliquid is way cheaper than your basic tobacco cigarette. While using eliquid signifies that you would spend less cash than you normally would when buying normal cigarettes. It can help you reduce your paying for smoking drastically, just because a bottle of ejuice can last you for 2 to 3 weeks, that same amount of money could be used to purchase cigarettes that might not last you with the amount of time, which means that you could save of to 50% of the amount you utilize to purchase eliquid when you focus on it.
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Amanda Nicole Lopez, a 27-year-old Latina, died Sunday, April 22, after being shot in the 4800 block of Civic Center Way in East Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Lopez was sleeping in a tent outside the East Los Angeles Civic Center when someone shot her around 2:32 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Rodney Moore said.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:45 a.m., according to coroner's records.
Her family has set up an online fundraiser to help with expenses.
Sgt. Marcelo Quintero said Lopez had been living in the tent where she was shot. "She was trying, but was still under the grips of substance abuse," he said.
— Wow Nov. 24, 2018 at 9:35 a.m.
Rest In Peace beautiful niece. Why the coward animal who did this is still out on streets is mind bothering when so many people know WHO this animal is and won't come forward. This animal needs to b caught.
— Carmen Lopez Sept. 19, 2018 at 11:37 p.m.
— mgsleepy Sept. 17, 2018 at 11:58 a.m.
— Ela community Sept. 16, 2018 at 9:18 a.m.
— Steph April 30, 2018 at 3:52 p.m.
— Selena Zamorano April 29, 2018 at 9:56 p.m.
— Michelle April 26, 2018 at 11:17 p.m.
— Mary April 26, 2018 at 8:59 a.m.
— Sal Garcia April 26, 2018 at 12:06 a.m.
I was Amanda's aunt (on her birth fathers side of the family) she was raised by her grandmother and loving grandfather. Her and her sister used to come stay at my house a lot when they were younger. She was a beautiful person with a big heart, she was a great mom. She will be tremendously missed.
— Maryanne April 24, 2018 at 4:55 p.m.


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Share this Story: Grey Cup 2013: Cup win sweetest ever for Rider Nation?
Grey Cup 2013: Cup win sweetest ever for Rider Nation?
Nov 24, 2013 • November 25, 2013 • 3 minute read
It was, from start to finish, the perfect payoff for Canada's greatest football fans for enduring 101 years of solid suffering interrupted by scattered reign.
From the moment the Saskatchewan Roughriders landed at the airport here Sunday night after winning the Western Final in Calgary until they were presented with the big silver trophy after a convincing 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it was everything the 101st Grey Cup slogan suggested it should be:
"Celebration of Rider Nation."
When Grey Cup MVP Kory Sheets scored following a big play by Grey Cup top Canadian Chris Getzlaf to mostly seal the deal before making it 31-6 at halftime, the week-long party turned into an unprecedented Grey Cup love-in at Mosaic Stadium.
"Green is the colour and football is our game," the 44,710 fans sang the Riders theme song in unison — other than the world's No. 1 movie star Tom Hanks, brought here by Canadian actor Martin Short to help him cheer for his home-town Tiger-Cats and a few other folks.
And who could hold it against them?
This was only Saskatchewan's fourth title in 19 Grey Cup appearances.
The Tiger-Cats are still the only team to lose a Grey Cup to Saskatchewan — but they're still up five games to two.
The legion of Roughrider fans from coast to coast have never stopped celebrating the first, the 1966 Ron Lancaster, George Reed, Hugh Campbell triumph, in Saskatchewan to this day. They still take a special pride in 1989, generally acknowledged as the greatest Grey Cup game ever played. And the one in 2007 was the beginning of the recent run of respectability.
But going forward this one has to stand as the sweetest, especially after that 13th man too-many-men-on-the-field fiasco at Calgary 2009 in which their fourth Grey Cup was in hand until the Montreal Alouettes were given a do-over on the missed field goal to reverse the result.
This was only the third hosting of the Canadian classic in the heartland of Canadian football. And no stadium has ever before featured anything close to the almost 100% home jersey clad crowd achieved here Sunday.
It's been like St. Patrick's day every day in Regina. But on Grey Cup Sunday it was a near impossible assignment for the TV camera men to find a black and gold Hamilton Tiger-Cats fan in the stands, other than Hanks and Short.
And what a scene.
The Tiger-Cats defensive players were over-the-top with their look-at-me, look-at-me strutting, dancing and posing during introductions. When the Roughriders offence was set to come out of the tunnel and the name "Brendan LaBatte" was announced, the entire Saskatchewan team rushed to the field as if to say they were one or that they simply couldn't wait.
The crowd was over-the-top an hour before game time and exploded when Saskatchewan won the coin toss and chose to take the wind in the fourth quarter.
It turned out to be a non-factor.
This game was, indeed, over before halftime as the Roughriders took a 31-6 lead to the dressing room.
The incredible crowds at Riderville and around Grey Cup City throughout the week will probably be more indelible than the memories the game itself provided.
Then again, maybe not.
What Rider Prider will forget Geroy Simon, the all-time leading receiver in the league with the B.C. Lions, electing to complete his career here and not only scoring his first Grey Cup touchdown but becoming the first Roughrider to score two touchdowns in a Grey Cup game?
What Saskatchewan fan will ever forget that wild and crazy bit of business when Durant got popped, the ball popped out and right into the hands of Kory Sheets for 39-yard gain? That turned it right there.
There were big-play catches by Getzlaf and 128 yards of rushing from Sheets by halftime, only five fewer than George Reed had in setting the Riders record at the Grey Cup in 1966. Sheets had that covered early in the third quarter and went to work on breaking Johnny Bright's record with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1956 when he reached 188 in the fourth quarter.
The numbers at half time told the story alone.
The 31 points gave the Riders the record for most points ever scored in a Grey Cup first half and the 29-point lead was the second largest at half time in Grey Cup history.
Saskatchewan had an 18-5 advantage in first downs, a 333-130 margin in total yards, a 168-3 difference in yards rushing and a 17:43-12:17 advantage in time of possession.
Forgettable Grey Cup game to some. But what an unforgettable Grey Cup in Saskatchewan.
Grey Cup 2013: Cup win sweetest ever for Rider Nation? Back to video


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Land Appraisals: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Valuing Acreage
Home Appraisals
by Melissa Rudy
According to the National Association of Realtors 2019 Land Market Survey, an acre of land is worth a median price of $5,500, marking a $1,000 increase during the prior 12-month period. But your individual slice of land could be valued at a dramatically higher or lower price per acre depending on factors like its topography, road access, and zoning.
Enter land appraisals — a special type of valuation for undeveloped property essential to a smooth land exchange between two parties. This guide will take the mystery out of land appraisals for the average landowner and cover a lot of ground, including:
Top factors that influence the value of land
Why land appraisals require unique training and expertise
The difference between rural and residential land appraisals
How to find a reputable land appraiser
Source: (icon0.com / Pexels)
What factors influence land appraisals?
A plot of empty land offers more than meets the eye. Where you see just a stretch of soil and grass, an experienced land appraiser will see close proximity to a desirable community, or optimal soil quality for farming, or the ideal location for a future shopping mall — all of which influence the value of that piece of property.
A land appraisal can be more complex than appraising an existing house. A quick scan of a standard land appraisal form shows the multitude of factors the appraiser must evaluate and give weight to. Below are some of the main factors that impact a land valuation:
Although there aren't nearly as many vacant land sales as there are sales of existing homes, a land appraiser will look for recently sold parcels of land similar in size and type to yours to use as a starting point.
Land comps are available through different online databases. For example, the Lands of America Comparable Sales Program has a trove of information on land property sales for sellers, buyers, and real estate professionals such as appraisers. After running comps, the appraiser will then make adjustments based on the characteristics of your specific property.
'Highest and best use'
When valuing undeveloped land, an appraiser's job is to determine what's called the "highest and best use" of the property. The Appraisal Institute defines this as "the reasonably probable and legal use of vacant land or an improved property that is physically possible, appropriately supported, financially feasible, and that results in the highest value."
In simpler terms: What is the most profitable way to use the land?
For example, when looking at a standard rectangular lot in a housing subdivision, the most profitable use would be to build a house in line with the other properties surrounding it. But for a large tract of land in a commercial area, building a shopping mall or movie theater could be the highest and best use. And when evaluating land in a rural area, cultivating it as farmland might yield the most profit.
Erik Pogwist — the chief appraiser of Incenter Appraisal Management, a national provider of best-of-breed valuations, inspections, and data products for lenders across the country — regularly performs land valuations. He explains:
"Value increases based on what you can use the land for. Therefore, an appraiser must be able to recognize the utility of the parcel to be able to properly value the site."
To determine whether the owner's use of land qualifies as "highest and best use," appraisers run four different tests:
Is the use legally permissible? Are there any zoning requirements that would limit how the land can be used? For example, if the buyer wants to put in a nursing home or a department store, would those uses be allowed?
Is the use physically possible? Are the size, shape, topography, and accessibility of the land in line with how the buyer or owner wants to use it? Someone buying the land to put in a waterpark or a racetrack, for example, would have trouble using a hilly, narrow parcel of land without much road access.
Is the use financially feasible? Is the intended use in line with the properties surrounding it, or would an over-improved property run the risk of being the most expensive on the block? Building a large house with a bunch of expensive upgrades on a street of modest ranch homes might not make fiscal sense.
Is the use most profitable? For commercial properties, what type of use would generate the most income, based on the buildings surrounding it and the demand among the local population? For example, adding a second movie theater to a community would likely not be as profitable as adding a shopping mall where retail stores are highly in demand.
NAR's Land Market Survey breaks down median land prices per acre by different land types and uses:
Residential: $25,000 per acre
Agricultural, irrigated: $9,629 per acre
Agricultural, non-irrigated: $5,500
Ranch: $4,500 per acre
Timber: $3,000 per acre
Recreational: $3,000 per acre
Source: (Realtors Land Institute and the National Association of Realtors 2019 Land Market Survey)
You might assume that if one acre of land is worth $50,000, then four acres would be $200,000, but that's not the case. As the size of the land goes up, the value per acre actually goes down, a phenomenon known in the economic world as the "law of diminishing returns." It's sort of the land equivalent to buying in bulk at the store: A larger item typically costs less per unit than the same item in a smaller size.
The shape of the land also impacts its potential use and value, as an irregularly shaped lot may be less desirable. For example, if a vacant lot is pie-shaped with the wider part in the front, that means a home built on that land would have more yard space in the front than the back.
That shape could result in a lower value, as most homeowners would prefer to have more usable space in the backyard where there is more privacy. And an irregular or triangle-shaped lot can be difficult to build on, as it can limit what footprint the developer can use for the house.
One of the biggest drivers of a piece of land's value is the amount of frontage — that is, how much of it is accessible by road. Particularly if you're selling a larger tract of land that will be subdivided, each municipality may have specific zoning rules that dictate how much road frontage each lot must have, explains Melanie Hunt, a top Fort Worth, Texas, real estate agent who often sells vacant land.
"The more road frontage and the more acres the road touches, the higher the land value will be," says Hunt. "For example, if there are 500 feet of road frontage and the land is very narrow and deep and hard to build on, the back acres won't be worth nearly as much. But a large corner lot with lots of frontage will have much more value."
A land appraiser will take into account the availability of water, sewer, and electrical hookups for the land. If these elements aren't available, the buyer would need to bring them in. That project can cost anywhere from $10,000 up to $30,000 or more, depending on the scope and size of the land. Plus, it can take months to obtain all of the permits and complete all of the work.
A land developer may have the option to use a septic system or water wells, but these solutions also cost thousands of dollars. "Generally speaking, having power, water, and sewer access at the property line will drive the value of the land way up," says Hunt.
The topography, or geographical makeup, of a piece of land can have a big impact on its value. For example, swampy land won't be suitable for building a home, but a buyer might want it for recreational purposes. An appraiser will examine the land's physical features — including the presence of mountains, steep grades, rivers, lakes, and valleys — as a means of determining its use potential.
Just as a built home comes with certain selling points like a pool or location on a quiet street, a parcel of land can offer certain aesthetic or functional features that make it more valuable. For example, an appraiser could attribute value to lake access, a fishing pond, a spectacular view, hiking or walking trails, or other desirable elements, as long as they don't impede on the land's usability.
Most land has been zoned, which means it's been classified for a certain type of use.
The current zoning requirements may limit how a buyer can use or develop a parcel of land, which has a direct impact on its value. Some of the most common types of land zoning include:
Single-family residential
Multi-unit residential industrial
Beyond what type of building can be constructed, zoning laws can also control specific construction details, like the height of structures. The appraiser will consider the zoning when determining the valuation. If the laws are restrictive, they could potentially deter would-be buyers.
Some studies have found that more than 13% of the U.S. population lives in a 100-year flood zone, and that is expected to rise to 15.5% by 2050. If your land is located in a floodplain, the appraiser will look into how often floods occur and which areas are most prone to flooding. High flood risk can sink the value of vacant land — by as much as 8%, according to some studies.
Source: (Diego Madrigal / Pexels)
Hunt says that the buyer will usually order an environmental study prior to closing, as the results have to be disclosed at appraisal. Any hazardous substances or contaminants found in the soil — such as pesticides, radon, lead, or asbestos — can cause land value to plummet. Any wetlands, wildlife, or endangered species will also come into play, as they could impact the ability to develop the land.
Rural vs. residential
Many landowners possess vacant lots that will someday become the site of a house or building. But appraisers will treat rural tracts of land or farmland used for agricultural purposes differently than they do residential or commercial land.
"Rural appraisals can be more challenging due to the lack of sales data, which is naturally the result of having many fewer homes than suburban or urban markets," explains Pogwist.
"In some rural counties, there may not be sales for many months or even years. The appraiser would need to expand his or her comparable sale search far beyond what is typical in order to find sales that could be utilized as value indicators for a property."
The appraiser will consider some of the same factors — access, topography, configuration — but the size of rural land is often much larger, adding extra time and cost to the valuation process. The value will also hinge on things like the farm economy, the quality of the soil, irrigation and drainage, the local climate and rainfall, and any current farming regulations that might limit usage of the land.
The portion of usable space is one of the key factors in farmland appraisals. As Hunt explains: "If you have 100 acres of land, and 50 of it is usable and the other 50 is comprised of gullies and trees that can't be plowed or cultivated or grazed, the value of the usable acres will be much higher than the rest."
Land demand can drive the price up
Pogwist often sees buyers offer more for vacant land than the appraisal amount, particularly in cases where they see income potential that the appraiser might not recognize, or if there are multiple buyers bidding for the land. "An appraisal is nothing more than an expert's opinion, based on experience, sound data, and thoughtful analysis," he says. "Someone may have the need, desire, and resources to pay more, and the seller would likely be quite happy to sell for more."
In Hunt's experience, approximately 25% of buyers go over the appraised value, particularly if it's a unique property or if its purpose drives it above the normal land value. In that case, if the buyer is getting any type of loan to finance the land purchase, the buyer would need to bring the additional funds to closing to make up the difference in price.
Source: (Eric Buermeyer / ShutterStock)
Land appraisals: Tough to get right
Not all residential appraisers have the experience and expertise to appraise land. Choosing an appraiser who doesn't specialize in this area can be a recipe for disaster.
In one example cited by LIA Administrators & Insurance Services, a land buyer used an Arizona appraiser to find out what a two-acre parcel was worth.
The appraisal pegged the value at $160,000 and the buyer secured funds from a lender to finance the land purchase. When the buyer later defaulted on the loan and a foreclosure was filed, the lender hired a different appraiser to give the land another look.
The new appraiser found that there was no access to the lot and assigned it a value of just $90,000 — $70,000 less than the first appraised amount. The lender then filed a lawsuit against the first appraiser, who should have recognized the fact that those two acres were land-locked.
To find a licensed and qualified land appraiser, you can ask a local real estate agent who regularly sells land for recommendations. An agent like Hunt, for example, will have a direct referral for you, saving you time in your search for an appraiser you can trust. You can also do a search on the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, where you can find the contact information of more than 2,100 of the country's top land appraisal experts.
Land appraisals look to the future
A vacant piece of land represents a blank slate to build a house, start a farm, put in a sports field, or park a tiny home. In other words, land gets points for potential. How a person could transform or preserve a particular slice of the earth is a lovely, idyllic exercise in dreaming big.
That sheer possibility also has everything to do with land value and what appraisers take into account when they make their assessment. Unlike a house appraisal that evaluates what's already there, a land appraisal imagines what could be.
Header Image Source: (Nokwan007 / ShutterStock)
Melissa Rudy
Melissa Rudy is a seasoned digital journalist with 15 years of experience writing web copy, blog posts and articles for a broad range of companies. When she can't buy or sell homes, she settles for the next-best thing: researching and writing about all things real estate-related.
From the Outside In: What Do Home Appraisers Look For In a House?
The Comprehensive Guide for How to Increase Home Value For Appraisal
Here's What to Expect From A Home Appraisal So You Don't Blow It
What Hurts a Home Appraisal? 8 Factors You Can (and Can't) Control


Check out our crazy clandestine events for 2019. First up is our secret Spy Run mission.
If you're looking for a challenge or activity to do near you in London, look no further. Our series of secret events and challenges offer something for everyone. Whether it's walking or running in London, or top secret challenges you're after, take a look at our event selection and find the one for you.
No matter which you choose, you're guaranteed a unique and exhilirating day out with friends and family.
"DeadDrop is frustratingly brilliant! I am a competitive runner, yet have never come higher than third place as I always get out-pointed by beginners! The 'bonus point' options are great fun and I should very much reconsider my tactics when playing!
No you don't. We tend to get a 50:50 split of runners and non-runners. Those who are physically competitive tend to run in order to get to more places faster. Others are more tactically competitive and take it slow and steady. They do say 'slow and steady wins the race' but whether that applies in DeadDrop…we'll leave that for you to discover!


I'm no marketing pro. I'm just a guy who loves to write. Yet, as I've said here, the adventure of artisanal publishing requires hand-crafting a unique book AND getting it to readers.
A few weeks ago, I watched in amazement as thousands of readers downloaded my debut novel.


The Sony UP-DR80MD is a medical grade, compact, high-quality printer ideal for everyday documentation needs.
The Sony HVO series of HD digital video recorders complement the ENDOCAM HD line of camera units in versatility, functionality and compact design. These digital recorders feature simultaneous recording on an internal hard drive and various external media and also support live image streaming over a hospital network or internet. The Sony HVO3000MT also allows for 2D/3D video recording in full 1080p resolution and can be paired with a touch screen to offer easy patient data management.


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class DropSnapshotData < ActiveRecord::Migration

  def self.up
    remove_index :snapshot_data, :name => 'snapshot_data_snapshot_id'
    remove_index :snapshot_data, :name => 'snap_data_resource_id'
    drop_table :snapshot_data
  end

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Cigar Gear
Alec Bradley Gets A Rabbit Air Purifier
By Blake Droesch
Rabbit Air, a California-based air purification company, has partnered with Alec Bradley Cigar Co. for a branded version of its popular MinusA2 purifier. The new design features the Alec Bradley logo over a red-hued background complete with the brand's "Live True" slogan on the facade.
Rabbit Air's MinusA2 is the brand's flagship product. Slimmer and more versatile than its counterpart, the BioGS 2.0, the MinusA2 offers the largest coverage area and is designed to either stand alone or be mounted to a wall.
The Alec Bradley Rabbit Air comes in the same two versions as the original MinusA2 product. For use in smaller rooms, the SPA-700A model claims to trap and reduce the odor of cigars in confined spaces up to 700 square feet. This version is available in a white base color and is being sold on Alec Bradley's website for $520.
The more comprehensive model, however, is the SPA-780A, which has a coverage area of up to 815 square feet. This version comes in the option of either black or white and is sold online for $620. Both units measure roughly 20 inches in height by 21 inches in width.
Alec Bradley is handling distribution for the product, which will be available on the company's website and through its authorized retailers.
This isn't the first time Rabbit Air has spruced up the look of its purifiers. The company also features an Artists Series that affixes famous works of art to its MinusA2.
Alec Bradley Cigar Distributors Inc.
More in Cigar Gear
Son & Son Gold Bullion Ashtray
An ashtray with the Midas touch.
Xikar Tactical Lighter Launches At TAA
Cigar accessories maker Xikar has debuted a new triple-jet flame lighter called Tactical.
Review: Alec Bradley's Mega Burner Lighter
Eleven years ago, Alec Bradley released The Burner, a unique butane table lighter that emits a tall, conical flame resembling a Bunsen burner. Now the company has debuted a larger version …


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Interview with Ken Czech & Giveaway of Last Dance in Kabul {HFVBT Blog Tours}
Hello, dear readers! I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday! I turn a young 41 today and am very happy to be hosting an interview with author Ken Czech, who is currently on blog tour for Last Dance in Kabul. It's always a good birthday when you get to talk books :) I do hope you will enjoy our interview, and don't forget to enter to win a copy of Last Dance in Kabul!
Hello Ken and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about Last Dance in Kabul!
Hi Amy. Thanks so much for inviting me to Passages to the Past.
To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and Last Dance in Kabul?
Well, I retired from the classroom about six years ago. I'll admit I do miss my students, but I don't missing grading papers. Throughout my teaching career, both in secondary education and at university, I've been writing everything from short stories to magazine articles to books that examined the historical literature of exploration and sport. But academia is behind me, and my passion has turned to writing fiction. LAST DANCE IN KABUL is my second historical novel.
What inspired you to write Last Dance in Kabul?
Stories of desperate last stands against overwhelming odds have always piqued my imagination. As a kid, it was Custer's Last Stand and the Alamo. When I first saw the famous painting by W. A. Wollen titled "The Last Stand of the 44th Foot at Gandamack", I wanted to know more about why a ragged group of British regulars in 1842 were about to engage bands of Afghan fighters in a most inhospitable looking mountain range.
What type of research did you do for writing Last Dance in Kabul?
My research included reading primary source accounts penned by two survivors of the Kabul catastrophe as well as several secondary sources written by well-grounded historical writers. Maps of the region showed mountain ranges, passes, and desert-like areas. Especially important in my research was a map of Kabul as it existed in 1841-2. I also read recent books written by veterans of the war against the Taliban to become more familiar with tribal conflicts, and to get a better sense of weather and terrain.
What was your favorite scene to write?
My hero (Reeve Waterton) and heroine (Sarah Kane) are truly disdainful of each other. After reaching Kabul, Reeve is practicing his fencing techniques. Sarah barges in to watch, then challenges Reeve to a match. Unknown to him is that Sarah is an expert with the epee. When she defeats him, it becomes more of a sexual challenge than a sporting event.
What was the most difficult scene to write?
I think I labored over one of the final scenes the most. Sarah and Reeve managed to escape the slaughter of the British army in the mountain passes outside of Kabul. When Reeve is injured, it's up to Sarah to call upon both her inner and physical strengths to save him. I wanted the scene to reflect grittiness, pain, and fatigue, but also wanted my two characters to experience tenderness, care, and a burgeoning love. It was especially important to me that Sarah demonstrated her spirit and assertiveness without coming across as Wonder Woman.
Wow, that goes back a long way, Amy. I think I was in seventh grade (ca. 1962) when I wrote a little story in the vein of Edgar Rice Burroughs. As I recall, the characters were stereotypes, the language stilted, and creating a battle scene was most important. I actually wrote a full-length fantasy novel in high school (about 50,000 words), thought it was great at the time, and now find in laughable.
What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?
There is little doubt in my mind that my biggest challenge has been in finding an agent to represent my work. In this computer age it's easy to delete form rejection letters with the stroke of a key. If I had printed each rejection, I could easily have wallpapered our living room with them. I've had more success in publishing with small presses, and thank them immensely for their support.
Who are your writing inspirations?
I can answer that in two phases. I've always enjoyed reading fantasy and science fiction, and have been inspired by the story telling genius of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Andre Norton. As I have turned to writing historical fiction, I've thoroughly enjoyed the Napoleonic and Saxon novels written by Bernard Cornwell, and William Dietrich's novels about his roguish character Ethan Gage.
What was the first historical novel you read?
Because I border on antiquity, Amy, I have to delve back a bit. Around 1961, the movie "El Cid" debuted starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. Robert Krepps wrote a novel of the same name based on the screenplay of this ode to this medieval Spanish warrior. I've read it many times, and there are scenes that still burn brightly.
What is the last historical novel you read?
I recently finished Colin Falconer's "Colossus," the story of a war elephant and its attendants during the time of Alexander the Great. It was a read wonderfully evocative of time and place, and mixed with a bit of alternative history.
What are three things people may not know about you?
Books have been a part of my life since I can remember. Most folks would not know that I collect antiquarian books related to exploration and sport, particularly of the 19th century. Tied to that is my small business of selling books related to those themes, and I'm happy to say that I've sold books to readers in twenty-one different countries. I think the third thing would be that my wife and I are very fortunate to have built our house on an abandoned granite quarry with several water-filled granite pools and tons of wildlife.
What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?
I've taught history for over thirty years. There are so many wonderful and interesting stories that crop up throughout history that might garner a paragraph or two in non-fiction histories. Invariably, I wanted to know more. For instance, in my first historical novel "Beyond The River Of Shame," real historical characters Samuel and Florence Baker set off to explore the sources of the Nile River in the 1860s. Sam purchased Florie at a slave auction, and though he wrote several books of their adventures, he never mentions her by name nor does he reveal their personal relationship. The strictures of stodgy Victorian era society undoubtedly prevented that, so I tried to create that relationship in my story.
What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?
Perhaps the 19th century holds the most attraction for me. Yes, I studied it and taught it, but it was also a period where mankind quested to discover the unknown. Because modern luxuries and conveniences were not commonplace, it has been a challenge to imagine walking for miles through an African swamp, or scaling the peaks of the Hindu Kush relying on physical strength and perseverance. No cell phones or microwaves back then.
What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
KC: Amy, I love reading, so my nose if too often in a book. My wife and I enjoy the tranquility of our home place. Our great granddaughter lives with us part time, and I think I am her favorite pull toy.
Lastly, what are you working on next?
I've just completed my third historical novel, "The Tsar's Locket." As Cliff Claven of "Cheers" would say, it's a little know fact that Tsar Ivan the Terrible once attempted to marry a niece of Queen Elizabeth. My story revolves around a disgraced sea captain challenged by the queen to deliver a betrothal locket to the tsar, his journey plagued by assassination and war. Now to find a home for it!
Oh wow, that sounds like an amazing read! I sure hope you find a publisher because I'd love to read that. Thanks so much for spending time with us, Ken! Good luck on your blog tour.
Last Dance in Kabul by Ken Czech
Fireship Press
Paperback & eBook; 306 Pages
Genre: Action & Adventure/Historical/Romance/War & Military
The Ultimate Dance Between Love and War
When his superiors ignore his warnings of an impending Afghan insurrection in 1841, British army captain Reeve Waterton vows never to return to Kabul. But then he rescues strong-willed Sarah Kane from an ambush and his plans for civilian life and self-preservation unravel around him.
At first Reeve dislikes Sarah as much as she loathes him. She's as impudent and disdainful of authority as he, plus she's betrothed to his bitterest rival.
It's only after Reeve's closest friend is brutally murdered and the Afghan tribes explode in revolt that he and Sarah discover their desperate need for each other. When the retreating British army is caught between the jaws of Afghanistan's blizzard-wracked mountain passes and hordes of vengeful tribesmen, Sarah and Reeve must rely on their skills, courage, and blossoming love just to survive.
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
Praise for Last Dance in Kabul
"Reeve Waterton, a dashing rogue, is a true hero who stands among the most valiant officers of British fiction. Sarah Kane is an assertive woman assured of her own mind yet vulnerable in her heart. Together they spark the blaze that energizes Last Dance in Kabul." —Rex Griffin, historical writer
"You won't find two more compelling characters than Reeve Waterton and Sarah Kane. I love them. I rooted for them to survive and work things out from the third chapter until the exciting conclusion. Their story was so expertly woven between survival and romance that I found it difficult to pull myself away from it." —Ray Simmons, for Reader's Favorite
"Last Dance in Kabul is a war story; a story of life and death; a story of love and hate, and it is a very good read. I was pulled back to 1841 and dropped in the middle of the Afghan insurrection." –Trudi LoPreto for Reader's Favorite
"[The] character development is impeccable and the conflict gives the story its powerful depth and emotional intensity. Last Dance in Kabul is a captivating, well-plotted and beautifully paced novel." —Christian Sia, for Reader's Favorite
Dr. Ken Czech is a retired history professor and an internationally recognized authority on the historical literature of exploration and sport. His passion, however, has turned to writing fiction. He and his wife Mary live in Central Minnesota on an abandoned granite quarry.
For more information, please visit Ken's website. You can also find him on Facebook, Amazon and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Interview at Passages to the Past
Review at The Caffeinated Bibliophile
Feature at Donna's Book Blog
Review at Cup of Sensibility
Review at Books and Glamour
Review at Broken Teepee
Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Blog
Review at Bri's Book Nook
Guest Post at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Review at Hopewell's Public Library of Life
Feature at Just One More Chapter
Review at Hoover Book Reviews
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of Last Dance in Kabul! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on July 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Last Dance in Kabul
Posted by Passages to the Past at 12:00 AM
Labels: author interviews, blog tour, Giveaway, HF Virtual Book Tours, Historical Fiction, Ken Czech
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Amazon Price: $79.00 $79.00 (as of April 25, 2019 1:29 am – Details). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the Amazon site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Lil' Baby Cakes Christening Diaper cake is a wonderful gift to send for a Christening or Baptism. It features a plush lamb, terry burp cloth and booties both embellished with embroderied cross. The cake measures 10 inches wide and 12 inches tall and is wrapped in white tulle. This Lil' Baby Cake ships from Michigan and is handmade when ordered.
Offline Mobile Appreneur Offliner's "Business in a Box" for Mobile Apps and App Builder and WP PLUGIN!


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Home / Events / Dorothy Black Lecture 2021 with Alexander Heffner: Civil Discourse in an Uncivil Age/Uncivil and Unwell in America
Dorothy Black Lecture 2021 with Alexander Heffner: Civil Discourse in an Uncivil Age/Uncivil and Unwell in America
RSVPlaunch
PBS host and American author/journalist/historian Alexander Heffner discusses the effects of divisiveness on discourse, media, and governance as well as the influence of social platforms and filter bubbles, mis- and disinformation, and bigotry that polarize and undermine civil society. What are possible prescriptions to correct this cycle? How can our civic footprint translate into constructive instead of destructive behaviour? How can we help achieve integrity in the public sphere?
In this Dorothy Black Lecture, PBS host Alexander Heffner reflects on our current moment in historical perspective. Heffner's book, A Documentary History of the United States, explore contemporary politics, populism, and pestilence through critical documents, such as speeches, testimonies, tweets, and other digital postings.
Heffner discusses the effects of divisiveness on discourse, campaigns, and governance as well as the influence of new media, dis/misinformation, and filter bubbles that polarize information intake and society. In conversation with the audience, Heffner and guests will consider the responsibilities of civic education and citizens, practice exercises to inform and build bridges, and work toward the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness, including explanations of aspirational and inspirational oratory.
Alexander is host of The Open Mind on PBS. He has covered American politics, civic life and Millennials since the 2008 presidential campaign. He is profiled in The Wrap, Mediaite, Raw Story, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Des Moines Register, Christian Science Monitor, Variety, Medium, and on MSNBC, C-SPAN, NPR, CNN, ABC and the BBC.
His writing appears in The Daily Beast, The Independent, USA TODAY, WIRED, TIME, NYT's Room for Debate, Boston Globe and Philadelphia Inquirer, among other publications. He is coauthor of best-selling book, A Documentary History of the United States (Tantor Media, 2020; Penguin, 2018, forthcoming 2022), and recipient of University of Denver's Anvil of Freedom Award, Franklin Pierce University's Fitzwater Medallion for Leadership in Public Communication, and Yale University's Poynter Fellowship in Journalism.
Heffner has lectured at the Newseum, National Constitution Center, Museum of American Finance, FDR Library and Museum, The American University in Cairo, Initiative for Truth at University of Sydney, Center for Information and Bubble Studies at University of Copenhagen, Institute on Constitutional Democracy at University of Missouri, Civil Discourse Lab at the University of New Hampshire, Department of Writing and Rhetoric at University of Mississippi, Center for Constitutional Democracy at Marshall University, Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State, Clarke Forum at Dickinson College, Alpha Seminar at Carroll College, among other institutions of learning.
Host Bio
Dr. Ian Hill is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literatures at the University of British Columbia. He specializes in the History and Theory of Rhetoric, and is also affiliated faculty with the Graduate Program in Science and Technology Studies. His research focuses on rhetoric and technology, and he teaches courses in rhetorical history and theory, the rhetoric of technology, textual criticism, argumentation, and memes.
Lecture, Public
Critical Conversations: Ecologies
location_on Buchanan Tower 323
Literature & Legacies of Race | 'Better to the Commonwealth': Merchant of Venice, Mixedness, and Demographic Revision
Enter the Detective: Mysteries of Victorian Newspaper Agony Columns
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Latics have been drawn at home to Championship club Derby County in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
The Rams will be visiting Boundary Park in the week commencing Monday, August 5th.
It will be the first time Latics have played the Rams since October 2002 when Latics won 2-1 at Pride Park in the same competition which was then the Carling Cup.
Derby last visited Boundary Park in April 1996 when both teams were in what is today's Championship. Derby emerged 1-0 victors that day.
Further details, including the date of the match and admission prices, will be announced in due course.


What is Pin-Pay? Pin-Pay is an innovative mobile payment service offered at its Partner Banks which aims to bring its subscribers the most secure, reliable and intelligent payment experience. Using Pin-Pay, you can perform a number of different transactions directly from your mobile phone. Since all transactions are conducted live and under 20 seconds, you can safely receive money straight to your account in no time. Pin-Pay is registered on the Beirut Commercial registery Number 1008455; and governed by the Central Bank of Lebanon under Decision Number 20/35/12 dated 14/11/2012. Pin-Pay's mission is to use the mobile phone as the main tool for payments and connect customers and merchants through an innovative platform that ultimately deviates from the traditional payment paradigm and provides state-of-the-art solutions for mobile banking and mobile payments.
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Any copyright infringement will automatically lead to prosecution under international copyright law.


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Video footage of 1982: The day Depeche Mode played the Rainbow Club in Oberkorn
Author: Josh Oudendijk|Update: 27.05.2022 08:32
Depeche Mode in Oberkorn (1982)
Archive footage of a legendary gig in Luxembourg.
Technical difficulties had almost ruined the night. It was a show that would forever be remembered, with the location even going on to become the title of a single. Thanks to the National Archive and RTL's filming of the evening we can now show you the footage of 30 March 1982.
Countless international stars have at some point performed in Luxembourg: Michael Jackson at the Krackelshaff in Bettembourg in 1997, Prince at the Rockhal in 2011, Rolling Stones on Kirchberg in 1995. But these were all shows attended by thousands of people at the height of the artist's career. Some bands, such as British synth-pop group Depeche Mode, made it to smaller clubs in the Grand Duchy in their early days, just before a massive breakthrough.
On 30 March 1982, Depeche Mode, then on a European tour of some major venues, stopped at the Rainbow Club in the minuscule village of Oberkorn. The band was confused about the location. Something must have clearly gone wrong, remembers Martin Gore, the band's keyboardist: "We rarely bother to look at our schedules and so naturally thought we'd be playing Brussels. But instead we found ourselves pulling into a tiny place called Oberkorn."
"It was a curious kind of village with a population that would hardly fill the first few rows of any ordinary theatre so it was quite a fascination for us to find out what was going to happen. Instead of our gig being a handful of people, the place was packed as the audience came from all around and even from across the borders", Gore said.
Indeed, 250 fans from all over the Greater Region flocked to Oberkorn to see the band in such an intimate setting. The weeks before they had been playing at Trinity Hall in Hamburg, The Ritz in Stockholm and New York, Hammersmith Odeon in London, and at the BBC studios. Now they were standing on a half-improvised stage in a gloomy club.
Today, Depeche Mode have sold over 100 million records worldwide, scoring 54 chart hits and inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame three times. But all artists start out somewhere, usually with terrible conditions and low budgets.
Shortly before the band got on stage for a soundcheck in Oberkorn, technical issues hit the organisers. "When the group arrived, it was total chaos", remembers André Depienne who had organised the concert, together with Roland Nilles, both proprietors of the club, speaking to L'essentiel in 2009. All fifteen technicians on site, the members of the band and the manager were stressed out. "After hours of tinkering we finally managed a soundcheck. RTL set off to record the concert. But in the moment of connecting the cameras the fuses fried and so did the programming of the electronic band. After the second try, Depeche Mode wanted to cancel the concert."
When the group arrived, it was total chaos - André Depienne, organiser
The technicians managed to solve the issues and for the band to start the gig. Since the stage was so low, RTL had put their cameras in the back of the venue, asking the crowd to sit on the floor. But when the group launched into their first song, a woman stood up and started to dance. A security guard tried to get her to sit back down again, sparking an angry exchange of words. Singer Dave Gahan jumped off stage and got involved. It later turned out the woman in the audience was his girlfriend.
The night turned out to be unforgettable. The group had given the title "Oberkorn (It's A Small Town) to an instrumental song released on the B-side of the single "The Meaning Of Love" (1982). Legend has it that that producer had asked Martin Gore to give a title for the track during the moment when they were in Luxemburg. He had spontaneously replied: "Oberkorn". "It's A Small Town"
The title was inspired by a remark by the waiter of the hotel that the group was staying in. To Gore's question of if they could have an egg for breakfast, the waiter replied that this was not possible because they were in the countryside: "It's a small town!"
A big thanks to the Depeche Mode Live Wiki for highlighting and compiling these incredible quotes and memories.
Bite into more knowledge
Knowledge Bites The Yenish – A community in Luxembourg and their fascinating language 1
The Yenish – A community in Luxembourg and their fascinating language
Knowledge Bites A brief look into Luxembourg and the filming industry 1
A brief look into Luxembourg and the filming industry
Knowledge Bites The Angels of Schoenfels – Luxembourg's most outlandish scam
The Angels of Schoenfels – Luxembourg's most outlandish scam
Knowledge Bites The birth of the Christmas tree as we know it
The birth of the Christmas tree as we know it
Knowledge Bites Advent
Knowledge Bites Double, double toil and trouble: Witchcraft in Luxembourg
Double, double toil and trouble: Witchcraft in Luxembourg
Knowledge Bites The Luxembourgish Christmas Experience
The Luxembourgish Christmas Experience
Knowledge Bites The Luxembourgish scientist who was ennobled by the Austrian Emperor
The Luxembourgish scientist who was ennobled by the Austrian Emperor


This gorgeous low country home faces west over a salt water pond. The two bedroom main house entertains beautifully with open plan and high ceilings. The kitchen / living room opens onto an oversized covered porch that maximizes your out door living and enjoyment all year. A separate guest cottage can be used for your out of town visitors. The attention to detail and use of space has to be seen to be appreciated! This home is ready to go for the owner who is looking for a peaceful setting in a beautifully crafted home close to all the amenities.


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NDC Will Come Up With False Allegations In The Last Week To Dec. 7 Polls - Minister
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will resort to false allegations and fabricated videos in this last week to December 7 Elections, to create a bad image of the government.
He averred that it was part of the NDC's grand scheme to confuse people and make people disappointed in the Akufo-Addo-led government because they (NDC) have no credible campaign message for the electorate.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, therefore, urged the media and the public to focus on the major issues that could transform their lives as the basis for casting their votes in the December 7 polls.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah made the remarks while reacting to Former President John Dramani Mahama's recent allegations that the state security agencies were behind the secessionists' attacks in the Volta Region to suppress NDC's votes.
"It is the NDC's final modus operandi in this last week to the December 7 elections. They're going to come up with fabricated videos, photos, letters and allegations merely to confuse the Ghanaian public and make people disappointed in Akufo-Addo's administration.
"I think that's the only tactics if he has no credible message to speak to," Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stated
Mr Mahama, whilst speaking to the Pan African TV in an interview recently alleged that he had information that the attacks in the Volta Region were not carried out by members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation.
The NDC's Flagbearer said the attacks were done at the behest of the National Security as part of a grand plan by the ruling government to suppress votes in the Region.
The Information Minister said the responsible thing to do was for Mr. Mahama to provide evidence to back his claims or provide the evidence to an appropriate security agency to act on it.
"We are not generally surprised that he (Mr. Mahama) will accuse state security agencies of being behind the criminal act of some so-called secessionist
"We are disappointed that a former Commander-in-Chief and a former President is willing to drag state security agencies into politics without providing evidence to the general public," he added.
The Minister entreated the public to disregard Mr Mahama's unsubstantiated allegations and focus on important matters that could transform their lives and livelihoods as the basis for voting for any candidate on December 7.


Despite historic resistance alternative dispute resolution has gained widespread acceptance as an alternative to litigation. Over the last several years it has become apparent that disputes arising in the context of such technology sensitive industries as telecommunications and IT, cross-border transactions or complex financial structures cannot meaningfully be resolved by traditional Courts. The reasons are obviously the increased expertise required, a request for timeliness in the delivery of justice and also a need for discretion by the parties involved. Our lawyers are internationally trained and have extensive experience in ADR proceedings, especially in negotiating disputes and exploring the possibility of out-of-Court settlements, as well as representing our clients in local and international courts of arbitration.
Driven by a result-oriented approach our firm allocates the most appropriate lawyers in light of the underlying cause of each specific dispute.Apart from assisting our clients in timely and efficiently resolving their disputes and representing them in ADR proceedings (ICC Rules, Greek Code of Civil Procedure, Greek Chamber of Commerce, OMED, LCIA, AAA), we also structure tailor-made arbitration agreements in view of the specific needs and requirements of each transaction.
For more information about our Alternative Dispute Resolution practice please contact Petros Machas, Nikolaos Koulocheris or Angelike Nestorides.


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bards-song.com
Quick Answer: What Is The Cheapest Porsche Model?
How much does the cheapest Porsche cost?
What is the cheapest used Porsche?
Which is better Audi or Porsche?
Do Porsches break down a lot?
What is the average income of a Porsche owner?
How much money should you make to buy a Porsche?
Can you negotiate price on a Porsche?
Is it expensive to maintain a Porsche?
Is Porsche worth buying?
What is a poor man's Porsche?
Why are used Porsches so cheap?
What car do most millionaires drive?
Here's a breakdown of the 718 starting prices: 718 Cayman Models: starting at $56,900 MSRP.
718 Boxster Models: starting at $59,000 MSRP.
718 GTS Models: starting at $80,700 MSRP..
These Are the Cheapest Porsches For Sale on Autotrader1986 Porsche 944 — $4,987. This is the single cheapest Porsche on Autotrader: a white 1986 944 Coupe with 99,200 miles. … 2002 Porsche Boxster — $5,295. … 2004 Porsche Cayenne S — $6,405. … 1987 Porsche 924 S — $6,997. … 1985 Porsche 928 S — $6,999. … 1999 Porsche 911 — $8,902.
Porsche, the performance leader, excels in small sports cars, as well as top-performing small SUVs, standard SUVs and large sedans. Audi offers a wide range of cars and SUVs that tilt more to luxury than pure performance. You'll want to test-drive models from both makers before selecting one.
They have reported that there were 110 problems per 100 vehicles when it came to Porsche, this was the same as Lexus, who have hit the top spot when it comes to reliability for many years. J.D Power have also given Porsche 5 out of 5 for overall dependability.
$511,000"The average Porsche owner's household income is $511,000. The average Mercedes-Benz owner's household income is slightly over $250,000.
Experts say your should not be spending more than 20% of your yearly pre-tax income on a car. Based on that, you will need to earn about $350,000 per year as a family to purchase a $70,000 car. So there you have it. To afford a Porsche.
Once you've ordered the vehicle, it will be much more difficult to get the Porsche dealership to be flexible on price. However, if the vehicle has low inventory and extremely high-demand, the dealership may not be willing to negotiate much on price as they only have a set number of units they can order.
In general, you should expect to service your Porsche every 10,000 miles or once per year. Experience has shown that a minor service including oil, filters, and inspection will cost between $200 and $400, while a major service including transmission services will cost between $400 and $600.
That's what comes with owning a Porsche. It's not only a high-quality high-performance car which you can daily drive; it's also one you can and should spend time getting greasy with. It's a first sports car or a last one, a thing which deserves your passion and attention. They're great cars—you should probably own one.
A mid-engine, convertible with a Porsche badge that wasn't as expensive as a Carrera sounded like a great deal, and still does. For this reason, the Boxster was nicknamed the 'poor man's Porsche' because only those who couldn't afford a Carrera bought one.
Porsche made 34,000 911s in 2013; and 77,000 Cayennes. … Part of the reasons why 911s hold their value (and appreciate in some cases) is because of low production numbers, which used to be MUCH lower than 34,000 cars, in 1980 Porsche made about ~12,000 911s for the entire planet.
The Ford F-150 pickup truck, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Wrangler, the Honda Civic, the Honda Pilot and several Land Rover models are among the most highly-favored mainstream vehicles owned by the super-rich.
How Can You Stop Cancer From Spreading?
How do you starve cancer? There are three ways to starve cancer;
What To Drink To Stop Sneezing?
Why is sneezing good for you? Sneezing helps keep your
Quick Answer: Does Drinking Lemon Water Burn Belly Fat?
Can you lose stomach fat by drinking water?
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Is Coke bad for weight loss? When it comes to weight
Question: What Triggers Folliculitis?
How do you get rid of folliculitis? Lifestyle and home
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Will I have loose skin after losing 50 pounds?
Question: Can A CPAP Machine Make You Sick?
Can a CPAP machine make you nauseous? CPAP and Gastroesophagus
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What is the least popular personality type?
Quick Answer: Can You Make A Muscle Strain Worse?
How do you know if you've pulled a muscle?
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Can a tumor be cured? Grade I brain tumors may be cured
Quick Answer: Why Does My Pee Smell Stronger Than Usual?
Why does my pee smell rotten? It's usually caused
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What kind of infection causes headaches? A viral infection
What Should My Oxygen Level Be With Asthma?
Does asthma lower oxygen levels? Acute exacerbations
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Is Your Hip Arthritis or Hip Replacement Impacting Your Summer Activities?
One of the first questions I would always ask clients as part of their initial consultation prior to starting exercise, was, "What hobbies, sports, or daily activities do you engage in that are an important part of your life you hope or need to maintian?" You learn a lot about someone just by finding out what their daily routine looks like and what is important to them. This brought up so many answers and sometimes it gave me necessary information like the grandparents who were the main caretakers for their grand children and needed to be able to pick them up daily.
Are there things you want to do, but are afraid you can't do them?
Yes, there will be some decisions you will have to make around giving up or limiting specific activities that are too high risk or cause you pain; however, there is a mindset that sometimes unconsciously assumes or avoids certain activities out of fear, airing on the cautious side, and exercise guidelines that may have outrun their time limit.
Functional exercises are a great way to test out movements you will require for your sport, hobby, or daily demands in a controlled, deliberate environment. Implementing functional exercises into your training routine will build your confidence in learning what you are able to do, how to do it properly or modified for your unique concerns, and how your body will respond to the newly introduced movement pattern.
A 90 year old hip replacement client who also had double knee replacement loved gardening and lived alone with her dog. She fell once when she was gardening on her own and it took her a while to get up.
Stepping on and off a boat is unstable for most people let alone anyone with hip arthritis or a hip replacement. Depending on the boat, it can require a big step in which requires hip flexibility, hip flexion strength, and stability and strength on the first leg leading into the boat.
Know that you can prepare your body for new movements and you can test out your ability ahead of time which will build confidence.
If you have been avoiding or putting off an activity, try some exercises, get some help in programming functional exercises either with the Hip Replacement Exercise program for pre and post operation or with a personal trainer who specializes in arthritis and joint replacement.
If you would like your very own personalized functional exercise program go here.
Happy Summer Exercising & Doing the Things You Love!


I have an exciting new regular gig at The Duchess in Claremont – every Wednesday night with Chris Foster and Nick Abbey.
Its a perfect venue for jazz – so liven up the middle of your working week with a relaxing evening of fine wine, superb food and scintillating music. Come down and support a great venue that knows the value of live music!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 5:08 pm and is filed under Gigs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


Have other people said or done things that make it hard for you to see yourself as God sees you? You can't do anything right.
You will never amount to anything. Or maybe you won't forgive yourself for past failures or sins.
and then walk tall. Meditate on scriptures like these that tell you how important you are to God. How much he loves you. How complete forgiveness in Jesus really is. And what great plans he has for you.


Peel and thinly slice onions. Heat 3 tbsp/45 mL butter in a heavy 3-quart/liter saucepan over low heat; add onions and cook slowly. Stir until golden in color, about 10 minutes. Gradually add in water, soup bases, and seasonings. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, toast one side of the bread, under oven broiler, until golden brown. Butter untoasted side and sprinkle slices with 1/4 cup/60 mL cheese; broil until cheese is melted. To serve; spoon hot soup into oven-proof bowls or mugs; float French bread slices on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese, broil until cheese is bubbly and brown.


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<resources>
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    </style>
</resources>


HomeENTERTAINMENTAwards Season: who will take home Golden Globes and Oscars?
December 5 Olivia Silk ENTERTAINMENT, Movies Comments Off on Awards Season: who will take home Golden Globes and Oscars?
It's showtime … almost! As we head into the new year, Hollywood's brightest stars are preparing to celebrate the best films of 2018.
The Golden Globes are set to launch the movie awards season, with nominations being announced on Friday (December 7) Australian time. These will give movie fans an idea of which films and stars are favourites to take home golden Oscar statuettes.
We've already seen some award favourites hit Australian cinemas. The fourth remake of A Star is Born, starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, is a frontrunner for the three main awards: Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. The historical period film The Favourite, starring Emma Stone and Olivia Coleman, will be released on Boxing Day but has already received high praise.
The Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, with Ryan Gosling and directed by Oscar winner Damien Chazelle, is also tipped to be nominated for Best Picture. A surprise pick could be Steve McQueen's heist film Widows. The thriller film features a stellar cast in what has garnered rave reviews. Other films to keep a close eye on include Roma, Green Book and If Beale Street Could Talk.
While the Oscar nominations won't be announced until late January, news.com.au entertainment writer Andrew Bucklow says history could be made with the nominations.
Movie critic and chief writer on movie website Reel Dialogue, Russell Matthews, has listed his top picks for the Best Actor and Best Actress awards. "These are not necessarily my favourites of the year, but my predictions are based on the Academy's and Golden Globes' history," he says.
"For Best Actor, the top five could be Christian Bale (Vice), Robert Redford (The Old Man & the Gun), Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born), William Dafoe (At Eternity's Gate) and Ryan Gosling (First Man).
The Academy announced today (December 5) that its Oscars host will be comedian and actor Kevin Hart.
In August this year, the Academy announced it would introduce an award for Outstanding Popular Film. The news sparked lively debate about which films might be categorised as best film or most popular. The idea was scrapped a month later.
"The 'popular film' category came and went quickly," notes Matthews. "The Academy tends to choose films that seem to be commentating on society at the time, which does translate to the popular films at times, but not always. The Golden Globes tend to put more stock in the popularity of a film than the Academy.
The biggest box office hit of 2018 was Black Panther. The popular Marvel comic film has been seriously considered as a Best Picture contender.
Buzzfeed Australia's lifestyle editor, Jemima Skelley, says there has definitely been a rise in popular films being nominated for cinema's highest honour. This was seen last year with the coming-of-age movie Lady Bird.
The Golden Globes will air on Monday, January 7. The Oscars will follow a month later on Monday, February 25.
A journalism student with passionate interests around news, sport and entertainment.


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#ifndef _GLSSHADEREXECUTIL_HPP
#define _GLSSHADEREXECUTIL_HPP
/*!
 * \file
 * \brief Shader execution utilities.
 *//*--------------------------------------------------------------------*/

#include "tcuDefs.hpp"
#include "gluVarType.hpp"
#include "gluShaderUtil.hpp"

namespace tcu
{
class TestLog;
}

namespace glu
{
class RenderContext;
}

namespace deqp
{
namespace gls
{
namespace ShaderExecUtil
{

//! Shader input / output variable declaration.
struct Symbol
{
	std::string			name;		//!< Symbol name.
	glu::VarType		varType;	//!< Symbol type.

	Symbol (void) {}
	Symbol (const std::string& name_, const glu::VarType& varType_) : name(name_), varType(varType_) {}
};

//! Complete shader specification.
struct ShaderSpec
{
	glu::GLSLVersion		version;				//!< Shader version.
	std::vector<Symbol>		inputs;
	std::vector<Symbol>		outputs;
	std::string				globalDeclarations;		//!< These are placed into global scope. Can contain uniform declarations for example.
	std::string				source;					//!< Source snippet to be executed.

	ShaderSpec (void) : version(glu::GLSL_VERSION_300_ES) {}
};

//! Base class for shader executor.
class ShaderExecutor
{
public:
	virtual						~ShaderExecutor			(void);

	//! Check if executor can be used.
	virtual bool				isOk					(void) const = 0;

	//! Log executor details (program etc.).
	virtual void				log						(tcu::TestLog& log) const = 0;

	//! Get program.
	virtual deUint32			getProgram				(void) const = 0;

	//! Set this shader program current in context. Must be called before execute().
	virtual void				useProgram				(void);

	//! Execute active program. useProgram() must be called before this.
	virtual void				execute					(int numValues, const void* const* inputs, void* const* outputs) = 0;

protected:
								ShaderExecutor			(const glu::RenderContext& renderCtx, const ShaderSpec& shaderSpec);

	const glu::RenderContext&	m_renderCtx;

	std::vector<Symbol>			m_inputs;
	std::vector<Symbol>			m_outputs;
};

inline tcu::TestLog& operator<< (tcu::TestLog& log, const ShaderExecutor* executor) { executor->log(log);	return log; }
inline tcu::TestLog& operator<< (tcu::TestLog& log, const ShaderExecutor& executor) { executor.log(log);	return log; }

bool            executorSupported(glu::ShaderType shaderType);
ShaderExecutor* createExecutor (const glu::RenderContext& renderCtx, glu::ShaderType shaderType, const ShaderSpec& shaderSpec);

} // ShaderExecUtil
} // gls
} // deqp

#endif // _GLSSHADEREXECUTIL_HPP


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Africa /
Mozambique /
Five reasons to visit Mozambique
Boasting a startlingly beautiful Indian Ocean coastline studded with tranquil islands and historic towns, Mozambique is one of Africa's most beguiling destinations. Go on a game walk in Niassa Reserve, watch traditional silversmiths on Ibo or snorkel among colourful reef fish at Bazaruto. Explore the vibrant markets of Maputo, a coastal capital buzzing with Afro-Mediterranean flair – or just chill out on a swathe of pristine, deserted beach.
Beaches, beaches, and more beaches
Beautiful Pangane Beach is one of Mozambique's most popular stretches of sand © Alberto Loyo, Shutterstock
White sand, sparkling turquoise waters, and palms fronds swaying in a tropical sea breeze. Beaches, in a nutshell, are what tourism to Mozambique is all about. Fringed by some 2,500km of lush Indian Ocean coastline, not to mention dozens of beautiful offshore islands, Mozambique has little competition when it comes to the accolade of Africa's ultimate beach destination. Opportunities along the coastline involve diving and fishing, whale watching and birdwatching. Much of the coastline is undeveloped meaning that travellers will find truly deserted beaches, many of which stretch for kilometres on end, even at the more built-up resorts.
Fascinating historic towns
An old house made of coral rock on Ibo Island © Katiekk, Shutterstock
Sleepy, historic Inhambane would be a highlight on any African itinerary and should not be missed by travellers to Mozambique. Noted for its fine beaches, seemingly endless stands of tall coconut palms and superb marine activities, the coast around Inhambane is one of the country's most important tourist hubs yet facilities are sufficiently spread out that it seldom feels crowded.
Ilha de Moçambique is the oldest European settlement on the east coast of Africa and also perhaps the most intriguing and biazarre. Measuring about 3km from north to south and at no point more than 600m wide, crescent-shaped Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island) houses several of the southern hemisphere's oldest extant buildings.
The small town of Ibo on Ibo Island ranks among Mozambique's most ancient settlements. The visitors who do make it to this compelling town find that wandering around the timeworn alleys and interacting with its fewer than 4,000 inhabitants invariably forms a highlight of their time in Mozambique.
Untrammelled national parks
Sunset over Gorongosa National Park © nicolasdecorte, Shutterstock
A recent development in Mozambique is the upgrading and opening up of several national parks. Foremost among these is the refurbished Gorongosa National Park which extends 5,250km2 and was Mozambique's flagship conservation area in the last years of the Portuguese colonial era, when it was widely regarded as one of the finest safari destinations anywhere in Africa. Gorongosa has been through some lean times since then but is now well on the road to recovery and there is optimism that it might reclaim its place as one of the regions finest wildlife destinations, particularly following the welcome intervention of the Carr Foundation in 2004.
Furthermore, the inconceivably vast Niassa Nature Reserve is Africa's third largest wildlife sanctuary and offers as untrammelled an African bush experience as still exists in the 21st century. Guided game walks offer the opportunity to experience the African bush as its inhabitants do, on foot, without the constant roar of an engine providing an unwanted aural backdrop; while canoeing on the river – past spluttering hippos, drinking elephants and a splendid array of birds – is utterly entrancing.
An energetic capital
A statue of Michel Samora stands outside the City Hall in Maputo © Fedor Selivanov, Shutterstock
Maputo is the largest urban centre in Mozambique and has served as the national capital since 1898. The streets and markets are busy and energetic, and drivers tend to be courteous and somewhat less manic than in many other parts of Africa. Arrive in Maputo without prejudice and it is, quite simply, a most likeable city – as safe as any in Africa, and with a good deal more character than most. The avenidas, lined with jacaranda, flame and palm trees and numerous street cafés, have a relaxed, hassle-free, Afro-Mediterranean atmosphere that is distinctively Mozambican. They are flanked by attractive old colonial buildings in various states of renovation and disrepair which gives the impression that this is a city with not only a memorable past but also a bright future.
Lago Niassa
Dugout canoes on Lake Niassa's scenic beach © Ariadne Van Zandbergen
Better known to outsiders as Lake Malawi, Lago Niassa is the third-largest lake in Africa (and ninth largest in the world), running for 585km from north to south, and up to 75km wide from east to west. It is a remarkable body of water, lying at the southern end of the Rift Valley system, the immense geological scar that cuts through Africa all the way from the Red Sea to the Zambezi Valley. Up to 700m deep, it is hemmed in by the dramatic mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment, which tower more than a kilometre above its surface in places. Known for its thrillingly clear water and relatively low pollution levels, it probably harbours a greater variety of fish than any other lake in the world, including hundreds of endemic cichlid species.
If you would like to find out more about these activities and others in Mozambique, pick up our guide with a 10% discount:
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text:
Protect Yo HeART: Uncutt Art Explains His Emotion Driven Street Art
Digital Entertainment, From the Issue, Hip Hop Culture | Hip Hop Arts and Lifestyle
Amidst Divorce, Paula Patton May Testify On Behalf Of Robin Thicke In Legal Dispute With Marvin Gaye's Estate
Rocko Rathon
Paula Patton may take the stand for estranged husband.
In 2013, singer Robin Thicke had arguably one of the biggest years of his career with his chart topping hit "Blurred Lines". The song took Thicke into another stratosphere of celebrity. The happiness proved to be short lived as his fortunes did a complete 180 in the following year. As the clock struck midnight heading to 2014, the singer was embroiled in a very public separation with his wife, actress Paula Patton, and was under fire from the family of soul legend Marvin Gaye, regarding improper crediting of samples.
Marvin Gaye's estate alleges that Thicke lifted several melodies from the soul icon for his hit "Blurred Lines" and several other records. The legal battle has continued to drag on and appears to be headed toward trial. If so, Patton will be expected to testify in regards to the 2011 tune 'Love After War', which Marvin Gaye III feels is lifted from his father's record "After The Dance".
Patton has co-writing credits on the song and appears in the video. Since going through a very public and messy separation, testifying on behalf of her estranged husband seems to be fit for a daytime soap opera and something that will make the media salivate.
Compare the tunes below.
The plot Thickens…see what I did there? – @Rocko_CNK
law suitmarvin gayepaula patton
Page Editor
Twitter / IG: @RoundFaceRocko|| RockoRathon.com ||Just be cool
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