Contemporary furniture is the ideal fit for present homes, as it gives comfort and in addition usefulness. Every single room of the house requires distinctive sorts and sizes of furniture. Family room requests the most extreme consideration as it goes about as an exhibit for the whole building. Contemporary furniture for the lounge room is typically favored by individuals who like current styles of living. Contemporary furniture can fit any house as it arrives in a wide assortment of decisions that will suit any style and taste. It adds a cutting edge style to your parlor.
The contemporary room furniture contains trendy dressers with mirrors, room seats and end tables. What separates present day furniture from the regular furniture is that the last requires a ton of room and furthermore was very mind boggling in structure, while contemporary furniture makes the most extreme potential utilization of room.
You can choose from a scope of hues and styles accessible at any rumored online store. Current furniture does not possess much space and consequently it tends to be set at any piece of the house. A bedroom set fitted with a seat on the best which fills in as a storage room and also a seat, armoires to deal with your frill and dress which can likewise be utilized as a storage room for your TV are a few bits of instances of current furniture that indicates how best a little space can be utilized.
Contemporary furniture comes in scores of hues – midnight, rich white and lighter shades of dark colored. Additionally, there are an assortment of jazzy beds that you can look over. Sleigh beds, stage beds, metal beds and extra large beds are a few kinds that suit any sort of room. Stage beds are uncommonly intended for the individuals who don't care for any ornaments and likes.
These beds are anything but difficult to collect and preferred by numerous individuals because of their downplayed modishness. The sleigh beds suggest class and advancement. Room is where you can dress calm; in this manner, having a dresser and a mirror is an absolute necessity for your room. Feature the feeling of free space in your room by setting a contemporary divider mounted mirror.
You can likewise purchase exquisite fashioned iron casing mirrors with a perfect patina wrap up. Contemporary furniture stores offer an assortment of current furniture that communicates amazing craftsmanship and extraordinary plans. This furnishings fit in your financial plan and home without breaking a sweat and élan.
You can likewise purchase present day TV stands, racks to store DVDs or CDs and speaker work spaces arrive in a wide scope of models and hues that fuse cutting edge lighting styles and lighting to fit the stylistic theme of your lounge room. They arrive in a scope of completions with iced or clear glass entryways. A large portion of the cutting edge furniture utilizes inventive wire the board frameworks that cover the intricate wires of any home excitement framework. Contemporary furniture is the best bit of ancient rarity that will add complexity and polish to any room of your home.


We take great care in providing the most accurate seating charts/seat maps since it can be very difficult to find the right seats without a proper seating chart. We also try to supply actual seat views from different parts of the venue to give you a sense of the view you'll have from your seat. You can go to our Rice Eccles Stadium seat views page to see them. Rice Eccles Stadium can hold up to 45,017 people but that's a lot of seats and therefore a lot of potential seat views. We wish we had all 45,017 individual seat views for Rice Eccles Stadium but we don't, therefore the seat views we show are usually a sample from different sections in a venue.
We also try to provide you as many seating charts/seat maps as we can, because each one can be a little different. You can browse the various Rice Eccles Stadium seating charts/seat maps by scrolling up top and choosing one from the list.


It's all too easy to feel crestfallen when you're arduously trying to improve a certain skill (say, learning a new programming language), yet seem to be fighting (and losing) an uphill battle. In cases like these, it may be high time to try your hand at some deliberate practice to get you over that infuriating plateau.
Trying to improve at anything is tough. Especially if you're trying to become "world class", or at least better than average at it. Sometimes you'll hear people talking about practicing something for 10,000 hours (The 10,000 Hour Rule?), and thereby becoming a "master" at that specific skill. In truth, the idea of dedicating 10,000 hours to anything sounds so daunting that the simple idea itself is scary. Alas.
But hold on…there is another way! All it takes is one hour of deliberate practice each day. Allow me to explain.
There's Nothing Inherently Special About 'Experts'.
To paraphrase; the prevailing opinion was that people who had expert-level skills had to necessarily be endowed with some sort of innate, in-built natural talent which was responsible for their greatness. These talents couldn't simply be picked up by the lay-people who weren't gifted with those natural abilities. Therefore, scientists have largely (and mistakenly) avoided directly studying these expert-level performers.
From here, Ericcson and his team took control, and began studying in earnest how, exactly, experts and masters developed these expert, masterful skills. They came to the insightful conclusion that how you practice matters far more than how much time you spend practicing.
Around the same time as the above research was being conducted, John Hayes, a cognitive psychologist from Carnegie Mellon University, concluded (in short) that the best way to practice (i.e. how true experts were practicing), was to set about improving each skill by focusing largely on improving the sub-skills that the overall skill is composed of.
One sub-skill at a time. It's this method of practice that we label "deliberate practice".
A highly structured activity engaged with the specific goal of improving performance in a certain area.
It's important to note that this kind of deliberate practice differs largely from both play, and simple repetition of an activity (in the false hope that this will help you to become great at something). It requires sustained effort with no monetary reward, and often little enjoyment except for the knowledge that you're getting better at a very specific skill (or sub-skill).
Take for example becoming an expert programmer.
As a skill in itself, this is extremely broad, and is comprised of myriad sub-skills. By choosing a specific aim (i.e. becoming an expert WordPress programmer), you can clearly see the sub-skills that are important to master in order to help you achieve this aim — PHP, CSS, etc. Each of these individual sub-skills, of course, can be broken down into further sub-sub-skills. By deliberately focusing on mastering each of these sub-sub-skills individually, you can become an expert WordPress programmer.
To speed up the learning curve.
By knowing how to practice effectively, it'll naturally take you much less time to reach your peak, where you can be considered an "expert" in whichever area you like. This is often less time consuming than that dastardly 10,000 hour rule mentioned above proposes (though not always).
Tim Ferriss in his book the 4 Hour Chef teaches readers (via many of the tenets of deliberate practice) how to become expert at pretty much any skill in a fraction of the time that it would usually take.
Harry Cloudfood, for instance, put this to the test by aiming to become a skilled rock climber in just a few short months, and explains the sub-skills that he chose to deliberately and exclusively focus on his blog.
But remember: This isn't all about shaving hours off your practice time.
Kobe Bryant would spend hours upon hours deliberately practicing 800 jump shots (rather than practicing the 'whole game') before most of us would even get up in the morning. He recognised that mastering the subs-kill of jump shots would propel him into master-status far more efficiently than any other skill. He focused his energies on this specific move — the move that he understood to have the most upside. The amount of time it took simply didn't matter.
Cal Newport (assistant professor in the department of computer science at Georgetown University) uses deliberate practice to help him become the most efficient scholar he can be. He recognises sub-skills where he's falling short, and concentrates specifically on improving those very specific skill sets to help him make more breakthroughs than would otherwise be possible.
Deliberate practice, therefore, helps us to practice (and learn) smarter, speeding up the learning curve, and helping us to navigate those often too-disheartening plateaus much more effectively by purposefully pushing ourselves further outside our comfort zones to expand those boundaries more quickly.
If you think deliberate practice could help you improve your skills in a certain area, here are a few pointers to help get you started on the right path.
Know exactly what it is that you want to accomplish. This has to be a specific, measurable goal. As mentioned above "learning to program" is way too broad. So is "learning Spanish". Make it as specific as possible. "Being able to create my own WordPress Theme by March of next year" or "being able to order food from a menu and have basic small talk with a stranger in Spanish within 8 weeks" is much better. To help you stick to your deadlines, use a web app such as GoalsOnTrack.
When you know exactly what it is you want to achieve, think about the most important sub-skills inherent in that overarching skill that you should master first (you should read up on the 80/20 principle before doing this), and in what order? Then set about mastering them!
Research and find the top resources (rather than reading everything you can get your hands on) and get deliberately practicing.
If you're learning to program WordPress themes, save each theme you try out so you can visually see the progress you're making. If you're a musician, record yourself playing each week. If you're an author, keep what you've written in a folder on your desktop. Go over your work frequently, compare what you've done in the past to what you're doing now.
You should also create a list of all the sub-skills that you need to master to accomplish your goal, along with a self-imposed deadline. Use a list tr track how close you are to mastering each of these sub-skills. Seeing your progress will help to keep your motivation strong. If you're looking for a less analog solution, use an app such as SmartGoals (Android) to help you set and attain realistic goals.
With a feedback loop, you can more easily see what you're doing wrong. Fix it as needed, before you develop any negative habits. It's best to be under the eye of an expert while doing this, but sometimes you just have to make do with what you have around you.
For example, if you're learning to improve your public speaking skills, record videos of yourself speaking to a fictional room of people, and watch it back over and over. Compare it to how a public speaker you admire delivers his/her message. Try TED Talks.
What did you do well? What can you improve on? Record Repeat the process. If possible, send the video (or whatever you're working on as part of your practice) to someone you consider a professional, and ask them for honest, critical feedback. Technology exists to solve problems. If your video is a hefty file, use something like WeTransfer to send the file.
Deliberate practice can sometimes be very tedious and can be a drag mentally (if it's not, you're not pushing yourself hard enough). It's all too easy to get distracted. Push yourself to eliminate these distractions as much as possible. Turn off that phone. Disconnect from the Internet. Block your access to specific time-wasting sites. Ask your family not to interrupt you for the next couple of hours.
Have you ever heard of Jerry Seinfeld's Don't Break The Chain strategy for dealing with procrastination? In short, you take a calendar that shows the whole year and place it on a wall where you'll see it every day. For each day that you spend working on a skill (or a task of some sort), cross off that day. After a few days, you'll have a chain. Your aim is to not break that chain!
I've found this to be a fantastic way to hold myself accountable. If you're looking for a more digital solution, download the Lift app, which encompasses the same idea, plus also throws in some public accountability/motivation too.
After you've finished your period of practice, it's time for some self-care. Avoid straining yourself mentally for a few hours. Reward yourself. Play a computer game, watch a film, go for a walk. Do something that doesn't require too much mental focus.
In sum, if you're looking to improve your skill level in a particular subject, area or field, deliberate practice might just be the way to go. It's certainly not easy (what is?) but there's no denying that it produces results. Results that're usually better than blind repetition.
Committing yourself to practice and giving it your all, pushing your boundaries, and extending your comfort zone, is what will dramatically help you to get where you want to be.
What do you think? If you could become an expert in any skill, what would it be? Do you think that deliberate practice would be the best way to go about improving that skill?
Russian Propaganda Alert! Muslim Orthodox And Christian Orthodox Discuss The Truth About End Times!


text:
package com.partmanager.biz.ziliao.dto;

public class SpdwDTO {

	private Integer dwid;
	private String dwname;

	public SpdwDTO() {
		super();
	}

	public SpdwDTO(Integer dwid, String dwname) {
		super();
		this.dwid = dwid;
		this.dwname = dwname;
	}

	public Integer getDwid() {
		return dwid;
	}

	public void setDwid(Integer dwid) {
		this.dwid = dwid;
	}

	public String getDwname() {
		return dwname;
	}

	public void setDwname(String dwname) {
		this.dwname = dwname;
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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Bernard Khoury studied architecture at the Rhode Island school of Design (BFA 1990 / B.Arch 1991). He received a Masters in Architectural Studies from Harvard University (M.Arch 1993). In 2001, he was awarded by the municipality of Rome the honorable mention of the Borromini Prize given to architects under forty years of age. In 2004, he was awarded the Architecture + Award. He is the co-founder of the Arab Center for Architecture. He was a visiting professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, L'Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris and the American University of Beirut. He has lectured and exhibited his work in over one-hundredtwenty prestigious academic institutions in Europe and the U.S. including a solo show of his work given by the International Forum for Contemporary Architecture at the Aedes gallery in Berlin (2003) and numerous group shows including YOUprison at the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo in Turin (2008) and Spazio at the opening show of the MAXXI museum in Rome (2010). He was the co-curator and architect of the Kingdom of Bahrain's national pavilion at the Venice Biennale's 14th International Architecture Exhibition in 2014. His work has been extensively published by the professional press. Khoury started an independent practice in 1993. Over the past twenty years, his office has developed an international reputation and a significant diverse portfolio of projects both locally and in over fifteen countries abroad
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
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Confidant takes stand against suspected Russian arms dealer
By Mick B. Krever
It's no surprise that a movie, "Lord of War," has already been made based on the story of Viktor Bout, the alleged Russian arms trafficker currently on trial in Manhattan federal court.
On Monday and Tuesday, a confidential informant known as "Carlos" - who in the past was paid $7 million dollars by the State Department for a single job - took the stand. He had posed as a Colombian rebel trying to buy rocket launchers and AK-47s from Bout.
Wednesday, a decades-long Bout confidant testified against his (presumably) former friend, in an attempt to reduce the charges leveled against him.
Post by: CNN's Mick B. Krever
Filed under: Arms Control • Russia
Pakistan, 3 other nations chosen for 2-year UN Security Council terms
Four countries, including Pakistan, were elected Friday to join the UN Security Council in January as nonpermanent members for two-year terms. Also elected, via secret ballot, were Guatemala, Morocco and Togo.
Azerbaijan and Slovenia remained locked Friday night in a race for the fifth seat after several rounds of close voting.
This will be the seventh time Pakistan has served on the council and the fourth time it will serve alongside longtime rival India. The council could be a crucial testing ground over the next two years for Pakistan's strained relationship with the United States.
"We hope to play our usual role of taking on matters which affect the underdog, so as to speak," Pakistani Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon said.
With regard to India, Haroon said that both countries "have been beneficial in starting dialogue" and avoiding "usual tendencies."
Manjeev Singh Puri, India's deputy ambassador to the UN, embraced Haroon after the vote and said that he warmly welcomed the election of Pakistan.
"Pakistan and India share common perception on so many global issues, and we look forward to working with them," Singh Puri said.
Filed under: Pakistan • United Nations


text:
Loeffler wants Froch for Golovkin after Brook
August 17th, 2016 - Comments Closed
By Scott Gilfoid: If former super middleweight champion Carl Froch is tired of yapping on the sidelines about boxing, he's got a big money match against unbeaten IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs) waiting for him. Golovkin's promoter Tom Loeffler says he's open to making a fight between Golovkin and the 39-year-old Froch after the Kell Brook (36-0, 25 KOs) fight next month on September 10.
Loeffler says that he'd be willing to match Golovkin against either Froch or Chris Eubank Jr. if everything goes right with the Brook fight next month at the O2 Arena in London, England.
"We'd be open to the Carl Froch fight too," said Loeffler to IFL TV. "When you see Carl, tell him if everything goes the right way with Brook, we'd be open for that fight," said Loeffler.
Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) has been mouthing off lately about Golovkin. Froch reportedly thinks Golovkin should move up in weight to fight guys his own size. Well, I think Golovkin, 5'10 ½", would be willing to move up to 168 to fight the 6'1" Froch if he could come out of retirement to take the fight with GGG.
Froch hasn't fought since stopping George Groves in the 8th round in their needless rematch in May 2014. That was Froch's second consecutive fight against Groves at the time. Just why he'd want to fight an inexperienced guy like Groves for a second time is anyone's guess. I know what it seems like to me. It seems like a nice record-padding fight opportunity for Froch.
When Golovkin was asked on Tuesday if he'd be interested in fighting Froch, he scrunched up his face as if he had just eaten something bitter, and said, "No, he's finished. He's a clown."
Golovkin didn't see Froch as being someone that would seriously come back to fight him, so he didn't consider it even worthy of being a discussion point. You could perfectly well understand where Golovkin is coming from, because Froch wasn't interested in fighting him when he was still active in the sport. If Froch wasn't willing to fight Golovkin for millions in 2014, then I sure as heck don't see him taking that fight two years later.
I don't know why Froch wouldn't take the fight. If it were me and I had the chance to make that kind of cash in the ring, they would pull me out of it kicking and screaming. I wouldn't ever leave the ring. Froch could probably make anywhere from $4 million to $6 million for a fight against Golovkin. It might even be more. Who knows? I think Froch would bring in more fans than Kell Brook, because he was a bigger star during his career.
The only thing is I don't think Froch fancies the idea of getting into the ring with Golovkin. The chances of everything coming apart at the seams for Froch would be too high. It would be like asking Froch to touch the third rail in the subway for the heck of it. I don't think Froch wants any part of sharing the ring with Golovkin, ever. It's not that Froch wouldn't have his moments in the fight. It's just that it would likely end badly for him with Golovkin knocking him clean out. I think Froch is one of those guys who is more concerned with his legacy than in making some good clean cash fighting a destroyer like Golovkin.
The thing is by not testing himself by fighting the best, Froch's legacy is kind of not that impressive in my view. I mean, Froch's last two fights were against Groves, who isn't seen as a huge talent in the 168lb division. Badou Jack beat Groves, and James DeGale was arguably robbed in his fight against him in 2011. Froch's best wins of his career were against Groves, Lucian Bute, Arthur Abraham, a shot Mikkel Kessler, an old Glen Johnson, Jermain Taylor after he's been beaten twice by Kelly Pavlik, and Andre Dirrell. I thought Dirrell should have easily won his fight against Froch in 2009.
I thought Froch should have been disqualified for the fouling he did in that fight, because he was really working the talented Dirrell over with the rough stuff. With Golovkin's name on Froch's resume, I see it as being an incomplete one, filled with a bunch of middle of the road fighters. When Kessler was in his prime, he beat Froch. Dirrell should have beat Froch, and Jermain Taylor was on the verge of beating Froch when he was knocked out in the 12th.
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Boxing » Carl Froch » Loeffler wants Froch for Golovkin after Brook
More boxing news on: Golovkin vs. Brook ,Carl Froch, Gennady Golovkin, Kell Brook


text:
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"net/http"
	"html/template"

	"database/sql"
	_ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"
)

type Page struct {
	Name string
	DBStatus bool
}

func main() {
	templates := template.Must(template.ParseFiles("templates/index.html"))

	db, _ := sql.Open("sqlite3", "dev.db")

	// test code to see everything okay
	// TODO find out about unit testing
	fmt.Println("Hello, Go Web Development!")

	http.HandleFunc("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r  *http.Request) {
		// returns "Hello, Gopher" or greets you if a ?name="???"
		// is passed in with the web request.
		p := Page{Name: "Gopher"}
		if name := r.FormValue("name"); name != "" {
			p.Name = name
		}
		p.DBStatus = db.Ping() == nil

		if err:= templates.ExecuteTemplate(w, "index.html", p);
		err != nil {
			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
		}
	})

	// localhost:8080 not needed as localhost implied if missing
	fmt.Println(http.ListenAndServe(":8080", nil))
}


text:
yeah, it'll be at least 2 weeks.
if he comes back before Brandon Webb comes back, I'm ok with it.
The Dodgers are circling the drain.... (LA Times)
Good place for them.......McCourt's wife is a Padre fan
edit: or just the NLWest but Padre sounds better
From Mensrea's link:
"For Pittsburgh and Kansas City and all those teams that have outspent us, what do their fans have to be happy about?" White said. "They're still going to have 18 or 19 losing seasons in a row. We're not."
Keep it up A hole, just keep it up.
Yeah, their fans (and players) seem really happy right now.
Everett Williams (the guy I predict will be the first to be a regular from last years draft class) went 2-3 yesterday with 2 double, an rbi, and a caught stealing, today he is 2-3 so far with a double,hr, and 4 rbi's. This is his third multihit game in his last 4 games and he has 3 doubles, a hr, and 8 rbi's during that stretch. The game is still in the 5th.... The one thing looking at his stats that aren't so appealing is his strike out rate but he still has time to improve on that.
Italiano has continued his stellar work from LE last year to SA this year so far the only worry is his SO rate has made a big plunge but it is early and limited. Yet to give up a run in 12 innings and a .6667 whip.
Liz pitched 2 perfect innings a couple days ago and was taken out. Anyone know why?
SloppyChris
Football in the groin
Everett Williams (the guy I predict will be the first to be a regular from last years draft class)
Jerry Sullivan
Jorge Reyes please.
Gallagher to DL, Webb up
Liz with WHIP of 2 today in 5 innings and only gives up 1 run (earned)
Weems is now 0-22 in SA hows Luis Martinez defense? Dude can really hit for a catcher
Reyes gave up 8 ERs in 2 1/3 today.
"Martinez is also a plus defender who threw out 35 percent of basestealers last year in Lake Elsinore. If he can hit .250/.350/.350 with plus defense, he'll be a major league backup catcher who could even be an adequate starter."
I predict Martinez to be the next Venable (he is already 25) he will get called up when he is 26-27 and he will prove to be a regular dude raked at L.E last year at 300 and is hitting 333 at SA so far. Not a HR threat but seems to be capable of hitting doubles and a respectable SO rate at LE last year at 20% is pretty much the exact same so far this year at SA.
You have no one to blame but yourself you jinxed him :P


text:
Video games shape how Americans understand historical events
LAWRENCE — Participants in esports have recently become regarded as actual athletes. Now other video game players are apparently aspiring historians.
That's one of the contentions of an article titled "Deep Play? Video Games and the Historical Imaginary."
"Historians should take historical video games more seriously as a way of understanding how the public constructs its knowledge of the past," said author Andrew Denning, associate professor of history at the University of Kansas.
His article examines the role video games have in shaping players' interest in history — World War II, for instance — which cultivates hyperspecific, esoteric knowledge in areas they might not normally be interested in. It appears in the current issue of American Historical Review.
"Video games become these flash points for discussions about politics," he said. "They are part of a much broader public engagement with history in which the appeal is less in understanding the past as it really occurred and more in knowing enough about the past to make the precise political points you want to make that day."
He cites recent games such as "Call of Duty: WWII," "Wolfenstein: The New Order," "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" and "Red Dead Redemption II" that are designed for entertainment but also help inform people's perceptions of the eras in which they are set.
The time period receiving the majority of this attention is the 1940s. Simply put: People remain fascinated by Nazi Germany, whether it's through historical research or manipulating a joystick.
"There are a lot of reasons for this that are uniquely American and some that are more general to the Western world," he said. "In a general sense, the horror of the Nazi experiments draws people in. It's a way of staring into the void and plumbing the historical depths of human depravity."
For Americans in particular, the darkness of the Third Reich serves as a cautionary tale for global superpowers.
"World War II is the last time the United States was the unqualified good guy. Global conflicts that occurred after that — Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East — don't result in the obvious destruction of an evil enemy and often involve more domestic and internal division than international success," he said.
Yet Denning notes that during his research he found some of the games crossed into territory where the blur of history and entertainment proved disconcerting.
"Killing faceless Nazis is okay in a video game. But once a player is more realistically placed in the role of a victim — with the implications of ethnic cleansing and genocide — it becomes rather uncomfortable," he said.
He also notes how in the Wolfenstein series, for example, all Germans are depicted as bloodthirsty Nazis. In a virtual world, there is no gray area.
"It's always difficult to give a fully rendered version of the past or a 360-degree view of things," he said.
"Historical scholarship on Nazi Germany has really moved toward comprehending a kind of spectrum of involvement. It wasn't that you were either a member of the Nazi party or a member of the resistance. There's a whole range of ways of engaging with the Nazi regime, whether you're a domestic German before the war starts or a sympathizer in an occupied area in France. In occupied places like Poland, one could be both a victim of the Nazis and also a perpetrator of anti-Semitic violence. These levels of complication don't make it into games."
Denning's own introduction to such games began innocuously with the original Nintendo version of "Super Mario Bros."
"Video games were my reason for existence as a child," he said.
"But you may remember from this era that Mario used to come with 'Duck Hunt,' and there was a laser gun for duck hunting. The fact that my initial engagement involves gun violence is so inherent to video game culture."
Denning claims he first encountered history-based material when playing the original Wolfenstein 3D computer game in the early 1990s.
"Three of my four grandparents were in the Navy during World War II," he said. "When I was told that I had to do some reading to earn video game time, I'd go into the office and peel through these very well-illustrated Time-Life histories. The Wolfenstein game is where I saw those two threads coming together."
A faculty member at KU since 2015, Denning researches 20th century European history. He admits to having mostly retired from video games because "work and play are now at loggerheads."
The professor would like to see "Deep Play" provide historians with a better understanding of how the public comprehends their respective fields.
"I hope it starts a conversation between video game players and historians to see how we both might learn from one another," he said. "I also hope it's a teaching tool where some of my colleagues might assign it to help their students discover how they got interested in this subject and how we can build on this to develop a more subtle, nuanced knowledge of the subject."
Top photo: Sledgehammer Games/Activision
The Atlantic — Wed, 01/12/2022
KCUR — Sun, 01/09/2022
How kids absorb politics


Database giant Oracle expects European Commission antitrust watchdogs to give the thumbs up to the company's multi-billion takeover bid for Sun Microsystems after Christmas.
"We expect the European Commission to unconditionally clear the acquisition of Sun in January," said Oracle president Safra Catz yesterday, as the firm reported its second quarter results.
"I want to thank all of our customers for the overwhelming support they have given us during this process," she said.
Her comments followed a statement from the Brussels' competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes earlier this week, who confirmed the EC was "optimistic that the case will have a satisfactory outcome."
In an effort to ease regulatory concerns about Oracle's $7bn bid to buy Sun Microsystems, which owns the extremely popular open source MySQL database, the company spun out a 10-point plan aimed at calming customers' nerves about the future of MySQL.
On Monday Oracle said it would "publicly commit" to making MySQL's storage engine APIs available to vendors. It also declared a number of licence promises, including "non-assertion" and "to enhance MySQL in the future under the GPL".
Oracle added that support would not be forced on customers who wanted to obtain a commercial licence for the database.
The firm reported (PDF) yesterday that its net profit had climbed 12 per cent to $1.46bn in Q2, on revenue up four per cent on the same quarter a year earlier at $5.86bn. Wall Street had predicted sales of $5.69bn for the quarter ended 30 November.
"We delivered results which were substantially better than we expected on both the top and bottom line," said Oracle chief financial officer Jeff Epstein.


AAN Animal Calendar: August Octopus [H1702] - $13.44 : Yarn Tree, Your wholesale source for cross stitch supplies.
Cross stitch pattern by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. August is approaching & this Octopus is ready for you to stitch him for your calendar! "August" is stitched on the left side of the Octopus with the numbers stitched below him. Don't let this Octopus swim away before you stitch him. Stitch count 150w x 150h.


Našli jsme další záznamy k osobě Ing. Karol Pokorný.
Ing. Karol Pokorný je pohřben(a) na hřbitově Ondrejský cintorín v místě zobrazeném na níže uvedené mapě. Tyto informace o GPS jsou k dispozici POUZE na stránkách BillionGraves. Naše technologie vám pomůže najít umístění hrobu a také další členy rodiny, pohřbené poblíž.
Ing. Karol Pokorný was 11 years old when Mahatma Gandhi forms the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in order to fight discrimination against Indian traders in Natal. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian activist who was the leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific Mahātmā – applied to him first in 1914 in South Africa – is now used worldwide. In India, he is also called Bapu and Gandhi ji, and known as the Father of the Nation.
Ing. Karol Pokorný was 25 years old when Ford puts the Model T car on the market at a price of US$825. Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles and commercial vehicles under the Ford brand and most luxury cars under the Lincoln brand. Ford also owns Brazilian SUV manufacturer Troller, an 8% stake in Aston Martin of the United Kingdom, and a 49% stake in Jiangling Motors of China. It also has joint-ventures in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Russia. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is controlled by the Ford family; they have minority ownership but the majority of the voting power.
Ing. Karol Pokorný was 31 years old when Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated by a Yugoslav nationalist named Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, sparking the outbreak of World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este was a member of the imperial Habsburg dynasty, and from 1896 until his death the heir presumptive (Thronfolger) to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia, which in turn triggered a series of events that resulted in Austria-Hungary's allies and Serbia's declaring war on each other, starting World War I.
Ing. Karol Pokorný was 45 years old when Walt Disney character Mickey Mouse premieres in his first cartoon, "Plane Crazy". Walter Elias Disney was an American entrepreneur, animator, voice actor and film producer. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations. He was presented with two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards and an Emmy Award, among other honors. Several of his films are included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Ing. Karol Pokorný was 47 years old when Great Depression: In a State of the Union message, U.S. President Herbert Hoover proposes a $150 million (equivalent to $2,197,000,000 in 2017) public works program to help generate jobs and stimulate the economy. The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s, beginning in the United States. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations; in most countries it started in 1929 and lasted until the late-1930s. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century. In the 21st century, the Great Depression is commonly used as an example of how far the world's economy can decline.


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EnglishTürkçeKurdîكوردیعربيفارسی
Barzani Receives Nineveh Governor in Erbil
Italian Defense Minister Arrives in Erbil
Erbil: Security Forces Seize 130kg of Heroin
BP Withdraws form Kirkuk Oil Field
Iran Confirms Two Missiles were Fired at Ukrainian Plain
PM Barzani Highlights Reform Plan Progress in Message on 100th Day of Cabinet
Basnews English 07/12/2019 - 22:28 Published in Kurdistan
ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered a speech on Saturday, 7th December, which marks the 100th day of the formation of his cabinet, highlight the progress in the cabinet agenda with reforms staying on top.
PM Barzani reminded that his cabinet had realized the difficult path but it has shown great determination to fulfill its duties and take its agenda forward within a short period of time.
Our goal is to build a #StrongerKurdistan: Secure, stable, prosperous, and a reliable ally within the international community. My ambition is for us to realise that goal together. https://t.co/7iOv70b1En pic.twitter.com/Ka4BkG2KZU
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) December 7, 2019
"I have already made it clear that we are seeking a government that serves the people. Therefore, we reiterate our commitment to building a stronger Kurdistan, and a government that serves the people, not the other way around. This has been the foundation of our plans since day one of the cabinet," Barzani said in his televised speech.
He explained that people's expectations legitimately grow, and the government will work to meet their demands. However, he noted, strategic and long-term projects require time.
"Certainly, the 100 days were just the beginning. But we have fulfilled a lot within the first 100 days," the Kurdish prime minister added, giving examples of achievements in improving the relationship with Baghdad, tackling corruption, restoring public finances to health sector and making the government more efficient.
"You deserve a government that works together – and we are working across parties and ministries to respond to your needs. You deserve a government that serves you – and that is what we are doing," he added. "I can say with confidence that Kurdistan is stronger, more transparent and more secure today than it was when I spoke to you at my inauguration."
READ the full text of PM Barzani's speech below:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Citizens of the Kurdistan Region.
I am here today to talk to you about my government's first 100 working days in office and our plans for the future.
In my inauguration speech in Parliament, I said we have a difficult task ahead of us - and that with God's support and the trust of our citizens, we will overcome the challenges we face. I am pleased to announce that we believe we have passed an important stage. Our efforts are on the right track and we have made significant progress.
I spoke about my commitment to create a strong Kurdistan with a government that serves the people, not the other way around. That has been a guiding principle that has shaped everything we have done in government.
We will do whatever possible to serve the people of the Kurdistan Region. I know that you expect us to do more and do better - and we understand the urgency behind those expectations. Important projects need time and the right foundations, and with God's support and your help, we are very hopeful that the Kurdistan Regional Government will deliver in the way you demand.
100 days is just the beginning, but in our first 100 days we have done a lot. We've made significant progress on issues that are crucial to this region – issues like improving the relationship with Baghdad, tackling corruption, restoring our public finances to health and making the government more efficient.
I can say with confidence that Kurdistan is stronger, more transparent and more secure today than it was when I spoke to you at my inauguration.
Dear citizens.
First of all, a government that serves the people needs to be transparent, efficient and modern.
Regarding the income of government bodies, one of the first decisions the cabinet made was to collect all income through the Ministry of Finance and Economy, to understand clearly our income and our spending. Based on this foundation, we have made plans to increase internal revenues and decrease expenses as necessary. This was done in a way that was mindful of the needs of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and departments.
We have been able to increase internal revenues and this year we are on track to increase internal revenues by 50%. We will continue to build on this progress by developing comprehensive tax reforms that will ensure that the right revenue is collected in order to fund public services for the long term.
We are ensuring that everyone pays their fair share.
Companies and individuals who were unlawfully exempted from paying taxes have seen those exemptions eliminated and the Council of Ministers has reversed any regulations or instructions that illegally exempt taxes.
We are also making government spending more efficient. We have introduced central spending control in order to reduce no-bid contracts that have wasted public money. We are also working to make sure that public procurement is in line with government priorities and value for money.
We have also started new transparency measures, particularly around oil and gas, in a way that allows our citizens to truly understand the region's oil and gas revenues and internal income.
On corruption – we have created an environment that no long allows corruption to spread. I am personally very serious about this. I will not accept corruption from any individual or group.
Already, we're enforcing bribery laws against those who have received bribes to process government work or those giving bribes. Many employees and officials connected to receiving bribes and a number of people who have given bribes have had their cases referred to the courts.
We have cleared hundreds of ghost employees from the public payroll and this process will continue. The money that was going to people who didn't even work for the government is now funding vital public services. We want to assure the public that only those not entitled to these benefits will be affected. The others will not be.
There have been many ministerial committees to investigate corruption involving senior public servants – and there will be strong action against any corruption or illegal activity.
After 100 working days, I can say now that corruption has, to a large extent, been curtailed. We will enforce the law against the corrupt. There are attempts to undermine our efforts against corruption, but I assure citizens that our efforts will continue.
The first section of the government agenda, presented in parliament, was related to reform. I have formed a high-level ministerial committee to review existing legislation and see what additional reforms are needed. We want to ensure that only those entitled to benefits receive them – this will bring integrity to the payroll and give us more certainty over our spending. After a number of months and a realistic and meaningful assessment of the reform legislation, this legislation is now ready to return to parliament.
As well as increasing transparency, we are also making government services more efficient.
We are cutting red tape – ministries have started on four year plans to reform and reduce bureaucracy. They are putting more resources and time into supporting citizens directly and revisiting existing laws from the bottom up.
We have worked on a new single online portal for government services. Already, we have digitized some services and we will be launching others. The KRG's single, centralized data center is on track for completion in the first half of next year. This data center will host digital services to citizens and businesses, making it easier to access government services. You will be able to conduct a wide range of services online.
We are also connecting border crossings and airports through a single, digital network – helping us better to collect customs, to boost trade and to ensure quality control.
But providing better services is not just about digitization.
To take one example, it used to be the case that, in order to renew your passport, you needed to travel to a central office. If you live in cities like Erbil or Slemani that is less of a problem.
So, one of the first actions taken by the Ministry of Interior was to create new offices at a district level. The Ministry of Interior has already agreed with Baghdad to open four new centers and more will be opening soon. These centers will reduce the strain on the other offices – reducing waiting times and bringing a key service closer to the people who need it.
Also, things are also changing in the culture of the public sector. One of the first things we did as a government was to ensure public servants abide by their working hours. And this is just a first step in a broader transformation.
We are pleased to have heard positive feedback from citizens regarding reduced red tape and faster processing times for paperwork. This encourages us to increase services – making them quicker and better quality – because serving the public is our goal. Right now, a number of services like passport, citizen card, driving license and notarization have been significantly improved. Digitizing these services will make it easier and quicker for citizens.
Secondly, a government that serves the people also needs to build allies and secure its borders.
One of the main focuses of this government has been strengthening our relationship with Baghdad.
After the first Cabinet meeting, we visited Baghdad to reiterate our good will for an agreement that is fair and within the Iraqi constitution. Improving that relationship will have a real impact on people's everyday lives here and across Iraq. Peace and stability are in the interests of our region.
Our goal is to reach a comprehensive agreement with the federal government that is beneficial for all.
I'm pleased to say that progress in our discussions so far has been strong and the working group I established has delivered results.
In our negotiations so far, we have focused on four areas.
First, settling the formula for the division of revenue that determines the budget allocation.
Second, we want to reinforce Kurdistan's rights to federal revenues and oil and gas in line with the constitution.
Third, we are working to resolve our territorial disputes.
Fourth, and finally, we aim to ensure our Peshmerga are included in Iraq's defense policy to secure their rights.
The government in Baghdad has been receptive to our concerns, they have listened and they have been open to making changes. For instance, this is the first time that the Kurdistan Regional Government has taken part in drafting the federal budget and we have made important progress with the Iraqi Ministry of Finance in ensuring the rights and financial dues of the Kurdistan Region in the 2020 budget.
The budget has been restored to Kurdistan, we're exporting Kirkuk oil together and we're bringing customs policies into line. And solving the question of the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region enables us to start work on public projects in the interests of the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi peoples.
We have made progress elsewhere with improved relations with Baghdad too. For instance, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has delegated visa issuance to the KRG – making it easier for us to attract foreign investors and visitors. This can make Kurdistan a hub for anyone looking to invest in Iraq – benefitting us and benefitting the rest of the country.
This is what we can achieve by working together. We have also removed fees from visitors visiting the Kurdistan Region from other parts of Iraq. Now, only security checks are done and all assistance extended for those citizens to ensure that they can enjoy the safety and comfort in the Region.
As well as engaging with Baghdad, this government is also protecting its borders. When it comes to security, this government will never compromise on the safety of our people. I want to take this opportunity here to thank our brave Peshmerga, police forces and Asayish services for securing this stability in the Kurdistan Region – a stability that has earned international respect.
Our Peshmerga are heroes. I saw it when I witnessed them fighting on the front lines. This government has made a commitment to honor their heroism by ensuring that they can continue to protect our region and will do all it can to provide the best of services to the Peshmerga and the martyrs.
We have renewed agreements with key international partners for training and equipment of the Peshmerga forces. So within the first 100 days, and with the assistance of coalition partners, we have begun a process of organizing and reforming the different units of the Peshmerga. We have conducted this process closely with the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Peshmerga.
Third, in order to serve our people, the government also needs to enable enterprise.
We are finalizing a new investment law to help attract much-needed foreign investment. And we are also creating an investment strategy so that the incentives we provide are focused on the investment that we need most – where projects do not meet those requirements, we will withdraw licenses. For example, agriculture is a key sector for us – but it has received just two percent of overall investment in the region. It is important that projects are implemented in line with the law and any party violating these will have their license withdrawn.
People want to investment in the Kurdistan Region, and that's why we want to make it easier to attract foreign investors and encourage local investors.
We have issued investment licenses to a number of companies and investors already – with investments valued at $462m. We are confident others will also come. We also plan to introduce digital services and are considering a one-stop-shop to make the process more efficient.
We are also investing in infrastructure. Since the start of this government I have approved IQD 617 billion of funding for major infrastructure projects across the region. This funding will support the development of hundreds of projects. This month we approved funding for a number of additional projects. Roads. Bridges. Water pipelines. Government buildings. Affordable housing to allow families to live dignified lives. This funding will be incremental and based on the financial capacity of the Region.
Among those projects, it is worth mentioning three silos in Duhok, Erbil and Slemani were included because of importance this government attaches to water and food security.
We have also approved funding for the development of new hospitals and clinics and hundreds of low-cost affordable housing units across the Kurdistan Region. And since the start of the Cabinet, over IQD 33 billion has been approved for major road repairs.
Alongside reform, we have taken action to support growth.
For too long, our economy, our revenues and our exports have been too dominated by oil. We have also become heavily reliant on imports and ignored other sectors. That's why one of our priorities is to diversify the economy and our income. We cannot accept relying on one source of income alone; we want to move from a region that uses goods to one that is a producer.
For example, we know that there is incredible potential in our agriculture sector. This was the breadbasket of Iraq and in a region reliant on food imports, there is a real opportunity.
But we also know that in the initial phase of development our local industry needs support.
And we have delivered it.
We are investing in infrastructure that will support the sector – from dams and silos to the roads needed to get products to market.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources agreed to provide much-needed support to farmers by agreeing to long-term instalments of debts from 9,000 farmers to relieve immediate pressure on farmers.
We are introducing plans to increase wheat production.
We have introduced targeted support in particular areas by restricting imports of certain goods, giving a real helping hand to the agricultural sector.
We also have given approval to more than 30 agricultural projects – with clear interest from international investors as well. In my meetings with visiting investors, I always emphasize investments in the region's agriculture.
Finally, a government that serves the people builds for the future.
We are funding major projects that will transform the infrastructure that we rely on every day.
One area I know has been a major concern for people is electricity — it is an important issue for people and businesses, and that's why we are doing everything we can to improve it.
Now we're using more Kurdistani gas – that allows us to reduce our reliance on imported diesel fuel and it will save considerable money. In fact, we are already saving $1 billion a year.
We are making the system work better and we are making the system sustainable. We are now in the process of reviewing the distribution of electricity to ensure it is not wasted. This will deliver significant benefits for citizens, and that's why it is important that companies and citizens agree not to waste electricity and over-use the public supply.
Schools. I know that the situation at the moment is tough. I have seen for myself classrooms that are small and overcrowded and teachers – dedicated teachers – exhausted after working three shifts a day.
That is why I have approved immediate funding to reduce the strain. But as well as repairing old buildings we have also implemented reforms – pausing tuition fee increases, bringing order to the process of opening new schools and ensuring they are operating properly. We are trialing new online systems to connect schools, teachers and students and provide more transparency.
These reforms are ensuring standards are kept high, reducing costs and paving the way for outside investors to support development.
Our future depends on our children's education – and we cannot neglect it. We expect companies to play a bigger role in supporting the education sector by building schools across the region.
We are also ensuring that those who have made sacrifices for our people are recognized. I have approved funding to support martyrs' families from the war against the so-called Islamic State. We will continue to support our brave Peshmerga, Asayish forces and the families of our martyrs and the wounded.
We are protecting the most vulnerable, with payments to those suffering disabilities. The government is now supporting more than 12,000 people through disability allowances – with the proper checks in place to ensure that support goes only to those entitled to it.
Though we have made a strong start in the first 100 working days, there is much more to be done. The government still isn't as efficient as it needs to be to realize our vision. We have the capacity to achieve and produce more from our human and natural resources.
Our goal is to build a stronger Kurdistan, a more stable and prosperous Kurdistan. At peace with its neighbors. A reliable ally in a complex region. My ambition is for us, with God's support, to realize that goal – that dream – as a people. And to realize it together.
In recent years our people have suffered – you have proven your courage and you have proven your willingness to endure hardship in the pursuit of a just cause.
But my government will not mistake that patience for a willingness to accept something less than you deserve. You deserve a government that is professional and efficient, and you deserve a government that serves you.
Dear citizens and political parties.
We have created an environment that allows for good coordination between the Kurdistan Region Presidency, Parliament, Judiciary and independent bodies of the Kurdistan Region. This will have a positive impact on the legislative and executive progress.
The Kurdistan Regional Government belongs to all citizens. It is not one individual's or one party's. That's why we expect the political parties to support us in strengthening this government; to encourage us in success and identify our shortcomings.
The regional situation requires us all to stand united. No matter our differences, it is necessary for us to be united behind national interests. Rather than create obstacles for each other and unease for our citizens, let us spend our energy and efforts on the progress of our nation and the service of our citizens.
Finally, I wish to announce that a detailed report of achievements from all ministries and departments will be published for our citizens to understand the progress.
Thank you for your steadfastness. Thank you for your support for a more prosperous and stronger Kurdistan.
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Thanks for supporting our Food Drive through your kind donation, which we will use to buy to the amount donated, items from the Wish List at Super Stop & Shop during the Food Drive. Thereafter, we will deliver the items we buy to Operation Hope's food pantry on the same day. Your generosity is well appreciated.


It is September 2015, the charismatic CEO of car-manufacturer Tesla, Elon Musk, is just finishing up his European tour during which he visited Belgium. Musk indicates that Flanders was in his top-5 regions for locating a new battery/car manufacturing plant.
The disappointing recovery following the 2008 Great Financial Crisis has brought to life Alvin Hansen's thesis of the late 1930s. Hansen was wrong. But he was wrong in way he still might be right after all.
After years of stagnation the eurozone is slowly but steadily showing signs of growth. But which risks still linger?
Will Brexit lead to further EU integration or disintegration? Actually, this question has been on the table for much longer. Brexit could play a catalyst role here.
The US election campaign has been drawing a great deal of attention. As things stand, Mrs Clinton is leading the race to the White House. Barring any accident, she will succeed Mr. Obama and become the 45th President of the United States.


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The First Helicopter Boys (Kindle)
The Early Days of Helicopter Operations - The Malayan Emergency, 1947–1960
Aviation Modern Warfare Post WWII Aviation Royal Navy Royal Air Force Cold War
By David Taylor
Imprint: Air World
Illustrations: 100
eBook Released: 26th June 2019
£8.99 Print price £25.00
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The Indonesian Confrontation that raged from 1963 to 1966 stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of Malaysia. Fighting in the challenging jungle terrain of Borneo and in the countryside straddling the Malaysia/Indonesia border, where there were few roads, posed significant logistical challenges to both sides. That the conflict was ultimately a victory for the Commonwealth forces was in due in no small part to the fact that they enjoyed the advantage of vastly superior helicopter resources and better trained crews – many of which were provided by British units.
During the Confrontation, many of these vital helicopter assets were flown by pilots and crews who had gained their knowledge and experience first-hand during the Malayan Emergency, one of the Cold War's first flash-points which had begun in 1948.
Without doubt, the Malayan Emergency marked the formative years of the RAF's and Royal Navy's helicopter operations – the very early days in fact, when equipment and knowledge were much more basic. It was a time when operational procedures were still under development, even though the helicopters were already being flown on front line service.
Told in the main through their own words, by the RAF and Royal Navy air and ground crews involved, this is the story of how these 'guinea pigs' undertook many of Britain's first rotary wing combat operations and, therefore, cemented their rightful place in the history of the helicopter.
Taylor's book will be a valuable addition to my bookshelves. It is not, and does not claim to be, a cerebral thesis of political or military moment. It is an anecdotal, personal account and, as such, I recommend it because it fills a void in the publishing record.
RAF Historical Society
"All in all this is a valuable memoir and record of a particular time and place, which deserves to be appreciated and remembered, and is therefore well worth reading."
Ulster Aviation Society
All in all this is a valuable memoir and record of a particular time and place, which deserves to be appreciated and remembered, and is therefore well worth reading.
Flying in Ireland
A very well written book.
Watch the full video review here
Scale Modelling Now
IPMS Magazine
The book is an engaging read, studded with details such as – The rule of thumb for the S-55 (Whirlwind) was that on operations, it could carry "six Gurkhas, five British, or three Fijians." There is a good selection of black and white photographs of the helicopters in operations and of the jungle forts, leaving the reader with a strong flavour of a forgotten conflict.
Not Quite Mechanised, Chris Kemp
If found this book very interesting, as it features helicopters from Dragonfly and Sycamore through to Wessex and Whirlwind, and the experiences of men and their families who were dropped from mid-Century Britain into a completely alien environment (just as the tribesmen flown to hospital in Ipoh!)
Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)
One of the mysteries of the Cold War is why the Americans in Vietnam ignored the pioneering tactics earlier employed successfully by the British in securing victory against Communist aggression. The author has followed the pioneering tactics in relation to exploiting the potential of VTOL aircraft in counter-insurgency actions – Very Highly Recommended
About David Taylor
Born in Yorkshire, where he still lives, DAVID TAYLOR left school at the age of fifteen. After a brief period as a motor mechanic, he joined the RAF and saw the world, literally. In his ten years of service – three of which were spent in Far East – he visited thirty-eight countries. Emigrating to America in 1964, he secured a job in the oil industry. It was to be a fleeting emigration, but a long period away from home – thirty years – during which he again travelled extensively. Ninety-two countries at the last count, some of which he knows very well, and which provide background locations for the adventure novels on which he is currently working.
More titles by David Taylor
Other titles in Air World...


Managing your finances is made easier nowadays via Financial Advisor budgeting tools like personal finance software program.
So, in summary, iBank will likely be my Mac financial utility, as imperfect as it might be. But it's by far the perfect and most full financial software bundle on the market for my wants (and if you embrace iBiz , it would match Microsoft Money in most, if not all, facets). I will wait and see what occurs with Moneywell , and I am intrigued by the upcoming launch Quicken Financial Life (though I am disappointed I cannot be a part of the beta).
Quickbooks buyer support is the worst! I would by no means use them once more. I just spent eight days and over six hours on the phone with them. The first time they mentioned they might send some tax stories to me the same day – never happened! The next time they mentioned they were sorry they weren't despatched, however I should have the experiences in 48 hours – never happened! The final time they told me they might not present the information in any respect. I was ready to kill someone (not really). The different departments do no communicate very effectively, if in any respect. They discuss to one another , however they do not talk.
Larry, you are sorta correct. Quicken will work offline but you have to wage battle with Quicken and Intuit to do it and by no means replace! And you need to use variations before 2016. Since mid 2016, the administration of Quicken has determined that every one software program must register with Intuit or be locked. They now require 2016 (later updates) and later to run all information through Intuit telling folks that is the solely option to replace information. (I suppose they get a reduce.) That is unmitigated hog wash as you may directly connect to any financial institution and download the same info that Intuit routes to your computer. I will agree that for the novice, Intuit makes it simpler but it is nonetheless not difficult.
Of course, if you actually need a budgeting program to get your funds into gear and to stop spending too much, Personal Capital might not be the most suitable choice for you. But for extra advanced customers who are in search of a software program program to oversee all of their monetary selections, I discover Business Administration Personal Capital to be among the many most helpful programs on the market. Mint may be very limited when it comes to investments. In truth, the platform does not even supply an investment administration service, similar to that of Personal Capital.
Excel – I know, I know – old fashioned. However, I assume that everybody should have a basic understanding of this program. You could be infinitely inventive with this dinosaur! Right now, I am utilizing it to judge potential real property purchases. I can determine taxes, monthly costs and funds, as well as see my precept steadiness after 15 years all inside of 1 spreadsheet. Great instrument for customized budgets as effectively.
Like the previous platforms, moneyStrands offers you the ability to import your bank cards, financial institution accounts, and private or enterprise loans on-line into one location. Windows customers have three choices for Quicken – the starter version we speak about here and two improve versions with extra options. The more advanced variations allow you to plan how you can pay off money owed, save for retirement and education, and handle investments.


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City of Lake Waukomis, MO
Ch AO Adopting Ordinance
Ttl I Government Code
Ch 100 General Provisions
Ch 105 Elections
Ch 110 Mayor and Board of Aldermen
Ch 115 City Officials
Ch 117 Conflicts of Interest
Ch 120 Open Meetings and Records Policy
Ch 125 Municipal Court
Ch 130 Taxation and Finance
Ch 135 Personnel
Ch 140 Donation of Personal and Real Property
Ttl II Public Health, Safety and Welfare
Ch 200 Police Department
Ch 205 Animal and Fowl Regulations
Ch 210 Offenses
Ch 217 Health and Sanitation
Ch 220 Human Rights
Ch 225 Emergency Management
Ch 235 Recreation
Ch 240 Streets
Ttl III Traffic Code
Ch 305 Traffic Administration
Ch 310 Enforcement and Obedience To Traffic Regulations
§ 310.010 Authority of Police and Fire Department Officials.
§ 310.020 Obedience To Police and Fire Department Officials.
§ 310.030 Persons Propelling Pushcarts or Riding Animals To Obey Traffic Regulations.
§ 310.040 Use of Coasters, Roller Skates and Similar Devices Restricted.
§ 310.050 Public Employees To Obey Traffic Regulations.
§ 310.060 Emergency Vehicles — Use of Lights and Sirens — Right-Of-Way — Stationary Vehicles, Procedure — Penalty.
§ 310.070 (Reserved)
§ 310.080 Sirens And Flashing Lights Emergency Use — Persons Authorized — Violation — Penalty.
§ 310.090 Immediate Notice of Accident Within City.
§ 310.100 Written Report of Accident.
§ 310.110 When Driver Unable To Report.
§ 310.120 Leaving The Scene Of An Accident.
Ch 315 Traffic Control Devices
Ch 320 Speed Regulations
Ch 325 Turning Movements
Ch 330 One-Way Streets
Ch 335 Stop and Yield Intersections
Ch 340 Miscellaneous Driving Rules
Ch 342 Alcohol-Related Traffic Offenses
Ch 345 Pedestrians' Rights and Duties
Ch 350 Method of Parking
Ch 355 Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited in Specified Places
Ch 360 Stopping, Standing or Parking Restricted or Prohibited On Certain Streets
Ch 365 Violations Bureau
Ch 370 Procedure On Arrest
Ch 375 Vehicle Equipment
Ch 380 Bicycles and Motorized Bicycles
Ch 385 Licensing Requirements
Ch I Speed Limits
Ch II Stop Signs
Ch III Parking Restrictions
Ttl IV Land Use
Ch 400 Zoning Regulations
Ch 405 Floodplain Management
Ttl V Building and Construction
Ch 500 Building Regulations
Ch 505 Dangerous Buildings
Ch 510 Rights-Of-Way Management
Ch 520 Minimum Standards For The Maintenance of Non-Owner Occupied Dwellings
Ttl VI Business and Occupation
Ch 600 Gross Receipts Tax
Ch 605 Peddlers, Solicitors and Canvassers
Ch 610 Advertising
Ch 620 Business Licenses
Ttl VII Public Utilities
Ch 705 Cross-Connection Control
Ch CR Cross Reference
City of Lake Waukomis, MO / Traffic Code
Chapter 310 Enforcement and Obedience To Traffic Regulations
Section 310.010 Authority of Police and Fire Department Officials.
Section 310.020 Obedience To Police and Fire Department Officials.
Section 310.030 Persons Propelling Pushcarts or Riding Animals To Obey Traffic Regulations.
Section 310.040 Use of Coasters, Roller Skates and Similar Devices Restricted.
Section 310.050 Public Employees To Obey Traffic Regulations.
Section 310.060 Emergency Vehicles — Use of Lights and Sirens — Right-Of-Way — Stationary Vehicles, Procedure — Penalty.
Section 310.070 (Reserved)
Section 310.080 Sirens And Flashing Lights Emergency Use — Persons Authorized — Violation — Penalty.
Section 310.090 Immediate Notice of Accident Within City.
Section 310.100 Written Report of Accident.
Section 310.110 When Driver Unable To Report.
Section 310.120 Leaving The Scene Of An Accident.
It shall be the duty of the officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned by the Marshal to enforce all traffic laws of the City and all of the State vehicle laws applicable to traffic in the City.
Officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned by the Marshal are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with traffic laws; provided that, in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.
Officers of the Fire Department, when at the scene of an incident, may direct or assist the Police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.
No person shall knowingly fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a Police Officer or Fire Department official.
Every person propelling any pushcart or riding an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle, shall be subject to the provisions of this Title applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions of this Title which by their very nature can have no application.
No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk and when so crossing such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This Section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street as authorized by ordinance of the City.
The provisions of this Title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, County or City and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this Title, except as otherwise permitted in this Title.
Upon the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren or while having at least one (1) lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle or a flashing blue light authorized by Section 310.080 of this Chapter, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as far as possible to the right of, the traveled portion of the highway and thereupon stop and remain in such position until such emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer.
Upon approaching a stationary vehicle displaying lighted red or red and blue lights, or a stationary vehicle displaying lighted amber or amber and white lights, the driver of every motor vehicle shall:
Proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the stationary vehicle, if on a roadway having at least four (4) lanes with not less than two (2) lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or
Proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be unsafe or impossible.
Responsibilities Of Driver Of Emergency Vehicle.
The driver of any "emergency vehicle" defined in Section 300.010 of this Code shall not sound the siren thereon or have the front red lights or blue lights on except when such vehicle is responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected law violator, or when responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire.
The driver of an emergency vehicle may:
Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of Sections 304.014 to 304.025, RSMo. and the provisions of this Code;
Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
Exceed the prima facie speed limit so long as the driver does not endanger life or property;
Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.
The exemptions granted to an emergency vehicle pursuant to Subsection (C)(2) of this Section shall apply only when the driver of any such vehicle while in motion sounds audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one (1) lighted lamp displaying a red light or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle.
No person shall purchase an emergency light as described in this Section without furnishing the seller of such light an affidavit stating that the light will be used exclusively for emergency vehicle purposes.
Violation of this Section shall be deemed an ordinance violation.
Motor vehicles and equipment, not otherwise defined in this Title as an authorized emergency vehicle, which are operated by any member of an organized Fire Department, ambulance association or rescue squad, whether paid or volunteer, may be operated on streets and highways in this City as an emergency vehicle under the provisions of Section 310.060 of this Chapter, while responding to a fire call or ambulance call or at the scene of a fire call or ambulance call and while using or sounding a warning siren and using or displaying thereon fixed, flashing or rotating blue lights, but sirens and blue lights shall be used only in bona fide emergencies.
Use Of Other Authorized Lights.
Notwithstanding Subsection (A) of this Section, the following vehicles may use or display fixed, flashing, or rotating red or red and blue lights:
Emergency vehicles, as defined in Section 304.022, RSMo., when responding to an emergency.
Vehicles operated as described in Subsection (A) of this Section.
Vehicles and equipment owned or leased by a contractor or subcontractor performing work for the Department of Transportation, except that the red or red and blue lights shall be displayed on vehicles or equipment described in this Subsection only between dusk and dawn, when such vehicles or equipment are stationary, such vehicles or equipment are located in a work zone as defined in Section 304.580, RSMo., highway workers, as defined in Section 304.580, RSMo., are present, and such work zone is designated by a sign or signs. No more than two (2) vehicles or pieces of equipment in a work zone may display fixed, flashing or rotating lights under this Subsection.
The following vehicles and equipment may use or display fixed, flashing, or rotating amber or amber and white lights:
Vehicles and equipment owned or leased by the State Highways and Transportation Commission and operated by an authorized employee of the Department of Transportation.
Vehicles and equipment owned or leased by a contractor or subcontractor performing work for the Department of Transportation, except that the amber or amber and white lights shall be displayed on vehicles described in this Subsection only when such vehicles or equipment are located in a work zone, as defined in Section 304.580, RSMo., highway workers, as defined in Section 304.580, RSMo., are present, and such work zone is designated by a sign or signs.
Vehicles and equipment operated by a utility worker performing work for the utility, except that the amber or amber and white lights shall be displayed on vehicles described in this Subsection only when such vehicles are stationary, such vehicles or equipment are located in a work zone, as defined in Section 304.580, RSMo., a utility worker is present, and such work zone is designated by a sign or signs. As used in this Subsection, the term "utility worker" means any employee while in performance of his or her job duties, including any person employed under contract of a utility that provides gas, heat, electricity, water, steam, telecommunications or cable services, or sewer services, whether privately, municipally, or cooperatively owned.
Permits for the operation of such vehicles equipped with sirens or blue lights shall be in writing and shall be issued and may be revoked by the Chief of an organized Fire Department, organized Ambulance Association, Rescue Squad, or the State Highways and Transportation Commission and no person shall use or display a siren or blue lights on a motor vehicle, fire, ambulance, or rescue equipment without a valid permit authorizing the use. A permit to use a siren or lights as heretofore set out does not relieve the operator of the vehicle so equipped with complying with all other traffic laws and regulations. Violation of this Section constitutes an ordinance violation.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident within the City resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more to one (1) person shall give or cause to be given notice of such accident to the Police Department as soon as reasonably possible.
The driver of a vehicle which is in any manner involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more to one (1) person shall, within five (5) days after such accident, forward a written report of such accident to the Police Department. The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable when the accident has been investigated at the scene by a Police Officer while such driver was present thereat.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving immediate notice of an accident as required in Section 310.090 and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so, such occupant shall give or cause to be given the notice not given by the driver.
Whenever the driver is physically incapable of making a written report of an accident as required in Section 310.100 and such driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then the owner of the vehicle involved in such accident shall, within five (5) days after the accident, make such report not made by the driver.
Section 310.120 Leaving The Scene Of An Accident. [1]
A person commits the offense of leaving the scene of an accident when:
Being the operator of a vehicle or a vessel involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or damage to property of another person; and
Having knowledge of such accident he or she leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving the following information to the other party or to a Law Enforcement Officer, or if no Law Enforcement Officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest law enforcement agency:
His or her name;
His or her residence, including City and street number;
The registration or license number for his or her vehicle or vessel; and
His or her operator's license number, if any.
For the purposes of this Section, all Law Enforcement Officers shall have jurisdiction, when invited by an injured person, to enter the premises of any privately owned property for the purpose of investigating an accident and performing all necessary duties regarding such accident.
A Law Enforcement Officer who investigates or receives information of an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle and also involving the loss of life or serious physical injury shall make a written report of the investigation or information received and such additional facts relating to the accident as may come to his or her knowledge, mail the information to the Department of Public Safety, and keep a record thereof in his or her office.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the operation of all-terrain vehicles when property damage is sustained in sanctioned all-terrain vehicle races, derbies and rallies.
Note: Under certain circumstances this offense can be a felony under state law.


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Dr. Muhammad Imran Bin Abdul Hafidz
imran.hafidz@gmail.com
Cardiologist (adult)
RM 0.00 per call
RM 0.00 per session
MB ChB (Bristol), MRCP (UK), MRCP (London)
Dr Imran Hafidz is NSR board certified in both Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He graduated from the University of Bristol in 2008 and did his early training in Liverpool gaining Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (UK) in 2012. During his training in Liverpool he worked as a specialty registrar (SpR) in Acute Internal Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine and also in Cardiology. He joined the University of Malaya Medical Centre in 2015 as a Cardiology Specialist where he completed his training in Cardiology. He also completed a 1 year fellow post in Birmingham, United Kingdom where he gained experience and Level 2 Accreditation in Cardiac Computed Tomography. He is also currently a DU54 Grade Senior Lecturer with the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and has done research within cardiovascular medicine, published several articles in peer reviewed journals and presented at international meetings. Dr Imran is also actively involved in medical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His interests include Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac CT for which he has SCCT and BSCCT Level 2 accreditation. He has performed in excess of 1000 invasive procedures including hundreds of coronary angioplasty procedures and is accredited for independent reporting of cardiac CT. He has experience in complex angioplasty including chronic total occlusions (CTO), atherectomy for calcified lesions and multivessel angioplasty. Dr Imran holds membership of the National Heart Association of Malaysia, American College of Cardiology, Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography, British Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography and the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society. He holds professional full registration with the Malaysian Medical Council and the UK General Medical Council.
A119, The Heart Centre Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Bukit Pantai, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I am fully accredited in general medicine with accreditation in diabetes care as well.
I am fully accredited in adult cardiovascular medicine and able to give an opinion on non-invasive and invasive therapies.


Gloucester VA Links and News: What If We Split All The Wealth Up Evenly Of The Entire US? What Would Your Share Be?
What If We Split All The Wealth Up Evenly Of The Entire US? What Would Your Share Be?
We found this article in the public domain and thought we would share it's contents as it seems as relevant today as the day it was first written, over 50 years ago. It's an amazing piece of economic history.
Why Should We Care about Economic History?


Why Thailand? - It's different.
Different to Europe, different to the United States and it's a change from the world dominant western way of life. Northern Thailand has pleasant scenery, an accommodating & fascinating culture and it's off the conventional tourist trail. It is also a warm dry place to go when the UK & the Northern States of the USA are suffering a miserable & cold winter.
It's not expensive once your flights are paid for, and your Thai Baht will buy you ample quantities of delicious food & drink, plus a selection of interesting souvenirs to bring home.
Thailand was always a place I had wanted to visit, and when my friend John went to live over there for two years, his invitation to go and do some biking in 1999 was too much to resist. On this first occasion we had pregnant partners and even small children with us, so did the "loop" for the first time in a convoy of a couple of motorcycles plus a jeep to carry kids & kit.
This little adventure set a precedent, and I've been back riding the dirt trails of northern Thailand 5 or 6 more times since then.
If I were to grade the great biking trips I've done, on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 was so easy it wasn't worth doing (think CB125 in a school playground, or South East England perhaps?) and 5 was something extreme and severely challenging, then the ranking would go like this. The 1 to 5 score would rate the difficulty of riding, plus the "adventure" factor. 1 low, 5 high.
Grade 1. I don't do grade 1.
Langkawi, Malaysia. Easy, level, low speed cruising on a hired Modenas 175 "low rider". Great beach holiday, where biking is secondary. The same would also apply to Goa. It's one of my favourite places to go and hire an Enfield, but would only rank it 2.5 in terms of biking challenge. It's a potter-around-in-the-sun kind of place.
The UK National Parks. Twisty back roads of Derbyshire, the Yorkshire Dales, The Lake District and Western Scotland. Great riding, sometimes testing road conditions.
The Alps. Great roads and scenery, and although not particularly difficult riding, the sheer enormity of the mountain passes, and mile after mile of twists and turns can take it's toll.
It doesn't warrant a 5. What would? Maybe a Nick Sanders World Tour, or Charley & Ewan's efforts if they didn't have the support crews.
Thailand is challenging and highly rewarding because it's best done partially on dirt roads. These in themselves are less technically demanding than most English Green Lanes, but they go on forever and can be in very remote locations. Us Brits aren't used to riding maybe 100 kilometres in one go without seeing Tarmac. There is no real rescue or support system. No 999 number to phone in case of accident or emergency, no AA to call if a bike breaks down. If we have an incident, we have to self-rescue, if a bike breaks down we fix it or tow it. This is the nature of adventure.
The Mae Hong Son loop, is a widely recognised paved route around Chiang Mai Province, comprehensively described in the likes of the Rough Guide and similar travel books. Depending upon which exact roads you use, it's roughly a 700 kilometre circuit, starting and finishing in Chiang Mai.
There's a fairly straightforward road route to follow via, Chomthong, Hot, Mae Sarieng, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son, Sop Pong, Pai & back to Chiang Mai. This is OK and worth doing in a little hire car perhaps. But you'll find as soon as you leave the main highway, the roads become dirt, and even in a 4x4, progress can be difficult and certainly slow going.
This is where an Enduro bike comes into play. It allows you to tackle dirt roads, leading up to remote hill tribe villages or cascading waterfalls, where even a pukka Jeep would struggle to go. Typically, I use something like a Honda XR250 Enduro machine, which holds it's own on the road, and can gobble up the hundreds of hairpins on the mountain passes, but can also tackle mud, gravel, sandy or hard-packed trails, rutted tracks and even river crossings. Assuming a base grounding in off-road riding skills, you can manage 30 to 60 kilometres per hour off-road on one of these bikes (more if you're a real expert!). You'd be thrown out of your seats at these speeds in a 4x4.
Using the right tool for the mixed terrain, enables the more adventurous traveller to cut corners on the "loop", add extra sections or access places rarely seen by most other visitors.
I like to start off by riding to the summit of Doi Inthanon, which is an easy enough paved road. However be warned that it can it can actually be quite cold up there at 2200 metres, and the simple 250cc single cylinder engines run really badly in the rarified air. A tip is to open up the airbox, and this makes an enormous difference. Strangely enough, I've found the Honda XR250s cope much better with the climb than the Yamaha TTR 250s do. A visit to the twin temples is worth doing before heading on to Mae Chaem. The descent to this town is certainly a ride to remember, into the setting sun at the end of the day. One needs to exercise extreme caution though, as the drop down is very steep and twisty, and the knobbly tyres afford little traction on a polished road surface that hasn't seen a drop of rain in 3 months.
After a day's practice on the local trails around Mae Chaem and Melu, I like to tackle the 160km ride to Khun Yuam. This is almost all off road, and took a number of attempts with a compass, wrong turns and very patient mates to get the navigation sorted. The trouble is, although the map of the area is extremely useful; indispensable in fact, it's not 100% accurate and many trails are simply not marked on it. On arrival at junctions, or rather, mere splits in the trail, there will be no signposts or markings. On the rare occasion there is a sign, it will usually be in Thai script of course, so not much help to the uninitiated. It's a very rewarding day, although very tiring, and a couple of "offs" throughout the day are not uncommon.
In November 2004, completely by chance, we were lucky to arrive in Khun Yuam to coincide with the festival of Loi Krathong. A time when people launch home-made rafts, complete with offerings of food and burning candles onto any river or body of open water. Huge paper lanterns are also released into the skies, powered simply by the lifting effect of hot air generated by the paraffin soaked rags burning inside them. These things are truly amazing, cheap to buy and great fun to launch into the night. Especially the ones with strings of fireworks attached!
It's interesting to go and do the Tourist thing, just once, and go and see the ladies in the Long Neck villages, whose necks have been "stretched" by the application of half a dozen brass rings over the years. It's a bizarre experience leaving you with the uncomfortable feeling that you've just paid to visit a human zoo.
The highlight of this trip for me, is revisiting Cave Lodge, near Soppong, where John, the most laid back Aussie you've ever met, has set up a serene lodging house high in the jungle. It's becoming a little too well known for its own good now, but still a superb, relaxing place to spend a few days. Relaxation? Pardon? We don't do much of that. As we have the dirt bikes, we ride high up to ridge top settlements like Eyla, where we become the circus act to people who've scarcely strayed from their own village in their entire lives. Places with no electricity or much connection with outside world. They have little concept of what a city is like, and sometimes prod and poke our armoured motorcycle clothing, and stare incredulously at anyone with blond hair.
Despite returning many times to the same part of Thailand, there's always something new to discovery or a different route to try. My latest experiment was to try a night's camping at Pong Deud hot springs. During the day, it tries to be a bit of a tourist attraction, but at night, for the time being at least, there is no-one there at all. Our plan, was to camp close by, then bathe in the hot springs at midnight under a full moon. This turned out to be exquisite. We persuaded the staff of the tiny restaurant to stay open late, feed us the usual tasty Thai dishes and sell us some beer. We then relaxed under the stars, in the steaming hot pools with just ourselves, a few cans of cold Chang beer, and a bottle of Mekong whiskey for company.
A roller coaster ride back to the lively city of Chiang Mai completed my latest trip there. It certainly won't be my last.
www.gt-rider.com Great resource for motorcycle travellers in the Golden Triangle.


Sol Principe offers lagoon-style outdoor pools, tropical gardens and a heated indoor swimming pool. With direct access to the beach, it is located on the beachfront of Playamar, in Torremolinos. Rooms at the Sol Principe have a balcony with sea or pool views. Each features bright, simple décor. They all have a mini-fridge and air conditioning, available during the summer.
The hotel has a buffet restaurant with sea views and a terrace. Guests can enjoy of a buffet restaurant in the pool area during summer season. There is also a pool-side snack bar and a stylish coffee bar with a dance floor.There is a children's swimming pool and a play area. The Sol Principe also offers summer kids' clubs and entertainment for all ages, including sports, games and live shows.


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FC Gold Pride Forward Kelley O'Hara Named WPS Player of the Week
September 14, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) - FC Gold Pride News Release
Rookie forward Kelley O'Hara is Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) Player of the Week for Week 22 after leading Regular Season Champion FC Gold Pride to victory in its final game before the 2010 WPS Playoffs presented by MedImmune.
O'Hara scored two goals and assisted another in an emphatic 4-1 triumph Saturday over the Philadelphia Independence as the team from the San Francisco-Bay Area completed its worst-to-first turnaround by improving its record to 16-3-5 and extending its 2½-month unbeaten streak to 13 games.
FC Gold Pride will be home, at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of Cal State-East Bay in Hayward, for the Sept. 26 WPS Championship presented by Citi. Philadelphia and Washington meet in the postseason's first round Sunday, and the winner plays at Boston in next week's Super Semifinal. The survivor will be the Pride's foe in the final.
O'Hara, who won the MAC Hermann Trophy as college soccer's top player following her senior season at Stanford, gave the Pride a 40th-minute lead over Philadelphia, assisted Marta's league-best 19th goal a minute later, then netted her sixth goal of the season one minute after the Independence halved the advantage.
The game's star left the match in the 55th minute on Saturday with pain in her right quad. FC Gold Pride medical staff has assessed her injury as a partial tear of the right quadriceps. The injury will likely keep her out of the Pride lineup for the WPS Championship game. The recovery time for the injury is three to four weeks. O'Hara remains optimistic that she will attend preliminary training session(s) with the US Women's National Team at the end of the month.
O'Hara is the third FC Gold Pride player to win the Player of the Week award this year, joining Marta, who was honored in Weeks 6, 9 and 12, and Christine Sinclair, who won in Week 14.
The WPS Player of Week is selected by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters.
Week 1: Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 2: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week 3: Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 4: Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom)
Week 5: Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC)
Week 6: Marta (FC Gold Pride)
Week 7: Kosovare Asllani (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 8: Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 10: Danesha Adams (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 11: Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 12: Marta (FC Gold Pride)
Week 13: Ella Masar (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 14: Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Week 15: Caroline Seger (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 16: Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat)
Week 17: Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers)
Week 19: Eniola Aluko (Atlanta Beat)
Week 20: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week 21: Veronica Boquete (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 22: Kelley O'Hara (FC Gold Pride)
Women's Professional Soccer Stories from September 14, 2010
FC Gold Pride Forward Kelley O'Hara Named WPS Player of the Week - FC Gold Pride