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Lady Claire Is All That
Her Brains Claire Cavendish is in search of a duke, but not for the usual reasons. The man she seeks is a mathematician; the man she unwittingly finds is Lord Fox: dynamic, athletic, and as bored by the equations Claire adores as she is by the social whirl upon which he thrives. As attractive as Fox is, he's of no use to Claire . . . or is he? Plus His Brawn Fox's male pride has been bruised ever since his fiancée jilted him. One way to recover: win a bet that he can transform Lady Claire, Society's roughest diamond, into its most prized jewel. But Claire has other ideas—shockingly steamy ones. . . Equals A Study In Seduction By Claire's calculations, Fox is the perfect man to satisfy her sensual curiosity. In Fox's estimation, Claire is the perfect woman to prove his mastery of the ton. But the one thing neither of them counted on is love. My Review Instantly, this book was a hit with me. I just absolutely fell in love with Claire. The way that she was not intrigued by part
Cat O'Nine Tales
A collection of 9 short stories (and one bonus tale!) Journey to the dark side with this collection of 10 twisted tales of horror, malevolence and the truly uncanny. What evil dwells within the pretty lady next door or the ordinary house cat? What happens when you pursue your dreams into the desert after dark? Beware the man borne of your imagination. He could seek vengeance on the one who created him. Visit a bookstore offering a most alluring and sinister service. Journey to the dark side with ten twisted tales of horror, malevolence, and the truly uncanny. My Review If you are a horror fan than you will enjoy this collection of short stories. Each one was great. For the most part I did not dislike any of them. Yet, I will tell you that the body count does rise in this collection; however, the deaths are not overly gory. In fact, the stories brought me back to my love of Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King, and Vincent Price. This type of horror. While none of the stories have
Description 100 Shades of Sin... Delicious and hot, the seductive Bayfront Billionaires need one thing, and one thing only: the woman made for them, the one woman on earth who can complete their trio of passion and desire. Lily Hart has taken a temporary position as a live-in butler for billionaire musicians Jackson Sterling and Lexington Alexander. She expected to be on call day and night. But what she did not plan for was that these two billionaires would be as handsome as sin and hell-bent on having her in their bed. Entirely skilled at the art of seduction, they make Lily burn for pleasure in ways she never knew she could. Jax and Lex have been waiting for a muse, and when breathtaking, sensuous Lily arrives on their doorstep, they know she's the woman to join them in the seductive web the three of them weave. But passion between three can end in flames, and Lily, Jax, and Lex must decide—is opening their hearts worth the risk? My Review I liked this book. For being a
Lost in Shadows + Giveaway
Description Private security entrepreneur Jeb McCormick is in over his head with his latest client. Not only is the painfully shy woman he's meant to be protecting a total knock-out, she's also his former Army buddy's sister. Helping her find the reason why anyone would ransack her house is demanding enough, but keeping his hands off her is proving to be the real challenge. Carolina Walker wants a quiet life, thank you very much. She left intrigue and deception behind in Washington D.C., never expecting it to follow her home to Bowling Green, Kentucky. When events happen that can't be explained away, help arrives in the form of the very attractive and muscular Jebediah McCormick. But as the tension escalates between Jeb and Carolina, so does the danger facing them. Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo Add to Goodreads My Review While, this book is the second one in this series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. Right from the beg
Disruption + Giveaway
Book Description: T here are two types of people: those who have been hacked and know it, and those who have been hacked and don't know it. Former Naval Intelligence Officer turned secret operative Jake Pendleton finds himself in a pulse-pounding race to stop a cyber-terrorist from releasing a string of the most heinous cyber-crimes the world has ever seen. Crimes that could render the world's advanced technology useless. Jake teams with his partner, Francesca Catanzaro, to track down their only lead, a white-hat hacker in Italy known only as The Jew. A man who might hold the key to stop a group of black-hat hackers from causing worldwide chaos—tag named Disruption. After a search of the hacker's flat in Rome turns up empty, Jake and Francesca follow the clues—a trail of dead bodies that leads them across Europe. Along the way, Jake discovers a possible link between recent hacks and a Malaysian airliner that mysteriously disappeared. In the final adrenaline-charged momen
Law and Disorder
Law and Disorder: A Legal Thriller By Mike Papantonio Published by SelectBooks Hardcover: 352 pages September 20, 2016; $26.95US; 9781590793671 Description: In the tradition of John Grisham, from radio talk show host and "America's lawyer" Mike Papantonio, comes Law and Disorder , a highly suspenseful legal thriller in which a Florida attorney finds the system working against him. Brash, brilliant, handsome Nicholas Deketomis has built a highly successful career as a lawyer protecting the rights of the innocent while winning multibillion dollar lawsuits from the powers that be. "Deke" may have come from the wrong side of the tracks but he's built a wonderful life for his close-knit family. His wife, Terry, and two children live in a beautiful house in a seaside community along the Florida Panhandle. But their comfortable life is endangered. In the midst of a highly contentious multimillion dollar lawsuit against a powerful pharmaceuti
Absolute Trust + Giveaway
ABOUT THE BOOK Title: ABSOLUTE TRUST Author: Piper J. Drake Series: True Heroes, #3 On Sale: December 20, 2016 Publisher: Forever Mass Market: $6.99 USD eBook: $5.99 USD HYPERLINK Add to Goodreads Hot military heroes, the women who love them, and the dogs who always have their backs. ABSOLUTE TRUST is the third book in a high-adrenaline romantic suspense series from Piper J. Drake. LOVE IS THE GREATEST RISK OF ALL After multiple tours of duty, Brandon Forte returns to his hometown on a personal mission: to open a facility for military service dogs like Haydn, a German shepherd who's seen his share of combat and loss. It also brings him back to Sophie Kim, a beacon of light in his life . . . and the one woman he can't have. But Forte's success means he's made enemies in high places. Enemies who are now after Sophie . . . When Forte enlisted and left without saying goodbye, Sophi
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen. At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King's marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship. Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans. My Review If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or fairy tales in general and with a twist, then, you will enjoy this book. What I most loved about this book is that it was not just a twist on a classic story but it stood alone as a different story. Yes, there were some of the same charac
No Good Deed Left Undone + Giveaway
Book Description: "He had an itchy feeling, something he had seen that his memory had recorded but that he wasn't paying attention to…" When a man has everything, he can afford to be generous. Lawyer, philanderer, and horseman Grant Wodehouse is generous to a fault—until he's stabbed to death with a pitchfork in his barn. The killer could be anyone—his lover's husband, his troubled son, the homeless guy he lets sleep in his barn, his unscrupulous partner or even his wife. Methodical Detective Sam Lagarde doesn't miss a clue as he questions an ever-growing list of suspects, only to discover the killer has been hiding in plain sight the entire time. Always one step behind the killer, finally Lagarde's only recourse is one he never wanted to take. My Review I liked this book. The author did give me some twists that I did not see coming. Yet, due to the fact that I have not read any of the prior novels in this series, I experienced that lack of character development with the r
The Introvert
A vacuum salesman by day, the introvert lives a quiet life alone with his dog until a work relationship and a dark secret from his past team up to create an uncomfortable imbalance in his otherwise ordered life, one that soon finds him squarely at the center of a murder investigation. With his thoughts continually urging him to make people "red and open" and to "achieve it" with his girlfriend Donna, what follows is a sometimes brutal, oftentimes hilarious, and absurdist account of the life of one very anti-social and unexpected anti-hero. My Review This is one of those books that you can both love and hate it at the same time. Ok, maybe hate is a strong word. More like a "what am I reading". This is a train wreck but it is so good that I can't stop reading. This book is told from the first person. I am mixed on first person books. Some I have read are good and others were not so good. This book is in the good category. The main character is so socially awkward
Mission:Black
A broken agent. A once in a lifetime chance. A new mission that threatens to destroy her again. Rachel Carter has it all. A brilliant career in the DEA, a man she loves at her side, a future filled with possibilities. Until the night she loses everything. Considered damaged beyond salvation by the people who once trusted her, Rachel enlists into the secretive Division Eight and becomes part of a new breed of special operatives working in the shadows. When a critical mission goes wrong in North Africa, Rachel finds herself face to face with ghosts from her past. Embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game against a brutal adversary determined to win at any cost, she must face her darkest fears in order to defeat the enemy who once tore her life apart. My Review Now, this is how you start out a series, with a big bang! I always love a good, strong heroine. Rachel was that woman. She fought through adversity to come out on top. She is a deadly force and earns the respect of
Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch
I slept with the wrong twin. And all I got for it in return was a b roken heart. Oh yeah, and a baby on the way—there's that too. But I'm determined to make it on my own. I don't need a man, thank you very much. Not rich, charismatic, and decidedly flighty Rex Roosevelt, and especially not his twin brother, Justin. No matter that the gorgeous former military doctor makes my heart beat a little faster . . . and all spots lower pay careful, careful attention. None of that matters. The Roosevelt men are dangerous and I'm steering clear. The trouble is, Justin refuses to leave me be. And deep down, I don't want to avoid him. Deep down, I want to be even closer. My Review This is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be the last. This is a good thing as this book is the first in this series. Justin and Kelly made a perfect match together. Although, I knew nothing about Justin's twin, Rex and the guy who knocked Kelly up; I knew enough about him that I d
Title: Joseph's Journey: When Dad Left and Never Came Back 2nd Edition Author: Christina Nicole Smith Publisher: Be A Blessing Enterprises Pages: 44 Genre: Juvenile Literature/Nonfiction As a mother, how do you explain an absentee father to your child without blame, anger or resentment? Empower them! Seven-year-old Joseph shares his story about when he first learns about the POWER of choice he possesses after his father leaves and doesn't come back. His mother teaches him the difference between his father's choices and his own. Do Joseph and Mom become angry with Joseph's father? Well, a belief is just a thought you keep thinking over and over...find out what happens on Joseph's Journey! My Review I really liked this book and the message that the author shared. My nephews have had to deal with their father choosing not to be a part of their lives. This has been a big deal in their lives, even though they may not come out and straight voice their opinions. My olde
Relentless + Giveaway
Book Description: "The little girl lay under the hay stack scarcely breathing. Sweat poured down her face and dripped into her eyes; her heart pounded through her thin chest. Tiny flecks of hay clung to her wet skin, making her itch. She squeezed her nose tightly afraid she'd sneeze. Eyes clamped shut, she lay there. Flies buzzed around her, crawling on her. She didn't move. She didn't know how long she'd been there in the loft. She didn't care how long she stayed. She couldn't move. Not yet." Nearly a lifetime after a childhood filled with misery and abuse, Gina, now a successful doctor, finds herself thrown back into a terrifying world where her nightmares become far more than just a dream. With the help of an unconventional therapist with secrets of her own, the hunt is on and Gina fights for her life in this harrowing tale of cat and mouse. My Review This book should have been right up my alley. Yet, I had a very hard time
Say Goodbye for Now
On an isolated Texas ranch, Dr. Lucy cares for abandoned animals. The solitude allows her to avoid the people and places that remind her of the past. Not that any of the townsfolk care. In 1959, no one is interested in a woman doctor. Nor are they welcoming Calvin and Justin Bell, a newly arrived African American father and son. When Pete Solomon, a neglected twelve-year-old boy, and Justin bring a wounded wolf-dog hybrid to Dr. Lucy, the outcasts soon find refuge in one another. Lucy never thought she'd make connections again, never mind fall in love. Pete never imagined he'd find friends as loyal as Justin and the dog. But these four people aren't allowed to be friends, much less a family, when the whole town turns violently against them. With heavy hearts, Dr. Lucy and Pete say goodbye to Calvin and Justin. But through the years they keep hope alive…waiting for the world to catch up with them. My Review This is the third book I have read from this author. By far, thi
The Blue Witch
The second installment of The Chronicles of Eledon finds Lady Alexin in Avalon, seat of King Arthur's throne. The mortal world is far from what she'd imagined, and the mortals are less than hospitable. Trouble abounds when Alex is accused of being the "Blue Witch" and sentenced to die for treason. In addition, the mysterious death of one of Arthur's courtiers by seemingly magical means complicates her situation. Back in Eledon, trouble is brewing. Civil unrest and the threat of war demands Alex's presence to assume her responsibilities as Keeper of the Keys for the Council of Elders. Only too glad to escape the noose, Alex executes a series of quests to prove her abilities to handle the keys and their strange magic. But can she save the Elves from Civil War? And commute her own death sentence by finding the Holy Grail? My Review This is the first book I have read by this author. I was first drawn to this book by the stunning cover that I had to check this book out. Yet, I did not
Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving
Inside the Book Title : MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR THANKSGIVING Author : Cheryl C. Malandrinos Publisher : Guardian Angel Publishing Pages : 16 Genre : Children's Picture Book Ten-year-old Macy is waiting for her grandparents to arrive on Thanksgiving. When the front door swings open, Grandma and Grandpa are covered with hugs and kisses. C rash! Everyone rushes in to find the dog gnawing a meaty turkey leg. Can Macy's quick thinking save dinner? My Review I found this book to be a quick but charming read. Macy is a very innovative girl, who is also a quick thinker. I really enjoyed that this story had a good message...it is ok to not have the "traditional" Thanksgiving. In addition, there are more important things then the food, like family. Again, it was great how Macy took what she learned in school about the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and the Indians and turned her family Thanksgiving disaster into something positive. Book Excerpt: Moment
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TravelGal's Notes
Random half-assed notes from trips around the world and not only…
Pseudo-Linguistic Exercises
Eat the Fuck at Home!
Posted on August 9, 2016 October 26, 2018 by TravelGal
Part 1. Dublin – The Journey Begins.
What do normal people do for summer vacations?… They pack a swimsuit and flip-flops, and go somewhere warm, direction South, preferably next to a big expanse of (not freezing) water. They sleep in every day, sit by the beach, drink cocktails with little straw hats in them, and enjoy the ambiance…
What do we do?… We choose a destination North from our starting point, a place widely known for some of the highest annual rainfall on the continent, and go on a 10-day motorbike vacation there. Riding in the rain – yippee!!!! We have never been known for the smartest or most logical choices in our lives, but when pretty much every person we shared our excitement about going on a motorbike vacation to Ireland with, inquired what on earth we had been drinking or smoking, some vague doubts about the destination and the choice of transport started creeping in on us…
Doubts, or no doubts, the flights were booked, the bikes freighted ahead (yes, we are lazy/fancy/extravagant/organized/dumb [select one most suitable option] like that!), rain gear packed, and we were, indeed, heading to Ireland on a biking trip…
Before reuniting with our bikes in Gorey, south of Dublin, we had 2 full days to roam around on foot in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, enjoying everything the city had to offer. By "everything" we mostly meant pubs and Guinness, but in the end there was a random assortment of (semi)-cultural tourist attractions thrown in into the mix.
We had some balls going to Ireland the way we did. The "motorbikes + rain" combination aside, I personally was showing up on the Emerald Island with some shady documentation to my name. I am a dubiously proud holder of a Russian passport. Which means I need fucking visas to go everywhere, including Timbuktu and places that are not even on the map!… For this particular trip, I had a visa for the United Kingdom, not the Republic of Ireland. True, there is an agreement between the two, stating that holders of UK multiple-entry visas who already entered the UK once on them, can technically come to the Republic of Ireland as well, but I was still skeptical. Mostly because my visa was in a passport that expired a year ago, and both (passport and visa) were issued in my old name. Naturally, I was worried…
Turned out – absolutely for nothing! To my sheer shock and delight, the immigration officer at the Dublin airport (a lovely fella with rosy cheeks and a childish face, who barely fit into the booth he was occupying on duty) laughed heartily (and did not wait a second to comment on the fact) at how hilarious an Irish name of Murphy looked in a Russian passport, and welcomed me to the newly-acquired motherland by enthusiastically stamping the expired passport. Noticing the mistake, he just shrugged it off, and with the "What the hell!?…" comment, stamped the valid one as well. "For good luck", as he commented. I immediately felt at home!
The sunny streets of Dublin
We emerged from the depths of the airport, and felt rather strange outside. It was sunny! And warm… People were walking around in T-shirts and flip-flops! Judging by the boiled lobster complexions many of them were proudly sprouting, the day of our arrival was not a random 1-day quirk of nature, but the heat-wave that must have been going on for at least a week… Completely unexpectedly, so we decided to be cautious and not get too excited over our surprisingly good luck, but did our best to enjoy this randomly occurring meteorological phenomenon. A taxi (surprisingly orange in color – somehow I expected everything in Ireland to be green…) took us to the hotel, and a chatty cabby cemented my first impression of the unbelievable friendliness of people on the island by giving us a free tour of everywhere we were driving through. Closing in on the downtown he recommended a couple of pubs and restaurants close to the hotel – all recommendations were welcome, and having followed a couple of them, we only fell further in love with the place and the people!
This is the Liffey!
We chose the Kelly's Hotel because of the location/price combination, and were not disappointed in either category even for a second. Having read the reviews on TripAdvisor before committing to two nights at the place, I was perplexed to find somebody angrily commenting on how they could not sleep at night because of the loud noise from the pub downstairs. What the hell did they expect????… The hotel openly and clearly admits that it is situated downtown in the midst of drinking and dining scene, so it does get loud in the night. To be more precise – very loud. Ireland is not the quietest country on this planet, and Dublin proudly holds the banner of the loudest pubs and restaurant ever! Since we were on vacation and were fully intent to contribute to the loudness of the surroundings, we were not bothered one bit.
To the hotel's credit, all rooms were fully stocked with ear plugs of various colors, shapes and sizes, so the complaints of the author of that TripAdvisor's article were completely groundless… Having stayed at Kelly's Hotel for 2 nights on arrival and an additional night before flying back home at the end of our trip, we can wholeheartedly confirm that it was a good choice, indeed. Located in the very happening area just off the Temple Bar district, it had everything a big city had to offer – great pubs and restaurants, lively night scene, and easy connections to everywhere you want to be in Dublin. It is highly recommended to anyone, who will not be easily discouraged by a little background pub noise going on at 3 in the morning.
The colorful pubs of Dublin
If I were to describe Dublin with just a couple of words, the first that would actually come to mind will be "loud", "colorful", and "cheerful". All three can be wholeheartedly attributed to the numerous pubs you will discover on every street and corner of this wonderful city. Old and new, simple and fancy, they will welcome you into their dark beery midsts, envelope you in friendly banter, noisy ambiance and general happiness that exists only in Irish pubs, where the Guinness flows freely, the music is a part of life, the resident drunks are kings, and a good craic is had by all!
Our first pit stop was the Stag's Head – one of the old classical pubs of Dublin, that many friends back in Munich had dozens of fond memories about, and that just happened to be in our new neighborhood. The hotel was making our room ready for us, we did not have a proper meal since yesterday, having woken up at the crack of dawn, and in addition to all the friendly recommendations the pub was also mentioned by our cab driver as a decent place for a pint. Before we knew it, we were ordering bangers and mash and a portion of ham and cabbage to complement our already very enjoyable pints of Guinness.
Our program for the day was really relaxed – see whatever we can see without stressing ourselves too much, have a pint at every occasion that presented itself, and go with the flow. With this in mind, the first day was an absolute success! We walked around, had some Guinness with fantastic pub food, walked through the Temple Bar quarter (without stopping at any of the venues there – even fresh off the boat we knew better!), saw the grounds and buildings of the famous Trinity College, had more Guinness, took several dozen photos of the colorful streets and pubs of Dublin, had more Guinness, and generally allowed the vacation mood to settle in.
The Dublin Castle
The evening was reserved for a special occasion – meeting up with an old friend of Nic's, who he last saw 15 years ago in Asia, where they first made the acquaintance. I have always admired people who could stay in touch and remain friends despite the challenges that the passing time and geographical distance put between them, and was curious to meet the "old new friend". Jamie did not disappoint. A Dubliner by birth and an adventurer at heart, he showed us the neighborhood at its best, and after only half an hour together, the three of us were feeling ourselves local over and over again, sipping Guinness on the pavement outside the pubs and skeptically eyeing the tourists, trying to get a seat at a table inside (so uncool of them!). The evening was a whirlwind of pints, pubs, and venues, and ended up in The George, a cool and relaxed gay bar in the neighborhood (at 9 on a Thursday evening, we definitely were too early for the main crowd!), and surprisingly to ourselves, we called it a night at a kindergarten hour of 10. Not even the loud drunk crowds downstairs in The Hogans could disturb our good night's sleep! We slept like babies, and were ready for new adventures by the early hours of the next morning.
The courtyard at The George
CategoriesLittle Green Island Roadtrip (2016)
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The door has been left ajar, but Sara and Alex won't be back. They don't feel welcome.
Sara Rimmer and Alex Saunders are lesbians. Both were raised as Christians, Alex in an Anglican family.
The couple wanted to get married last year in St Peter's Anglican Church in Paekākāriki, north of Wellington.
Sara wasn't too worried about the venue, but it was important to her partner.
"I remember waking up one morning after a discussion about who we wanted as our celebrant," says Saunders, "and I didn't want to just get a run-of-the mill legal celebrant or get married in a registry office, and I realised it's because marriage to me has always been a union under God, that was the phrase that stuck in my head.
Both were new to the area and keen to join the congregation to show their commitment.
Trouble was, the congregation wasn't so keen on them.


So much for that momentum from Saturday's win at The Bank.
Both teams were playing their third game in three nights, but only one showed it, as Utah scored five power-play goals to walk away with the 7-3 win. Shawn Collymore had two goals for the Reign, C.J. Stretch had a goal and an assist, and Kellen Briggs (15 saves on 21 shots) was pulled from a start for just the second time this season.
More details in tomorrow's editions of the Sun and Daily Bulletin (but if you're looking for something uplifting, better turn to the comics page).
This entry was posted in Ontario Reign/ECHL and tagged C.J. Stretch, Kellen Briggs, Shawn Collymore, Utah Grizzlies by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.
JP feel fortunate you don't have to pay to watch this. I don't know how much I can take of this.
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Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday warned scheduled banks of taking punitive measures against their chairmen and managing directors if the banks' involvement was found in financing in the ongoing political violence.
The warning came from a meeting between high officials of the BB and top bosses of the scheduled banks at the central bank headquarters in the capital.
BB deputy governor Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan presided by the meeting while managing directors and chief executive officers of all banks attended.
Razee told reporters after the meeting that the central bank would suspend the chairman and managing director of the banks concerned in line with the existing law if the banks were found involved in the financing in the violence.
The central bank will be able to impose financial penalty up to Tk 25 lakh against any chairman and MD concerned of the banks if he or she is found involved in any terrorist financing, he said.
The BB has asked the banks to issue a fresh letter to their all branches within Wednesday (today) to warn their officials against such financing, Razee said.
The central bank will verify their measures in this regard whether they issue the letter or not, he said. The banks will have to inform the central bank immediately after they find any type of suspicious transactions, Razee said.
'The BB has asked the banks to monitor the transaction details of all clients especially in the violence-prone districts. The banks will have to verify the transaction details for the last six months', he said.
The banks will have to inform Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit of the central bank immediately if they find any abnormal or suspicious transaction during the period, Razee said.
The banks will have to conduct an inspection on their preventive measures against money laundering and terrorist financing and have to submit the report to the BB by March 31, he said.
The central bank also asked the banks to take required measures to keep free their mobile banking services from the terrorist financing, Razee said.
From now on, the banks will have to fill up the KYC (know your client) forms accurately, he said. 'We have asked the MDs and CEOs of the banks to take pre-cautionary measures so that the terrorists fail to transfer the financing through the banking sector to fuel up the violence,' Razee said.
The BB has recently found allegations from some intelligence agencies that the terrorists are now using the banking sector to transfer their financing to fuel up the violence, he said.
'The BB has told the banks that the government has taken a zero tolerance policy against the terrorist financing to save the country's image,' Razee said.
Opposition political parties led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have been calling hartal (general strike) frequently along with the ongoing blockade since the first week of January demanding fresh national elections which caused fresh violence across the country.
Another BB official said the central bank had made the decision to monitor closely the banking transactions in line with government directives.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina last week had directed the banks and financial institutions to identify those who finance militant and terror activities. She called for strict monitoring of financial transactions carried out through banks during a meeting with finance ministry officials at the secretariat.
The sponsors of the militant and terror activities are using the banks to transfer money in and outside the country, Hasina had said. The banking transactions should be monitored carefully to identify the financiers of terrorism, she had said.


Smashwords – Books Tagged "casting"
These results show books which have been specifically tagged with this keyword. You can also try doing a general search for the term "casting" .
From childhood, Laura Linn loved to go to the movies. Like many youngsters, she dreamed of one day becoming a successful actor like the stars she followed on the big screen. Years later, Laura stands on the brink of the success and recognition she has been striving for, having been cast in a new movie. This is how she followed her acting dream.
An actors quick tip guide to understanding what Pilot Season is all about. The guide breaks down and demystifies the ins and outs of pilot season, including how to get ready for the busiest and most robust time of the year. It also tackles many questions about the entire process from start to finish. A great way for actors to get a glimpse into the inner workings of pilot season.
This ebook is recommended filming dracula will be screened in 2014. The new Dracula movie (Dracula: Year Zero) is set to be available in the big screen on October 3, 2014 starring Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Samantha Barks and Sarah Gadon. The American action drama-fantasy film is based on Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. It was written by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama and directed by Gary Shore.
Thinking about taking your child's acting opportunities to the next level? Reading "My Kid Has Talent! Now What?" gives an inside look at one family's journey through the maze of the Hollywood entertainment industry. From starting local to Hollywood living, agents to auditions, budgets to traffic, this book provides you with invaluable advice that only someone who has been through it can give.
Eight months ago, Cecht Angrove was abducted from his farm and forced to study under a wizard lord. Unable to stand it any longer, he's asked to fight in the arena for his freedom. Can he beat Saccius Venning, the wizard lords other apprentice, and regain his freedom?


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Sustrans traffic-free routes and greenways design guide
Sustrans traffic-free routes and greenways design guide contents
7. Geometric design
Geometric design is part of the Sustrans traffic-free routes and greeways design guide. It covers managing speed and providing enough width for all users by presenting minimum design criteria for horizontal and vertical alignments, as well as suitable visibility.
A well-designed traffic-free route will manage speed and provide enough width for all users.
Minimum design criteria for horizontal and vertical alignments.
Suitable visibility should be provided to ensure the safety of all users, especially on the approach to roads.
7.1 Design speed
The geometric design of a route will be influenced by the likely speeds at which users will move along it. Visibility along the route, route function and accessibility will also influence geometric design.
Where traffic-free routes are intended to be used as a shared-use facility, interactions between different user groups will be greater, and so speeds are reduced.
On this basis, the concept of design speed becomes less important. Instead, geometric design will be guided by the space required for users to manoeuvre in a way that does not cause inconvenience or delay.
People on bikes are likely to be the highest speed users of traffic-free routes. There are two scenarios where inappropriate speeds are likely to cause an issue:
Higher-speed users intimidate and jeopardise the safety of lower-speed users, resulting in a reduction in use of the route.
Speed is inappropriate at interfaces between the route and highway, such as roads and junctions.
The alignment of a well-designed route should encourage appropriate speeds. Providing enough width along a shared-use path can reduce the impact of inappropriate speeds. As there is more space for users to interact and higher speed differentials between users can be accommodated. Where sufficient width cannot be provided, the following measures may help to encourage appropriate speeds:
Promotion of responsible use of the path, such as a One Path Initiative (Section 3.5).
The use of signing and surface markings.
Artwork and other features to create a greater sense of place.
The provision of physical measures to control user speeds, such as speed humps and rumble strips, must be avoided. These features can serve to reduce the convenience and attractiveness of a route and can make a route inaccessible to some users.
Where it is necessary to encourage slower speeds on approach to a hazard, the preference is to introduce a change in horizontal alignment that will require users to slow down. For example, introducing a 90-degree turn on the approach to a highway interface.
Designers must take care when introducing more severe changes in alignment. It is important that these do not result in people riding bikes or horses having to dismount.
Change in path alignment on approach to highway, Dewsbury, Yorkshire.
7.2 Widths
The width of a traffic-free route is fundamental to its success. Routes should be designed to enable users to move side-by-side, comfortably overtake, and pass other users travelling in the opposing direction.
Widths should also encourage use of the route as a sociable facility, where people can interact as they walk, wheel and ride side-by-side. Widths should be proportionate to the anticipated level, and type, of use.
The effective width of a traffic-free route is considered the 'useable' width of the route. Providing a path width that satisfies the requirements of the table below does not mean a suitable effective width will have been achieved.
The table below builds upon the principles of user space requirements and summarises the absolute and desirable minimum effective widths:
Features located at the side of a traffic-free route can have the effect of reducing effective width. For example, users of a 3m shared use path with fencing either side may 'shy' away from the fences. In practice, the 'shy distance' can have the effect of offsetting path users towards the centre of the path.
Subsequently, a 3m wide shared-use path with fencing either side may only have an effective width of 2m. Put more simply, only 2m of the path is considered functional by path users, even though there is a 3m wide surface.
Designers should note that shy distances are more applicable to people on bikes and horse riders than other path users. This is mainly due to the risk of handlebars, pedals and stirrups striking vertical features situated alongside the path edge. Thus the effect of shy distances on the effective width of a path needs to be considered against the composition of users of the traffic-free route.
The table below summarises the extra width that can be added to a path to achieve or maintain effective widths. These are applicable where vertical features are present alongside the path.
The widths provided above are intended as a guide. In some cases, there may be benefits in exceeding these widths, particularly where routes may be used as a safe route to a school. Providing a greater width will also increase level of service and provide passive capacity for future growth in use.
Whilst increasing the widths of routes can provide many benefits for users, it can also be costly to projects. As such, the proposed width of route should be assessed through a Scheme Assessment during the planning stage. This will assist in clarifying what width of route is required to meet the objectives of the scheme and ensure the route is inclusive.
Where a traffic-free route is located next to a road, within the highway verge, it must be separated from the edge of road. The table below summarises the level of separation required.
Traffic-free route alongside highway, Millwall Path, London
7.3 Typical cross-sections
The following figures illustrate a number of typical cross-sections for traffic-free routes:
7.4 Horizontal alignment
The horizontal alignment of a traffic-free route is fundamental to creating an environment that is inclusive, safe, attractive and memorable. Horizontal alignment will largely be predetermined by the topography of the site, particularly where the route follows a railway corridor or canal towpath.
Depending on the function and user composition of a route, curvature will vary. A route that has a high proportion of commuters using bikes should consider the use of larger radii to ensure that higher speeds can be maintained. In general, routes with a high commuter composition should avoid the use of radii lower than 25m.
Where routes have more of a recreational function, smaller radii may be used to encourage lower speeds. In recreational environments, designers should avoid the use of radii smaller than 15m. Except in specific circumstances.
Where the horizontal alignment is being used to control speeds, such as on the approach to a hazard, a minimum (inside) radius of 4m is appropriate. This will still be negotiable by someone riding a bike but will require a reduction in speed to negotiate the curvature.
Horizontal alignment serves to reduce cycling speeds.
Junctions between paths should have either a 2m radius or a 45° chamfer. This will assist users in negotiating a sharp change in direction. It will also help to reduce conflict and discourage people on bikes from creating informal routes across the verge.
Radius used at junction in route on Nene Way, Northamptonshire.
7.5 Vertical alignment
Local topography can have an impact on the vertical alignment of a route. It is important that designers overcome the impacts of local topography through design.
The design of vertical alignments should ensure that routes remain inclusive, accessible and attractive. The vertical alignment of a traffic-free route should follow the gradients listed in the table below.
Where existing ground profiles are not excessive, it may be possible to meander or 'zig-zag' the route. Whilst this may increase the length of a route, it may reduce the need for earthworks (Section 7.5.3) or retaining structures (Section 10.5). Where this approach to route alignment is adopted, it is common to introduce a set of steps. These provide those walking with a more convenient and direct route up the steeper parts of the existing ground profile.
Path along gradient without retaining structures.
'Cut and fill' earthworks can be used to overcome irregular or excessive ground profiles. This process involves moving earth from one section of route to another to create a more regular gradient. The figure below provides an overview of how cut and fill can be used to create a more consistent and attractive gradient to users.
Cut and Fill used on a traffic-free route.
In this example, the black line represents the ideal vertical path profile. This profile overcomes the undulating nature of the existing ground profile. The two highest points of the existing ground profile can be 'cut' to 'fill' the lowest point in the existing ground profile. In this case, the amount of cut material exceeds the volume of fill material required.
Designers should be aware of the potential for greater speed differentials between users on gradients. This occurrence can affect comfort and safety along routes. Therefore, designers should consider whether more localised width or separation is needed as mitigation. Additional width may also be required on steep uphill gradients. As the effective width of those riding bikes uphill will increase.
Care should be taken to avoid designing a route that has lower sections than the surrounding ground profile. This may result in surface water draining onto the route.
In this scenario, standing water can cause a hazard to users, particularly where the water freezes. Designers should ensure that water sheds from the surface of a path where possible.
This will reduce the likelihood of costly drainage interventions being required post-implementation.
Designers should also note that steep paths could introduce maintenance issues. Where surface water can gather velocity down gradients, it can serve to erode the path surface and verges.
7.6 Ramps and connections
How a traffic-free route connects with a wider transportation network needs careful consideration. Traffic-free routes, particularly those that utilise old railway corridors, canals or rivers, will invariably be required to connect into the highway network.
This requirement presents challenges where, historically, canal towpaths and rail corridors have used structures to 'grade separate' the different transport corridors.
Therefore, where routes are planned and designed to use canal towpaths or disused rail corridors, a significant level difference may need to be overcome to provide an 'at-grade' interface with the highway network.
Ramp providing access to traffic-free route in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
The vertical alignment of ramps, including the requirement for landings, rest places and handrails should be designed in accordance with the requirements of Inclusive Mobility, DfT 2002. By achieving the requirements of Inclusive Mobility, designers can ensure that traffic-free routes are accessible to everyone.
There may be cases where the location of the ramp and the nature of the route would make the more challenging requirements of Inclusive Mobility disproportionate. For example, where a ramp connects to a canal towpath that incorporates cobbled side arm bridges. In this scenario, wheelers would not be able to use the route even if it could be accessed by a ramp.
Any decision to depart from the requirements of Inclusive Mobility should be documented. Documentation should include an Accessibility Audit / Equality Impact Assessment and Designer Risk Assessment. Under these circumstances, designers must consider how their decisions will affect inclusivity.
The construction of a ramp may need retaining measures. These can increase the cost of a scheme and need additional land to be acquired. The cost of introducing retaining measures needs to be considered against the extra cost of providing a longer route that follows natural ground gradients and does not require retaining measures.
Crib wall Construction on Padiham Greenway, Burnley, Lancashire.
To reduce the likelihood of non-compliant ramp gradients, it may be possible to locally adjust the level of the traffic-free route to decrease the level difference, as shown in the figure below:
Where providing ramped access is not possible, consideration should be given to relocating the access point. Access points could be moved to a position where there is less level difference, or there is space to construct a ramp. The benefit of accessibility to all users is likely to outweigh reductions in directness.
7.7 Visibility
When designing a traffic-free route it is important to provide enough forward visibility. This will ensure that all users are aware of changing situations ahead. Providing enough forward visibility is relevant to those users travelling at greater speeds. This is termed stopping sight distance (SSD) and is the distance travelled in the time taken to react and stop.
Sight distance in motion (SDM) is the distance that someone needs to be able to see ahead when moving to feel safe and comfortable. Typically, this is the distance covered in 8 to 10 seconds whilst moving towards an object.
Traffic-free routes should be designed to achieve the SSD and SDM values set out in the table below. These distances should be provided within the envelope of forward visibility shown in the figure below. The SSD values in the table apply to a level route with a sealed surface, at the design speeds shown. SSD will increase at greater speeds, for downhill gradients and poor surface conditions. Poor surface conditions will include wet and icy surfaces as well surfaces where leaves are present. SSD on unsealed surfaces should be increased by 50%.
Where a traffic-free route joins a road or another route, adequate visibility between users on each route must be provided. Designs should ensure that visibility within the envelope shown in the figure below is not obscured.
This visibility envelope is determined by the speed of traffic (motor or people on bikes) on the major arm of the junction. It assumes that the traffic-free route adjoins a highway network. Although the principles would be applicable to a junction with another traffic-free route.
An 'X' distance, measured from the give-way line or edge of the major arm, of 4.5m should be used where possible. This will ensure that route users have adequate time to determine whether they need to stop at the junction.
This distance may be reduced to 2.4m and to 1.0m as an absolute minimum where cycle approach speeds are low and the approach geometry encourages a reduction in speed on the traffic-free route. 'Y'' distances will be determined by the type and speed of the road environment.
Typical 'Y' distances are shown in the table below:
In circumstances where traffic-free routes adjoin the strategic highway network, achieving the visibility requirements of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) will be required.
1. Traffic-free routes overview
2. Quality standards
4. Sharing of paths
5. Signing and wayfinding
6. Space requirements
8. Path specification details
9. Access to routes
10. Supporting details
11. Maintenance and management
12. Land and legal
13. Planning and consents
14. Ecology


EXXON MOBIL HAS DOUBLED DOWN ON DIRTY TAR-SANDS OIL | "Global Possibilities"
The company recently admitted that it has invested heavily in Canada's tar-sands oil reserves, InsideClimate News reports — and it was not a good bet.
Tar-sands oil is difficult, expensive, and energy-consuming to extract, making it especially bad for the climate. It's only profitable when oil prices are high. Exxon acknowledged in a public financial disclosure report this fall that it could be forced to take a loss on billions of barrels of tar-sands oil unless prices rise soon.
The company made this unwise investment despite long knowing, as InsideClimate News previously reported, that burning oil causes climate change and future climate regulations could make tar-sands oil unprofitable or impossible to drill.
In 1991, Exxon's Canadian affiliate Imperial Oil commissioned an analysis that found carbon regulation could halt tar-sands production. "Yet Exxon, Imperial, and others poured billions of dollars into the tar sands while lobbying against government actions that would curtail development," according to InsideClimate News.
This news comes just after Donald Trump nominated ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state. The State Department is responsible for reviewing proposed pipeline projects that cross international borders, like Keystone XL, which would have carried tar-sands oil from Canada down toward U.S. refineries.