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Home Featured 4 High-Growth Stocks That Could SURGE for the Rest of 2020
4 High-Growth Stocks That Could SURGE for the Rest of 2020
If you're looking for four stocks that could inject your portfolio with healthy gains for the remainder of the year, look no further…
Amazon.com (AMZN), ServiceNow (NOW), Insulet (PODD), and Charter Communications (CHTR) are four stocks that passed my strict "high-growth" screener. These are companies with a history of strong growth and are forecasted to have robust growth in the upcoming quarters. They also have business models that are unlikely to be affected by the market's current uncertainty.
Heading into October, many investors feared another down month due to a view that the markets are historically down in October. The problem is, that isn't true. There's actually a name for that, called the "October Effect." Aside from the infamous October 1987, stocks have typically done well in October. In addition to that, a strong third quarter is usually followed by a strong fourth quarter, according to LPL Financial's Ryan Detrick.
That's not to say we won't see volatility over the next few months, especially in a year that has been full of surprises. We are heading into the November 3rd presidential election, and the third-quarter earnings season kicked off this week. FactSet expects third-quarter earnings for companies in the S&P 500 to decline by an average of 21.8%. We could see a repeat of last quarter when many companies outperformed analyst expectations, or earnings could come in as expected. Either way, if you own a select group of high-growth companies with strong catalysts for growth, your portfolio should benefit.
Amazon.com (AMZN)
AMZN certainly belongs on this list with a five-year average earnings growth rate of 106.5%. Earnings are expected to grow 40.2% next year, and revenues at 18%. To say AMZN has had a good year is an understatement. The stock is up 67.8% year to date, led by a spike in online orders due to the coronavirus. AMZN is the undisputed e-commerce heavyweight of the world, and the pandemic played right into its hands.
The company has also seen a strong adoption rate of its AWS product, which is only reinforcing its case as the dominant cloud company. AMZN is also the leader in the $5.7 billion smart speaker market. It recently announced a ton of new hardware products, including a collection of 4th generation Echo smart speakers, new Fire TV Stick video streamers, Eero Wi-Fi routers, and new Ring security cameras.
Adding to this, AMZN's Prime Day, which is its biggest shopping event of the year, will be taking place on October 13 and 14. Last year's Prime Day surpassed the company's 2018 Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. So, it's no surprise AMZN is rated a "Buy" in our POWR Ratings system. It has an "A" Trade Grade, and grades of "B" for Buy & Hold Grade, Peer Grade, and Industry Rank. It is also ranked #9 in the Internet industry.
ServiceNow (NOW)
Another cloud company with very strong growth potential is NOW. The firm provides software solutions to structure and automate various business processes via a SaaS delivery model. The company primarily focuses on the IT function for enterprise customers and had one hell of a year with earnings growing 1944.4%. Its five-year revenue growth rate is 33.9%, and analysts expect the company to grow revenues 24.5% and earnings 24.2% next year.
The company is poised to benefit from strong growth in subscription revenues. During the second quarter, the company announced that it closed 40 transactions that totaled more than…


Dr. Miller is a great guy. It struck us in the beginning, my wife and I talked about this to some extent. The fact that he is such a technically-oriented person, but he really has a great personality and a wonderful bedside manner. So we were well-pleased and, frankly, surprised at that attitude. The advantages that were explained to me and which were verified by everybody I talked with were number one- it's a non-invasive type of surgery, if you could call a radical prostatectomy non-invasive. It involved a laparoscopic and robotic-assisted procedure that appealed to me as well as the fact that the recovery time was much less and I'm still working so I wanted to get back to work as soon as possible.
So, we went ahead and we had the surgery. I was operated on, on a Thursday. I remember last year, so almost year ago. And by noon the next day, I was back home in my own surroundings. Never took but two or three pain pills just for little discomfort, never had any real what I would call pain with the process before or after. I spent approximately a week with a catheter and had no problems with incontinence from the immediate time it was removed. From that point on, no problems and I was back at work actually the Monday following the Thursday I was operated on. I was really doing work from my home office by email and the like and just no pain, no discomfort at all. I mean if I couldn't see these little places that they cut my tummy, I wouldn't know that I had the surgery except for the urological difference and so forth. But, no side effects and I am very pleased.


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Check Out These 5 Historic Iroquois Spots in Central New York
Central New York is full of Haudenosaunee history, here are just five spots those traveling in the area can stop and check out.
Alex Hamer
In what is now Madison and Onondaga counties in Central New York sits many important places to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). These counties are the homelands of the Onondagas and the Oneidas. The Tuscarora, when joining the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in 1722, were granted land in primarily the Oneida homelands in the area.
This is by no means a complete list of public places offering Native tourism opportunities in the area. They are often marked by small blue signs. Here we present some of the lesser known places and events of Central New York.
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Nichols Pond
Nichols Pond is a 45-acre Madison County Park located in the Town of Fenner, New York. The park sits on what was a main village site of the Oneida Indian Nation dating back to the 1400s. Across the street from the park there are still grain storage pits visible from when the Oneidas would store their food like dried corn.
The village site is positioned so the Oneidas could keep watch north across Oneida Lake in order to see if anyone was approaching from that direction.
The view north overlooking Oneida Lake from the area of the Oneida village at Nichols Pond.
The site was dug at in the 1950s by Dr. Peter Pratt and revealed where palisades protected the village from the west side. Pratt was an archaeology professor at the State University of New York at Oswego. He dug at several important Haudenosaunee locations including burial sites not be listed here.
Today, the Oneidas return to the site in Central New York for educational purposes with youth groups and to stay connected to the site. Marilyn John, Bear Clan Mother, who passed away in 2007 planted a white pine tree at the site many years ago. This symbolic planting of the tree is important as the white pine is the Tree of Peace in Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Culture.
Nichols Pond, site of a former Oneida village site dating back to the 1400s.
Oneida Lake
Northeast of Onondaga Lake by roughly 25 miles is Oneida Lake, the largest lake within what is now New York State with 79.8 square surface miles.
The lake served both the Oneidas and the Onondagas within their respective territories. Oneida Lake was many things to the Nations of the Haudenosaunee. Canoes from all of the Six Nations traveled across Oneida Lake, Known as Tsioqui, White Waters in the Oneida language. Tsioqui was was once filled with 25-pound Atlantic salmon. Salmon is a traditional food of the Haudenosaunee. They were so plentiful in Oneida Lake and its tributaries, they were easily caught with spears or with bare hands, according to Early History of Atlantic Salmon in New York by Dwight A. Webster, a professor of fishery science at Cornell University.
The Onondaga had fishing villages on the west end of the lake within their territory known as Techiroguen. From this village the Onondaga could travel north to the Salmon River and then onto Lake Ontario. This was a major route for trade, hunting and fishing. The Mohawk River to the east of the lake was also traveled on and through a portage on what is now Rome, New York, Oneida Lake was also accessible for the Mohawks whose traditional territory is east of the Oneidas.
Sunset on Oneida Lake.
East of Chittenango, New York, along State Route 5 is a place known as Canaseraga, after a stream that runs through the area. There is a marker stating that it was the location of the first settlement of area colonists in 1790. This was the territory of a nearby Tuscarora village site in what was originally Oneida Indian Nation land, though the marker only mentions the colonists.
The settlers were viewed as squatters with complaints from the Oneidas and Tuscaroras repeatedly reaching then Governor George Clinton of New York. According to The History of Chenango and Madison County, New York by James H. Smith, the squatters were evicted by Colonel William Colbraith and their dwellings burned by Colbraith's men in 1791. The Tuscarora and Oneidas that were present were recorded as being filled with sorrow by local author Guerdon Evans. "The Indians gathered around in quiet groups with hearts more full of sorrow for the white man than joy for justice secured them by righteous laws." The Oneidas and Tuscaroras then led those they evicted west a few miles and gave them a place they were welcomed to live by Chittenango Creek.
Worth noting is that Canaseraga Creek also flows into Oneida Lake.
Iroquois Trail
On Route 11 in the hamlet of Nedrow, New York is a plaque attached to a boulder that marks where the Iroquois Trail—sometimes known as the Great Indian Trail or Mohawk Trail—crossed East and West through Haudenosaunee territory. The path was used for trading, communications, and even traveling during times of war. The trail extended from what is now Albany, New York to the western portion of New York State in Seneca Territory. This was just a part of a trail system that led in all directions and eventually became many of the roadways that people use today.
Deep Springs
This location is what is known as the Edge of the Woods between the Onondaga and Oneida territories. There is a spring that comes out of the ground here and then travels back underground into the side of a hill. Also a part of the Iroquois Trail this is where a traveler would stop and set up a small fire to show themselves and be greeted in by the other nation.
Peterson Zah's life full of achievement
Quit Week provides an opportunity to give up smoking
Heard Museum reschedules World Championship Hoop Dance Contest to March 26 and 27, 2022
Statements from Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris, Jr. and U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva on ruling in Amber Ortega case
White House Council on Native American Affairs to engage tribal leaders on bipartisan infrastructure law, public safety and criminal justice
Phoenix joins tribes, vows to prop up key reservoir
By Carina Dominguez
Wanted: Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian recordings
United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo named first artist-in-residence at Tulsa's Bob Dylan Center in advance of Grand Opening on May 10
Proposed Alaska gold mine worries area tribes
By Joaqlin Estus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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/ RePlay Snack Stacks Travel Lid
RePlay Snack Stacks Travel Lid
RePlay Snack Stacks Travel Lid is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Attaches to strollers, diaper bags and backpacks
Made from recycled milk jugs (HDPE recycled plastic) & recycled FDA approved polypropylene
Includes 1 Snack Stack lid
About RePlay:
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1987:
Re-Think It, Inc. was founded by husband and wife team Craig and Amy Shumway with the goal of producing high quality, durable, and sustainable consumer goods. Re-Think It began producing an all-purpose scrubber called the Original Power Puff, featuring a long handle made out of recycled milk jugs. In 2011, Re-Think It unveiled the Re-Play line of infant and toddler dishware. Featuring a wide color pallet, each plate, bowl, cup, and utensil is manufactured out of recycled, FDA approved, food safe plastic.
Today, Re-Think It remains family owned and family-focused company dedicated to providing sustainable and affordable products, while following responsible environmental and social business practices.
WORK CULTURE:
Family values and responsibilities are a leading priority in our company. Employees are given the opportunity to work flexible schedules around family time, school and life in general. We strongly believe that this creates the most peaceful, productive and rewarding work environment.
Re-Think It employs multi-generations from within our close community. We support and honor motherhood by employing new moms and allowing them to share a workload. Re-Think It serves the community by offering paid internships to local college students, to further share the importance of environmental and social harmony with our future business leaders.
All employees' ideas and input are encouraged and considered in making decisions about the company, both big and small.
AMERICAN OWNED AND OPERATED:
All Re-Play and Power Puff products are proudly manufactured, assembled, and tested in the USA. In fact, Re-Think It is headquartered in central Florida with its manufacturing center located in south Florida.


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My bad —
Comcast: Treatment of upset former customer "completely unacceptable"
Comcast executive: "We simply dropped the ball and did not make things right."
Cyrus Farivar - Oct 8, 2014 7:21 pm UTC
Comcast executive Charlie Herrin is aiming to improve Comcast's legendarily poor customer service.
with 129 posters participating
Comcast got me fired after billing dispute, says California man [Updated]
Comcast has publicly apologized to the California man, Conal O'Rourke, who accused the company of getting him fired from his former position at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the wake of a yearlong billing dispute. The apology comes less than 24 hours after Ars published an article detailing O'Rourke's documented allegations.
"What happened with Mr. O'Rourke's service is completely unacceptable," Charlie Herrin, a company senior vice president, wrote in a blog post on Wednesday. "Despite our attempts to address Mr. O'Rourke's issues, we simply dropped the ball and did not make things right. Mr. O'Rourke deserves another apology from us, and we're making this one publicly. We also want to clarify that nobody at Comcast asked for him to be fired. We're also determined to get to the bottom of exactly what happened with his service, figure out what went wrong at every point along the way, and fix any underlying issues."
Herrin is the same new Comcast executive who said late last month that improving customer service was his "number one priority."
Comcast seeks to fix awful customer service, admits "it may take a few years"
As a result of his firing, O'Rourke hired a local attorney and is now threatening to file a lawsuit against Comcast if the company does not agree to his demands, which include "a full retraction and apology, his re-employment with his former employer, and $100,312.50" by October 14.
On August 18, Comcast's Senior Deputy Corporate Counsel, Thomas Nathan, responded to the first demand letter sent by O'Rourke's attorney, Maureen Pettibone Ryan. Nathan told her that Comcast had not received Ryan's letter in time to meet her deadline for action.
Nathan's response letter, however, does acknowledge that "Comcast communicated to PWC that a person claiming to be a PWC employee had called our chief accounting executive's office with complaints about his cable service and bills and yelled at our employees who tried to assist him."
Neither O'Rourke nor his attorney immediately responded to Ars' request for comment.
UPDATE 2:43pm CT: Maureen Pettibone Ryan, O'Rourke's attorney, e-mailed Ars and expressed disappointment at this public apology.
We view this apology as more of a public relations strategy than a public apology. Comcast has yet to contact Mr. O'Rourke through his lawyers at Dhillon Law Group Inc. with this apology, which calls its sincerity into doubt. Furthermore, we would note what is missing from the apology.
First, Comcast has not promised to investigate its involvement in Mr. O'Rourke's termination or to release the e-mails or taped calls that would prove that he is telling the truth and that Comcast defamed him to his employer.
Second, Comcast's claim that "nobody at Comcast asked for him to be fired" does not resolve the matter. While we disbelieve this statement, even if it were true, the Controller's office at Comcast knew when it made the ethics complaint to PWC that if PWC believed the complaint, Mr. O'Rourke would be terminated. Comcast made false and defamatory statements about Dhillon Law Group Inc.'s client to his employer, knowing the outcome would be termination, and we will not allow that to stand.
Mr. O'Rourke does appreciate that more than 18 months after Comcast first made errors on his bill that it is willing to investigate the matter. Mr. O'Rourke and his attorneys hope that this investigation will be productive, unlike the other investigations Comcast repeatedly promised to perform over those 18 months.
Ryan reiterated that the October 14 deadline for O'Rourke's demands still stands.
neodorianArs Scholae Palatinae
The problem I ran into while trying to sort out some issues we had with Comcast at work (small university contract for a few cable boxes to feed devices around the school) was that these Regional VPs and Operations Managers and Area Supervisory Technicians and all manner of positions were constantly being shuffled so when you get nowhere by constant pestering, you call your Comcast contact back and find that he's not there anymore.
So you start the whole song and dance over again. They send a tech. Techs never agree whether the issue is that the signal is too strong, too weak, wrong box, wrong plan, etc. so they have to go back to the main office and gather more info.
You get a sheet of paper and a promise to follow up along with the number of the new guy in charge. Of course they don't want to lose us as a customer as our university is well known and deserves excellent service.
And then you never hear from them again. I scoured the web and signed up for trial versions of services that purported to get you access to the contact information of the real head honchos. They were always surprised to hear from a customer (even if it was an enterprise/organization and not a home user) and assured me that my old info was outdated and that they had no record of my issue since the last regional supervising technician manager supervisor whatever had been transferred to another region.
Eventually I just went through the whole building and into telecom closets and got access to the conduits until I found some stupid signal amplifier/splitter a Comcast tech had installed before I worked there. Took it out and everything worked.
Nothing was ever resolved through Comcast. We never got any sort of refund and as a busy university, the management didn't have time to fight over what was essentially a line item on some spreadsheet and not a big enough deal for them. No refunds. No discounts. No nothing.
If this guy dealt with something similar, I can see how he might have lost it at some point. I can just imagine if my efforts to contact the bigwigs had somehow come back to bite me in the ass and get me fired. I'd have had a breakdown as well. When you bang your head against a Kafkaesque system that is designed to keep running despite being completely broken, you eventually might get a bit dizzy.
Cyrus Farivar Cyrus is a Senior Tech Policy Reporter at Ars Technica, and is also a radio producer and author. His latest book, Habeas Data, about the legal cases over the last 50 years that have had an outsized impact on surveillance and privacy law in America, is out now from Melville House. He is based in Oakland, California.
Email cyrus.farivar@arstechnica.com // Twitter @cfarivar


The Dodgers recently shocked the internet when they traded Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Charlie Culberson, and cash to the Braves. In return, Los Angeles received an old friend in Matt Kemp. The trade was really just a salary swap that keeps the Dodgers under the luxury tax threshold in 2018. It also gives them much more financial flexibly for the amazing free agent class coming up.
Adrian Gonzalez waived his no-trade clause to make this happen with the deal being that the Braves would release him. Well, on Monday they did just that and a team has already shown interest in Gonzalez. On Tuesday, Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted that the Mets have reached out to the 35-year old first-baseman.
Sources: Mets have reached out on free agent Adrian Gonzalez, who was released earlier today by the Braves.
This is a smart move for the Mets because Gonzalez will cost the minimum salary in 2018 and, when healthy, is a solid hitter and defender. The Mets have a young prospect named Dominic Smith who is hoping to win the starting job at first base. In 49 games last season, Smith put up a slash line of .198/.262/.395 and hit nine home runs. This is far from the numbers he put up with the Mets' triple-A affiliate in 2017, where he had a slash line of .330/.386/.519 and hit 16 home runs in 114 games.
Adrian Gonzalez, as we all know, had a 2017 season that was ruined by injuries. However, when he is healthy, he is as consistent as anybody at the plate. In his six years with the Dodgers, Gonzalez had a slash line of .280/.339/.454 and hit 101 home runs. If he can focus on getting healthy this off-season, his contribution to the Mets could be vital to their success. Dominic Smith, who is just 22-years old, could also benefit from his veteran presence.
Where do you think Adrian Gonzalez will end up? Let us know in the comments below!
What Are The Dodgers Starting Pitching Options Now?
PreviousWhat Are The Dodgers Starting Pitching Options Now?


Buy Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of Places by Henry Carroll at Fully Booked online and at Fully Booked branches in the Philippines.
"Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs goes beyond typical technical jargon.and should you master.composition, exposure, light, lenses, and seeing you will indeed be making great photographs."
"We've read and studied all the diagrams, manuals and jargon out there for our DSLRs, but none of it is as easy to remember or recall as the information Carroll throws down in this tome. If you're serious about being a better photographer, do what the title of the book tells you to."
"Amateur photographers will love this practical and accessible guide; it will be appreciated by anyone who enjoys photography. Highly recommended."


Southern California has long been a highly sought-after location for real estate investors. The area has been booming since the 1970s and has become a world-renowned living and vacation spot. One specific town that is highly attractive to commercial real estate (CRE) investors is Irvine, California.
Established in 1971, the area has primarily been developed by the Irvine Company. However, there are still opportunities for outside investors to obtain a CRE property in the city and reap the financial rewards.
Here are just a few advantages of owning commercial real estate in Irvine.
Established over 50 years ago, the Irvine Master Plan is a guide to strategically develop and maintain long-term growth within the city. The plan is dedicated to sustaining a balance between development and preservation.
Steady job base: Irvine's Master Plan includes strategically located, professional office buildings. The city is now home to more than 17,000 businesses (one-third of all Fortune 500 companies) and has more jobs per resident than any city in America.
High employment: Irvine-based companies employ more than 250,000 people who participate in revenue-generating activities, which fund the city's local services, including public safety, park maintenance and more.
Fiscal security: Irvine ranks No.1 for fiscal health in the U.S.
Convenient location to local and regional retail centers: Irvine's retail centers bring in more than $60 million in annual revenue, keeping its economy healthy.
Irvine's strong population and business growth make the city an excellent location for CRE investors. Not only has it seen development over the years, but the city has also identified a long-term goal to continue its growth.
Learn more about the Irvine Spectrum, a key facet of the Irvine Master Plan.
Year after year, Irvine is ranked one of the safest cities in the United States. With a relatively low crime rate and a population of 227,453, the FBI has identified Irvine as one of the safest large cities for thirteen continuous years. Additionally, Irvine is considered a wealthy city in Orange County with a median household income of $93,823.
Owning real estate in a safe and wealthy community can create security for the future of an investment. Irvine has strict regulations on building codes and appearances of structures — this provides certainty that an investor's building will continue to be improved (specifically beneficial when the tenant has a NNN lease).
Investing in a safe neighborhood such as Irvine also reduces the risk of vandalism. This consideration related to building maintenance ultimately saves money for any investor.
Read more about Irvine's rich history.
There is a strong correlation between the U.S. economy, the CRE market and the housing market in a specific city. Over the last year, Irvine has seen growth in the housing market — sale prices have increased 6 percent compared to the previous year, and the price per square foot has increased by 2.6 percent. These statistics indicate a growing local economy.
See a full profile of Irvine in their Community Report.
Many factors are attracting foreign investors (FIs) to the Irvine market. For example, Irvine has a limited supply of new property relative to other investment markets, and the population and household income are booming.
The presence of foreign investors in any market can benefit local investors: FIs promote strong long-term lending, provide a competitive advantage to businesses, reduce the effects of politics, and generally lower the risk in an identified market. They also promote best practices, creating a stronger future for the market identified — such as Irvine, CA.
The fact that Irvine is located in Orange County is not a fact to be overlooked — Orange County is one of the most thriving CRE markets in the United States.
Purchasing a property in Irvine provides an exit plan investors, which is a smart aspect to consider in any purchase. Due to the high demand for properties in the market, the availability to potential buyers is limitless — there are essentially always buyers looking to acquire new assets in this market. If something were to alter your investment plan and require you to sell, your chance of selling at a competitive price is highly likely.
Back to the basics — appreciation and inflation. The annual average inflation rate across the United States is around 3 percent, depending on the area in which you reside (or invest).
Purchasing CRE in Irvine allows investors to hedge against inflation — that is, investors can anticipate that the value of their CRE assets will appreciate in line with inflation. The bonus: CRE assets from a tax perspective depreciate. Therefore, owning in Irvine allows investors to build equity at an expedited rate.
Owning CRE in Irvine can provide a stable and secure asset to an investor's portfolio. The challenge: finding the right property for you specifically — one that will match your investment goals.
To learn more about opportunities to invest in the Irvine CRE market, whether it is an office, retail, industrial or multifamily property, contact WindWater today.
Check out our commercial Irvine Spectrum properties.
Interested in Irvine? Here's four reasons why you should work in Irvine.


WDTU is always looking for project volunteers. We appreciate generous donations of time & effort.
West Denver TU has a long-standing relationship with the Windy Peak Outdoor Lab (part of Jefferson County Public Schools), dating back almost 20 years. We helped construct the pond and docks on the site. We present programs for sixth graders where we teach stream ecology, aquatic entomology, conservation, and fly tying. All of the tools and materials for fly tying and the rods for fishing are provided by the chapter.


Using 'Quick Search' will return agencies that serve the whole of Wales.
Over 90% of the population drink alcohol. Taken in moderation, alcohol presents few problems and may even have some health benefits. Drinking to excess, however, can be very harmful.
Globally, alcohol addiction is a serious problem. Statistics released by the journal 'Addiction' in 2014 show that about 5% of the entire human race struggle with alcoholism (some 240 million people in total).
Because alcoholic drinks come in many different strengths, we measure the strength of alcohol in units. One unit is 10 ml of pure alcohol. It takes an average adult around an hour to process one unit so there's none left in their bloodstream.
The NHS advises that you shouldn't regularly drink more than 3 units of alcohol a day (about one-and-a-half pints of 4% strength beer or one 175 ml glass of wine) and have at least two alcohol free days.. 'Regularly' means drinking every day, or most days of the week.
The alcoholic content of drinks varies a lot. Some beers contain 3.5% alcohol, while stronger lagers can be 5% or 6% alcohol. Wine is typically 13%-14% alcohol.
Just one pint of strong lager or a large glass of wine can contain more than three units of alcohol - the daily limit for women.
Remember that measures served at home are often much larger than those in bars, and some lagers and fortified wines can be much stronger than average.
It's easy to underestimate the amount we drink. One way of keeping check is to record our consumption in a diary. Doing this from time-to-time can help keep a check on your drinking. It can also help highlight any times when you're more likely to drink than others.
Sometimes we might drink to relieve a depressed mood, to 'drown our sorrows'. Drinking too much might be a sign of depression.
It's important to understand the extent to which depression is causing excessive drinking, or excessive drinking is causing depression. If you think you're drinking too much and are feeling low, it's best to consult with a health professional to make sure you're getting the right help and support.
Alcohol is a depressant drug, it reduces our ability to face up to our problems and releases our inhibitions. For many people it plays an important part in overcoming social anxiety.
For some, alcohol releases powerful feelings of self-hatred, producing angry, aggressive or even suicidal behaviour. We all know people who have become gloomy and bitter when drunk, yet have little memory of their mood the following day.
Some individuals drink alcohol as a way of bolstering their self-confidence or obtaining relief from anxiety or distress.
Some people who are depressed and lack energy may use alcohol to help them keep going and to help cope with life. This is a very short-term solution because any benefits of the alcohol soon wear off, while drinking can become routine, harmful and difficult to change.
Alcohol produces tolerance, so we need a larger and larger dose to get the desired effect. This tolerance is a step on the road towards dependence or alcoholism.
Some think that alcohol is simply habit forming - drinking too much for too long produces cravings and the 'habit' of drinking. However, if you're drinking to help you cope with the way you feel, you might need extra support to stop.
Hangovers are depressing experiences. We wake feeling ill, anxious and jittery. We might feel guilty about the events of the previous night. If drinking bouts become habitual, this may lead to trouble at home, conflicts with partners and family, the quality of our work deteriorates and we may feel unjustly criticised by partners, friends and colleagues. Eventually we may stop caring.
A hangover magnifies feelings of despair and self-loathing. When 'hung over' we judge ourselves harshly - we think ourselves stupid, foolish or weak. We may also have specific regrets about things that happened that we might bitterly regret.
Given these circumstances it's not surprising that depression, even thoughts of suicide, can be common for someone who's seriously dependent on alcohol.


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Half-Past Dawn by Richard Doetsch. Non-series. Atria Books Hardcover, September 2011.
This tautly-written, suspense-filled novel incorporates several interwoven mysteries. Featuring creatively drawn characters and a compelling storyline, this thriller starts quickly, keeps up the pace, and captures the reader's interest from first page to last.
Read the full text of our review at Mysterious Reviews: Half-Past Dawn by Richard Doetsch.


G 11.006 - Telemann: Seele, lerne dich erkennen!
The cantata Seele, lerne Dich erkennen! was written for the Sunday Estomihi (earlier Quinquagesimae) – the last sunday before Passiontide. In the TVWV the cantata is recorded under the number 1:1258.1) The text is by Matthäus Arnold Wilkens (1691–1745)2) and refers to the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 13.
The print of 1725 served as a draft for this edition, which is kept in the Royal Library of Copenhagen in the Giedde's Music Collection under the shelf mark [mu 6208.0586 (XI, 8)3). My special thanks are due to the direction of the music library and in particular to Mrs. Susanne Thorbek for their friendly support and kind permission to print this edition.
The notation (including keys and accidentals etc.) has been modernized according to nowadays customary rules. The text has deliberately not been modernized. Additions and corrections made by the editor are indicated directly in the music or in foot notes.
In the foreword of his Harmonischer Gottesdienst Telemann elaborates on various aspects of performance practice. The present cantata is written for high voice meaning expressly for soprano or tenor. It is possible that during the ripieno parts which are marked with forte, the recorder is supported by a violin that plays one octave lower than notated. The recorder part can entirely be played by a violin. In this case at least the ripieno parts should be played one octave lower.
was der Menschen Witz vermag.
viel zu schwach, viel zu schwach.
der doch sein Schwachseyn selbst bekennet.
steigt das Erkänntnis nicht zu seiner Völligkeit.
Learn to know yourself, oh soul!
that man's genius can create.
Yet even Solomon acknowledged his human weakness.
what was a child becomes a man.


text:
El cuaespinós alabarrat (Aphrastura spinicauda) és una espècie d'ocell passeriforme de la família Furnariidae.

Hàbitat i distribució
Es distribueix a Xile i Argentina, com també a les illes Malvines, illes Geòrgia del Sud i Sandwich del Sud. Els seus hàbitats es troben és boscos temperats, i muntanyes seques.

Referències

Furnarins

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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PR COVID-19 – Pathway announced for refugee claimants working on the front lines of COVID-19
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced on August 14, 2020, a temporary measure that will provide a pathway to permanent residence for eligible asylum claimants working on the front lines in the health-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic (PR COVID-19)
Although not all the requirements for the program have been provided by the Government, the following have been announced by the Minister:
The program does not apply to claimants who have been found ineligible to make an asylum claim, or who have withdrawn or abandoned their claims.
To qualify, individuals must meet the following:
have claimed asylum before March 13, 2020
were issued a work permit after they made a claim for asylum
have worked in the health-care sector, in health institutions (for example, hospitals, long-term care homes, home care through an organization or agency, assisted living facilities)
have worked in a designated occupation for no less than 120 hours between March 13, 2020 and August 14, 2020. The designated occupations that are included in this special measure are orderlies, nurses, nurses' aides and patient service associates, assistant orderlies and certain home support workers.
demonstrate 6 months of experience in the designated occupation before being granted permanent residence. Applicants will have until August 31, 2021 to acquire this experience.
have a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), if wishing to reside in Quebec
meet existing admissibility requirements, including those related to criminality, security and health
The News Release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship entitled Pathway to permanent residency recognizes exceptional service of asylum claimants on front lines of COVID-19 pandemic can be found here.
The Government of Quebec has also made a similar announcement regarding the CSQ requirement for eligible candidates who reside in Quebec.
Quebec has provided some hints as to the eligible occupations but it will be interesting to see if the Federal Government will use the same occupations to determine eligiblity:
3011 – Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
3233 – Licensed practical nurses
3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
4412 – Home support workers
This is great news for claimants who contributed to the fight against COVID-19 but some believe the policy should go even further.
3 thoughts on "PR COVID-19 – Pathway announced for refugee claimants working on the front lines of COVID-19"
BEBEL
This list of the frontlines who are still fighting the pandemic of COVID-19, the list is too short and not inclusive what about other healthcare providers like Medical laboratory technologists, a medical laboratory technicians who are testing millions of the swabs since the beginning of this COVID?
Do you know which group of people are involved in this application or how do you apply?
How to get the email of Mr. Kevin Lemkay?
Pingback: Government launches long-awaited Pathway for permanent residence for certain refugee claimants working in the health care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic - Health-care workers permanent residence pathway | Auxilium Law Professional Corporation
There is certainly a great deal to learn about this subject. I love all of the points you made. Mae Walsh Publus


What is another word for aggregate?
Cumulated, accumulate, accrued, all-encompassing, accumulative, macroeconomic, over-all, totals, macro-economic, flat-rate, recapitulative, grouped.
integrates, gathers, consolidates, unites, regroups, comprises, collects, appends, encompasses, consists, includes, combines.
portion, single, squander, parcel, waste, net, spend, distributive.
dissipate, divide, separate, disperse, break up, disconnect, scatter, detach.
" I assure you, my dear Julia, that, though in the aggregate they are somewhat inconsiderate of the feelings of naval officers, they are individually as amiable gentlemen and affectionate husbands as any other men," said Jack.
In the aggregate these amount to a considerable blessing.
accurst, acaricide, accursed, Aggregated, akaryocyte, acaracide.
commix, unify, mingle, amalgamate, mix.


Many breast cancer tumors grow in response to estrogen. Anastrozole interferes with the production of estrogen in the body. As a result, the amount of estrogen that the tumor is exposed to is reduced, limiting the growth of the tumor.
Anastrozole is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to anastrozole or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Take anastrozole only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for side effects.
Anastrozole comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
The dose of anastrozole will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of anastrozole. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
If you miss a dose of anastrozole, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that anastrozole is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
It is unlikely that a postmenopausal woman may become pregnant. But, you should know that using anastrozole while you are pregnant could harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Anastrozole may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have itching; hives; hoarseness; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using anastrozole.
Anastrozole may decrease bone mineral density when used for a long time. A low bone mineral density can cause weak bones or osteoporosis. If you have any questions about this, talk to your doctor.
Anastrozole may increase your cholesterol or fat in the blood. If this happens, your doctor may give you medicine to lower the cholesterol and fat.
Stop taking anastrozole and check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pains or shortness of breath. Anastrozole may increase the chance of heart attack or stroke in women who have a history of ischemic heart disease.


On November 5, 2018, FSG held its final executive breakfast for the year in Mexico City, with a group of country managers, regional executives, and CFOs, where we presented our outlook for the next sexenio led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). The business community and investors were skeptical about AMLO's potential presidency leading up to the presidential elections that took place on July 1, where AMLO swept away 53% of the electorate. After AMLO's landslide victory, a fluid dialogue was installed between the incoming administration and the business community, gradually improving the business confidence in Mexico, which has been negative throughout 2017-2018. This sentiment was also reflected among FSG's clients, as revealed in an August poll that showed an overall "cautiously optimistic" feeling towards the economy and business outlook in Mexico.
But this sentiment faded in October at the same pace as uncertainty heightened regarding AMLO's policy shifts and the economic policies that might prevail after December 1—the day AMLO's sexenio begins. This was the result of the decision taken by AMLO and his party, Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (MORENA), to comply with one of their campaign pledges, shutting down the construction of the new international airport in Mexico City (better known as the "NAIM") through a legally questionable "popular consultation" that generated FX volatility, prompted Mexico's credit rating downgrade, and fueled uncertainty among investors.
This uncertainty shifted FSG's clients' confidence as well, which was reflected by 70% of those present at the November event who considered that AMLO's victory will have a negative impact on Mexico's economy and business environment.
A lot of questions remain about the path forward following a transformative sexenio that will start on December 1, such as: Which AMLO should multinationals expect to deal with: a pragmatist or a populist? How will AMLO deliver on his ambitious policy platform amid a challenging external environment? Will Mexico and the US be able to ameliorate tensions and adopt a more cooperative approach under the stewardship of two controversial leaders, President Trump and President López Obrador?
MNCs are skeptical about AMLO's policy platform, particularly his ambitious government spending plans: Mexico has been able to better weather the region's slowdown since 2012 relative to other large markets, cementing its reputation as a resilient market for top-line and bottom-line performances. This reputation has been built through sound macroeconomic stability that has aided Mexico's growth, albeit moderately in a region that was deeply affected in the last four years by political crises and the end of the commodity cycle. MNCs have shown concerns that AMLO's ambitious social spending plans and ambiguous fiscal policy could put Mexico on an unsustainable fiscal path, eroding its hard-earned credibility among international investors. These concerns have increased recently following President-electLópez Obrador's decision to shut down the NAIM.
Country managers are not factoring in higher taxation for their 2019 business plans but are worrisome looking ahead in the sexenio: Although AMLO's decisions throughout the transition period have raised concerns among MNCs regarding taxes and a deterioration of the business environment, 86% of executives based in Mexico are not expecting higher taxation for 2019. However, following discussions regarding the financing of government spending throughout the sexenio at FSG's event, executives' feeling shifted as many expressed expectations of more taxes starting in 2020. This is due to the anticipation that AMLO's government will not be able to fulfill its agenda with the resources it currently has at its disposal.
Despite concerns about the next administration's policies and their impact on the business environment, Mexico remains as a key market where MNCs could thrive by staying ahead of the curve.
FSG will continue to track developments throughout the political transition and debate regarding the 2019 budget, which will shed light on AMLO's government spending priorities. Clients can access our Mexico 2024: Outlook and Scenarios piece, which examines these issues and provides concrete economic forecasts and actions to take under varying scenarios. For more in-depth briefings,please contact your client relationship director.
Not a client? Please contact us to learn more or purchase a single copy of the research.
← [New podcast] European Populism, a risk or an opportunity for MNCs?


Levi and Steve's wedding was at Le Talbooth, Essex in September 2017. Their décor choice of Fairy Lighting suited their theme perfectly.
Levi and Steve took a shot and tied the knot on 7th September 2017. Their celebrations continued at Maison Talbooth for their Drinks Reception and continued at Le Talbooth in Essex for their Wedding Breakfast and Evening Party. But there is another side to Levi that we didn't know about; she is a writing enthusiast! Dreamwave Events came across "Life as Levi" on the web. She has been keeping her blog updated recently with her nursing, wedding and travel larks. Her wedding blog details the lead up to her wedding and, of course, the wedding day itself plus and most importantly, the suppliers that helped make it all happen!
Levi approached us wanting to use our lighting hire services at Le Talbooth for her Wedding Breakfast and Evening Party.
"The company deal with a large range of lighting; whether you want classic fairly lights to fan the roof of a marquee, rustic festoon lighting or something unique such as hanging lamps then they are the company to talk to. After our first contact with Dreamwave they were really helpful. We were invited to a meeting where they discussed any visual ideas we had and then suggested different props and lighting to match our theme. If they didn't have something in their collection then they would try and source it from elsewhere.
We decided to go classic and have fairly lights for our marquee, light up poseur tables around our bar, and party lights for our dance floor.
What did Levi and Steve Book with Dreamwave?
To decorate the marquee Levi and Steve opted for Fairy Lights at Le Talbooth. These were arranged around the entrance walkway legs and set to a fan shape internally down both ends of the marquee. These were both complemented beautifully by warm glowing Poseur Tables positioned in the bar area. Details of these services can be found in our specifically designed Le Talbooth Lighting and Décor Brochure.
Like the look of Levi and Steve's Wedding Day?
If you like the look created by Levi and Steve or have further lighting and décor ideas you would like to discuss – Get in touch and we can make it happen!


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David Craig Movies
From St. Louis, Missouri
Tag Archives: Margot Robbie
Quentin Tarantino delivers one of the most entertaining movies I've seen in a long time with Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Speaking of long times, the film runs 2:45 but is worth almost every minute of it.
SPOILER ALERT! There are NO SPOILERS in this review. But beware of social media content, word-of-mouth and even unscrupulous reviewers who might tell too much about this buzzworthy movie.
Los Angeles, 1969. Or, as iconic radio station 93/KHJ calls it, Boss Angeles. The city looks great as classic cars tuned to AM radios playing classic pop tunes drive down boulevards with theater marquees touting late-60s movies.
Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a TV/movie star whose career is at a turning point. Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) is his stuntman and buddy. Leo is terrific. Brad is also at his charming best. Both actors benefit from being gifted with great roles and story lines from QT.
Dalton has a gorgeous home in the hills above Benedict Canyon. Booth lives in a trailer in the valley. The home just above Dalton's is rented by Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha).
In February 1969, Hollywood dealmaker Marvin Schwarzs (Al Pacino) suggests to Dalton that he go to Italy and make movies there that could reignite his fading star. He does. The film then skips ahead to August 1969 when Dalton returns to LA for the film's climax.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood contains scene after scene that bring true movie fan pleasure. Cliff's fight with Bruce Lee (Mike Moh). Rick's conversation with child actor Trudi (Julia Butters). Sharon's watching herself on screen with a movie house audience. The clips from Rick's TV show Bounty Law and his movies. A party at the Playboy Mansion where Steve McQueen (Damian Lewis) explains the relationship between Tate, Polanski and Jay Sebring (Emile Hirsch).
Other performances in the film that merit mention: Kurt Russell as stuntman Randy (he's also the film's narrator), Margaret Qualley as hippie chick and Manson family member Pussycat, Nicholas Hammond as Sam Wanamaker and Dakota Fanning as Squeaky Fromme.
Gotta love the soundtrack! Treat Her Right by Roy Head, Good Thing by Paul Revere and the Raiders, Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show by Neil Diamond, Snoopy Versus The Red Baron by the Royal Guardsmen, Hush by Deep Purple, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man by Bob Seger, among many others.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is an absolute treat that should not be missed. Thank you, QT. Thank you, Leo.
by davidcraigstl
filed under grownup entertainment, Movie review, Rated R, Uncategorized
tagged as Al Pacino, Brad Pitt, Dakota Fanning, Damian Lewis, Emile Hirsch, Julia Butters, KHJ, Kurt Russell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Los Angeles, Margot Robbie, Mike Moh, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino, Rafal Zawierucha
What The F is this movie supposed to be? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot has a little bit of everything: action, comedy, romance and political intrigue. It is the story of a woman's three-year adventure as a TV reporter based in Kabul, Afghanistan from '03 to '06.
Kim Baker (Tina Fey) is not unlike 30 Rock's Liz Lemon. She's a 40-something network employee whose professional and personal lives are not quite satisfying. Lemon was a show producer; Baker is a lowly news writer. When the opportunity to cover the allied peacekeeping effort in Afghanistan—with a chance to do on-camera reports—is offered, she jumps.
One of the first members of the media she encounters in Kabul is competing TV reporter Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie) who introduces herself by asking, "Can I [have sex with] your bodyguard?" Vanderpoel explains (and a Marine general played by Billy Bob Thornton later reiterates) that Baker may be a "6" or a "7" back home, but is a "10" to men in this foreign land. Baker replies to Vanderpoel, "What are you then, like a '15?'"
Despite the creature discomforts, Baker comes to enjoy the rush of being in a hot spot. She skypes with boyfriend Chris (Josh Charles) back home until she sees another woman in his bedroom. She hooks up with Scottish journalist Iain (Martin Freeman). She looks to get information from an Afghanistan cabinet member (Alfred Molina) who hits on her every time she calls on him.
A handful of chuckles and a few solid laughs make WTF a bit of a comedy. It's also a bit of a buddy movie as Baker and Vanderpoel become chums. It's a war movie, though the peril level varies throughout the film. The romance between Baker and Iain forms the crux of the third act. WTF covers a lot of category bases.
Co-directors are Glenn Ficarra and John Requa who scored big a few years ago with Crazy, Stupid Love. Robert Carlock who wrote and produced for 30 Rock wrote WTF. On the heavy to light spectrum, the script is on the light side, but not by much.
Last fall, another movie set in Afghanistan, Rock The Casbah starring Bill Murray, bombed badly. Can Tina Fey and Margot Robbie pull people into the theater to see a movie that sells itself as a comedy, but isn't exactly a comedy? I think yes.
Most importantly (not really): Whiskey Tango Foxtrot has caused me to forgive Tina Fey for last year's misfire, Sisters. You're back in my good graces, TF!
tagged as 30 Rock, Afghanistan, Alfred Molina, Bill Murray, Billy Bob Thornton, Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, Josh Charles, Kabul, Liz Lemon, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Robert Carlock, Rock The Casbah, Tina Fey, Vanderpool
The Big Short is one of the more clever, creative and different films to come down the mainstream movie track in a long time. It contains one of the year's best acting performances. It is, unfortunately, a failure.
Why? Because it is too cute. Because it tries to explain arcane financial information in silly ways. Because it attempts to assign white hats and black hats where many hats should be gray. Because, ultimately, it is hard to cheer for these few winners when there were so many losers.
We all know what happened in 2007-2008. Okay, we don't know exactly what happened but we know how the nation's economic collapse affected each of us individually. The Big Short, based on Michael Lewis's book, tries to tell part of that story with humor.
Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling) is a Deutsche Bank employee on Wall Street who serves as narrator, occasionally turning directly to the camera in the middle of a scene to share a point of exposition. He drips smugness.
Michael Burry (Christian Bale) is a California doctor who leads an investment group. Burry, a man with tons of nervous energy (the real life Burry has Asperger's), guesses that the housing market will collapse in '07 when many subprime mortgages are scheduled to adjust significantly higher. He makes huge bets (using his investors' money) that the mortgage banking industry will suffer defaults on home loans. Bale's performance as this quirky but self-assured gambler is among his best.
Mark Baum (Steve Carrell) is part of a New York-based investment consortium which receives much of its funding from Morgan Stanley, a major Wall Street institution. Baum has a strong moral compass. He is concerned about right and wrong, yet he proceeds with betting against the banks—including Morgan Stanley.
Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock) is a Boulder-based investor who wants to get in on "shorting" the mortgage market but his capitalization is too low. With help from Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt), a former banker who has cashed out and retired, he gets in on the action.
Director Adam McKay (who co-wrote) includes clever quick montages of timely images to reflect the times. They include a Britney Spears clip to represent 2000 and a 1st generation iPhone to indicate 2007. The segments with Margot Robbie, Anthony Bourdain and Selena Gomez (alongside a real economist) attempting to simplify some of the complexity of finance are funny. Are they informative? A little.
McKay gets an "A" for ambition and a gold star for trying to relate the stories in Lewis's book in a lighthearted manner. But The Big Short fails to accomplish its mission. I am betting against it.
filed under Rated R, Uncategorized
tagged as " Ryan Gosling, Adam McKay, Anthony Bourdain, Asperber's, Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Deutsche Bank, Fenn Wittrock, Margot Robbie, Michael Lewis, Morgan Stanley, Selena Gomez, Steve Carell, The Big Short, Wall Street
Focus is like meatloaf and mashed potatoes—solid, satisfying and filling but no "wow" factor. Sure, Will Smith is a box office giant who we all love. And Margot Robbie is unbelievably gorgeous (and talented). The trailers for Focus hinted at something special. But, alas, that is not the result.
This story of con men and women is told in three acts: Nicky (Smith) meets Jess (Robbie) in a hotel restaurant in NYC. He shares tips on picking pockets, advising her to shift a mark's focus somewhere other than where the watch, ring, wallet, purse, etc. is being lifted.
Act two takes them to New Orleans for the "big game" in the Superdome. (The film takes special care not to mention the NFL, its teams or trademarks. The game, by the way, features the Miami Sharks versus the Chicago Threshers.) Jess joins the team of crooks who reap a major haul. Meanwhile, the duo's relationship heats up.
Nicky and Jess attend the game in the luxury suite of a wealthy Chinese businessman (B.D. Wong) who they engage in a series of risky bets. Nicky keeps losing and the businessman keeps raising the stakes. The scheme concocted to dictate the outcome of the final bet is ludicrous, as is carrying over a million in cash to a football game in a satchel.
Act three happens three years later in Buenos Aires where Nicky is involved in a scam to steal software from one auto racing team and sell it to each of the other teams. At a reception Nicky acts surprised to see Jess hanging out with race car driver Garraga (Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro) whose software is about to be compromised. Likable TV mainstay Gerald McRaney has a significant role in this third act.
In your better confidence scheme movies, the reveals tend to elicit a "Whoa!" from the viewer. In Focus, the reveals made me say (to myself), "Hmmm. How about that?"
It's certainly great to see Will Smith redeem himself following his After Earth vanity project. And Margot Robbie keeps the momentum she created in Wolf of Wall Street going. Focus is a decent movie, though not a mind-blower. Set your bar at mid-level and your expectations will be met.
tagged as After Earth, B.D. Wong, Buenos Aires, Focus, Gerald McRaney, Margot Robbie, New Orleans, Rodrigo Santoro, Superdome, Will Smith, Wolf of Wall Street
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← Saturday, April 20, 2019
Fireball Contest — April 17, 2019 →
Posted on April 20, 2019 by Amy Reynaldo
LAT 7:56 (Jenni)
NYT 12:21 (Amy)
WaPo untimed (1 error) (Jim Q)
Universal 4:48 (Jim Q)
Universal (Sunday) untimed (Vic)
Note from Amy: I won't have a chance to do the Sunday NYT till after dinner, but in the meantime, I wanted to tell you about a puzzle venture from Eric Berlin. Eric has reworked his Puzzle Your Kids project ("It became clear early on that I only thought I was making puzzles for kids. It turned out I was making puzzles for anyone interested in clever, varied puzzles that use a straightforward and everyday vocabulary") into Puzzlesnacks, not-too-hard variety puzzles for kids and adults alike. (Variety puzzles, if you don't know, take all sorts of forms, with a handful seen in the picture above.) The more Puzzlesnacks supporters sign up through Kickstarter, the more Eric can continue making his puzzles available to children for free. A pledge of $3 a month gets you a weekly variety puzzle via email, plus a couple dozen bonus puzzles. Eric does great work and he's experienced at making puzzles that your friends and family who don't speak crosswordese can tackle. Click through to the Kickstarter page for more info.
Grant Thackray's New York Times crossword, "The Inside Story"—Amy's write-up
NY Times crossword solution, 4 21 19, "The Inside Story"
The theme here is nested movie titles that form goofy phrases clued accordingly. The revealer in this 22×21 grid is PICTURE IN PICTURE, or 70a. [Small screen superimposed on a large screen … or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares].
24a. [Who has trouble reaching a windshield to place a ticket? [1989, 1982]], THE LITTLE METER MAID. E.T. the Extraterrestrial is the full title, of course. I like that both E.T. and The Little Mermaid are kid-friendly.
42a. [Talk show host Johnny's children? [2015, 2006]], MINI CARSONS. Cars in Minions. Two more kids' movies.
52a. [Traitor who gets on one's nerves? [2006, 2002]], BOTHERING RAT. Awkward as hell, as you'd never use "bothering" to modify a noun like that. Borat and The Ring are entirely different film genres.
95a. [Prepares for guests who don't like their coffee black? [2017, 1996]], GETS CREAM OUT. Get Out and Scream are both horror.
102a. [Initiated global conflicts? [1977, 2012]], STARTED WARS. Star Wars, Ted. Distinct genres … and WARS retains its original meaning here.
123a. [Selection of billfolds for medical professionals? [2016, 2008]], DOCTORS' WALLET RANGE. "Wallet range" is awfully stilted. Wall•E, Doctor Strange. Different genres.
17d. [Good manners in kindergarten drawing? [1997, 2004]], CRAYON TACT. The surface sense of "crayon tact" is lacking, no? Ray, Contact. Both dramas, one a biopic and the other sci-fi.
77d. [Smaller piece of cookware? [1953, 2017]], PETITER PAN. Horror It, animated Peter Pan. Clunky, since "petiter" is so awkward.
It's a nice touch when the pair of movies are in the same genre, but since it doesn't work out most of the time, it would've been better to avoid the genre pairs. Some of the theme answers work pretty well, but others do not.
Overall I didn't enjoy the fill. The two-pronged overlap of 133a. [Slobbery kiss], WET ONE with both 47a. [Moist towelette], WET WIPE (yes, there is a brand of wet wipes called Wet Ones) and clunky 98d. [Agenda topper], ITEM ONE? Gonna pass on that. See also: Partial I EVER, DO I DARE, I SAID NO, nobody-has-really-said-this-in-decades I DIG, and HERE I AM?
Least expected entry: 120a. [Broad Australian accent, informally], STRINE. Basically what it sounds like to non-Aussies when Aussies say "Australian" out loud.
It's time to watch last Sunday's Game of Thrones, so I'll sign off now with a rating of 3.25 stars.
Rob Gonsalves and Jennifer Lim's Universal Crossword, "Product Placement"—Judge Vic's write-up
Rob Gonsalves and Jennifer Lim's Universal Crossword, 4-21-19, solution
Before-and-after, with a movie and a brand name joined together for each themer. Clever. Enjoyable.
23a [Nation that forbids stale mints?] NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MENTOS–Tricky clue issue here, huh? Nation = No country? Comments?
37a [Looking good getting frozen yogurt?] PRETTY IN PINKBERRY–I was in the dark about Pinkberry. It's a frozen dessert restaurant chain that's been around since 2005 and has 260 stores in 20 countries. The closest one to Little Rock is a state away, in Dallas.
60a [Tire company's ancient vehicles?] CHARIOTS OF FIRESTONE
83a Fancy crystal's design? THE SHAPE OF WATERFORD
99a [Fate of gunk on glass?] GONE WITH THE WINDEX
121a [Judge's last words in an insurance case?] AND JUSTICE FOR ALLSTATE–Picky legalism here, but insurance case is really vague. And the idea of this concept being uttered by a judge seems superfluous. What about ["… plus a fair result to Geico's competitor!"?]
Not many non-themers of note, what with a theme that goes 21-17-19-19-17-21. We're talking JOE COOL, BARN OWL, SHE GOAT, and IT ISN'T
Evan Birnholz's Washington Post crossword, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" – Jim Q's writeup
Three different theme types in one puzzle! Sounds too loose and confusing, right? Not at all. This week's WaPo is super tight and equally as clever.
THEME: "Reduce," "Reuse," and "Recycle." That is to say "Rebus," "Repetition," and "Anagram."
THEME ANSWERS:
22A [Person selling discarded objects (reduced waste)] (JUNK) DEALER.
WaPo crossword solution * 4 21 19 * "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" * Birnholz
The word "JUNK" is "reduced."
23A [High-kicking performers (reused food container)] CAN CAN DANCERS. "CAN" is "reused."
38A [Experience the initial thrill of a potential victory, idiomatically (recycled SODA BOTTLE)] TASTE BLOOD. "SODA BOTTLE" is "recycled."
47A [Amass with difficulty, as money (reduced waste)] (SCRAP) TOGETHER.
67A ["Star Wars" character from the underwater city Otoh Gunga (reused food container)] JAR JAR BINKS.
87A [Generate discussion (recycled D BATTERIES)] STIR DEBATE.
95A [Garbage disposal unit member (reduced waste)] (TRASH) COLLECTOR.
118A [Related to the sound of ringing bells (reused food container)] TINTINNABULAR.
121A [Tiny bit (recycled COUPONS)] SOUPÇON.
While none of these theme types is new to crosswords, this puzzle is extra fresh in the way they're presented. And adding to the tightness of the theme are the entries themselves, all of which are things that can be reduced (JUNK, SCRAP, TRASH), reused (CAN, JAR, TIN), and recycled (SODA BOTTLE, D BATTERIES, and COUPONS). I can't imagine any other way to get mixed themes like this into coherent puzzle that is this tight and fun.
One mistake that I nev er corrected was my initial answer to 23A [High-kicking performers (reused food container)]. I wrote in CAN CAN DANgERS. I figured it was a punny take on DANCERS and being the first theme answer I filled in, it seemed perfectly appropriate. When I eventually determined the proper theme, I never corrected it since I was unfamiliar with the crossing down (DECARLO) and it hadn't crossed my mind at the time that I could possibly be wrong with the theme entry. So it wasn't on my radar of things I might need to revisit later.
Much appreciated was the clue for 22D [Officials' trips (Hint: The first syllable rhymes with 54 Down)] JUNKETS. That clue is difficult without the hint, and the rebus square for JUNK is somewhat ambiguous in the theme answer itself.
I had the most difficulty in the TINTINNABULAR section of the puzzle since- although being familiar with the word due to Poe's The Bells– I was at a loss as to how to spell the latter half. I was inexplicably tripped up by the clue for CASTLE [House of the lord?] and wanted INNATE instead of INBRED for [Natural to a creature]. I suppose there's no better way to clue INBRED– but it's one of those words whose connotative meaning is much different in real life.
One thing I want to continue to point out is Evan's fresh cluing style, even for the oldest of crossword fill. There are far too many examples of this to mention, and it may go largely unappreciated by a casual solver, but it always makes for a good time.
Not that this puzzle's theme needed any help. That was awesome.
Kevin Christian and Andrea Carla Michaels's Universal Crossword, "A Juicy Puzzle"—Jim Q's write-up
Apologies for the late post! Let's get to it.
THEME: Phrases that end with types of berries.
16A [Camel's backbreaker] FINAL STRAW.
Universal crossword solution * 4 21 19 * "A Juicy Puzzle" * Michaels * Christian
23A [Experiencing sadness] FEELING BLUE.
34A [Game with pats on the head] DUCK DUCK GOOSE.
47A [Cinematic ending technique] FADE TO BLACK.
57A [Picking place, or a hint to the ends of {the theme answers}] BERRY PATCH.
I just realized I have no idea what a gooseberry tastes like. They look delicious! Like a stylish grape. Perhaps I've had one and didn't know? I'll be on the lookout for one in the future.
Standard fare for a puzzle. I confidently entered DUCK DUCK GOOSE with no help at all and the others barely needed much help either. Despite a hangup in the SE (SOFT CAP instead of SOFT TOP and CIAO instead of TATA), the only resistance was solving with the web app. It seems like it's always behind my typing speed and since the settings are different than my Across Lite settings, I have to backspace quite often to fix errors. Not that it's anyone's fault. Just sayin'.
Enjoy the rest of your Easter!
Gary Larson's LA Times crossword, "It's All in the Game Show" – Jenni's write-up
It's an ordinary word, a word you use every day….actually, it's a string of ordinary words that, when said out loud, sound like the name of a game show. At least sort of. There's no trickery in the cluing, but if you solve this with other people in the room they may think you're a bit daft. I had to say each one out loud to figure it out.
LAT 4/21, solution grid
22a [Bee home + Venus + heron kin] is HIVE GODDESS EGRET (I've Got a Secret).
39a ["Star Trek" villain + mailed + light beam + take pains to avoid] is KHAN SENT RAY SHUN (Concentration). This whole puzzle has that Concentration flavor to me.
52a [Sass, in slang + inferno + turkey + Babe with a bat] is TUDE HELL DUD RUTH (To Tell the Truth). Will the real answer please stand up?
76a [Legume + yank + pound sound + bee product] PEA PULL ARF HONEY (People Are Funny). This one was new to me. It started on radio in 1942 and aired on TV from 1954 until 1960. The show asked "ordinary people" to undertake "pranks" and they won the game if they succeeded in putting the prank over on someone else. Amazingly enough, it was nominated for two Emmy awards, and was "reconstituted" in 1984 with Flip Wilson as host. Thank you, Wikipedia.
93a [Cutlet meat + statute + quartet + goatee site] is VEAL LAW FOUR CHIN (Wheel of Fortune).
114a [Utter + cherish + old laundry detergent + harm] SAY LOVE DUZ INJURY (Sale of the Century). I vaguely remember this one. It was hosted by Joe Garagiola for part of its run.
I enjoyed this theme. It wasn't particularly challenging but it was fun to figure out.
A few other things:
I know that TNN is a useful entry, but that network hasn't existed since 2000, and the network used in the clue at 14d (Spike TV) hasn't existed since since January of 2018. It's time to find another way to fill those spots.
15d [Flexible pronoun substitute] is HE OR SHE. Give it up. The appropriate pronoun is "they." Just do it.
34d [Itchy red area] is RASH. I guess. It could also be a bug bite..
56d [Stein's confidante] is TOKLAS. Interesting way to clue that. "Partner" or "lover" or "better half" would have worked, too.
94d [The Red Baron, e.g.] is WAR ACE. I suspect I'm not the only one who dropped in AIR ACE instead.
What I didn't know before I did this puzzle: that AM I BLUE was written and originally recorded in 1929. This is the version I remember:
This entry was posted in Daily Puzzles and tagged Andrea Carla Michaels, Eric Berlin, Evan Birnholz, Gary Larson, Grant Thackray, Jennifer Lim, Kevin Christian, Rob Gonsalves. Bookmark the permalink.
25 Responses to Sunday, April 21, 2019
I noticed WET ONE and WET WIPE right away, but there's also SAW LOGS at 94D right next to RIP SAW at 105D. I don't mind dupes if it's a minor word (I just assume that every Sunday is going to dupe "I" a bunch of times) but I think this is going a little far.
I was also a little bothered that the crossing of theme entries left a stray circled T in 102A.
The theme is clever and the revealer is just perfect, but this could have used some polishing, IMO.
Australian English has been known to those of us who speak it as "Strine" for at least 50 years – mainly due to a 1960s era book, "Let Stalk Strine" which was generally regarded as hilarious.
I from time to time ask my husband, "Emma Chisit?" when I want to know the price of something.
I didn't know STRINE (which is actually kind of interesting), EVEE, or MARCO (assuming they're right) and haven't had much luck online ascribing meaning to the latter two. I also didn't know some other things or even several of the movie names (and I was bothered by the word repetition, too). But mostly it just annoyed me that not a single of the many movies (except, I guess, ET and STAR WARS) was of sufficient quality per, say, a NY Times review that I'd have made a point of being aware of it. Worse, I'd have said that all of them are for kids age 12. No wonder there's also a Cheetos mascot. Sorry I wasted time on this one.
I would be surprised if GET OUT didn't have a highly favorable NYT review.
Amy Reynaldo says:
In fact, I was able to ascertain that Get Out, Star Wars, Little Mermaid, Borat, Wall-E, and Doctor Strange were all labeled "critic's pick" in the NYT. (The NYT's review search function made it hard to look up Ray and Ted, and E.T. appears to predate those archives.) It's possible that JohnH has an antipathy towards movies that are meant to be fun rather than strictly dramatic and edifying.
So many movies that are outwardly marketed to children are (like the old Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Bugs Bunny cartoons) really aimed at adults. This is a good thing, especially if they're going to be watched repeatedly in your home. There are often details meaningless to a child which strike home to an adult.
Also, our dog *loved* Monsters, Inc. I don't know why. She never said. But she would sit in front of the TV, fascinated, when it was showing. So, a little interspecies appeal :-)
JohnH – EVEE? Was that 108A in the NYT puzzle? Should be EPEES. The prefix for bee is API, not AVI. And I assume MARCO in 38A refers to playing Marco Polo at a pool.
Oh, good. I wait every day to see what culture I can consume without befouling my brain with something lowbrow. How ever would I know these things without your unerring judgment of the value of books and movies and music? I mean, I might listen to other people or even (horrors!) judge for myself, but that would clearly be inappropriate when I have the opportunity to learn from The One Who Knows All.
xepia says:
USC: Funnily, 23A was my favourite clue-answer pair of all because of the different-but-imho-matching linguistic angles.
"Should I buy new refreshings for our trip through Europe?" – "Well, Bohemia forbids stale mints, so I'm afraid Bohemia is no country for old Mentos."
Rob Gonsalves says:
Jennifer and I are excited to have our first Sunday puzzle published. We would like to thank editor David Steinberg who helped us along. We like his new clue for 95D [I.M. conceived long before texting] PEI. We would also like to thank super mentor Nancy Salomon, who helped us with an early iteration of this puzzle.
Judge Vic, yeah, 23A has a tricky clue because of the negative in the movie title. Our intent was to have NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MENTOS imply a place where stale mints are forbidden (i.e. only fresh mints are allowed). But we can see how our attempt at absurd humor here might confuse solvers.
Our original clue for 121a AND JUSTICE FOR ALLSTATE was [Ruling for the insurance company?]. We are guessing that the word AND in the movie title led to David's [Judge's last words in an insurance case?]. It seems that the two senses of "case" can lead to ambiguity. (i.e. a claim or a lawsuit).
RunawayPancake says:
Universal (Sunday) – Hey, Rob! Really enjoyed your and Jennifer's puzzle. Great theme with fun clues.
Really really liked the WaPo today.
Here's a classic:
Loved today's WaPo puzzle!
+1 !!
AV says:
+1 Amazing
John McC says:
NYT 39A… Major leagues is The Show, or The Bigs; The Pros? Not so much…
Not at all, actually, since being a "pro" means getting paid and minor leaguers get paid.
Aura says:
Good God. Another Sunday disaster from the NYT. Is http://www.firewillwshortz.com taken?
Evan Birnholz says:
Thanks, all. Today's Washington Post Magazine has an Earth Day theme throughout the whole issue, so this was my contribution to that.
A solver wrote to me last week to tell me he hates it whenever I publish 21×21 themeless puzzles. Since today's has three themes in one, I think I now have license to do three 21×21 themeless puzzles in a row.
I, for one, love your themeless puzzles. Just putting that out there to counter the misguided solvers who dislike them.
Dave S says:
Pancake, it's lovely that you enjoy themeless puzzles. I wish you much happiness in solving them. On the other hand, it's offensive for you to describe those of us who do not share your preference as misguided.
PJ Ward says:
Easy now. Perhaps it was made with tongue in cheek?
Art Shapiro says:
Where's the LAT writeup today? Given that a time is posted, I'd expect the discussion to be present.
Yes, where is the LAT?


BandwidthPlace is the online destination for all things broadband – starting with a Speed Test to measure and manage your bandwidth performance. Whether you are @home, @work or on your mobile or wireless device – you can connect to BandwithPlace.com to test your speed without an application download or Flash. We make it that easy.


text:
Ignazio Ciampi (Róma, 1824. július 31. – Róma, 1880. január 21.) olasz költő és irodalomtörténész.

Pályáját ügyvédkedéssel kezdte, majd a római államtanács tagja lett, 1874-ben pedig az ottani egyetemen az újkori történet tanárává nevezték ki. Eredeti versei, néhány színdarabja, és műfordításai mellett (az utóbbiak közül kiválnak Puskin-fordításai), nevezetesek irodalomtörténeti tanulmányai is.

Irodalomtörténeti tanulmányai

 La commedia italiana del secolo XVII. (1856)
 La vita artistica di Carlo Goldoni (1860)
 Le rappresentazioni sacre del medio evo considerate nella parte comica (1865)
 La commedia italiana del Cinquecento (1867)
 Sulla storia delle lettere italiane, conferenza, Roma, Galeati (1877)

Történelmi munkák

 La città etrusca (1866)
 Cronache e Statuti della città di Viterbo, Firenze, M. Cellini (1872)
 Gli ultimi signori di Urbino, da documenti rari o inediti, in "Nuova Antologia", novembre (1874)
 I. Cassiodori nel V. e nel VI. secolo (1876)
 La fine di Donna Olimpia Pamfili (1877)
 Innocenzo X. e la sua corte (1878)
 Pietro della Valle, detto il Pellegrino (1880)
 Storia moderna dalla scoperta dell'America alle pace di Westfalia. (1881–1883)
 Opuscoli vari, storici e critici, Imola, Galeani. (1887) (Girolamo Savonarola 1452–1498, Martin Lutero 1483–1546, Lorenzo de' Medici 1449–1492)

Források

 Treccani.it

Olasz költők, írók
Rómaiak
1824-ben született személyek
1880-ban elhunyt személyek


text:
package protocol_test

import (
	"testing"

	"v2ray.com/core/common/predicate"
	. "v2ray.com/core/common/protocol"
	"v2ray.com/core/common/uuid"
	"v2ray.com/core/testing/assert"
)

func TestCmdKey(t *testing.T) {
	assert := assert.On(t)

	id := NewID(uuid.New())
	assert.Bool(predicate.BytesAll(id.CmdKey(), 0)).IsFalse()
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Welcome to Farnham's Fantasy Farm, a quiet paradise for fiberglass fanatics
George Farnham, owner of 'West Virginia's Only Amusement Park,' collects a lot of things—including cats and roadside giants
Photo: Alexandra Charitan
When I pull into George Farnham's wide gravel driveway in Unger, West Virginia, I'm not deterred by the metal signs hanging outside his home: "U.S. Government Property: No Trespassing," "For your own safety, please do not enter backstage area," and "Warning, hitchhikers may be escaped inmates." This is my second time attempting to catch Farnham while he's at home and despite the ominous signage, I have a feeling that he doesn't mind unexpected visitors. To my left, three Yogi Bear characters offer a silent wave of welcome and in front of me, four fiberglass giants stand stoically with smiles molded into their frozen faces.
Farnham's sprawling property is set in an unincorporated community in West Virginia's jagged northeastern hook. Sandwiched in between Maryland and Virginia, and less than 30 miles from the Pennsylvania border, Unger is nestled among the forests of the Appalachian Mountains. Winding roads bordered by dense foliage follow even windier rivers, and I'm grateful that there's still some daylight left as I cautiously navigate countless hairpin turns.
This verdant landscape is the perfect place to raise livestock, grow produce, or—if you're Farnham—simply relax after years spent working high stress jobs in bigger cities. After law school, Farnham practiced law in Washington, D.C. before giving it all up to move west in the 1980s. His property includes a barn, and several animals roam about freely, but this isn't your typical rural farm.
Farnham's impressive collection. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Welcome to Fantasy Farm. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
The Simpsons train. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
A shark by Farnham's pond. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
The Fantasy Farm Express. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
An oversized apple. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Farnham's house. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
The bright purple barn is topped with a hippopotamus bust and two elephant heads. Colorful hand painted letters welcome visitors to Farnham's "Fantasy Farm, West Virginia's Only Amusement Park." That claim may be a bit of a stretch, but with two Muffler Men, one Uniroyal Gal, one Big John, and dozens of other fiberglass figures scattered around his property, Farnham's personal collection is no doubt a roadside attraction in its own right.
Download the mobile app to plan on the go.
Share and plan trips with friends while discovering millions of places along your route.
Collecting cats
I finally meet the man behind the Fantasy Farm late in the day on my second visit to Unger. Farnham is watering his garden when I approach him to inquire about his larger-than-life collection. He fishes in his jeans pocket and hands me a crumpled business card with an illustration of a cat on the front. He has scrawled several phone numbers onto the back, but after considering it for a moment, he decides that I can keep the card. It turns out that Farnham is also the founder and president of West Virginia's first cat cafe, Give Purrs a Chance. "I collect a lot of things," Farnham says. "But mostly cats."
I shouldn't be surprised—he's wearing a black t-shirt that says "Real Men Love Cats," and his left forearm is tattooed with the same cat illustration that appears on his business card. Farnham says that he used to have 31 cats of his own, but now he's down to "just 22." Since it opened in May 2017, Give Purrs a Chance has found permanent homes for more than 500 cats and kittens. The non-profit cat adoption center is located in a five-bedroom Victorian house in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and for a small fee, visitors can play with the cats who roam freely inside.
George Farnham with his giants. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
"We pride ourselves that we take cats who might have imperfections," Farnham told The Charleston Gazette-Mail. "We just adopted out two three-legged cats the other day. We have cats who have their tails cut off, one is deaf." The largest cat cafe in the country also includes a "Catique Boutique" selling ceramics, jewelry, soaps, and other cat-related items made by local artisans.
Fiberglass fanatic
When I ask Farnham what motivated his career change, he says simply, "I hated lawyers." He also runs an antique collectibles business out of his home, and his yard functions more as a showroom for his personal collection than as an actual amusement park. Oversized Christmas ornaments are strung between trees year round and fence posts are topped with clown heads; Farnham says his Simpsons roller coaster predated both Universal Studios' versions, but although Bart and his family are buckled in, the rides here aren't functional.
A fiberglass apple in Farnham's yard includes several Biblical quotes that seem to hint at the motivation that drives many people to collect. One attributed to Mark Twain reads, "Adam was but human—this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake, he wanted it only because it was forbidden."
A Uniroyal Gal. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Midas Muffler Man. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Farnham's collection expanded in scale more than a decade ago as he was about to celebrate his 50th birthday. He'd always loved big things, he says, and he "wanted a dinosaur from Dinosaur Land," the 57-year-old theme park located about 45 minutes southeast in White Post, Virginia. When it became obvious that the park wouldn't be selling any of their dinosaurs anytime soon, Farnham turned to eBay. The first giant he acquired was a Muffler Man from a Midas muffler shop in California. Soon after, he tried to buy the famous hot-dog-holding Paul Bunyan-style Muffler Man—now located on Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois—but the deal fell through.
With the help of a trucker friend, Farnham acquired several other figures from around the country, including a Sinclair dinosaur, another Muffler Man, two seahorses, a shark, a pudgy burger boy, and a Santa Claus from Maine. He also acquired Brian, a beach dude that resembles a Ken doll and is so large that he had to be moved from upstate New York on two flatbed trucks—one of which carried only his legs.
While demand for fiberglass giants has increased their value over the years, Farnham says the real cost lies in transportation and logistics: "It's more expensive to transport a statue than it is to buy it—and then you need a crane to put it up."
Only a few Big John statues were ever produced. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
A Sinclair dinosaur. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Marge, Homer, and Maggie. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
The 1,000-pound Santa was felled by strong winds. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
One of two Muffler Men in Farnham's collection. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Oversized Christmas ornaments. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
The giants are anchored into the ground with pipes and concrete. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Less than a dozen Big John statues are known to exist and Farnham's has received a progressive makeover. The freshly-painted, nearly 30-foot-tall grocery clerk sports an apron encouraging people to "Never eat anyone who had a mother." He also clutches four grocery bags emblazoned with animal-friendly sayings such as "Adopt don't shop," "Peace, Love and Pets," and "Be kind to animals, don't eat them."
Farnham's collection is unique for many reasons, not the least of which is his statues' accessories. The Uniroyal Gal came from Mississippi; she now sports a strapless, metallic purple bikini and calf-high boots, but Farnham says he still has her original outfit. Despite their name, it's rare to encounter a Muffler Man who is clutching an actual muffler—Farnham has been known to wrap his in Christmas lights during the holidays. Many of the surviving Big John statues have lost their brown paper bags throughout the years, but Farnham's has all four.
"To me, old is better—although not everyone agrees with me," he says.
Burger boy. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Brian the beach dude. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Most of the statues are anchored into the ground with pipes and concrete, but sometime between my first and second visits, 70-mph winds toppled the Santa, and Farnham can't right the 1,000-pound statue without the help of a crane. Since his trucker friend passed away, Farnham says he hasn't acquired anything new. But that hasn't stopped his Fantasy Farm from attracting attention, especially among fiberglass fanatics.
West Virginia has relatively lax zoning laws so Farnham is free to keep adding to his collection—and the neighbors don't seem to mind, either. On my first visit, a man pulled his truck over to the side of the road to tell me that although Farnham wasn't home, I was welcome to explore his yard at my leisure. "George loves visitors," he said.
Neighborhood animals frequently wander onto the property. | Photo: Alexandra Charitan
Both facts are confirmed on my second visit, when two men pull into the driveway to collect their runaway goat. The small black and white animal has wandered into Farnham's yard and is climbing over Brian's bare feet, unfazed by the immobile giants. It might not be a cat, but Farnham is reluctant to say goodbye to the adorable interloper. This clearly isn't the first time a neighborhood animal—or unexpected visitor—has found its way to the Fantasy Farm, and it probably won't be the last.
"There's a cult following for fiberglass figures," Farnham says. "We're definitely part of the circuit."
You're welcome to explore the Fantasy Farm and take photos, but remember this is private property so be respectful.
Must-see Muffler Men (and women)
AmericanaMuffler MenPeopleRoadside AttractionsUSAWest Virginia
We wrote a book! 'Roadtrippers Route 66' features the entire Mother Road, from Chicago to Santa Monica
Where have all the Muffler Men gone? A search for the Northeast's roadside giants
At Wisconsin's Mars Cheese Castle, the curds are squeaky and kitsch is king


text:
C&C Workers Fail To Secure Desired 7% Pay Rise
Published on Sep 8 2020 10:32 AM in Drinks tagged: Trending Posts / C&C Group
130 workers at Bulmers cider manufacturer C&C Group's production facility in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, have failed to secure a desired 7% pay rise over three years. According to The Irish Indepen...
130 workers at Bulmers cider manufacturer C&C Group's production facility in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, have failed to secure a desired 7% pay rise over three years.
According to The Irish Independent, trade union SIPTU told the Labour Court on behalf of the C&C workers that C&C "is profitable and has a healthy balance sheet", and the workers "have continued to work and have adapted to the significant challenges throughout the entire coronavirus lockdown, and therefore [they] deserve a reasonable pay increase".
The workers wanted a 2% pay increase from June 1, 2019, an additional 2% increase from June 1, 2020, and a 3% increase from June 1, 2021.
SIPTU also asked the court to recommend an increase in the value of C&C workers' Christmas voucher from €250 to €500 for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
C&C Response
C&C responded by saying that initial talks with SIPTU took place before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic and future "represent challenges that must be responded to and the company is not in a position to an offer of a three-year agreement".
C&C offered a 2% pay increase from June 1, 2019, and an additional 2% increase from June 1, 2020, as well as an increase in the value of the workers' Christmas voucher to €300 in year one and €400 in year two.
Court Recommendations
Deputy chairman at the Labour Court Alan Haugh has recommended a 2% pay increase from June 1, 2019, and an additional 2.5% increase from June 1, 2020.
The court also recommended that the Christmas voucher value be increased to €400 for 2019 and 2020.
Latest in Drinks
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In this episode I have a really fascinating chat with Dr Tatiana Porto, who recently finished her PhD in biochemistry at the University of Essex. We had a really long chat about what it was like to be an international postgraduate researcher, her research, and how meeting the Fifth Doctor Peter Davison helped her prepare for her viva! Tatiana also used VivaCards to help her prepare, which are the creation of Dr George Julian who came on the podcast in Episode 26.


text:
Q: What is the maximum length of a textbox in SSRS I need to know the maximum length of a textbox in ssrs. How much data can it accomodate?

A: The max length is 32k.

A: The Maximum Length of the textbox in SSRS 2012 is 4680 Characters.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange