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Artillery Row

How Modi turned Covid-19 into a cash machine

For the Indian premier, the virus is a deus ex machina

To Narendra Modi, Covid-19 is not so much a disease as a deus ex machina. Before he announced the largest lockdown in human history on 24 March, the Indian prime minister was submerged in a pool of self-engineered crises. Citizenly protests against his legislative disfigurement of Indian secularism had erupted in every major city, more than four dozen lives were devoured at his doorstep in February in the worst religious bloodletting in Delhi since the 1984, unemployment was soaring, and the economy was poised to post the slowest pace of growth in a decade. Modi’s “New India” appeared to be on the precipice of an implosion precipitated by the malevolence and incompetence of its own progenitor. Then came the saviour from China in the guise of a pathogen.

Modi did not at first pay attention: in February, as the coronavirus began claiming lives in India’s neighbourhood, he was busy hosting a lavish reception for Donald Trump and toppling a democratically elected state government in central India. Nor did he do much by way of preparing India once casualties began mounting in Europe: in late March, there was only one isolation bed for every 84,000 people, one doctor for every 11,600 patients, and one hospital bed for every 1,826 Indians. The first orders for personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers were made only hours before Modi appeared on television to announce a total lockdown. It was an improvised performance: virtually no thought had gone into it.

Their exodus on foot was redolent of the horrific migrations at India’s partition in 1947

Within days, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of men and women who serve the needs of first-world India—as servants, cooks, cleaners, construction hands—set off on a homeward march from the cities to the countryside. Modi had abandoned them. And their exodus on foot was redolent of the horrific migrations at India’s partition in 1947. By mid-April, some 200 people had died as a consequence of the lockdown. Some dropped dead of exhaustion as they walked, others killed themselves as a way out of loneliness. The lockdown in India succeeded not only in suppressing the spread of the disease but also effectively in suspending the world’s largest democracy. To criticise Modi’s mismanagement is to invite accusations of lèse-majesté in a national emergency. To obey and exalt him is to qualify as a dutiful citizen.

Days into the lockdown, Modi began soliciting tax-deductible donations for an opaque trust established, he said, for the purpose of aiding “the poorest of the poor”. With a brazenness that would have made Papa Doc Duvalier blush, he christened the fund “PM CARES”. Nearly a billion dollars flowed into it in the first week. Staff at government departments were “encouraged” by circulars to give a portion of their salary to it. Private corporations paid tens of millions into it while denying salaries to their low-wage workers. One company sacked a thousand employees days after diverting more than half a million dollars of its cash reserves into PM CARES.

Where has all that money gone? That question is impossible to answer because PM CARES is structured as a private trust and cannot therefore be reviewed by the state auditor. The flagrancy of the enterprise catches the breath: while his counterparts abroad panicked, fumbled, growled, and pleaded with their people, Modi utilised the worst public health crisis in more than a century as an opportunity to stage the most audacious swindle in the democratic world. Modi, of course, is spectacularly vain but not personally venal. And yet the fact that the cash he has collected will not be stashed away in Swiss bank accounts is hardly comforting for anybody who cares about the future of democracy. The cash will likely be put to more sinister uses: to corrupt others, to shop for elected officials who have not yet capitulated to the prime minister’s sectarian ideology, to outspend his rivals in an already extortionately expensive electoral market, to vandalise the residues of checks on his power.

What of the “poorest of the poor”? Modi’s myrmidons began discovering important uses for them immediately after the government extended the countrywide lockdown for another two weeks on 1 May. In Bangalore, emergency train services were halted to prevent mazdoors from going home. The decision to terminate the most rudimental rights of the most destitute Indians was explained away by one of Modi’s MPs as a “bold and necessary move” to “help migrant labourers who came [to Bangalore] with hopes of a better life to restart their dreams”. The local government, lobbied by construction barons, had intended to put the absconding labourers to work on construction sites. The ensuing public outcry prompted the government to let them go. But the regime that was so eager to “help migrant labourers”—some of the poorest people not only in India but the world—could not bring itself to pay the cost of their train tickets. In a grotesque irony, the publicly owned Indian Railways, which insisted on collecting the full fare, had days before given £16 million to PM CARES.

In central and northern India, meanwhile, at least two state governments run by Modi’s party are attempting to regenerate the economy by revoking the most elementary legal protections accorded to workers. To get a sense of what this means in practice, consider that factories in Bhopal—the scene of the worst industrial disaster in history—are to be made exempt from safety checks. If bringing up that past seems alarmist, then consider this: only last week at least 11 people died in a gas leak from a polymers factory on the Coromandel coast in southern India.

Covid-19 has become an alibi for the formalisation of the squalid social arrangement that has always flourished under the surface in India

Covid-19 has become an alibi for the formalisation of the squalid social arrangement that has always flourished under the surface in India. And it isn’t just saffron-robed Hindu nationalists who are setting fire to labour laws. The high priests sanctifying this technocratic endeavour are liberal economists. They are, like the Brahmins of old India who withheld liturgical knowledge from the lower castes by conducting their services in unintelligible Sanskrit, incomprehensible. Their language is freighted with jargon and euphemism because their business is selling the political disenfranchisement of the poor as economic prudence. The dream of the technocrats has always been to convert India into what the Princeton academic Atul Kohli calls a “two-track democracy”, where “common people are only needed at the time of elections, and then it is best that they all go home, forget politics, and let the ‘rational’ elite quietly run a pro-business show”.

Covid-19 is resurrecting Modi as their redeemer. Raised in poverty, the prime minister radiates the arriviste’s disdain for the poor. The last budget set aside more than a billion dollars for a pair of bespoke Boeing aircraft to fly the “poor man’s son”. The intensifying distress of Indians has done nothing to provoke Modi to redirect the tens of billions he has earmarked for projects conceived with the sole ambition of burnishing his personality cult. His megalomaniacal plan to erect a new New Delhi as a monument to his rule is progressing briskly. For six years, Modi’s malice, hubris, and ineptitude have ravaged India in every conceivable way. Instituting indentured servitude is now his idea of healing it.

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Paul Haggis

Movie Review: The Next Three Days (2010)

Based on the obscure French film, Pour elle, of which I have never heard of, Paul Haggis’ The Next Three Days (which he both directed and wrote the screenplay for), stars the bankable Russell Crowe alongside the equally popular Elizabeth Banks as John and Lara Brennan, a married couple whose relationship takes a drastic turn…

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Why David Villa is Called 'El Guaje'

Graphic by Amanda Suarez | Source: lev radin/Shutterstock
Graphic by Amanda Suarez | Source: lev radin/Shutterstock
Photo of Michael LoRé
Sports Editor26 July 2017

David Villa grew up in the small mining town of Tuilla in the municipality of Langreo in North Spain. Even from a young age, Villa faced obstacles he had to overcome in order to become a soccer icon.

When he was 4 years old, Villa fractured his right femur. The doctor wanted to operate but said there was a chance Villa could end up with limited mobility the rest of his life. Instead, his parents opted for their son to wear a cast from his hip to ankle in an effort to help the break heal naturally. After being confined to a bed for two months, Villa was finally able to get outside and practice — albeit on a limited basis — playing soccer with his father. Jose Manuel Villa would roll a ball to his son, who was propped up against a wall still in his cast, to kick back to him with his left foot.

Villa’s tireless work ethic and skills yielded opportunities to play with older, bigger kids. It was here he was dubbed El Guaje (The Kid) being one of the younger players on the field or in the streets.

“I recall my dad pushing me to train after the fracture,” said Villa, Spain’s all-time leading scorer. “He always pushed me to train. He helped me focus on shooting with my left leg because I had injured my right leg. The most important thing is my parents didn’t let me give up.”

Now as one of the elder statesmen of the sport, Villa has continued to play with the excitement and fervor of a child. The New York City FC forward is the reigning Major League Soccer MVP and will again be playing in the MLS All-Star Game. Villa was also recently named MLS Player of the Year at the 2017 ESPYs.

Full name: David Villa Sanchez
Birthplace: Langreo, Spain
Birthdate: December 3, 1981
Twitter: @Guaje7Villa
Instagram: @davidvilla

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TBT: Peter’s Comic Page: JSA

Here’s the other title featured in the Annotations section of my old 2002 AOL homepage on comics. Along with Starman, I wanted to annotate the 1999 JSA series but I barely got out of the preamble stage as seen below. Eventually I would use all of my JSA notes for the Footnotes series we did on CGS covering just the first year of JSA issues. It’s one of those series that I want to revisit here on TDR in the future. Hit the images for a larger view. Enjoy!

050114a 050114b 050114c 050114d

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Wintertime Pattern Inform Immediately After The Vacations

Wintertime Pattern Inform Immediately After The Vacations

Have you been purchasing weeks seeking to discover an ideal holiday break items to your family members? Hopefully you located them, for the reason that soon after the holidays It is appropriate to start out browsing guilt no cost yourself. You probable found presents you wanted in the course of your holiday shopping escapades, but resolved to not splurge on by yourself simply because In any case, it is the time of providing. Now you’ll be able to circle again and score Individuals items at slashed price ranges throughout immediately after Christmas revenue. It really is achievable to order several of the hottest Wintertime style traits at refreshingly great charges. Merchants will stock spring apparel very quickly, but here’s some essential Winter season variations to snag when searching the unlimited clearance sweaters and coat racks.

There are a few extra months of chilly weather so maintain a watch out for jackets and blazers at a deal rates. Women can insert coloration into their wardrobe carrying brights that is a huge development. A lot of the most straightforward approaches to include hues like crimson, purple, cobalt blue or orange is to purchase a trench, trousers, denim skinny denims or possibly a sweater in your favorite bold shade. Pair the eye popping coloration using a neutral outfit to finish the seem.

There is not any should shy from faux fur. It really is certainly one of the simplest, PETA pleasant trends to do this winter. Here is tips on how to wear it devoid of seeking just like a grizzly bear; choose neutral brown tones or black and hold it as simple as you wish. It is really fake, but just because It truly is fake doesn’t mean it must search low priced. It is possible to scope out sales for jackets with fake fur around the collar or hood. For anyone who is somewhat more daring, try vest with a simple top rated and darkish denim. If you buy a faux fur vest or bought a person in past times, Really don’t let her hibernate in your closet all Wintertime. It’s a cold weather conditions pattern and should not be worn into spring.

Leather can be a classic trend I have point out before Therefore if you see a reduced dim brown, deep pink or stylish black leather jacket, It can be an excellent opportunity to purchase a timeless piece you’ll put on typically. Also, leather based leggings and skirts can be a needs to have Wintertime trend that women can tone down with an easy sweater or a trendy basic T.

For men, the armed forces craze is marching potent into 2021. Try out a cumbersome coat or any armed service eco friendly outerwear performs. Just about every shade of gray on fellas is in fashion at the same time as it’s this type of classic color that can be worn with white, black and with everyday outfits or a company accommodate.

The preppy development has cycled back again for all ages Therefore if you notice an elegant cardigan in Daring or neutral colours, Choose it. Or snatch up a fashionable corduroy jacket or blazer with oval elbow patches. Elbow patches on sweaters and blazers are in design for men and ladies this fall and winter. Another way to affix the prep club is donning a chunky cable knit sweater. They are heat and fashionable in any shade for guys and ladies.

Get pleasure from the holidays with the family and friends. Once the desserts are demolished, the offers are opened and reward wrap is recycled, you’ll be able to breathe a sigh of reduction. Then Be happy to grab a sizzling cocoa and strike the slopes of sliding prices so that you can bundle up in fashion till the end of Wintertime.

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» » Dogmatique - Telegraph

Album Dogmatique - Telegraph

  • Performer: Dogmatique
  • Title: Telegraph
  • Size MP3 ver: 1789 mb
  • Size FLAC ver: 1428 mb
  • Country: UK
  • Style: Breaks
  • Label: Not On Label
  • Rating: 4.1 of 5
  • Genre: Electronic
Album Dogmatique - Telegraph

1Track 13
2Track 3
3Track 11
4Track 10
5Track 7
6Track 4
7Track 6
8Track 5
9Track 1
10Track 9
11Track 8
12Track 2
13Track 12

Dogmatique Started in Brixton in 1999 as a one-off above a pub in Loughborough Junction proving very popular so moved operations to The George IV on Brixton Hill for the next 3 years But the lure of more toilets and posh seats at The Telegraph a little bit up the hill in Brixton
This CDr was given away to promote the move to The Telegraph
No info on tracks it is a Live mix recorded at one of there legendary nights

Telegraph is the debut album by singer-songwriter Drake Bell, released on August 23, 2005 on Nine Yards Records. It was recorded by Bell and producer Michael Corcoran, as well as a few friends in a simple home studio using a Digidesign Digi 002. The following record, It's Only Time was recorded at the time in a newly built studio, The Backhouse. The album was released on August 23, 2005 and was issued by Michael Corcoran's label Backhouse Records and the now defunct label Nine Yards Records. Being an. Listen free to Marcus Gilvear Dogmatique The Horse Has Bolted, U4ea and more. 8 tracks 28:11. We've noticed you're adblocking. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Thank you for your support. Need help . Album Version. from Childish Gambino's Because the Internet. Just sharing. I do not own this song. Go and support him by purchasing his and Telegraph - David Handley. Лента с персональными рекомендациями и музыкальными новинками, радио, подборки на любой вкус, удобное управление своей. The Telegraph and , Nashua, New Hampshire. News, events, sports coverage of Nashua, New Hampshire, and surrounding towns. The Telegraph has been the trusted source for local news and information in Nashua and across southe. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Telegraph album. Telegraph - Mir 2018. To favorites 1 Download album. Listen album. Progressive Rock Psychedelic Rock. Страна: Израиль. Songs in album Telegraph - Mir 2018. Telegraph - Mir 0-1

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Left 4 Dead Full Mobile Version Free Download

Left 4 Dead Full Mobile Version Free Download

Left 4 Dead Full Mobile Version Free Download

Left 4 Dead Full Mobile Version Free Download

Left 4 Dead is available for Xbox 360, OS X, and also Microsoft Windows. It’s the very best first-person shooting game one of the others offers the ideal gaming experience to its consumers. The movie game is produced by Valve South. The game is published on 17 November 2008. It’s crucial for the players to play the sport after understanding all of the fundamental things about the sport.

Left 4 Dead Trailer

The Sport includes four kinds of survivors, one of the users will need to pick the best survivors. In the match, the natives are brought on by diseases of which they do not show the signs. The sport comprises nearly six kinds of companions that the users will need to pick or perform depending on their selection. Following that, every personality comprises six chapters.

More hints and suggestions

It Is very important to the players or users to employ a few vital tips and secrets to create the simple. Therefore, users will need to understand all of the vital tips that are given under —

prepared for the long haul — This means that ordinary players need over 1 hour to fill out the effort, but the pros take just half an hour to finish it.
Earn more choke points — This means that the consumers will need to search for increasingly more choke points.

All these Would be the very best tips and tricks that the players should use in their sport. It makes the sport easier for them to perform. They constantly must employ some fresh tips and tricks to this match.

How to Install Left 4 Dead On Mobile

  1. Click on the “Download Game” button.
  2. Download “Left 4 Dead” Installer (Supports Resumable Downloads).
  3. Open the Installer, Click Next, and choose the directory where to Install.
  4. Let it Download Full Version game in your specified directory.
  5. Open the Game and Enjoy Playing.
Left 4 Dead Full Mobile Version Free Download
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Opinions & Features Workshop (Oct 26th)

Photo by Prince Afrim

Q: The SU Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity celebrates 10 years

By Nikayla Goddard, November 19 2020—

Q: The SU Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity is celebrating a significant milestone: a full decade of providing the University of Calgary campus with a safe space and resources for LGBTQ2S+ students, along with promoting and providing sex education for all.

Q Centre Coordinator Azzie Taven’s enthusiasm for the anniversary was clear.

“I was really excited to be able to participate in it, let alone be one of the main planners for the anniversary as I’ve been involved with the Q Centre as a volunteer since my first year in 2016,” they said.

“It’s the tenth anniversary — it’s kind of a big deal!”

The Q Centre opened in 2010 on the second floor of MacHall. In an interview about the ninth anniversary last year with coordinator Greyson Mannella, it was said that the Q Centre originally started in a utility closet.

“Originally, I think they had ten volunteers in total, and now we have 40, so it’s a really big shift,” said Mannella. “As the community has grown and the needs of the campus community have changed, we’ve shifted with it and grown a little bit ourselves. And it’s really exciting.”

The anniversary was celebrated with a livestream video, “Building Community Identity and Queer Space” hosted by James Demers, who is Co-Founder and Facilitator at the Queer Education Foundation and has been involved in community activism in Calgary for over a decade. The video discussed what a queer community is and means, significant activists and queer history, culture and activism. The live stream is available to watch on the Students’ Union Facebook page.

Along with the livestream, the Q Centre collected a video compilation of people who have been involved with the Q Centre, sending in clips of what Q means to them, Taven said.

Due to COVID-19, the physical space has been closed, but they are hosting a Virtual Q Centre for two hours every weekday, where, Taven said, “people can come and use our drop-in services, whether they just want to come and hang out or if they need peer support that is also available. As well, we have resources that people can come in […] for.”

As for whether the space would be opening next semester, Taven said that they don’t intend to open the physical space until next fall semester at least.

“Q Centre has been here for a while, but that doesn’t mean we’re not still relevant,” Taven said. “Even though we can’t have the physical space, we’re still doing our online Q as well as holding events like the birthday celebration. In the planning stages, we’re going to have an event in January and of course Sex Week in February and March. So we are still around.

“We hope people don’t forget that just because we’re not physically able to visit each other in person on campus, that [doesn’t mean there] isn’t that community via the Q Centre.”

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Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Looking For Lucy - Jane E. James

Happy publication day to the lovely Jane E. James! Her latest chilling book, Looking For Lucy is out today and it's a corker!

Lucy Valentine has been missing for a month and she wants nothing more than to go home. Her parents, John and Jane, are so desperate to find their daughter they enlist the help of reluctant psychic Cindy Martin.

Cindy has used her clairvoyant abilities before, but despite her good intentions, things didn't end well and she's been labelled as a charlatan. This is why she's so hesitant to help them, but the Valentine's are prepared to go to any lengths to find their beloved Lucy - including blackmail and Cindy's own young daughter, Grace.

As soon as Cindy arrives at Moon Hollow she is on edge, this doesn't appear to be a welcoming family house. John and Jane are definitely hiding something but will Cindy be able to unearth all of their secrets and discover the truth to find out what happened to Lucy?

Looking For Lucy has it all, tension, intruigue, mystery and suspense. Right from the start I was hooked, wanting to know more about Lucy and her family, what had happened to this little girl who would be eight on her next birthday and just wanted to be in her treehouse playing with Heidi, her favourite doll. She comes across as such a little sweetheart, I already wanted her to be safely back at home - little did I know what was to come!

This is no straight forward missing child story - there are so many hidden secrets and lies, some of which I had my suspicions about and others which completely blindsided me! I spent a lot of time swinging from feeling empathy for a particular character one minute and then being absolutely stunned and even horrified by what they did or said next.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this dark and atmospheric tale and I couldn't read it fast enough! Another superbly written and fabulous book from this great author.

Saturday, 27 March 2021

Blog Tour - Rosie Shadow - Louise Worthington

I'm just going to put it straight out there - 6 year old Rosie made my skin crawl and gave me a severe case of the heebie jeebies! What young child would threaten to rip off their mother's arm and beat them with the stump? It's not only what she says either. She likes to dig graves and bury herself in the garden, she has seemingly super human strength for a small child and she's definitely smarter than average. I'm getting the shivers just thinking about her again!

Rosie's mum Elly is terrified of her child and so she reaches out for help but is it a case of too little too late? More worryingly, was Rosie responsible for what happened?

Nearby at Shortbury Prison, Clare works as a guide at what is now a visitor's attraction. Giving tours around the former prison, Clare thinks she knows the full history of the building but her boss Archie knows much more about the place than he's letting on - and with good reason. He has a very dark secret, his life depends on him keeping it well hidden but could Clare have discovered what it is?

Rosie Shadow is the kind of book that should be read whilst hiding behind the safety of a cushion and definitely not at night before you go to sleep!  Rosie's character was reminiscent of Damien from The Omen books and just as, if not more horrifying and I was apprehensive every time her name appeared. There are a few places where you do have to suspend your belief, but isn't escapism why we read in the first place?

Louise Worthington has written a compelling story full of strong, well developed characters that build a good foundation for the start of The Black Tongue Series. It's a series that I'll be watching out for in the future and if you enjoy horror / zombie novels I would recommend that you give this one a try.

                                                     About the author

Born in Cheshire, England, Louise studied literature at the University of Essex. As a teenager she read until the small hours, enjoying the darker worlds conjured by Stephen King and Daphne du Maurier.

Louise’s first novel, Distorted Days, was described by Kirkus Review as ‘a formidable work’. Her chilling blend of the lyrical and the dark is the most gripping in her thrillers and, forthcoming, horrors.

When Louise isn’t reading or writing, you’ll most likely find her outside enjoying the Shropshire countryside with her husband or messing about with her daughter, and furry and feathered friends.

You can follow the blog tour with these fabulous blogs:

With kind thanks to Helen Lewis at Literally Public Relations Ltd for my review copy and my stop on the blog tour.

Thursday, 25 March 2021

The Hippo Hangs Out . . . . with Simon Van der Velde

I'm thrilled to welcome Simon Van der Velde to my blog today as it's publication day for his new collection of short stories, entitled Backstories. These aren't just any short stories though, as they each contain a hidden famous person, and Simon is challenging his readers to identify them all in his Backstories Challenge - but more about that later as I want to introduce you all to Simon first.

Photo courtesy of Simon Van Der Velde

Simon Van der Velde has worked variously as a barman, labourer, teacher, caterer and lawyer, as well as travelling throughout Europe and South America collecting characters and insights for his award-winning stories. Since completing a creative writing M.A. (with distinction) at The University of Northumbria in 2010, Simon’s work has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards including; The Yeovil Literary Prize, (twice), The Wasafiri New Writing Prize, The Luke Bitmead Bursary, The Frome Short-story Prize, The Harry Bowling Prize, The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition and The National Association of Writers’ Groups Open Competition - establishing him as one of the UK’s foremost short-story writers.

Simon now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, with his wife, Nicola, their labradoodle, Barney and their two tyrannical children.

                                                       *    *    *    *

Welcome to The Hippo Simon and happy publication day! Please pull up a chair, make yourself and home and let's chat.

What book/books made you cry and why?
So many.  Peter Carey’s Oscar & Lucinda, and Theft: A love story, were both brilliant – deeply emotionally honest – and that’s where the treasure lies - in emotional honesty.

What other authors are you friends with and how do they help you become a better write?
Nobody knows it all.  There’s no substitute for honest, constructively critical feedback from people you trust.  That’s why, for the past few years I’ve been a member of Gosforth writers, along with Trevor Wood, John Hickman, Karon Alderman and Ben Appleby-Dean.  We’re all very different writers and all bring something different to the table.  There is no doubt that without their advice and support Backstories would never have been as good and successful as it is.

What’s your favourite motivational phrase?
If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.  Worry about doing it too well and you may be crippled by your ambition.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Smell the roses.  Don’t be in such a hurry.

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing etc come from?
I’ve read since I can remember.  My mum, I guess.

What did you edit out of your last book?
Three-quarters of the words.   Backstories is a short story collection with a famous person hidden in, and revealed through every story, and unfortunately, sometimes the stories just lacked that emotional power and truth I was looking for – so out they went.  I’ve learned never to short-change my readers or myself with anything less than my best, the long-term cost outweighs the short-term gain  every time.

What do you think is more important: characters or plot?
My writing is all about character, and my reading too.  The point of a story, (for me), is to have my readers care as deeply as possible about the protagonist.  The plot, whilst important, is merely a vehicle to allow us to expose different aspects of the character, and, once the relationship is established, make the reader anxious for them.  In the end though, if the character isn’t real and vivid, the greatest plot in the world means nothing.

Do you have any hidden or uncommon talents?
I’m pretty good at kicking tennis balls, after years of practice with Barney the dog.

Awww, Barney looks very excited to get his paws on another tennis ball in this photo! 🥎

Which literary character is most like you?
I’d like to think I have something in common with many of Graham Greene’s semi-autobiographical characters.  I do mean well, even if I don’t always make the best decisions.

You get a brilliant idea/thought/phrase at an inappropriate moment (eg in the shower or driving) what do you do?
Stop what I’m doing and make a note.  Always.

Do you have any bad habits?
Absolutely not.  And don’t ask my wife.

Disclaimer: Nicola was unavailable for comment! 😉 🤣

What is your guilty pleasure?
I do like a glass of single malt whisky.  Or two.  Or three…

I'm guessing you might have a glass or three to celebrate this evening Simon! Cheers 🍾

                                        *    *    *    *

Now that we all know you a little better, let's talk about Backstories Simon. Can I just start by saying that I think the cover is absolutely stunning! The colours just pop right out at me and I would definitely pick it up if I saw it on the shelf in a bookshop.

Dreamers, singers, talkers and killers; they can dazzle with their beauty or their talent or their unmitigated evil, but inside themselves they are as frail and desperate as the rest of us.  But can you see them?  Can you unravel the truth? These are people you know, but not as you know them. Peel back the mask and see.

This book is dedicated to the victims of violent crime, the struggle against discrimination in all its forms and making the world a better place for our children. That is why 30% of all profits will be shared between Stop Hate UK, The North East Autism Society and Friends of the Earth.

                                                  *    *    *    *

I'm quite partial to a short story as I think they're great to dip into when you're short on reading time. Yours sound a little different though with their hidden characters. I briefly mentioned your Backstories Challenge earlier Simon, would you care to tell us more about it?

                                                BACKSTORIES CHALLENGE

Find this lost little boy to claim your reward

The Guitar: No doubt about it, he was a bright kid, talented even.  He was quick on his feet and with his mouth too, and he could smack a baseball out of the park.  But he was a Jew, and he was short.  I mean like really short.  The kid was the size of your average third grader when he was twelve years old.  When he was taking those first steps towards manhood.  When it mattered most. And this was back in the fifties, with Sinatra top of the charts, John Wayne High and Mighty on the big screen and New York thrusting itself into the heavens, one skyscraper taller than the next.  It was a one-size-fits-all sort of time, but it didn’t fit him.

Think you can name this guy?

Then enter the Backstories Challenge on my website for your chance to win a copy of this brilliant new collection.

Not sure? No problem. Visit my website to claim the rest of this story for free. The Guitar is available in both print and audio formats, to enjoy as you please.

That sounds like a fun challenge and I hope that you get lots of people accepting it!

Thank you so much for joining me here on The Hippo today Simon. I'd like to once again wish you a very happy publication day and I hope you have lots of success with Backstories. I can't wait to dive in to try and sniff out the truth for myself! 🧐

You can find out more about Simon, his book and connect with him using the links below:


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Voting rights campaign asks AGs to crack down on voter intimidation

Voting rights campaign asks AGs to crack down on voter intimidation
© Greg Nash

Save the Vote, a campaign created by a coalition of activists and political nonprofits focused on combating voting disinformation and voter suppression, has written letters to every states’ attorney general asking them to have zero tolerance for voter intimidation as early voting starts around the country.

“Voter intimidation is illegal, abhorrent, and threatens the American promise of one person, one vote,” Tiffany Muller, president of Let America Vote — a spearheading member of the coalition — said in a statement. “State Attorneys General should publicly commit to defending voters’ right to cast their ballots safely and securely--and hold accountable anyone who tries to get in the way.”

The coronavirus pandemic has created an influx of voting by mail, something that President TrumpDonald TrumpCaitlyn Jenner on Hannity touts Trump: 'He was a disruptor' Ivanka Trump doubles down on vaccine push with post celebrating second shot Conservative Club for Growth PAC comes out against Stefanik to replace Cheney MORE has tried to delegitimize despite having voted by mail multiple times while in the White House.

The president has claimed that the mail-in voting will lead to rampant voter fraud — an exceedingly rare occurrence. He has also warned that in-person polls will be rigged, causing him to lose his reelection bid. Trump has trailed Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenCaitlyn Jenner on Hannity touts Trump: 'He was a disruptor' Argentina launches 'Green Mondays' campaign to cut greenhouse gases On The Money: Federal judge vacates CDC's eviction moratorium | Biden says he's open to compromise on corporate tax rate | Treasury unsure of how long it can stave off default without debt limit hike MORE for months, with some recent polls showing Biden with a double-digit advantage over the president nationally.

Democrats and voting rights activists have also raised the alarm over Trump suggesting that his supporters should go to the polls to act as deterrents to supposed election rigging.

Legal observers of election places are a well-established part of the U.S. elections, supporters of a particular candidate taking matters into their own hands, however, is not.

Trump’s call to action led to a clash on the second day of early voting in Fairfax, Va., with supporters of the president at one point forcing voters to go around them to enter the polling place to cast their ballots.

“Voter intimidation is an illegal—and abhorrent—practice and it's critical ... to take these threats seriously and hold violators accountable for their actions,” Save the Vote wrote.

The president’s failure to condemn white supremacists during last week’s presidential debate in Cleveland “only underscores the importance of taking this issue seriously,” the coalition added.

In the debate, Trump told the Proud Boys — a known white supremacist group — to “stand back and stand by.”

He also urged his supporters “to go into the polls and watch very carefully, because that's what has to happen.”

The group celebrated the rhetoric on social media, forcing the White House and Trump to scramble to clarify.

The Department of Justice has a somewhat wide definition of voter intimidation, describing it as the act to “deter or influence voting activity through threats to deprive voters of something they already have, such as jobs, government benefits, or, in extreme cases, their personal safety,” but states that such behavior “warrants prompt and effective redress by the criminal justice system.”


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Tag Archive for Anyone

NYT Reporting NSA Spying On Anyone SUSPECTED Of A Crime! (Video Report)

Featured Image: National Security Operations Center Floor in 2012. SOURCE Wikipedia Commons (Public-Domain).

From youtube uploaded by MOXNEWSd0tC0M

Published on Sep 30, 2013

September 30, 2013 CBC News

Dig a LITTLE DEEPER ~ THEI Archive “Spying”

Liberal Gun Control Advocate Goes on Shooting Rampage (+) Cops start shooting at anyone driving a Truck (Video)

Photo: Christopher Jordan Dorner. Cop Gone Wild. SOURCE Scoop.it (Fair Use)

From Godfather Politics

posted on  by

As the police in Southern California spread out a multi-county dragnet for a former cop seeking revenge on the people he blamed for his firing, the mainstream media were suspiciously silent on some key points.

Usually when some crazy goes on a shooting spree, the media leftists look for any scrap of information that can be used to make the case that the killer is somehow a political conservative and that gun control laws must be tightened. That might be harder to do this time.

Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Jordan Dorner was being sought Thursday in connection with five shootings, including those of three police officers in Riverside County. . . . Read Complete Report

We should take note of the fact that the two trucks the cops opened fire on are not the same make or even the same color. . . there is no excuse that they mistook BOTH trucks as being the one they were looking for. . . EDITOR

From youtube uploaded by mamaknock

Police Careless Shooting of Innocent While On Manhunt For Rouge Ex-Cop

Published on Feb 9, 2013

Two cases of careless mistaken identity shootings by LAPD and Torrance police in same neighborhood by gun happy cops. Shoot first ask questions later.

Researcher Offers $25,000 Prize to Anyone Who Can Prove the “Official” Story of the JFK Assassination (+) The Zapruder Film

Photo:  John F. Kennedy motorcade, Dallas, Texas, Nov. 22, 1963. Photograph shows a close-up view of President and Mrs. Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally and his wife. CREDIT  King, Victor Hugo SOURCE Library of Congress Public Domain

By JG Vibes

November 23, 2012

For decades the JFK assassination has been heavily debated, and like many controversial events in US history, there has never been a legitimate investigation into what actually happened.

Yet, despite this controversy the official government story is what most people choose to believe, simply because they refuse to look at the evidence for themselves.

Recently, an author by the name of Barry Krusch has put forward a challenge to skeptics, and is offering a $25,000 prize to anyone who can prove the official propaganda that has been repeated in mainstream circles for generations.

According to the local fox affiliate in Charlotte: . . . Read Complete Report

from youtube

The JFK Assassination- The Zapruder Film: Close Up and SloMo Version

Uploaded on Aug 1, 2010 by girtisholland

The Zapruder film is a silent, color motion picture sequence shot by private citizen Abraham Zapruder with a home-movie camera as U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, thereby unexpectedly capturing the President’s assassination.

The Other JFK Assassination Videos:
The Elsie Dorman Film http://youtu.be/pHS2KeOml88
The Robert Hughes Film http://youtu.be/wn6fXrBcz7k
The George Jefferies Film http://youtu.be/Xd_OeTLy5-o


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best manual juicer in india

The 5 Best Manual(Hand Press) Juicers in India – Reviews & Buying Guide

The juice is one of the best energy boosters when you are in a hurry. People on diet also include it in their routine. So when you have a juicer at home, your dependency on packaged juices will be eliminated and you can have a glass of fresh juice anytime you want. The nutrients remain intact in fresh juices with no added preservatives. So let us see some of the best manual juicers you can get for your home.

5 Best Hand Press/Manual Juicers in India

1. Prestige Citrus Juicer

prestige citrus juicer

This is a handy juicer that ensures maximum yield from citrus fruits and is travel friendly. So you can have a glass of fresh citrus juice at any time you want.

  • Model: PCTJ 04 – Orange
  • Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 19 cm;
  • Weight: 680 Grams
  • Warranty: 1 Year
  • Color: Transparent
  • Easy to use.
  • Easy maintenance because of detachable pulp container.
  • 2 way spin with 2 available cone sizes.
  • Storage capacity could have been higher.

Rating: 4/5

2. HIMMALYA Hand Press Juicer

himmalya hand press juicer

This is one of the best quality hand juicers that comes with a heavy-duty strainer which ensures that not even a single seed passes into the juice. The sturdy base ensures stability during operation and is easy to clean.

  • Model: Wonderware
  • Dimensions: 57.1 x 25.6 x 23 cm
  • Weight: 3.91 Kilograms
  • Material: Aluminium
  • Color: Black
  • Rust proof body that lasts for about 20 years.
  • Material of fine finish that works perfectly to extract the best quality juice.
  • It comes with a plastic juice jar of 1 lt capacity.
  • The process of extraction is slow.

Rating: 4.5/5

3. Kalsi Hand Press Juicer

kalsi hand press juicer

This is a professional juicer that helps you prepare juice with less efforts by pressing the manual lever. It ensures complete hygiene as superior quality iron and aluminum have been used for building the juicer.

  • Model: Kalsi
  • Dimensions: 100 x 100 x 100 cm
  • Weight: 3.66 Kilograms
  • Color: Black
  • Easy to extract maximum juice in the least effort.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • Parts do not rust easily because of the detachable strainer, funnel, and other parts.
  • Price is on the higher end.

Rating: 4.2/5

4. BTC INDIA Hand Press Juicer

btc india hand press juicer

Finest quality food-grade steel and aluminum, is used for making this hand-pressed juicer which is built to last long even after rough use.

  • Model: BTC India Juicer
  • Dimensions: 59 x 23 x 19 cm
  • Weight: 4.28 Kilograms
  • Color: Black
  • Warranty: 20 Years
  • Easy to use.
  • Can be conveniently cleaned.
  • No cons.

Rating: 4.5/5

5. CHEFWARE Aluminium Hand Press Citrus Juicer

chefware aluminium hand press citrus juicer

This hand-pressed juicer comes with a sturdy side handle which ensures a better grip during the process of extraction of juice. The metal body lasts for years together.

  • Model: Juicer
  • Dimensions: 56.2 x 23 x 20.2 cm
  • Weight: 3.94 Kilograms
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Color: Black
  • Sturdy base remains stable during the process of juice extraction.
  • It has a side handle for convenient operation.
  • No cons.

Rating: 4.4/5

What are The Reasons for Choosing a Manual Juicer?

  1. The nutrients in manually obtained juice is more than that of an electric juicer.
  2. No need for depending on electricity for juicing anymore.
  3. It operates silently concerning an electrical juicer.
  4. They are lightweight and hence travel friendly.
  5. They are less expensive compared to electric juicers.
  6. Since the moving parts are less in a manual juicer, cleaning them is an easy task.

Every home should have a manual juicer because the fresh juice is loaded with nutrients and can be taken even by the kids at home safely. Follow our juicer reviews and buying guide to get the best one for yourself without getting confused.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Do manual juicers have any drawbacks?

Ans – Yes, there are only some drawbacks of manual juicers, i.e veggies, and fruits with hard outer shells cant be juiced in it and the juicing process is time taking.

Q. Can the yields be increased from manual juicers in any way?

Ans – Yes, you can do it by using your palm to roll the fruit so that they become soft enough to release juice easily. You can even warm it for 10-12 seconds in your microwave without directly juicing it after removing it from the refrigerator.

Q. Can manual juicers be used in dishwashers?

Ans – Usually the manual juicers available today are dishwasher friendly but still, you need to check it before buying if you are looking for a compatible one.

Related Posts:

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Monthly Archives: May 2015

Chicken and Rice Bake

This is a new (for me) spin,  on a back in the day chicken and rice casserole that I enjoyed as a kid. The Picnic lunch spot, in Nashville, puts a little curry in their broccoli soup and I thought this would translate well to a casserole. I searched the internet for a place to start and ended up basing it off  this local gal’s recipe with a few changes.  Then, I made it a little more organic, if you care about that type of thing. Everyone loved it.  I served it along side broccoli, but putting broccoli in it would be a good move next time.

1 organic rotisserie chicken, shredded (i only used the white meat, but you could use all of it)

1 12 ounce box of organic cream of chicken soup

8 ounces organic sour cream

1 box of lundberg’s wild rice (or brand of your choice)

1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

8 ounces of organic sour cream

1 cup of organic panko breadcrumbs

4 tablespoons of organic butter, melted

salt and pepper

1 tablespoon of poppy seeds

cooking spray, your choice

instructions and directions:

heat oven to 350 degrees.

cook rice according to package instructions.

combine cooked rice, soup, sour cream and curry powder in a medium sized bowl. season with salt and pepper. add chicken to the bowl and stir well to combine.

pour mixture into a casserole dish that has been sprayed with your choice of oil.

in a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and butter. top casserole with crumbs and sprinkle with poppy seeds.

bake at 350 for about 35 minutes. casserole will brown and will be bubbly.


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Bodymindspirit Podcast Episode #4: Meditation with Alex. The Scale of Stillness

publication date: Feb 21, 2018

     This episode is an excerpt from our first Dharma Talk Webinar and is the introductory meditation he presents in the larger process of beginning a meditation practice. In this meditation, teacher Alex Filmer-Lorch begins our awareness with the five senses and exploring stillness and building our internal awareness. If you like this meditation, please consider checking out the full webinar recording titled, Dharma Talk #1: The Scale of Stillness Practice

     Obviously, we wouldn't recommend that you listen to this episode while you are driving or otherwise occupied with your life. Instead, leave this episode for a time when you are ready to be in stillness and have no external distractions. Enjoy!

If you, or you know of someone who might be a good contributor for The Idea Crucible, let us know! We want to meet you. Contact us down below.


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International US senator calls for investigation into FaceApp

US senator calls for investigation into FaceApp

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Popular Russia-based application FaceApp, which allows users to change their appearance to look older or younger, came under fire in the United States Wednesday, with one senator urging an FBI investigation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the FBI and the FTC, the US consumer protection body, to “look into the national security & privacy risks” connected to FaceApp, which is used by millions of Americans but was developed by a Saint Petersburg-based company.

“FaceApp’s location in Russia raises questions regarding how and when the company provides access to the data of U.S. citizens to third parties, including potentially foreign governments,” the New York senator said in a letter to the FBI.

“It would be deeply troubling if the sensitive personal information of US citizens was provided to a hostile foreign power actively engaged in cyber hostilities against the United States,” he added.

Schumer is not the only Democrat who is worried. According to the Washington Post the party’s National Committee has warned campaigners in the primaries ahead of the 2020 presidential election to “delete the app immediately.”

The party is particularly sensitive to any possibility of surveillance involving Moscow after some Democratic officials were targeted by Russian hackers during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

- Advertisement -

FaceApp representatives have not responded to Schumer’s letter but the company’s CEO told the Washington Post that the app did not use the photos for any other purpose.

Yaroslav Goncharov told the newspaper most photos are deleted from its servers within 48 hours and said Russian authorities did not have any access to user data.

FaceApp, which was launched by Russian publisher Wireless Lab in 2017, uses artificial intelligence to modify users’ photos, changing their hair colour, adding wrinkles or subtracting years from their faces.

It is currently the most downloaded free application on Google Play, with more than 100 million users after its new aging filter attracted interest from celebrities including music superstar Drake and NBA champion Steph Curry.

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MOH asks hospitals to delay non-urgent surgeries to conserve resources for Covid patients

Singapore— With Covid-19 cases rising, the Ministry of Health (MOH) asked hospitals on Monday (May 3) to delay non-urgent surgeries and give priority to the treatment of Covid patients. In a statement, MOH said it is "working closely with all public and...

5 KTPH staff disciplined for ‘error’ that led to unnecessary treatment of breast cancer patients

Singapore—Five staff members of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) have been disciplined for a laboratory incident that led to inaccurate test results and unnecessary treatment for some breast cancer patients. The staff members were disciplined for "not adequately performing their duties and...

MOH confirms 17 new Covid-19 cases, five linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital cluster

Singapore -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed five new cases of locally transmitted Covid-19 infection that are linked to the cluster at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Tuesday (May 4) also saw another 12 imported cases. It is the ninth...
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Animals’ Angels, an investigative agency dedicated to animal rights, has released their findings from a two-year investigation into “killer buyer” Mike McBarron of Forney, TX.

The organization alleges that McBarron, owner of M and M Livestock and M and M Farms (a trucking company), has repeatedly violated The Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act. Additionally, they document poor conditions at McBarron’s Forney collecting station.

According to the report, McBarron has garnered millions of dollars by purchasing horses at auctions and elsewhere, shipping them to Mexico for slaughter, and garnering major profits. While this practice may be morally reprehensible to those against the slaughter of horses, it is not illegal.

Horses at McBarron's Forney location.  Photo courtesy Animals' Angels

Horses at McBarron’s Forney location. Photo courtesy Animals’ Angels

The Inside Rein reached out to McBarron for a response to Animals’ Angels report and he was forthcoming in his replies. McBarron does not deny sending horses to slaughter, stating, “Do I personally slaughter them myself? No, I do not. I send them to a guy in Mexico that has it done. Me personally, I don’t like it. I’m not a fan of it but here’s the bottom line: I’ve been in the horse business all my life, I buy a lot of horses. It’s kind of a necessary evil because even after all the horses that we do save every week there’s some that fall through the cracks that people don’t want.”

Since the USDA closed the remaining US slaughter plants in 2007, the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act was amended to address the issue of improper travel conditions as horses face the long haul en route to slaughter in either Canada or Mexico. It is violations of this Act that has Animals’ Angels calling for the USDA Slaughter Horse Transport Program to investigate the actions of Mr. McBarron.

According to the report, many of Mr. McBarron’s horses are purchased through brokers at auctions and sale barns, and then sent directly to slaughter, McBarron having never personally laid eyes on them.

When asked, Mr. McBarron readily admitted he purchases horses in other states and ships them directly slaughter. “That’s right,” he says, “But it’s all done legally. I get horses out of Arkansas and Louisiana but they microchip and tag the horses there and then they have a Louisiana accredited veterinarian sign the health certificate.”

The condition of the horses Mr. McBarron ships to slaughter is, according to evidence collected by Animals’ Angels, often times deplorable. The report claims some horses were unable to stand on four legs, others emaciated, and at least three documented as being dead on arrival, all direct violations of the Act. In 2014, three of McBarron’s horses tested positive for Cadmium, a banned substance in the EU and Russia, and he was notified by the Carnicos de Jerez slaughter plant. AA also alleges that foals have been seen in McBarron’s feedlots. If those horses were shipped to slaughter, that too is a direct violation of the Act that prohibits horses under six months of age to be sent to slaughter.

Horses DOA at Carnicos de Jerez plant, allegedly from Mike McBarron.  Photo courtesy of Animals' Angels

Horses DOA at Carnicos de Jerez plant, allegedly from Mike McBarron. Photo courtesy of Animals’ Angels

McBarron strongly refutes any implication that his horses are shipped in poor condition. “I’ve got compassion for them,” says McBarron, “If there’s one that looks like he doesn’t need to be put on that truck because he might not make the trip I’m going keep him off there. From time to time you’re going to have some catastrophes and something will happen that’s out of your control.”

McBarron also denies the use of an electronic prod, despite Animals’ Angels photographic evidence. “No,” he says McBarron when asked if he uses electric prods, adding, “There’s a couple pictures of me with a hot shot in my hand but they ain’t got none of me using them have they?”

McBarron holding a "hot shot."  Photo courtesy of Animals' Angels.

McBarron holding a “hot shot.” Photo courtesy of Animals’ Angels.

Each animal being shipped for slaughter must be given an International Health Certificate after being checked by a veterinarian. Mr. McBarron employs the services of Dr. Timothy Holt of Terrell, TX for these purposes. Animals’ Angels alleges that Mr. Holt has provided this documentation without ever laying eyes on most of the horses as they are shipped directly to slaughter. This is dangerous for those who will consume the meat as they have no way of knowing whether the animal had been given banned substance during the previous 180 days. Such a practice also makes it impossible for Dr. Holt to know whether a horse has a communicable disease and is therefore unsuitable for shipping across state or country lines. The Texas Veterinary Board has written up Mr. Holt for malpractice/negligence on multiple occasions.

McBarron vehemently denies any wrongdoing on the certificates. “That’s not true,” McBarron says of the allegations that Dr. Holt provides health certificates on unseen animals. “You know why I say that? In reality he lives probably about ten miles from me and he’s at my place every day.”

Horses that McBarron purchases out of state are, according to McBarron, inspected by in-state veterinarians, and then endorsed by the USDA. If a state doesn’t provide those services, McBarron says he gets health papers on the horses, then ships them directly to his pens where he microchips and tags them and they receive veterinary inspection. The Inside Rein reached out Dr. Holt for comment and he has yet to reply.

Animals’ Angels investigated four locations operated by McBarron, including the Mike McBarron Feedlot in Forney, TX, the Eagle Pass Export Pens and Preisidio Export Pens also in Texas, and the Stanley Brother Feedlot in Bastrop, LA.

Horse in mud at the Forney location.  Photo by anonymous source, courtesy of Animals' Angels

Horse in mud at the Forney location. Photo by anonymous source, courtesy of Animals’ Angels

Investigators visited the Forney location and found horses knee-deep in mud with water and food troughs tipped over or empty. Photographs in the report show a horse with his eyes swollen shut, others emaciated and sickly, as well as a donkey lying dead in a pen.

McBarron stresses that his horses receive quality care and have food and water at all times. “They [Animals’ Angels] want to talk about how bad of a place my place is but my place is probably nicer than 95% of the people that are out there doing all that talking. I’ve got a first class operation. We do everything right. When the horses get to my place they get the best feed money can buy. I’d like them to see my feed and water bill every month.”

AA also visited a Stanley Brother’s collecting station notorious for welfare violations in the past. They have multiple properties operating in Mississippi and Louisiana. This is significant because McBarron uses the Stanley Brothers as brokers and shippers, a profitable venture for the brothers. According to the report, in March 2014 alone McBarron paid the Stanley Brothers $300,000 for their services. Mitchell Stanley has been fined a total of $34,925 by the USDA for violations of the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act in the past.

A Stanley Brothers’ collecting station in Mississippi, operated by Jerry Earls, was investigated in 2014 when a couple reported multiple dead or dying horses at the property and reported their finding to law enforcement. According to Animals’ Angels, the remaining horses were quickly shipped to Mike McBarron to be exported for slaughter.

Lame horse at Stanley Brother's Bostrop collecting station.  Photo courtesy of Animals' Angels.

Lame horse at Stanley Brother’s Bostrop collecting station. Photo courtesy of Animals’ Angels.

AA investigators visited the Stanley Brother’s property in Bastrop, LA, where they found an emaciated, severely lame horse unable to put weight on his right foreleg. The report also points to a 2010 police report documenting the observation of dead carcasses at the location, including a dead horse, a dead sheep, and two dead cows.

The AA report lays out the staggering numbers involved in Mike McBarron’s slaughter trade, both in dollars and lives. From McBarron’s Eagle Pass location alone, between 933 and 5284 horses were shipped to slaughter per month in 2014. An invoice from the Carnicos de Jerez plant states that McBarron was paid $1,988,683.02 during a 3-month period in 2014. McBarron was noncommittal on the sums he’s received in the slaughter trade, and didn’t deny the numbers printed in Animals’ Angels report.

When the EU banned the import of horsemeat from Mexico, McBarron’s business declined. He switched his business to non-EU approved plants and continues his purchase-to-slaughter pipeline, raking in staggering sums.

McBarron repeatedly stressed that his reason for sending horses to slaughter was because there was nothing else to do with them. When asked why he continued to purchase so many horses if he didn’t have the space, he replied with the following: “I do it to make money. That’s what I do; I’m in the horse business. That’s all I’ve ever done. When we get them we try to handle them as humane as we can.”

According to information obtained by Animals’ Angels through the Freedom of Information Act, McBarron has previously been sighted for multiple violations of the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act and fined a total of $21,000. McBarron does not deny past violations, but stresses he’s following the law now. “I violated some laws probably 7 or 8 years ago when if first started. But I paid my fines, I paid my restitution. Cost me about 35,000 dollars. Since then I’ve tried to do everything the government says to do. I haven’t had any more fines.”

Based on the AA report, previous punishment has done nothing to slow McBarron’s lucrative slaughter business. Animals’ Angels has “called on the USDA Slaughter Horse Transport Program as well as local authorities such as the Texas Department of Environmental Quality, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office to launch an investigation into Mike McBarron’s operations.”

To read the full report, click here.
To read about Animals’ Angels investigation into Donor Horse Serum, click here.

Article by Ashley Fairfield-Remeza

Click to access The%20Secret%20Empire%20of%20Kill%20Buyer%20Mike%20McBarron_.pdf


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Knight and Day

At the end of last week Castletown, County Kildare hosted a day-long conference in memory of Desmond FitzGerald, the Knight of Glin who died a year ago. It was an occasion for many of us who knew Desmond to gather together and, between listening to scholarly papers, exchange anecdotes and reminiscences about this most memorable man.
Desmond, the Black Knight, the Knight of the Valley, 29th and last Knight of Glin, was born in 1937, only son of fractious, unhappy parents. As noted by Christopher Gibbs, one of his oldest friends, Desmond grew up ‘a handsome, lonely boy in a rather threadbare castle on the Shannon.’ This is Glin, an 18th century Adam-esque house later tricked out in gothic flummery. The Knight’s ancestors never had much money and in his teens the family place was offered for rental, threatened with dereliction and then saved thanks to the generosity of a wealthy Canadian step-father who paid for the roof and walls to be made secure.
After time spent at the University of British Columbia followed by Harvard, Desmond returned to Ireland, living in the early 1960s in the little house tucked to the rear of Leixlip Castle. His landlords were Desmond and Mariga Guinness, from whom he – an eager student – learnt a great deal about Irish art and architecture. This knowledge provided the foundations for his own extensive research into the same subjects, subsequently published in a series of books written with collaborators such as Anne Crookshank and James Peill. Mariga was one of the great influences on Desmond’s life, as she was for many other young men and women, myself included, who crossed her path.

Here is a photograph of Desmond from those early days at Leixlip, with Mariga to the left splendid in a tartan skirt and 18th century military coat. She always had what used to be called good carriage, as well as a splendid profile. Desmond is on the right of the picture, also in costume and looking not unlike a young Cecil Beaton. Next to him can be seen his then-girlfriend Talitha Pol, one of the great beauties of the period; she went on to marry John Paul Getty.
Desmond meanwhile, had moved to London and taken a job at the Victoria & Albert Museum in what was then called the Department of Woodwork. Here he was able to continue his research into Irish decorative arts while also becoming part of a rather smart set that included not just Christopher Gibbs but also the likes of David Mlinaric, Mark Palmer, Jane and Victoria Ormsby-Gore and Nicholas Gormanston. As Christopher commented, Desmond’s scholarly life tended to be hidden from his London friends who remembered him ‘as the wildest of dancers in a chinoiserie jacket.’

In 1966 Desmond married Loulou de la Falaise, then still in her teens but already displaying the flair that would soon make her Yves St Laurent’s muse. Here is the couple in Desmond’s flat on Pont Street which he decorated (with the help of David Mlinaric) with Irish pictures and furniture discovered in London’s antique shops. The distance between Desmond and his wife in this picture, and their respective expressions, indicate all was not well with the marriage and indeed it lasted barely 18 months but they always remained friends and kept in contact, and Loulou was to die just a month after Desmond.
Fortunately within a few years he had met and married Olda Willes and this union proved much happier, producing three beautiful daughters, Catherine, Nesta and Honor, the Sirens of the Shannon. Speaking at the end of last week’s proceedings, Olda observed that in many ways Desmond had been an 18th century man mysteriously transposed into the 20th, ‘as ready to fight a duel as to negotiate a settlement.’
In the mid-1970s Desmond, throughout his life plagued by extreme mood swings, suffered a complete collapse, left the V&A and settled to Ireland where he was soon appointed representative for Christie’s. It was an ideal job, encouraging him to travel throughout the country looking at houses and their contents, work that enhanced his own research. Soon he began producing the books that have done so much to improve Irish scholarship and encourage further investigation into areas hitherto rather neglected. Today so much work is written and published on Irish architecture and decorative arts, one can easily forget that when Desmond began his enquiries this was unexplored territory.
Desmond’s enthusiasm for these topics never waned. Visiting him in hospital about a month before his death, I mentioned a newly published book of essays on Irish houses. A week later I returned to discover he had since ordered, received and read the book. At supper the evening prior to the Castletown gathering, Penny Guinness recalled also visiting Desmond and hearing him say that throughout his life he had been very lucky. So were those of us fortunate to have known him.

13 comments on “Knight and Day

  1. Richard FM Conlon '@WorldofConlon' says:

    Unsurprisingly, the articles ‘Shanid a Boo’ & ‘Knight & Day’ both very interesting. Offering learned content. However, not beyond the reach of most, I believe.

  2. Marilyn P. says:

    I enjoyed reading this article and also your small book “The Last Knight of Glin” (electronic version). As a descendant of the 22nd knight, Thomas Og (who was very old when he became Knight of Glin), I mostly heard stories about life before the present Glin Castle was built, and about how hard Thomas worked to restore the reputation of the family after his brother Richard’s tenure. (As I remember, Richard was commonly referred to as the “godless knight.”)

    Thank you for your portrait of the last knight.

  3. Luke says:

    What a handsome looking man. Can you tell me, does the book contain more? Or do you have a secret source?

  4. markus von und zu noerenberg says:

    will visitlimerick and take a huge breath of our family griffin glin. am head of family griffin, the lords knight family. if the family wishes to carry on in recommeating its grand history we should find a chat.

    freeduke, heartog,…
    prof dr dr

  5. markus von und zu noerenberg says:

    did not know how to upload our coatt of arms 😉

  6. ATTICUS says:

    Glorious article on the dear and much-missed Knight. Just on a point of information, which I hope you will not mind, Mariga is not wearing an 18th century military coat but the diplomatic court dress coat still worn today. Most likely an example from the Viceregal days.

    • Thank you, one is always happy to be corrected (especially on matters sartorial…)

      • markus von und zu nörenberg says:

        WHO IS The nowadays head of The glinn Family please?

      • Thank you for getting in touch. Since the death of the 29th Knight of Glin in 2011, there has been no official head (since he had no male heirs, the title died with him) but the family continue to own Glin Castle.

      • knight von und zu noerenberg says:

        the point is: i am the reigning head of grifin family which spent/spends the title deed knight and i wish that the glin family carries on. else zjeir sword has to get brought to me!!!

        next i wish to give them funds and as well invest in limerick!!!

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Pallas Life

There are over twenty place names in Ireland incorporating the word ‘Pallas.’ Seemingly this derives from a Norman term, paleis, meaning boundary fence (hence the word palisade which clearly comes from the same source). One such spot is Pallas, County Galway found at the end of a boreen (from the Irish word bóithrín, meaning ‘a little road’). Here can be found, if not quite a palace, certainly the remains of a very substantial tower house and ancillary buildings. Pallas Castle as it is known, is believed to date from c.1500 when it was built by a branch of the Burke family, descendants of the Norman de Burghs, the first of whom William de Burgh had seized territory in this part of the country and in 1203 called himself Lord of Connacht. Rising five storeys, the tower stands within a bawn wall access to which is through an east-facing two-storey gatehouse flanked by similarly propotioned turrets. Immediately adjacent to the tower house on the west side are portions of a 17th century house, its gable end built into the bawn wall, through which separate entrance was created. The walls on either side retain their internal parapets, reached via flights of stone steps.

The Burkes remained in possession of Pallas until the mid-17th century when, like many other families who had risen against the Cromwellian forces, they were dispossessed of their lands and moved further west. The same fate befell another ancient family of Norman origins, the Nugents, formerly Barons Delvin but since 1621 Earls of Westmeath. They too were required to depart their original property and move west, being given part of the former Burke land including Pallas. Following the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the second Earl of Westmeath was allowed to return to his ancestral lands and those in County Galway bestowed on his second son, the Hon Thomas Nugent, created Baron Nugent of Riverston by James II in 1689. As a Roman Catholic and Jacobite he went into exile, dying in 1715 but his sons conformed to the established church and so were able to retain both the family title and estates. Their descendants remained at Pallas until the 1930s, having some thirty years earlier become Earls of Westmeath when the main line of the family died out. Ultimately the Land Commission took over the Pallas estate and divided it up, thereby ending the Nugent link. What remains of Pallas Castle is today a National Monument.

So this is what is left at Pallas, but another very substantial building in the immediate vicinity has since disappeared. In 1797 the amateur architect William Leeson, now best known for laying out the town of Westport, County Mayo, was commissioned by the fourth Lord Nugent of Riverston to design offices and, it seems, a new residence. This building was considerably enlarged by the tenth Earl of Westmeath after he inherited the title and estate on the death of his father in 1879. Surviving photographs show a house typical of the period, with an abundance of plate glass, parapets and balustrades, cement-rendered pilasters and quoins, together with a three-bay extension to one side. Further improvements were carried out on the property in the years immediately before the outbreak of the First World War  with the addition of a new library and smoking room, but in the aftermath of the war circumstances were very different. The Nugents left the area for good soon after the death of the 11th Earl in 1933 when the title passed to his younger brother. A sale of the contents took place and then in 1945 the house itself was demolished, followed by an auction of its fixtures and fittings, including no less than 150 interior and exterior doors and a similar number of windows, marble chimney pieces, library shelving and so forth. Despite  the building’s scale, today there is no obvious trace of it on the landscape and only the older structures survive at Pallas.

10 comments on “Pallas Life

  1. Ken m says:

    I never realised the (now obvious) link between pallas and palisade. That explain the now demolished Agar Pallas on the old “Pale” road near summerhill meath. The Pale been the most famous palisade in Ireland. Also my wife’s ancestral home Carlanstown House, used to be Carlanstown Pallas and had a more magnificent house standing there at one time. That house was also owned by the nugents and I believe there is a verb “to nugentise” which means to marry into money several times that comes from the owners marrying habits.

  2. Rory S says:

    There are two photos of Pallas House in the Clonbrock Collection in the National Library of Ireland (though they are misidentified):

    There is also a photo of Pallas Castle in the same collection, though this is also misidentified:

  3. lawrieweed says:

  4. Deborah Sena says:

    What irony you have posted this today. I have been searching records for my family from the Castlepollard area of Westmeath and came upon today the 1659 census and, of course, came across Nugents as landholders. I then started researching the Nugents and Earls of Westmeath. My gr grandfather was a shepherd on the land associated with Streamstown House- Faughalstown, which also of luck, is a surveyed house that still exists. Better yet, it has an apartment for self catering which I am using late Sept. while I visit Ireland. Does anyone know if you can find/is anything left of the monk chapel and holy well on Knockeyon? If it was an ancient pilgrimage site for centuries, you’d think the remnants of the path would exist.

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Jets News

NY Jets: 3 trade packages to consider for Deshaun Watson

Jan 18, 2021, 5:48 AM EST
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets are one of the 25+ NFL teams that should be interested in trading for disgruntled Houston Texans quarterback, Deshaun Watson.

While it may have seemed like a ridiculous notion just a few weeks ago, the possibility that Watson is traded grows more likely by the day with recent reports indicating that he has no intentions of playing for the Texans ever again.

Plenty of teams will be interested, but few will be able to realistically afford what it takes to land a player of Watson’s caliber. You could make the argument that Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar Patrick Mahomes is the only player in the entire NFL who holds more value.

It’s going to take an absurd amount of capital to land Watson — if he’s actually traded. But no matter what it takes, a potential trade would be 100 percent worth it.

The Jets are one of the few teams that have stockpiled enough draft capital and cap space to pull off such a franchise-altering move. After all, this is the very reason you stockpile assets in the first place.

To take advantage of once-in-a-generation opportunities like this.

There are a few avenues the Jets could explore when proposing trade packages. And while it’s still a longshot that general manager Joe Douglas actually pulls the move off, best believe he’ll be making some calls.

Let’s take a look at three potential trade packages the Jets could realistically offer for Deshaun Watson.

Next: 1. Evenly distributed first-round picks

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

1. First potential NY Jets trade package for Deshaun Watson:

This might be the most preferential from the Jets’ perspective of all three trade offers — at least in terms of the ones that only feature draft picks.

The Jets have the luxury of possessing four first-round picks over the next two years thanks to the Jamal Adams trade that send them Seattle’s next two first-rounders. In this scenario, they manage to retain two of those four picks.

Houston receives this year’s No. 2 overall pick and the Jets’ first-rounder in 2022 while Gang Green also parts with their 2023 first-round pick. But the Jets still manage to maintain a first-round pick in both 2021 and 2022 to help with the rebuild.

The starting price for Watson should probably be somewhere around three first-round picks, and that price could rise if a bidding war ensues. Of course, this also depends on how desperate the Texans are to move him and a host of other factors as well.

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This is a similar package to the one proposed by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, except we added in an exchange of mid-round selections. This was simply because the value of a draft pick depreciates the farther into the future you go.

A 2023 first-round pick isn’t nearly as valuable as a 2021 or 2022 first-round pick. As such, the Jets throw in the 2021 third-round pick they received from Seattle in the Adams deal and receive a 2022 fifth-rounder in return.

Would Houston take this deal? Perhaps, it will all depend on how Watson’s market develops. But this is about as fair of a deal as you’re going to get all things considered.

Next: 2. The Sam Darnold package

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

2. Second potential NY Jets trade package for Deshaun Watson:

The odds are that if the Texans agree to send Watson to New York, they’ll use the No. 2 overall pick they receive in return to select their next quarterback. But that isn’t the only way this needs to go down.

What if the Texans aren’t in love with any of the QB prospects in this year’s class? After all, you’d have to imagine they didn’t do as much work on the likes of Justin Fields and Zach Wilson as many other teams might have.

And what if they see Jets quarterback Sam Darnold as a possible replacement for Watson? It would be a gamble, for sure, but it’s a scenario worth exploring.

If we value Darnold at roughly a 2021 second-round pick (his rumored market value), we could project a fair trade using the former USC star as an additional asset.

In this case, the Jets send their 2021 first along with their 2022 first-round pick as well as Darnold and their 2021 second-round pick. That’s no ordinary second-round pick, however, as it’s slotted No. 34 overall in the entire draft.

Essentially, the Texans would be receiving picks 2 and 34 in 2021, Darnold, and the Jets’ first-round pick the following year. We could equate the price of Darnold and the 34th overall pick roughly to a first-round selection.

In turn, the value roughly translates to Watson in exchange for three first-round picks, which is the basis for all three of these trade packages.

For the Jets, this is a no brainer. You essentially trade Watson for two first-round picks and a high second-round pick seeing as though Darnold would be an afterthought from the Jets’ point of view.

This only works if Houston still believes in Darnold, but it’s definitely a deal the Jets should consider exploring if the opportunity presents itself.

Next: 3. Backloading the draft capital

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson
NY Jets, Deshaun Watson

NY Jets, Deshaun Watson Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

3. Third potential NY Jets trade package for Deshaun Watson:

There’s nothing fancy about this deal. Just Deshaun Watson for three first-round picks.

The Jets will give up three of their four first-round picks over the next two years, but they retain not only the 23rd selection in this year’s draft, but the 34th. That would still leave them with four picks inside the top-90 in 2021.

Their 2022 draft capital will be decimated, but they won’t mortgage away any additional 2023 draft capital and, most importantly, they’ll have a superstar quarterback at age 25.

This trade package likely makes the most sense for the Texans. This will give them the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 which they could use to replace Watson or even use to trade down and stockpile some much-needed draft capital.

And in 2022, they’ll now be owners of three first-round picks which they could use to fully rebuild their franchise. Obviously, this isn’t something they’d want to do. You don’t willingly trade away the best thing to ever happen to your franchise.

More from The Jet Press

But Watson might force their hand. Or more realistically speaking, they will have forced their own hand.

And for the Jets, it’s simple. Draft picks are lottery tickets. The higher the pick, the better your odds of winning, but even the “winners” rarely get a player like Watson.

The Jets have been searching for a “Deshaun Watson” for close to half a century. It doesn’t matter the price, you pay it.

This is a package that makes sense for both parties involved and might just be the likeliest of the three. At the very least, it’s certainly the most straight-forward.

Next. NY Jets: 5 49ers defensive free agents for Robert Saleh to target

Will Deshaun Watson end up playing for the Jets in 2021? It remains unlikely.

But the NFL is a crazy world. And sometimes, it takes a crazy mind to live in a crazy world.


text:
Jets News

NY Jets hire new linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg

Feb 2, 2021, 1:52 PM EST
NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
NY Jets Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets continue to add to their coaching staff as Robert Saleh reportedly added yet another name to the defensive side of the ball.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Jets have hired now-former San Francisco 49ers assistant Mike Rutenberg to be the team’s new linebackers coach.

Rutenberg spent the 2020 season as the passing game specialist under Saleh with the 49ers after spending seven years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. And in Jacksonville, Rutenberg also crossed paths with the Jets’ new head coach.

Saleh served as the Jaguars’ linebackers coach from 2014 to 2016, during which Rutenberg was the team’s assistant defensive backs coach and later a defensive assistant.

What are the NY Jets getting in Mike Rutenberg?

In 2016, Saleh and Rutenberg’s final season with the Jaguars, the team’s defense improved from allowing the 24th-most points in the year prior to allowing the sixth-least a season later.

Prior to joining the Jaguars, Rutenberg served on the UCLA coaching staff as a graduate assistant where he was in charge of playbook administration and opponent breakdown.

While he will join the Jets as their linebackers coach, his specialty is definitely in pass coverage. His background as a defensive backs coach and passing game specialist is good news for a Jets’ linebacker corps that has struggled against the pass in recent years.

This could mean big things for someone like C.J. Mosley who has excelled in coverage throughout his career. If he stays healthy in 2021, Mosley could be in-line for a major comeback season.

Rutenberg joins the likes of Marquand Manuel and Tony Oden who were reportedly hired earlier today. Manuel and Oden will both work in the secondary with the former being the Jets’ safeties coach and the latter a senior defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach.

It seems the emphasis today was on pass coverage after adding defensive line coaches Aaron Whitecotton and Nate Ollie last month.

Saleh continues to add to the growing list of coaches on his staff emphasizing a desire to add a bunch of different football minds from all different backgrounds.

Notably, Saleh’s defensive staff is already larger than the one Adam Gase had with a total of nine defensive coaches reported thus far as compared to eight that Gase had.

The same goes for the offensive side of the ball with 11 offensive coaches hired thus far as compared to only nine a year ago.

Next. NY Jets: 4 players who could be traded this offseason

Robert Saleh’s staff is nearly complete and Rutenberg is likely one of the final additions.


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Like all businesses at the moment, our opening hours are constantly changing in response to the latest COVID-19 regulations, so please contact us beforehand if you plan to visit.

English Language Literacy

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded funding that will allow individuals and families to register for weekly free online English language support sessions. Participants will also be able to borrow wifi-enabled devices to help you join our classes should this be necessary.

Make sure to register for sessions in advance as places are limited!

Furthermore, the project supports English literacy through offering book boxes from our lending library. These can be borrowed for a period of time, and travel and delivery support is available. Please contact us directly for more information.

The grant was awarded to us by the Improving Community Resilience Fund for Refugee-assisting Organisations (Scheme 2), and is funded by Foundation Scotland and the National Emergencies Trust and distributed by the Scottish Refugee Council.

All of the classes on this page will be provided for free between 8th Feb and 25th June, 2021 thanks to our funding sponsors!

may, 2021


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Recovering on a Saturday

Well, if you’ve been reading the blog this week you know that it was a very long one. Lindsey had her first week in a new job, and I led one of the most important efforts of my career to its (almost) completion in less than two weeks. It’s really been crazy around here.

Today we spent a good portion of the day together. We crashed early last night and got a good night’s sleep, in fact I think I broke through the 12 hour mark. We got up, had a slow morning, and had a late breakfast at Torchy’s. It was basically a really great Saturday.

Tonight, after spending the day together in the most chill way possible, Lindsey commented that we haven’t spent this much time together in weeks. She’s right, and it felt weird.

Summer had us spoiled. I was working from home a lot, Lindsey was around the house and it was great. Then she got her miracle job and I got swamped. We were pulled back into the real world.

So today, this day to spend time together, was absolutely required. It was perfect.

I imagine the trick to a healthy marriage is exactly what we have been told: keep our eyes on God, trust him, love and serve each other. It’s working so far, I know it is. But there are some weeks, this one most of all, that it seems like it’s working awfully slow.

But we know it’s working.

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Are they partying on borrowed time?

Will young people ever get older? Will seniors be able to enjoy their golden years without the aid of being incubated in a hospital Emergency Room? There is a great divide between sense and nonsense these days. Are young adults irresponsible towards the COVID 19 safety protocols?

Nan's Farm

“Our family – with every birth and union it grows, and every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.” _ unknown.

Over onWeekly Prompts this weekend, partner GC and my Weekend Challenge was the word Tall. This is my second response to our challenge. Also linked to Fandango’s Replace

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    • It is a crazy situation. Even crazier is the fact that President Trump is having one of his mega political campaigns indoor and face masks or social distancing is not required. He is a man for the people or is he really?

      • He’s no man for the people. He’s only for himself. In my day he would be called a commie and outted when he said Putin was as nice guy. After his latest stunt in saying our vets are losers, if he wins our nation is gone to communism. He doesn’t give a care for rules of law or our constitution. Maybe it’s luck they don’t wear masks… Just a thought. A good thought they all breathe on each other. Just my humble response.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Bravo. Your “humble response” represents the way a majority of Americans feel right now about President Rump. If more of his avid followers were to breathe heavily on each other then the numbers of his supporters would decline rapidly. He calls Biden a “communist” while he himself has his head high up Putin’s behind. If that is not sucking up then I do not know what is. 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

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Garlic fingers under scrutiny; government warns of health risks of so-called ‘practice pizza’

Garlic fingers under scrutiny; government warns of health risks of so-called ‘practice pizza’

Charlottetown — One of the staples of Atlantic Canadian cuisine came under criticism from the federal Minister of Health late last week at a press conference in Charlottetown, PEI, during which it was announced that garlic fingers boxes would begin to bear mandatory health warnings.

“These strips of bread coated in mozzarella and garlic butter, while delicious, are a completely unnecessary burden being placed on the circulatory systems of Atlantic Canadians,” said the Hon. Jane Philpott before an assemblage of reporters, health officials and pizza restaurant employees in the main lobby of the Eastlink Centre.

“The fact that Atlantic Canadians insist on dipping this greasy appetizer in donair sauce — which might as well be Elmer’s glue cut with cake batter — is just beyond the pale as far as this government is concerned. To say nothing of the fact that Newfoundland puts honey on their garlic fingers — what’s wrong, Corner Brook? Putting Stove Top stuffing on your poutine was too close to eating a salad? Had to make up for it?”

After delivering her impassioned address, the minister unveiled a placard showing an enlarged version of the warning label that all orders of garlic fingers will carry as of Oct. 1, 2016. The warning denounces garlic fingers as “practice pizza,” ensuring Atlantic Canadians that they already understand how pizza works and do not need a “rehearsal,” encouraging them that “you’ve got this.”

There will be a helpline set up for those wishing to resist the urge to order garlic fingers at “310-No-No-No-No” and ads will also run prior to YouTube videos and during Hockey Night in Canada. The government is hoping to reduce instances of cardiac disease in Atlantic Canadians by 12 percent by the end of 2020.garlic fingers

Conservative Party interim leader Rona Ambrose has been deeply skeptical of this government’s latest health initiative. “This is one more example of the Liberals’ insistence on inserting themselves into the private choices of citizens,” she said. “If Maritimers want to enjoy garlic fingers before eating a deep-dish meat-lover’s pizza, our party recognizes their right as consumers.

“Heck, if they want to drink a bowl of gravy as a little amuse-bouche before single-handedly consuming a family-size bag of blue-cheese-flavoured rippled chips, or order a plate of linguine-and-clams before having an entire rotisserie chicken for dinner, knock yourself out. It’s a free country, and the Conservative Party celebrates that.”

Criticism of the warning labels has also come from the private sector. “Atlantic Canadians should be able to reap the benefits of a laissez-faire model of consumer freedom, as opposed to ‘nanny-state’ solutions like this, that bolster such pernicious myths as ‘food addiction,'” said part-time Greco Pizza cashier Roy Olbonn, who then had to cut his interview with The Manatee short in order to take a phone order for a large pretzel-crust Hawaiian pizza and a medium garlic fingers “with an extra thing of dipping sauce.”

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