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Sitting in the shadow of the M4, minutes away from the fume filled Brynglas tunnels and its slowly slithering snake of traffic is Bettws.

This is one of Newport’s most notorious estates, just off the city’s busy Malpas Road.

It is a place on the periphery of bustling urban life, yet finds itself tucked away. Its own little world.

At its centre is the square. It is grey. Tired. A step 20 years back in time. Some call it the "concrete jungle".

On a Wednesday morning there is plenty of life on the square.

Bodies pop in and out of the Spar, popping to the fish and chips shop for a quick lunch or the Coffee Pot for a hot drink and a natter.

Above the shops are maisonettes where residents live, some of them for generations.

David Taylor grew up here. With an alcoholic father and with drug use taking place around him from a young age, childhood was difficult and sadly typical.

David Taylor having a drink in Coffee Pot, in the shopping centre

Bettws is one of Wales’ poorest areas. The estate divides into six wards, and three of them rank in the top 9% of most deprived areas in the country.

According to the Bettws Community Wellbeing Profile from 2017, the area has significantly higher working-age benefits claimant rates than the Newport average (16.4%), with one of the areas approaching twice the city's average.

Some 40% of residents in the estate have no qualifications.

Some of David's earliest memories are of shoplifting. He vividly remembers being in crack dens as a child.

Prison has been a constant in his life and David himself has been to jail four times - he was only 16 the first time he was sent to prison after being convicted of GBH with intent.

Then, in 2008, he was sentenced to five years in jail for an armed robbery with possession of an imitation firearm.

In total the 28-year-old has spent five years inside a prison.

Bettws shopping centre is at the heart of the community

“By the time I was 13 I had started taking pills and amphetamines," the Ribble Square resident says.

“I would take any drugs I could get hold of and be up for days.

“We were robbing cars, robbing people, robbing drug dealers.

“I am lucky to be here.

“The main thing in my teenage years was shoplifting and theft.

“To other people it is crazy but to me it was what I knew.

"It was normal."

The dad-of-three was released from prison in 2014. To him Bettws wasn’t a bad place to grow up.

Anti-social behaviour was a problem, especially around the shopping centre, he said.

Despite its problems, like many similarly troubled areas, there is a loyal sense of community.

Everyone you speak to - residents and business owners - say they wouldn't want to be elsewhere.

When you walk around most people know each other by name.

A few months ago an old lady was robbed of her handbag and £100 was taken from her.

Within a week the community had pooled together - she was handed a few hundred pounds and a bouquet of flowers by her neighbours.

“I would not want to live anywhere else," says David, who has lived in the estate since he was five. “Bettws has got its problems and it is a s**thole, but it is my s**thole.

“There were more opportunities when I was younger.

“Bettws is a very mixed area.

“There are lots of people struggling with their benefits though.

“There needs to be more in the estate.

“They should be investing in the young people as they are our futures.”

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Young people are at the heart of most conversations about the estate, in good and bad ways.

In January, Newport City Council revealed it was spending more than £6,000 a year repairing smashed windows at Bettws library.

In one particularly notorious incident a police car was set on fire on the estate.

The number of offences per 1,000 population in Bettws has remained relatively constant, with the rate of 66.6 recorded in 2015-16.

That's lower than Newport on whole, which has seen an increase on its crime rate from 77.34 to 86.37 for the same period.

Ray Moyse and his wife Kate, 75, have lived in Bettws for more than 50 years, and are a couple who have recently been affected by crime in the estate.

Mr Moyse, of Monnow Way, said they had never had any trouble until a month ago, when their car was set on fire while parked in the garden.

A few days before it was successfully burnt to a crisp, they found the same vehicle covered in petrol.

“We do not know why it has happened - it is quite scary,” he said. “It has really affected my life as I need the car to get to places.

“I was the family chauffeur and now I can not get another car until I know why this has happened.

"We do not know if the person was satisfied with this or whether there is going to be another step.”

Since the arson, they have put cameras up and have fitted an outside light. Fire services installed a safety letter box as well.

Mr Moyse said Bettws had always been a lovely environment with a strong community. He particularly enjoys barbecues with neighbours.

“This meant we were very surprised when that happened,” he continued. “It came as a shock.”

Someone very invested in the estate is councillor Janet Cleverly, who moved to moved to Bettws as a young mother in 1973, becoming involved in youth clubs in the area soon after that.

There hadn’t been a youth club in the estate since last year and the only thing for young people to do is football.

Speaking from the Civil Service Sports Club in Shannon Close, on the fringes of the estate, the councillor says drugs is a big problem, particularly in the sports club car park.

Councillor Janet Cleverly, who has represented the ward since 2015, and believes the area needs more facilities for young people
Bettws is one of the most deprived areas in Wales

A few young people have recently been arrested in the estate for selling heroin and crack.

Drugs around here are astronomical,” she continued.

“County Lines is a big problem in the estate, with them [drug dealers] targeting youngsters to sell drugs for them.

“They are targeting youngsters as young as 10.

“I think the biggest problem is there is nothing for young people to do here.”

A volunteer at the local food bank, the councillor said Universal Credit was having a big impact because of the five week wait until the first payment comes through.

“There are quite a lot of people struggling here and they have got big families, some of them have five or six children,” she said.

“We have got a bad name, but Bettws has got some excellent people living here. "

Bettws has seen a decrease in population since 2001, from 8,278 to 7,631, but the estate is attracting new residents.

After all, the area has excellent access to the M4 and an average house price lower than the Welsh average (around £130,000 according to Zoopla).

Sarah Hewer moved from Bristol to Wales because houses here are half the price.

She moved to Bettws a year ago as they wanted to get on the property ladder.

Bettws has a strong sense of community

“House prices here are much cheaper than in Bristol,” the mum-of-two said. “We looked at a few houses across Newport, but liked this house and how big it was.

“We have not had any problems and my boy has settled well into the school.”

They don't regret the move, said Ms Hewer, 42, of Monnow Way.

“At the moment, we see ourselves living here for a long time - we are doing a lot of work in the house at the moment. I am happy with everything."

Opposite to Ms Hewer, Betty Pritchard has been working at the Watkin-Davies pharmacy in the shopping centre for 53 years.

Originally a prefabricated shop at the top of the estate the business then moved down to the shopping centre in 1972.

“I live in Bassaleg but I feel part of the Bettws community,” Ms Pritchard added. “I have met five generations of some families.

“We get to know people here - it is a very family orientated pharmacy.

“I love working in Bettws.

“We try to look after our customers as much as we can and do not have any problems.”

Betty Pritchard, who has been working at the Watkin-Davies pharmacy in the shopping centre for 53 years
The shopping centre was busy with people going to and from places on a Wednesday morning

She said a while ago there used to be an issue with teenagers hanging around and playing football in the shopping centre late in the evening, but that stopped when they started closing the gates at 6pm.

“Years ago, Bettws had a bad name because people were running wild, but you see changes and I think it has got better," she said.

Another long-standing feature s the Nightingale, the only pub left in the estate.

Stephen Kemp is considering closing it down.

“There used to be four pubs and three social clubs in the estate, now there is just two clubs and one pub,” the 65-year-old said.

“People do not come to the pub as much as when I first moved up here.

“It used to be heaving.

“It is a struggle, people do not have the money to go to the pub anymore and the shops are selling alcohol so cheap."

Other estates in the city like as Pill or Ringland have had a significant amount of money invested in them as part of regeneration projects.

Councillor Kevin Whitehead said he loved Bettws with "all his heart"
The only pub left in Bettws

Councillor Kevin Whitehead is hoping Bettws will be the next area to receive investment.

He has represented the ward since 2012 and has lived in Bettws for more than 30 years.

While he doesn't believe Bettws is worse than other areas, he does think the aging infrastructure at a time of increased pressure on local services is an issue.

“We have never had any regeneration or investment,” he said. “The shopping centre is a concrete jungle.

“I am hoping we will be the next ones on regeneration.”

Councillor Whitehead says residents have taken responsibility for the area. Monthly litter picks ate among the community driven initiatives.

“I love the estate with all my heart,” he said. “Bettws is a lovely estate.”

What the public bodies say

Gwent Police's local area Sergeant Roland Giles said they worked closely with the residents of Bettws to actively tackle their concerns in the area, including anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

He continued: “There are a number of ways in which we are tackling anti-social behaviour in the area including Operation Harley, a Newport wide operation where we are targeting the illegal and anti-social use of off-road bikes and vehicles.

“We will continue to execute warrants in the area through intelligence gathered in relation to drug offences and have had a number of arrests made in recent weeks in connection to this issue.

“We have seen a positive reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour in Bettws with anyone identified receiving a warning letter, home visit and family first referral submitted to provide support."

A spokeswoman for Newport City Council said that several initiatives are in place in the area to cater for young people and, for example, a partnership between the council’s youth service, Newport Live and Resilient Communities provides services for young people and teenagers in Bettws.

"An outreach youth worker meets with youngsters in the area on a Monday between 5pm and 8pm and once a week there is a Fit & Fed session for eight to 12 year olds which operatives for a five week period offering a variety of sports and fun physical activities," she continued. "There is also a mobile youth club run by the council via its IZone bus which visits weekly."

She said the community wellbeing profile for Bettws, compiled by the multipartnership One Newport dated 2017, is due to be updated at the end of this year so some information in this report will be out of date.

In a statement, Newport City Homes said the housing association opened its first ever new-build development, Glen Court, in Bettws in 2018.

"We are committed to providing more affordable housing for the city of Newport through both regeneration and development of local communities, such as our flagship schemes in Ringland and Pill, and will take these views into account in our future planning," the statement continued.

Maragaret and Ken Hendy were among the first residents to move to Bettws

Maragaret and Ken Hendy were among the first residents to move to Bettws. This August will mark 58 years since they moved here.

Ms Hendy, 82, said: “We moved here when my eldest was two in 1961.

“It has been a good place to live.

“Our three children loved growing up here.

“There are bad patches, but you get that everywhere.”

Life in Bettws isn't always plain sailing but the people here do have ambition.

David would love to open a gym and a studio, a place for the young people to go.

A colourful wall in Bettws

Mr Taylor - who goes busking three times a week and relies on Universal Credit to cover his rent - aims to be an example for young people.

His artistic name is “Misfit” and he raps about all sorts, from life experiences to issues our society faces.

A running theme throughout his songs is positivity and he avoids swear words.

“My criminal history is there, in black and white,” he continued. “I have had to make all those mistakes but I want to show that people can change.

“From five years ago, it is a big difference and I am just happy with the improvement.

“I still have got my own challenges, but I want to lead by example."

More original journalism about Newport

- This is Ruby's story: a story about prostitution, rape and drugs in Newport's Pill area

- The slow death of Newport's once-thriving university and the chilling effect it is having on the city

- This is what life is like for Gwent Police officers working on Newport's streets

- We went inside Newport's famous hotel that has been abandoned for nearly two decades

- Searching for Uncle Bob, the legendary DJ who played everyone's party in the 90s

- What happened when we spent a night out with street pastors in Newport

- Life in a foreign jail: How a Newport man spent eight years in prison in Malta

Interested in Newport?

Like our Facebook page, Newport Online to keep up with all the latest news, events and features.


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New DAZZLE GREY 1200X600

How to order

This tile is sold by the square metre.  You need to work out how many square metres you require & you can use our handy tile calculator below if you have a number of areas to cover.

Once you know how many square metres you need, simply use the plus quantity button below to enter that number, rounding up to the nearest metre.  We always recommend that you order 10% more than your square metre total to ensure that any cuts are taken into account.

Product Code: 22564
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£52.00 /per m²

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Enter the dimensions of your walls
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Virginia Copperleaf – Identification and Control

Q: What is this weed in my garden?

A: It’s Virginia copperleaf, Acalypha virginica.

 It is an annual weed, which means it can be prevented with the proper pre-emergent chemical. The best pre-emergent for broadleaf weeds is dithiopyr (click for sources). Apply the chemical in late March and again in mid-May. If you have a huge copperleaf population, make a third application in early July.

Broadleaf weed killer (click for sources) and any of the glyphosate (click for sources) products will kill copperleaf.

Imazaquin (click for sources) can be used to kill it when growing in landscaped areas

The key is to pull or kill the weed before it drops seed, which it can do only a few weeks after germination.

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Party Balloons - 10 (Inflated)

Rs 199.00

Add zing to the party with Red Party Balloons (inflated).
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Bunch of 10 inflated Red Party Balloons. Add zing to the party with Red Party Balloons. Note: Our delivery boy will inflate the balloons after reaching the location and deliver it along with cakes or flowers.

Care Instructions

Delivery and Care instructions

  • All our ingredients are sourced fresh and are of the highest quality
  • Cake images are only for reference. Cake stands and other props are used for illustrative purpose only
  • All cakes are handcrafted by our chefs hence the final product may have variations in colour and design from the website images
  • Our kitchens handle ingredients like wheat and nuts and there is a risk of cross-contact and the presence of allergens in some of our products
  • Your cake will be delivered in a hygienic & sturdy cardboard cake box
  • Non-edible items such as toothpicks, dowels, skewers or wires used to give support to fondant figurines need to be removed before serving
  • We use only high-quality food grade edible colouring. However, the colour from cream cakes has a staining tendency. The staining on skin is non-toxic and will fade away after a couple of washes.
  • Substitutions of flavours, designs or colours may be needed due to temporary unavailability of ingredients.
  • Cream cakes should be stored in a refrigerator. Fondant cakes should be stored in a cool place.
  • Remove the cake from the refrigerator 5 minutes before cutting/serving
  • Do not freeze the cake
  • Do not keep cakes near sunlight or warm places
  • Cream cakes can be stored in the fridge for approx. 2 days
  • Fondant cakes do not need refrigeration and have a shelf life of 1 day only
  • Tips to get clean cake slices:
    1. - Dip any knife in hot water, immediately wipe with a clean towel and cut the cake
    2. - Wipe the knife after cutting every slice for a smooth & clean cut
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New Music Friday

New Music Friday: Nickelback, Royal Blood & More

Friday’s are incredibly exciting here at the Warner Music South Africa office. New Music Fridays is a day when all new releases hit digital and physical stores around the world. Every week, we will showcase some of our exciting releases right here on our website as we help you get your weekend playlist sorted. These…

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I want to start earn with adsense. Which course it the best for begginers?

12 replies
  • SEO
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Hi Warriors!
Hi want to start earn money with Adsense, can you recommend for me for a good course?

I saw few course but i dont know if they still works in 2012.
I saw $100k Adsense Blueprint and Extreme Niche Empires.
How is this coureses? Are they works?

Can you recommend for me for a good Adsense course?

Thank you Warriors!
#adsense #begginers #earn #start
  • Profile picture of the author AnmolJ
    I would recommend to make a simple blog with wordpress and make 15-20 quality post and drive traffic thru forums and social bookmarking !
    that would be good for starting
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6248180].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ecoverbee20
    You should focus on creating 1 site that your proud of and making it as big as you can. Money should come last. If you keep building 1 site it will become an authority. Just find that one site you have passion in and make it work.

    Or you can try what nichepursuits.com he has all the info for free on his blog but he was also banned by adsense.

    **FIVE STAR Banners** - Get your banners designed Today for just $5 - Click Here!!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6248902].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author redtaksaka
    WTF you two guys saying? Read the OP carefully... Sheesshh...

    Anyway OP, I haven't bought any of those course. But, I can wholeheartedly recommend Fat Cat Blueprint. I still find it relevant even after the updates.
    Success with your venture.

    Need articles on weight loss, dieting or any health-related topics? Hire me!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6248955].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author johnben1444
    $100k Adsense Blueprint is a great course for beginners but can be overwhelming, if you don't suffer from information overload then use it big time. Its your ticket to stardom..
    Grow your social media account, Spotify Streams, YT Views & IG Followers & More
    Software & Mobile APP Developer
    Buy Spotify, Facebook Bot & IG M/S Method
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6250246].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author VinRFP
      Hey Nivatis120!

      DON'T....I repeat, DON'T spend any money on courses. I'm sure the sharks would like to feed on a beginner like you, but spending money to get started making money with Adsense is just not necessary.

      It takes some time and patience, but you cant do it without spending money.

      My best advice to you is to do some basic research and learn by doing. Get started today! Work on it an hour a day, every day, and you will have something to show for your hard work in about a month.

      I don't have enough posts on this forum to post links just yet, so I suggest you look up the following blogs:

      • Niche Pursuits
      • Adsense Flippers
      • Make Money on the Internet
      • Online Income Lab
      Those blogs have more than enough information to get you started and keep you learning for at least the next 2 months. You won't have to spend a single dollar (except maybe for your hosting account and domain registration).

      Your consistency will equal your success! Don't buy into any guru garbage!

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6250722].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author msu
    Bear in mind a lot of these guys have had their AdSense account closed recently - so they may not be the best examples to follow.
    New to WordPress? Save time with my beginner's guide:
    WordPress Step-by-Step
    (for Kindle & Kindle Apps)

    I'm a top-notch WordPress developer: hire me
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6250844].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jack4321
    In fact, I don't like these courses, it not worthwhile.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6252485].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author NicheSiteLab
    i would also recommend you don't waste money on courses. the same information is available online for free via ebooks and make money blogs..

    don't let people make money out of you trying to make money..

    Posted from Warrior Forum Reader for Android
    Download my FREE Guide on Making Money with Adsense Niche Sites at www.NicheSiteLab.com.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6253004].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Babar2b
    Massive amount of free stuff is available online. Google training centre is best to start with.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6254161].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author n0tr3v3
    My recommendation to you is to forget about adsense, [GET] Rapid Profit Formula by Matt Carter.....

    This is a great guide (maybe not that great for N00BS) for how you can actually make money online by click bank/amazon.....

    I literally wish I have found this guide before starting my SEO journey.....

    Just bear in mind it takes time and a ton of work, if you aren't prepare to approach it in that matter forget about online making money this way......

    All The Best
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  • Profile picture of the author n0tr3v3
    double post (my internet sucks)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6254708].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author anarki450
    you might want to check out pat flynn's niche site duel, u can learn a lot from there and dont even need to pay for a course (i bought quite a number of adsense courses...pat flynn's free case study is that good). I think Pat is going to launch an adsense course base on that case study, but with recent google algo change so he delayed the lauch, could be something worth waiting and just use niche site duel atm to get started. hope that helps, good luck
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6254813].message }}

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HAGERSTOWN, MD (June 4, 2021) – The Washington County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applicants interested in serving on the Historic District Commission.
Applicants shall be competent individuals who are familiar with the sites and districts which have historical, architectural, archeological, and cultural merit. Applicants should be passionate about the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of significant historic structures.
For additional information, please contact Krista L. Hart, County Clerk, at 240-313-2204 or email [email protected].


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Louis Erard

Louis Erard was founded by the man with the same name in 1929 and in 1931 the first pocketwatches were produced and sold.

The company values swiss made quality at affordable pricing and wants to bring beautiful swiss watches to watchenthusiasts and friends of the company. Their designs possess a universal appeal.

All watches are swiss made.

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August 23, 2019

You may have heard the phrase ‘Plastic Free July’ recently and if you haven’t, you are missing out! ‘Plastic Free July’ is a global movement encouraging people to make a commitment to cut out single-use plastics for the month of July. What an awesome initiative! But if you are like us, this movement has inspired you to not let this way of living die just because it is August! So here are some practical tips to help make this habit last all year long!

Carry Reusable Food Containers

This is a very effective way to cut single use plastics from your life! We often feel that we must choose between convenience and sustainability but this simple isn’t true! Did you know that most restaurants will allow you to bring in your reusable containers for take out meals? This means that no plastic packaging, containers, or bags have to be used when you want some of your favorite foods to go.

Buy a Reusable Water Bottles

We’ve talked about this before in our blogs but plastic water bottles really are one of the biggest contributing factors to our growing problem with plastic waste. If we are serious about making lasting changes in our plastic use then it is necessary to invest in a reusable water bottle. If you are concerned about the quality of the water, you can always look into installing a high quality water filter.

Talk to Your Friends About It

It’s always easier to create maintainable habits and when you have the support and understanding of the people around you. Also, you never know who else in your life might be trying to cut out single-use plastics as well. A community that can share tips, tricks, and support can make all the difference!

Research the Companies You Buy From

Some companies offer products in bulk or let you refill containers instead of purchasing new ones. Invest in companies that make it a goal to have less waste and that reward you for doing the same. Find stores that give you discounts when you bring your own shopping bags or restaurants that use biodegradable containers and straws rather than plastic ones.

These are just a few ways to make sure ‘Plastic Free July’ doesn’t have to end in July. We are sure there are many others out there. The point is that it isn’t impossible to live your life without single-use plastics, though it may sometimes feel that way. The difference can start with you!


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More money approved for blight demolition

Published: Apr. 9, 2019 at 10:58 PM CDT
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BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - More blighted houses will be torn down before the end of this fiscal year—this after the city council approved the extra funding to do so.

Mayor Randall Woodfin says they’ve used up the $2 million set aside this fiscal year after tearing down over 400 blighted houses in the city. Now he has an extra $500,000 to work with.

That money is taken from other areas in the budget. $180,000 was taken from a project that animal control was supposed do, but never happened.

The money, then, was allocated to demolition. The rest, over $390,000, comes from the neighborhood revitalization fund which was created for this purpose.

“With this additional monies we will be able to address at least 100 more prior to the new fiscal year starting July 1. And this is what it’s all about, putting the money back in the neighborhoods. One of the things over and over, residents tell us: Mr. Mayor, please knock down these structures that I live next to," says Mayor Randall Woodfin.

Woodfin plans to ask for $2.5 million in the next fiscal year.

Copyright 2019 WBRC. All rights reserved.


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Flooding, power outages hit Michigan as storms rake Midwest

U.S. and World

Trees block the roadway at Pine and Oak streets as clean up begins from storm damage on Wednesday Aug. 11, 2021 in Lake in the Hills, Ill. (Brian Hill/Daily Herald via AP)

DETROIT (AP) — Flooding brought by heavy rains shut down some freeways in the Detroit area Thursday as waves of thunderstorms made their way across large swaths of the Midwest, leaving nearly 1 million homes and businesses without power in Michigan at one point.

The storms continued Thursday afternoon as dangerous heat persisted in the Northwest, Northeast and the central portions of the country. Heat warnings and heat advisories were in effect for another day Thursday. Local officials opened cooling shelters for residents sweltering in the hot conditions.

Portions of interstates 94 and 696 were closed early Thursday in the Detroit area. Most portions of those freeways later reopened, but standing water remained in the Detroit area, which has been hit by multiple rounds of flooding this summer.

Michigan utilities that had been working to restore power following earlier outages caused by high winds reported more than 970,000 outages in the state Thursday morning following overnight storms, with two-thirds of those involving DTE Energy customers in southeastern Michigan.

By 3 p.m. Thursday, crews working for several Michigan utilities had restored power to about 100,000 homes and businesses around the state, although some 830,000 customers remained in the dark, uncertain when their power might return.

DTE Energy said that wind gusts stronger than 60 mph (96.6 kph) had caused extensive tree damage, resulting in more than 3,000 downed power lines.

Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana also have been hit by recent rounds of storms. Utility poles were broken and transformers damaged in the Fort Wayne and South Bend areas of northwestern Indiana following Wednesday storms.

In Wisconsin, residents took cover Wednesday from a sixth straight day of severe thunderstorms, and at least two tornadoes touched in the west-central and northeast parts of the state. Authorities in Monroe County, about 100 miles northwest of the state capital of Madison, said a tornado there destroyed a barn and a shooting club. No one was hurt.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Pros and Cons of a Walt Disney World Vacation During a Pandemic

It’s been a very difficult year for most. Vaccines are becoming more widely available and people are looking to get out of the house and away from reality. Is a Walt Disney World trip a good way to get back out into the world? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

Pro: Disney World has reported that crowds for each park are capped at 35% of capacity for a day’s attendance. Lately, that capacity has been reached for every day at each park. Before spring break, you could routinely go to a park where 35% capacity had not been reached (just not Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which remains very crowded due to Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Toy Story Land). Even though the parks all reached capacity for spring break, the crowds were still a lot lower than previous spring breaks.

Con: Disney parks have not re-opened all attractions and shows. Most shows remain closed. This lack of attraction/show capacity can be felt at DHS. The Indiana Jones stunt show and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage are not open; those shows are huge people eaters and the lack of them is keenly felt with the crowded walkways and people waiting in long lines for Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.

Con: Due to CDC recommendations, Disney has taped off space in queues to attempt to keep parties 6 feet apart from each other. In my experience, people do a poor job keeping to their tape lines in queues. Because of this, social distancing in queues is not always the best, but Disney has tried. At the end of the day, they cannot control the actions of every person in the parks.

Food and Resorts

Con: Because of the reduced capacity, Disney has not seen a need to reopen every table service, counter service and snack cart in the parks. Because of this, table reservations are increasingly hard to come by. If you can’t snag one 60 days out from your trip, you could be out of luck for a table service reservation. Though a tip for this is to check ADRs a day or two before your trip. People oftentimes do cancel ADRs a few days out.

All of the counter service restaurants prefer people to mobile order on the My Disney Experience app. It can be difficult to get a mobile ordering time for the counter service restaurants (tip: if you know roughly what time you want to eat and where, you can put in your mobile order once the park opens that day and secure your meal times).

Con: Disney has also not reopened every hotel. Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter still have not re-opened, among others. If your family prefers to stay at one of those hotels, you are out of luck.

A lot of the open hotels don’t even have all their own food options open. Take Animal Kingdom Lodge, for example. The DVC portion of the hotel is open, yet the only table service option is Sanaa and the only counter service option available (outside of very limited operating hours for The Mara) is to order at the pool bar.

Wait Times and FastPass (FP)

Pro: No FastPass. I can already hear the outrage, but stick with me on this. Ever since the Walt Disney World parks have reopened, FastPass has not returned. There is still a virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance, but that is a different beast.

I am very much enjoying the Disney parks with no FastPass. There is nothing more frustrating to me than standing still for 15 minutes in an attraction line while the FastPass queue continually moves by. This happened to me once on Spaceship Earth. I was about 20 or so groups back and we did not move for 15 minutes as the FastPass line was continually passed through. The cast member even held us in standby when people were just entering the FastPass line and still had to walk a minute or so to get to the merge point.

While FastPass was readily available for everyone, it got to be difficult to get more than 3 attractions a day. Even if you booked your first 3 attractions 9-10 am, 10-11 am and 11-12 pm, those are hours that are less busy at the park. Especially that first hour. By the time you tap in for your third ride there isn’t a lot left to choose from for the rest of the day. Sure, you can stare at your phone the rest of the day and try to refresh 100 times to find an open Flight of Passage FP, but I don’t think that’s a fun way to spend my day in the parks. If you only prefer to be in the parks for a couple hours a day, then FP probably works well for you. I’m someone who likes to spend my entire day in the parks and I find FP frustrating.

It could be something psychologically related, but I would much prefer to wait in a half hour line that continuously moves than a 20-minute line that stops and starts.

Disney Imagineering has also upped their queue game lately. A lot of new or refurbished queues are now a part of the story of the attraction and can be a lot of fun to look at. Some that come to mind are: Peter Pan, Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run, Expedition Everest and Flight of Passage.

I’ve also found attraction wait times to be largely overestimated on MDE. Sometimes they are spot on, but more likely than not they are very far off the mark and are much higher than the actual wait.

Pro: Disney parks strive to be safe environments. Masks are required by everyone older than 2 unless in a mask-free rest area or while actively eating/drinking/taking a picture. Cast members try their best to enforce this rule.

Social distancing markers are laid out at every attraction and everywhere that might require a line, including places to eat, shop and enter parks.

Con: Because of the social distance markers, attraction queues can sometimes extend into walkways. Frozen Ever After is a good example. I once saw the line for Frozen Ever After extend all the way from the Norway pavilion, wrap through the courtyard of the China pavilion, and extend out to the bridge leading to the African Outpost.

Con: It is not possible for Disney to police every single person in the parks. People will try to get away with lowering their masks, even though they agree to Disney’s rules upon entry. People will also sometimes ignore the social distancing markers for lines.

There are also some choke points in the parks where it is impossible to stay away from crowds. Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom in between Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s a Small World immediately comes to mind as a good example.

Con: Nighttime shows at all parks remain closed. If a large part of your vacation enjoyment comes from fireworks, this is not the time for you to go.

Con: Characters are not doing traditional meet and greets. A scant few characters will talk to you and pose for pictures, but they remain behind barriers so you cannot get too close.

Pro: Disney has introduced character cavalcades in place of traditional parades. During random times throughout the day, characters will go by in horse-drawn carriages, single parade floats, boats or simply by walking. If you never liked waiting for characters or parades but still like to see the characters, cavalcades are for you.

Characters will also make random appearances in places like rooftops or other hard to reach areas. If you merely like to watch the characters for a minute or two and wave, then this is also a nice addition for you.

So what do you think? Do the pros outweigh the cons? Would you take a Walt Disney World trip right now?

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Attention Content Creators — There’s a Simpler Way to Understand Site Analytics

If you’re managing a website, Google Analytics and Google Search Console are two essential tools you really should know how to use.

They provide an in-depth insight into all aspects of a website… where site visitors are coming from, how they move from one page to the next, where they exit the site, and how long they stay on the site… just to name a few.

The problem is, both tools are overwhelming.

There’s so much information that it’s difficult to know where to start.

If you’ve ever used Google Analytics or Google Search Console and found yourself buried in endless reams of information, then you’re certainly not alone.

Thankfully, Google has finally recognized we’re not all massive tech nerds and we mostly only want an overview of our site.

To deliver on that need, they’ve released what they call Search Console Insights (SCI). It presents information in a user-friendly way, so we can quickly see how a website’s performing. It’s set up more for content creators… those of us with blogs and the like.

With SCI, we can quickly see which content pieces are performing strongly and which aren’t.

Let’s take a closer look.

Where to Find Search Console Insights

SCI is hiding in plain sight on Google Search Console. Once you log in, there’s a banner across the top.

This article is reserved content for Wealthy Web Writer platinum members. To continue reading this article please log in or become a member today.

Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray

Andrew has traded the daily grind for a life on the road. He loves the lure of Australia’s wide-open spaces, solitude and isolation. Andrew and his wife Peta are experienced remote travelers, living the simple life on the road. They travel, work and live in their 4x4 truck camper. Andrew plans to build his Money-Making Website Top Wire Traveller to the point where it provides a regular income... enough to sustain their lifestyle on the road.

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Monday’s national forecast

A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, meanwhile a low pressure system brews away to the northwest in the Tasman Sea.

North Island

Expect cloudy areas for the western North Island, chance of a shower at times also mainly this morning then long dry periods developing. Winds from the west or southwest. Mostly sunny skies in the east and about Bay Of Plenty.

South Island

The West Coast, Southland and Otago (mainly near the coast) has mostly cloudy skies and occasional showers, winds breezy from the west or southwest. Central Otago is a little drier with some sun possible at times. Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson has mainly sunny weather.

Today’s max temperatures below. Canterbury may see temperatures hit 16 or 17 degrees which is a bit higher than what is shown.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson –

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Winter about to hit ‘reset button’

A cold snap predicted by last month is moving closer to New Zealand and will hit the ‘reset’ button for winter temperatures.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says snow and much lower temperatures are again in the forecast following what has been a stunningly warm week for some parts of New Zealand.  “We’ve had highs of 20 degrees in some eastern areas and over the next 48 hours more highs in the late teens and early twenties are likely – mainly in eastern areas”.

Mr Duncan says a fresh surge of westerlies will move up the country over Friday and more into the North Island over the weekend.  Northern New Zealand is likely to be furthest from the strong winds while eastern and southern areas of both islands are again in the firing line.  Winds may reach over gale force at times in the coming days.

However by Sunday a developing cold change will move in.  In our July report to Fonterra last month said a colder change was likely around July 9 to 13.   At the time we made that prediction some models were predicting a ‘stormy’ southerly, however it’s now looking far less aggressive – but still noticeably cold.

Snow may fall to low levels on the ranges in Southland and Otago around Monday and Tuesday then could affect the North Island’s desert road late Tuesday and into Wednesday. also predicts more snow for the Ruapehi ski fields.

Temperatures in the main South Island centres will reset to more normal mid-winter levels next week.   Parts of Canterbury may reach 20 degrees today – but by Monday the high is 12 degrees and by Tuesday just 10.  Further south Dunedin and Invercargill have a high of just 7 on Tuesday.

The colder change will be followed by a frosty high later next week.

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An Introduction to Digital Marketing for Speech Therapists

Victoria is looking for a speech language pathologist (SLP) for her son. To begin her search, she heads straight to the Internet. After a few days of scrolling through Google search results, reading up on various websites, and checking social media, she finally decides on a therapist.

Victoria’s decision was informed entirely by what she found online, which shows just how critical it is to invest in digital marketing for speech therapists. Without marketing your speech therapy practice online, patients will have a hard time finding you.

So, how can you market your speech therapy practice online? What are the best ways to reach patients digitally? We’ll explore multiple answers to that question below, so read on to learn more about digital marketing for speech therapists.

Then consider partnering with WebFX — the agency with over 500 client testimonials — for our top-tier digital marketing services. To get started with us, give us a call at 888-601-5359 or contact us online today!

Attract more patients
with speech therapy marketing.

I'd like to learn more

6 top-tier SLP online marketing strategies

Digital marketing is a broad topic, and it consists of more than just one strategy. You can harness several different online resources to market your practice, and we’ll explore the best of those resources below.

Here are six fantastic speech therapist digital marketing strategies to use!

1. Search engine optimization (SEO)

Perhaps the most crucial strategy for you to undertake is search engine optimization (SEO), which involves optimizing your web content to rank in Google search results. You want users to find your practice in the top results when searching for speech therapists in Google, and SEO can make that happen.

The idea of SEO is to write your content in a way that will satisfy Google’s ranking algorithms. One way of doing that is to incorporate target keywords into your content, which helps Google determine the searches where it should rank.

Other SEO optimization tactics include:

When your content appears in Google search results, it will increase traffic to your website and ultimately earn you more patients.

2. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising

SEO isn’t the only SLP marketing strategy for reaching people through Google. You can also use pay-per-click (PPC) advertising to advertise your practice in search results.

In addition to regular rankings, Google displays paid ads at the top of many searches. These paid ads typically look like organic results, but with an “Ad” label in the top corner. When someone clicks a PPC ad, it directs them to a landing page where they can convert.

comfort speech therapy ppc ad

To launch a PPC campaign, create an account in Google Ads, where you can bid on the specific keywords you want to target with your ads. Whenever someone looks up a keyword, Google will display ads based on two factors:

  • Bid amount
  • Quality Score (Google's assessment of your ads' overall quality)

With an optimal bid strategy and a high enough Quality Score, you can get your ads displaying in relevant searches for your target audience to find. The best part is, you only have to pay for ads when people click on them, making PPC a highly cost-effective strategy when done well.

3. Social media marketing

Did you know that the average user spends 28% of their Internet time on social media? That makes social media easily one of the best possible platforms for reaching people online since it’s where they spend so much of their time.

You can market through social media by creating an account for your business and posting engaging content like infographics and videos. As users are drawn to your page, many of them will end up visiting your website and converting.

speech pathology aus twitter post

Another social media marketing option is to run paid social media ads from your account. These ads appear in users’ feeds, and you can target them to specific groups based on demographics like age and location.

4. Web design and development

Ultimately, nearly all your online marketing leads users back to your website. That means the success of your speech therapist digital marketing depends largely on the quality of your site’s web design.

You can do several things to optimize your web design, both in terms of your site’s visual appearance and its underlying function. Expert tactics include:

Ultimately, you want your site to provide a positive experience for users and convey your practice’s unique brand so people will remember you even after they leave.

5. Content marketing

Content marketing is critical for SLP online marketing since it’s the crux of your website and your digital efforts. Nearly all digital marketing strategies for speech therapists lead back to your content.

Your web content can take various formats, from videos to images, but written content is often one of the best options. Starting a blog is a fantastic way to draw traffic to your site, as it allows you to write about useful or interesting topics related to speech therapy.

As you might guess, content marketing goes hand-in-hand with another SLP marketing strategy: SEO. You start by creating engaging content on your site, and then you optimize it to appear in search results where users can find it.

Whatever you do, make sure your content satisfies user search intent — that is, the reason users searched for it in the first place. You don’t want people to visit your site, decide your content doesn’t help them, and then leave. Intent-optimized content will keep people around.

6. Email marketing

A final speech therapist digital marketing strategy is to use email marketing. This strategy is particularly useful for remarketing, where you target your marketing materials toward people who have already visited your website.

You can build out an email list by creating short email forms on your site, where users can submit their email addresses in return for a newsletter or special discounts. When people sign up, you can send them whatever materials you offered them in the form.

Since those users have already expressed an interest in you by visiting your site, they make for some of the best targets for your marketing, as they’re more likely to convert than people who are unfamiliar with you — particularly since they signed up for the emails voluntarily.

Want to speak with an expert? Call us at 888-601-5359

Let WebFX help you optimize your SLP marketing strategy

Ready to start putting some SLP online marketing campaigns in gear to drive conversions? WebFX can help! With over 20 years of marketing experience, we know digital marketing for speech therapists inside and out, and we’d love to show you firsthand.

With our digital marketing services, you’ll get help implementing and optimizing each of the strategies listed above and more. You’ll also receive a dedicated account representative to keep you informed about everything we do for you.

To get started with us, give us a call at 888-601-5359 or contact us online today!


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Read Soul Harvesting Is A Profitable Occupation - Ri_yen - Webnovel

/ Fantasy / Soul Harvesting Is A Profitable Occupation

Soul Harvesting Is A Profitable Occupation Soul Harvesting Is A Profitable Occupation original

Soul Harvesting Is A Profitable Occupation SHIPO

Fantasy 65 Chapters 65.0K Views

Author: Ri_Yen

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Daren was just enjoying the sight of hundreds of galactic empires rip each other up in a war of universal scale. Daren was laughing his heart out, because he is the mastermind that made this war in which quintillions of sentient beings would perish. He didn't get to enjoy this majestic sight long as his body imploded out of nowhere and his soul got tossed in a inter-dimensional crack. . Daren had transmigrated in a medieval world of magical monsters and nonexistent technology. That's when he received a message in his head.
Congratulations Mr. Daren Utherena.
You are the First and last to complete the challenge of making your soul last over 6969 hundred years while also consuming the souls of 69 people.
Your prize for completion is this system titled “Assimilation of All Souls”.
You will also be given the “Peerless Soul Reader” system as an extra reward for being the unparalleled being of chaos.
Will Daren continue his hobby of causing destruction and chaos or will a take a different approach.

"Should we build a massive empire and conquer all the lands or should I rule the world in the shadows using money and a league of assassins? What do you suggest system?"

Hi there! I hope you enjoy my story. I am not the best at writing but I do like telling stories. I wanted to create a story where the MC is not on the side of any race or group. He wants to rule the world by putting it in chaos.

He will kill without hesitation, all the time.

I will try to make at least 2 chapters a day! Support me if you want.

Thank you!!

(My inspiration for this novel is mostly from Overlord and a little bit from other novels where the MC doesn't mind shedding blood of those that get in his way. There's going to be some elements that I liked from Reincarnated as a slime too. )

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Fret not, fans of "Friends" — another '90s sitcom is headed to Netflix. All 180 episodes of "Seinfeld" will be available for streaming in 2021.

The company announced it acquired the rights to the influential sitcom on Monday. Netflix will hold the global streaming rights to the show for five years, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jerry &
Elaine &
George &
Kramer &

All 180 episodes of the Emmy-Award winning Seinfeld are coming to Netflix — worldwide! — starting in 2021pic.twitter.com/tLvcCKH4vl

— Netflix US (@netflix)September 16, 2019

'Friends' is officially leaving Netflix in 2020 for WarnerMedia's new streaming service

"Seinfeld" is currently available for streaming on Hulu in the U.S.

The deal comes after it was previously announced that some of Netflix's most popular shows, "Friends" and "The Office," would be leaving the streaming service for others.

Report: 'The Office' is leaving Netflix in 2021

"Seinfeld" will Jerry Seinfeld's series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and his stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.


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Go for it!

Hey you get it, just like we do. They're a challenging breed and aren't "easy going" dogs by any means! But oh boy they are fun! They will keep you on your toes as they are intelligent, responsive and active dogs that think they are people!

Weimaraners get bored easily and can become expert escape artists, destructive and vocal. And as hunting dogs, they can also have a strong prey drive and may chase and kill small animals. While some are able to coexist with feline family members, it is important to realize that those with a strong drive may see cats as prey.

They also have a tremendous amount of energy! Exercise is paramount for this breed, but physical exercise alone is usually not enough. Mental stimulation is strongly recommended. Lack of both physical and mental exercise can result in them making their own fun. They need a lot of stimulation and want to be a part of the family!

Weimaraners are affectionate and good natured with a lot of flair! A good sense of humor and appreciation of their smarts is necessary.

Weims require little grooming and their coat is usually short, but it does shed. Adult female Weims are usually between 23 and 25 inches tall at the shoulder and about 55-70 pounds. Adult males are usually 25 and 27 inches tall at the shoulder and about 65-85 pounds. Weims have good life expectancy, most living to 12 or more. (17 is the oldest we’ve heard of.)

Common problems include bloat, hip dysplasia, immune system problems including allergies and food intolerances, separation anxiety and aggression.


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Calc Sulph No.3

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Skin care, Detox & cleanse, digestive tract, liver & gallbladder, urinary tract, Adolescence , immune support, Pimples, Acne, Pigmentation marks in some instances, Translucent alabaster-white tone, Imupure skin, pimples & acne breakouts, Tendency to , Tendency to cold sores, Abscesses & Boils, Ulcerations, Slow healing wounds

Ingredients: Calcarea Sulphurica D6 (Calcium Sulpate)


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U.S. Warns Of 'Specific, Credible Threat' Near The Kabul Airport

A U.S. military aircraft takes off at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday. President Biden warned another attack at the airport is "highly likely."
A U.S. military aircraft takes off at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday. President Biden warned another attack at the airport is "highly likely."

Updated August 28, 2021 at 9:08 PM ET

President Biden on Saturday vowed to continue to target the Islamic State affiliate ISIS-K in retaliation for the group's bombing at the Kabul airport, while warning that another terrorist attack at the airport is "highly likely" on Sunday or Monday.

The State Department warned of a "specific, credible threat" early Sunday Kabul time and urged U.S. citizens to avoid the airport.

U.S. military officials announced Friday evening that a drone strike killed an ISIS-K target in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. On Saturday, officials updated that to say that two "high-profile" targets — described as "a planner and a facilitator" — were killed and one other person from the terrorist group was injured in the retaliatory strike.

"This strike was not the last," Biden said in a statement Saturday. "We will continue to hunt down any person involved in that heinous attack and make them pay."

The Department of Defense on Saturday also released the names of the U.S. service members killed in Thursday's attack.

Pentagon officials offered more information Saturday about continued operations in Afghanistan, including evacuation efforts and the drone strike.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the names of the drone strike targets would not be released.

"The fact that two of these individuals are no longer walking on the face of the Earth, that's a good thing," Kirby said of the drone strike. "It's a good thing for the people of Afghanistan, and it's a good thing for our troops and our forces at that airfield."

U.S. officials have said that threats continue at the Kabul airport following Thursday's bombing, which killed nearly 200 people, including 13 U.S. service members.

The bombing has intensified already frantic operations aimed at evacuating Afghans and withdrawing U.S. troops ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline imposed by Biden.

"We are going to complete this mission by the end of the month and we've said that," Kirby said. "Nothing has changed about the timeline for us and we will do this in as safe and orderly a way as possible — and that includes being able to continue to evacuate up until the very end."

Biden said on Saturday that he directed military commanders "to take every possible measure to prioritize force protection, and ensured that they have all the authorities, resources and plans to protect our men and women on the ground."

Gen. William "Hank" Taylor said more than 117,000 people — including about 5,400 American citizens — have been flown out of Afghanistan as part of the evacuation effort thus far. He said that 6,800 evacuees were flown out of Afghanistan on Friday and that 1,400 people have been "screened and manifested for flights" Saturday.

"This is a massive military, diplomatic, security and humanitarian undertaking for the United States and our allies," Taylor said.

He said the U.S. is currently hosting about 8,000 "Afghan applicants" at military bases, including Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Lee in Virginia and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. While capacity at those military installations currently stands at more than 21,000, Taylor said officials are working to increase that number to 50,000 by Sept. 15.

Shortly after the Pentagon's Saturday briefing, 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one member of the Navy were identified as those killed in Thursday's attack.

The Department of Defense released the slain Marine Corps members' names and ranks as: Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City; Sgt. Johanny Rosariopichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.; Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, Calif.; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Calif.; Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Neb.; Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Ind.; Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas; Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Mo.; Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyo.; Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif.

Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tenn., were also listed as among those killed Thursday.

"The 13 service members that we lost were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others," Biden said in a statement. "Their bravery and selflessness has enabled more than 117,000 people at risk to reach safety thus far."

And Taylor said, "We grieve with the Gold Star families, friends and loved ones of the fallen. They will be remembered and revered among Americans who have served in Afghanistan in operations Freedom, Sentinel and Enduring Freedom."

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit


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Last minute flights from St. John’s to Atlanta

Last minute flights from St. John’s to Atlanta is what WestJet does best. Our flights land all over North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, so you can always rely on us to get you to where you need to be. On top of that, we offer a winning combination of affordability and comfort, so you can expect to pay less and get more. So book with WestJet today.

Low fare finder

Don't see what you're looking for? Find all of our great low fares in one place.

Escape to The ATL with WestJet

Airport Details: From YYT, St. John To ATL, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Atlanta is one of the United States' largest cities and one of its most popular city break destinations. Unmistakable architecture, warm southern hospitality and iconic local cuisine are to be found here. There is iconic architecture to discover here — including galleries and museums that bring the city's fascinating past to life — as well as renowned local cuisine. There's also the reason behind its "Hotlanta" nickname — Georgia's steamy climate.

You can always trust in WestJet for last minute flights when you want to experience a truly thriving and animated destination in Georgia. Whether for work or pleasure, WestJet will take you from St. John’s to Atlanta and before you know it you’ll be enjoying the Fox Theatre, the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium.

Soar through the clouds with WestJet: book with us today.


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Last minute flights from St. John’s to Prince George

If you're searching for last minute flights from St. John’s to Prince George, look no further than WestJet. We fly into Prince George Airport — not to mention more than 150 other destinations — and we're ready to get you where you're going. Since our inception, we've been dedicated to delivering excellent guest experiences at affordable prices. Book your next getaway with us today.

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Don't see what you're looking for? Find all of our great low fares in one place.

Your getaway to the Northern Capital of BC starts here

Airport Details: From YYT, St. John To YXS, Prince George Airport

Visitors will find an unmistakable combination of natural beauty and urban living in Prince George. With a surrounding landscape made for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and dogsledding, it's little wonder the area attracts winter adventurers and is the host of the 2014 Canada Winter Games. Outdoor pursuits aside, Prince George is home to fine restaurants, the Two Rivers art gallery and live dramatic productions at Theatre North West.

Your trip to British Columbia's most varied and explorer-friendly destination starts when you book your last minute flight. Enjoy The Exploration Place, the Cold Snap Music Festival and Treasure Cove Casino & Hotel once you've experienced safe, swift air travel from St. John’s to Prince George with WestJet.

For a safe, comfortable and caring air travel experience, book with WestJet.


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Last minute flights to Calgary from St. John’s

If you're on the hunt for last minute flights to Calgary from St. John’s, look no further than WestJet. Whether you want to touch down at Calgary International Airport or you're considering travelling to one of our 150+ destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean or Europe, we can help your next trip take flight. That's not the only reason thousands of people choose to fly with WestJet: we're also committed to offering our guests a great experience, which means safe, friendly and affordable travel each and every time. Get the service and value you deserve with WestJet.

Low fare finder

Don't see what you're looking for? Find all of our great low fares in one place.

Your trip to Cowtown begins with WestJet

Airport Details: To YYC, Calgary International Airport From YYT, St. John

A resurgent economy isn't the only thing that sets Calgary apart: it's also known for offering outstanding natural beauty and a host of breathtaking vistas. From its handily-located downtown airport, it's a cinch to get the best out of the city — including the unmistakable sights, sounds and energy of the Calgary Stampede, known as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." It's no surprise this city is quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations in the country.

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Median Annual Wage: $27,940

Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)

Related Job Titles: Apprentice Electrician; Electrician's Helper; Electrical Apprentice; Cable Puller; Electrician Helper; Electrician Apprentice; Unindentured Apprentice

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Helpers--Electricians.

More Construction and Extraction Careers

  • Trace out short circuits in wiring, using test meter.
  • Strip insulation from wire ends, using wire stripping pliers, and attach wires to terminals for subsequent soldering.
  • Examine electrical units for loose connections and broken insulation and tighten connections, using hand tools.
  • Construct controllers and panels, using power drills, drill presses, taps, saws and punches.
  • Drill holes and pull or push wiring through openings, using hand and power tools.
  • Clean work area and wash parts.
  • Maintain tools, vehicles, and equipment and keep parts and supplies in order.
  • Transport tools, materials, equipment, and supplies to work site by hand, handtruck, or heavy, motorized truck.
  • Install copper-clad ground rods, using a manual post driver.
  • Thread conduit ends, connect couplings, and fabricate and secure conduit support brackets, using hand tools.
  • Disassemble defective electrical equipment, replace defective or worn parts, and reassemble equipment, using hand tools.
  • Erect electrical system components and barricades, and rig scaffolds, hoists, and shoring.
  • Perform semi-skilled and unskilled laboring duties related to the installation, maintenance and repair of a wide variety of electrical systems and equipment.
  • Dig trenches or holes for installation of conduit or supports.
  • Raise, lower, or position equipment, tools, and materials, using hoist, hand line, or block and tackle.
  • Break up concrete, using airhammer, to facilitate installation, construction, or repair of equipment.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Helpers--Electricians.

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Helpers--Electricians.

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Spring has arrived in Whatcom County. Cherry trees punctuate gray skies and golfers head onto the green. Meanwhile, high school seniors prepare for college and fortunate student athletes win scholarships, paving the way to becoming legends like their sports heroes.

While the late Chelsey Rae Ebert never graduated from Ferndale High School, she did leave a legacy. The former high school volleyball and basketball player died in December 2007 after a battle with a rare form of cancer. She and her father, Jay Ebert, founded the Chelsey Ebert Trust that awards scholarships to female high school athletes from Whatcom County to fund their university education. Thus far, the trust has awarded scholarships to over 85 female high school athletes from Whatcom County.

Former Ferndale High School athlete Chelsey Ebert chose to create a humanitarian legacy. Photo courtesy: Ebert Family.

The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce partners with the Chelsey Ebert Trust in hosting the Chelsey Ebert Celebrity Weekend Event. The weekend includes a dinner with an auction and a golf tournament. The ninth annual dinner-auction will be held at the Silver Reef Event Center on Friday, May 12 from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The ninth annual celebrity golf scramble will be held at the Shuksan Golf Club on Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with an 11:00 a.m. shotgun start.

This year’s celebrities include Jordan Babineaux, Luke Willson, Sam Adkins, Mark Lee, Jared Zabransky, Colin McCarthy, Randal Morris, Jay Hill, Tali Ena, Jessica Hopkins (Ferndale High School graduate, LFL Hall of Fame, Seattle Mist) and Paul Johns, just to name a few. A long-time supporter and returning celebrity this year is Sam Adkins who formerly wore the number 12 jersey as a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. The dinner, auction and golf tournament offer attendees the opportunity to rub elbows with celebrities and raise funds for university scholarships and an array of charities dear to Chelsey Ebert’s heart.

Mark Lee, Sam Adkins, Jordan Babineaux, Paul Johns, Stephanie Ebert, Jay Ebert, Jim Sandusky and Colin McCarthy honor the legacy of high school athlete Chelsey Ebert. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.

According to Ann Serwold at the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, “Chelsey decided at the end of her illness that she wanted to do a girl’s basketball scholarship for Ferndale as her legacy. From there it has grown to two scholarships for senior girls in any sport for every school in Whatcom County.”

While the scholarship grabs the limelight, the Chelsey Ebert Trust also donates funds to Whatcom County Veterans, the Seattle Children’s Hospital, Pretty in Pink Walk, Ferndale Food Bank and other worthy organizations. Ebert not only shone as a high school athlete, she was also on the honor roll and she excelled as a leader by volunteering in her community.

At the annual Chelsey Ebert Trust Celebrity Weekend Dinner locals mingle with stars. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.

In 2016, the annual dinner and golf tournament raised $160,000 which contributed to the scholarship fund and other organizations. The 2017 recipients include scholarship winners, St. Joseph Medical Center, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Ferndale High School, Mount Baker AAU Basketball, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department and Ferndale Police.

The athletic scholarships are competitive and recipients must meet strict criteria. “Chelsey gave us the requirements she wanted used,” says Stephanie Ebert. “The students had to have played their senior year in high school, have a 3.5 or higher GPA, no ejections, technical fouls or disqualifications and they show positive leadership.” The recipients must also have been starters, however, they did not need to be the team captain or the best player.

Colin McCarthy, Jordan Babineaux, Paul Johns and Mark Lee compete in a celebrity golf scramble. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets for the Celebrity Dinner are $54.44 per ticket with tables of ten for $544.44.  Sponsorships range from $5,044 for the Title Sponsor which includes two ten-tops and VIP passes for the dinner and auction and two golf teams plus the company logo on all promotional material. The Celebrity Dinner and Auction Sponsorship Package costs $3,544.00 and includes the company’s logo on all the dinner and auction promotional material, a logo banner at the dinner, one golf foursome, a ten-top dinner table and 10 V.I.P. tickets to Friday’s VIP reception.

Participating golfers have a few weeks left to work on their game. Meanwhile, Whatcom County philanthropists count down the days until the event that honors a very humble young lady that excelled, not only at sports, but also as a humanitarian.

Business sponsors include Phillips 66, Ancon, Agent Pipeline, Bellingham Professional Office Cleaning, Fortiphi Financial, D&D Insurance Agency, Signs by Tomorrow, Whatcom #7 Fire Fighters, Silver Reef Casino, Swinomish Casino, Bellingham Grocery Outlet, Mills Electric and several small businesses. Tickets can be purchased at the Chelsey Ebert Trust website, https://www.chelseyebert.com/.

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The Salisbury woman who became Britain’s most successful Paralympian in 1976

With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games starting today (August 24), the Journal is looking back at the Salisbury woman who was Britain’s most successful Paralympian in 1976.

Monica Vaughan worked full-time as a Staff Nurse in the men’s medical ward in Salisbury District Hospital, which was then called Odstock Hospital.

Monica grew up in Cosham, Hampshire, where at the age of 4 she tripped and fell under a trolleybus outside her siblings’ school. The bus ran over her foot.

At this young age she had mid-thigh amputation, saying in a later interview that this was done by ‘a very brave surgeon’.

Despite this, she always loved sport at school.

At the age of 24, she participated in the Toronto 1976 Paralympics, her very first Games.

The nurse became Britain’s most successful Paralympian in the event, winning five gold medals in swimming and a silver medal as the only woman in the British volleyball team.

Read more: Six ‘forgotten’ Salisbury women who achieved great things

Monica received a civic reception in Salisbury on her return in September 1976.

According to newspaper clippings provided by ArtCare, the arts in health service at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, after winning these medals she completed a four-and-a-half-mile sponsored walk to raise funds for a lift in the (at the time) new Salisbury Playhouse.

The playhouse was designed with a lift but, due to lack of funding, it was dropped from the plans and the theatre opened with an empty lift shaft, which meant that people with disabilities would have to climb 15 steps to get to the auditorium.

To raise money for the lift, walkers from hospitals, the army, police cadets, Women’s Institutes, youth clubs and schools – as well as both the Mayor and the Chairman of Salisbury District Council – took part.

Monica said at the time: “I’ll be on my crutches because I probably wouldn’t be able to manage it with my false leg on.”

The report says that she took part in a four-mile walk for the British Heart Foundation the year before, and that the problem she encountered was not her fitness but blisters on her hands from using her crutches for a long period of time.

Monica went on to 1980 Paralympic Games in Arhnem, winning a further four gold medals and a silver.

Peter Collins, Medical Director Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, tweeted: “Another example of how remarkable the lives of our staff @SalisburyNHS are delivering excellence in and out of work”.

To find out more about Salisbury’s healthcare history, visit ArtCare’s archives:

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Email with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.

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Verrucas (Part 1)

Posted by Eamonn Brady on

Warts are localised thickenings of the skin, and the term ‘plantar wart’ is used for those that occur on the soles of the feet (the ‘plantar’ surface). They are also known as verrucas.

What causes verrucas?
Verrucas are a form of infection with a virus called the ‘human papilloma virus’ (HPV virus for short). Infection of the cells of the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis) with this virus results in this top layer of skin growing and thickening, creating the non-cancerous skin growth that is a wart.

Plantar warts are caught by contact with virally-infected skin scales. These are usually encountered on such surfaces as the floors of public locker rooms, shower cubicles and the tiled areas around swimming pools. However, the virus is not highly contagious, and it is unclear why some people catch plantar warts while others do not. The virus enters the skin through tiny breaks in the skin surface. Moistness and maceration (softening of the skin due to moisture) on the feet make infection with the wart virus easier. People with weak immune systems are more likely to get warts. This is because the body is less able to fight off the HPV virus.

Symptoms of verrucas
Some plantar warts are uncomfortable, particularly if they are on a weight-bearing area (eg. sole of foot) when it may feel like having a stone in your shoe.

What do verrucas look like?
Plantar warts can occur anywhere on the soles and toes, and they often involve the weight-bearing areas. They vary in size from just a few millimetres to more than one centimetre. Each has a rough surface that protrudes slightly from the skin surface, surrounded by a horny collar. Close inspection of a plantar wart may reveal small black dots (which are blocked blood vessels).  An individual may have one or many verrucas, sometimes associated with warts elsewhere on the body.

Diagnosis of verrucas
Usually this is easy, and based simply on the appearance. However, sometimes it may be hard to tell a plantar wart from a corn. One helpful point is that plantar warts interrupt the fine skin ridges on the sole, whereas corns do not. Your Chiropodist may need to pare down the area to be certain of the diagnosis; he/she will be looking for the small black dots which confirm the diagnosis of a viral wart. No other investigations are needed.

Chiropody Clinic

Chiropodist James Pedley has a twice weekly chiropody clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Whelehans Pearse St Mullingar. We offer reduced rate on Tuesdays for over 60s of €25. Call 04493 34591 to book a chiropody appointment.

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans, log on to or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore). Find us on Facebook.

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Twitter reacts to Mary Kom being ranked number 1 in the latest World Rankings

first_imgMary Kom has attained number one position in the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) latest world rankings. The nation is proud of her. More power to you ! #shewins #MaryKom #AIBA #Boxing @MangteC @AIBA_Boxing— SheThePeople (@SheThePeopleTV) January 10, 2019 Inspiration to all of us!👏#Congratulations @MangteC on becoming 🌎 No. 1⃣ in the latest @AIBA_Boxing Rankings! 👑#MaryKom— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) January 10, 2019 👉 boxer #MaryKom become is World No. 1 in latest #AIBA rankings (48 kg). She has won record 6 World Championships titles . #Proudindian 💪💪💪💪— Abhishek Singh Chauhan/ अभिषेक सिंह चौहान (@ABHISHEK1742) January 10, 2019 Unstoppable Mary!!🥊 After a record 6 Gold medals at the World Championships, Magnificient Mary Kom to now become World in AIBA rankings. @MangteC #MaryKom.— Sachin Padwal (@sachin140778) January 10, 2019 अगर मेरा कभी विवाह हुआ और मेरे पुत्री हुई तो मैं उसका नाम #marykom रखूँगी ल— lotpot4vote (@lotpot4vote) January 10, 2019 After record 6th world championship title in november, now She becomes World number 1 in latest AIBA world ranking.Congrats @MangteC for one more achievement. You are such an inspiration for generation. #MaryKomNumber1 #MaryKom #ChampionMaryKom— Rajeev Rai (@Rajeev_Bharat) January 10, 2019 Heartiest congratulations to @MCMarykom for continuing to garner more laurels for herself and India, and for becoming the new World No.1 in the latest boxing rankings released by AIBA. @EdelGive is extremely proud to have been a part of her journey with OGQ. #MCMaryKom #MaryKom— EdelGive Foundation (@EdelGive) January 10, 2019 Star Indian boxer Mary Kom is World No. 1 in latest AIBA rankings (48 kg). She has won record 6 World Championships titles 💪. #MagnificentMary— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) January 10, 2019 Congratulations @MangteC for attaining number one position in The International Boxing Association ( @AIBA_Boxing ) world rankings.#GlobalAdvertisers #MaryKom #AIBA #Boxing— Global Advertisers (@GlobalAdvtOOH) January 10, 2019 The girl with the #golden gloves again makes #Indians proud again [email protected] you surely are a power women #WebWonderWomen #MaryKom— Viraj (@virajbisht123) January 10, 2019 #MaryKom becomes Boxer No 1 in AIBA rating. So proud. Women can have it all personal and professional heights .— Sunita Menon (@MenonSunitA) January 10, 2019center_img WowMight again proved internationally Mary kom is world no. 1Breaking all the shackles that women face in an unorthodox Indian society Set a new benchmark for other females An inspiration for [email protected] @ShashiTharoor @BFI @RISHICH88021286 @Nitin76676815 #MaryKom— Jayant Singh (@Eloquentjayant) January 10, 2019 In November 2018, the Manipuri powerhouse became the most successful boxer in world championships’ history. You make us so proud, Mary! #MaryKom #WorldNo1 @MangteC— The Better India (@thebetterindia) January 10, 2019 Another high for ‘Magnificent Mary’ Kom to become World No.1 in AIBA rankings.#MaryKom— Dr Rutvij Patel (@DrRutvij) January 10, 2019 boxer Mary Kom is World No. 1 in latest AIBA rankings (48 kg). She has won record 6 World Championships titles . #MagnificentMary #MaryKom #India #worldchampionship#Proudindian— Bhumit Patel (@patelbhumit9913) January 10, 2019 India can’t be more proud today. Congratulations to MARY KOM!!👸🙅#MaryKom #India #IndiaBoxer #VegPlatter— Veg Platter (@VegPlatter) January 10, 2019 I congratulate Smt. M.C. Mary Kom for attaining number one position in the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) world rankings. Country is proud of her achievements. #MaryKom #AIBA #Boxing @MangteC @AIBA_Boxing— VicePresidentOfIndia (@VPSecretariat) January 10, 2019 The name’s Kom.. Mary Kom! Congratulations @MangteC ! And congratulations to all fellow Indians! SHE DID IT ! Yes! #DefyTheReasons #BeLikeMaryKom #MagnificientMary #MaryKom— Shivaani (@mcshivanisen) January 10, 2019 Gurugram: Pugilist MC Mary Kom shows her that she won at Asian Boxing Championship, at a press conference in Gurugram on Thursday. PTI Photo by Manvender Vashist (PTI11_9_2017_000122B)AdvertisementIndia’s pride Mary Kom has been ranked number one in the flyweight category by AIBA in the latest rankings update. The six-time World Champion had 1700 points in her bag, the highest one can accumulate in a calendar year.“Magnificient Mary”, as she is fondly known as, had a stellar 2018 winning the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games and clinching her sixth World Championship title in New Delhi in November. Furthermore, she even picked up the gold medal at a tournament in Poland and finished second in the much acclaimed Strandja Memorial in Bulgaria.The Twitteratis heaped their praise on the living legend and hoped that she could continue her fine form into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Here is how they responded:अपना वजूद भुला कर ना जाने कितनी रिवायतें निभाती हे,सलाम हर उस ख़ातून को, जो घर और देश का नाम बनाती है |#MaryKom— Rajat Gujjar (@Rajatkasana141) January 10, 2019 Advertisementlast_img

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Hunter's Lodge

Hunter's Lodge, Shillelagh. County Wicklow | Front of Hunter's Lodge Hunter's Lodge, Shillelagh. County Wicklow | Breakfast area at Hunter's Lodge Hunter's Lodge, Shillelagh. County Wicklow | Guest lounge and dining table at Hunter's Lodge

Hunter's Lodge is located 1½km outside of Shillelagh village on the Carnew Road. The view from the front of the lodge is across open fields and the River Derry towards the Wicklow Way, where it crosses Stookeen Hill and Raheenakit.

As the Wicklow Way does not pass through the village, walkers can be collected from the recommended pick-up point at Tallon's Pub (The Dying Cow) in Stranakelly, which is a little over 6km away. Advance notice is needed for this complimentary service.

The Lodge

This recently constructed Scandinavian wood lodge was completed in 2017. It accommodates a maximum of four guests, in one double and one twin bedroom. There is a shared bathroom and an open plan living/dining area. The lodge is adjacent to the main house where the hostess, Philomena and her family reside.

Guests staying at Hunter's Lodge can pre-order an evening meal, giving a minimum of 24 hours notice. Alternatively, a lift can be provided to Shillelagh where there is a pub serving bar-food and a take-away, or else the Coollattin Golf Clubhouse, which is a little further away. Breakfast is included in the price and a packed lunch can be pre-ordered for taking out on the trail.

The Garden

There is a small patio area with a BBQ and seating for guests wishing to relax in the garden and take in the evening sun. Hostess, Philomena, is a keen gardener and grows many fruit and vegetables in a polytunnel. She uses some of her organic seasonal produce from the garden in the evening meals where possible.

Self-Catering Option

Hunter's Lodge is ideally suited for a group of four, wishing to rent the entire lodge. Groups wishing to rent on a self-catering basis need to mention this in the comment section of the booking enquiry page. There is a fully fitted kitchen with a cooker and oven, a microwave and a fridge. Pans, crockery and cutlery are all provided. There is also a washing machine in the lodge and access to a dryer in the adjacent garage.

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Digital Health's Rewired Conference 2021 Highlights the Need for Longevity in Healthtech Innovation

9 Minute Read

Last week saw the commencement of Digital Health’s Rewired conference for 2021. Moving to a virtual platform like all other events in the year since we saw the start of the pandemic, delegates were able to log on from the comfort of their desk chairs, listen to industry experts and play an active role in discussions surrounding the future of healthcare technology.

Topics ranged from inclusivity and diversity in the nation’s healthcare workforce, to the way in which the pandemic has forced us to adapt to a ‘new normal’. However, it was Thursday’s Digital Transformation summit, kicked off with a keynote address from Health Secretary Matt Hancock, that looked to the future of digital transformation and how the industry can respond, with some government assistance, to a post-pandemic world.

Looking retrospectively at the technology that was rocketed into application to cope with the demands of the pandemic, critics began to question the longevity of such innovation as well as whether it has a place within the NHS’ Long Term Plan outlined by the government in 2016 and reiterated by the Health Secretary in Thursday’s address. It must also be considered whether the innovations made are sustainable and whether there will be the need for them once we have established our ‘new normal’.

In many cases, innovation has continued to align with pre-pandemic goals. We previously looked at the long term plan for the NHS in a blog post earlier in the year, which you can read here for a more comprehensive view. But a key driver in the future of healthcare provision centred around giving patients the tools to provide their own care.

Putting patients in charge of their own care has been responded to by technological innovation in remote monitoring, the reinforcement of NHS resources such as the Apps Library, the 111 service and e-consultations that have been pushed as the primary contact between patients and their GPs (general practitioners)Not only do these changes empower patients to maintain a level of autonomy and enlightenment over their care but also allows local surgeries, hospitals and the NHS more broadly to effectively manage their patient flow allowing for an increase in productivity, reducing the waiting times in A&E and saving money through reducing the number of unnecessary in-patients.

This framing must also pay diligence to patients that would feel more comfortable not having to go into a surgery or hospital. In February, the NHS launched an at-home smear test campaign. The trial displayed that although it would not be the case that 100% of tests would be completed at home, there was the opportunity for those who would prefer it to have that option. This not only breaks down a barrier surrounding a taboo, yet routine and necessary procedure, but allows the test to reach more people and provide preventative care.

In the case of innovations such as these, it is clear they are sustainable. Broadening the offerings of the NHS to cope with the changes in everyday life bridges a gap between healthcare and the mass population that the pandemic only exacerbatedBut how do private companies respond to the needs created by the pandemic? Let us look at WiFi SPARK.

Premiering SPARK® Media in 2020, WiFi SPARK is motivated by providing a digitally inclusive entertainment package for all patients free of charge. Having begun developing the platform prior to Coronavirus restrictions, the WiFi SPARK team was able to build upon their existininfrastructure to not only provide entertainment through TV, radio and digitised newspapers and magazines, but also provide patients with a video calling application that allows them to remain in touch with their loved ones during prolonged and deeply restricted hospital stays.

It has been proven that by providing enrichment and entertainment to patients, whether that be through a comprehensive package such as SPARK® Media or simply by providing WiFi to visitors, the stimulation and relaxation encourage recovery. During the pandemic, SPARK® Media successfully worked to keep patients entertained and connected at no cost to the end user.

As the heat of the pandemic lessens and visitation increases, we may see a decline in the need for video calling software across the board, however, it’s value to the elderly or those who may not have their own video calling device will bridge a gap between families that may not have the time to be there in person. The SPARK® Media suite presents a uniquely buildable opportunity for all.

Moving out of entertainment and looking at how SPARK® Media can streamline administrative processes, the solution manages meal ordering through an online platformergonomically reducing food wastage and as a result saving money. On the same platform, patients and visitors can access hospital websites, charity links or, as noted earlier, links to the NHS Apps Library and resources of the like that further encourage autonomous recovery.

The longevity of SPARK® Media is undeniable, going hand in hand with the NHS’ long-term goals as well as directly responding to the needs of patients and staff. Economically, WiFi SPARK’s range of packages and complete scalability and room for growth offer a variety of entry points that provide a solution no matter the budget.

The Health Secretary also announced on Thursday that a further 32 Trusts have been named in the second wave of the Digital Aspirant programme. This means they will receive up to £6 million over three years to deliver on digital ambitions, with a further 25 Trusts receiving £250,000 each to achieve the same goals. With funding being poured into the NHS to encourage digital innovation, it is an exciting time to see how Trusts will respond to invest in solutions that fit them.

Matt Hancock’s address at Digital Health’s Rewired conference drove a key government initiative of ‘building for the future,’ I.e., the healthcare technology innovation bred out of necessity during the pandemic must be able to stand the test of time and work with the NHS as it finds its own roadmap in the coming months and years. NHS and private sector initiatives such as SPARK® Media working hand in hand are crucial to ensure the NHS can get the best value whilst also providing exemplary levels of end-to-end care.

There is a SPARK® Media solution for every health organisation. Iyou would like to find your perfect fit and prioritise digital innovation for your Trust, take the quiz below

Which SPARK Solution do you need

Advanced Analytics unlocks a whole host of valuable insight into who is using and how your guest WiFi is being used

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Millennials remain upbeat about travel throughout Brexit talks, with trips to continental Europe up 24%

Thursday, 29th March 2018, 9:30 am
Updated Thursday, 29th March 2018, 11:07 am

Today (March 29) marks one year since Article 50 was triggered, and one year remaining until Britain officially departs the EU.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Millennial-geared tour operator Contiki has found that Brexit negotiations haven't deterred Brits from travelling to continental Europe.

According to Contiki, sales on the brand's European trips have increased by nearly a quarter (24 per cent) since the UK's decision to leave the EU on 23 June 20161.

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Contiki's booking data shows young travellers are keen to tick off European landmarks and icons, with trips travelling through multiple destinations amongst some of the best-selling.

Contiki's top 10 most popular European trips

Contiki TripCountries visitedLength of trip (days)1. Croatia Island Escape1 8 2. European Horizon8 10 3. Oktoberfest1 6 4. European Highlights8 14 5. European Discovery9 12 6. Simply Italy2 12 7. Greek Island Hopping1 13 8. Turkish Sailing1 8 9. European Whirl10 18 10.European Escapade11 25

Three out of Contiki's top five best-selling Europe trips travel through up to nine different countries in up to two weeks. It seems young Brits are more than happy to spend their longer breaks exploring Europe's many corners, with plenty of bucket list-worthy spots to tick off.

However, according to a recent Contiki Facebook poll, less than 50 per cent of respondents had visited some of the most popular landmarks in Italy, including the Grand Canal in Venice (just 48 per cent), Leaning Tower of Pisa (37 per cent) and the Duomo in Florence (35 per cent).

Only 13 per cent of those surveyed have visited all eight of the popular European landmarks listed in the poll; the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in Paris, Colosseum and Trevi Fountain in Rome, Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam, the Grand Canal in Venice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Duomo in Florence.

“It's great to see that the appetite of young Brits to explore Europe has been on the rise since the 2016 referendum, and that they want to see more and do more on their European holidays," says Donna Jeavons, Director of Sales and Marketing at Contiki.

"Maybe this is down to Brits feeling more of an affinity to our European neighbours since the vote."


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Nissan Leaf: Home Charger Installation

  • A level 2 charger is recommended for the Nissan Leaf since a level 1 can take up to 20 hours. This doesn’t help if you need to get somewhere fast!
  • Call us with any questions you have about having a specific charger installed

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