text:
Sir Walter Raleichpirates, privateer, sea dogs, Sir Walter Raleich 5:01 π.μ.
"When the sobbing sea is squally,Then,—look out for Walter Raleigh!He's the fellow whom Queen Bess is said to love.He's a reckless, handsome sailor,With a 'Vandyke' like a tailor,He can coo fond words of loving like a dove.Faith! I like this gallant rover,Who has ploughed the wild seas over,Who has passed the grim and wild equator's ring.And I cheer, whene'er I view him,For—my Boy—off Spain I knew himWhen he trimmed the Spanish cruisers, like a King."
—Chant of the Plymouth Dock-Hand.
BOYS! You have all heard about the Square Deal. Well—Here is the story of a man who didn't get one.
Walter Raleigh was a brave man; he was an able seafarer; his younger manhood was spent in the midst of the most brilliant Royal Court which England has known. He proved his courage and military prowess in more than one bitterly contested battle-field and naval conflict. His love of his own land and his hatred of his enemies was ardent.
He was also a fellow of wit, and, as an author, took rank with the great literary lights of the Elizabethan [Pg 56] Age. He was an adventurer, and, in middle life, as well as in old age, braved the great deep and perils of savage lands in the magnificent attempt to make discoveries and to settle English colonies in the New World. Chivalrous in actions and feeling; of handsome person; graceful manners and courtly address; it is no wonder that he had a host of enemies: those fellows who couldn't do anything worth while themselves, and wanted to "pull the other fellow down." There are plenty of them around, to-day, doing the same thing in the same, old way.
As an Englishman he loved England to such an extent, that—upon the return from one of his numerous voyages—he dropped upon one knee and kissed the sand.
"My men," said he to his followers, "I love this land as nothing else on earth!"
The hostility of his rivals subjected him to harsh ill treatment. It did not dampen his love for England.
The silly caprices of Queen Elizabeth, who—like most women—was swayed, not by her reason, but by her sentiments, made him suffer imprisonment. Yet, it did not dampen his love for England.
The terrible and bitter dislike of King James—who succeeded the Virgin Queen—finally led to his trial for treason; his execution; and his death.
Yet, it did not dampen his love for England.
If England can produce men of such a mold, nowadays, she will continue to be a mighty world power.
Do you think that you could be as patriotic as Sir [Pg 57] Walter Raleigh? Particularly if you were treated as he was treated? Think it over!
One day, the ancient palace of Greenwich, which stood on the banks of the Thames—a few miles below London—presented a lively and brilliant scene. Courtiers, arrayed in gorgeous colors and glittering ornaments, walked about, chattering gaily,—like a flock of sparrows. Fine, young cavaliers were there, attired in rich velvets, sparkling with gems, armed with gold-hilted swords. Grave statesmen wandered around,—with beards as white as their ruffles. Stately dames, with heavy and gaily trimmed trains, peered at the beautiful belles, and said:
"My, isn't she a fright!" or
"Goodness, what dreadful manners the Duchess so-and-so has!"
Just as they do to-day. Times do not change.
Trumpets blared a fan-fa-rade and lines of soldiers gave forth inspiriting sounds, with many musical instruments. There was a stir and flutter in the crowd; and some one called out:
"She's coming! Hats off to the Queen!"
So all the men took off their hats,—for they were courtiers, and it was their business to do so, whenever Her Royal Highness came around. Many of them didn't like to do it but if they hadn't done so, some spy would have cried out "Treason!" And they would have been hustled off to the Tower. You just bet they took off their hats!
Descending the broad flight of steps, with proud [Pg 58] and majestic mien, the tall and slender figure of Elizabeth—the maiden Queen of England—was seen approaching.
She was then in the mature ripeness of middle age, but she still preserved not a few remnants of the beauty of her youth. Her form was straight and well proportioned. Her large, blue eyes were yet bright and expressive; her complexion was still wonderfully fair and smooth. Her well arranged hair was luxuriant and was of a light red. A large, fan-like collar of richest lace rose from her slender neck, above her head behind; and her tresses were combed high from her forehead. Jewels blazed from her dress. Her attire was far more splendid than that of any of the ladies of her court.
As it happened, a heavy shower had just passed over, and little puddles of water stood all around upon the gravelled paths. Bursting through the fast-vanishing clouds, the sun cast its rays upon the trees still dripping with glittering drops; and upon the smiling Queen, who—surrounded by a gay group of courtiers—set forth upon a promenade through the park. She chatted affably with all. They tried to make themselves as agreeable as possible, for he who was most agreeable received the best plums from the Royal Tree. Politics haven't changed any since that day.
The Queen walked on, playing with a beautiful, white greyhound, and, pretty soon she came to a muddy spot in the path.
"Zounds!" said she (or it may have been something stronger, for historians say that she could "swear [Pg 59] valiantly"). "Zounds! Now I will spoil my pretty shoes!"
"And also your pretty feet," interjected a courtier. He received a smile for this compliment and the Queen mentally made a note of it,—for future use in the distribution of Court Favors.
She hesitated, looked around aimlessly, and stood still.
At this instant a young noble—six feet tall and elegantly attired—stepped forward; and, throwing aside his richly embroidered cloak, spread it over the muddy pool.
"Prithee, pass onward!" said he, bowing low.
Elizabeth was delighted.
"Good Walter Raleigh," said she, smiling. "You are truly a gallant knight!" And she tripped gaily across the embroidered mantlet. "I will reward you right well for this!"
But the courtiers, the Ladies, and the Statesmen glanced with undisguised envy at the young gallant who had so readily pleased their Mistress; and they scowled at him as Elizabeth kept him at her side during the rest of her promenade. "The Beggar's outdone us all!" said one. "Down with him!"
But they could not down Sir Walter just then. After awhile they had "their innings."
Rough, vain, whimsical Queen Bess was fond of handsome, and especially of witty and eloquent young men. She grew more attached to Sir Walter Raleigh every day. He rapidly rose in power and influence, and, as a poet, became well known. His verses were [Pg 60] read in the luxurious halls of the palace with exclamations of delight, while the tales of his military exploits were eagerly repeated from mouth to mouth; for Raleigh had fought valiantly in France and had helped to suppress an insurrection in Ireland.
And still the jealous courtiers murmured among themselves.
Raleigh was appointed "Warden of the Stanneries," or mines, in Cornwall and Devonshire, from which he derived, each year, a large income. He was made Captain of the Queen's Guard. He was created Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and Vice-Admiral of Devon. He received vast estates in Ireland and many privileges and licenses, so that he was fast becoming a rich man. He was splendid and extravagant in his dress. He grew arrogant. He had, in fact, "too much Ego in his Cosmos."
So, the jealous courtiers continued to murmur among themselves.
Elizabeth was fickle as well as sentimental. Her fancy passed lightly from one gallant to another. For some time Leicester (who had once been her sole favorite, and who desired to regain his position) had been growing jealous of Raleigh's ascendency; and he had been delighted to see that Queen Bess had taken a violent fancy to the impetuous Earl of Essex. A quarrel took place between Raleigh and the Ruler of England. He was affronted before the whole court and retired to his chambers, overwhelmed with grief.
And all the jealous courtiers punched each other [Pg 61] beneath the ribs, and laughed "Ha! Ha! Ha! What did we tell you?"
It took the "Ego" out of Raleigh's "Cosmos."
But the gallant courtier had a half-brother—Sir Humphrey Gilbert—who had just returned from a voyage around the world in the good ship Golden Hind.
"Let's fit out a small fleet," said he to Raleigh, "and establish an English colony in Newfoundland."
"I'm with you," cried Sir Walter. "We'll found another England in far distant America! On with it!"
Thus, an expedition of five ships sailed from Plymouth, in the early summer of 1583. Sir Humphrey boarded the Squirrel, and bade his kinsman an affectionate adieu.
"You must remain behind," said he, "and regain our position at court!"
"That I will endeavor to do," answered Raleigh. "Good luck and God speed."
The expedition was a failure from the start. Scarcely had the shallops gone to sea, than one of them—the Raleigh—deserted its companions and put back. The rest reached Newfoundland, but the men were lawless and insubordinate.
"This is the Deuce of a cold place for a colony," they said. "Home to Merrie England!"
Gilbert was forced to yield to their angry demands, and re-embarked.
"Don't sail in that rattle-trap of a Squirrel," said his officers to him. "She'll founder!"
[Pg 62] But Sir Humphrey had that obstinacy which characterized General Braddock.
"No: I will not forsake the little company, going homeward," said he. "I'll stick to my ship."
He stuck—and—when they hailed him one stormy night, he said:
"Be of good cheer, my friends: we are as near to Heaven by sea as by land!"
That night the Squirrel was sailing a little in advance of the other ships, and, as those on board the Golden Hind watched the frail barque, they saw her lurch, heave, and then sink from view. Thus the soul of brave Raleigh's kinsman found a watery grave. He had paid for his obstinacy with his life.
Raleigh was overwhelmed with grief when he learned of the death of his heroic half-brother.
"I'll yet found my Colony," said he. "And I'll go myself."
This pleased the jealous courtiers more than ever, for they would now have him out of the way for all time.
With his ample wealth, the indefatigable adventurer found no difficulty in fitting out an expedition, and, in the year after the death of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, he sent forth two vessels to explore the coast of the Carolinas.
"I'm going to stay at home and face my enemies!" said the gay blade. "Again good luck and God Speed!"
They had a fortunate voyage, and, when they returned, the Captains told of the beautiful harbors, fine rivers, magnificent forests and abundance of game. [Pg 63] The Queen was delighted, and at once named the fair country for herself, with characteristic egotism. That men might know that this fruitful land was explored in the time of the Virgin Queen, it was called "Virginia." Raleigh was wild with delight.
And the jealous courtiers looked dejected and sad.
A fleet of seven vessels—with one hundred colonists—was now sent to Virginia, under the command of one Grenville, who was eager to become suddenly rich: a disease as common now as in those venturous days. No sooner had the people landed, than they began to treat the savages with such harshness and rapacity—that they had to gain their own food, as the natives would have nothing to do with them. Dissensions tore the little community into shreds. So they were only too glad to return with the gallant old sea-dog, Sir Francis Drake, when he happened that way, with a large amount of booty which he had just taken from the Spaniards in the southern seas.
Another expedition was sent over by Raleigh; and yet another. They were failures. But there was one, single thing which was not a failure. This was the discovery of a herb called "Yppowoc," or tobacco, the leaves of which—when dried—were smoked by the natives in long pipes.
Curious Sir Walter had a jeweller in London make him a silver pipe, after the fashion of those used by the native Virginians. In this he began to smoke the tobacco, and soon grew to like it very much; so much, indeed, that he was scarcely ever without this comforter, when enjoying the quiet of his home.
[Pg 64] One day he was sitting cosily by his fire with his Long Nine in his mouth, and the smoke was curling gracefully over his head. Just as he was puffing out a particularly thick cloud, one of his servants happened to enter the room with a tankard of ale, for the luncheon table.
"Ye Gods!" cried he. "My Master's on fire!"
Over Sir Walter's head went the ale, and the frightened lackey dashed down the steps.
"H-e-l-p! H-e-l-p!" cried he. "My Master is burning up! H-e-l-p!"
But Sir Walter did not burn up this time. Instead he near split his gallant sides with laughing.
Now, Boys, don't smile! 'Tis said that good old Queen Bess tried, herself, to smoke a Long Nine. But—hush—"she became so dizzy and ill from the effects that she never ventured upon the experiment again!" (Keep this quiet! Very quiet! Will you!)
On one occasion she was watching Sir Walter blowing circles of smoke over his head, and said to him—
"Zounds! (or something stronger) Sir Walter! You are a witty man; but I will wager that you cannot tell me the weight of the smoke which comes from your pipe!"
"I can, indeed," was the confident reply of the gallant courtier. "Watch me closely!"
At once he took as much tobacco as would fill his pipe and exactly weighed it. Having then smoked it up, he—in like manner—weighed the ashes.
[Pg 65] "Now, Your Majesty," said he, smiling. "The difference between these two weights is the weight of the smoke."
And again Queen Bess remarked "Zounds!" (or Eftsoons!). At any rate, she paid the wager, for—with all her frailties—she was a Good Loser.
Raleigh, in fact, shortly became reinstated in Royal favor, and, when he aided Drake and Hawkins—soon afterwards—in dispersing the Invincible Armada, he was again in the good graces of his sovereign.
There was, however, a pretty, young Maid-of-Honor at court, called Elizabeth Throgmorton, and no sooner had the bright eyes of Sir Walter fallen upon her, than he fell in love. In paying court to this amiable lady he was compelled to use great caution and secrecy, for jealous Queen Bess watched him narrowly, and with suspicion. In spite of her preference for Essex, Elizabeth was quite unwilling that Raleigh—her less favored lover—should transfer his affections to another. So, in making love to Elizabeth Throgmorton, the gay courtier was compelled to use the utmost care.
But Murder (or Love) will out!
It chanced one day, that the Queen discovered what was going on between her Maid-of-Honor and the cavalier. Her rage knew no bounds. She berated Raleigh before her ladies, and forbade him to come to court. She fiercely commanded the Maid-of-Honor to remain a prisoner in her room, and, on no account to see Raleigh again. So the venturous Knight turned his attention once more to wild roving upon the sea.
[Pg 66] Now the jealous courtiers fairly chuckled with glee. "Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed they. "Ho! Ho! Ho! He! He! He!"
But Sir Walter engaged very actively in fitting out some squadrons to attack the Spanish ships.
"Egad! I hate a Spaniard!" he said. "They are my country's special enemies and I intend to do them all the harm that I can!"
The Queen was glad enough to separate him from his lady love and not only consented to his project, but promised to aid him in it. Ere long fifteen vessels were anchored in the Thames—all ready to sail—but, before he set out, the gallant commander made up his mind that he would marry his beloved Maid-of-Honor. It was not difficult to find a clergyman who would splice him tighter than he ever spliced a rope aboard ship. The deed was done. He set sail. All was going propitiously.
"I'll attack the Spanish ships in the harbor of Seville," said Raleigh. "Then—off to the Spanish Main and sack the town of Panama." He laughed,—but what was that?
Rapidly approaching from the coast of England came a swift pinnace. It gained upon the squadron in spite of the fact that all sail was hoisted, and, at last came near enough to give Raleigh a signal to "Heave to." In a few moments her commander climbed aboard.
"The Queen has changed her mind about your expedition," said he. "She has sent me—Sir Martin Frobisher—to tell you to come home."
[Pg 67] Raleigh said things which made the air as blue as the sea, but he put back—for he could not disobey the Royal command. He was soon at court.
The Queen was furious with anger.
"You have disobeyed my commands," said she. "I find you have secretly married my Maid-of-Honor. To the Tower with you! To the dungeons of the Tower!"
And all the jealous courtiers were so happy that they danced a can-can in the ante chamber.
What do you think of this? Thrown into prison because he loved a Maid and married her! Nowadays "all the World loves a Lover." In those times all the world might have "loved a Lover" except Queen Bess,—and a number of courtiers hanging around within easy call: They kicked a Lover. And then they all got together and said:
"Fine! Fine! Now we've got him where he ought to be. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Ho!"
But women relent; that is one of their chief characteristics. Queen Bess softened, grew lukewarm, finally became molten.
"Sir Walter Raleigh can go free," said she.
The gallant courtier returned to his country estate, where—with his wife and children he enjoyed the luxuries and comforts of country life. And the jealous courtiers began to look strangely sober.
Still the sea called. The sea sang its old song, and, fired with the spirit of adventure, Sir Walter decided upon another expedition: this time to the coast of Guiana, in South America, where, it was said, "billets [Pg 68] of gold lay about in heaps, as if they were logs of wood marked out to burn." With a large fleet at his command he soon started upon this expedition for plunder and for fame. This time no Sir Martin Frobisher sailed after him to bring him back to a dungeon in the Tower and he was able to reach his destination.
The expedition was a howling success. Whenever and wherever Sir Walter could inflict injury on the Spaniards, whom he so bitterly detested, he did so with eagerness. A Spanish ship was soon seen, chased, and—after a brief, hot fight—surrendered and was boarded.
"Egad!" cried Raleigh. "Here's luck, for the cargo's of fire arms. I'll stow them away in my own vessel and let the captive go!"
Proceeding on his voyage, he not long afterwards encountered and captured another prize; a Flemish ship sailing homeward with a cargo of fine wine. Twenty hogsheads were transferred to the hold of Raleigh's ship and the captured craft was allowed to sail on,—empty.
Things continued to go well. The Island of Trinidad (off Venezuela) was reached at last. The natives were friendly and told of vast deposits of gold far up the river Orinoco. "But would Raleigh not please besiege the Spanish town of St. Joseph?" said they, "and rescue some of their chiefs whom the Spaniards held prisoners—in chains."
"I always strike a Spaniard when I can," said Raleigh. "On, men, we'll sack this proud city!"
St. Joseph speedily fell into his hands. The chiefs [Pg 69] were released. They were so gratified, that they paddled him far up the river, where they found glittering gold, which they tore out of rocks with their daggers. The Englishmen were delighted, and, collecting a mass of nuggets to show to those at home, they put back to the ships, set sail, and were soon in England again.
The people were astonished at this exploit, but the jealous courtiers did all they could to deprive Raleigh of the renown which was justly his due.
"What this fellow has told is a lie," whispered they into the ears of good Queen Bess. "There is no such place as Guiana. Raleigh has been down upon the coast of Spain and hidden himself. He has not crossed the Atlantic at all."
Which proves that no one can ever do anything adventurous without stirring up the hammers of the Envious: the Little Men. Is it not so to-day? Look around! You can hear the carping critic at any time that you may wish! Do something big, sometime. Then put your ear to the ground and listen!
But the sea called for the fifth time. A vast English fleet was hurled against the Spanish at Cadiz,—a great English fleet, accompanied by an army. England was bound to get even with the Spaniards for daring to launch the supposedly invincible Armada against them—and Sir Walter eagerly sailed for the coast of Spain.
The harbor of Cadiz was seen to be fairly jammed full of stately galleons and men-of-war. Arranged in compact rows, close to shore, just below the towering [Pg 70] and frowning castle of Cadiz; they were protected, on either side, by fortresses, whence heavy guns peeped forth to defend them. There were nearly sixty large vessels in all, four of which were galleons, and twenty of which were galleys: well-manned and well-armed with small cannon. There were many more ships than in the attacking fleet.
It was the evening of June the 20th, 1596. The British vessels rapidly sailed into the harbor, Raleigh leading, in the flagship, the Water Sprite; behind him the Mary Rose, commanded by his cousin, Sir George Carew; and the Rainbow under Sir Francis Vere. All were eager for the fray, and it was not long before their approach was observed by the Spanish fleet. Instantly a huge galleon, the Saint Philip—the largest in the Spanish Navy—swung out of her position, followed by the Saint Andrew, second only to her in size.
"They're coming to meet me!" cried Raleigh—joyously.
Instead of that, the galleons sailed for a narrow strait in the harbor—followed by the rest of the Spanish fleet—and cast anchor just under the stout fortress of Puntal. They arranged themselves in close array and awaited the attack of the English.
The English fleet anchored, but at daybreak, the impetuous Raleigh bore down upon the formidable mass of hulking galleons. The sun rays streamed over the old, Spanish town, gilding the pinnaces and spires of the churches, shining brightly upon the flapping pennons of Britisher and Don. The white sails flapped, spars creaked and groaned, the sailors cheered, [Pg 71] and—in a moment—the cannon began to bark, like wolf hounds. The fight had begun.
Raleigh was the incarnation of battle. Passing rapidly from point to point upon the deck of his vessel, he encouraged and urged on his men, exposed himself as freely as the rest; and whenever a man faltered, there he appeared to urge the faint heart on with words of inspiration and hope.
Roar! Roar! Roar! Zoom! Zoom! Crash!
The arquebusses spittled and spat; cannon growled; and iron crashed into solid oak planking.
The orders were not to board until the fly-boats (long, flat-bottomed vessels with high sterns) came up, which were manned by Dutch allies. For three hours the battle raged, but the fly-boats did not arrive. The Earl of Essex—the commander of this expedition—now ordered his flagship to pass through the advance line of vessels, and make the way to the front. Raleigh was chafing with rage because the fly-boats did not come, yet, in spite of the danger of being shot, he jumped into a light skiff, and was rowed over to the galleon of Essex.
"I'll board the Saint Philip," cried he, "if the fly-boats do not soon arrive. Even though it be against the orders of the Admiral. For it is the same loss to burn, or to sink, and I must soon endure one or the other."
"Go ahead!" yelled Essex, over the bow. "I'll second you, upon my honor!"
Raleigh hastened with all speed to the deck of the Water Sprite, where his men were pounding away at [Pg 72] the Spanish galleons with all their might and main. No sooner had he mounted the poop, than he saw, with anger, that two vessels of his own squadron had forced themselves into a position in front of his own; for their commanders wanted to win first honors in this battle at sea.
Raleigh, himself, wished to have the honor, just like other sea captains in later battles. But,—that's another story.
So, the gallant seaman ran the Water Sprite between the two other ships and took up his position as leader. Sir Francis Vere of the Rainbow was resolved to keep in front as well as Raleigh.
As the Water Sprite passed him he slyly cast a rope to a sailor, who tied it to her stern, and his own vessel thus kept abreast of the lumbering galley of his chief. "But," writes Sir Walter, "some of my company advising me thereof, I caused the rope to be cast off, and so Vere fell back in his place, where I guarded him—all but his very prow—from the sight of the enemy. I was very sure that none would outstart me again for that day."
The guns of the fort appeared to be silent and the big galleons lay apparently helpless in the face of the valiant enemy. Raleigh moved on, but, as he was about to clutch his splendid prize, it escaped him, for the Spaniards—finding that they would be captured—made haste to run the Saint Philip, and several of her sister ships, aground on the sand.
"Blow them up!" came the order.
The Spanish sailors and soldiers came tumbling out [Pg 73] of the ships into the sea in heaps—"as thick as if coals had been poured out of a sack into many pots at once." Then a terrific roar boomed forth. The air was filled with flying splinters, canvas, iron, and lead. The portions of the galleons were now floating upon the waves and the water was alive with the struggling bodies of the Spaniards as they desperately endeavored to save themselves.
The spectacle was lamentable. Many drowned themselves. Many, half burned, leaped into the water; while others hung by the ropes' ends; by the ships' sides; under the sea, even to their lips. "If any man had a desire to see Hell, itself," wrote Sir Walter, "it was there most lively figured!"
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
The English sailors were cheering, for victory was theirs, and of all the gallant warriors of that day, Raleigh had been the most persistently daring and heroic.
"The Saint Andrew's still afloat, good Sire!" cried one of his sailors at this moment.
"Then we'll take her!" cried Raleigh.
She was boarded and captured with little difficulty, while yet another galleon—the Saint Matthew—fell into his hands. These were the only vessels of all that proud Spanish fleet which had escaped the flames.
Raleigh, himself, had been severely wounded in the leg, but he refused to release the command of his ship. He gave orders that all lives should be spared, and although these mandates were rigidly obeyed by the English soldiers, the Dutch cruelly slaughtered many [Pg 74] of their hapless prisoners, for their hatred of the Spaniards was bitter and savage.
Cadiz had not yet fallen and Raleigh was determined to go on shore with the troops and witness the taking of the town, in spite of his wound. A litter was prepared for him—he was lowered into one of the boats—rowed ashore, carried upon the shoulders of some of his faithful soldiers, and witnessed the furious struggle which now ensued. Cadiz fell. Although the lives of the people were spared; the castle, fortifications and the greater part of the town itself, were burned and demolished. If you go there, to-day, you will still find the marks of this great and stirring strife.
There was nothing left but to put the Spanish prisoners aboard the galleons, collect the plunder, and set sail for England. When the fleet again swung into the little harbor of Plymouth it was received by the people with wildest enthusiasm and delight. All England rang with the praise of the valor and courage of her heroes, for Spain had been stripped of her ability to injure her English rival and England's power was supreme upon the sea. Raleigh and his comrades had done this,—and the descendants of Raleigh and his comrades have continued to uphold the supremacy. Hurrah for Raleigh!
But how about those jealous courtiers? They were still around—Oh, yes!—And Raleigh was greeted at court as coldly as when he had departed with the fleet. He had been deprived of his office of Captain of the Queen's Guard, and even his bravery at Cadiz did not win this back for him. Nor did he receive any [Pg 75] of the spoil which had been won by himself and his comrades. Even Queen Bess was angry because her share of the booty taken from Cadiz was not as great as she had hoped for.
"What the Generals have got," wrote Sir Walter, "I know least. For my own part, I have got a game leg, and am deformed. I have received many good words and exceedingly kind and regardful usage; but I have possession of naught but poverty and pain."
Not long afterwards the old Queen was persuaded to write Sir Walter to come to court, and thus he and his wife, whom Elizabeth had also forgiven, appeared daily in the brilliant throng which clustered in the halls and corridors of the Royal Palace. He was restored to his old office of Captain of the Queen's Guard and rode forth again in all the splendor of his uniform, at the side of the sovereign.
The rest of Sir Walter's life can be briefly narrated. With Essex he took part in a successful expedition to the Azores, where they captured many ships, and with him divided much booty and fame. But Essex became too ambitious and started a conspiracy to place himself upon the throne of England. It was a failure. He was captured by the Queen's soldiers—a part under Sir Walter himself—was tried, and executed for High Treason.
Queen Bess soon died and was succeeded by a man who disliked Sir Walter from the start. This was James the First of Scotland—a "dour" fellow—who charged the valorous knight with treason, for it was alleged that he had conspired, with Lord Cobham, [Pg 76] to place the youthful Arabella Stuart upon the throne. He was tried, convicted, and thrown into the Tower, where he lived for twelve long, tedious years. Think of it! A fellow of his venturesome and restless spirit forced to remain in a dungeon-keep for such a time! Weep for brave Sir Walter! This was fine treatment for a patriot!
But the jealous courtiers did not weep. Oh no! They laughed.
When gallant Sir Walter was thrown into the Tower (for he had not plotted against the King) he was a hale and stalwart cavalier of fifty-two. He was released—after twelve years—when his hair and beard were grizzled, his face worn and wrinkled, his body somewhat bent, and his features grave and sorrowful. With what tearful joy he clasped to his breast his ever faithful wife and his two sons! At sixty-four his brave spirit was still unshaken; his ardent and restless ambition was as keen as ever.
He went forth with the sentence of death still hanging over his head; for King James, although giving a grudging consent to his release, had refused to pardon him. And he went forth with the understanding that he should lead an expedition to the coast of Guiana in South America; there to attack the Spaniards and gain plunder, gold, and jewels. If successful he was to go free. If non-successful, he was to suffer punishment—perhaps death!
The expedition was a failure. The Spaniards and natives were well aware of his coming, for 'tis said that King James, himself, sent them news of the expedition.
[Pg 77] "If I go home it's off with my head," said Sir Walter. "But I'll risk it."
Don't you think if you had been Sir Walter, instead of sailing to England where you knew that a headsman's axe awaited you, you would have coasted by the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and dropped off quietly where is the home of the canvas-back and the terrapin! Just stepped into one of the jolly-boats and peacefully drifted ashore on a dark night?
I think that you would have been strongly inclined to do so,—but you are not Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a lion-hearted adventurer.
Opportunity after opportunity came to him to escape to the shores of France. He let them go by, but, when he found that his enemies demanded his trial for treason, he thought it high time to get away. He learned that a French envoy had arranged to get him to France and had a barque for this purpose. A certain Captain King had found a small boat commanded by one of Sir Walter's old boatmen, which lay at Tilbury awaiting his orders. It was arranged by Raleigh's guard—one Stukeley—that he should be rowed to the little lugger on the evening of Sunday, August the 9th, 1618. The latter was sent up the Thames river to Gravesend.
At the hour designated, Raleigh, Captain King, Stukeley and his son Hart, with a page, jumped into two small wherries in order to row to the lugger. They had just shoved off, when keen Sir Walter saw another boat push out from the bank and follow them.
"How's this?" said he to Stukeley.
[Pg 78] But silent Stukeley did not answer.
The boat rowed fast, but the pursuing craft moved with equal speed. The tide was singing and gurgling in a mad flow, and it became doubtful whether the wherries could reach Gravesend under the protection of darkness, for day was breaking, and the whirling water made progress very slow.
At last—seeing that they could not get away—the shallops were forced to turn about and retrace their passage. The pursuing boat swung, also—like a shadow of the first. Sir Walter's heart beat tumultuously.
When the fugitives reached Greenwich—Stukeley stood up and appeared in his true colors. Laying a hand upon the shoulder of faithful Captain King, he cried—
"I arrest you in the name of our Monarch, James First!"
Raleigh looked around in anger and dismay.
"Stukeley," he said with heat, "you are a trait'rous cur. These actions will not turn out to your credit!"
But the knave laughed derisively,—so derisively that the common people dubbed him "Sir Judas Stukeley." And it well suited him. Didn't it?
The boatmen rowed directly to the Tower and the boat which had pursued the wherries—which contained a courtier named Herbert (to whom Stukeley had betrayed the projected escape)—followed them close. The soldiers in her (for they had been well hidden) escorted the dejected Sir Walter to the grim walls of the dungeon.
[Pg 79] There was now no hope for that gallant adventurer: the man had brought honor and renown to England. He was tried for Treason: condemned: executed.
As he stood waiting for the axe to fall, he said:
"I have many sins for which to beseech God's pardon. For a long time my course was a course of vanity. I have been a seafaring man, a soldier, and a courtier; and, in the temptations of the least of these there is enough to overthrow a good mind and a good man. I die in the faith professed by the Church of England. I hope to be saved, and to have my sins washed away by the precious blood and merits of our Saviour, Jesus Christ."
A quick shudder ran through the multitude when Sir Walter had ceased to live, and many groaned aloud at the horrible sight. One stout yeoman cried out angrily, "We have not had such another head to be cut off."
The crowd separated slowly, muttering and crying out against the enemies of the valiant man; while his friends, who were present, parted with tears coursing down their cheeks.
And the jealous courtiers said: "Magnificent!" It was now their turn to shout. And they did it, too.
So, you see, Sir Walter Raleigh's patriotism was paid for by death. The trouble with him was, he was too much of a man.
Nowadays—when a soldier or sailor does something for England—they give him a Hip! Hip! Hurray!
[Pg 80] He is appreciated. He is presented with titles, honors, and a warm reception.
Then, when a man did something for England, those in power gave him the cold shoulder; the icy stare.
That's the reason why England's sons will do something for her now. If she had kept treating them as she did Sir Walter Raleigh she wouldn't have many of them around when it came to a fight. And, some day, she'll need them all!
So when a fellow does something really great, don't greet him with frozen silence. Cheer! He needs it! Besides,—it won't hurt you!
Give a tiger and three times three!
Say, sailors, what's happened to young Bill Jones?Jones of Yarmouth; the bright-cheeked boy?Jones who could handle a boat like a man,Jones, who would grapple a smack like a toy?
"Fell o'er the sea-end with Raleigh. Ahoy!"
Well, sea-dogs, where's Thompson of Yarmouthport dock?The chap who could outwit old Hawkins, they say,The man with th' knowledge of charts and of reefs,There wasn't his equal from Prawle to Torquay.
"Fell o'er the sea-end with Raleigh, to-day!"
Where's Rixey of Hampton; Smith of Rexhill?Who'd coasted and traded from London to Ryde,Huggins and Muggins, all seamen of worth,Who could jibe and could sail, sir, when combers were wide?
"Fell o'er the sea-end with Raleigh. Last tide!"
[Pg 81] Well, seamen, when that day shall come near,When the salt sea is moved from its bed,Some will there be, who can give us the news,Of all that brave band, whom Adventure has ledTo
"Fall o'er the sea-end with Raleigh, 'tis said


text:
Bringing together people and technology to improve your business performance and maximize your return on investment.
Our diverse backgrounds and experience means that we can help and advise on a wide range of ICT technology and infrastructure solutions.
DiverseIT employ and actively foster the development of some of Australia's most talented technology gurus.
"At Diverse IT we believe that happy employees provide better service."
Through internal initiatives such as Diverse University, we encourage knowledge transfer and continuous professional development. This results in employees who have a more thorough and wider reaching knowledge base and who are more satisfied.
We recruit employees with a genuine passion for ICT and technology and provide a fun and supportive environment for that passion to grow. Win-Win!
Our commitment to best-of-breed technology means that we can bring the best solutions from around the globe to address your IT requirements.
Technology changes and evolves at a startling pace. Our team has a passion for new technology, which ensures that DiverseIT stay nimble and responsive to the dynamic environment we operate in.
Client Performance: DiverseIT strives to deliver fast, efficient and secure IT solutions to improve performance of client businesses.
Our Performance: We are able to deliver these improvements to client performance by:
Operation of the company is overseen by David Cameron as MD. David has over 20 years' experience in the industry, including Board level roles as a co-founder and Director of Datacom in Western Australia, Director of Cirrus Networks and management roles at VMWare. David joined the company in 2014 tasked with building on existing technical expertise and services, introducing new complimentary lines of business, and driving both efficiency & quality at DiverseIT.
Luke has over 17 years' experience including senior roles in infrastructure and solutions architecture within defence, financial and telecommunications sectors before founding Red Ember Solutions, acquired by DiverseIT in 2014. Luke is instrumental in developing DiverseIT's cloud capabilities, leveraging his expertise in security, architecture; cloud; disaster recovery and business continuity. Luke's role as CTO is to maintain a finger on the pulse of all technologies Cloud and security, ensuring our clients benefit from his knowledge and experience.
Mark has over 20 years' experience including senior security management roles within the resource, insurance, finance and telecommunications sectors at national and international levels. Mark provides a client's perspective on security, with a CSO's insight, providing a better outcome for our clients by driving our security strategy and services, allowing clients to gain a holistic view of security.
DiverseIT's finances are managed by Susan, who's background includes large multinational resource, manufacturing and IT supply sectors. With over 10 years of experience in finance, Susan makes sure our customers have the visibility they need to make informed decisions about their investment in IT services, and assurance they have chosen the right provider.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Shortest laser pulse lasts just 67 attoseconds
Researchers in the US have produced the shortest-ever laser pulses: just 67 billionths of a billionth of a second.
The feat surpasses the prior record of 80 attoseconds, set in 2008.
Like a camera with an ever-shorter flash, these 67-attosecond pulses will allow researchers to examine the very fastest natural processes.
The team behind the pulses, reporting in Optics Express, have also developed a novel detector to capture them - like a camera with a shutter speed to match.
The quest for the shortest laser pulse has been underway since the laser's first demonstration in 1960; the very first laser created pulses of about a thousandth of a second.
In recent years the field of "femtosecond" lasers - producing pulses lasting just millionths of a billionths of a second - have become widespread research tools.
These have allowed researchers to examine fast processes such as the making and breaking of chemical bonds, the study of which earned Ahmed Zewail the 1990 Nobel prize in chemistry.
But even at those short time scales, some of the secrets of the microscopic world remain hidden, and it is only by moving to attosecond science that researchers can examine, for example, the very motion of subatomic particles within atoms or the mysterious world of quantum mechanics.
So Zenghu Chang, a professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in the US, has now smashed the record reported in Science in 2008 by refining a technique in which short pulses beget even shorter ones when they are shot into a focussed jet of inert gas.
The resulting pulses, still more than a femtosecond, include a wide range of colours in a region of the spectrum known as extreme UV, with wavelengths far shorter than those we can see: about 10-20 billionths of a metre.
But to get down to the world-record pulse length status, the team passed the pulses through a thin piece of zinc foil, which acts to slow some parts of the pulse relative to others - the result is that all of the colours within the pulses were squeezed into a shorter period of time.
As has become customary in this field of "ultrafast optics", the team has come up with an animal-based acronym to describe the approach: Dog, for double optical grating. (Other established acronymic approaches include Frog, Spider, and Grenouille - French for frog).
"Dr Chang's success in making ever-shorter light pulses helps open a new door to a previously hidden world, where we can watch electrons move in atoms and molecules, and follow chemical reactions as they take place," said physicist Michael Johnson, dean of UCF's College of Sciences.
"It is astounding to imagine that we may now be able to watch quantum mechanics in process."


text:
|Quantity × Price
|Your cart is empty
Supplementaire #17 Wet Issue (Digital Edition)
The 17th edition of the art & fashion journal, Supplementaire, celebrates all things WET. The issue features a series of photo-stories, portraits and editorials from photographers around the world. Cover model is George Elliott at Unsigned Group. *Warning this edition contains nudity.
You'll get 1 PDF


text:
ELINCS Connection
A place to discuss ideas and experiences with the adoption of the laboratory messaging standard.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Quality Alliance recommends ELINCS and LOINC as a Lab Results Solution
•A collaborative of public and private organizations is needed to identify a "starter set" of LOINC® codes for the top 200–300 lab test codes in use across the country and to promote its broad adoption and use.
•A large-scale collaboration between ONC, the National Library of Medicine, and private sector organizations should strongly encourage the adoption and use of standards, such as LOINC® and the EHR-Lab Interoperability and Connectivity Specification (ELINCS), that align with standards supporting health IT and meaningful use.
•Medicare and commercial contracts should make incentives available to lab vendors to adopt and use LOINC®.
Full Report is available here.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
2011 Listing of Laboratory to Physician Office Link Software
Click here to view vendor listing.
SmartlinkEMR Saves Staff Time
ELINCS Lab Orders Specification Released for Public Comment
Click here to view the draft specification.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Lab quality law permits data exchange, CMS says
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday clarified that a 1988 law setting up national quality standards for medical testing labs does permit the labs to electronically exchange test data, an essential feature of the administration's health IT adoption plan.
In issuing guidelines on the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), CMS aimed to clear up confusion about the impact of the law on fledgling health information exchanges and networks.
"We have the concern that the interpretation of CLIA has sometimes stood in the way of easy info exchange," said Dr. David Blumenthal in remarks made yesterday at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society annual conference in Atlanta.
In some cases, for instance, providers said they believed the law permitted only physicians who ordered a test to receive the results, according to hearings conducted last year by a panel of the Health IT Policy Committee, which advises Blumenthal.
In its revised guidance, CMS said lab results could be sent to the ordering physician as well as others designated by the physician. That includes providing patients access to their lab data unless a state specifically prohibits it, CMS said.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Do or Die: Clinical Laboratories Must Invest to Build Up LIS-EMR Interfaces with Physicians Offices
Experts predict a surge in the number of physicians using electronic medical record systems
By dangling as much as $20 billion in front of physicians to encourage their adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) systems during the next few years, Congress has created a new and expensive challenge for the nation's clinical laboratories. That challenge is the need for every pathology laboratory to establish a high-function interface from its LIS to the office-based physician's EMR.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
ONC delays lab standards
David Blumenthal, MD, the national coordinator for health IT, asked the advisory Health IT Policy Committee to defer until January a decision on whether to allow temporary variations in those standards to be used.
The policy committee had recommended providers start using in 2011 a single set of national standards for communicating electronically with labs, one of the tenets of the administration's meaningful use policy to encourage the use of health IT.


text:
Lace Romper
Gorgeous lace romper I want in my wardrobe.
Shop: romwe.com
Or Login using BecomeGorgeous
Please fill the form below and follow the further instructions.
You are about to receive a email from us please make sure to check your spam or junk folder and add our email [email protected] to your contact list.
Thank you!


text:
From author of the macabre, Mark Taylor comes the penultimate book in the series of The Devil's Hand!
The celestials have threatened to go to war with Hell. Only if they're given Darin, The Devil's Hand, will they call off their armies.
Banished from his home with no powers, friends, or places to hide, Darin still seeks out the journals, trying to assemble some reasoning behind everything that has happened.
But when the celestials fail to contain him, they send something else.
Something much worse than an angelic body.
The penultimate chapter in The Devil's Hand series, Celestials, sees Darin fight for his life, meet with new friends and reacquaint with old.
Go back to where it all began...
...before it's too late.
As a sigh escaped his lips, Darin trudged further into Purgatory. It was depressing.
Although he supposed that was the point.
The ghosts of those that died in Hell and on Earth drifted by, a glimpse of their faces, torn into terrible screams for eternity, haunted each of The Hand's footfalls. It was a dim reminder of what could happen.
In the distance a lone figure appeared. He stood and waited as Darin got closer. The hat gave it away.
"Tesla," Darin said, greeting him.
"Hello, Hand."
Darin raised his hands passively, a sign of peace. "Where is he?"
"He's here," the ex-Alp nodded.
"Here, Hand. He wants to know what you want," Tesla smiled.
Darin looked surprised. "What are you, his bitch?"
Tesla laughed. "After what I have foreseen? I wonder why you are here myself."
"Don't you know?" Darin smirked.
Tesla tilted his head to the side. "It's curious. I know what will happen up there. I always have, but I see nothing here in Purgatory. It is like the reality of what is, and what is to become, does not belong here. Perhaps I do, therefore, belong here. Where it is dull, and safe…"
"I am here, Hand." Petiot's growl came from behind Darin. He turned. Petiot was burned, scarred, from their last encounter. His skin was raw and his eyes glowed a deep red. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you where you stand."
"Because," Darin answered, "first I'd like to see you try, and second…well, I'm worth more as The Hand than I am as a fleeting moment of satisfaction…to you, at least."
Petiot snorted. "What do you want?"
"The Journals, of course."
Available now from Amazon only 99c/99p:
Mark Taylor's debut novel crash landed on planet earth in 2013. Its dark brooding style benchmarked his writing and has led to further releases of novel and short story collection alike.
While most of Mark's work is macabre, occasion has it that he will write about kittens and daisies. Just not very often.
Some say he is a product of his environment, others, a product of his own imagination.
Whichever it is he works happily, portraying dark existences on this planet and others. He relays his fears and doubts on his characters, so always has a smile. If Mark is real, as some say he is, you might find him in England.
You can find him at his website: www.authormarktaylor.com, or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMarkTaylor
"A fresh burn of imagination!" - Variety Reviews
"Definitely a great book." - Drunken Druids View
"Mark Taylor drags you down into the darkest and most twisted pits of human nature." - Darren Gallagher, author of Strings
"In The Human Condition, Mark Taylor blends American horror with an English elegance." - Eden Royce, author of Containment
"[Shutter Speed] worms its way into your psyche and latches on as you watch the events unfold." - The Bibliophilic Book Blog


text:
Abortion bill sidelined as proponents inundate governor's office with calls for approval
Posted over 8 years ago by Stanley F Whittaker
TALLAHASSEE — When he signs the state budget on Friday, Gov. Charlie Crist will be waiting for just one major piece of legislation from the 2010 session: a highly controversial abortion bill.
The measure, which would require pregnant women in Florida to view a sonogram of the fetus before an abortion, sits in a file drawer in the desk of House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, whose spokeswoman said there's no specific reason why it hasn't been sent to Crist.
"We just haven't sent it. There's no sense of urgency," spokeswoman Jill Chamberlin said.
Crist must act on a bill within 15 days of receiving it. The bill would take effect July 1.
Opponents speculate that House leaders are deliberately delaying to give bill supporters the most possible time to flood the governor's office with calls and e-mails.
Todd Reid, staff director of the House Republican caucus, said the House is holding the bill "to give pro-life folks time to get their act together and contact the governor."
Through Thursday, Crist's office had received 20,018 calls, e-mails and letters urging him to sign the bill and 12,989 total messages urging a veto.
"We're ready for the House to stop playing politics with women's health and send the bill to the governor already. It's frustrating," said Stephanie Kunkel, legislative director of Planned Parenthood in Florida.
Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, a strong supporter of the bill, highlighted the importance of time in an e-mail he sent to abortion opponents last week.
"Now, more than ever, we have these days to overcome the opposition," Van Zant wrote May 18. "Knowing the governor's political strategy is to reach to the liberal left for votes, we who are fighting to protect these little lives must form a collective and large political voice."
Crist has repeatedly voiced strong reservations about the bill and he is expected to veto it.
The governor says he is antiabortion, but he supports the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Having recently shifted from a Republican to an independent to revive his struggling U.S. Senate hopes, Crist is tacking more to the political center toward independent and Democratic voters and away from the right where many abortion opponents are.
John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council, which supports the bill, said Crist should pay close attention to the feedback from constituents.
"He says he's the governor of the people, and he wants to do what the vast majority of people want," Stemberger said.
The bill (HB 1143) began as a routine measure regulating nursing homes.
In the final days of the session, without public testimony in legislative committees, Senate Republicans added a provision requiring women in the first trimester of pregnancy to view an ultrasound image of the fetus and listen to a doctor describe the fetus before an abortion can be performed.
The woman must pay for the procedure but can decline to see the sonogram if she signs a form or presents verified evidence of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking.
The bill passed the Senate by a 23-16 margin and in the House by 76 to 44.
The bill also prohibits private health care insurers from covering the cost of abortions if the plan is subsidized by the federal or state government.
The policy is designed to limit coverage for abortions under the new federal health care law through exchanges and tax breaks. A woman with a subsidized health care plan would need to buy extra coverage or pay out-of-pocket for an abortion.
Van Zant said he did not know why the bill remains in the speaker's office after all this time, but it didn't sound like a coincidence to him.
"It's political up at the Capitol. There's always strategy going on," he said. "Nobody up there does anything without a motive."
Steve Bousquet can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or (850) 224-7263.
No comments yet.
Only our followers can comment on this announcement.


text:
The Owner: Sticker Shock or $10,000 Is Pocket Change (to others)
I bought my apartment last September knowing that the first thing to go would be the kitchen. Actually, it was hardly a kitchen. "Kitchen" is only the term I used to loosely describe the run-down cabinets and counters, so full of roaches, I practically expected to discover that they had set up cable and were on the lease.
Armed with a $10,000 budget and a drawing of my small space (7′ x 6′), I recently descended upon the 23rd Street Home Depot, where I learned that my existing budget was an amount some East Siders spend on under-counter lighting.
I raised my allowance to $17,000 and, handing my credit card over to the cashier, leaned in real close and whispered,
"I have no idea where this money is going to come from."
The cashier didn't blink. She just swiped my card and called for the next customer.
While I've been assured that a new kitchen is worth its weight in gold to future buyers, I still lie awake at night thinking about my impending credit card statement, and haunted by the knowledge that my first car cost only $5,000. TF


text:
Market Research International
New Report: Excavator Market in France 2015-2019
Press Release • Aug 31, 2015 02:50 EDT
About Excavator
Excavators are used in construction activities to dig and scoop materials from land. The equipment primarily comprise a bucket that is attached to a boom, and a rotating platform that is usually mounted on crawlers or wheels. Excavators have many utilities in activities, such as levelling of land, digging of trenches, and sinking of wells.
In 2014, the demand for excavators grew by 6.2% year-on-year in France. The demand has been increasing since, and at a rapid pace. Increase in construction activities has been driving the excavator market in France. Currently, as of Q1 2015, large-scale investment is taking place in the country, particularly in the construction of new power plants and development of transport infrastructure.
Moreover, we expect the forthcoming UEFA EURO 2016 to inflate the volume of tourist traffic in the country. As of 2014, the total inbound tourists to France was 83.7 million. Major initiatives are being taken for development of transport infrastructure. In 2014, the Ministry of Railway in France approved a proposal for the construction of two high-speed railway lines between Bordeaux Southeast and Toulouse, and Bordeaux and Spain. The project is slated to start by 2017.
Besides, there is a lot of emphasis on reducing the nuclear energy consumption by 50% in the country by 2050. The government is actively focused on the development of renewable energy infrastructure. Upcoming projects in that direction will also likely propel the demand for excavators in France.
However, a cut in government spending may hamper market growth. Presently, the Government of the French Republic is facing high public debt, which increased by 95.4% in 2014. The country has plans of reducing its spending in various segments, including infrastructure projects, to address the public deficit, which may have adverse effect on the growth of the construction sector and, consequently, the excavator market in France.
The report's analysts forecast the excavator market in France to grow at a CAGR of 6.80% during 2014-2019.
Covered in this Report
The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the excavators market in France for the period 2015-2019. The market size is calculated based on the total revenue generated from the sales of excavators at consumption side in France. We do not consider the sale of used equipment and the revenue generated from contracts and maintenance.
We also present a detailed analysis of the four key vendors in the market through this report. In addition, we discuss the major drivers influencing market growth and also outline the challenges facing the vendors and the market as a whole. We evaluate the key trends emerging in the market as well.
Key Vendors
- Caterpillar
- Hitachi Construction Machinery
- Komatsu
- Liebherr-International
Other Prominent Vendors
- Volvo Group
- Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe
Market Driver
- Increased Investment in Transport Infrastructure
- For a full and detailed list, view our report
Market Challenge
- High Manufacturing Cost
- For a full and detailed list, view our report
Market Trend
- Growth of Equipment Rental Business
- For a full and detailed list, view our report.
Key Questions Answered in this Report
- What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be?
- What are the key market trends?
- What is driving this market?
- What are the challenges to market growth?
- Who are the key vendors in this market space?
- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?
Market Research International is a leading distributor of PREMIUM market research reports.


text:
Q. We are looking to hire a new employee. Are there some questions I should steer away from?
A. When interviewing an applicant, employers need to keep in mind that California law protects employees and job applicants from discrimination based on:
• Age (40 and over)
• Ancestry
• Color
• Religious creed (including religious dress and grooming)
• Denial of Family and Medical Leave
• Disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS
• Marital status
• Medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics)
• Genetic information
• Military and veteran status (unless veterans receive a preference)
• National origin (including language use restrictions)
• Race
• Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding)
• Gender, gender identity, and gender expression
In order to avoid even the perception of discrimination, don't ask questions regarding these topics. In an interview, tailor questions to the job and its requirements. Avoid even seemingly harmless questions like, "You have such a unique name, what is its origin?"


text:
Photograph as originally submitted to
this page
in the Historical Marker Database
. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.
Photographer: Craig Swain
Taken: December 27, 2008
Close Up of Cemetery Map
Additional Description: Double click to see the details, indicating points of interest in the cemetery.
Submitted: March 3, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Database Locator Identification Number: p54695
File Size: 0.864 Megabytes
To see the metadata that may be embedded in this photo, sign in and then return to this page.
Copyright © 2005–2019, Some rights reserved.


text:
Humpback Highway - School Holiday Program April 2018
Join us this school holidays for our 'HUMPBACK HIGHWAY' school holiday sessions.
We take a closer look at Humpback Whales and learn about their behaviours. Join in for a hands on whale blubber experiment! There will also be craft activities, fun games and some astonishing whale facts along the way.
Don't forget to say gday to our favourite residents: Soup the Turtle, Pea & Ham the Yabbies and the hermit crabs named Hocus & Pocus.
Sessions: Tuesday 17th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th, Tuesday 24th, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th April 2018.
2:00pm to 3:00pm.
Tickets $8 per child, and adults $4.50.
Ticket price includes full entry to the SA Whale Centre, which is usually $4.50 for children and $9 for adults.
Full payment is required at time of booking on eventbrite, or bookings can be made directly through the SA Whale Centre by phoning 8551 0750 between 10:00am - 5pm - open 7 days.
These programs are recommended for primary school aged children.
Spaces are limited so book now to secure your child's place or call 08 8551 0750 for more information.
The SA Whale Centre hosts School Holiday program every school holidays, with new activities each time.
The South Australian Whale Centre is a Children's University Australia (CUA) Learning Destination for CUA Passports to Learning. This is a Passport approved event. If you have a passport please see staff & volunteers at the front desk to get your stamp when you attend. For more information on CUA visit: www.childrensuniversity.com.au
Is there an age limit to enter the event?
The program is targeted at primary aged children however we often find 4 year olds understand the concepts and have a great time too.
Is parental attendance required?
Parents are required to attend with children under 4 years old, and receive one complimentary ticket to attend. Parents are not required to attend the class if children are over the ages of 4, however they are than welcome to join the children for the class for a small admission fee.
The admission fee for accompanying parents is $4.50, and also provides you with full access to the SA Whale Centre after the class, allowing you to take a self-guided tour through the centre with the kids after the class.
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
There is parking located all around the SA Whale Centre
Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?
Please go to our website sawhalecentre.com/contact_us for our contact details
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Does my child have to be primary school aged?
No your child doesn't have to be 5 and above however the program is more suited to 5 and over. We recommend 4 being the youngest to attend.


text:
Everyone knows the dangers of too much sun exposure for your skin. Beachgoers today wouldn't dream of hitting the waves without taking along a bottle of sunblock. Since slathering your home in SPF 45 and carting it to the beach aren't viable options, here are some ways to keep out the sun to maintain a cool home.
Keep Out the Sun with Screens and Tints
Many homes in Las Vegas favor a sunblock approach. Most companies that offer tinting for vehicles also supply solar window films for your home. Some block up to 84 percent of the heat entering your home from the strong southern Nevada sun. Bear in mind, however, that applying post-installation films or coating usually voids any warranty protection from your windows' manufacturer.
Solar screens decorate many houses around the Valley, and they provide up to 90 percent protection from the sun's heat. Offered in a variety of shades, such as off-white, brown, black, and gray, the screens appear virtually opaque from the outside but allow clear views from inside the home. Solar screens are customized to match existing windows and include multipanel variations and arches, but they require periodic removal to clean off the dust and dirt blown onto them by desert winds over the course of a year.
Window Treatments
Creative individuals may prefer to use window treatments that complement their interior design and also keep out the sun. Your local home store or window treatment center will have a large selection of draperies, blinds, and shades. The most functional choices will offer some type of thermal block insulation, which helps to control glare and filters out heat rays. Estimates for home utility bill savings range from 10 to 20 percent with these window coverings.
Considered by many Las Vegas homeowners as the gold standard of window treatments that can withstand the heat, Plantation shutters can be found in both wood and laminate varieties, with an assortment of finishes. The slats also come in several sizes. Generally, these window treatments complement the decor and provide optimal control over incoming heat and light. They can be a pricey option, however, especially if you require arched panels or wish to outfit a large home.
Cool Is as Cool Does
To find the best option for keeping out the sun, you should weigh your stylistic preferences against budget considerations. You may opt for a combination, such as pairing solar screens with moderately priced curtains or plantation shutters. The more you invest in these methods of defense against the Las Vegas sun, the more you will save in associated energy costs. No matter which way you choose to go, you are sure to be cooler than anyone on your block who has not invested in some sunblock for the house.
Photo Source: Flickr
The post Keep Out the Sun for a Cooler Home appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue Matter.
Via: Blue Matter


text:
Move closer to God one day at a time by reading the Psalms and practicing prayer in ways you may not have imagined before.
This is a prayer book for every day of the year for people who don't usually think about using a prayer book. Drawing on a wide variety of resources--lives of saints and sages from every age, psalms, guides for personal reflection and suggestions for practice--Rev. Larry J. Peacock offers helpful guidance for anyone hungry for a richer prayer life. Each day's reading has four parts:
This new edition features the addition of ancient and modern sages from inside and outside the Christian tradition as well as updated resources for deepening your spiritual life throughout the year.


text:
The last try out was held on Monday and Tuesday morning, at 7 am!
I had to wake up early and it was really frustrating..
I was jealous of Faiz who can lay in bed for another hour..
It is very cold during the morning in Southampton and I have to endure it while feeling very sleepy..
I arrived early and had to wait before the Sport Complex was opened..
By 6.55 am, the main door to the Sport Complex was packed with basketball players..
People passing by was shocked to see a lot of people so early in the morning..
At 7 am, the Sport Complex was opened and the try out started..
To cut things short, I passed the try out on Monday but I failed during the last and final try out which was on Tuesday..
It was disappointing to be able to go this far and fail..
Huhuhu : (
However, I will not give up!!!
I will try again next year..
I will practice and improve my skills..
This will be a motivation for me to become better in this sport..
This is not the end!!


text:
Notable iOS Game Engine Updates
Going through the dozens of comments awaiting moderation because of my absence I noticed several comments about a couple of changes that have occured with the Sio2 Interactive game engine and the Corona SDK.
As many visiting this site probably know I have been maintaining an open source iPhone game engine and commercial iPhone game engines on this site for some time, and I appreciate the comments that allow me to keep those listings up to date.L
First, the Sio2 Game Engine. The engine has been updated and many new features have been added, including a simulator for Windows, and the ability to write C++ code for Sio2 in visual studio. You can read more details about the new version here. The new version is no longer open source as was mentioned in several comments. The "legacy" version is shown on the page, but after clicking through the maze of links you end up with a popup stating the open source version is no longer available.
Now, the Corona SDK. Corona previously had a time limit of 30 days for which you could use their tool without paying a licensing fee. There is no longer a time limit so you can now work as long as you like with the trial without having to pay. So if that has been standing in the way of you trying out their tool you no longer have to worry about it.
Look for more updates tomorrow as I continue to fix plugins (WordPress can be a bitch to come back too after not updating for a couple of months), and catch up on iOS related news.
Open Source iPhone Game Engine Sio2 Beefs Up
It's been awhile since I've written about the Sio2 game engine. For those that don't know, Sio2 is an open source iPhone game engine that works directly with the open-source 3D modeling software Blender. It's undergone quite a few upgrades in recent times, and has been used in the creation of many apps in the meantime.
In the most recent version all known bugs have been fixed, and there is a dramatic improvement in speed. They've also announced Nokia N900 support.
There's also a new book that just began shipping that covers using Sio2 with Blender. I have to admit blender in the past has made me want to pull my own eyes out, but some people seem to love it. The book is 3D for iPhone Apps with Blender and SIO2: Your Guide to Creating 3D Games and More with Open-Source Software.
You can check out the engine at: SIO2 Interactive (to download the engine, click download, and scroll to the bottom of the page.. it's a bit hard to find). You can also read more details about the engine, and many of it's features not listed here, on that site.
If you're looking for an open source iPhone 3D game engine that's available now, and has been used in real apps, Sio2 is what's out there, and it's very good.
Please leave any thoughts and opinions below. Thanks.
How can I develop iPhone app store games quickly for free? Part 2
This article is about quickly developing 3D games on the iPhone using free game engines and with CoreAnimation, for information about free 2D iPhone Game engines please check the Previous Article Here.
If you are determined to get into developing a 3D game there are a couple of free engines. The first one I'll mention is the SIO2 Engine. I haven't explored this engine in detail, but from running the examples and going through a couple of the tutorials it looks to be well made, it is written in C, but the learning curve is easier than you would think especially if you have used Blender. The second engine is the Oolong Engine created by well known graphics programmer Wolfgang Engel from Rockstar Games. I've been messing around with this engine for awhile, and find it to be excellent, be warned though it is extremely low level, and has no documentation so you will be learning simply from example. It is basically the PowerVR 3D SDK optimized for the iPhone with added memory management, 3ds loading, and a math library, and is essentially meant for programmers with an understanding of OpenGL ES, which probably makes it fall into the "not quick" category of development, but I thought I should mention it for those wondering what I would use.
The final alternative for "quick" game development on the iPhone is just to use CoreAnimation, from what I understand game development using CoreAnimation can lead to performance issues, but if you're developing a game that doesn't include any fast action such as a board or card game then it may be your best bet. I'd suggest looking at the GeekGameBoard example from Apple. While the example is a Mac OS X the syntax is very similar, and you should be well on your way to coding a game in CoreAnimation. There are a few missing features, but you can certainly develop a non-action oriented game using CoreAnimation. I left CoreAnimation for last simply because from what I've read on the iPhone boards it really is only viable for specific games.
Thanks for reading, and if you know of any good free iPhone game development tools that I haven't mentioned then please comment about them below.


text:
"Healthy Clergy, Healthy Connection" was the theme of this year's Iowa United Methodist School for Ministry. The annual continuing education event was held on the shores of Lake Rathbun in Appanoose County last week.
Dr. Peter L. Steinke, a pastor, therapist, educator, and church consultant, addressed the changing times of our culture and the church's response. "About 85% of churches agree that they need to change (to reach new people for Jesus Christ), but only 5% have taken any action."
Healthy churches can take the problems they face and turn them into opportunities, he asserted. We are much more resilient when we know our purpose. When disagreements and conflicts arise—as they always will—our purpose becomes a tool for making healthy decisions that serves God's mission in the world.
Two other lecturers participated in the event. Dr. Kirk Byron Jones, affectionately referred to as "The Preacher's Teacher," addressed the need for balance between the personal lives and ministry roles of church leaders. Dr. W. Craig Gilliam, the Coordinator of Congregational Services for JustPeace, offered his expertise in conflict transformation in congregations, leadership education, team building, and group process.
Richard and Trish Bruxvoort Colligan of Strawberry Point served as worship leaders for the week. This year $10,000 in apportionment gifts from the United Methodist churches of Iowa helped to support the Iowa School for Ministry.


text:
Lately I've been buying individually wrapped frozen tilapia fillets at the grocery. I find them very practical and convenient to have for our Friday fish dinners. A very mild flavored fish, it cooks in a snap and there's no need to cook it outdoors like I always do with other kinds of fish with stronger fishy smell. There are plenty of delicious ways to cook it. I've tried breading and pan-frying it, baking, steaming and poaching it. Haven't tried grilling it because the flesh is very delicate so unless I wrap it in foil or banana leaves, it will surely have a tendency to stick and crumble on the grill. Although we like to grill whole tilapia, wrapped in banana leaves, in the Philippines, I've never seen whole tilapia sold here, at least not where we are. For this dish, the fillets were thawed and dipped in lemon juice then seasoned with salt and pepper. Then they were dredged in flour with the excess flour shaken off leaving a very thin flour coating. Next, they were pan-fried in a small amount of olive oil until slightly browned and cooked through, then transferred and kept warm on a serving platter as they cooked. In the same skillet or frying pan, minced garlic was sauteed, and the pan was deglazed with white wine and some chicken broth. Chopped tomatoes were added in along with some lemon juice. Finally, a little bit of half & half was poured in and the mixture was simmered before pouring over the tilapia fillets. Garnished with orange or lemon slices, chopped green onions and served with Israeli couscous ( we like this bigger couscous variety which tastes more like the Italian orzo pasta ) this is just another fast and easy tilapia dish to make.
Israeli couscous


text:
We've just started the process of redesigning our site and we're trying to learn as much as we can about the wants and needs of the people that visit. That is, people like you!
Please give us a few minutes of your time to respond to our survey. We really appreciate it.
By John MassonJan. 16, 2013
When some people encounter the trademark vivid green carpeting in Michigan Law's underground library for the first time, they think of Ireland.
Dan Wojciak wasn't one of those people.
No, when Wojciak first stood in the Reading Room and saw the verdant expanse of stairwell leading to the clean, oh-so-well-lighted place below, he thought of only one thing.
Wojciak was a Michigan undergraduate at the time. But now that he's a Michigan Law 1L, the former film student is prepared to do something about his initial vision. This coming Friday—Jan. 18—he and some friends are turning the Law Library into what may be the world's most exclusive miniature golf course.
To play, all you need is a $5 admission fee—and a Michigan Law M-Card. (Or, technically, a friend with a Michigan Law M-Card.)
Better still, each golfer's admission donation helps support Legal Alternative Winter Breaks. This March, members of LAW Breaks—a Michigan Law student group that organizes alternative breaks where students provide volunteer legal services—are heading to Belize to do human rights work.
The event, scheduled to run from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m., has already drawn significant interest on Facebook, Wojciak said.
Between now and Friday night's first tee-time, however, Wojciak will continue devising the best stair-incorporating, PVC-pipe-relaying, massively challenging underground mini-golf course ever. As if the standard rules of golf aren't maddening enough.
Although for those intimidated by traditional mini-golf, there is at least one piece of good news, Wojciak said: one customary ball-rejecting obstacle will be missing.
"Unfortunately," he said, "we couldn't find an evil clown."
Read more feature stories.
Comments/Suggestions | Site Map | Work Requests | Admin Portal | Disclaimer | Supported Browsers | U of M Home
Regents of the
University of Michigan. All images property of Michigan Law
The University of Michigan Law School.
625 South State Street,
Ann Arbor, Michigan
48109-1215 USA - Contact Us


text:
Elsewhere, Gadget Helpline have reviewed the service and the app:
TiVo users will benefit from being able to manage their set top box from the site, adding recordings and managing existing recordings with a few clicks. We can see this being very useful indeed, and can see ourselves logging on quickly while at work to tee up a few recordings for the evening! On demand content can be accessed with ease, with links to the likes of iPlayer coming from the guide.
Virgin TV Anywhere launches later this year for iOS, PC and Mac, with the service being free to all Virgin TV subscribers. An Android version of the app will also be coming along next year, and when we pushed about other platforms we were told that other platforms were being considered for the future.
And so have BoxOfficeBuz.Com:
The best thing about the switch from the TiVo menu to the app is the fact that the menu's are practically the same, if I were to be picky I'd say that the app menu looked a whole lot better than the actual TiVo menu which didn't appear to hold as much information or perhaps there was more dead space due to the screen size.


text:
Taking Control of Menopause and Sexual Health With the Experts
Prevention & Treatment Paying attention to your hormones and sexual health has long-ranging benefits, according to these industry pros.
What are the benefits of platelet-rich plasma?
Charles E. Runels: Because platelet-rich plasma is from the patient's own blood, there is virtually no risk of allergies or infectious disease transmission. It can actually enhance the immune system. In over one million uses, there have been no reported complications. PRP has been used for years in surgery and orthopedic procedures. Now there is a paradigm shift because instead of being used for wound healing, we are now using it for collagen production, among other things.
Why is it so important for women to invest in their sexual health?
CR: Parts of healthy relationships and individual well-being are love, sexual intimacy and respect. However, other things can impact our sexual and reproductive health such as illness and emotion. Promoting sexual health and the responsibility for it requires open and honest discussion. In order to become their own health advocate and take control, women need to educate themselves about options available to them before talking to their health care provider about all of their choices.
What would be the largest obstacles that women face in becoming their own health advocate and taking control of their health?
CR: As recently as 2015, recommended women's sexual dysfunction treatment options included non-pharmacological interventions such as education, office-based counseling, psychotherapy and a pharmacological option: an anti-psychotic drug that a woman could not enjoy a glass of wine while taking it. There are natural, safer ways to solve issues like sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
When approaching menopause, what are some of the key signs and symptoms of hormone imbalances?
Gary Donovitz: Women often feel fatigued, do not sleep well and experience mood swings, irritability and depression. They complain of "brain fog". Their sex drive diminishes. It is common to also have increased weight, particularly around the mid-section.
What would you say would be the difference between treating the cause and treating symptoms?
GD: Conventional medicine is a big believer in band-aiding the symptoms. This includes anti-depressants, diet pills, sleeping aids and memory drugs. The patient's quality of life is not better and moreover the underlying cause has not been treated.
What are the advantages of taking bioidentical hormones versus synthetic hormones?
GD: Bioidentical hormones are plant-based and similar in structure to the hormones your body produces. They actually work better on the brain, heart, breast and bones. In addition, there are fewer side effects. With bioidentical hormones, it's also much easier to optimize and individualize therapy.
Any advice for aging women in terms of taking a proactive role towards their health?
GD: The number one cause of mortality in women is cardiovascular disease. The second is cancer. By keeping your hormones optimized from your twenties and thirties onward, you can protect your heart and reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. More than 50 percent of women will develop osteopenia or osteoporosis over the age of 50 — by keeping your hormones optimized, this could be preventable.


text:
Procter & Gamble teams up with bloggers to convert clicks into safe drinking water through this widget.
Live Unframed—a flipbook (eventually from concept to finished product) of sketches, video and quotes of the design process behind Yves Behar's SAYL chair for Herman Miller. By Hello Design.
Teleport to a random place in the world with the help of a random place on the Web: MapCrunch.
// From our friends at Communication Arts


text:
Later in the 90's we began a search for the ultimate, yet affordable, roofing products. We've seen many products come and go, but there are a few unique products that may surprise you, which replace the shake roof without sacrificing the look of shakes. The flat roof industry for commercial buildings has come far over the past few years and Pacific West Roofing has moved intoPac West Roofing that arena of single ply membranes like IB Roof System's PVC membrane. A beautifully designed impermeable 6ft wide sheet system that has huge maintenance and UV Advantages.
Our installation crews are well trained in a multitude of products and pleasant to work with on the job site. Our office staff is professional, courteous, and ready to serve your needs.


text:
Posted by Darth Krzysztof
24 March, 103 CY
Aramis stared at his folded hands while he kept watch, chanting dirges in a low voice to regain his exhausted spells. Most of his healing magic had gone to Azal, so the tiefling rogue slept more soundly than Bhavik Devanta did. The rest of the warden's mending would have to wait until dawn, when Aramis's prayers were answered.
The three adventurers had fled the Black Lake, back up to the foundry's abandoned library. The room reeked of moldy paper, but its single entrance made it the most defensible position they could reach. Though the dragon was likely licking her own wounds, many other threats still dwelled in the halls of Khundrukar…
Distracted once more by the shame of their retreat, Aramis halted his prayer. We threw everything we had at her, he thought again, and it still wasn't enough. How can we slay the dragon?
How can we save Talgen?
A shadow crossed his face as a small black form fluttered past the everburning torch that illuminated the room. The intruder flapped to the top of a bookshelf, where it perched upon the cracked remnant of a white marble bust and turned to regard the cleric with one beady black eye, then the other.
"A raven," Aramis found himself saying aloud. He stole a guilty glimpse at his companions, but neither stirred at the sound of his voice. A sign! It must be a sign… no bird could have possibly found its way down here – not unless it was sent by the hand of fate herself.
"Greetings, Shepherd," the raven croaked, dismissing Aramis's last vestige of doubt.
"Hail, raven," Aramis replied. He didn't care to be called Shepherd anymore – not after his last disastrous visit to his home in Oakhurst – but he wasn't about to correct a divine herald on the matter. His exhaustion dragged down every syllable he spoke: "Has my Queen sent you to talk me out of what I must do?"
The bird tilted its head to a different angle. "What makes you say that?"
"I know that, when I go to face the dragon again, I'll die. We will all die. And my Queen knows that I must face the dragon again. I cannot abandon the only hope my friend has." Unless Aramis recovered the golden apple that the duergar stole for the dragon below, Talgen Hucrele would forever remain a monster, twisted by the Gulthias Tree into its supplicant…
"Yes. Our Queen knows." The raven shifted from one foot to another. "Yet she also knows that there is another way."
"What?" Aramis got to his knees. "Tell me. Please."
The bird paused to fluff its feathers out, sounding like an opening parasol. "Nightscale may be a dragon, but even a dragon is a living thing. And every living thing owes a death to the Queen. Fate would have her, and not you, in this hour."
So that's the dragon's name. A dozen questions poured into his mind, but he only dared ask one: "But how?"
"Nightscale has a weakness. She has many weaknesses, Shepherd, but this one may be of use to you."
"But this wisdom comes at a cost."
"Of course." The raven flitted down from the bust to land on the top of Aramis's backpack, within the cleric's reach. "It is not our Queen's way to make her designs plain, even to her servants. But these are trying times."
"I will pay whatever price she asks." As she well knows.
"She wants your eye. And she wants your companions."
A river of ice flowed through Aramis's veins. "They'll die? Down here?" Losing an eye to save his friend was nothing. Losing Bhavik and Azal was unthinkable.
"That is not for me to say. But, should they live, you will be called to a place where the tiefling and the shifter will not follow."
"Will I ever see them again?"
"Not for me to say. Fate wills what it will. But, were I you, I wouldn't pin my hope upon it."
The cleric considered this. "I have become the Raven Queen's avenger," he said, closing his eyes. "I am Death's reaper sworn, bringing those who would challenge the natural order of life, death, and rebirth into her embrace, by her grace and my will." But I'm nothing in battle without my friends. And I'm sure there will be many battles beyond this one… if my Queen wants me to survive this day, what plans could she possibly have for me?
The raven squawked, once, the normal sound seeming abnormal. Bhavik moaned, once, then turned over in his sleep. "The choice is yours, Shepherd," the bird croaked.
Guilt panged Aramis's heart as his thoughts turned to Sharwyn, the girl who'd fallen in love with him when he was only a shepherd. She'd confessed her love only nine days ago, after keeping it a secret for six years or more. She still loved him, though he could scarcely remember being that shepherd boy, could see no resemblance when he looked in the mirror. How much more could he change before it cost him this newfound love? Fate was cruel enough to tear them apart so quickly after bringing them together; fleeting love had brought him into the Queen's service in the first place…
You vowed to save her brother, Aramis reminded himself. Sharwyn would give an eye, at least, to save Talgen. So would their mother! This is the only way. You must pay this price, but don't count the cost…
"Fate wills what it will," Aramis said. "I accept."
"Come then," the raven said, fluttering up to land on his shoulder. "Let us begin."


text:
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today accused Pakistan of trying to destabilize India, saying the cross-border terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir egged youths to stone security forces.
Replying to a question raised by Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy in the Zero Hour, Singh said that anti-India elements were using the social media to incite youths in the Valley to storm encounter sites to help holed-up militants.
"Not only the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the terrorists are trying to destabilize the whole country through their cowardice acts," Singh said in the Lok Sabha.
"The whole country is aware of this act of Pakistan. Our security forces are responding to them the way it is needed," he added.
"A new trend has begun in Kashmir. When our security forces go to villages in search of terrorists, the youths of the region start pelting stones on security forces. Such stone pelters are being misled by Pakistan-sponsored forces. Groups operating from Pakistan use Facebook and social media platforms to arrange these crowds," he further said.
Singh also appealed to the youths of Kashmir not to be misled by anti-national forces.
He said that the security forces were dealing with terrorism in a way they should and they will surely be successful.