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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Investigation Clears Easy Group/Easy EDU of Any Involvement - GlobeNewswire

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TORONTO, June 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A comprehensive internal investigation launched by Easy Group Inc. has found that the company had no involvement and was not responsible for any cheating that took place at the University of Alberta. In reaction to a story published by several national news outlets in March 2020, where an unnamed University of Alberta spokesperson claimed that a letter to computing science students stating that Easy EDU, a division of Easy Group Inc., had been assisting students in cheating “appeared to be legitimate”, Easy Group immediately launched its own investigation and reached out to the University.

The story reported that 40 students had been caught cheating in the CMPUT174 and 175 lab assignments. Easy Group’s internal investigation, aimed at comparing facts versus rumours, found that 35 of those students facing sanctions by the University were never students of Easy EDU and while the other 5 were indeed students of Easy EDU, the violations for which they were penalized had no relation to any services offered by the company’s curriculum.

On the morning of September 29, 2020, Easy EDU Director of Academics, Dongyu Mao met with the Director of Student Conduct at the University of Alberta, after which their department followed up with an email stating, “It is good to know that we are on the same page with our commitments to academic integrity!”.

Further clarification that this matter has been resolved came when The Justin Poy Agency, the communications agency representing Easy Group Inc., was asked to confirm that no further action needed to be taken. “When we spoke to the University of Alberta representative on June 22, 2021, it was made clear that there was no official involvement with the University of Alberta with respects to this incident and that the matter had been put behind them,” states the agency’s President. 

“We are on the same side”, expressed Mao, when reaffirming Easy EDU’s position and approach to education. This incident has further reinforced Easy Group’s (and Easy EDU’s) commitment to excellence and integrity and to working closely with all universities where Easy has services, to continuously monitor protocols and procedures to achieve the highest level of educational supplementation.

About Easy Group Inc.

Easy Group Inc. was founded in Toronto in 2014 as a best in-class tutoring service for international students. The company has provided online services to over 170,000 university applicants, students, and graduates, and served over 100,000 clients offline at our physical campuses. Its footprint has expanded from Canada, where it operates at 11 of the country's most prestigious schools, to the U.S., China, and the United Kingdom.

Easy Group has 3 pillars that guide its mission: Integrity, Inclusivity and Innovation. Under each of these pillars is a mission to ensure that students can experience the full benefit of their learning journey.

With a deep understanding of learning practices and a commitment to embracing technology, the company now provides a holistic educational and personal development platform which guides its clients through every stage of their time studying abroad. Easy Group helps with everything from applying to undergraduate university, graduate school and new careers, to integrating with a new community and overcoming cultural barriers.

For more information, please visit: https://www.easygroup.ca/

____________________
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact:
Sheryl Ning
Easy Group Inc.
Email: lingxue.ning@easygroup.ca
Phone: +8618518561327


The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 10:21PM
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/29/2254995/0/en/Investigation-Clears-Easy-Group-Easy-EDU-of-Any-Involvement-in-Student-Cheating-Scheme.html

Investigation Clears Easy Group/Easy EDU of Any Involvement - GlobeNewswire

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Low-Fodmap food that’s easy to digest - The Guardian

easy.indah.link

Are there any good low Fodmap recipes you could recommend for people with IBS?

The list of high-Fodmap (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols) foods can be daunting, with certain grains and cereals (wholemeal bread, wheat pasta), legumes and pulses (red kidney beans, baked beans), lactose (milk, yoghurt), fruit (apples, peaches) and vegetables (garlic, onions, mushrooms) that cause digestive trouble typically off the menu. The diet involves swapping these high Fodmap foods (ie, short-chain carbohydrates) for low alternatives, then reintroducing them one by one over time, to discover what you can and can’t tolerate. “It’s not a forever diet,” explains Emma Hatcher, author of The Fodmap-Friendly Kitchen Cookbook. “The aim of the game for a healthy, happy gut is to try to add as many Fodmap-containing foods back into your diet.” (Of course, anyone embarking on this – or, indeed, any – diet should first speak to their GP.)

As to specific dishes, the difficulty is that different people are susceptible to different things for IBS, says David Atherton, author of Good to Eat. Certain fruits are generally a good option, though: “Make a smoothie bowl of frozen strawberries and blueberries, and top with oat-based muesli and grapes for breakfast.” Egg-obsessive Atherton is also partial to kedgeree (“just don’t put the onions in”), while Hatcher favours shakshuka with crusty, gluten-free bread. “Tomatoes are low Fodmap up to a certain amount, and you can add red peppers and spices such as paprika, too.”

Keep lunches and dinners simple with meat or fish and a side of seasonal veg in low Fodmap portions. “We’re cooking lots of mackerel at the moment,” says Cornwall restaurateur Emily Scott. The author of Sea and Shore pops butterflied fillets (get your fishmonger to do this for you) under a hot grill or in a hot oven for five or so minutes, then serves with a zingy, peppery salad. “It sounds retro, but make ribbons out of small courgettes, add lemon juice, good olive oil, sea salt, and rocket.” Alternatively, try flat fish: Scott, who cooked for Joe Biden at the recent G7 summit, puts lemon sole under the grill “and throws summery, high-note herbs – chives, thyme – on at the end”. Again, she dresses with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, then serves with new potatoes and a green salad.

Hatcher, meanwhile, saves her spuds for a warm lamb salad with watercress, toasted hazelnuts and chimichurri, which she makes using garlic-infused olive oil in place of actual garlic. For that, she heats olive oil in a pan, adds garlic cloves, cooks and strains: “The Fodmaps in garlic aren’t soluble in oil,” she explains. Roast chicken is another crowdpleaser, and Hatcher serves hers with tarragon mayo. “You won’t want people to follow your diet with you, but you’re not going to want to cook two meals.” For something meat-free, Atherton turns to grains (rice, quinoa, amaranth). “Taste them halfway through cooking, because some bite is nice. Drain, sit in cool water, so they stop cooking, drain again and add a classic honey-mustard dressing.” Toss in chopped cucumber and tomatoes, too.

Far more important, however, is the fact that dark chocolate is low Fodmap. Eat it as is, or make Hatcher’s chocolate pudding, a recipe from her latest ebook with dietitian Kaitlin Colucci: melt dark chocolate and butter over simmering water, stir through eggs whisked with sugar and vanilla, fold in gluten-free flour and salt, and bake for 25-30 minutes. A scoop of ice-cream wouldn’t go amiss, either.

Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com

The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 08:00PM
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/jun/29/low-fodmap-food-thats-easy-to-digest-kitchen-aide

Low-Fodmap food that’s easy to digest - The Guardian

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Create A Wildlife-Friendly Yard Today With These Easy Tips - The Newtown Bee

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Whether your property has a modest piece of land or spans vast acres, there are easy ways for it to make a positive difference in the lives of wildlife.

Dara Reid, the director/founder of Wildlife in Crisis, a volunteer-run nonprofit that cares for more than 5,000 injured and orphaned wild animals a year, finds, “Living harmoniously with wildlife protects wildlife and humans alike.”

So, try implementing these compassionate methods to help support wildlife today:

Stop Using Poisonous Products. “Don’t use any pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, or fertilizers,” Reid advises. “These chemicals cause a tremendous amount of damage throughout our ecosystem and ultimately harm humans as well.”

People typically use pesticides to kill insects and ticks, herbicides to kill weeds, and fertilizers to enrich soil with nutrients, but all three can have detrimental effects on the environment and living creatures that come in contact with it.

Runoff from these toxic chemicals is known to pollute water that humans and wildlife depend on for drinking.

Wildlife in Crisis posted to Facebook on June 17 that the hospital receives many songbirds who are suffering from neurotoxicity due to pesticide exposure and that pesticides also can kill pollinators.

Instead of spraying yards with pesticides, Wildlife in Crisis says it is more effective to spray yourself and pets with a natural, plant-based insect repellent, such as Wondercide.

Additionally, people use rodenticides — such as rat poison — as a quick fix to rid their property of unwanted animals.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, “Rodenticides are pesticides that kill rodents, including mice and rats. They are often formulated as baits with attractive substances like peanut butter or molasses. Rodenticide baits can provide short-term control of rodent infestations. People, pets, and wildlife are very similar to rodents, so they can also be poisoned by rodenticides.”

Many times, people use rodenticides to target one type of animal, but end up poisoning and killing countless others either directly (through ingesting) or indirectly up through the food chain. For the latter, if a hawk or owl consumes a poisoned mouse, then they, too, are now poisoned; and if that bird of prey gets eaten by a larger predatory animal, then that animal is poisoned, and so on.

Monitor Pets Outside. One of the most common calls wildlife rehabilitators receive is that a dog or cat has attacked a wild animal in their yard. In cases when the animal is not killed on site, it is left badly injured and struggling to hang onto life.

Reid recommends people keep cats indoors and supervise dogs at all times to prevent pets from preying on vulnerable wildlife.

“Free-roaming cats are having a decimating impact on bird populations worldwide,” she said.

The American Bird Conservatory reports that in the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year.

For pet owners who want to have their cats experience the great outdoors without endangering them or the nearby wildlife, people can purchase or build an outdoor enclosure, sometimes referred to as a “catio.”

Doing so allows cats to feel the breeze, soak up the sun, and have the sense of freedom all from the safety and comfort of an enclosed space.

Similarly, having an area of the yard fenced in for a dog is helpful, not only in keeping the pet safe inside the confines of your property, but also for presenting a physical barrier for other animals trying to enter the yard.

Whether or not a yard is fenced in for pets, it is always important to visually scan the yard for wildlife before letting a dog out. At night, scan the yard with a flashlight beforehand to look for any movement or glowing eyes from wildlife to let them get to safety.

Put Decals On Windows. Birds can inadvertently fly into windows. While sometimes it will just stun them before they are able to fly off, other times it can be a deadly mistake.

To help protect birds from mistakenly crashing into glass, put up decorative static-cling decals on windows or glass doors.

Change them up seasonally or leave them all year round. Depending on how sunny the spot is, it may be helpful to replace the decals every few years, as the colors can fade from the sunlight.

Wildlife in Crisis suggests cutting hawk silhouettes from black contact paper and sticking them on the outside of windows. Doing so breaks up the glass reflection and can safely repel birds.

The Humane Society also recommends putting up waterproof streamers on the windows or painting a scene with soap.

Be Patient. In the springtime and summertime, animals are looking for a safe place to have their babies and raise their young, just like any family would want.

“Wild animals are on the move and tenderly caring for their young. Please be empathetic and give them some space to live in peace,” Reid said.

Whether it is an opossum with babies on its back trekking through your yard or a fox having babies under a shed, they mean no harm and are not looking to stay long.

In the May 21, 2021, Newtown Bee article “Coexisting In Harmony With Wildlife: Foxes, Raccoons, And Rabbits,” Newtown Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason said it precisely: “They don’t know it’s people’s houses. They don’t stay long… be patient. They’re going to eventually go off on their own. They are not going to hurt children or pets. Just be considerate. These parents are just trying to raise their kids like everyone else.”

Landscape Later. One of the easiest ways to help wildlife is to put off landscaping each spring until May.

Reid explained, “Bees, butterflies, birds, mammals, and amphibians are still using leaves as shelter. They are also under planters, wood stumps, and rocks... When you do landscape, please do so gently, plant native plants, and leave trees standing.”

Leaving dead trees standing may seem unsightly to some, but they can be a beautiful addition to helping a wide variety of living creatures.

Wildlife in Crisis’ “Living Harmoniously with Native Wildlife” pamphlet states, “Leave ‘dead’ or live trees standing, they provide vital food and shelter to wildlife. Trees prevent erosion and provide shade. Through photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, especially large mature trees like majestic oaks. Trim branches, if necessary, instead of cutting entire trees. Leave stumps in place so that trees can regenerate.”

Also, before using a lawn mower or weed whacker, it is important to walk the yard and survey the area for any wildlife such as turtles, opossums, and rabbits. If this is not done, it can be fatal for the animals.

Mother rabbits make a small depression in the ground in an area with dense grass for concealment for their nest. They line the nest with dry grass and fur.

For areas with tall grass, check for fawns beforehand. Mother deer will hide their young babies from predators in the grass while they go out to forage for food. Seeing a fawn alone does not mean that something is wrong with it or that it needs human intervention.

“If you see a fawn by itself, do not touch it. Mother deer only return to their fawns a few times a day, mostly after dark,” Wildlife in Crisis’ educational pamphlet states.

The brochure also encourages people to consider planting native plants and letting a portion of their yard grow out into meadows to help the insects and wildlife.

“Let part of your lawn grow into a field. Preserve woodlands and individual trees, especially old growth trees that provide essential food and shelter for wildlife… Build brush piles out of stacks of fallen tree branches and leaves for animal shelters. Shelters are vital for wildlife survival. Hanging nest boxes for birds and mammals on trees is very helpful,” Reid said.

Secure Garbage. Animals are enticed by “people food,” and it rings even more true in today’s world where constant development is destroying habitats and natural food sources are being negatively impacted.

With that in mind, it is not uncommon for animals such as raccoons and bears to rummage through unsecured garbage or sift through recyclables looking for food remnants to sustain them.

To avoid this, Reid said, “Keep garbage cans and recycle bins inside your garage or build a bear-proof shelter for garbage that is accessible to your refuse company.”

For those who have a company pick up their garbage or recycling out at the curb on a certain day, only put the bins out that morning — never overnight.

Other ways to remove potential food sources are to not feed pets outside, and to thoroughly clean outdoor grills after every use.

Also, while many people enjoy feeding birds near their windows to watch them, Reid advises doing so far from the house, to not attract other animals too close to the building. Use a pair of binoculars to observe the birds from a distance.

People can even create a safe refuge for birds in the back of a property by providing natural cover, so that small birds can eat while being protected from birds of prey. Branches can be placed over where they are being fed, and thick shrubbery and brush piles nearby allow birds to flee into them, if they feel threatened.

Contact A Rehabilitator

“All of these animals are here to stay, so we need to have a healthy approach to coexist in peace with them. Be aware that they are out there and live accordingly,” Reid said.

If you happen to find injured/poisoned wildlife or an animal that appears to be orphaned, Wildlife in Crisis requests that people call them at 203-544-9913 before intervening with any wild animal.

“Concerned citizens should call our clinic for advice on how to properly assess situations. Often, wild animals just need a gentle helping hand. Capturing wildlife and placing them in a caged environment is a last resort approach. Captivity is very stressful for wildlife; it is not an approach we take lightly. We want to make sure that wild babies remain with their parents,” Reid explained.

If you get the Wildlife in Crisis voicemail, leave a detailed message (clinic hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily). For more information about Wildlife in Crisis and other helpful wildlife tips, visit wildlifeincrisis.org or e-mail wildlifeincrisis@snet.net.

In town, people can also call the Newtown Animal Control Center at 203-426-6900 to report any animal in need of help.

For a list of additional authorized rehabilitators (individuals and organizations) throughout Connecticut, visit portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/rehabilitator/dealing-with-distressed-wildlife.

Alissa Silber can be contacted at alissa@thebee.com.

Consider trimming the branches off instead of cutting down an entire dead/dying tree. This will allow the rest of the tree to continue to provide food and shelter for wildlife. It can also be transformed decoratively, as this Sandy Hook resident did, by attaching solar lights to it. —Bee Photo, Silber

Before doing any lawn care, check areas with tall grass for fawns that may be hidden while their mother forages for food. Check lawns for rabbit nests in the ground before doing any mowing or weed whacking.

Protect birds at a feeding station from being preyed upon by hawks or owls by setting up a safe refuge at the back of property. Place a natural cover of twigs over the food and have thick shrubbery and brush piles nearby for birds to flee into if they feel threatened. —Bee Photo, Silber

Dead trees that do not pose a danger can be left in yards to provide food and shelter for wildlife. They are great for woodpeckers, who prefer soft, decaying wood when looking for a variety of insects, and for raptors, who use them as perching points. —Bee Photo, Silber

The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 07:02PM
https://www.newtownbee.com/06292021/create-a-wildlife-friendly-yard-today-with-these-easy-tips/

Create A Wildlife-Friendly Yard Today With These Easy Tips - The Newtown Bee

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Telegram Makes It Easy to Move From Voice to Video Chats - PCMag

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With its latest update, Telegram’s Clubhouse-like voice chats feature can now seamlessly transition into group video calls.

Telegram video calls support screen sharing, and include improved noise-suppression options and desktop/tablet support, the app maker explains in a blog post. Up to 30 people in a group voice chat can add their camera feeds to the discussion—just tap the camera icon (voice chat supports an unlimited number of people). Telegram says that 30-person limit "will increase soon as voice chats take on streaming games, live events and more."

The added desktop and tablet support offers users more screen space and display options. For instance, you can change the video grid and optimize for either portrait or landscape modes.

"This brings voice chats to a whole new level, ready for online classes, business meetings and family gatherings," Telegram says.

Telegram also added the ability for users to create and share animated backgrounds featuring emoji and stickers. A bot menu also allows for easy communication with bots on the app.

Recommended by Our Editors

Telegram is marketed as a secure messaging app, offering encrypted chats, though as we found in our review, it's not as airtight as some rival services, like our Editors' Choice pick, Signal. With video and audio chats, emoji, and other features, it looks to move beyond clandestine discussions and join the ranks of more traditional video chat services.

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The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 11:07PM
https://www.pcmag.com/news/telegram-makes-it-easy-to-move-from-voice-to-video-chats

Telegram Makes It Easy to Move From Voice to Video Chats - PCMag

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

The Easy Mathematical Indicator For Meeting Engagement - Forbes

easy.indah.link

There are lots of ways to measure whether a meeting was good or bad. One can look at what was accomplished versus what the agenda set out. But even this quick checklist approach will often provide a false positive: It may seem like the meeting was good and well run because all of the agenda items were covered in the allotted time, whereas the participants may still walk out feeling unappreciated, uninvolved and generally unengaged.

This applies to participatory meetings where input is being sought, ideas or solutions are put forward, concepts are discussed and debated, and then there is ultimately some form of resolution or consensus. In short, if people are invited to a meeting to participate, then one of the ultimate measures of success is whether people felt like they were actually engaged.

One of the easiest ways to think about meeting engagement is simply the amount of time that each person could potentially speak. We can think of it as each person's potential meeting participation portion. And, in the vein of thinking of portions, it makes a lot of sense to picture dividing a pie between the people seated at the table (even if “the table” is some sort of virtual construct).

All this is to say, “What's the most amount of time that each person is able to talk, assuming an equitable division of the total time?”

As an example, think about an hour-long team meeting with 10 people. In a best case scenario, dividing the 60 minutes by 10 people means that each person gets six minutes to talk. However, practically, there's probably some sort of introduction as to why everyone is there and what the point of the meeting is; that will take a few minutes. Then the person leading the meeting will typically take up a disproportionate amount of time, which carves off more minutes. Assuming that comes to 12 minutes for the person leading the meeting, it now leaves 48 minutes to be divided by the other nine people, resulting in a shade more than five minutes per person to talk.

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Therefore, the best case scenario is an even six minutes per person, but a more realistic scenario is more like five minutes per person of active time—and 55 minutes of time mostly spent observing. Then, if one takes into account that there's inevitably someone in the room who takes up a disproportionate amount of the conversation, it further reduces the amount of time that other people can contribute. For argument's sake, assume that the person leading the meeting speaks for 12 minutes and then the other dominant voice in the room speaks (unchecked by the person running the meeting) for 10 minutes. That overweighed portion then leaves under 5 minutes each for the rest of the room; they’ll each spend around 56 minutes per person just sitting and watching. Meeting engagement is hard to come by when one is an observer for close to 90 percent of the time.

Sure, not everyone in a room wants to speak or always has something to say. However, if the math indicates that the people sitting around the table wouldn’t even have a shot at playing a significant role in the meeting—especially if it’s sharing less than 10 percent of the time—then a logical question to ask is, “Are there too many people in the room or is there not enough time?”

The subtext of this question is more about managerial intent: If a meeting is called where it's clear that there isn't even time for people to participate if they wanted to, do you even need to have those people meet? In that case, are we calling this a meeting when it’s really more of a telling? Is it a lecture or pronouncement that's been mislabeled?

Yes, a meeting can masquerade as a good one if all of the agenda items are covered. But if the people in the room are mostly passive witnesses to the proceedings, the way they feel about the meeting and the larger organization may not be so rosy. Indeed, there may be very little meeting engagement on the morale front, but also a real lack of the ideas, input or discussion that would produce the best results.

There's the old office complaint heard the world over where someone exits a meeting and remarks that it could have been an email. In essence, what people are saying is that they don't feel that their presence was needed; in fact, maybe no one's presence was needed. If people don't feel engaged and don't feel that they're participating in meetings, then they'd rather be at their desk getting work done.

It's tempting to add more people to a meeting. After all, being inclusive is good. And having the right people at the table is important. But if people are going to be at that table for an hour, it's important that they're actually engaged and involved. If someone only has time to say a few words in that time, it's probably a good indicator that either the structure of the meeting should change or not everyone needs to be there.

The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 10:46AM
https://www.forbes.com/sites/leegimpel/2021/06/28/the-easy-mathematical-indicator-for-meeting-engagement/

The Easy Mathematical Indicator For Meeting Engagement - Forbes

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Nothing is easy when it comes to using Hanes Park - Winston-Salem Journal

easy.indah.link

The headline, such as it was, seemed innocuous enough. “School system, city look for solutions on Hanes Park.”

School and city officials — specifically, the paid, professional staff employed in a city-manager-style government as practiced here in Winston-Salem — would be putting heads together in an effort to make Hanes Park safer for the public and Reynolds High student athletes who use it.

The public and Reynolds share the track at Hanes Park

A couple of incidents, one goofy and the other deadly serious, were cited as reasons why professionals ought to look again at how the park is used.

In one, a runner wearing earbuds blithely dashed through a practice in which discus and shotputs were thrown.

The other involved a chase that ended at the park, with police officers shooting an armed man who is alleged to have fired shots at a police substation across town.

Taking steps to keep all park users safe should be simple.

But like everything else involving Hanes Park, nothing is easy or free of temper tantrums.

Long-simmering disputes

Hanes Park, like plenty of other things in our fair city, was given to the citizenry in 1919 by the Hanes family with the understanding that students interested in athletic endeavors would have access to its open green space.

But as the city and the adjacent R.J. Reynolds High School grew, so, too, did conflicts over where and how the park’s 47 acres were to be used.

It’s not difficult to imagine that in the early part of the 20th Century, a small group of teenagers might don flannels or leather helmets a handful of times per year for baseball or football games.

The days when sport — even at the high-school level — would evolve into big business were decades away. The first night baseball game played under electric lights in Cincinnati’s Crosley Field didn’t take place until 1935; Jackie Robinson wouldn’t break the color barrier until 1947, two years after World War II ended.

Winston-Salem had a population of 48,395 in 1920; today we’re roughly at 250,765. The point being, that growth — combined with the fact that no one in the Roaring ‘20s would have imagined that several hundred girls and boys would be playing on some 40 different teams at Reynolds High all needing space.

Conflict over land-use was as inevitable as increasing property values of the big houses in the adjacent West End neighborhood.

The city and the school system worked out in 1999 an agreement (and extended in 2019) in which Reynolds’ would have exclusive use of the track for practices and meets. Nothing has changed about that, which is a good thing.

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That would cut down on the chances of some bonehead, rendered deaf by their own ear buds, from being knocked stupid by a discus or shotput.

The underlying problem, though, has nothing to do with adding signs to the track or keeping stay-at-home moms from turning a few laps between 2 and 7 p.m.

Rather, it’s the specter of a lighted, 2,200-seat stadium being built next to Hanes Park that’s twisted panties into wads.

Learning how to share

If you’ve lived here for longer than a minute and a half, you’ll know that debate over building a $4 million stadium on land owned by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools drives many things concerning venerable Hanes Park.

On one side, we have the gilded class of the West End — some but by no means all residents — concerned about the impacts on their property values. The prospect of noise, four or five Fridays a year at most from football games, offends sensibilities.

(Don’t lump in lacrosse, field hockey or soccer. While those teams would play there as well, a good-sized “crowd” from any of those would fit into a school bus.)

On the other, we have a group of Reynolds boosters and parents who formed in 2012 a nonprofit to raise money to build it.

At the most recent public accounting, in 2018 when the school board voted to support the project, the Home Field Advantage had pledges for perhaps a quarter of the $4 million estimated price tag. Its members also would argue — correctly — that even $1 in private money for construction is $1 more than other schools raised for their publicly funded stadiums.

Backers have argued, too, that forcing Reynolds athletes to carpool (or bus) miles away to practice and game sites unfairly burdens poor kids and prevents some from being able to play.

Earlier this spring, stadium backers totted up and plotted the amounts of city bond money spent on Hanes Park since referenda were passed in 2014 and 2018. Nearly $2.9 million spent on the east side nearer West End and a goose egg on the western edge closer to schools.

Into this comes this recent dust-up — caused by adults — over continued safe access for Reynolds’ teams (and the teens who play on them) to Hanes Park.

Hanes, last I checked, is an active park, which means that it’s filled with ballfields, tennis courts and a track. It’s not a forest of virgin Redwood populated by endangered salamanders or spotted owls.

More conflict is coming, and at its heart is a yet-to-be-built stadium.

“This cannot be about adults,” said Superintendent Tricia McManus. “It has to be about what is good for kids.”

336-727-7481

@scottsextonwsj

336-727-7481

@scottsextonwsj

The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 07:30AM
https://journalnow.com/news/local/nothing-is-easy-when-it-comes-to-using-hanes-park/article_783cf70e-d834-11eb-af21-536acc80c18c.html

Nothing is easy when it comes to using Hanes Park - Winston-Salem Journal

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Trim: Tidy Up Your Wallet the Easy Way - TechBullion

easy.indah.link

It’s easy to let your finances go awry. And we are not talking anything major here – nothing disastrous like bankruptcy or home foreclosure, those kind of world-moving misfortunes which can ruin someone. No, it’s the little things: unused subscriptions, overdraft fees, and unnecessary purchases.

As the saying goes, it’s all in the details, and those buggers certainly do add up. Trapped in the hurried flow of modern life, it’s sometimes difficult to step back and get an objective view of your spending. We may feel very much an automaton; once a habit develops, it’s difficult, or almost impossible, to break.

This is exactly where a money saving app like Trim comes in handy. Acting as a kind of virtual personal assistant, Trim keeps you on track. Using what we can loosely describe as “artificial intelligence”, the Trim app identifies unnecessary costs and bad spending habits.

As Modest Money’s review of Trim suggests, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars a month depending on your financial situation. 

Originally founded in 2015 by suave, forward-thinking entrepreneurial duo Daniel Petkevich and Thomas Smyth, Trim has since been on a mission to help the average American cut down on costs. With its novel approach to negotiating down utility bill payments, the application has filled a genuine need in the market.

An easy to use and intuitive application, Trim makes available the bulk of its services to non-subscribers.  

For the value, we think Trim is one of the best finance applications out there – even if it only knocks off a pesky reoccurring subscription or two. With a history of saving customers money, there is really no reason not to give it a shot.

Let’s look at some of Trim’s significant features.

Notable Features of Trim

  • Cancel Reoccurring Subscriptions: we are probably all guilty of paying for subscriptions that we no longer use; what’s more, we often forget about them entirely. Forgotten, these monthly subscription fees add up. What Trim does is highlight any reoccurring subscription and enable you to cancel it with a single the click of a button – simple as that.
  • Bill Renegotiation: this may be the most valuable feature of Trim. Often, customers do not know they are being overcharged. There is really no magic formula here; upload your bills to Trim and let the application get to work. It’s likely the case that the customer simply does not know what to ask their service providers – there may be hidden fees, old charges that should have disappeared, or any number of odd, little things. Trim reports that the average user saves a staggering $250 a year by using their renegotiation services.
  • Money Tracking: though not billed as a budgeting app, Trim does allow users to keep watch over their money flow: what’s going in, and what’s going out. Included are automatic alerts for upcoming bills, highlighted spending habits, and the ability to estimate your current total net worth. Though it lacks some of the robust features of apps that are geared primarily toward budgeting, Trim will still do the job.
  • Trim Savings: in an unprecedented move, Trim has established a working relationship with Visa in order to enable users to take advantage of “cashback” on retail purchases. This is essentially free money: a few dollars here and there can add up. Really, this feature is the antithesis of reoccurring subscriptions – unconsciously earn money, not lose it.

Drawbacks of Trim

Trim is certainly a handy application, but it is not an “end all” to your financial burdens. While its primary features are renegotiations and the cancellation of reoccurring subscriptions, it does lack the kind of comprehensive goal setting that is a hallmark of applications such as Tiller Money.

There are also no investment tools. This is not so unusual, but the added bonus of stock investment opportunities would have been a huge plus.

Trim Pricing

Trim offers a “free” version of their service whereby users can access the bulk of its features. Alternatively, subscribers pay $99 a year. 

The free version is fine, but be aware that non-subscribers will be charged 33% of savings made by their bill renegotiation service. In our eyes, this is still a win-win situation for consumers who are currently being overcharged.

The Bottom Line

While not an end-all solution to your financial woes, Trim is certainly the kind of application that can help you get back on track.

By renegotiating your bills and alerting you to useless monthly payments, there are real savings to be had here. We think this is especially noticeable in the first year or so of using the app – beyond that, savings may be somewhat negligible.

All in all, this is the kind of technology that serves you – even if one opts for the subscriber service at $99 a year, you are bound to turn a profit.

The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 04:56AM
https://techbullion.com/trim-tidy-up-your-wallet-the-easy-way/

Trim: Tidy Up Your Wallet the Easy Way - TechBullion

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Monday, June 28, 2021

Cinemood TV Review: Portable, easy to set up, but pricey - Gearbrain

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The Cinemood TV is a 3.3-inch, wireless, movie projection cube, developed by Palo Alto, California-startup, Cinemood, which specializes in content for kids. According to the company's website, the Cinemood TV not only lets you project videos and other content on a wall or a screen, but you can also stream and project movies, TV shows and other content from your favorite services, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Disney+. What's unique is that there is a lot of content that ships right on the device's 40 GB storage drive, which includes captivating VR experiences, including 360-degree video content and 360-degree games.

Overall, the content and ability to stream your favorite services is impressive, but I didn't find that the Cinemood TV lived up to all its claims mentioned as features on its websites—for instance, there wasn't any way to use voice commands to activate various features, which is stated on their website. Nevertheless, there was a lot of compelling multimedia and some first-rate VR experiences.

In the box and setting it up

Open the box and you'll find only a few items in it: The Cinemood TV cube, a USB-C cable and charger and a quick-start guide. I found the set-up process quite easy. Start the device by pressing the center button on top of the unit. You can focus the picture by pressing the two circle buttons on the side of the device.

Cinemood TV reviewYou can use the controls on top of the device in order navigate around the various folders in the menu structure, including the settings section to connect to various wireless hubs and make other settings.Terry Sullivan/GearBrain

In order to access the content that ships with the device, or to begin streaming, on services like Netflix or YouTube, you'll need to scroll through the device's simple but useful menu system. You can use the device itself to scroll to the folder you want to access, but you should download the mobile app, too, which mirrors the experience of using the controls on the top of the Cinemood TV.

The app also lets you use two buttons at the top of the screen—a smaller light gray circle with a filled in center and a larger light gray empty circle (which has a dark gray center—to focus the image, just like the buttons that appear on the left side of the device. (The app is compatible with both iOS and Android mobile platforms.)

The mobile app worked as expected on both my iPhone 12 and Google Pixel 3a, but it did occasionally lose its connection, at which point I couldn't use the app to control the Cinemood TV. However, I could still use the on-board control on top of the device to move around the menu and access content stored on the unit's hard drive.

Cinemood TV reviewThree views of the Cinemood TVTerry Sullivan/GearBrain

Features & Image/Video/Audio Quality

On the website, the company claims you can project the Cinemood TIV up to 150 inches, since this newer model has a brighter picture than past Cinemood models (200 lumens on this model vs 35 lumens on the older model). However, it's important to note that this newest model still lacks full-HD resolution and 4K capabilities. In fact, the Cinemood TV displays at just 848 x 480, lower than full-HD resolution of 1080 x 1920. So, if you do project the image as large as 150 inches (diagonally), expect a much softer and fainter image. I didn't find the audio quality on the Cinemood TV all that bad, but it's not what I would consider "home-theater" quality since you really don't get a full-resonant bass sound.

Note: The Cinemood TV accepts LTE SIM cards, which lets you always stay connected.

Cinemood TV reviewThe app has a virtual representation of the controls found on the top of the Cinemood TV (left). Plus, it also includes instructions on how to use the controls in the app (right).Terry Sullivan/GearBrain

In terms of quality, I found the overall video, still-image and audio to be relatively decent — the videos played slow and fast action sequences smoothly, displayed good color fidelity and lacked any significant lags or delays. But it's important to know that even an inexpensive HD TV will generally offer superior image and video quality. I found the audio quality to be average, which lacked any resonant bass sound. Also, the overall tone was compressed and lacked some of the finer details you hear on other systems.

Content (Included on the Cinemood TV)

There is a large collection of multimedia content, targeted at children, that comes free with Cinemood TV. Additionally, you can add or access your own content on the device, or, if you'd like, you can purchase additional content. Here are some of the sections you'll find on the sit:

Cinemood TV reviewYou can find a variety of animated cartoons in the "Watch" section of Cinemood TV.Terry Sullivan/GearBrain

  • In the "Read" section, you'll find books", which are actually narrated slide shows, of Disney stories, like "Frozen" and "Aladdin."
  • The "Watch" section has various animated cartoons, as well as videos from the Disney's "The Science of Disney," including one on "Design and Models" and another on "Friction."
  • In the "Listen" section, there are narrated Audiobooks, including "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," "The Three Little Pigs", as well as various Sherlock Holmes tales, "Oliver Twist", and many others. You can also find audio clips of classical music.

Cinemood TV reviewIn this composite image of three photos, I show how you can rotate the Cinemood TV a full 360 degrees in order to see various parts of the panoramic video. This video, "Elephant Encounter in 369 – Ep. 2 | The Okavango Experience," is one of several VR segments created by National Geographic, and shoTerry Sullivan/GearBrain

  • A very intriguing section on the device is the "VR" section, which lets you watch 360-degree documentaries and animation. Since there are VR sensors in the Cinemood TV, you can physically turn the Cinemood 360 degrees around, as well as point the projection unit up and down, and it will show new content in all directions. There are some very powerful videos, including wonderful National Geographic VR experiences, such as one with photographer Ami Vitale on Pandas from China. But there are others, such as swimming with sharks in the ocean, flying by a volcano eruption, and more. In some of these, you're not just looking around you, but above and below, too.

If you'd like to project or listen to your own content—photos, audio or video—you can connect a thumb drive by using a USB-C adapter, and then view or hear your own content.

Price and is it worth buying

The website indicates that the Cinemood TV was originally priced at $999, but it's currently on sale for $499, which is still expensive for this type of projector. There are intriguing features, but you should know that most other projectors and speakers provide higher resolution and better quality.

However, I thought much of the children-focused content on the Cinemood TV is quite captivating and unique. So, it might fit the bill for some parents-on-the-go looking for entertaining and educational content that's also portable.

Pros:

  • Ideal for traveling: Very portable and easy to set up
  • Loaded with lots on intriguing content for children and young adults
  • You can load your own content, including video, audio and still photos
  • Includes 360-degree videos and 40GBs of available storage

Cons:

  • Expensive for a projector aimed at kids
  • Lower video quality than most projectors at this price
  • Audio is adequate, but lacks full bass sound
  • Mobile app isn't responsive at times
  • You can't use voice commands to control it
The Link Lonk


June 28, 2021 at 07:00PM
https://www.gearbrain.com/cinemood-tv-childrens-projector-review-2653377121.html

Cinemood TV Review: Portable, easy to set up, but pricey - Gearbrain

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Health officials urge Granite Staters to take it easy during hot weather - WMUR Manchester

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As New Hampshire enters what could be its second heat wave of the month, health officials are warning Granite Staters to take precautions.Medical experts said some people don't take the heat seriously enough and try to go on as normal, which can lead to significant problems.A heat advisory is in effect in the state until 8 p.m. Monday, with temperatures expected to surge into the 90s. With high humidity, the heat index — a measure of how hot it feels — will range from 95-100 degrees for several hours in the afternoon.Health officials said heat exhaustion or heat stroke are possible in such conditions. Christ Stawasz, regional director of American Medical Response, described some of the symptoms of heat stroke."People don't sweat," he said. "They're very hot. They have a racing pulse. You can easily die from heat stroke."He said it's important to pay attention to what your body is telling you."If you're sweating profusely, that's a clear sign that your body is overheating," he said. "You want to take a break then."During the first heat wave this month, a lot of people were still inside because of the pandemic, Stawasz said. Now, more people are out and about."We'll see an increase in heat-related calls of people who are actively outside exercising or working strenuous jobs," he said. "A lot of people think they're Superman, that they're able to get things done if they are out in the sun. That's just not the case."One time-tested way to beat the heat is to head to the water. In Laconia, people have been packing Weirs Beach."Sunday, being the hotter of the two days, a sunnier beach day, we had about 1,200 people," said Amy Lovisek, Laconia's director of recreation and facilities.The beach is expected to remain a popular destination during the heat wave, even as other recreational activities are put on hold."I see them staying away from the track and tennis and basketball," Lovisek said. "That may not happen as much, but I see the beaches really, really packing them in."Officials said staying hydrated during the heat is also important. They said they also want people to give themselves permission to take it easy.

As New Hampshire enters what could be its second heat wave of the month, health officials are warning Granite Staters to take precautions.

Medical experts said some people don't take the heat seriously enough and try to go on as normal, which can lead to significant problems.

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A heat advisory is in effect in the state until 8 p.m. Monday, with temperatures expected to surge into the 90s. With high humidity, the heat index — a measure of how hot it feels — will range from 95-100 degrees for several hours in the afternoon.

Health officials said heat exhaustion or heat stroke are possible in such conditions. Christ Stawasz, regional director of American Medical Response, described some of the symptoms of heat stroke.

"People don't sweat," he said. "They're very hot. They have a racing pulse. You can easily die from heat stroke."

He said it's important to pay attention to what your body is telling you.

"If you're sweating profusely, that's a clear sign that your body is overheating," he said. "You want to take a break then."

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

During the first heat wave this month, a lot of people were still inside because of the pandemic, Stawasz said. Now, more people are out and about.

"We'll see an increase in heat-related calls of people who are actively outside exercising or working strenuous jobs," he said. "A lot of people think they're Superman, that they're able to get things done if they are out in the sun. That's just not the case."

One time-tested way to beat the heat is to head to the water. In Laconia, people have been packing Weirs Beach.

"Sunday, being the hotter of the two days, a sunnier beach day, we had about 1,200 people," said Amy Lovisek, Laconia's director of recreation and facilities.

The beach is expected to remain a popular destination during the heat wave, even as other recreational activities are put on hold.

"I see them staying away from the track and tennis and basketball," Lovisek said. "That may not happen as much, but I see the beaches really, really packing them in."

Officials said staying hydrated during the heat is also important. They said they also want people to give themselves permission to take it easy.

The Link Lonk


June 29, 2021 at 12:37AM
https://www.wmur.com/article/health-officials-urge-granite-staters-to-take-it-easy-during-hot-weather/36865558

Health officials urge Granite Staters to take it easy during hot weather - WMUR Manchester

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

8 Secret Spots on Cruise Ships That Allow for Easy Social Distancing - Cruise Blog

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Sailaway celebrations on the Lido Deck, pina coladas by the pool, room service on the balcony and everything else we love about cruising are once again within reach. With federal approval and cutting-edge safety measures building cruisers’ confidence in returning to the high seas, some still want to further distance themselves from other passengers when they’re onboard.

If you look beyond the popular outdoor spaces, you’ll find that cruise ships are sprinkled with “secret” sun decks, hot tubs and lounging nooks unknown to most passengers. We’ve combed through reviews and deck plans to locate these eight secret spots on cruise ships for you – even on some of the industry’s newest vessels. Find them before anyone else does, and social distancing will be a (salty) breeze.

1. Carnival Cruise Line’s Forward Decks

Carnival confirms summer 2021 cruises from Galveston | Cruise.Blog

Planning to sail on Carnival Cruise Line? You’ll be pleased to know that most of the line’s fleet features “hidden” forward decks.

The location varies by ship but generally includes decks 5, 6, 7 and 10. To reach these more secluded areas, you’ll enter through two doors that take you outside. Note: Most of these doors are unmarked, and they are usually locked at night and whenever there are high winds. 

Where to Find Them: Carnival Radiance, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, Carnival Glory, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Valor, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Ecstasy

2. Royal Caribbean’s Aft Chairs

CDC lifts cruise ship ban with conditional restart plan | Cruise.Blog

Some of the world’s biggest cruise ships offer plenty of space for social distancing, though most of it’s not a secret.

For a tranquil hideaway with picture-perfect views, head to the back of deck 5 on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships. Situated on the running track, ironically enough, is a quiet deck area unbeknownst to many passengers. There are only a few deck chairs, overlooking the wake, so you’ll want to get there early to claim your spot. 

Where to Find Them: Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas

3. Princess Cruises’ Viewing Decks

Princess Cruises cancels more cruises due to Canada and Australia bans | Cruise.Blog

You won’t find lounge chairs on Princess Cruises’ “secret” viewing decks, but you will be able to take in awe-inspiring vistas without having to navigate crowds.

The line offers a wide array of itineraries, including many exotic destinations, so another place to sneak away and savor the scenery is a welcome retreat. Only two ships offer these decks, but on either one, you’ll need to access via an unmarked door at the end of the hallway.

Where to Find Them: Island Princess (decks 10 and 11 forward) and Coral Princess (deck 10 aft)

4. Disney Cruise Line’s Aft Overlook

Disney Magic

The doors are marked, but many cruisers still don’t know about the Aft Overlook on some Disney Cruise Line ships.

Walk all the way toward the back of the ship on deck 7, enter through the door at the end of the hallway, and you’ll be welcomed by a crowd-free oasis – complete with lounge chairs. The views are unobstructed, making this an ideal spot not only for sunbathing but also during sailaway.

Where to Find Them: Disney Magic and Disney Wonder

5. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Top Deck

NCL: No new cruise cancellations | Cruise.Blog

Private lounging space tucked away on the top deck sounds too good to be true. But that’s exactly what you’ll find on Norwegian Cruise Line, and it’s completely free.

Next to The Haven, an exclusive suite sanctuary, and the adults-only Vibe Beach Club, is a small, public deck space with chairs. This “secret” deck is found on the line’s newer ships, varying between decks 17 and 19. Some of these ships have an additional “hidden” deck space on deck 18 aft.

Where to Find Them: Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway (deck 17) and Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss (deck 19)

6. MSC Cruises’ Forward Decks

Boy dies after falling from MSC Cruises cruise ship | Cruise.Blog

They say “the best things in life aren’t easy,” and that’s certainly the case with MSC Cruises’ forward decks. Those willing to make the trek to this seemingly undiscovered area will be greeted by what some say are the most breathtaking views from the ship.

To find them, head to the deck 10 forward elevators, enter the cabin corridor and continue walking all the way toward the front of the ship until you reach an unmarked door. Several MSC Cruises’ ships have this space, as well as similar ones on decks 9 and 11, but you’ll find them on only one U.S.-based ship.

Where to Find Them: MSC Divina

7. Carnival Cruise Line’s Lanai

When Will Carnival Cruise Ships Sail Again? | Cruise.Blog

While cruisers battle it out for lounge chair space on the Lido Deck and adults-only Serenity area, those looking for more peace and quiet will find it on Carnival’s Lanai. Found on only a handful of ships, including some of the line’s newer ones, are cozy seating nooks along deck 5 that offer respite from the crowds and equally beautiful views.

Select ships’ Lanai decks also feature balconies that extend out over the ocean. Bars and eateries are conveniently located only a few steps away, for when hunger strikes or you need a drink refill.

Where to Find Them: Carnival Panorama, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Vista (deck chairs only) and Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic (deck chairs and hot tubs)

8. Royal Caribbean’s Helipad

Helipad on Royal Caribbean

During the day, Royal Caribbean’s helipad offers an escape from all the action and the chance to soak up stunning sea views. At night, this “hidden” deck treats passengers to some of the best stargazing, as long as the weather conditions are conducive.

To reach the helipad, passengers must walk all the way forward on decks 4 or 5 to unmarked doors.

Note: Depending on the ship and deck, you might need to take some stairs.

Where to Find Them: Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas

The Link Lonk


June 28, 2021 at 08:43PM
https://cruise.blog/2021/06/8-secret-spots-cruise-ships-allow-easy-social-distancing

8 Secret Spots on Cruise Ships That Allow for Easy Social Distancing - Cruise Blog

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

East Redondo's Mexican hideaway - Easy Reader

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Chano Hipolito owns the El Amigo chain, which now includes three restaurants. Photo by JP Cordero.

There are certain amenities that send a restaurant investor’s pulse racing. A view of the ocean is the most obvious, but having the closest burger joint to a high school or the closest pizzeria to a hotel are also obvious winners. Surfers, students, and tourists have varying budgets, but they all get hungry, and being the closest place with food is an obvious advantage.

The location of El Amigo #3 doesn’t look like it has this kind of advantage. It’s on 182nd Street in North Redondo, flanked by a hair salon and a medical clinic. However, just down the street is the King Harbor Brewing brewery and tap room, and scientists have found beer and tacos go very well together. Granted, everybody else knows the joys of that pairing too, but some scientist has probably gotten paid to document it. Though the brewery often has food trucks, the line for those can get intimidating, and many of their customers walk down the street to El Amigo. Some have become loyal customers, and stop in even when the brew isn’t flowing.

The rear entrance to El Amigo’s patio is more inviting than the front. Photo by Richard Foss

I stopped in at El Amigo for the first time after noticing the change from the previous restaurant, which had specialized in Mexican food that was healthy but not particularly flavorful. That was two years ago, and since then they have broadened their selection, remodeled their patio, and become one of my regular stops for Mexican food.

The menu has all the classics, plus a few items that go deeper into the cuisine, like birria, tortas, and sopes. Order at the counter and pull a soft drink or a beer from the cooler, taking care as you do to notice the handwritten note with the desserts – they aren’t on the menu. Homemade flan and Mexican rice pudding are often available. Then you have the choice of dining on the small front patio, the somewhat loud interior with kitchen noise, or the quieter and prettier back patio. You can guess which one I prefer.

Every meal starts with the requisite chips and salsa, which always give you a preview of the kitchen’s attitude. The salsa is medium thick and chunky with a little cilantro and a moderate chili kick. The chips arrive hot and crisp. Don’t eat too many, because as is often the case at Mexican places, the portions are immense. On one visit my wife and I ordered a quesadilla as a starter when we already had chosen burritos, and the manager, a friendly fellow named Edgar, dissuaded us. “That’s too much food for just the two of you,” he admonished, and that was indeed true.

Those burritos were not only immense, but generous with the protein. The big portion of tender, garlicky shrimp went quite nicely with a smoky red chile sauce that had some cumin and cinnamon modifying the heat. The green sauce on the al pastor burrito was spicier and had the tartness of tomatillo along with a mélange of spices I couldn’t identify. I’m a big fan of tomatillo sauce, and this was above average.

A garlicky shrimp burrito with a smoky red chile sauce, and an al pastor burrito with a spicy green sauce, with the tartness of tomatillo. Photo by Richard Foss

A specialty here is birria, the spicy stew that is probably from Jalisco and is usually made there with either goat or lamb. I tried this in a taco and it worked about as well as you’d expect a taco full of soup to work – it was delicious but I think a few dribbles made it all the way to my elbow. I haven’t tried it in a torta sandwich but suspect that would be only slightly neater. I asked for birria over a tostada but Edgar objected on the grounds that the hot stew would wilt the lettuce, and I bowed to his superior knowledge. Get it in a burrito and more of that tender meat in chile broth will make it into your mouth instead of your lap. I prefer goat, mutton, or lamb birria to beef because the stronger flavor of the meat complements the vinegar marinade and sauce, but this beef version is very good.

I do recommend the tortas here, which are made with the soft whole wheat cemita bread rather than the usual crusty bolillo or telera. They make tortas with all their regular meats or a Cuban-style sandwich with a combination, and the one we had with their soft, intensely porky carnitas hit the spot. There’s no reason a sandwich shouldn’t have guacamole and radishes in it, but I never think to do that at home and get reminded when I eat here.

The machaca plate at El Amigo. Photo by Richard Foss.

Of all the things I’ve tried at El Amigo #3, though, their machaca is the best. The mix of eggs scrambled with pot roast, bell peppers, and onions has a little smokiness and caramelization that gives it depth of flavor. The sides of tomato-scented rice, beans with cheese, and slightly spicy guacamole give you the materials for a succession of build-it-yourself tacos. I tend to leave a few scraps because it’s just too much food, and even then spent some time afterward feeling like a snake that had swallowed something much larger than itself.

As such I didn’t even try the flan I had ordered until the next day, but luckily flan travels well and keeps in the fridge. It’s a fine finish to a meal, even if it isn’t the meal from El Amigo.

El Amigo is the easternmost independent restaurant in Redondo, and a lot of locals don’t even know it’s here, or that this is even part of the city. It is worth the trip for very good food at modest prices, and while you’re here you might stop by the brewery down the street for a pint or two. Both are worthy destinations with their own considerable merits.

El Amigo #3 is at 4438 West 182nd Street in Redondo. Open daily except Sunday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Parking lot in rear. Beer and soft drinks offered. No website. (424) 350-7059. ER

The Link Lonk


June 28, 2021 at 12:34PM
https://easyreadernews.com/east-redondos-mexican-hideaway/

East Redondo's Mexican hideaway - Easy Reader

https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

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Investigation Clears Easy Group/Easy EDU of Any Involvement - GlobeNewswire

easy.indah.link TORONTO, June 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A comprehensive internal investigation launched by Easy Group Inc. has found th...

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