Hello, welcome to all. This is the second day of the sixth EasyBuild user meeting. Our first talk of the day will be about using EasyBuild for singularity containers. This will be talked by Jorg Slashman and Susan from Guy in St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College London. And over to you now, Jorg. Yeah, thank you very much for the kind introduction. As you can see, I work for the NHS and part of that is also involving Kings College London. And before I start off, a little bit of background about me, because it is quite important to understand the talk and where I'm coming from. I'm a scientist. I'm a fully trained chemist. I started off doing chemistry at the age of 15 with my apprenticeship. And as you can see, then I continued doing an MSc in England, in the UK, originally I'm from Germany, continued with my PhD, I've done various postdoc positions in the UK, Germany and Austria. And back in 2010, I received Myvenia Legendi, that's the license to teach, not to kill, so you're all safe, from the Technical University in Graz in Austria. And I also realised at this time that yes, I'm probably quite successful in terms of chemistry, but chemistry requires money. And that is something very difficult to get by if you want to do a certain kind of chemistry. So I decided to switch over the, in the time I was in Austria, I started off becoming interested in computational chemistry, which requires, as you might have guessed, computers, in particular high performance computers. And I was quite lucky that the local IT guys showed me a few things. So I started off looking into HPC clusters then. And back in 2010, I decided to switch, as I said, from doing HPC on the side, making that now my daytime job. And I'm still doing chemistry as a gentleman scientist in the evening, so you're still safe. Since 2010, I had various positions originally at University College London in Chemistry. I also had one of the recent ones was at the Francis Quick Institute here in the UK. And now I'm working at Guy's and St Thomas Biomedical Research Centre. Part of our job is to help clinicians to actually use HPC computers to do their work. Now, fundamental question, what is science? In science, we are doing experiments that are reproducible. If it is not reproducible, it's not science.  So that's fine. Now in the lab, I repeat an analysis three times, simply to make sure I error out or I out any kind of random errors which I can't avoid. There are systematic errors which are simply in there. Now on a HPC cluster, we only do one calculation and that's it. The big question is why is that the case? Now anybody who has used an HPC cluster knows that things are not cheap. So time there is precious and you don't want to waste your time. That's one of the problem. The other answer for that is the underlying maths is an exact science as exact as it can be. So if you take that together, what I do expect from the people who are installing the programs, it needs to be exact the program. You need to run test jobs in order to make sure your installation is reliable and it is reproducible. In other words, what I'm doing here in London, I'm based in London, needs to be reproduced in a different environment, for example in Sweden or in the US. So as I already alluded to, that is a big problem. We need to make sure that the installation of the program is the same wherever I'm running it and one way forward here is of course things like EasyBuild. So we don't install software manually. We install it by a script or collection of scripts, whatever you want to do it. So that way it is reproducible. And the problem here is in order to do that, to really judge it is reproducible, it has been done to the best of our abilities. You need an expert and you need time. I'm working with clinicians and don't get me wrong, currently with the ongoing pandemic, and that is actually a true story that is not made up, they are more interested in getting their COVID-19 research going forward and they don't have time to install software. They don't have the time and I see that from the tickets to debug the problems. That is not installing yet. The compiler is not suitable for that because you're trying to use a 10 year old program with the recent compiler. So all of that is a little bit of a mess. And I was thinking of, is there a solution? So we can install the program not only in such a way that it will be reproducible, but also in such a way that I've got the whole program packed in a container and then I can ship it elsewhere.  There are two commonly used containers these days, probably a few more. Most popular ones are Docker and Singularity. Both have advantages, both have disadvantages. One of the problems we are having is on our cluster. Docker requires a demon process running in the background and that is a little bit problematic for an HPC environment, at least the one we are using. Singularity does not have that requirement, so you don't need some kind of a demon running in the background in order to run a Singularity container. That makes it much easier for us to let users execute their Singularity container in a user space environment. Also, what we can do is we can mount the outside environment into the container, so all your data, which is traditionally stored on the HPC cluster, will be outside of the container, but it will be available inside the container, so that makes it a little bit more easier. If you look at bioinformatics, what usually comes up is NextFlow, TensorFlow, all of these bus words and programs, and they are used to write pipelines. I come to that in a moment. They are working with both, at least NextFlow does, Docker and Singularity. If I can provide a Singularity container with a program in it I am using, the person who is writing the pipeline doesn't have to redo what I already have done, it just uses that container. So all of that sounds wonderful, and so the big question is why are we not using it? The answer lies a little bit, and please do not get me wrong here. Clinicians like scientists are interested in doing their science done. We are using software as a tool. We are not software developers. I remember when I started doing computational chemistry and somebody said, you have to compile your program. I was like, uh-huh, and how do I get out of that? So we are using it as a tool because we want to do science. It's like a car driver. A car driver wants to drive on the road to get from A to B. They're not interested in the thermodynamics which is happening in the combustion engine. So we need to find a way to do that. And one of the solutions is you can give clinicians a very easy set of tools to say, okay, all you need is that machine. You put an input in here and you get your tool out, which is custom made for your problem, and then you can use it to your science. The way I try to do that is basically to give researchers access to exactly that kind of custom making tool. I'm using Singularity here and I'm using that in combination with EasyBuild. And I will show you what I came up with here. So my solution is I can ask scientists to say, okay, execute this command, do that. Don't worry about what's happening inside the black box. That's my responsibility, but just do that and then you can do with a program you want. So I'm providing a set of bash commands, which are very easy to use and I will show you in a moment, and they create a Singularity definition file that has two advantages. A, you obviously can create a Singularity container from it and with your publication, you actually can publish that definition file. It's a simple text file, so it's not big. So everybody can see not only what you have done in terms of what is the tool you were using, what are the underlying mechanisms, they can reproduce it. They take that Singularity definition file, build a new Singularity container on their environment and can reproduce your results. Coming back to my initial statement, science is about reproducibility. That makes it very easy. And so you can do that. What's now in, how do we do that? And so I came up with that GitHub repository. The link is there. The slides will be distributed later, so that's not a big problem. Basically, there are two folders which are of interest. One of them is called definitions. Obviously, I'm using the tool I have written. So any software I'm installing in on the cluster using Singularity containers, I put the definition files up there. Simple reason, any scientist then can download it, can reproduce it. And also, the scripts folder is the more interesting one for this presentation and the tutorial on Friday, because this is a set of batch scripts which allows you to create the Singularity definition files. That was the first hurdle I had to overcome when I wanted to use Singularity. How do I do the definition files? And here I'm very grateful that EasyBuild already had something in place. So part of that is inspired by EasyBuild. The name of the batch script, I try to use speaking names. So if you look at it, you see exactly what it properly does. It's pretty obvious container build. Yeah, you want to build a container. CentOS7 is the operating system. We are using the environment modules in that container. You can use lmod as well. There is a matrix further down. And it is still using Python 2 in the operating system. I left that for historical reasons. We all know Python 2 is on the way out. It is depreciated. We should not use it anymore. But there might be a reason why somebody needs it. So I decided I just leave it in there. And I would like to stress it is not any kind of Python version installed with EasyBuild. That is the operating system I'm using here. So what are the requirements? I mean, obviously, you need my GitHub page and you need somehow the name of the EasyBuild file. GitHub page is obviously on GitHub. EasyBuild is on GitHub. So you can get the names from there, from the EasyBuild configuration files. You just have a look at their page and that's it. What you really need to be installed is Singularity. And if you're using Debian, for example, that bootstrap needs to be installed as well. Now you probably will say, hang on a second. But I'm not using Debian or Linux. I'm using Mac. I mean, I'm on Windows. What are we doing now? Can't we not use it? The answer is yes, you can use it. Because if you put all of that what is in a box up there inside the virtual machine, virtual box, for example, and you're using Bakrant, you create an environment which actually allows you to install and create the Singularity containers. Fortunately, Bakrant, so if you really want to shortcut, also provides a Singularity container, so you don't have to do any kind of installation. If you are a little bit more adventurous, you could download CentOS, for example, on your Debian machine, which I have done, and install Singularity inside that CentOS environment. So all of that is doable. How do I create that script? How do I create the Singularity definition file? It's very easy. You basically call the bash script of the container you want to build. In my case here, I want to build CentOS 7 because that's the version we are using in the cluster. You do not have to do that. You could use Debian. Some of the Singularity containers are built on Debian. It's not a problem. And that container is using Lmod. That is something you should be a little bit more careful if you're using a different environment module system, for example, tickle instead of Lmod on your container. And then all you need is the name, not the actual file, the name of the EasyBuild configuration script of the software you want to install. In this case, deliberately, I choose GCC version 930. It's then asking you the script, do you need a second EasyBuild recipe? That gives you basically an entry point to say, okay, I'm very good at EasyBuild. I wrote my own EasyBuild configuration script because I need to do things differently. So that is the only time where you actually need the actual file, the EasyBuild configuration file. If you don't have it, if you want to have it very easy, and you say no, don't need that. I just need a GCC container. You just say no, and you get your configuration file out, definition file out. So if you then have a look, the file again is named Singularity, and then basically I'm following loosely here a little bit what EasyBuild does. So it's the name of the software I'm installing. It is what kind of module system I'm using and it is the operating system. So how does it look inside? There are basically three different parts. The first part is we need to set up the operating system inside the Singularity container. And with all the relevant software and under this umbrella, I decided to include EasyBuild as well. The next step is we are using EasyBuild, which is installed inside the container. So you don't need a local installation of EasyBuild. You get it inside the container. And we always use the latest version. We are using EasyBuild to install the software we want to install in our case GCC. And then there is a little bit of post installation to run the Singularity container. So how does it look like? The first bit, installing software. That is done in a shrewd environment. So the first bit is basically bootstrap YAM, the operating system 7. It's downloading it. It is including YAM and that's done. What we then do, that is the bit from here onwards. We basically say, okay, whatever you downloaded, it's fine. We do an update of that one just to make sure we really have the latest version, any kind of bug fixes and so on are there. Then we install using YAM, all the requirements we need for EasyBuild to build the software. That is fairly generic. So we might install more than we actually do need. But I decided it's better to have a little bit more and it is working instead of fiddling around. Oh, we don't need this package here unless it is that circumstance. But then we can avoid it if that's too complicated. Next, we install EasyBuild. As you can see, we are using type 3 here, which means we have installed Python 3. So we install EasyBuild. We install the latest as you do. We make sure there is actually the user EasyBuild created. If not, we just do that and doing a little bit of magic regarding the Lmod environment. So that's the first bit. The second bit is then we are basically saying, okay, for the user EasyBuild, we modify the BashRC in case we want to open the container, we've got a proper environment for this user. We also set a few aliases and of course we do exactly the same for the actual installation. The whole installation will be written inside the container in the home directory of the EasyBuild user in a script called ebinstall.sh. The reason for that is if you want to do something different because you want to modify, at least you know what you've done here and you've got a guide. Then it's basically saying, okay, further down it says echo eb-minus-fetch. EasyBuild has one of the features is you can download all the files first and then you build. And we've noticed it last year when we first went into the lockdown that some of the GitHub repositories were offline for a few minutes. If that happens when you want to build your software, the whole build fails. So you don't want to have that happen four hours in your software build because you've got a slow machine or you're building quite extensive software. You want to happen that right at the first 10 minutes, then you can look into the problem and you can restart it. The next step is obviously it is then building the container. You might say, hang on a second. You're not using robots and so on. We defined an alias. So I can use eb and that automatically always calls robots. One of the advantages to have that script. It's then doing a little bit of magic for the lmod system again. And then it is installing it as the user EasyBuild, that is the second, third line from the bottom, su-l-easyBuild. So we're not installing it as root or so. The final bit is we need to set up the post installation environment. So that means we're sourcing a set of a profile, which means all the commands like module, ML, whatever is used is being found. We are doing a few bits with the modules. And right at the bottom, you see labels. And when you're using my script for the very first time, you are asked if you don't have to do it to say, okay, create a little text file where the author and your email address, for example, are there. That goes into the author label. So if somebody is reading that script has a problem, they can contact me assuming that email address is still valid. So if you come back in not many years' time, that might be different. And one of the labels is, of course, we installed GCC. So we've got the EasyBuild, we've got the Singularity definition file, how to build it. Now that is the only time we require sudo access. That can't be done on our cluster. But as I said before, if you're using Bakement, for example, on your machine, if it is not Linux-based, it's not a problem. So that bit requires sudo. So sudo, Singularity, build, then the name of the container, the suffix sif stands for Singularity ImageFile, which is basically a file which contains everything. And then you've got the definition file. You can, and we are doing that in the tutorial, you can take a container which is already there, like, for example, that GCC container, and open it up. Then we've got something what you could use a shrewd environment. And you can use Singularity to go in there. And then you can install, for example, bespoke pipelines, bespoke software, where you do not have yet an easy build configuration file for whatever reason you might think of. Running the container is very easy. Once you've got it, that can be done in user space. Running it is Singularity. Run, for example, the name of the container and then what you want to do. In that case, just demonstrate it. I've done GCC minus, minus version, and it comes up with a version and so on. Now, the really funny thing is you can do this as a center s container running on Debian. You can run it, you can use a Debian container running on center s. You can run that container, for example, on Mac, if you install Singularity, all of that is working. So you've got a container which is then running on, and I believe Singularity is now supporting Windows as well, natively. You've got a container which is running at least on Linux, any version, Mac, as far as I know, any version, and I believe on Windows as well. In summary, and I'm good in my time. Singularity containers are easy to build using the provided scripts. And all you need to know is really the easy build configuration file name, not necessarily the file unless you do fancy things. The only requirement is you need to have a Linux environment installed with Singularity. If you don't have Linux, or you do not have pseudo access, if you can install VirtualBox and Bakement, you can use it. Again, one of the beauties is, and I hope you got that message, you do not need to know in-depth knowledge of Singularity or how easy build is working. All you need to know is literally very few commands, and you need to know the name of the easy build configuration file. As I said before, the Singularity definition file can be published. So if somebody wants to redo it, they can do it. It's absolutely not a problem. You could think of publishing the container as well, but they can be quite big. So it's one thing to say, okay, I've got a text file, I put it in a supplementary of my publication, or I've got 700 or 800 or even a gigabyte of a container, how do I want to put that to my publication? That might be a little bit more tricky. Now, as an outlook looking ahead, you could think of, can we automate that? Can we say, okay, the user knows they want to use R, a particular version. So in my machinery, I put in R version 5, 3, whatever, and just build me the container. Once you've built this data set, run it and give me the output, and then I can think about I might destroy the container again, because I don't need to do it again. So you could automate it, which means from a user perspective, all you need to do is submit a job to a queue, and then the magic happens and you get result back. How that happens in the background? Is it running locally in a cloud, in a more secure environment? The user does not need to care about it. They can care, but they do not need to. Now, obviously, even though I'm the one giving the presentation, there are always people in the background who are helping. I'm very grateful for Kenneth for EasyBuild, and of course, all the people in the EasyBuild Slack channel. The same goes, I'm hanging out probably too much on Linux help in JetJunkies, and here, my friend Loki. I'm very grateful for him. He helped me doing proper batch scripting. Not it's working, but it actually conforms to standard and many other discussions. The same goes for my colleagues at the Rosalind team. I only started there back in December 2019. I managed to break my right elbow in January 2020, had my operation, then we had a lockdown. I had a very stupid start, but the people there are very warm and helped me a lot. It's a great people there. The good news is, if you are interested to join us, you can. There's a link down there. We are looking for a full stack engineer. As I said, the slides will be published. I need to advertise that. There will be a tutorial. If you want to learn more, there's a tutorial. Please sign up on that tutorial webpage. I would like to thank Christian and the team for Amazon for organizing that and providing the space. As I alluded to before, we built a simple singularity container so you understand the mechanism. Then we opened up the container. It's basically up to you to install software on it. There's also a channel here. That is my last slide. I think I'm actually dead on time. Are there any questions? Indeed. Thank you to York for that. Just a reminder, if you're watching the live stream on YouTube, then ask questions in the ED Build Slack, the EUM channel. If you're watching from on Zoom, then there's the option to raise your hand. There's a reactions option towards the bottom of the Zoom window that allows you to raise your hand and then we'll unmute you and allow you to ask a question. We have our first person. It's Victor from CSCS. A simple question. I'm very happy that you actually have developed this tool because we have a similar tool at CSCS. That's exactly more or less the same work that you're doing. But at CSCS, we have the need to allow users to install different MPIs. We are also concerned about the size of the images. Have you considered allowing for an option where they use it and customize to the command line or any other mechanism? The packages that you've been installed, like I saw that you do live verb, which are not necessarily needed for all clusters and just decrease the image size. Have you considered also doing question number one? Question number two is related to doing MootStap building, where you could compile the code and just copy the binaries of that code to a different container so that you have a smaller image. And the third question, if I may ask, have you tried MPI? So to get MPI in performance, MPI having native MPI performance for the clusters? Right. Going backwards, I haven't tried MPI. I don't think any of our users has used it, so I don't know. It's the honest answer. I haven't done any performance tests. It's a very good question. I really should look into it. Regarding the, can you remove the packages which are required for the operating system and so on? My aim was keep it simple. Because you've got the definition file, if somebody is asking the question, oh, can I remove these packages? That means they are a little bit more advanced. That means you just create the singularity definition file and then you can edit it the way you want it. So I do, for example, on a regular base, I just install them on Debian, which I don't think is on the list. So it depends on the user. If a user is just wanting to get a container, that is the aim of the script. If the user wants to do more, because you get the definition file, and of course you can download the GitHub and you can modify it, they can do it. I'm not ruling it out. Size of the container is something I have noticed. So in particular, when you build R, that very easily can go up to a gig. So you are firing up a very large container. Even though the source of R and all of that will be removed at the end of it, it's still a large container because R is simply big. I haven't found a good solution for that one. I think I've missed out one question, didn't I? Opening up the container, I think it was. What you can do is, what I have done is, I build usually GCC as a base container, then opening it up and using EasyBuild, for example, to install the software I need, or installing inside that container software, where there aren't any EasyBuild configuration files yet. And then, obviously, pack it all up again and ship the container, and here you don't have a definition file, which is the flip side. Does that answer all your questions? I've noticed there are two more. Yeah, so the question is more related to the last one was about the multi-stage build, right? Instead of doing the EB, you could do EB with RPAP, and then just copy, I don't know, if you did Gromax, and then you just copied Gromax into the binary and the odds of dependencies and that's it, right? And then you miss all these not necessary things that you can install on the container to decrease the size. You probably could do that. I haven't tried it to be perfectly honest. Okay, because it works pretty well for us. I don't know if you want to implement that yourself too. Yeah. We can discuss it offline later on if you want to. Yeah, sure. Cool, thanks. Just ping me on Slack, but obviously, like everybody, I'm busy. There were two more questions. So what we're going to have to at the moment is we're going to ask people with any more questions and ask you all to move to the breakout room, so just give us a chance to set up for the next talk.


Good morning. The first item of business today is General Question number 1 from Ruth Maguire. Presiding Officer, to ask the Scottish Government what action it's taking on to ensure that social housing is affordable to tenants. Minister Kevin Stewart. The Scottish Government does not direct individual social landlords on setting rent levels for their tentancies. Individual social landlords are responsible for setting rents and consultation with their tenants. In doing so, it is required by the Scottish social housing week to strike a balance between the level of services provided, the cost of the services, and how far current and prospective tenants and service users can afford the rents. This means that each social landlord should be considering the ability of their current and future tenants to afford proposed increases in light of the tenants' circumstances. On the issue of mitigating the UK Government's welfare reforms, this year we are spending around £50 million to mitigate the bedroom tax, helping over 70,000 households in the social sector in receipt of housing benefit or universal credit. Ruth Maguire. When I raised this matter last year, the minister informed me that the Scottish Government would be working with social landlords in 2018 to understand how savings could be made within the affordable housing supply that could be reinvested towards keeping rents affordable. After a 6 per cent increase last year, I have a constituent who has again seen his rent increased by 6 per cent this year, with little or no improvements to his own home. This was not the increase that was consulted on by the housing association, but it includes a further recalibration of rent structures. He told me that his rent has increased by 30 per cent in the last five years. Does the minister agree with me that action on the affordability of social housing for low-paid workers is urgent? Minister, could you also suggest your microphone towards you? Certainly, Presiding Officer. As Ruth Maguire has noted, we, as a Government, are taking an active interest in the issue of affordability. For example, in the context of the tackling child poverty delivery plan, we are currently doing research on this very issue. The first progress report on child poverty to be published in the summer will set out the progress that we have made on this agenda to date. I know that social landlords understand the importance of keeping rents affordable and meeting the needs of the people that they serve. They must get that balance right between the rent levels that they set and the level of services that they provide, including the cost of services that I have seen previously. They must not increase rents without regard to affordability. We will continue to work with the sector to agree the best ways to keep rents affordable, for example, through improving procurement capability to deliver efficiencies. I am more than willing to meet with Ms Maguire to discuss the issues around this particular constituent to make sure that the constituent has had a financial health check to make sure that he is getting everything that he is entitled to and beyond that to discuss the matters around the housing association that she has talked about. Graham Simpson Ruth Maguire raised an important issue. One of the ways to keep rents down or to keep them in check is to build more social housing. The Government is committed to building 35,000 houses for social rent. In the first two years of this Parliament, only 8,500, according to the Government's own figures, were built way off-target. Can the minister say how he hopes to get the programme back on track? Michael Matheson First of all, in terms of rent affordability, here in Scotland in 2016-17, rents and housing associations were some 18 per cent lower than in England and 21 per cent lower for local authority homes. There is a big difference between SNP-run Scotland and Tory-run England in that regard. In terms of the housing programme, the housing programme is on track. We have said that we will deliver 50,000 affordable homes, 35,000 of those for social rent. We are on track to do so. I am sure that Mr Simpson knows that is the case, because I pontificate it quite a bit. We will continue to deliver what is the biggest housing programme since the 1970s, unlike what is happening south of the border, where it does not seem to have the same ethos as us in terms of the delivery of social housing. Liam Kerr The Scottish Government, how many local authority providers in the north-east provide 1,140 hours of funded childcare? Liam Kerr Every three and four-year-old and eligible two-year-old is entitled to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare from August 2020. At the moment, legal entitlement is 600 hours. No local authority is under legal obligation to offer 1,140 hours yet. Local authorities have been asked to phase in the expanded offer and to ensure that those children who stand to gain the most from extra funded hours are the first to benefit. Currently, 22 local authority settings in the north-east, comprising Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angust, D and Murray, offer 1,140 hours. A further 38 local authority settings in the north-east will be phasing in and delivering the extended provision later this year. Liam Kerr I thank the minister for that answer. We are well over halfway point in the expansion of childcare provision to the 1,140 hours. I am happy to help the minister. In fact, in the north-east, freedom of information requests have revealed only eight out of 222 public childcare centres that are offering the target of 1,140. That is eight out of 222. To reassure parents who are feeling let down and show the minister's confidence in the delivery of the target, will the minister commit to resigning if she fails to deliver the 1,140 hours at every public childcare centre in the north-east by 2020? To reassure the member again, I am absolutely confident that, in 18 months' time, when the local authorities are legally obliged to deliver 11,40 hours of free childcare, they will be. Let me assure you that we are on target and we are going to deliver this transformative programme. Let me reassure the member further, because the member restricted his question to local authority settings, as well as the local authority settings, which are already providing 11,40 hours. An estimated 77 partner providers are currently delivering the expanded entitlement of 11,40 hours, and at least an additional 22 partner providers are expected to do so from August this year. If I were building a bridge, you would not expect to be driving over it 18 months before it was built. Gillian Martin Thank you, Presiding Officer, and let's not forget that the Tories that were in charge of Aberdeenshire Council on Friday I visited Hoodles Nursery in Old Meldrum, one of many private partner provider nurseries, gaining up for 11,40 hours provision. Can I ask Minister Notale Enter to ensure that partner providers and childminders are included in the free childcare revolution and that parents get to choose the best type of provision that suits them and children? Maureen I�한로 Ao Myrydig Oedon Maureen I corpse Maureen I'r provider neutral funding that follows the child approach will empower parents and carers to choose from a range of high-quality providers, including childminders in Beverly and Private and third sector settings. The power is in the parents' hands well and truly d accessible youth for the child that will suit them and their family best. The provider just had to meet the national standard and have a place available. Our multi-year funding agreement will enable local authorities to pay sustainable rates to funded providers by 2020. We are committed to supporting providers in the transition to 2020 while We know that they will be absolutely crucial to our success. Our delivery support plan builds on support already available, such as the 100 per cent business rates relief, and sets out further actions to support providers. Meaningful partnership working between providers and local authorities is key to ensuring choice for parents and carers. The ELC partnership forum, established with COSLA, is helping to share good practice and we are going to hold a partnership summit this summer as we approach one year to go. Willie Coffey, what progress is being made by the local authorities to adjust payment frequencies to private voluntary sector and home-based providers to encourage both local and national sustainability of the 1140 hours? A key aspect of our funding follows the child approach to be introduced in 2020, August 2020, is that local authorities ensure that funded providers are paid promptly and efficiently for delivering the funded entitlement. That will support the sustainability of funded providers and ensure healthy cash flows. As a minimum, it is expected that local authorities should look to pay a funded provider within 30 days of the start of term and preferably much sooner. The timing of the payment should be stipulated in the agreement between the local authority and the funded provider or in the general conditions governing terms of business. There are already examples of local authorities with prompt payment practices. As I said, we are encouraging the sharing of good practice through the Knowledge Hub. Jamie Greene, to ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce air pollution in North Ayrshire. The Scottish Government works closely with all local authorities in Scotland on reducing air pollution. Financial and other support is provided to authorities to assist them with monitoring and to our necessary actions to improve air quality. The Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy sets out a series of actions for Government, Transport Scotland, local authorities and others to further reduce air pollution across all areas of Scotland. An independent review of the strategy is currently on-going. Jamie Greene. I can assign the Cabinet Secretary for that response, but clearly one of the main drivers of reducing air pollution in towns across North Ayrshire and right across Scotland will be improving the uptake of low-emission vehicles. On that point, can I ask the cabinet secretary how many charging points has this Government installed in North Ayrshire? If that information is not available in the chamber now, I'd be happy to have it in writing later. How confident is she that the Government is going to meet its 2032 target given that new car sales of low-emission vehicles is only 6 per cent at the moment? The member knows that that probably is a question that ought to be directed towards my transport colleagues. However, I can advise him that action is being taken in this regard in North Ayrshire, and there are currently 12 electric vehicle charge points in place with six further vehicle charge points being installed. I think that he should be reassured that the work on vehicle charge points is on-going. At the end of the day, low-emission vehicle uptake is a matter for all aspects of society. It is not something that the Government can absolutely direct, and I hope that he will join me in encouraging all car owners when they are thinking about new purchases to consider low-emission vehicles as a purchase. Kenneth Gibson Thank you, Presiding Officer. Can the minister tell us how air quality and air quality targets in Scotland compare to those in the rest of the United Kingdom? The minister compares particularly favourably, as you might imagine. There is a particular target, which Scotland is the first country in Europe to have adopted in terms of legislating, and that is the fine, particulate target. That, of course, is the one that gives us the biggest concern in respect of the impacts on health of air pollution. We compare well with the rest of the UK, and we are fully compliant with EU requirements for fine particulate matter. Annabelle Ewing To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the operation of the Town Centre Fund. The £50 million Town Centre Fund, which I announced in the budget, has been developed in partnership with COSLA and was launched on 1 March. The fund will be distributed across all local authorities to enable them to stimulate and support a wide range of investments that encourage town centres and city neighbourhoods to diversify and flourish. The distribution of the fund was agreed jointly by Scottish Government and COSLA leaders. It will be for local authorities to allocate this fund against the themes of the Town Centre action plan. Annabelle Ewing I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer, and I also thank him warmly for allocating the highest amount of funding, in fact, under the fund 2.5 council, which is £4.3 million. As the MSP for Cowdenbeath constituency, can the cabinet secretary clarify how I can ensure that towns in my constituency get their fair share of this very welcome Scottish Government funding? First of all, I welcome the warm welcome from Annabelle Ewing of those resources. I think that they will be transformative for our town centres. The exact figure for Fife to be precise is £4,335,000. It will be for local authorities to determine the distribution, but the campaign to ensure that there is fairness for every part of the constituency that Annabelle Ewing represents has already begun and the council will be very well aware of that position, but it will be a matter for them to determine the distribution of that fund. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with asbestos-related illnesses and how it supports people with those conditions. The Scottish Government expects NHS boards to provide high-quality person-centred care for all people, including those with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of asbestos-related conditions. The Scottish Government's cancer strategy, Beating Cancer, Ambition and Action, was launched in March 2016 alongside a commitment to spend £100 million over five years to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of those affected by all forms of cancer. That includes those who have an asbestos-related cancer. I thank the minister for the answer. I am hosting Tayside Asbestos Action Group in Parliament today. I know from personal experience how much support they give to people living with asbestos-related conditions, including Mrs Ilyoma and their families, and I thank them for their work. There remains concern that a postcode lottery exists when it comes to people receiving the medical or pastoral care that they need and deserve. What is the Scottish Government doing to bridge the gaps in provision and raise awareness among health and social workers of the soft support that is available and the importance of signposting people to those vital services? I thank the member for that question and recognise her personal commitment to this area of work. I also recognise the work of Tayside Action Against Asbestos. The member makes a really important point. We have recently published a revised Scottish referral guideline for suspected cancer on 22 January. The purpose of that is to make sure that we have that consistency. The referral guidelines for suspected cancer will help to ensure that clinicians have access to the most up-to-date evidence to refer patients with symptoms suspicious of cancer on to the right pathway at the right time. I recognise the work of organisations such as those in the gallery. I am happy to continue working with the member on an issue that I know is of personal importance to her. To ask the Scottish Government when it will put together an economic plan for Dundee. We have a national economic strategy and action plan that we are delivering for Scotland. We are working with local and regional partners to help to build the long-term, resilient and inclusive economic growth that Dundee needs in order to thrive. Jenny Marra. Dundee has lost 850 jobs at Michelin. Over 200, just in the city of McGill, will lose over 300 HMRC on top of the many smaller businesses that have closed. On Monday, 4th and Tadee commissioning will launch, but we have still to see the jobs materialise. I note that there is to be no Government presence at this event. I believe that this Government has a responsibility to its voters in Dundee to urgently prioritise our city for new economic opportunities. Will the cabinet secretary publish a Dundee jobs plan this autumn and can he please commit to that today? Cabinet Secretary. We do have an economic strategy, an economic action plan and that is what this Government is about, delivering the actions necessary to grow our economy and create jobs across Scotland. Specifically for Dundee, as Jenny Marra knows very well, when Michelin took the decision to leave Scotland, I got involved and sure we recalibrated entire efforts to ensure that Michelin stays in Dundee and that is what they committed to do because of the actions of this Government and our partners. That was significant. In relation to some of the public sector jobs that Jenny Marra has spoken about, HMRC pulling out of Dundee was not the Labour Party that joined with the Conservatives to say that to save civil service jobs, people had to vote against Scottish independence and still were losing those jobs as part of the union. On the other hand, the Scottish Government is delivering 750 new jobs for Dundee through the creation of the Social Security Agency. Further actions for Dundee. There has been industrial difficulties. Our agencies have got involved to try and support the Dundee economy. We will continue to do so, but with the Scottish Government, Dundee gets action from the Labour Party, they get empty rhetoric. Richard Lyle To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage companies to establish more apprenticeships. We encourage companies to provide apprentices opportunities, of which there will be 29,000 next year, up from 28,000 this year, through a variety of means such as promotional activity in Scottish Apprenticeship week, through developing the young workforce regional groups and activity undertaken by the Scottish Apprenticeship advisory board. Skills Relants Scotland also undertake a range of promotional activity, sending the benefits of apprenticeships to employers and individuals. Richard Lyle Can I compliment the minister for his drive in more modern apprenticeships? I note that the new target has been set by the Scottish Government for next year of over 29,000. Last week, I visited Saltide Heating Systems in Bellsill. Their take-on apprenticeships have 30 apprenticeships and there are 12 per cent of the workforce. I hope that other firms will take their lead. As people retire, we need more apprenticeships to take up the slack right across the range for every company from drivers to plumbers to bricklayers. My question to the minister is, what steps can the Scottish Government take to ensure that we have the correct range of apprentices, both male and female, that Scotland requires to meet our future needs to grow as a country? Jamie Hepburn Can I begin by congratulating Saltide Heating Systems for making exactly the type of contribution that we need to see employers make? We will continue to undertake the activity that we do, increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities but also ensuring that our system is responsive to employer needs. That is exactly the system that we have and we are now going to continue to engage with employers to ensure our apprenticeship offer response to the needs of our economy and society. Mr Llyw could be assured of that, as can every member in this chamber. Thank you very much. Before we turn to First Minister's questions, I invite colleagues to join me in welcoming to our gallery the Honourable Ted Arnott, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.


We're from Tucson, Arizona. Our parents own a cactus nursery there. We spent our summers learning how to like handle a cactus, like a little seven-year-old with these big, massive gloves. We are a ponderosa cactus and we're a small boutique cactus and succulent shop in Highland Park. The biggest challenge at first was trying to convince people that cactus were safe. Yes, reminding them that we're like living proof that you can live with cactus because we've been around them and we're still alive. It's just second nature to us. We saw an opportunity in Los Angeles when they were going through their drought about three years ago. A lot of people were in shock that they needed to rip out their lawns or they didn't know what would beautify their lawns without their green grass. Danielle and I saw an opportunity to like provide knowledge to those people seeking alternative. The local businesses in Ponderosa have established a relationship where we go into their space and see what would work. And then we have some spaces in downtown that we help coordinate their showrooms. A lot of our Instagram are of tag photos of our plants in their new homes. It's really helped us surface. So that's how Ponderosa really blossom into what it is now. Um, we like to start the day with greeting our plants. We walk around with our Palo Santo just to get the energy flowing. And at the same time, we're checking plants and seeing if they're like standing upright or if they need fresh soil or whatever needs they have. Yeah, then it is like definitely the personality of the store. She's very good at looking at a space, like quickly arranging things and very like design oriented. Daniela is very good at everything else. My advice to someone who is thinking about opening up their own business is to do their research just so that you're not blindsided by something that you didn't think about. I wouldn't pay attention to the naysayers because it's always going to be a lingering thought if you play it safe. And then overall, I think like do it. If it feels right and if you're motivated, just jump in and do it.


Science surrounds us, impacts our everyday lives. Through the study of pharmacy, you learn how to discover new drugs, how to prepare and dispense medicines, the responsibility, the protocols, combining medicine, chemistry and biology, the comprehensive study of anatomy and physiology, microbiology and biochemistry. Studying an in-depth understanding of what a drug does to the body and what the body does to a drug. The skills and knowledge to be flexible and adaptable in a range of diverse industries. Studying at the University of Greenwich enabled me to utilize facilities across all three connected campuses, the study spaces, the labs, social spaces, societies and events. A diverse community crossing paths, supporting each other on our own unique journey, it's time to step up.


CHAPTER XXVIII. The revelations of a satchel. Hello, old man. A. The man stopped, stared at Harry Bernard as if puzzled, and then began to grin. I want to speak with you, sir. Sorten, sorten, you can. Who are you? Sam Wiggs, a yonkers. What can I do for you, mister? The old fellow seemed honest enough, and as Harry glanced at the dirty hands, he saw nothing to excite his suspicions. Are you a relative of Mr. Naming the farmer who owned the place on which they stood? Well, not as I knows on. Laughing until his old head seemed ready to topple from his shoulders. No blood relation, any, sir. You see, my wife's cousins, aunts, husbands, brother, Jerry was a cousin to Nicodemus Dunn's, who if I don't disremember was related in some way to Isaac or Pete's wife's sister, and since she was this year man's niece or something of that sort, but we ain't blood-related know-how. I should think not, answered Harry, and then he returned to the house, while the old man wids proceeded, unmolested, on his way. At a first glance he did resemble the man of the immigrant train strongly, muttered Bernard, but I see now that I was mistaken. Well, how did you make out, Harry? This was from Dyke Darrell, who had been watching proceedings from the window. A case of mistaken identity, answered the young man with a laugh. I was sure I had found the right man when I saw that old chap crossing the yard, but it seems that I was mistaken. Are you sure of it? I suppose I am. Dyke Darrell watched the retreating form of the old man with no little curiosity, however, until his bent form was lost to view down the winding road. Naturally suspicious, the detective more than half believed that the seemingly aged man had not come to the farmhouse for any good purpose. I can't help thinking that Wiggs, as he called himself, is destined to give us trouble, Harry, the detective said at length. An inoffensive old man, asserted Bernard. At the same time, however, he was not fully content to let the matter rest as it was. It might be well enough to watch the old fellow at any rate, said Dyke Darrell, rising and walking twice across the room, peering nervously out of the window in the direction in which old Wiggs had gone. Keep quiet, Dyke, said Bernard. I will shadow the old fellow and see if he is other than he seems. Bernard was on the point of leaving the room when a youth appeared, walking swiftly toward the farmhouse from the direction of the station. One glance suffice to show both men the genial face of the boy, Paul Ender. So you have Paul with you, Harry, said the detective with a pleased smile. He is my shadow, and I have found him true and brave, answered Harry, at the same time glancing toward Nell, who had told him of the lad's defense of her against the villain, Elliston. I can testify to his bravery, said the girl. Paul and I are great friends. A minute later young Ender entered the presence of the trio and deposited a black satchel in the middle of the floor. I have committed a theft, said the boy, with a queer look on his face, and I am here to throw myself on the mercy of the court. You speak in riddles, said Bernard. I have been on a bully lay, as the pealers say, and I believe I have made a discovery, although it may amount to nothing after all. Go on. I've seen the man with the red hair and beard. When? Where? Over by the depot. I saw him go into an old out-house with this satchel in his hand. Indeed! Go on. I was on the watch, and when he came out I saw not brother Ruggles, but a lean old man, with white locks and beard who seemed to walk with great difficulty. Ah, indeed! He hobbled away and failed to take the satchel with him. At first I could not believe that the sorrel gent and the old chap were the same. I learned this by investigation. When, after waiting a spell, and no sunset-haired gent came forth, I proceeded to investigate, and found this satchel, which, under the law of military necessity, I proceeded to confiscate, that the ends of justice might be furthered. If I have done wrong I am ready to throw myself on the mercy of the court, and be forgiven. You have done right, cried Dyke Darrell. Have you opened this satchel? No, it is locked, and I have not a key that will fit. Cried Bernard produced several keys, none of which fitted the lock to the satchel. What are we to do, cried Bernard? The satchel is securely locked, and its owner has the key. This is no time for ceremony or undue squeamishness, uttered Dyke Darrell. We are on the eve of an important discovery, and I propose to make no delays. Then, drawing a knife from his pocket, the detective bent over the satchel and slit the sides at one stroke. That will open it if a key won't, he remarked, with a grim satisfaction. The contents of the satchel were a revelation. Red wigs and a complete suit of clothes, besides paints and powders. Harry uttered an exclamation. Just as I suspected, uttered Dyke Darrell, you made no mistake when you suspected that old man who just now left this vicinity. Doubtless he forgot his satchel, or else thought it safe until his return. Paul, my boy, you have done a good thing, and shall be promoted. You must now make it a point to intercept old wigs. Doubtless he has gone to the depot. How far is that from here? Two miles. When does the train pass, questioned Dyke Darrell? I cannot say, nor I. Ask the farmer's wife. Paul sped from the room. The New York Express goes in ten minutes, said the boy, on his return. In ten minutes? Then we have no time to lose, cried Dyke, turning to the door. Dyke, what would you do, demanded Nell at this moment. Consider your enemy in mind. But you are not strong enough to take the trail. Stay with me. He interrupted her with, Nell, I never felt stronger in my life. I mean to put the bracelets on the villain's wrists with my own hands. Dyke, leave it to me, urged Harry Bernard. But the detective's blood was up, and he would listen to no one. He was determined to be in at the death, and, for the time, his old strength seemed coursing in his veins. He hastened from the house, and, ascertaining that a horse was in the barn, he at once sprang to the animal's back. You are unarmed, said Bernard. Yes, but take this, I will follow quickly. And the young man thrust a revolver into the hand of Dyke Darrell. Do nothing rash until help arrives, Dyke. Our game is desperate, and will fight hard if cornered. I am aware of that, but I do not fear him. Ha! What is that? The roar of the train. Then time is short. The horse and rider shot away down the country road like an arrow, or a bird. On and on with the speed of the wind, and yet the lightning express made even greater speed than did the detective's horse. With a roar and a rush the train swept past. Too late. Dyke Darrell drew rain at the depot just as the train swept madly away on its course to the great city, and on the rear platforms to the old man who had peered into the farmhouse window but a short time before. It was an aggravating situation. You can use the telegraph, suggested the depot agent, when Darrell unboosomed himself to him. Quick! Send word to the next station and have the man detained. The ticket agent went to his instrument and ticked off the desired information. A little later came the reply. No such person on the train. A malediction fell from the detective's lips. Was his enemy to thus outwit him always? End of CHAPTER XXVIII. CHAPTER XXIX of Dyke Darrell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Dyke Darrell, the railroad detective, or The Crime of the Midnight Express, by Frank Pinkerton. CHAPTER XXIX RETRIBUTION. A tall, handsome man of middle age stood picking his teeth with a jaunty air beside the desk of a downtown boarding-house, when his occupation, if such we may call it, was interrupted by a touch on his arm. Looking down, the gentleman saw a small ragged urchin standing near. It is yarn, ten cents, please. The boy held out a yellow envelope, on which was scrawled the name Harper Elliston. The gentleman dropped the required bit of silver into the boy's hand with the air of a king, and then tore open the envelope. Mr. Elliston, meet me at room 14, number 388 Blank Street, at 7 this evening, sharp. B. The contents of the envelope puzzled Mr. Elliston, who had been but ten days in New York since his return from the West. He had several acquaintances whose names might, with appropriateness, be signed B. I don't think there will be any harm in meeting Mr. B. at the place mentioned. It may be of importance, as he says. If it should be a trap sent by Dyke Darrell, but, shaw, that man is dead. I had it from the lips of Martin Skidway, and he knew wherever he spoke. I will call it 388, let the consequences be what they may. Thus decided a cunning villain, and in so doing went to his own doom. Ten days had Dyke Darrell and his friend Bernard search the city of New York, ere they found their prey. Once found, the detective resolved upon a novel manner of procedure for his capture. The sending of the letter was part of the scheme. Had this failed, then a bolder move would have been made, but it did not fail. When Mr. Elliston wrapped at room 14, number 388 Blank Street, the door was opened, admitting the visitor to a small room containing a bed, a few necessary articles of furniture, and a curtained alcove. The door was suddenly closed and locked behind Elliston. Light was turned on fully, and then the visitor found himself confronted by Harry Bernard, whom he had met once or twice in Woodburg many months before. A. ejaculated Elliston. So you are the man who wrote that note requesting an interview? Well I am glad to see you, Mr. Bernard, and Elliston held out his hand with a smile reading his thin lips. I imagined you would be, returned to youth, I am glad to see you so well. Fact is, you are badly wanted out in Illinois at the present time. I am sorry that I cannot accommodate my friends out there, returned Elliston with a frown, but it is wholly out of the question. I think I will bid you good evening, Mr. Bernard. I cannot waste precious time here. He turned and grasped the doorknob. It did not yield to his touch. Not just yet, Mr. Elliston, I wish to ask you a few questions. Well, what do you know of the murder of Arnold Nicholson on the Midnight Express, south of Chicago, some weeks ago? I read of it, of course. Mr. Elliston pulled nervously at his glove as he answered. What do you know of the disappearance of Captain Osborne in the death of his daughter, persisted Bernard? You suppose I have nothing to do but answer such nonsensical questions, demanded Elliston angrily, open the store and let me pass out? Not yet. I wish to tell you a little story, Mr. Elliston. I haven't time to listen. Nevertheless, you must take the time, said Harry Bernard sternly. Don't attempt to make trouble, sir. You will get the worst of it if you do. There was a glitter in the eyes of the speaker that was not pleasant to see. Mr. Elliston sank to a chair, and with an air of resignation said, Well, well, this is impudent, but I will listen if it will gratify you. It certainly will. I wish to start out with the assertion that you do know something about the crime on the Midnight Express, and I will try and convince you that I know what part you acted in the murder of one of the best men in the service of the express company. Don't lose your temper, sir, but listen. I am listening. There was a sullen echo in the man's voice that boated an outburst soon. A gentleman of your build and complexion boarded the train at a station just south of Chicago one night in April. At another station two companions joined this man according to previous agreement. One was almost a boy in years, an escaped convict, and these three men during the night entered the express car, murdered the agent, and went through the safe. Just before reaching Black Hollow the three men left the car. One of the three was tall and had red hair and a beard. This man, after the slaughter, left a trace behind that has led to his identity.  That handkerchief was afterward found, and the bloody mark compared with the hand of the assassin. That could hardly be possible. Hands are many of them alike, articulated Mr. Elliston nervously. True, but in this case a wart of peculiar shape gave the man away.  The man who committed the murder read of the clue in a Chicago paper, and to obliterate the tell-tale evidence he cut the wart from his hand and dropped it under the seat, while journeying through Iowa in disguise on an immigrant train. The face of Elliston had become white as death, and he trembled from head to foot. If Bernard had doubted before he doubted now no longer. A nice story, finally, sneered Bernard's visitor. When did you learn so much? Weeks ago. And you have permitted this villain to run at large so long. Well, I propose to see that he did not flaunt his crimes in the face of the world longer. Then with a quick movement the youth drew a vial from his pocket and held it up to view, exhibiting to the dilating eyes of the New Yorker a large wart with a double top. Just remove the glove from your right hand, Mr. Elliston. I think we will find a scar there that this wart will fit. Furies! This is too much! cried Elliston, coming to his feet, white with rage and fear. Stop! Keep your temper, warned Bernard. I wish to bring a witness, one that has been your companion in crime. The curtain over the alcove was brushed aside, and a man stepped forth, a man with red whiskers and hair, the latter surmounted with a glossy, plug hat. Elliston stared like one bereft of sense in life. Allow me to introduce Professor Darlington Ruggles, Mr. Elliston, uttered Harry Bernard in a mocking voice. Hades, what does this mean? And the trapped villain staggered, clutching the back of a chair for support. It means that your race of crime and diabolism is run, Harper Elliston. Red hair and beard were suddenly swept aside, a revolver was thrust into the startled countenance of Elliston. He looked and could only utter, Dyke Darrell, the detective, do you deny your guilt scoundrel? But Harper Elliston sank to a seat and bowed his head while drops of cold sweat covered his forehead. The touch of cold steel and click of closing bracelets roused him. He was helpless now for his wrists were encircled by handcuffs. Black despair confronted the villain. Dyke Darrell went through the pockets of his prisoner and found a revolver, an ugly-looking clasp knife and other articles of a nature that served to show that the owner was not pursuing an honest calling. Do you remember that night on the dock beside the river, Elliston? questioned Bernard, bending suddenly over the prisoner. But no answer came from the bloodless lips of the cornered villain.  I had mistrusted you for a villain and I meant to unmask you to save Nell Darrell, whom I loved, from your wiles. You struck me with a knife and pushed me into the river. I, however, was not harmed. The point of your knife glanced on a small book that I carried in an inner pocket. I escaped from the river and resolved to follow you to your doom. I overheard your plans of abducting Nell Darrell when you fired at my masked face that night as I peered into Mother Scarlett's room. I then knew you to be a villain of the deepest dye. Since I learned that you were the man in disguise on the immigrant train in Iowa and this wart will, with other evidence, condemn you before an honest jury of your peers. A groan alone answered the denouement made by Harry Bernard. Dyke Darrell removed the glove from his prisoner's right hand and exposed a scarcely healed scar near the joint of the little finger. The chain of evidence was complete. The red hair in the clutches of the murdered Nicholson had evidently been torn from the false beard of the disguised assassin. The New Yorker was removed from the house and taken at once to prison. Since, on the following morning, Dyke Darrell set out on his return to the Garden City with Elliston in charge. Harry Bernard remained at the farmhouse in New York State to see Nell, who had been left in the care of Paul Ender. Nell had almost entirely recovered from the shock of her recent treatment and was overjoyed at the outcome of her friends' visit to New York. Elliston will be convicted and hanged, was Bernard's verdict. On the very day of Harry's arrival at the farmhouse, he, with the old farmer, was summoned to visit one who had met with a fatal accident and was about to die.  He had accidentally shot himself and was rapidly sinking. A fugitive in hiding for weeks, his life had become an intolerable one. Now that he was dying he made a full confession, admitting his own hand in the awful railroad crime, and implicating two others, Elliston and Nick Brower. Sam Swart had been one of them, but he was known to be dead. Without his urging I would never have stained my hands. In fact it was Elliston who struck the blow that killed the express messenger. Without this confession there was enough evidence to convict the New Yorker. With it both Brower and the principal were found guilty of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to the gallows. Nick Brower was the only one of the four who expiated his crime on the gallows. Harper Elliston died in prison by his own hand. He left a note admitting the express crime, and also confessing to the murder of Captain Osborn and the ruin of his daughter's civil. His was a fitting end to a career of unparalleled crime. We now draw a veil over the scene. Harry Bernard and Nell Darrell were, soon after the arrest and death of Elliston, happily married. Dyke Darrell considers the events leading up to the capture and punishment of those engaged in the crime of the Midnight Express as among the most thrilling and wonderful of his detective experience. To Harry Bernard and Paul Ender he gives a large share of the credit, and with them shared the reward. Bernard has, of late, worked in conjunction with Dyke Darrell on other cases, and is fast winning a reputation second only to that of the great railroad detective himself. The End End of Section 29 End of Dyke Darrell, Railroad Detective, or the Crime of the Midnight Express. Read by Cibella Denton in Carrollton, Georgia, November 2007.


Hello everybody, E here. Welcome back to another book review today. I'm going to call this a retro book review. I'm going to put this with my retro book review series because I read this before ages ago and I just decided to jump back into it because I found a copy super cheap at a second in Charles. But today we're talking about Ravenous by Ray Garton. Right up front I've been a longtime fan of Ray Garton ever since he was he was publishing with Leisure Press and I have the majority of his books. I still need to find the sequel to this one Beastial and Nightlife. I remember it being one of the good vampire books that I've read but I'd have to not Nightlife, Live Girls. I'd have to reread it again but I have both of them. I have Live Girls and I have Nightlife. Ray is a very stripped down. He's almost Richard Layman but with a little more I wouldn't say I don't know literary flair. He goes a little deeper into his descriptions and his the thoughts of his characters and things like that and while there is a ton of sex in this book and rape. Ton of sex and rape. So it's going to get it's going to get compared to Layman just just because it has a ton of sex and rape in it. But we're going to get to why the rape is purposeful. That's important. The rape in Layman's books tend to be just you know just thrown in there because it's disturbing. The this one it's more it's more it's less stripped down than Richard Layman's. It doesn't read quite as quick but it does read as quick as let's say a Bentley Little. There's far more I don't want to say it's bricks of text but there's far more big paragraphs and there are smaller paragraphs and with a Layman's story you're going to get much more quick punchy sentences and paragraphs than you are in this one. I said all that to say this. I enjoy rape stuff. I still to this day enjoy rape stuff whereas I don't really care too much for Layman's anymore. In this one the rape is purposeful because the this is a slight spoiler. So if you don't want any spoilers at all maybe scrub ahead 30 seconds. So spoilers in three two one the werewolf thing in here isn't it the virus is not spread with bites it's spread with sex. So there's there's loads and loads of rape. It just has to be done for this story to work. But the okay that's the end of the spoilers. Let's just jump back into the review. This one I won't say I had a lot of fun with it. It was very dark very disturbing.  I've always appreciated that about Ray's stuff. Really really good deaths and Mamies and Gore and all that stuff and there's purpose behind the violence. Especially the end of this book this book ends perfectly. It has one of it has a perfect horror ending. Now I did struggle getting through this book and I don't know why. It took me over a month to read. Not actually it took me almost a month. I started it on the 1st of October. I think I ended it on the 24th. I'm not sure. But the the book it there's action and stuff like that but it it felt very familiar to me and I never wanted to pick it back up again and that's probably because I read it before. Now I was thinking as I was going through what did I love about this book the first time that I read it because I didn't remember any of this stuff. I didn't even remember that the sex side of it. I don't want to say this before there again but the I didn't remember any of that and even though the majority of the sex was horrific I didn't care too much for those scenes.  But the I don't know there was just something that made me think why did I love this so much? And then I got to the last 50 pages and I'm like that's why I love this so much when I was younger. Now I'm only going to give it four times four stars this time because the beginning of the book is good the ending of the book is good but that middle section not that it drags but this what this book would have really really shone shown whatever shined whatever um the this book would have been much better as a novella I think that's my that's my only criticism that certain parts go on too long there are some uh some inner thoughts that don't gel with the characters I think there are some forced uh forced things for the plot to happen um but that's just that's just my opinion uh you may disagree but that's that's all I really have for this one um I I did enjoy it um especially the ending the ending makes up for any other problems that I might have had because I love endings like this I didn't expect it even though I read it before I completely forgot I love it when that happens when I can go back and reread an old favorite and it still be good and still be surprised like I was the first time at least I might have been surprised but this is one of those endings that if you've read the Edward Lorne books um the books I've written underneath this pen name um if you've read those I think this is one of those books that pushed me toward what that author is known for that work is known for um the that those types of endings but have you read Ravinous by Ray Garton if you have please let me know whether or not you loved it liked it hated it um if you did love it or hate it let me know why down there in the doodly doo so we can have a discussion but until next time I have any you've been you this has been another book review I'll talk to you guys later bye


Governor Agbo Kefas of Tarba State has urged Monarchs to collaborate with his administration to arrest insecurity in the state. Tarba State has been battling issues of boundary kidnapping, communal clashes and farmer-header clashes. The governor engaged the traditional rulers in a round table today in Jalingo with the state capital. He said the meeting became necessary due to happenings in the state. More to his demands, he admonished the Monarchs to go the extra mile, legitimately, to curb illegal mining activities in their various domains. Over the years, we have witnessed the surge in mining activities, both legal and illegal, which has caused significant damage to our ecosystems. The revenue that should have been chained into public welfare and infrastructure development has been siphoned away, leaving our people in their need. I urged the federal government and our development partners to support our effort in restoring the damage caused by years of unchecked mining activities. We need their assistance in implementing the comprehensive reforestation program, providing alternative deployment opportunities and strengthening our capacity for effective revelation and monitoring.