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March is Women's History Month so I am highlighting women in technology. There are many women who made contributions to computing, education, design, and communication. I will spotlight just a few here and encourage you to read about others. Perhaps there are some within your own family who had an early impact on the technology that we enjoy today.
Ada Lovelace
Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace, is the first to come to mind when I think of women of technology. Born in 1815 in England to poet Lord Byron and his wife, she showed an early aptitude for analytics. Beginning in 1833, she partnered with Charles Babbage to develop plans for a difference engine and later an analytical engine. These were some of the earliest ideas for a mechanical computer. Of the two, she was better able to articulate the promise and purpose of these inventions and completed much of the documentation. She is widely cited as author of the first algorithm.
The First Computers
During World War II, female mathematicians were hired to do calculations for tables of firing and bombing trajectories. They were known as "computers." They did much of their work with calculators that were mechanical and driven with electric motors.
According to Kay Antonelli, one of the early computers:
"You'd do a multiplication and when the answer appeared, you had to write it down to reenter it into the machine to do the next calculation. We were preparing a firing table for each gun, with maybe 1,800 simple trajectories. To hand-compute just one of these trajectories took 30 or 40 hours of sitting at a desk with paper and a calculator. As you can imagine, they were soon running out of young women to do the calculations."
Fortunately, the ENIAC computer was developed in 1945 to automate a lot of the processes. As a result, many of the early "computers" became the first programmers for the ENIAC.
Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper graduated from Vassar College in 1928 and joined the faculty shortly after as a math and physics professor. She took a leave from teaching in 1944 to join the Naval Reserves. She was assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance Computation Project at Harvard University where she worked on the first Mark series computers and later on the ENIAC and UNIVAC. She had a talent for programming and in particular for natural language programming, and is credited with popularizing the term "debugging." She helped develop the forerunner to COBOL, one of the first programming languages to move away from machine language, or ones and zeroes. Next time you pull up your favorite programming language, thank Rear Admiral Grace Hopper.
Anita Borg
Anita Borg was a brilliant computer scientist and a proponent of women in technology. She received her PhD in computer science in 1981 and developed a specialty in high-speed networking and high-speed memory systems. In 1994, she helped create the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference. In 1997, she founded the Institute for Women and Technology, which is now the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. She once stated that her goal was to have 50 percent representation for women in computing by 2020. While we are still not at that level, the efforts of Anita Borg, Grace Hopper, and others are bringing us closer.
Many of the earliest pioneers of technology and computing were women, by choice or by circumstance. As we celebrate Women's History Month in March, take a moment to remember their contributions and encourage young women to follow in their footsteps and build on their legacies.
About Kelly Brown
Kelly Brown is an IT professional and assistant professor of practice for the UO Applied Information Management Master's Degree Program. He writes about IT and business topics that keep him up at night.


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Lovers for one day: What We Do In Paris Is Secret by A Lab on Fire
Is it the longest name in perfume history or what :D? But boy, this is such an utterly amazing cold season scent! I`m not sure what attracted me to this fragrance in the first place that made me go order it blind about two years ago…maybe it was the name (if we talk about Paris and secrets – you can count me in!) or the nose behind it – Dominique Ropion -the genius who created Portrait of a Lady, Carnal Flower, Alien, Sisley Soir de Lune, Lalique Le Parfum and many more…not to mention the ingredients of the composition, like heliotrope, honey, vanilla, litchi, amber…oooh I feel in my element here!

subset: commoncrawl


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Details Information
When it rains, it pours. And one undeniable fact is that laundry piles up in every household during the rainy season.
It's not like our daily activities change when it rains. If anything, the clothes we use actually increase in numbers because we need to layer to stay dry and warm. For sure, there's the added jacket. Some use scarves and sweaters or cardigans. Others opt to layer tank tops and shirts for casual looks. For those who do a lot of walking, commuting or field work, they'll have an extra shirt to change into - and even an extra pair of socks - tucked in their bags just in case they do get wet.
So faced with the sheer numbers of clothes piling up, it's really handy to have a steam iron during the rainy season. The Tefal Steam Iron FV1026 is a 2 in 1 product that gives you both the convenience of a steam iron and a dry iron.
Here's the really good news about the Tefal Steam Iron FV1026: it irons clothes up to 2x faster compared to dry irons thanks to its active steam. This is a Tefal product that has mastered steam to humidify and soften your fabrics for perfect ironing. The Tefal Steam Iron FV1026 gives continuous steam output of up to 10g per minute to give you the ideal constant amount of steam to remove creases from your laundry with ease. It has continuous steam diffusion not just at the tip but also at the sides.
It also has the steam boost feature that addresses particularly tough creases. A shot of steam flow from this delivers smooth ironing and less effort from the user. In fact, to minimize hassle of having to iron on a flat surface or ironing board, you can opt to vertically steam your dresses, pants, trousers, polos, even delicate fabrics or any hanging garment. It also eliminates the need to fold so you can't deny that it's a time-saver. It's a win-win situation how it manages to speed up this least-favoured household chore.
Let's not forget the Tefal Steam Iron FV1026 is a two-in-one product. So if you do switch to flat or dry ironing, there is a spray that helps moisturise the fabric to help you remove regular or difficult creases with ease. You're able to control the steam and temperature settings too. It guarantees easy handling whether you choose to steam iron or dry iron.
The Tefal Steam Iron FV1026 not only saves you time but money too. It's the most affordable steam iron of Tefal. Plus, there's an ongoing OFF promo at leading appliance and department stores nationwide. So with the time, money and effort it saves you from ironing your clothes, you can focus your attention to do something even more important like cuddle up with your family or with a good book and some hot chocolate.
|Tefal Steam Iron FV1026


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Shelby Gem Factory
Ladies 5 gem band with 0.60 Total carats, # 675-386
Stackable band in Sterling Silver. # 675-ss-540
1,2,or 3 of these 5 gem rings? This 675 style is a great add-on, stackable, wedding or anniversary band etc....Solid Sterling Silver with our Simulated Emeralds and Diamonds .6 total carats.


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To Seduce a Witch's Heart (first published as Blood, Pain, and Pleasure) has received praise and honors in several contests for published romance novels.
First Place:
- Golden Quill Contest 2016 for Best Paranormal Romance
- Maggie Award 2016 for Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Second Place:
- PRISM Contest 2016 for Dark Paranormal
- PRISM Contest 2016 for Best First Book
- Passionate Plume Contest 2016 for Best Paranormal Romance Novel & Novella
- Aspen Gold Reader's Choice Contest 2016 for Best Paranormal Romance
- Book Buyers Best Contest 2016 for Best Paranormal Romance
To Seduce a Witch's Heart also won several awards pre-publication, and finaled in multiple contests for unpublished writers.
First Place:
- Southwest Florida Romance Writers' Joyce Henderson Contest
- Georgia Romance Writers' The Maggie Award for unpublished novels
- New Jersey Romance Writers' Put Your Heart in a Book Contest
- New York City Romance Writers' Kathryn Hayes' "We Need a Hero" Contest
- Utah Romance Writers' Heart of the West Contest
Second Place:
- First Coast Romance Writers' Unpublished Beacon Contest
- Valley of the Sun Romance Writers' Hot Prospects Contest
- Music City Romance Writers' Melody of Love Contest
Third Place:
- Toronto Romance Writers' The Catherine
- Heartland Romance Writers' Show Me The Spark Contest


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What is a Misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor is any crime that is not punishable by death or imprisonment in state prison (i.e., more than one year behind bars) and which is not an infraction (a petty, small violation of the law typically reserved for minor traffic violations). Cal. Pen. Code s. 17 (a) .
What is the sentence / punishment for a Misdemeanor?
Unless the statute violated indicates more punishment, the typical maximum sentence for a misdemeanor is six months in the county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Cal. Pen. Code s. 19 . Of course, it is important to note that even if the fine is $1,000, there are additional court fees and contributions to state funds that can be (and usually are imposed) that increase the dollar amount owed substantially.
Even if the statute indicates a sentence of more than six months, the absolute maximum sentence that can be imposed for a misdemeanor is one year in county jail. Cal. Pen. Code s. 19.2 . If the statute says it can be one year in the county jail or a longer period in state prison, the law is a "wobbler" and could be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on how it is charged by the district attorney or sentenced by the judge.
See also, Felonies, Infractions, Wobblers.


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TESOL Planet provides the TESOL Teaching community with current TESOL teaching jobs, TESOL Teacher Training, and TESOL Information for those English speaking teachers looking to Teach English as a Second Language around the world. TESOL planet is here to help all TESOL teachers make informed choices about their TESOL teaching career.
Welcome to TESOL Planet!
Academy School of English, which has been working in the EFL field since 1985, is seeking EFL teachers for immediate employment. We need well-qualified, energetic and committed EFL teachers whose MOTHER TONGUE is English, and who are university graduates, preferably in Education, English or related fields.
Academy, which is the first language school approved by the Turkish Standards Institute, is a highly professional school and is very well known in the area.
Diyarbakir is a pleasant historical city which dates back to 3000 B.C. The city has a population of approximately 1,500,000 people, with a university population of 30,000 students. Academy is located in a choice residential area in the city centre.
More info on Turkey, Diyarbakir and the school location:
$1000 - $1300 US dollars net monthly salary, depending on qualifications and experience.
Return airfare and fully-furnished accommodation on school premises provided.
Work and residence permit procedures undertaken and costs met.
Two-week paid leave upon completion of a one year contract.
National Social Security & Health coverage.
Excellent opportunity for professional development.
Applicants must have a degree and teaching qualification-TEFL, TESOL, CELTA or equivalent. Applications with full chronological CV, a recent photo, scanned copies of degree(s) and teaching certificate(s), identity pages of passport, telephone numbers or Skype names and contact details of last two employers should be sent online with job reference to :
(Mr.) Kemal Sevinc
Job ref: EFL 2019/04
Skype: kemal-sevinc
web: www.academy.com.tr
facebook Akademi Diyarbakır / Akademi Yabancı Dil Kursu
Telephones: +90 412 224 22 99 – Mobile +90 532 643 34 34
Address: Academy School of English
Diyarbakir, 21100 Turkey
Only applicants meeting requirements with required documents and information will receive a reply to their applications.


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What Is the Natural Way of Phalaenopsis Orchid Reproduction?
If only the moths fluttering around the porch at night exhibited the magnificent shades and delicate shapes of the petals of Phalaenopsis orchids, commonly called moth orchids. These brilliant beauties grow on trees and rocks in subtropical areas from southeast Asia to northern Australia. Despite their primadonna looks, moth orchids reproduce in the wild like most plants, with the help of insect pollinators.
So Many Orchids, So Little Time
With their fragile but dramatic beauty, orchids have the reputation for being rarified plants that can only be cultivated in hothouses or tropical jungles. In fact, some 30,000 species of orchid have been discovered, and one-eighth of the plants in the world are orchids. The moth orchid is among the easiest species to cultivate and can grow outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12.
Not Just a Pretty Face
Moth orchids are beloved for their showy sprays of flowers in an impressive range of colors from white to purple. Many have delicate markings, and some blooms grow to 6 inches wide. The orchid stems arch gracefully and can grow a yard tall. The plants produce thick leaves like a succulent, growing directly from the root. The genus name Phalaenopsis comes the Latin words for moth, phalalina, and for appearance, opsis.
The Sex Life of Orchids
Growers cultivate moth orchids by taking cuttings, which ensures a match with the parent plant. However, in the wild, the stunning plants reproduce much like common garden varieties. They rely on insect pollinators to transfer pollen to the female reproductive organs so that seeds can be produced. Bees, flies, moths and butterflies do the job. As they approach, they come in contact with the orchid's waxy pollen sacs, called pollinia. The pollinia attach to the body of the pollinator and are transferred to other blossoms.
Living on Air
Caring for a moth orchid is easier than many gardeners imagine. Irrigation proves the biggest problem, and more orchids are killed by overwatering than any other cause. The plants live in trees or on rocks in the wild, but are epiphytic, not taking their nourishment from the tree or from soil, but rather from the air. Therefore, the orchids must be cultivated in a very light medium with excellent drainage like chopped fir bark, and watered only when the medium is very dry. They grow best in indirect sunlight with day temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night and between 72 and 80 degrees during the day.
Photo Credits
- Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images


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Invoke this method to get your Sid. Sid is an internal user identifier Upsight uses. In situations, you may want to use this identifier for your own internal purposes or store it on your servers.
[Upsight senderID];
A method that gets information about the current Upsight session by returning an
USSessionInfo object. If no session is active, this method will return the most recent session information. If no session has been recorded, then a default
USSessionInfo object with sessionNumber of
nil, and
sessionStartTime of
0 will be returned.
[USSessionInfo getLatestSessionInfo];


text: The Triple Bottom Line is the groundbreaking book that charts the rise of sustainability within the business world and shows how and why financial success increasingly goes hand in hand with social and environmental achievement. Andrew Savitz chronicles both the real problems that companies face and the innovative solutions that can come from sustainability. His is a hard-line approach to bottom-line fundamentals that is re-making companies around the globe.


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« The Wisdom of God in our Afflictions | Main | The Necessity of the Use of Means in the Spirit's Work of Monergistic Regeneration »
Five Themes of the Prophets
The prophetic portions of our bible, while they contain some of the loftiest and most beautiful descriptions of God and his redemptive plan to be found anywhere in the scriptures, are yet among the most difficult portions to understand and interpret. They are gold mines that require a great deal of labor to extract and possess the vast riches hidden deep beneath the surface. Without a little guidance and reflection, one might wander aimlessly here and there, without making heads or tails of the bulk of what has been written. Even Martin Luther, whose exegetical abilities are beyond question, has said of the writing prophets, "They have a queer way of talking, like people who, instead of proceeding in an orderly manner, ramble off from one thing to the next, so that you cannot make head or tail of them or see what they are getting at." This observation is strikingly true. So how does one begin to find a structure that would aid in understanding writings that are so obviously structured differently from the logical, point-by-point, western way of proceeding? I have come to the conviction that the following five themes are central to the message of every writing prophet; and that, like so many threads, they are interwoven throughout the prophetic corpus, binding them together in a unified whole that fills a very specific place in the unfolding of redemptive history and revelation. One might view them as so many pegs upon which to hang the variously intermingled prophecies, and so have a basis for the comparison and conflation of the whole. Or else as so many facets, many of which inhere in each individual prophecy, relative to the angle at which one views it. I am indebted for many of the following observations to O. Palmer Robertson, whose book, The Christ of the Prophets, has been invaluable in helping me to think through these issues.
I. The prophets enforce and apply the Mosaic law.
The prophets did not come up with a new, strange theology or way of looking at the world. Everything in the prophets' message is there to some degree in the foundational work of the Pentateuch and other Old Testament writings. The prophets may become more specific in relating the meaning of God's law to the people, but there is nothing brand new in their prophecies. When the prophets denounced the sins of the people and pronounced coming judgment, they did so in strict accordance with the blessings and cursings of faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the covenant as recorded especially in Leviticus 26:1-39; Deuteronomy 4:15-40; and Deuteronomy 28:1-32:42. Understanding these passages will give us the necessary foundations for understanding the writings of the prophets. Involved in this application of the Mosaic law is both the cursing prophesied for unfaithfulness, and the mercy promised to all who walk according to its precepts. Leviticus 26, in particular, emphasizes both these elements that are found so often in the prophets.
Virtually every commandment given in the Pentateuch is used by the prophets to condemn and accuse the wickedness of Israel, and to pronounce coming judgment. Many prophecies refer to specific commandments which Israel had broken; for example, Hosea 4:2,3, which specifically refers to the third, ninth, sixth, eighth, and seventh commandments, and pronounces judgment on that basis. On the other hand, some passages refer to the law as a whole, and pronounce judgment because of a wholesale violation of all the commandments (Hosea 8:12,13).
II. The prophets emphasize God's eternal covenant with his people.
The prophets do not end with a message of cursing, promised as a retribution for unfaithfulness from the time of Moses. Their prophecies are also full of unconditional promises of hope, made on the basis of every covenant God had established. Some prophecies of hope even allude to many covenants in the same context, such as Ezekiel 37:24-26. Even though the people of Israel failed to observe the Mosaic law, the law, which came 430 years after the promise to Abraham, could not nullify the promise of God's eternal covenant (Galatians 3:17).
III. The prophets include every nation of the world in God's plans.
It was easy for the Israelites to assume that God was only concerned with them as a people; but the prophets clearly showed that God was actively governing in the affairs of the entire world. God will both judge and show mercy to nations other than Israel. The prophets contain many denunciations of Gentile nations, but these are not specifically related to the law which was given to Israel. Instead, they are usually condemned for pride, idolatry, and violence (Isaiah 16:6,7; Amos 2:1; Isaiah 19:1); more particularly, they are often condemned for their mistreatment of God's people (Jeremiah 50:17,18). But beyond just condemnation, the prophets also give much hope to the Gentile nations, on the basis of the New Covenant, which will turn the Gentiles into true Israel, the people of God's favor (Isaiah 66:19-22; Amos 9:11,12).
IV. The prophets' central message is the exile and restoration of Israel.
Central to understanding the message of the prophets is the idea of the exile (based on unfaithfulness to the law) and the restoration (based on God's continuing covenant of grace). The judgment of the exile is extreme, even to the point of God's casting off his people so thoroughly that they become "not my people" (Hosea 1:6-10). But the promise of the return is also extreme, so that those who were called "not my people" shall be called "my people." This restoration of true Israel involves God's creating a people for himself from every nation, just as Paul interprets this passage from Hosea in Romans 9:23-27. Hence, the promise of restoration extends beyond what happened when Cyrus sent the exiles of Israel back to Jerusalem. This was merely a type and a foretaste of the massive restoration that was yet to come in the time of Christ.
V. The prophets clearly display the centrality of Christ in every part of their message.
Not only is Christ the consummation of the prophets (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:19-23); he is also the fulfillment of all the prophecies. The prophets demand a curse for the breaking of the law: but they also prophesy that Christ would vicariously bear the curses of the law (Isaiah 53). They promise covenant blessings to God's people: but they recognize that only Christ could usher in all the covenant blessings (Isaiah 55:3-5). In fact, the presence of Christ himself among his people is the sole substance of what those covenant blessings are (Isaiah 9:6,7; Ezekiel 34:29,30). In addition, the central message of the prophets – the exile/restoration motif – is best understood when we view the work of the coming Christ in those same terms. God would reject his people. But this rejection, extreme as it is, could never be sufficient to placate God's wrath against sin, and usher in a restoration of mercy. However, there are prophecies of a coming Messiah, who would likewise undergo rejection and exile. Because of his perfect righteousness, he would be a sufficient sacrifice to placate God's wrath and purchase his mercy so that an undeserving people would know the restoration of his grace. In other words, "The very process that the elect nation must undergo in exile and restoration finds its personalized expression in the sufferings and exaltation of this distinctive servant of the Lord." (O. Palmer Robertson). Not only would Christ suffer exile, being "stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted;" he would also be "exalted and extolled, and lifted very high" (Isaiah 52:13;53:4). And not only would he win a glorious restoration for himself, but he would likewise purchase a worldwide restoration, that would affect the remnant of Israel, and all the nations, and even the very earth itself (Jeremiah 50:20; Joel 2:32; Isaiah 65:17-19). In light of the massive implications of the prophesied restoration, it becomes clear that, "Reconstitution of Israel in the land that underscores Jewish nationalism and builds walls of separation between them and the Gentile peoples cannot possibly qualify as the restoration depicted in the writings of the prophets" (O. Palmer Robertson).
Well done, Nathan. I think the books we call "The Prophets" are too often ignored by Christians today, mostly because people assume that the prophecies therein don't really apply to them. You tie in their importance to the Gospel really well.
God bless,
A. Shepherd
Aspiring Theologian
We thank God for you and your clear way of expressing God's truth. We are delighted to have you a part of this blog... ON the last point, Jesus, as the returning exile, is a remnant of one who fulfills the covenant from our side, living the life we should have lived and then bearing the curse we should have borne.
By the way, because you are good with words, I may ask for your help in the next few weeks (when you have time) to tweak and put together a clear statement relted to the regeneration issue I CCed you about. Let me know if you have interest. You are better with words than I and if you have any interest I will show you more about why it may be helpful to the church at large....
Great post, Pitchford!
Ezekiel 34 represented a major paradigm shift in my understanding of the prophets, and I have yet to stabilize (still stubbornly Historic Premil). Anyway, I've always been fascinated by the fact that the medium of the prophets is almost always poetry. In fact, it seems like I remember reading somewhere some liberal theologian who felt that the prophets were simply poets, kind of like bards--rather ridiculous, but perhaps a grain of truth? Maybe part of the difficulty people experience with the prophets may be interpreting the message through the medium (no pun intended)? Just kicking ideas around.
I read a book not long ago which stated that, except in Eschatology, bible scholars know that the New Testament interprets the Old Testament. In other words, we get a more focused picture of God by reading the Old Testament through the lens of the New.
In Eschatology, the Dispensationalist does the reverse. He or she would use the book of Daniel to intrepret portions of Revelation for instance. However, if we keep the same interpretive rules in place, ie. using the N.T. to intepret the O.T. then Dispensationalism falls away like a house of cards.
I would like your opinion of that thesis.
Mike Ratliff
I think you are exactly right. If we would be more consistent in allowing the New Testament (particularly as it deals with interpreting specific Old Testament passages) to illuminate the Old, then Dispensationalism would soon fall by the wayside.
Thanks for the comment,
I think you do have a point -- the poetic, descriptive, often symbolic language employed by the prophets can present difficulties to those rather inclined to think in reasoned abstractions, in the Western tradition.
As far as your historic premil. position: I certainly have no major problems with it, it's what I considered myself for quite some time. Ultimately, I came around to an amil. point of view, in part due to Poythress' article, 2 Thessalonians 1 Supports Amillennialism You may be interested in giving it a read -- although, as I said, whatever conclusion you come to will cause me no major consternation.
Agreed, the Old in the New explained, the new in the Old contained.
God bless
This is very helpful. Thank you for posting your research.


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(Pocket-lint) - Google-owned YouTube has updated its YouTube Gaming service in order to better compete with Twitch. As part of that update, the app will now offer the ability to stream live video and gameplay from Android phones.
Google launched its YouTube Gaming initiative over the summer. It's a mobile app as well as a website, and they're both designed to showcase YouTube's gaming content, among other things. The service's most recent update, for instance, lets people use their front-facing cameras in order to appear in/narrate over games.
Apart from the new Android streaming functionality, YouTube Gaming has added a new subscription option. In a nutshell: people will be able to donate or pay a monthly fee for extra perks, like special badges and access to exclusive chat sessions. Those who donate will get badges that identify them as sponsors in forums.
Although it seems strange that people might be interested in watching others play casual games via their smartphones and tablets, Google said the amount of time spent watching game-related video and live streams of gameplay on YouTube exceeds more than 144 billion minutes each month. Amazing, right?
READ: 18 YouTube stars you should be watching
Keep in mind, earlier today, PewDiePie was revealed to be the highest earning YouTuber in the last year, raking in an estimated $12 million before tax. He's known for being a foul-mouthed Swedish game commentator.
YouTube is therefore likely interested in bulking up YouTube Gaming with more commentary, live play, and on-demand features, so that it can continue rivaling Twitch and remain the "most watched platform for gamers".


text:
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Pay Utility Bill
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Pay a court citation here.
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Download City of Pharr meeting agendas, minutes.
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Take a look at our current job openings.
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Voice your concerns using this form.
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Department contact information can be found here.
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Use this link if you need information on public saftey.
Code Compliance
Use this link to visit the City of Pharr code compliance portal.


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Programming Updates
November 20, 2014
Hawaiian Telcom's agreements with cable networks and broadcasters to deliver their content come up for renewal on a regular basis. Like other TV service providers, Hawaiian Telcom is usually able to secure extensions or renewals of such agreements. We are however, required to keep our customers informed of any agreements that will be coming up for renewal in the near future. If we're unable to successfully renegotiate the agreements, we may be required to discontinue carrying their programming. These are the cable networks and broadcasters we're currently in negotiations with:


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Last week I alluded to the fact that I "have some feelings" about the NO MORE anti-domestic violence campaign. Since writing those words, I read some things about the campaign that only increased my negative feelings, making it clear that I'm not the only one with concerns. So this week I figured I should expound on my feelings and share some of what I learned.
Let start by reiterating that I'm always happy to see anti-domestic violence messages promoted, particularly in a public space as large as the one provided by the Superbowl (and its accompanying advertising blitz). In the twenty years I've done anti-sexual assault and domestic violence work, never have I seen this issue garner so much positive attention. Yes, the attention is exciting and heartwarming, but is the NO MORE campaign the discussion leader we need now? Hell NO. Why? Because the NO MORE campaign's message is essentially useless and at its core the campaign is nothing more than a (relatively) cheap PR response to the NFL's recent domestic violence issues.
My belief that NO MORE's message is useless started long before I learned about the campaign's true nature, so let's start there. Why do I call it useless? Because there isn't much behind the "talk about domestic violence" message they're promoting… How should we talk about it? What should we say? How are you going to help us talk about it? Tell us NO MORE, tell us!
To NO MORE's credit, there is a pledge on their website that includes some stats and links to more info, but first you have to be inspired to visit the site, since the ads say nothing about the issue. Once you're on their site, you'll quickly learn the campaign's real goal… simply to promote
the issue itself. Don't believe me? Here's how NO MORE describes its own purpose:
[NO MORE is] The first unifying symbol to express support for ending domestic violence and sexual assault, NO MORE is available to anyone who wants to engage in normalizing the conversation around these issues and help end domestic violence and sexual assault.
The vision:
- NO MORE will be everywhere – on websites, t-shirts, billboards and other public spaces.
- Organizations and corporations, large and small, will embrace this symbol as part of their own communications.
- When domestic violence or sexual assault makes media headlines, NO MORE will be tweeted, discussed on Facebook, shared on Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and posted on billboards and in classrooms, offices and grocery stores across the country.
NO MORE will help end the stigma, shame and silence of domestic violence and sexual assault, while helping to increase funding for prevention efforts. Like the red ribbon did for HIV/AIDS, NO MORE will directly challenge the mindset and behaviors that lead to this violence.
I have nothing against the concept of creating a unifying symbol for a cause, but anybody can slap on a teal wristband or throw on a t-shirt, particularly if it was free.
Let's not fool ourselves, wearing a logo does not make the wearer care, or even know, more about the logo's intent. Wearing a logo does nothing to "directly challenge the mindset and behaviors that lead to [domestic] violence. For example… I've worn one of the teal NO MORE rubber bracelets for years, since before the NFL picked up the campaign, yet I had no idea what NO MORE was actually about (until recently). Again, I do this work! I knew the color teal had been adopted by the anti-sexual assault movement (purple is for anti-domestic violence by the way), but beyond that I was wearing it only because someone in the field gave it to me after my last teal rubber bracelet broke (which I got while doing bystander intervention trainings with the US Air Force). My last teal rubber bracelet meant something to me, the NO MORE bracelet happened to be the right color to replace something meaningful, end of story.
Of course, any campaign that increases donations to anti-domestic violence and sexual assault organizations is not completely useless. But again, lets not lie to ourselves. People can easily give money without every really caring what the money is for, or educating themselves about an issue. This criticism is nothing new as it has been directed at previous symbols like the AIDS awareness red ribbons, the yellow Livestrong bracelets and breast cancer's "Pinktober" many times before.
The issues of sexual assault and domestic violence won't be solved by just throwing money at them. They're cultural issues, not diseases that scientists with enough funding and time may be able to cure. For these issues to end we need wholesale culture change. Culture change is a much more complex issue. It involves all of us and it doesn't happen unless people gain empathy, knowledge, tools and tactics. People need to care, they need to know how to identify domestic violence and sexual assault, they need to know what aspects of our culture contribute to their occurrence and they need to learn how to overcome the fear of intervening when they see it… otherwise nothing changes. NO MORE's ads, while attention grabbing, do none of this.
If you want to say I'm just being cynical and harsh on the campaign that's cool. I can accept this as a possible truth. But my cynicism doesn't change the biggest issue with the campaign: The fact that it has become nothing more than a PR tool for the NFL.
As I mentioned before, NO MORE existed before the NFL picked it up, but at this point it has become known solely for it's association with the NFL. Deadspin recently dug a bit deeper into the relationship between the NFL and NO MORE and according to them, NO MORE is a sham. To reach this conclusion Deadspin cites many of the same issues I just did, but most damning of all are two facts; 1. the campaign was "co-founded by one of [the NFL's recently hired] crisis-management consultants" and 2. The highly touted anti-DV measures the NFL promised to undertake have amounted to little more than hype at this point (at least according to Deadspin).
I'm not in any position to second or even deny much of what Deadpan reported, but I can say this much… I've been told by people I know, who've either witnessed or sat through the NFL's internal, hour-long anti-DV presentation, that it is ineffective crap. Having conducted presentations with the NFL before, I know that it's hard to get those guys in a room for anything not football related. When they do manage to get something scheduled, staff and/or players usually have to come in during an off-day or even worse, right after practice. So now as a presenter you're facing a room of 50+ players and/or coaches (at minimum) who are tired and resentful they have to be there in the first place. In such a setting, if you're not doing something high-quality and engaging you're not only wasting everyone's time but you're only causing more resentment and resistance to discussing these issues.
Based on that little bit of information, I'm not surprised to read that the NFL's partnership with NO MORE's branding and PR machine amounts to little more than looking good while doing next to nothing internally. My only hope is that the negative attention and public awareness forces them to actually DO MORE (but sadly, I doubt it).
There you have it, that's why I'm no fan of the campaign. Readers I'd love to hear your thoughts on the issue… what do you think of the campaign and the NFL's connection to it? Do you think it's effective? What sorts of conversations had it led you to have (if any)?


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As thousands hasten to praise the holy works of Sebastian Coe (particularly amongst the lame and crippled), the vatican announced that his widely expected beatification will not actually require that he dies anytime soon. The apostolic constitution Divinus Perfectionis magister generally requires a candidate who's 'shown signs of holiness' to have been dead for 5 years. 'Due to unprecedented spiritual fervour and some political representations, we're prepared to overlook that he's still alive' says Cardinal Tomaz Rule of the vatican's Congregation of the Causes of Saints (COCS). It's widely expected that Lord Coe will become Saint Sebastian, patron saint of organisation.
Pax Vobiscum


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text: Ralfinamide is a unique, well-tolerated New Chemical Entity that specifically targets voltage-gated sodium channels originating from Newron's ion channel program and is developed for a rare neuropathic pain indication. It is believed to mediate its potent analgesic effect through the inhibition of sodium channels, including Nav 1.7, N-type Calcium channels and NMDA receptor. Newron is looking for partners to advance the program into potentially pivotal studies in orphan indications in neuropathic pain.


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Swami Swaroopananda is the Mukhyaji and current Spiritual Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide....
To mould the behaviour of an individual is to mould the character of the community.To mould the behaviour of an individual is to mould the character.
A teacher is the facilitator of knowledge. A teacher makes you question facts, changes your reality and revolutionizes your world through knowledge. But you need to discover the spark within you. School is where you tame the spark that will enlighten your way to evolve, to grow, to realize your full potential, keeping alive our culture and values and become better human being
To offer children a Value – based and holistic education which paves the way for the Integrated DeveRead More
The Chinmaya Vision Programme is what makes the Chinmaya Education Institutions 'schools with a diffRead More
Chinmaya Vidyalayas are run under the auspices of the CentralChinmaya Mission Trust,Mumbai in differRead More
Applications are invited in the month of January . Admissions are based on tests that are conductedRead More


text: i joined the gym about a month ago and have been going nearly every single day. since i'm paying for it, i'm going to use it. needless to say i haven't gone on my morning walks lately. except for today. i had to drop the car off at the dealership for service and since it is less than a mile from our house i walked home. when i got home i noticed our tiger lilies in full bloom, reaching for the sun.


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From the NY Times:
A senior Senate Democrat released a draft of a sprawling revision of the No Child Left Behind education law on Tuesday that would dismantle the provisions of the law that used standardized test scores in reading and math to label tens of thousands of public schools as failing.
Brendan Smialowski/Bloomberg News
Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, at the White House in February.
A new Web venture featuring news, data and conversation about schools in New York City.
Times Topic: No Child Left Behind Act
The 865-page bill, filed by Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who heads the Senate education committee, became the first comprehensive piece of legislation overhauling the law to reach either Congressional chamber since President George W. Bush signed it in 2002.
Mr. Harkin made his draft bill public 18 days after President Obama announced that he would use executive authority to waive the most onerous provisions of the law, because he had all but given up hope that Congress could fix the law's flaws any time soon.
Like Mr. Obama's waiver proposal, the Harkin bill would return to states some powers taken over by Washington under the Bush-era law, including the leeway to devise their own systems for holding schools accountable for student progress.
"We are moving into a partnership mode with states, rather than telling states you've got to do this and this and this," Senator Harkin said in a call with reporters. The bill is a product of more than 10 months of negotiations with his committee's ranking Republican, Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, Mr. Harkin said.
Mr. Harkin's bill would keep the law's requirements that states test students in reading and math every year in grades three through eight, and once in high school, and make the scores public.
But for about 9 of every 10 American schools, it would scrap the law's federal system of accountability, under which schools must raise the proportion of students showing proficiency on the tests each year. That system has driven classroom teaching across the nation for a decade.
States would still face federal oversight for the worst-performing 5 percent of schools, as well as for the 5 percent of schools in each state with the widest achievement gap between minority and white students. Districts in charge of those schools could lose federal financing under the Harkin plan if they failed to raise their student achievement.
"Harkin's bill would return control to the state departments of education and the local school districts, and they're the ones that got us into the mess that No Child was designed to fix," said Grover J. Whitehurst, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who headed the Department of Education's research wing under President Bush. "Districts and states have not been effective in delivering quality education to children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, so why should we think they'll be effective this time around?"
Several advocacy groups for minority students and the disabled also criticized Mr. Harkin's bill, and on similar grounds. By eliminating the law's central accountability provisions, the bill would represent "a significant step backward," returning the nation to the years before No Child's passage, when many states did a slipshod job of promoting student achievement, they said.
Under the Harkin bill, "states would not have to set measurable achievement and progress targets or even graduation rate goals," six groups including the Education Trust, theChildren's Defense Fund and the National Council of La Raza, said in a letter to Mr. Harkin on Tuesday. "Congress, parents and taxpayers would have no meaningful mechanism by which to hold schools, districts, or states accountable for improving student outcomes."
Asked about that criticism, Mr. Harkin said that to round up backing for his bill from Republicans in his committee, he had been forced to make compromises.
"I'd like to have federal targets, but that's one of the compromises," he said. "I refuse to allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good."
The chances of Mr. Harkin's bill becoming law are murky, even if it were to gain Senate passage and evolve considerably as a result of Republican amendments. He said that he intends to open the bill up for amendments in his committee next week, and to get it to the Senate floor for consideration before Thanksgiving.
In the House, Representative John Kline, the Minnesota Republican who heads the House education committee, is seeking to rewrite parts of the No Child law in a piecemeal process. One of Mr. Kline's bills, promoting the growth of charter schools, passed the House on Sept. 13, but four others, including one dealing with teacher evaluations, face an uncertain future. The House leadership has appeared unwilling to move toward a full rewriting of the law, which could give Mr. Obama a domestic policy triumph going into an election year.
"If we get a good, bipartisan bill to the floor, that will be instructive to the House in terms of rewriting this legislation," Mr. Harkin said.


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"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look at fear in the face," said First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. "You must do the thing in which you think you cannot do."
This quote on the inner jacket sleeve of Dr. Gordon Livingston's book, The Thing You Think You Cannot Do, spells out the book's central idea. It also suggests questions that might arise in most readers' minds. What if we didn't feel fear? How much more could we accomplish for ourselves and our society, if we could just push past our fears?
Livingston tells us upfront that roughly ten percent of Americans — 22 million — experience clinical depression. Medication and/or psychotherapy can help, but the real antidote is hope and courage.
Livingston, a psychiatrist and writer, sets no easy task for himself in this short and easy-to-read book. Many of the greatest minds of all time have wondered how to obtain these lofty and elusive virtues. Livingston's approach may not be unique, but it is cleverly crafted. It is as if he's examining a cut diamond, facet by facet. He divides the book into thirty very short chapters, looking at fear and courage from many angles and explaining his vision through real life situations.
By the book's end, the reader gains a deeper understanding of how Livingston sees fear as well as courage. This analysis empowers readers to work at controlling their anxieties and strive toward more courageous and certainly more self-fulfilling actions.
In the early chapters, Livingston explains some working concepts to better understand fear. We're all going to die and we know it, which worries us and causes us to avoid situations that put us at risk. Anxiety with its symptoms of a racing heart, sweaty brow, and general panic is related to fear. However, what triggers it remains a mystery. Both fear and anxiety can result in poor decision making, isolation, and failure to reach a person's full potential.
"It is within ourselves, where we confront our deepest fear and insecurities, that we find our own forms of courage and cowardice," writes Livingston. "Like any virtue, bravery is manifest in our habitual actions. Fidelity to an idea, risking ourselves to stand up for the powerless, refusing to crumble beneath the weight of time, all require a steadfastness that is uncommon in a culture dominated by glamor, celebrity, and instant gratification."
Popular culture urges us to live in moment and grab ephemeral pleasures. Happiness is immediate, easy to obtain and easy to control. However, these actions often end up like an injection of Botox. The user may get rid a few wrinkles for a while, but it doesn't stop aging. The wrinkles return.
Fear has consequences not only to us as individuals, but to society overall. Livingston repeatedly illustrates that through his examples of the 9-11 terrorist attack and the Vietnam War, in which he served. After 9-11, fear spurred ostracism of not only Middle Eastern people, but people who resembled them and that area of the globe. This fear also spawned two costly, ill-conceived wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. It also prompted Americans to look at U.S. soldiers as heroic and courageous, which is completely opposite how Vietnam War veterans were treated.
Packed with insights and illuminating examples, Livingston's book does tend to meander. At times, he strays a little too far off the trail with personal stories and examples. For instance, in a chapter titled "Sometimes Courage Is Hope Against Hope," he lifts a chunk out of a young woman's diary during her difficult battle with a fatal, autoimmune disease. He prefaces the eight pages of quoted material by telling us a little about Allison Caldwell and her passion for life. While the young woman's story is moving and and her generosity is astounding, Livingston doesn't elaborate on how Caldwell's story supports his overall theme.
Aside from this and a few other stories that don't quite hit the mark, this book is sound. It should inspire readers to push past their fears and take the high road that leads to greater happiness and fulfillment. "The journey begins within," as Livingston tells us, and he offers us a good map to find it.
The Thing You Think You Cannot Do: Thirty Truths About Fear and Courage
Dr. Gordon Livingston, M.D.
Da Capo Lifelong Books, April 10, 2012
Hardback, 224 pages


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Lee Valley start for Britain's canoeists
PUBLISHED: 14:30 27 February 2015
The Lee Valley White Water Centre hosts the start of the season for Britain's canoeists
The Lee Valley White Water Centre welcomes Britain's top canoeists for the start of the season this weekend, with a home World Championships for the first time in 20 years looming later in the year.
Olympic champion Etienne Stott and silver medallists David Florence and Richard Hounslow were at Lee Valley for the launch of ticket sales for the 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
The 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships take place at Lee Valley from 16-20 September,featuring 300 of the world's top Canoe Slalom athletes.
The event was last held in the UK in 1995 and will see World Champions will be crowned in five disciplines, with qualification of boats for the 2016 Olympic Games also decided.
There will be free family-friendly activities on offer, with a bouncy castle, climbing walls and an opportunity to try your hand at paddling.
Olympic gold medallist Etienne Stott, said: "London 2012 was the best experience of my life and everywhere I go people talk about how exciting it was to watch. To now have a home World Championships on this amazing course, which is still the very best in the world, is a dream come true for me and all my team mates."
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The Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists seeks nominations for 5 positions on the Board of Directors for a term
of office commencing October 2020. Nominations are sought for the positions of:
OSOT is your professional organization and with members' input has developed a dynamic strategic vision and plan. Over 4,500 Ontario OTs and Student OTs are committed to proactively support, promote and position the profession of occupational therapy in Ontario.
The Society is governed by an 8 member volunteer Board of Directors who provide stewardship and direction to the activities and resources of the association. (9 members in years when a President-Elect is in office).
The Board meets approximately 6 – 8 times per year, typically for a one day weekend meeting in Toronto. Increasingly teleconference and email communications provide options for Board functioning. View the Call for Nominations for role descriptions and an outline of benefits of participating on the Board of Directors.
Volunteers are supported to assume their Board roles with expenses related to travel and administration reimbursed.
Directors of the Corporation shall:
Download theCall for Nominations Package for more information and nomination materials.
The Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) is the voluntary
provincial professional association of Ontario's occupational therapists.
With focus in the areas of Member Services, Government Relations, Professional
Promotion, Professional Development and Practice Support, the Society serves and
represents the interests of members and promotes the profession of occupational
therapy in the province of Ontario.
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Look At This Guy
Go Ahead, Mess With Texas
Second in size only to Alaska, you're average Texan would probably still argue that their state is bigger. It's because everything is big there: the landscapes, the food, and the personalities. Also, the opportunities. If you want big city, Texas gives you Dallas. Want that small town artsty feel? You get Austin. Want to disappear for the weekend? Pick a direction and drive. You'll probably meet someone amazing and see something new, no matter where you go.
Texas has 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers.
Be sure to pack water, snacks, and maybe a lasso.
The stars at night are big and bright...
Featured Cities
Austin has outgrown its college-town roots to become one of the hottest places in the country (not literally). A mecca for tech companies, bands, filmmakers, or just about anyone who wants to enjoy all the culture Austin has to offer. Get ready to wear a lot of wristbands, as Austin is "Live Music Capital of the World."
At over 600 sq. miles, Houston is the place to go if you are looking for big-city living. It's also a sport's lovers dream, with professional sports teams in every sport: football, basketball, baseball and soccer. They tried hockey, but the ice kept melting.
How can you forget San Antonio, home of the Alamo? You can gain an appreciation of it's rich military history, all while enjoying it's unique folk art and culture from the surrounding areas. Check out the Riverwalk along the San Antonio River. You'd think it was Venice if it wasn't for all the cowboy hats.
Want a big state but a small town? Abilene gives you the best of both worlds: a small town feel but a central location that gives you access to the rest of the state. This is real "small town" Texas living, with the desert at your doorstep.
Texas School Jobs
If your dreams are as big as Texas, then there is only one place to fulfill them. Check out all of our travel therapy jobs in Texas, then packs your saddlebags, contact a recruiter, and get ready for an adventure. Just remember: there is no basement in the Alamo.


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In 2012, MarineParents.com's Founder and Executive Director Tracy Della Vecchia and her son Derrick Jensen, a combat-veteran who served three tours in Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, joined National Public Radio's Jacki Lyden on "Talk of the Nation" to discuss some of the challenges associated with the reintegration process.
Originally from Southern Virginia, Karen now lives in Pennsylvania, working as the Volunteer Services Director at the Doylestown Hospital. Karen has been a Marine Parents Facebook volunteer since March of 2015, and she currently serves as the 4th Battalion Company Leader for Parris Island.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Karen with her Marine son.
*Image info: Amir Hekmati in his Dress Blues (USMC photo).
*Image info: Sgt. DeMonte Cheeley stands for a photo after receiving the Purple Heart at a Jan. 26, 2016, ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennesee. (USMC photo by Cpl. Diamond Peden).
*Image info: Staff Sgt. Robert T. Van Hook, a Marine Raider, was awarded the Silver Star for heroism during a 2013 deployment to Afghanistan.(USMC photo).


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Fire It Up Games
On the current page you can find friv game: Fire It Up Games. You are free to play Fire It Up Games on the website frivgame250.com. The bottom of the page is similar Friv games on this - You can choose yourself which You like and go for it.
You just played Friv game Fire It Up Games. Just played with 5. The game is available in the format *.SWF, date posted: 1:24


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You are never too old to start a healthy lifestyle, you just need the right person to give guidance and support, and for me, that was Jason.
(Read her full story, free, in the Foreword of Death of the Diet when you join the newsletter.)
Death of the Diet will empower you to break the cycle of yo-yo dieting, get permanent fitness results and live the life you want...and deserve. Death of the Diet is not your typical diet and fitness book; it's a healthy lifestyle book.Learn More >
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Edinburgh thrilled with Orient's standing at the end of 2018
PUBLISHED: 14:00 30 December 2018
07958 573219 email@example.com
The O's are top of the National League table and a point ahead of Wrexham
Justin Edinburgh is delighted with Leyton Orient's position in the National League table as 2018 draws to a close.
The O's earned a hard-fought point away to Dover Athletic on Saturday to remain at the top of the standings heading into the new year.
Wrexham are a point behind Orient and in fine form, but Edinburgh believes everyone at the club should be positive.
He told the official club website: "Wrexham have hit form, but they are still a point behind us. I think everyone is a bit uptight.
"We are still top of the league and I can't remember the last time we weren't top and it is starting to bug me a bit that everyone is saying 'they are in form and they are in form'. What have we had three losses in 27 games? Is that not good form?
"I am bemused that we are 'not in good form'. I have to be a positive person. We have lost two away games back-to-back and we have got a really good away draw.
"We got a clean sheet and we'll go home on New Year's Day looking to win the game (against Dagenham & Redbridge)."
Chances were at a premium against Andy Hessenthaler's Dover, but Orient did have a few key opportunities like when Josh Koroma chipped wide and Dale Gorman fired a shot against the post late on.
O's did need Dean Brill to make an early penalty save after seven minutes to deny Inih Effiong, but they secured a draw which helped them bounce back after a 2-1 loss at Dagenham on December 26.
Edinburgh added: "I said after Boxing Day every game will be tough and the margins are getting tighter and everyone is fighting harder and it was no different at Dover, but I thought it was a well-earned point.
"Apart from the penalty, I think we had enough chances to win the game, but we have to remain calm and remain composed and when the games become tight the quality has to be even greater than it has been this season."
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the East London Advertiser. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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The South East Road Race league is a regionally run British Cycling road race league providing racing opportunities for riders from the South East British Cycling region.
The league is affiliation based, open to all riders. We take entrants from non affiliated riders too, but there are many benefits from affiliating. JOIN HERE.
We provide racing opportunities for Elite, 1st, 2nd & 3rd category riders.
SERRL is proud to be a fully volunteer run league. "Organised by cyclists, raced by cyclists"
SERRL is a fully constituted organisation affilliated to British Cycling. You can view the leagues Rules & Regulations HERE.
Fancy being a Race Convoy Driver? Find out How HERE.


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Last chance to see Canada Lynx kittens at the Beardsley Zoo
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo will soon say goodbye to its two Canada Lynx kittens, Ruby and Penny, as they will move in the next several weeks to their permanent home at the Buffalo Zoo. Born on April 26, 2017, the six-month-old kittens are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, which is designed to help ensure the survival of selected species, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild.
The Zoo announced the birth of the kittens on Endangered Species Day to emphasize the critical role of today's accredited zoos in conservation programs. There is an SSP program in place for each family of animals through oversight by a group called the Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). The Felid (or Cat Family) Taxon Advisory Group makes breeding recommendations for big cats in zoos across the country, based on genetics, age and health of animals, and need for more of the species to protect future populations.
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's Deputy Director, Don Goff, is the chairman of the National Felid TAG group. He leads a committee of AZA-accredited Zoo members whose goal is to save declining species through carefully researched breeding recommendations.
"As sad as we are to say goodbye to Ruby and Penny, the kittens will be leaving us sometime this fall — as soon as their new home is ready," said Goff. "The planned transfer of animals to other member zoos ensures the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied AZA population."
"Wildlife conservation is one of our most pressing environmental concerns," added Goff. "The Lynx, like other forest hunters, plays an important role as a carnivore. In the wild, they hunt smaller prey species that reproduce quickly, making their presence as a predator important to forest ecology. Our breeding program supports their continued existence in healthy habitats."
"We invite you to come see the kittens before they go," he said.
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo has had repeated success in breeding endangered species, a testament to the Zoo's animal care team and the high quality of animal care. Over the past decade, the Zoo has been the birthplace of tiger and wolf cubs, otter pups, piglets, and more. The Lynx kittens' parents will remain at the Zoo.
About the Canada Lynx
Lynx are light brown to gray in color, similar in appearance to a Bobcat but larger, with longer legs. The tip of their tail is black, and they have long black ear tufts, giving them their distinctive appearance. Lynx lead a solitary life except during breeding season and when mothers travel with their young. Females give birth to between one-five young after a 60-74 day gestation period. Called either cubs or kittens, the young are weaned in two-five months. Lynx kittens learn to actively hunt snowshoe hares, red squirrels, and grouse by the time they are eight months old. Adult lynx are exceptional stalkers, silently ambushing prey once in striking distance.
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is discounted for the season until March 1, 2018: Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $12, children (ages 3-11) is $9, senior admission (62 and older) is $8, and children under 3 years old are free. Zoo members also are admitted free. Parking at the Zoo is free of charge.
Strategy behind zoo animal transfers
A visit to a zoo to see the big cats, and small — tigers, lions, leopards and ocelots, among others —can be a thrilling moment for many families. What's invisible to the public is the careful genetic strategy that ensures that endangered species will be around for a future we can't yet foresee. Sadly, poaching, climate change and habitat destruction has caused the decline of a number of cat species in the wild. A science-based breeding program overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and their Species Survival Plan (SSP) is the lifeline for many species in zoo collections.
The Species Survival Plan was designed in 1981 to oversee population management of select species in AZA-member zoos, and to enhance conservation of those species in the wild. Each of those programs, in turn, is overseen by a Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). There are 46 TAGs, each dedicated to a specific family of animals, from amphibians to wild pigs. A lifetime devoted to caring for the cats has put Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Deputy Director Don Goff in the Felid TAG catbird seat. He's co-chaired the AZA's Felid (cat species) TAG for the past five years.
"When an AZA-accredited zoo has an animal birth, like the Canada lynx kittens born at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo last spring, it's hardly ever accidental. As delightful as zoo babies are to our guests, zoo births only occur when the SSP group for that species has determined that a member zoo has an opening for that animal, and the genetic line would benefit from more young animals to propagate the species," explained Goff.
Goff was honored at the annual AZA meeting held last month in Indianapolis, where he received a Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for his five years of leadership and commitment to excellence in the field of animal care and conservation as the Chair for the Felid Taxon
Advisory Group. Before becoming TAG chair, he has served as SSP Chair for the Canada Lynx, as Vice Coordinator for the Tiger SSP/generic tigers (tigers with untraceable or mixed bloodlines), and is currently Vice Chair for the Canid (canine) TAG.
The TAGs are responsible for a Regional Collection Plan, which analyzes what species will be part of the group and placed in member zoos, oversees research on declining populations, produces educational materials and training courses for zookeepers on animal husbandry, including safety, exhibit design, nutrition, and reproduction, and oversees the management of SSPs. A typical TAG includes advisors dedicated specifically to issues such as science, population management, reproduction, medical concerns, and permits (dealing with the import/export of live animals across state and national lines.)
"We transfer cats (and other animals) for breeding purposes," said Goff, "or for exhibit purposes — for instance, the Buffalo Zoo is a new institution for the Canada lynx SSP and they have no lynx in their collection, which is why our lynx kittens are going there."
"We may move cats if a zoo is doing away with an exhibit, or if a move is needed temporarily due to a renovation," he continued. "Or you can have cats that don't get along—two sisters, or two brothers, for instance. It happens more frequently with single sex pairs."
It is extremely rare for a zoo to acquire felids from the wild, Goff said. "We may move captive-bred cats to or from other zoos, or even other regions like Europe or Asia if we have a population that is declining, or growing beyond our capacity. You want to have a pyramid of animals, with fewer older cats at the top, and a strong base of young, healthy cats to ensure the sustainability of the species."
Goff brings a lifetime of experience to the field. He was first employed at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, where he began as a keeper by cleaning the elephant and rhino exhibits. He rose in the ranks to a curator, overseeing the entire collection, including 30 lions and nine tigers; he then moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he was curator of mammals. For the past 23 years, he has made his home at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. He's a fascinating storyteller, with information to share on current research on Snow Leopards with low sperm counts, assisted reproduction in threatened species, and how to check for hormone levels in big cats (it's present in fecal matter.) Most of his days, however, are spent overseeing the quality of life for the 300 animals in Bridgeport. The Beardsley Zoo animals aren't aware of the level of science that goes into their daily care, but they don't need to be. Goff has that covered.
Goff currently lives in Milford with his wife, Janet, a vet tech and experienced exotic cat handler, three dogs, and two cats (the house cat variety).


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43rd Annual Orienteering Day
Saturday, November 2, 2019
This is for Scouts BSA or Venturer who are 10.5 or older.
Cost: $4.00 per participant
$2.00 per person per night to camp
Orienteering Flyer
Camp Oest
Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation
Orienteering EVENT Sat. NOV. 2, 2019 (CAMP OEST IS ONLY FOR CAMPING)
North on I-95 through Baltimore to Exit 80 (where you go left at the end of ramp) onto MD 543 for 1.9 miles.
At the light, turn right on Rt. 136 north.
After 10.1 miles (that's 0.9 miles after crossing U.S. Rt. 1), turn right at the flashing light (the town of Dublin) on Rt. 440 for a block, then turn left on Castleton Rd.
After 2.3 miles (ignoring the Camp Oest sign along the way) at a 4-way jct., turn left onto Paddrick Rd.
After 1.1 mile you reach a "T" jct. where you turn left onto Rt. 623 (Flintville Rd.)
After 1.2 miles, turn left at an orienteering sign onto the dirt Finney Rd. to parking in 1/3 mile.
DRIVE CAREFULLY on the last 1/3 mile as there will be numerous hikers.
Leader Memo from Dave Linthicum
Campsite Map
Orienteering Schedule:
Pg 1 & Pg 2-3
Pit Beef Flyer
Baltimore Area Council
701 Wyman Park | Baltimore MD | 21211
(443) 573-2500
Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation
1929 Susquehanna Hall Road | Whiteford, MD | 21160
© 2019 Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. All rights reserved.


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We have a wide selection of consigned cars in great condition. Brand new units are available as well! Or you saw a car that you love but cannot afford the down payment? We will purchase the car and lease it to you!
We will conduct market analysis on your car and advise you on the best price to sell. We will also find buyers and handle all the paperwork for you! Its hassle free!


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Couponing is nothing new to consumers in this day in age. Over the years, I'm sure you've received thousands of coupons in the mail or coupons that are included with products. Using paper coupons can be a real hassle — all the cutting and sorting and making sure your purchase fits the proper criteria is enough to dissuade even the most financially conscientious customer away from the hassles of couponing. With advancements in technology and online marketing methods, new ways of saving have been implemented by thousands of businesses in the form of online coupons.
Today, we will talk about where to find online coupons and how to use coupon codes to help you find incredible savings, and other methods for properly utilizing your online coupons.
Know the Terms
I'm sure you've tried to use a coupon in the store, just to have the clerk tell you that it can't be redeemed for your purchase. It's a very frustrating time, and it can be enough to make you give up on couponing entirely. If you've ever experienced this, fret not, because there is an easier way! Using digital, online coupons is a great way to avoid stressful situations like this.
Knowing the terms of your online coupon will ensure you meet the agreed upon terms like you will get a certain percentage off the price if you spend a certain amount. Just make sure you're going to save. Spending more money just to save money is counter-intuitive even though you feel like you're still saving.
Use Coupons for Products You Use and Frequent a Few Coupon Sites
The first tip here is use coupons for products you use. Couponing for products you use is an incredible way to ensure you're getting the biggest bang for your buck. Studies have shown that 27% of people waste consumable products. Take stock of what you use and make a detailed list of all the products you use, do a search for online coupons for those products. Knowing exactly what you want to buy is a surefire way to save a considerable amount of money on consumable goods.
Combining coupons, both physical and digital can also be used to your benefit. A lot of business will accept multiple coupons for individual items, so why not indulge? For example, ziplock bags go on sale frequently and almost always come packaged with their own coupons. Combine the savings bundled with the ziplock bags with any coupons you find online and you can multiply your savings.
The next tip on our list is choosing the best coupon sites to be frequenting. Selecting a few coupon websites to frequent and search for coupons for the products you buy. The best time to browse online coupon sites is generally at the beginning of the month, manufacturers only want a certain number of coupons out in circulation, make sure you check early in the month for the best deals. I'll add a list of the best coupon sites to scour for your favorite products.
- The Krazy Koupon Lady
- Price Blink
- Passion For Savings
- Mambo Sprouts
- Hip 2 Save
- Free Shipping
- She Saved
- Grocery Smarts
- Coupons
- Red Plum
- Retail Me Not
- Smart Source
- Money Saving Mom
- Coupon Chief
- Groupon
- Val Pak
- Living Social
Check Manufacturer and Store Sites
Instead of sticking to couponing websites, another great option is to search your favorite products manufacturers websites for coupons. This method requires some detective work, but most of the time you can have them sent to you by signing up for their email mailing list or have coupons texted to your cell phone. You usually can sign up for both methods while shopping in your favorite stores.
If you have a sharp wit about you, searching manufacturers sites can yield you some incredible savings. Here are some Manufacturer sites to find savings for your consumer needs. Knowing where to find online coupons is half the battle.
- Arm & Hammer coupons
- Apple & Eve juice coupons
- Back to Nature coupons
- Betty Crocker coupons
- Box Tops for Education products coupons
- Campbell's soup coupons
- Coffee-Mate coffee creamer coupons
- General Mills coupons
- Healthy Choice coupons
- Horizon Organic dairy product coupons
- Hormel coupons
- Juicy Juice coupons
- Kellogg's brand cereal coupons
- Kraft coupons
- Nescafé/Taster's Choice coffee coupons
- Ocean Spray cranberry juice coupons
- Organic Valley dairy product coupons
- Pillsbury coupons
- Simply Organic spice coupons
- Smart Balance coupons
- Splenda sugar substitute coupons
- Tyson chicken coupons
- V8 juice coupons
- Clorox coupons
- Colgate coupons
- Cottonelle coupons
- Dryel coupons
- Green Works coupons
- Hefty coupons
- Johnson & Johnson coupons and savings club
- Kleenex coupons
- Lysol coupons
- Proctor & Gamble coupons
- Reynolds Wrap coupons
- Rubbermaid coupons
- Scott brand coupons
- Swiffer coupons
Another unconventional way to find some coupons without using couponing sites is going to going to your favorite shopping centers sites to see what kind of coupons they can offer exclusively from the manufacturers that you can't find anywhere else. You can search the web for websites that have a list of your favorite store websites and see if they have any special coupons for the month, promotional deals you can stack with coupons and weekly specials. I'll pop a list of websites below so you can check and see if your favorite store has coupons available.
- Coupon Sherpa
- Target Coupons
- Stage
- Deal Catcher
- Walmart Coupons
- Costco Coupons
- Meijer Coupons
Check for Coupon Stacking, Free Shipping Deals, and Email Newsletters
If you frequently shop online, figure out which websites allow stacking of coupons and promotional offers together to ensure you get the most savings at check out. Many sites allow coupons to stack with gift cards so if you have any gift cards for stores, wait until they have special deals and promotions so you can get more for less. Just make sure to know which companies allow coupon code and promotion stacking with gift cards and other codes.
Another great way to utilize your coupon codes is to look out for codes that offer free shipping for your orders. Depending on the size of your order, free shipping could save you a lot of money while you shop. Most websites offer free shipping when you have spent a certain amount on your order; this is awesome for when you have additional coupon codes to use.
Websites like Lozo allow you to type your shopping list into a search and provide you with coupons directly into your email. It's a good idea to make a separate email account for your coupon emails and codes, so you don't run the risk of spamming your email account.
Knowing how to use online coupons and knowing what the best coupon sites are will go a long way in giving you the best savings while shopping online. Coupon codes are usually changed daily, weekly and monthly so make sure you keep up with your favorite retailer's active coupon codes, so you know when the items you buy will be on sale. Make a list of all the products you want to shop for and know when the manufacturers will have coupons and special promotions available will significantly increase your savings while you do your online shopping.


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Villarreal v Spartak Moskva facts
Monday 10 December 2018
Article summary
Villarreal are leading the way in a tight Group G, although defeat by Spartak Moskva would mean elimination.
Article top media content
Article body
In a hotly contested UEFA Europa League Group G, all four teams still harbour hopes of progress to the knockout phase. Villarreal, seeking a record seventh qualification, go into their matchday six encounter with Spartak Moskva leading the section, but the Russian side will be through in their hosts' place should they win.
• Villarreal are unbeaten after five matches, but draws have been the name of the game for the Liga club, four of them supplemented by a 5-0 win over Rapid Wien in their last home fixture, on matchday three. They will reach the round of 32 if they avoid defeat against Spartak, and will top the group with a win, or a draw if Rapid also draw at home to Rangers. If Villarreal lose, they are out.
• Spartak suffered a shock 1-2 defeat at home to Rapid last time out, which dropped them from second spot to fourth. Like Villarreal, they have won only one of their five matches – 4-3 at home to Rangers – but need a second victory to qualify, which is only possible as runners-up. Any other result spells elimination.
Previous meetings
• The teams were involved in a six-goal thriller on matchday two, Villarreal twice taking the lead in Moscow but ultimately salvaging a point only with an equalising penalty from Santi Cazorla deep into added time.
• The sides' sole encounters before this season had come in the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup third round, Villarreal winning the tie 3-2 (1-0 home, 2-2 away).
• Villarreal have a perfect record at home against Russian opposition, winning all three of their previous encounters, most recently 1-0 versus Zenit in the third round of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup – though they would lose that tie on away goals to the eventual winners.
• Spartak have amassed 31 matches against Spanish clubs in UEFA competition, but they have never drawn a game in Spain, winning five and losing ten. A 2-1 win at Athletic Club in last season's UEFA Europa League round of 32 – their only visit in this competition – was insufficient to win the tie after a 1-3 first-leg defeat in Moscow, but it did end a run of four successive defeats on Spanish soil.
Form guide
• Villarreal finished fifth in the 2017/18 Spanish Liga to qualify for Europe for the fifth successive season, all of them featuring UEFA Europa League group stage participation – and in every previous case progress into the competition's knockout phase.
• In total they have made seven UEFA Europa League group stage appearances and have yet to finish outside the top two. Their best seasons in the competition were 2010/11 and 2015/16, in which they reached the semi-finals.
• Villarreal's record at home in 20 UEFA Europa League group stage matches is W14 D3 L3, two of those defeats having come in the last two seasons – against Osmanlıspor (1-2) in 2016/17 and Maccabi Tel-Aviv (0-1) in 2017/18. Indeed, they have lost five of their last 11 home fixtures in Europe, winning just four.
• Spartak were unable to defend their Russian Premier League title in 2017/18, finishing third behind Moscow rivals Lokomotiv and CSKA. Their only European qualifying tie this season ended in defeat – 2-3 on aggregate against PAOK in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, a result that propelled them into the UEFA Europa League group stage.
• The Muscovites have played UEFA Europa League football in five previous seasons but never in the group stage until this term. They reached the quarter-finals in 2010/11 and the round of 32 in 2017/18, when, having crossed over from the UEFA Champions League in mid-campaign, they lost to Athletic. In the other three seasons they fell at the first hurdle in the qualifying phase.
• That 2-1 win in Bilbao is their only victory in the last 15 European away fixtures (D6 L8). Among the defeats was a 7-0 reverse at Liverpool on matchday six of last season's UEFA Champions League – Spartak's heaviest ever defeat in UEFA competition.
Links and trivia
• Villarreal's Carlos Bacca and Spartak's Luiz Adriano were strike partners at AC Milan between 2015 and 2016. Italian defenders Daniele Bonera (Villarreal) and Salvatore Bocchetti (Spartak) played for the same club in 2014/15.
• Spartak trio Ilya Kutepov, Roman Zobnin and Aleksandr Samedov all started Russia's round of 16 victory over Spain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• Villarreal hold the record not only for the most games played in the UEFA Europa League, group stage to final (67), but also the most goals scored (114). Salzburg, however, overtook them on matchday four in the category for most wins, and now lead them 36 to 34.
The coaches
• Villarreal appointed Luis García Plaza as head coach on Monday, having earlier in the day dismissed Javier Calleja. The 46-year-old from Madrid had a low-key playing career as a defender in Spain's lower leagues but first demonstrated his coaching potential with a successful season in charge of Villarreal's B team in 2005/06, since when he has gone on to operate as a Liga head coach with both Levante and Getafe as well as working in the United Arab Emirates and, latterly, China with second-tier outfit Beijing Renhe.
• Following the dismissal of Massimo Carrera on 22 October, and a spell under his assistant Raúl Riancho, Spartak announced on 12 November the appointment of 52-year-old Oleg Kononov as their new head coach. He arrived from Arsenal Tula, where he had only been operating since the start of the season following a similarly short spell at Akhmat Grozny. A former midfielder, he spent the bulk of his playing career in Belarus. His first senior coaching job was in Ukraine with Karpaty Lviv but it was during a progressive spell at FC Krasnodar, from 2013–16, that he established his reputation in Russia.


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Lake Chapala and Banderas Bay, Mexico20.2N 103W
Visible on the right side of this image is Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. The lake, which appears green in color here, lies in the municipalities of Chapala, Jocotepec, Poncitlán, and Jamay, in Jalisco, and in Venustiano Carranza and Cojumatlán de Régules, in Michoacán. Visible west of the lake is the Pacific Ocean, as well as Banderas Bay, appearing as a notched inlet along the coastline west of the lake.


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Michael Hayden is a retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He is currently a principal at the Chertoff Group, a security consultancy founded by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Hayden also serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Mason University School of Public Policy. He is the author of Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror.
#72 - Privacy and Security A Conversation with Gen. Michael V. Hayden
April 17, 2017
In this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with General Michael V. Hayden about the reality of spying, the difference between the NSA and the CIA, the ethics of secrecy, Edward Snowden, the Russian Hacking of the 2016 US Presidential election, and other topics.


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It is a testament to the industry of Giaochino Rossini that opera companies and festivals are still finding fresh works by the composer to perform. One of the rarest is the Biblical drama Ciro in Babilonia (Cyrus in Babylon)…
The opportunity to hear this rarity was due to the presence of contralto Ewa Podles in the title role. Ms. Podles is one of the world's leading contraltos…She…possesses a magnetic stage presence to go with formidable vocal technique. Her claque was there in loud support. They were rewarded with an impressive, magisterial performance.
However, not even the most loyal opera fan-boys could keep tenor Michael Spyres from stealing the evening. As Baldisare (Belshazzar) Mr. Spyres displayed an astonishing command over his instrument…
…Rossini's opera throws a love story into the drama of the Battle of Opis Soprano Jessica Pratt sang with powerful, warm tone and a glamorous presence that recalled an old-fashioned screen queen.
As the…second pair of lovers, Eric Barry and Sharin Apostolu completed ensembles and made the most of their individual moments in the limelight. Able support came from baritone Scot Bearden as the Persian prince Zambri and bass Karan Karagiozov, who made a sonorous appearance in one scene as the prophet Daniele.
The digital visuals (by Paolo Cucco) had more production value than one usually sees at the Venetian Theater… © 2012 Superconductor Read complete review
This Naxos double CD of the oratorio-opera was released in February this year, and features the rising young Italian singers Riccardo Notta as Belshazzar and Anna Rita Gemmabella in the breeches role of Cyrus. All the soloists handle the delightful tunes provided by the youthful Rossini with high competence and professionalism…The work was recorded live at the Rossini in wildbad Festival held in Bad Wildbad, Germany, in 2004, in consideration of which there is remarkably little audience noise, apart from the applause after each aria. Of particular interest is the aria Chi disprezza gl'infelici, all sung on just one note, which Rossini wrote for a mezzo whose voice he considered was 'beneath contempt', but who had one single note, the B flat above middle C, that didn't sound too bad!
There's a felicitous intimacy about this recording, helped by Rossini's ever-present melodic invention, which adequately compensates for Aventi's dramatically impoverished libretto.
"This new recording of the work is taken from live performances at the Rossini in Wildbad Festival. With one notable exception (see below), Rossini's original performers seem to have been a pretty talented bunch and the resulting piece requires a cast who can handle some seriously virtuoso music."
"The cast....handle Rossini's music very creditably and perform it with considerable dramatic bravura. We might have cavils about individual voices but there is no doubt about their vividly dramatic performances.....The singers are well supported by the ARS Bunensis Chamber Choir and the Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra. Because of the religious nature of the plot, there is quite a significant choral part and the choir acquit themselves well. Antonino Fogliani directs admirably from the harpsichord, he also prepared the edition used here."
"Although Ciro in Babilonia was announced as a drama with chorus, or oratorio, to facilitate its performance in Lent, it is essentially Rossini's early attempt at opera seria. As Ferrara had not seen L'Inganno Felice the composer re-used its overture with minor amendments. The celebratory chorus of the Babylonians is appropriately jolly as is that for some of the other serious situations in the work; in this respect it is no different to works by Donizetti or early Verdi. But the music also has its sophisticated moments and the composer did not hesitate to draw on parts of it for inclusion in his mature and orchestrally sophisticated Naples opera seria such as Mose in Egitto, his Lenten work of 1818 and which like Ciro had to have a biblical theme. Rossini had a major difficulty in accommodating the second soprano who was to sing Argene. He later condemned her as being impossibly ugly but also a poor singer. After investigation he discovered that she could sing the B flat above middle C and he wrote the aria Che disprezza gl'infelici (CD 2 tr.13) for her on that single note."
"This recording is of the revised edition from manuscripts of the period edited by Urs Schaffer 1984 but in a new version for Rossini in Wildbad by Antonino Fogliani. In listening to the work the variation in sophistication is frequently obvious. It also shows many signs of the works to come such as echoes of Tancredi, which followed in February 1813 at Venice's premiere theatre, La Fenice. This work and L'Italiana in Algeri, three months later, set Rossini apart from the proliferation of contemporary competitors and ensured his future as an operatic composer."
"Anna Rita Gemmabella's Ciro is the pick of the bunch. She sang the minor part of Carlotta in the Naxos recording of Torvaldo e Dorliska also from Bad Wildbad, where I found her singing vocally distinctive. Here, her flexible contralto is heard to good effect with strong characterisation overcoming the stop-start caused by the applause (CD 2 tr.11)."
"As Zambiri, the young bass Woitek Gierlach, a name new to me but who featured on Naxos's recording of Meyerbeer's Semiramide from Bad Wildbad, sings strongly and with sonority."
As Baldassare Riccardo Botta sings strongly, having a pleasing mid-voice tone".
"The performance serves as an introduction to this early Rossini work which has many pointers to his later opera seria. The booklet has an excellent introductory essay, a similarly skilled track-related synopsis and track listing."
Even as a young man the potential for commercial success was uppermost in
Rossini's mind, and the fact that Italian theatres were closed in Lent offered
the ambitious composer the potential of writing a work that would be religiously
acceptable at the closure period. The result was Ciro in Babilonia, the
first of his to two Lent operas (the other being Mose in Egitto). The
story surrounds the Babylonian King Belshazzar who has abducted Amira the wife
of the Persian King Cyrus. He falls in love with her, but discovers her with
an ambassador from Persia - who is Cyrus in disguise - and flies into a rage.
Condemned to death, husband and wife are saved with the unexpected victory of
the Persian army. Rossini was only 20 when the work was completed, and though
its success was initially promising it failed to stay in the repertoire. It
did, however, point to a major new opera composer, the second act duo for Ciro
and Amira one of the work's highlights. Not unusual at the time, both roles
were given to females, and though the opera is unusual in having no soprano,
Amira offers the high end as a coloratura mezzo required to perform vocal acrobatics.
That Rossini was to write comic operas at times surfaces, the orchestral introduction
to the second act being distinctly lightweight. A well shaped opera, with a
nice mix of arias, a happy conclusion not quite producing the required big ending.
Derived from three stage performances at the annual 'Rossini in Wildbad Festival',
the recording is the best I have heard from this source. Anna Rita Gemmabella
is a fruity Ciro, the powerful lower end of her contralto voice of adequate
weight and perfectly complements Luisa Islam-Ali-Zade's silvery mezzo. Riccardo
Botta does his best with the wicked King Baldassare, but it is a taxing tenor
role that does not always fall easily on the voice. I was much taken by the
big bass voice of Wojtek Gierlach in the supporting role as a Babylonian prince,
Zambri. The programme notes tell me that this recording takes us back to something
near the original - Rossini made several adaptations - the conductor, Antonino
Fogliani, responsible for the preparation of this performing version. Good orchestral
support and homespun chorus in a nicely balanced recording with a minimum of
stage noises, and at this super bargain price a release no Rossini fan will
want to miss.


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Pink and Her Daughter Willow Look Extra Regal in Joint Red Carpet Appearance: Pics!
Slay queens! Pink had the perfect red carpet date on Wednesday night – her 6-year-old daughter, Willow.
The mother-daughter duo totally owned the red carpet at the 2017 CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, stepping out in some regal ensembles.
Pink, 38, rocked a white ruffle tiered dress with a black sash, giving off edgy princess vibes, while Willow took things a step further in a navy dress and an actual tiara.
The pair walked the red carpet together, embodying girl power in their beautiful looks.
Pink also posted a photo of her eldest to Instagram, writing, "My date my love."
MORE: Pink Claims Christina Aguilera Tried to Punch Her in a Club, Hints They've Collaborated Since Settling Feud
Later in the show, the normally acrobatic performer took a seat to sing her emotional new song "Barbies" for the country music crowd. The performance earned her a standing ovation.
And that wasn't the only moving performance of the night. Watch the video below to see Carrie Underwood's tribute to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting:


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I feel like God is dangling this carrot in front of me right now!
Again, as has happened so many other times, I painted the carrot a few months ago, then the verse finally came, and now I finally really get the verse. Don't you love when you can see Him working like that across your days?
I am prone to crying lately. Moving and leaving is hard stuff. There are still moments of questioning and wondering. And then I remember the carrot. It is dangling right in front of my nose. Just waiting–it will all be worth it. Let the seed grow. Let the harvest come.


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That's what it says to me, at least.
likethecometon May 24, 2005 Link
Lyrics submitted by MDMusicGirl88
"Trusted" as written by Benjamin Scott Folds Ben Folds
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Here are two more FREE items that I have for you today. Just click on the "Download Here" links and they are yours, at no cost. They are Blog Commentor and Tag Automator. Here is a brief overview of each item.
*** Note – Winzip will be needed to extract the files.