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Chapter 1
"OH! I'm so going to kill that bastard!" I thought as I stared at the evil man smirking at me from atop his throne. His armor perfectly in place, his limbs relaxed yet still poised for attack, his dark eyes watching me carefully as he smirked at me. His face was narrow but not in a bad way and he seemed thin beneath his armor. His royal blue attire made his pale skin seem darker than it was while his long faintly purple hair fell in waves down his back though the top was held in place by a single band of gold circling his head giving him a dangerous vibe that seemed to strengthen his demonic aura.
"Did I hit a nerve?" The man asked his voice laced with amusement while I tightened my fists. Shifting into my fighting stance, I choose not to answer causing him to laugh lowly in amusement, a small smile on his face that didn't quiet reach his cold dark eyes. "Hmm, it seems what I said was true. Your filthy mother was a dis-" He started as I lunged and spun into a kick, hitting him on his head while he moved to block me with the gauntlets he wore that reached to his elbow. My sudden movement seemed to surprise him for a slight moment, allowing me to land my blow before he punched me off of him with his other hand.
"Very well," he said calmly lowering his gauntlets and looked at me with a slightly curious and annoyed gaze as he slowly rose to his feet. Then without a word a large murky purple aura surrounded him and he charged at me barely giving me time to block his attacks as he fought. I clenched my jaw shut as he landed a few blows to my arm and upper body before I was able to jump away from him panting just as he threw a knife I didn't realize he had.
I moved my head barely fast enough to keep my life but not fast enough for it to not hurt me. I growled at the sharp stinging stretching from my cheek to the side of my head. I looked at the smirk on his face before I charged back into the fight.
"His playing with me!" I yelled silently as I dove beneath his hand and punched him as hard as I could in the side, where the armor was weakest.
"Die Monomaru!" I screamed as I dug my claws deep into him as he drove something straight through me forcing it out of the right side of stomach. I felt my eyes widen in shock as I coughed up blood before the blade was yanked out of me and I was hit with, I assumed, the hilt forcing me down onto the hard, shiny, wooden floor. I struggled to my feet with one hand pushing me up as I clutched my bleeding stomach where Monomaru had stabbed me with a short sword I saw hazily in his hand. I winced before looking up at the moth demon as he slowly walked over to me smirking at my injured form.
"Pitiful, you aren't even worth toying with." He said my vision doubling as I stared at him, blood running down my chin before I growled and swung my claws at him. My sense of pain dimmed as I felt my anger rising. Then without any warning I felt a strong sense of strength hit me and I began attacking him with my claws and teeth. Drawing blood where before I could not until he was the one on the defense as I attacked ruthlessly. My vision narrowing until all I could see was him and all I desired was for him to bleed more and more.
I gasped as a wave of pain hit me stopping me mid attack as my face betrayed my surprise. Monomaru laughed as he hardened his aura around himself and transformed into a huge moth and flew up into the air, destroying the ceiling above us. "Run you Baka!" A voice howled as I looked up at the blurred image of Monomaru diving back down towards me.
"Die," I heard Monomaru say as my vision went in and out. I was barely aware of the explosion that hit the spot I had just managed to escape from. I struggled away before falling and I floated off into oblivion. Unaware as the castle around me slowly began to vanish as I fell against a tree that seemed to already tower over the area.
***Time Lapse***
A pair of small silver blue eyes opened briefly and looked out from behind a set of complex roots. They watched, lifeless and immobile, as a girl in a short green skirt and a long-sleeved white shirt was attacked by a giant female centipede demon. Silently they watched her side turn dark red with blood as a small pink and purple flew towards them. They could hear yelling as the world grew frantic in front of them. They could feel power come off of the orb and settle onto them in a comforting embrace before the dull eyes slid closed.
Again the eyes opened to see a new figure. This one in red, standing in front of the tree, the light shining down on them as they looked at the tree with a mix of sadness and happiness.
"InuYasha! Where are you?" A female voice called out causing the young man to turn and smile.
"I'm coming, Kagome!" The man said and leapt off, a smile on his face as his eyes glowed brightly with his happiness. Slowly the eyes closed once more not to open again for a while longer.
"Sit boy!" A young woman yelled as she walked out of a large forest and into a field filled with tall grass and various plants. She wore the normal attire of a priestess with her hair braided back, but in place of the long-sleeved white top a short-sleeved white shirt took its place. Her eyes were a soft brown but currently, instead of filled with calm happiness, they held anger and her mouth was turned down in a frown.
"Kagome! Wait!" A young man yelled as a crash came from behind the girl and in the trees, making them shake and force several birds from their roosts.
"Wonder what he did this time?" A young auburn haired boy asked sitting on a fence. He wore simple dark blue pants, a lighter blue shirt and a fur vest that matched his hair and tail. He had mischievous green eyes that were half lidded as he watched the angry woman stomping towards them as a set of twin girls played tag near him. The two twin girls bore a resemblance to a young woman nearby talking to a man dressed in monk attire. The monk holding a small baby boy about a year old.
"Oh Kagome! Where's-" The woman talking to the monk started as the angry woman stomped by them and into a decent sized hut. In the direction she had come a red clad man with long white hair walked out of the forest dusting himself off before making his way over to them as the other woman followed Kagome into the hut.
"What did you do this time InuYasha?" The kitsune asked looking up at the red clad half demon as his ears flexed and stared at the hut while the monk walked up to him holding the small boy in his arms.
"Yes, what happened?" The monk asked curiously as InuYasha sighed and leaned against the fence, his chin propped up on his hand.
"I told her she couldn't come on the exorcism mission." InuYasha said then winced as his ears swiveled and picked up the voices of the two women in the hut.
"You're a real idiot, InuYasha. Even I'm smart enough not to bring up the exorcism." Shippo said in a self-important voice before yelping as InuYasha hit him on his head making him fall to the ground clutching his throbbing head. "I'm just saying the truth!" Shippo whined as Miroku sighed and shook his head before being tackled by the twins.
"Daddy! Daddy! There's something in the forest!" The girl in green said pointing to the trees as InuYasha caught the faint scent of blood and growled slightly. Miroku frowned and looked over at InuYasha as he stared at the forest before kneeling down to speak to the twins.
"What's in the forest?" Miroku asked with a smile making the situation seem like a game. Both girls looked at each other before running around him and towards the hut, yelling for their mother in happy voices, obviously not scared of whatever was hiding in the forest.
"Shippo, stay here and protect Kagome." InuYasha told the sulking boy on the ground before racing off to the forest as fast as he could.
"InuYasha! Where are you going?" Shippo yelled watching as the white haired young man ran into the trees and quickly vanished from sight. Leaving everyone confused before Shippo suddenly stiffened and sniffed the air curiously. "I smell…blood?" Shippo said confused before looking over at Miroku, who was hurrying towards the hut just as Kagome and Sango came out holding their weapons.
"Where's InuYasha?" Kagome asked looking around for him as Miroku handed the infant to Sango.
"InuYasha, ran ahead to investigate the smell of blood coming from the forest. Stay here and protect the village, we don't know if there are more or not." Miroku said before quickly kissing a surprised Sango and dashing off to catch up with InuYasha.


text: This past week, we woke up to a country in crisis, a cabinet re shuffle tantamount to treason. How many more blows can our beautiful but battered country take? Is this divine planning? The powers that be being given enough rope to ultimately hang themselves? Or are we facing scars that will take generations to heal? In need of cheer, we decided to head to the hours-old Fabb Café & Gelato on 4th Avenue Parkhurst. The first glimpse of the awning lifts our spirits, a blue & white palette reminiscent of calm Greek isle tones transports one. The name 'Fabb' is shortened from the original Italian 'Fabbri' and its 'fontophile' heaven, a passion we wear proudly at 'They're Wonted'. It...Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Back-End developer with four years of experience in API development for Mobile and Front-End applications. Highly involved in solution architecture for various industries. Striving to design, implemen...
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text:
"The app you need to survive the next semester"
Quick Graph+
What is it about?
"The app you need to survive the next semester"
App Screenshots
App Store Description
"The app you need to survive the next semester"
-- Gizmodo
Quick Graph+ is the best graphing calculator available on the AppStore!
Top 10 Education app in over 100 countries!
Featured on the App Store in more than 130 countries.
It is a powerful, high quality, graphic calculator that takes full advantage of the multitouch display and the powerful graphic capabilities of the iPad and iPhone, both in 2D and 3D.
"It's ok to write yet another graphing app, so long as it is the best one. And this is"
-- Review by RightyC1
It features a simple, yet intuitive interface that makes it easy to enter and/or edit equations and visualize them in mathematical notation. It's also capable of displaying explicit and implicit equations as well as inequalities in both 2D and 3D, in all standard coordinate systems: cartesian, polar, spherical and cylindrical, all with amazing speed and beautiful results, which can be copied, emailed or saved to the photo library. It also includes an evaluate feature, in order to evaluate equations at specific points, as well as a library where you can store commonly used equations.
Quick Graph+ differs from the free Quick Graph in that it already includes the advanced feature set which gives you access to all the features, such as implicit graphs and tracing. Keep in mind that for explicit graphs, you need to specify the dependent variable, since just typing "x^2" without the y=, will assume the expression to be "x^2=0" and it will be displayed as an implicit graph.
- Unlimited graphs.
- VGA Output.
- 2D - 3D equation plotting.
- Library for commonly used equations.
- Wireframe and solid visualization.
- Support for cartesian, polar, cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems.
- Pinch to zoom.
- Drag to rotate - move.
- Swipe to delete equations from the equation list.
- Shake to reset view to original state, or to clear entry fields.
- Double tap to change visualization modes.
- Enhanced 2D mode for great hi-res graphics.
- Adaptive 2D algorithms.
- Enhanced 3D mode with better graphics.
- In-app email so you can share graphics and equations.
- Save to photo library.
- Copy to clipboard.
- Enhanced equation visualization.
- Hyperbolic and Inverse functions.
- Special functions such as Min, Max, if.
- Interactive expression evaluation.
- Implicit graphs and inequalities.
- 2D tracing.
- 2D independent axis scaling.
- Labels and notes for library entries
- Roots and Intersections
- Value Table
- Turn graphs on/off.
We'd love to hear your comments or suggestions, please drop us a line to [email protected]
AppAdvice does not own this application and only provides images and links contained in the iTunes Search API, to help our users find the best apps to download. If you are the developer of this app and would like your information removed, please send a request to [email protected] and your information will be removed.


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Police seize 800 knives disguised as credit cards
THE seizure of more than 600 credit card knives has police worried that some people might not know the concealable weapons are illegal.
Caboolture Child Protection Investigation Unit officer Ben Hiller said cards seized at Beachmere at the weekend could quite quickly be turned into weapons.
Police allege 629 credit card knives were found after officers searched a Weeroona Ave home on Saturday night.
Officers had earlier in the day located a 15-year-old girl allegedly in possession of 18 credit card knives.
A 48-year-old woman was charged with one count of possession and supply of category M weapons and two counts of unlawfully supplying weapons.
The teenager will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
Plain-Clothes Constable Hiller said the location of the teenager led police to the larger find.
Const Hiller said the plastic cards could be folded out to reveal a sharp metal blade, complete with handle.
"Obviously people have mobile phone cases with spots for their cards," Const Hiller said.
"You wouldn't know it was there.
"It is designed to be concealed but it is capable of being a pretty serious weapon."
He was concerned that some people might not know they were illegal.
A quick Google search revealed websites offering the items for sale.
"Just because it is available online doesn't always mean it is legal."
He said those supplying knives could also be charged.
"The important thing is people be aware they are illegal and not purchase them."
He said the investigation into Saturday's seizure was ongoing and the Australian Federal Police or Customs would be informed if the knives were found to have been imported.
"We will track the origins of the ones we located."


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Colloco has a range of interesting clocks, all based on adverts that appeared in French magazines in the sixties.
They're eye-catching, but pretty wall clock, made out of natural cardboard with a quartz movement and powered by a single AA battery.
Choose between Amplivision (pictured), Johnson's Polish or Gringoire (which I think is a biscuit maker), all available for £8.50.


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We all have those little ambitious siblings, nephews, nieces; children…name them, who will often bombard you with their dreams. Some aspire to be a neurosurgeons and pilots, which are high profiled careers, as you acutely listen to them you can only hope that a personal prescription of Panadol Extra won't be the end of our future 'Ben Carson' or watching gracefully as their dreams slip off their fingers into thin air will not be the farthest they will ascend as pilots. We all want the best for our little ones, don't we? Unless you are so malicious that your heart glows at the downfall of others, may it bleed twice as much when they succeed.
The room only gets brighter when a candle lits another, lets spread the love and cheer the lil' ones.
A study shows that the most effective period for cognitive skill investment by parents is early on in the life of their children. Cognitive skills are not fixed but can be influenced. Numerous studies have shown that students exposed to reading at an early age tend to do well in all facets of formal education. There is enhanced concentration and discipline, kids may initially squirm and become distracted but eventually learn to stay put for the duration of the book.
Books will benefit kids in a myriad of ways and they need to have the attitude that reading is fun! They need to view books as an indulgence as opposed to the view of many as a chore. Eventually they will be more likely to choose a book over video games, television and other forms of entertainment as they become of age. 'So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can have a lovely bookshelf on the wall. 'Roald Dahl
Acclimation to new experiences is possible via reading. As kids approach major development milestones they need something to keep them focused on their ultimate goals. Books play a major role, for instance, if your little one wants to be a neuro-surgeon you could let them read Think big by Ben Carson, those who aspire to be footballers get a book or some material online of one of the outstanding players and let them read. Reading a story shows them that anxiety is normal and it's a great way to help ease transition.
A solid foundation in reading is crucial to a child's success as they progress through primary, secondary and later stages in life. We should be determined to raise the literacy level in our schools by supporting the children to read in their leisure time at every age, by looking at reading through picture or chapter books. 'You may have tangible wealth untold. Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than you and I can never be-I had a mother who read to me. 'Strickland Gillilan.
Let's go into bookshops and get our kids' books for gifts, to a point where they will always imagine that paradise will be a kind of library. They are readers on our laps and the more they read the more things they will know. The more they learn the more places they will go. For every kid we teach to read is to light fire and every syllable spelled out is a spark.


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Be the first lehighvalleylive.com user to add photos or videos of Brady Realty Co
Brady Realty Co is located at 205 Main St, Gladstone, NJ. This business specializes in Real Estate Agents.


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1.4 – Halloween Horror with Lisa Morton –
If you think you're a Halloween expert, you haven't met Lisa Morton. In this special interview issue of Dark Arts Theater, the current president of the Horror Writers Association drops in to talk with me about the craft of horror, scary movies and more. And in his first guest appearance, author and podcaster David Wright (Yesterday's Gone, Crash) joins the lovefest for Stanley Kubrick's masterful adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining.
Lisa Morton Official Website – http://lisamorton.com/
Horror Writers Association – http://horror.org
The Shining – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shining_(film)
David Wright Official Website – http://davidwwright.com/
Crash – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LBNI0B6
Dark Arts Theater is THE video magazine dedicated to horror, dark fantasy, heavy metal and hard rock. Join host J. Thorn in a celebration of his favorite movies, music and books. Don't be afraid of the dark—embrace it.


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Josune Bereziartu - Pro Blogs
Josune Bereziartu - Pro BlogsShe climbs at a level far beyond the rest of the women in the world. She was the first to do 5.14b (8c) by climbing Honky Tonky in May of 1998. She's done 5.14d redpoints (Bimbaluna (5.14d/15a)and Bain de Sang (5.14c/d)), and she's climbed over 30 5.14 routes, including an onsight of Hidrofobia (5.13d/14a). She comes from the Basque region of Spain, a region of the world going off these days for hard climbing.
Bereziartu - Pro Blog 13I always have the sensation and feeling that climbing isn't an easy activity. The difficulty of where to place my feet and the non-balance sensation was really what attracted me to the sport.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 12For many climbers Easter vacation is scary; the first day I started my climbing Easter vacation was bad, and it finished worse. Rikar had an accident that could have been really serious.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 11I stopped in a supermarket, with the intention of buying a bunch of food for the next two weeks; this was at the beginning of the month, so this text is about what I did in the beginning of March and the last week of February. After that, I was driving to the west of Spain to Catalonia.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 10Mandragora, an 8c [5.14b] route, is the name of my last hard achievement. For my dear Rikar Mandragora, this was his first alpine route climbed so many years ago in the Ordesa Valley, in the Pyrenees.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 9Last weekend, January 13 and 14, I did two different activities. On Saturday I climbed a classic north face in the Pyrenees. The next day, I tried Begi Puntuan, the 9a [5.14d] Patxi [Usobiaga] climbed a few weeks ago.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 8Well I'm back again with renewed energy. Last December, I was pretty lazy. I didn't write my second blog of the month. You know, we live, we move around cycles; days and nights, months and seasons, years.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 7I usually don't drink coffee, I admit that I like it a lot, but when I go climbing or training it makes me feel shakey. So, not good feelings for pushing myself.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 6I am climbing again, back at home, in the Basque Country. The weather is definitely changing. It's a kind of "tropical" weather that we are having.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 5Hey guys, I enjoyed the states a lot! I feel Smith Rock is like those strange and rare pearls that are so different, so beautiful. It seems climbing mainstream only thinks of medium size holds on huge overhanging walls. Smith Rock is quite different.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 4I am in the States right now. I came a few days ago. We flew from Europe directly to Portland (Oregon). The trip didn't start very well. First, driving sleepy to the airport of Bilbao (Euskadi), the right front wheel of our car got pricked so we had to change it with the extra time needed and we were in a hurry.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 3For four or five years, a boulder meeting is organized in the center of Spain. Navalosa is a very rural, small village located under the rocky mountains of the "Sierra de Gredos." Each year a lot of boulderers colonize the village and dress up the fields with the different colors of crash pads.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 2This summer its been pretty different for me as others; I changed completely the climbing scenery. Before I didnt place gear so much, and, of course, I couldnt afford such special climbing in such a single and loose rock terrain. This happened in the Ordesa Valley, located in the center of the Pyrenees.Bereziartu - Pro Blog 1It is August and right now I am training on my wall for a successful fall. Im In front of the ventilation machine I have the hope that the removed air will also refresh my pumped forearms in order to keep on going in my series. But instead and by the moment, the only thing that I get with the fresh air machine is a messed up mind!


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"Tianamen" by James Fenton
by James Fenton
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
What happened then
And you can't speak
Of Tianamen.
You must not speak.
You must not think.
You must not dip
Your brush in ink.
You must not say
What happened then,
What happened there.
What happened there
In Tiananmen.
The cruel men
Are old and deaf
Ready to kill
But short of breath
And they will die
Like other men
And they'll lie in state
In Tianamen.
They lie in state.
They lie in style.
Another lie's
Thrown on the pile,
Thrown on the pile
By the cruel men
To cleanse the blood
From Tianamen.
Truth is a secret.
Keep it dark.
Keep it dark.
In our heart of hearts.
Keep it dark
Till you know when
Truth may return
To Tiananmen.
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
When they'll come again.
They'll come again
To Tiananmen.
Hong Kong, 15 June 1989
James Fenton, a British poet, wrote this poem in Hong Kong in 15 June 1989, a reaction to the massacre in Tiananmen Square the previous month. He included it in his collection Out of Danger, which then won the Whitbread Poetry Prize in 1994.
In the first stanza someone is talking about Tianamen in a broad sweep of vowels: "broad", "clean". However the speaker adds an aside, about how one cannot realize there were deaths in Tianamen nor the incidents that occurred there. Then he tells you not to even speak about this Chinese square. With "speak", we have here an anticipation of what you can't talk about, later, after this stanza, where similar mute consonants are used to enforce this prohibition.
Practically all the words in this stanza – and in the rest of all the following ones - are monosyllabic, except for the words, "Tianamen" and "happened". These have three and two syllables, but they only possess one beat, if you don't place any stress on "men", not even a secondary one.
Now, imagine that this is a direct translation from the Chinese. And, Chinese characters are all, as far as I know, monosyllabic. The speaker does not use stress nor non-stress, as an English speaker does, upon any word, syllable, or character, in the case of the Chinese language; he uses pitch. So, since you cannot utilise pitch in English to differetiate meanings, you can try and give a beat to every word. This way, you would make the lines sound like some Red government slogan, propaganda, edict or pronouncement.
The lines in the second stanza are just those. Some Red official is telling you what you must not do. The words at the end of the lines all have mute consonants, k and p, and they all end-stop. These consonants either close the glottis or the mouth when spoken. It is like the official putting up his hand to keep you from speaking, thinking, dipping the ink.
But, after the first enjambement at "say", a weak one, the rest of the end-stop words following then lose such consonants. Instead these end of line words have initial S and TH sounds. The official is shushing you, and using the tip of his tongue, repeating "there", as if he's pointing the places to you. The last line in this stanza have M and N sounds, the tip of tongue placed behind the front teeth.
The first two lines of the third stanza hark back to the two very first lines of this poem, in syntax: subject, verb, and two complements; and in having broad vowels. But the broad vowel scheme stops at "kill", where it signal the next line having breathy sounds in "short" and "breath", because the line following this tells you these men "will die". "kill" and "will" rhyme, to make this connection. The second last line is also like the second last line of the first stanza, where we saw that "speak" prefigures some prohibition. Here, "lie" prepares you for more "lies".
In the fourth stanza "lie" has a double entendre: as a laying down and as an untruth. Everything is a lie, lie, lie. "Thrown on the pile", repeated, makes you remember "What happened there", also repeated. "Thrown" and "there" have the similar TH sound, thus making the connection. The repeat of "pile" works like that of "lie": there are piles and piles of bodies, there and there. All those "lies" cover the "piles" of bodies, to attempt to wash away the "blood" spilled in Tianamen.
In this penultimate stanza the S and TH sounds are utilized again, to contrast truth and the hiding of it. The next two lines use mute consonants in "Keep" and "dark", to enforce this. In the repeated "hearts", breathy sounds are used again, like in "short of breath", earlier. Like in the second stanza, the mute consonants of k give way to softer sounds, of Ns, Ms and TH; because things will change when truth is known.
The last stanza repeats the scheme of the first stanza, with the first half repeated exactly. "When they'll come again" looks different to "What happened then", but their sounds are actually quite similar: "What" and "When"; "they'll come" and "happened"; and the assonance in "again" and "then". The last line changes "Of" to "To", an apt resting place to end the poem.
Labels: James Fenton, leon's choices, political poems, Tianamen, Whitbread Poetry Prize


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Lately, we have been seeing packaging companies take the eco-friendly step as part of their manufacturing process. This is the trend predicted by the packaging industry experts for this year. A big part of this conscious awareness for these companies is the global warming effects we are all experiencing and how their products play a role in this unfortunate phenomenon.
One of the major considerations right now for packaging manufacturers is the Life Cycle Analysis which is also known as cradle-to-grave analysis. In this day of age, it is vital to consider all means of environmental friendly practices in every part of the manufacturing operations. By doing so, a significant reduction and savings in terms of energy, water, and materials will incur.
Another main consideration is shrinking or minimal packaging. As they say, less is more in packaging. The aim is to reduce the packaging materials by using thinner and lighter materials. This will encourage waste reduction.
Another critical consideration is the disposability and recyclability of products. Luckily, there are already numerous innovations in the market such as emergence of bioplastic and paperboard products and also a growing drive for glass bottles. Truly, the packaging manufacturers are headed towards recyclable and biodegradable packaging products.
Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


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DONEGAL TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — A tractor trailer crash and chemical spill shut down part of Interstate 70 Saturday in Washington County.
According to state police, the accident happened around 1 p.m. on the eastbound side of Donegal Township.
State police say the tractor trailer traveled off the roadway and into a drainage ditch where it spilled the glue-like substance it was hauling.
Officials say the chemical is used in the adhesive industry.
The accident also blocked the entire eastbound side of I-70 in that area.
No injuries were reported in the accident.
Crews were on scene well into the evening cleaning up. A environmental cleanup crews and the Washington County Hazmat team were also called in because of the chemical that spilled.
Pennsylvania State Police
More News from Washington County


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The DR200 Harry offers a classic rectangular shape with a shallow B-measurement, designed for for a more traditional look. Produced with high quality acetate for a lightweight feel and a heritage inspired logo plaque offers a tonal hint of branding.


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Christine Z. Beyzaei (M. EERI, 2014), a Ph.D. student in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and Nasser Marafi (M. EERI, 2014), a Ph.D. student in Structural Engineering from the University of Washington, have been selected as the 2016-2017 EERI/FEMA NEHRP Graduate Fellows in Earthquake Hazard Reduction.
EERI awards graduate fellowships each year with support from FEMA and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The award is given to foster the participation of capable individuals in furthering the goals and practice of earthquake hazard mitigation. The fellowships provide a stipend of $12,000 that can be used for tuition, fees, research expenses, and attendance at the 2017 EERI Annual Meeting, March 7-10, 2017, in Portland, Oregon.
Beyzaei and Marafi were selected from a group of highly qualified applicants studying civil, environmental, mechanical, structural, and geotechnical engineering, geomechanics, public policy, and sustainable design and construction at universities across the nation. A subcommittee of EERI's Student Activities Committee, led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Associate Professor Terri R. Norton (M. EERI, 2004), reviewed the application packages and made the final selections. The committee awarded honorable mention to candidates Megan Boston (M. EERI, 2012, John Hopkins University), Trevor Carey (M. EERI, 2013, University of California, Davis) and Andrew Sen (M. EERI, 2016, University of Washington).
Christine Z. Beyzaei's doctoral research focuses on fine-grained soil liquefaction effects, investigating observations from the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence through advanced laboratory testing and evaluation of depositional environment effects on liquefaction performance. The fellowship review committee noted her work showed great promise for improving engineering practice. Beyzaei graduated from the George Washington University in 2009 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and from University of California, Berkeley in 2010 with an M.S. in Civil Engineering. From 2010-2013 she worked as a geotechnical engineer at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers in New York City on both U.S. and international consulting projects. In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Ms. Beyzaei was actively involved in the founding of the EERI-NYNE Regional Chapter, served as GEER Recorder from 2013-2015, and volunteered her time mentoring high school students with the ACE Mentor Program of America from 2011-2013. She is a registered civil engineer in the state of California.
Nasser Marafi is part of an interdisciplinary team at the University of Washington (the M9 Project – https://hazards.uw.edu/geology/m9/), and is currently studying the effects of large-magnitude subduction earthquakes on structures located in deep sedimentary basins. Within the M9 Project, a suite of physics-based simulations is being developed for a wide range of possible earthquake rupture scenarios. Marafi is comparing these generated ground motions with those recorded during subduction earthquakes inside and near basins in Japan, and is evaluating the intensity of these motions in terms of spectral acceleration, ground-motion duration, spectral shape, and structural collapse risk. Working with practitioners from the Structural Engineering Association of Washington, Nasser is currently developing a framework to incorporate basin effects into the seismic design of structures. The fellowship review committee expressed interest not only in Marafi's research topic, but also on its influence to expand research in this area.
Prior to joining the Ph.D. program, Nasser practiced structural engineering for five years and is a registered Professional Engineer in California. He is advised by professors Jeffrey Berman (M. EERI, 2000) and Marc Eberhard (M. EERI, 1990).
The Institute looks forward to highlighting Beyzaei and Marafi's research at the EERI 2017 Annual Meeting.
To learn more about the EERI/FEMA NEHRP Graduate Fellowship, visit the EERI website at https://www.eeri.org/about-eeri/honors-awards/graduate-fellowship/


text: cscitservices 0 Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 We have CCleaner Professional Network edition but it is not running when scheduling. Attached there is a screenshot of the schedule we currently have. We've tried different times/days but could never see it in the Report (attachment 2). I wasn't able to tell from the logs, seems to be contacting the main server but not running on schedule. Any ideas? help? Link to post Share on other sites


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Want to beat your Scrabble friends no matter where you are?WordSolver Android App!
8 Definitions of Rips
The definition of rips, the meaning of the word Rips:
Is rips a scrabble word? Yes!
- n. - A dissolute man in fashionable society
- n. - An opening made forcibly as by pulling apart
- n. - A stretch of turbulent water in a river or the sea caused by one current flowing into or across another current
- n. - The act of rending or ripping or splitting something
- v. - Tear or be torn violently
- v. - Move precipitously or violently
- v. - Cut (wood) along the grain
- v. - Criticize or abuse strongly and violently
Rips is worth 6 points in Scrabble, and 7 points in Words with Friends
There are 4 letters in rips: I P R S
Words that can be created with an extra letter added to rips:
9 words found using the letters in "Rips"
3 Letter Words
2 Letter Words


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Custom, designer, and art more exclusive and mass produced and widely available jewelry all terms used to describe the more original or unique jewelry. In addition the process of creating high-quality piece of jewelry which is resulted in jewelry taken from the technical execution is more care and expertise. The special display, more as an individual unique jewelry designer or all or any of the terms of use, such as the art of Goldsmiths; on a limited scale and sometimes produced a one-of-a-kind piece of art jewelry; whose image the original photo print or limited edition prints are destroyed after an original photo.
Such brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and not personal ornament worn consist of small decorative items. Jewelry can be attached to the body or clothes and the term except for flowers, durable ornaments as an example. Usually combined with stones for centuries has been the normal material, jewelry, metal, but these shells and other plant materials, as well as other materials are also available.
This is one of the old type of archaeological Artifact-thought to be the oldest known jewelry made from Nassarius shell beads with 100.000-year-old varies across cultures but basic forms of unique jewelry are often very long lasting; This is an important other cultures around the nose or other forms, such as decorations for the ankle, while much less common European culture are the most common forms of jewelry listed above, have lived since ancient times. Historically, the most common effect in terms of jewelry design and style came from Asia.


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Details and blurry images of what's purported to be an upcoming HTC Android device have leaked, with AndroidGuys suggesting it's the new HTC Aria headed to AT&T. According to their source it runs Android 2.1 complete with HTC Sense, and has a 5-megapixel camera, microUSB port and an optical joystick.
Interestingly, though the images aren't the best quality, the phone pictured does bear a striking resemblance in cross-section to the HTC HD mini. That handset hasn't been released in the US, so it's possible that HTC could've borrowed the industrial design for use on the Aria. Alternatively it could've been used as the basis for some industrious Photoshopping.
Assuming it's real, and based on that comparison, our assumption is that the Aria would have a 3.2-inch HVGA display. AT&T are tipped to announce the Aria next week.


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Barcelona, Spain
Architect: Francesc Rifé Studio Photo: Eugeni Pons
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USAFA Building Secret Underground Bunker for Christians
Rick Baker, representing Michael Weinstein's Military Religious Freedom Foundation, recently expressed incredulity that the $40 million dollar "Center for Character and Leadership Development" being constructed at the US Air Force Academy was really for the stated purpose. He thinks it is really for the forcible promotion of Christianity:
The 40,000 or so square foot subterranean building soon to be under construction near the AFA Chapel…seems a bit over-sized for the project and more likely a place where Chrisitan Dominionist Catachism and Doctrines might well be taught to a large captive audience…
It is hoped that under the vigilant eye of…Mikey Weinstein, that this obvious attempt to camouflage illicit Christian proselytizing will be stymied.
He's wrong, actually. Only one hardened room was going to be used for meetings among the triumvirate shadow American government (Dick Cheney, James Dobson, and Col Sanders). The rest of the building was to be used for storing the bodies of aliens and Jimmy Hoffa, as well as the recipe for Bush's baked beans. But now that the plan has been discovered, all bets are off.
That's the MRFF for you. When the truth won't do, make something up. But put your tin foil hat on first.


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This note sent in by Jörg Fischer, Acting Venus Express Spacecraft Operations Manager at ESOC. Note that a full article will be posted in the main ESA website within a couple work days. – Ed.
I am happy to announce that VEX has successfully completed the last pericenter raising OCM (orbit correction manoeuvre) without problems.
The final orbit will be announced later, but we achieved a roughly 460-km pericenter height and an about 63000-km apocenter height, with a new orbit duration of roughly 22h and 24 minutes.
Some facts on the OCMs:
- Over the 15 OCMs, each thruster fired more than 8000 pulses and burned about 1.3 kilos of propellant (NTO and MMH) bringing the total consumption to around 5.2 kilos for the raising.
- No degradation or signs of tank depletion was seen.
- The spacecraft still seems to be in excellent shape.
Meanwhile, the entire team is busy working to to restart full science on this new orbit.


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When words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain.
~ William Shakespeare
Brooke was frustrated. As so often happens when she's at the end of her rope, words orbited somewhere just outside her reach. She grunted at her sister, then stomped as if to punctuate her wordless sentence.
I was doing my best to corral the girls into the bank so that I could quickly hit the ATM. I would have waited until Luau was home, but the four dollars in my pocket weren't going to last that long.
Katie watched her sister thoughtfully as she held the door for her.
"Brooke," she said gently as her sister huffed past her, "you're really lucky that you have words, you know. There are a lot of people who don't. So I know that you're having a hard time right now, but you do have words. Do you think you could find them?"
Brooke jumped again, hitting the ground with a thud, then let out a pained whimper.
Katie let the door close and stepped in behind her sister as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Brooke began her perimeter walk of the tiny lobby.
I fumbled for my card, trying to get us out of there before the whole scene had a chance to get really ugly. I fed it to the machine, then punched in my code and waited. Then I punched in Get Cash From Checking and waited. Then I punched in an amount and waited, pleading with the ATM gods to speed this process just this once.
As I finally gathered the cash, Brooke marched up to her sister. She got just a little too close to her and stood right under her nose. She said, "Katie, whatdyasay?"
It was more of a demand than a question.
Katie didn't flinch.
"I said that you're really lucky to have words, Brooke. And I asked if you could use them."
Brooke didn't move.
Katie didn't move.
Nothing moved.
I held my breath and watched.
Brooke wrapped her arms around her sister's waist and said, "I love you, Katie."
Katie hugged her back. "I love you too, Brooke," then added, "Really good job using your words."


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Music Lessons
Tuition Rates
Our Teachers
Contact Us
June 26, 2015
Tammie's Music Studio
When Should I Start My Child In Music Lessons?
You may have been pondering just when would be the right age to start your little one in music lessons. There is no set age for when would be an acceptable time to enroll them in music lessons but you really don't have to wait as long as one...
How Playing Piano Benefits Your Brain
April 10, 2015
You're Never Too Young To Start Learning...
April 11, 2015
How To Prepare For Your Piano Recital
March 3, 2020
Can a Four Year Old Learn to Play the PIano?
January 25, 2020
Summer Vacation is Here! Time to Start Piano Lessons!!
June 7, 2019
Teaching Preschoolers How To Learn To Play The Piano
March 18, 2019
Will My Four Year Old Be Able To Learn The Piano?
January 16, 2019
Piano Lessons for Homeschoolers in the East Valley, Arizona
October 11, 2018
Top Rated Piano Lessons for Special Needs Children in Az
September 24, 2018
Are Group Piano Classes Better Than Private Piano Lessons
September 15, 2018
Adults Learning To Play The PIano
November 9, 2017
What Should Piano Lessons Include?
October 24, 2017


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Before I started working at Charidy, "giving back" meant something different.
My husband and I wrote a check every year to St. Jude, and donated to our local Goodwill centers. This was pretty much the extent of our philanthropy, unless you count giving out $1 or $2 to local street performers as "giving back" ;). We were kind of removed in a way to our giving. Yes, we were charitable, but we weren't able to see the influence our donation had on who it serviced.
Working at Charidy has changed that.
It isn't just a job, but a vehicle for change.
I started my role as Client Success Manager at Charidy in April of 2018. Before working at Charidy, my professional experience focused on branding and marketing for mass market retailers. I truly enjoyed my job and felt like I was working in a field that was a great fit for me.
I had my daughter in August of 2017, and went back to work full-time three months later. This was a difficult time for me. On one hand I knew I wanted to work, but the work I was doing had less meaning than before. I hate to admit it, but I felt like if I was going to go to work and leave my daughter at daycare, I needed to be doing something inspiring, worthwhile and important for the greater good. Talk about high expectations for employment!
Fast forward to 6 months later, and I am the Client Success Manager here at Charidy. As my title suggests, my core focus is to ensure the success of all new and incoming clients that I onboard, as well as the success of existing clients. I speak to organizations, institutions and schools and walk them through the Charidy experience. I work together with their teams and our internal teams to vet the organization and decide if we are the right fit for their fundraising needs.
I spend every day working closely with generous and mission-driven individuals.
I get to speak to incredible people every day of my life who are working tirelessly to help those affected by causes deeply important to them. Helping these people is one of the most rewarding ways I have ever been able to give back.
It has truly changed me.
I have found that just by hearing my clients talk passionately about their organization, institution or cause, I have been influenced to become an advocate for their organization myself. I'll never forget one of the first client campaigns that went live after I had on-boarded them. Dovi's Playhouse for Children With Special Needs, Inc. services over 30 students with special needs. I wrote about my experience with their organization here. I immediately felt a connection to the team and was truly touched by their message and cause. Watching the success of their campaign in real time was such an exciting and truly rewarding experience! I felt like I had reached my goal alongside them!
Seeing my clients tap into their fundraising potential over and over again, is now a greater extension of me giving back. It's no longer just a monetary give, it's an influential give as well.
I hope this perspective inspires you to find a way to get connected to your giving, so you can truly feel the impact I have been so lucky to feel. Charidy has been my vehicle to give, and it can be yours, too. 🙂
Ready to make your change? Click here to book a consultation with Jess and see what's possible for your organization!


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There's a New Year's Eve party at Fleetwood's on Front St. in Lahaina is this Saturday, Dec. 31. This year, guests can ring in the New Year while listening to special guest G. Love on the main stage and dancing with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band throughout the evening. All access VIP tickets are available and include a reserved VIP table on each level of the restaurant, a signed Mirage album, a signed copy of Mick Fleetwood's Play On, a seafood bar and a personal meet-and-greet. $500-1,250. 8pm. Fleetwood's on Front St., (744 Front St., Lahaina); 808-669-6425; Fleetwoodsonfrontst.com
Photo courtesy of Fleetwood's


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(Auszug aus der Pressemitteilung)
Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain (25th February, 2013) – ASUS today announced PadFone™ Infinity, a powerful LTE smartphone with a sleek metallic design and a 5-inch Full HD display that becomes a 10.1-inch tablet when docked to its companion PadFone™ Infinity Station. PadFone™ Infinity features Android 4.2 and groundbreaking mobile performance, thanks to its next-generation Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor with quad-core CPU and up to 19 hours of 3G talk time.
"PadFone™ Infinity is the latest evolution of our PadFone™ line," said Jonney Shih, ASUS Chairman. "It combines incredible design with an uncompromised user experience derived from our Design Thinking philosophy."
Premium design with premium performance
With a slender unibody design crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum, ASUS PadFone™ Infinity is both beautiful and durable. The 5-inch screen features a 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution with an extraordinary 441 pixels-per-inch for text so crisp it looks like a printed page, and wonderfully detailed high-resolution images. 64GB of storage complements the class-leading Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 1.7GHz processor with quad-core CPU for a smooth and responsive premium Android experience, while 100Mbit/s LTE and 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ ensure super-fast web browsing and downloads.
ASUS PadFone™ Infinity features a high-performance 13-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 five-element lens that captures incredibly detailed images, with no shutter lag. A dedicated image signal-processor enhances low-light image quality and enables PadFone™ Infinity to capture up to 100 sequential photos at eight frames-per-second, while simultaneously recording 1080p Full HD video. PadFone™ Infinity can also output 1080p Full HD video via its Micro-USB-compatible MyDP port.
Share apps and mobile data instantly
The unique two-in-one nature of ASUS PadFone™ removes the tedious need to synchronize data between smartphone and tablet. Data and settings on PadFone™ Infinity are available instantly on PadFone™ Infinity Station upon docking and running apps are smoothly reformatted to fit the larger display. Mobile data bills are also reduced, since a single data plan can be shared between both devices.
PadFone™ Infinity comes with new and exclusive ASUS apps, including SuperNote 3.1 for note taking, Story for creating stunning photo albums and ASUS Echo for voice control of PadFone™ Infinity.
PadFone™ Infinity has up to 19 hours of 3G talk time, which increases to up to 40 hours when docked into PadFone™ Infinity Station. PadFone™ Infinity Station also has sufficient battery capacity to fully recharge the docked PadFone™ Infinity up to three times.


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Export 3 results:[ Author] Title Type Year
Filters: Author is Muratet, Audrey [Clear All Filters]
Evaluation of floristic diversity in urban areas as a basis for habitat management. Applied Vegetation Science. 11(4):451-460.. 2008.
Use of extensive habitat inventories in biodiversity studies. Biodiversity and Conservation. 18(12):3115-3125.. 2009.
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Apparently believing local school boards are not to be trusted with even the smallest of decisions, the Obama administration will decide which vendors may sponsor the high school gym scoreboards. Children who are old enough to decide for themselves whether or not to have an abortion or going to be protected from seeing the Coke or Pepsi logos on school properties all over America. Washington's micro management shifts into high gear.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Even the scoreboards in high school gyms will have to advertise only healthy foods under new rules announced Tuesday by the Obama administration.
Promotion of sugary drinks and junk foods around campuses during the school day will be phased out under the rules, intended to ensure that such marketing is brought in line with health standards that already apply to school foods.
That means a scoreboard at a high school football or basketball game eventually wouldn't be allowed to advertise Coca-Cola, for example, but it could advertise Diet Coke or Dasani water, which is also owned by Coca-Cola Co. Same with the front of a vending machine. Cups, posters and menu boards which promote foods that don't meet the standards would also be phased out. (link)
Top Stories


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Income Tax Credits for Energy Conservation in Commercial Buildings
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, energy tax incentives were amended and added for businesses, government and utility companies. Business owners can receive a deduction up to $1.80 per square foot for commercial buildings that save a minimum of 50 percent on energy costs, including lighting, heating and cooling, when compared with national standards. Additional tax deductions up to 60 cents per square foot are available for improving the efficiency of individual lighting, water heating and HVAC, and the building envelope. A tax deduction reduces the amount of income subject to tax, but an income tax credit actually reduces the amount you owe directly.
Who Receives Credits
The business or individual who pays for the construction is typically the recipient of any income tax credit or deduction. Most of the time, the company or person building receives the tax incentives, but sometimes the tenant having HVAC or lighting efficiency projects performed could be the recipient.
In a government-owned building, the tax deduction is taken by the system or building designer.
The deductions are available for commercial buildings or systems placed in service between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2013.
IRS Regulations
Because governments do not pay tax, the tax deduction for energy conservation in commercial buildings has no value to them. The designer of the government building or energy conservation system for government buildings will qualify for energy conservation deductions of that building.
To take the deduction, you need to know the total square footage of the commercial building, and when the building or the energy conservation system was placed into service. A qualified individual or software program must certify whether the building receives a 50 percent savings for three energy systems or 10 percent for the building envelope, 20 percent for heating and cooling or 20 percent for lighting. No additional forms are required to apply for the tax deduction.
The Department of Energy maintains a list of software available to the public which needs to be used to calculate energy savings for certification.
Energy Efficient Property
You can receive a tax deduction up to $1.80 per square foot if your building conserves 50 percent of the normal cost for heating and cooling. This deduction applies to newly developed buildings with energy conservation systems as well as retrofitting existing buildings to improve their energy consumption to within the 50 percent savings requirement.
Buildings must meet ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001 to qualify for tax deduction.
Tax Credit Extensions
Investment Tax Credits typically allow a single tax credit against the cost of the projects tax basis equal to 30 percent in the first year. Solar energy and qualified fuel cell properties received an extension of tax credits through Jan. 1, 2017. You can receive a 30 percent investment tax credit if you install an approved energy conservation system, including small wind energy properties, and a 10 percent investment tax credit for installation of combined heat and power systems and/or geothermal heat pumps.
Energy Production Tax Credit
If you do not qualify for an investment tax credit, you may qualify for the production tax credit if you create qualified energy resources from a qualified facility. Energy resources that qualify under this tax credit include wind, geothermal, solar, open and closed loop biomass, small irrigation power, marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy, hydropower, and municipal solid waste.
Eligibility for the credit requires that electricity is produced from one of the above qualified energy resources and is then sold to an unrelated person. Wind systems must be placed in service by Dec. 31, 2012 to qualify, with all over qualified energy resources placed in service b Dec. 31, 2013 to qualify.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images


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The Ohio State University
Office of Student Life
Multicultural Center
Time: Tuesday, March 12, 2019 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: RPAC South Gym
Looking to take your training to the next level? This class offers a variety of class structures to test muscular and cardiovascular endurance, strength, agility, core, balance and overall fitness. Whether you are new to working out or a fitness pro, you select the intensity of this class and determine how far you can push your limits.
Add to your Outlook calendar
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Momentum Metropolitan is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance as evidenced by its ongoing efforts to comply with the principles of King IV, including the composition of its board. Board deliberations are enriched by the diversity of skills and experience of its members.
Momentum Metropolitan Group Chief Executive Officer
BCom (Econometrics), Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries
SETC and RCC
Hillie Meyer joined the Momentum Metropolitan Group on 15 February 2018, returning to the group where he spent eighteen fulfilling years. He was the Managing Director of the Momentum Group from 1996 to 2005. Before that, he had exposure to a wide range of actuarial and management positions in the Momentum Group which he joined in 1988. During the 12-year period that interrupted his career in the group, Hillie was the Managing Partner of a niche private equity manager he co-founded in 2010.
Appointed to board: February 2018
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
B.Sc. (Mathematics and Statistics), MBA (With Honours)
No commitee appointment
Jeanette Marais joined Momentum Metropolitan (previously, MMI Holdings) on 1 March 2018 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and CEO of Momentum Investments. Her portfolio also includes marketing of the Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Group of companies, as well as distribution through independent financial advisers. Jeanette was previously an executive director at Allan Gray and has extensive knowledge of the retail investments market, intermediary distribution and operational aspects of retail asset management. Jeanette started her career at Momentum in 1990 to 1999, responsible for sales and marketing for the group and Momentum Administration Services. She filled executive level positions at Stanlib and Old Mutual before joining Allan Gray in 2009.
Appointed to board: March 2018
Momentum Metropolitan Group Finance Director
BSc, CFA Charter holder, Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries
AC and Investments Committee
Risto Ketola joined Momentum Metropolitan Holdings (previously, MMI Holdings) in August 2016 to head up investor relations and business performance management. In this position, Risto was responsible for the investor relations function as well as the design, approval, monitoring, and reporting of balanced scorecards at various levels for the group. He has extensive experience as a financial services analyst and researcher with Standard Bank, Ketola Research and Deutsche Bank. As the Group Finance Director, Risto is responsible for Investor Relations, Business Performance, Group Reporting, Group-wide Services, Mergers and Acquisitions and Balance Sheet Management as well as the Executive in charge of the Rest of Africa business.
Appointed to board: January 2018
Chairman Non-executive Independent
BCom, BCompt (Hons), CA(SA), HDip Tax
JJ Njeke, a chartered accountant, spent six years as audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers prior to his appointment as managing director of Kagiso Trust Investments on 1 June 1994. He remained in this position, serving on various boards in the Kagiso group, until his resignation on 30 June 2010. He is presently the executive chairman of Silver Unicorn Coal and Minerals (Pty) Limited. He serves on the boards of Black Management Forum Investments ("BMFI"), Datatec, Delta Property Fund and Sasol Limited.
Appointed to board: December 2010
Non-executive director
Chartered Director (SA); CA(SA); MCom (Tax); B.Com (Accounting) (Honours)
AUDIT and RCC
Linda de Beer is a Chartered Accountant SA, a Chartered Director SA and holds a Master's degree in taxation. She is an independent non-executive director, serving on the boards and audit committees of three other South African listed companies.
Linda provides reporting and corporate governance advice to various corporates, does mediation on technical reporting, auditing and governance matters, facilitates training and performs expert witness work on accounting and audit matters, from time to time. She is a member of the King Committee, the Investor Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) in the United States of America and chairs the Financial Reporting Investigations Panel of the JSE, amongst others. She is an honorary professor (professor in practice) at the University of Johannesburg.
Appointed to board: January 2020
Non-executive director
BSc, CA(SA)
AUDIT and RCC
Fatima Daniels currently conducts her own consulting business. She has extensive corporate experience and has served on many listed boards since 1994. She previously served on the Metropolitan Holdings Board (May 1996 to November 2001). She is currently a director of the MTN Group (West and Central Africa Region), Clicks Group Limited, Tongaat Hulett Limited, Afrisam Holdings (Pty) Limited and Rand Refinery Limited.
Appointed to board: December 2010
Non-executive director
BScHons Actuarial Science, FASSA, FFA
AC and FPC
Prof Stephen Jurisich is the Head of the School of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Witwatersrand. He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries in Edinburgh and Fellow of the Actuarial Society of SA. He has a wealth of actuarial experience, including previously being a director and consulting actuary at Quindiem Consulting, an executive committee member at Swiss Re Life Health in South Africa as well as being a member of various industry and actuarial professional committees.
Appointed to board: March 2011
Non-executive director
BCom (Hons), CA(SA), AMP (Oxford)
AUDIT, REMCO, RCC and NOMCO
Frans Truter was an associate director at Deloitte and worked at the South African Reserve Bank. He joined Momentum in 1988 as chief financial officer and over the years he has been involved with the transactions to acquire Lifegro, Southern Life, Sage, and Sovereign Health. He also served as executive director of strategic investments at Momentum. He resigned as a Momentum Group executive in 2007. He is currently involved in private equity investments and serves as a non-executive director on the boards of a number of companies.
Appointed to board: December 2010
Non-executive director
BCom Business Finance and Economics, CFA (Level 3 Candidate)
Investments Committee and REMCO
Lisa Chiume is a senior investment executive at Rand Merchant Investment Holdings ("RMIH") and RMB Holdings Limited. As portfolio manager, she is responsible for a number of the key RMI investments. She is also co-portfolio manager for AlphaCode (RMI's fintech and next generation financial services incubator) and she has primary responsibility for RMI's enterprise development programme to identify, partner and grow black financial services businesses.
Prior to RMI, Lisa was employed by Deutsche Bank South Africa as Director, Country Coverage and Investment Banking.
Appointed to board: March 2019
Non-executive director
BA (Economics); Doctorate of Jurisprudence
SETC and RCC
Dr Sharron McPherson is co-founder and executive director at The Centre for Disruptive Technologies which leverages an impressive Africa-wide and global network of experts in disruptive technologies to advise government and businesses on digital transformation strategies. In addition, she is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer – Project Finance at the University of Cape Town – Graduate School of Business.
She is also a co-founder & shareholder of an investment consortium, Women in Infrastructure Development & Energy (WINDE). WINDE is one of the largest and most impactful women's infrastructure investment consortiums in Africa.
Appointed to board: March 2019
Non-executive director
B.Sc (Honours); PGCE (University of Leicester); AMP (Wharton)
NOMCO, REMCO and Investments Committee
Sello Moloko is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of Thesele Group, a Black owned investment holding company. He has more than 27 years of business experience. He is the independent non-executive Chairman of Sibanye-Stillwater and non-executive director of Telkom, Stor-Age REIT and Prudential Investment Managers.
He was previously Chairman of Alexander Forbes Group and General Reinsurance Africa, and CEO of Old Mutual Asset Managers.
Appointed to board: March 2019
Group Company Secretary
BCom; Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management; Programme in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance
Gcobisa Tyusha completed her articles at Deloitte. She has over 20 years' experience in Company Secretariat and Governance, in the Financial Services industry. She has worked in development finance, banking and insurance companies.
Appointed: July 2019


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to be changed but by an universal "Mehmet Melèk Palha, the late. revolution,
visier, resigned in 1794. He was a " Peter the Great and Charles favourite, in his youth, of Mustafa XII. in their plans of regenerating. III, who gave him his sister in maror conquering the Russians, did not riage, and the appellation of Melek, depend solely upon the agency of or the Angel, on account of his finaministers for success.
gular beauty; for the Turks usually " The curiosity of Selim respect. take their surname from some persone ing the other nations of Europe ori al excellence or peculiarity. After ginated in frequent conversations having enjoyed some of the molt lu. with Rachib Effendi, che present crative governments in the empire historiographer-roval, who was for he returned to Conftantinople, and foine time envoy at Vienna, after was called to the visirate, at the ad. the last war. Those who have vanced age of ninety years, in 1789. gained his confidence since the He has retired to his palace on the commencement of his reigni, have Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, and, as consulted that inclination, and im- an extraordinary fact in' 0.tural proved every opportunity of extendo history, has had a son born to him, ing his intelligence on those sub. whose legitimacy cannot be invali. jedts. I have heard it alerted that dated. the young men in the seraglio are " The present system of governnow instructed in the French lan- ment aims at the suppreflions of the guage by his command; and his former fnle authority of the viger, partiality to French wine is no se. and has reduced him to a mere cret amongst the well informed. member of the cabinet council. As
" The Girft efforts towards im. the sultan takes a more active (bare provement have been applied to than his predecesor in public af. the army and marine. Forts have fairs, and likens to more advisers, it been erected on the Bosphorus, regi- seems to draw to an end. The ments have been trained to Euro viler now in office is likewise pean discipline, chiefly by French a harmless old man, so that they officers, and the feet will becoine may probably foun" fit ftate-sta. in a certain degree formidable. "tues only.'
" When he has leisure to render " The ruling persons of the prehis vast territory, at least in the vi- fent dav, are, 1. Yusuf Agha, cinity of his capital, more resem: kiayah, or high-steward to the sula blant of civilized nations, he will tan's mother, who retains a very probably establish a post, which decided influence with him. Yu-, . may facilitate communication be. sul's private life has been marked tween distant provinces. During by uncommon circumstances. He is che laft war many places of impor. a native of Candia, and was origitance were taken, or evacuated, nally a writer to a ship, from which weeks before the ministry were in employment he passed into the serpoffeífion of the fact. ' vice of Abdullàh Palha, beglerbey
" The only imperial works now of Anatolia, residing at Kutayah. seen in his dominions are mosques, During ten years he so ingratiated aqueducts, and fountains; he may himself with the pasha, that he dehereafter turn his attention to great termined to secure to him bis great roads, now barely passable, which wealth in his life-time, Accord. would be as useful monuments of ingly he gave him entire posseffion, his fame.
ordering him to fly to the Porte,
and to urge the heaviest complai;ts "Every spring he leaves Constan.' against him for his injustice and ill- tinople with a few fhips, to visit treatment. Meanwhile the pasha the Archipelago, to receive the ca. died. The capidji bathi was dir. pitation tax from the different patched by the sultan. to seize the sands, and to free the feas from treafure, but found nothing; and pirates, and the Maltese cruisers. Yusuf, from the predicainent in The tiine of his coming is generalwhich he stood, was the last person ly known, so that the service is licto be suspected. With this wealth tie more than a matter of form. he lived in splendour at Conftanti. His reception by the sultan, both nopie, and frequented the audiences at his departure and return, is a of the visier. He was soon appoint- brilliant fpectacle. He is married ed taraphand eminy, or matter of to the only daughter of Abdul-hathe mint, from which he was ad- mid, and is honoured with the privanced to his present post. - vate friendship of his sovereign.
" 2. Ratib Effendi has twice " Every scheme for defending the held the important office of reis cf- coasts of the Black sea by forts and fendi, or secretary of state. He batteries, and for military regula. rose from a public 'elerk, passing tions, is submitted to Cheliby Ef. through all the preliminary grada. fendi, who surveys their execution, tions with distinguillied ability. He if approved. He was master of is beyond comparison the best in the mathematical school founded formed, and most capable minister in 1773 by Ghazi Hassan palha, a in the cabinet.
: very celebrated character in the last " Tchiusèh, kiayah, or deputy to reigo. i the vifier, is at the head of the fi. « This extraordinary perfon was nance, and planned the new taxes. likewise a Georgian Nave, and af.
" The present capudan pafha, or terward a Barbary corsair. Having liigh admiral, called Kuchuk Hurbeen taken prisover by the Spafein, from his diminutive stature, viards, he palled fix včars of Navewas a Georgian slave, and the com- ry at Madrid, from whence he was panion of the sultan in his chilu. sent to Naples, where he was exa hood. From the seraglio he e. changed, and returned to Conítanmerged to take the command of tinople. His reputation for persothe navy, it may be presumed with. nal courage procured him the comout much previous acquaintance mand of a galley, and afterward o with maritime affairs. But his ad. a frigate. Al the unfortunate batminiftration has been very benefi- tle of Cheshme he had a fhip of cial; for he has raised the marine the line under Jaffer, capudàn from the miserable state it was left pafha, who upon his disgrace died in at the conclusion of the Ruffian of chagrin, and was succeeded by war, to respectability. The new Haffan. thips are built under the inspection " He was extremely whimgical, of European surveyors, and French and kept a lion's whelp always on nautical terms have been adopted. his sofa, which he had trained up At the beginning of the present to follow him, but which, having century, the Turkish fleet confifted killed one of the domeftics, was afe of 32 ilips of the line, 34 gallevs, terwards.chained. He became vi. and some brigantines; they can fier, and died at the age of more than now' send to sea 14 first rates, 6 frie seventy, in the camp againft the gâies, and 50 floops of war. Russians, ent without suspicion of
prison. So fingular was his bravery, Another Hafsån pasha who hated And fo frequent his successes, that him, becoming visier, ordered him he assumed the name of Ghazi, the to be beheaded upon the charge victorious. Abdul-hamid was fear of betraying Giurgerow, the first ful, and considered the fafety of the Turkish fortress upon the Danube, empire endangered by his absence to the Germans. 'He died a mus from Conftantinople.
fulman. Abdul-hamid, when in. "Of his prevailing influence the formed of the last-mentioned cir. following relation is a proof, and cumstances, was so far convinced gives traits of secret machinations of his innocence, that in a few practised in the seraglio.
months the vindi&tive visier shared « One of his flaves, named Yu- the same fate. sùf, had fo recommended himself "The officers of the feraglio are by superior talents, that he gave very numerous. The kiflar-agha, him liberty, and promotion to the or chief of the black eunuchs, havo, most confiderable offices. At the ing the arrangement of the female time Yusòf returned from his go departinent, is most familiar with
vernment of Morea, to take upon the sultan, and is a powerful friend, · him the office of vifier, Mayro- or enemy, to the ministers of state.
yeni, a Greek of a noble family, " Between the officers of the sc. was the dragoman, or interpreter, raglio and those who compose the to his patron Haifan. Petraki, an- divan, there subfifts a perpetual riother Greek, was master of the valry; and if the emperor be either mint, and imperial banker, and very active or indolent in public had amaffed seven millions of business, there is ample cause for piastres.
their jealoufy. Those with whom " This man being ambitious of he is constantly conversant, and be. becoming prince of Wallachia, he fore whom herelaxes into colloquial three times procured the appoint freedom, must necessarily obtain fement of Mavro.yeni to that high cret influence enough to bias him dation, who had the interest of in matters of importance, if he Hassan, and the visier to be super withes others than his oftenfible feded. But they, impatient of the counsellors, or is determined by disappointment, represented to Abe first representations without further dul-hamid, that the people de- deliberation. manded the life of Petraki in " The ministers are admitted to atonement of his peculation, who an audience with the sultan with timidly consented to his execution, the profoundest ceremony. Even and he was instantly imprisoned. in the presence of the mild Abdul. On the very day of the high cere. hamid the bold Hafan was over. mony of Mavro-yeni's investiture, powered with awe, and the lion he was led to the gate of the Yera. seemed to be transformed into a glio to kiss his ftirrup, and sue for lamb. One of the prefent ministry, pardon. At that instant the exe- a man of great vivacity, is faid to cutioner {truck off his head, and compose his spirits with a pill of Mavro-yeni had the satisfaction of opium before he approaches the seeing his rival dead at his feet. throne."
PARTICULARS relative to the Religion, ECONOMY, Classes, Tere
BUNALS, CUSTOMS, Arts, LITERATURE, and SCIENCE of the CHINESE.
[Extracted from SirGeorge STAUNTON's authentic Account of an En.
Eassy from the King of GREAT BRITAIN to the EMPEROR of CHINA.
6 F those circular and lofty could account for it no otherwise
V edifices, by Europeans term- than by supposing it to have been a ed pagodas, there are several kinds, trick of the Devil to mortify the and dedicated to several uses in Chi- Jesuits. Oue of them observes, na; but none to religious worship. that the likeness is so strong beThe temples which are consecrated tween the apparent worllip of ma. to such a purpose differ little in ny of the priests of Fo, and that height from common dwelling hou. which is exhibited in churches of fes, as in the instance of the Em the Roman faith, that a Chinese bailador's momentary residence near conveyed into one of the latter, Tong.choo-foo.. The presence of might imagine the votaries he faw foreigners there did not prevent the were then adoring the deities of his usual afHuence of devotees. The own country. On the aitar of a Chinese interpreter of the Embassy, Chinese temple, behind a screen, is who was a moft zealous Chriftian frequently a representation wbich of the Roman Catholic persuasion, inight answer for that of the Virgin and himself a priest of that com: Mary, in the person of Shinmos, munion, saw with regret, the Eng. or the sacred mother, fitting in an lini curiously examining the images alcove with a child in her arms, or attending to the ceremonies of the and rays proceeding from a circle, religion of Fo, left they should per- which are called a glory, round her ceive the resemblance between its head, with tapers burning constantly exterior forms and those of his own before her. The long coarse gowns church. Suchresemblance had been, of the Ho-shaungs, or priests of indeed, already thought so striking, Fo, bound with cords round the that some of the missionaries conjec. waist, would almoft equally fuit the tured that the Chinese had formerly friars of the order of St. Francis. received a glimpse of Christianity The former live, like the latter, in fiom the Něstorians, by the way of a state of celibacy, reside in mona, I artary: 01hers, that Saint Thomas fteries together, and impose, occa. the Apostle had been amongst fionally, upon themselves voluntary them ; but the missionary Prémare penance, and rigorous abstinence.
"The temples of Fo abound to marry, or go a journey, or conwith more images than are found clude a bargain, or change fituain most Christian churches, and tion, or for any other material event some that bear a greater analogy in life, it is necessary first to consult to the ancient than the present the superintendant deity. This is worship of the Romans. One fic performed by various methods. gure representing a female, was Some place a parcel of confecrated thought to be something similar to sticks, differently marked and numLucina, and is particularly addreffo bered, which the consultant, kneel. ed by unmarried women wanting ing before the altar, fhakes in a husbands, and married women hollow hamboo, until one of them wanting children. The doctrine of falls on the ground; its mark is exFo, admitting of a subordinate de. amined, and referred to a , corre. ty particularly propitious to every fpondent mark in a book which the with which can be formed in the priest holds open, and sometimes human mind, would scarcely fail to even it is written upon a sheet of spread among those classes of the paper pasted upon the inside of the people who are not satisfied with temple. Polygonal pieces of wood their profpects, as resulting from are by others thrown into the air. the natural causes of events. Its Each side has its particular inark; progress is not obstructed by any the side that is uppermost when measures of the government of the fallen on the floor, is in like man. country, which does not interfere ner referred to its correspondent: with mere opinions. le prohibits mark in the book or sheet of fate.' no belief which is not supposed to If the first throw be favourable, the affect the tranquillity of society. person who made it prostrates him: " There is in China no state re. self in gratitude, and undertakes ligion. None is paid, preferred, or afterwards, with confidence, the encouraged by it. The emperor is business in agitation. But if the of one faith ; many of the inanda- throw Mould be adverse, he tries a rines of another; and the majority second time, and the third throw of the common people of a third, determines, at any rate, the quesa which is that of Fo. This Jait tion. In other respects the people class, the least capable, froin igno- of the present day seem to pay lit. rance, of explaining the phenome. tle attention to their priests. The na of nature, and the most exposed temples are, however, always open to wants which it cannot supply by for such as choose to consult the Ordinary means, is willing to recur decrees of heaven. They return to the supposition of extraordinary thanks when the oracle proves propowers, which may operate the ef. pitious to their wishes. Yet they fects it cannot explain, and grant oftener cast lots, to know the issue the requests which it cannot others of a projected enterprise, than fup. wise obtain.
plicate for its being favourable; "No people are, in fact, more and their worship consists more in fuperftitious than the common Chi. thanksgiving than in prayer. nele. Beside the habitual offices « Few Chinese are seldom said of devotion on the part of the to carry the objects, to be obtained priests and females, the temples are by their devotion, beyond the beneparticularly frequented by the dif- fits of this life. Yet the religion ciples of Fo, previously to any un- of Fo professes the doctrine of the dertaking of importance; whether transmigration of fouls, and pro


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At age 55, unemployed and with out medical insurance, I wanted to discover a methodology of therapeutic to cope with my day by day aches and pains. This treatment is really helpful for those who undergo anxiousness as insecurity with a longing for comforting and help They worry being alone, are simply discouraged, and moody. There are over 2500 homeopathic medicines, each obtainable in 6c, 30c, 200c, 1M, 10M, 50M, CM potencies; making a repertoire of over 15,000 options!
In Scotland, 12 {28dc01db0b5e28e2bba1d7ab8a0861f23cd57b3133ffd7cd41c2a6a94e5d6714} of normal practitioners use homeopathic medicines and 49 {28dc01db0b5e28e2bba1d7ab8a0861f23cd57b3133ffd7cd41c2a6a94e5d6714} of all basic practitioner practices prescribe them (a minimum of one medical doctor in a group practice)(17). Here are some of the homeopathic medicines which might be helpful for you if you're suffering from the menopausal symptoms.
Tim, I as soon as was given a homeopathic remedy by a physician (D..). I too, the treatment and my signs worsened significantly and rapidly after taking the remedy. I heard stories of autistic children taking two drops too a lot of a posh homeopathic nosode formula (one designed to detoxify the body) and having herximer effects or excessive detox symptoms.
As many as 70 percent of physicians are receptive to homeopathy and consider it efficient, at the very least 25,000 physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines for their sufferers. Subsequently this drugs ought to be used by girls who've their ovaries removed and have the issue of scorching flashes continuously.
She added that when utilizing a homeopathic method, the healing pathway typically could be very gradual in that the patient has to feel worse earlier than feeling higher. One solution is to take a closer have a look at homeopathic remedies for anxiousness and ADHD.


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Rated 5/5 Stars
This is a spell to visit others' dreams when they are asleep. You can create the dream yourself.
Casting Instructions for 'Dreamwalking'
You will need the following items for this spell:
- Strong energy
- Vivid imagination
- Memory(I'll explain in a minute)
- Ability to connect
Picture yourself and this person somewhere. It can be anywhere, although it works better if you pick a place that has some relativity to this person, some kind of connection.
Think about what you are wearing. What do you look like? How long is your hair, which side of your face are your bangs on(if you have any), what color shirt, what is the design, etc. Think about what they are wearing, what they look like.
As you figure out the details, think very deliberately about what you want to tell this person. Try to keep your mind clear as it will help you to remember as much of the dream as you can after you wake up.
Once you have figured ou all of this, store the details in the back of your mind.
Fall into a meditative state. Clear your mind of all things except forming a connection between you and the person you want to visit. Imagine a trail from your body to theirs and feel it connecting the two of you. Allow it to connect your minds, your energy, your souls. Bring the two of your souls together. Imagine them becoming one. Feel the two of you thinking together as one being, feeling together, breathing together.
Now bring back the details, guide each of your souls to the correct place. Then, just let yourself fall asleep, imagining that your mind is fading out of your body on Earth and into the body you have created in your imagination. Don't fight the sleep. Let it come.
After you wake up, you might not remember the dream for the first few tries. It took me at least a dozen attempts at this spell until I was able to start remembering the dreams. It might help to keep a dream journal.
This spell is very complicated due to all the details that need to be remembered, and may not work the first few times you try it. If you have no connection with the person you are trying to visit, it will be even harder as bringing your souls together is crucial to the proper excecution of this spell.
If the dreamwalking part does not work for you, it can also work to strengthen your realtionship with this person(whatever it may be) because you have to really connect yourself to them, openly and freely. It may give you a better understanding of who they are or a situation they are in, or just in general it can form a connection that was weak before you did the spell.
Good luck!
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Submitted by Charles Hugh-Smith of OfTwoMinds blog,
When organizations are incapable of reforming themselves, breakdown is the only possible endpoint.
Every failing organization, from empires to school districts, responds to its embarrassingly visible failure by proclaiming one reform after another. To take but a few from a long list, China is "reforming" its hopelessly corrupt, debt-based central-planning economy, President Obama is "reforming" the Global Surveillance State (into a presumably kinder, gentler machine gun hand?), The European Union is "reforming" its banking sector and the overly complex U.S. Sickcare system is being reformed with 2,300 pages of additional complexity under the Orwellian title of Affordable Care Act (ACA), a.k.a. ObamaCare.
The one dynamic that matters is of course left unsaid: the inability of the Status Quo to reform itself, i.e. undertake fundamental, systemic reforms. This inability has many facets but only one root: political sclerosis caused by entrenched, vested interests seeking to protect their perquisites and power.
This is as true of local school districts as it is of entire states.
Here is my scale-invariant summary of the Status Quo:
1. An economy that is controlled by the government is one in which political power, not the market, controls the distribution of national income. Politics is the arena in which the national income is distributed. The primary contestants are entrenched, vested interests seeking to protect their perquisites and power.
2. A government in which political power is for sale to the highest bidder puts the wealthy at an extreme advantage, as they have the means to buy political power to conserve and expand their share of the national income.
3. In order to do the bidding of the financial Elite, the political Elite redistributes enough national income to the bottom 50% and retirees to buy their silence/complicity.
4. A nation in which political power is for sale is one in which the rule of law is bent to serve those with power.
That the relentless advocacy of one's own interests magically creates a common good is the core of our secular faith; what if this is false? This is not just the secular faith in America, but in China; "to get rich is glorious" implicitly embodies a "trickle down" economic view in which Chinese millionaires whose sons own multiple $250,000 autos are good for China because that extreme concentration of wealth will supposedly trickle down to everyone lower in the food chain.
Orwell called this "some are more equal than others": in other words, beneath the glossy PR veneer of trickle-down economics, the super-wealthy are entitled to their wealth by the natural order of inequality. Never mind the system is rigged in their favor; they "deserve it" in the same way that feudal lords "deserved" their estates.
In Nature the ability to reform is called adaptation. Organisms and species that are unable to adapt when selective pressure is applied vanish from the Earth. Humans and human organizations are no different; individuals and organizations that are unable to respond to selective pressure with real self-reform/transformation will also fail and disappear.
The political and financial Status Quo is incapable of true reform, because real reform threatens the perquisites and power of entrenched vested interests, what I call fiefdoms.
The other dynamic I have described is the Rising Wedge Model of Breakdown:entrenched interests within organizations only know how to expand, and this leads to ever-higher minimum levels of funding and headcount. Reform is rendered impossible because the organization breaks down once funding dips below the lofty minimum.
If we combine these three dynamics--the relentless, single-minded advocacy of self-interest in rigging the system; a multiplicity of political "third rails," i.e. constituencies and fiefdoms that are politically untouchable, and the Rising Wedge Model of Breakdown, we understand why the Status Quo is incapable of reforming itself.
That leaves breakdown as the only possible endpoint.
Though the Status Quo still has enough resources to put off the eventual breakdown and collapse for a while longer, I expect an initial crisis to emerge in 2014-2015 that is resolved by the usual politically expedient half-measures. The sigh of relief that "everything's been fixed" may last two to three years to 2017-18, and then the ultimate crisis will gather force until it is beyond half-measures, likely in the 2021-22 timeline.
For more on the same topic:
An Abundance of Bad Decisions (June 13, 2013)