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Hong Kong has become the epicenter of political turmoil as citizens' lives are being nothing short of invaded by the government. There have been demonstrations ongoing for weeks. As the Special Administrative Region (SAR) is being shaken, businesses are reportedly turning down the Hong Kong dollar in favor of Bitcoin. But is that a safe bet amid the political turmoil?
Businesses Turn to Bitcoin in Hong Kong
Reports have it that businesses are turning down the Hong Kong dollar in favor of Bitcoin as a means of taking a stand against their imperialistic government.
Indeed, looking at the HKD/USD chart, we can see that since July, the Hong Kong dollar has been declining against the US dollar.
We've already seen that Bitcoin performs well in times of political and economic uncertainty. As CryptoPotato reported earlier in August, Bitcoin surged $700 as trade tensions between China and the U.S. rose to a new level when President Trump imposed yet another 10% tariff on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods.
However, given the seriousness of the situation and Bitcoin's pseudonymous nature, the question is whether using it is literally safe.
Bitcoin's Pseudonymous Nature
Contrary to what most people believe, Bitcoin is not anonymous – at least not in the sense of providing complete anonymity.
While no KYC is required for users to transact over the network, users still have identifiers. The most common is one's Bitcoin address, the one that you use to send and receive bitcoins. If at any point in time this address is somehow linked to you, all the transactions going in and out of it will also be linked to you. And since Bitcoin runs on an immutable ledger, all transactions are permanently listed there and everyone can access them.
The issue is when people start using exchanges in order to buy or sell Bitcoin. All regulated exchanges require users to go through thorough KYC procedures in which they must provide essential personal information. Hence, it's entirely possible for someone to track down one's identity, even if they use Bitcoin.
Given the political tensions in Hong Kong, one wonders whether it is actually safe for business owners to turn to Bitcoin.


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Slums of Paradise
by Mira Nencheva
The first time we go to the island of Porvenir to check-in in Panama and Kuna Yala a few days after arriving in the San Blas islands, we find ourselves in yet another different world. Surrounded by pristine sea, isolated in one of the wildest corners of our planet, standing on top of slowly sinking foundations of sand and coral are the large urban settlements of Kuna Yala.
Based on the density of inhabitants per square kilometer, these are some of Earth's most heavily populated urban areas, where according to modern standards housing, sanitation and the most basic services are substandard, the supply of clean water is a huge problem, and the reliability of electricity is questionable. On a micro scale, some of the big Kuna settlements reflect the global population expansion and pollution of the planet.
If we thought that the small isolated fine-sand islands with tiny huts among tall coconut palms floating in a sea of crystal teal waters were "paradise on Earth", the big overpopulated Kuna Yala islands surrounded by smelly garbage reminded us of slums.
In the San Blas islands most of the Kuna population lives in big organized communities on the larger islands. The difference between the smaller idyllic islands where 2-3 traditional Kuna families live in peace and serenity among coconut palms and coral reefs, and the bigger island-communities, crowded and polluted, is like the difference between a small village in the countryside and a big congested megalopolis within the same country.
Clusters of houses of bamboo sticks and wooden planks with leaning walls and corrugated patched-up tin roofs, surrounded by plastic buckets and jerry cans filled with stagnant water, makeshift toilets on sticks over the sea, the ruins of a concrete dock. No trees and everything is grey. But mostly- garbage. Stuck between the rocks near the shores, between empty bleached shells of dead corals and conchs- pieces of plastic and foam. Piles of garbage. Things floating in the sea.
Here the Kunas have gas generators and the expensive electricity is used mainly to watch television and charge cell phones. Television has brought the new generations of indigenous kids a different perspective on life and different "needs". Now little Kuna girls watch Latino soap-operas, learning the ways of seduction and deception. As we pass by an open door of a home, we witness a group of school girls watching very intensely on a triple-X TV channel an instruction video for pole-dancing in a striptease club. Groups of teenage boys wearing jeans with sleek hairs gather in corners doing nothing; like in the music videos, they are "cool". Alcohol and drug use have become a big issue.
But even though globalization and westernization has affected in various degrees life in the big settlements in Kuna Yala, and even though there is lack of proper sanitation, safe water supply, reliable electricity, garbage disposal, hygienic housing and common areas, or other basic human necessities; even though the islanders are mostly poor and unemployed (which are all characteristics of a slum), these communities are organized with well-established traditional social and political order with a strict hierarchy of tribal chiefs and leaders. On each island there is a "saila", who is the equivalent of a village mayor and the highest authority on the island. But from our personal observation and from what we have heard from others, unfortunately most of the sailas, like most politicians or rulers, have become increasingly corrupt. Indigenous or no indigenous, money is the main interest of these people today and the ways they are trying to get them is not always respectable.
Every evening the population of each community gathers at "el congreso" at the main square in the center of the island or in the biggest hut of the village where everyone is welcome to express opinions, ideas, or complains. In an event of a crime, like theft or domestic violence, the congreso decides the fate of the criminal, which is usually a monetary fine or a punishment in the form of community work. During the congreso obligatory community work done by all women and men on each islands is organized.
In oa couple of settlements where we spend a week- the twin islands of Narganá (or Yandup) and Corazón de Jesús (or Akuanasutupu) which are connected by a wooden bridge and are two of the most westernized of all Kuna islands, we meet and talk to a few locals, who tell us more about the specifics and the organization on their islands.
"Every Tuesday all women have to get out to swipe and clean the village at 8:00 a.m. If a woman doesn't come to clean, she has to pay a fine of $1." Explains Odalis Brown, who prefers to sleep late and pay the fine instead of cleaning the streets at 8 in the morning. "Every Thursday and Saturday all men have to do community work from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.- to bring sand and fill the holes in the ground, or to cut wood on the mainland, or to farm."
With global warming and the level of oceans rising, some islands have already been eaten by the sea and disappeared. Bringing sand and piling dead corals and rubble at the bases of islands is one of the usual community jobs for men. Contributing food and cooking it together for a community event is the women's job. And always there is a fine of a few dollars if someone doesn't do their job. There is fine of $5 even for children who disobeyed and didn't go to bed at 8:00 p.m. when a man working for the saila blows a sort of a curfew whistle.
We are impressed by the organization in the communities, but disappointed with the way globalization, westernization, and television has influenced these indigenous people, them too…
But then it is all a matter of perspective. The bamboo houses we- the "civilized first-world citizens"- classify as "substandard" are in fact traditional huts (in most cases) made of renewable materials with the same methods the Kunas used for many centuries before the "civilized" Europeans showed up. The "fresh water problem" is a problem from our point of view- the people who are used to turning on the faucet at home and let the water flow hard for ten minutes while we are brushing our teeth. Paddling to the nearest river with a canoe, bringing river-water in bottles and jerry cans, and boiling it to make it safe for drinking is something the Kunas are used to doing generation after generation and for them it is not "a problem" as much as it is a part of daily life. Being "poor and unemployed" is how we, the wealthy visitors see these people who have always lived without cars, washing machines and big shopping malls, and who spend their time fishing and hunting for food, farming small plots and collecting fruits and coconuts.
Still, the arrival of modern tools and materials, of electricity and television, has altered the Kunas ways. Can we blame them for using plastic buckets and bottles to make their life easier with all the freshwater hustle? Can we blame them for wanting the same things we want- packaged foods, ready-made clothing, tools and things that make life "easier" and more "comfortable"? With all this comes pollution, and for the islanders and the fragile environment they live in on such a limited territory this new consumerist tendencies spell disaster. The garbage and pollution issue in San Blas needs to be addressed urgently.
And similarly urgent is the issue of culture loss in the big Kuna settlements due to globalization and the introduction of television. To a big extend, the Kunas have preserved their ways and beliefs, language and rituals. Yet, they are now part of a bigger world and have welcomed civilization and change. Will the young Kunas be willing to preserve the ways of their ancestors, after watching so much glamour and luxury not too far away? Will they see their own lives as tradition or struggle? How will they perceive their own world- as a paradise or a slum?
About the author: Mira Nencheva, her husband Ivo and 11-years-old daughter Maya are sailing around the world and living off-the-grid full-time aboard their 38 feet Leopard catamaran Fata Morgana since July 2013. Their journey is documented in a travel-adventure blog www.thelifenomadik.com and in theirFacebook page:

subset: commoncrawl


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The LKP82D features a forged brass base and chrome plated 8" air pump. This pump is ruggedly built for performance and durability. The base is rendered in tin-nickel plate. The 8" pump injects more air with each pump to pressurize the keg faster, allowing you to enjoy your beer quicker with less effort. This pump will outperform and outlast any similar style picnic pump that is currently on the market, all at a price that is hard to beat.
|Average Customer Rating:
|(based on 1 reviews)
|Marthy (08-12-2013)
Silverdale, WA
|Gets the party flowing, strong smooth flow per pump.
|Bottom Line:
|I would recommend this product.
Be the first to ask a question.


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Central Oregon Community College
Central Oregon Community College is located in Bend, Oregon. COCC offers ADN program. Their program is a career ladder program, with an exit point that at the Practical Nurse (PN) and Registered Nurse (RN) levels. Their program is highly competitive.
Central Oregon Community College
- 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR - 97701
- (541) 383-7500
School InformationLocation: Bend, OR
- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX Ranking - ADNOverall Score ADN: 96.91%
- State Rank ADN: 5
- US Rank ADN Programs: 49
Nursing Program InformationPrograms Offered: Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Associate
- Visit Nursing School
Best Ranked BSN Programs by State
Top 100 ADN and BSN Programs in America
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics


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0 items
- Carter, Holley, Rochester, Stromberg -
Rochester Quadrajet Carburetors
Rochester Fourjet 4G Carburetors
Rochester Twojet 2G Carburetors
Rochester Dualjet Carburetors
Rochester Varajet Carburetors
Rochester Monojet Carburetors
Rochester B Carburetors
Rochester H Carburetors
Carter WCFB Carburetors
Carter YF, YFA Carburetors
Carter AVS Carburetors (only for use with #2252)
Holley Carburetors (Various models)
Stromberg WW, WWC Carburetors
Quantity: 1
Spring Diameter: .575"
Spring Length: .900"
Spring is located behind fuel filter, applying pressure to filter against inlet housing, allowing fuel to pass thru filter and not around it.
Rochester carburetors:
For use with both short and long style Rochester filters.
Long Paper Carburetor Fuel Filter
Long Paper Carburetor Fuel Filter with Check Valve
Short Paper Carburetor Fuel Filter
Short Paper Carburetor Fuel Filter with check valve
Sintered Bronze Carburetor Fuel Filter


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URA, HDB release land for 1,880 homes, including EC in Tampines
URA & HDB have released three sites for sale at Dairy Farm Road, Sims Drive and Tampines Avenue 10
Luxurious facilities available at The Tapestry Tampines fulfil the necessities of premier life in style. Ease away the stress after a tired day with a comprehensive host of condominium facilities including swimming pool, lap pool, sundeck, pool bar, outdoor fitness and yoga, spa pond, clubhouse, dining pavilion, BBQ pits and more. Here, your every demand will meet to beautiful facilities.
Like an intricate masterpiece of undeniable beauty, The Tapestry is an astounding world which draws inspiration from the richness of life. Its distinctive architecture uses a modern and unique curtain wall feature that is mostly seen in high-end luxury homes. Located along Tampines St. 86, The Tapestry is close to the established Tampines Regional Centre and Pasir Ris estate.
Arrive home in style everyday. Upon entering The Tapestry, be greeted by a grand Arrival Court. Take a dip in the impressive 100-metre Infinity Pool and the 50-metre Lap Pool. Enjoy family gatherings and parties at Club Tapestry that comes with extended alfresco seatings by the lawn and gourmet kitchen facilities. The Tapestry is designed for the enjoyment of you and your family.
Enjoy thoughtful residential services, exclusively for all residents at The Tapestry. From private chef services, housekeeping services, down to transport arrangements and more, our Residential Services host will assist in fulfilling requests to cater to your lifestyle needs. The Tapestry also offers you a world of comfort and ease with a childcare centre at your doorstep.
Each apartment is adorned with sleek designer fittings including a Haiku ceiling fan and finishes known for their quality and style. Find an accessories cabinet in the spacious master bedroom and a pelmet to conceal blinds or curtain fixtures. Exclusive private lift for 4-bedroom, 4-bedroom dual key and 5-bedroom dual key + study units.
Make useof a fully-equipped kitchenwith Teka cooker hood, hob, oven, refrigerator and washer cum dryer. Additonal Teka combi steam oven is also provided in 4-bedroom, 4-bedroom dual key and 5-bedroom dual. key + study units. Kitchen and bathroom wares and fittings come from reputable brands like Grohe and Duravit. This is the home you've always wanted and more.
All units are fitted with smart home technology including smart voice assistant so that you can control your home remotely for peace of mind.
Book an appointment and view ShowFlat & get VVIP Discounts (Limited Time), Direct Developer Price & E-Brochure. Guaranteed with Best Price Possible.
URA & HDB have released three sites for sale at Dairy Farm Road, Sims Drive and Tampines Avenue 10
The units sold in March was 716 units but down 53.5 per cent in April last year.
Average price per square foot of 99-year leasehold property is S$1,310


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| 7.1°C Belfast
Edinburgh recorded a second successive win to moves towards the middle of the RaboDirect PRO12 league table.
The hosts seemed to have the control when they established a first half lead thanks to tries by Greig Tonks and Willam Nel - but Zebre hit back to lead at the break.
However a third try, from Cornell Du Preez, plus two conversions and two penalties by Harry Leonard gave the Scottish - playing for the second week at home and against Italian opposition - a 25-23 success.
The visitors contributed much to the game and scored two first half tries from Tomasso Iannone and Leonardo Sarto, with stand-off Luciano Orquera converting both and kicking three penalties.
Following criticism by coach Alan Solomons for their 'frenetic' play, Edinburgh made a low-key start - not helped by stand-off Leonard failing with a relatively easy penalty in just the eighth minute.
Zebre made more of the running, well marshalled by scrum-half Brendon Leonard. They drew level in the 16th minute thanks to a penalty from Orquera, after Edinburgh were penalised at a ruck.
Edinburgh immediately responded with a purple patch that produced two tries and seemed to have put them in control.
Firstly, open play saw Dougie Fife off his wing to penetrate centre field and throw a long pass for full-back Tonks to score in the left corner.
Then, a period of pick and go ended with prop Nel forcing his way over for the second successive week - Harry Leonard converted to put his side 12-3 ahead after 29 minutes.
However Zebre took up the challenge, scoring two tries of their own - both helped by Edinburgh errors - to go in at the break leading 17-12.
Firstly Sarto broke the tackle of Edinburgh centre Ben Atiga and put in Iannone. Then, after Edinburgh wing Jack Cuthbert dropped a high ball under no pressure, Zebre built pressure into stoppage time and right-winger Sarto scored for Orquera to kick his second conversion.
Early in the second half Edinburgh's Leonard pulled back three points with a simple penalty before collective effort kept out Zebre's responding attack.
Edinburgh then produced pressure of their own, driving a line-out with number eight Du Preez ultimately scoring and Leonard converting from touch.
Early in the third quarter each side was rewarded with a penalty - from Harry Leonard and then Orquera - for a spell of pressure.
Ortega kicked his third penalty in 74 minutes to make for an exciting few minutes, with an Ortega drop-goal attempt slipping the wrong side of a post.


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Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
Super 8 Motel Albuquerque/west
Super 8 Motel Albuquerque/west
Super 8 Motel Albuquerque/west
6030 Iliff Road NWAlbuquerque, NM 87121
$42 - $44
Hotel DescriptionThis Super 8 in Albuquerque is located approximately five miles from the city's center and is 17 miles from Albuquerque International Airport. Local attractions include museums approximately three miles away and the Rio Grande Zoo located four miles from the property.Hotel amenities include free coffee free parking large vehicle parking 24-hour front desk free newspapers and 24-hour room service. Dining options include the Continental Breakfast.Guest rooms feature cable TVs telephones free local calls and alarm clocks.
Amenities(Additional fees may apply to some amenities)
- Pets accepted
- Business center
- Meeting rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Motel
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page


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Existing students: For information on when classes will resume, or for any other student services such as transcript requests, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
By Manhattan InstitutePosted in Pharmacy TechnicianOn May 20, 2016
Being a pharmacy technician carries a lot of responsibility. Your actions have a direct impact on people's health, and mistakes can literally be a matter of life or death. Thankfully, a good pharmacy technician course will teach you everything you need to know in order to be successful in your new career.
You may be wondering, "what do I learn in a pharmacy technician course anyway?" In general, your course will prepare you in four main arenas: math, science, customer service, and technical skills.
As a pharmacy technician, you will be dealing with a lot of numbers. You need to develop in-depth proficiency with fractions, percentages, basic computations, and algebra. Your math sense needs to be strong enough that you don't make mistakes and that you will catch any mistakes someone else might have made.
Your pharmacy technician course will prepare you for the mathematical tasks you will perform every day by reinforcing your current mathematical knowledge and filling in any gaps. You will also become familiar with the metric system.
Your course will include a lot of chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. You will need to understand how chemicals work, interact, and affect the body. These skills will translate into your daily job as you mix and dispense medications for patients. The more knowledgeable you are about these areas of science, the more valuable you will be as a pharmacy technician.
It is incredibly likely that you will be working in close proximity with patients as a pharmacy technician. Your course will help you understand how to deal with them in a friendly manner that puts their mind at ease. You will also learn how to deal with patients who are angry and sick to manage difficult situations that may arise.
Like with most jobs in the healthcare field, hands on learning is crucial. Your pharmacy technician course will prepare you for assessing prescription orders for authenticity, managing inventory, processing insurance, and tracking controlled substances. You will also receive training in legal and ethical practices as well as pharmaceutical computing.
Choosing the right pharmacy technician course is an important decision. At The Manhattan Institute, we want to prepare you for success in your field. Learn more about our pharmacy technician program and get started on the path to your new career today!


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🔘 Biography
➖Samir Belhamra
➖ France 🇫🇷
Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by art and creativity.
I was born in a modest family, in a small neighborhood with building as the only landscape.
My name is Samir. I live in South France. I started drawing, making graffiti's and inventions when i was kid. Then, Internet, Photography and tools such as Photoshop opened an engless horizon to travel through graphic unverses. They allowed me to develop my own ideas and launch my computer graphics business. Today, my style is atypical, situated between reality and imagination. I hope my artworks make people dream, travel and change perceptions.
I share my own vision of landscape with editing.
▫©All rights reserved to GSP Magazine
▫SPONSORED BY ©GSP Magazine


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Listing is for one pair of Light Green Sea Glass Sailboat Earrings.Beautiful and petal soft, our curved recycled sea glass is graced with detailed silver sailboat charms. Beauty, style and a bit of whimsy go into creating these lovely and oh so light earrings. * We use quality stainless steel rings for strength and durability * We only use .925 solid Sterling Silver French Ear Wires. Each ear wire comes with its own little rubber ear nut. * These earrings are approximately 3/4 inch wide and 2 inches long.***************************We give our sea glass a little charm, literally! We have access to charm vendors worldwide, so if you are looking for a specific charm, we can find it. Add a bit of sea glass and you have a one of a kind piece of jewelry! Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and our own website, www.jentegrityjewelryandgifts.com. Blessings! - Jenn
Sea Glass Hummingbird Necklace Earrings Set | Hummingbird Jewelry | Stainless steel | Sterling Silver | Christmas | Sea Glass Jewelry
Regular price
Sea Glass Dolphin Jewelry Set | Dolphin Jewelry | Sterling Silver | Stainless Steel | Sea Glass Earring | Sea Glass Necklace | Dolphin
Regular price
Sea Glass Sea Turtle Earrings | Sea Turtle Jewelry | Sterling Silver | Turtle Earrings | Beach Glass | Christmas | Sea Glass Jewelry
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Sea Glass Sea Turtle Necklace | Sea Turtle Jewelry | Stainless Steel | Turtle Necklace | Beach Glass | Christmas | Sea Glass Jewelry


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Now the tourists may have to pay Rs 10 more to see the Taj Mahal, as the Indian government proposes to increase the entry fee to Rs 50 from Rs 40 and introduce an additional fee of Rs 200 to for visiting the main mausoleum, a Union minister of the country said on Tuesday.
The entry fee hike, which is likely to be implemented April onwards, will be applicable for domestic visitors only and not foreign tourists, said Union Minister for Culture Mahesh Sharma at a press conference here.
"We don't intend to increase or add revenue to our kitty from the entry fee hike. But the restoration work has to continue for protecting the monument… The step aims to ensure protection of the built fabric and better crowd management," Sharma said.
The ministry has also proposed to introduce a duration of three hours for visitors' stay inside the Taj premises to check crowding, after the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) said that footfall must be controlled to protect integrity of the Taj Mahal.
To check misuse of tickets, the new tickets would have bar coding, he said.
"We will also have a special ticket of Rs 200 for entry to the main mausoleum, apart from the normal entry ticket… The restriction is to ensure that only those who are genuinely interested enter the premises," Sharma stated.
The minister also stated that "High Value Tickets" have also been proposed for tourists visiting the Taj Mahal – for foreign visitors, it has been fixed at Rs 1,250 and for domestic visitors, it is Rs 400.
Apart from 400 tickets that are currently sold for night viewing of the Taj, the ministry is planning to open Mehtab Bagh for the same purpose, so that a larger number of tourists are able to enjoy its beauty at night.
The Minister informed that the Tourism Ministry, Agra Development Authority and the local police had also joined hands to tackle the "lapka culture" (touts catching hold of the visitors) and such conduct would be considered a crime.
"Strict action will be taken against people involved in such activity. The step is to ensure safety of women visitors, especially foreign tourists, as many cases have been reported where guides have tried to misbehave with them," he pointed out.
Source: The Statesman


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Britain is to sue the European Central Bank for setting rules that allegedly handicap the City of London and would force one of the world's largest clearing houses to decamp operations to the euro area.
The unprecedented legal action underlines the depth of ministerial concern over the ECB policy, which comes as the UK engages in a turf war with France and Germany over Europe's financial markets infrastructure.
An ECB policy paper, released in the summer, requires clearing houses to be based in the eurozone if they handle more than 5 per cent of the market in a euro-denominated financial product.
Britain will ask the courts to strike down the rule on the grounds that it restricts the free movement of capital and infringes on the right to establish cross-border businesses across a multicurrency European Union.
The policy, if enforced by the ECB, would undermine London's financial market infrastructure since it would require that clearing houses shift many of their operations to the eurozone – most likely Frankfurt or Paris.
A Treasury spokesperson said: "This decision contravenes European law and fundamental single market principles by preventing the clearing of some financial products outside the Euro area. That is why we have begun proceedings against the European Central Bank through the European Court of Justice."
British diplomats have long feared that Paris was leading attempts to rig market regulations in a bid to shift the centre of gravity for financial services from the City to the continent.
The UK fought off French attempts in recent months to insert into an EU directive a requirement for clearing houses to have access to central bank liquidity – a measure effectively confining most euro-denominated clearing to the eurozone.
The lawsuit is expected to be filed imminently at the European Court of Justice. It is the first case brought against the ECB by Britain.
London is home to LCH.Clearnet, which processes all share trading that takes place on the London Stock Exchange and operates an over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives clearing service, making it one of the largest clearing houses in the world. The clearer also operates a clearing house in Paris, called Clearnet SA.
Clearing houses have assumed heightened importance to maintaining the stability of the financial system due to G20 regulations designed to clean up after the 2008 financial crisis.
The ECB argues that, in the interests of financial stability, it is necessary to locate financial market infrastructure in the eurozone so that crises are not handled by multiple central banks with conflicting interests.
"As a matter of principle, infrastructures that settle euro-denominated payment transactions should settle these transactions in central bank money and be legally incorporated in the euro area," its policy states.
The ECB's policy would immediately hit LCH.Clearnet, since it has a large portfolio of euro-denominated business split between clearing of European government bonds and repos, and euro-denominated over the counter interest rate swaps.
The ECB declined to comment on Wednesday.
Michael McKee, partner at DLA Piper, a law firm, said: "There would certainly appear to be a prima facie arguable case that any attempt to require a clearing house, located in the EU but outside of the eurozone, to relocate inside the eurozone breaches EU Treaty free movement requirements."
Two US exchange groups, CME Group and IntercontinentalExchange, recently set up clearing houses in London to serve as their beachhead in Europe as they take advantage of post-2008 crisis regulations pushing more clearing of derivatives – instruments in which London acts as Europe's main hub. However their euro denominated business is minimal at this stage.
The ECB policy also said: "Given its mandate to promote the 'smooth operation for payment systems', the Eurosystem has major concerns with regard to the development of major euro area financial market infrastructures that are located outside of the euro area".
In 2009 a confidential memo by the Banque de France was leaked, in which the bank called for the establishment of a Paris-based clearing house for credit default swaps, a type of derivative instrument, to prevent the business being dominated by London.


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Quick Navigation
Pricing rules are used to calculate prices when creating new listings on a channel and when syncing prices for existing listings (if enabled). Pricing rules are the most effective tool in managing your prices, relatively, across your various sales channels.
To set your pricing rules, go to Settings > Sales Channels Integrations > Edit for the desired sales channel you wish to apply pricing rules.
Pricing rules are calculated from your products' price, found in your Inventory. Each channel allows you to set 2 kinds of pricing rules:
Price Adjustment
The price adjustment rule has a very specific application. This rule allows you to increase or decrease your product price by a fixed dollar amount, or a percentage.
This rule works by calculating your product price against the price adjustment set here, when creating new listings, or synchronizing price changes made to your Inventory.
For example, let's say you have a price adjustment rule set to "Increase product price by $5". You then have two products to list on this channel: Product 1 priced at $10 and Product 2 priced at $15 in your Inventory. When listed on this channel, Product 1 will be listed with a price of $15 and Product 2 will be listed with a price of $20.
Price Rounding
The price rounding rule is very simple and only serves one purpose: to automatically round up prices to end with .99.
This rule simply calculates your product price to ensure that all prices on this channel, are rounded up to end with .99, when applicable.
For example, a product price of $5.76 would be listed and rounded up to be priced at $5.99 on this channel.


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You are here
Foil-Air Bearings for Small Gas Turbine Engines
Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W911W6-13-C-0022
Agency Tracking Number: A123-104-0107
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A123-104
Solicitation Number: 2012.3
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-01-25
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2013-07-28
Small Business Information
11 Apollo Drive, Whippany, NJ, -
HUBZone Owned: N
Woman Owned: N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: N
Principal Investigator
Name: Peter Chapman
Title: Principal Engineer
Phone: (518) 320-8552
Email: email@example.com
Title: Principal Engineer
Phone: (518) 320-8552
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Business Contact
Name: Karen Rizzi
Title: General Manager
Phone: (973) 326-9920
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Title: General Manager
Phone: (973) 326-9920
Email: email@example.com
Research Institution
Name: Stub
AbstractAs new applications arise for small gas turbine engines, the need to advance engine component technologies becomes essential, since they are required to run faster, hotter, and longer. Particularly critical in this regard are the shaft bearings. Since they operate without lubricant, air foil bearings have been identified as viable replacements to conventional liquid lubricated bearings. An advanced air foil bearing can be the enabling technology needed to improve engine efficiency and decrease weight by reducing bearing power loss and eliminating the lubrication system. Mechanical Solutions, Inc. (MSI) proposes a focused combination of rigorous scientific analysis and testing to assess an innovative oil/grease-free bearing system that combines the best features of current air foil bearing technology with specific design enhancements that provide increased load capacity and tolerance to service conditions such as shock and misalignment. The result of our work will be a commercially available, non-contact bearing system capable of supporting the radial and thrust loads within the operating environment typical for a 200 hp class gas turbine engine. MSI will analyze, design, build and test advanced foil bearing designs in Phase I.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *


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Building trust on perfect transparency. Fabasoft is listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (WKN (D) 922985) and has based its work on a strategy of perfect transparency for almost three decades. This approach applies not only to our shareholders, but also to each and every one of our customers.
Security and Data Protection
Data protection and data security are core elements of Fabasoft's understanding as a software manufacturer and cloud provider. As a European company Fabasoft is subject to the strictest data protection laws.
Certifications and Audits
Fabasoft is certified and tested according to all relevant European standards of safety and reliability. Your data is in safe hands.
Numerous national and international awards underline the high quality requirements of Fabasoft's software products and cloud services.


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The ideal place for disruption
Brightlands Techruption is part of the Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen. The new disruptors meet one another on our playground. This is where we work on sustainable innovations in blockchain, artificial intelligence and climate change. We work with businesses, students and knowledge partners, tackling the major challenges of the future.


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At Home Color Party DIY – Color Powder Balls Recipe
Looking for family or small social group fun activities? Have a color powder ball war! Use our easy step by step DIY recipe to make your own color powder balls. Then gather with your family or a small group less than 10 in an open outdoor space. Let the war begin!
What you'll need:
- Bulk Color Powder– We suggest 4 colors for 4 team as this will allow for ample options of different games to play at the color party. Yet, depending on the number of participants attending the event, limit or add colors accordingly
- 1 cup measuring cups
- Scissors
- Dixie Cups or Bowls for pouring the color
- Nylon Pantyhose – Nude colored and cheap are the best! Also, if possible, see if you can find pairs with tall sizing to maximize the amount of material
Steps-By-Step Instructions:
Cut each leg of the pantyhose at the knee and at the groin.
Each pair yields a minimum 4 lengths of nylon, providing 4 Color Balls for your color party. (You can make more Color Balls out of each length depending on the size you want. Just insure you leave enough length to tie them off.)
2 sections will have a foot and the other 2 are open on both sides, so you will need to tie one end to prep for filling.
Measure the bulk powder for 1 cup per nylon length. You can use small Dixie cups to fill (4 x 2 ounce Dixies = 1 cup)
Pro Tip for filling the nylons with color: We tried a few different techniques and learned what worked well and what is less successful for a color party.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you stretch the nylon fabric too much, the fibers separate and the powder falls through. So, do NOT stretch the whole leg over a bowl and then dump the powder in, because you will find it will fall through and you will lose a lot of product on the ground.
Stretch the opening just enough, and then let it fall into the unstretched foot.
Once filled with 1 cup of color, the ball should be about the size of a hackie sack.
Then, just tie the end/ends to lock in the color.
Depending on the color party games you have planned, you may want to make 1-3 Color Balls per participant.
It just depends how long you want the activity to last. The ball can be thrown over and over again until it is out of powder.


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"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." – Matthew 9:36-38
Our Mission
To empower people to be Reach Leaders for Jesus Christ and come together to do greater than what we can do on our own.
• To get more people Saved
• To get more people Discipled
• To get more people Reaching Others for Jesus Christ.
Our Purpose
To have every individual at Harvest Life Church become Reach Leaders for Jesus Christ.
Our Vision
We see…
We see an army of thousands of bold soldiers for Christ equipped and empowered to reach millions for the Kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus, in Matthew 9, requested through His prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into His harvest. We believe that we are, at least in part, an answer to His prayer.
With that said, in our vision and assignment:
• We see thousands receiving salvation through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being nurtured and spiritually growing through pastoral care and the guidance of the Local Church ministry.
• We see thousands of trained and equipped believers empowered to reach thousands of un-churched seekers of Christ – inviting them to the Local Church.
• We see a Local Church that is strong, vibrant and healthy providing a spiritual infrastructure for growth through evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, worship and in ministry.
• We see a Local Church that is dedicated to disciple thousands of Christians with systematic programs to train, encourage, correct, counsel and nurture believers at all levels.
• We see a Local Church that sets the standard for excellence in every aspect of ministry with the signature of love, care, customer service and maintenance of facilities.
• We see a Local Church that has awesome worship and leads others to worship through dynamic services with excellence in music ministry and ministry arts.
• We see a Local Church dedicated to build strong Christian families and individuals, empowering them to incorporate the Word of God and Christian Principles into their daily life and standard of living.
• We see a Local Church that is dedicated to training, educating and equipping youth and the next generations with Christian principles, Godly stability, and spiritual legacy to carry on the work of Christ.
• We see a Local Church that is committed to developing Life Groups through inspiration, engagement and empowerment fostering wholesome church-based relationships as they live, give and serve together in ministry.
• We see a Local Church that perpetually extends itself through outreach in its community through prison ministry, homeless and homeless prevention, food bank service and the like.
• We see a Local Church with a global mission and world outreach for third world countries, world crisis, disaster relief and ministry development when and where it's needed.
• We see a Local Church that will take on the task to construct buildings, purchase property, develop real estate, etc. for the purpose of further establishing the "greater" work of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
• We see a Local Church that consistently lifts up and champions the Local Church as God's primary institution for the transformation of the soul of mankind.
• We see a Local church that reaches millions weekly with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through media communications including television, radio, internet and websites and social media.
• We see a ministry that supports and develops other Local Churches and Pastors; providing training, counsel and direction in their assignment.
• We see a Local Church that labors to ensure that strong Local Churches are physically accessible throughout the world believing that it is these entities that transform the atmosphere in communities, cities and regions.
• We see a Local Church dedicated solely to push God's agenda and promulgate and promote the ways and principles of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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FitzRoy Kent – Leo Trust Boldshaves Oast
Registered Care
The Leo Trust became part of FitzRoy in 2015, creating FitzRoy Leo Trust. This service a registered care homes in Kent that provide outstanding support for people with learning disabilities.
FitzRoy Leo Trust believe in quality of life, and continuing the vision of our founders, we make sure that everyone who lives in these beautiful homes in Kent has a chance of enjoying the best life possible. With a flexible approach we tailor the support you need, as you need it. The stunning properties are designed and adapted so everyone can live as comfortably and independently as possible.
As well as a lovely home you can enjoy our woodwork studio fully equipped with classes and sessions for all abilities; develop your computing skills on touch-screen computers in our IT area; and for the green-fingered, get involved in our fantastic horticultural project.
Our Commitment
Highly trained specialist staff provide round the clock care and support. Our staff engage, and work with each person's circle of support. We are committed to providing high-quality care and support keeping independence and choice central to everything we do.
Boldshaves Oast and The Croft are both very special places to live near the beautiful village of Woodchurch, Near Ashford, Kent. With grounds of nine acres, mature trees and shrubs, and beautiful views, you will enjoy a lovely home in the country, with exceptional care. Learn how to grow your own vegetables, fruit, and flowers, using the two poly tunnels, raised beds, and beautiful gardens.
• A welcoming home adapted to your needs for you and your family
• Special diets catered for
• Round the clock care with help to access local healthcare
• Get involved in preparing and cooking your own wholesome nutritious food
• Comfortable rooms that you can decorate and make your own
• Support to make friends and become part of the local community and access local amenities such as the pub, village shops, and horse riding
• Support to go on holiday
• An accessible home adapted to suit your needs
- Arts and crafts
- Communication and literacy
- Cooking and baking
- Gardening
- IT with adapted equipment
- Music
- Numeracy
- shopping
- Support with communication
- Supported volunteering
Woodchurch, Kent, TN26 3RA
01233 860 039
Service Manager
Tracy Wright


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Would you like me to take your portraits?
Portrait commissions begin at $400 which includes a 1-2 hour session in the location of your choice, and a disc of your top ten favorite retouched, print-ready digital files. Albums, canvas gallery wraps, professional print enlargements, and your complete image collection on disc are also available for purchase. Please contact me for details.


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Lip Balm Red (0.15 oz.)
94% ORGANIC. Lip Balm crafted from the finest oils with a very high content of healing herbs and an herbal coloring for a light, red gloss. Excellent for sensitive, dry or chapped lips.
INGREDIENTS: comfrey* and calendula* infused extra virgin olive oil*, beeswax*, alkanet root, natural vitamin E**
*certified organic **soy-free, gmo-free, kosher
Best results by: 01/2021
Wir empfehlen außerdem


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Our collection of props for hire is ever changing. So if you are after something in particular, send us an email or fill in the enquiry form, we may just have what you are looking for.
If you would like to hire multiple props, just select the quantity you prefer then click 'add to quote' and we can give you a price based on the total items you have selected.
Showing 1–16 of 30 results
1-Seater White Cushion/Black Frame
This 1-Seater armchair will provide comfort and simple sophistication.
2-Seater Black Cushion/Black Frame
This 2-Seater Lounge will provide comfort and style to your space.
2-Seater White Cushion/Black Frame
This 2-Seater Lounge will provide comfort and style to your space.
Gold Coffee Table
A large round metallic coffee table in mirror finish.
Gold Table
A sophisticated and visually intriguing gold table.
White Table
A sophisticated and visually intriguing white table.
Forest Green Wide Sofa
A sumptuous, wide seat sofa in a gorgeous shade of forest green.
Burgundy Wide Sofa
A sumptuous, wide seat sofa in a beautiful shade of burgundy.
White Terrazzo Bar Table
Modern & stylish steel bar table with white powder coated legs and a white terrazzo look top.
Black Contemporary Velvet Sofa
The Contemporary Velvet Sofa gives an almost Parisian impression with its fancy fabric and high density foam upholstery. Durable and stylish, it can fit wherever your sense of style permits.
Rectangle Ottoman
This rectangular ottoman is available in a soft blush pink colour with brushed gold accents. Suitable for indoor use only.
Oval Ottoman
This oval-shaped velvet ottoman will bring a touch of elegance to your space. Available in a soft sage green colour.
Round Ottoman
This round velvet ottoman will bring a touch of class to your space.
White Stool
This versatile stool is suitable for outdoor use.
Black Velvet Stool
This velvet stool will add a touch of class to any space.
White Lounge Chair
Minimal and stylish steel frame lounge chair with a powder coated white finish, topped with large comfortable white cushions. Can seat between 1 to 2 people.


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Academic Rigor
Dorm Life
Food and Dining
Bang for the buck
Clubs and Activities
Campus Safety
The classes are very educational and require a lot of focus. The best part is the university understands this, and so there are a lot of opportunities to get help from free tutors and TA's almost every day throughout the quarter.
To find more tips for prospective students, what to do for fun and whether this school is great for a particular type of student read the 100 reviews for University of Chicago
Curious about something that isn't answered here? Feel free to ask University of Chicago a question
The city of Chicago offers endless possibilities. The University of Chicago offers impressive academic choices. The list of alumni is inspiring.Read More
Beautiful campus with an intense focus on academics that is promising for a good academic foundation.Read More
University of Chicago is an institution that captures the creativity and ambition of its students through the prestige of its many programs.Read More
The campus is stunning, with an amazing snow-globe-like library and hogwartian halls. The undergraduate program is supposedly run like a liberal arts school, with most class sizes capped at 15. If you like academic rigor and snow (lots and lots and lots of snow), check this school out!Read More
A beautiful campus with staff who care about us. The students are all ready to learn about their passions and engage the community. There is differently something there for everyone.Read More
Ranked as a top-ten University in both the U.S. and the world, so expect the academics and environment to reflect that. It feels like a whole new - but still Urban - world on campus, but the downtown is right there for plethora of activities. There are so many different diverse peoples, ideas, and culture's in such a relatively small community.Read More
I haven't personally been on campus, but since I was a little girl UChicago has been at the top of my college list and still is because of how beautiful it is and how focused this schools is on the humanities and social sciences.Read More
The University of Chicago has an inspiring atmosphere and felt very welcoming. I'd love to be a part of the intense academic environment. Students I met on my visit seemed very involved in their classes and there were a ton of student-led clubs.Read More


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DEC Buzz
"Introducing students to real-life engineering has always been a challenge in schools. DEC enables us to do just that – giving our students access to real-life engineers, a real-life engineering project, and industry standard design software. The enthusiasm with which students engage in the project is fantastic. DEC has been a stunning success in every way."
Andrew Chubb – Principal, Archbishop Sentamu Academy, Hull
"In two recent observations of DEC lessons by Colleagues, Senior Management and an Ofsted inspector the lessons were graded as "Outstanding", with the real strength of the lesson being the significant pupil progress shown in a 45 minute lesson. The benefits of this programme for learners are huge and the impact on teaching and learning in the department has been equally impressive."
Daniel McDonagh – STEM Coordinator and Lead DT Teacher, St Ambrose Barlow R.C. High School
"DEC has helped develop my understanding of jobs in construction. I now know that there is more to construction than being a bricklayer. Job roles such as quantity surveying and construction management are two examples of job roles that I now have a better understanding about. I also know about cadet programmes and graduate management schemes at Laing O'Rourke and Mott McDonald."
Brad, DEC Yr 10 Student
"I cannot thank you enough for helping me with finding work experience… I've learnt a lot in this experience therefore you've possibly helped me with my future studies and work… I don't know what I would have done without your help and input. You've made my life easier, therefore you had also made my Mum's life easier as she was also supporting me through this."
Erol, DEC Student
"William is enjoying DEC enormously and is very excited about all the career options the course is giving him and has not stopped working on his Hotel Underground project for the past week."
Parent of previously dis-engaged student
Graveney School visit to the Mini Shard and Arup's office
"Tony Byrne and Joe Wu from Gratte were fantastic; extremely informative and interactive. The tour of the Mini Shard was a great platform for our students to see how architecture, engineering, BIM and design work come together to design, create systems and furnish a lavish building. The pupils were inquisitive about how the heating and cooling systems functioned. We had the opportunity to see an exclusive floor, where a well known and affluent newspaper boss will be using for his multi-million news empire. More interestingly for the pupils they were able to view a floor with only the framework visible. The Mini Shard visit widened pupils' understanding and knowledge into the Construction industry which they would like to pursue as a career in the future.
The Arup visit was an amazing opportunity for the pupils to see the vision from the architectural angle. The contracts and projects that Arup have been involved with fascinated our pupils. The intricate modelling demonstrated the precision involved in design, architecture and engineering. Overall the visits elevated our pupils' vision for their future!"
Hermione Lewis – DT Teacher, Graveney School
Graveney School visit to RICS
"Can I formally congratulate you and your amazing students on a magnificent and inspiring presentation last week at the COYO launch at the RICS. It was wonderful to hear how you have embraced the programme and the students clearly enjoyed the experience."
Graham Manly
Student Placement – Wates Construction Ltd
"It was a pleasure to have Samuel on site for the week. He is a well mannered, respectful young man with a willingness to listen, learn and understand. He was popular with all members of our staff. We wish him every success in the future with the career path he chooses to follow. Well done."
Ray Jacques, Project Manager, Wates Construction
Student Placement – Cundall
"I spoke to Luke on his last day and it was great to hear his genuine enthusiasm as he described what he had be doing whilst he was with us. He spent some time in all of our engineering departments to give him an appreciation of all of the things we do. All of the team leaders that sat with Luke were impressed the interest that he showed and he picked up the technical issues quickly.
Luke is a very polite and bright young man and it was a pleasure to have him join our team."
Paul Kenyon, Partner, Cundall
Student Placement – Habitat Systems
"Daniel joined us voluntarily during his summer holiday break and proved to be a mature, enthusiastic and pleasant addition to the company. Daniel's punctuality and presentation was faultless, his attitude was one of quiet confidence and his work ethic was to be admired. On a personal level I would have no hesitation in recommending Daniel to other companies and would be happy to have him back myself.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how advanced Daniel was in his use of various software packages used in the construction industry. Daniel expressed an interest in using Autodesk Revit Structure as he's used this package less than AutoCAD and I was quietly proud of him wanting to push himself. He completed an introduction tutorial, creating a model from scratch which incorporated all the main structural elements, adding views to title blocks and organising his Revit environment.
Towards the end of the week I had genuine cause for Daniel to help out on some project work. Initially this entailed adding detail line work and annotations to two large precast concrete residential schemes, leading to providing full setting-out dimensions to layouts and creating his own views and layouts. His work was tidy, accurate and completed efficiently all within Revit Structure.
During a site visit to the First Street Cultural Centre, a local theatre development, Daniel demonstrated he was interested in construction techniques and that there was be an appreciation of the structural engineering and modelling in the background. This leads me to believe that Daniel would be well suited to a career in structural engineering and, should he choose to undertake an apprenticeship, I could see him benefitting from starting as a junior drawing technician and progressing to engineer."
Dan Woodman, Senior Technician, HabitatSystems


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Location: Stockholm Archipelago
Not everybody gets to be a Captain. Some days, it is not much fun to be Captain. Today was a great day to be a Captain aboard Andromeda.
AQ rarely has 0500hr starts. But today, we did, kinda. In order to get off the dock by 5 AM, means you have to get up at 0430. And that is just painful, so I elected to get up at five and make a quick departure. We have a long way, ~150nm, to go today.
Peter, the gentleman he is, came over to say goodbye and cast off our lines. Such a pleasure to see him again. He will be missed. Three of the four flowers made the 0500 deck call to help with fenders and lines. Sunflower, Bluebonnet, and Desert Rose sleepily handled the soggy lines and fenders.
The sunrise is early here, but what most people don't understand that while sunrise might happen at 445AM, there is the soft glow of the sun at 330, as the sun ever so slowly rises. And for about an hour, a butterscotch sky illuminates evergreen hills circling small islands throughout this archipelago. We steamed south through the sound from Vaxholm and to the small channel, which heads south to the Baltic Sea. Stockholm is not a coastal city. Instead, it is nestled deep within a myriad of inlets and islands. It will take us about 3-4hr to reach the sea from here, along a convoluted course in around rocks and islands. Quite an elaborate ferry system exists here, as travel is most efficiently done by boat. Ferry service includes the smallest of islands, even those inhabited by only a few homes. One may simply walk out to the ferry landing and wave down a passing vessel to get a ride. Similarly, mail service is done the same way. Mailbags are hung upon a metal post at the ferry landing. As the ferry approaches, the mailman walks to the bow with a long stick to collect or deposit a mailbag.
The rather complex islands surrounding Stockholm contributed to the security and stability of the city. An invading force by sea was vulnerable as it approached the city through this hazardous maze.
For the navigators, it is challenging and rewarding, picking your way through the maze. Focus is difficult as the splendor beauty of the area is a distraction. The subtle light playing upon glass water through narrow channels makes for elaborate mornings. The Swans with little ducklings made for an idyllic morning. At the Braggon Channel, where only 8 meters wide is a challenge for the beamy Andromeda. From the perspective of the pilothouse, high above the water, I can see through the windows of the cottage below, a family enjoying a quiet breakfast. They waved, and I passed quietly with my 50ton vessel only 12ft away. I think I could smell their toast!
As we exited the archipelago, the broad Baltic lay ahead, calm and quiet. Now with only 120 nautical miles to go, the challenging navigating was over. We now struck a straight line to the north end of land and the small fishing village of Bda. This passage, while not all that fun, is important as keeping a keen eye for small craft and large ships. As a means of recompense, Tulip, who had missed the 5 AM deck call, came up to the bridge and stood watch so I could get a little lunch and quick nap.
It was about 11 PM when we arrived at Bda. I was very tired. The survey team from MMT had arranged for dockage in Bda. It is a small village with a very small harbor, shallow water, and a tight entrance. I have learned to err on the side of caution when it comes to maneuvering in tricky situations when I am tired. So, I elected to anchor in the bay. After a long day at sea, we were all exhausted. Without the help of Toberlone, ice cream, frozen pizza, and all of the flowers, we would not have made it. Especially tulip.
Early the next morning, we would go into the harbor. It was then, upon seeing the harbor, glad I was to of anchored offshore.
Yes, it was a good day to be captain. Cheers!
Cpt. Johnathan S. Ishmael ( The Gardner )


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Registrations now open for delegates.
Please note that the abstract submissions will re-open in August 2020.
The Early Years Conference is a bi-annual conference that promotes the wellbeing of children and families by advancing collaboration and evidence-based practice, and provides a platform to reflect multiple perspectives to improve early childhood development.
We are pleased to announce that the next Cairns Early Years Conference will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre on the 27th and 28th May 2021.
Our theme for this conference is "From theory to practice" and will be showcasing what is happening across sectors in the early years space.
Stay tuned for program information.


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This article was first published July 2010 in 234NEXT[1]
The struggle over the location of a refinery in Kogi State has caught the attention of many Nigerians. The governor is accused of taking the refinery away from Lokoja to his hometown.
The submission of this article is that the governor, and all those who made the deal with the Chinese to build three refineries, should actually be forced to locate these refineries in not just their villages, but on their own private land as well.
Refineries are not industrial installations that people should wish to be located even in their enemy's community. They are extremely toxic and poison everything and everyone around them. This is well known in the communities close to refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt.
Apart from the release of toxic gaseous emissions into the atmosphere, the liquid effluents from these refineries are scarcely treated, and are dumped into water bodies on which local communities depend. The case of Ubeji community, behind the Warri Refinery, is particularly pathetic.
The community's river and their mangrove swamps were severely polluted and engulfed in flames in July 2007. Till date, no remediation exercise has been carried out. You may hear that some compensation has been paid, but what is that pittance compared to the danger to which the community is permanently exposed to? What would such minor compensations do when the livelihoods of most of the citizens have been more or less permanently curtailed?
Other countries' examples
The toxic impacts of refineries are just as bad in other parts of the world. In South Durban, South Africa, the refineries (owned by Shell/BP joint venture) were located according to the dictates of the apartheid political system.
A visit to these communities today reveals a high incidence of cancers, blood disorders, and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Indeed, the prevalence of cancers and asthma is so high that you would hardly find a family without members who have died from these diseases, or who are suffering from them. One of the things kids pack as they head to school is the pumps to use in suppressing asthmatic attacks.
The difference between the refineries of South Africa and the ones in Nigeria is that the communities there are organised against pollution and work to produce evidence through the use of means such as the Bucket Brigades (who use bucket-like equipment to collect air samples for measurements).
There have been charges of environmental racism with regard to the location of toxic factories in the USA. One of the most spectacular incidents involving a refinery in the USA was the huge explosion that occurred at the Shell refinery at Norco, Louisiana, in May 1988. The fire from that explosion lasted for eight hours before it was contained. The blame was placed on rusty pipelines and inadequate preventive maintenance procedures.
There are several examples around the world of the negative consequences of setting refineries in neighbouring communities. One peculiar case is an aged Shell refinery in Curacao (near Venezuela) now being run by the Venezuelan state oil company, after Shell sold the refinery to the Curacao government in the 1980s for less than one dollar. They sold the refinery because they were faced with the need to clean up toxic dumps they had created at a cost of about 400 million dollars.
Back to Nigeria, it is mind-boggling to find people fighting to have these installations in their localities. Those whose localities they are moved away from should actually be engaged in thanksgiving and celebrations, rather than blocking highways in protests! The Chinese have found a business opportunity because the NNPC has been inept at managing the four refineries in Nigeria. Must the need to meet increasing demand for petroleum products force us to open ourselves to be ripped off?
The Chinese are to build and run the refineries until they recover their investments. Without terminal dates of when CSCEC would hand over the facilities to the NNPC, there is a wide room for corrupt practices and unmitigated exploitation.
Moreover, placing the refineries on the banks of the River Niger in Kogi State, as well as on the shores of the Atlantic at Lekki may be ways of democratising pollution, but these are moves we can ill afford at this time.
Besides, we need public debates and examination of environmental impact assessments for these projects before they proceed further.
- The article was also published as Kogi Fights Over Refinery Location at http://nigeriang.com/money/as-kogi-fights-over-refinery-location/3151/ (accessed 31 May 2016) ↵


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Each year, as the weather begins to warm across the country, professional baseball players report for MLB Spring Training. They come to prepare for a long grueling season of 162 games... and, like the fans that watch them, they all hope for more. In fact, a few stellar MLB players are avid InsideTracker users, and they told their story recently to MLB.com.
The drive to gain a few pounds of muscle, add another rep, and recover one day quicker, is commonplace for anyone actively strength training — not just ballplayers. But what can you do, and how do you get the most bang for your buck? Instead of rehashing the science and getting lost in complicated biochemistry, here are five of our top training takeaways. Consider this list a primer on how to use your biomarker recommendations from InsideTracker to hit your goals out of the park!
Think Fatigue not Anabolic
If your testosterone, free or total, is elevated by 10%, it doesn't mean that your muscle mass will increase by 10%. What the science on hormones tells us is that the these markers are great indicators of fatigue, and not muscle synthesis (repair or building of muscle). A better way of thinking about this is to consider trends in your free and total testosterone as hinting at fatigue, rather than growth.
Pro Tip: It's ok to fluctuate within the "optimal zone," but when chronically low, or below the zone, you should start to think about how lifestyle factors like sleep and overtraining can be contributing to the problem. Use a sleep tracker and commit to hitting 7-8 hours of quality sleep before blaming a workout program.
Use Free Testosterone and Cortisol Carefully
Cortisol, like some biomarkers, is influenced by one's circadian rhythm so it will rise and fall during the day. A practical approach to testing is to test consistently at the same time each morning for a simple summary of balance between stress and rest. Cortisol is naturally higher in the morning, but look to see if your values are constantly skyrocketing and if it corresponds to lower testosterone numbers.
Pro Tip: Don't become overly concerned about one high cortisol with low testosterone test (free or total testosterone), but watch the trends to see if you need to make changes — like changing the frequency or volume of your weight training.
Don't Forget Creatine Kinase and Body Enzymes
The biomarker Creatine Kinase (CK) is a key indicator of physical and mental strain that shows how much muscle breakdown is in the blood stream. When heavy training overloads muscle, the tissue leaks out enzyme CK, and blood tests detect the "micro trauma." It's perfectly normal to be outside the optimized zone right after training (which is why our testing guidelines suggest not training the day prior to a blood draw), but if one has an extremely elevated number followed by a poor testosterone-to-cortisol ratio, it's likely the training is causing a poor balance of rest and training. If cortisol and testosterone numbers are off, but CK is in range, it may not be the training program that's the issue, but rather, lack of recovery outside the gym.
Pro Tip: The enzymes AST and ALT are mainly found in the liver, but they are also found in other systems of the body. When those are elevated along with Creatine Kinase it's a good idea to think about reducing training intensity and volume to create enough room to improve — but not too much that recovery is delayed. In the research it's unclear how the liver helps recovery after training, but the biomarkers are great reference points for those performing heavy workouts.
Testing Smarter for Deeper Insight
Testing with InsideTracker's new, High Performance panel can be done at nearly any time, as fasting is not required. That flexibility leads to some creative options. Several clever ways to gain a better understanding of how much strain you're putting on your body or how fast you recover, can be teased out by carefully scheduling testing. Any time is a good time to test with enough interpretation, but testing at key periods of training can tell you if your workouts are working.
Pro Tip: Testing after the heaviest training time to see what type of stress one is subjecting their body to is a good reference point. In addition to the heavy training, testing the end of a recovery week or similar can also tell you if you're ready to go hard again. Test different milestones in training and compare future sessions to the past for a better perspective.
Remember Vitamin D
The biomarker Vitamin D is often seen as an indicator of bone health in elderly women and as general nutrition for the average Joe. Strength trainers often neglect Vitamin D and need to remember that muscle performance is connected to it. Vitamin D is actually a hormone, but it's not about getting to the optimized zone — it's how long one is training within the optimized zone that counts. Early gains in strength and/or size come easy, but higher levels of performance require many more factors to be aligned.
Pro Tip: Don't underestimate the importance of repeat-testing with Vitamin D. Assuming that the daily vitamin will work is convenient, but inconsistent outdoor access and small nutritional changes can easily bump one out of a rather tight optimal zone.
Test Quarterly to Maximize Your Goals
With the new High Performance panel, InsideTracker cuts straight to the key biomarkers that help push training harder and correspond to better recovery. Strength training is a repeated cycle of breaking down and building up muscle, and using blood analysis helps everyone — from the casual fitness enthusiast to the elite athlete get more out of their workouts.
Get an inner edge by training based on your biomarkers. We've created this FREE e-Book to help you understand how!
- AC Ross, CL Taylor, AL Yaktine, et al. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium. 2011
- Lips P, van Schoor NM, de Jongh RT. Vitamin D status and nutrition in Europe and Asia. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2007;103(3–5):620–625.
- Tripkovic L, Lambert H, Hart K, Smith CP, Bucca G, Penson S, Chope G, Hyppönen E, Berry J, Vieth R, et al. Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012;95:1357–65.
- De konig EJ, van Schoor NM, Penninx BW, Elders PJ, Heijboer AC, Smit JH, Bet PM, van Tulder MW, den Heijer M, van Marwijk HW, Lips P. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent depression and poor physical function in older adults: study protocol of the D-Vitaal study, a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Geriatrics. 2015 Nov 19; 15:151.
Some other blog posts we think you'll love:
- Tired of Being Tired: How I Optimized My Iron Levels
- Getting Back on Track: Laura Ingalls' InsideTracker-Fueled Journey Back to Holistic Health
- Avoiding The Crash: How Monitoring Iron Levels Can Save Your Season
- Stress Fractures: The Relationship Between Biochemistry, Nutritional Screening and Biomechanics


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Last week I provided you with a list of vendors that you must consider tipping. This week we are going to talk about the optional vendors to tip. When I say optional, please note that this doesn't mean that they should be disregarded. You can most definitely thank them in other ways.
{image of piggy bank here}
The below reflects optional tipping:
Business Owners: It is not necessary to tip the owner of a business, unless you feel that they have gone above and beyond and you want to give them a token of your appreciation.
Banquet or catering manager: These people do not need to be tipped unless they've thrown in extras or saved you a few hundred dollars on your bill. The tip would be between $50 and $100.
Chef: $100+
Photographer and Videographer: If you're paying a flat fee with no overtime, $50 to $100. He/she can give a split to the assistant.
Officiant: Normally, you pay your fee and that is it. If you wish to make a financial contribution to the church, you can do that separately.
Florist: You don't need to tip the florist for making your arrangements but you can tip them an extra $5 per delivery location (3 locations=$15) or $10 to $20 per staff member in one lump sum, for set-up and delivery.
Wedding Cake Baker: You don't have to tip for the baking of the cake but if you are at your reception venue at time of delivery and set-up, $10 would be an appropriate tip.
Wedding Coordinator or Room Manager: This is the person managing the reception venues staff and facility the night of your wedding, $50 would be appropriate.
Wedding Coordinator – If this vendor owns the company, then the tip is optional. If they are an employee, $50.
Wedding Planner: 10 to 15 percent. This person has planned your wedding from start to finish!
Hotel chambermaids: $2 to $5 per room; $10 to $15 if you used a suite as your dressing room
In addition, vendors would definitely appreciate a thank you card. This is a great way to show your appreciation for the services they provide and it is a great referral for them book future clients.
I would love to hear if these advice posts are helpful!
Max xoxo


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What is A Coil Gun
What is a coilgun? A "coilgun" or "Gauss gun" is a form of gun that uses a high powered electromagnet to shoot a projectile instead of using gunpowder and a firing mechanism. The gun works by inducing a magnetic field in a coil of wire around the barrel using an extremely short, but high energy burst of electricity. This is usually accomplished by using capacitors and a high voltage charging circuit. When fired, the electromagnet that is created pulls on the ferromagnetic projectile (able to be magnetized) with great force, causing it to quickly accelerate towards the center of the coil. In the fraction of a second it takes for the projectile to reach the center of the coil all of the power supplied to it has been exhausted and the magnetic field has dissipated. This allows the projectile to continue out of the barrel with its own momentum. Coilguns can vary in complexity from the most complicated, multi stage, computer controlled designs, to the simplest single coil, untimed models. Below is an example of a single stage coilgun and the illustrated step by step process of firing a projectile.
1.) The projectile is loaded into the barrel and the capacitors charge.
2.) The capacitors are discharged into the coil, thus inducing a magnetic field that pulls the projectile towards the center of the coil.
3.) Before the projectile reaches the center of the coil the power from the capacitors is exhausted and the magnetic field dissipates.
4.) The projectile continues out of the barrel with it's own momentum.


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10 Protesters Who Have No Idea What They're Protesting
The most effective way to peacefully protest against basically anything is to employ your arts and craft skills and make a poster you can then carry to protests, rallies and anywhere else you might need to protest against something. Not to mention that posters are usually the most noticeable thing in these kind of events. However, sometimes people really have no clue what the rallies are about and show up with hilariously unrelated signs. At times like that, there's nothing left but to laugh out loud. We are bringing you the ten uttermost hilarious photos of people who really have no idea what they are protesting for.
Must Be Canadian
This could count as a universal protesting sign, suitable for every rally.
This could work in so many life situations. Your Starbucks coffee isn't hot? This sign. There's a traffic jam? This sign. A mosquito bit you? This sign.


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Henry Butler hurries out of his brownstone, looking every inch the sullen murder suspect on his way to Starbucks to write some crappy fiction, only to be harangued by a crowd of merciless reporters. But do they want to hear about his novel? NO! Those mournful pundits only want to know where his sugar-momma famous-architect possibly-dead-by-foul-play wife Gemma is. Jerks.
Okay, as Bridget watches the news glumly, and Andrew turns it off saying, "You're stressing yourself out; it's not good for the baby" (and we all shout WHAT BABY??), I must stop and say think of the children. Namely, Henry and Gemma's children. Who still have not been spotted at all, or even name-checked of late in a whole, "Sure, they set fire to the window treatments, but we think they miss their probably-murdered mom, you know?" way. Listen, Ringer Writers, do you think you can just quietly stop talking about those kids and make like they never existed, because the task of figuring out how to smoosh mom-less toddlers into these increasingly tangled storylines is starting to wake you with night terrors? Because if so, I am on to you.
Anyway, Bridget thinks they should hire a private investigator, and Andrew says when you've got a dad as rich as Gemma's is, the cops are sure to do your bidding! Oh, and hey, make sure to dress nice for that benefit/grand-opening of some building Gemma designed and oversaw construction for. But before they can discuss what Bridget will wear, the detective on the Gemma Butler case interrupts to ask if Bridget!Siobhan will come down to the station to answer a few questions. It's a federal case now, yo, though she won't say whyyyyy. Andrew threatens them not to over-task his wife, because she's pregnant and all the stress cannot be good for this fetus. If I had been more organized, I would have made up a drinking game for us all so every time someone worries about Bridget's non-existent (and Siobhan's very existent) baby, we could all take a swig.
While Andrew is strong-arming the cops, Bridget sneaks off to her spacious closet, which is possibly larger than the size of a Manhattan studio I once shared with a sexy grad student who was a great writer (take that, Henry). God, I hope she's there so she can change, because what the hell is that on her? Is it a leather tunic? Or is it a dress? Do not try to pretend this is the height of fashion, Bridget. I'm guessing it's probably the protective smock Siobhan had to purchase for her trendy welding class. But no, instead of getting out of that hot mess of an outfit, Bridget fishes a phone out of her boots (*pauses* those are nice boots). She calls someone, saying, "Hey, it's Bridget, I'm not sure what to say or how to explain, but I think I really messed up this time."
Juliet shows up, to keep the teen character quotient on schedule for the CW, and announces she wants to spend the weekend with a friend in Connecticut. God, Juliet, rehab would be more interesting than Connecticut (sorry, CT-ers). Andrew gives in and says she can go hang with her friend Monica, and we all brace ourselves for this inevitably leading to another almost!overdose/boring club scene/landscape of angrily broken vases. Oh, and Andrew has to come down to the station too, because "the last phone call Gemma Butler made before she went missing was to your husband."
At the precinct, Bridget spots Henry walking to another investigation room, looking very betrayed and very puffy. Maybe Henry's puffiness is a barometer of something. Entertain me by telling me what in comments! Meanwhile, Agent Machado totally wants to help with the investigation, no question — that's why he's forbidding the police to release Bridget's name and picture even though right now she's the primary suspect, because obviously Bodaway would van it off to Manhattan to kill, baby, kill if he so much as catches her scent.
Cue Bridget, Henry, and Andrew all in different interrogation rooms, and hey hey hey, we're getting to some drama, because in the course of what's actually a really impressive back-and-forth side-by-side mirrored confrontations with Andrew and Henry separately, detectives ask, "Can you identify the woman in that photo?" showing a picture obviously of Bridget, not Siobhan. And we wait for Andrew and Henry to say, "Why, that's Siobhan Martin, gorgeous socialite, charity organizer, and owner of one of the more enviable Upper East Side walk-in closets," but no! "Bridget Kelly," they identify, in a side-by-side split shot that makes me burst into a tiny round of applause, because I thought neither of them knew jack about Bridget!
After the break, back to the disappointed detective asking Henry, "But you never actually met Bridget Kelly?" Flashback, one day ago, Bridget!Siobhan telling both Andrew and Henry about, well, herself — but not herself, you know how this goes — in another very cool sequence of shots (we get Bridget following Andrew out of one room, and in the next room/shot, it's Bridget and Henry continuing the conversation). Bridget bad-mouths herself impressively, saying how she's awful and an addict and she was so worried about what everyone would think of her, the non-addict twin, hahahaha, that she kept Bridget's identity a secret. Bridget!Siobhan tells them both that the FBI suspect Bridget's involvement in Gemma's disappearance. "I don't understand, why would she hurt Gemma?" Henry asks. Good question, Henry, because this makes no freaking sense whatsoever. You're giving me some hope that you can see through plot holes. Now go edit that tanking manuscript of yours.
During the course of this, Andrew insists to Bridget!Siobhan they must tell Juliet about this evil addict prostitute stripper criminal twin. Juliet says, "Oh God, there's two of them?" and Juliet gets the title once more! Confetti rains down, stage-hands wheel out the Title Cake of Victory, and someone hands her keys to a brand new car! Okay, switch it up, Ringer Writers, because that's Juliet getting title three times in a row here. I want to see one of Gemma's twins lisp out the title next week, okay? *meaningful look*
Agent Machado gets Bridget!Siobhan alone in a room, and says, "Let's start at the beginning," but the main detective interrupts for a moment. Machado stalks back in, annoyed that, "Your husband and Mr. Butler knew exactly who Bridget Kelly was," even though they were kept in the dark before, and honestly, I don't remember that Machado knew this specifically about them not being aware of Bridget, but whatever. He's miffed that she stole their interrogation thunder, but Bridget trumps him once again by handing over her phone to him and playing the Bridget message she created earlier, adding, "I tried calling the number back, but it's blocked." Machado acts reasonably skeptical that Bridget made the call at the exact time the detective was waiting to bring Siobhan in to the precinct. Maybe Siobhan warned her, he suggests? He keeps right on suggesting, getting so mouthy with his tawdry (and mostly true) insinuations that Bridget snaps, "We're done here," and sweeps out.
Bridget bumps into Henry, who just wants to go home (maybe to your kids? Sorry I'm beating this dead horse so hard, but someone has to!), when Machado stops her with one more thing, this time about Malcolm Ward. Andrew agrees to wait outside while Machado tells poker-faced Bridget!Siobhan that Bodaway, in his search for Bridget, found Malcolm and now he's missing. "Do you think he might be dead?" Bridget asks, and there's that little tremble that shows she's not completely stone cold! After Machado says there were signs of foul play, she heads outside, trying to call Malcolm but hearing that the number is not in service at this time. Hey, Bodaway's thugs have tormented Malcolm for so long he missed his cell phone payment.
Switch to Wyoming, in a van with Bodaway's thugs, and Malcolm in the back with a bag over his head. One of the thugs goes to check on him and slaps him until Malcolm starts. "He's still breathing," he tells the other dude. I am impressed with their level of thug-ly solicitude. As the thugs plan to get some lunch, we realize Malcolm can see outside his black hood, which goes to show you should never skimp on materials for your kidnapees, because later they might recognize your boots. *coughs* When the thug-a-roos decide it's fine to leave Malcolm in the van because he's high, Malcolm uses the chance to make a daring escape!
Cut to Bridget languishing dejectedly on the Windy Balcony of Angst (also, a great place to sip a trendy cocktail come summer). Andrew interrupts her to ask who Malcolm Ward is, since the police brought up that name. And another flashback, this time back to nine months ago in Wyoming, where Malcolm and Bridget are celebrating her three months of sobriety (so now she's been sober a year?) with a grocery-store type cake. She gets a wish even though it isn't her birthday, Malcolm tells her, and she wishes he would never leave. It's great how she's not an addict anymore (*cough* codependent *cough). She tells him she couldn't have done all this without him, and leans in to kiss him. "Bridge, we can't," he tells her, but it's unconvincing even to him, because he starts up again with the kisses, aww yeah. Mike Colter looks so, so good, y'all. Let's hope Bodaway's thugs don't kill off that sexy body.
We see tears on Bridget's face back on the balcony while Andrew realizes the reason Bridget!Siobhan knew so much about Juliet's addiction issues was her sister's struggles with addiction. He, very reasonably, asks if they're safe, since people are wanting to kill Bridget and all. Bridget!Siobhan swears her sister said she left the country, to which Andrew shoots back, "She's an addict and a prostitute. How do you know she's telling the truth?" Bridget attempts not to get too huffy on her own behalf, while Andrew continues acting cold and throws in her face the fact that she had promised they would have no secrets but still didn't tell him about her sister. Oh, Andrew. If you only knew the sexy web of lies of which you are a part!
Flashback once again (*hands out the Dramamine*). Malcolm and Bridget's post-coital dressing includes a healthy dose of angst and regret, mixed in with a smidge of, "Hell, we already did it, let's go for round two!" Okay, maybe that last bit is just me. "Say it," Bridget tells him, pushing him to admit it was a mistake. "You know how I feel about you," Malcolm says gently. "But we crossed a line." "I want you to know I will be here for you in any other way," he adds. "No matter what?" Bridget asks. "No matter what," Malcolm answers, and he might be the most upstanding nothing-to-hide dude on this show. Of course we don't have time to think about that, because Bridget is distracting us with all her betrayal of his commitment to her and such.
Bridget pages down her phone listing, and sees Charlie's number. Time to call her new sponsor and get busy, er, get recovered!
Whoosh, back to Wyoming, where Malcolm picks up his keys under a doormat and lets himself into his apartment. He grabs whatever clothes are lying around and flees.
Charlie and Bridget meet in a coffee shop, and Bridget confides her best friend is missing, "Her name is Gemma Butler, have you read about it in the papers?" Okay, what what what? Bridget's reasoning for changing her super-secretive stance with Charlie, giving him a huge tip-off to her current identity as Siobhan escapes me. Oh, wait, it turns out that Charlie, as a former cop, maybe can snoop around for her and tell her what's in the evidence file. You don't ask for much, Bridget, just total compromising of cop-ly principles! He grouses that it's a tall order from someone who hasn't even said her real name yet. "Siobhan Martin," she tells him. "When I agreed to be your sponsor, I thought it would be a whole lot easier than this," he replies. "That's a yes?" she asks. "That's an 'I'll see what I can do'."
Malcolm stumbles off a bus into a roadside restaurant so he can splash water on his face in the men's room and do something about that awkward bloodstain on his tank top. But while in there, he recognizes from another stall black boots tinged in red, belonging to one of Bodaway's thugs, the one who was in the back of the van with him. How the hell did Malcolm stage his daring escape, make it back to his apartment, and end up at the EXACT SAME REST STOP as the guys who are drugging him/after him? "You didn't think we were dumb enough to let you get away that easy," the thug proclaims when he comes out of the stall, and I'm halfway mollified that supposedly they followed him instead of Malcolm returning to the same place where they left him. "We're still going to find her," even if Malcolm doesn't lead them to Bridget, the thug claims. "Not if I can help it," says Malcolm, who bitch slaps the sassy right outta that thug-a-roo.
Outside the precinct, Charlie has indeed conducted an immense breach of ethics by peeking into the case file for Bridget!Siobhan. Turns out the main question is where Gemma's car is — at JFK, we all shout! "What if I told you I knew where it was?" Bridget asks coyly. "How involved in this are you?" he asks. "Again, too many questions." Listen, there's a thing called give-and-take, Bridget. We've all had enough with your taking all the time! Bridget must hear my finger wagging, because she tells him the car is in long-term parking at JFK. "And Charlie, if I haven't already said it, thank you." "You didn't, and you're welcome." Anyone else think Charlie is a liiiiittle too quick to do all this to help someone he just met? *taps finger on chin*
Switch to a suburban teen party scene — there are actually beer bongs, and I believe that's a Beer Pong tournament happening on the coffee table. Juliet's there, actually seeming somewhat sober, trying to convince her drunk friend they should leave the party. "We should just go back to my place, and I'll have my dad's driver take us back to your apartment," she tells Monica. What, they're seriously still in NYC, with this every-teen crowd? Don't their friends from Dalton pretend to greater sophistication than this? Anyway, Monica moans "I have to take the car I came in…My parents can't know." Nooo, Juliet, don't get in the car with your drunk pal!
Bridget!Siobhan and Andrew stage a closet confrontation, each of them sitting at opposite (backs to each other) ends of their tufted padded wide wardrobe bench. Nice little triptych look with the panes of the large window separating them into their own little rectangles with a big space in between. Bridget tells him, "I didn't tell you about Bridget because I was ashamed." "You don't have to be ashamed; it's not like you did those things," Andrew answers gruffly. Hur hur hur! "Can't you give me a little more credit?" he asks after her confession that she was worried learning about Bridget would change how he felt about her. "Being honest makes you vulnerable, and that's scary," Bridget tells him, noting that it's impossible that he's told her everything about him.
Andrew makes his awful truth confession: "When I found out you were pregnant, I wasn't happy…We weren't in a good place, not speaking, barely having sex anymore. Getting pregnant seemed like a complication. But I realize now it was a blessing… This baby means everything to me." Who else wants to go in on the bet that Andrew is going to find out there's no bun in Bridget!Siobhan's oven any episode now? "I lost so much already, I don't want to lose you too," Bridget says very genuinely — I really do think she's falling for Andrew — and they're about to kiss, the phone is ringing, oh my god, they kiss anyway, score for physical contact at long long last! But Bridget pulls back, saying the phone call could be important. Hey, it's Mr. Carpenter on the line! *waves to Jason Dohring* He's calling about Juliet, who, not at all shockingly, has been in a car accident.
Andrew rushes to the scene, where Mr. Carpenter is helpfully waiting. Okay, what the hell is he doing there? Is he the one who threw the party? Hey, kids, come get wasted at my place this weekend, and I'll give everyone extra credit! "What are you even doing here?" Andrew demands, earning him so many points from me. Oh, it turns out Juliet called him (but how did she have his number, I ask? We're moving forward in this teacher/student salaciousness, I tell you what!).
Mr. Carpenter leaves, Juliet and Andrew embrace, and he asks, "I don't understand, why were you driving? You don't have a learner's permit." Oh, so that's how they ended up in a multi-car pile-up. He admonishes her for not going to Connecticut like she said and for going to the par-tay. "I had two beers, it's not like I was doing coke," Juliet bursts out in the worst-reasoned defense of addictive behavior ever. She lashes out that this is why she called "Mr. C.", because he's all hip and cool and understands her, unlike her mean old pappy. "This time I'm done," Andrew announces. "What are you going to do, put me up for adoption?" "I'm taking away your trust fund. No credit cards, no allowance." This actually seems like a good idea, though I think he should have cut the purse-strings several overdose-attempts ago. Juliet's friend Monica calls out that she's sorry, and Juliet snaps, "You owe me, bitch. Like, ten million dollars."
Back with the detective and Agent Machado, where she tells him he's a lucky man. Nope, they haven't found Bridget, "but Missing Persons found activity on Malcolm Ward's atm bank account in New York." So he did escape from the thugs that last time! *applauds Malcolm*
Scene change to the dedication ceremony for Gemma's building. Henry is there, but edges away from the press. Inside, he hears Andrew isn't there because of Juliet's car accident, and Bridget, spotting paparazzi, tells him he should move away from the window (and maybe not drink so much celebratory champagne while your wife is supposed to have died, guy). "We're here to celebrate my wife's work; I can stand wherever I want," Andrew says petulantly. "I should have made more of an effort with Gemma," he grumps. Oh, like more than zero? "You didn't know how much you loved her until you couldn't tell her," Bridget guesses. I still haven't seen anything resembling love from him toward Gemma, but okay.
Bridget lets him know she's asked someone to help: "Trust me, this is going to be okay, we're going to find her, we're going to bring her back." Bridget has obviously not listened to any reliable missing-persons stats recently if she thinks bringing Gemma back will be such a cinch. Henry leaves to get a cab, and hey now, is that our friend Malcolm peeking out behind a gaggle of socialites? Bridget sees him walking toward her, and she swoons down in a dead faint.
Bridget awakens in a hospital bed, with a pounding head because she's got a concussion. Andrew jokes that Juliet is home, grounded until she's fifty. Uh oh, kids, the nurses are wheeling in an ultrasound machine so they can check on the non-existent baby in Bridget's belleh. She tries to say she doesn't want the test just now. "Shiv, this is crazy; to refuse an ultrasound after a concussion is insanity." She tries to explain she didn't mean it that way. "This is about our baby," Andrew says emotionally, while Bridget looks horrified and watches the ultrasound monitor.
Change of scene to someone breaking into Gemma's car at JFK. Hey, it's Charlie! Uh. Maybe his ethical breaches are even more excitingly huge than it previously appeared. You would think he ought to call the actual police, but nope, he takes out his phone to call — SIOBHAN! Bridget just has the worst luck with sponsors, guys. They're always getting kidnapped, or participating in nefarious plots with her twin, or getting her grocery store cakes for her three month sobriety anniversary instead of nice gâteaux from bakeries. This does not reflect well on Narcotics Anonymous.
Charlie tells Siobhan there's some blood left behind — not Gemma's but HIS, from when Gemma hit him. "And everyone still thinks Bridget is me?" Siobhan asks brightly. "Don't worry, Siobhan; she'll never have a chance to tell anyone." We watch poor Gemma trying to fight off murderin' Charlie, crawling away from him inside her apartment, before we fade back to the garage scene. "Call me with the next move," Charlie tells Siobhan, and slinks off like the rat-faced fake!sponsor he is.
You know, since we didn't see Charlie actually whack Gemma for real and for true in that flashback, I'm holding out hope that our sassy best friend with the zippy one-liners and puffy bad novelist husband is still alive! If only for her sight-unseen kiddos' sake, am I right?