text:
|OUMNH Number:
|Name and quarry location:
|Cottanello, from Cottanello, Rieti, Lazio, Italy
|Geological description:
|Cretaceous-Eocene pelagic limestone. A brecciated biomicrite with abundant planktonic forams and calcispheres. Calcite-filled fractures and voids are cut by late stage red clay-filled stylolites.
|Borghini (1997) says the ancient 'cottanello' is similar in colour and structure to the marble obtained from the quarries at Cottanello in Sabina at the end of the 16th century, hence the name. Hull (1872) writes 'The red marble of the Roman States ('cottanello') is obtained from Cesi, near Terni, and is considered by Sir R. Murchison to belong to the Oxfordian stage as it contains Ammonites biplex etc.' This is one of the stones that was especially quarried for the decoration of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican when it was built in the 16th century.
|Borghini (1997) 208; Bruno (2002d) 285; Corsi (1845) 112-113; Gnoli (1988) 186; Hull (1872) 132; Mielsch (1985) 58, taf.16; Price (2007) 122; Tozzi (2000)
|Further information:
|Corsi's classification:
|Class 1. Marbles; Section 2. Veined marbles; Species 12. Veined marbles of Italy
|Corsi's text:
|69.9 Marmo di Cottanello in Sabina


text:
Menopause is Inevitable, Stay Balanced
If you're a woman, there is no bypassing menopause. It is a fact of life that we need to manage at some point.
What is often overlooked, however, is what we can do to mitigate the symptoms, pain and discomfort typically associated with this change of life. It is important to note that the way a woman transitions depends on multiple factors, ranging from genetics and diet to overall lifestyle.
Menopause – marked by symptoms such as irritability, sleeplessness, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and headaches, just to name a few — is indeed one of the two significant, natural hormonal shifts we experience during our lives; the first being teenage puberty. Both can be extremely challenging when our bodies have difficulty adapting to fluctuating hormones. The stress factors associated with both puberty and menopause often hold the key to how difficult each transition is.
Research has shown that protracted levels of stress in the younger years can often contribute to a more difficult time transitioning into menopause. In modern day living, chronic stress can be a contributing and exacerbating factor that can make it potentially even more challenging.
It is truly a case of how we deal with the fluctuation of hormones that is synonymous with menopause. As you enter into perimenopause leading up to menopause, your ovaries slow down and produce less progesterone, testosterone and estrogen, forcing your adrenal glands into a back-up role.
Being under chronic stress in perimenopause — or when you were younger – often leads to adrenal glands that may not be functioning optimally. That is often when those nasty menopause symptoms rear their head.
The good news is that we can mitigate against the symptoms and the associated impacts of menopause by considering diet, supplementation and overall lifestyle, including everyday stress management tools such as exercise, yoga and meditation.
When it comes to supplementation, PURICA Rebalance Menopause Relief works as a hormone-balancing formula specifically-designed to help women maintain their quality
of life through the physical and mental discomforts that can be typically associated with this phase of life. It helps to support the three key glands that work together to provide balance for a woman's hormonal health; the adrenals, ovaries and thyroid.
PURICA Rebalance Menopause Relief contains a synergistic, proprietary blend of hot-water extracted herbs; Giant Angelica, Wilford's Cynanchum and Sok-Dan, working in tandem with three certified organic micronized mushrooms; Chaga, Cordyceps and Lion's Mane. All the ingredients have been carefully assessed to ensure women derive the maximum benefit from the formula with minimal risk.
The proprietary blend of three hot-water extracted herbs – Giant Angelica, Wiford's Cynanchum and Sok-Dan known as EstroG-100 — have been clinically shown to reduce the symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, nervousness, occasional sleeplessness and mood swings.
PURICA Chaga, which is grown in a certified organic facility and micronized for superior absorption and assimilation, is one of the featured ingredients in PURICA Rebalance Menopause Relief. It helps relieve stress, increases energy and promotes youthfulness of the skin, hair and nails. Meanwhile, Cordyceps helps enhance vitality, libido and immune response by providing all-important support for the adrenal glands. Lion's Mane helps improve memory and cognitive response, along with digestion.
There is no question that menopause can be challenging. It is a challenge that we can't "swipe left" and avoid altogether. Yet by following a three-pronged approach that includes healthy dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments to manage stress and supplementation on the strength of natural products such as PURICA Rebalance, we can significantly help smooth the transition to this new chapter in life.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Back in 2012, over at dVerse, Gay Cannon asked 'What is modern?' and also asked us to write a Triversen poem—I guess we all have our own take on what is modern—it seems to me to be a word that is used in many different ways…anyway, here is my Triversen poem, the form was invented by William Carlos Williams.
Now, in 2015, Grace asks us if we have a favorite spring poem to share—so here it is again 🙂
At the start of spring sunshine
in May, a clamour occurs,
an ignominious din.
She sees the lambs born
on a cool sunny morn, stumble;
bumble, late in the daylight.
The sun rises at four,
red, ruby, gold glows up high
and christens the new-born babes.
It comes round, it goes around,
it returns on this morning
of joy, of hope, of new lives.
Polly Stretton © 2012
Over at dVerse Poets, Gay had us writing Triversen in 2012—it's harder than it looks—go and see for yourself! Republished in 2015 for Grace's prompt about springtime.


text:
Pearl catapults Auburn hoops to titles, unfamiliar heights
AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn basketball first got a new arena, then finally got a coach to fill it.
Eventually, wins, titles and NCAA Tournament berths came, too.
Now, Bruce Pearl and the Tigers — despite some off-court problems — are riding high with a rare two-year run of success on the court, including a Sweet 16 matchup with powerhouse North Carolina on Friday night in Kansas City.
It's a marked on-court transformation for a program that only ended a 15-year NCAA Tournament drought last season and once played in a cavernous, seldom-filled coliseum across the street from 9-year-old Auburn Arena. Now, Pearl's team has won the Southeastern Conference Tournament and two NCAA games, including a dominant effort against traditional power Kansas.
"He created what Auburn needed: Something to get excited about and a hard ticket to buy," said former Auburn coach Sonny Smith, who led the Tigers to five straight NCAA Tournaments in the 1980s. "It's hard to find a ticket. This thing's sold out for every game.
"And you can't say it's a football school now."
That might be a premature proclamation, though there is no denying the excitement around the program.
But this is only the third time Auburn (28-9) has made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and it's the third trip to the Sweet 16. Smith's 1985-86 team is the only one to advance past that point, making it to the Elite Eight.
The recent success under Pearl has overshadowed some off-court issues.
Former Auburn assistant coach, alum and NBA veteran Chuck Person pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit bribery in Manhattan federal court, sandwiched between the SEC Tournament run and the NCAA opener against New Mexico State.
The NCAA ruled Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy ineligible for all of last season as a result of the case.
Assistant Ira Bowman was placed on indefinite suspension before the league tournament amid allegations that he was involved in a bribery scheme during his time at the University of Pennsylvania.
Pearl, who was hired in the final months of a show cause for NCAA violations committed at Tennessee, arrived with the swagger of past successes with the Volunteers and at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After starting with the first two losing seasons at Auburn, he wondered if he still had it.
The doubt didn't linger long.
The Tigers won a share of the SEC regular season title last season and followed that a year later with their first league tournament championship since 1985, peaking at the end after some ups and downs.
A team led by guards Bryce Brown and Jared Harper and versatile forward Chuma Okeke has won 10 straight games and shattered the SEC single-season record with 421 3-pointers.
Pearl had promised championships at the long-struggling program.
He has delivered on that front.
"What does give me confidence is we've won championships every place we've been," Pearl said Tuesday. "So why shouldn't I be able to say, 'This is why we came here and this is what we plan on doing.' It's not bragging or being boastful. We've won championships every place we've been."
None of the off-court incidents have derailed Auburn's two best seasons in years.
"Bruce has done a great job," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "There's a tremendous amount of energy, a very gregarious personality, loves basketball, loves to coach, loves to work with the kids. He's a hundred miles an hour, a hundred minutes a day."
Auburn has routinely filled the 9,121-seat arena and packed the student section.
First the arena, then Pearl, then wins.
"It's incredible what it's like in there," Smith said. "That started a change in Auburn basketball right there, not Bruce Pearl. Then, all of a sudden Bruce Pearl comes onto the scene replacing Tony Barbee.
"And that solidified the deal that Auburn is not just an every-once-in-a-while school. He sold the community, he sold the students, he created a basketball image. And he got everybody excited."
Smith said he has never seen an Auburn team play better than in the first half against Kansas, when the Tigers built a 51-25 lead.
Auburn held on to win 89-75 and wasn't really threatened.
The result was a Sweet 16 berth, the first since Marquis Daniels was leading the way in 2003 under coach Cliff Ellis. Now, Daniels is a graduate assistant at his alma mater after playing in the NBA for a decade but said "it was hard to watch from a distance" as the program struggled.
He said Pearl "came in and made some dramatic, dramatic, huge steps in his first year and his second year and he just kept getting better."
Ellis was fired following the next season after the Sweet 16 run, and Auburn struggled in between with Jeff Lebo and Barbee. Now at Coastal Carolina, Ellis said at Auburn you have to "beat the bushes" for recruits, often from out of the state, with the Tigers competing for players with Alabama and others — some of which, like Kentucky, are basketball first.
"In the state of Alabama, you have to understand that football is the king. It is," Ellis said. "It's not going to change, but there's a special place for basketball."


text:
The Wikimedia Foundation has recently employed its first research analyst and provides spaces for "Wikipediology", including projects such as the Wiki Project on vandalism studies. Nonetheless, critical Wikipedia research should also be done outside the self-reflexivity of the Wikimedia Foundation and its community. There is an urgent need for quantitative and qualitative research from an Humanities and Arts perspective that could benefit both the wider user base and the active Wikipedia community itself.
The Centre for Internet and Society (Bangalore, India) and the Institute of Network Cultures (Amsterdam, Netherlands) are working together to produce a critical reader on Wikipedia and to build a Wikipedia Knowledge Network. Under the rubric CPOV, we propose two events that bring together different perspectives, approaches, experiences and stories that critically explore different questions and concerns around Wikipedia. The proceeds from these two events will result in a reader that consolidates critical points of view about Wikipedia.
The first conference to be held in Bangalore on 12-13 January 2010, called WikiWars, invites participation from users, scholars, academics, practitioners, artists and other cultural workers, to share their experiences, ideas, experiments, innovations, applications and stories about Wikipedia. The WikiWars conference embodies the spirit that guides an open encyclopaedia like the Wikipedia, by referring to the edit battles that users enter into over topics that have many points of view. WikiWars also refers to the contradictory positions adopted by different stakeholders on the various issues of credibility, authority, verifiability and truth-telling, on the Wikipedia. This conference calls for diverse and varied knowledges to come together in a critical dialogic space that informs and augments our understanding of the Wikipedia.
The possible themes and areas for presentations (projects, experiences, experiments, stories or documentation) can include but are not limited to:
- Wiki Theory: Endorse, question/contest or delineate the theoretical approaches and view points on the Wikipedia
- Wikipedia and Critique of Western Knowledge Production: The predominance of textual or linguistic cultures, post-western knowledge production systems, and indigenous knowledge systems
- Wiki Art: Art that uses Wikipedia models, structures or data to explore and expand the practice of Wikipedia project; and accounts that document Wikipedia based art practices or debates
- Designing Debate: Suggestions, innovations, critiques and ideas that focus on the design and form of the Wikipedia, to explore the claims of neutrality, objectivity, emergent hierarchy, control and authenticity on the Wikipedia
- Critique of Free and Open: Areas like Wikipedia governance, economic practices of and around Wikipedia, and the nature of freedom in usage, production and participation on the Wikipedia
- Global Politics of Exclusion: Exploring questions of non-western material inclusion, language, connectedness, oral histories, women, non-geeks, and alternative material that cannot be documented on Wikipedia etc.
- The Place of Resistance: Space of resistance and dissent in the Wikipedia, structures that allow for alternative voices, experiences and ideas
- Wikipedia and Education: Wikipedia usage in classrooms as a teaching resource, and its effect on pedagogy, the role of Wikipedia in the knowledge production sector, and mobilisation of academic communities around the Wikipedia
Last date for submitting note of interest and funding options : 31st August 2009
How To Apply: To apply for the conference, please send the following information by email to email@example.com by the 31st of August, 2009.
1. A note of interest (450 – 700 words) detailing your ideas and possible contribution
2. Your updated resume
3. A sample of your work (term papers, published articles, peer-reviewed papers, books, art-projects, social intervention projects etc.)
For the detail call for participation see: http://cis-india.org/research/conferences/wikiwars
For more information about the broader research network cpov see: http://cis-india.org/research/conferences/conference-blogs/Wikiwars
Research and editorial group: Geert Lovink and Sabine Niederer (Amsterdam), Nathaniel Tkacz (Melbourne), Sunil Abraham (Bangalore), Johanna Niesyto (Siegen), Nishant Shah (Bangalore).


text:
* Loyalty Card Data Shows Who Is Buying Legal Weed
The headline to this made me giggle, because I watch too much Extreme Couponing and picture a customer handing over their grocery store loyalty card and watching the total fall, followed by the cashier asking if they had any coupons…. apparently I am easily amused today.
However, there is such a thing as marijuana loyalty cards, and this article looks at the demographic of who is buying it legally.
* Will Reading Romance Novels Make Artificial Intelligence More Human?
A great in-depth look at how the increase in computer power can be applied to techniques to make AI more human.
* The Seven Ways to Become an Animation Powerhouse
A statistical breakdown of how animation has become an insanely profitable medium.


text: GFI MailEssentials SpamTag buttons are not greyed out when more than one email is selected Author: Luis Fernandes April 11, 2020 00:57 Updated Versions / Builds AffectedGFI MailEssentials 2014 R2StatusResolvedProblem SummaryGFI MailEssentials SpamTag buttons are not greyed out when more than one email is selectedTT / JIRAID2147How to IdentifyWhen selecting more than one email, the Microsoft Outlook Spamtag buttons are not getting disabled. The below patch contains the fix for that including all the previous known issues as follows: 1. GFI MailEssentials SpamTag is not synchronising the Personal Blocklist and Microsoft Outlook Junk Settings correctly and the rest of the fixes contained in TT2016. The synchronisation ssue is identifiable by the following error: "error ","OutlookAddInCore","Error: Outlook Junk Options to MEC Synchronization failed with error: System.InvalidCastException: Error in IMsgServiceAdmin::AdminProviders: MAPI_E_INTERFACE_NOT_SUPPORTED ; at GFI.ThirdParty.Redemption.RDOJunkEmailOptionsClass.get_BlockedSenders() ... Updates the Redemption dll version to v5.7. 2. GFI MailEssentials plugin fails to detect installed Microsoft Outlook (TT1446), as per following log excerpt: Translating [WizardFinishButton / Content] --> _Finish Pane loaded: MailEssentials.Installer.Bootstrapper.OutlookPlugin.ViewModels.OfficeOutlookNotDetectedViewModel View type [OfficeOutlookNotDetectedViewModel] found in map Translating [OutlookMissingWarning / Text] Translating [OutlookMissingWarning / Text] --> Microsoft Outlook was not detected on this machine. Make sure that you have Office installed (2003 and onwards) and that the Outlook features are enabled. Outlook check has been removed from the installation process. 3.Workaround / Fix DetailsProvide patched version of the SpamTag installer found below: http://ftp.gfisoftware.com/patches/ME2014/20140627/ME2014_R2_PATCH_20140924_2147.zipRequired ActionsApply the above fix. Attach article to case.


text:
Contact Us
311 Western Ave, Lynn, MA 01904
Tel 781.595.0026 | Toll Free 888.595.0026
Please use the following form to contact us with any feedback or questions you may have. Your comments are important to us and we take care to review and respond to your inquiries. Or if you prefer, you can contact us via phone or mail.
* indicates a required field.


text:
Bosse sprinters have 'already won' by qualifying for state
Bosse High School's crumbling track has a pothole about every 50 meters and each could cause someone to roll an ankle.
Each lane has a 100-meter smooth stretch, so when the girls' track sprinters are practicing relays, they move from lane three to lane two after passing the baton and then back up to three again.
It's been an inconvenience to the point that coach LaMar Brown didn't let the Bulldogs compete in hurdles because he wasn't about to put allow someone's child at risk.
"It makes it pretty difficult because we have injuries," senior Kiara Bailey said. "It's tough on our shins and tough on our calves, so a lot of the time we have to run close to the turf or on the outside lanes."
Fortunately for the Bosse student-athletes, the problem is being corrected and construction has already started to replace it. Although the beaten path may not have been ideal, it ultimately helped.
"There's not too many more distractions or too many more things that can get in our way because it's something we deal with every day," Brown said before Thursday's practice at Harrison, where the Bulldogs trained this week.
Four Bosse girls will represent their school at Saturday's IHSAA state meet at Bloomington. Bailey is making her third state appearance, while junior Tionne Brigham, sophomore Jaden McElroy and freshman Nykara Dixon are each making their first.
All four will compete in the 400 relay while Brigham also will run the 100 and Bailey the 200. The Bulldogs aren't ranked in the top 15 of any event, but that's not a concern. The emphasis is placing higher than they're seeded, and that's manageable given the parity in the middle of the field.
"We've already won," Brown said. "You have an opportunity to go to a state track meet and that's an accomplishment in itself."
EVSC Board hears details of new Bosse track
Versatile track and field athletes boost North girls
Castle pole vaulter Maddie Wilson keeps raising the bar
Personally, Brigham didn't think she would make state this year even though Brown said she had a chance to qualify in four events. She cramped at the Evansville Regional because she was competing nearly every 20 minutes.
Bailey is helping the first-timers like Brigham stay focused. For most of the season, the Bulldogs were favorites to win their races and others pressured them. Now the roles have reversed. Bosse is the underdog.
Brigham knows what it's like to be chased after winning the 100 in the City, Southern Indiana Athletic Conference, sectional and regional meets.
"I like being faster than anybody," Brigham said. "To know they're behind me is kind of fun."
The 400 relay team has featured six different girls at different points in the season because of sporadic injuries, but the times have mostly remained the same regardless of who raced.
With a girl from each grade state-bound, they had no problem establishing chemistry, according to Brown. He's been an assistant on the boys' basketball team for the past seven years and is wrapping his first season with the girls' track team.
"I've been more laid back and they've been more receptive of that to where I think the boys need me to be on them to get the most out of them," Brown said.
Bailey, who has already graduated from Bosse as valedictorian, has been the Bulldogs' leader and example. She was seeded 26th in the 200 last year and finished 17th.
They've persevered all season, starting in practice. They'll do it again Saturday on the state's highest stage.
"We just do our thing," Bailey said. "It doesn't really matter where we're running."
Saturday at Indiana University, Bloomington
100: Tionne Brigham, Bosse
100 hurdles: Ariah Leary, North
200: Kiara Bailey, Bosse
400: Sunada Prasad, Castle; Emma Brown, Central
400 relay: Bosse; North
1,600 relay: Memorial; North; Castle
3,200 relay: Memorial; Castle
Discus: Zion Sanders, Central
Shot put: Zion Sanders, Central; Mikayla Chinn, Castle
Pole vault: Maddie Wilson, Castle; Claudia Eder, North
High jump: Claudia Eder, North


text:
November 21, 1954 – July 17, 2019
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Barbie
Priscilla "Barbara" Irvin passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 17th, 2019. Barbara is survived by her husband Pat, her sons, Christopher (Jessica) and Brian (Jackie), and numerous loving family members.
If a life can be measured in love, Barb's was rich and full.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 3rd, 2019 at the Irvin's Residence in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory at 4pm.
Sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of Watson Lake Hospital for their compassionate care, and many thanks to our family and friends for their ongoing love and support through this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Yukon Hospital Foundation – Yukon's Cancer Care Fund. http://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=104&AID=551
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text:
MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State interim athletic director Jennifer Lynne Williams has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Council, announced by the association this week.
"The University is extremely proud that Interim Athletics Director Jennifer Williams has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Council," said Alabama State University president, Dr. Quinton T Ross, Jr. "Given her knowledge of and experience in athletics administration, we know that she will be a valuable asset to the work of the council."
The term begins July 1, 2018 and will run for four years, ending June 30, 2022.
The Division I Council is a high-level group responsible for the day-to-day decision-making for Division I. Athletics directors, athletics administrators, senior women administrators; faculty athletics representatives and student-athletes serve on the Council. Every Division I conference is represented on the Council, which replaces the Leadership and Legislative Councils in the previous structure.
The Division I Council is also responsible for the following standing committees, who report directly to the Council: Student-Athlete Experience Committee, Strategic Video and Planning Committee, Legislative Committee, Competition Oversight Committee, Men's Basketball Oversight Committee, Football Oversight Committee, Women's Basketball Oversight Committee and Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"It is an honor to be appointed to the NCAA Division I Council, and to work with such an esteemed group of individuals," Williams said. "I am excited about the opportunity to advance the mission of the Association and to serve our membership.
Williams, in her second year at Alabama State, has more than a decade of experience in athletics administration. As the Deputy Director of Athletics, she managed the day-to-day operations of Hornet athletics and led the division's external and community relations initiatives. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).
She came to Alabama State after spending four years as the Associate Athletic Director of Development and Executive Director of the Aggie Foundation at North Carolina A&T. Williams oversaw the giving initiatives for athletics and raised more than $4 million in donor revenue while doubling the number of donors for athletics.


text:
As many of you know, we had a Supermoon on Saturday evening, at 11:34 pm with the Sun in Taurus and the Moon in Scorpio! Those Supermoons are intense, but luckily the chart for this past one had many "flowing" aspects, including a nice Mars Trine Pluto and Venus Trine Saturn. And with the Sun and Jupiter in a loose conjunction, even if things got of a little crazy, hopefully it was good crazy and not bad crazy!
However, that being said, the next two weeks take us into another realm entirely! One to which I'm personally not sure I'm looking forwards! I did mention that the first 6 months of 2012 would be action packed, and we've survived the Retrograde within a Retrograde of Mercury and Mars, however, now we have the Double Eclipse within the Venus Retrograde! Oh Joy, I tell you! But seriously, you may asking yourself "What IS my Joy?" during the upcoming approximate 40 days of Venus moving backwards in the sky.
The fun all begins on May 15th, and lasts through June 27th. A shorter period than the almost 3 months of Mars going Retrograde, but with, first, a Solar Eclipse at 0 degrees 21 seconds Gemini on May 20th, and then a Lunar eclipse on June 4th at 14 degrees Gemini/Sagittarius, I'm sure there will be plenty of BIG CHANGE in the days to come! And BONUS POINTS (as if it weren't enough!) we're getting the last direct Venus transit across the face of the Sun on June 5th/6th for the next 100 some years!!! Yes, that's right folks, a Double Eclipse, Venus Retrograde AND Venus Transiting Across the Face of the Sun!
Venus will go Retrograde in the sign of Gemini, the Twins, from 24 degrees back down to 7 degrees. Just as the Mars Retrograde was intense for me because it activated a natal T-Square, forming a Grand Cross in my natal chart, this Venus Retrograde will most likely be intense for me because it is starting it's Retrograde on degree of my Ascendant in 24 degrees Gemini (the Asc is the Mask that you show the world) and moving backwards until it conjuncts my natal Venus, which also happens to be at 7 degrees Gemini. Oh, and did I mention that as my natal Sun is in late Taurus, the Solar Eclipse will conjunct it, and that as my Moon is at 12 degrees Sagittarius, the Lunar Eclipse will conjunct that????
Frankly, I feel as if, any minute now, I could fall down a Rabbit Hole, and my world would be turned completely upside down. That's a lot of activity in my 12th house, the mystical house of meditation and spirituality. And it's true, I am going on a big trip, to the desert and some very spiritual places, which I'm sure will give me food for thought. I'm just wondering, how much food for thought will it give me?
Here's hoping the "Double Eclipses in the Venus Retrograde" ahead, ask us the right questions and at the end, give us the right answers! (and yeah, I've been too busy with my head spinning with all the implications of these aspects to put together a mixtape yet. But don't worry, they'll be a special eclipse mixtape coming!)


text:
In previous postings, I (Clive) have recommended debates as a way to give students a voice in university and school classrooms and also introduce some variety into class activities. Of course, the topics have to be interesting to the students if they are to get really involved; and the overly combative tone of traditional debating needs to be avoided so there are no hard feelings.
This term, in my graduate class of 22, I used two debating topics that worked very well. They were: (1) Teaching Values in School and (2) Formal Professional Development for Teachers. In each case we formed 4 groups (by numbering off from 1 to 4 around the class, including myself) and then assigned "positions" to the groups as follows:
Teaching Values in School
Group 1: On the whole, teachers should keep their values to themselves
Group 2: It is often appropriate for teachers to promote the values they believe in
Group 3: On the whole, schools should advocate general "human" values (e.g., treating women and men equally) even if they conflict with the values of the family
Group 4: On the whole, schools should honor and respect the values of the family, even if they conflict with general "human" values
Formal Professional Development for Teachers
Groups 1 & 3: Formal professional development has a very important role to play in teacher learning and school improvement. Examples of effective formal PD include….
Groups 2 & 4: Formal professional development does not play a major role in teacher learning and school improvement. Examples of more important methods and factors are….
Each group spent 20 minutes preparing their case, with each person in the group proposing and outlining an argument and/or example. Then each group in turn presented their case to the whole class, with every member of the group speaking. Finally, we returned to the whole class circle and went around with each individual saying what they thought about the topic (we didn't have time to go all the way round the class, but this final activity also proved very valuable).
Notice that the "opposing" positions were softened by using phrases such as "on the whole," "it is often appropriate," "not a major role" (rather than "not any role"). Also, the emphasis on giving examples to support one's case was a big success – I hadn't used this before.
So, this was my experience. If you have a chance to experiment with debates, let us know what topics you used and how it went – we can do a guest blog!


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Happy Hallowe'en 2015
This is my card for the vet this year from our black cat "Boo". For each occasion the vet and staff get a new card from "Boo".
Hallowe'en is our favourite though.
The black cats and caption "Don't be a Scaredy Cat" are from the set "Don't be a Scaredy Cat" by Too Cute by Jessica – Jessica Owens 2014.
I fell in love with set as soon as I saw it.
The word "Boo" was a weekly freebie from "Treasure Box Designs".
The "Happy Hallowe'en" sentiment on the inside of the card is from Cricut Cartridge "Phrases".
The following stamps:
Lamp post and sign, ghost, mummy, little spiders and "Trick or Treat" sentiment are all from "My Creative Time – Too Cute to Spook" Stamp and Die set.
Coloured in the mummy's face with PrismaColor Premier pencils and the used Gamsol for shading. On the pumpkins and "Boo" title, I outlined everything with chalk.
All svg files were cut using my Cricut Explore and Cricut Design Studio.
Patterned paper is from "doodlebug design inc. – 6 x 6 paper pad – Halloween parade".
Happy early Hallowe'en everyone!


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For those who don't know, NRW is short for North Rhine-Westphalia, a part in Western Germany and it's the most populated one. It has however some of the finest golf courses in Germany to offer.
No question that this has been on my bucket list for quite a while and in late April 2016 it was time to tackle each of these great venues one by one, one day after the next. The weather was horrible but the week in total has been an absolute treat!


text:
By Mike Carey
The scream of the reel as the broad shouldered king salmon took another run was music to my ears. The single action reel handles spun dangerously around as I got my hand out of the way just in time. They don't call them knuckle busters for nothing and I had learned that painful lesson earlier in the day. That said, it was a lesson gladly accepted because it meant the fishing action was hot – and indeed it was. Our boat's fish hold was steadily filling up with the bounty of the ocean in this remote location off Zeballos, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Ever since I moved to the Pacific Northwest and started going to Sportsman's Shows, I had the dream of someday fishing a true "destination" fishing location. Wandering up and down the booths, looking at pictures of giant halibut, ling cod, and Chinook salmon, it just got me thinking how much I wanted to try something like this out. All the maps of far away, exotic places to fish – I wanted to go! But I had other priorities and needs, not the least of which was raising my two boys. They are grown now and moved out of the house, and with a wife encouraging my dreams, my opportunity final came.
We were on the road north to the border crossing as my friends Aaron Borg, Rob Holman and myself began our journey to Zeballos, B.C. Aaron and Rob had driven over the evening before from Spokane and then stayed at my home. We talked excitedly of the trip and fishing to come. None of us had been out of the country on a fishing adventure quite like this. We had been invited by Northwest Fishing Reports sponsor Adrian O'Connor to come up for a few days and enjoy the fishing and stay at his fishing lodge, Reel Adventures Sportfishing. What can I say? My jaw dropped when Rob had told me we would be traveling to this fishing Mecca in B.C.
Zeballos is a small, remote town located at the end of Zeballos Inlet on the west side of north Vancouver Island, a little more than half way along the large island. In days past it had been a vibrant town of a couple thousand. A gold rush between 1938 and 1942 produced a boom town, which quickly faded post World War II when the price of gold collapsed.
The town turned to forestry and fish processing. It's the tourist and sport anglers that come now to visit now, at least, those in the know.
Our crossing at the border was uneventful. Although, I must admit to being taken aback when we told the border officer our destination was Zeballos, and his response was "Are you making that up?" No officer, and please don't pull us over and empty our vehicle! But he smiled and waved us on. Next stop, was the ferry crossing at Tsawwassen, due south of Richmond (nearby Vancouver). It's a two hour crossing from Vancouver to Nainmo. The B.C. ferry system is pretty impressive. Large, comfortable ferries, reservations systems (recommended) and good food on board made the crossing a breeze. Not to mention the beautiful scenery and ever closer Vancouver Island in the distance growing our anticipation with every kilometer travelled (hey, we're in Canada now, eh?).
I had looked at the map of Vancouver Island many times, and in my mind I imagined winding, narrow, gravel, two lane roads, taking forever to reach our final destination. Imagine my surprise when we unloaded in Nanimo and promptly got on a smooth, four lane freeway. The road to Campbell River was smooth sailing and the miles, er, kilometers flew by. We gassed up Aaron's truck and had to do some quick and dirty conversions – let's see, there are about 4 liters per gallon of gas… but the exchange rate is 22% in our favor… so the cost of gas here is – more. But not that much more, so relax, you won't go broke filling up your vehicle.
From Campbell River the road did reduce to a two lane road, but it was still a nice road to drive and we made good time. Wooded hills stretched out in all directions and signs of civilization were few and far between. Towns composed of a half dozen buildings became the norm.
Finally, there it was, the turn off for Zeballos! Now things began getting interesting. Our paved road became a gravel logging road. Hills gave way to snowcapped mountains as we first climbed, and then descended through the Haihte Costal Range of the Vancouver Island Ranges, a mountain range that extends along the length of Vancouver Island. Creeks and small rivers worked deep and narrow canyons into the hillsides. The landscape is likely very little changed from a hundred years ago. There are clear cuts here and there, but nothing like what one sees in Washington. Finally, the descent smoothed out, and a few small, worn houses began to appear. Then more, and final we had arrive, destination, Zeballos. We had a scenic nine and a half hour trip from Seattle by car, two hours of which was a ferry ride. Very do-able and not near as strenuous as I had imagined it would be.
Once we arrived, we met Adrian and his staff, and other guests. This was a Northwest Fishing Reports "Get-Together" of sorts as Adrian had given a special discount to our members and had filled up the lodge with them. We enjoyed meeting fellow NWFR members and sharing stories of fishing past and to come. To cap things off, everyone graciously held up dinner for us. We sat down and Chef Jason promptly appeared to introduce our first dish.
What can I say about Chef Jason? A smile seems to be a permanent part of his personality. Always open to conversation and playing the most cool, eclectic music in the background, he truly made coming to dinner an experience in its own right. Not to mention, Jason has his cooking chops down! Our meals were five star affairs every day. From a quick morning breakfast before fishing, to abundant lunch packs, to afternoon snacks, to appetizers and main courses that had us eating ever last bite off my plate, we ate like kings!
We had the luxury of fishing three days with owner/operator Adrian O'Connor. Adrian has fished these waters for a lifetime and knows the best off-shore reefs and underwater humps to fish, not to mention the migratory habits of the Chinook salmon as they flood into this region every year. With four boats in his fleet we learned that hot bites are shared and his boats get on the fish right away.
The waters leading away from Zeballos, Esperanza Inlet, are breathing-taking in its scenery. First explored by the Spanish in 1774, and then Captain James Cook in 1778, it is the traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation, who inhabited these lands for thousands of years. The inlet was formed by glaciers during the last ice age, and now attracts anglers, kayakers, divers, and hikers to the wilderness area. Wildlife is everywhere to be seen, including otters, sea lions, bear, cougar, and bald eagles. As we departed the inlet for open waters we scanned the horizon for killer whales (Orca), migrating gray whales, seals, and porpoises. To Adrian's surprise, however, we instead got to see a pilot whale leisurely swimming along, its large tail fully revealed as it sunned itself.
Once on the open ocean we tolerated the swells and moderate chop until a short time later we reached our anchoring locations. Even though it's about a thirty mile run to this spot, because most of it is in sheltered waters it's an easy trip. Adrian quickly set us up on anchor in two hundred feet of water. The plan was to start with halibut, and then after getting our limits troll for salmon.
I believe the term is "easy limits", and that's just what we experienced. Within minutes of lowering our bait (salmon bellies), Aaron had the first fish, a giant dogfish. Not what we wanted, but no worries, because in the next hour we pulled up our limits of halibut ranging from 15 to 60 pounds, perfect eating size! Bigger fish can and will be caught. Adrian reported just the previous week customers having caught one hundred pound-plus sized halibut. They, however, have to go back, as there is a slot limit on these tasty fish. Personally, I was perfectly happy getting my "big" and not having to haul up a hundred pounds of muscular fish only to let it back down. Maybe another time fish…
Adrian pulled anchor and set up gear from trolling Chinook. In Canada the preferred gear is a single action "knuckle buster" reel with a ten foot rod. "These are traditional rod set ups in Canada, you won't find too many anglers using level winds for salmon", Adrian explained. Over the course of the next three days I grew to love this set up – the sporting nature of catching a salmon is greatly enhanced with this gear. With no gear advantage you have to be fast on the retrieve when the fish runs at the boat, and be always ready to remove your hands when they run (or you will have your knuckles "busted").
Just like the halibut, we managed to catch our daily limits without too much difficulty. The hot gear was a large flasher with either a 5" spoon or a whole anchovy fished "off the deck". The bite that deep is kind of subdued, but once off and running these kings put up great fights, running at the boat, taking out line, but ultimately joining our halibut for dinner. The big king of the trip fell to Rob, 25 pounds of delicious springer.
"And now for something completely different". That's what came to my mind when Adrian informed us Wednesday he was going to take us to some locations to troll for ling cod and bottomfish. "This should be interesting" I thought. He explained "we'll be fishing a large underwater reef that has a rocky bottom surrounding a sandy bottom. This rocky bottom is habit to smaller fish and octopus, and it draws in the larger fish. It can produce well for ling cod".
Before we went trolling for bottomfish, we trolled some near-shore, shallow water locations for chinook salmon. What spectacular scenery! The waves crashing into the rocky shoreline and reefs made for some amazing pictures. Not to mention, a huge sea lion standing watch over his domain and eagles flying overhead. Our port rod exploded in short order and I grabbed the rod. This was a nice king! Multiple strong runs gave me a great challenge on the knuckle buster reel and 10 foot rod - I love this set up! The fish eventually weakened and I was able to slide him into the awaiting net. Wow, what a beautiful fish to start the day!
The salmon bite was slow so it was time to head to our next spot and troll up some lings. We used flashers and bait, using downriggers to get the gear down to the bottom, a few feet off the deck in 120 feet of water. Trolling speed was fairly slow, we were going fast enough to keep the flashers wobbling back and forth, but not rotating.
I'd never trolled for ling cod, nor had Aaron or Rob. It didn't take too long before we were able to recognize the sometimes light tap tap of a bottomfish. Of course, the lings had a more forceful tap tap. And on release from the downrigger clip it was pretty obvious when we had a ling. We worked this productive location for a couple hours, and caught a lot of fish. A limit for each of us, in fact. But it wasn't ling cod we were mainly catching. Nope, instead, time after time huge, brightly colored yellow eyes and vermillion came to Adrian's sharp gaff. As we hit our limit for vermillion, we could have kept fishing this area for lings, however, rather than stress and kill bottomfish that likely would not recover being caught from 120 feet deep, he decided to move us to another, smaller reef location.
It was a good location change! Within seconds of lowering our first rig the rod doubled over. Aaron grabbed the rod and battled in a beautiful 20 pound ling in to the boat. Shortly after, Rob and I got nice lings. Another pass yielded some smaller lings and with that we were done for the day.
Back at the lodge, Chef Jason had prepared another five star meal. We visited with the other Northwest Fishing Reports guests who reported good fishing and bountiful catches. Just another day in paradise!
Traveling to Zeballos from the Seattle area is not nearly the ordeal I had in my mind prior to the trip. The drive is easy and Canada couldn't be a nicer place to visit. People are so friendly and polite, and we were welcomed everywhere we stopped. As to the fishing, I'd rate it a slam dunk "10". And not that I like to think in these terms when I fish, but the amount of fish we brought back at the prices you'd pay in the grocery store amounted to easily a couple thousand dollars' worth of fresh fish, far superior to anything you'd find in a store. Plus, it's all processed, vacuum sealed, and flash-frozen at the lodge. My family and friends will be eating like kings for the next year, until we get a chance to do it again!
To book a trip with Reel Obsession Sportfishing give them a call at 1-888-855-7335 or check them out on Facebook, or their web site.
Editors Note - this article was published in NWFR in 2015


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The missing link in solving the homeless problem
Every city in Ventura County is suffering from the tragedy and loss of Anthony Mele Jr. at the Aloha Steakhouse in Ventura. The sad reality is what happened there can happen anywhere. It is only a matter of time before the same circumstances exist for another unstable, emotional individual to go on the attack. There are near-misses every day. I know.
Every city has homeless people. They are either drawn to the climate and comfort, or they are homeless in their city of origin or where their kinfolk live — children, parents, siblings. To think I could round them up and get them on a bus to go to another community is inconceivable. It's difficult to get them to the winter shelter at night in Ventura or Oxnard, because they want to "come home" during the day.
Police officers cannot be everywhere all the time. Service providers can't provide everything the homeless need, especially those with the challenges of substance abuse, depression, anxiety and mental illness. The majority of calls to the Santa Paula Police Department are for issues dealing with people who are homeless. Most are for things they do that irritate people, not necessarily for violating any laws.
It's a complicated problem and it's getting worse. Good people in various places are doing some things. No one can do everything, and collaboration is essential.
Serving food reduces panhandling and stealing. It also keeps them healthier while on the streets. Providing temporary shelter keeps them from defecating on the streets at night, but they are on the streets during the day without adequate facilities. Providing counseling helps, but they have to make it to appointments, and in larger communities transportation can be a barrier.
The way the homeless live and where they live is damaging to the environment. The amount of trash they create makes a mess. We are working on providing trash bins and portable restrooms in various locations to minimize the impact of their homelessness on the environment.
The reality is that not every homeless person wants to live in a structured environment. They love the alcohol and drugs too much. Many of our people have said "enough." When the last one standing is ready to say that, we will be there to take the next steps with them. Joining us will be our partners at Whole Person Care, the Ventura County Health Care Agency, Behavioral Health, first responders, nurses, physicians, clinicians, counselors and many more in the network of service providers.
As advocates for the Santa Paula homeless population, we do what we can every day to minimize the impacts and the risks of living among people who are homeless. Some of the homeless can be aggressive when agitated. We are trained in de-escalating, but we aren't with them 24 hours a day.
There is only one real answer — managed care in transitional and/or permanent housing. The real barrier is no one wants this in their backyard, their neighborhood, near schools or work centers. If you build housing away from all these services, that makes for different challenges.
The savings to taxpayers in reducing or eliminating the emergency room as the homeless' primary care provider would easily cover the cost of building or acquiring housing. One known user of the ER had 152 visits in 2017. Imagine the cost of that, along with the cost of all the first responses and treatment.
The county Board of Supervisors is calling on all cities to work toward providing shelters. All experts on this topic agree that housing is the missing link and the necessary component to treatment and wellness.
Many groups are working on bits and pieces in the county's Continuum of Care. The missing link has been identified and, like the missing gene, must be cultivated, or there will be no cure in our lifetime.
Kay Wilson-Bolton is a Realtor, former mayor of Santa Paula and volunteer director of the SPIRIT of Santa Paula nonprofit group.


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Hitting the box office charts hard is American mystery thriller Gone Girl, which delivered the biggest opening weekend since The Inbetweeners 2 back in August, debuting with £4,109,628. Adapted by Gillian Flynn, who wrote the 2012 novel of the same name, it was directed by David Fincher, whose previous openers include The Social Network with £2.49m. The film has just missed the £4.32m debut of Fincher's last film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, although that figure was inflated by four days of previews as opposed to Gone Girl's two.
It stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon and the plot unfolds after a man (Affleck) sees the spotlight turned on him when his wife's (Pike) disappearance becomes the focus of an intense media circus and it's suspected that he may not be innocent.
The film examines dishonesty, the media, the economy's effects on marriage, and media appearances. The film opened the 52nd New York Film Festival, receiving high profile press coverage and early positive reviews. Jason Kosner of UK Screen states, "When a story is this well told, it seems a bit churlish to begrudge the film-makers another few minutes of self-indulgence and the odd moment of cinematic shorthand can be excused. Gone Girl is one of those rare films that's likely to please audiences, critics and awards bodies equally."
American dark action fantasy Dracula Untold came up trumps in second place after making £1,713,283 despite a lack of strong marketable names and little seen by critics. It is, however, a long way behind the debut of Van Helsing in May 2004 (£5.43m), which was a much-hyped creature feature and featured A-lister Hugh Jackman.
The film stars Luke Evans, who portrays the title character, with Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper and Samantha Barks in supporting roles. It steers away from the focus on Irish novelist Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, the film creates an origin story for its title character, Count Dracula, by portraying the story of Vlad the Impaler, who uses dark powers to protect his family and kingdom.
The release date was changed four times to finally October 10, 2014, to give the film three weeks of play before Halloween.
Dracula Untold received a mixture of reviews from critics, with most praising Luke Evans' performance, the storyline and the visuals, but criticising Dracula's characterisation and pointing out many plot holes. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes stated, "Neither awful enough to suck nor sharp enough to bite, Dracula Untold misses the point of its iconic character's deathless appeal."
Denzel Washington's thriller The Equalizer falls one to third place bringing in another £1,207,139 adding to its total in the UK of £4,280,077.
The film also stars Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Haley Bennett, Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo and is based on the television series of same name.
The plot follows a man (Washington), who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and has dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can't stand idly by – he has to help her.
The Boxtrolls hits fourth on its fourth weekend on release with £983,015 taking it's gross to £6,093,123, which compares with lifetime totals of other stop motion animations such as £7.5m for Coraline and £6.3m for ParaNorman.
Falling to fifth is British comedy What We Did on Our Holiday which brought in £728,228 last weekend, to make a gross of £2,083,907 from cinema ticket sales in the UK so far. It was written and directed by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin who created BBC sitcom Outnumbered, and the success led to the pair getting to make the film which features similar improvisational techniques and also features two London parents and their three young children.
New entry at sixth place comes from Hindi action thriller Bang Bang which debuted with £602,193. It's the biggest opening for a Bollywood film since Dhoom 3 (£885,000) last December and is an official remake of the Hollywood film Knight and Day and features Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles performed by Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz respectively in the original. In India, Bang Bang! received positive to mixed reviews from critics praising its action sequences and performances while it was criticised by some for its story and screenplay. A review from India Times stated, "It has some 'must-haves' of a pot-boiler, but misses the real thing – a solid story."
New in seventh place is American family drama Dolphin Tale 2, written and directed by Charles Martin Smith and a sequel to his 2011 film Dolphin Tale. The sequel made £536,766 on its opening weekend. Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Kris Kristofferson, Morgan Freeman, Juliana Harkavy, Austin Stowell and Austin Highsmith all reprise their roles from the first film while Lee Karlinsky, Julia Jordan, and Bethany Hamilton join the cast. The film tells the story of another dolphin, taken in by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, named 'Hope'. The film was received generally positively with Mark Kermode of The Observer stating, "As before, there are mirrored tribulations above and below the water line, with life lessons learned en route. It doesn't have the focus or splash of the original, but Charles Martin Smith's sequel winningly wears its heart on its sleeve`."
Third week on release and down to eighth place for Liam Neeson's crime thriller A Walk Among the Tombstones as it made just £310,261. The film, which is based on a novel of the same name by Lawrence Block, follows private investigator Matthew Scudder (Neeson) who is hired by a drug kingpin (Dan Stevens) to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife. A Walk Among the Tombstones has made a gross of £3,364,093 in the UK to date.
Guardians of the Galaxy celebrates its tenth week on the charts with £277,419 bringing it to ninth place, and amassing £28,168,896 from its UK run.
Rounding off the top ten is British film Pride which brought in £248,654 and on its fourth week on release has totalled £3,265,317.
The good news of the box office figures looking up, is set to continue. This weekend, we will see the release of young adult adaptation The Maze Runner, already a significant hit in the US and elsewhere, American supernatural horror Annabelle, both a prequel and spin off of The Conjuring, and presented as event cinema, One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film. Also we have Hugh Grant starring in romantic comedy The Rewrite, Dakota Fanning in period drama Effie Gray, Susan Sarandon in crime thriller The Calling and Jack O'Connell in the much-buzzed Belfast-set '71.


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Three of Hillary Clinton's paid speeches to Goldman Sachs were released on Saturday by WikiLeaks, casting an awkward spotlight on the Democrat's ties to the biggest players on Wall Street in the final stretch of the White House race.
Clinton's campaign did not contest the authenticity of the remarks, which were part of a huge trove of documents hacked from the emails of campaign chairman John Podesta by WikiLeaks.
Trump challenges Clinton to drug test, says vote 'rigged'
The campaign has blamed the Russian government for the hacks, a view shared by the US government, and accused the anti-secrecy website of seeking to help Clinton's Republican rival for the presidency Donald Trump.
Among other issues, Clinton is shown in the speeches offering opinions on financial regulations, relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the negative effects of previous WikiLeaks releases on US foreign policy.
Clinton's remarks are not dramatically out of step with her public remarks on the same issues, though they may read as a bit more forthright in style.
In her October 2013 address to Goldman Sachs, she suggested something had to be done to rein in Wall Street abuses "for political reasons."
"There was also a need to do something because for political reasons, if you were an elected member of Congress and people in your constituency were losing jobs and shutting businesses and everybody in the press is saying it's all the fault of Wall Street, you can't sit idly by and do nothing," Clinton said.
Clinton made the paid speeches to the financial giant between the time she left her position as secretary of state and started her White House bid.
Her record of delivering speeches for Goldman Sachs was a campaign staple for her Democratic primary rival Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who argued that she could not be relied upon to regulate firms by which she has been paid.
Rudy Giuliani can't recall standing alongside Hillary Clinton after 9/11
Her White House rival Trump has scrambled to try to use the hacked emails against her, notably accusing Clinton aides of improperly securing inside information from the Obama administration about the investigation into her use of a private email server as secretary of state.
He has also seized heavily on other documents recently released by WikiLeaks, showing that Clinton, in private speeches to major banks in 2013 and 2014, expressed views in favor of free trade and Wall Street self-regulation that are at odds with her positions as a candidate.
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Everyone knows what has long been considered the baby of the travel sector is finally starting to grow up. However, relative to other segments such as
Getting the right blend of distribution for Tours & Activities
Earlier, I came across an interesting article by Stephen Joyce of Rezgo that I felt it was worth responding to. While I would certainly agree with


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Browse Inkfarm.com's selection of Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro4000 ink cartridges and select the package that works best for you. The 8-pack of cartridges for Lexmark Pro4000 ink includes an A set and a B set. Within each package are two black ink cartridges, two magenta ink cartridges, two cyan ink cartridges, and two yellow ink cartridges. Use the A set first and when it is depleted, use the B set. It is important to properly rotate these two types of Lexmark cartridges.
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Stop spending a bundle on ink and get quality Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro4000 ink cartridges for less from Inkfarm.com.


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We are Blessed: The theme for our 2020-2021 school year
Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us. – Pope Francis
As a Valley Catholic Elementary School student or parent, you are part of a joyous faith community dedicated to providing spiritual, intellectual, cultural, social, emotional, and physical education for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Under the guidance of our dedicated faculty and staff, all students study the Catholic faith, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, music, and health.
They participate in physical education classes, and they also learn library and computer skills.
Our curriculum lays the groundwork for the college-prep curriculum offered at Valley Catholic Middle School and Valley Catholic High School.


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You have your moods; and so does your skin.
As the hormones keep your body running through the monthly cycles, the condition of your skin changes.
Besides the right diet, exercise, and a calm frame of mind, suitable skincare helps too.
Gloria Yuan, an aromatherapist with more than a decade of experience; and international support and trainer at Neal's Yard Remedies, was in Singapore for the launch of the Deliciously Ella x Neal's Yard Rose, Lime & Cucumber line (pictured).
She shares tips on how to care for your skin (and body) throughout your monthly cycle.
Before your period: Skin might become oily, with clogged pores that result in pimples. Legs may become swollen, and your abdomen may become bloated.
Use an oil-free and mattifying serum to control the oil. The Clarifying Mahonia Skin Gel is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, so it helps to calm skin.
To deal with the swelling legs and bloatedness, pamper yourself with essential oils.
Add 25 drops of geranium essential oil into a 100ml bottle of sweet almond oil. Massage it into your lower back, and the abdomen after your bath. Or add five drops of essential oil into a warm bathtub.
During your period: The skin may become a little drier, and the menstrual cramps hit, while the bloating may continue.
Include a facial oil into your beauty routine, like the Rehydrating Rose Face Oil; and a moisturiser with hyaluronic acid, or a richer cream such as the Frankincense Hydrating Cream to lock it all in.
To soothe the cramps and bloatedness, try blending either Roman chamomile, lavender, or peppermint essential oil into sweet almond oil; and rub around the navel.
Stick to the same formula (25 drops of essential oil + 100ml of sweet almond oil).
For every other day, these are Gloria's favourite items from NYR.
- Frankincense Intense Eye Cream: "I travel a lot, so this help to ease my puffy eyes."
- Yarrow and Comfrey Moisturiser: "It calms and heals breakouts, and contains astringent properties. It is not as oily, so it is good for use in the summertime."
- Oil-free Hydrating Serum: "It is mattifying and smells great, while still keeping the skin hydrated."
- Organic Eye Make-up Remover: "It is very gentle, not drying, and removes waterproof make-up. Made with rosewater so it smells great."
- Wild Rose Beauty Balm: "I use this as a mask to re-hydrate my skin after plane trips that dry out my skin. It is multi-tasking too; you could use it as a makeup remover, or dry skin on any part of your body to make it a glow. I also like to use this on top of my blusher as a simple highlighter."
- White Tea Enriching Facial Mask: "I use this to get rid of angry acne that is causing trouble deep beneath the skin. After my regular skincare night routine, I layer this mask just on the affected areas, and go to sleep. The next morning, a whitehead appears where the acne is, and I can remove it easily."
©The Beauty Gazette
Picture: Neal's Yard Remedies


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Marvel Entertainment chief creative officer and former editor-in-chief Joe Quesada went on The Colbert Report Wednesday night to announce that Sam Wilson, Captain America's compatriot the Falcon, will take up the hero's shield.
Read more about the historic changes at Newsarama.
It's been a week of major Marvel news, with an announcement Tuesday on The View that the character of Thor will become onworthy of his legendary hammer Mjolnir and it will be passed to another — a woman, also named Thor.


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WonderCon 2015 was awesome as it was a last minute surprise trip for me.
Sporting my Hullabaloo tee yesterday I encountered some incredibly good cosplay amongst my absolute favored 2, Angie and Caitlin in Super Anna and Elsa outfits that rocked.
As I said this one was a surprise since I had not planned to go and my very best friend Jen only mentioned on Thursday that she got me a guest ticket. So it was lucky I had a day off on Friday and we spent all day in the mayhem that is WonderCon.
It was so much fun and I saw some of my very dear friends at their booths, where I got a couple of treasures. One from Brett 2D Bean, his art of booklet and one from Stephan Franck, volume 4 of his dark comic Silver.
It was overwhelming as usual and it took us all day to get thru to the other side, what with all the artwork and knick knacks to look at and getting distracted a million times by all the costumes and people.
So all in all a great adventure and fun and I even met up with an old friend that I had not seen in a while.
This was such an inspiration and recharge moment and sorely needed. WonderCon is such a great atmosphere and everyone just wants to have a good time.
Where else in the world can you be a kid and a geek at the same time and see icons of the Silverscreen you grew up with or meet the characters that impacted your life. It is incredible how much detail some go into to give you that experience and everyone is really approachable and happy to pose for pictures.
At the end of the day I even saw Lois Lane from the first Superman Movie I grew up with, still spunky and charming and bewitching two wanabe Supermen, just as she did with the original.
So I guess I'll give this day an 11/10 for awesomeness, fun and total surprise.
The WonderCon is on till Sunday at the Convention Center in Anaheim, but it will be back next year in April as it always does. So do yourself a favor, if you like this sort of stuff, and go see and experience it for yourself. It is just as great as ComicCon in San Diego, but easier to get in to as it is a bit smaller and more manageable, especially if it is your first time.
So drop off the kids at Disneyland for the day and have yourself a vacation at the other "happiest place on earth" across the road…hahaha


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Blessed Are Those Who Come With No Agenda…
It's hard to believe that we will be leaving for our Brazil mission trip in only 9 days! We have only about $600 left to raise in order to meet our team goal on fundraising. We've also had a change in plans as to what we are going to be doing when we get there. The original plan was to show them how to lead the Singles environment (Singles Gatherings) we do at our church and then help them modify it to make it relevant to their culture. We have since found out that they already have a Singles environment (Lounge Capela) and they want us to come and experience it and give them feedback. One of their biggest concerns is that only 30 or so people come each time they have it (once a month) and it's never the same 30 people. They want us to help with suggestions on how they can help grow the environment.
The format of Lounge Capela is simple – people come in and grab some food, the band plays some fun music (typically associated with the monthly theme), they have a guest speaker or two talk about the theme/subject for the month, the audience gets to ask the speaker(s) questions, and then at the end they encourage the audience to continue talking about the theme/subject with others who are there. We will be there for the September 1 Lounge Capela and the topic is bullying. In April of 2011, a young man (about 23 years old) went on a shooting rampage in an elementary school in Rio and killed several students. It was later discovered that he was bullied when he was a student and he was out for revenge. The exciting (and also stressful) thing is that I was asked to be one of the guest speakers (I was bullied in middle school) and they would like for me to share my experience as one who has been bullied and also share what bullying is like in North America (including why do people bully others). They are also supposed to have a Psychologist as the other guest speaker and have him/her share about bullying from a medical professional's point of view.
What I am learning through this experience is not to go into it with my own agenda. I don't know if what I will share with the Singles in Londrina will have an impact on them or not, and I can't go in with the agenda of changing their lives. All I can do is prepare what I am going to say and ask God to use it for His glory. Not having my own personal agenda is something I am learning through both preparing for my Brazil mission trip and in taking a class at church called Dignity Serves. Most people are familiar with The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). I feel like God is revealing a new Beatitude to me – "Blessed are those who come with no personal agenda, for they will not be discouraged when their unrealistic expectations are not met." It's like the magnet I have on the refrigerator in my kitchen – "We plan and God laughs."
My friend Stephen Redden reminded me of a verse several years ago, and that same verse is definitely pertinent in my life even more so right now.
Proverbs 19:21 – "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Photo Credit: By Rooey202


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Can't get to a CrossFit box? That's no excuse to not exercise!
I'll admit I have been getting a bit lazy on my travels, so I have set myself a challenge: 100 burpees a day. No, I won't be filming myself every day (I don't want to bore you to tears!) but here's my first attempt. It took me less than 8 minutes. My goal is to beat my PR of 6 mins 30 sec.
Why burpees? Because I LOVE THEM. (Yes, really).
Any why do I love them so? It's not just because I'm short! Burpees are simple, quick and effective. They work your entire body and get your heart rate pumping super quickly. And you can do them in a space the size of a yoga mat. Perfect!
Tips for efficient burpees:
- Shoot your feet straight out behind you. Don't waste time and energy squatting down.
- Avoid using your arms too much on the way down. Drop as quickly to the floor as you can (without cracking your chin open)
- Jump your feet in close to your hands, with legs as straight as possible.
- Don't land in a squat, this will only tire out your legs!
How am I sticking to my daily challenge?
Turns out I'm not great at pushing myself physically when I'm used to having coaches and fellow exercise fanatics do it for me. When I was CrossFitting, all I had to do was show up to the sessions and I'd be guaranteed an awesome workout.
Now, I'm up to my own devices. So, I'm using the Lift App to help me through this challenge. It's an app that uses coaching, community and data to help you track your progress, keep you motivated and reach your goals. I'm only just getting started, so I can't report on its effectiveness just yet, but there's always room for another post!
Anyway, if you want to join me on this 100 burpee-a-day challenge, sign up for Lift, join the "100 burpees per day" group, and say hi! Let's keep each other accountable 🙂
In the meantime, yay for burpees!


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Hire a DWI Injury Lawyer in McAllen, TX that Will Fight for Your Right to Fair Compensation
If You Were Hurt In A DWI Accident, Even If You're At Fault, You May Be Able To Sue The Bar That Overserved You Alcohol!
Texas DWI Injuries By The Numbers
Alcohol-related car accidents are a dangerous and deadly problem across America, but are especially prevalent here in McAllen, Texas? Our state leads the nation in alcohol-related accident fatalities, which has affected thousands of families across our great state. While DWI arrests in McAllen have been declining in recent years, police still made 844 DWI arrests in 2009 alone.
For this reason, the Moore Law Firm of McAllen, Texas is a law firm committed to representing victims of DWI car accidents and their families. Not only do we help DWI car accident victims seek compensation from drunk drivers, we will also go after establishments that over-serve intoxicated people who then become dangerous drunk drivers.
Texas Dram Shop Laws
Under Texas law, establishments that serve alcohol ("dram shops") share responsibility when one of their patrons is allowed to become intoxicated and then injures or kills someone in a drunk-driving accident. Bars and restaurants have a duty to stop serving alcohol to someone they know is intoxicated. Therefore, if you or someone you love has been injured by a DWI driver who was over-served at a bar, you may be able to seek compensation or damages from that establishment.
While being an adult (over the age of 21) gives someone a right to drink alcohol, it does not give anyone the right to endanger the lives of others by getting behind the wheel of a car or truck while intoxicated. The car accident injury attorneys of the Moore Law Firm are committed to holding drunk drivers responsible for the injuries they cause and the pain they inflict on Texas families. Part of this effort includes keeping bars, restaurants, and clubs accountable for contributing to DWI accident injuries under Texas dram shop law.
Contact The Moore Law Firm Today to Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with a DWI Injury Lawyer in McAllen, TX
The DWI injury lawyers at Moore Law Firm has been protecting the McAllen community for more than 10 years, standing up for injured people and standing by them through tough times. We grew up in this area and we strive to keep the place we live and work safer by holding individuals and businesses responsible when their negligence results in injury or wrongful death.
Our team of experienced DWI injury lawyers are ready, willing, and able to take your case to court and argue effectively for your rights in front of a judge. We have more than five decades of combined legal experience, including serious courtroom litigation, which we are ready to use to assist you in potentially being compensated.
If you or a family member has been injured by a drunk driver, please contact the dram shop lawsuit attorneys of the Moore Law Firm today for a free case evaluation to discuss your legal options.


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Taking care of each other will always be the right thing to do.
For the last eleven years, we have been driven every day by our purpose: helping independent makers and small businesses find their people and grow their business, in good times and in hard times. All of the products we support are made by small manufacturers and each of them have been impacted by the current context in big and small ways.
There are some changes you may experience as we do our best to meet our mission while keeping our teams and communities healthy:
- All Grommet team members are working from home, including Customer Experience and Maker Success.
- You can expect the same great support as always from these teams, but please be aware our capacity for phone orders may be limited.
Although we are facing a great deal of uncertainty, some things are still certain: taking care of each other will always be the right thing to do, small businesses will always be where special products come to life, and we will always be committed to giving them the platform they deserve.
To our community of independent Makers and small businesses: If your doors are open, we'll keep ours open too. We are keeping our online platform up so your products can keep reaching your customers. If you aren't on The Grommet but are interested in getting your products out to your customers, Click here to get started.
We're connecting with a few of our Makers to elevate their stories and share the challenges they face. With these stories, we hope our community can see the impact of their support and how these businesses are foundational to our society. Hear these stories.
Wishing good health to you, your families, and our extended community,


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Barbecue….what barbecue?
After sitting in a airconditioned, cold conference room the whole of yesterday, all I could think of was getting home, putting my feet up and looking forward to a big, juicy rumpsteak on the barbecue. By that time I was starving, my stomach rumbling and I already imagined the aroma, absolutely loaded with flavor …..and thought….does it get any better than this?
Everything's running smoothly, salad and potatoes are done…. I sat back, took my first sip of an icecold Giesen Sauvignon Blanc…..then….wham!!!!! You look down and see that the grill flames of your barbecue has gone out.
Few things are more annoying and embarrassing to a grillmaster than running out of gas during a barbecue. And even more so when the 2nd tank's empty as well!! You've already thrown off the cooking time of the meat so you'll never get it 'just right' now!! Back to the old conventional method and gone are the enthusiasm.
My point is:- Is there someone that can PLEASE invent a see-through gas tank so I can at least ENJOY my dinner.
One Response to "Barbecue….what barbecue?"
That's why I'm exclusively a Charcoal man….a few chunks of mesquite on a bed of hot coals and you got yourself a cookin' fire. It takes a little longer, but it's worth it!
Just Say'n


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In order for your organization to reach its full potential, you need to hire top talent. It's that simple.
If you're having a hard time attracting the best and brightest workers to your organization, it may be time for you to revisit your company's employee value proposition — assuming you have one in the first place.
An employee value proposition (EVP) is the totality of what a company offers it workers in exchange for their time, talents, and services. It's what sets your company apart from your competitors from a prospective employee's perspective. Essentially, your EVP will answer the following question: "Why would anyone want to work here?"
The better your EVP, the easier it will be to attract the best workers.
Generally speaking, an EVP is the sum of a number of components, including:
01. Wages, benefits, and perks
In an increasingly aggressive war for talent, you can't expect to attract the best workers if you're not offering competitive compensation packages. In addition to offering great salaries and benefits, perks like remote working and flexible schedule policies can go a long way toward convincing would-be employees that your company is the right place for them.
02. Professional development
Today's workers care deeply about opportunities for professional development. But according to our Engagement Report, only 25% of employees agree that their organizations offer adequate development opportunities. If you don't support your employees in meeting their career goals, it will be much harder to find good workers.
03. Employer brand
How is your company perceived in its respective space? If you own a chain of high-end restaurants, for example, you need to position your company as an elite restaurateur to attract the best chefs and waitstaff. Employer brands are the sum of a company's mission, ethics, values, and culture.
04. Work environment
You can't expect to hire the most talented individuals if you rely on legacy technology. Similarly, if you're doing things the way you did 20 years ago, top talent likely won't consider you for more than a few minutes — if you're that lucky. Build a vibrant, welcoming work environment to pique the interest of the best workers.
05. Location
If your offices are located in the middle of nowhere, chances are you'll have a hard time attracting skilled workers who, generally speaking, prefer working in large cities. The more desirable your location, the larger talent pool you'll have to draw from.
06. Work-life balance
Do you expect your employees to work around the clock? Or are you invested in ensuring the have a healthy work-life balance? If you have a reputation of proverbially working your employees to death, you'll find it harder to attract top talent.
Your EVP should be designed to target the kinds of workers you want to power your company. Think about why your current employees chose your organization in the first place as well as why former employees opted to leave. If you're not sure about what draws employees to your company, use pulse surveys to ask them directly.
The perfect EVP turns into a marketing tool that funnels top talent in your direction. As a result, your company becomes a more enjoyable place to work over time, your team becomes more effective, and your customers become more satisfied. How does that sound?
These Related Stories
Employees who feel they are listened to and recognized feel more valued — then become motivated to be more productive.


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Is Alcoholics Anonymous a Scam?
Alcoholics Anonymous is not a scam. In fact, it has helped many individuals change their lives for the better and put an end to their dangerous substance abuse. You can call 800-839-1686Who Answers? now to learn more about AA or to find rehab centers that utilize the program as a part of treatment.
The History of AA
According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, AA was founded in 1935 and "introduced the now widely known concept of the Twelve Steps as a path to recovery."
The program started out as The Oxford Group, which was focused on helping Christians recover from alcoholism and maintain sobriety. However when Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith developed the well-known 12-step program, AA blossomed into something much more popular that is still extremely similar to the organization we know today.
It is estimated that the group has about has about 2.1 million members worldwide, and currently, AA meetings can be found almost everywhere. Different groups sprung from the original formation of AA over time, including Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous, etc., as well as groups like Al-Anon for the families of addicts (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
Is AA Effective?
Many people find AA to be an incredibly effective option for recovery from alcohol abuse. While it is not considered a professional treatment program itself, it––and other mutual-help groups like it––are sought more often than any other treatment for alcoholism (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
In truth, the program has been found to be effective through years of research as well. However, it is still important that a person struggling with a substance use disorder seek professional treatment in addition to AA.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Self-help groups can complement and extend the effects of professional treatment," and many different studies have proven that those who attend self-help groups and addiction treatment are often more likely to have improved outcomes than those who attend only one of these programs.
What Do I Have to Do to Attend AA?
Many people believe AA is a scam because they do not understand what the program entails. However, it is important to realize that one does not have to pay to attend AA meetings, nor does the program ask for members to do anything except show up and be respectful to others.
While most groups encourage members to come to meetings as often as possible, you only have to attend meetings when you want to and you won't be expected to do anything you are not comfortable with. For example, you don't even have to talk at the meeting if you are not immediately ready to share your feelings.
Can AA Help Me?
AA helps many individuals worldwide with the issues caused by substance abuse and allows members to gain confidence, social support, and positive life skills that will often help them stay sober. However, the program is not always for everyone, and you may want to consider whether or not it seems appropriate for your needs.
Some individuals feel uncomfortable with the religious aspects of AA. Giving oneself over to a higher power, for instance, can be difficult for someone who is not religious. But there are ways to change the rules of the program slightly so that they fit your life. As an example, you can think of the universe, music, or another non-religious concept as your higher power.
The truth is that the best way to know if AA will be beneficial to you is to attend a meeting. Because the program does not charge members, there is little you have to lose by doing so, and you can determine more clearly whether or not AA will be helpful for your safe, reliable recovery.
AA Is Not a Scam
Though the program has carried a significant stigma for years, it is important to be aware that AA is not a scam. Many people are able to use the principles behind it to heal, and you can stay in the program for as long as you like without ever having to pay.
However, it is also important to know that seeking professional treatment along with AA is still necessary to a safe recovery. Call 800-839-1686Who Answers? now; our recovery experts are standing by, ready to help you find reliable, effective care.


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How Much Can I Collect on Partial Unemployment in New Jersey?
New Jersey offers partial unemployment to its claimants to include those who experience partial loss of work in its unemployment insurance plan.
Before you can receive partial unemployment, you must first receive approval from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development by applying. Then you must report your week's wages to the department during your continued claims process. Once you report those wages, the state can calculate your partial payments based on the state's earned income allowance and the money you earned.
If COVID-19 has affected your job, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Head to the Department of Labor's website for updates, and check out careeronestop to learn how to file for unemployment in your state.
The partial unemployment regulations of New Jersey unemployment compensation laws aim to extend protection to those who may not have no work at all, but still experience a loss of work. It's designed for those who might lose a full-time job but can find only a part-time job to replace it. It also covers you if your employer reduces your hours or pay significantly.
You must meet the requirements to collect partial unemployment. First, you must work less than 80 percent of the full-time hours for that occupation. This varies by claim, so the Department of Labor and Workforce Development may contact your current employer for more information when you first file for benefits. To collect partial unemployment, you also must earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus 20 percent. The department calculates your eligible weekly benefit amount at the start of your claim and then uses the wages you report during your continued claims to determine whether you qualify from week to week.
You must report an income to the department the entire time you collect unemployment benefits. If you're working part time, you do this for each benefit week during your continued claims process. You either log in to the website or call the claims line to verify your eligibility for that week. When you get to the questions about whether you worked for the week and how much you earned for the week, answer as truthfully as possible. Remember to report your gross wages not on the week you receive the payment but the week you earned the money.
Your partial payments vary depending on the amount you earn each week. After you've reported your wages for a week in question, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development applies its partial benefits rules to your claim. New Jersey has an earned income allowance of 20 percent of your weekly benefit amount. You can earn that much without affecting your payments. Everything you earn above that 20 percent, the state deducts from your eligible weekly benefit amount. You receive the rest as your partial payment for the week.


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Here's a partial screenshot of todays (Mon 28th Dec) BBC Middle East page. Note: my previous blogpost pictured yesterdays BBC's frontpage pic.
Do you notice anything? Look at my post from yesterday and then look again at this one.
It's the same guy!
So? Well it's quite possible the BBC is just using smaps taken in one session – the background does look similar, but look at the dudes right hand. In yesterdays pic there is no red patch AND there is no green band either. Where did that red colour come from? The immediate impression is that the red colour is blood. But it seems to me that it's probably bene painted on. In which case the BBC is showing a misleading picture without any discussion as to what's going on. The cameraman is pretty keen on this guy so it's likely the cameraman knows whether the red is real or not (It's my contention that it's paint).
what does yesterdays pic and todays pic actually show us? One guy in what seems like a pretty isolated spot. The second pic with the red paint has much higher flames in the background, more smoke AND is of a narrower angle, focusing more on the guy.
Is all this not an act of manipulation? Worse still, it lends itself to the suggestion that the BBC is actually aiding the unrest in Iran in a deliberate context.
Given the disgraceful record of the politicised BBC News and Current affairs departmant and the lack of public awareness of its "Governers', I think that last possibility cannot be discounted.


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General Electric is ready to fulfill one of the largest orders the Schenectady manufacturing facility has ever seen in its 121-year history.
The company just signed off on three contracts worth $2.7 billion to build 26 gas turbines, 12 steam turbines and 38 generators for Sonelgaz, Algeria's state-run electricity and gas company. The agreement includes equipment and services that will help strengthen the North African country's power sector, boost its electricity grid, and meet a rapidly growing demand for energy.
The work will be split between GE Power & Water's Schenectady headquarters and its Greenville, S.C., facility. The Schenectady plant will make the steam turbines and generators. The Greenville plant will make the gas turbines.
While the company won't further expand its workforce due to this latest order, the Schenectady steam turbine and generator operation has been growing steadily for the past two years with both new products and expanded work. Work has already begun on the latest order and will be a large portion of the Schenectady plant's workload for up to two years.
"We've hired approximately 450 production employees since mid-2011, including a ramp-up in anticipation of being ready to support the Algerian order," said GE spokeswoman Chris Horne in an email.
One of the three contracts is with SPE Spa, a subsidiary of the Sonelgaz Group. For $1.9 billion, GE will provide power generation equipment and services for six new combined-cycle power plants that together will produce enough electricity to power 8 million Algerian households. These plants will use 9F 3-series gas turbines, which use a dual-fuel combustion technology that reduces emissions and extends maintenance intervals. Overall, these services are expected to increase Algeria's energy capacity by nearly 70 percent.
In addition, GE entered into a long-term joint venture with Sonelgaz to develop a new production facility in Algeria that will eventually produce more than 2 gigawatts of power generation equipment a year. This facility would cater to the needs of any future power plants and create nearly 400 jobs in Algeria and potentially another 600 indirect jobs there.
Another contract already delivered advanced aeroderivative gas turbines to Algeria this summer to help meet peak electricity demand. This agreement came on the heels of an October 2012 contract to supply 24 of these gas turbines for two "fast-track" projects in northern Algeria.
The final contract, again with SPE Spa, was worth more than $150 million to supply power generation equipment to a simple-cycle gas turbine plant in the Algerian town of Hassi R'mel. This equipment would add about 370 megawatts of power to Algeria's electricity grid.
"Our latest agreements with Sonelgaz underscore our continuing commitment to supply the best technology and services to assist Algeria in meeting its growing energy needs," Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power & Water, said in a news release. "These recent announcements demonstrate GE's capability to provide proven technology that can address both the immediate need for more power and the long-term energy requirements of a growing economy. In addition, the new GE-Sonelgaz industrial cooperation is further evidence that we are invested in the future of Algeria's energy infrastructure."
GE has had a relationship with Algeria, which is rich in natural gas and oil reserves, for more than 40 years now. The Algerian government wants to boost its energy generation capacity, as energy demand is estimated to be growing at an average annual rate of about 14 percent.
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