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Tube strike causes 'chaos' for commuters
Commuters faced "chaos" on Monday morning as a London Underground strike caused major disruption.
There was severe disruption across the network on the first working day after the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday period as 4,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union who work at Tube stations conducted a 24-hour walkout.
The strike is part of a dispute over jobs and pensions.
A reduced timetable was operating on some London Underground sections, with services suspended elsewhere.
Many stations, especially those in central and south London, were closed, causing long queues for buses.
London Underground advised people not to travel.
Construction worker Miguel Basantes was stranded at Paddington station as he tried to get to work in Hampstead.
The 54-year-old described the situation as "chaos".
He went on: "In Liverpool Street there were crowds of people and I was waiting for 20 or 30 minutes.
"I don't know how to get to work."
Indian restaurant worker Kundan Darla, 25, said: "I think it is bad, I am too late for work."
Frustrated passengers gathered around the entrance to Waterloo station.
A strike by station staff is planned across the Tube network on Monday 6 June
We will keep as many stations as possible open, but we expect that this strike will cause severe disruption and the closure of many Tube stations
— Transport for London (@TfL) June 5, 2022
Charlotte, who did not give her last name, from Surbiton, said she was unsure if she would be able to complete her journey to Canary Wharf.
"We'll see if anything opens up, and I'll go home if it doesn't," she said.
"I'm pretty sure everyone will be delayed coming in today."
She said she had been traveling for almost an hour already, adding that she did not feel the industrial action was justified.
"I don't necessarily see the reason for the strike," she said.
"It doesn't necessarily feel like it's justified to cause this much disruption, especially when London is getting up and running again. It seems like a big setback for the city."
Tracy Brown, 45, a mother-of-three from Acton, told the PA news agency: "Getting three children ready in the mornings for school is hard enough without a Tube strike making things harder.
"I am fed up of running around to get my children to school on time because some people are so greedy."
Paul Glennon, 52, a construction worker in central London, said: "It is back to reality for all of us. No more parties and parades.
"There's no point in our union continuing to sit opposite management representatives who have neither the inclination nor the authority to negotiate a settlement, when the power lies with the Mayor," says Mick Lynch. 🚇📢
Over to you👉 @MayorofLondon https://t.co/1yxi0kNjDo
— RMT (@RMTunion) June 5, 2022
"I have spent my whole morning getting on and waiting for packed buses in the rain."
The Tube strike caused delays on London's roads, affecting private cars, commercial vehicles and buses.
Location technology firm TomTom said the level of road congestion was 71% at 8am, up from 64% a fortnight earlier.
The figures represent the proportion of additional time required for journeys compared with free-flow conditions.
Transport for London (TfL) said no plans have been tabled on pensions or terms and conditions, and nobody will lose their jobs because of the proposals it has set out.
As part of previous funding agreements, the Government has required TfL to work towards achieving financial sustainability on its operations by April 2023.
TfL has proposed not recruiting into around 500 to 600 posts as they become vacant.
The RMT said that, under current proposals, working agreements will be torn up and the looming threat to pensions remains in place.
General secretary Mick Lynch said: "We are demanding a direct face-to-face meeting with mayor Sadiq Khan to sort this mess out.
"There's no point in our union continuing to sit opposite management representatives who have neither the inclination nor the authority to negotiate a settlement, when the power lies with the mayor."
Downing Street condemned the strike due to its impact on passengers and businesses.
"This sort of action is deeply disappointing and not what the public want to see, not what we want to see for businesses still trying to recover post-pandemic, people's lives being disrupted in London," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
"Obviously industrial relations at TfL are a matter for TfL and the mayor but it's clear that, under the current funding settlement, TfL must take all reasonable steps to avoid industrial action."
RMT members on the Tube are also taking action short of a strike, meaning station staff might not work overtime, until Sunday July 10, which may result in short notice station closures.


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Classic Casual - CC6
A one-time price of USD $54.99 will be added to your order.
Categories: Classic Casual Shirts
Manufacturer: Charlie Harper Shirts
- Description
Retro style panel shirt
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Practical easy-care machine washable Polycotton.
Any color combo from our chart
Any size you need.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's not me, it's you: Californians are breaking up with their lawns
The ongoing drought gives residents a chance to demonstrate creativity and self-expression in landscape choices, since it's not easy being green
It took nothing short of a natural disaster — the worst drought in more than 1,200 years — to get California to take a stand against something as all-American as green lawns.
Because lawns consume massive amounts of water, the Department of Water and Power asked Californians to consider native and drought-resistant alternatives. Officials offered rebates for turf removal at $2 per square foot, often supplemented by localized rebate programs. In Los Angeles, 2,600 residents and nearly 60 companies have ripped out their lawns so far.
And on April 1, Gov. Jerry Brown proposed an ordinance calling for the additional removal of 50 million square feet of lawn throughout the state.
Brown's proposal would all but ban grass around new commercial, industrial and institutional buildings and allow only about 25 percent around private residences. These changes, which could take effect by Dec. 1, could signal a significant shift in how Californians think about their yards.
That shift would be a welcome change to landscape architects like Esther Margulies, a USC School of Architecture lecturer who has been designing residential landscapes in Los Angeles for more than 25 years.
"The water crisis is really an opportunity to leave behind the conformity of Levittown for more creativity and self-expression in our landscape choices," she said.
A symbol of the American Dream
"Levittown" refers to the homogeneous planned communities built by Abraham Levitt and his sons in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Marketed as the "new form of American living," the modest, mass-produced homes with identical grass lawns became the domestic symbol of the American Dream.
Homeowners received informational pamphlets about lawn maintenance, with tips about how to keep it green and weed-free. While lawns had been popular in England since Tudor times, they were usually found only on large estates. In Levittown they were cut into affordable quarter-acre slices. As Levittown-like developments spread throughout the country, grass lawns became the gold standard of suburban utopia.
To Margulies, the cookie-cutter aesthetic of meticulously tended lawns has always been at odds with the personality — not to mention the climate — of Los Angeles.
People come here looking for a different existence.
Esther Margulies
"People come here looking for a different existence," she said, "for creativity, non-conformity and freedom of expression."
Recently she's noticed "an absolute explosion of creative landscaping" in her Venice neighborhood and adjacent Mar Vista. Non-native turf has been replaced with drought-tolerant alternatives — buffalo grass, silvery salvias and lavender, colorful succulents and permeable pathways of stone, mulch or decorative gravel.
"We're so lucky," she said, "to have such a range of plants that we can grow here."
Sustainable landscapes
According to Andrew Basmajian, communications director of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment, sustainable landscapes are also easier to maintain.
"Plants are much happier when they live in the appropriate climate zone," he said. "Imagine how you'd feel showing up in Palm Springs in a down coat and Ugg boots." Among the benefits: "Mow and blow goes away, there's no seasonal waste, they don't invite pests and water use drops by a minimum of 60 percent," he said.
So what does the future hold for those of us who can't let go of our suburban ideal, complete with our own small plot of grass?
"If your dream is endless rolling lawns," Margulies said, "you should consider leaving California."
More stories about: Drought, Sustainability


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Let me start off by saying that I miss writing for this blog. I love having something that is mine, my own platform, my own community, my own place on the internet for me. In looking back at my blog, I noticed I wrote a lot more in 2017 and 2018, and tapered off in 2019 and 2020. My years have been jam packed, sure, but regardless, my intent for 2021 is to make time for the things that matter to me.Continue reading "21 for 21-My Goals and Resolutions"
Tag: new years resolutions
Balancing My Goals
The last two weeks have been a challenge. My days have been busy, and I've just barely been able to do the deadline based things that I need to accomplish. So here is what I'm working on to try to manage my goals.
20 for 2020
Hello! It's been a while. I'm sorry. I've had a busy year and transitioned careers, but this year should be much less chaotic. I mean, I'm staring grad school, so who knows how far this will go, but my goal…well, let's get in to my 20 goals for 2020.
2018 Resolutions and Game Plan
I realized that I didn't get a chance to post my 2018 resolutions. I came up with these a couple weeks ago, and here they are, along with a corresponding game plan:
What Kind of Person Do You Want to Be?
Dear Reader, I've been thinking a lot about who I am as a person. I can list out the qualities of who I am, but lately I have been thinking about things like my lasting impact on the world, and whether I am living my values. So I asked myself the question: What kind of person do you want to be? Not just in 2017, but for the rest of your life. Here's what I came up with:


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Apr 30, 2021
I used to worry quite a bit about my sales practices early on in my career and often rehash my mistakes and beat myself up for not making one more sale or one more cold call. If it were close to the end of the month, I'd worry about making my sales quota or tomorrow's big presentation. Finally, I realized that yesterday's gone and tomorrow's yet to be born. I only have the day, so why not live and work like it is the only day that matters - because it is the only day that counts!
Salespeople - What's in a Name?
Many salespeople have a negative perception of themselves. When I first started selling for 3M Company, my title was sales representative. Over the years, I've seen all kinds of names given to sales representatives such as sales executives, sales consultants. While these are fine, there are some names that I don't particularly like, such as marketing representative, business development manager, or relationship manager.
Because salespeople have a negative connotation, they feel ashamed or don't want to have the word sales be in the title of their sales job. However, this is a self-defeating mindset. When you travel through life with a negative perception of what you do, you're probably not going to be very successful.
How Sales Provide Value
The truth is selling is providing value, but when people confuse sales with people who are forcing unwanted products, services, and opportunities on them, sales get a negative rap. Don't allow guilt to perpetuate what you do. Be proud of what you do. People love to buy.
When you are authentic, listen, solve problems, be generous, be honest, build relationships, lead well, and demonstrate gratitude, humility, and compassion. You have the basic building blocks of a salesperson that brings value.
Solving Pain Points for Clients
Clients and customers want solutions; they want practical and workable ideas from character and common sense. Studies show that customers who buy are indeed likely to buy again from the same person, but only if they see value in doing so. Price, by the way, is hardly ever a bargaining chip.
The best customer service, follow-up, and relationship-building will increase your sales. When you make a sale, you're making a connection with someone. The sale opens the door. Walking through that door into the customer's business, life and future is what drives more sales. Think of that first sale like it's the first date. You've met, talked, exchanged time, ideas, resources. Do you want to continue the relationship and see it as a connection?
Be Authentic
Be the real deal with authenticity. Many of us pride ourselves on the ability to spot a phony, but we fail to realize that our prospects can sometimes spot a fake. You may look like the real deal, but you have to be the real deal. Walk your talk and keep promises you make to build trust under-promise and over-deliver. Always do what you say or do - no excuses. Give your personal best, whether it's a small client or a large corporation.
Finding Success in Sales
Success is 90% preparation and 10% persuasion and sales. Customers will often show up knowing the features, advantages, and benefits of your products and services. They've done their homework on the Internet, and they've read all the good and bad things people said about your company. Be ready to answer questions your clients will have about your product or service.
Listen in as we talk about the six sales principles I live by, the importance of being prepared before a sales pitch, and why you want to take responsibility for your mistakes.


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Marta Correia is a PhD student at the University of Porto, Portugal. Her research focuses on Feminist Studies and on the themes of war and activism. Her dissertation, Virginia Woolf's Three Guineas – The Past, The Present and Into The Future is published on line
Published in: 50.50Conscientious objection: Virginia Woolf's ideas live on
In her 1938 essay Three Guineas, Virginia Woolf defined patriarchy, militarism and nationalism as sources of war....


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Full Day Child Care
AGES: 8 weeks – 5 years
At the Y, we offer a safe, nurturing environment for infants and children to learn and grow. The Y supports their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development. When you know your child is well cared for, you and your family have the opportunity to focus at work, plan healthy meals, enjoy family activities and establish a routine. Please take a look at our brochure: Valley YMCA 2023 ELC Brochure.pub
Our programs are NAEYC accredited and state-licensed allowing parents to go to work with peace of mind knowing that their children are being cared for in a safe, structured and fun environment.
Safety is our first priority. All Central Connecticut Coast YMCA child care programs are following all the guidelines set by the CDC, CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Y-USA, and other sources to ensure our policies and procedures are aligned to keep our children, staff and volunteers healthy and safe.
Our programs develop weekly curriculum with age-appropriate activities and indoor and outdoor learning experiences. Program highlights include science, music, and movement, and a variety of learning centers as well as an outdoor playground with a play structure, sand/water table, music center with cosmic roof, and tricycle track with pretend gas station and drive-through.
Our center is also a School Readiness Site for Ansonia and Derby that serves 3 and 4 year old children. Fees are based on a sliding fee scale.
These programs take place at our child care center, 32 Howard Avenue in Ansonia, P 203 732 7778
Registration Forms: 2022-2023-CCCY-Early-Learning-Center-Registration-Packet-/ CCCY-Financial-Assistance-Application-Materials
Parent Handbook: Valley Y 2023 ELC Parent Handbook
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
Monthly Fees: Infant/Toddler $1,290.00 / Preschool $903.00
Connecticut Care 4 Kids helps low to moderate-income families in Connecticut pay for child care costs. This program is sponsored by the State of Connecticut's Department of Social Services (also called DSS). To learn more about Connecticut Care 4 Kids, take a look at their website. You can look at the site to find out how the program works, who is eligible, and more.
CONTACT: Barbara Eckner, Child Care Director, at P 203 732 7778 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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We celebrate a new arrival – Home Solar Energy System! If you like our Consumer Electronics category, you are certainly going to love it!
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I think you use some cheap stuff to make Solar Hybrid Energy System. Change my mind.
To create the Home Solar Energy System, we're specifically using only the materials of top quality. So toxic and dangerous materials are out of question.
Are the colors in the pictures real?
The colors of the Home Solar Energy System are true, but the screens of different devices may show a bit different shades.
Do I need to pay extra fees?
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Please, let us know if anything in the order leaves you unhappy. We'll solve this issue together! Furthermore, if it doesn't help, we will return your money.
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You can request a refund if your order is lost in the mail or gets damaged during transportation, so feel free to get in touch with us if any of this happens.
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When it comes to the shipping time estimates, we do it as carefully as we can. Still, in case of emergencies or any other events affecting your postal office's performance there might be 2-3 days' difference between the expected and actual delivery time.
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💡 Get Philly smart 💡
with BP's free daily newsletter
Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we're counting.
Updated, 11:15 a.m., January 13
The City of Philadelphia is cashing in on the soda tax, and not just from the 1.5 cents per ounce it's charging distributors.
Many buyers of these drinks since Jan. 1 have dealt with two price increases: Stores passing through the 1.5-cent-per-ounce soda tax levy and, secondly, a higher sales tax because of the increased soda cost.
That higher amount of sales tax means Philadelphia and the state are due a significant windfall. Based on how many sugary drinks the city expects us to consume over the next five years, the state will make an extra $24 million and Philadelphia an extra $8 million if the entirety of the soda tax is passed on to consumers.
That might seem like a lot given we're talking 1.5 cents per ounce and a 12 oz. soda can normally sold for $1 is now going for $1.18. But here's how it adds up:
Over the next five years, the Mayor's Office is projecting it will make $400 million in soda tax revenue by charging distributors 1.5 cents per ounce on every sugary beverage — soda, diet soda, sports drinks, fruit juices with added sugar, etc. That would essentially mean the city expects Philadelphia residents and visitors to consume a total of about 26.6 billion ounces of sugary beverages the next five years, or the equivalent of about 2.2 billion 12 oz. cans or 208 million gallons.
Let's stick with the cans to do the math, even though the price changes in gallons are far more obvious. Without a 1.5-cent-per-ounce soda tax passed through, those $1 12-oz. cans would lead to $2.2 billion in sales.
The sales tax in Philadelphia is 8 percent. Six percent goes to the state and 2 percent goes to the city. So Harrisburg would get $132 million off regular-priced sugary beverages and Philadelphia $44 million in five years.
Here's how the 1.5 cents extra per ounce makes a difference if it gets passed through to the consumer, as grocery stores in Philadelphia have been tabbing up on their receipts: The $1 can is now $1.18. And sales tax is added to that higher total. So the 2.2 billion cans sold over five years jumps to about $2.59 billion in sales. Harrisburg would now get just under $156 million, for an extra $24 million. Philadelphia would get about $52 million, for an extra $8 million.
Would Philly sales tax revenue attributed to the soda tax would go to programs like pre-K or Rebuild? There aren't any plans. The Mayor's Office said the Department of Revenue determined such a bump would be negligible because of a decline in soda consumption.


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Wotzinurfood, as a food, health and food news site, does not impose any copyright, "freely ye have received, freely give" Matt 10:8. Made by Aim Day Co. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Uses: Calcium Ascorbate can be found in bouillon's, consommes and scotch eggs.
Some fear that it may increase the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the urine and should therefore be avoided by those with a predisposition to kidney stones.
Description: Vitamin C, essential for growth, healthy teeth, gums, bones, skin and blood vessels and aiding the absorption of iron, is found naturally in many fresh fruits and vegetables.
Calcium Ascorbate is prepared synthetically and, like E300, it is used as an antioxidant, a colour preservative and as a vitamin supplement.
E302 Calcium Ascorbate


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Blog Archives
Never be envious or jealous of others if you love God
Posted by pray2christ
Never be envious or jealous of others if you love God, because that would amount to doubting God's goodness in your life.
Why must you be envious of sinners, especially those who look prosperous?
Do you want to have their final hopeless end as well? Or do you want to have the hope which comes from Christ Jesus alone?
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17-18)
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. (Psalm 37:1-3)
Envy is a sin that starts first in the mind but once it's put into action, it can harm others and self too
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
Some people are utterly lazy and some lack the right mindset for success, yet these people get very envious and jealous of others who succeed where they failed. Instead of being happy for the success of others, they only find faults with that person. In offices, you will see such kinds, who refuse to talk to a recently promoted colleague just because of envy. In families, you will notice people who won't help their suffering kin but will do everything to mock a family member who just came out of joblessness, because of jealousy. In politics, you will see one politician who is willing to burn down the entire nation, just because he or she cannot see another politician getting praised by the people for his or her government policies. (Just to be clear, I'm not talking about any specific country, nor about some specific religion. I'm talking about the whole wide world.)
Don't even say jealousy and envy motivate you
Anyone who claims jealousy and envy motivates them to do better is just plain wrong. Such a person's wisdom is never from God and can therefore never be justified. You can succeed in life by being truthful and kind and hardworking.
But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. (James 3:14-16)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Aim to be free from envy and jealousy for your own welfare
Those who continue to remain envious and jealous are simply harming themselves. Firstly harming their thought life and eventually losing their body and soul.
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)
Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple. (Job 5:2)
Instead of jealousy and envy have true love and desire to grow in the Word of God
Instead of wasting your life, resist all jealousy and envy, and each sinful habit and instead love God in all truth. Read the Word of God and grow in it.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. (1 Peter 2:1-2)
Christ be with you!


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DAILY DISH! Jay-Z's new deal. Don Lemon Squeezed.By Maureen Martin | August 14, 2019 | Dish!
Jay-Z's new venture is a Roc Nation collaboration with the NFL.
Did Don Lemon get a little too flirty with a fellow bar patron? We don't know but we do know someone wants to get PAID …
Ashley Graham and her husband Justin Ervin are expecting a baby!
Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Blair Underwood, and Garrett Morris are set to join Octavia Spencer in the new Netflix limited series "Madam CJ Walker." The series is set to launch in 2020. Madame C.J. Walker, America's first black female millionaire.
Photo: CNN
Filed Under: Dish!


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Join us for a Summer Concert in the Park as Special Guest Speaker and Musician Melanie Waldman leads us in a time of incredible, uplifting music. Melanie will also be sharing her empowering personal story of overcoming! This will be an evening to remember – You don't want to miss out!
This unique event will also serve to support an organization near and dear to our hearts – Out of the Dark. Out of the Dark is an organization passionate in aiding women who are Survivors of Domestic Violence.
Details for the Event
When: Sunday, August 22nd from 6-8pm CDT
Where: The Village Green, Hoffman Estates, IL. (The Village Green is located at 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway, just west of the NOW Arena off Route 72 in the Prairie Stone Business Park.)
What: Enjoy an encouraging evening with community as Melanie Waldman shares powerful & uplifting music combined with her personal story of overcoming.
Due to some of the raw and honest content of Melanie's message we do recommend this evening is for adults only. Note: This event is for both men & women!
How: Register Online to Reserve Your Spot. (Seats are limited.) This concert is NO charge but donations to Out of the Dark is encouraged.
Click the registration button below to save your space! Once you've registered, you will see a confirmation notice. In addition, the Friday prior to the event, you will receive an email reminder with all the details you'll need for this very special evening!
Get to Know Out of the Dark
Founders of Out of the Dark, Lana and Loraine have overcome and they are passionate to help women who are suffering or have suffered through Domestic Violence.
"Out of the Dark is a nonprofit whose mission is 'Helping women heal from abuse and become who they were created to be.' They are dedicated to ending abuse by helping women heal, break the cycle of abuse, and build a new life. There are many things that women need when they have just come out of domestic violence situations. They need to heal with trauma-informed care. They need guidance and education on finances, self-esteem, and resume-writing, among many other things. Out of the Dark is here to help them."
Out of the Dark provides women in the Chicagoland area various resources including:
- Courthouse Advocates
- Legal Resources
- Support Groups
- Community Education
- Counseling
Your generous donations and support will assist Out of the Dark to compassionately reach their hand further, helping more women living in abusive relationships gain much needed healing!
We hope to see you on August 22nd!
Copyright © 2021 TheBatonPass.com. All Rights Reserved


text: Cast aluminum and Stainless Steel construction. Easy to use and clean. Dimensions (in/mm) (W x D x H).18 x 12 x 18/457.2 x 304.8 x 457.2. The item "Juice Machine Commercial Automatic Orange Squeezer grapefruit Juicer Extractor" is in sale since Wednesday, January 13, 2021. This item is in the category "Home & Garden\Kitchen, Dining & Bar\Small Kitchen Appliances\Juicers". The seller is "pokanic-usa" and is located in Passaic, New Jersey. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Viet nam, Uruguay.


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Did you know Winston Churchill was a closet product manager when it came to big product launches He's quoted as saying:
Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
Ok, I lied. 😉 While he was a famous leader, he wasn't a PM as far as I know. But I did use his quote above in a team all-hands last week. Why? To give people some perspective.
You see, the team is working on a big product launch that's just around the corner. And product launches are hard! They take a lot of energy. Finishing features, fixing bugs, making hard cuts, stabilizing, perf testing, marketing, PR…
And when a launch happens, it can feel exhilarating! 🚀 Finally, the world can use what the team worked so hard on! Tweets, press releases, and news articles galore!
But as Churchill states, that's just the end of the beginning. After you launch a product you can finally:
- Get usage data
- Run A/B tests
- Get feedback from a much wider audience
- Build those fast follows you had to cut for launch
- Embark on a longer-term product strategy
And more…
A launch is a great milestone for a team and a product, but it's just the end of the beginning. After launch, the real work begins. 💪


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Should the Florida Panthers re-sign defenseman Tom Gilbert?
Tom Gilbert's numbers were excellent this season, but what is a player of his age and health worth to the Panthers?
The Panthers have three players from their 2013-14 NHL roster that will be unrestricted free agents this summer who they may seek to re-sign: Jesse Winchester, Krys Barch, and the subject of this article: Tom Gilbert. Gilbert's importance to this team was something I had not recognized until I was preparing my "Defensive Logjam" article for LBC and ran across a December 5th article by Tyler Dellow for Sportsnet.ca. Analyzing advanced Corsi stats, Dellow wrote that the Gilbert/Campbell pairing had become "one of the NHL's very best, with the Panthers posting a Corsi % north of 55 percent when the two of them are on the ice." What exactly did this mean? Dellow spelled it out in no uncertain terms: "A Corsi % of about 55 percent for a defensive pairing that's playing top minutes is elite, only two teams in the NHL [at that time of course] (L.A. and Chicago) are above that." Holy cow!
Now, in the spirit of honesty, and folks being able to search and retrieve old comments I made about Gilbert earlier this season, where I may have described him as slow, a poor signing, and no longer an NHL caliber defenseman, I was not a Gilbert fan. But nobody can deny that we Panther fans witnessed an exceptional turnaround by Gilbert, or rather, a perceived turnaround. Turns out, Gilbert's early season numbers were not as bad as some Panther fans, myself especially, thought. One month into the season, Gilbert was +4. Still, plus/minus is an admittedly flawed statistic and the eyes only occasionally lie. Gilbert looked slow and often out of position. But, as we reached the conclusion of this unsuccessful season, and a contract negotiation possibility, it begs the question of how important this player is for the Panthers, and what exactly may he be worth? Neither of these are easy to answer, especially in light of the sports hernia surgery that ended his season early, but lets take a look at it.
First, for those new to advanced hockey stats, Corsi percentage is team shots for, plus team shot attempts against. It can be calculated both while a player is on the ice, and while he is not on the ice, which does help (to some degree) to account for factors outside the player's control, such as what line they are playing with and whether that line is defensively responsible or not. When it comes to Corsi percentage, Gilbert has nearly always been a player who has performed better than the teams he was playing for. Gilbert came into the league after four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, and played for the Edmonton Oilers and their defensively challenged teams from 2007-08 until his deadline trade to the Minnesota Wild during the 2011-12 season. A quick look at Gilbert's Corsi % and the Oilers, and Wild's team Corsi when he was off the ice shows that Gilbert has always done better than the team:
The Oiler teams Gilbert played for were awful, but his numbers were consistently better than the team's when he was not on the ice. In 2011-12, Gilbert's point totals took their first modest dip, from a prior season low of 26 points, to a new low of 22 points in 67 games. In 2012-13, with the Wild, Gilbert played only 43 games and had a mere 13 points. This led to the contract buyout that left him a UFA. He was subsequently invited to camp and signed by the Panthers. He played 73 games for the Panthers this season, until the sports hernia ended his season. While healthy, he was a top producer as well, putting up 28 points in 73 games for the Panthers, and was 2nd on the team in assists with 25. The aberration of the 2012-13 season with the Wild has a perfectly reasonable explanation: Gilbert contracted a terrible case of pneumonia before the start of that season and was briefly hospitalized. Gilbert was not himself. Understandably, he was not ready to play that season. He was a healthy scratch numerous times for the Wild during that season and also saw decreased ice time. That other teams may treat him in that manner is certainly a positive the Panthers have going for them.
The Gilbert the Panthers find themselves with made $1 million this season and will do the same next year from the Wild buyout. He also made $900,000 this year with the Panthers, so in effect, he made $1.9 million. He is also 31-years-old and there is the big issue: Is this a resurgent player with good years ahead of him, or is this a player that is benefiting greatly from playing with Brian Campbell? More importantly, how much will the sports hernia effect his play next season? A similar injury sidelined Stephen Weiss this season for the Red Wings, and also was what Sean Bergenheim reportedly sustained as well.
Campbell does make his defensive partners better. As the Tyler Dellow article makes very clear: "Gilbert's almost certainly being carried by Campbell to a degree - Campbell has a fairly lengthy history as an elite defenceman." Panther fans saw this occur with Jason Garrison, whose offensive production exploded with Campbell on his left side. Garrison turned this into a very lucrative deal with Vancouver, and there is every reason to believe that Gilbert could do the same. A simple internet search turns up various team blogs talking about how their team should pursue Gilbert this summer so he is certainly on the radar of GM's out there.
There is every indication that Gilbert is a valuable player for the Panthers. He is a right-handed shot on a team without much right-handed defensive depth. He was not moved at the trade deadline despite being an upcoming UFA and there is always a market for decent defensive depth for playoff-bound teams at the deadline (Mike Weaver anyone?). This was especially true for Gilbert, he comes cheap and would have been a pure rental since he will be a UFA this summer: no long term obligations to tie the renting team up. The Panthers were out of the playoff picture and willing to move important parts like Marcel Goc and Weaver, but Gilbert stayed put. This is an important clue that he has importance to the Cats, or that there is little or no market for his services (which seems unlikely).
What Gilbert is worth is a question that is also wrapped up in why the Panthers have not already locked him into a new contract. It appears that the market has not been set yet for a player of this type this off-season and value is very hard to determine. Gilbert was 58th in points by defensemen this season in the NHL. However, at the time of his injury he was roughly 42nd in the league. Looking at the 10 defensemen ahead of him on that list, and the 10 behind him (at the time of his injury), 2 others are also 31-year-olds and two are 29-year-olds. Looking at them could give us some clues as to what kind of money Gilbert may be looking for. The closest of these is Andy Greene of the Devils, who is 31-years-old and finished 43rd on the NHL points by defensemen list (with 32 points, 4 more than Gilbert). Greene is making $3.25 million this season, the 3rd season of a 4-year deal, and $3.5 million next season.
Looking at several Corsi statistics provides a picture of the player's effectiveness. The first of these is "Corsi For %" which is basically the shot differential while the player is on the ice, the higher the better. "Corsi For % Relative" is how the player's Corsi for % compared with the team when not on the ice. Finally, Corsi-On is the player's on ice- shot differential per 60 minutes. Taking Gilbert as our first analysis, here is how they stacked up:
Name Ranking Corsi For % Corsi For Relative % Corsi On Age Games
Tom Gilbert 58 51.7% +2% 4.15 31 73
Andy Greene 43 56.3% +3% 10.72 31 82
Christian Ehrhoff 40 46% +4.8% -8.51 31 79
Matt Carle 49 47.8% -5% -4.35 29 82
Tobias Enstrom 50 50.6% +.8% 1.92 29 82
Andrew MacDonald 57 43.2% -8.5% -11.42 27 82
Ehrhoff is a red flag of what happens in the UFA market sometimes: extreme overpayments. He is paid $5.2 million per season through the end of 2016-17. His contract widened eyes when it was signed and is now considered an anchor around the rebuilding Sabres neck by some pundits. Carle is making $5.5 million per season through the end of of the 2017-18 season, when he will be 34-years-old. 29-year-old Tobias Enstrom of the Jets is making $5.75 million per season through the end of the 2017-18 season, when he will be 34-years-old. I included Andy MacDonald (even though he is 27-years-old) because he is the most recent NHL defenseman to sign a mega-deal. At the end of the regular season MacDonald signed a 6-year, $30 million deal that pays him $4.25 million next season and goes up every season through 2019-20 when he will be paid $5.75 million. Sense trouble there?
Real estate agents call these "comps" and they don't do much for us here. The big problem is that these contracts were all signed prior to the player turning 30, with productive seasons likely ahead of them. This is more questionable with Gilbert due to age, recent injury and the question of how much Campbell is doing for him. Greene is the closest of the comps but is likely worth more than Gilbert is now.
Dale Tallon is known as a "players GM." He is also known as loyal (sometimes to a fault). It may be that there is a strong relationship between Gilbert and Tallon. Of course this is conjecture on my part, but Gilbert was given a good chance by the Panthers when others were uninterested, and he has been rewarded with hefty playing time, special teams play, and a top pairing. That is all worth something to a player. He is playing in a low pressure market without income tax. He has a guaranteed $1 million coming from Minnesota. He is unlikely to get the playing time and top pairing on a contending team elsewhere. Tallon has the term of years to negotiate as well, more years for less money, or fewer years for more money.
If the relationship is indeed sound, Tallon has the luxury of letting the offers roll in for Gilbert to see if the Panthers will match or not. If not, the Cats run the risk of losing a right-handed defenseman with shallow depth behind him. What exactly he is worth will likely be dictated by the bidding market rather than comps in this case. That can be worrisome in a league with more than its share of irresponsible GM's and owners who spend like drunken sailors. There are other UFA defensemen that will also be available this summer, and some are big names - Dan Boyle, Andrei Markov, Kimmo Timonen, Brooks Orpik, Sami Salo, and Stephane Robidas - just to name a few. Boyle, Salo, and Robidas are all right-handed shooters. Where this places Gilbert is anyone's guess.
Ultimately the market has not yet been set for this level and age player. It will come down to whether Gilbert likes it enough here and the Panthers like him enough to come to an agreement or whether he wants to test the waters and take the risk of walking into the unknown. Unfortunately, he may not be easy to replace as Alex Petrovic does not yet look ready and Erik Gudbranson does not yet look like a first pairing defenseman. This means the Panthers are likely to overpay to a degree if they want to keep Gilbert. Gilbert knows the end of his career is coming. His numbers dropped before his pairing with Campbell and he is at an age where players start to fall off quickly. Anything more than a two-year deal would be very risky, and even two years is a risk in itself. But Gilbert is likely to demand at least two years as a term on any deal to avoid having to go through UFA status again next season as a 32-year-old player, and if he can find a three-year deal I suspect he would (and should) jump at it. A sports hernia injury is a massive complication to the equation. It is not an easy injury to recover from for hockey players and at Gilbert's age it should raise questions and eyebrows. Whether he can return to form is an enormous question mark.
So what are your thoughts on whether the Cats intend to re-sign Tom Gilbert? Do you think he is important to the Panthers, and if so, up to what contract amount and term? Before you answer, consider one more thing: the Panthers signed Ryan Whitney around the same time as Gilbert and we all know how that turned out. Does that risk factor, with just as much likelihood a signing at this age and price will fail as succeed, add to Gilbert's value? How much will this impact the Panther's efforts to sign Dmitry Kulikov? I don't envy Dale Tallon and staff, because regardless of what we all answer, if Gilbert does fall flat, it's DT's neck on the line.
Do you think the Panthers should sign Tom Gilbert to a new deal?


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One of the many things that the original Star Trek gave to television was the term "bottle episode," after the idea of a ship in a bottle to describe those episodes that took place entirely on the Enterprise. These episodes were often cost-cutting measures; the sets were already built, they often involved few, if any, guest cast, and so they could be produced cheaply and quickly relative to episodes that required elaborate sets, location shooting, or several guest stars. Though comics do not normally have to worry about such things, one could argue that is part of the peculiar charm of John Byrne's New Visions, since he has to rely on the photo materials he has to work with.
Spock receives a coded message which prompts him to ask for a brief leave from his duties on the Enterprise – all to reunite with a past acquaintance and, of course, get drawn into a mystery he did not expect. If, in a lot of ways, this plot hook sounds very much like a few previous New Visions stories, you're not wrong. Byrne has come to rely on the premise of a guest character from an episode resurfacing with a new, cryptic problem for the Enterprise crew to solve.
We all have those comics that people keep recommending to us, but that we never quite get around to. They sit perpetually on some to-read-someday list in our heads or, if you're a bit more organized than I am, maybe on some actual, real list with words and everything. Occasionally, we even get around to crossing something off that list, if we're lucky.
I'm beginning to think that the Enterprise can't take shore leave without something going wrong. In John Byrne's latest photoplay, "The Survival Equation," a harmless stopover at Wrigley's Pleasure Planet brings Captain Kirk into contact with Andrea, a woman he's sure he's met – and under worse circumstances. But, Andrea has no recollection of the event. Concerned that her presence could hint at a threat to the whole of the Federation, Kirk becomes intent on solving this mystery.
Star Trek is no stranger to crossovers with other universes –at least in the comics – and few have made as much sense at first blush as crossing over with DC's Green Lantern. Both are cosmic, space-faring stories, both featuring protagonists who keep law and order throughout the galaxy. That the Star Trek at play here is the 2009 reboot film universe only makes the combination work better, given that it has a more swashbuckling, action-oriented nature.
Galaxy Quest, the 1999 sci-fi romp about the cast of a Star Trek-like show that gets recruited to save a group of real aliens who believe the show is real, is one of my favorite genre spoofs. Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues, the new trade paperback collection of the four-issue miniseries from IDW, may have always been doomed to fall short of my expectations. The story is readable and inoffensive, but it doesn't provide many truly exciting or funny moments.
A lot has happened to the crew of the Lost Light lately. The last ten issues or so have been a relentless, if humorous and often exciting, barrage of time travel, in-jokes, and continuity. This issue offers a welcome breather, even if it probably is something of a calm before a storm, to allow the expansive cast an opportunity to deal not only with the fallout of recent events, but with some personal soul-searching, as well.
After a decade in development with various networks, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's Powers is finally a TV series, with the first three episodes having hit PlayStation Network for PlayStation Plus subscribers on March 10th. The show is the first shot Sony's taken at original, scripted content exclusive for its network and, in theory, is meant to attract new subscribers to PlayStation Plus. But, Powers feels under-produced, sinking often past gritty into campy, and fails to deliver on the promise of its premise.
Star Trek: New Visions #5 continues writer and artist John Byrne's photomontage series with one of its stronger stories thus far. The lead story, "A Scent of Ghosts," plays not only in the traditional Original Series sandbox but reaches back to include the Enterprise's earlier crew under Captain Pike, and thus images and elements from the show's original pilot. Pike's former first officer – an unnamed character called merely "Number One" and played by Majel Barrett – comes aboard the Enterprise to be escorted to her new command, the Yorktown. What should be a routine mission becomes anything but when the Yorktown appears with her crew missing.
Perhaps the thing I like best about John Byrne's New Visions is that they are full-fledged stories on the scale of a classic Star Trek episode in each issue. The premise, though, brings with it its own challenges, and because of that length, I suppose Byrne is somewhat limited in the characters and scenery he can use, according to what he can get sufficient images of. With New Visions #4 comes the second instance in the series of a Kirk doppelganger, for instance, because no doubt there is little shortage of Shatner out there.


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You Searched For: Cuvettes
Cuvettes in all capacities are designed for the best spectroscopic or electroporation testing results. Composed of glass, plastic, or quarts, disposable and reusable options tailor to sample and deliver reproducible results. The cuvettes may come completely transparent, aluminum plated, or have select sides clear to guide light through desired path. Small rectangular or cylindrical shaped cuvettes allow easy UV absorption observations or cell transformations. Designs to fit specific automated equipment are also available.
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A peek in code optimization
Quite often, when I take a look at a programming question solution, I'm amazed by how succint the provided solution is. However, it is also known that getting an "optimized" solution is often taking iterative approach. This is something that I didn't realize until I start to work in the industry.
This post is mainly a reminder to keep reminding myself about this point: We don't have to give a perfect solution right away. We can provide a solution and gradually make it better.
The example I show here is integerList add(integerList A, integerList B), which is part of MAW 3.9 integer arithmetic package question
add(integerList A, integerList B)
PtrToNode dummyA = A->NextDigit;
PtrToNode dummyB = B->NextDigit;
integerList R = malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
PtrToNode dummyR = R;
int digitSum = 0;
int carry = 0;
while (dummyA != NULL && dummyB != NULL)
digitSum = dummyA->Digit + dummyB->Digit + carry;
if (digitSum < 10)
addDigit(digitSum, dummyR);
carry = 0;
carry = 1;
addDigit(digitSum-10, dummyR);
dummyA = dummyA -> NextDigit;
dummyB = dummyB -> NextDigit;
dummyR = dummyR -> NextDigit;
// example case: 342 + 706
if (carry == 1 && dummyA == NULL && dummyB == NULL)
addDigit(carry, dummyR);
dummyR = dummyR->NextDigit;
while(dummyA != NULL)
addDigit(dummyA->Digit + carry, dummyR);
carry = 0;
dummyA = dummyA->NextDigit;
dummyR = dummyR->NextDigit;
while(dummyB != NULL)
addDigit(dummyB->Digit + carry, dummyR);
carry = 0;
dummyB = dummyB->NextDigit;
dummyR = dummyR->NextDigit;
return R;
The idea for this first iteration solution stems from MAW 3.5 List unionSortedLists(List L, List P):
Given two sorted lists, L and P, write a procedure to compute L1 union L2 using only the basic list operations.
Since we put the least significant digit as the very first data node and we put the most significant digit as the last data node, we walk through the list. If you compare this routine with unionSortedLists routine, you can easily find that both routine structure is composed of three while loops. This makes sense because union and add are extremely similar mathematically.
First we start by adding the unit digit. If both numbers have the same number of digits, then we are done afte the first while loop. There is a special case where we still have a carry after we processed all the digits. If number of digits for two numbers are not the same, then we just move extra digits to the result.
Let's see how we can optimize this code.
In the solution, we build the case around the number of digits that operands have. However, this is necessary because in the case that two numbers have different number of digits, we can add leading zeros to the beginning of the number with fewer digits. This will make adding two numbers with different number of digits the same as adding two numbers with the same number of digits. So, we eliminate the latter two while loops and only need to keep the first while loop in the original solution.
Here is the final result.
add(integerList A, integerList B)
PtrToNode dummyA = A->NextDigit;
PtrToNode dummyB = B->NextDigit;
integerList R = makeEmpty();
PtrToNode dummyR = R;
int digitSum = 0;
int carry = 0;
int x, y;
while (dummyA != NULL || dummyB != NULL)
(dummyA != NULL) ? (x = dummyA->Digit) : (x = 0);
(dummyB != NULL) ? (y = dummyB->Digit) : (y = 0);
digitSum = x + y + carry;
carry = digitSum / 10;
addDigit(digitSum % 10, dummyR);
if (dummyA != NULL) dummyA = dummyA -> NextDigit;
if (dummyB != NULL) dummyB = dummyB -> NextDigit;
dummyR = dummyR -> NextDigit;
// example case: 342 + 706
if (carry == 1)
addDigit(carry, dummyR);
dummyR = dummyR->NextDigit;
return R;


text:
Anyone who knows me, knows that my absolute favourite meal of the day is breakfast — and thanks to my tendency with oversleeping, most days I end up skipping it. A true travesty…
On the weekends though, those are the days when I make the extra effort and go all out, to make up for the fact that I've had nothing but toast every morning from Monday until Friday. However, there's no denying that these fluffy American blueberry pancakes are absolutely worth getting up for on a Saturday morning, that's for sure!
This recipe is my go-to weekend brunch option, which I find myself turning to at least once a month. It really is the perfect dish for those with a sweet tooth in the mornings, which I definitely have. The pancakes are super light and fluffy due to the whipping of the egg whites, so make sure not to skip that step in the recipe.
While I love mine with blueberries in them and doused in maple syrup, you can add any fruit you like really — whether it be raspberries or strawberries, apple and cinnamon or pear and vanilla, the options are endless.
Unfortunately I can't take all the credit though, as this dish was heavily influenced by a Jaime Oliver pancake recipe which I read in Tanya Burr's baking cookbook. However, I adapted the recipe to my own taste, which I now think is absolutely scrumptious. Hopefully you do too!
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
4 large eggs
150g plain flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
185ml milk
Pinch of salt
Butter for frying
A punnet of blueberries
Maple syrup to serve
Separate your eggs between two large bowls. To the yolks, add your flour, baking powder and milk. Whisk until it forms a thick but smooth batter.
Add the salt to your egg whites, then beat with a hand-held mixer to form soft peaks.
Gently and gradually fold your whisked egg whites into your egg yolk batter using a metal spoon. Careful not to over mix.
Add a knob of butter to your frying pan and turn the heat up to medium high.
Pour a half ladle full of batter onto the frying pan and then scatter about 5 to 6 blueberries on top. Cook the bottom side for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown underneath and then flip, cooking the other side for a further 2 to 3 minutes.
Repeat the cooking process until all of the batter is used, keeping your cooked pancakes warm in the oven or on a hot plate.
Serve your pancakes nice and hot with a hefty pour of maple syrup — and enjoy!


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Being a philanthropist isn't only about donating money. Although donating money to a charity is a noble thing to do, there are a lot more things that go into being a successful philanthropist. Taking on this title requires work outside of simple donation, and below are some tactics you can employ if you want to be a true philanthropist.
Find a Charity
You have to do your research before you ascribe to a cause. There are many charities out there worthy of your time and money, however it is important to be passionate about a cause and in line with an organization's mission in order to create a successful relationship with it. To get started, here is a list of 2018's top nonprofit organizations. It is also important to research some of the terms that go along with philanthropy such as non profit, endowments, capital campaign, and so on. Here is a list of terminology related to philanthropy.
Be a Leader
It is important that a philanthropist is not only knowledgeable about the causes they support, but is also a leader in that organization, industry, or what have you. It is often the case that donors to a cause gain a voice within that organization. As such, these individuals must have the courage to speak up, voice opinions, and take charge of situations. You may have to take on a larger role in an organization outside of donating money, simply because there is a need to be filled. You have to be willing to advocate for your cause and put your words behind your donations.
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Donate Money
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Unsolved QT application window not shown when started directly with xinit as non-root user
qt_slackware last edited by
For example:
xinit /usr/bin/VirtualBox -- :0 vt1 xinit /usr/bin/kdevelop -- :0 vt1
In both cases the main window does not show up and screen stays blank. Only the initial window, for example "One or more disk image files are not currently accessible. As a result, you will not be able to operate virtual machines that use these files until they become accessible later." shows up. This however makes the main window show up:
sudo xinit /usr/bin/VirtualBox -- :0 vt1 sudo xinit /usr/bin/kdevelop -- :0 vt1
xtermis started instead one also needs to use
sudofor the main windows to show up.
I'm using Slackware Linux but the same behavior was reported on Arch here: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/410233/arch-linux-running-virtualbox-without-a-window-manager.


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She Felt the World on Her Fingertips
by Miruna Filip BA Hons
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Piece of work inspired by our connection to the world and the way we connect with all the elements. The figure takes a human form as a representation of humans, but also mother Nature (thus the female anatomy).
However, its mass is made up of water, representing the water bodies that put out our thirst. The head is replaced by a flower, emphasising the idea of thoughts as seeds that grow into actions. The shape is also holding a beetle on its fingers, the symbol of metamorphosis and resourcefulness. These are virtues that all organisms on this planet aspire to "touch."


text:
Story highlights
Ganesh Shinde, 42, has been clearing human waste in Mumbai since 2007
It's called manual scavenging -- the removal of human waste from sites with no flush system
Life expectancy is low, with many developing asthma, skin infections and tuberculosis
The majority are Dalits -- people belonging to the lowest strata of India's caste system
I normally don't dwell on what I am going to wear before I go on a shoot. It's usually something presentable, comfortable and preferably in a bright "TV" color that makes my cameraman Rajesh happy.
This time, though, I was perplexed.
I was about to film a story on manual scavenging. We were going to film people who clean human excreta. Knowing I would have to get close to human waste while filming, I opted for a pair of old water-resistant hiking boots. I told Rajesh to wear old shoes too.
My feet were prepared for what lay ahead. I was not.
I did not expect to see people cleaning human waste from the roads right in the heart of Mumbai, a booming financial capital and the face of modern India.
'Night soil'
It's called manual scavenging – the removal of human waste or "night soil" from sites where there is no flush system.
Though the Indian parliament passed The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, in 1993 and reinforced the ban in 2013, private contractors hired by the municipal government continue to employ them.
Ganesh Shinde, 42, has been doing this job since 2007. "Of course I don't like it," he tells me. "But I have to feed my family."
Shinde's day begins around 6.30 a.m., seven days a week. He's a contractor who works for the city of Mumbai, earning just $5 a day. Usually, he walks to work. Shinde carries a broom, while his colleague carries a tin plate. Shinde sweeps, his partner scoops.
According to various studies, nearly 50% of India's population doesn't have access to toilets – which leaves them with no choice but to go outdoors. The situation is acute in villages. And as I found out, in cities too.
I saw child after child carrying a mug of water come to the road where we waited with Shinde. They pulled their pants down and squatted on the edge of the kerb. They did their business and walked away, leaving Shinde and his colleague with the grim task of cleaning up after them.
"Now I am used to it," Shinde says, admitting he found it hard when he first started the job.
Dehumanizing and dangerous
Another manual scavenger, Sunil Chavan, who works in a different part of Mumbai says he would throw up every day when he started working. "If I take you to the same area I guarantee you will throw up too," he says.
It's an incredibly dehumanizing and dangerous occupation. Most manual scavengers don't have appropriate equipment. Shinde has no gloves. No boots. He wears a flimsy jacket and thin cloth mask that he made himself. A pair of old sandals leave his feet covered in muck.
Those who clean gutters use bamboo sticks to clear jams, while standing in the middle of waste matter that can come as high as their chest. In some instances they must crawl through sewage. They hardly wear any protective gear. Sometimes they don't even wear a shirt.
Often, scavengers have to enter manholes too to clear blockages and it's not uncommon for them to drink a quick swig of alcohol before starting their job. "They have to numb their senses," Shinde explains. "How else can anyone bear the stench?" I know what he means. Standing next to Shinde while he worked was hard enough – the smell was repulsive and overwhelming.
Life expectancy amongst manual scavengers is low. Many develop asthma, skin infections and tuberculosis on the job. Hundreds reportedly die from the work each year. According to the Mumbai based research organization Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), 80% of the manual scavengers die before they turn 60 because of health problems. TISS says in Mumbai alone, an average of 20 sewer workers die each month from accidents, suffocation or exposure to toxic gases.
Caste systems persists
Most manual scavengers are Dalits – people belonging to the lowest strata of India's caste system. They were once considered "untouchable" and were forced to live outside the village boundary. Though India's Constitution bans caste-based discrimination, Dalits are still marginalized, despite government efforts to end it. "They are the most vulnerable section of our society," explains Milind Ranade, a labor activist fighting for the rights of manual scavengers.
Though Dalits are not shunned the way they used to be, they are still discriminated against because of the work they do. Shinde says it's hard to get a cup of tea. He's often turned away from restaurants. A few small tea vendors will serve him a cup of tea provided he stands on the road and does not enter their premises. If he rides a bus, people turn away when he climbs aboard. "It's just easier if I walk home," Shinde says.
At home, we meet his family. They have a young daughter who was at school. I asked Shinde what hopes he has for his child. His wife jumps in to answer, her eyes brimming with tears. "Not this work," she tells me, "no way.
"She's going to finish school and she's going to stand on her own two feet."
Shinde nods quietly. "I had no choice," he tells me. "Perhaps it was my destiny."
India's current prime minister, Narendra Modi, hopes to change the future not just for Shinde's daughter but for millions of Indians who are forced to live with unsanitary and unhygienic conditions every day.
On October 2, he's launching a Clean India mission – a nationwide movement that aims to solve India's sanitation problems in five years.
He's the first prime minister to make cleanliness a national priority. Lets hope he delivers on this promise.


text:
Working mothers are miserable. Women and Culture In Network calculated the misery index of working mothers based on data from a survey funded by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The misery index reached 3.33, 0.29 increase from the previous year's reading of 3.04. This result shows how work-life balance policies are not helping working mothers. "Misery Index of Workingmoms" quantifies stress level on a scale of zero to five. A reading closer to 5 indicates higher levels of stress and 7 out of 10 respondents said that they are extremely stressed out.
The survey of 1000 working mothers was conducted in September. For the survey, the life of a working mother was divided into four areas: family, work, social, and personal. Working mothers were most stressed by social life (3.56), followed by personal (3.38), family (3.37) and work (3.00).
Generally, mothers in their 30s record higher in overall misery index as well as by each category compared to those in their 40s. Also, Seoul residents in their 30s with youngest child under the age of 5, who work long hours, were found to be experiencing extreme difficulties.
No time to relax after work
In terms of family life, working mothers were suffering the most due to 'lack of proper rest time' (3.92 points), which shows that mothers do not have sufficient time to rest due to house chores and childcare. 'Lack of help in household chores' (3.87), 'lack of help in childcare' (3.86), 'lack of focus on childcare due to work' (3.60) and 'lack of focus on household chores due to work' (3.55) were also high on the list. All nine sub-categories of the misery index increased compared to the previous year.
Hard to take time off from work
'Lack of control over vacation period at work' (3.40) was at the top of the working life misery index followed by 'Negative perceptions such as working mothers can't focus at work' (3.23), 'inflexible work schedule' (3.20) and 'unable to take time off from work' (3.03). All nine sub-categories of working life misery index rose compare to last year. Among them, the index for 'frequent get-together at work' increased the most (by 0.50) followed by 'discrimination against working mothers', 'unable to take time off from work' and 'inflexible work schedule.'
The results show that working mothers desperately want more control over their vacation period and work schedule for sick children and family events.
Loopholes in work-life balance policies
For social life, working mothers were mostly stressed due to 'lack of policies for working women' (4.09 points) followed by 'work-life balance problems' (4.03), 'challenges to participation in community events' (3.78), 'lack of service for daily needs' (3.75) and 'lack of information for child-related matters' (3.67). This reveals the loopholes in work-life balance policies.
Compare to last year's misery index, this year's numbers generally stayed the same. However, the misery index for other categories such as 'lack of generalization of service for working mothers' (-0.20), and 'insufficient government subsidies to boost childbirth' (-0.13) decreased a little. Among the social life sub-categories, the index of 'social behavior of a child' (0.25) saw the biggest increase compared to the previous year.
Physically worn out
'Physically worn out' (3.94) was at the top of personal life misery index followed by 'Insufficient increase in household income (3.69), 'Prioritization between child and career' (3.63), 'Lack of satisfaction in balancing work and family' (3.27), and 'Pressure related to child's education' (2.95). The index generally stayed the same from the previous year except for 'Lack of satisfaction in balancing work and family' (0.30) and 'Pressure related to child's education' (0.26), which increased the most.
Employment security can increase birth rates
When it comes to boosting birth rate, working mothers chose 'employment security' as the most important factor followed by 'reasonable cost for education and child rearing', 'securing maternity and parental leave,' and 'securing and expanding family-care leave'.
Respondents who chose 'employment security' were mostly Seoul residents, high school graduates, and part-time workers with average monthly income between 1 million and 1.99 million won. The respondents who chose 'reasonable cost for education and child rearing' were in their 30s, obtained at least a Master's Degree, had more working days than average and full-time workers with average monthly income of more than 4 million won.
Based on results of Misery Index of Workingmoms, Women and Culture In Network will have 'Working Mom Leadership Education Session' from October 22 in 6 cities and provinces starting from Ansan-si and Dongdoocheon-si.


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OROVILLE — A Forest Ranch man on Thursday pleaded no contest to a charge of vehicular manslaughter, stemming from the traffic-related death in February of a passenger.
Christopher Patrick Howell, 40, faces a maximum of four years in prison when he is sentenced in August.
Howell was arrested Feb. 28 after the car in which he was driving reportedly went out of control about 5 a.m. on Highway 32, slamming into a tree and killing the right-front passenger, Michael Diekmann, 47, also of Forest Ranch.
Howell had been scheduled Thursday to undergo a preliminary hearing in Butte County Superior Court on a single count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and two counts of driving under the influence.
He pleaded no contest to the manslaughter count in return for the dismissal of the remaining charges, which deputy district attorney Glenn Jennings said would have added no additional time to Howell"s potential sentence.
In reciting a factual basis for the plea, the prosecutor told Judge Steven Howell — no relation to the defendant — that blood tests showed the driver had about two times the legal limit of alcohol in his system at the time of the fatal crash.
Christopher Howell"s attorney, Anthony Cardoza, told the judge his client had recently completed a 90-day residential alcohol treatment program and is now undergoing extensive outpatient therapy.
Christopher Howell, the founder and owner of a Chico firm which reportedly uses telemarketers to solicit newspaper subscriptions locally as well as nationwide, will remain free on bail pending sentencing Aug. 19.


text:
- Author: Jodi Taylor
- Series: Time Police #1
- Genre: Sci-fi
- No. of pages: 480
- Year Published: 2019
- Publisher: Headline
- Dates read: 02.11.19 – 11.11.19
- Rating: 3 stars
I had mixed feelings about this one.
Plot: At some time in the future, the secret of time-travel became available to all. Chaos ensued as people sought to take advantage. Because there will always be nutters who want to change history… And so the Time Police were formed. Internationally sanctioned thugs whose task it was to keep the timeline straight by any and all means possible. And they succeeded. The Time Wars are over. The Time Police won. But who will win the peace? Doing Time follows three hapless new Time Police recruits – Jane, Luke and Matthew – as they try to navigate their first year on the beat. It's all going to be fine. Obviously.
The dialogue in this book was great. I actually laughed out loud a few times. The dialogue was very witty and hit the nail of the head in terms of my sense of humour. I enjoyed reading the battle of witty remarks between characters.
I really enjoyed exploring the different points of history and time we got to visit and our characters' reactions to being in that environment. It was interesting to watch them try to navigate the people they meet, the obstacle they come up against and how they apply their training to a real-life scenario. I felt that Taylor did a good job of capturing the setting and making you feel like you were there with them which was very good.
I was fascinated by the Time Police as an organisation. I love learning how the police functioned, how the teams were set up, how they managed to time travel. I felt like I wanted to be apart of it and experience what they are experiencing.
I really enjoyed the character Luke, the classic playboy narcissist at the beginning of the book. We go on a journey with him and I feel like he had a good character arc. I was worried we weren't going to get much from his character but I was shocked to find out he was the character who would grow the most and I enjoyed reading about the most.
The side characters of Major Ellis and Officer North I enjoyed. I loved Officer North especially as a woman with ambition who knows where she wants to be within the next X number amount of years. She was probably my favourite character.
Sadly, there were a couple of misses for me. I put this down to it being the first book in a series.
We first meet Jane, one of the 3 main characters in the story, whose only personality trait is being a wimp. While we do get a character arc I found it to be very predictable and something you see in books all the time. I found some of the decisions she makes in this story to be really frustrating and made me want to put the book down. I do feel however she got some really good moments and she was a sweet character I just don't think she was a very original character.
Finally, we have Matthew. A character I am guessing is from the author's original series this new series is based on. He lacked the least amount of growth out of all of them. This I put down due to him being an already established character within the book's universe. Estentially, it came across that since he had already been in the previous series the author had done all the character growth he needed and just let him be with this book. Subsequently, because I knew nothing about him and there was no really progression within his character, I found him to be dull.
Following on from Matthew being an established character… Do not read this book before the St. Mary's series. A lot of content was mentioned that I can only assume was from the original series. Characters who have died, major villains defeated, Matthew's entire childhood revealed and a lot of St. Mary's misadventures. A lot is mentioned and framed in a way that makes me think it was written for fans of her original series. If you are very spoiler sensitive do not read this book.
One of my major gripes with this novel was more to do with the plot structure. What I expected from this novel was with each assignment completed we would get more and more hints to a bigger plot/conspiracy and along the way, we would be putting together the pieces. This came across as what was intended but it wasn't executed as well as I had hoped. Many plot points are left unmentioned and/or forgotten about. The big moments which is meant to hint to the overarching story are not emphasised enough for you to think they are poignant and it felt like the author only thought of the overarching narrative about halfway through the novel. Especially with a major event in the novel that made no sense at all and came out of the left-field which in my opinion brought the plot into chaos. I can't talk to much about it due to spoilers but it is WILD! I gasped LOUDLY when it happened.
Also, the pacing was a bit all over the place for me. One moment the pacing is very slow and hard to get through and then it's really action-packed and then it's incredibly slow-paced and then up again. It was a rollercoaster of pacing and while I don't mind the changes the slow-paced parts of the novel were hard to get through.
Overall, I feel like this series has a lot of potential and it just started off with a few teething problems. I am not sure if I will be continuing this series I will have to see the plot of the next book.
The next book I will be reviewing will be the latest instalment to the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series, Death Beside the Seaside by T.E Kinsey. I am very excited to jump back into cosy murder mysteries. A perfect read for the cold evenings.