text:
Took time out if editing The Belle Book last night to tinker around the gossip sites. Sue me. They make me laugh. Over on Necole Bitchie I found a link to the article "Why A Change To Your Appearance Might Mean The End Of You And Your Boo" by LJ Knight. CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY.
Seems Amerie's ungodly hair change from black to platinum blonde struck a nerve. His first observation? "I hate it. That cheapens her look." His second? "I wonder what her fiancé thinks about it."
Knight explains:
Men tend to be creatures of habit more so than women. They do not crave change as much. The idea of mixing things up for excitement is frightening to them, especially if they are already pleased with the current status.
When a man meets you, he sees the image you portray. Then, he decides whether or not he will accept it. If you alter that image, especially without forewarning him, then it's like you lied or gave false advertisement. This may lead to him being unable to see you in the same way that he once did. Is this superficial? Perhaps. Nonetheless, this is how many men think.
Should your man be a part of your choices when it comes to your physical appearance? Some women think their man plays no role in the changes they make with their look… Or they are thinking that they should be able to do whatever the hell they want to themselves and their man's opinion about it is not the deciding factor. I agree that you do have this right. However, we all know that in real life things do not always go down like that. So, let's just keep it real.
Anybody who follows me on Twitter knows I've been wanting to shave my head for a few months now. The only reason I won't is because 1) the streak is a trademark; and 2) I look better with hair. Oh and 3) when I ran the idea across CBW months ago at the height of my "I got to cut this!" hysteria, he looked at me blankly and said kindly, "No, B, I didn't sign up for Amber Rose." Then he ruffled my hair. So I kept growing the middle and kept shaving the sides. *
Do you know how I ended up with hair? I had a Caesar for the fifth or sixth time in my life back in early 2009. I shaved stars and hearts in it, depending on how I was feeling, and I got it buzzed every weekend for kicks. I had a BF. B… Remember B? One day, very nicely, he said, "why don't you grow your hair out a bit?" I'd like to play in it." Then he rubbed my head and kissed my nose. So I grew hair... and when it was long enough, I stopped cutting designs in the side and dyed the front tip blonde for more kicks.
He hated the blonde.
I loved it. So it stayed.
I thought about cutting my hair when we went our separate ways. But by then I liked doing it and dyeing it and playing in it and The Streak was "my thing." So it stayed.
*a couple weeks later, he went through my pic box and saw flicks of me with a blonde Caesar and gave his permission— as if I was waiting on it— for me to cut it.


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Privacy Policy
Updated and Effective as of October 2016
1. WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EV.network DOES WITH YOUR DATA
EV.network's goal is to create a supportive community of Electric Vehicle ("EV") owners as well as non-owners who are interested in EVs. To this end, we collect and use information you share with us on our EV.network websites (ev.network; community.ev.network). We share and use your information only with your consent, as explained in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy applies to the website you are about to view and other affiliated websites operated by 137px, LLC, a North Carolina Limited Liability Corporation ("EV.network").
The mere act of visiting our websites, even without reading the subject legal documents, will be viewed as assent to the terms contained in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Agreement. EV.network may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time, and if we change it materially, we will make those changes available for your review through our websites, apps, or other services, or by other means so that you may consider the changes before you continue to use EV.network's services. If you object to any of the changes, you may close your accounts with us and erase your information from any public accessibility and cease using the EV.network websites. If you continue to use EV.network's websites or maintain your accounts with us, your continued use will constitute consent to the policy changes.
2.1 Automatically Collected Information
2.1.1. Cookies
All of EV.network's websites use cookies and similar technologies, including mobile device identifiers that automatically collect information when you visit EV.network's websites. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your web browser (if you allow), which enable the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser. Every time you load a EV.network website, your browser sends a cookie back to the server to notify the website of your previous activity. This allows EV.network to recognize the state of your session on the website and to record your browsing activity and history. EV.network uses this information to understand and save your preferences for future visit and to compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can provide better site experiences and tools in the future. EV.network also uses this information to deliver customized content and advertising within the website. EV.network uses cookies and similar technologies to store passwords and forms you have previously entered (such as a credit card number or an address) to facilitate future use.
You can control cookies through your browser settings and other tools. Disabling cookies may impair the quality of your experience on our websites. Unless you disable cookies on your own device, by visiting any of EV.network's websites, you consent to the placement of cookies and beacons, and similar technologies in your browser in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
2.1.2. Web Beacons
EV.network's website pages may contain electronic images known as web beacons - also referred to as single-pixel gifs. These permit EV.network to count users who have visited its pages and to collect other related website statistics - (e.g., recording the popularity of certain website content and verifying system and server integrity). Web beacons are not used to access your personal information on EV.network's websites; they are solely used to compile aggregated statistics concerning the use of the EV.network's websites. Web beacons collect only a limited set of information including a cookie number, the time and date of a page view, and a description of the page on which the web beacon resides. EV.network tracks the pages on EV.network's websites that our users visit in order to determine which areas and sites are the most popular. This data is used to deliver customized content and advertising within the website to customers whose behavior indicates they are interested in a particular subject area.
2.1.3. Device, Network, and EV Information
We collect information from the devices and networks that you use to access EV.network websites. When you visit or leave EV.network by clicking a hyperlink or view a plugin on a third-party site, we automatically receive the URL of the site from which you came or the one to which you are directed. Also, advertisers receive the URL of the page that you are on when you click on any ad that may appear on EV.network's site. We also receive the internet protocol ("IP") address of your computer or the proxy server that you use to access the web, your computer operating system details, your type of web browser, your mobile device (including your mobile device identifier provided by your mobile device operating system), your mobile operating system (if you are accessing EV.network using a mobile device), and the name of your ISP or your mobile carrier. We may also receive location data passed to us from third-party services or GPS-enabled devices that you have set up, which we use to show you local information (for example, local EV owners).
2.1.4. E-mail addresses
Whenever a EV.network website offers a link to send e-mail messages to the EV.network website, your e-mail address is collected, so that the EV.network website may reply to your inquiry.
2.1.5. Third Party Sites
When you use your EV.network account to sign in to third party sites or to access third party services (e.g. use plugins for Facebook, Google +, and Twitter), both EV.network and those third party sites may collect information and use it to recommend content specifically tailored to you. When you use third party services to access EV.network websites and services (e.g. through Facebook, Google +, and Twitter), both EV.network and those third party sites may collect information and use it to recommend content specifically tailored to you.
2.1.6. Other
Because EV.network is constantly innovating and developing ways to improve its services, we may create new ways to collect and use information. We often introduce new features, some of which may result in the collection of new information. Furthermore, new partnerships or corporate acquisitions may result in new features, and these may potentially result in collection of new types of information.
2.2 User Shared Information
In addition to automatically collected information, some of our other websites ask users to share additional information. We collect information when you visit a EV.network website or interact with any advertising on EV.network websites. Some of the ways we do this are described below:
At EV.network, the website users can access limited features of this website without disclosing personal information. In order to access the entire website, users must register for an account, which will provide the registrant with full access to the website, including access to the website's forums, message boards and sending messages to users. If users choose to register to participate in the community message board, EV.network will collect personal information, including e-mail address, zip code or other location information, and any biographical information you wish to share with the community. If users wish to share charging site information, they can choose how much and what type of information they wish to share about the charging site.
2.3. Service and support information
With respect to all of EV.network's sites, when you contact us for support or assistance, we will collect information that helps us categorize your question, respond to it, and, if applicable, investigate any breach of our Terms of Service or this Privacy Policy. We also use this information to track potential problems and trends and customize our support responses to better serve you.
2.4. Polls and Surveys
Polls and surveys may be conducted by EV.network websites, other EV.network users, or by third parties on EV.network's websites. Some third parties may target advertisements or promotions to you based on your answers in the poll. EV.network or third parties develop new programs or products based on the information you share in the surveys. We may use third parties to deliver incentives to you to participate in surveys or polls. If the delivery of incentives requires your contact information, you may be asked to provide personal information to the third party fulfilling the incentive offer, which will be used only for the purpose of delivering the promised incentives and verifying your contact information. It is up to you whether you provide this information, or whether you desire to take advantage of an incentive. Your consent to use any personally identifiable information for the purposes set forth in the poll or survey will be explicitly requested by the party conducting it.
3.1 Personal Information is Not Generally Shared
EV.network does not rent, sell, or otherwise disclose personal information that you have not posted publicly or in response to a survey, except as described in this Privacy Policy. We will not disclose personal information that is not published to your profile without your consent or to carry out your instructions (for example, to process payment information) or unless EV.network has a good faith belief that disclosure is permitted by law or is reasonably necessary in compliance with this Privacy Policy.
3.2 We May Share Aggregate Information with Third Party Service Providers
We may allow third party service providers access to data about our users' aggregate browsing habits in order to assist us in better understanding our website visitors. The use of this information is subject to the terms of agreements we have with these third party service providers (e.g., Google Analytics). These agreements prohibit these service providers from using the information collected from you except on an anonymous basis.
3.3 We May Share Information with EV.network Subsidiaries and Affiliates to Provide Optimal Services
Whenever you create an account on a EV.network website, the information you share is used to offer you a personalized, relevant experience on that site. EV.network may share your personal information with EV.network affiliates that are outside the EV.network entity that is your data controller (for example, EV.network may share your information with EV.network-related entities that may be created to manage EV.network-affiliated businesses and websites abroad) as necessary to provide optimal services. By agreeing to this privacy policy, you are consenting to this sharing.
3.4 Users Should Be Aware That Their Actions May Make Some Information Available to Third Parties
Any information you share on a public profile and any content you post on a message board or forum or share with other users through any other mode of communication may be seen by others and copied and transmitted to another forum outside of EV.network's control. You are responsible for any information you share. You may send a request to EV.network to delete your public profile information by emailing EV.network at admin @ ev.network. Unless you make such a request, your public profile and the information you share remains searchable and viewable on EV.network websites. EV.network encourages you to review the privacy statements of any websites you choose to visit via hyper-links posted on EV.network's websites, so that you can understand how these other websites collect, use, and share your information. EV.network is not responsible for the privacy policies or other content on third-party websites accessed through EV.network's website.
Additionally, content you distribute through sharing features and third-party integrations (e.g. from EV.network through Twitter or Facebook sharing buttons) may result in displaying some of your personal information outside EV.network's website. In addition, when you post content to a EV.network public discussion, your content, including your user ID, may be displayed in search engine results. Although EV.network will only share your information as described in this Privacy Policy, other people may find your EV.network profile information through search engines. You can choose which information you want to make public or accessible to public search engines when you input the information.
3.5 We Will Comply with Legal Process and Make Other Required Disclosures
EV.network may use or disclose personal information, profile information, or information about your activities as a EV.network user when required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if EV.network has a good faith belief that disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (1) investigate, prevent, or take action regarding suspected or actual illegal activities or to assist government enforcement agencies; (2) enforce this Privacy Policy or our Terms of Use; (3) respond effectively to your service inquiries; (4) investigate and defend ourselves against any third-party claims or allegations, or protect the security or integrity of our services; or (5) exercise or protect the rights, property, or safety of EV.network, our users, or members of the public.
3.6 Information May be Disclosed as a Result of a Change in Control or Sale of EV.network
We may also disclose your personal information to a third party as part of a sale of the assets of EV.network, a subsidiary, or division, or as the result of a change in control of the company or one of its affiliates, or in preparation for any of these events. Any third party to which EV.network transfers or sells EV.network's assets will have the right to continue to use the personal and other information that you provided to EV.network's websites in the manner set out in the Privacy Policy.
EV.network does not currently, and does not intend to, share personally identifiable information with any third-party advertiser or ad network, but your profile information is visible to other EV.network users and limited information potentially through public search engines.
EV.network may, in the future, choose to target ads to Members both on and off EV.network websites through a variety of ad networks and ad exchanges, using:
Advertising technologies like web beacons, pixels, ad tags, cookies, and mobile identifiers as permitted by mobile platforms both on and off EV.network;
User-provided profile information and categories;
Information inferred from a user's profile;
Your use of EV.network or clicking on a EV.network ad;
Information from advertising partners, which we may use to help deliver ads more relevant to you.
If EV.network does participate in this type of targeted advertising, EV.network will still not be sharing personally identifiable information with any third party advertiser or ad network.
When you register on a EV.network website, you acknowledge that information you provide in your profile can be seen by others, you expressly and voluntarily accept the Terms of Use and agree that any information EV.network collects may be used as described in this Privacy Policy and EV.network's Terms of Use. Supplying information to us, including any information deemed "sensitive" by applicable law, is entirely voluntary on your part. You have the right to withdraw or modify your consent to EV.network's collection and processing of the information you provide at any time, in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use, by changing your settings, changing your profile, closing your account, or ceasing to use EV.network's websites.
6. EV.network COMMUNICATIONS
EV.network may communicate with you using e-mail, text messaging, and other ways available to us regarding EV.network service and security issues. Our communications may also contain promotional messages and information directly or on behalf of third parties, including information about EVs and EV-related developments. These messages will be sent to you based on your profile information and messaging preferences. You may change your e-mail and contact preferences at any time by signing into your account and changing your e-mail settings. You can also opt out of promotional messages by sending a request to EV.network at admin @ ev.network. Please be aware that you cannot opt out of receiving service messages from EV.network.
7. DEVELOPERS USING EV.network PLATFORM SERVICES
We collaborate with and allow third parties to use EV.network's developer platform to offer services and functionality in conjunction with EV.network. These third-party developers have either negotiated an agreement to use EV.network platform technology or have agreed to our self-service Application Programming Interfaces ("API") and Plugin terms in order to build applications ("Platform Applications"). Both the negotiated agreements and our API and Plugin terms contain restrictions on how third parties may access, store, and use the personal information you provide to EV.network. If you choose to use a Platform Application, you will be asked to confirm acceptance of the privacy policy and user agreement of the third-party developer. To revoke permission granted to a Platform Application, please visit your settings. Note, however, that even if you revoke the permission granted to a Platform Application, your connections may still be using the Platform Application, so the Platform Application may still have access to certain information about you, just as your connections do.
You can access and control some of the information that we collect and process about you. For example, you may: (1) access, modify, correct, or delete your personal information controlled by EV.network regarding your profile by going to the "Profile" page on any of EV.network's websites; (2) modify payment settings and e-mail notification settings; and/or (3) close your account.
Please note: Information you have shared with others (for example, through content sharing or comments) or that others have copied may also remain visible after you have closed your account or deleted the information from your own profile. In addition, you may not be able to access, correct, or eliminate any information about you that other users copied or exported out of EV.network's websites, because this information may not be in our control.
While you maintain an account on a EV.network website, we will retain any personal information you have provided. Notwithstanding Section 8 above, EV.network may retain your personal information even after you have closed your account if retention is reasonably necessary to comply with our legal obligations, meet regulatory requirements, resolve disputes between users, prevent fraud and abuse, or enforce this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. In addition, if law enforcement requests it, we may retain personal information for a limited, additional period of time.
- You must, at all times, abide by the terms and conditions of the current Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and other policies of EV.network. This includes respecting all intellectual property rights that may belong to third parties, such as trademarks or copyrights.
- You must not upload or otherwise disseminate any information that may infringe on the rights of others or which may be deemed to be injurious, violent, offensive, racist, or xenophobic, or which may otherwise violate the purpose and spirit of EV.network and its community of Members.
- You must keep your username and password confidential and not share it with others.
- You must be at least 18 years old to use the EV.network website. All of EV.network's websites, products, and services are directed to people who are at least 18 years old.
- If a user violates any of these guidelines or the guidelines detailed in our Terms of Use or elsewhere, EV.network reserves the right to restrict, suspend, or terminate the user's account at the sole discretion of EV.network.
EV.network is a participant in and complies with the U.S.-E.U. and U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal data from European Union member countries and Switzerland. EV.network has certified to the U.S. Department of Commerce that it adheres to the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles of notice, choice, onward transfer, security, data integrity, access, and enforcement. To learn more about the Safe Harbor program or to view EV.network's certification please visit http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/.
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please review it frequently and carefully. If there is any change, we will provide notice to users by posting the newly modified privacy policy on our website with an updated "last modified" date. If the changes are significant, we will, in addition, post a notice on our websites for 30 days and contact registered users either through the EV.network websites, or by some other means, such as email. Please review changes carefully. Your continued use of EV.network's websites after notice of the changed terms or practices will constitute agreement to these changes. If you object to any of the changes to our terms and you no longer wish to use EV.network's websites or services, you may close your accounts and cease to browse EV.network. Unless stated otherwise, EV.network's current Privacy Policy will apply to all information that EV.network has collected about you and your account.
California Civil Code Section 1798.83, known as the "Shine The Light" law, permits any users who are California residents to request and obtain from us a list of what personal information (if any) we disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes in the preceding calendar year and the names and addresses of those third parties. Requests may be made only once a year and are free of charge. EV.network currently does not share any personal information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes.
We have implemented security safeguards designed to protect the personal information that you provide in accordance with industry standards. Access to your personal information on EV.network is password-protected, and sensitive data (such as credit card information) is protected by SSL encryption when it is exchanged between your web browser and the EV.network websites. We also offer secure https access to the website. To protect any data you store on our servers, we also regularly monitor our system for possible vulnerabilities and attacks, and we use a tier-one secured-access data center. However, since the Internet is not a 100% secure environment, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information that you transmit to EV.network. There is no guarantee that information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards. It is your responsibility to protect the security of your login information. Please note that emails, instant messaging, and similar means of communication with other EV.network users are not encrypted, and we strongly advise you not to communicate any confidential information through these means. Please help keep your account safe by using a strong password.
EV.network has designated Nick Wild as the individual who will oversee compliance with privacy requirements. He can be contacted at the address below regarding any privacy policy issues.
If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at admin @ ev.network or by physical mail at:
EV.network, c/o 137px LLC.
Attn: Privacy Policy Issues
PO Box 336
Canton, NC 28716

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Tanya Conovaloff is a nearly 41-year T1D who works as the Outreach Manager for JDRF Dallas, and has been a huge supporter of Diabetics Doing Things since I met her early in 2015. We sat down for a rare face-to-face recording of the podcast where we discussed living for 4 decades with T1D (despite being only 29), what it was like to treat T1D in the 1970s, the importance of getting involved in the T1D community, and highlight some of the amazing work that JDRF is doing for T1Ds in the U.S. and across the world.
We're very lucky to have someone as committed and enthusiastic as Tanya for our Dallas Outreach Manager, and so many of the amazing T1D community successes are a direct result of her and the JDRF Dallas staff's amazing work. When I was looking to get more involved with the T1D community, I sent an email to a general JDRF Dallas email address, and Tanya responded the same day. That conversation has led to so many opportunities to connect with other T1Ds in Dallas and across the U.S. So reach out! Get involved with your local JDRF chapter and if you don't have one, reach out to JDRF and they'll give you the resources to start one.


text:
Using the CTMH - Bugs & Hugs stamp set borrowed from a friend. I stamped the saying and fussy cut the caterpillar.
Cut out my title using Cricut - Boys Will Be Boys and the @ from Artbooking cartridges. The Cruisin' was in a few layers and colors.
Stamped the date using CTMH - March Word Puzzle and You are my Happy Alpha sets. Made my own kite matching one on patterned paper and fussy cut the tail of strings/bows.


text:
Top 10 Blender Artworks from March 2017
Grab your favorite cup of coffee/tea and prepare to be awe-inspired by this month's selection of Blender artworks. Presenting the cream of the crop from March 2017, gathered from BlenderArtists and Artstation. Curated by yours truly and Andrew Price. Enjoy!
Waking the Forest by Andy Goralczyk
Star Destroyer by Steve Lund
Ford Mustang 1964 by James O'Brien
The Cookhouse by Thomas Berard
Green Hair Girl by Nazar Noschenko
White Kitchen by Heverton
Warrior-Real Time by William Paré-Jobin
The Cosmonaut by AleksanderA.
Street by James O'Brien
Walk Beside Me by bayuitra
Honorable Mentions
Simon's House by JoniMercado
Facial Expression by Luis Arizaga Rico
A Desk of Toys by Giudansky
Violin by BloodRed15
Distant by Joaquín Kierbel
What's your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! :)


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This week's headline article for TIME is The Case for National Service and for the most part I really enjoyed it. TIME calls for our next President (hopefully Barack Obama, in my opinion) to encourage our nation's citizens to be involved in service to our nation and to our world. "Devoting a year or more to national service," says the article, "whether military or civilian, should become a countrywide rite of passage, the common expectation and widespread experience of virtually every young American." The article does a good job of collecting thoughts on creating a Department of National Service and even a U.S. Public Service Academy, the later also suggested by Hillary Clinton and others. I couldn't agree more that Americans of all ages should give two years of service to their community, whether they consider it their world community or neighborhood community. You can serve in schools through Teach for America, in local communities building houses through AmeriCorps, or in grass huts through Peace Corps. All are paid for and only require your time and your effort.
The one suggestion I have for TIME is that it should have mentioned Peace Corps more clearly in the article. I wrote the following letter to the editor to explain:
I was thrilled to see your headline article this week was National Service, but I was very disappointed to see that Peace Corps only received a sentence and a John F. Kennedy picture on the first page. Over 187,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have answered the call since 1962 not only to "ask what you can do for your country" but to "ask what together we can do for the freedom of man." Next time please give Peace Corps more than a mention. It is currently the fifth "most ideal employer" for college graduates and there is a reason why.
Thank You,
Travis Hellstrom
Peace Corps Invitee
Hickory, NC
Whether or not it is published, I hope the magazine sees my point. I appreciate what they are doing and I think a lot of wonderful organizations are helping our country and our world in great ways. I am proud to be taking part in one of our country's proudest moments, I think, and I hope it remains a moment we live in for a very long time.


text:
On December 9, 2016, the United States Army War College published a 163 page monograph entitled, "Military Contingencies in Megacities and Sub-Megacities," written by Dr. Phil Williams and Werner Selle.
Early in their analysis, the authors assert "that the United States will find itself at some point in the not-too-distant future engaged in military contingencies in large cities." They go on to say that military occupations of major metropolitan areas pose problems that are "as challenging as they are inescapable." The authors assert that we will see historically unprecedented levels of human suffering, death and destruction in the near future. Urban warfare will become the new battle-scenario which:
… ensures that the battlefield will be densely populated. Civilians will no longer be mere bystanders able to be circumvented or avoided, but an integral component of the battlefield. (p.93)
Their analysis predicts both massive military and civilian casualties.
Such cautions notwithstanding, an inhibition cannot be allowed to become a prohibition. If there is a highly compelling strategic rationale for action, the United States might not have the luxury of avoiding the dangers of an urban contingency. (p. 125)
The New Berlins and Stalingrads
The examples chosen to depict the problems of urban invasion and occupation are the battles of Berlin and Stalingrad during World War II.
[B]oth of these battles ultimately resulted in the utter destruction of the dense urban areas. A more modern scenario, which although unlikely is by no means inconceivable, could involve a battle in Seoul, in the Republic of Korea. In some ways, such a scenario exemplifies the potential for a contemporary Battle of Stalingrad. (p. 111)
Seoul is an interesting choice for comparison. First, it is densely populated with about 23 million human beings. Second, the vastly increased lethality of modern military weaponry would surely kill many more than the 700,000 people who died in Berlin and the three million who died stopping the Nazis at Stalingrad. The monograph addresses this issue not by worrying about collateral damage but by proposing even more destructive weapons for the U.S. occupying forces in Korea.
The more US military forces are educated, trained, and equipped for a dense urban conflict, the more likely the numerical advantage of North Korea would not prove nearly as decisive as Pyongyang might anticipate. (p. 112)
Fragile and Feral Cities
The research goes on to explain that these military incursions are most probably appropriate for "poor" cities. They make a distinction between "smart" cities which are more developed and "fragile" and "feral" cities housing greater numbers of impoverished residents. The monograph makes it clear that the total destruction of the poorest neighborhoods is vital to the military goal of "pacification."
Given the trends in urbanization, especially in the global south and the concomitant problems of instability and fragility, it is more likely that the US Army will find itself in a fragile or feral megacity than in a smart city. (p. 123)
So, the recommended military strategy is to target the poor, working class communities and destroy the "slums." Ghettos and slums present a major impediment to this military strategy of invasion and occupation:
Megacities and dense urban areas also contain numerous slums or "sheet metal forests," which are very different from "concrete canyons" [i.e., commercial centers] …These areas can provide significant concealment to the adversaries and even become strong operational bases. Apart from moving the population out and bulldozing the slum, there is very little that can be done. (p. 119)
The suggested military strategy is to seek out and destroy young, poor, working class men. They advise that large poor populations contain:
… a surplus of unemployed males with little to do but join gangs or engage in crime as a source of income. Joining extremist or terrorist organizations might also appear attractive as a way out. At the very least, in the event of some kind of conflict, these young men would provide a pool of potential recruits for those opposing the United States. In short, slums would be an inordinately difficult battlefield. (p. 95)
The authors do propose one alternative to annihilating the poor. They suggest that it may be possible to seek out "forces of alternative governance," specifically "criminal entities." In other words, to continue the U.S. government's long and well-established alliance with organized crime (see, State Organized Crime and U.S. Imperialism; Ronald Reagan and the Mob; and, Globalization and the Illicit Traffic in Arms.)
A tacit or explicit agreement with the forces of alternative governance might make it possible to prevent adversaries from utilizing these "sheet metal forests." Of course, there would have to be something in return, even if only an implicit understanding that US military forces would not interfere with the illicit business of the criminal organizations. (p. 120)
Both of these proposed "military" tactics lay waste the traditional U.S. claim that military intervention is intended both for humanitarian reasons and the creation of democracy. Killing impoverished and defenseless populations, razing the slums and turning over entire populations to organized crime is neither humanitarian or democratic.
"Fragile" Cities at Home and Abroad
While much of this monograph centers on the inevitable resistance to an invasion by the United States, it also discusses "civil unrest" as a major problem that may soon "plague the governance of such cities and play significant roles in the military operations conducted within them."
But they also raise the possibility of using their strategy for massive military suppression and occupation domestically. The case of Hurricane Katrina is cited as a possible point of intervention when a natural disaster creates certain conditions:
… precipitating the collapse of a fragile city into a feral one. One only has to look at the experience of New Orleans under the impact of Katrina to see how a city can rapidly degenerate into anomie and anarchy, with the normal rules and norms of urban life abruptly jettisoned. (p. 26)
The discussion of instability resulting from natural disasters takes an even more ominous turn when the concept of the "urban dilemma" is addressed. The urban dilemma refers to risk resulting from insecurities felt by the urban poor. Cities such as Amsterdam, London, New York, Paris and Tokyo are cited as potential trouble spots. It is interesting to note that the discussion of the "urban dilemma" is elaborated upon by a reference to "class conflict." It is argued that class conflict would be a serious complication the military would face in a post-combat period when the military enters occupation and pacification periods. In dealing with the urban dilemma and class conflict the monograph argues that the restoration of order would be the highest priority.
But restoring order and creating a stable occupation is complicated by the problem of transparency:
The other problem when dealing with cyberspace in relation to megacity contingencies is that adversaries can exploit the almost automatic transparency that it creates – both to show US forces in bad light and their own actions very positively. (p. 83)
To deal with this problem any military action would have to prioritize shutting down the internet, cell phone service and military control of all local media:
Part of IPB [intelligence preparation for the urban battlefield] prior to any action in a megacity or sub-megacity must be to identify the services providers for both telecommunications and the Internet. It is also important to identify online opinion-makers who could have a major impact in any controversy over US military intervention. (p. 83)
The monograph points out that "here in the United States, the release of videos showing killings by police has led to significant protests and political movements." So, it would not be enough to simply close down the internet and telecommunications, but the seizure and control of the city's infrastructure would also be required in order to control the occupied population:
There are certain areas you will always need to understand when entering an urban area—with the purpose of then controlling it and the population. These are the building layout and composition, transportation, electrical, sewage and water, and natural gas systems and the locations/status of key subcomponents—bridges, gas stations, power stations, high tension power lines, neighborhood substations/transformers, underground sewage canals, water purification plants, gas lines and their depth under roads… (p. 58)
As an example, the authors use the exemplar of actions by the Israeli Defense Forces during the 2002 attack on the West Bank city of Nablus:
[The IDF] used none of the city's streets, roads, alleys or courtyards, or any of the external doors, internal stairwells and windows, but moved horizontally through walls and vertically through holes blasted in ceilings and floors. This form of movement, described by the military as "infestation," seeks to redefine inside as outside, and domestic interiors as thoroughfares. The IDF's strategy of 'walking through walls' involves a conception of the city as not just the site but also the very medium of warfare—a flexible, almost liquid medium that is forever contingent and in flux. (p. 54)
Mass Surveillance
Central to the invasion, occupation and "pacification" of a city is a massive intelligence operation prior to military action. The report lays out detailed plans for a "real-time" social map" of all metropolitan inhabitants. That includes tracking their movements, mapping their social networks, identifying their friends and relatives and classifying their political leanings. The report notes that people who use smart phones are in actuality "mobile sensors" whose phones contain tweets, photos, messages and other valuable intelligence items:
This transforms human beings into potential sensors that not only have the ability to process and interpret what they feel and think but also to geographically localize the information (sometimes involuntarily) and spread it globally through the Internet, thus drawing people-generated landscapes. (p. 80)
In addition, human intelligence (informers and agents) will also be vital:
Human intelligence assets will be able to offer far greater insight on adversaries because of their ability to capture emotions and relationships—things that will long remain outside the purview of even the most sophisticated drones. (p. 10)
What this means is the U.S. military will conduct an advanced and total espionage operation directed at every citizen of the cities it intends to pacify. Human assets (informants and government agents), drones, cell phones and "real-time sensors" will be activated to produce a social map of an entire populace.
In other words, the US military will spy on the entire population of the cities it plans on invading, using drones and cell phones as real-time "sensors" to monitor entire populations. The military proposes to infiltrate political groups and "isolate" political activists as a means to suppress any potential opposition.
The "Battle of the Story"
Essential to military plans to occupy and pacify major cities is controlling not just information, but how that information is presented. The military must win what it refers to as "the battle of the story":
Presenting compelling narratives can enhance legitimacy and authority in the eyes of many stakeholders (such as the urban population). Understanding the utility and power of digital media, therefore, allows for enormous reach and breadth that can indirectly alter the battlefield. The user-friendliness of mass media and mobile technology allows adversaries to manipulate and garner favorable public opinion and recruit support. For these reasons and more, civilian and military leaders cannot afford to ignore the requirement for compelling narratives. (p. 116)
The monograph makes a major issue how important controlling the narrative would be in cases where the military must invade and occupy American cities:
In the final analysis, the battle of narratives and the contradictions of security are likely to be at the forefront, especially as the most likely contingencies will be humanitarian or stabilization operations. Moreover, such operations could even take place within the continental United States, as demonstrated by the Los Angeles riots and the responses to Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. Presenting a positive image of the military to the American public is indispensable for continued support. (p. 117)
Worldwide Urban War
This plan for military contingencies in megacities and sub-megacities is a blueprint for U.S. invasions, occupations and pacifications of cities with millions and millions of occupants. In fact, the authors portray this as an "inescapable" reality. The monograph analyzes the National Guard's occupation of Ferguson, Missouri during protests following the police killing of Michael Brown in 2014; the occupation of parts of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005; and foreign city military interventions in like Kabul, Mosul, Fallujah and Baghdad.
The list of potential targets contained in the report is staggering. It includes five U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Baltimore, San Francisco, New Orleans and New York. It also lists 38 probable urban battle zones outside of U.S. border.
This document is a plan designed to prepare the U.S. military to attack cities at home and abroad and to literally wipe out social opposition to those attacks. The number of deaths and injuries resulting from such plans would be staggering. The number of refugees created would be enormous. The high probability of continuing and unending crises in late capitalism have necessitated this draconian blueprint. The importance of imperialism as a temporary band-aid to deal with these crises could not be made clearer. The danger is even more compelling when we consider the number of extremist, war-mongering right-wingers who dominate among Donald Trump's diplomatic and defense advisers. The need for a powerful, organized social opposition to capitalism and imperialism could not be more urgent than it is in 2017.
Note: Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 French film written and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud depicting the winter 1942 Battle of Stalingrad.
Gary Potter, PhD
Professor, School of Justice Studies
Eastern Kentucky University


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For the week of March 7 to 11
Markets tied to China reacted weakly over the weekend when China downgraded their expected growth during their two-week long National People's Congress meeting. China is now set to expand somewhere between 6.5 and 7.0 percent for 2016. Last year's target was "around 7%". Also out of China's National People's Congress Meeting today was data showing that foreign reserves fell by much less than expected and less than in the prior month as well. On Friday, employment data was releases out of the United States where payrolls increased by 242k despite the fact that wages actually fell for the month of February.
Oil prices rallied throughout last week and ended up at above $36 per barrel, the highest level since early January. Rising oil prices brought the Canadian dollar along for the ride. The Canadian dollar closed the week up 1.4% to C $1.332 ($75.1 U.S. cents). This morning, oil continues to perform extremely well and is up 1.70% to $36.53 per barrel. However, the Canadian dollar is trading relatively weakly against its United States counterpart this morning. Todays expected range is 1.3304 – 1.3404.
Throughout the week, there will be meetings held by many of the large central banks around the world including in the United States, the Euro area, Japan, and Canada. The Bank of Canada will be meeting on Wednesday to make a decision regarding where they will set the overnight rate. Based on economist estimates from Bloomberg, not one economist expects any change in the overnight interest rate, either up or down, in this meeting. A common belief is that the Bank of Canada will remain on pause in anticipation of the federal budget details that will be released later in the month. The European Central Bank is expected to announce additional stimulus in their meeting this week, continuing what has been an ongoing struggle with inflation. In addition, the National People's Congress meeting will continue in China throughout the week.
In terms of data this week, Canada will be releasing data for the Capacity Utilization Rate, New Housing Price Index, Unemployment Rate, and Net Change in Employment. The Net Change in Employment is expected to add 10.0k for the month of February following a 5.7k decline in January. Canada's unemployment rate is expected to remain unchanged at 7.2%. In the United States, data will be released for NFIB Small Business Optimism, the Monthly Budget Statement, and for the Import Price Index. There is little data out of either Canada or the United States today, with the only notable release coming from January's Consumer Credit in the United States. A posting of $16.500b is expected following a posting of $21.267b for the month of December.
Source: Bloomberg
Posted by Concentra Financial Markets


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Events are a tried and true method for fundraising. If your nonprofit organization hasn't already put on at least one special event in the past in order to raise money, we're guessing that it will do so in the not-too-distant future. And why not? They're fun, generate press, and raise significant money. But, they are a lot of work.
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text: We had a little party at 8707 Canyon last Thursday. Cliff Ellman and Jane Mills of Spiffi Decor – home stagers extraordinaire – brought their custom cocktail SPIFFINIS made with designer ingredients, of course. We snapped a few photos that I wanted to share with you all. This home was designed by architect Bentley Tibbs and built by Mark Seipela of Design Development.


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10) Who the hell Begets anymore?
9) Memo to Adam: Ditch the apples, try chocolate!
8) Saint Peter wouldn't do the actual judging -- he'd hire a temp.
7) Ten plagues and God never thought of daytime talk shows?
6) All this smiting and no one filed a suit against God?
5) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy? -- GO FORTY-NINERS!
4) Why did Moses spend all his time parting seas when there are all those great legs out there?
3) How can you trust someone who turns water into wine?
2) Satan provides free heating, work for everyone, never evicts you and doesn't give a damn about your credit rating. This is bad HOW?
1.) Out with Into the ark, two by two, in with Jerry Springer love triangles!


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Starches and sugars are your body's main source of energy. You need them to fuel your muscles. In fact, your brain needs 130 grams of carbs a day just to function properly! A carbohydrate-free diet, or a diet that's too low in carbs, can be both dangerous and too low in nutrients.
If you're on a high-protein diet, you still need carbohydrates. The good ones.
Some carbohydrates support your health while others drag it down. Too many of the bad carbohydrates raise your triglycerides and make your blood thicker, putting you at risk for heart disease. They also contribute to carbohydrate cravings and diabetes. The trick is to eat enough good carbs and very few bad ones. It's a balancing act, but not too difficult once you understand the concept. So just which carbs are good and which are bad? And why?
Good carbs are whole foods from plants that contain both sugars and fiber. They include beans, whole grains, starchy vegetables, and fresh fruit. Substitute some of them for saturated (animal) fats and they can help lower your cholesterol. Their fiber binds to cholesterol, carrying it out of your body, and also keeps your blood sugar level.
Bad carbs are processed starches and sugars. They include sugar, honey, and refined grains like white flour and white rice. They are absorbed quickly and can trigger an insulin response, causing your blood sugar to drop suddenly.
Insulin resistance
When you eat any carbohydrate — either a sugar or a starch — your pancreas releases insulin to help your body utilize it. When you eat large quantities of carbohydrates, especially those that are refined and low in fiber, you run the risk of releasing too much insulin. Some of this excess insulin remains in your blood and causes high blood sugar. High blood sugar is another term for diabetes. When you make too much insulin too often, it can lead to diabetes.
Over time, your body may stop using insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. It not only leads to diabetes, but heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and blood clots as well.
Good carbs, on the other hand, are higher in fiber and are digested slowly. They rarely lead to insulin resistance when you eat them in moderation. In fact, they tend to stabilize your blood sugar.
The health food industry is pushing bad carbs
Health food stores are filling up their shelves with junk foods. I'm disheartened with the amount of foods they're selling that contain bad carbs.
Here are a few to watch out for and avoid as much as possible:
Five years ago, a nutritionally minded doctor put out a line of instant cereals. I noticed that they contained organic pure cane sugar juice. "What's the difference between this sweetener and refined sugar?" I asked him. "Nothing," he answered. "I use it because people like the way it tastes." I appreciated his honesty, but not his decision.
Net carbs: Pushing confusion to the limit
Read all product labels carefully. Some are very misleading. A growing number of snack foods now contain carbohydrates made from sugar alcohols called "net carbs." This makes foods sound healthier and lower in calories than they are. Companies are saying these sugars "don't count." They do!
These sugar alcohols contain the same amount of calories as other sugars. If you're trying to control your weight, all carbs count!
If you limit your carbohydrates as part of a weight-loss program, "net carbs" is deceptive. Every gram of carbohydrate is four calories, whether a food company "counts" it or not. A low-carb energy bar with two "net carbs" does not have eight calories from carbohydrates. The 25 grams of total carbohydrates it contains, when sugar alcohols are included, means that 100 of its calories come from carbs. Count all the carbs and all the calories.
Eat more good carbs:
Get 90 percent of your carbohydrates from whole foods. Beans, brown rice, corn tortillas, polenta, and starchy vegetables are all good carbs. Eat small amounts of them along with protein and vegetables rather than one large carbohydrate meal.
Some good carbs, such as potatoes, have gotten a bad rap because they're high on the glycemic index. This means they turn into sugar quickly. But Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author of Kick the Sugar Habit, is furious about this.
"The glycemic index is a hoax," she told me. "If you eat any one of these foods alone that's high on the glycemic index, it will raise your blood glucose. But if you eat them with protein and fat, you won't. That's the way we should eat!"
Don't be afraid or reluctant to eat some carbohydrates with your meals if they are unprocessed and are eaten with plenty of vegetables, protein, and a little fat. Just make them the good carbs, and keep your portions small.
Appleton, Nancy. Lick the Sugar Habit, Avery Publishing, 1996.
Haas, Elson. Staying Healthy With Nutrition, Celestial Arts, 1992.
Tallmadge, Katherine. "Do Net Carbs Add Up?" Washington Post, February 25, 2004.


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Chilean police used a water cannon to disperse protesters.
Source: Press TV
Police in the Chilean city of Valparaiso have clashed with demonstrators protesting against the government of President Sebastian Pinera's policies.
Most demonstrators were peaceful, but bands of hooded protesters attacked police and smashed shop windows and damaged other properties.
The demonstration -- organized by the country's main trade union movement, the CUT -- was in protest at Pinera's environmental, education and labor policies, state-run BBC reported.
Protesters said his promises were "in the opposite way from those the populations were demanding."
Many had come to protest against the construction of a dam that would flood 6,000 hectares of land in the remote southern Chilean Patagonia.
The environmentalists predict that the construction of the dam will not only have immediate impacts on the Chilean ecosystem, but will affect the environment of neighboring Argentina, and in the long run will affect the Latin American countries of Uruguay, Paraguay and even Bolivia.
But the government says the HidroAysen project is needed to meet Chile's increasing demand for electricity and is expected to give its final approval in June.
"We can't say we need energy, consume it abundantly, and at the same time oppose all of its sources," said Pinera during his state of the nation address.
Besides HidroAysen, Pinera has approved the construction of three very pollutant coal thermo-electric plants this year, one of which will be the biggest in Latin America.
Chilean officials have ruled out nuclear energy following Japan's nuclear disaster, saying Chile is as seismic as Japan.
The Latin American country witnessed an 8.8-magnitude earthquake on February 7, 2010 which entailed a tsunami.


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What does the report include?
The 2019 GETI report takes a deep-dive into the impact of skills gaps and the talent pipeline crisis within the energy industry.
Produced by Energy Jobline and Airswift, the report also provides a global and regional analysis of salaries and remuneration, hiring rates, job opportunities and the movement of people. The report is based on a survey of over 17,000 professionals and hiring managers from 163 countries and 151 nationalities.
Energy Jobline
Energy Jobline is the leading specialist job board for energy globally and currently hosts a database of over 750,000 professionals, advertising over 10,000 of the world's top energy jobs. Energy Jobline (EJL) offers talented industry professionals exciting opportunities in the Oil & Gas, Renewables, Power, Nuclear and Petrochemicals sectors.
Energy Jobline focuses heavily on industry mobility and enabling its vast network of talented professionals to move between energy sectors where possible, as well as supporting the global mobilizing of energy employers and candidates. This has enabled Energy Jobline to become the go-to job board for jobseekers, with a third choosing us as their exclusive job board partner.
Energy Jobline is a significant value-add to any energy employer or agency, providing the best recruitment opportunities to both professionals and businesses globally.
Whether you are looking for a new role or you are looking to hire the best talent in the energy market, please contact us to discuss in more detail.
Contact us to find out more:
Airswift is an international workforce solutions provider within the energy, process and infrastructure industries.
We serve as a strategic partner to our clients, offering a turnkey workforce solution to capture and deliver the top talent needed to complete successful projects. Our expert team of recruitment consultants are also ideally positioned to help candidates find their next role, while our global mobility teams support them every step of the way.
With over 800 employees in 52 offices worldwide, 6,000 contractors and a candidate database of 500,000, our geographical reach and pool of talent available is unmatched in the industry and the level of experience that the organisation has is unparalleled.
Airswift works with 100% of the world's supermajors and is ideally placed to be the global leader of workforce solutions to our target industries.
Our expertise covers a range of service lines, including talent acquisition, global employment, global mobility, managed solutions and consultancy.
Contact us to find out more:


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USB Mosquito Repeller: But Does It Really Work?
Image via: Uxsight.com
We recently received a tip on a USB Ultrasonic Mosquito Pest Repeller now available for just $5.69 USD, plus another $5 for shipping. While this handy, little device eliminates the use of pesticides and other harmful bug sprays, we wondered if the thing actually works and if there is anything else that we can do to rid our yards of pests while these last few days of summer wind down.I have to admit, I have been lured into the ultrasonic mosquito repeller-type devices before and to be honest, I haven't had much luck. Either I have ultrasonic hearing and am able to hear frequencies that only mosquitoes can hear, or that high pitched noise that woke me up at 2am means the darn thing didn't work. Either way, I never could tell if mosquitoes were offended because I couldn't tolerate the noise long enough to leave it outside next to me. Now a similar device, powered through a USB outlet, is available claiming to rid mosquitoes through the same annoying auditory methods. The USB either means that you plug it into your laptop when you work outdoors at the local coffee shop, or you have to come up with a USB-type plug for your backyard in order for this to work. Also, while you're not using pesticides you are using electricity in its place. Plus it only has a range of 1.5 meters, meaning you pretty much have to keep that little kill stick right next to you.
Now, if you are not as gullible as I, and don't buy into the supersonic mosquito repeller, here are a few other things you can try to rid your yard of mosquitoes, the non-toxic way: 5 eco-friendly ways to repel mosquitoes, you can try the mosquito magnet if you are really serious about taking out those bugs, or even make your own natural mosquito repellent.
The repeller is currently on backorder so we can't try it out, but we'd like to hear back from you. If you've had any luck with this USB device, or a similar ultrasonic mosquito device, let us know. :USB Ultrasonic Mosquito Pest Repeller
Thanks tipster Jet!
More on Mosquitoes
How Mosquitoes Work
What's To Love: Mosquito Bite: Video
Anti-Malaria Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes: Top 10 Weird Bug Facts


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Six Simple Summer Tapas
Blue Cheese & Quince Paste Beet Bites Marinated Olives Baba Ganoush w/tomatoes Cucumbers w/Dill Grilled Artisan Bread
I hadn't tried a round of tapas before, but I am increasingly a believer of less is more. If I can get a serious bang for my buck---very little time, very few ingredients, very big results---then I am the first in line. Each appetizer is just a few simple ingredients with little to no preparation required. By the way, just one or two of these appetizers is all you need to start a great meal!
My neighbor was over the other day and I served her a wedge of blue cheese with a dabble of quince paste. Alone or with crackers, this easy ensemble is big results for little effort. (A bold red wine smooths the edges of this robust starter). I noted how easy it was to put two ingredients on a plate; an effortless way to impress guests on the front end of a dinner party. With a muffled laugh, she said people would think she was so gourmet to serve blue cheese with quince. Brilliant---let's toast to that!
I was at dinner for the first time at Harvest Vine, an impressive and oft-written up restaurant in Madison Park (Seattle). Two food experiences came home with me and are now a part of my kitchen: the first is the Blue Cheese & Quince Paste. For the record, I bought the quince paste from Whole Foods. It was in the cheese deli, and it comes as a loaf of quince paste, they cut slices off like you would slice bread. Because I find the paste to be firm and a bit granular, I opt to mix equal parts quince paste with equal parts grapeseed oil. Then, the quince becomes a smooth gel, and better compliments the soft yet pungeant cheese.
Blue Cheese & Quince Paste 1 T grape seed oil 1 T quince paste 2 oz. slice of blue cheese
Feel free to double or triple quantities. Mix oil and paste with back of fork. Place on plate with cheese.The second, and happy surprise was the small square of beets placed in front of us as we took our table:Beet Bites 2 Beets, yellow and/or red Good olive oil Kosher/coarse salt
Scrub beets, cut off stem and tail ends. Steam for 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove skins by hand or with peeler (See top photo of two yellow beets). Cut beets in shape of rectangular box, slice long way into 1/3" slices. Place toothpick in short end, place beets on plate and drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt on top. (Optional: sprinkle fresh herbs like thyme, oregano or marjoram).
Cantelope w/Prosciutto Cantelope Prosciutto Toothpicks
Cut cantelope in half, remove seeds and core. Slice off rind and cut into small bites. Tear 2-3 slices prosciutto into 4 x 1 inch lengths. Wrap around cantelope, secure with toothpicks and serve.
Cucumbers w/Dill Cucumbers Fresh dill Course salt Olive oil
Wash cucumbers, slice half or more of skin off with peeler (I usually leave on some green for show). Cut in half lengthwise if it is a large cucumber, scooping out seeds along length with spoon. If small, slice round disks for serving. Place on plate, cut fresh dill on top with scissors, drizzle with oil , salt and serve. My niece calls these "cukes."
Olives Buy mixed olives from store: place on plate.
Baba Ganoush You could substitute hummus; I bought Baba Ganoush from the store (Whole Foods). It is eggplant with tahini, olive oil, lemon and salt. I placed it in a bowl, drizzled it with olive oil and served with a bowl of cherry tomatoes and cucumber moons/slices. It was also tasty with the grilled bread.
Grilled Artisan Bread Good bread Olive oil Mixed herbs Salt Optional: garlic
Slice bread, half slices. Place olive oil, mixed herbs (use dry or fresh combo of your choice, no herbs is fine too) on plate. Rub both sides of bread in oil, skewer, sprinkle with salt and grill. Optional: add fresh minced garlice to olive oil in plate.


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Gender Differences in Breast Milk Protection
Girls benefit more than boys do from breastfeeding, at least in terms of protection from severe lung disease, according to a study published in the June 2008 issue of Pediatrics. Children with low birth weight, who were seen as being at high risk for respiratory illness, were examined. Breast milk protected girls but not boys from severe acute lung disease. You can read more here.


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The Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association held the 2014 Annual Meeting to celebrate our accomplishments during the year. We greeted new and old friends, thanked our sponsors and supporters, and elected our 2015 Board and Officers.
To add to the festivities of the evening and our understanding of Suzhou and China, the video "Beautiful Suzhou" by the Suzhou Information Office was shown, a short China travelogue was present by our Board member, Jim Mockford, and a wonderful around-the-world trip was briefly highlighted by our Past-President and long time Board member, Jim Mei.
Our President, Cathy Chinn, welcome our guests, reviewed 2014's accomplishments and handed out appreciations certificates. A 10-course Chinese dinner was served and enjoyed by everyone.


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So the truth is that I had so much fun planning my wedding that I'm a little sad I don't get to plan another one – to the same guy of course :) Unknowingly, I kind of transferred my wedding obsession onto Charlotte's first birthday party. There was even a Pinterest board dedicated to all the DIY crafty inspiration. This is going to be ridiculous. I know this.
When we happened upon this picnic area at Norris Dam State Park and I saw this beautiful evening sun, nobody could talk me out of it no matter how hot the weather.
I had a vision of a colorful DIY pennant banner hanging from these two trees. I lucked out that the length was just right.
What one-year-old's birthday party would be complete without a few toy baskets spread around?
The toy baskets just didn't look complete without a little accessory :) The fabric scraps from the banner were a last minute addition.
Anybody else have a jar of buttons laying around? So glad I kept up with them to make this framed button monogram. It's now my favorite thing in her room.
The whole scene :)
A wedding favor favorite, the candy table was a hit for the kids – and for Andrew.
Couldn't resist the pun.
The centerpieces doubled as favors for the little girls – ribbon rosettes looked like flowers (okay, maybe drooping flowers) growing out of the wheatgrass.
Thank you Sassy Cakes of Knoxville for the perfectly delicious chocolate raspberry cake!
The key to staying on a budget for a DIY birthday party- use your scraps. The leftover ribbon from the rosettes became the decor for the highchair.
The best part was that Charlotte soaked up every minute of her special day. She totally knew it was for her.
Because of her obsession with balls, one of the toy baskets was dedicated just to that. And she found it and immediately started screaming "BALL!" You know if you've ever met her why that's in all caps.
I'm imagining this is her dreamland – all her best buddies and every ball she owns in one place.
Everybody looks pretty fresh here. This must have been before the 95 degree heat settled in :)
The frozen grapes on a stick were refreshing for young and old alike.
Mama Ese came ready to party and spent most of her time playing with the kids on the quilts.
Just to remind myself how awesome my dad is – he slaved over the hot grill preparing the hotdogs. He's a good one.
The pictures don't lie – she was this happy the whole time.
The new feature photo in Mama Ese's collection – this was her 90th birthday gift.
The girls :)
And the cake. With my genes there was never a doubt that she would be a fan of sweets.
She made that very clear as she destroyed her smash cake.
Giving Dada a sweet, sugary "wah."
I'll admit, I ate the cake leftovers for about a week after the party.
I guess it's obvious now – these two make me one happy woman.
I'm just lucky they let me be a part of the special bond they share.
Thanks to Andrew for sitting at the picnic area to claim our spot and for dealing with my craziness. Thanks to Mom and Rachel for the late-night crafting help. Thanks to Leah Teague of Flourish Floral Design Studio for your ideas and for the Hobby Lobby date. Thank you to all of our amazing friends and family for braving the heat to celebrate this special day with us. I'm so thankful Charlotte is covered with love from each of you.


text: We know what you were thinking: my external hard drive enclosure is nice and all, but why is it so quiet? Well, Thermaltake is here to fix that with its new Max 5G dual-fan enclosure. Outside the fans and the fancy LED lights (which can be switched off, if you're feeling unextreme one particular morning), the enclosure is pretty great itself, with a smokin' USB 3.0 plug and support for high-end 3.5-inch SATA 3.0 drives. The fans are to promote long life on your hard drive and "data integrity" and all that, but pretty much they just say to your SATA drive: "I care." And isn't that all that matters? The enclosure is available for pre-order right now for $52, no word on release.


text: How are YOU shutdown in your own life? How do you limit your life experience based on the ill fated notion that you cannot be what you are or else you will be judged? How does it FEEL to KNOW only you are your own threat to success? Sit with that for the day and you'll find more clarity than trying to wrap your head around jargon that gets tossed around in popular media regarding things that are only the cumulative result of ALL of our actions. That means, you are a part of the problem. But it isn't a problem, only an attunement (atonement) that must be made in your consciousness. Get right with you and face your primordial fear. Use your intuitive alchemy to strengthen your Christ Consciousness (anointed with the ability to express yourself with out fear of judgement for thine own self be true.) Drop the story and follow the feeling! Withstand the notion that you have to adhere to anything or anyone else's opinion of you or the choices you make.


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All the banter and exchange of words earlier this week involving Arsenal's burgeoning Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner, and Internazionale's in-demand striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, an interesting tussle see here had the potential to erupt as both players would hope to exert their authority early on in the game.
Ibrahimovic, who has scored 20 international goals in 56 appearances, had a chance inside the first minute to steal the headlines as his lined-up free-kick burst through the wall and had it not been for a Thomas Sorensen claim, then the score-board would have required changing.
Sorensen was again on guard to deny Sweden a set-piece conversion in the eleventh minute, when Kjaer was adjudged to have handled Olof Mellberg in the box. Referee Mike Riley was quick to point at the spot, but Kim Kallstrom failed to tuck the ball into the corner and Sorensen got a strong palm on the penalty to divert the ball over the bar.
Sweden continued to dominate up until the mid-way stage of the opening half, but Thomas Kahlenberg capitalised on Nillson's erring clearance and the soon-to-be Wolfsburg striker made no hesitation in smashing forth and scoring his first ever international goal.
Five minutes later and Sorensen began to display whiffs of a goalkeeping clinic as he nonchalantly plucked a testing and looping inswinging cross out of the air, before again frustrating Kallstrom, who tried to beat the Stoke City shot-stopper with a left-pegged effort from just outside the area.
Denmark could have doubled their lead just moments later but Dennis Rommedahl failed to score from what seemed like only a matter of yards. Jakob Poulsen tried to clear a Lars Jacobsen cross, and Rommedahl, formerly of Charlton Athletic, was gifted a chance to score, but the winger duly squandered the shot.
The second half started slowly, but eventually recycled the same motif as the opening exchange: Sorensen guarding goal in an exemplary manner. Just after the hour mark Larsson found Elmander who volleyed goal-ward only for the Dane to get the better of the situation.
Then, with one-third of the game remaining, Larsson took control of a deft Ibrahimovic flick on, but the veteran net-bulger missed the target.
Missed chances were not exclusive to Sweden, as Bendtner - who improved throughout the club season with the Gunners - struck well over the bar
Sweden, for all their possession and chances, struggled to topple Denmark's last line of defence,and reaffirmed the nation's command of Group 1 in the European section of World Cup qualifiers.goal.


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When Canada introduced its first sanctions against Russia, back in March of 2014, it was the big players like Bombardier and Kinross Gold that landed on the radar screen.
Investors looked askance at Kinross, which has significant operations in Russia, even as the miner insisted that the new rules did not affect its business, and within months, plane and train maker Bombardier Inc. put a high profile $3.4 billion airplane assembly project on hold.
"It was a mixture of many things," Daniel Desjardins, general counsel and corporate secretary for Quebec-based Bombardier, says of the decision not, for now, to go ahead with the project to assemble Bombardier's Q400 turboprop planes in Russia. "Obviously the sanctions did affect the project, but also the state of the economy in Russia right now is a cause for the delay of the project. Right now we are pausing and we will stay tuned. And obviously if the environment changes, both from a sanctions point of view and from an economy point of view in Russia, we will start to reengage."
Yet it's smaller Canadian companies that have often found it the most challenging to cope with the rapidly changing export and financing curbs, especially after a December 2014 amendment that introduced new restrictions on exports to big sections of Russia's energy sector.
While U.N. sponsored sanctions against smaller countries like Burma or Iran had only a limited impact in Canada, the Russia-focused restrictions on trade and investment have already affected a surprisingly large portion of the Canadian economy. That reflects Russia's size and its position as a producer of energy and other resources, as a still underdeveloped consumer market and as an overseas investor in its own right. Banks must weigh ownership closely in all financial transactions relating to Russia and Russian entities and companies must pore through opaque documents to be sure they are not poised to deal with a partner named in the sanctions lists.
"With Russia this is probably one of the first times where the measures have a broad effect across the economy just because of the business, and Russia's involvement around the world. It's not just the territory of Russia, but its dealings with Russian banks, Russian multinationals," says John Boscariol, head of the international trade and investment section at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, where he focuses on enforcement and compliance, anti-corruption laws, and economic sanctions.
"Canadian companies are now realizing that you need to do due diligence on who you are doing business with abroad. You need to investigate who stands behind those companies, who owns the companies you are doing business with. Is the company owned or controlled by a blacklisted person? Who else will be involved in the transaction? You should be screening everyone who is involved in the transaction to see if they are on those lists."
Desjardins, who is responsible for Bombardier's corporate governance and head of its legal team, credits the firm's in-house export control department with enabling Bombardier to stay abreast of the sanctions imposed by Canada, the United States, and the European Union, all areas where the Canadian firm has subsidiary operations and deep business ties.
"Sanctions between states are part of today's life," he says. "And since we are a global corporation, we have to be mindful not just of the Canadian sanctions but [also] sanctions in Europe and sanctions in the United States, because we've got subsidiaries around the world that are governed by the laws in those jurisdictions."
"You've got to have a good process and system . . . and make sure you map who is responsible to make sure that you follow up on the list and make sure that the updates are communicated. It doesn't happen by magic. But if you do take the time to map the responsibilities and what to communicate internally, then you've come a long way to make sure that you can sleep better."
For others, the challenge has become one of keeping up with the level of sanctions.
"We live in interesting times with Russian business — we have to understand each country's sanctions," says Hartland Paterson, general counsel, chief compliance officer & secretary with CAE Inc. in Montreal. CAE is a manufacturer of simulation technologies and training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, defence, and mining companies.
CAE's business with Russian companies has predominantly involved pilots of Russian companies using CAE's civil aircraft training centres in Europe. "It's not really a big sanctions issue, you just need to look at whether the airline company is sanctioned or not by Canada, the host country or the training centre. If they're not sanctioned it's not illegal and I don't know that it's immoral — I think the world has a vested interest that civil aircraft flown by Russian pilots are flown safely."
There's also the issue of payments — are they going to be able to get the hard currency to pay?
Paterson says some Russian customers are looking at clauses to protect them from their inability to perform due to sanctions. "They are transferring, in a way, the risk of the sanction through that proposed clause back to CAE in the sense that we would be the ones who lost out if there was some change."
Many companies seeking to do business in Russia find it hard to create and update in-house compliance programs and to train managers and sales staff about the changing rules. Some have abandoned the hope of new business in a country that, more than two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, remains a challenging place to work.
"Self-sanctioning is something that a number of Canadian and other western companies have done," says Lou Naumovski, director general of the Kinross Moscow office and chairman of the board of directors of the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association, a trade organization that has spoken out frequently against the economic sanctions. "Basically, companies not willing to contend with the analysis and preparatory work . . . have taken the decision not to seek out new business, or in a number of cases not to continue to try to do business with Russia."
Naumovski notes that the sanctions are both focused and specific, and most business between Canada and Russia is likely not affected. But companies must still monitor things carefully, and perhaps see if it's possible to get supplies from non-sanctioning jurisdictions. Support from internal and external counsel is "critical to ensure that there is a clear understanding of all of the potential risks," he adds by e-mail.
Kinross has not been affected. "On an operational level our business remains unaffected by the sanctions," he says. "The relationships required to do good business in mining, such as with suppliers, federal regulators and other public officials, local administrators, and stakeholders, remain strong. We have not experienced any fallout at an operational level, despite Canada's sanctions."
Canada introduced its first batch of sanctions against Russia last March, in response to what Foreign Affairs describes as "Russia's violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukraine." The first document listed companies and individuals that Canadians may not sell to or have business dealings with, but the prohibitions have been amended many times, rolling in first some lending and capital investment and, last December, a ban on specified exports to parts of the Russian energy sector: offshore, Arctic, and shale oil production. It's a development that hits Calgary's energy companies hard. "From the perspective of seeing our Calgary-based clients reel from the impact, it's clear that in respect of oil exploration and production and in connection with our service company clients, it is impacting their business and the way they pursue additional business in Russia," says Kristine Robidoux, a partner at Gowlings in Calgary and a member of the firm's white collar defence and investigations group. "If you are a Canadian company looking to provide services in Russia, then one of the key considerations that you would look to, and I would suggest that it should be done early, is the application of U.S. sanctions and Canadian sanctions against Russia."
There are both similarities and differences between Canada's sanctions and those imposed by the United States and the European Union, and the rules change frequently, with a dozen amendments to the Canadian lists alone. Nobody expects the curbs will stay the same for long, given pressure from some quarters to ease the restrictions and from others to tighten them in response to the still tense political situation in eastern Ukraine. Canada has been relatively hard line, perhaps reflecting a large Ukrainian diaspora that's very sensitive to the issue.
"Part of the very aggressive rhetoric that we see from [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper . . . is in large part motivated by that bloc of Ukrainian voters we have here, but I'm not saying that it's the only reason," says Boscariol. "There are legitimate reasons under international law for imposing sanctions measures of some kind to address what's happened in Ukraine."
The intense focus on compliance and due diligence from Canadian companies looking at trade with Russia has spawned an industry ready to help. Service providers like Dow Jones and Thomson Reuters offer software for compliance checks, and Canadian companies may ask their trade partners to certify that they are not working with any of the entities — banks, companies, and individuals — included in the sanctions lists. Law firms offer training sessions to teach companies' managers and sales staff about the sanctions, and about the questions that they need to ask of would be trading partners.
If the risk is high — a Russian partner company with ties to the sprawling military industrial complex perhaps — the due diligence will likely be more extensive, perhaps including background checks and work by private investigators. But for a smaller trade partner with no obvious ties to the Kremlin or the military, it may be enough to check names against sanctions lists and ask for some sort of assurance that proscribed partners are not involved.
"What we have found is that while over 2014 sanctions have become more known in the public, there are still a large number of companies or managers who just simply don't appreciate what the nature of the sanctions are, what they mean and how they work," says Vincent DeRose, a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Ottawa, where he is also national leader of the firm's defence and security industry group. "You need to use good judgment and you need to trust your employees and your sales force, and if you have a manager that's in charge of exporting, you have to train them and give them the tools to recognize when they should raise an issue up the management chain."
He adds: "There's no-one-size-fits-all, it depends on what you are selling and who you are selling to. But there are a few general undertakings that companies have to do. When they enter into a contract, they have to develop a screening mechanism to ensure that they are not directly or indirectly doing business with any of the designated persons, the prohibited persons."
But just as a weak screening process brings unacceptable short- and medium-term risks, stepping back from the Russian market could also have a lasting impact. "The level of trust that you need to develop with business in Russia is not something that you can develop in a week or a month or maybe even a year," DeRose says. "There is no doubt that you need a long lead time to develop your relationship and the existence of the sanctions can undermine those relationships very quickly. It takes years to build them up, and it doesn't take years to bring them down."
Lawyers working in the compliance/sanctions sector note that anyone seeking to do business in Russia must weigh the cost and inconvenience of due diligence against the opportunities. And even though the Canadian sanctions are restricted to name individuals, well-described funding methods, and — since December — those clearly defined aspects of energy sector development and equipment, Paul Drager, a senior partner at Norton Rose Fulbright in Calgary has also seen self-sanctioning.
"What we're seeing in a sense is also a lot of self-sanctioning by companies and certainly by the financial industry, which because of the way sanctions are enforced, it makes it much easier for them to say 'no we are just not going to get involved' rather than figuring out exactly what they could do," says Drager, who has been involved with Moscow since 1985, first as a diplomat and now as a lawyer.
He admits the sanctions have been "a very cold shower" for companies seeking to develop closer ties with a vast, cold, resource-rich country that has many of the same infrastructure needs as Canada. But he says there are still opportunities for companies who are prepared to follow the rules.
"These may be some of the better times to be involved in the Russian market. Because so many companies have pulled back it does open the space for others. It's looking at the glass half full," he says. "They are very specific sanctions. . . . The flip side of that is that there are a substantial number of other areas that are permitted, even in the oil and gas sector. The difficulty here is getting certainty in relationship to what the government is expecting."
Another challenge, says Robidoux, is the one that comes with dealing with Russia itself, where corporate registries may be vague and there is "a great deal of legwork that has to be done."
"There is registry information available, but there are other searches that have to be undertaken," she says. "You have to trust but verify. The level of verification really depends on the circumstances of each case. You do not want to do business in a country that is known for some opacity in its corporate registries and be given information that is either vague or opaque or somehow not believable and simply close your eyes to the risk that this might actually be a transaction with a prohibited person or in respect of one of the prohibited activities. That constitutes wilful blindness."
Robidoux says the December amendments have expanded both the sanctions themselves and the type of due diligence that companies need to do to be sure that they are not breaking the rules.
It means assessing carefully what imports to Russia can be used for, and seeking confirmation that an importer won't use a particular type of equipment, for example, in one of the proscribed forms of energy exploration.
The frequent changes to the rules are also an issue, and because each change takes effect immediately, companies and their advisers often have to scramble to interpret and communicate each new ruling.
"One of the challenges that many companies have been finding is just keeping up with the frequent changes," says Riyaz Dattu a Toronto-based partner at Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where he focuses on international trade and market access. "Many of the changes get announced without much information in advance; they are effective as of that date. And that's caused some clients to be fairly concerned because they need time to implement the sanctions and it puts them at risk. Many of the organizations we deal with are large organizations and the communication internally takes a while, and while that communication is going on the sanctions are in effect as amended. And typically the sanctions are announced on a Friday afternoon, late."
The sanctions have also changed the game for the financial sector, with the compliance departments of the banks and other financial institutions very much on the front line. Pension funds, for example, may choose not to expand a capital investment in an emerging market if there's a risk of inappropriate Russian involvement, and a bank may block a financial transaction from a client if it's unclear who is involved or where the money is going to go.
"The Canadian banks are probably at the forefront of understanding what these measures mean and having the proper compliance measures to deal with them," says Boscariol. "Often we find that when a Canadian company first learns that they may have a sanctions issue, they are learning it from their bank because the bank is stopping a payment, or the bank realizes the payment involves a blacklisted entity or involves financial services being provided."
Just as Canada's sanctions are subtly different to those introduced in Europe or the United States, Canada's approach to violations is different too, making it hard to compare enforcement in the two countries.
Lawyers note that Canada does not publicize administrative penalties it imposes on companies that breach sanctions, whether by accident or by design, while the United States traditionally publicizes any breach, as well as offering different rules on whistleblowers and voluntary disclosure. But they highlight the case of Lee Specialties, an Alberta company that mistakenly sent 30-cent O rings to Iran, as evidence that the Canadian enforcement authorities are starting to crack down.
Lee, which said the shipment happened because of a mailroom mix-up, was fined $90,000 last April.
"That was a very expensive 'oops,'" says DeRose, who says the firm understands that the number of investigations by the Canada Border Services Agency has increased quite dramatically over the last couple of years.
"I'm not aware of any Russian cases, but it does not mean they are not being investigated. Normally they would not become public until charges are laid," he says. "We are now nine months into the sanctions existing and it is not surprising to me that there have been no formal charges. These types of investigation tend to occur over a long period of time. It doesn't mean that there have not been investigations or that companies have not worked with the Canadian government to voluntarily disclose inadvertent breaches. Where voluntary disclosure occurs, those are not published."
Drager also notes there's less publicity about enforcement in Canada than in the United States, but he says Canada has been "quite assiduous" in being able to enforce its anti-sanctions laws, using both the Canadian Border Services Agency and export controls. "I'm not making any comment on whether that's occurred or not occurred, but we've certainly seen in other cases with sanctions and have been involved in other cases with sanctions that the CBSA can enforce it quite diligently," he says. "And it doesn't need the press."
As for companies like Bombardier, it's a question of waiting to see what governments come up with next, lobbying and making representations to try to prevent the worst, and hoping that the changes everyone expects won't be too painful.
"Generally the corporate world is on the sidelines," says Desjardins. "It is a state-to-state discussion and national policy, and you may want to comment on it and try to influence it, but at the end of the day you have to comply with it, whether you like it or not.
"Like any global corporation, we like a level playing field, we like open markets where we can do business. It's good for our country and it's good for our employees in Canada. But if there's a case where we cannot do business in a country, we will respect that."


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Education pricing is indeed available through Apple's Volume Purchasing Program (VPP). Our apps are available at a 50% discount to educational institutions who qualify. Please see details of Apple's VPP at the following link:
Individual educational discounts unfortunately aren't available at this time due to Apple's policies. If you're a student, please ask your school administrators if the school is enrolled in Apple's Volume Purchasing Program. Many schools that have iPads in their curriculum have already enrolled in Apple's program.
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Physical Education
Head of department/faculty:
Ms F Conway
'Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity' - JFK
Introduction to Course
Students will follow the PE National curriculum at KS3 and KS4 PE. Our curriculum aims are to encourage and inspire all students to achieve their best and to feel physically confident.
SMSC: At RGS we encourage our students to demonstrate the Olympic and Paralympic values in their PE lessons in order to achieve their best, they are:
Students are recognised for displaying these values on a termly basis. In addition, students are also encouraged to work well in a team, demonstrate sportswoman like behaviour and win or lose with grace.
Subject content KS3:
In KS3 core PE we offer a broad and balanced curriculum so that students can develop their skills and confidence in a range of activities. Students will develop their ability to be physically active for longer, experience competitive sports and activities and be encouraged to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. Students will also be taught to analyse their own or others performance.
The main activities taught in KS3 core PE are; football, badminton, netball, handball, fitness, athletics, rounders and tennis.
Subject content KS4:
In KS4 core PE we introduce a number of new activities into the curriculum to further encourage students to lead a healthy active lifestyle. These include; volleyball, non-contact boxing, yoga and pilates, softball and step aerobics.
Exam board KS4:
At KS4 we are currently offering two courses of study; AQA GCSE PE and NCFE Level 2 in Health and Fitness.
Typical lesson activities: In KS4 examined courses we teach a mixture of theory content and practical activity.
For GCSE PE, students will sit two 1 hour 15 minute papers at the end of the course worth 60% of the final grade. The other 40% will consist of three practical assessments and an analyses of performance in one sport.
For the NCFE Level 2 in Health and Fitness, students will complete three units of written coursework and will sit an external exam for the fourth unit. All the practical work undertaken will assist in the completion of coursework tasks.
Contact details for any questions. Please contact email@example.com