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InfoWorld: Explain the workings of RequireJS.
Burke: It uses script tags to load modules but relies on a "define" function wrapper that is placed around the modules. So those scripts can be loaded async and out of order but then executed in proper dependency sequence based on the dependencies specified in the define wrapper. By using a define function wrapper, it avoids XMLHttpRequest and eval usage, which means the modules are easier to use in cross-domain/CDN situations and where CSP (Content Security Policy) in the Web page prevents eval use. It uses string module IDs to reference dependencies, and it has a convention to convert those IDs to file paths as well as configuration options to control that ID-to-path conversion.
InfoWorld: How widespread is usage of RequireJS?
InfoWorld: At what stage of development is RequireJS? How old is the project? What version are you on at this point?
Burke: First commit to the repo was in September of 2009, but it was called runjs at that point. Over time and after more discussions of the module API with others, it was renamed to RequireJS. There were many 0.X releases. A 1.0 [release was] announced October 18, 2011. It's now in a 2.1.x stage of releases, with it very stable. 2.1.11 is the latest release, done in February. I do regular maintenance releases about one every few months. I am into fixing bugs for the 2.1.12 release at the moment. I am planning a 3.0 release to align better with any changes that are coming with ECMAScript 6, including modules in the language. But that's still in the early planning stages since ES6 modules, along with its module loader API, are still underspecified. [Also for the future,] I should also be able to lose some of the legacy browser hacks too, and rely on promises in the platform over time to shrink the overall size of the loader.
InfoWorld: Why is it called RequireJS?
Burke: It was originally runjs. But I thought I was able to bridge the CommonJS module system with what was needed for the browser and the main API in that system, as well as in AMD, for referencing a dependency is the require API. In retrospect, it was probably premature to use that name, as later discussions with the CommonJS folks made it clear there were some fundamental differences that could not be bridged and which led to AMD modules becoming a separate API. If I were to do it over again, I would probably pick a different name, not something based on one of the module API calls, just to avoid any secondary confusion. However, it grew organically and started to gain adoption, and the name stuck.


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That was quick: it took Sony just a day to give Xperia Tablet Z an Android 4.3 AOSP ROM
17 Comments
1. Atlas (Posts: 158; Member since: 15 Apr 2012)
Looks like Sony are finally getting priorities right, less phones and faster updates.
4. PapaSmurf (Posts: 10457; Member since: 14 May 2012)
Nailed it.
2. EXkurogane (Posts: 863; Member since: 07 Mar 2013)
HTC, watch. This is how you handle updates.
8. FiddyPence (Posts: 21; Member since: 08 Aug 2012)
The HTC one has been updated to 4.2.2 with Sense 5.
The Xperia Z is still on 4.1.2 even though it launched 2 months earlier.
I think HTC have their priorities straight polished Sense 5 > Buggy ASOP.
9. rgxVOiD (Posts: 440; Member since: 30 Aug 2012)
lul wut? Sorry to disappoint you but Xperia Z got 4.2.2 weeks before HTC One did, HTC One was the last in the flagship-ship to get 4.2.2 update
10. FiddyPence (Posts: 21; Member since: 08 Aug 2012)
My bad its the ZR and Tablet Z getting 4.2.
My point still stands polished sense is greater the buggy ASOP or whatever Sony call their 2013 skin.
11. TheLolGuy (Posts: 483; Member since: 05 Mar 2013)
They call it Socialife... I think.
13. Finalflash (Posts: 3536; Member since: 23 Jul 2013)
Dude, AOSP stands for android open source project. It is the pure google setup seen on their nexus devices. In no way is it less than sense or buggy. They might have a few driver issues on such an early release of 4.3 AOSP from Sony, but its better than a dodged announcement by HTC.
14. rgxVOiD (Posts: 440; Member since: 30 Aug 2012)
They used to called it Timescape UI, now I'm not sure.
Their 2013 is not buggy at all. I'm using it right now, Z Ultra skin. It's much smoother than the original Z skin
12. GTR722 (Posts: 270; Member since: 20 Oct 2012)
The hell dude...even here in LA XZ is already in 4.2
3. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)
HTC this is how u do updates. Learn from Sony.
5. indianapple89 (Posts: 47; Member since: 28 Feb 2013)
Does this point to a Google Edition Xperia Z Tablet coming soon with 4.3?
6. sats.mine2k4 (banned) (Posts: 208; Member since: 10 Aug 2012)
They need to flash the GAPPS package... and it looks good...
7. marbovo (Posts: 658; Member since: 16 May 2013)
Congrats to sonny
16. rgxVOiD (Posts: 440; Member since: 30 Aug 2012)
Skrillex? Is it his birthday or something?
15. itsdeepak4u2000 (Posts: 3718; Member since: 03 Nov 2012)
So far so good. Time to get in the battle.

subset: commoncrawl


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US Navy - WWII
1944 — Pacific Ocean
The Crowley family story was that he died in 1944 while active duty on a ship that went down in the Pacific. His body was returned to New Hampshire for burial in 1944/1945.
The only online US Navy records show William on the USS West Point a converted troop transport ship in early 1944 and thier is no record of this ship going down in the Pacific. Another record shows him on the USS Rigel an older (1918) style destroyer that did not sink and was decommissioned in 1946.


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Evolution Hoax
People choose various teachers to guide them through life. For many, the most important teachers are their family, friends, and societies. They form their value judgments and general impressions of what is right and wrong from their society. Some individuals look to ideologies for guidance in the belief that the founder of their personal ideology is a superior person whose teachings can reveal the truth to them. Other individuals profess no ideology, preferring to be guided by their own intuitive intelligence.
However, all of these ideas rest on a common falsehood. Those who claim society as their teacher and adopt some "superior" individual or their own intelligence as their guide are rejecting or ignoring an essential truth: Human beings are created and therefore are indebted to their Creator, Allah, for everything they possess. Those who consider their own body and surroundings, the sky, and everything else that exists will clearly see that Allah created them.
Allah created human beings, and there is certainly a purpose for this creation. The Qur'an reveals this truth: "We did not create heaven and Earth and everything in between them as a game" (Surat al-Anbiya', 16). Another verse also reveals this purpose: "I only created jinn and humanity to worship Me" (Surat adh-Dhariyat, 56).
Humanity was created solely to serve Allah. But we must be careful not to misunderstand: This does not mean that human beings have to continuously engage in certain acts of worship throughout their lives.Indeed, prayer and all other acts of worship related in the Qur'an are binding upon all believers, and every believer is obliged to do these things in accordance with the Qur'an's teachings. But being Allah's servant, which encompasses every aspect of life, primarily means coming to know Allah by being close to Him and living one's life according to His words. People who live such a life enjoy the best, the most content, and the happiest life possible. All of Allah's rules are very easy, for He created humanity in such a way that it is part of human nature to take pleasure from serving Him:
So set your face firmly towards the Religion as a pure natural believer, Allah's natural pattern on which He made humanity. There is no changing Allah's creation. That is the true Religion, but most people do not know it. (Surat ar-Rum, 30)
The information revealed in this verse is very important, for it reveals that human beings were created only to serve Allah. In other words, serving Him is their nature. Allah "breathed His Spirit" into them and created them out of nothing, and then molded them into human form from "a drop of water" (sperm) and sent them to this world for a short time. Human beings must know that they are Allah's creatures and constantly thank Him for this. Once they understand this truth, they will live in this transient world according to His purpose: to mature and prepare themselves for their real home, the Hereafter. This manner of living accords with human nature.
It is revealed in Surat ar-Rum 30 that humanity's only purpose is to serve Allah, yet most people are unaware of this great truth. Another verse tells us that a person's self causes him to forget that he is one of Allah's creations and the clear truth that Allah exists. For this reason, most people need someone else to guide them to the awareness of Allah's existence, to show them that they were created, and therefore are responsible to our Creator:
Does not humanity see that We created him from a drop? Yet there he is, an open antagonist! He makes likenesses of Us and forgets his own creation, asking: "Who will give life to bones when they are decayed?" Say: "He Who made them in the first place will bring them back to life. He has total knowledge of each created thing." (Surah Ya Sin, 77-79)
One's self often forgets that human beings are created by Allah. When people forget this, selfish ambition and passions begin to present them with new false deities to serve, whether animate or inanimate, besides the Creator Who "fashioned [him] into a man" (Surat al-Kahf, 37). They seek to please those deities, look to them for assistance, and start to love and fear them. However, these self-made deities are actually weak and powerless "servants," just like the people who created them. Unable to see this truth, they follow them and turn their backs on Allah. The Qur'an describes this total lack of gratitude:
Curse humanity for his ingratitude! From what thing did He create him? From a drop of sperm He created him and proportioned him. (Surah 'Abasa , 17-19)
Naturally, a society made up of such individuals is totally cut off from true religion and regards Allah as "something to cast disdainfully" behind its backs (Surah Hud, 92). Such a society develops a "herd psychology"that strengthens the already existing rejection of Allah. Since it knows nothing about Allah and the Hereafter, the Qur'an calls it an "ignorant society." No matter how many brilliant people it has in physics, history, biology, and other similar sciences, they do not have the conscious intelligence to recognize Allah.
Moreover, members of such a society adopt false guides. Not knowing Allah properly, they follow other paths and gradually become dependent on other powerless servants like themselves, follow their examples, and accept their words and actions as the truth.
Finally, such a society adopts a system that gradually blinds it to reality and blocks its intelligence and conscience. As a result, it cannot save itself. Its members cannot understand that Allah exists and will hold them accountable on the Day of Judgment. This closed system will last until Allah sends a guide to lead them to the truth:
The People of the Book who do not believe and the idolaters will not be cut off until the Clear Sign came to them: A messenger from Allah reciting purified texts. (Surat al-Bayyina, 1-2)2009-04-04 16:25:48


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TWO of the town centre's busiest streets have been decked out in colour as part of an initiative to ensure people have a safe and enjoyable World Cup.
Swindon Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has joined forces with a number of local schools and youth groups to decorate World Cup-themed bunting.
The bunting, which spans 350m, hangs in the heart of the town's night-time economy in Fleet Street and Bridge Street, and features flags from each of the World Cup nations.
The display was put together by schools and youth groups including Kingsdown School, Even Swindon Primary School, Ruskin Junior School, Swindon Women's Aid, BIOS youth group, Wiltshire Police cadets, Wichelstowe Scout and Brownie group and the Autism Centre.
It is hoped the colourful appearance of the area will promote a friendly, carnival atmosphere and encourage people to respect each other and their surroundings.
The bunting display is the latest in a number of initiatives aimed at reducing potential crime and anti-social behaviour during the World Cup.
Last month, Swindon CSP handed out yellow cards at Swindon Town's final home match of the season against Rotherham. The cards remind people of the need to behave responsibly during the tournament, particularly in licensed premises across the borough.
As well as listing England's Group D fixtures, the card warns that anyone committing offences in pubs and clubs could face a two-year ban from licensed premises and Swindon town centre.
Swindon CSP, Wiltshire Police and inSwindon have also put together a plan, supported by Swindon Town Football Club, to address issues such as violence and excess drinking during the World Cup.
A poster campaign and using taxi marshals to ensure fans get home safely during England games are just some of the initiatives that will be used by partner agencies over the coming weeks.
Coun Emma Faramarzi, cabinet member for housing and public safety, said: "We want everyone to enjoy this summer's World Cup, and I hope people will act in the well natured and responsible way that brings out the best of everyone during these fantastic events.
"The bunting the young people have produced is terrific and really brightens up the town centre. We hope it will add to a friendly, party atmosphere for all football fans during the World Cup's celebration of football."


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Results 281 to 300 of 382
Thread: Women women women women.... ugh
Censuring adults might even be more beneficial for youths than for the adults.
/armchair sociology
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Advertising is somewhat skewed though. As a general rule it's the products aimed at a specific gender which tend to utilise sex the most, and since advertisers like to target their advertising you're usually exposed to a lot more oriented on your own gender than the opposite.
The problem is, none of those sorts of studies - including the PDF linked - are particularly scientific. There is a reason experiments should be performed in a lab - in order to isolate dependent variables. Without doing that, correlation/causation errors are always a risk. I'm not saying such studies have nothing to tell us, but "real world" experiments are rarely definitive. You can show more passengers don't show up for train journeys on days when bad crashes occur. It doesn't prove we're precognitive.
As you guys have both said in other posts, I think education of the young is the answer, and censure of the old.
Last edited by RandomTangent; 13-05-2013 at 05:18 PM.
We are a society which is, indeed, almost all nurture, and studies like the one linked are pointing out that it's not just a "women are naturally less competitive than men" answer. After all, if such were the case, it would have been impossible to reverse the course in just two generations, which is exactly what's been accomplished time and time again in history.
Psychology is not particularly strong in solely explaining sociological concerns, any more than archaeologists are anthropologists. Hell, if you want to see how far a non-sociologist can go off-track when trying to delve into sociology, read Jared Diamond.
It isn't about what people can or cannot do, or what people should or should not do. It's about what people are predisposed to be better at, and what they might prefer to spend their time doing. I think when we talk about an equal society, we're often in danger of applying conventionally masculine value judgements to individual accomplishments, as if they're objectively more important. We define equality in terms of the number of women behaving more like the stereotypical man. In many ways, I fear we're all victims of the patriarchal value system in which we were born and raised. There is no desire for convergence between traditionally sexually dimorphic behaviours - there is no drive to temper the competitive behaviour of men, only to encourage the competitive behaviour of women.
Now, I'm not saying competitiveness has a gender-specific phenotypic underpinning to it, but let's imagine, hypothetically, it does. To measure social progress according to competitiveness, is to pick a metric which naturally disadvantages women. Worse than that, it betrays a sexist value judgement - that the things we should think are important in society are the things men think are important; the things which men are naturally predisposed to be good at. The message is that a woman's nature is inferior to a man's, and that she should work to overcome it - she should work to behave more like a man is naturally inclined to behave.
Last edited by RandomTangent; 14-05-2013 at 03:15 PM.
What I meant is that there is no conscious will to make men more like stereotypical women. Instead, most social policy seems concerned with getting women to adopt stereotypical male qualities (we live in different countries - maybe we have different experiences of this). Some stereotypical female qualities might be a consequence of having been oppressed for thousands of years, but some may just be phenotypic.
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body image?
After two hours of thought and typing, it's still very difficult to articulate what I want to say. I'm all for mixing up gender roles, more female heroes, and realistic body types BUT, I still want to be able to play fantasy games where I can be/see Conan, The Kingpin (Marvel Comics), Geralt of Rivia, Catwoman, Xena or Ellie (Borderlands 2). Surely the answer is in a broader mix/range of characters (as in real life) of both genders. Just please, don't take away the option to have muscles or boobs (or both!).
15-05-2013, 04:25 PM #290Originally Posted by "[B
For instance are some people more genetically pre-disposed to cancer, just because all things being equal they would be more pre-disposed to cancer doesn't actually make us just cave in to nature or shrug our shoulders.
I.e. I think being ultra competitive makes you a dick, even if you showed me definitive evidence that it is caused by genes/hormones I'd still say you're a massive dick. Further to that I'd just say more work should be put into educating children out of it.
Being ultra competitive might well make you a dick, but you've gone to an extreme to cast the argument in a more polarising light. I don't think we're talking about limitless competitiveness being a virtue.
Let's imagine men and women ARE genetically predisposed, for the sake of argument, to differing levels of competitive behaviour. If that is the case, what defines an equal society? One in which those basic natural differences are expressed, or one in which men and women are socialised such that they share, on average, an equivalent level of competitive behaviour?
Last edited by RandomTangent; 15-05-2013 at 04:55 PM.
If I may, I'm going to add some of my 'insights' (or what I believe are insights) in regards to the discussion between Nalano and Random Tangent. Sadly most of the things I read about this topic are in German and it's been in a while since I last read them.
I think there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the questions which parts of our behaviours are determined by our biological heritage and which are determined by our culture. The thing is that it's actually not viable to simply dichotomize these two things (one of my Professors used to say 'it's not about nature vs. nuture, it's about nature via nuture').
If we assume that we are indeed the product of some kind of evolutionary process via means of natural selection, than this means that every aspect of our behaviour is (to some degree) also the result of that process. This means that what we call 'culture' is also based upon this process.
This doesn't mean however that we are completely fixed on certain traits. First of all there is the wonderous thing which is called 'human diversity' which you could also descirbe as simple genetic variation between each individual human being. This of course means that (depending on which kind of trait you're looking) you'll always going to find a certain degree of variation between a certain amount of individuals regarding one specific trait.
Let's use an example and to make things a bit easier, let's use an example which is not related to our behaviour. Instead let us use the morphology of our cranial base instead. Why? Because people rarely get upset when you talk about bones instead of behaviour.
Generally our cranial base is described via three seperate character. Its inclination in regards to a (fixed) horizontal plane, the inclination of the Foramen Magnum (that's the big hole at the bottom of your head) and the inclination of the nuchhal plane (this is the area where the muscles of your neck are attached).
Now the important question here is, are these characters actually seperate entities, or do they correlate in one way or the other (e.g. is there a correlation between the degree of cranial base flexion and the inclination of the Foramen magnum).
In order to answer this question we need to look at it from different levels. First we need to find out which genetical factors are repsonsible for the formation of the cranial base in general. Then we need to find out when how and in which order these factors are executed during each individuals ontogeny. But this isn't enough. We also have to take enviromental factors into account. High stress, malnutrition, weird activity patterns, all these are factors which could alter the phenotypic expression of a certain trait, even though its general morphology is based upon genetic factors.
What does this mean in regards to behaviour?
Even though there might be a biological predisposition for male individuals to express aggressive and dominant behaviour under certain circumstances, it does not imply that this predisposition is expressed in each an every male individual in the same way. The same goes for female individuals.
The thing is however that we don't know very much about this at all. Even in regards to my morphological example, the true mechanisms how we come from the genotype to the phenotype is hardly understood, at leas when it comes to humans. This gets even more difficult when it comes to behaviour. Not only because our behaviour is insanely complex (or at least it appears to be) but also because it's a highly political topic. We all have different perceptions of what it means to be a human being we tend to project these things into research which tries to answer these questions.
To summarize: It's highly likely that our bahaviour, just like everything else, is somehow determined by our natural history. And if we consider sexual selection (which is an entirely different and confusing issue by itself) it's likely that this also means that men and women have different genetical predispositions in regards to certain kinds of behaviours. However this does not mean that we are 'predetermined'. It just means that under certain circumstances there is a certain likelihood that individuals from one sex (I'm using the term 'sex' here because 'gender' is a cultural term and inappropriate in this context) express a certain kind of behaviour. This however is heavily determined by numerous factors from which our culture probably is one, if not the strongest.
Sorry for interfering with this discussion in such a manner. It's just that always when somebody brings up human behaviour and biology I have a strong urge to say something, because it's usually full of misconceptions and false assumptions
i.e. Society isn't equal when men and women all behave the same, nor would that be the aim. But that's no excuse for dickhead behaviour, just because it's a natural expression of anything.
Last edited by Zephro; 15-05-2013 at 05:11 PM.
Last edited by RandomTangent; 15-05-2013 at 05:22 PM.
Last edited by RandomTangent; 15-05-2013 at 06:02 PM.
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Yes, but even if there IS a natural predisposition, that isn't necessarily meaningful.
Any genetic tendencies I've seen examined, which show a difference in male/female distribution, do so to far less an extent than the natural variance exhibited by humans anyway. So while there might be a slight bimodality to any given trait, it's not statistically significant when considering any one individual.
(This going to be a very long Post and I fear it's going to be very vague...)
Indeed. And as you say, our culture is the product of our biological heritage to some extent, so even if one could seperate them ostensibly, they would still be intertwined.
Exactly. Our genetics give us a tendency or a predisposition. Environment determines to what extent that genetic predisposition is expressed. That said, I took it as red we were talking about "males" and "females" on average in the context of this discussion. I.e. overall, are there phenotypic female and male behaviours which one would expect to be extant in society if all individuals were treated "equally"?
You have summarised here why I think discussing and evaluating sexual equality is an extremely complex issue. I'm not saying we shouldn't try, but I find the idea of simply comparing how competitive (substitute this with any other behavioural tendency you like) the sexes each are on average, and expecting them to be the same - striving for them to be the same - is overly simplistic. I believe we should strive for a society in which the male phenotype and the female phenotype are equally valued, rather than one in which they are intentionally homogenised into an average of the two.
However recently I asked myself the same question. Are we really trying to achieve equality or do we simply want everyone to behave like men?
But I am a man (although a very confused one) and I don't know how much I'm asking myself this just because I think I perceive this discussion in such a way.
This is also one of the reasons I normally try to stay away from those debates. I don't trust my own judgement.
I do have an opinion about this, it's mostly based on my general dislike of typology and the general tendency of humans to judge people based upon superficial characters rather then upon what they do. I don't think that anyone should ever have to justify themselves for doing what they want to do or even have to face adversity, just based upon things which lay outside their own control. But in regards to everything beyond that? There's just too much confusion in my head in order for me to formulate anything resembling an actual opinion. So I'm not even going to try.
Indeed. As I said above, it is not a question of what men and women are capable of, but rather what they are naturally predisposed to be better at - or how they are naturally predisposed to behave. This naturally leads to the question, as i mentioned in the post before this one: if we know we can override sexual dimorphism, should we? Should we strive for a society in which we attempt to socialise the sexes to be, other than physically, all but indistinguishable?
Don't get me wrong, I think evolutionary biology could tell us a lot about ourselves but in order to do that, we need to understand it better then we do now. As I said: We might know our Genome and it's possible for everyone with enough money to get his or her own sequence, but this sequence doesn't tell you much about who you are and it won't tell you much about how you became who you are.
You're also running at risk of commiting a natural fallacy by assuming that the 'natural' state is the ethically better one and it's best to avoid that completely. Nature is a very bad when it comes to moral guidance, since there is no moral in nature. We just happen to have the tendency to project these things into it in order to justify or own ideologies.
In regards to your other points. I think it comes down to whether you want a more individualistic or collectivistic society (the eternal struggle between freedom and equality, here it is again). I would like for people to be able to do what they want, irregardless of their predispositions; whether they're biological or cultural, or both or something else.
Wow that was a lot of stuff. I don't even know if any of this makes any sense. I probably contradicted myself a few time, but I'm a very confused person so that tends to happen.
Anyways, let's get to the next one:
However, I still think those are question we need to adress, if we want to learn anything about ourselves which (at least to some degree) goes beyond simple ideological believes and assumptions. It's those questions which drove me into evolutionary Anthropology (and somehow into a dead-end jobwise but who cares) and I think it's an interesting thing to talk about.
If we want to understand who we are, then we must understand every apsect of our existence and this includes our natural history, our biological heritage and how this history influences our lifes. And if everything I said here turns out to be horribly wrong than so be it, but you'll never learn anything if you're just repeating what's already known.
P.S.: What I also want to clarify a bit. All I'm trying to do here is to give an explanation. I'm not using biology to morally justify sexism or inequality or anything like that. I'm always a bit afraid to talk about things like that, because it always attracts a certain degree of hostility(?). And rightfully so, a lot of people did some very horrible things and used biological arguments to justify their actions.
P.P.S.: Just in case you're confused. My whole worldview is like some kind of ramshakle hut and consists of a weird mixture of materialism, a lot of relativism, a bunch 'antiismism' (you know, the ideology which thinks that ideologies are evil) combined with a good dose of cynicism and a lot of misanthropy which is probably based upon my general fear of other human beings.
The roof has a bunch of holes and it will probably collapse in a storm. But it's mine and sometimes it's quite cozy. In any way: If I happen to contradict myself, feel free to point that out. I won't be able to make a witty response, but at least it will help me to plug all those nasty holes.
Well that was interesting. Prepare for incoherent jamramblin:
Tangentially: nurture doesn't seem distinct from nature. If minds are physical products of causal (if probabilistic and chaotic) systems, then all social phenomena are "nature".
I've never seen "free will" formulated meaningfully even by eloquent compatibilists such as Dennett and Blackford. Individualistic or self-based shoring-up of the nature/nurture divide just isn't persuasive to me.
It's comforting to conceive of oneself a special snowflake, as a distinct and uniform "me". I personally don't cherish that idea though; I picked up meditation and learned that if I'm mindful and quiet for a while "I" eventually stops being noticeable (along with attendant problems of the will e.g. joy & suffering, love & hate, etc). It's also become acutely obvious to me that the running conception I have of myself outside of meditation (my "I") is a constantly-morphing amalgamation of influences, some of which are internal but most of which are extrinsic to my body and indeed beyond my direct control.
That may sound like woo but such a perspective doesn't require any nonsense or leaps of faith. There's plenty of ongoing (secular) research into mindfulness, for those interested.
Back OT: this is roundabout, but bear with me: should we force our modern dislike of capital punishment on foreign cultures which promote capital punishment? We must moralize to answer that question. The secular morality would look something like, "human lives have innate value and should not be forcibly ended". I don't think this claim is true in a strict sense, but nonetheless I think it has pragmatic value. But is it better than other competing ideas?
I think secular moral notions are better than religious ones by a sort of Occam's Razor virtue; they make the fewest assumptions possible. The assumption in this case is "human lives are self-justifying" as opposed to "deities and/or dogmas justify human lives". So in a strict sense, the most stripped-down assumption about the value of life is superior to all others, therefore, yes, we should force the view on foreigners.
Inevitably, though, one must decide between strict adherence to a moral principle and a utilitarian interpretation of it and this complicates the crap out of things. For example: is it preferable to intervene in foreign genocides if it requires killing of belligerents? Should we force our cultural values on foreign societies if it entails prolonged social unrest in said societies? More broadly: how much subsumption of the individual into the collective is proper?
To me these sorts of things are take-them-as-they-come irresolvable issues, and (bringing things back to feminism) I think the same is true of our conception of gender. In other words, "what it means" psychologically to be a man or woman (as opposed to being physiologically male or female) is fluid and irresolvable in universal terms and therefore must be considered case-by-case in contextual frameworks. ofc physiology is also fluid but that only reinforces the point, to wit: some generalizations may be useful and prevalent in culture but we shouldn't treat them as universally or absolutely true (e.g. "killing is bad" and "distinct notions of gender are useful" and "females have vaginas and males have penises").
That was a long way to say not a lot. I guess a concise formulation of the ethical prerogative would be: we should strive for a society in which sex and gender aren't unfair roadblocks and in which body types and sexual preferences are not unfairly shamed or discriminated against. That's not as succinct as "thou shalt not murder" but "sexism and puritanism are counterproductive" doesn't seem adequately illustrative.
Apologies for blathering. This is a fascinating topic!
Last edited by Jambe; 16-05-2013 at 08:42 AM.


text:
Did you know?
The Goodman Gallery was involved in the Art Against Apartheid exhibition in 1985.
The galleries on Johannesburg's Art Strip collectively represent much of what South African art has to offer. The cluster of galleries in the suburb of Parkwood has grown steadily, with the biggest concentration situated along the north-south concourse of Jan Smuts Avenue.
These Johannesburg art galleries benefit from a mix of co-operation and competition, representing a diverse cross-section of South Africa's modern art industry.
Warren Siebrit's Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery deals predominantly in works by black pioneers of South African art, including such pivotal artists as Gerard Sekoto, Gerard Bhengu and Gladys Mgundlandlu. David Krut Projects, next door, exhibits prints by South African contemporary artists like Penny Siopis, William Kentridge and David Koloane. Artspace, also alongside, has a reputation for good deals on a range of modern art.
These three galleries have been joined by Resolution Gallery, focusing on digital and new media art, and Gallery 2, which promotes both established and emerging South African artists.
Across the road, the Goodman Gallery is a leader in contemporary art and sculpture, representing artists such as David Goldblatt, Kudzanai Chiurai and Hasan and Hussain Essop. Further up the road, the Kim Sacks Gallery exhibits ceramics and artefacts from across Africa, as well as cutting-edge designer pieces from South Africa.
Art One Sixty, also on Jan Smuts Avenue, sells works by new artists and has a constantly changing schedule of exhibits.
The Everard Read Gallery, just off Jan Smuts Avenue, is also an important part of the Art Strip. It is South Africa's largest commercial gallery and exhibits a range of national and international artists. And, just a few blocks down 7th Avenue in Parktown North, is Gallery Momo, an alternative art venue for artists of an experimental bent.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Art One Sixty
Tel: +27 (0) 11 447 4967
Email: email@example.com
Gallery 2
Tel: +27 (0) 11 447 0155/98
Email: email@example.com
Artspace Gallery
Tel: +27 (0) 11 880 8802
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The Everard Read Gallery
Tel: +27 (0) 11 788 4805
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
David Krut Project
Tel: +27 (0) 11 880 4242
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Gallery Momo
Tel: +27 (0) 11 327 3247
Email: email@example.com
Goodman Gallery
Tel: +27 (0) 11 788 1113
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Kim Sacks Gallery
Tel: +27 (0) 11 447 5804
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Resolution Gallery
Tel: +27 (0) 11 880 4054
Email: email@example.com
Warren Siebrit's Modern and Contemporary Art
Tel: +27 (0) 11 327 0000
Email: email@example.com
How to get here
The Art Strip' stretches along Jan Smuts Avenue, through Parkwood and Parktown North to Rosebank. The area is well-served by public transport and close to the Rosebank Gautrain station.
Get around
Most of the galleries are in close enough proximity to walk from one to another. If laziness sets in, however, there are plenty of buses and taxis on Jan Smuts Avenue.
What will it cost
Entrance to all the galleries is generally free of charge unless there's a special exhibition on. Check the gallery websites for details.
What to eat
Parktown North has a number of restaurants and fast food outlets, as does the nearby 4th Avenue in Parkhurst.
Best buys
Contemporary South African art.


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This weekend the eyes of the world will be on the city of Jacksonville as we host the 2011 Global Day of Prayer. It's an opportunity for different denominations of Christians to demonstrate their ability to look past differences to worship, pray together and unite. The organization boasts a desire to help communities become involved in social issues like redeveloping urban areas, feeding the poor, and providing clothing to those who are in need.
It's a high honor for Jacksonville to be chosen as host city -- it's the first time this event has been held in the United States. Past host cities include Jerusalem, Hong Kong and Cape Town, South Africa.
The event will be broadcast live worldwide, and here at Channel 4 we are proud to be the only station in Jacksonville providing coverage of this historic event. On Saturday night from 8pm until 10pm, we'll have coverage from inside Veterans Memorial Arena. We hope you'll make a point to watch.
Copyright 2011 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
The automatic spending cuts, called "the sequester," are getting closer to becoming a reality and members of Congress are sounding the alarm. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said this week that the spending cuts will likely go into effect Mar. 1 despite opposition in both parties.
He says it's now unlikely that Democrats and Republicans will reach a last-minute deal. No one is exactly sure what the sequester cuts will mean for agricultural programs. The sequester would require all government agencies to cut 5.3 percent from their budgets for the remainder of the year, but "some" programs are exempt.
The government is expected to honor legal agreements, such as Conservation Reserve contracts, for example. But it's not yet clear whether direct payments will be exempt from cuts. Farmers can begin signing up for the direct payment program next week. But don't spend 'em before you get 'em – the USDA has to find places to trim its own budget by 5.3 percent, and direct payments could be on that list.
With or without the sequester, budget cuts are still very likely through the rest of this year. A group of Senate Democrats have been working on plans to replace the sequester, and that plan does include cutting direct payments to farmers.
President Obama has also talked about re-allocating money already approved, and while specifics haven't been released, other uses for the direct payment money is expected to be part of the Administration plan, too. And if direct payments are eliminated before the new farm bill is developed, that money (which totals about $25 billion over 5 years) would not be a part of the budget baseline and thus not available for other farm programs.
Another big target for budget cutters is crop insurance. With recent developments, the costs of the crop insurance program are now bigger than the cost of direct payments. The new CBO baseline projected that Congress will spend 20 percent more on crop insurance than on other commodity programs over the next decade.
Most farmers and farm groups believe that crop insurance has become the most important part of the farm safety net right now and do not want to see funding for the program reduced. (There is intensive lobbying against that underway.)
Crop insurance payments for the 2012 crops now total more than $14 billion with claims still pending. This is a record payout, exceeding the previous record of $10.84 billion in 2011. Insurance payments are expected to exceed $16 billion by the time all the claims for the 2012 crop are processed. Farmers pay about $4 billion for insurance premiums each year.
About 85 percent of the corn, soybean, and wheat acreage had crop insurance coverage in 2012; for cotton acreage it was close to 90 percent.
USDA updated the forecasts for 2012 and 2013 farm income this week. According to the new data, net cash farm income in 2012 did exceed the record high recorded for 2011 after all, at $135.6 billion despite the drought. Total net farm income fell from $117.9 billion in 2011 to $112.8 billion in 2012, however.
The reason for the decline was a nearly $12 billion decline in the value of inventories. A big rebound in inventories is expected for 2013, up $15.9 billion, pushing total net farm income to a record high of $128.2 billion. However, 2013 income declines on the cash side, with lower crop cash receipts and higher cash expenses.
The next USDA farm income update will be in August.


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CYBEROPTIX | online shop
The perfect gift for a postnuclear boy. 40$
This is an interesting tie, maybe not so appropriate during this heightened time of terrorism. Displays an innocuous clock on the front and wired explosives on the backside of the tie.
A mix of poppies and ginko leaves, this tie is available in a ton off different colors and also as a skinny tie. This seems like a really classy, unique, and versitile design.Added 10 Years Ago from Cyberoptix
A abstract design of broken pipes, and it comes out beautifully. Is available in a variety of colors.Tags: suits, mens accessories, ties, Mens Clothing, mens fashion, neckties, men's ties, guys clothing, guys accessoriesAdded 10 Years Ago from Cyberoptix
A very slick tie, and would look great for dressing up. Features a clean white background with an old fashioned ship design.Added 10 Years Ago from Cyberoptix


text:
DeceasedOnline staff have been busy preparing burial & cremation records for Hale aka Altrincham Cemetery and Stretford Cemetery for inclusion in their online cemetery records database.
These cemeteries come under the care of Trafford Council, situated just south of Greater Manchester. The records comprise scans of burial registers, grave details and cemetery maps. Hale records date from December 1894 – October 1999 and Stretford from February 1885 – November 1999.
More records from Trafford Council are to come online in due course. They are
Dunham Lawn Cemetery
Sale Cemetery
Urmston Cemetery
Altrincham Crematorium


text:
Introduction To Flight
The book summary and image may be of a different edition or binding of the same title.; Book reviews are added by registered customers. They need not necessarily buy book.; These books are NOT available for reading online or for free download in PDF or ebook format unless specially specified.; Price can change due to reprinting price change by publisher or sourcing cost change for imported books.;Price can change even after customer buys the book due to inability to monitor pricing of vast number of books.In such cases,customer is intimated to pay additional price or refund will be done immediately after order cancellation is confirmed by the customer. www.4littlebread.com/Books is the biggest online bookstore in India for sale of books at best price - fiction literature audiobooks study guides novels story books rare books textbooks and books by popular authors. These are available in various editions and bindings e.g. paperback and at best discount.;


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Did you know?
The Drakensberg is Africa's highest mountain range south of Kenya's Kilimanjaro.
The Drakensberg is a superb family holiday destination, with lots for people of all ages to do during the day. While it's not as famous for golf as its coastal counterparts, the mountainous region has a range of courses with superb surroundings.
You could hire a car from the airport in Johannesburg and drive towards Durban, stopping in the northern Drakensberg. The premier course in this region is Champagne Sports, an 18-hole beauty that receives rave reviews for the way it is maintained.
Right next door to Champagne Sports is Monks Cowl, a nine-hole course which is great for beginners and golfers on a budget. There are a few challenging dog-legs and several par-3s just begging for a hole-in-one.
Amphitheatre Golf Course in Bergville is another excellent value-for-money, nine-hole establishment, surrounded by majestic mountains. It has a rustic, rural vibe about it, which is why you may really enjoy it.
The southern Drakensberg, about two hours' drive from Durban, is home to Drakensberg Gardens Golf Club, which is situated on a picturesque resort that also offers outdoor activities like fishing and horse riding. Air doesn't come fresher as you complete your 18 holes.
Golfers who stay at the nearby Sani Pass Hotel can use the nine-hole golf course on the premises, free of charge.
Underberg Country Club, just off the R617 as you pass the town centre, has a nine-hole course and regularly hosts some fun competitions. At the clubhouse, you are likely to meet some very entertaining local characters who will share stories of the course and the area.
Most golf establishments at both the southern and northern Drakensberg offer club hire, and golf carts for those really hot summer days where the walk seems a bit much.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Drakensberg Tourism
Tel: +27 (0)36 448 1557
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.drakensberg.org.za
How to get here
Rent a car in either Johannesberg (four hours' drive to the northern Drakensberg) or Durban (two hours' drive to the southern Drakensberg).
Best time to visit
Drakensberg golf courses are at their greenest between December and April.
What will it cost
A round of 18 holes in the Drakensberg will cost between R120 and R400.
What to pack
If you are visiting in summer (November to April) you may need waterproofs and if you are visiting during winter (April to October) you will need warm clothing for the evenings.
Where to stay
If you are visiting the northern Drakensberg, accommodation is available at Champagne Sports Resort and the nearby Dragon's Peak Resort. In the southern Drakensberg, Drakensberg Gardens is renowned for its accommodation and its golf.


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Jane Goodall, the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, writes:falasha wrote:can you give an example of gorilla culture?
"Often I am asked if the chimpanzees show any signs of
religious behavior. I think perhaps their "elemental" displays
are precursors of religious ritual. Deep in the forest
are some spectacular waterfalls. Sometimes as a chimpanzee
– most often an adult male – approaches one of these
falls his hair bristles slightly, a sign of heightened arousal.
As he gets closer, and the roar of falling water gets louder,
his pace quickens, his hair becomes fully erect, and upon
reaching the stream he may perform a magnificent display
close to the foot of the falls. Standing upright, he sways
rhythmically from foot to foot, stamping in the shallow,
rushing water, picking up and hurling great rocks. Sometimes
he climbs up the slender vines that hang down from
the trees high above and swings out into the spray of the
falling water. This "waterfall dance" may last for ten or
fifteen minutes."
Read more on apes' culture in her article, "Primate Spirituality":


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Hi guys,
Totally new to the forum and also to Python. I require to teach myself how to code and program in python but need a number of questions clarifying before i embark upon this quest.
Firstly i want to use a book or resource which would teach me how to competently learn how to code and understand the principles behind python. I have very very limited programming knowledge and consider myself a complete beginner so require a book or resource which would teach me everything practically from scratch? So what do people suggest i use??
Secondly which version of python should i be learning in, ive read that version 3 is better however is not used as much as version 2. I am a secondary and college teacher so i need to learn in order to deliver GCSE and A-Level curriculum which has heavy programming content and i need to ideally use the most recent i assume unless you would suggest using the older version.
Your help would greatly assist me in developing myself and breaking the programming barrier that has been infront of me for a number of years. I am extremely excited at mustering the courage to begin and your help will really set me along my way.
Thanks in advance


text:
In this eggplant salsa recipe, eggplants, shallots and garlic are grilled, then mashed together and seasoned with minced chile and fish sauce.View Grilled Eggplant Salsa Recipe
This Italian-style omelet is delicious with just about any herb combination; try parsley, dill, chervil or marjoram.View Herb & Onion Frittata Recipe
Chorizo lends this Mediterranean-inspired spinach soup recipe a smoky paprika flavor, and since the chorizo is sautéed first, much of the fat is drained away. Be sure to buy dry-cured, salami-style Spanish chorizo, not soft, Mexican-style sausage by the same name.View Chickpea, Chorizo & Spinach Soup Recipe
Picadillo, a Latin American-style hash, is usually made with ground beef. This one uses bison or lean beef and plenty of spices including chili powder, cumin, oregano and cinnamon.View Slow-Cooker Picadillo Recipe
The economical cube steak is elevated to new heights in this recipe. The salad, with chopped arugula, basil, tomatoes, onion and sharp Italian cheese, is the picture of summer simplicity; all it needs is olive oil and lemon to dress it.View Cube Steak Milanese Recipe


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(CNN)Here's a look at the life of billionaire and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Birth date: September 29, 1936
Birth date: September 29, 1936
Birth place: Milan, Italy
Father: Luigi Berlusconi, bank clerk
Mother: Rosella (Bossi) Berlusconi, homemaker
Marriages: Veronica Lario, (1990-2012, divorced); Carla Dall'Oglio, (1965-1985, divorced)
Children: with Veronica Lario: Luigi, Eleonora, Barbara; with Carla Dall'Oglio: Piersilvio, Marina
Education: University of Milan, Law, 1961
Other Facts:
He has been the subject of multiple corruption and bribery trials.
He has been the subject of multiple corruption and bribery trials.
The Forza Italia Party was named for "Forza, Italia!" (Go, Italy!), a chant heard at Italian national football team games. Berlusconi owns the AC Milan football club.
He has been treated for prostate cancer.
1962 - Founds Edilnord, a real estate and construction firm.
1962 - Founds Edilnord, a real estate and construction firm.
1974 - Creates the closed-circuit cable television station Telimilano Cavo.
1978 - Forms Fininvest, a holding company under which he would eventually own television networks, department stores, the AC Milan soccer team, insurance companies, bookstore chains and real estate.
1980 - Launches Canale 5, Italy's first national commercial television network. Italia 1 follows in 1982 and Rete 4 in 1984.
February 19, 1986 - Buys the AC Milan football (soccer) club.
1988 - Buys La Standa, Italy's largest department store.
January 26, 1994 - Resigns all his positions at Fininvest to enter politics, but still holds stock.
1994 - Forms the Forza Italia Party and is elected prime minister.
December 22, 1994 - Is removed from office after nearly nine months, after losing the support of other political parties.
1996 - Loses the election for prime minister to Romano Prodi.
December 1997 - Is sentenced to 16 months for accounting fraud at Fininvest. The sentence is later suspended.
July 1998 - Is sentenced to two years and four months and fined $5.6 million for corruption/illegal party financing, then is sentenced to two years and nine months for bribing tax inspectors. An appeals court overturns the corruption charges in October 1999. The bribery conviction is thrown out in May 2000.
May 13, 2001 - Wins the general election with 18.5 million votes to become prime minister of Italy.
February 10, 2004 - Becomes the first leader to visit Libya since Moammar Gadhafi's promise to end development of weapons of mass destruction.
April 20, 2005 - Resigns but is sworn in as the prime minister again after forming a new government three days later, on April 23.
September 25, 2005 - Cleared of charges of allegedly funneling money in 1991 through the holding company All Iberian to fund the Socialist Party of former Prime Minister Bettino Craxi and of false bookkeeping/cover up of the transfers.
March 10, 2006 - Prosecutors decide that Berlusconi should be put on trial for judicial corruption.
April 19, 2006 - The Italian Supreme Court confirms Romano Prodi's April 9 election win, but Berlusconi doesn't concede and resign until May 2.
October 30, 2006 - Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills are ordered to stand trial on charges of corruption. Berlusconi is accused of paying Mills $600,000 in exchange for favorable testimony in two cases involving the former prime minister.
November 26, 2006 - Faints while addressing a rally on live television. Doctors later state that he has an irregular heartbeat.
December 19, 2006 - Receives an implantable pacemaker at the Cleveland Clinic.
January 16, 2007 - Charges of tax fraud before 1998 and receipt of stolen goods are dropped against Berlusconi and Mills, because the offenses have passed the statute of limitations. Charges of balance sheet fraud, tax fraud and embezzlement in 1999 and 2000 still stand.
March 13, 2007 - The corruption trial against Berlusconi and David Mills begins. Both Mills and Berlusconi face prison terms from four to twelve years if convicted.
September 24, 2007 - The trial is moved to London to aid witnesses who claim traveling to Italy would be too difficult.
February 21, 2008 - Berlusconi's trial is postponed until after the election.
April 14, 2008 - Wins the Italian parliamentary elections to become the prime minister for the third time.
May 8, 2008 - Is sworn in.
October 7, 2009 - Italy's Constitutional Court strikes down a 2008 law that would have given Berlusconi immunity from prosecution.
December 13, 2009 - Berlusconi is attacked at a rally in Milan and suffers a broken nose and several broken teeth.
December 14, 2010 - Survives parliamentary confidence vote in the lower house by three votes. The win sparks a demonstration in Rome where nearly 100 are injured.
January 14, 2011 - Magistrates in Milan reveal they are investigating whether Berlusconi paid for sex with an underage girl and then abused his power by trying to cover it up.
January 18, 2011 - Italian media leak transcripts of wiretapped conversations with Karima El Mahroug, the alleged underage girl Berlusconi had sex with when she was 17, and with other women.
February 15, 2011 - An Italian judge rules that Berlusconi will be tried on charges of sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power.
February 28, 2011 - Trial on charges of tax fraud resumes. Berlusconi is accused of reducing Mediaset's tax liabilities by purchasing US. movie rights at inflated prices and then creating illegal slush funds.
March 21, 2011 - The corruption trial against Berlusconi concerning David Mills resumes.
April 6, 2011 - The trial on having sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power opens.
April 11, 2011 - The fraud trial resumes in Milan.
July 8, 2011 - Berlusconi tells Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica that he will not run again when his term expires in 2013.
September 1, 2011 - Businessman Gianpaolo Tarantini and his wife Angela Devenuto are arrested for allegedly blackmailing Berlusconi with information linked to a pending sex scandal accusation. An arrest warrant is also issued for Valter Lavitola.
September 16, 2011 - Prosecutors submit transcripts of approximately 100,000 wiretaps of Berlusconi, made in 2008 and 2009, to a court in Bari. The prosecutors have accused eight people of paying young women to attend parties at the Prime Minister's private home.
October 14, 2011 - Berlusconi remains prime minister after a 316-301 vote of confidence in him and the Forza Italia Party.
October 18, 2011 - Is cleared of charges of tax fraud related to his commercial broadcast company, Mediaset. Company executives have been under investigation for allegedly failing to pay $45 million in corporate taxes and other fiscal crimes from 2000 to 2003.
November 8, 2011 - The office of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano announces that Berlusconi will resign when the country's budget is confirmed by the senate.
November 12, 2011 - Resigns from office.
November 22, 2011 - Singer Mariano Apicella releases a new album called "True Love." All the lyrics on the album were written by Berlusconi.
February 25, 2012 - A judge dismisses the corruption case, ruling that the statute of limitations has expired.
October 26, 2012 - Is convicted of tax fraud, sentenced to four years in prison and barred from public office for five years.
December 8, 2012 - In a message posted on his website, Berlusconi says he will run for prime minister again.
March 7, 2013 - Is sentenced to a year in prison for publishing details of a political rival's secretly recorded telephone conversations. Berlusconi's lawyer says he will appeal.
May 8, 2013 - An Italian appeals court upholds Berlusconi's four-year prison sentence for tax fraud.
June 24, 2013 - Berlusconi is found guilty of having sex with an underage prostitute and of abuse of power and is sentenced to seven years in prison. He is also barred from holding public office.
August 1, 2013 - Italy's high court upholds the four-year prison sentence Berlusconi received in October for tax fraud. The high court also orders a lower court to reconsider whether Berlusconi should be banned from public office.
October 2013 - Berlusconi is preliminarily indicted on allegations he bribed a senator to change sides and support his party in 2006.
November 27, 2013 - The Italian Senate by a vote of 192 to 113, with two abstentions, expels Berlusconi from parliament.
April 15, 2014 - Is sentenced to one year of community service for his conviction on tax fraud.
July 18, 2014 - An Italian appeals court overturns Berlusconi's June 2013 convictions for sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power.
July 8, 2015 - A court in Naples, Italy, convicts Berlusconi of bribing a senator to change political factions, which ultimately brought down Romano Prodi's government in 2008. Berlusconi is sentenced to three years in prison and banned from holding public office for five years. However, since the statute of limitations is due to expire before any appeals proceeding can take place, Berlusconi will not serve prison time.
June 7, 2016 - Is hospitalized in Milan with a heart-related problem.
March 2017 - Ranked No. 199 on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, with a net worth of $7 billion.


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A lot of time and heart have gone into the preparation of this first YTM mission in Asia.
For the first time missions organized by the Youth for
the Third Millennium have reached Asia, specifically in the Philippines.
For five days this November, from the 6th to the
10th, twenty youth missionaries went door to door visiting poor
families in Malvar, Batangas. Malvar is a two-hour drive from
the capital city, Manila.The twenty-one missionaries, eager and ready to
serve, consisted of eleven young men and eight young women
from the three most prominent universities in the area, namely
UA&P, Ateneo, and La Salle. Leading them were Father Daniel
Polzer, a priest of the Legionaries of Christ, and Marcelo
and Mimi Fiaes, a Regnum Christi couple dedicating their lives
to evangelization. Their mission was to spend time with the
families of the surrounding parishes, inviting them to prayer and
to participate in the sacraments on a regular basis, as
well as attending to their physical and spiritual needs. Let
San Andres, one of the villages the missionaries will be visiting.
us all pray that they will have touched the lives
of the families they visited. In addition, that this mission
may be the precursor of many missions organized by YTM
in the Philippines.


text:
New Brunswick Community College provides post-secondary education in more than 90 programs. Learning through hands-on training, state-of-the-art equipment and real-world experiences with strong pathways to your desired career makes NBCC a great choice for college in Canada.
You want to create a better life for yourself. You want the education that gets you the career. You want to stay in New Brunswick. You want to see the world. In two years or less, you can graduate from NBCC with hands-on experience and the skills employers want.
You can find support from our experienced instructors who are leaders in their fields and amazing student services team. You can explore applied research, learn about becoming an entrepreneur and use your new skills to make the world a better place.
You can transform your life and your community. We will help you.
Full-Time Programs
Online Courses
Part-Time Courses
How to Apply
Admission Requirements
Tuition & Fees
Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards
© Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy


text:
Bring carrots, water, 1 cup Edensoy, sea salt and potatoes to a boil in a medium soup pot. Simmer over medium low flame until tender. Heat oil in a skillet and sauté onions, garlic, cashews and ginger until the onions are translucent. Combine all ingredients and puree, in two batches, in a blender or food processor with the remaining Edensoy. Return pureed soup to the soup pot and heat slowly. Do not boil. Serve and garnish with parsley.
Per serving - 325 calories, 11 gram fat (29% calories from fat), 14 gram protein, 47 gram carbohydrate, 5 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 421 milligram sodium


text:
It's official: Smithfield Foods' $4.7 billion sale to a Chinese meat processor is one step closer closer toward being completed.
On Tuesday, Smithfield Foods shareholders voted to approve a deal to sell the pork producer to Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd.
According to USA Today, more than 96 percent of the votes were cast in favor of purchase, clearing the last major hurdle to seal the deal.
Smithfield announced the acquisition by Shuangui in May, the largest takeover of a U.S. company by a Chinese firm. Both companies have said that the deal is expected to close soon after the shareholder vote. Read more here.
The deal came under scrutiny by Congress as opposition to the deal grew louder. Starboard Value LP, an investor in Smithfield Foods, Inc., initially tried to derail the deal. However, last week Starboard announced it had dropped its fight and would not formalize an alternative takeover bid.
Meatingplace reports that Smithfield executives, including CEO C. Larry Pope, stand to make millions on the sale. The executives have repeatedly tried to reassure critics that nothing will change in the way Smithfield does business or the company's senior leadership.
"It will remain business as usual — only better — at Smithfield, and we look forward to embarking on this new chapter," Pope said in a news release announcing the vote results.


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This is my monitor at work:
Coworkers passing by are beginning to think I'm somewhat vain. Don't ask about that sumo camera. Just… nevermind.
Anyway, the second beta of Flash Player 10/Astro includes native support for cameras conforming to the Video4Linux v2 API (V4L2). The support is not complete, however, owing to the fact that there are dozens of different colorspaces that a V4L2 camera can provide to a user application. I suspect that this is a manifestation of the do-it-yourself spirit of Linux, i.e., if you need support for a particular format, you need to code it yourself.
So the first pass at V4L2 support in the Linux Flash Player contains handlers for quite a few different pixel formats. Only 2 of them have been tested so far. (I should point out that, of all the cameras in the picture above, only 2 work in V4L2 and also output a usable format.) The rest of the formats were just implemented blindly.
So I'm hoping to get your help in testing these formats.
My corporate masters have authorized me to release the source code for a small utility to gather basic data about a V4L2 camera:
- Source code, build instructions included; or if you're not comfortable with building…
- Pre-compiled x86_32 binary
An example run:
$ ./v4l2-formats /dev/video0 /dev/video0 is a V4L2 device named 'VF0410 Live! Cam Video IM Pro' /dev/video0 is capable of video capture /dev/video0 is capable of streaming capture /dev/video0 supports 'YUV 4:2:2 (YUYV)' (raw format, V4L2_PIX_FMT_YUYV) /dev/video0 supports 'MJPEG' (compressed format, V4L2_PIX_FMT_MJPEG)
Please download the utility and run it on each /dev/videoN device you have on your system. You will ideally have one such device for each camera attached to your system: /dev/video0, /dev/video1, etc. Then, go ahead and post the results in a comment below.
Also, it would help if you could test out the V4L2 capabilities of the current Flash Player 10 beta and let me know, along with the foregoing technical data, whether or not your camera gives you a picture through Flash, without crashing, and if it looks correct. Check out this snowfall SWF for a good example.
One more thing: If you include your email address in the form's email field (not in the actual message content), and you report that your camera does not work correctly, I may contact you directly if I deem that you could be useful for collecting more data.
Technical notes: The official documentation recommends VIDIOC_TRY_FMT in order to determine camera capabilities. In my experience, VIDIOC_TRY_FMT lies. I have a camera that claims to support every format in V4L2. I found VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT to be more reliable.


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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Authorities say a man has been shot by a Columbus police officer after he fired his gun into a house on the city's east side.
Thomas M. Bell II is in stable condition at a hospital after being shot in the midsection on Thursday.
Police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner says police received a call at around 6:35 p.m. about a man firing shots outside a house. He says when officers arrived they were directed to the home's rear, where they began chasing a suspect. During a confrontation, an officer shot Bell.
Weiner says the incident appears to have stemmed from a domestic dispute. Earlier Thursday, a woman was granted a protection order against Bell but Weiner says it hadn't been served before the shooting.
Police recovered a handgun and ammunition.


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BATH head coach Mike Ford was not about to begrudge Exeter their victory as the Devon side booked their place in the LV= Cup final at their Sandy Park home next weekend.
The Devon side pulled off a 22-19 semi-final victory over Bath at the Recreation Ground, surviving a last-minute penalty by home fly-half Tom Heathcote which would have taken the tie into extra-time.
Full-back Luke Arscott scored two of Exeter's tries, Tongan wing Fetu'u Vainikolo a spectacular third from his own half and fly-half Henry Slade kicked two conversions and a penalty.
"We wish them good luck in the final. We'll now have a week off to regroup, to get over the knocks and bruises and also to get mentally fresh for what's coming in the rest of the season," said Ford.
"That team was good enough to win. There were a load of opportunities where we could have created pressure and scored more points but we weren't able to control the ball at crucial periods of the first half.
"Second half, they scored two individual tries which put them on the front foot. Again, we nearly found a way at the end to get a draw. We're not too despondent because we've still got a lot to play for this year in the Amlin Cup and obviously the Premiership, which is massive to us."
Exeter head coach Rob Baxter has told his players to enjoy the build-up over the next week to the biggest match in the club's history, against Northampton next Sunday.
Baxter said: "I'm not going to go around saying 'Oh, it's just another game guys.' We're going to prepare like it's a massive cup game - because that's what it is.
"We're going to enjoy the week and getting ready for it. It's fantastic for our guys to be playing in cup finals. We said right from the start when we got into the Premiership, if we survived and worked hard there would be big games down the line - and this is one of them."
He added: "We'll keep our feet on the ground, though. There weren't masses of celebrations among the players. They realise they have got a very tough game against a very good Northampton side.
"We've scored plenty of tries against Northampton before at Sandy Park and that's what we've got to look to do. It makes us true to ourselves when we go after games and look to score tries."
Bath stunned Exeter with a try inside 30 seconds from number eight Leroy Houston and Baxter admitted it had been a "sucker punch".
He said: "We took time to recover but gradually we worked our way back into the game. You could feel that when we turned up - to sunshine and a firm ground - the game was always going to be decided by great breaks. And it went our way today.
"In the end, we stayed composed enough to maximise a couple of opportunities. We gave away a fair bit of ball but we are a team that can score tries.
"The momentum shifted a few times. It started with Bath and their try and shifted to us with Fetu'u Vainikolo's try which came a bit out of nowhere."


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Gillaspie caps Peavy's fine effort with walk-off hit
Ninth-inning single plates winner; righty picks up complete-game win
CHICAGO -- With Dewayne Wise on second and nobody out in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game between the White Sox and Marlins at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday night, Conor Gillaspie had one thought in mind as he faced reliever Ryan Webb.
"I was actually thinking pull there and obviously that's a situation where I should be looking to hit the ball on the right side," said Gillaspie, whose game-winning single to left brought home Wise for a 2-1 victory before 23,705. The win moved the White Sox (23-24) as close as they've been to .500 since their record was 7-8 on April 17.
"It's a little bit of luck, too," Gillaspie said. "It was a good pitch to hit and maybe because I was thinking pull, it kind of shortened me up a little bit. I just kind of slapped at it, but I was ready to hit early to try to get him over."
As soon as the left-handed-hitting Gillaspie made opposite-field contact off Webb (1-3), who also was the losing pitcher on Friday, it seemed like a first-and-third, nobody-out situation for the South Siders was in the offing. It seemed especially true when Wise, who doubled to left to open the ninth, didn't get a good break off second.
But third-base coach Joe McEwing and Wise decided to challenge Juan Pierre, who for all his accomplishments, does not have a strong throwing arm. Wise easily beat the throw home, as the throw from left ended up toward the pitcher's side of the plate.
"When the ball was hit, I kind of froze, so in the back of my mind I thought he was going to hold me right there because I didn't get a very good jump coming off of second," Wise said. "He was waving his arms so I had to go."
"You've got a guy that runs pretty good, but you're going to be aggressive," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You're still going to have a guy at second base if he makes the throw. Joe was just being aggressive."
Those four ninth-inning pitches from Webb and the ensuing results turned the night for White Sox starter Jake Peavy (6-2) from great to heartbreaking and back to great again. Peavy recorded his 14th career complete game and seventh with the White Sox, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out five and walking two.
Peavy threw 117 pitches, including a slider that he overthrew to Derek Dietrich, who hit the 1-2 pitch for a game-tying homer with one out in the ninth. The right-hander eventually stranded Chris Coghlan at second, after walking him and balking him there, to give Gillaspie a chance for his heroics.
If the White Sox had not rallied like they did, Peavy readily admitted it would have been a tough night of sleep for him.
"Just a bad, bad pitch," said Peavy of the same backdoor slider used in the seventh to strike out Dietrich looking. "You hope to win those if you go nine and give up one. I was excited that we found a way as a team to get it done."
"He's a competitor. He pounded the strike zone. He was in and out," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond of Peavy. "He changed speeds when he needed to. It was nice to put a little pressure on him with Dietrich getting that big hit, but other than that, he was in complete control."
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco matched Peavy's success, holding the White Sox to Alexei Ramirez's run-scoring double in the third over 7 2/3 innings. He yielded just eight hits, while striking out six.
Despite the Marlins' dismal 13-36 record, victories were no guarantees for the White Sox as they now have a 12-14 record this season against teams under .500. There are no style points taken away, though, for the White Sox taking two walk-off wins against one of the Majors' worst teams.
In fact, the White Sox moved to within four games of the Tigers for the top spot in the American League Central thanks to Saturday's finish. The White Sox have not been closer than that since April 27, but with one more game against the Marlins on Sunday and then four against the Cubs in a home-and-home series this week, Ventura's crew has a chance to make up some ground.
"Baseball's such a funny game because everybody feeds off each other," Gillaspie said. "We went through some pretty rough times the first month and a half of the season. It's good to kind of get everybody on the same page. Everybody's excited and you can feel it in the clubhouse."
"That's the White Sox way," said Peavy with a smile. "Nothing is easy around here, is it?"
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Assistant Professor of Fashion Marketing
Sheila Johnson Design Center
James brings his extensive industry experience in merchandising, product development, international business and fabric research and development to Parsons School of Design. His current passion for sustainable design allows him to travel extensively to source innovative fabrics and research sustainable raw materials and manufacturing processes. He shares his knowledge and expertise with fashion design and merchandising students by taking innovative curricular approaches to teaching by building a variety of onsite, online, and hybrid learning environments that are unique and challenging.
In 2015 he joined C.L.A.S.S. www.classecohub.org the Milan based eco-smart platform to launch a new division, C.L.A.S.S. Education. The goal is to share knowledge, introduce ideas, and present smart eco-solutions to empower like-minded fashion professionals and motivate them to transform their current business model to set forth positive change. C.L.A.S.S. Education develops dynamic customized short and long-term programs centered in Milan that specialize in design synergy, innovative textile research and strategic communication. The programs introduce fashion professionals to a new generation of textile technologies and training that include onsite textile supply chain assessment, hands-on material analysis, luxury fashion tours, and interactive Eco-Fashion workshops.
C.L.A.S.S. Education is the brainchild of long-time collaborators, Giusy Bettoni, founder and CEO of C.L.A.S.S. and James Mendolia, creative-thinker, experienced product developer and educator. Together they have an extensive international network of expert collaborators and resources. firstname.lastname@example.com
September 2015 London, England
Designs on eLearning - Hybrid Experiencial Learning: Study Abroad
November 2015 Seville, Spain
International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
January 2016 Milan, Italy
Innovative Textile Solutions: Eco-Fashion Workshop
sustainability, product development, merchandising, online education


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When we look at the plants and trees around us, we see that their branches are covered in large numbers of leaves and in season, flowers. Looking at them from a distance, we might imagine that these branches and leaves are arranged haphazardly, at random. The fact is, however, that where the branches emerge from the stem or trunk, the sequence of the leaves on those branches and even the symmetric shapes of flowers are all established beforehand by means of fixed laws and miraculous measures. Plants have been implementing these laws to the letter ever since the day they were first created. In other words, no leaf or flower comes into being by coincidence.
Approximately how many branches a tree will have, where they will emerge, how many leaves there will be on a branch and the way these will be arranged are all determined beforehand. In addition, every plant has its own rules regarding branching and leaf order. Scientists can describe and classify plants solely in terms of these characteristic sequences. The extraordinary thing is that a poplar in China, for example, is aware of the same measures and rules as a willow in England, and implements them in the same way. Of course, it is not chance that creates these mathematical calculations unique to each plant, and in the most aesthetic manner. It is Omniscient Allah Who creates this beauty and this order with flawless calculation.
As is revealed in the Qur'an:
He to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs. He does not have a son and He has no partner in the Kingdom. He created everything and determined it most exactly. (Surat al-Furqan:2)
These sequences, which vary according to each variety of plant, may be circular or spiral. One of the most important consequences of this special arrangement is the way that one leaf does not cast shade on any other. The order in the arrangement of the leaves around the stem is set out in specific numbers according to what in botany is known as leaf divergence. This sequence in leaves is based on a complex calculation. If N is the number of turns from one leaf around the stem until we come to another leaf on the same plane, and if P is the number of leaves on each turn, then P/N is referred to as leaf divergence. These levels are ½ in grasses, 1/3 in marsh plants, 2/5 in fruit trees (for example, apples), 3/8 in species of bananas, and 5/13 in bulbous plants. 1
The way that every tree from the same species implements the ratio set out for its own species is a great miracle. How, for example, does a banana tree know about this ratio and act upon it? According to this calculation, when you start from one leaf and take 8 turns around it, you will come to another leaf on the same plane. And you will encounter three leaves on these turns. Wherever you may go, from South Africa to Latin America, the ratio will remain the same. Just this ratio in the arrangement of leaves is significant evidence that living things did not come into existence by coincidence, but that they were created in line with an exceedingly complex calculation, plan and system. It is Allah, the Lord of sublime knowledge and wisdom, Who encodes such a ratio in the genetic make-up of living things and creates this information and feature for them.
One of the most frequently encountered arrangements in trees is pairs of leaves and branches that emerge exactly opposite one another. After the seed sprouts, it opens up two rudimentary leaves, which leaves are set out 180 degrees opposite one another. The two leaves that sprout above these first two also grow opposite one another and at right angles to the first pair, for the greatest possible distribution between them. In this way, there are now four leaves spaced every 90 degrees on the stalk. In other words, if we look at this branch from above, we see that the leaves are so arranged as to constitute a square, and that the upper leaves thus do not shade the lower two. 2
This is a sight we are quite familiar with. However, most people never think about why it is that seeds germinate up in this way. The fact is, however, that this is the result of planning and order. The aim behind it is to prevent leaves from shading one another and to enable them all to make maximum use of sunlight.
The more complex spiral form is also often to be seen. To observe this spiral action in plants, tie a thread to the base of one leaf and then extend the thread to the branches and knots, make a loop around the base of every leaf you come to, and keep the curves as regular as possible. Using this method, you will see that each leaf on an elm or lime tree is 180 degrees away from the neighbouring leaf on the branch; thus the thread will turn halfway round the branch for every next leaf. Leaves on beech trees are set 120 degrees apart, with 1/3 turns per leaf. The ratio for apple trees are 144 degrees and 2/5 turns, and for black pine, 5/13 turns. If you have an interest in mathematics, you will see that these exact figures cannot be the work of chance, and that each unit is the total of those preceding it (as shown below). Each two numbers exhibit the same simple calculation: 1, 1, 2 (1+1), 3 (1+2), 5 (2+3), 8 (3+5), 13 (5+8), 21 (8+13), 34 (13+21), 55 (21+34), 89 (34+55), 144 (55+89), 233 (89+144), 377 (144+233), and so on.
This special progression is known as a Fibonacci series, named after the mathematician Fibonacci who discovered it. This rule embodies aesthetic perfection, and is used as a basic measure in such disciplines as painting, sculpture and architecture. This same sequence is frequently encountered in nature, and serves as an important key to understanding the fine calculation and order in plants.
Ratios beyond 3/8 can be found in seaweed, cabbage, or in the arrangements of seeds on the head of a sunflower, which go in spirals in both directions. The florets of these plants turn in spirals as they circle around the center from right or left, and the number of seeds per turn in the spirals is determined according to the Fibonacci series. For example, the center of a daisy uses three consecutive fractions: 13/34, 21/55 and 34/89. In other words, the number of florets in each rotation around the center, and the angles involved, are all determined beforehand. 30The Fibonacci series appears very frequently in nature. The fractions produced using these numbers give us what is known as the Golden ratio. In other words, when we write down the consecutive fractions in the Fibonacci numbers, as shown below, the divisions that result possess this Golden ratio, signifying complete aesthetic perfection: 1/1, 1/2, 2/3, 3/5, 5/8, 8/13, 13/21, 21/34, 34/55, 55/89 . . . .
As we have seen, the sequence obtained by this means matches the consecutive numbers in the Fibonacci series. We see this sequencing in pine cones (5/8, 8/13), on pineapples (8/13), in the centers of daisies (21/34) and in sunflowers (21/34, 34/55, 55/89) in the numbers of righthand and lefthand spirals. The ratios emerging as a result imparts aesthetic beauty to flowers, trees, seeds, sea shells and a great many other living things in nature.
The place occupied in nature by the Golden ratio is by no means limited to this, but also manifests itself in the ideal leaf angles. As we know, plant leaves are arranged to make the maximum use of solar rays. For example, the angle between the leaves in a plant with a 2/5 leaf divergence is:
2 x 360 degrees / 5 = 144 degrees. 31
There are more numerical miracles in leaves. The surfaces of leaves also have structures that can be understood as the result of specific mathematical calculations. The vein from the center of a leaf (or midrib), and the smaller vessels extending from it to the outer edges of the leaf, and the tissues in between that are nourished by these, all endow the leaf with a distinctive shape and structure. Although leaves come in countless different shapes, they still preserve these same precise measurements.
The fact that leaves are arranged and shaped according to specific mathematical formulae is one of the most convincing proofs that they have been specially created. The sensitive measurements and balance we see in a plant's molecules and in its DNA also appear in the plant's external appearance. In addition to providing such vital functions as receiving maximum benefit from sunlight, these formulae bestow great beauty on the plant, and present an extraordinary picture when combined with the colors resulting from combinations of specific arrangements of molecules. This Golden Ratio is an aesthetic rule well known to and used by artists. Works of art produced in line with it possess an aesthetic appeal. The plants, flowers and leaves designed in accordance with this rule—in turn, imitated by human artists—are all examples of Allah's sublime creative artistry.
Allah reveals in the Qur'an that He has created all things to a measure. Some of the relevant verses are:
As for the Earth, We stretched it out and cast firmly embedded mountains in it and made everything grow in due proportion on it. (Surat al-Hijr:19)
. . . Allah has appointed a measure for all things.(Surat at-Talaq: 3)
. . . Everything has its measure with Him. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 8)
. . . Allah takes account of everything. (Surat an-Nisa': 86)
1. Dr. Sara Akdik, Botanik, ("Botany") İstanbul: Şirketi Mürettibiye Publishing, , 1961, p. 106.
2. Guy Murchie, The Seven Mysteries Of Life, 1978, Abd, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 57


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When I was a sophomore at Wheaton, I took a class on literary and critical theory, aptly named "Approaches to Literature," with Paula Krebs. Toward the end of the course, after having attempted to master reader response, deconstruction and postcolonial criticism as lenses though which to read a book, Professor Krebs made the comment that learning how to apply these theories was "an arduous pleasure." This notion—one that has always resonated with me—has now woven itself inextricably into my educational creed.
Since graduating with the Class of 2005 as an English literature major, I have gone on to teach seventh-grade English in an inner-city school; teach at the high school level in independent boarding schools; and lead outdoor education trips for disadvantaged youths. I have learned myriad lessons and gained insights from all of my experiences, and have appreciated all of them for what they were—opportunities for intellectual and personal growth, not as a means to an end. [Read more...]


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Tagged: 'Trevor Hoffman'
Atlanta Braves Closer Craig Kimbrel Awarded August Delivery Man of the Month
September 5th, 2013 at 9:36 AM
After assuming the closer role for the Atlanta Braves in 2011, following the retirement of Billy Wagner, Craig Kimbrel's performance has been dominant. On Wednesday, he was awarded the Delivery Man of the Month for August by Major League Baseball. It was the third time Kimbrel has won the award. Kimbrel led...


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A NEWSAGENT is celebrating after winning a top gong at the Pro-retail awards, organised by Palmer and Harvey.
Chris Englefield, of BW News in Bridgwater, scooped the Retailer of the Year award at the ceremony hosted by comedian Dara Ó Briain.
Prizes are handed out to some of the most outstanding forecourt, convenience store and retailers in the country.
Chris said: "Receiving this award is such an amazing honour.
"I never thought I would win, as there are so many star retailers out there and it certainly wouldn't have been possible without the support of my staff and customers."


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EasyPhpAlbum Lite is a clean, fast, easy to navigate, and very easy to install online photo album for your Web site. By adding a single 30KB file to a directory of photos, your album is online. It features an unlimited number of album directories and sub-directory depth, menu and image caching, inline images, customized viewing per visitor, and more. It requires no configuration or editing. It is based on CSS with no tables and validates as W3C CSS and XHTML.
MySql Slide Show Class is a class that creates slide show galleries from images in a MySQL database table. It has methods for supporting Ajax and server side programs and for adding and updating images and information in the database table. The database can contain an image link or the raw image data, subject and description text, and other information.
PHP Photo Gallery is a powerful photo gallery script. It offers easy installation and easy management. It can create an online photo gallery with unlimited albums, subalbums, and photos. It can rotate, crop, lighten, darken, blur, and otherwise modify photos online. It allows you to upload many images at once. It supports watermarking with an image or text, user comments and ratings (optional), automatic thumbnail generation, template driven customization, interactive slideshows, the ability to extract EXIF data, and integrated search engine optimization, and RSS feeds. It can show random photos, the latest photos, or favorite photos.
Pipho is a Web-based image gallery that is optimized for the iPhone and iPad. It is based on the original iPhone Photos application. The presentation layer is the Jaipho JavaScript gallery. It will read images from the desired folder, create resized thumbnails and slide images, and also will dump JavaScript read images part. In addition, it will read text files as descriptions for both gallery and slides. It has a mechanism for iPhone and iPad detection.
ReadyPhotoSite is a content management system for Web site management and maintenance. Though it works for any type of Web site, the product was created with special consideration for photographers and other artists. It features professional design and a user friendly admin area. You can choose the basic design and layout to start with and completely update all its elements from the admin area. It includes a page builder, support for an unlimited number of Flash photo and video galleries, a slideshow creator, an MP3 track editor, news and events editors, tools to manage the Web site logo, company name, menu names, menu order, and backgrounds.
Saint CMS is a combination CMS and eCommerce package built atop a rapid development framework. It is high performance, easy to use, and provides convenient tools for creating sites with custom content types. It includes a built-in blog, an image gallery, a slideshow, a file manager, a shop with downloadable product options, an event logging system, a WYSIWYG editor, and more.
A Dart Web server.
A PHP/MySQL tile engine for Google Maps.


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Investment consultants continue to urge savers to take the risk of stock market investment when investing for their retirement.
Mick Calvert of Watson Wyatt is quoted in an interactive graphic on FT.com dealing with the pension crisis as saying:
"Strategically and looking long term, now would seem to be the time to be putting more rather than less into equity markets if its' affordable."
A more considered view comes from Ros Altmann, an independent pensions expert. She says: "There is no financial or economic rule that says just because you invest in the stock market you personally are going to do better than risk-free assets."
People who want security and cannot afford to take risks would be driven to index linked gilts, or some sort of protected equity investment, she says.
Relying on the equity bet has let down many people close to retirement. Prices are lower now, but there is no expectation market volatility is a thing of the past. So what makes it safe to go back to relying on equities, and how long is the long term?


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 6/12/2013 (1355 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Boy, it seems like the year-end is suddenly coming at us like a runaway train.
We are busy reviewing all of our client accounts and CRA records, with an eye to uncovering opportunities to offset gains or recover taxes paid on gains in past years.
This is all while we also plan for their Dec. 31 annual reports and the annual update on their financial plan and retirement income projections. It's a busy time, as my team will tell you (and someone mentioned there's a big holiday coming up that needs preparation, as well).
So how do you reduce your taxes for 2013?
First of all, if you have potentially significant tax claims or complicated issues, consult your tax adviser now. As with many things, you can't go back after the deadline.
With investments, you want to minimize tax on capital gains. Prepare by finding out from your investment supplier the total of your realized capital gains for 2013 on sales of investments, and the expected year-end distributions on any mutual funds you own.
Half of the net of gains over losses is taxable in the current year. However, you can offset gains by selling investments that are in a loss position.
Net losses realized in 2013 can also be carried back to offset gains claimed in any of the previous three tax years, by filing a T1A Request for Loss Carryback when you file your 2013 return. This can actually get you back taxes that you paid in the past, which is particularly satisfying.
Ask your investment adviser for a realized capital gains report for the year-to-date, to evaluate the need to realize losses. Then compare the market values of your current investments to the book values, to identify potential losses to be realized by selling.
If you still want to own the stock or fund, you can buy it back 31 days later. An alternative is to buy a similar investment that is expected to act the same way in the near future.
Other Deadlines
Donations to charitable organizations made before Dec. 31 will create a combined federal and provincial credit of about 45 per cent (after your first $200 of annual donations), so give generously this month.
Donating investments that have capital gains in-kind to charities will get you the donation credit, while exempting the capital gain from tax.
Make any planned withdrawals from your TFSA (tax free savings account) before Dec. 31. This would mean you could pay it back into the plan in 2014. If you defer until January to withdraw, then you must wait until 2015 before re-depositing.
It's the same deadline for 2013 contributions to registered education savings plans and registered disability savings plans, both of which can benefit from government grants. The RDSP is limited to people who qualify for the disability tax credit.
People who turned 71 in 2013 and have RRSP contribution room have a Dec. 31 RRSP deadline (unless they have a younger spouse), as RRSPs must be converted to RRIFs before year-end. If these people wait until the usual RRSP deadline of 60 days after year-end, they will be prohibited from contributing, as it will be the year in which they turn 72.
Dec. 31 is the annual deadline for alimony and maintenance payments, medical expenses, child care expenses, child fitness and artistic activity fees, public transit passes, moving expenses, political contributions, investment counsel fees and safety deposit box rental fees, repayments to your corporation that might otherwise become taxable, and several other tax-related expenses.
Deductible business expenses, which mostly relate to business owners and commission salespeople, must generally be incurred within the year to be deductible.
If you can deduct depreciation on capital items, such as office equipment or a car, buying before year-end allows you half of the usual full year capital cost allowance (depreciation deduction), because it is your year of purchase for the item. If you wait until January, you will still only get half the regular rate, but for all of 2014.
So take 20 minutes this weekend and review your situation for these opportunities. It may pay off big.
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Dollars and Sense is meant as an introduction to this topic and should not in any way be construed as a replacement for personalized professional advice.
David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP, is a financial planner and adviser with Christianson Wealth Advisors, a vice president with National Bank Financial Wealth Management and author of the book Managing the Bull, A No-Nonsense Guide to Personal Finance.