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If you don't need the exact pixels and just need a reference why not go find a youtube walkthrough of the game and skip to that part? Also that's really cool and we'd definitely like to see some pics here. When you said the first time you meant when they were still children, right?
Well the video quality may not be at it's highest but then again, pixel games don't translate very well/clearly to recorded video format.


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What of the Investigation into the Tragic Fire at the Youth Hostel?
It is coming up on ten months since the tragic blaze at the mile twenty-one, George Price Highway compound of the Princess Royal Youth Hostel. A three-room wooden structure that was used to house the female resident minors went up in flames. Fatally trapped inside the burning building were three girls—sixteen year olds Ana Melinda Carlos and Shadisha Arnold and fourteen year old Elizabeth McKoy. An investigation was swiftly launched, and earlier this year the investigators – former Family Court Director Margaret Nicholas and psychologist Florence Dillett – released their report, which led to several persons facing disciplinary charges and even dismissal. But criminal charges are still in play as a result of the rarely-used device of a coroner's inquest, conducted by the Magistrate's Courts. C.E.O. Judith Alpuche provided an update.
Judith Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development
"We have been pushing forward with our programming, lots of training for our staff. In terms of programming, lot of programming, we have pushed through these plans that we have. Having weekend programs, having children completely engaged, ensuring that we have robust education and alternative education programs because that's been one of the issues we have worked on very diligently. There are some students within that facility that can go to school in the community and we encourage that when possible. And then there are certain children, because they are flight risk or because of their legal status or even their individual needs, are unable to come off of campus. So we have always had educational programs but we have been pushing forward to look at not only from an academic or literacy point of view, but also looking at skills building, because for this population, it is very, very important. So we have our agriculture program that is well underway. We are really pushing this to have a better sustainability also for the institution. Very shortly, we will introduce metal work and building technology, etcetera."
C.E.O. Alpuche says the Nicholas/Dillett report remains under wraps as not to prejudice potential disciplinary and criminal charges, some of which are still making their way through the Public Service Commission as some of those involved are public officers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Creating an Environment That Encourages Resilience
Resilience takes many forms. In an ideal world, when something breaks, we roll up our sleeves and fix it with enthusiasm. This is akin to what my son did when he was four and a bookshelf fell on a fairly complex Lego masterpiece we had built: He said, "I can be creative and build something else."
More often, however, we feel frustrated and sad before fixing the problem. The challenge is to be able to move forward from a failure and learn from it, since failures are inevitable in any complex activity. To be successful, you need to create environments where teams and the people on them are free to experiment and where resilience is encouraged.
One common barrier to creating organizations that embrace resilience is a culture that admonishes the appearance of negativity. There are companies where expressing frustration in the face of a challenge is strongly discouraged. While an environment of constant complaining can be unhealthy, complaining that is done consciously can be a force to clear the air and discover problems to solve. Frustration can motivate you to change things, while denying that a problem exists can lead to complacency , which is unlikely to lead to improvement.
A leadership coach once shared a technique to help avoid destructive complaining while also allowing people time to vent: acknowledge that the group wants to complain and set a time limit, after which we can start to move toward finding solutions. With this approach, "frustrations" become "problems" and "challenges," and with that reframing comes the possibility of progress.
Another barrier to creating an environment that supports resilience is fear of failure. Having opportunities to make changes and experimenting in environments with limited risk builds resilience, according to a New York Times article about how some schools in England are creating playgrounds that, while still safe, expose children to elements of risk. These playgrounds have stacks of two-by-fours, crates, loose bricks, a mud pit, and a tire swing, and a placard informs parents that risks have been "intentionally provided, so that your child can develop an appreciation of risk in a controlled play environment rather than taking similar risks in an uncontrolled and unregulated wider world."
Much as a playground with limited risks can encourage experimentation and learning for children, creating environments at work that acknowledge that some failures will happen—and supporting the efforts team members make to recover—can help your organization become more effective. You cannot predict every challenge your team will face, but by embracing the existence of risk and providing opportunities to experiment, you can be more productive.
To improve and grow, you need to take risks, and by definition, risky ventures won't always be successful. Create environments where risks are expected and well managed, and help team members feel comfortable with the possibility that they may fail in small, recoverable ways.


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Element 455 + Epson TM-M30 POS Hardware Bundle - Element 455 POS Terminal, Epson TM-M30 USB/Ethernet Receipt Printer, Cash Drawer & Paper Rolls (24qty)
Brand: Element
Element 455 + Epson TM-M30 POS Hardware Bundle. This Touch Screen Point of Sale Bundle allows you to add your own POS Software.
The Element 455 + Epson TM-M30 Bundle is a great POS Bundle which is compatible with a range of POS Software on the market. This is a hardware bundle which gives you the freedom to add your preferred software package.
This bundle includes:
1 x Element 455 15" Touch POS Terminal with Window 10 IOT OS
1 x Epson TM-M30 USB+Ethernet Thermal Receipt Printer
1 x VPOS EC-410 Cash Drawer with 5 Notes & 8 Coin Sections
1 x Box 80x80 Thermal Paper Rolls (24qty)
Check out the below details for individual product specs!
Element 455 15" Touch POS Terminal
The Element 455 was born to make life easier when it comes to serviceability and upgradability. The new Element 455 is a modular 15 inch All-in-One POS Terminal equipped with a VESA mount bracket in both the back cover and the stand. The aesthetic design of the chassis and the Stand allow the Element 455 to be used in various places with the convertible function between a desktop POS and a wall-mounted POS. Seamless integration of modular peripherals such as MSR, iButton, Fingerprint, Second Display and Customer Display are all available, making it perfect for the retail and hospitality industries.
- Ergonomic and Stylish
- Easy Peripheral Connectivity
- Wall Mountable
- Superior Serviceability and Upgradability
Element 455 All-in-1 POS System, Black
Motherboard: D86U
CPU: Intel Skylake Celeron 3955U 2.0GHz
Storage Device: 2.5 inch SSD 128G
Display: 15 inch LED panel (eDP, 1024x768, 350 nits)
Touch screen: 15 inch projective capacitive
PSU: 90W power adaptor
Expansion: 1xMini PCI-E slot
I/O port:
3x COM(RJ45), 4x USB3.0, 2x USB2.0, 1x LAN(RJ45), 1x VGA, 1x DC Jack, 1x Cash Drawer(RJ11)
With Die casting housing
With Foldable stand
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 Value(10.0.14393) 64 Bit pre-installed
This product has a 3 Year Return to Base Warranty
Epson TM-M30 USB+Ethernet Thermal Receipt Printer
Compact Epson TM-M30 Thermal Receipt Printer with USB & Ethernet (LAN) Interfaces.
The Epson TM-m30 printers' sleek design saves valuable counter space, while ensuring simple integration with your existing mobile or desktop POS environment, providing intuitive functionality and allowing for front or top load configurations.
These point-of-sale printers were engineered to print receipts from virtually any mobile device or desktop PC.
Sleek & Innovative Design
Smallest footprint in its class and ideal for counter spaces.
Easily interchangeable top or front load configuration
Easy Setup & Operation
Print from virtually any tablet/mobile device or desktop PC
Easy wireless setup with SimpleAP2
Efficient power management via onboard USB3
Versatile Compatibility
Dual interface with USB & Ethernet
ePOS(TM) print technology for easy setup with iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices
Windows API for desktop PCs
VPOS EC-410 Cash Drawer
The VPOS EC-410 Cash Drawer is a solid steel cash drawer perfect for all Point of Sale Environments. By adding the under counter brackets you can easily mount the drawer giving extra security and make the installation neat & tidy.
- Solid Steel Construction - 5 Note Holders, 8 Coin Slots
- 2 Cheque/Media Slots
- Steel Runners & Derlon Rollers
- 24V Solenoid - Designed for connection to receipt printers
- 1.6M Cable with RJ12 plug (Standard Receipt Printer Connector)
- Black Colour Only
- Dimensions: 410mm (w) x 415mm (d) x 110mm (h)
- Can connect to Receipt Printer or Manually Opened by Key
- 3 Year Return To Base Warranty


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In the News-March
A recent article that came out in TIME magazine caught my attention. It was written by Dr. Richard Saul and the title is "Doctor: ADHD Does Not Exist."
So does ADHD really exist?! Read this article and decide for yourself.
-Dr. Katie
The post In the News-March appeared first on Coastal Integrative Health.


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Ready to have some creative fun with learning Japanese? Start your journey now! Find lessons, drills, quizzes and a community of students ready to put you to the test!Start Learning Japanese Now
|happiness, blessing, fortune
|carry, luck, destiny, fate, lot, transport, progress, advance
|fond, pleasing, like something
This list contains all words and kanji related to the JLPT N3 test. Official word and kanji lists are not available for these tests;...
This list excludes people, animals, plants, and places. .
い adjectives are the true Japanese adjectives. な adjectives are the pseudo-Japanese adjectives. Both are equally important to learn.


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A new U.S. administration took office, so a new provocation (or two or three) was staged by Pyongyang. Equally predictably, America and its allies denounced North Korea for defying "the international community." And Washington was filled with chatter about the need to do something to demonstrate resolve and leadership.
It's a foolish game that the North enjoys. Why do U.S. officials continue to play?
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has spent most of its nearly 70 years acting as the outsider. Even during the Cold War it played the Soviet Union and People's Republic of China against each other. Today the DPRK and Beijing are more frenemies than allies.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that Pyongyang has little respect for "the international community," a meaningless construct used to back whatever position the speaker happens to hold. Rushing to the UN Security Council to discuss the supposedly grave threat to world peace will be of no use. After all, even the U.S. treats the judgment of that supposedly hallowed body as a matter of convenience—useful when backing American policy, as in the case of North Korea, but of no account when at odds with Washington's approach, such as the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Precisely what will the Trump administration do in response? What can it do in response?
Worse, the DPRK almost certainly thrives on the wailing and gnashing of teeth that inevitably follow North Korean misbehavior. To the extent that the North desires international attention and hopes to acquire leverage against its antagonists, most notably South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., such an adverse reaction is gratifying. Having far away Europe complain about the threat to world peace is a pleasant extra, like a glass of cognac after a fine meal. What other nation otherwise of no account is able to win such notice around the globe?
But the biggest problem is Washington's determination to demonstrate its impotence. Precisely what will the Trump administration do in response? What can it do in response?
Almost certainly nothing.
The U.S. faces the same unpalatable choices as usual. Military strikes would be a dangerous gamble, based on the hope that the North would not retaliate and trigger the very conflict Washington has helped deter for more than six decades.
UN sanctions were twice enhanced last year after nuclear tests, only after painful negotiations with China, and have had no evident effect on North Korean behavior. The next step would be to target Chinese entities dealing with the North, which would further strain relations with the PRC. That would almost certainly make Beijing less willing to cooperate with a Washington administration already seen as both hostile and unpredictable.
Finally, there's negotiation. The president suggested the possibility while running for president, but Pyongyang is unlikely to disarm, especially after seeing the U.S. and Europeans seize their opportunity to oust Libya's Moammar Kaddafi after he gave up his nuclear and missile programs.
Moreover, even if the DPRK was inclined to negotiate seriously, in the past the U.S. has refused to put on the table incentives of sufficient interest to the North, including a peace treaty, diplomatic recognition, and troop withdrawals. Kim Jong-un appears more interested than his father and grandfather in spurring economic development, but he seems no less committed to acquiring a nuclear arsenal and missile force.
In which case U.S. officials would do better simply shutting up for a change. Better instead to downplay the DPRK's latest actions and consider revising policy toward Pyongyang.
No doubt, North Korea's emergence as a potentially significant military power is undesirable. But it is a reality. The North's nuclear and missile programs can't be wished away. What to do?
First, recognize that the DPRK does not threaten the U.S. That is, Kim Jong-un may be evil, but he is not stupid. The regime won't attack America, which would result in North Korea's destruction. Rather, Pyongyang desires to deter Washington from attacking the North, whether to achieve regime change or back the South in an inter-Korean conflict. To the extent that North Korea's weapons might be used against American bases in Asia or the U.S. homeland, it is only because Washington has chosen to remain militarily entangled in the Korean Peninsula. Otherwise, the DPRK would have no interest in America.
First, recognize that the DPRK does not threaten the U.S. That is, Kim Jong-un may be evil, but he is not stupid.
Second, there's no cause for a continued U.S. security commitment or force presence in the South. The ROK far outstrips its northern antagonist in every measure of national power except military, and the latter is a matter of choice, not necessity. South Korea should take over responsibility for its own defense. America can ill afford to forever subsidize prosperous and populous allies.
Third, Washington needs to contemplate what policy to take in response to a nuclear North. The U.S. could continue to maintain a so-called nuclear umbrella over the South. On the other hand, that creates the possibility, however slight, of American involvement in a nuclear exchange over interests that are modest at best. Rather than risk American cities to protect Seoul, it might be better for the ROK to develop a counter-vailing deterrent. Indeed, that possibility (which could lead to a Japanese bomb) might be the shock necessary to induce greater Chinese pressure on the North.
Fourth, the U.S. needs to persuade the PRC to do more. And that means addressing Beijing's interests—its fear of the impact of a North Korean collapse and resulting reunification that strengthens an American "containment" strategy against China. The PRC won't act against its own interests. Washington needs to make Chinese cooperation worth Beijing's while.
Fifth, the U.S. should engage the North. That doesn't mean liking the regime, endorsing Kim Jong-un's rule, or ignoring human rights violations. However, Washington routinely has diplomatic relations with adversaries, including the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The fact that the latter posed a severe military threat to America made such contact even more important.
Refusing to exchange diplomats makes no sense. Regular if modest contact at least would offer a small window into the North. Moreover, Washington needs to reduce the perceived threat presented by the U.S. The DPRK has several reasons for wanting to build missiles and nukes, but the most persuasive is defense: how else to deter the hostile global superpower from using its vast military?
Moreover, Beijing long has insisted that Washington needs to improve relations with the North as the basis for denuclearizing the peninsula. Only by making such an effort is the U.S. likely to win greater Chinese cooperation. Indeed, there would be no better evidence of North Korea's malign intent than to make an attractive offer to Pyongyang which was ignored or rejected.
If the DPRK is the gravest security threat facing America, as some have claimed, that demonstrates how secure the U.S. is. Today the North is able to attack only those forces Washington chooses to put in harm's way. And it is only because the U.S. does so that North Korea has any incentive to attack. Finally, Pyongyang would do so only as a last resort if Washington intervened against the North.
Thus, the best U.S. strategy would be to exercise "leadership," but of a responsible sort. Washington should downplay the threat, step back militarily, offer China incentives to step forward, and engage Pyongyang. The status quo hasn't worked. It's time to try a new approach.


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Event cancellation.
It is with huge regret to announce that Eternal MMA is cancelling the June 1st Melbourne show.
Eternal MMA has delivered 44 shows without cancelling one until this point. This is something which we have been very proud of. Cancelling the Melbourne show is due to permit and license timings plus administrative and logistical issues, which are completely out of our control and that we have been unable to work around.
We always aim to put our fighters first and deeply apologise to anyone who has been affected by this most difficult decision.
Melbourne is still very much in our plans and this set back has only made us more determined to come to Victoria.
Any enquiries, feel free to message or call us.
Cam O'Neill
Eternal MMA


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Restaurant Review: Oshio
For a strip mall joint, the Fifth Avenue address that hosts Oshio has enjoyed a robust culinary history. It was once a Hawaiian joint, and then a GoCupz Korean place. Now it's a sushi stop.
The basic bones of the place are similar to its former incarnations, but with clean lines and a neutral color palette. The new Oshio is sleek and chic. The counter that once took orders now frames an open kitchen and sushi bar. The address has grown up.
As is befitting a grown-up restaurant, the place has a more upscale feel and an accompanying more upscale* menu. The treatment of the ingredients matches the prices. The items in the dishes have come across as super-thoughtful, and downright delightful.
Case in point, the relatively simple Kimchi Pancake ($11) is more than just pickled kimchi and Bisquick. The rust-colored pancake holds a defined savory, roasted flavor as it cradles its embedded leaves of kimchi, carrots, painfully fresh corn kernels, and bits of green onion. The pancake itself never gets boring enough to fully justify use of its accompanying sauce, but it's there for you, if you require extra brine.
The Stone Pot Bimbimbot ($14) was one fun thing after another. Based on nicely clumpy rice, the choice of meat determines the price, and the selected chicken took a distinct backseat to the vegetable elements. Memorable were the the velvety slices of flavor-infused zucchini, and the pillowy mushrooms with an almost fermented flavor: the duo were impossible to stop eating, and it was frankly upsetting when the last morsel was gone. Not that the rest of the pot is disappointing: you can't live on squash and mushrooms alone, so there are sprouts, carrots, greens and a fried egg speckled with toasted sesame.
For bulgogi junkies, no opportunity to partake can be passed up. Bulgogi is on the menu ($19). The kitchen builds it on good-quality beef (there is a chicken option, though), so every bite delivers the sweet and salty satisfaction for which the dish is famous. The kitchen also adds vegetables to the mix, including broccoli, mushrooms, bok choy and carrots, which break up any possible textural monotony.
In the sushi department, there are a wide range of options. You can piece it out with something modest such as Tuna ($3). There's also a selection of fancier, funkier sushi rolls. The Grandview Roll ($15) offers a heady, heavy combo of shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, and it's topped with a spicy crab salad and crunchies.
While the selection of edibles on the menu is not particularly huge, it can feel paralyzing when the options also include a bevy of tempting-sounding items such as ramen, tempura and teriyaki. There's also a special menu at lunch, and a brunch menu (at the moment, labeled "coming soon") that will feature breakfast tacos made with bulgogi, Spam & eggs, and something adventurous-sounding that involves tater tots and kimchi.
You can find Oshio at 974 W. Fifth Ave.
For more information, visit oshioskb.com.
*Oshio is "more upscale" but still casual: you can wear a t-shirt and shorts and fit in just fine.


text: This is a great post!! I think I need to sit down and play more, and stop trying to be perfect. Wait…scratch that…I need to do all of these things. It's not easy, in the heat of a bad moment, to remember all these things but if they are in practice when it's NOT a bad moment….maybe I can get there quicker. Thanks for this post, and I will share your giveaway on my social media too!


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Having one child I feel bad complaining about how much of a handful he can be, I see mums with two or three kids and think oh my god. Don't get me wrong I can't wait to have more kids but by god does Lincoln exhaust me! Just thinking of another Lincoln makes me want to take a nap!
But boys are just a whole different breed! A breed that runs naked through the house shouting mummy shaking his willy at you and then running away. I see my friends with their little girls wearing beautiful dresses and playing with there baby born or my little pony, they look so innocent, so calm and graceful.
And then there is boys- Lincoln, with dirt under his finger nails, some form of fluid on his face whether it's snot or dribble and a cheeky grin to go along with it all! If he isn't climbing on me and constantly digging an elbow or foot into my kidneys, he's jumping around knocking Tom in areas That should not be knocked! to date he has given me 2 nosebleeds and a bruised forehead no thanks to a swinging hairbrush- who knew hairbrushes could do damage! He is so rough and tumble! He is loving and kind and very very rarely cuddly and from the impression I get this is totally normal boy behaviour but how do other mums do it with more than one boy?!
He is completely and utterly fearless! The amount of times I've caught him about to nosedive off of the edge of the sofa at me screaming mummy is uncountable. At 6 months old he managed to climb to the top of a cat scratching post! When they say you need eyes in the back of your head they are not kidding with this one! Our most recent act of acrobatics has to be catching him on top of his chest of drawers after just popping in to my bedroom to get his clean clothes from the washing pile that I never get around to packing away, I do not know how he got up there, and the mess he had made in his room you wouldn't believe it was spotless 30 seconds before!
Another boy and I think I could end up in a nursing home very early! The daily mini heart attacks I have and the constant sound of my voice telling Lincoln to get down or to be careful, or continuously telling him if he keeps playing with his willy it will drop off. Doubling that could actually kill me! I am forever in awe of parents of all boys. You guys are heroes.
Mums, dads? My little terror can't be the only one surely?!
LeahJade xoxo


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August's New Grad of The Month: Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong is August's New Grad of the Month! Robert has been on three travel assignments with Advanced since he graduated in December of 2016. He is already making a name for himself as an incredible clinician and a true traveler.
He had his heart set on working in the Pacific Northwest after living most of his life in Florida. He's an avid outdoorsman and was looking forward to hiking and camping out on the West Coast. With the help of his Advanced Recruiter, Amanda, he was able to make those dreams come true. He put his faith in Advanced and his recruiter, and took an assignment in Oregon.
He did such a great job on his first assignment, when another opportunity popped up in OR, his DOR called to give a personal recommendation for him. Everyone who has worked with Robert has spoken highly of him. His Advanced OT Mentor, Tiffany Simmons, OTR/L, applauds him for his ability to hit the ground running from day one.
He is eager to learn, and dedicated to his patients and to expanding his OT toolbox. We are honored to have Robert on our new grad team. He has acquired two more licenses in other states and we are excited to help him carve out his own career path.
"He's kind, flexible, and makes a big impact on each person that he meets. I love having him on my team!" – Advanced Recruiter, Amanda Meyer
Get to Know Robert
What drew you to pursuing occupational therapy as a career? I was immediately drawn to Occupational Therapy because it embodies much of my personal philosophy. I believe we ought to make the most of our abilities and lives regardless of the situations we find ourselves in. While others help us along the way in this journey, the greatest agent of personal change ultimately comes from within ourselves. As an occupational therapist, I don't see myself as "fixing" my patients or solving their problems for them, but rather, giving them the tools, training, and empowerment they need to take the reins to reach their full potential.
Why did you decide on travel therapy as a new grad? I almost didn't. It had interested me but the prospect of leaving home and taking off into the unknown was intimidating and way outside my comfort zone. I told myself travel OT was something I'd do down the road. But after much contemplation and encouragement from friends, I came to the realization that like most things in life, if you keep telling yourself "maybe someday," it will never happen. So, I decided to just bite the bullet and embark on this amazing journey.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish as a traveling OT? To continue challenging and pushing myself both as an OT and a person. I want to experience different clinical settings and learn new skills, as well as experience different areas and lifestyles within the country.
What is the number one place you hope to travel to and why? Alaska. I've lived in Florida almost my entire life and need a break from sunburn.
What has the biggest surprise been so far? Honestly, my biggest surprise has been my success with being a travel OT. While I was enthusiastic to begin travel OT, part of me still believed that I was in over my head. At first, it felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but all my schooling and clinical training seemed to subconsciously kick in. I managed to not only survive, but thrive in my work environment. Since I started, I've gained a lot of confidence in myself as a practitioner which I had previously been sorely lacking.
What's a fun fact about yourself? One of my favorite hobbies is kickboxing. A lot of people don't believe me because it doesn't seem to fit with my laid-back and reserved demeanor. I often incorporate it into treatment with my patients when we're working on gross motor strength and coordination. A lot of them have a blast with it and like to show off their new skills to their family and friends!
Like Robert's story? Check out our New Grad Program to learn more about how he got here with Advanced Travel Therapy!
Find a new career today.
Search over 5000 Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy Jobs.


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This article was written by Kenzo Kimura, class of 2019.
To my non-premium Spotify users out there: we've all experienced the unwarranted frustration and irrelevant hate over daunting ads of repetitive music and buzz words; the hourly pauses in between our tunes literally tuning out our "music vibes" through strangely melodic law firm promotions and fast food deals; and the need for a premium account slapped away with the reality of our empty wallets and "I'll do it later" attitudes.
I could talk for hours about how much I abhor radio advertisements in general and how they stunt my focus on anything if I'm listening to music, but I won't. It's something else about Spotify — and every other music streaming app — that creates a revolutionary way of viewing music from a listener's perspective. As a part of Generation Z, our open minds as well as availability to music through any digital port opened our eyes to new artists and genres, creating positive subconscious changes for users of various demographics. If there's one thing I can't hate Spotify for, it's their revolutionary take on individual music taste.
Music taste on a whole new level of "interconnected" compared to food or fashion, and that's because we allow music streaming devices to change the way we listen.
How does it work?
Playlists. Digital playlists build themselves off of users who pick certain songs and add them to folders of music so we can listen to the songs of our choice later. Sounds simple right? A Medium Corporation's Tech writer Simon Owens wrote that, "[playlists] account for the majority of music listening on the app, and there have been several cases in which a previously-unknown artist has been catapulted onto the Billboard charts after getting prime placement on one of them. This has led to more song diversity among the top hits." This creates exposure of different artists of different genres and backgrounds. "In the pre-Spotify era of the 2000s, there were a total of only 3,092 songs on the Hot-100, now there are over 4 million," Owen wrote on Medium. "Songs spent less time, on average, on the list, but that meant more artists had a shot at breaking out into the mainstream."
The formation of these playlists leads to recommended songs — songs that weren't picked by us, but instead for us. Whether or not it's the same artist we listen to or the same genre, music streaming services create playlists that base their new recommended songs off of your tastes, interactions with artists and plays.
Why Indie Rock is no longer "Indie"
Basic boy bands or female-groups don't really resonate with people my age anymore, the main reason why the idea of a pop star or group is not the same ideal people had a generation or two back. People don't appreciate celebrities as much as they did before, and maybe it's because of our culture shift towards hating superficiality and glamour. Regardless if the music is good or if the artist has an eccentric style, some people don't vibe with that — "wavy" and relatable music is the quintessence for younger listeners, especially teenagers. Because of this, genres such as indie have spiked in popularity. Artists like Rex Orange County, Cuco and even Bearface from Brockhampton have created a new face in edgy music, making indie the new "pop" music.
How does this have anything to do with "changing our music taste?"
Everything. Certain genre listeners such as those of rap, pop and indie rock have subtly shifted the way they perceive music as well as their respected genre tastes. Medium reporter Zac Lynch-Badley writes, "[Spotify and other music streaming platforms] have levelled the playing field for the average musician and massively helped remove commercial influence in the artistic process, allowing people to create real music that can really express what they are trying to say without censorship."
As our society progresses along with our taste in music, music streaming devices become big influencers of our generation's mood with music; suddenly that local indie band is no longer considered local; instead, it's the band of the year. That rapper in Broward is no longer underground; he's played at every college. Although the internet has somewhat distorted our original vision of spreading music through culture and local communities, allowing for the superficiality of genuine artists to rise, it's created the beginning of a new era in how we hear (and see music).


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Witchery and Other Links
Here are some of our favourite Links to other places in the realms of Middle Earth.
PAN Inc is a not-for-profit educational association with members Australia-wide. The management committee are drawn from a broad cross-section of the Pagan community.
The Association is incorporated in the state of New South Wales. It has no formal ties with any religious body. We work proactively, both within the Pagan community and as a point of contact for the general public, government, and media organisations. PAN Inc is the Australian Pagan community's most effective networking and educational body.
Raymond Buckland started The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick in 1966. After visiting the late Gerald Gardner and his collection on the Isle of Man, Raymond was inspired to start a collection of his own.
The Salem Witch Museum examines one of the most enduring and emotional events in American History...the Witch Trials of 1692. The main presentation is based on actual trial documents. Visitors experience the drama of that dark time though thirteen life-size stage sets, figures, lighting and a stirring narration as they are witness to the web of lies and intrigue of the Salem Witch Hunt.
Wycksted is a sister school to the Grey School. The first Mystery Schools of Wizards like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, and Ptolemy gave us Classical Education. At Grey School you earn a magickal, Classical Education from our secular School of Wizardry. Learn in the comfort of your home, or where ever you have internet connection. Grey School of Wizardry is available to you online, right where you are now. In fact, you are just a few clicks away from your first class at Grey School. How is that for magickal learning convenience?
Our campus is all-inclusive. We are non-religious and non-profit, too. There are Clubs, Celebrations, Conclaves, Awards & Honors, Special Events and social opportunities available to students throughout the year. You are invited to become part of our legacy, our magickal community…and one of the Wizards of Grey School.
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Friday, Sep 14, 2018
* Are you at all hopeful about Illinois' future? Explain.
- Posted by Rich Miller
- Me Again - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:50 pm:
Yes, because Bruce Rauner's days as governor will be drawing to a close.
- DarkDante - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:52 pm:
I am. The budget is a mess, but there are several available pools of untapped revenue that could help service both the real deficit and (perhaps even) some additional services. That being said, I think mandate relief for towns and municipalities is really the name of the game. Really hoping to see Pritzker show his political chops and get the ball rolling.
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
Yea. I know a lot of fine people here. That will always be more important than the idiots who run things.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
No, because there doesn't seem to be a critical mass of adults in Springfield who are willing to honestly and cooperatively deal with the severe fiscal problems we are facing. The days of "I want mine" have to end, and they have not.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
The darkness of Raunerism could end, or will end in 4 years from now.
The Brave 15, the Perfect 10, the 152-20 budget Rauner dare not veto… the 24% approval, Sam McCann, the conservatives, Labor, the coalition of anti-Raunerism knows… it's not a "business decision" to defeat Raunerism, they are all trying to save Illinois.
That's why I'm hopeful. I see good things. I know we all learned a lesson, if the RaunerS did not.
The sunlight will come out once Raunerism ends, so yeah, I'm hopeful.
- Big Jer - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
Yes. In the long term. Why? At some point in the future the coasts will be under water with sea level rise. The southern half of the country will be extremely hot and prone to extreme weather events. Where is everyone going to go? The middle of the country and the further north the better.
- formerpro - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
Yes, I am. Illinois is a very wealthy state with lots going for it. Rauner is toast. Our new Governor will have a chance to do the right thing and lead us to fiscal sanity. It will be tough medicine to swallow but J.B. doesn't need to get re-elected to go down in history as a great Governor.
- Chicago Cynic - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:02 pm:
You betcha.
Illinois needs someone with a vision for what we could be and the ability to sell it nationally and internationally. JB has that vision and that salesman's abilities. He will lead the effort to restore our state to our former glory. The future, even with the enormous fiscal challenges, is bright.
- Angel's Sword - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:02 pm:
Moderately hopeful. I'm glad a progressive income tax is at least part of the discussion now when it comes to balancing the budget. I like a lot of what I'm hearing from Pritzker and it's hard to imagine Pritzker not being our next Governor.
However, it must be said that the budget situation is dire, and it seems like every time the state might be in a financially solid position we elect another corrupt or unhinged Governor who destroys us financially.
For at least the next four years though I'm moderately hopeful. I expect there will be at least some progress in repairing the state's fiscal situation.
- ZC - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Cautiously optimistic. Illinois can't control its biggest spending problems thanks to that stupid pension clause, but it can address some of its revenue issues. If Pritzker can actually put together the leadership and the coalition to finally amend the Constitution and get the progressive tax in, that alone would make his governorship worthwhile.
Income is increasingly going to the tippy-top of the spectrum everywhere and if our tax code can't recognize that, we can't move forward as a state fiscally. Call it what you will but banks, where the money is, etc.
- Reality Check - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:05 pm:
Yes. With a new governor and a fair tax, I'm hoping for an end to the attacks on working people; investment in schools, health care and infrastructure; paying the state's bills; and job and wage growth that follows on those things. It's not going to be easy - problems created over time will take time to solve. But with Rauner in the rear view, hopefully progress is possible.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
No. Taxing and spending our way to prosperity doesn't seem to be a long term solution to our problems. Constitutional amendments that won't kick in for a few years will not solve this problem for the Governor who sits through the next term.
Interesting how the Rauner campaign is now using Rich Miller's calculations as to how much additional revenues need to be raised through additional taxes.
Keep kicking the can and hoping someone doesn't fill it with concrete.
- Keyrock - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Yes, because formerpro is right.
(Also, I have confidential information that Madigan's deal with Lucifer expires in just 12 more years.)
- Flat Bed Ford - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:08 pm:
Math will soon catch up to the decades of incompetent governance that has taken place in Springfield. If the nation sees an economic slowdown or dare say, a recession, Illinois will fare much worse than the rest of the nation. That slowdown/recession is all but assured in the next 5 years. Dark days ahead for Illinois indeed.
Happy Friday.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
Yes, I'm hopeful. Otherwise it'd be too hard to get out of bed.
We are in a particularly ugly period in our political history. Hopefully we've hit bottom and can start to ascend to a place where we can still disagree but also work together to find solutions. At the end of the day, everybody wants the same things: a chance to prosper, to earn a living, to build a life and to live in good communities. Our governments, at all levels, should be helping to ease the path to these things, not to place impediments in the way.
We have enormous problems in Illinois, from failing schools to generational poverty to the depopulation of our rural areas. But despite this, except for the few "raise taxes and I'll move" crowd, I don't sense that most Illinoisans have given up. There are still enough of us who want to stay and fight and get things done.
I've seen them, I know them. They are my neighbors and the men and women on my CTA train every morning who get up and go to work each day. All they want is to be able to come home and enjoy what they've earned through their labor. These people are worth fighting for. We are all worth fighting for. That fight, and the fire it takes to wage it, gives me hope.
As much as I disagree with some of my fellow commenters here, we all give a $#*& about this state. We all want to see it improve. I think we're all prepared to put differences aside to do what it takes. That too gives me hope.
But as bad as things appear, remember: throught human history there has never been a better time to be alive than right now and there has never been a better place to be alive than right here.
Given that context, our problems seem small, sometimes as small as our politics.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:12 pm:
Yes. Rauner will be gone. And I believe MJM's power is waning as a result of the constant barrage he has faced the past 3 years, his stumbles in dealing with 21st century issues (metoo) and people won't need to unite behind him to ward off a conmon enemy (the Guv). Additionally, JB's Warbucks will make it easier for Dems to escape from MJM's grip.
This state has amazing resources and location. It just needs to stop being so corrupt and dysfunctional.
- Robert Lincoln - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
Thanks 47th. I wish I had your optimism. I just don't
- Arsenal - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
Absolutely. We're the home of Abe Lincoln and Curtis Mayfield. We'll figure it out.
- Responsa - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
Not really. I don't think the GA as a body or anybody currently running for governor has shown they have the understanding, the wherewithal, or the courage to address Illinois' fundamental structural and embedded fiscal problems.
I love so much about my home state but worry for its future. Can kicking behind us and more can kicking ahead is mostly what I see.
- Norseman - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
Yes. It looks like Rauner will be gone. I don't see the same disastrous rhetoric and policies we saw from Blago and Rauner. With tinfoil hat firmly in place, I expect Madigan to retire shortly after the Pritzker victory. While there will be renewed interest in expanding social programs by Dems, I see the leadership act as a governor for that desire given the State's poor credit rating.
Bottom line is that it can't get any worse than the Blago/Quinn/Rauner years.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
I try to be an optimist, so a qualified yes. Not if Rauner wins. Pritzker is the unknown that Rauner was in 2014 and deserves the same chance. I want to see the state move in a more progressive direction, with laws like expanded health insurance, legal marijuana and expanded MMJ, progressive income tax, etc.
- Robert Lincoln - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:20 pm:
Pensions are an anchor around our neck on the municipal, county and state level. We cannot tax our way out of it. Graft is ingrained into every level of politics. Partisan politics have gone over a cliff and cannot come back. One party rule of democrats is not the answer. That's my pessimism.
- City Zen - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:20 pm:
Yes, but Illinois' future will come at the expense of mine.
- Dog on Sheffield - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:21 pm:
Yes - This state is still full of smart, no-nonsense, hard-working people. Eventually, we'll start electing them.
- Pundent - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
I'm hopeful in that the experiment of the last 3.5 years will likely soon come to an end and optimistic that we have a candidate who doesn't feel that the solution to our problems is an all out assault on labor unions. He also seems able to acknowledge the need for revenue without demanding hostages in return.
I also believe that we're in the twilight of Mike Madigan's career as House Speaker. Ironically I think the only thing that prolonged it was Bruce Rauner. I'm hopefully that we'll see a much younger speaker come in with new ideas and less focus on maintaining power.
- Red Ranger - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
Not really. The taxes will continue to go up and the quality of education (especially higher ed) will continue to decline. The Illinois exodus is real. We will become a state of the haves and have nots, with a very small middle class. I don't see the catlyst to change the trajectory we are on. Parts of Chicago and select suburbs will boom, downstate will continue to lose population and larger parts of northern IL and many suburbs will continue their decline. I just don't see what changes it.
- Pick a Name - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
No. This state is about to elect a governor who is struggling to even campaign, let alone govern. Dems will continue to raise taxes, pushing more and more people and businesses to leave, and discouraging entrepreneurs to expand . Another poster mentioned the impact of a recession. It will be dramatic in this state. Will young people ever leave their parent's basements? How will they deal with high student debt? I feel sorry for the 25-50 age group that reside in Illinois.
- Perrid - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:39 pm:
I always have hope. There's going to be ups and downs, always going to be problems, but life goes on for most people. I'm not trying to minimize the people hurt by the impasse or the people who have trouble making ends meet with their taxes to try and pay down the State's debt, but for most people, in the long run? They'll get through and live their lives just fine, more or less regardless of the goings on in the capitol. I'm also not saying these decisions and issues aren't important, just that if you take a breath and step back, most of the time you'll find that, in fact, the sky is NOT falling.
- Anonimity - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
We have a critical pension problem and an inability to balance our budget. Higher taxes will solve the problem but will drive/keep away business.
Also, for all the money we have spent that has driven this state into the fiscal hole it is in, we have a crumbling infrastructure to show for it. Someone walking around this state would look around and ask "where did the money go?"
- Red Ranger - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
47th, since we're talking in generalities, the people you sit next to on the CTA may be willing to fight, but the people on the Metra are waiting for their kids to get out of high school so they can move to Florida, Tennessee, Arizona or Texas or the Carolinas. The people on the Metra also don't want their kids to go to IL schools of higher ed
- SwampyCorn - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
Not at all, but we get the elected officials–and therefore the "solutions"– that we want to elect. The last 4 years didn't help, but our problems go way back and the ideas to 'fix' the state don't look nearly far enough forward.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:43 pm:
1) The pension debt isn't going away.
2) A progressive income tax isn't easy, thanks to our Constitution.
3) Even in the short run, there's a chance Rauner could win, and I haven't been impressed with Pritzker's knowledge of, or willingness to share, any details.
4) The general demographic trend of folks leaving Midwestern states for warmer climates.
5) The increased polarization of the electorate, combined with gerrymandering, leads to fewer moderate voices in both parties.
- Flat Bed Ford - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:44 pm:
=Bottom line is that it can't get any worse than the Blago/Quinn/Rauner years.=
Pritzker- Hold my beer…
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:46 pm:
No. We have major financial issues that one wants to actually address, partly because we allowed them to become too big. We simply don't have the leadership on either side of the aisle or either branch of the government that will start fixing the problems.
- Earnest - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:47 pm:
Yes, I am optimistic. We are a diverse state in every way with potential everywhere. We have passed a bipartisan, permanent income tax increase which goes a long way towards budgetary stability–that was an almost-unimaginable accomplishment. Lots of challenges and difficult choices about spending and revenue ahead, but I think we've got what it takes.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
===The people on the Metra also don't want their kids to go to IL schools===
Lol, the people on Metra don't want to pay higher fares but want better service. Think that mindset will change when they move out of Illinois? Me neither.
- Stuntman Bob's Brother - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
What Red said at 2:24.
Some people will do very well in Illinois, the same as they always have. Other folks will do well enough such that they realize they probably can't do much better anywhere else, bite the bullet and put up with the higher taxes that will be needed to keep the state's head above water, they may even stay and pony up because they "love" Illinois. More people will get fed up and leave for greener pastures. Many folks will do worse, and won't have the resources to leave. I see the overall trajectory as downward, for a long time, and then "maybe" start back up after the pension debt is retired. Hopefully, those in charge won't make the same mistakes that got us here in the first place. But this is Illinois, so that can't be counted on.
Bottom line, it all depends on whether the state can attract businesses to move here and/or expand; with fewer good-paying jobs, the population and tax revenues will continue to shrink. I see myself bailing in a year or two, with out-of-control property taxes being the catalyst.
- RNUG - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:51 pm:
Cautiously optimistic. It's going to require some tough choices, more revenue, and a fair amount of can kicking, but I see stablization occurring in the near future. Business's care about stable and predictable more than about anything else … and we have been lacking that for a decade and a half.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
–the people on Metra don't want to pay higher fares but want better service.–
Lately, the people on Metra have been paying higher fares, but aren't getting the better service promised to justify the higher fares.
- Red Ranger - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
I think the people on the Metra have had their fares go up a lot in the last couple of years, meanwhile the train conditions continue to decline, on time service is a rarity and we have 57 conductors on a train checking tickets by hand in the year 2018. Please raise my ticket another $1 that is surely the answer.
- OurMagician - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
No, the voters are being asked to choose between a complete unknown package in Pritzker and his very incomplete details promises and Rauner who actually could have been a stalwart against Madigan if he hadn't overshot what he could do as a R in a D state and spent 4 years attacking and tweaking at the Speaker.
Madigan has been the author or part of all the pension bills in this state from the Thompson 3% guarantee in the late 80's, the Edgar Ramp in the 90's, the early retirement package of Ryan in the early 00's, the pension holidays of Blago, and the court ruled unconstitutional changes under Quinn. There is no political will on his part to stand up and say that the way to change the pensions is to change the constitution but his fear and desire to continue to rule the state outweighs any thought to trying and actually placing the state on a better course. 2/3rds of the state have been born since he's been in office, no one would say we're in a better place in that time. None of that is mean he is the end all and sole cause of all the state's issues. He is one though that could lead positive changes but is far too wrapped in tribal/partisan politics to attempt any grand change that might alienate his base.
- RNUG - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
== Bottom line is that it can't get any worse than the Blago/Quinn/Rauner years. ==
-Norseman-, you know better than to make a blanket statement like that.
- Ole General - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
Unfortunately not. The constitutional ironclad resolution on pensions is a problem that neither party seems to have an answer for.
We made bold promises to good, honest working people but vastly overestimated returns during a bull market.
Here is what truly terrifies me: We are in the midst of one of the longest bull markets in US history and our fiscal position has gotten worse. Blame whomever you want, but the next recession is going to really pressure Chicago and the entire state.
Sure, we could go after additional revenue, but a progressive income tax is years away and I don't see the electorate stomaching another round of property taxes. Could we go after retirement income? Yes, but I think it's demographic and political suicide for whomever chooses that road.
The positives are that the business core of Chicago and surrounding northern and Northwestern parts of the city are exploding and city is well-positioned for the 21st century in terms of attracting talent. Still, the city is losing 150,000+ black people per decade and with new immigration restrictions, we have no natural replacement for those losses. That will only exacerbate poverty in those abandoned communities and lead to a spiral.
Rahm wasn't an idiot. He understood that you have to grow yourself out of the current fiscal challenges, because constant tax increases drive people out of the city/state. The soda tax was an example and Block Club recently reported about outrage in Lakeview over property taxes. This will become the norm over the next xx years until the fiscal boat is solved.
I hope this wasn't political because I'm not trying to create issues in this thread. But no, not optimistic no matter who wins the election.
- A guy - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:08 pm:
Hopeful is something we have to be.
- Anon - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:14 pm:
===Unfortunately not. The constitutional ironclad resolution on pensions is a problem that neither party seems to have an answer for.===
Pretty sure the answer to this is pretty simply, we just gotta pay them.
The debate should be whether to stick with the Edgar Destroy Illinois Ramp, or amortize the payments to a different schedule.
- Red Ranger - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:18 pm:
What is missing from this thread, is the catylist to change Illinois. What is it? In California a tech and financial services boom is leading to growth; although they are spending it faster than they can take it in. Mass is benefiting from new tech and health care money. Many southern states are benefiting from population growth and people coming to their states with their wealth and the their jobs. As a Illinois life-er I want my state to comeback, but I'm not naive.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
Red Ranger, one way of boosting population is to encourage more legal immigration. About 100 or so years ago that seemed to work wonders for Illinois and it's still paying dividends.
- Wish I could be hopeful - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:26 pm:
…but I can't. The GOP ineptitude will lead to huge democrat majorities and Governor's office. This will only embolden the public sector unions to use tax increase money for more spending on contracts vs dedicating new revenues to paying off debts. Property taxes will reach a point where you can't sell your home because prospective home buyers can't afford the payments. High wage earners will continue to flee, Progressive's will continue to enact laws that make it nearly impossible for businesses to expand and create new jobs. I really wish I could be more positive but I actually think prospects are pretty bleak. Partisanship has hit an all-time low with no relief in sight. Ugh.
- @misterjayem - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
"Are you at all hopeful about Illinois' future?"
Yes — but my hope about Illinois' future is tempered by my dire misgivings about America's future.
– MrJM
- Not It - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:40 pm:
Nope. I have yet to see any leaders who want to make difficult decisions. They all think we can sprinkle magic fairybdust over our problems and they will go away.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:44 pm:
It has improved over the last 40 years, and I certainly don't see any hope of the political establishment here in Illinois changing their irresponsible political behavior.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:49 pm:
Even as a conservative, I detest Rauner. Unfortunately, I do not see JB doing any better. Its a case of where I can't hold my nose and vote.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:51 pm:
forgot to address the question: no, I do not have hope for IL future as long as the leaders in both parties continue to be elected and run things.
- Last Bull Moose - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
I am moderately optimistic. After years of spending more than we take in (including unfunded pensions), the state may balance revenues with expenditures. I think it will take a 7% income tax rate under the current system to get there. That rate will move some people at the margin out of state.
My greater worry is that Pritzker will expand services and squander the opportunity to stabilize the state.
The have vs. have not gap will continue to widen. We seem to have developed an underclass that believes in its own victimhood. That is scary.
I still see solutions to many of our problems. And we have many hardworking people with great skills. Artificial intelligence is the great economic unknown. That can create dislocation that is hard to manage.
- SSL - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 4:15 pm:
Not optimistic at all.
The pension bogey is a disaster and will continue to use up resources that are needed elsewhere.
The tax burden in Illinois is already high. Yet a thirst remains to tax more.
It just isn't that hard to leave the state. People are more mobile than ever. Economy is strong.
The argument for staying is what exactly? Climate?
I don't know how long Rich plans to keep this blog going, but it won't be long enough to see Illinois turn it around.
Have a great weekend everyone.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 4:16 pm:
I want to be but can't given that the people who led us into this situation are still in control. Rauner isn't the cause, he didn't fix it but he didn't create it. Illinois was a mess under Quinn and Rod. Maybe Madigan is losing his control but until we see tangible proof of that we have no reason to be hopeful. No one wants to take responsibility for the mess they've put this state in and denial rarely leads to recovery.
- Jibba - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 4:26 pm:
I am hopeful, but I also imagine things might get a lot worse before we are forced to do the right things (collect enough tax money to pay the bills, keep the bills as low as possible, end corruption because we can't afford it). I see us being a relatively high tax state with moderate to low services for several decades, which is not the end of the world.
Tier 1 pensioners will die off eventually, Chicago can and will continue to grow, and our environmental advantages (reliable water, livable climate, good soil) will cause influx of people and businesses, although only after things get really bad in the South and West (drought, fire, heat, bad weather). In fact, our winters will start looking pretty good (think Tennessee), but our summers will be hotter (think Alabama or Texas).
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 14, 18 @ 4:30 pm:
No I do not. A progressive income tax is over 2 years away, if it ever becomes law. JB will have to raise taxes on the middle class to support his new spending plans, as soon as he gets in office. I see business and tax payers moving out of this state, under the tax and debt burden. I also see JB as a person who has no plans to solve Illinois" problems, but to continue to raise taxes.
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|Northwest Vermont
|Median Sale Price:
|Average Sale Price:
|Units Sold:
|Newly Listed:
|Days on Market:
|$324,400 (+13.8%)
|$423,239 (+17.9%)
|156 (+19.1%)
|201 (-11.1%)
|95 (+2.2%)
|Chittenden County
|Median Sale Price:
|Average Sale Price:
|Units Sold:
|Newly Listed:
|Days on Market:
|$377,500 (+13.8%)
|$519,974 (+15.4%)
|107 (+23%)
|123 (-12.8%)
|72 (+4.6%)
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Despite newer apartment complexes becoming available over the last couple of years- and a number of new projects on the horizon – the vacancy rate for rentals remains low as compared to the national average. Demand from renters remains strong likely due to the shortage in inventory for first time home buyers – and the demand of college students in downtown Burlington. Positive job growth in Chittenden County also contributes to the strong demand.


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Welcome Home to Smith Estate! Enter the private gates of this peaceful, luxurious 9 bedroom, 13 bath home, & be greeted by a beautiful, breathtaking lake. Sip a cup of tea on your deck as you watch the sun rise over the glistening waters while the deer frolic across the sea of green grass. This all-brick, three-level, sprawling 18,580 square foot mansion has its own elevator, four-car garage, seven decks, six HVAC units, seven gas log fireplaces, three 240 ft wells, three septic tanks, several jacuzzis, a library & rooms galore. Smith Estate was carefully built & appointed with white pine & hand crafted dental molding throughout. The floors in the foyer are dressed in white marble. The kitchen cabinets are custom cherry wood. The only thing this home is missing is YOU!
4 Car, Garage Att 3+ Car, Oversized Gar, Driveway Spc
Cedar Closet, Fireplace Gas-propane, Mstr Bdr Firepl, Walk-In Closet
Breakfast Area, Foyer, In-Law Suite, Master BR w/ Bath, Office/Study, Pantry
Deck, Horses Allowed, Pump, Well, Wooded
Listing Courtesy of Keller Williams Elite-W.Branch.


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Mattia Bizzarri, B.; Botta, L.; Perez-Valverde, M. I.; Saladino, R.; Di Mauro, E.; Garcia-Ruiz, J. M., Silica Metal Oxide Vesicles Catalyze Comprehensive Prebiotic Chemistry. Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) 2018, 24 (32), 8126-8132. Download paper. It has recently been demonstrated that mineral self‐assembled structures catalyzing prebiotic chemical reactions may form in natural waters derived from serpentinization, a geological process widespread in the early stages of Earth‐like planets. We have synthesized self‐assembled membranes by mixing…Read More
Month: August 2018
International School of Crystallization (ISC2018)
Prometheus has supported the 6th International School of Crystallization: Drugs, Foods, Agrochemicals, Minerals, New Materials (ISC2018, http://www.iscgranada.org/) under the auspices of the International Union of Crystallography through the Crystal Growth and Characterization of Materials Commission and the Teaching Commission, with the support of the International Doctoral Summer School Programme of the School of Science, Technology and Engineering of the University of Granada, the Spanish Specialized Group of Crystallography and Crystal Growth (GE3C) and the Excellence Network…Read More
ERC workshop
Prof. Garcia-Ruiz has participated as an expert in the ERC workshop celebrated in the University of Granada on Friday 22nd of June 2018. Workshop info. Agenda.Read More
Podcast "Crystals are everywhere"
The Crystallization Contest in the School has been featured in the programme of Radio 5 "El Laboratorio de JAL". To listen the podcast follow the link.Read More
Interview in the Mexican Academy of Sciences Bulletin
Here you can read an interview to Prof. Garcia Ruiz featured in the latest Bulletin of the Mexican Academy of Sciences: Interview (pages 34-36, in Spanish).Read More


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Reflection (In Tulsa Now)
The river reflects beautifully.
It opened up a part of me.
Thinking back and looking at how,
My life was and the way it is now.
Just sharing a little part of me so
We can put it together in a portfolio.
Nothing will last unless you write
Your thoughts, intentions, and heart's bites.
So capture your moments; harness your will.
Put it on paper, tapes, and reels.
Someone will find comfort in your mind's meal.
Leave it on record; leave it unsealed.
The same lovely river has been here for
But no one has seen it exactly as me.
No one can express how it makes me feel,
For out of my heart is out of my field.
Beauty is everywhere you go.
If you can't see any, it's right under your
You can find beauty in everything.
Push out the negative; see the King and Queen.
Everything was here before we came:
Already made, already named.
So care for it; romance it;
Enjoy it; enhance it;
Write about it; remember it;
Love it; share it one-on-one;
Leave it for centuries to come.
©Virginia Jack
Be My Valentine
How can I begin to tell you,
All the things you mean to me.
You are my wife and lover,
You are my destiny.
You are the reason that I live,
And my heart wants you to know,
Why I write this poem,
And why I love you so.
You know my thoughts and all my faults.
You are my very best friend.
I know you stand beside me,
Until the very end.
You are always there for me,
In our times of sorrow,
With a sweet and tender love,
You are my promise of tomorrow.
You are the rock that I lean on,
The love of my life.
I thank you for the gift you gave me,
The day you became my wife.
All I need to know from you,
As I write this rhyme,
Is will you now and always,
Be my Valentine.
©Richard Netherland Cook
Winter's Trail
The cold winters winds, whistled thru the
naked trees
Frosted images appear, like a Jack Frost scene
Icicles draped, in winterly attire
Tiers of recent snows, sparkle like a diamonds
A carrot-nose snowman, stands all alone
Snow mounted hills, comes alive with the young
Wifted-frayed fields, meadows of gray
Unflowing streams, from the winters freeze
Bright colored lights, hangs from roofs eve
Wreaths and red bows, dress up the doors
Pine trees glimmer, with frosty dew
Snowflakes swirl weeping down too soon
Images of mornings, vivid to ones eye
Purples and pinks, light up the skies
This wonder of nature, will soon come to an end
As spring makes her entry, with beauty
and grace.
©Marty Ford
God Bless Our Love
As we hold hands and look in each other's eyes
We see the heavens open wide
Then together this is what we pray
"God bless our love, all of our days".
As the clouds begin to drift away
A gentle light appears
We know then God is near...
Let us not ask for treasure or for gold
Or anything that we can hold
But, may we ask with every breath
"God bless our love anew
May we be true to You
Who sees all things we do
Each day as we grow old and grey
One little prayer we will always say
God bless our love in every way".
Linda Ann Henry © 2007
Do you remember me
The people's poet
To Heaven
Without fear or trepidation
He rode the colt on the palm covered path,
" Hosanna", they were all shouting,
No one had any wrath,
He knew what laid ahead for Him
As He rode His way into town,
He would be crucified on the cross
And rise from the dead and be reknown,
They whipped Him so unmercifully,
And put a crown of thorns upon His head,
They gambled for His clothes too
After they crucified Him and He was dead
He walked and talked with 515 people
after His death, for He was alive again,
He showed us all there is Life after Death,
For our Souls will go to heaven. Amen
©Anne R. C. Neale
Quiet Reflections In Song
Awakening I see a soft glow,
Hearing sounds close around me,
Composure besets with a soothing,
Gathering in all I see.
In the hushed and still moments that be,
Refreshing waters I long,
So wash over me flowing love's sweet,
Quiet reflections in song.
In the beauty of brightest blue skies,
And crystal clear waters lives,
The energizing life source of God,
Who is Love and always gives.
In life's misty times of heartaches' tears,
Sweet promised hope comes along,
Calling on my soul to weep gently,
Yielding a repose I long.
Beautiful images echoing,
Happiness and life's laughter,
Smoothly current over me that are,
To be now and thereafter.
Even to sense quiet reflections,
In song with God's melodies,
An emotional release frees me,
Moving my soul with much ease.
All the beauty of sweet times that are,
As innocent love in bloom,
Flowers quiet reflections within,
Whispering in my heart's room.
In the hushed and still moments that be,
Refreshing waters I long,
So wash over me flowing love's sweet,
Quiet reflections in song.
Love amazingly washes over,
Above all ever hoped for,
Is the warmth of quiet reflections,
Feeling the Life of God pour.
©Sondra McPherson
21 May 2007
It's Never Easy
I can't believe you've grown up with so much
Grown up, in spite of love's lost and,
learned to live in love, with love.
It's hard for me to understand the salad of
your choices, when you deserve the full meal
to savor, rather than a bite to nibble at each
You've washed down disappointment with a fresh
of compliments meant to sustain each new
Having mixed the entrees and desserts for so
you blanch at the plate too bland, or so sweet,
each mouthful insults your taste buds and sours
your hunger.
Yet you approach each table alluringly,
with confidence as your guide, experience as
your teacher,
and hope as your belief.
You've become one in a million, a woman for all
seasons, and love's truest example.
You are my banquet of dreams. All I've searched
for my entire life, knowing now,
I'll be forever saddened that you have been
for someone else; while my destiny,
will be to grow in love, without you.
©Rick E. Smith
Merry is the twinkling sunlight
That dances in her eyes so bright
Warm is her love so sublime
That she gives to all mankind
She gives the bird so cheerful
The loveliest song to sing
She gives the earth a heart full
Of the joy her blessings bring
She waters the flowers with her teardrops
That are always shed to keep them here
Summer will never fail us
She'll come again next year
©Carol G (Cali) Oliver
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Used with permission.
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Tomato and Corn salsa
Member recipe by cianjg
ServingsServes 4
A tomato and corn salsa that goes great with nachos, fajitas or almost any dish !
This recipe has been submitted by the Good Food community. Sign in or create a My Good Food account to upload your own recipe creations. Please note that all recipes will be moderated but they are not tested in the Good Food kitchen.
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- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- Handful of coriander, chopped
- 1/2 a tin of Sweetcorn, drained.
- 1-2 chilli's (red or green), deseeded and diced
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 4-6 tomatos, diced (or a 400g tin of chopped tomatos)
- 1tsp Olive Oil
- 1tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- In a bowl add the crushed garlic, diced red onion, chopped coriander and sweetcorn and mix together.
- Add the chilli followed by the lime juice and mix once more
- Add the tomatos and stir then add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt & pepper to taste. Stir once more to throughly mix ingredients
- Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour prior to serving.


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Kigtek deliver robust and well-designed control solutions using the latest technologies from multiple providers such as:
- Siemens
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Our highly trained engineers will design a control solution that meets a customer's specific requirements – from small scale task specific systems to large plant-wide systems – which comply with regulatory and standards requirements.
Kigtek have invested in extensive off-line development equipment which allows us to replicate customer processes at our offices and all our software development includes a realistic simulation of plant process responses e.g. levels, pressures, temperatures etc. In the past we have found that this approach is of substantial benefit during off-line testing and training.


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Nevada unemployment rate 5.9 percent for March
Nevada's unemployment rate remained below the 6 percent mark in March for the second month in eight years.
The raw rate was at 5.9 percent. The seasonally adjusted rate that takes into consideration regular, annual swings in employment was at 5.8 percent.
Carson City, however, remained higher, edging up a tenth to 6.8 percent compared to February. That may be because of a slight — 100 person — increase in the workforce to 24,900. Total employment increased by 400 in Carson from February to March. There are about 1,700 people looking for work in Carson. Total unemployment is 1.4 percent under the same month a year ago.
The unemployment rate in Las Vegas increased four tenths to 6 percent but is still down 1.2 percent compared to March 2015.
Reno-Sparks also saw an incremental increase in the jobless rate, form 5.3 percent to 5.5 percent.
The metro reporting area with the lowest rate remains Elko at 5 percent but that too is up from February's 4.8 percent.
Bill Anderson, chief economist for the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, said the rate remains below 9 percent in all Nevada counties. Statewide, he said, employment increased by 6,500 in March. Some 3,400 of those jobs were in the Las Vegas area and 2,300 in Reno-Sparks.
Churchill County saw a 400 person increase in the labor force. and a commensurate increase in the number of people employed. So the rate there remained the same as February at 5.8 percent. State records show just 642 out of 11,040 in the labor force seeking a job.
In Douglas County, unemployment went up two tenths to 5.9 percent with 1,374 jobless in a pool of 23,152.
Lyon County is at 8.1 percent unemployment. That's actually two tenths down from February. With 22,158 in the labor force, that translates to 1,805 jobless.
Mineral County remains the highest unemployment in Nevada at 8.8 percent. The county's labor force is just 1,595 in Mineral so there are 141 people looking for a job.
The lowest jobless rates in Nevada during March were in Esmeralda at 4.4 percent and 4.3 percent in Eureka — both mining economies.


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Davis, Robert C. (1991) Shipbuilders of the Venetian Arsenal. Workers and workplace in the preindustrial city, Baltimore/Londres: John Hopkins University Press, 270p.
While medieval and Renaissance Venice have fascinated historians, less has been written about the city in the 17th century. This book is about the community of the workers of the Arsenal (aka the arsenalotti) from 1620 to 1670.
The Arsenal was created in the 1100s and grew steadily until the 1300s. By that time, it had became a production plant and warehouse reaching a dimension unique in Europe.
Labour organization
In the 17th century, the Arsenal cost 150,000 ducats per year to the government; it also employed some 3,000 master artisans. These dimensions lead to organizational issues unknown before.
Not all arsenalotti came to work every day. Indeed salaries were significantly higher in the privately owned shipyards. On the other hand, all those that did go to the Arsenal did not work: retired arsenalotti too old to work could still go to the yard in order to be paid their salary (i.e. pension).
Confronted with shortage of skill labour, the Senate gradually introduced an assembly line. The time spent as an apprentice was halved. These less-qualified workers were more docile but required numerous experienced supervisors.
To reduce the competition from the private shipyards, from 1633 onward the arsenalotti were forced to be at the Arsenal at least 150 out of 250 work days a year. An internal bidding system was also put in place (various teams proposed a price and a time and the most efficient was chosen) and allowed some teamstears to multiply their income by a factor five.
New spirit
This bureaucratization went along with the introduction of an almost military discipline. This change was not easily accepted and numerous arsenalotti deserted and several revolts took place from 1580 to 1620. But the reform was finally implemented.
Yet the arsenalotti were not a sort of early modern proletariat. They managed to remain a cast of privileged artisans. After 1650, their sons (whose names were kept in a register) could automatically be accepted as apprentices after their tenth birthday.
Although the top managing roles were reserved to the city's elite, most of the middle managing positions were filled by arsenalottis. These supervisors had a life-long contract and de facto directed the yard. To become supervisor one had to be a talented craftsman, a brave soldier, have a strong sense of civic duty, and important supports (all the way to the most prestigious patrician families).
Did the new system work?
After a long depression from 1574 to 1614, the Arsenal entered a new period of abundance. The number of workers rose back to the peaks of the previous century. The Arsenal's fortune was not linked to economic cycles but related to defense spending triggered by the perception of the degree of danger represented by the Ottoman Empire.
On the other hand, conservative supervisors prevented any meaningful innovation to be implemented for the next 50 years. Tellingly, the Arsenal did not produce its first sail-powered warships before 1660 and remained attached to galleys.
Living standards
The arsenalotti most resided in the area next to the shipyard. They seldom mixed with non-arsenalotti, and endogamy was strong. The market gardens of the neighbourhood and the gift from the Arsenal in kind led to a high degree of self-sufficiency, which in turn increased the autarchy of the group. The arsenalotti were not miserable. Dowries were quite substantial and the salary/pension guaranteed to retired workers catered for the needs of old age.
There was majority of women in this "urban village". Some worked at the Arsenal as sail-makers. But most were self-employed as artisans, wet-nurses, or even fortune tellers. Tensions were high in this feminine world, which led to numerous denunciations to the Inquisition for witchcraft.
Embezzlement was common place at the Arsenal. Theft was difficult to distinguish from the customary payment in kind of part of the salary. Their talents as sailors and their numerous relations with the elite also made them Venice's number one group of smugglers.
A group in the city
Since the Middle Ages, a violent custom took place every fall: the illegal yet highly popular Guerra dei Pugni. The city was divided between the Nicolettis (fishermen and gondolieri) and the Castellonis (the Arsenal workers). Open defiance to the authority, these carnavalesque incidents were a necessary ritual outburst in a city characterised by severe social inequalities.
The arsenalottis were hated by the other artisans of Venice. Even though they had significantly lower incomes, they were the Senate's favourite community. They shared numerous traits with the noble elite (of whom they were usually clients): they were a close, bellicose cast serving the state.
They were also famed for their sense of civic duty. As marine carpenters, they were present in great numbers on the fleets (during the War of Candia, over a half of the arsenalotti joined the navy). They as well acted as special-purpose civil servants: they were the city's firemen and were trusted with the guard of some key spots in the city such as San Marco.
The arsenalotti also had a special relationship with the doges. They even once prevented a putsh. Paradoxically, these workers were closer from the city's ruling elite than from the rest of the people. They acted as their masters' watchdogs and thus wakened the chances of the other artisans to force a more equal allocation of the riches upon the patricians.
This highly informative book suffers from a strong source bias. Davis chiefly used sources from the state's records, the arsenalotti thus appear to us solely through the eyes of the government, which increases the sensation of a close autarchic community devoted to the state.
The authors approach is also highly influenced by a "class struggle" view of history. The arsenalotti are represented as a totally uniformed group betraying the working class for the vain honours offered by the patricians. At no point is there an possibility for the arsenalotti to be themselves divided in smaller groups with diverging interests, nor the possibility that stability and extra income may explain their behaviour.
Finally, the economic conjecture is dismissed a bit quickly by the author and it would have been interesting to compare the trend taking place in the Arsenal with other production systems of the time, chiefly the European textile protoindustries.


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The U.S. Is Poised To Take Over As The World's Largest Oil ProducerFactSet
The latest crude oil production forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) project that U.S. oil output will surge to new records over the next two years. After output of 9.3 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2017, the agency forecasts that production will rise to 10.7 million bbl/d in 2018 and 11.3 million bbl/d in 2019. If these numbers pan out, the U.S. will be the world's top oil producer for the first time since the 1970's.
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This is partially due to an existing arrangement between other oil-rich nations. In November 2017, OPEC and other major oil producers (including Russia) agreed to extend oil production cuts through the end of 2018. According to the EIA, Russia and Saudi Arabia were the top oil producers in the world as of 2017, producing 10.58 bbl/d and 10.13 bbl/day (preliminary estimates, based on 11 months of data), respectively. However, if these countries keep to their promised production cuts in 2018, the U.S. will overtake them both.
Note: The volumes in the table represent crude oil and lease condensate
What is Driving the U.S. Oil Production Surge?
Higher oil prices over the last few months may be responsible for some of the increased output, but that's not the whole story. Oil prices plummeted in 2014, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropping from a high of $106 bbl to a low of $53 bbl at the end of the year; since 2015, prices have averaged around $48 bbl. The U.S. oil industry took a big hit from the rapid drop in oil prices. However, we've seen a gradual increase in oil prices over the last six months or so. WTI was priced at $43 bbl in June 2017, and so far in 2018, prices have averaged just under $63 bbl. Is this increase enough to significantly incentivize producers to pump more oil? Probably not.
The bigger factor at work here is the rapid increase in productivity of US drilling. Increases in the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) have led to dramatic increases in U.S. oil production. In fact, according to a 2016 report from the EIA, oil production from fracking made up about half of U.S. crude oil production in 2015; this share is likely much higher today.
According to data from Baker Hughes, the number of oil rigs in the U.S. bottomed out in mid-2016 after oil prices hit new lows and have risen since, with the modest recovery in oil prices. The oil rig count fell to 316 in May 2016 and has recently come in at just below 800. Historically, the relationship between the rig count and oil prices lines up, but this is no longer the case for oil production, which is now on a completely different trajectory. While the oil rig count plummeted by 80% in response to the 76% dip in oil prices (peak-to-trough changes), oil production fell 11% but has since surged back to all-time highs.
Policy Impacts
There are also recent government policy developments, some still unfolding, that could play a role in the U.S. oil industry's production dominance over the next few years. In December 2015, as part of a bi-partisan budget agreement, Congress voted to lift restrictions on U.S. oil exports imposed during the 1970s in response to the OPEC oil embargo. The results from this change were swift, with exports more than tripling in the 24 months since the restrictions were lifted. The U.S. still imports far more oil than it exports, but the volume of exports was one-fifth that of imports in December 2017, compared to a ratio of 1% just five years ago. This policy change was implemented to give a boost to the domestic U.S. oil industry, but higher prices are the real driver in producers' investment decisions.
The other major policy development in January 2018 was the proposal by President Trump to open a significant portion of the outer continental shelf to oil drilling, an area protected from development under the Obama administration. These submerged offshore areas lie between state coastal waters and the deep ocean, and U.S. oil companies are anxious to drill there. However, U.S. senators and governors from states along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts have requested exemptions from the proposal along their states' shores, citing the potential for irreversible damage to their tourism and fishing industries. The president's proposal is still being reviewed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and it could be some time before a final decision is made.
What Does This Mean for Oil Prices?
These developments are having conflicting impacts on oil prices. While strong global economic growth and the continuation of production cuts by OPEC have supported prices over the last few months, surging U.S. production is limiting the upward price momentum. In fact, U.S. supply projections appear to be dominating sentiment around oil prices, with the inverted futures curve indicating downward pressure on prices over the next 18 months.
The U.S. has always played a key role in global oil markets; however, over the last five years that role has shifted away from being a major consumer to that of an important consumer and producer. While technological improvements and favorable government policy are spurring U.S. oil production, the result is downward pressure on global oil prices, which is not in the best interest of U.S. oil companies. Strong and widespread global economic growth is helping to buoy oil prices for the time being, but any hint of slowing demand, particularly in the U.S. or China, could put further downward pressure on prices.
Article by Sara Potter, FactSet