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by Mitchell Wilson
Part Two: Life at the Ontario Hospital School, Orillia
[TW: Institutionalisation, Ableism, Abuse, CSA]
Unless you have lived it, it is impossible to truly comprehend the horror of life in a large institution. Most of us can only begin to imagine as we look at pictures or watch old black and white video footage. In this post I have tried to give some idea, based on the things I have heard from survivors and the records I have discovered in archives. But it is still only scratching the surface. Many stories have yet to be told and many truths remain hidden. As Huronia Regional Centre survivor Cindy Scott says,
"You have no idea."
In a society that devalued and dehumanized people with disabilities, many already faced abuse at home in their communities. Others came from loving families but it was common for doctors to pressure parents to send their children to institutions. Children's aid societies also removed children from poor families and sent them to the institution. Parents were discouraged from visiting and told that doing so would disrupt their children's adjustment. "Residents" were told that the reason their parents didn't visit was because they didn't love them. When visits did occur they were extremely controlled, "residents" wore different clothing than usual and parents were not allowed past a certain point in the institution.
Once removed from their families and communities and completely segregated from "normal" society, the likelihood of abuse occurring increased even further. Staff, many of whom didn't view disabled people as fully human, were given complete control over every aspect of "residents" lives. Unsurprisingly these kinds of mind sets and conditions lead to rampant abuse, and survivors have vivid memories of what they endured.
Beatings were a regular occurrence and survivors remember a wide variety of instruments being used including straps, cribbage boards, radiator brushes and shoe soles from the institution's shoe shop. Often these would be given names, such as Bee-Sting, Shillelagh or Sweet Marie. "Residents" feet were beaten often because it made bruises easier to hide, though some survivors recall being beaten around their genitals as well. "Residents" who lived in the institution during the 1940's and 1950's recall physical abuse that was even more extreme. Staff poured alcohol on "residents" buttocks and lit them on fire or poured alcohol on the floor around them, trapping them in a circle of flames.
Harold Dougall, a "resident" from 1960-1966, was placed in charge of four younger boys due to staff shortages. "Hit 'em first, ask questions later" is the instruction he remembers being given but instead he taught them how to bathe themselves. Others weren't so lucky. Brian Logie, who was also incarcerated at the institution during the 60's, recalls being forcibly bathed by staff on many occasions. If staff felt he hadn't washed himself thoroughly enough he would be forced to take either a scalding or a freezing shower for an allotted period of time. Cindy Scott, who was first institutionalised in 1971, remembers being forced to bathe in front of seven male staff members.
Conditions like those described above lead to rampant sexual abuse. Some remember being assaulted up to once or twice a week by both staff and other "residents". Many girls, who were on parole working as domestics in Orillia, faced sexual assault there as well. Staff members were generally discrete and many assaults occurred in side rooms or in the tunnel system that connected the various buildings. Brian recalls:
"I remember most of it happened in the back bathroom. There was a shower room, the bathroom was across the hallway and there was a little corridor between one place and the other. It was like a sun room. This is where they used to take us. I can't even begin to tell you what they used to do."
Sexual abuse was often used as a form of "discipline". "Residents" were stripped naked and made to stand for hours at a time, touching their toes or spread eagle against the wall. The staff also forced "residents" to lay naked in a line, with each "resident's" nose in the buttocks of the resident in front of them. Other forms of "discipline" involved physical and verbal abuse. Punishments like "the horseshoe" and "the tunnel" pit "residents" against each other as the majority were encouraged to kick, hit and hurl insults at the "resident" being punished. Staff often encouraged "residents" to turn against one another, with "favourites" receiving special privileges. In a scene from the documentary Danny and Nicky, which was filmed at Orillia in the late 1960's, staff throw pieces of candy onto the floor and watch as "residents" fight over them.
In the 1974 the following rule was set in place by the Deputy Minister of Health:
"Striking of Patients: No patient is to be struck for any reason whatsoever; approved methods of necessary patient restraint specifically exclude striking and any other form of unnecessary aggression. Any employee who strikes, slaps or kicks a patient will be dismissed."
The following year this was amended to read:
"Abuse of Patients or Residents: Any employee who abuses a resident by striking, slapping, kicking or by some other means, will be dismissed. Approved methods of management specifically exclude striking and any other form of unnecessary aggression."
Staff, however, pushed back against these new rules, claiming that they hindered their ability to do their jobs and without corporal punishment "residents" could not be controlled. In spite of these rules survivors who lived at the Huronia Regional Centre, as it became known in the 1970's, claim that staff continued to use kicking, slapping, pinching and other forms of physical abuse. In 1978, a councilor named Samuel Johnson kicked a "resident" in the head. Johnson was charged with assault and initially fired but a grievance settlement board backed by the Supreme Court of Ontario lead to him being reinstated at his old job.
Use of restraint and seclusion as punishment was a part of institutional life from the beginning. In his 1931 report, Dr. D.R. Fletcher suggested that straight jackets should be entirely done away with. Despite this suggestion they were still in use decades later. Fletcher also found "residents" locked in side rooms for no apparent reason, with only their clothes and a bucket. Side rooms were unheated as late as the 1950's but were regularly used as a form of punishment all year around. In his 1956 inspection, Dr. F.W. Snedden encountered three older women in isolation. Two of these women had seclusion orders written in 1954 and 1955 with no set time limits. Snedden also encountered a makeshift side room in the infirmary, where a "resident" had been locked in a store room with only a mattress and bedding.
There were some "residents" of the institution who spent all of their time locked up. They were forced to live in cage cots, beds with bars like a crib and an barred top. Many of those who were kept in the cage cots were young children who it was decided could not be properly cared for by the institutions minuscule paid staff. Spending their days and nights confined in such a small space, many "residents" confined to cage cots experienced muscle atrophy. Others died before they ever had a chance to leave their cages.
Many aspects of daily life at the institution reinforced the dominance of staff over "residents". Following the Second World War much emphasis was placed on hiring veterans returning from overseas and this was reflected in the way the institution was operated. "Residents" began the morning by lining up and a roll call was conducted. They were then marched to the recreation hall where they were told where to go next. "Residents" were never permitted to travel anywhere on the grounds on their own and were always moved from place to place in groups holding hands, with a contingent of staff traveling with them. This even extended to "residents" using the washroom and on the rare occasion when they were permitted to play outside it was not uncommon for "residents" to wet themselves rather than interrupt their friends' recreation time.
Another way that the staff/"resident" hierarchy was demonstrated was meals. Food for staff was prepared separately from food for residents. The 1931 inspection report provides an example of a staff dinner and a "resident" dinner. While staff received a meal of soup, roast mutton, potatoes, carrots and raisin pie, "residents" were given stew, mashed potatoes and tapioca pudding. Many survivors remember the food being subpar, sometimes in extreme ways. One remembers being forced to eat porridge with ants in it while Cindy recalls finding glass in a younger "resident's" hotdog.
The government documents also shed some light on the poor quality of food produced at the facility. An inspector visiting the bake shop in 1942 found a number of poorly shaped, moist loaves. The attitude expressed by staff was that these loaves were being made for "low grade residents" and as such their quality didn't matter. The 1937 report notes that some "residents" lacked forks, knives and even plates at meal times and one constant problem noted across many reports is food being served cold. Initially this was because the institution was not using steam tables and plate heaters they had been provided with. Later, when food was transported to dining rooms in heated carts, it was still placed on tables up to an hour before the meal began.
In 1936 the institution's name was changed again, this time to the Ontario Hospital School, Orillia. While some "residents" were deemed to be "high grade" enough to receive education, what they did receive was substandard at best. In 1940 only 215 of 1,985 "residents" received any kind of academic training. A report of the program conducted that year found it highly lacking, with classrooms spread over a wide area and many located in basements that were not adequately lit. Classes were too large to be practical and the author of the report felt that the school's existence was more a matter of making the facility look good than actually imparting education to "residents".
The remainder of the institution's population who were not deemed fit for educating were either used as labour or left to their own devices with little to do for recreation. Because of staff shortages "residents" carried out almost all labour necessary for the operation of the institution, from moving coal in the power house to manufacturing shoes, the surplus of which was sold to other facilities and the army. Leo Gattie was one "resident" who was tasked with shoveling both snow and coal during the winter, while in the summer he would spend all day mowing grass with a push mower. He was often tasked with shoveling the path and steps to the railway tracks, which were rarely used. The wind from the lake blew more snow in as he shoveled and he would need to shovel most sections more than once, making it an all day task.
Conditions in other work areas were also poor. An inspection report from 1931 found the laundry to be in extremely poor condition. Improper ventilation meant that the ceiling was constantly dripping condensation and the floor and ironing tables were wet, creating an extremely unsanitary working environment. The facility was not suited to the demands placed on it and laundry typically came out a dirty gray colour after a few washings. A later report from 1937 finds the laundry "taxed to capacity" with only four washing machines and an average of 26,000 items passing through each week. There was also no suitable place to dry woolens so some 300 blankets were left in the hallways until the hot air dryer could be used on weekends. The 1937 report also indicates that the sanitary conditions brought up in 1931 remain a problem:
"Drops of moisture could be seen on the ceiling and the air was saturated with it and the plaster on the ceiling is falling. It is remarkable that there is not more sickness as a result of the working conditions here."
Many survivors suffer from chronic health problems as a result of the abuse and substandard conditions they experienced at the institution.
By the 1930's, many of the buildings at the institution had fallen into disrepair and this, coupled with staff shortages, lead to deplorable living conditions. According to the 1931 report, in one cottage there was only one attendant to 32 "residents" and six "residents" suffering from scabies were found locked in with no one caring for them. Another fourteen "residents" were found locked into a poorly ventilated room. Examining the mortuary, which was at that time located in the basement of one of the cottages, the inspector found dried blood on the table and rust on the instruments.
Washrooms were a consistent problem mentioned in almost all reports made between the 1930's and 1950's. In 1931, D.R. Fletcher was extremely disturbed by the lack of privacy available for "residents". He found that there were no dividers between toilets and no individual showers, however despite his concern most washrooms in the facility remained this way at least as late as the mid-1970's. Other reports reveal more issues including oiled tiles that collect dust, cracked toilet bowls, windows that had been painted over repeatedly and excessive clutter due to a lack of storage space. In the 1937 report we find a shower room in Cottage A where the wooden ceiling is in a state of collapse.
The 1937 inspection also found Cottage A to be sixteen people over capacity, with some "residents" sleeping two to a bed. Seventy-eight of the 254 "residents" living there were described by the inspector as "very low grade idiots" and, as described in part one of this history; they were housed on the uppermost floor. Only two nurses were available to care for these patients and the cottage smelled strongly of feces. Soiled laundry was found piled at the foot of the stairs and in a store room. In another cottage a pillow case was discovered covered in blood and pus and another was found to be covered in dried feces. Wooden floors absorbed urine and other bodily fluids, which lead to excessive scrubbing and rot. While inspecting the institution in 1940, Dr. L.S. Penrose encountered a woman with a large ulcer on her knee. She told him this was the result of how much time she had spent scrubbing the floors. Despite repeated recommendations by inspectors, many building still had wooden floors in the 1950's, instead of the easier to clean terrazzo.
Another location visited during the 1937 inspection was the Dunn Farm, also known as Cottage F. This was a farm colony about half a mile from the main institution, where 23 older "residents" lived and were supervised by an attendant. The building they lived in was found to be in deplorable condition, with several broken windows and a collapsing verandah. Floors were bad and daylight could be seen through the walls of the attic. The toilet was located in a shed outside, making its use impractical during the winter months.
Temperature could fluctuate widely from one area of the institution to another and even from day to day in the same location. In the sitting room of Cottage L "residents" huddled around two radiators trying to stave off the cold. One of these was found to be malfunctioning so badly that one end was so hot it could not be touched while the other was completely cold. Like most radiators in the hospital these did not have guards and burns were extremely common. Windows in this cottage were old and could not be properly closed, leading to a temperature of about 12 degrees Celcius/55 degrees Fahrenheit.
In 1937 all of the cottages completely lacked fireproofing and some still had not been fireproofed as late as the 1950's. Cottage M did have a fire alarm system, then state of the art, but it was not connected. By the early 1940's fire escapes had been added to some buildings and wooden staircases were being replaced with fireproof concrete and steel. Overcrowding continued to be a problem and in 1942 several cottages had more "residents" than beds, with seventeen boys sleeping on the floor in one case. Many reports note numerous residents sleeping in enclosed but unheated verandas all year around. These verandas had flat roofs where snow accumulated and caused leakage in the spring and during winter thaws, sometimes leaving a layer of ice on the floor.
Unsurprisingly, with so many people living in such unsanitary conditions the spread of disease was a major problem. In the 1930's inspectors found that there was no suitable way of isolating "residents" with contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis. By the 1940's TB Isolation Wards had been established but the negligence of staff continued to undermine efforts to prevent the spread of illness. During an inspection in 1942 the door to a TB Isolation Ward was found unlocked and no nurse was present to attend to the patients. In a later report "residents" with contagious skin conditions were found living among the general population.
Preventing the spread of contagious diseases was not the only area where staff performed negligently. A report from 1945 finds numerous poorly organized medicine cabinets, where external and internal medications were not properly separated and the former were not labeled as poisonous if ingested. Patient files were also found to be lacking and in many cases there were long expanses were no notes had been made at all.
By the mid-1940's the institution was housing 2,241 "residents" with only 208 staff employed and it was typical for only one or two attendants to be in charge of 200 plus "residents" during night shifts. By 1956 the population had risen to 2,504 with a waiting list of 1,600 and it would peak in 1968 with 2,948 "residents". A report that year suggested that the institution should be stabilized for a maximum of 1,400 patient beds.
With the publication of Pierre Berton's article in 1960, the province began to face increasing pressure to do something about the situation at Orillia. The government had opened a second institution, the Ontario Hospital School, Smith's Falls (Rideau Regional Centre) in 1951 and in 1961 they opened the Ontario Hospital School for Retarded Children at Cedar Springs (Southwestern Regional Centre). However both of these facilities became just as overcrowded as Orillia and they too were breeding grounds for abuse.
In the late 1960's a film crew from the National Film Board of Canada entered the Ontario Hospital School, Orillia and filmed what they saw. The documentary Danny and Nicky was produced, directed and edited by Douglas Jackson and tells the stories of two boys with Down Syndrome. Danny lives in the community with his family, while Nicky lives at the Ontario Hospital School, Orillia. The message of the film was clear: people with disabilities were better off living in the community and not in large institutions.
By 1975 the "resident" population of the Huronia Regional Centre had been brought down to 1,566, but most of the former "residents" were living in other, smaller institutions rather than in the community and living conditions at HRC seemed to have changed little, despite the dramatic decrease in population. Most "residents" continued to live in large warehouse like wards or smaller, multiple bed dormitories. "Resident's" who "behaved well" were now able to get passes to visit downtown Orillia, though citizens of the town resisted this. By 1991 there were around 700 "residents" at Orillia, but as the number of "residents" dwindled the number of staff climbed and so the fight to close the the Huronia Regional Centre become one not against the eugenicist ideals of mass institutionalisation but against staff members fighting to keep their jobs at the expense of disabled people's freedom.
On March 31st, 2009, the Huronia Regional Centre finally closed after 133 years of operation. One year later, survivors Marie Slark and Patricia Seth launched a class action lawsuit against the Government of Ontario. The lawsuit was settled out of court and in 2013, Ontario Premiere Kathleen Wynne apologized for the abuse which occurred at the facility. As part the settlement, survivor's were allowed to return to the institution and much of the survivor testimony in this post is drawn from videos taken during one of those visits.
There is a cemetery located on what was once the grounds of the asylum at Orillia, where more than 2,000 people were buried between 1893 and 1971. Some of them were old, locked up for life, while other's died young. Most of the graves in the cemetery are unmarked but it wasn't always that way. Originally, numbered stones marked the resting place of those buried in that little plot of land, but in the 1970's staff at the institution removed many of them to use as paving stones. Sometime later the institution chaplain recovered as many of these markers as possible but he was unable to match them to their original locations, so they remain set in a large concrete pad. Remember Every Name, a group founded by survivors and other concerned community members, is determined to see the cemetery properly memorialised. They continue push the government for answers, most recently about septic infrastructure that appears to have been built through the cemetery in the 1950's.
There were others who never left Orillia, like the children with hydrocephalus, sent to the institution to die, or the babies stillborn to "residents". No one knows where they were buried. Some survivor's believe the babies were buried in the woods, behind the baseball diamond, while others think it's more likely they were disposed of in the boilers.
On October 4th, 2012, Park's Canada unveiled a series of plaques to commemorate women of national historical significance and buildings of national historical significance related to women. Among these was plaque dedicated to Dr. Helen MacMurchy. At no point does the plaque mention her commitment to eugenics, her role as inspector of the feebleminded or the countless poor, disabled and immigrant women whose lives she worked to destroy.
There are some who say that what happened at Orillia is in the past and that people must move on but they would be mistaken. The ideology that led to a place like the Huronia Regional Centre is still alive and well. It can be seen in the "better dead than disabled" narrative, the 92% abortion rate for fetuses identified as having Down Syndrome, the quest to prevent and cure Autism, the presumption of incompetence, the push to blame those with psychiatric disabilities for gun violence and the fact that over 90% of disabled women are victims of sexual assault. In western Canada, three large institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities continue to operate. People with disabilities also continue to be dehumanized and devalued and institutionalised abuse still occurs in nursing homes, psychiatric wards, group homes, segregated special education classrooms and other facilities. Some have recommended a return to mass institutionalisation as a solution to the number of people with disabilities currently incarcerated in prisons. But I know and I hope you know, too, that we should never return to that. In conclusion I will leave you with this quote, written by Pierre Berton in 1960, before the full extent of the horror was truly known.
"Remember this: After Hitler fell, and the horrors of the slave camps were exposed, many Germans excused themselves because they said they did not know what went on behind those walls; no one had told them. Well, you have been told about Orillia."
This is part of a series of posts addressing themes from the neurodiversity movement and paradigm which will be published during the course of April 2016. To read the rest of the posts, please click here.


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subset: commoncrawl


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More so than any other kind of games, mobile titles feel like they slot into our lives in a very specific way. For me, the mobile game I still play every day is Sirvo's numbers-based puzzler Threes — especially after I found out that it really actually does have an end and doesn't simply continue ad infinitum.
We've seen a lot of excellent games this year, whether it's new expansions like Hearthstone's addictive single-player campaign Kobolds and Catacombs or Loveshack Entertainment's film noir comic book puzzler sequel Framed 2. Some titles, like Lyorah Studios' The Girl Who Sold the World are interesting audio-only adventures; others like Shelly Alon's Glitchskier are stylish retro-bullet hell fun. And I spent way too much time flinging potatoes into the sun in Jake Hollands' minimalist Spaceplan.
A staggering number of mobile games are in the Apple App Store right now — a little over 796,000, according to Pocket Gamer. Here are five that I think you should check out on iOS or Android.
5. Monument Valley 2
Developer: Ustwo Games
Publisher: Ustwo Games
Ustwo Games's Monument Valley is gorgeous, and its sequel doesn't disappoint. Its colors are striking — rich violets and cloud-pale pinks that are truly visually spectacular. Its puzzles continue to bend space and defy physics, taking a perspective-skewing page from M.C. Escher's brain-busting illustrations. They make you feel clever even though they're not terribly difficult.
Monument Valley 2 isn't anything notably different from the first game, but that doesn't feel boring. Instead, it's a memorable experience that asks you to again traverse a dreamscape that's filled with impossible geometry and beauty.
4. Linelight
Developer: Brett Taylor Interactive, My Dog Zorro
Publisher: My Dog Zorro
Linelight is a seamless and elegant puzzler with minimalist visuals that are reminiscent of circuit boards. Its mechanics are intuitive, and it never requires any kind of heavy onboarding. You simply zip along glowing paths, new challenges appearing before you out of the interstellar gloam.
With no story or real reason to what you're doing, it's an easy pick-up-and-play kind of experience. It's meditative and relaxing, and you can quickly retry each puzzle if you fail the first time.
3. Gnog
Developer: Ko-op Mode
Publisher: Double Fine Productions
Platforms: iOS, PlayStation 4
Ko-op Mode's Gnog is tactile and pulsating with neon lights, presenting each puzzle to you as a kind of virtual toy that you'll have to spin and poke and prod to figure out. There aren't any words, and it seems to delight in being cryptic.
Though Gnog is also available on the PlayStation 4, it's ideal as a mobile experience. You can hunker down with your headphones and embark on a zany musical adventure, and being able to interact with the objects using touch feels natural and satisfying.
2. Reigns: Her Majesty
Developer: Nerial
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Nerial's Reigns was a revelation: a kingdom simulator that uses the swiping mechanism from dating apps like Tinder. Reigns: Her Majesty introduces new game elements, investigates new ideas and incorporates cheeky modern touches that are perfect on a mobile phone. And it still has that swiping mechanic that feels so natural when you're playing a game on your iPhone or Android device.
What makes Her Majesty such a fantastic sequel is how different it feels from the first. It builds on Reigns's core concept, but brings its own unique twist. It's got tons of Easter eggs and secrets, it's playful yet thoughtful, and its many endings, deaths, and events will keep you playing to discover them all.
1. Bury Me, My Love
Developer: The Pixel Hunt, Figs
Publisher: Playdius
Bury Me, My Love is a can't-miss title. It's an intimate game where you eavesdrop on the text conversations between Nour and Majd, a couple who's separated by the Syrian Civil War. Nour sets off on a daring journey to safety in Europe, while Majd must stay behind in their hometown. Occasionally, you must help Majd advise Nour on what to do — whether she can afford to spend her precious funds on motion sickness pills, for instance, or if she should risk a shorter route or take a longer one.
The genius of the game is how real it feels. It mimics the interface of a chat app, lets you help Majd take selfies, and pings you with a notification when Nour sends you a new message. It's a heartbreaking, addictive game that reflects the real stories of Syrian refugees who are fleeing death and danger. And because of the clever writing and mechanics, it doesn't take long before you feel genuine worry for the characters, as though they're really friends who are texting you.


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Hi all,
Does anyone know how to determine the age of a Crown Graphic? Mine is serial number 888126.
Thanks in advance.
Hi all,
Does anyone know how to determine the age of a Crown Graphic? Mine is serial number 888126.
Thanks in advance.
David: I don't know of a source of information as definitive as the serial number information of some lens manufacturers, as available on the web. If you have an original lens with your camera (as so many of them do) you can often date that and get in the ballpark. I have a Crown which is very close to yours in #, with what I think are original lenses, both with close serial numbers, and it dates to around 1957. Schneider's numbers are approximate, as their web site indicates.
Ask your question on the www.graflex.org help board.
Here is what you are looking for:
Thanks for the help guys.
My camera does not have any of the codes shown on the graflex.org site, so based on Kevin's information, it looks like my camera is about the same vintage as me!
I appreciate the help.
Crank out the focus rack past the drop front and look at the under side of the H shape. You should find the year stamped there. It's in an ink and coded. It may be well worn. The lens only dates the lens.
For those of you who may still be interested in determining the age of their Crown or Speed Graphic cameras by using the serial numbers, the following list is quite helpful. Some places talk about using the lens serial numbers to date the camera but that obviously assumes that the lens on the camera is the original-a dubious assumption after fifty years. This list lets you date the camera itself.
Dave B.
There's an unpublished impossible-to-find and incomplete (starts sometime in 1915, long after Follmer & Schwing started making cameras; ends sometime in 1964 with the notation "See New Book") list of serial numbers. Post your serial number and some of the people who deny having a copy may take pity on you and tell you when your camera's serial number was assigned.
There's a much less complete and correct list on www.southbristolviews.com . Go there, click on The Graflexchange, click on Graflex Graphic Serial Number Info, the click on the "not ...
Yep...you can get pretty close (close enough) with the list of available serial numbers...


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Stainless Steel 6.1
Medieval II Total War - Kingdoms expansion required.
Download Links SS 6.0
If you install BGRIII via the 6.1 Stainless Steel patch installer be sure to apply
either the data.zip or BGR_Trait_Sorter.zip before starting a new campaign.
Both can be found at the end of this post.
Click here and read the BGR troubleshooter for further information.
Stainless Steel 6.0
Http-Mirror 1 Gamershell:
Gamershell (SS 6.0 Part 1)
Gamershell (SS 6.0 Part 2)
Http-Mirror 2 Games.on.net:
Games.on.net (SS 6.0 Part 1)
Games.on.net (SS 6.0 Part 2)
Http-Mirror 3 Megaupload:
Http-Mirror 4 Multiupload:
Stainless Steel 6.1 patch:
Torrent mirrors 6.0+6.1 patch:
Torrent mirror 1:
Torrent mirror 2:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
New installer options for:
- Real Recruitment
- Byg's Grim Reality III
- Permanent Arrows
- Removing the Byg II army supply system
- Fixed campaign script errors
- Fixed unit descriptions
- Fixed event/buiding/tooltip typos
- Fixed missing (gunpowder) events
- Fixed ship spwaning on lakes
- Fixed Hobilars, Kazaks & Knights of montesa textures
- Fixed wrong/missing unit cards
- Fixed un-clickable Kwarezmian symbol
- Fixed wrong names
- Fixed non-recruitbale Bodyguards for Kwarezm and Cumans
- Character Trait fixes/changes
- Kaaba wonder symbol fixed
- Several other little fixes
- Slightly raised moral for all units
- melee hit rate slightly increased
- Bodyguards weakened
- Most spear units slightly weakened
- Bodkin arrow using longbowmen slightly weakened
- several other little unit stst changes
- Lowered Squalor/lowered positive effect of garrisons
- Ai less likely to rebel
- Changed several AI recruitment priorities
- Changed "turkish" references to "seljuk"
- Changed "russian" references to "novgorod"
- Slightly more spies/assassins allowed
- Scots Guard recruitbale for Scotland
- Generals can get slightly older
- a very slight map extension to the north
- Tobacco ressource changed to Salt
- Batumi is now Kutaisi
- New (fun) historical battle by horton
- Quark (for the help with character traits and scripts)
- Point Blank (for his great Real Recruitment)
- Byg (For his help in implementing BygIII)
- gracul (for his patient help with the new installer)
Thank you all!
Click here for the Stainless Steel 6.0 - 6.2 Install Guide
(also includes download link for 6.2)
Install Part1, Part2 and the 6.1 Patch into the default Medievall II Total War directory.
Normally this is: .../SEGA/Medieval II Total War.
If you have installed Medieval II into another folder, please select the folder manually.
NOTE: Stainless Steel 6.0 will not overwrite older Stainless Steel versions, so you have to delete them manually.
Also a FAQ can be found at the bottom of this post.
Important note for those who own the German game version:
In order to get correct voices and sounds, follow these steps:
1. download this file
2. put it into Stainless_Steel_6/data and overwrite the existing file.
3. go into Stainless_Steel_6/data/sounds and delete the events.dat and event.idx files
Earlier versions can be found in
Stainless Steel 5.1 and Stainless Steel 4.1
*--- New Intro Video ---
1. The Campaign Map
*- Completely new and huge campaign map, covering most of Europe and the beginning of Persia.
*- New ground types and custom climates.
*- Maximum width the engine allows of 510 movement tiles.
*- Mountains, hills and map outlines are based on satellite data.
*- Maximum amount of almost 200 historically medieval settlements. (A few had to sacrifice historical accuracy for better game balance)
*- Every Region has its own ressources, including new valuable resources in the "outbacks" of the map.
Map Screenshots:
New campaign map models:
*- New Coat of Arms for most factions
- New character models for all faction leaders
*- New captain models for catholic factions
*- New captain and general models for all orthodox factions
*- New character skins
-* New models for trade ships, sieges and trade wagons
- New models for european castles, fortresses and citadels
- Unique models for brick castles
- wooden walls now have a wooden colour
2. The Campaigns
*- Extended and more reasonable win conditions
- Date is shown shown as years and turns
- Money Script to support AI Factions
*- New menu music
- New campaign music from the Kingdoms Expansion:
* Crusades Music for the middle eastern factions
* Britania Music for north european factions
* Teutonic Music for east european factions
The Early Era Campaign
-Time frame 1080 - 1560.
- 1.5 years per turn and 320 turns.
The Late Era Campaign
- Time frame is 1220 - 1560
- 1 year per turn and 340 turns
- Historically accurate empires
*- Historically accurate family trees (within the limits of the game engine)
- Advanced settlements and units available at the game start
- A few settlements are different than in the Early Era
- Every faction owns one or two very advanced settlements, which will be your local military powerhouse. Loosing this key settlements can seriously drop the military and econimc power of one faction.
- Mongols playable
- Teutonic Order playable
- Kingdom of Jerusalem replaces Knights Templar
Hotseat Campaign
- Play the early Era Campaign in Hotseat mode. (guide to play late era follows)
3. The Factions
28 Playable Factions
New Factions:
*The Khwarezmian Empire
*Cuman Khanate
Kievan Rus
Crown of Aragon
Knights Templar (only playable in the Early Era Campaign)
*Genoa (replaces milan)
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
*The Teutonic Order (only playable in the Late Era Campaign)
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Kingdom of Jerusalem
Reskinned Factions:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
4. Units & Mercenaries
*- New captain and general models
- Maximum amount of 500 Different Units and mercenaries
*- New and additional units for all factions
- All factions now have a logical and more complete recruitment tree and several reasonable and interesting units are added.
- Some units are only recruitable in specific regions or with specific buildings
- Early/Late Generals recruitable in castles/citadels
- Added Additional Units:
Dismounted Order Knights
Dismounted Armored Clergy
Regular Light Swordsmen for many factions
Greek Arquebusiers
Guard Pikemen for Byzantium
Desert Raiders for Moors and Egypt
Calivermen for Scotland
Armored Clergy for Norway
*Mangonels for most factions
*Heavy Hussars for Poland
and many more units from the Kingdoms Expansion...
- Many new mercenaries for the Early and High Medieval Period:
*Doppelsoldner, Sergeant Swordsmen, Hashishim Mercenaries, Viking Mercenaries, Prussian Spearmen, Highland Pikemen, Armenian Infantry
Pikemen Mercenaries, Hunters, Arbalesters, Macemen, English Huscarls, Swabian Swordsmen, Andalusian Infantry, Mercenary Saracens, Axemen
Pisan and genoese Sailors, Armenians of selicia, Gwent Raiders
- New and more varied mercenary pools
- Greater mercenary variety
- Mercenaries have more experience
- Regions have more mercenary special units
5. Gameplay
Improved AI.
- More aggressive Ai
- Better defending AI
- Better AI expansion and invasion
- Stronger alliances
- Rarer Catholic - Islamic alliances
- Increased flanking
- Better pathfinding
- Better Siege AI
New buildings
*- New education structures: Schools, libraries and universities
*- Medieval Wonders can now be constructed in important medieval cities: Dome of Rock (Jerusalem), Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem), Cordoba Mosque (Cordoba), Kaaba (Mecca), Notre Dame (Paris), St. Marks Basilica (Venice), Hagia Sophia (Constantinople), Great Aqueduct (Constantinople)
- Other buildings:
highways, Hanseatic League and pagan shrines.
Role Play Elements
*- Completely reworked military and economical education, based on the inclination towards Military or Adminastrative skills, the quality of schools, libraries and universities and of course skills you show in battle.
*- Different titles for greek, catholic and islamic culture for every settlement. The effects and descriptions are often based on historical backgrounds.
*- Crowns for faction leaders that have conquered historical biggest empires
*- Royal Bloodlines for all existing factions
- Army attrition and supply system demands much more tactical decisions and religion is much more important. Watch and take care of your general and the moral and suply of his army!
*- Most ancillaries are now transferable from one character to another
*- Countless new Traits, Transferable Titles, Ancillaries
*- Several boosts for the AI to get better characters
- Unique Traits and Ancillaries for the Teutonic Order and the Knights Templar
- New Patriarch titles for Orthodox Factions available
- Many broken Character Traits and Ancillaries fixed
- and much more...
*- Interactive Events: great fairs, lateran councils, pirates, tournaments. Choose yes or no with different impacts.
*- Faction Events: emergent Kingdom of Jerusalem, Teutonic Order and William Wallace, the capture of Jerusalem, the first Great Masjid...
*- New Historical Events like Order foundations, Inquisitions, cultural and scientific events, deaths of important persons...
- Informative Events when a certain capital is fallen, when a princess comes of age and when a monarch dies
Improved and challenging AI Armies
*- Ai now uses unit priorities to build their armies
- Ai is forced to make better mix of Infantry, Missiles, Cavalry and Artillery.
- AI produces more Elite and Heavy units.
Agents and Characters
- Historically accurate Character Names
- Reasonable limits for assassins, spies and priests
- Merchants income increased, movement increased
- Inquisitors less effective
- Spy's chances decreased, movement greatly increased
- Princesses movement increased, more charming
- Diplomats movement increased
- Priests movement increased
- Captains are less likely to rebel
- Assasins slightly improved, movement increased
- Imam's required Piety to call a Jihad raised
- Less Heretics and Rebels
- More Witches
Settlement and Unit Recruitment Changes
- Important medieval Cities like Constantinople, Jerusalem, Kiev, Rome and Paris more powerful
*- Many Guilds changes for more varied guilds
*- More logical recruitment, for example cities can build more ships & artillery than castles.
- Fortesses/Citadels & Large/Huge Cities have 4-5 recruitment slots
- Castles-Citadels have 1-2 free upkeep
- City growth slightly reduced
- Slightly lowered law bonus in cities
- Tax Income slightly decreased
*- Money income bonus for late game buildings decreased
- Unit recruitment depends on barracks and armorers
6. Battles
*Complete rework of unit stats and balance.
- Much bigger difference between different unit classes.
- Cavalry stronger and with an devastating charge, very expensive.
- Missile and gunpowder units do more damage
- Spearmen are now stronger against cavalry
- Increased effect of heat on heavily armored units.
- Unit recruitment costs and upkeep costs derived from actual medieval sources
- Improved unit cohesion
- Longer Lasting Battles due to slightly higher morale and lower attack values
- More realistic battle map movement
- Artillery crews reduced, morale lowered
- (Great) Bombards, Serpentins can deploy Stakes
- Shield walls for several early era unitsSpoiler Alert, click show to read:
- Ballista/Cannon Towers fixed
- More Archers can deploy stakes
- All Longbowmen ranges increased
- Pikemen very vulnerable to missiles
- and much much more...
Custom Battles
- All historical Battles playable (except Hastings)
- New scenario battles for singleplayer
- New scenarios for multiplayer
*- New Custom Battle Maps
Kingdoms Expansion Features
- Boiling Oil from Gatehouses
- Control your reinforcements
7 Graphics
- New menu design
*- New Unit Cards for all factions
*- New Unit Info Cards for all factions
- New Faction Symbols
*- 42 new epic loading screens
*- New models for Mailed Knights, Armored Sergeants, Crusader Sergeants and Knights, Light Swordsmen, Berdiche Axemen
*- New models and skins for all captains and east european Generals
- New Horse models and skins for Templar, Hospitaller and Montesa Knights
- New skins for all Order Knights
- New upgrade for Eastern Bodyguards
- Special shields for Norman Knights
- New skies from kingdoms, including aurora sky
- More spectacular Sky variations
- New grass textures from kingdoms
- Different interfaces for eastern, northern and arabic cultures
- New unique Shield textures for all catholic factions
- New unique Unit Textures for all European Early & High units
- New unique Unit Textures for all Feudal & Mailed Knights
- New unique unit textures for all Order Knights armor upgrades
- New historical accurate faction banners and banners for special units
*- Improved Musket & Artillery Smoke
*- several other little changes
Credits (also in-game)
First of all, I want to thank Quark for his intense help, support and great ideas in the last months.
Akvilonn (Unit info cards)
Alletun (Faction symbols)
Apkairan (Loading screens)
B.A.L.T.S team (Unit models & textures)
Burrek (Unit textures)
Byg (Army Supply system)
Danova (Unit models & textures)
Dearmad & Pnutmaster (Traits & Ancillaries)
Disgruntled Goat (Unit textures)
Doge Cristoforo (Beta Tester)
Echad (for his great support)
finneys (Historical character names)
hellfire15 (Beta Tester)
Horsearcher (Sky textures)
Ice Beast (Unit stats tables)
IZ Master (Beta Tester)
Joe Dreck (Banners)
Kalos (Unit textures)
Lusted (Battle & Campaign AI)
Point Blank (Unit stats & balance)
Quark (Traits & Ancillaries, Wonders, Events, Beta Tester and great supporter)
Rex Cobalt (Unit textures)
Riczu74 (Trade ship & Siege models)
Rozanov (Beta Tester)
Salty (Shield textures)
Seleukosart (Intro video)
shenryyr (Beta Tester)
Sher Khan (Unit cards)
Nikola Aleksic (aka Sir Nicholas Altman) (Beta Tester)
Skaven (Unit cards, extraordinary efforts)
Tommyknocker (Campaign map)
trashing_mad (Heavy Hussars)
Tyre (Unit textures)
wolfslayer (Beta Tester and contributions)
Xeryx (For great efforts and work, Beta tester)
Ziher (Shield textures)
Thank you all for your work and help and the support of Stainless Steel!


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Geno Smith still thinks of himself as the New York Jets' starting quarterback.
Until he's told otherwise.
Smith's up-and-down rookie season ended with four solid games as the Jets finished 8-8, but out of the playoffs. Both coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik have said that while Smith improved greatly, they will wait until they see who's on the roster in a few months before considering their starters at any position.
"It motivates me," Smith told The Associated Press on Friday. "I know Rex, and he knows how to push my buttons. I'm definitely going to go into this season as I always do: with a chip on my shoulder with that edge."
Smith was in midtown Manhattan serving fans from an ice cream truck as part of a promotional event for New Era caps — a few hours after Ryan did the same.
Smith, who had 12 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions, is expected to be in the quarterback mix whether the Jets sign a veteran or draft someone to compete with him. But, it appears he didn't do enough for the Jets to anoint him the starter as they head into the offseason.
"I've gotten better, but I've got a long ways to go," Smith acknowledged. "I've got to continue to progress and I'm going to take this year just as I took last year, and that's to try to get better every single day."
Smith declined to comment on his recent off-field issues, which included a disagreement with a flight attendant at Los Angeles International airport, for which Virgin America airline later apologized.
"Nah, we're not talking about that stuff," he said.
Taking a quick break from handing out ice cream cones on Super Bowl Boulevard in Times Square, Smith talked about how much he enjoyed seeing the area jam-packed with football fans getting ready for the NFL's biggest game Sunday at MetLife Stadium. It also reminded him of his ultimate goal on the field.
"Just being here and being around this atmosphere has definitely made me even more hungry," he said. "Just to get into this position has been something I've been longing for my entire life, so I just want to work toward it."
Smith started all 16 games for the Jets after claiming the job once Mark Sanchez went down for the season with a shoulder injury in the preseason.
There were flashes from Smith at times, particularly with four winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime of the Jets' first seven games.
But there were also troubling stretches, such as the seven-game stretch midway through the season in which he had one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions.
While Smith insisted "I don't do grades," he said he learned a lot on the job — a crash course in life in the NFL that not many rookie quarterbacks get to experience.
"It was very valuable, man," Smith said. "Not only from the standpoint of being on the field, but off the field. All the emotions I had to go through and all the good and bad things I had to go through, and ultimately, it strengthened me.
"It made me a better player and made me a better person off the field."
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org


text:
The IB-C22-HV slit derives from the classic JJ X-Ray slit, IB-C30-HV, where space requires a smaller and more compact slit.
The aperture is defined by four independently movable and highly polished tungsten carbide blades. These blades are controlled by a high precision guiding rail system and stepping motors.
The blades can be installed in two configurations: Either providing a curved surface of a radius of 16 mm or providing a knife-edge slope at 0.5 degrees. The standard blades are polished to obtain a roughness better than 25 nm RMS.
In its basic configuration, the IB-C22-HV slit is delivered with a flange-opening and tightening bolts to allow connection with KF-40 flanges.
For a better resolution, please see the similar IB-C30-HV.
|Key Facts of IB-C22-HV
|Aperture size
|Maximum: 22 mm x 22 mm
Minimum: Full overlap
|2 micron per full step
|± 2 micron (over 3 mm)
|O-ring sealed, high vacuum 10-5 mbar, low outgassing materials
|Mechanical dimension
|149 mm x 149 mm x 64 mm
95 mm x 95 mm x 60 mm (housing only)
|Standard blades
|2 mm thick tungsten carbide blades which can be mounted either with a 0.5 degrees knife-edge or a R16 radius edge
|Common options
Blade options: 4, 5, 10 mm; other blade materials
For further product information, you can download technical specifications, technical drawings, wiring and connector possibilities, manuals and 3D files below.


text:
Tiësto recently performed in India at the Sunburn Arena (different from Sunburn Festival, apparently) and had a chance to sit down with Deccan Herald about many things, including EDM in India and its future worldwide.
It's no secret that India is quickly becoming a hotbed for new EDM, and Tiesto is among the crème de la crème of producer/DJs that has the ability and funds to take advantage of a new population of potential fans. Even Tiesto confirms India's new status as a magnet for producers, stating, "All of India has become a huge destination for dance music. It's so exciting to see what's happening in India. It's always such a great affirmation to see scenes all around the world get stronger and stronger. It shows how powerful this music is!"
Tiesto also had a chance to get deep during the interview, when asked how DJs today compare with DJs "of his time."
"EDM used to be a term for all of electronic dance music, but now it just means all the music that you're not supposed to play. It became the new trance. It got popular, so now we're all into deep house. And soon we'll be over that. You can't win. I wish we could have just stuck with EDM, honestly, because we finally had a term that captured everything in one big family, like jazz. But no, we had to be hip."
Surely, the denotation and connotation of "EDM" are often hotly contested. In Your EDM's view, it was never meant to denote a specific category of music, but rather to be used as an umbrella term for "electronic dance music." It's rather odd that once a phrase turns into an acronym, it gains a whole different connotation, but there you have it.
Tiesto believes that EDM is a force that can be used for good, and we'd like to believe him.
Image via Jordan Loyd


text:
Working papers
"Bayesian Semi-Parametric Markov Switching Stochastic Volatility Model"
Audrone Virbickaite and Hedibert F. Lopes
DEA Working Paper No. 89, October 2018
"Particle Learning for Bayesian Semi-Parametric Stochastic Volatility Model"
Audrone Virbickaite, Hedibert F. Lopes, María Concepción Ausín and Pedro Galeano
DEA Working Paper No. 88, May 2018
"Polarization or Moderation? Intra-group heterogeneity in endogenous-policy contest"
Daniel Cardona, Jenny De Freitas and Antoni Rubí-Barceló
DEA Working Paper No. 87, May 2018
"Temporal Aggregation of Seasonally Near-Integrated Processes"
Tomás del Barrio Castro, Paulo M.M. Rodrigues and A. M. Robert Taylor
DEA Working Paper No. 86, March 2018


text:
Posts Tagged 'Natioanl Assembly'
Judges validating coup to be tried for high treason
ISLAMABAD: Parliament is being asked this week to approve a major change in Article 6 of the Constitution envisaging trial under high treason charges of all those judges of the superior judiciary who would validate any future military coup, as they would be seen as abettors in the crime, writes Rauf Klasra.
PM to appoint services chiefs
The powers of the president to appoint the services chiefs and to dissolve the National Assembly are finally being proposed to be returned to the prime minister amid certain sweeping changes in the clauses pertaining to articles 62 and 63 to stop disqualification of any person from contesting the election or becoming member of parliament on charges of making speeches and comments against the judiciary and Army, unless convicted by a court of law.
Under the new constitutional package, the attorney general will not be allowed to indulge in private practice or accept lucrative fees from individuals or firms so long as he holds the office.
According to the proposed constitutional package being given final shape, clause 4 of Article 200 is being omitted from the Constitution which envisages that "if a judge of a high court who does not accept the transfer (by the president of Pakistan) to another high court under clause (i) shall be deemed to have been retired from his office and on such retirement shall be entitled to receive a pension calculated on the basis of length of his service as judge". Now under the proposed arrangements, the powers of president to transfer a judge and subsequent punishment of retirement in case of his refusal have been deleted.
One of the proposed changes in the Constitution have also made it mandatory for the president to give his assent to any bill within ten days as against the existing thirty days, failing which the assent shall be deemed to have been given.
According to the available draft copy of the recommendations to be tabled in the National Assembly most probably this week, the committee members were in full agreement to bring about changes in Article 6 of the Constitution to apply high treason clause to all those judges who would validate military rule. They would be seen as abetters in the crime if they will give legal cover to military takeover in future. The first change in Article 6 is being proposed in clause (1) where after the word "subverts" the words "or suspends or holds in abeyance" shall be inserted.
Likewise after clause (2) the following new clause shall be inserted: "no court including the supreme court and high court shall validate an act of high treason mentioned in clause (1) or clause (2)".
Now the revised Article 6 will read as "(1) any person who abrogates or attempts or conspires to abrogate, subverts or attempts or conspires to subvert Constitution by use of force or by other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason; (2) Any person aiding or abetting the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason. No court including Supreme Court and a high court shall validate an act of high treason mentioned in clause (1) or clause (2);
(3) Parliament shall by law provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.
A new article 8-A is also being introduced to give right to fair trial. The new article reads "Right to fair trial: For the determination of civil rights and obligations or in any criminal charge against him a person is entitled to a fair trial".
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed to The News that powers of the president to appoint three services chiefs were being shifted to the prime minister. It was decided among the members that the Constitution should be brought back to its original position as on October 12, 1999. Before Mushrraf's coup, former prime minister Nawaz Shairf had the powers to appoint services chiefs by virtue of constitutional changes made by Parliament in 1997. Farooq Khan Leghari had inherited these powers from Ghulam Ishaq.
General Pervez Musharraf got these powers back as well as the power to dismiss the National Assembly under Article 58-2(b) although unlike General Zia, Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Farooq Leghari, Musharraf did not dissolve the National Assembly. Now, once again the same powers are being returned to the prime minister.
Some important changes have also been recommended in Article 62. It is being proposed that clauses (g) and (i) of this article be omitted from the Constitution. Clause (g) reads: "a person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of parliament if he has not been convicted for a crime involving moral turpitude or for giving false evidence."
Clause (i) says: "a person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as member of parliament if he possesses such other qualifications as may be prescribed by act of parliament".
Article 63 is also being rewritten in the new package. Clause "g" of article 63 is being abolished. It says: "a person cannot be chosen a member of parliament if he is propagating any opinion or acting in any manner, prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty, integrity of Pakistan or morality or the maintenance of public order or the integrity of independence of judiciary of Pakistan, or which defames or brings ridicule to the judiciary or the armed forces of Pakistan". Now this clause will be substituted with following words: "a person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as member of parliament if he has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction for propagating any opinion or acting in any manner, prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or the integrity or independence of the judiciary of Pakistan or which defames or brings into ridicule the armed forces of Pakistan". This means that any person who will make comments about judiciary and army would not be stopped from contesting elections or disqualified from parliament seat unless convicted by a court.
In a related change in clause (2), the following shall be substituted: "(2) if any question arises whether a member of parliament has become disqualified from being a member, the speaker or, as the case may be, the chairman, shall refer the question to the Election Commission within thirty days and should he fail to do so within aforesaid period, it shall be deemed to have been so referred to the Election Commission who shall decide the question within 90 days from its receipt and if it is of the opinion that the member has become disqualified, he shall cease to be a member and his seat shall become vacant".
In another related change in Article 63, clause (m) is being omitted which says: "a person shall be disqualified from being member of parliament or contest the election if he has been convicted under section 7 of the Political Parties Act 1962 (III of 1962), unless a period of five years has been elapsed from the date of such conviction".
Likewise, the president's powers to keep any bill within him for 30 days to put his signatures are also being clipped, as now he would be required to sign or resend the bill to the parliament within ten days. A clause is being inserted in Article 75 which reads: "gives his (president) assent to a bill within ten days failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given".
Changes are also being proposed in Article 89. Now president would not issue ordinance if the Senate is in session. Under the current law, the president cannot issue ordinance if the National Assembly is in session but now "Senate" has been added to the relevant clause after the words "National Assembly".
Changes are also being proposed in Article 104, which says: "speaker provincial assembly will act as or perform functions of governor in his absence. When the governor, by reason of absence from Pakistan or any other cause, is unable to perform his functions, the speaker of the provincial assembly and in his absence any other person as the president may nominate shall perform the functions of governor until governor returns to Pakistan or as the case may be, resumes his function".
Changes have also been proposed in Article 168, which deals with the appointment of auditor general of Pakistan. For clause (3) the following shall be substituted: "(3) the auditor general of Pakistan shall, unless he sooner resigns or is removed from the office in accordance with clause (5), hold office for a fixed term of five years from the date on which he assumed such office or he attains the age of 65 whichever is earlier." Other terms and conditions of service of the AG shall be determined by an act of parliament and until so determined by the order of the president. In clause (6) for the words "such other person as the president may direct", the words "the president may appoint the most senior officer in the auditor general department to" shall be substituted.
Article 170 is also being amended and following new clause shall be added: "(2) the audit of the accounts of the federation and of the provinces and the accounts of any authority or body established by the federation or a province, shall be conducted by the auditor general of Pakistan, who shall determine the extent and nature of such audit". The reports of the AG will also be laid down before the Senate.


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This is a website for the Kennedy clan in Idaho and the temporary home of the Mike Kennedy for City Council campaign.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Thoughts on Nixon's Library
The library was fascinating, really. I went through rather fast, so I didn't read every plaque, every entry, every comment. But the overall effect was obviously very favorable to America's 37th President.
I have to admit, try as I might to be objective, some of the Watergate section seemed designed, bound, and determined to rewrite history on Nixon's knowledge, participation, and actions. Oddly I happened to be there on the 33rd anniversary of the actual initial break-in at the Watergate Hotel (DNC headquarters), something I didn't realize until later. The narrator of several of the components of the Watergate exhibits intoned deeply about how little the President knew, and how poorly served he was by his staffers. I can agree with the latter, not the former.
In following a few older ladies around the museum, I was struck by how defensive they were in talking with one another of Nixon. I don't know if they were locals or from elsewhere, but as I walked along in silence next to them they continued to talk about what the Democrats did that tripped Nixon up. I would have been more concerned if they hadn't been so completely wrong in their history of the events as I listened to them talk to one another about it. Listening to them made me aware of the Red/Blue state divide, even when it comes to history. It is perhaps fitting that when we arrived at the section on the First Lady's gowns, they lingered for a long time while I took a quick glance and moved on to the rest of the museum.
All in all the museum was well done. The preservation of Nixon's birthplace and the history of his family was very interesting. Despite the fact that it really is in the middle of a bustling town setting, at the cross-section of several state highways, it had a calm and placid feel to it. The gravestones where the President and Mrs. Nixon are buried are well-kept.
At the library now, and for the rest of this year, is a traveling exhibit of a brilliantly detailed scale replica of the White House down to the paintings on the walls. This exhibit has been around the country, and won't be at the Nixon Library permanently, but it was worth the price of admission.
Coming on the heels of the Mark Felt/Deep Throat admissions, I wasn't surprised to see no mention of that episode, but I was a little disappointed. I haven't been to Little Rock yet to see the Clinton library, but I'd be intrigued to see how it handles the impeachment. I would expect the same sort of defensiveness, but history is better served if these museums would report the facts as they are known, and update them accordingly.
Nixon, I was reminded, had a tremendous domestic and international record of success and progress. By today's standards he would be considered a political moderate and a rather effective president. But his personal demons, never slayed, proved to be his undoing. The story of Watergate has fascinated me since I was young (no explanations for that) so to finally see my first presidential library, and the fact that it was Nixon's was very unique.
6 comments:
You know -- I was at the Clinton Library in April and I'm hard pressed to remember how they dealt with the impeachment at all... Maybe that's just because I'm a die hard D, or maybe it was because my feet hurt and I was anxious to get back on the bus, or maybe it was because I was awestruck by a pic of our own Larry Echohawk. Whatever it was, I guess we're all a little guilty of remembering historical events through our own lenses...
- Mike Kennedy said...
Of course, some people are so smitten with the former President Clinton they forget he even WAS impeached... ;-)
lessee, Tricky Dick in a squeaker, beat HHH by claiming he had a secret plan to end the war. In the summer of '68, his soon to be NSA/Sec. State Kissinger convinced the South Vietnamese not to cooperate in the Peace talks that were coming to a conclusion, and may have concluded before the election, assuring a Dem victory.
Dick comes into office, and proceeds to kill a million+ South East Asians, and another 20,000 brave American boys, before signing a "Peace with Honor" deal that was anything but. He destroyed whatever faith existed in a just and honest government. The US Armed forces were decimated and demoralized. Oh, but he opened up China, so that today we can have 1/2 cent a piece happy meal toys and $35 DVD players made by Chinese child slave labor.
What I want to know is, where's Nixon's grave? I have an excess of saliva and a hankerin' to dance a little jig.
- Bill McCrory said...
President Nixon is buried on the grounds of the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda.
Next time you go down there, go see the Reagan Library. I haven't been there since the "Five Presidents" meeting, but it is fascinating. If you can wrangle a tour of the warehouse underneath the Library, it's worth the trip. Most people don't realize how much lies beneath the surface.
- Mike Kennedy said...
well, hell, anonymous, I never said the man was a saint, did I? I can't support desecration, but his grave is right there at the museum and birthplace in Yorba Linda.
- Mike Kennedy said...
It's next on my list. I actually am old enough to remember Reagan, and I have great fondness for him as one of my first political icons (along with Mayor Ed Koch of New York, if you can believe that). I'll check it out - thanks for weighing in.


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Article updated and reviewed by Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Editorial review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network on May 10, 2005.
The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to detect and effectively treat those cancers most likely to cause morbidity or mortality if left untreated. (Also see Health Profile: Prostate Cancer)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men and the second leading cause of male cancer death. The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age. Fortunately, prostate cancer is relatively uncommon before age 50 and death from prostate cancer is uncommon before age 60. Wider application of detection techniques (transrectal ultrasound and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing) has led to reports of a higher incidence of prostate cancer. Whether screening for prostate cancer and early treatment will result in a decrease in yearly mortality rates due to the disease is the subject of debate.
While there is debate over whether prostate screening should be done, what techniques could be used and what treatments work best, it does seem clear that all men over the age of 50 (and therefore at risk of prostate cancer) should have a periodic physical examination. Most physicians recommend digital rectal examination (DRE) which can detect both benign and malignant conditions in the prostate and rectum. Screening blood tests such as PSA and others can be useful. Unfortunately, elevated levels do occur in patients without prostate cancer, and sometimes low levels can be falsely reassuring. For this reason, when a diagnosis is in doubt, physicians resort to transrectal ultrasound and biopsy in men who have a long life expectancy.
Having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles the risk for a man. The risk of prostate cancer is higher in African Americans than in other groups.
Given my overall condition, if you did find a prostate cancer would you recommend something other than "watchful waiting"?
Do you recommend the PSA test?
How accurate are these tests?
Will an ultrasound and/or biopsy be recommended?


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- BHS Marching Band Facebook group
- Elementary Band (Fox Hill, Pine Glen, Memorial)
- Fox Hill Music
- Francis Wyman Music blog
- Memorial School Music Blog
- Mister Mullen's blog
- Mr. Samulak's String Blog
- Mrs. Gendron's Francis Wyman band blog
- Mrs. Gendron's MSMS band blog
- Ms. Medvitz blog (MSMS Symphonic and Jazz band)
- MSMS Music Blog
- Pine Glen Music blog
- Violin Blog Ms. Berger
Archived Blog Posts
Category Archives: Uncategorized
2019-2020 in full swing
The Music Department is a busy place with a lot of programs designed to educate, motivate and inspire all students. This blog will highlight some of the many actives happening in the classroom, the stage, the marching band practice field.
Julie Weller and the BHS Chorus prepping for the
Gala Concert and Silent Auction with the New England Tenors, this Sunday at 2:00 pm burlingtontheatre.com
All heroes saluted at the annual Pine Glen heroes' assembly
Thank you to Mrs. Agati, Mrs. DeMartinis, Mr. Napierkowski, and Mr. Lyons. Once again, they produced a wonderful event honoring our local heroes and celebrating the lives of the victims from the 9/11 tragedy.
Official BCAT Welcome to BHS Chorus teacher, Mrs. Julie Weller
At the recent "meet & greet," BCAT was there. Here is a link to the story and interview. Welcome Mrs. Weller.


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Welcome lovers of handmade!
Here you will find handmade goods that live in your life.
I believe in simple, thoughtful, reusable, sustainable, and this is the common thread I hope you will see throughout my shop.
Hankies, pouches, and patches are crafted from salvaged fabric.
For the DIY'er, I offer embroidery kits in several different styles, and lots of blog posts filled with tips and tricks of embroidery and visible mending.
It's really all about the hand stitching here, all of my designs are original and made by me, Erin Eggenburg.
If you would like to request custom embroidery or mending services, click here for custom inquiry information.


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A well thought out username is often the hardest part of opening new accounts online. All the good ones seem to be taken. At some point, you may want to change the name you settled on, or you may want to change it frequently to keep things exciting!
To change your username, please reach out to firstname.lastname@example.com and provide us with 3 different options in the order of most desired to least desired. These options must be under 13 characters in length.
If one of your 3 options is available we will change your username.


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Minigoo Fisheries ~ Quality & Audit
Audits and licences are necessary tools of the trade in the international seafood industry. Independent verification by third parties ensures buyers that a processing plant is truly adhering to international standards of quality, consistency and sustainability. At Minigoo, we are more than happy to conduct third party audits to provide our customers with the peace of mind and reassurance that our product is held to the highest standards of food safety, quality and sustainability.
Minigoo Fisheries takes great pride in the fact that we not only meet, but also exceeded the stringent licensing requirements of the Canadian government's Food Inspection Agency. Our company has undergone a third party audit for quality and food.


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Pinsent Masons is an international law firm with a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in its deep understanding of the sectors and geographies in which its clients operate. With over 1,500 lawyers operating from 20 locations throughout the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Pinsent Masons is well-placed to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions across a full range of legal disciplines.
Our vision is to be an international market-leader in our global sectors, defined by:
- the bold pursuit of innovation to solve our clients' commercial challenges;
- strong connections across our business, and with our clients that deliver mutual success; and
- approachable people who bring true strength and depth to our relationships.
Our values (Approachable, Bold, Connected) form the bedrock of our vision, are the principles we hold in high regard and describe the kind of organisation we want to be.
They also complement the 9 key principles of the Good Recruitment Charter, which we believe are fundamental to attracting and retaining the best people. Our strength comes from our relationships - we work in a diverse business and value the different perspectives that brings.
For more information on Pinsent Masons and the roles they recruit for, click here.


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The Daily Show recently interviewed Matt Slick, seen above, founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. His daughter Rachel, now an atheist, describes what it was like to be raised by such a man, offering a disturbing glimpse into the fundamentalist psyche:
Conversation with him was a daily challenge. He would frequently make blatantly false statements — such as "purple dogs exist" — and force me to disprove him through debate. He would respond to things I said demanding technical accuracy, so that I had to narrow my definitions and my terms to give him the correct response. It was mind-twisting, but it encouraged extreme clarity of thought, critical thinking, and concise use of language. I remember all this beginning around the age of five.
I have two sisters, three and seven years younger than myself, and we were all homeschooled in a highly strict, regulated environment. Our A Beka schoolbookstaught the danger of evolution. Our friends were "good influences" on us, fellow homeschoolers whose mothers thought much alike. Obedience was paramount — if we did not respond immediately to being called, we were spanked ten to fifteen times with a strip of leather cut from the stuff they used to make shoe soles. Bad attitudes, lying, or slow obedience usually warranted the same — the slogan was "All the way, right away, and with a happy spirit." We were extremely well-behaved children, and my dad would sometimes show us off to people he met in public by issuing commands that we automatically rushed to obey. The training was not just external; God commanded that our feelings and thoughts be pure, and this resulted in high self-discipline.
She goes on to chart her fall from faith, and closes with these striking thoughts:
Someone once asked me if I would trade in my childhood for another, if I had the chance, and my answer was no, not for anything. My reason is that, without that childhood, I wouldn't understand what freedom truly is — freedom from a life centered around obedience and submission, freedom to think anything, freedom from guilt and shame, freedom from the perpetual heavy obligation to keep every thought pure. Nothing I've ever encountered in my life has been so breathtakingly beautiful.
Freedom is my God now, and I love this one a thousand times more than I ever loved the last one.


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Avery Olive is proudly Canadian. She is married and has one child. When she's not helping raise her very energetic and inquisitive son, she can be found working on her latest novel--where she devilishly adds U's into every word she can.
When she is looking for a break Avery enjoys cake decorating, losing herself in a good book, or heading out to the lake to go camping.
The release of Avery's first novel proves to her it won't be the last. As long as her family continues to be supportive, she can find the time, and people want to read, Avery vows to keep on writing.
Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?
Death always hits Xylia Morana too close to home, but she likes it that way. She hangs out with the terminally ill, attends random funerals, and every so often, when the weather is right, she sleeps in open graves.
But after Landon Phoenix, the high school hottie, dies in Xylia's hands, she sneaks into the morgue to say goodbye. How could she know stealing a kiss from his corpse would wake him up?
With Landon returned to the living and suddenly interested in Xylia, life has new meaning. But what Xylia doesn't realize is that by kissing Landon back to life, she's thrown Life and Death off balance. The underworld demands a body, and it might just have to be Xylia's this time.


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Round Sunglasses
Since Autumn has come around, I've been looking for more hats and cute accessories. I've recently been introduced to the brand Accessoryo, and once I checked out their website I fell in love with the range of cute things they have to offer. They have tons of different accessories to suit everyone, including hats, bags, sunglasses, belts, scarfs, the lot. And it's all affordable!
Box Clutches
I've seen loads of these types of clutches on the high street recently, and I love how they would look on a night out. SO CUTE. I couldn't decide if I preferred my signature black, or the pop of colour lilac.
I'm big on the hat hype at the moment. I've recently swapped my favorable beanies for the blogger staple, the fedora. I've already have a black one, and now I want to venture into the world of camel.
Cat Ear Beanies
HOW CUTE? When I first saw this I knew it had to be included in my wish list. Oh my, how cute will everyone look wearing these this Autumn and Winter?
Now I know it's not exactly 'sunglass weather', but I couldn't not put these on the wish list. I love the style and shape, super sleek. Plus, we all want to embrace our inner sassy-ness by rocking the shades in the Autumn. Or is that just me?
What do you think of my picks? If you are thinking of buying some new accessories, the lovely people at Accessoryo has hooked us up with a 20% discount! Just enter SIBS20 at the checkout!


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Planning a wedding is an exciting time for every bride and groom to be. But, as exciting as it is, it can also be stressful. There is so much to do: make a guest list, pick a caterer, choose a cake, decide on the wedding color scheme, choose dresses for the bridesmaid, and so on. And as brides, we all want our wedding day to be completely perfect, just the way we imagined it.
While some of these things are beyond our direct control, there are things we can oversee ourselves to ensure they turn out perfectly. One of those things is the wedding invitations. Hiring a professional designer may not always be an option, and in some cases, the pre-made invites leave a lot to be desired. Luckily, there are plenty of wedding invitation templates out there that you can buy online and customize yourself.
Why Use Templates?
Pre-designed wedding invite templates have several benefits. The biggest one, of course, is that you can choose the style and template you like and then tweak it yourself to create the perfect invite for your event. Another benefit is that they can save you time on the process of finding the right designer, explaining your vision, and waiting for the finished design to be submitted to you.
With templates, you can have your invites done in as little as a few hours and it can also save you a nice chunk of change.
With that in mind, here are 14 of the best wedding template designs to save you some time and add elegance to your invitations and thank you cards.
1. Vintage Wedding Invitation
Vintage and retro looks are making a comeback so this vintage wedding inspiration is perfect if you're having a traditional and elegant wedding. The template measures 5×7 inches and comes as a layered Photoshop file. All you have to is edit the text with your own details. You can even replace the fonts or use the provided instructions to download the fonts used in the sample. Once you modify the template, save it as a JPEG and take it to your local printer. Or print it at home to save even more money.
2. Save The Date
If you're looking for a more modern design, this template is a great choice. You can insert your photo for a more personal touch and edit the text with your own information. The back of the card has a retro look which compliments the front really well. The template is designed to fit a 4×6 inch format and all the layers are fully editable.
3. Elegant Floral Wedding Card
This elegant template will add a touch of style to any wedding. The template comes in three different colors: deep blue, deep pink, and gray with subtle floral elements and an elegant cursive font. The dimensions are 4×7 inches and you can quickly replace the information with your own by swapping out the text.
4. Wedding Invitation and Save The Date
This modern invitation and save the date is a great choice for couples who wants to add a touch of personality to their wedding invites. The template measures 8.5×3.75 inches for the wedding invite and 5.5×4.25 inches for the save the date card. Both the invitation and the card are available in several color variations with fully layered PSD files that are easy to customize.
5. 5 Items Modern Wedding Card
If you're looking for a complete set, this bundle has everything you need: a save the date card, formal invitation, reception card, and RSVP card. Each of the items comes in five color variations. All of them are designed in high resolution, ready for printing at home or at your local printing store.
6. Fresh Royal Wedding Invitation Package
If you're planning on a wedding in true royal style, this bundle fits the theme perfectly. The package includes formal invitations, save the date cards, RSVP card, menu, table card, thank you cards, recipe cards, gift tags, escort cards, and information cards. Text and colors are easily modifiable to suit your wedding's theme.
7. Wedding Invitation
This wedding invitation template proves that you can go further with your wedding invitations and include more than just the text. Insert your own photo and replace the information quickly in this fully editable and layered PSD file. It's a modern design with a touch of elegance added by paisley and lace elements.
8. Fun Wedding Invitation
This fun template uses a watercolor texture which is one of the latest trends in the design industry. You get access to a wedding invitation and save the date card which use a fresh teal watercolor background and a bold brush font. The files come in PSD format and can be printed at home or at a printing store. Additional color variation is included but you can also modify the colors to suit your wedding theme.
9. Dark Watercolor Wedding Templates
Consider this template package if you're looking for a darker watercolor pattern. It consists of eight cards: 2 invitation cards, 2 information cards, a menu, RSVP, and 2 save the date cards. Each of them has a different color and the templates use a combination of modern brush and sans-serif fonts.
10. DIY Black & White Wedding Invitation PSD Template
Black and white never goes out of style and works well as a combination for almost any event. This modern template has a beautiful floral background and uses free script and sans-serif fonts which give a touch of elegance to the template. The pack include nine separate cards: from formal invitations to reception and escort cards.
11. Tulip Wedding Invitation Suite
The Sweet Tulip Wedding Invitation Suite is perfect for a spring wedding. The bundle comes with invitation, save the date, and RSVP cards, each of them in two variations. You can easily customize the files. A help file is included as well as the list of fonts used for added convenience.
12. Modern Art Deco Wedding Invitation
Ever wanted a wedding in the art deco style? Then this invitation will be the perfect finishing touch. The template can be edited in both Photoshop and Illustrator and measures 4×6 inches. The help file includes a link to the font so you can use the template as it's presented or edit the font and colors to suit your needs and wedding theme.
13. Modern Classic Wedding Invitation
Sometimes, a little simplicity is all you need. This modern wedding invitation uses a minimalistic style with a simple golden border and elegant serif font. You get access to a wedding invitation and an RSVP card measuring 5.25×7.25 inches.
14. DIY Vintage Wedding Invitation PSD Template
This modern template uses the popular vintage design with floral elements and full background color, along with stylish fonts that can be replaced with your own choice of fonts. You can also customize the colors and the template includes a wedding invitation, RSVP, and save the date card.
Start Creating Your Wedding Invitations
Designing your own wedding invitations can be a lot of fun, not to mention it gives you complete control over the look and feel of the invitations and save the date cards. By using one of these templates, you can make sure your invitations will match the rest of your wedding theme and capture your vision effortlessly.


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Viewing blog posts written by Gino DiCaro
Slight downtick in MFG jobs, along with U.S., but CA still lags the countryPosted by Gino DiCaro, VP, Communications on Oct. 16, 2015
There was a slight downtick in California manufacturing job growth in September, which tracked with the national numbers too. Still though, California lags the country since 2010 and the end of the recession. California is up 2.0 percent in manufacturing jobs while the U.S. is up 7.4 percent.
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Turn CA venture capital advantage into seeds of growth for MFGPosted by Gino DiCaro, VP, Communications on June 19, 2015
California still attracts a high volume of venture capital (VC) but that money is not reaching the middle class. We compared California's percentage of national VC and manufacturing investments over the past five years and the data shows there is a large decline in investment in California once companies get to the manufacturing stage of their products. These could be high wage opportunities for our middle class.
California would have an easier task turning early VC dollars into manufacturing scale ups and jobs if we created a more predictable regulatory environment with less litigation and affordable energy.
(Click image for PDF)
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Manufacturing wage growth fuels many middle class familiesPosted by Gino DiCaro, VP, Communications on April 17, 2015
Today we learned that California gained 4,300 manufacturing jobs in March. We all understand that this sector's growth means more opportunities for our working middle class, the retention of critical technology and innovation, and tremendoous ripple effects in our economy.
California must keep up the fight to retain and attract manufacturing.
This week we looked at sector wage growth adjusted for inflation since 1990. California manufacturing wages have not only kept up with the average increase with 39 percent growth but it is the second highest among California's five largest sectors.
0 comments | Post your comment
Michigan and Indiana top industrial growthPosted by Gino DiCaro, VP, Communications on Aug. 28, 2014
Last week we looked at some of California's top sectors and their growth versus the country. This week we're looking to see how California's manufacturing job growth compares to the top ten industrial states. Since the end of the recession in 2010 we were seventh among ten with 0.6 percent growth. New York, Pennsylvania and California were at the unfortuante end of the growth chart. On the flip side, Michigan and Indiana are doing something right, growing their manufactuirng bases by 23 and 16 percent in the same time period. We also found that California has attracted only 1.1 percent of the country's entire manufacturing expansion and re-shoring renaissance since 2010. Every Californian, along with CMTA and Governor Brown and his GoBiz economic development team, must Champion the cause of attracting new manufacturing investment to our state.
Click image for pdf.
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California manufacturing still losing its fair share of growthPosted by Gino DiCaro, VP, Communications on Oct. 25, 2012
After California's manufacturing sector lost another 5,900 jobs in September, we thought we'd update and get a fresh look at how California is stacking up against the rest of the nation. Here are the updated numbers and charts.
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And back to today...
Our decision to stay put because of the weather forecast seemed misplaced by half ten when I ventured out with the dogs...things were clearing and there was a bit of sunshine to be seen. By the time I turned to go back to the boat it was teeming with rain again so our decision stood.
Immediately across from our mooring is a field that is bounded by the elevated and noisy M6 motorway. Crossing this field, via Public Footpaths not trespassing, I headed up and over spoil heaps left by coal mining and down on to the Oxford canal.
Wyken Colliery ArmAs I headed back towards Sutton Stop I passed the Wyken Colliery Arm the remains of which are used by Coventry Cruising Club. The Wyken Arm was dug to provide direct access to the canal for three coal pits operating in the area. Like the Black Country, there were pits dotted all about back in the day..
As I tramped back in the rain a spied a boat coming towards me. Like me, Brian had thought the weather had broken and decided to move but no sooner had he got under way than the old wet stuff started again.
A wet Ghost (dog) and well wrapped up Brian head off towards Ansty
The dogs and I continued back to the boat, passing the stop lock it was hammering down. Not many about in this stuff


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text: During his Governors Ball set on Saturday, Childish Gambino was joined onstage by his friend and frequent collaborator Chance The Rapper. They performed two songs together, "The Worst Guys" (off Gambino's sophomore album Because The Internet, with Chance dropping in a new verse) and Acid Rap's "Favorite Song." Also spotted in attendance was André 3000, evidently having a good time. Watch below.


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Join eOrganic for a webinar on Tuesday, August 21 at 2PM Eastern Time (1PM Central, 12PM Mountain, 11AM Pacific Time) introducing Organic Seed Finder, a new database hosted by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). Beginning this fall, Organic Seed Finder will serve as a valuable tool for the organic community by providing reliable organic seed availability information. The database aims to facilitate the growth and success of the organic seed sector, and support farmer, certifier, and handler decisions for better meeting the national organic seed requirement and serving organic production, which remains one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. food industry.
About the Presenters
Chet Boruff is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). AOSCA provides seed certification and related services to the global seed industry, and it will manage the Organic Seed Finder.
Kristina Hubbard is the director of advocacy and communications for Organic Seed Alliance. She is facilitating the Organic Seed Finder project.
About eOrganic
eOrganic contains articles, videos, and webinars for farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, certifiers, researchers and educators seeking reliable information on organic agriculture, published research results, farmer experiences, and certification. The content is collaboratively authored and reviewed by our community of University researchers and Extension personnel, agricultural professionals, farmers, and certifiers with experience and expertise in organic agriculture.
Find all upcoming and archived eOrganic webinars at http://www.extension.org/pages/25242
Created by Alice Formiga


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Take Action Against Hunger
Coalition Against Hunger
This week, the House is likely to vote on a Farm Bill that would slash $8.6 billion from SNAP (food stamps), our country's most effective program in fighting hunger.
Please make your voice heard today, and urge your members of Congress to oppose cuts to SNAP.
If these cuts take effect, hundreds of thousands of households across the country would see cuts to their SNAP benefits--on top of cuts that already took place last November.
In Pennsylvania alone, 175,000 households would lose an average of $65 a month in food assistance. Many would lose much more. Seniors living on fixed income as low as $800 a month could see see their SNAP benefits reduced by more than $130 a month.
This is unthinkable. Speak out today on behalf of the many people in our community who struggle to put food on the table.
Contact your elected officials. Urge them oppose cuts to SNAP in the Farm Bill.