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Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:55 pm
John Loftis wrote:I've spent several hours today researching this. According to several magnet wholesalers, rare earth (neodymium) magnets have gone up 700% in price in the last three months. Apparently, iphones and some other gadgets with touch screens now use the same powder that rare earth magnets are made of. If you are in the market for magnetic knife strips, now would be a good time to buy one. I'm pretty sure there's about to be a significant price jump. I'm a professional woodworker and I can't MAKE a wooden strip with rare earth magnets as affordably as I can buy one at CKtG, even if I buy 500+ magnets at a time. The rare earth magnets have become just too expensive.
I'm bummed. I was hoping to make some of these for resale.


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From their location in Garnett, Kansas, East Kansas Agri-Energy LLC produces more than 40 million gallons of renewable, clean-burning ethanol, 200,000 tons of the livestock feed distillers grains and 5 million pounds of corn oil each year from more than 16 million bushels of locally-sourced corn.
EKAE Vision: To be a recognized industry leader in efficient production of agriculture-based products while pursuing diversified growth through early adoption of advanced technologies.
EKAE Mission: To be a diversified agriculture and energy-based company that enhances unitholder value by producing high quality products and utilizing innovative technologies and best practices.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Share Name
|Share Symbol
|Share ISIN
|Share Description
|Aviva Plc
|Ordinary Share
|Price Change
|% Change
|Share Price
|Bid Price
|Offer Price
|High Price
|Low Price
|Open Price
|Shares Traded
|Last Trade
|Industry Sector
|Turnover (m)
|Profit (m)
|EPS - Basic
|PE Ratio
|Market Cap (m)
|Life Insurance
19/04/2012 9:30am
UK Regulatory (RNS & others)
RNS Number : 6559B
Aviva PLC
19 April 2012
News release 19 April 2012
Aviva plc ("Aviva") is announcing a new flatter organisation as part of our strategy to simplify and bring more focus to the business. As we now operate in materially fewer countries we have decided to remove the regional layer of our structure and are appointing the leaders of our three major businesses to the Group Executive Committee ('GEC').
As our 2011 results demonstrated, we have beaten all our operating targets and made significant progress against our strategy to concentrate on selected markets where we can grow and earn higher returns. Aviva's general operating performance continues to be strong.
Building on that progress, we are now evolving our strategy further, recognising the fact that the group has markets with two distinctive characteristics and clear aims:
-- The Developed Markets are UK & Ireland (UK&I), France, Spain, Italy, the USA and Canada. There will be a clear priority in these markets to increase profits and cash generation through a combination of operational efficiencies and scale advantages.
-- The Higher Growth Markets are our businesses in Asia, Poland, Turkey and Russia. These countries have higher growth characteristics due to their economic growth potential and relatively low penetration of insurance products. We expect that these businesses will grow quickly and make an increasingly material contribution to profits.
More detail on our plans for these markets and the cost savings associated with these changes will be set out at the investor and analyst event on 24 May 2012.
We are making the following changes with effect from today:
-- The three CEOs of our largest businesses will be joining the GEC, subject to regulatory approval, reporting directly to Andrew Moss: David Barral (CEO UK&I Life Insurance), David McMillan (CEO UK&I General Insurance) and Philippe Maso (CEO France). Chris Littlefield, CEO Aviva USA, will also report to Andrew Moss.
-- Trevor Matthews will be Executive Director, Developed Markets. In this role he will chair the UK & Ireland Board and be directly responsible for Canada, Italy and Spain. Trevor will also be responsible for developing the key group-wide capabilities of underwriting, pricing and claims management.
-- Simon Machell will be CEO, Higher Growth Markets. -- Igal Mayer, Richard Hoskins and Alain Dromer are leaving Aviva:
- Igal Mayer has made a considerable contribution to Aviva in a number of roles over many years. Igal has resigned from the Board of Aviva with effect from today and will be leaving at the end of May 2012. As a result Igal will not be seeking re-election as a director at Aviva's Annual General Meeting on 3 May 2012.
- Richard Hoskins joined Aviva in 2009 and during his time as both CFO and most recently CEO North America has overseen a significant growth in profits in the region.
- Alain Dromer has transformed Aviva Investors, creating an integrated asset management business and successfully growing external sales to record levels in 2011. We will be recruiting a successor to Alain who will report to Pat Regan, CFO, to lead the next stage of Aviva Investors' development.
-- Pat Regan will continue as Group CFO and will assume responsibility for Aviva Investors.
-- John Ainley (Group HR and CR Director), Amanda Mackenzie (Chief Marketing & Communications Officer), Cathryn Riley (Chief Operating Officer), and Robin Spencer (Chief Risk Officer) will continue as members of the GEC.
The new structure will result in shorter and more direct reporting lines from the individual countries to members of the GEC.
Andrew Moss, Group Chief Executive, said:
"The changes I am announcing today will result in a simpler and more efficient organisation which will deliver further operational benefits, accelerate delivery of our strategy and provide opportunities for profitable growth.
"I am pleased to welcome David Barral, David McMillan and Philippe Maso to the Group Executive Committee.
"I would also like to thank Igal Mayer, Richard Hoskins and Alain Dromer for their enormous contribution to Aviva and wish them well for the future."
Nigel Prideaux +44 (0)20 7662 0215
Andrew Reid +44 (0)20 7662 3131
Charles Barrows +44 (0)20 7662 8115
Notes to editors:
-- Philippe Maso joined Aviva in July 2011 as CEO, Aviva France. Philippe was CEO of AXA Insurance UK from 2008 to 2010 and was previously finance director of AXA's UK business. He has also held senior roles for AXA Group including leading its corporate finance and risk management division. He began his career with Mazars and also worked for UAP Group.
-- David Barral was appointed CEO, Aviva UK Life in June 2011. He joined Aviva in October 1999 and his roles in UK Life have included director for distribution, intermediary and partnerships director, marketing director and chief operating officer. He has a career in financial services spanning 30 years, including roles with Eagle Star, Prudential and Morgan Grenfell.
-- David McMillan was appointed CEO, Aviva UK General Insurance (GI) in January 2010. He joined Aviva in 2002 and his roles in UK GI have included partnerships director, customer service director and chief operating officer. Prior to this he spent 12 years as director of management consultancy with PWC.
-- Aviva provides 43 million customers with insurance, savings and investment products.
-- We are the UK's largest insurer and one of Europe's leading providers of life and general insurance.
-- We combine strong life insurance, general insurance and asset management businesses under one powerful brand.
-- We are committed to serving our customers well in order to build a stronger, sustainable business, which makes a positive contribution to society, and for which our people are proud to work.
-- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive
-- For broadcast-standard video, please visit http://www.aviva.com/media/video/. -- Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/avivaplc
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
1 Year Aviva Chart
1 Month Aviva Chart


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Ask an Eye Doctor and Get an Answer ASAP
I can understand what she is going through. I think that there are some simple things she can try at home that may help. This treatment, as outlined below, is usually used for people with dry eyes, allergies and blepharitis however, I think she may benefit from giving it a try for a month or so.
Here is the information. Don't worry about the conditions discussed, just pay attention to the therapy reviewed.
When it comes to allergies it is almost impossible to pin down the offending agent(s) and, therefore, treatment needs to focus on controlling the symptoms. Dry eyes are very common and can be improved by a stepwise series of therapies. First, the use of natural tears 4-6+ times/day to augment your natural tear production, if this doesn't work then you can try temporary punctal occlusion of the lower puncta, then, if needed, temporary occlusion of all 4 puncta then, if indicated, surgical ( non-reversible) closure of the puncta. The openings to your tear drainage system are called puncta and you have one opening on each lid, near your nose.
Blepharitis is a condition where glands in the eyelids are not functioning normally. They become plugged and instead of putting out their normal clear, oily secretions, they put out thick, toothpaste like gunk. You may not be able to see this "gunk" yourself, unless it is really bad, but it shows up clearly on slit lamp examination.
The best treatment for this condition daily lid scrubs combined with warm compresses. I like to use baby shampoo for lid scrubs. In the shower, place the shampoo on your index fingers, close your eyes, raise your eyebrows (to stretch the skin on your eyelids) and scrub back and forth along your eyelashes for 3 to 5 minutes. The hot water in the shower helps to soften the plugged oils in the glands while the mechanical scrubbing with your soapy fingers removes the oils.
Baby shampoo lid scrubs will also help to wash away allergens and stimulate tear production, thereby addressing all three of your issues. Remember, this is not an instant fix. While you are waiting for the lid scrubs to have affect you can use over the counter allergy pills such as Travist, dimetapp or Zyrtec.
Should your symptoms get worse, your vision become significantly affected or things just not get better in 3 weeks or so you should have a complete eye examination by your local ophthalmologist to look for other, less common, causes of your symptoms.
Does this make sense/
If she is still having problems after doing this for 4 weeks, given her history, I think she should consult a cornea specialist.
And, now, the obligatory word from our sponsors: :o)
I hope that this information was helpful for you. Please, allow me get credit for my time and effort in assisting you and press the ACCEPT button for this assist. I will be glad to answer additional questions until you are satisfied. Thank you very much.Positive Feedback and/or Bonus is welcomed and appreciated.
I guess you have stepped away from your computer even though my system shows that you are in the chat area.


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The OWN owner leads the yearly list, followed by the 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' helmer and his fellow directors Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer.
Oprah Winfrey and Michael Bay are the biggest money makers among celebrities in Hollywood, Forbes says. The TV host is ranked first on this year's list of the highest-paid celebrities although her OWN network suffered disappointing ratings and multi-million dollar losses. "Transformers" helmer trails behind her at the second spot.
Winfrey is estimated to cash in $165 million between May 2011 and May 2012, thanks to her Harpo productions that created popular shows like "Dr. Phil", "Rachael Ray" and "The Dr. Oz Show". Bay falls short of ruling the list and settles at No. 2 with $160 million, some of which he got from his recent blockbuster "Transformers: Dark of the Moon".
The third spot is claimed by director Steven Spielberg. He is believed to have pocketed $130 million in the past 12 months during which he released two Oscar-nominated films "War Horse" and "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn".
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" helmer Jerry Bruckheimer follows at the fourth place with $115 million. Rounding up the top 5 is Dr. Dre, making the rapper/producer the highest-earning musician of this year. The Doc is predicted to have earned a whooping $110 million. Instead of getting the money from his records, he receives it mainly from the multi-million deal he had with handset maker HTC for a 51% stake of his Beats by Dr. Dre headphone company.
- TV personality Oprah Winfrey - $165 million
- Movie director Michael Bay - $160 million
- Movie director Steven Spielberg - $130 million
- Movie director Jerry Bruckheimer - $115 million
- Rapper and producer Dr. Dre - $110 million
- Actor and producer Tyler Perry - $105 million
- Radio and TV personality Howard Stern - $95 million
- Author James Patterson - $94 million
- Movie producer George Lucas - $90 million
- Music producer and TV personality Simon Cowell - $90 million


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Tell me what you make of this...
I'm at a fast food restaraunt this evening, picking up some dinner to bring back to the office. (Sad, isn't it?) At each register, they have a little flat screen television monitor thingee. And there's a message flashing on there like, "What can you get with your change?" Around the message were pictures of different side dishes. I thought it was like a "dollar menu" or something.
Then, it flashed things like "Save 40%" and "Save 60%" I didn't really know what that could mean, so I started touching it, but that didn't do anything.
Then, the woman rang up my order. I got a sandwich combo and it came to $5.33. Then a message appeared on the screen. It said "Make it $6 and get:" Then there were 2 choices: mashed potatoes or some dessert pie thing. And then, underneath each of the choices, was the percent I would save by buying that item at 67 cents rather than full price.
It was bizarre, but definitely a good idea. I felt like we were on Let's Make a Deal. How many times do people just leave their change behind, and instead, they could now get an item for it? And I wondered, if my meal came to $5.99, would I have the option to buy a side dish for one cent? And, do you think the employees are going to see a drop in their tip jar when people could use their change to buy another item instead of dropping a few cents into the tip cup? I also wonder whether this will be the way of the future (like "Would you like fries with that?") or will it only be at this one restaraunt? Perhaps most importantly, I'm talking about it (free advertising, if only I'd mention their name, which I won't because it might ruin my geographical anonymity thing) and I'm even tempted to go back there and try it.
I will keep you posted.


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Editors' Note: The "Download Now" link directs you to the iTunes App Store, where you must continue the download process. You must have iTunes installed in order to open the link, and you must have an active iTunes account to download the application. This download may not be available in some countries.
Sponsored Products
|Entertainment Software
|Sports Software
Publisher's Description+
From Apalya Technologies: Now watch FREE for a limited time!! WATCH IPL 2010 LIVE COVERAGE ON YOUR IPHONE. Apalya TV brings you IPL live action LIVE while it happens to your iPhone. While there, watch Indian TV content on your iPhone for FREE for a limited time. Just download the app, mark your favorite programs and start watching. Requires iPhone OS version 3.0 or higher Facebook "ApalyaTV" to follow IPL and get information about new channels and new features. May not work on Edge network,JailBroken and unlocked iPhones. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/apalyatv For support, please email firstname.lastname@example.com
read more +


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|Phone Number: 1-866-583-1035
|Access Code: 2715049#
Vringo, Inc. (NYSE MKT: VRNG), which today announced that it had entered into a Patent Purchase Agreement with Nokia Corporation pursuant to which Nokia agreed to sell Vringo a portfolio consisting of over 500 patents and patent applications worldwide, has released an audio replay of today's shareholder conference call. The audio replay is available online at www.vringoIP.com, and using the following dial-in:
About Vringo, Inc. Vringo, Inc. is engaged in the innovation, development and monetization of mobile technologies and intellectual property. Vringo's intellectual property portfolio consists of eleven patents, eight of which were acquired from Lycos, Inc., as well as over twenty patent applications. Vringo operates a global platform for the distribution of mobile social applications and services including Facetones® and Video Ringtones which transforms the basic act of making and receiving mobile phone calls into a highly visual, social experience. For more information, visit: www.vringoIP.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "should," "seeks," "future," "continue," or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the inability to realize the potential value created by the merger with Innovate/Protect for our stockholders; our inability to raise additional capital to fund our combined operations and business plan; our inability to monetize and recoup our investment with respect to patent assets that we acquire; our inability to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE MKT; the potential lack of market acceptance of our products; our inability to protect our intellectual property rights; potential competition from other providers and products; our inability to license and monetize the patents owned by Innovate/Protect, including the outcome of the litigation against online search firms and other companies; our inability to monetize and recoup our investment with respect to patent assets that we acquire; and other risks and uncertainties and other factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Investors and stockholders are also urged to read the risk factors set forth in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC on June 21, 2012. Vringo expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.


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yell (one's) head off(redirected from yelling their heads off)
yell (one's) head off
To scream or shout very loudly and lengthily. Suzy yelled her head off when I told her she couldn't have an ice cream cone. The stadium was packed with fans yelling their heads off. Don't bother listening to the cranks who stand on street corners and yell their heads off at passersby.


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Dancing with the Happy Hoppers
Dancing with the Happy Hoppers
Square Dancing, Round Dancing, Lessons, and More!
Happy Hoppers dance the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 7:30 PM prerounds and all plus dancing from 8 to 10 PM at the Clark County Square Dance Center in Vancouver, Washington. We dance September through June.
Beginners, Mainstream, and Plus Lessons
New Lesson Set Begins September 11, 2017
and the 1st Monday of Every Month October thru April.
Plus lessons start at 6:30 PM, Beginners or Basic at 7:30, and Mainstream at 9:00 PM. It takes 8 to 12 weeks to complete each Level.
You may repeat a level as many times as you want before advancing
to the next level.


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BOSSES at the ACE Centre have been censured for plastering trees and lamp-posts in Nelson town centre with flyers advertising their latest events.
One Nelson councillor said that if any other firm had put posters up advertising their business, they would have been prosecuted by the council.
Coun Eileen Ansar said: "For two weeks running, the ACE Centre has put posters up on bits of street furniture around the town centre, on lamp-posts, trees and flower baskets.
"If someone else had come along and tied posters to street furniture like this, we would have them done for fly-postering.
"The most recent one had mountains of arrows directing people to the ACE Centre all over the town, it was a complete eyesore.
"In the most recent instance they had to be rung up three days after the event had happened to be asked to remove them.
"I rang the ACE Centre and asked politely would they take them down, and I was told to go through the right channels.
"We should write a letter to the ACE Centre telling them that if they fly-poster again they will be taken to court just like anybody else."
The promotion of events at Pendle Leisure Trust venues was raised during a recent scrutiny review by Pendle Council.
Coun Richard Smith said: "The advertising of events at the ACE Centre came up in a recent scrutiny review of the venue and it was said there was room for improvement, but we didn't mean this."
Coun Ansar said: "I think the ACE Centre is fantastic for the town, we have just booked it for the Pride of Nelson awards, but this shouldn't be happening."


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LENMAR DLSFD1 SONY(R) NP-FD1 DIGITAL CAMERA REPLACEMENT BATTERYItem#: YYPT-LENDLSFD1 | Model#: DLSFD1
Currently Out Of Stock!
SONY(R) NP-FD1 DIGITAL CAMERA REPLACEMEN Product Details
Manufactured by: Lenmar
Warranty provided by: Lenmar
UPC No: 029521560473
Mfg Part No: DLSFD1
Box Size:
( Length:0, Width:0, Depth:0)
Shipping Weight: 0.1000 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- Lenmar logos are registered trademarks of Lenmar. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


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Google Chrome Extensions and Tips
Happy Birthday Google Chrome!
Happy Birthday Google Chrome!
Time flies when you're having fun! Google's Chrome web browser turns 2 today, and oh how it's grown! It's quickly climbing up the ranks as one of the most popular web browsers, and there's good reason as to why — it's fast and easy to use! Take a look back at a few of our favorite Chrome tips, tricks, extensions, and developments over the past two years in this slideshow!
0previous images
-26more images


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Here's the scenario. I have created a remapping point and maxed out an attribute. Further down my skill plan I am going to train a skill that increases said attribute by 1 (the Willpower level 5 advanced learning skill).
Does EVEMON take into account the upcoming skill training or will I in effect "lose" one of attribute points until I remap again? Is there a hard limit on how many points you can have in one particular attribute?
Should I instead remap and leave the attribute at one point off the maximum so that when the skill is trained, it fills the remaining slot?
My plan will only involve Willpower and Charisma Primaries, so leaving the advanced learning skill till I hit my Willpower orientated skills means I cna get cracking on my Leadership stuff now.


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Teaching Yoga for Children and Teens Certification Course : 22 – 26 August 2016
The goal of this course is to provide insight, guidelines and practical tools for teaching yoga to children and teens.
Teaching Yoga For Children and Teens Certification Course better prepares yoga teachers for working with youth in a variety of settings. Practical tools to adapt yoga practices to the needs of youth include review and discussion of:
- Basic teaching methodology
- Age-appropriate teaching techniques such as adapted asanas, pranayama, relaxation and visualizations, and yoga-based games
- Lesson plan development according to the age, developmental and socio-emotional needs of children and teens
Based on the teachings of Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Organization and Swami Vishnu-devananda's 5 Basic Points of Yoga, the instruction is delivered with integrity and respect to the classical teachings of Yoga.
The course is open to Yoga teachers of all traditions and a Continuing Education Certificate of Completion (10 hours) with Yoga Alliance is provided upon successful completion.
Course Teacher:
Saraswati is a direct disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda and a long time staff of the Sivananda organization. She has been teaching Teachers' Training and Advanced Teachers' Training courses for over two decades and is currently the co-director of the SYVC in Toronto. Saraswati has been serving as a director of the Kids' Yoga Camps in Canada and Thailand . She has also developed Teen karma yoga programme as well as many community-based programmes such as Kids' Yoga School, Yogic Parenting as well as educational partnership with the Toronto school board. Saraswati is also a certified Child and Youth Counsellor and has worked enthusiastically with individuals and groups on social issues such as anger management, conflict resolution, mental health, and substance abuse.
Course Date: 22 – 26 August 2016
Class timings: 11.00 AM-1.00 PM
Course Fee –Rs. 8000
Yoga for Weight Loss - Starting 4 April 2016
Join us during the month of April as we begin our new Weight Loss classes and come experience the benefits and see the results yourself.
- MANDATORY:Yoga practitioner (had practice yoga before) or had completed SIVANANDA beginners course (if you are new to yoga or been a long time without practising.
- Or be an Open Class Holder
- Bring your own mat & towel (and bottle of water)
- 3 x per week, for 3 months (to see results)
- Prepare to loose weight
Morning batch / 10.30 a.m to 12 a.m /Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Afternoon batch /4 p.m to 5.30 p.m/Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- New Registers: 2.500 Rs
- Open Class Holders: 1.000 Rs
If you are an Open Class Holder you can join to our Weight Loss Classes donate the diference of 1000 Rs.You will be able to attend Open Classes and Weight Loss Classes (which means, you will have an unlimited number of classes per month to choose). If you join for the Weight Loss classes, you can also attend to the Open Classes (which means, you will have an unlimited number of classes per month to choose).
The training is open to yoga teachers of all traditions and a
Continuing Education Certificate of Completion (10 hours) with Yoga Alliance is provided upon successful completion


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At a hearing Dec. 11 before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Department of Veterans' Affairs Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey outlined progress made by the Veterans Benefits Administration in reducing the backlog of veterans' disability compensation and pension claims by 36 percent since March -- attributing the success to the combined impact of VBA's transformation initiatives and increased employee productivity.
"We know there is much more work to be done to reach our goal of eliminating the disability claims backlog in 2015," said Hickey. "But I'm encouraged that the improved tools and processes we've put in place so far are having a real impact so that we may better serve our nation's veterans, their survivors and their families.
In her testimony, Under Secretary Hickey detailed the elements of VBA's transformation plan, which includes re-training and reorganizing its workforce, streamlining business processes, and building and implementing new technology solutions. With each transformation milestone, said Hickey, VBA is successfully moving away from a paper-bound, manual process to improve benefits delivery to veterans, their families, and survivors through paperless claims processing.
For more information about VA benefits, visit www.benefits.va.gov, or call 1-800-827-1000.
* * *
French Legion of Honor Awarded to Novelty -- Six Ohio veterans who helped liberate France during World War II were awarded that country's Medal of Knight of the Legion of Honor in a ceremony Dec. 6 in Columbus. John J. Turk, 89, of Novelty in Geauga County, entered the Armed Forces in 1943 and served as a Technician Fifth Grade in Batter A, 67th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion. He served on the European mainland from February 1944 until December 1945, and participated in the campaigns of Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Turk is a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four battle stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. The medals were presented by Honorary Consul of France Stephen Knerly, Jr., assisted by Ohio Department of Veterans Service Director Tim Gorrell.
* * *
Material for use in this column can be mailed to Ron Seman, 7065 West 130th St., Apt. 120E, Parma Heights, 44130-7805, or email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Happy New Year!


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Person Swap [VIDEO]
Do you think you're fairly observant to what's going on right next to you all the time? I would be willing to bet that you're not after watching this video.
Derren Brown sets up an experiment to see if people will notice if the stranger that just approached them is suddenly swapped out for another one. You would think it would be pretty obvious, right? Apparently that's false because very few people pick up on what's happening to them.
Watch how discrete the transition is – I mean aside from the giant poster that interrupts the conversation.
Subscribe to 101.5 KNUE on
Your mind is blown now, isn't it? That's what I thought.


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Devil's Harlot (Union)
|Devil's Harlot
|Player: @Devil's Own
|Server: Union
|Threat Level:
|Personal Data
|Real Name:
|Beatrice McBride
|Known Aliases:
|Harlot, Harley, Devil's Conquest, Con, Devil's Widow, Devil's Spider
|Human/Demon Hybrid
|Eye Color:
|Hair Color:
|Biographical Data
|Inventor, Assassin
|Place of Birth:
|Unknown, abandoned in Cap Au Diable at a young age
|Base of Operations:
|The Shadow Eye Temple
|Marital Status:
|Known Relatives:
|Devil's Spark (Daughter)
|Known Powers
|Flight, Soul Mastery
|Known Abilities
|Ninjitsu, Fitness
|Twin blades, Stone of Nullification, 'Wargear' Battlesuit, Cyber-Enhancement Battlesuit
|No additional information available.
Devil's Harlot is the name used by an individual currently operating in the Rogue Isles as a mercenary for hire. Demonically possessed and trained in martial arts she specialises in infiltration and stealth kills.
- 1 Personality
- 2 Abilities
- 3 Tactics
- 4 Character History
- 5 Threat Identification Report
- 6 Alternate Costumes
- 7 Known Associates
- 8 Souvenirs
- 9 Trivia
Quiet and detached Devil's Harlot does not interact well with other people when not talking business, or brutally ripping them apart with her blades. While most people attribute this attitude to her martial arts training the few people who've got close enough to her to get her to discuss her past are told a harrowing tales of growing up of the streets of Cap Au Diable, scrounging from dumpsters and hunting rats for food, hiding from rape gangs and up-and-coming villains who wanted to use her for target practice. She never had the opportunity to trust anyone or form any long lasting relationships and so has grown apart from society, seeing others as tools and targets with as much emotional response to killing a human as she would to stepping on a bug.
Having been hurt in the past Devil's Harlot has developed the belief that might makes right and that the only way to change the world and protect herself is to possess greater strength than her opponents, which at this point she sees as practically everyone else. To this end she has set her goal in life to becoming the most powerful individual in the world, so that no-one would ever have be able to harm her ever again.
Dual Blades
In 2008 Devil's Harlot acquired a pair of antique blades crafted from impervium while working as a middle man for Legacy Chain. The grip of each of them was set with a strangely glowing crystal which, when Harlot first held them both, seemed to endow her with notable skill in their use. Over time her connection to the blades has grown, allowing her to perform more complex sword techniques with ease and without any tutelage or training of any kind.
While most of her skills come from the hard lessons learnt in the back alleyways and sewers of the Rogue Isles at some point in the early 00's Devil's Harlot acquired at least some formal training in the art of Ninjitsu. So far she's yet to reveal exactly what the circumstances of this training were, or who exactly her Master was and rumours are rife as to what exactly went on for her to gain her abilities.
Daemonic Possession
Soon after acquiring her twin blades and setting out to carve out a piece of the action for herself Devil's Harlot came into the possession of an ancient tome of unknown origin. While most of the book was written in a language she didn't understand one section seemed to hold a recipe for what was referred to as 'great power'. Gathering the ingredients and mixing the potion she eagerly drank the concoction only to discover she had now become the vessel for some kind of inter-dimensional being. With her body changing, skin darkening and horns and wings growing she suddenly found herself far stronger than before, able to move faster and, after some practice, able to fly.
Soul Mastery
Once she'd gained the trust of Lord Recluse's inner circle Devil's Harlot spent time alone with Ghost Widow in her private chambers. While rumours were abound to exactly what the two attractive villainesses were upto while locked in the bed chamber it is known that when she emerged Devil's Harlot had gained far greater control over her daemonic Other, allowing her to call upon its powers to strike down her foes. The ability to cast bolts of negative energy at great distance and with startling accuracy have made her all the more dangerous to face.
Making skillful use of her stealth abilities Devil's Harlot specialises in assassination and swift, powerful attacks to weaken her targets and take them down quickly. When faced with opponents too tough to be eliminated in one shot she blends into the shadows before attacking again and again, wearing them down until she can make a clean kill.
Highly effective in close combat against even the most powerful targets; Evasive and elusive making her difficult for the enemy to counter attack; Flight ability and speed allow her to move quickly between targets. Soul Mastery allows her to strike at foes from a distance, often eliminating them before they even realise they are under threat.
Attack strategy can be slow with enemies who possess powerful healing factors able to recover before the cumulative effects can take them down; With limited area effect attacks Devil's Harlot can easily be overwhelmed by large groups of enemies; While she's fast and evasive Harlot isn't particularly tough and when an enemy manages to land a blow it will usually cause her a lot of damage
Character History
Not much is known about the girl who'd come to be known as Devil's Harlot before she began to crawl her way up the criminal underworld of Cap Au Diable. Those who've managed to get close enough to here to share her bed have reported her night terrors and whispering fears in her sleep, mentioning rape gangs and chases through the dank alleyways and sewers. At some point in those early years Harlot acquired a smattering of training in ninjitsu, something else she's not eager to talk about.
Arrival On The Scene
In early 2008, while performing grunt work of agents of Legacy Chain, Harlot suddenly found herself in possession of two ancient swords. Immediately able to handle them even without any former training in swordsmanship the young woman realised these weapons were the tools she'd been waiting for in order to carve out her own place in the Rogue Isles. After making sure that none of the other agent who'd known about the existence of the blades could ever report back to the organisation as to what had happened to them Harlot left Cap Au Diable to make a name for herself.
Unfortunately she was off to a bad start with her first strides into Paragon City ending up with her captive in prison. Luckily her earlier massacre of the Legacy Chain operation had managed to attract the attention of a low ranking member of Arachnos named Kalinda, who sent a raiding party into the prison to release Harlot, along with a number of other promising villains.
After arriving on Mercy Island Devil's Harlot maintained close links with Arachnos, using their resources to help set up her own power base. Soon she discovered a previously untapped dimensional portal and, with the help of a rogue Arachnos Seer she met in Port Oakes, managed to unlock it and stepped through. Finding herself deep underground in a chamber whose only exits were caved in with soil and debris Harlot made herself at home.
Setting Up An Empire
Leaving Mercy Island behind Harlot was drawn to Port Oakes, where she began to commit crimes for her own benefit including raids on banks located across Paragon City. During one of her heists she discovered an ancient tome which seemed to be written in a lost language. Using her association with Arachnos she made contact with a Seer specialising in acquiring lost magics who was able to translate a small section of the tome which gave instructions for how to mix a potion which would bestow upon the consumer great power.
Around this time she met an electrically powered hero from Steel Canyon while waiting to make contact with one of her agents from Paragon City in Pocket D. Seeing the strong man as a quick lay she shared a brief and energetic rendezvous with him in one of the dark shadows of the club, but when it came time to leave she found herself drawn to stay for the first time in her life. There was something about this hero which attracted her in a way she'd never encountered before.
- On a sidenote while the union bore no children for Devil's Harlot an individual known as Devil's Spark has been seen on Mercy Island claiming to be Devil's Harlot's temporally displaced daughter from an alternate reality where she did in fact become pregnant from the encounter. In that timeline Harlot abandoned her life of crime after discovering she was pregnant and gained employment as a researcher in the Cap Au Diable University. She was later killed after being abducted walking home from work, caught in the crossfire of the gang wars which would eventually lead to the destruction of the city.
Obsessed with the acquisition of power the idea of a potion which could grant her that very thing was of immediate interest to the young villainess. After silencing the Seer and dumping her body in the ocean just offshore from Fort Hades she set out to collect the components as described in the recipe. After several trades on the Black Market, as well as raids on storage facilities around the island, Harlot had everything she needed. Travelling to Cap Au Diable she visited the University located there, using their facilities she quickly brewed up the strange concoction and eagerly drank it.
Whether there was a mistake in the translation, the recipe had been mixed wrong or the original intention of the potion was to do this exact thing Harlot soon found herself racked with pain, her body morphing and mutating as a daemonic entity slipped between dimensions and, using the potion as a conduit, possessed her body. Growing wings and horns Devil's Harlot had to abandon her old costume, whose fully shielded helmet no longed fitted over her behorned forehead.
Daemonic Vessel
Since then Devil's Harlot has slowly been working her way up the criminal underworld, tending to be drawn to tasks which hold the greatest chance of gaining personal power than wealth or prestige, while at the same time developing her skills at invention and crafting of equipment to help her contain the mysterious Voice which has haunted her since her daemonic transformation.
Returning to Pocket D Harlot met the electrical hero again, this time revealing to him the changes she was undergoing. In exchange the hero revealed that by day he was a research scientist and offered his assistance in curing her of the infection. At first she fought against this offer but as the hero pointed out how much of the own personality was being lost to the Voice she reluctantly agreed for him to look into her condition for her.
With the Voice goading her Devil's Harlot began to expand her influence, hiring minions of her own to root out targets of opportunity and undermine her enemies. Envisioning an empire of her own, built on the ashes of Arachnos, she began to attack her former masters in small but significant ways, never going too far in fear of exposing her operation to retribution before she was ready to face them. With the increase in manpower she began to excavate the ruins of her home, discovering an [[[Hell's Harem/The Shadow Eye Temple|ancient, forgotten temple]] which had lain buried and forgotten for an unknown period of time, presumably centuries.
Within the temple Harlot discovered special seals set into the floor of almost every room. These seals seemed to suppress magical energies, including those of the daemonic entity inhabiting her. With a measure of her mind back under control Harlot recognised the danger her reckless actions against Arachnos represented and quickly abandoned Cap Au Diable in favour of Sharkhead Isle.
Amidst the wreckage a number of strangely familiar crystals were also found, including a small glowing stone which fitted into the villainess's palm. This stone, an artifact of whomever had previously inhabited the temple, had the ability to retain a charge of the power of the seals, allowing whoever carried it to suppress magical energies wherever they went. The problem was that the daemon had become so integrated into Harlot's body at this point that to completely suppress it rendered the villainess too weak to defend herself, she needed some way to modulate the power of the Stone in order to access her the daemon's power just enough to allow her to act while at the same time stopping it from being able to affect her judgment.
Home Tutored
Focusing her attention on the homemade technologies used by the Freakshows across Sharkhead Isle Devil's Harlot began to develop her skills at manufacturing simple mechanical devices to both help channel the power of the Stone as well as improve her own abilities, making her criminal activities just that little easier.
During her experiments she came across a number of pieces of seemingly useless Halloween costumes based on the outfits worn by a number of different heroes and villain from around Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. At first she dismissed these as worthless and left them lying in the dust of her lair. After a few months and a passing visit to the Nerva Archipelago Devil's Harlot happened to meet a little old woman whose wise words inspired her to use her newfound abilities of invention to build a battlesuit to help focus the power of the Stone.
Giant Slayer
Luckily the timing was perfect and just as the suit was ready to be tested for the first time the ghost of the old hero Scrapyard began raging across the island, drawing all the enraged miners from the Pit to protest against their working conditions. Forming up with a number of other villains, who's all been drawn to the promise of reward for breaking the strike, Devil's Harlot managed to aid in the defeat of the phantasmal strike leader, planting the final blow which laid the ghost to rest, for a short time at least.
Encouraged by her victory over the formidable opponent Harlot travelled back to her hometown of Cap Au Diable where she hunted down the electrical beast known as Deathsurge. After slaughtering many of his minion Gremlins she finally faced off against the giant monster, single-handedly bringing the daemon to its knees. Unfortunately her victory was shortlived and soon the creature was fighting back stronger than ever but luckily a passing band of villains came to her aid, eager to loot the daemon's corpse for rewards.
Pussy Whipper
Having learnt her lesson with her near defeat at the hands of Deathsurge Devil's Harlot began to integrate herself with the other villains around the Isles. With the additional support and information sources available to her she began to target the greatest threat to her plans for a brave new world, the heroes of Paragon City.
Making contact with the cape hunter known as Crimson Revenant Devil's Harlot began a systematic series of attacks against the heroes operating within the Isles themselves, starting with the young and foolhardy heroine known as Mynx.
'Interviewing' Crey agents in the Nerva Archipelago to locate the young nekomimi, finally discovering the heroine was concentrating her activities to the Primeva region where her animalistic attributes gave her an advantage in the dense terrain. Under Crimson Revenant's advice Harlot decided to lay a trap for the kitten and by attacking a Longbow base set up in the region, and leaving evidence to implicate Crey knowing Mynx's enmity towards the organisation given her personal history with them.
With the trap set Harlot snuck into a second Longbow base, well aware that Mynx would be waiting for her to attack, believing it was Crey operatives she'd be facing. After making her way passed the garrison forces the assassin found one of Mynx's associates, Agent Hanson, securing the command centre. After murdering him along with his bodyguards Harlot was ambushed by Mynx, but using her own evasive skill she managed to wipe out the cat's entourage before they could lay a finger on her.
Disappearing into the shadows Harlot began to harass the heroine, slowly wearing down the scrappy kitten with hit and run attacks, never giving the cape a chance to strike back as she blended between the equipment banks, striking from unexpected directions until Mynx could no longer defend herself. Incapacitating the neko Harlot bound the cat's claws safely before stealing passed the guards once more, returning to her lair with her prize for a little fun time. After several hours of games the assassin contacted Arachnos, letting them know she had something of value to trade and Mynx was handed over to their custody.
Brawling With The Big Boys
Confident in her new ability to take down even the famous protectors of 'good' Harlot set her sights on a tougher target, Back Alley Brawler. Once again calling on the aid of Crimson Revenant she learnt from him that The Brawler was due to be performing an inspection of the Longbow facilities in Nerva and would be leaving himself vulnerable to an attack.
Procuring explosives from the Cage Consortium on Sharkhead Island Harlot broke into the base The Brawler was due to be visiting. Carefully working her way around the guard patrols she skillfully placed the devices around the facility, the prime locations identified by Crimson Revenant's agents. Leaving the site without having been detected by the Longbow agents she swiftly detonated the explosives as soon as she was clear, killing them all.
With security compromised Longbow no longer felt it was safe for The Brawler to visit the confines of a base, even one as supposedly safe as one filled with Longbow agents. Instead the organisation decided to make his visit a high profile media event, sequestering Liberty Isle and filling the plaza with Longbow operatives ready for anything the local villains could throw at them.
Realising the challenge the army of Longbow posed, especially in such a open and shadowless environment, Devil's Harlot sent out the word, forming an army of her own to storm the island. Arriving on the shore the force, made up almost entirely of goons, ninja and droids under the command of Masterminds loyal to Harlot's cause, quickly began to sweep through the Longbow forces. At first their advance seemed unstoppable, with the combined might of the minions quickly overwhelming the pockets of Longbow, dividing the defending force and taking them apart with ease, but this all changed when The Brawler strode into the fray.
Tossing the weak minions aside with ease The Brawler plunged into the invading force, cutting down the Masterminds even as Devil's Harlot struck at him from the blindside. Soon the assembled villains were left bloodied and broken, limping from the island and scattering into the back streets of Nerva before Longbow could pull themselves back together or call in reinforcements to stop them. Given his long experience even The Brawler knew better than to try to follow them without backup and let them leave.
Even as she limped away from the battlefield Harlot swore she'd be back, and forming a new band of villainy she soon was. While the new force was still heavily in favour of Masterminds Harlot made sure to include a number of other villains this time as well, notably two more stalkers and a brute named Breaknquake, whose physical strength while not a match for The Brawler would certainly help tip the balance in the attackers' favour.
Once more arriving on Liberty Isle the villains moved against the Longbow reinforcements, but this time a more circumspect tactic was used. With the stalkers drifting between the Longbow unseen, only revealing themselves as they took the lives of the commanders and key personnel of the Longbow defense force, leading the rest into ambushes from their Mastermind compatriots.
Before he even realised what was going on The Brawler was left almost alone, his personal entourage all that remained of the Longbow garrison. Sweeping up the stairways Breaknquake slammed into The Brawler, taking the large man off his feet as the stalkers moved to take out the remaining defenders and the Masterminds moved up to provide supporting fire to the assault. Almost as soon as it had started The Brawler lay in a puddle of his own blood and organs, even his legendary tough skin no match for the well coordinated assault.
As Arachnos forces arrived to scoop up the pieces and stuff them into a holding cell Devil's Harlot took the opportunity to strip The Brawler's mask from his face, leaving the once noble veteran of the Rikti War broken and disgraced, surrounded by the Longbow he'd been meant to assess.
Threat Identification Report
Alternate Costumes
Main Costume
- As shown in profile image
Code phrase: "Laever" ("Reveal" spoken backwards)
Transformation: Presto Chango
With her rise to the dizzy heights of Arachnos's inner circle Devil's Harlot has been given access to the organisation's research labs, many of which are surprisingly not run by insane scientists bent on world domination at all, but level-headed researchers striving to create better equipment for the soldiers of Arachnos. One such development is a light weight, leather based material which can be easily crafted into a number of different designs.
While appearing to be a simple evening dress with a few complimentary accessories the costume is really a battle ready combat mesh capable of withstanding the full power of a Rikti assault weapon without taking damage. The accessories house a number of gadgets and gizmos designed to supplement Devil's Harlot's own abilities, making it easier for her to deal out justice in the name of Arachnos.
Casual Wear
Code phrase: "Esiugsid em" ("Disguise me" spoken backwards)
Transformation: Cast
After acquiring the Stone of Nullification, which can clearly be seen being worn as part of her belt, Devil's Harlot was able to regain a more human appearance, allowing her to spend more time socialising in places like Pocket D and the Winter Palace Casino. With her fame in the Rogue Isles growing, along with a healthy respect for her reputation, she found she no longer had to rely on combat grade armour to survive, as many simply avoided her rather than try to face her in battle.
While in this form a great deal of Harlot's daemonically enhanced abilities were restrained, leaving her at her most vulnerable, because of this she is rarely seen in this costume outside of the relatively safe areas such as Pocket D or the Shadow Eye Temple. At its first use the Stone of Nullification's effects were quite imprecise with her horns and muscular body shape being suppressed while her wings still remained. Later experimentation with the Stone yielded more effective camouflage, but at a cost in her abilities.
Wargear Battlesuit
Code phrase: "Armour up!"
Transformation: Vanguard Sigil
With her achievements in the Isles growing in acclaim, as well as danger, Devil's Harlot found the leather suit which had served her well enough early in her career simply not suitable for facing the powerful entities such as Deathsurge, Scrapyard and the invading forces of the Rikti. Using the technological skills she'd developed during her criminal career, as well as equipment and supplies those same exploits had furnished her with, Devil's Harlot fashioned a combat suit for herself which not only acted as additional protection but also allowed her to focus the powers of the Stone of Nullification, which is mounted in the chest plate, more precisely than she could in her casual outfit.
In this form much of the power of the possessing daemon can be focused through the armoured gauntlets of her battlesuit, which can usually be seen glowing with a green aura. This power adds to the power of her blade attacks, as well as allowing her to 'bleed off' the influence of the entity in turn allowing her to focus her mind more clearly. Since the power is being drawn away from her body Devil's Harlot's horns are considerably smaller while she is using the Stone in this way allowing her to wear a specially crafted helmet for additional protection.
While this armour has a number of advantages, Devil's Harlot rarely wears it due to the restrictive nature of the armour plating interrupting the natural flow of her combat style, preferring the less protective but more maneuverable leather outfit for standard criminal activity and only falling back on the battlesuit when expecting to be facing a far stronger opponent.
Classic Costume
Code phrase: "Nrut kcab emit" ("Turn back time" spoken backwards)
Transformation: Spin
Some may think it sentimental of the villainess to keep hold of her old costume, especially since the later designs offer better protection and accessories, but to Devil's Harlot the old costume she first made for herself out of scraps of leather and an old biker's helmet also offer her the chance to walk the streets in a costume less well recognised than her main one. In some circumstances recognition can be a very bad thing, especially when visiting old haunts where people you stepped on while climbing the ladder of success are still waiting for payback.
Wrapped in chains and featuring a utility belt for storing some of her more portable inventions the classic costume is perfect for a more anonymous stroll through areas such as Mercy Island and Port Oakes, where the lack of protection against psychic and energy assaults is less of a worry than the protection from stray bullets and knives in the back.
Code phrase: "Gone, gone the form of gal; Rise the daemon Ad-Dajjal!"
Transformation: Evil laugh
While for most of the time Devil's Harlot would prefer to suppress her daemon side there are times when the raw power the supernatural entity possesses comes in handy. Since studying Soul Mastery under Ghost Widow Devil's Harlot has gained enough control over the daemon to not only uncover its true name but to also force it to withdraw whenever she wishes, enabling her the option of releasing it for short periods when required.
The daemon itself, whose true name appears to be Ad-Dajjal if the poem recited to summon its form is to be believed, is reptilian in nature, with a thick scaly hide which is capable of turning both physical and energy based attacks. Its mind is so beyond the comprehension of mere mortals that most psychic assault also seem to fail against it as well. The forms weakness is the insectoid hands it possesses, which make control of Devil's Harlot's blades difficult at best, but the considerable strength in the daemon's form make brute force more than a compensation for the lack of control.
Known Associates
- The names of Devil's Harlot's swords are Ivy and Taki, presumably ancient goddesses of some kind tied in with the warrior ideal of whichever race originally crafted them.
- While wearing her Wargear Battlesuit Devil's Harlot has to avoid contact with pure gold as the respiratory system of the suit can be damaged by the metal.
- The Battlesuit allows Devil's Harlot a limited form of x-ray vision, just enough to see through a piece of paper or card. Perfect when spying on documents hidden inside an envelope or while playing cards.
- Devil's Harlot is allergic to bananas and has been known to become aggressively defensive whenever someone offers her one.
- While in her classic outfit, without the Stone of Nullification's influence, Devil's Harlot's bust is noticeably larger.


text:
THE Trowbridge Windows & Conservatories-sponsored Trowbridge League suffered a total wipeout at the weekend when all 15 of its scheduled league and cup fixtures joined the long list of casualties lost to waterlogged pitches.
With more rain likely to fail on the already-sodden pitches before the next round of matches, it is hoped that there will be some improvement.
With many of the league's club set to feature in the Wiltshire Junior Cup next Saturday, cancellations to those games would lead to more misery for the league's fixture secretary Andy Harding.
Boomsbury are set to host fellow league outfit Castle Combe and former Junior Cup winners and if things go to form, Ben Howe should keep his hopes of claiming the long-coveted title alive.
Last term's beaten finalists Lamb entertain Salisbury League side Alderbury, who defeated Worton & Cheverell in the previous round, a tough challenge to Richard Stevens side who are hoping to go all the way and lift the trophy this term.
Seend United and Semington Magpies have been drawn against Salisbury League sides. Seend visit First division side Chalke Valley and Semington have a home tie with The Wanderers, who have already disposed of fellow first division side Trowbridge Wanderers.
Third division leaders Westwood News, who received a bye to this stage host Ashton Keynes, who are at the wrong end of the Wiltshire League Division One table.
However, after beating cup holders Stockton & Codford in the last round Keynes will fancy their chances of becoming the first team to beat Mark Hurkett's side at their Bobbin Lane fortress.
With Division One leaders, Melksham Town Reserves without a game and second-placed Boomsbury in Junior Cup action, Westbury United Reserves will top the table if they can beat defending champions Trowbridge Wanderers.
The only other game in the division sees North Bradley host Warminster Town Reserves in what should be a close game as both sides look to evenly matched with two victories to their names to date.
Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves will grab a share of top spot in Division Two if they can beat Bratton at Leighton Sports this Saturday afternoon.
Wanderers, who are currently in third spot, are three points adrift of inactive leaders Steeple Ashton. However their task won't be an easy one as Bratton are just below them in the standings and chasing a top two finish themselves.
Calne Eagles, who have not won a game in five outings, host a Worton & Cheverell side who have come into some form in the last couple of games.
Heytesbury and Broughton Gifford currently find themselves in the bottom two so the battle of the villages set for Heytesbury Park will a crucial one as the teams slog it out for maximum points.
Back-to-back wins have seen Melksham Town A climb the table to a position of safety but they will have to put in another good performance if they are to keep their mini-revival going at Westbury Town.
Whatever the outcome of the results from this Saturday's games in Division Three, Westwood News, who are in Junior Cup action, will still have a commanding lead over the chasing pack.
The Fleece, who host Lacock, are nine points adrift of Westwood and having lost to their guests 3-0 just a few weeks ago they will have to improve otherwise the two teams will find themselves swapping positions.
Bratton Reserves find themselves just outside of the bottom two, but a trip to Bradford United Reserves will give the perfect chance to pick up a victory that would move them up the rankings.
A result in favour of Bradford would take them into the top half of the table for the first time this term.
Bottom-of-the-table The Stiffs visit Trowbridge Rangers, who are experiencing somewhat of a mixed start to life in the league.
James Goddard's Rangers should claim their fourth win of the season as Ade Giles men have yet to record their first maximum pointer.
The final game in the division sees third-placed Trowbridge Town Reserves make the short trip to local rivals United FC and it would be a surprise if the former didn't claim another victory in their bid for promotion.
TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport


text:
Economies of scope and scale in green advocacy
Environmental advocacy is a large and growing activity. Whilst a number of economists have analysed the advocacy process, no systematic attempt has been made to understand the factors influencing the organisation of the sector. We explore the relationship between economies of scale and scope in advocacy. Under the most popular specification of a Tullock-type contest, economies of scope arise when (and only when) the scale of that activity is sufficiently large. The incentives for merger are socially efficient, implying no need for policy intervention. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005
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Volume (Year): 124 (2005)
Issue (Month): 3 (September)
Pages: 423-436
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- Maxwell, John W & Lyon, Thomas P & Hackett, Steven C, 2000.
"Self-Regulation and Social Welfare: The Political Economy of Corporate Environmentalism,"
Journal of Law and Economics,
University of Chicago Press, vol. 43(2), pages 583-617, October.
- John W. Maxwell & Thomas P Lyon & Steven C.. Hackett, 1995. "Self-Regulation and Social Welfare: The Political Economy of Corporate Environmentalism," University of Chicago - George G. Stigler Center for Study of Economy and State 122, Chicago - Center for Study of Economy and State.
- Ingberman Daniel E., 1995. "Siting Noxious Facilities: Are Markets Efficient?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 20-33, November.
- Ando, Amy Whritenour, 2001. "Economies of Scope in Endangered-Species Protection: Evidence from Interest-Group Behavior," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 312-332, May.
- Ando, Amy, 1999. "Economies of Scope in Endangered-Species Protection: Evidence from Interest-Group Behavior," Discussion Papers dp-97-44-rev, Resources For the Future.
- Zagonari, Fabio, 1998. "International Pollution Problems: Unilateral Initiatives by Environmental Groups in One Country," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 46-69, July.
- Grossman, Gene M & Helpman, Elhanan, 1994. "Protection for Sale," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 833-850, September.
- Grossman, G.M. & Helpman, E., 1992. "Protection for Sale," Papers 162, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Public and International Affairs.
- Grossman, Gene & Helpman, Elhanan, 1993. "Protection for Sale," CEPR Discussion Papers 827, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
- Grossman, G.M. & Helpman, E., 1992. "Protection for Sale," Papers 21-92, Tel Aviv.
- Gene M. Grossman & Elhanan Helpman, 1992. "Protection For Sale," NBER Working Papers 4149, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Fudenberg, Drew & Tirole, Jean, 1984. "The Fat-Cat Effect, the Puppy-Dog Ploy, and the Lean and Hungry Look," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 74(2), pages 361-366, May.
- Matthieu Glachant, 2003. "Voluntary Agreements under Endogenous Legislative Threats," Working Papers 2003.36, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
- Heyes, Anthony G., 1997. "Environmental Regulation by Private Contest," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 407-428, February.
- Linster, Bruce G, 1993. "Stackelberg Rent-Seeking," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 77(2), pages 307-321, October.
- Neary, Hugh M, 1997. "Equilibrium Structure in an Economic Model of Conflict," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 35(3), pages 480-494, July.
- Baik, Kyung H & Shogren, Jason F, 1992. "Strategic Behavior in Contests: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(1), pages 359-362, March.
- Dixit, Avinash K, 1987. "Strategic Behavior in Contests," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(5), pages 891-898, December. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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text:
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Archinect - News 2017-08-22T20:41:34-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150022855/hossein-amanat-the-architect-of-tehran-s-iconic-azadi-tower-reflects-on-religion-and-architecture-in-iran Hossein Amanat, the architect of Tehran's iconic Azadi Tower, reflects on religion and architecture in Iran Alexander Walter 2017-08-15T15:29:00-04:00 >2017-08-15T15:32:38-04:00
In 1966, a 24-year-old architect who had just graduated from Tehran University hesitantly entered a competition to design a monument to mark the 2,500-year celebration of the founding of the Persian empire. [...] The architect, Hossein Amanat, had no idea that his hastily prepared design, which went on to win the competition, would one day become a focal point of the Iranian capital's skyline, serving as a backdrop to some of the country's most turbulent political events.

The Azadi tower, he said, was an opportunity to "design modern architecture using old language, to preserve the good things about a culture, leave aside the meaningless parts and create something new and meaningful".
 https://archinect.com/news/article/149993075/aia-officially-states-it-is-pro-immigration-and-travel-positive AIA officially states it is pro-immigration and travel-positive Julia Ingalls 2017-02-21T12:43:00-05:00 >2017-03-13T07:55:50-04:00
What would America be without immigrants? More to the point, what would architecture be without the ability for those working within it to freely travel and collaborate with (much more affordable) talent from around the world? In recognition of these facts, the AIA has released an official statement that raises concerns about broad anti-immigration policies, and confirms the institute's dedication to reciprocal "free moment and association" around the globe. Here's the full text of the press release:

As discussion on immigration continues, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) today joins with many American businesses, industries and universities in calling for fair and impartial immigration policies, and in expressing deep concern about policies that restrict immigration from specific countries or regions based on overly broad factors, including religion.

"Beyond the essential considerations of fairness and equity, restrictions targeting specific areas of the world can have prof...
 https://archinect.com/news/article/149982751/2016-faith-form-religious-architecture-awards-name-koning-eizenberg-john-mcaslan-partners-john-ronan-among-winners 2016 Faith & Form Religious Architecture Awards name Koning Eizenberg, John McAslan & Partners, John Ronan among winners Justine Testado 2016-12-14T17:43:00-05:00 >2016-12-21T21:59:29-05:00
Whether you frequently visit a religious space or not, there are plenty of projects out there that are worthy of praise in their own right, as seen in the 2016 Faith & Form/IFRAA Awards Program. Founded in 1978 and co-sponsored by Faith & Form Magazine and the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA), the annual competition scopes out the best in religious architecture, liturgical design, and art for religious spaces.

Open to all, from architects to clergy to students, the 2016 Faith & Form/IFRAA Awards concluded with 28 winning projects based worldwide. Categories included New Facilities, Restoration, Liturgical/Interior Design, Sacred Landscape, and more. Here are a few of the winners:

Sacred Landscape: Shoji Oshio + UA architects; 8-Shaped Passage; Ueno, Tokyo, Japan

Liturgical/Interior Design: John McAslan + Partners; Sacred Heart Cathedral of Kericho; Kericho, Kenya

Adaptive Reuse/Repurpose: Koning Eizenberg Architecture; Temple Israel of Hollywood; Los Angeles, California

Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects; St. Patrick's Cathedral; New York, New York; Restoration

 New Facilities: John McAslan + Partners; Jumaa Mosque; Doha, Qatar

Student Work: Rafaela Paes; "City of Spirits"; Recife, Brazil

cover image: New Facilities: John Ronan Architects; Chapel of St. Ignatius; Chicago, Illinois

Find the full list of winners on Bustler.

For more about religious architecture on Archinect:

LeRoy's Ark: LeRoy Tro...
 https://archinect.com/news/article/149981806/indian-hindu-temple-planned-as-world-s-tallest-religious-structure Indian Hindu temple planned as world's tallest religious structure Alexander Walter 2016-12-07T14:18:00-05:00 >2016-12-11T23:25:52-05:00
With its indoor theme park and helipad, this building might seem more like it would belong in Las Vegas, but this towering Hindu temple is set to become the world's tallest religious skyscraper. [...] At 700 feet (210 metres), the temple will be taller than India's Taj Mahal, which stands at 239 feet (73m) tall, as well as St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, which measures 422 feet (128.6m).

The illustration below shows the greater master plan for Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir. The project website has this description:

"The skyscraper temple-cum-heritage project, conceived of by the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore, will consist of a grand temple of Lord Sri Krishna at its centre. The grand temple shall be of monumental proportions and its iconic architecture shall harmoniously combine elements of both Indian temple architecture and modern architecture. This temple is poised to become the tallest, grandest and largest religious structure in India. The temple has a footprint of about 5.5 acres and rises to a height of about 700 feet (213 metres or 70 floors). The temple is planned to be vibrant with festivals and religious activities throughout the year."

Vedic Cosmology is an integral part of the design concept. The project website explains:

"A capsule elevator takes visitors from the ground level to the 700 ft. tall viewing Gallery giving an immersive 3D sound and light experi...
 https://archinect.com/news/article/149957279/noah-s-ark-replica-opens-in-kentucky-biblical-theme-park-to-compete-with-the-disneys-and-the-universals Noah's Ark replica opens in Kentucky biblical theme park to "compete with the Disneys and the Universals" Justine Testado 2016-07-12T15:09:00-04:00 >2016-07-17T17:42:28-04:00
The park's centerpiece features three decks of exhibits explaining Answers in Genesis' views of the biblical flood account..[It] also features a two-story restaurant, aerial zipline cables and the Ararat Ridge Zoo... "...in a world that we see becoming very secularized before our eyes, it's really time for Christians to do something of this size, of this quality, that competes with the Disneys and the Universals to get a message to the world."

This might be worth a pitstop for anyone planning a U.S. summer road trip. Envisioned by the Creationist apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis, a replica of Noah's Ark — measuring 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high — opened last week as the centerpiece of the Ark Encounter theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky. As it goes, the theme park [which apparently has a total construction cost of more than $150 million] is "more than just entertainment" and aims to promote the ministry's views on evolution. As it goes, criticism ensues.

More on Archinect:

Dismaland, Banksy's anti-capitalist art show, gave host town a £20M boost in tourism

Subterranean theme park: photographer Richard John Seymour captures the new life inside an ancient Transylvanian salt mine

Chinese Fun: Photographer Stefano Cerio captures the eerie side of empty amusement parks
 https://archinect.com/news/article/149943479/artist-catalogs-the-drab-architecture-of-america-s-megachurches Artist catalogs the drab architecture of America's megachurches Alexander Walter 2016-05-03T13:50:00-04:00 >2016-05-06T00:38:18-04:00
Lisa Anne Auerbach created a 'megazine' of structures reminiscent of shopping malls or warehouses, hidden away from city centers, where thousands of people worship every week [...] The conception of the cathedral is not only where one goes to be spiritual or commune with God, but to feel awe through the grandeur of the architecture [...] the US megachurch buildings are stripped wholesale of that sense of wonder and connection to the past; they are also far from the focal point of a city.

Related news stories on Archinect:

Ancient Italian church comes back to life – built in wire mesh

Omaha is building a Tri-Faith campus with a church, a mosque and a synagogue (no joke)

Why Modern Architecture Struggles to Inspire Catholics

 https://archinect.com/news/article/144504662/omaha-is-building-a-tri-faith-campus-with-a-church-a-mosque-and-a-synagogue-no-joke Omaha is building a Tri-Faith campus with a church, a mosque and a synagogue (no joke) Alexander Walter 2015-12-29T14:35:00-05:00 >2016-01-01T09:19:10-05:00
A mosque, a church and a synagogue go up on the site of an old Jewish country club ... It sounds like the setup to a joke — but it's not. It's actually happening in Omaha, Neb. The Tri-Faith Initiative may be the first place in history where these three monotheistic faiths have built together, on purpose, with the intention of working together. [...] Similar initiatives are underway elsewhere. One in Berlin would house all three religions in a single building.

Similar tri-faith building initiatives are also germinating in other parts of the world: A church-mosque-synagogue, in Berlin
 https://archinect.com/news/article/134108327/legal-limbo-continues-for-christoph-b-chel-s-venice-biennale-mosque Legal limbo continues for Christoph Büchel's Venice Biennale Mosque Alexander Walter 2015-08-12T14:20:00-04:00 >2015-08-15T16:46:14-04:00
A court in Venice has refused to fast-track a legal claim filed by the Icelandic Art Center (IAC) seeking the reopening of artist Christoph Büchel's mosque, which launched earlier this year in a disused church in Venice as part of the Biennale. The IAC is the commissioner of the controversial project, which was housed in the former Catholic church [...]. The mosque closed at the end of May after only two weeks when city officials claimed that it breached health and safety regulations.

Previously in the Archinect News: Police Shut Down Mosque Installation at Venice Biennale
 https://archinect.com/news/article/130816780/plans-revealed-for-the-future-european-center-of-judaism-in-paris Plans revealed for the future European Center of Judaism in Paris Alexander Walter 2015-06-30T20:59:00-04:00 >2015-07-05T08:41:27-04:00
Construction has begun on the future Centre Européen du Judaïsme (European Centre of Judaism) in the 17th arrondissement of Paris [...]. The planned cost of the project is €10m, with €2.7m in state and regional public funding, and it is due to be completed in spring 2017. Covering 4,900 sq. m over eight floors, the Jewish centre will include a synagogue, library, theatre and classrooms. The new building has been designed by the local architects Bruno Fléchet and Stéphane Maupin [...].

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/130794268/the-lunatic-builder-who-spent-50-years-and-counting-building-a-cathedral The "Lunatic Builder" who spent 50 years (and counting) building a cathedral Justine Testado 2015-06-30T14:25:00-04:00 >2015-07-04T23:54:15-04:00
There were never any construction plans or official permission. Everything is in my head. I am not an architect or a stonemason. I have never had any training in the building profession. My basic education was interrupted by the Civil War. I was inspired by books about cathedrals, castles and other religious buildings and they gave birth to my own work...—Don Justo Gallego Martínez

Born into humble means in the Spanish town of Mejorada del Campo in 1925 and having worked as a farmer and a bullfighter, Don Justo Gallego Martínez lived in a Trappist monastery for eight years until he was forced to leave when he contracted tuberculosis. Don Justo, who never had any training as an architect or a builder, was "left with [nothing but] the strong conviction that God wanted him to build a temple." And so he did. The year was 1963 when Don Justo first laid the foundation of the Cathedral in Mejorada that he continues to build today.

Perceived by neighbors as "The Lunatic Builder" because he was building without any authorized permission, Don Justo remained steadfast in his spiritual mission — with the help of public donations and technical advice — to keep working on his temple until "the end of [his] days".

Sounds like a movie, right?

Well, director James Rogan created a short documentary in 2010 based on Don Justo's ongoing story called "The Madman and the Cathedral". Y...
 https://archinect.com/news/article/130483588/hawaii-protesters-block-construction-of-giant-telescope-on-sacred-mountain-mauna-kea Hawaii protesters block construction of giant telescope on sacred mountain Mauna Kea Alexander Walter 2015-06-26T13:02:00-04:00 >2015-07-04T22:58:16-04:00
Builders pulled back from Mauna Kea as hundreds of protesters set up roadblocks to oppose construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on top of Hawaii's sacred mountain. State and local police arrested a dozen demonstrators.

"Protesters say they are taking a stand to defend Mauna Kea, sacred to native Hawaiians, from the international conglomerate attempting to build the mega-telescope, also known as the TMT. They say the 18-story building represents an unacceptable desecration of the mountain."

The Thirty Meter Telescope, or TMT, was designed to be one of the largest telescopes in existence — at a price tag of $1.5 billion USD.

Previously on Archinect: The $1.5B 30m telescope (TMT) will be the biggest ever
 https://archinect.com/news/article/127799498/police-shut-down-mosque-installation-at-venice-biennale Police Shut Down Mosque Installation at Venice Biennale Orhan Ayyüce 2015-05-22T17:21:00-04:00 >2015-05-26T21:08:59-04:00
The police in Venice closed an art installation in the form of a functioning mosque on Friday morning, after city officials declared the art project a security hazard and said that the artist who created it, Christoph Büchel, had not obtained proper permits and had violated laws by allowing too many people inside the mosque to worship.

"There is no mosque in Venice, so the thousands of Muslim tourists visiting Venice must pray in a converted factory in Mestre, which is the polluted part of Venice.

This until the swiss artist Buechler converted an abandoned and unused former catholic church into a functioning mosque for the duration of this year's Art Biennial.
Short lived though, Venice Municipal Authorities just yanked the permit.
Reason: Security andSafety-it was too popular, too many people wanted to see it or pray in it.
As usual security trumps everything"

As quoted by a friend.
 https://archinect.com/news/article/111876186/what-makes-a-building-sacred What makes a building sacred? Alexander Walter 2014-10-22T13:47:00-04:00 >2014-10-29T22:08:10-04:00
The new science of neuroaesthetics [...] tells us much about the way pure form is dealt with by the brain. [...] V S Ramachandran, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego, and William Hirstein, a philosopher at Elmhurst College in Illinois, argue that we are innately attuned to recognise things as unified objects – such that we find brushstrokes or architectural features that can be mentally assembled into a coherent whole more beautiful.

Related Archinect Feature: AfterShock #4: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neuroscientific Architecture Research
 https://archinect.com/news/article/105244141/blowing-up-mosul-s-historic-mosques-is-a-war-crime Blowing up Mosul's historic mosques is 'a war crime' Alexander Walter 2014-07-28T13:12:00-04:00 >2014-07-28T13:17:21-04:00
Leading British archaeologist and member of the House of Lords, Colin Renfrew, says the destruction of historic mosques in Mosul, northern Iraq, by Islamic state militants (Isis) "is a disaster for the cultural heritage of Iraq, and indeed of Islam". The Prophet Jirjis mosque and shrine in Mosul was destroyed on 27 July, according to unconfirmed press reports. The 14th-century mosque was the latest in a series of holy sites targeted by the jihadist group.

Previously: Islamic State jihadis destroy ancient mosque in Mosul
 https://archinect.com/news/article/104956548/islamic-state-jihadis-destroy-ancient-mosque-in-mosul Islamic State jihadis destroy ancient mosque in Mosul Archinect 2014-07-24T18:38:00-04:00 >2014-07-26T20:14:19-04:00
The mosque was built on an archaeological site dating back to 8th century BC and is said to be the burial place of the prophet, who in stories from both the Bible and Qur'an is swallowed by a whale. It was renovated in the 1990s under Iraq's late dictator Saddam Hussein and until the recent militant blitz that engulfed Mosul, remained a popular destination for religious pilgrims from around the world.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/83697535/sculptures-on-nyc-s-cathedral-of-st-john-the-divine-depict-a-modern-day-apocalypse Sculptures on NYC's Cathedral of St. John the Divine depict a modern-day apocalypse Archinect 2013-10-08T20:09:00-04:00 >2013-10-14T18:25:47-04:00
On the Portal of Paradise on the western façade of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan are sculptures of the end of modern New York. The Brooklyn Bridge is breaking in two, a bus plummeting from it into the water while waves rise up over the toppling skyline. People run in a panic below the Stock Exchange, and next to them a scorpion, snake, and other signs of pestilence swarm a skeleton.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/78907365/romania-s-church-building-boom Romania's church-building boom Nam Henderson 2013-08-07T13:54:00-04:00 >2013-08-07T13:54:31-04:00
Romania's Minister of Religious Affairs, Victor Opaschi, concedes that there is a close working relationship between the church and politicians during electoral campaigns, and that this is "not a good thing".

 Tessa Dunlop reports in from Romania where the Orthodox Church is in the midst of a growth spurt with as many as 10 new places of worship being completed every month, and the enormous Cathedral for the People's Salvation is slowly taking shape. However, Romanians have begun to question the use of public funds for such purposes, especially in one of the poorest countries in the EU.
 https://archinect.com/news/article/73180632/the-roman-catholic-church-is-coming-to-the-venice-biennale The Roman Catholic Church is coming to the Venice Biennale Archinect 2013-05-14T20:44:00-04:00 >2013-05-21T18:06:50-04:00
The Vatican's presence at the Biennale is the brainchild of Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, an exuberant polymath who as president of the Pontifical Council for Culture since 2009 has tried to build bridges between the church and contemporary culture, two worlds that have often clashed.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/71199562/ghazni-s-undiscovered-afghan-architectural-treasure-trove Ghazni's undiscovered Afghan architectural treasure trove Nam Henderson 2013-04-15T12:08:00-04:00 >2013-04-15T12:08:28-04:00
The ancient Afghan city of Ghazni has been designated an Asian city of Islamic Culture by the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation. But outsiders will find it difficult to see the city's famous Islamic and pre-Islamic architectural wonders because of the Taliban insurgency.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/65219416/holy-architecture-not-a-curve-out-of-place Holy architecture: Not a curve out of place Archinect 2013-01-10T14:03:00-05:00 >2013-01-14T20:18:45-05:00
Muslim scriptures are laconic on mosque design. The holy building must only face Mecca and be "guarded from enemies". That gives a free hand to experimental architects and adventurous clergy. In Albania's capital, Tirana, BIG, a Danish architectural firm, is erecting a mosque with walls like breaking waves. Their clever geometry helps it face Mecca—inconveniently askew from the city's north-south grid layout.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/36653223/are-us-muslims-abandoning-domes-and-minarets-out-of-fear Are US Muslims abandoning domes and minarets out of fear? Nam Henderson 2012-02-02T11:05:00-05:00 >2012-02-05T17:11:56-05:00
"You can have a grand dome and grand minaret, but if it doesn't really serve the purpose, if it only has a large prayer space and nothing else, then you're not really fulfilling the needs of the community," he says.

 In post 9/11 America the construction of new mosques in the US has sometimes sparked controversy and even confrontation. Is that why some new Muslim houses of worship are being built without the most recognisable features of Islamic architecture - minarets and domes?
 https://archinect.com/news/article/35865782/alain-de-botton-s-temples-for-atheists-have-a-foundational-flaw Alain de Botton's 'temples for atheists' have a foundational flaw Archinect 2012-01-26T14:16:00-05:00 >2012-02-02T14:10:46-05:00
Perhaps emboldened by the success of the atheist bus, or his own Living Architecture initiative (in which top architects design desirable holiday homes), or the fact that he's got a new book to promote, Alain de Botton is now proposing a series of temples for atheists to be built around the UK.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/31019887/competition-launched-to-decorate-moscow-churches Competition launched to decorate Moscow churches Archinect 2011-12-15T11:55:25-05:00 >2011-12-15T11:57:28-05:00
"These churches must become not only a decoration of our city, but truly a phenomenon of civic and church art of our 21st century," said Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, the executive secretary of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, at a news conference. "They must become a kind of pearl of ancient tradition, uniting historic Moscow with its new districts and buildings." He said the terms of the competition would be announced by the end of the year.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta> https://archinect.com/news/article/28255972/crystal-cathedral-congregants-devastated-by-church-sale Crystal Cathedral congregants 'devastated' by church sale Archinect 2011-11-21T13:19:55-05:00 >2011-11-21T13:23:29-05:00
Some congregants at Crystal Cathedral said they felt blindsided by the church board after it threw its weight behind a bid from the Catholic Church –- an offer that effectively boots them from their landmark site in Garden Grove. The ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Kwan to allow the sale of Crystal Cathedral to the Diocese of Orange was met with tears.

 Philip Johnson's iconic church gets purchased by the Catholic church.
 https://archinect.com/news/article/5197588/big-to-design-major-cultural-center-in-albania BIG to Design Major Cultural Center in Albania Alexander Walter 2011-05-04T18:12:00-04:00 >2012-09-28T21:03:56-04:00
BIG, Martha Schwartz Landscape, Buro Happold, Speirs & Major, Lutzenberger & Lutzenberger, and Global Cultural Asset Management were today announced as the winning team of the international design competition for a new 27,000 m2 cultural complex in Albania, consisting of a Mosque, an Islamic Center, and a Museum of Religious Harmony.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <meta>


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2010-W 1 oz American Silver Eagle PCGS PR70 DCAM (First Strike)
Temporarily Out Of Stock
is Available
You Might Also Like
Details & Specifications
This 2010-W 1 oz Proof Silver American Eagle is offered with a special First Strike Label and a grade of PR70 from the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). Containing 1 troy oz of 99.9% pure silver, this bullion coin boasts the highest silver content of any U.S. Mint coin. Its DCAM designation refers to its Deep Cameo, which renders its details magnificently frosted and gives the field a mirror-like contrast to the relief. The W mint mark located on the reverse places its origin at the West Point facility of the United States Mint where the coin was struck.
This coin features the Walking Liberty design of Albert A. Weinman. The obverse depicts Lady Liberty moving east toward the rising sun with her right arm extended, and oak branches held in her left. The word "LIBERTY" spreads along the top rim. The heraldic eagle of the Great Seal appears on the reverse. Thirteen stars, arranged in an inverted triangle, hover above the eagle's head.
As American Silver Eagles continue to increase in popularity and gain international cachet, PR70 graded examples of the Silver Eagle like this 2010-W are only bound to become harder and harder to find. Buy yours from Gainesville Coins before they run out.


text:
The Jewish Museum's last major exhibit on abstract expressionism was in 2008, with the outstanding "Action/Abstraction: Pollock, de Kooning and American Art, 1940-1976." Also quite worthwhile, albeit on a smaller scale, is the current show on two artists who came of age in the 1930s and took part in the postwar turn to abstraction: Lee Krasner, from a Russian Jewish immigrant family that settled in Brooklyn, and Norman Lewis, an African American whose parents immigrated from Bermuda and settled in Harlem. While Krasner and Lewis didn't know each other, their work had parallels. While other abstract artists of the time were noted for their large canvases, the two showcased here often preferred smaller, more intimate works. Cultural influences are evident in both artists' paintings; Krasner's "little images" were painted right to left, reflecting the order of the Hebrew script she learned as a child ("Untitled," 1948, above top). Lewis's sinuous lines and suggestive shapes suggest jazz improvisation ("Twilight Sound," 1947, above). Among the abstract expressionists, both were indeed "from the margins"; Krasner spent much of her energy promoting Jackson Pollock, her husband, while Lewis has clearly been neglected in modern art history. This exhibit provides an illuminating view of two abstract artists deserving of much wider recognition.
"From The Margins: Lee Krasner And Norman Lewis, 1945-1952" continues through February 1 at the Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave. at 92nd St., NYC; (212) 423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.


text:
One week ago I started working as an adjunct professor at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. I'm teaching a graduate level class entitled "Applications of Technology as and Effective Tool in Teaching and Learning". In essence, it's a class which is based on ISTE's NETS-T standards. As I understand it, the class is a requirement for all educational master's degrees and is offered in both face to face and online formats. This is the first time I've taught the class so I'm unsure as to how the course has been run in the past, but I have to say that I'm really glad that I'm teaching again. For the last three years I've taught a few classes as development for teachers in my district. In fact, I teach somebody something every single day, but it's different when you're actually responsible for the class and the students therein. One of the things that I've missed in my current position is that interaction with students. So, here are some observations I have concerning my new class.
- I've missed having my own students.
- Face to face classes are fun to teach
- I really love what I do
- Practicing all this 21st Century Skills is hard work
For the last three years, I've been talking a lot more about teaching practices than I have been actually practicing them mainly because I haven't really had or taken the opportunity to do so. Classes that I have taught up to this point have been a three to six hour stint in which teachers come, we talk, do a project and off they go. There's always follow up and future conversations, but it's not the same as having your own class and being responsible for the learning that goes on in that class.
So now that I'm teaching again, I'm trying to practice what I preach and expand the knowledge base and experience of my students in the area of technology and learning. So far, I feel as though it's gone well. My class is small, but because of that, I feel as though I'll be more effective and be able to really talk about the practice and art of teaching rather than focus on the tools. We're blogging, using Delicious, and have created a website already after only one week.
Over the next 8 weeks I'll be writing about this class and experience a lot. One of the class assignments is to do a weekly reflection blog entry so I'll be participating by writing my own reflection.