text:
In continuation of last week's subject of accounts of Tabligh as carried out by the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Hudhur Aqdas related a few incidents. Hudhur said the objective of relating these incidents, as Hudhur has explained before, firstly is that prayer is made for the elders. They accepted the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which has brought us among those receive blessings in this age. May God continue to elevate their stations. Without them many of us would have been deprived of this God-sent blessing. Secondly their piety, courage of belief, sense of honour for religion and enthusiasm to serve faith may inspire their descendants as well as those who may not be their blood-relations but have spiritual ties with them and that they all may take this fervour to their next generation.
Hudhur Aqdas said many write to him or tell him when they meet Hudhur about their relationship with any elder that Hudhur may mention in his addresses. However, Hudhur said the due of these relationships will be honoured only when people walk in the footsteps of these elders.
Hadhrat Mian Jamal uddin sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that a Maulwi Nawab uddin used to go from town to town in his assumption to 'sort out/fix Mirzai people'. Mian Jamal uddin sahib came to know that he was visiting one of nearby villages and as he was the only Ahmadi in the area, they sent for him. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had stopped his followers from getting into undue religious arguments in those days. Mian Jamal uddin sahib sent a message that he was not interested in a debate, the other party should present their questions and he would give the answers. The travelling maulwi ended up in Mian sahib's village along with three men. They got in touch with the village esquire who was a Hindu and asked him to arrange a debate with the 'Mirzai'. Mian sahib received the message, he prayed most humbly for God's help and went to see the maulwi. Many people, both Hindu and Muslim had gathered. Mian sahib opened the conversation and asked the maulwi what was his reason for travelling around. He answered he did so because of the dissent among the Ummah. Mian sahib asked him how many certificates etc. had he attained and the maulwi said he had many but could not show them because he had left them behind. He said his real objective was to debate with people that (God forbid) 'Mirza' was a Kafir (disbeliever) and was turning others into Kafirs. The maulwi said his creed was Hanafi and he believed in the Oneness of God and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as true and believed on the basis of 20 Quranic verses that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) was alive on the fourth heaven and whoever rejected this, the maulwi believed him to be a Kafir. He said his knowledge was certified. When Mian sahib was asked about his creed he said he believed in Oneness of God, and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the 'Seal of all the Prophets' and by virtue of Qur'an and Ahadith believed that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) had passed away and that he truthfully accepted the Messiah who had come and considered anyone who did not believe him not to be on truth. He added that he did not have any certificates to show for his knowledge and that he was self-taught and had kept the company of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He said if anyone could prove from the Qur'an and authentic Ahadith that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) was alive on the fourth heaven, he would repent. The maulwi asked him to put this affidavit in writing and sign it. After Mian sahib duly wrote and signed this the maulwi tried to engage in other matters, like how much knowledge of the Qur'an Mian sahib had and his belief about the Khulafa e Rashideen etc. He would not be drawn to the matter under discussion until the Hindu village esquire asked him to present the Quranic verses which proved that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) was alive in heaven. The maulwi asked for a copy of the Qur'an and when a copy was brought to him he started making excuses saying it was 'Mirza's Qur'an' and he did not accept it. He was assured that it was not. Eventually he took the Qur'an, looked who was the publisher and asked who (God forbid) the writer was? Mian sahib asked him did he not consider it God's Word to say something like that. The maulwi said he had made a mistake, but then asked who had compiled it. Mian sahib asked the maulwi to have some sense and look for the verse. The maulwi took twenty minutes looking through the Qur'an but did not find anything. Mian sahib asked him that he had said that he could produce twenty Quranic verses to corroborate his creed at the very least he should present one verse. The maulwi said he could not find it and added that he would read the verse from memory. He read the Quranic verse: 'When Allah said, 'O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself…' (3:56) and translated it as: 'When Allah said 'O Jesus, I am about to raise your spirit along with your entire body to the heaven'. Mian sahib remarked that the verse should be found in the Qur'an and the discussion should be carried out with the [original] words in full view. The maulwi again took the Qur'an and looked through it for ten minutes but could not find what he was looking for. People started laughing at him saying what sort of Quranic knowledge he had that he could not find a renowned verse. Saying this people dispersed.
Hadhrat Munshi Qazi Mehboob Alam sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he was employed by a Hakim who opposed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). One day in his antagonism he used the derogatory word 'dayus' (an ignoble man/ a cuckold) for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Munshi sahib did a lot of Istighfar that night regretting having talked to the man in the first place. That night he saw in a dream that he is in the presence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who asked him where the person who had called him 'dayus' was. Munshi sahib looked out and saw the Hakim walking towards them and he told the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he was approaching them. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that he should be told that he would not meet him because he was a 'dayus'. A few weeks after this the daughter of that man ran off with someone and the pair were found by an authoritative person. In explanation, the man told the authorities that the woman was his wife while the woman said that the man was her servant. As their statements differed the police became suspicious and the pair was presented before the deputy commissioner. The woman said her father was a 'dayus' who did not arrange her marriage and that she was on her way to be with an aristocratic person with the help of the man [who accompanied her]. The deputy commissioner advised the girl to go back to her family but she refused saying her father would kill her. However, the deputy commissioner arranged for her to be returned to her family and told her father that he was a 'dayus' for not taking care of his daughter and arranging her marriage. The daughter was returned to him after a bail payment of Rupees 5000 was made. The Hakim's notoriety as 'dayus' spread in the city. After a short time his daughter became Christian.
Hadhrat Ameer Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that when he heard that an acquaintance had joined the Lahore Ahmadiyya group he went to see him and made him aware of the realities regarding the group. His acquaintance was affected by what he heard and returned to Qadian. He relates that when another person whom he had done Tabligh to bring in the fold of Ahmadiyyat joined the Lahore group he exchanged letters with him which made him give up the group as well.
Hadhrat Maulwi Muhammad Abdullah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he once went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and was introduced by one of his companions as one who had had many debates but God had always made him triumphant. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that yes, truth is always triumphant. He relates that on hearing this from the blessed mouth of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he was assured that he would stay firm on truth and God would make him triumphant. He relates that this came to pass.
Hadhrat Chaudhry Muhammad Ali sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that his father went to attend Jalsa at Sialkot and on his return he started doing Tabligh. His Tabligh bore fruits and multitudes started taking Bai'at.
Hadhrat Shaikh Abdur Rasheed sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that a mualwi he knew recited the Qur'an in a very melodious voice and his sermons were well attended by women. The maulwi started opposing the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) using rude language. Shaikh sahib discussed matters with him. Meanwhile Shaikh sahib's parents clashed with him, especially his mother. The parents said they would disown him and he had to stay away from home for months. His father said to his mother that previously Shaikh sahib slept his time away but now he was regular at Salat and offered Tahajjud on what grounds could he disown him? Yet, in view of worldliness the father used to say to him to give up 'Mirzaiyyat'. In this regard he had a few discussions with the aforementioned maulwi. Once the maulwi issued a poster rejecting the concept of a 'bloody Mahdi'. This poster reached the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He prepared an Istifta (an inquiry) and had it sent to religious scholars for a Fatwa (religious edict). Some refused to give a Fatwa. The Dr. sahib who took the Istifta around recounted to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that previously he used to take grapes and other fruits to maulwis and get the Fatwa of his liking from them. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would partially cover his face with part of his turban and smile at this anecdote. Hudhur remarked that this practice of receiving 'gifts' by the maulwis continues to this day, only their rates have gone up somewhat!
Hadhrat Shaikh Ismael sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that one day after Asr Salat people sat in the company of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Masjid Mubarak when someone said that a maulwi had visited their village and having gathered people, started enthusing them by quoting the Hadith 'La Nabi Ba'adi (There is no Prophet after me). He said while the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had said there was no Prophet after him, Mirza sahib of Qadian said that he was a Prophet, how could they accept him as a Prophet? The man said he stood up and asked the maulwi how would he interpret the saying of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) where he had said that there would be no mosque after his mosque (Masjid Nabawi). He then explained that he would interpret 'La Nabi Ba'adi' Hadith just as the maulwi would interpret the Hadith regarding the mosque. He also said that a Prophet who would cancel the Shariah as brought by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) could not be called a Prophet because his Shariah was the final Shariah. The maulwi looked astonished at this and started hurling abuse. The person replied by saying that he would not respond to his abuse. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was very pleased to hear this. Hudhur Aqdas said today people are turned against us by citing this idea that now no Prophet can come and these people consider Mirza sahib a Prophet.
Mian Sharafat Ahamd sahib relates the account of his father Hadhrat Maulwi Jalal uddin (may Allah be pleased with him): He says that his father was extremely enthusiastic about Tabligh even in old age and would surpass the efforts of younger people. In one of his Friday sermons of 1934 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) called his father's passing away as martyrdom and acknowledged that he worked more than young people. He added that he had seen three people who worked obsessively at Tabligh and these were; 'Firstly the late Hafiz Roshin Ali sahib, secondly this Maulwi sahib and thirdly Maulwi Ghulam Rasool Rajiki sahib. These three work day and night at Tabligh.'
Sharafat sahib writes that his father used to relate a dream as regards his Tabligh work in which he saw that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came to their house and asked for a pen. Later in Qadian, he went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and took along a length of hand-woven white cotton fabric and two [pen] holders as a gift and recounted this dream to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and requested an interpretation. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) told him that he had fulfilled his dream; it signified that he would do Tabligh through his writings as well as verbally. Maulwi Jalal uddin sahib started fervent Tabligh from then onwards and his efforts bore fruit. His brothers took Bai'at, one of whom was a renowned scholar of his area. When people heard this they were utterly dismayed. Meanwhile the Tabligh efforts of Maulwi sahib created many a sincere Jama'at.
Mian Sharafat sahib relates that his father Maulwi Jalal uddin sahib did a lot of Tabligh during the Malkana episode in 1924. He would do Tabligh to the ordinary people and also forged connections with the notable people of the area and the authorities. Those people were amazed to see a seventy/eighty year old man in ragged clothes working day and night for people to become Muslim and they had a good view of him. Many people of the area came into Ahmadiyyat due to the efforts of Maulwi Jalal uddin sahib.
Hadhrat Hafiz Ghulam Rasool Wazirabadi sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that once the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that he had made the high school so that people sought education there and then went out in the world for Tabligh. But he regretted that after seeking education at the school people became busy in their businesses and his objective was not realised. He asked if there was anyone who would give him their son only to seek religious education. Hafiz sahib relates that his son late Maulwi Obaidullah was with him at the time whom he entrusted to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who took his hand in his blessed hand and asked someone to take the boy to Mufti Muhammad Sadiq sahib who was the headmaster of the school at the time. The boy studied at the school and became a scholar. Hadhrat Khalifatul Maish II (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him to Mauritius as a missionary where he served for almost seven years. God so willed that he passed away. Hadhrat Khalifatul Maish II (may Allah be pleased with him) sent Hafiz sahib to bring his widow and children back. After two years his widow also passed away and at the time of writing both the children were under the care of Hafiz sahib. The daughter had been married and the son was a student at Madrassa Ahmadiyya. Hafiz sahib wrote that it was his wish that after his education the son also did Tabligh like his late father. Hudhur said with the grace of God his son also served in Mauritius for a long time.
Mian Sharafat Ahamd sahib further writes about his father Hadhrat Maulwi Jalal uddin (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was going somewhere to lead Friday Prayers. On the way he bought a meagre amount of chickpeas to satiate hunger and started his travel. Soon afterward he suffered from heat stroke caused by hot wind; he fainted and fell down on the road. A passer-by reported at the police station that the 'Qadiani maulwi sahib' was lying on the road with heat stroke. A police man who was his follower came running. He could not find any carriage so he slowly managed to bring Maulwi sahib into town on foot. By this time hot wind was blowing with more severity, Maulwi sahib could not cope and laid on a terrace. People coaxed him to carry on but he said he had reached where he wanted to be. He was given medicine but to no avail. People said they would send a telegram to his son but he said no, his son was young and would be perturbed. And he passed away. His funeral Prayer and burial was arranged by non-Ahmadis. A couple of days later Ahmadis came to know about this and they informed Mian sahib and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) who mentioned him in his Friday sermon and led his funeral Prayer in absentia.
Hudhur Aqdas prayed that may God continue to elevate the stations of these elders and may He keep their spirit alive. Next Hudhur read a few extracts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).
'I consider those maulwis erroneous who are against modern sciences. In fact they do so to hide their own fault and weakness. They have it embedded in their heads that researching modern sciences turns one against Islam and leads astray. They have declared that intellect and science is completely contrary to Islam. As they do not have the capacity to critique flaws of philosophy, in order to hide this failing of theirs, they concoct that it is not warrantable to study modern sciences. Their soul trembles at the name of philosophy and prostrates before new researches.
However, they have not been given that true philosophy which is generated from Divine revelation with which the Holy Qur'an is replete. That is only given to those and those alone who devote themselves to Allah the Exalted with extreme humility and morality. Whose hearts and minds are rid of the stench of arrogant thoughts, who confess their weaknesses while acknowledging sincere devotion to God.
Thus, it is required that today modern science is acquired for the purpose of service to faith and to communicate the Word of God, and is acquired with great endeavour. However, it has also been in my experience and I mention this as a caution that those people who got involved in these sciences single-mindedly and were so obsessed and engrossed that they did not keep the company of spiritual people. They did not possess any Divine light of their own accord. Such people usually stumbled and became distant from Islam. Rather than making the sciences secondary to Islam, they tried in vain to make Islam secondary to the sciences and in their assumption became providers of religious and national services. However, remember that only that person can serve religion who has heavenly light inside him.' (Malfuzat, Vol. I pp. 68 – 69)
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also said:
'My discourse is for those of you who have developed a connection with me and due to this connection have become my limbs; so that you may put my discourse in practice. And utilise reasoning and the Word of God so that the light of true knowledge and belief is generated inside you and you become a source of bringing others from darkness to light. Since these days objections are based on issues relating to nature, medicine and astronomy, it is essential to be aware of the intrinsic value and mode of these sciences. So that, we have a clear understanding of the objection before we respond to it.' (Malfuzat, Vol. I p. 68)
Hudhur Aqdas said the Promised Messiah's (on whom be peace) reference to his followers as his limbs is a great honour and puts a huge responsibility on us to follow the true teachings of Islam.
He also said:
'Listen to what I say and remember it well that if what one says is not from the sincerity of heart and does not have practical scope, it cannot be effective. The great truthfulness of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is evident from the success and winning of hearts that he received a measure of, and which is matchless in the history of mankind. All this came to pass because his words and deeds conformed perfectly.' (Malfuzat, Vol. I pp. 67 – 68)
Hudhur Aqdas said it is our duty to follow the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and this can come about with conformity in word and deed. May God make us fulfil the wishes of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and may we propagate religion and fulfil the due of being 'his limbs', may there never be a contradiction in our word and deed.
Next Hudhur Aqdas announced the sad passing away of the Sultan of Agadez, Niger on 21 February and said that he would lead his funeral Prayer in absentia. Al Haaj Umer Ibrahim, Sultan of Agadez came into Ahmadiyyat in 2002. He was the biggest sultan in Niger and was a member of the honorary cabinet of the president. He had been the Sultan of Agadez since 1960 was very well respected in Niger. He had made great efforts towards establishing peace in Agadez. The Sultan had attended the Benin Jalsa in 2002 and before returning to Niger he, along with his 12-strong entourage, accepted Ahmadiyyat. He came to attend the UK Jalsa in 2003 and had his first meeting with Hudhur Aqdas. Our missionary-in-charge in Niger writes that he found the Sultan a very hospitable and warm person who always asked after the Jama'at and Khalifatul Masih. Hudhur Aqdas said the Sultan came to Benin and met Hudhur Aqdas during Hudhur's trip of 2004. The Sultan had travelled over two thousand kilo metres in the desert for three days and nights. He was very pleased to meet Hudhur Aqdas. Hudhur said there is great sincerity in the Ahmadis of Niger and in spite of being a Sultan, he had a lot of humility. May God elevate his station.


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Code: Select all
VERSION: MADSONIC 6.2 | BUILD: 9080.619dd31.20161222.0327
REST: MADSONIC REST API v2.5.0, SUBSONIC REST API v1.14.0
OS: Linux 3.10.77 #8451 SMP Wed Jan 4 00:31:32 CST 2017 x86_64 GNU/Linux
SERVER: jetty/8.y.z-SNAPSHOT, java 1.8.0_121, Linux 3.10.77 (amd64)
HOST: Synology NAS 1815+ (DSM 6.0.2-8451 Update 9) | CPU: INTEL Atom C2538| ARCH: X64 | MEMORY: 6GB | HDD: 36TB, RAID6
BROWSER: FF 51.x
CLIENT: see browser
DESCRIPTION: never trust a scrobbler ,-)
REPRODUCIBLE: Quite often
logged in as admin
I don't want to hijack this thread "Last.fm Scrobbler Not Working Right", so I add my experience with the last.fm scrobbler here.
Maybe some others have this too and can confirm? (I saw this a couple of times)
Case A)
I have seen songs, which were scrobbled, but not played.
They were maybe started, but never played.
Example 1)
I had a random playlist. Song were scrobbled fine.
I accidentially pressed the RELOAD-Button on the madsonic webgui, forcing the whole webgui to reload and stop the music.
This song " Dusty Kid — Agaphes " stucks in the playbar, but was never started/played.
last.fm, however, shows that song as a scrobbled song.
(you see in this screenshot, that the music stopped afer " Dusty Kid — Agaphes ". In real life, it stopped while playing "Marcel Dettmann — Translation Two", because on that song, I pressed PAUSE, then accidentialle reloaded the webgui
Example 2)
I browse the queue while a song is playing.
clicking accidentially on a song stops the curently playing song.
I click another song ASAP, but the first accidentially clicked song shows up as scrobbled at the last.fm site. (later on, when I check the last.fm site)
Case B)
last.fm site listed a track way too much often. They were never played that much
I found this tracks had problems in the log. (unfortunately, I don't have a logfile for that, atm, but take a look here)
So madsonic had problems with that song and repeatedly tried something with it.
Meanwhile, the playqueue continued playing, so that the "erroneous-song" appeared continously between the song, which were played for real.
Madsonic scrobbles too fast.
How is it possible to set up a minimun amount of time, a song needs to be played (in real time) before it is scrobbled?
Is this even possible on a webgui? (how does the server "know" how much of a song is played, for how long?)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
GODSQUAD: Even those with deformities were created in God's image
Q >> I have a congenital neuromuscular disease called charcot marie tooth, which has led to a lot of abuse in my life -- including my own father telling me to "pick up your God-damned feet, stupid!" My Mom was big into faith healers and took me to a few to help my "odd walk" but to no avail. What I got from this was a hatred of God and the church because as far as they were concerned, I didn't have enough faith, I didn't believe hard enough, I wasn't good enough.
Once, in high school, two girls came up to me. I was quite psyched until one said, "We've noticed how you walk. If you come to Brother Ben's revival, you can be healed!" Imagine my letdown. Here I was thinking they liked me, but they were just collecting gimps for the floorshow. I left quickly before I said or did something I would've regretted.
I felt the same way about other disabled people. I believed God didn't like them, either, because if he did, He'd heal them. I've since gotten sober and developed a sounder faith. I realize God is not Santa Claus, but to this day I don't feel welcome in any church. Sometimes, even today, when my legs are giving me grief it's like they're reciting that old message: "See, God really doesn't like you." How can I get past this?
-- L., via email
A >> I would have chosen your heartfelt letter for the column this week in any case, but I was drawn to it even more strongly because I have a friend with charcot marie tooth syndrome. She is brave and hopeful, but I also know of her intense private struggles.
Let me begin by reminding you that all people are made in the image of God, not just 'perfect' people. I've often felt that God created this biblical belief to give hope to people who struggle with physical or mental infirmities. The pretty and powerful don't need to be reminded that God loves them. They walk through life with a socially supported confirmation of their specialness. No, the belief that even your recalcitrant feet bear the image of God is meant for you, dear friend.
So as not to leave this matter in doubt, remember why God chose Moses. Moses wasn't a slave so he couldn't relate to the lives of the people he was charged by God to emancipate. He wasn't a charismatic preacher so he couldn't mobilize the masses with his words. Moses had a physical deformity, possibly a cleft palate.
In begging God to send someone else to Egypt, Moses cries out in a pain that echoes your own: "And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." (Exodus 4:10-12)
In telling Moses that he will be "with thy mouth," God is saying that precisely the part of his body that gives Moses shame has given God joy. God picked a deformed person to lead His people out of slavery and into freedom. Think of that the next time you're tempted to curse your feet.
I think of that whenever I look at my chest. I once had a physical deformity. My sunken breastbone had to be operated on when I was an adolescent. The scar it left on my chest was a source of shame for many years. I would never play "shirts and skins" basketball because I was afraid I might have to be on the "skins" team and I was too ashamed to take off my T-shirt.
Now, in my dotage, I look at my scar with pride. I know that whatever compassion I have has its roots in understanding what it feels like to be an outsider whose needless shame keeps him or her from fully participating in life. Let go of your anger and shame if you can, and try to lift up the many ways your physical challenges have made you a kinder human being. I believe God loves your feet and my chest.
Send QUESTIONS ONLY to The God Squad via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Friday, August 14, 2009
Tauren Paladins?
To be honest, I've always thought Tauren would make good paladins. They have a certain nobility. Hopefully they become more Silver Hand-style paladins rather than Blood Knights.
15 comments:
I always wanted a Tauren paladin...ReplyDelete
Smells like epic troll to me. :PReplyDelete
They are druids of the Light and they will be awesome.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous10:49 AM, August 15, 2009
blizzard is trolling the dataminers don't believe it.ReplyDelete
Unfortunately I already have an 80 paladin, or I would roll one in a heartbeat. I just may roll my first priest though. ^_^ReplyDelete
Reserve YOUR name with a level 1 Horde alt NOW!ReplyDelete
Holyholstein (or Holyhereford)
Any others coming to mind?
- beefsteaks11:16 PM, August 16, 2009
It's ok, I already play a tauren paladin. I want to post the pic of my Shamalaladin D: But Internet is being gay.ReplyDelete
- *vlad*8:36 AM, August 17, 2009
I think it is rather more like an American Indian in the days of General Custer suddenly wanting to be a Bishop in the Christian church - kind of unlikely.ReplyDelete
Agree with Vlad. I don't like the clash between medieval Christian and Native American vibes. I hope Blizzard takes some time to reconcile the two in the Tauren lore.ReplyDelete
sorry but to me it doesnt seem that tauren have the background lore for paladins... they have a more druidic culture than say the humans and other paladin races.ReplyDelete
I don't think that Tauren culture fits paladins. For example, an militaristic Order of tauren paladins like the Blood Knights would be out of place.ReplyDelete
But on an individual level, I think the tauren exemplify the personal traits of paladins. They are honorable, martial, and are be willing to sacrifice.
It's not hard to imagine individual taurens following Tirion Fordring and joing the Argent Crusade.
- Anonymous1:40 PM, August 19, 2009
For Rohan:ReplyDelete
Other folks have commented that paladins (frequently thought of as martyrs and fanatics) don't fit with the "hippy cow" mentality of the Tauren. But the Grimtotem prove that Tauren can have a bit of fanaticism to them and with the Cataclysm shattering Azeroth is it understandable it will shake up everyone's world and that side of the Taurens will come a bit more to the front.
- Anonymous11:24 AM, August 29, 2009
Good news! In cataclysm, Tauren can be both Priests and Paladins by worshiping their sun god!ReplyDelete
Its their EARTH GODESS... im so excited about the idea of the tauren pallyReplyDelete


text:
Strike Force Bowling
What do you need help on? Cancel X
You no longer have to wait for league night to enjoy the fun of competitive bowling! Taking the game to a whole new level, Strike Force Bowling features authentic real time physics in an easy-to-use arcade style control. Pins never quite fall the same way twice, bowling balls react according to a combination of spin, material and lane friction. Noise of the alley getting on your nerves? Take your game on the road! Knock over skull-tipped pins on the pitching deck of a pirate ship. Play under the watchful eyes of the Sphinx in ancient Egypt. Bowl over tiki heads at the end of a pier on a tropical island. These and other exotic locations await! Six unique play modes keep things interesting, including Skins, Golf, Challenge and Practice modes, as well as Open and Tournament play. Choose from eight high-polygon players, complete with their own animated reactions to gameplay. Bowling styles can be customized according to strength, accuracy and curve.
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Scott Free Vs. Swain Rap Battle [Grind Time N.Y.]
Drect reports "Main Event Battle from October 18th, 2008 in Battery Park, NY. Theses cats go in + show why gind time is so diverse! "
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A unique lack of popularity
Rachel noted last night that the Romney campaign, to the exasperation of many Republicans, has kept a pretty low profile lately, preferring private fundraisers to swing-state events. This morning, however, Politico reports that's going to change: Team Romney's new "rescue plan" includes showing more of the candidate, "in ads, speeches and campaign appearances."
To be sure, that would be a change of pace. But the downside to the strategy is that voters just don't seem to like Romney very much, and giving him more of a spotlight may prove counter-productive.
A new, national Pew Research Center poll, released yesterday, offers all kinds of bad news for the Republican campaign. For example, President Obama now leads Romney by eight points, 51% to 43%, among likely voters. It's the biggest lead any candidate has had at this stage in the race since 1996.
But it's that chart that amazes me. Romney's favorable/unfavorable rating is still underwater – and it may be worse now, given that the "47 percent" controversy erupted after the poll was conducted – which is very rare for a national candidate this close to the election.
From the Pew report: "A review of Pew Research Center and Gallup favorability ratings from September finds that Romney is the only presidential candidate over the past seven election cycles to be viewed more unfavorably than favorably."
At a certain level, factors like favorable/unfavorable ratings may seem irrelevant. After all, presidential races aren't personality contests.
Except, a lot of the time, like it or not, they are personality contests.
As we discussed in August, think about how many times you've heard about which candidate voters would prefer "to have a beer with."
Especially in the television era, the candidate who's better liked is generally better positioned to win, and at least at this point, voters' perceptions of Romney just aren't favorable at all. After nearly six years on the national campaign trail, Americans just don't like what they see.
I don't think this means Romney's finished. If the American mainstream is deeply dissatisfied with the status quo and blames the president, even if he doesn't deserve it, voters may very well hold their nose and elect the guy they dislike.
But the fact that people don't seem to care for him makes his task inherently more difficult.
I'm not sure how the Republican campaign turns this around, but I suspect it will have something to do with trying to drag Obama down, not building Romney up.


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Road Maps to Common Core Success
Virtual Event Streamed Online to Your Computer!
At Road Maps to Common Core Success, district leaders, curriculum developers, and other experts, provided actionable plans to help education leaders like you find your way around obstacles that can hinder your route to success. You can still view this event discover strategies and new approaches to the common-core roadblocks in the following sessions:
- Destination: Assessments – A panel discussion focused on strategies for ensuring that teachers and students are well prepared for testing changes.
- Forging a Path for Change: Effective Training for Your Educators – A panel discussion on delivering high-quality professional development for teachers.
- Building My Road Map to Districtwide Success – A keynote presentation by superintendent MaryEllen Elia on how she developed her path to common-core success.
- Leadership Secrets for a Successful Journey – A keynote presentation by commissioner of education, John B. King, Jr on his dynamic approach to CCSS.
- Math Practices and the Common Core – A panel discussion on approaches several districts are employing to tackle the common core in math.
- Literacy Instruction in the Time of the Common Core: Effective District Approaches – A panel discussion on how to meet the common core's demand for new approaches to reading and writing instruction.
Register for access to these six vital sessions for only $99. In addition to three months of on demand access, you'll also get:
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Well boys and girls, I've been working hard last few weeks to make this great camera work under Windows.
As you may seen it before, here are the specs:
- 4 channel audio input:16 bits/channel, 48kHz, SNR 90db
- 56º or 75º Field of View zoom lens
- 2.1 F-stop, <1% distortion, fixed focus (25cm to 8 at 75º FOV)
- 640 x 480 at 60 frames/second
- 320 x 240 at 120 frames/second
- USB.0 high-speed data transfer
- Uncompressed video or optional JPEG compression
This makes the PS3Eye ideal for multitouch applications. The best part is the price $39.99! I found mine here.
Now, the main problem with this camera is that there are no drivers for Windows. The camera's chipset info is virtually non-existent on the web.
After examining the camera internals (pictures here) I found that it features the OV534-LB50 camera USB 2.0 bridge and the OV7720 CMOS VGA sensor. Both of these are made by OmniVision.
I started thinking to my self: "This camera is awesome and it will be such a great and inexpensive replacement for Firefly MV and the like. If we could just get it to work under Windows..."
Initially, I started poking around with the USB trying to send some commands to the PS3Eye and see what happens…
After many long nights I'm bringing you the result:
- Full VGA (640x480) 60fps video capture test app that features uncompressed high quality raw video
- Low CPU overhead (since there is no decompression involved on the PC)
- Very low latency (1 frame time period)
The camera currently streams video in YUYV format, therefore each frame is 640*480*2 bytes.
At 30fps this amounts to about 17.5MB/s which is pretty low in comparison to the total USB 2.0 bandwidth.
At 60fps the amount of data gets higher and it could be affected by other peripherals connected to the USB host controller.
This is why it is recommended that the camera be the only device connected to the USB host controller.
Most of the CPU overhead that I currently have is the color conversion code that is implemented in straight C/C++ without any SIMD optimizations.
For real (MT) applications this code will go away, since we will be extracting raw grayscale image (every second byte of YUYV).
My driver exposes PS3Eye camera as a device with direct access, thus eliminating the complexities and the overhead of DirectShow system.
For multitouch applications (where low latency is a key) I will be working on custom PS3EYE capture filter for use in TouchLib. In parallel I will be working on a DirectShow filter that will allow wide use of this camera on Windows.
- Unplug the PS3Eye camera from your comupter.
- Download and run the latest CL-Eye Platform file.
- Click 'Install' and follow the setup process.
- Plug in the camera.
After successful installation, your Device Manager should look similar to this:
Now run the PS3EyeTest.exe program, and the captured video as well as the FPS counter will be displayed.
I added the camera image controls:
Go, try it for yourself…


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patterns > The Red Collection: Complete Digital Pattern Pack
> Radio Frequency Hat
Radio Frequency Hat
Radio Frequency Hat
Lanaloft Sports Weight from Brown Sheep Co.
1, 1, 2 balls of Color A: LL33 Manor Gray
1 ball of Color B: LL03 Black Bear
Note: If adding a pompom, you will need 2 balls of Color A for Medium size.
US 3, 4, 5 (3.25, 3.5, 3.75 mm): 16" circular needle an a set of DPNs. Sizes are achieved by adjusting needle size. Please check your gauge carefully!
7, 6.5, 6 sts = 1" measured over stranded knitting
Finished Size
18.5, 20, 21.5" (47, 51, 54.5 cm) to fit Adult Small, Medium, Large
I work hard to write patterns that are clear and easy to understand for all knitters. If you ever have questions, please don't hesitate to send me an email. You can also check the Zigzagstitch Ravelry Group to find others who have knit the patterns from The Red Collection.
1533 projects
stashed 1354 times
- Page created: August 30, 2010
- Last updated: March 8, 2014 …
- visits in the last 24 hours
- visitors right now


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After back-to-back starts, Gattis gets a breather
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. Joe Morgan is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
ATLANTA -- Now that Evan Gattis has returned from the disabled list, the Braves will make every attempt to prevent him from encountering further back discomfort. So after handling the starting catching duties the previous two days, Gattis rested during Wednesday night's game against the Marlins.
Gattis has been limited to a single in seven at-bats since being activated on Monday. More importantly, he got through the two games without any reason to be concerned about the bulging thoracic disk that had sidelined him since June 27.
"The timing is not there yet, but physically it's all good," Gattis said.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he will likely not play Gattis more than two or three straight days over the next couple of weeks.
Read More: Atlanta Braves


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Before we crawl, a few details.
Please be a follower! In this instance it is a good thing. :)
You have to be a follower and have a blog to be in the crawl and prize raffle.
Please check, last time someone won the 100 dollar gift card who wasn't a follower, and I had to pick someone else.
All followers who leave a comment are eligible .
There will be an extra drawing for those who have an entry.
Link back to this crawl, please.
Please visit as many as you can! That's what makes it fun!
There will be a prize for the person who visits and comments on the most blogs! Email me with your number!
Winners will be announced by Wed . the 21st, so do come back to see if you win!
The prizes:
25 dollar gift card,
WSonoma Cookie Pan,
Star Pie Mold, great for Memorial Day and July 4th,
2 Canal Cafe Cookbooks from WSonoma,
Cake Boss Book,
Dansk Trivet,
Waverly dish cloths
Silver mushroom name card holders from WSonoma
and more!
And this is what is meant by The Map of Ireland on your face! These sweet boyos are my nephews.


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Agencies use analytics software to comb filings for errors and fraud before payments go out.
The Obama administration is deploying a new weapon in its battle against improper payments. Analytics software is helping federal agencies find errors and flag potential waste, fraud and abuse before payments are made.
The opportunity for savings is huge. The Office of Management and Budget estimates agencies lost $98 billion in improper payments in fiscal 2009. "That is such an unacceptable, high number of improper payments at a time when we have an extremely tight budgetary environment," says OMB Controller Danny Werfel. "We have called on agencies to not only tighten their belts but to use more innovative ways . . . to improve the efficiency of government."
To get ahead of the curve, some agencies are turning to predictive analytics software to sift through reams of data and identify payments that warrant additional scrutiny. The software is being applied to benefits programs, grants and contracting, among other areas.
Senior federal managers are under pressure to reduce erroneous payments. In November 2009, the president issued an executive order that directed OMB to identify programs with the most improper payments and to establish targets for curbing losses. Agencies were encouraged to employ cutting-edge software to address the problem.
"The use of data mining and other business intelligence tools to look across programs and find errors has been powerful . . . and we want to make sure that agencies are investing in those tools and looking for opportunities to leverage them," Werfel says.
One leader in using predictive analytics software is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS uses the software to find questionable payments before they are made.
"CMS uses a variety of prepayment analytic software to identify payments with characteristics that are outside the norm, such as duplicate payments, overpayments in general and a large number of payments to one provider. This helps CMS establish a profile of the type of payments that should trigger a risk or a more intensified review," Werfel says.
Since 2008, the Defense Department has been using business activity monitoring software to inspect financial transactions and flag high-risk payments for extra review before they go out. Department officials say the software identified more than $300 million in potential improper payments in the first year. The Recovery Board is using business analytics software to review information on recipients of 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds in search of risky payments that have already been made. The software searches data the Recovery Board has collected as well as other publicly available sources.
Agencies are seeing a significant return on their investments in analytics software. "It makes agencies smarter about where to spend those oversight resources, where to scrutinize payments and then actually in the cases where it's finding an error, in preventing [the payment] from going out the door or finding the error afterwards so we can collect on that error," Werfel says. "Both are extremely helpful."
Software from such vendors as SAS Institute Inc., SPSS Inc. and Information Builders allows agencies to use statistical modeling, data mining and forecasting to predict trends rather than analyzing them after the fact.
"What agencies are trying to do is create more sophisticated models to identify where potential fraud might be and predict where it might happen before it happens," says Dan Vesset, program vice president for business analytics at market research firm IDC. "It is a hot area."
One application involves auditing tax returns to find the ones that are likely to recover the most revenue. "Both on the federal and state levels, we see use of these tools for determining good audit targets," says Bill Haffey, predictive analytics strategist for the public sector at SPSS. "They're looking at audited returns to find which returns might be more lucrative in determining auditing resources."
Agencies including the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and the Agriculture Department are turning to analytics software to detect fraud. Los Angeles County, for example, used SAS software to find a day care scam. The software can detect a recipient of state or federal child care funds who claims to support 10 or 15 children but actually lives in a one-bedroom apartment. It also can uncover linkages from the recipient to others involved in the fraud, including people claiming to have children on the roster at the phony day care center.
"One of the most sophisticated technologies that SAS has is social network analysis, where we are uncovering those linkages that you can't see with the naked eye," says Karen Knowles, general manager of SAS Federal. "We're identifying linkages between participants, payers and providers in everything from health care to day care to food stamps."
As agencies push to make operations more transparent and provide more information to the public, they should make better use of that data through predictive analytics, says Molly O'Neill, the former chief information officer at the Environmental Protection Agency and now a vice president at the consulting firm CGI Federal.
"Now that the data is going to be available from all the federal agencies, we can actually start grabbing it and using it for real decision-making, targeting and projections," she says. "We can move from displaying it on dashboards . . . to using it for things people care about."
O'Neill says agencies can gain more from predictive analytics than reducing improper payments. The software also can help agencies model scenarios and forecast future needs for funding and resources. "What we really need on the planning side is predictability," she says. "Then we can scale up and scale down based on indicators."
Carolyn Duffy Marsan is a high-tech business reporter based in Indianapolis who has covered the federal IT market since 1987.
NEXT STORY: Three Lessons from the Longest Serving Senator


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Horny's Back and better than ever in Dungeon Keeper on mobile! Coming to iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices this winter!
Cesspool wrote:So weird. I've tried everything I can think of. Reinstalled the game, reset network settings ... nothing has worked. Chris, what does a server fee 15 mean?
Cesspool wrote:Ya no idea where to go with this one. This is the only game I play that is affected. I have a feeling that calling the company will lead nowhere.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


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Katie Pursell
|Hendersonville, TN (Goodpasture HS)
2008-2009:Top finisher for Lady Bisons, tying for 33rd with a three-round score of 242 (78, 83, 81) in Lady Red Wolf Classic hosted by Central Arkansas (10/14/08). ….Finished in a tie for 57th with a score of 169 (84, 85) in F & M Bank APSU Intercollegiate hosted by Austin Peay State (10/21/09). ... Finished in the top 30, tying for 28th place with a score of 160 (78, 82) in Troy University Women's Invitational (10/28/08). …Tied for 36th with a 159 (81, 78) in UAB Fall Beach Blast. …Tied for the best score on the team and tied for 11th place with a 168 (85. 83) at New Wave Communications Racer Classic hosted by Murray State (3/3/09). … Led the Lady Bisons with a score of 242 (79, 81. 82) and finished in 40th place overall in the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational in Oahu, Hawaii (3/18/09). …Belmont Duel Match - Tied for second in the match with a score of 78 in Belmont Dual Match (3/31/09). …In Atlantic Sun Women's Golf Championship in DeLand, Fla., she led the Lady Bisons with a first round score of 77, tying her for 16th place and finished in a tie for 14th place with a three-round score of 228 (77, 77, 74), 12-over par (4/15/09).
2007-2008:Tied for 62nd in the Samford Intercollegiate (3/18). ...Tied for 77th in Indiania Invitational (4/8). ...Finished 33rd in Atlantic Sun Championship (4/16). ...Tied for 57th in Austin Peay tourney (10/21). ...Top 30 in Troy Invitational (10/28). ...Tied for 36th in UAB Fall Beach Blast (11/4).
High School: Captain of the golf, tennis and cheerleading squads. ...Lettered in golf, tennis and cheerleading all four years. ...Finished fourth in the state as a junior. ...Finished second in a the state as a senior. ...Golf team finished first in the region and the state her senior year. ...Cheerleading squad won the National title her sophomore year.
Personal: Parents are Cathy and Ron Pursell. ...One brother, Zack. ...Majoring in Elementary Education.


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Lil Keke - I'm A G (Feat. Birdman)
Video For Lil Keke 'Im A G' Featuring Birdman Off Of 'Loved By Few, Hated By Many' Coming Soon.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Ice Climbing…
Well my few days away in the Yorkshire Dales were quite a welcome escape from the dross and crap thats going on everywhere else in the City/County/Country/World.
Unfortunately, by the time I got there, most of the snow had gone and the waterfall at Gordale Scar was free flowing. The only ice was covering the hand and foot holds on the climb up (which made for an interesting vertical version of "Twister") So It was just a case of having a bimble around doing some walking.
By the time we had climbed up the waterfall and got to the top of the scar it was getting quite warm. Or we were getting warm after the exertion of skidding about and trying not to fall off! The sky was a brilliant blue and the air was fresh and cold with a visibility in excess of twenty miles. Time for lots of pics and a brew and a big chunk of nutty.
We spent more time than we had anticipated as we investigated the "Roman Camp"on the path towards Kilnsey Crag. A very pleasant bimble which sharpened my appetite for the evening meal of steak & mushroom pie (home made and Desparate Dan Cowpie in size) and copious amounts of Murphys stout (purely medicinal reasons honest.)
The next day we drove west and walked up a hill called Ingleborough which was, if you,ll pardon my loose old English description, "a right ****ing bastard!" This particular hill has false summits and the top was shrouded in mist so the walk turned into a trudge. It just seemed never ending! The walk back down was marginally better but next day my legs, back, feet, shoulders and everything attached to me just ached. It ached worse than a big bag full of aching things that had just been voted the worst aching thing in the universe. (Slight exaggeration)
Anyway, back to work now and I will look forward to next winter though this time I want to go further north to get some winter climbing in.


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fv: Sample Scripts
The sample_scripts directory contains sample scripts which can be used to control what fv does. Details are available within fv's scripting help file. The supported languages/techniques include:
The three XPA scripts are only available to Unix users who have built their own version of XPA (available from SAO/HEAD R&D Group). The AppleScript script is only available for Mac users. The native fv Tcl sample -- TclScript.fv -- can be run on any platform. See each individual script for details on usage.
Pages maintained by Bryan Irby Send bug reports or feature requests via the FTOOLS help desk.
HEASARC Home | Observatories | Archive | Calibration | Software | Tools | Students/Teachers/Public
Last modified: Thursday, 29-Jun-2006 15:08:25 EDT


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sponsored by
CHRIS COYNE, agent - State Farm Insurance
FFA to host Hunter Safety Clinic
Send a link to a friend
11, 2014]
HARTSBURG — The Hartsburg-Emden
FFA is hosting a Hunter Safety Clinic on April 4 and 5 at the Hartsburg
American Legion building. Participants must attend both sessions. The clinic
starts at 6 p.m. April 4, and the April 5 session begins at 9 a.m.
< Top Stories index
Back to top


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Latest research
Discover which publications have used Understanding Society data by using this search facility. The research can be filtered by subject, publication type, author and year of publication.
Please let us know about your research
Search found 5 items
- Remove Health filter Health
- Remove 2017 filter 2017
- Remove Daniela Toniolo filter Daniela Toniolo
- Remove Journal Article filter Journal Article
Genetic analysis of over one million people identifies 535 novel loci for blood pressure
Evangelos Evangelou, Helen R. Warren, David Mosen-Ansorena, Borbala Mifsud, Raha Pazoki
Novel blood pressure locus and gene discovery using Genome-Wide Association Study and expression data sets from blood and the kidney
Louise Wain, Ahmad Vaez, Rick Jansen, Roby Joehanes, Peter J. van der Most
Whole-genome sequencing coupled to imputation discovers genetic signals for anthropometric traits
Ioanna Tachmazidou, Dániel Süveges, Josine L. Min, Graham R. S. Ritchie, Julia Steinberg
Novel blood pressure locus and gene discovery using GWAS and expression datasets from blood and the kidney
Louise Wain, Ahmad Vaez, Rick Jansen, Roby Joehanes, Peter J. van der Most
Genome-wide association analysis identifies novel blood pressure loci and offers biological insights into cardiovascular risk
Helen R. Warren, Evangelos Evangelou, Claudia P. Cabrera, He Gao, Meixia Ren


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Posts Tagged 'developing for windows phone'
YA is One Year Old :D
Posted March 8, 2012on:
Tweet and Win! Yalla Apps Birthday Special
It's our Birthday and we are celebrating it with you! We are giving away a brand new Windows Phone to one lucky Yalla Apps developer! All you have to do is to follow us on Twitter and tell us why you love to develop for Windows Phone.
Simply send us your tweet i love developing for windows phone because <> #happybdayyallaapps' @yallaapps @wp7mea and enter the race. The most interesting tweet to catch our eye will win a Windows Phone!
Remember, the more your tweet is retweeted more you have more chances of winning – so get tweeting and keep tweeting! 😉
Terms: Competition starts at the 8th of March and ends 12th of March 2012. You need to be living in one of our MEA focus countries.


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Billionaire Warren Buffett said that rich people should pay more in taxes and that Bush-era tax cuts for top earners should be allowed to expire at the end of December.
"If anything, taxes for the lower and middle class and maybe even the upper middle class should even probably be cut further," Buffett said in an interview with ABC's "This Week With Christiane Amanpour" that is scheduled to air on Nov. 28. "But I think that people at the high end — people like myself — should be paying a lot more in taxes. We have it better than we've ever had it."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to take up President Barack Obama's plan to extend some of the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush when the House returns after Thanksgiving. The legislation would retain lower tax rates and increased credits that apply only to the first $250,000 of a married couple's gross income or $200,000 of a single person's.
Unless Congress acts, marginal income tax rates will rise across the board, tax credits that benefit families will be slashed, and tax rates on capital gains and dividends will increase. In addition, a federal tax on estates worth more than $1 million will be resurrected after expiring for 2010.
"The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we'll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you," Buffett, chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said in the interview. "But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on."
House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer today didn't rule out backing a temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000 a year. He said he plans to discuss the matter with Obama.
"I'm certainly going to talk to him about how we move the ball forward," Hoyer said today on the CBS "Face the Nation" program.


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Nobu Las Vegas at Caesars Palace
Price Level
Business Casual
(702) 785-6628
Friday - Sunday5 PM - 10:30PM
Additional Info
Group Dining
Please call Group Sales at 866-733-5827 or fill out an inquiry form.
The highly acclaimed Nobu brand brings the world's largest Nobu Restaurant space to Caesars Palace Las Vegas in the heart of Nobu Hotel. The 11,200-square-foot dining area and adjacent lounge features a sushi bar, private dining area and circular central bar. It's also the only U.S. Nobu offering teppan tables.
With a menu that pleases the most sophisticated of palates, feast on imported Asian and Japanese fish, imported seafood, sushi rolls and exotic delicacies. Don't forget to ask your server about vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu items.
There are always delicious surprises in store when perusing the Nobu menu. Indulge in everything from its exclusive truffle tasting experience menu to its imported A5 Japanese Wagyu Banquet prepared on Teppanyaki tables. The most popular dish is the signature black cod with sweet miso in a bite size piece over garlic chips and ginger in a butter lettuce cup.
Socialize and be seen in the stylish Nobu Lounge, great for cocktails, dates and large parties. The exclusive lounge menu features appetizing items not available at other Nobu locations and available only after the main dining room closes. In the mood for sake? Nobu stocks three rare sakes from Japan's Hokusetsu brewery on Sado Island, one of which is made by hand and goes through a slow drip process.
Nobu Restaurant Certificate of Excellence Award
What to eat at this Japanese restaurant:
- Yellowtail with jalapeño
- Sashimi salad
- Japanese snapper dry miso
- Rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce
- Vanilla miso tart
Nobu Tips
- Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available
- Japanese craft beer and whisky selection
- Off-menu items prepared daily
- Waiters can provide custom tailored menus
- Try our specialty cocktails
- Sushi Bar reserved for walk in guests
Teppanyaki Experience
Chef Nobu wants his guests to experience the highest quality of products, prepped right before their eyes, and now the "Nobu Experience" has been brought to the Teppanyaki Table. Similar to the renowned experience of the Nobu Sushi Bar, the Teppanyaki experience follows the Edomae of eating sushi, one piece at a time. With the crafted Teppanyaki tasting menu, guests will enjoy every delicious course cooked right in front of them. Each bite is served with Nobu's recommended signature sauces. Every item is exclusive to the Teppan tables and not served with any other Nobu dining experience. Book your exclusive experience now.
Reserve Now or call (702) 785-6674.
Chef's Corner
Born in Japan, Chef Nobu cultivated his unique style of fusion artistry with influences from his travels to Peru, Argentina, Alaska and California. In 1987, Chef Nobu opened his first U.S. restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Beverly Hills, which quickly became one of the most popular restaurants due to a dedication to the highest quality and finest ingredients from around the world.In 1994, Chef Nobu partnered with Robert De Niro and Meir Teper to open Nobu Tribeca in New York City. Chef Nobu's commitment to his craft earns accolades from the most competitive culinary markets in the world, including Nobu Tribeca being named "The Best New Restaurant" by The James Beard Foundation in 1995.
Why You'll Love It
Gluten free options such as Roasted Baby Vegetables
Fresh Oysters
Pork Katsudan
Ask about our Whiskey Flights
Why You'll Love It
Diners "dream" of the dinners at Nobu Matsuhisa's Japanese "hot spot," proffering "melt-in-your-mouth" sushi and "mind-blowing" cooked dishes like the "star"-quality miso black cod, plus omakase options; a "helpful" staff distributes everything in a "cool," "hopping" space ripe for "celeb sightings" – "how could you not love it?


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CCSE PEV Study Released--EV stats to California
CCSE PEV Study Released--EV stats to California
So far, almost all are Leaf owners (96%). In 2 yrs, Model S will rule!
In 2 yrs, Model S will rule! (Brian H)
I don't think so. There will always be more Leafs than Model Ss on the road, at least while both are still produced.
Except for perhaps the southern states where the Leaf is having a bit of an image problem because of the battery degradation and the stonewalling by Nissan.
Also at ~$35k compared to basic Model S $57k price difference isn't that big, and you are getting a lot better car with Model S.
When Tesla gets GenIII cars on road something like Leaf is dead unless they do something huge about it too. It's just plain ugly compared to anything...well, anything.
Except for perhaps the southern states where the Leaf is having a bit of an image problem because of the battery degradation and the stonewalling by Nissan. (jerry3)
Don't forget one important factor: Availability. You can just buy a Leaf today, which will not be the case for the Model S for a long time to come, and will also probably not be a possibility (at first) when GenIII hits.
When Tesla gets GenIII cars on road something like Leaf is dead unless they do something huge about it too. (Timo)
It's not like Nissan is sitting around idle. If they were, there would be no Leaf in the first place. They are already now revising and improving it and until GenIII hits the road, the Leaf will be in its third generation at least.
I am not debating which is the better vehicle or even which is the better vehicle for the money. All told, I'm confident that the Leaf will outnumber the total of Tesla vehicles sold for years to come.
- Don't forget one important factor: Availability. You can just buy a Leaf today
Good luck on that one. I actually tried and not one dealer salesperson in the dozen or so Nissan dealers around here was interested in selling me one. I paid my $99, sent e-mails, changed dealers (on the site), and zip happened.
But unless Nissan does an about-face, I don't doubt you're right about them selling more cars than Tesla for a number of years.
Really? More than 20,000 next year? Mebbe so, mebbe no ...
Right now the Leafs come from one factory Japan in limited quantities. When the Tennessee factory opens up presumably price will come down and availability will go up. This also assumes they haven't poisoned the market with their handling of the hot climate situation. There are quite a few people in the Leaf forum who are "more than upset".
By the time Nissan comes out with yet another Leaf generation (same car, same basic design) Tesla will be out with there 4th car and 3rd platform, GENIII. Tesla will be light years ahead of Nissan who is still kicking the tires on their up coming third generation car that can't get over 100 miles to the charge.... How many tries does it take?
If Nissan can get their price down by about 15K maybe.
Nissan can't really afford to make a car that will cannibalize their existing car models so they have a lot of motivation to not make a long range EV. Neither can any other large carmaker. Toyota and GM are getting away with it because their "electric" cars have a gas engine to maintain so they won't face dealer revolt. Toyota's one "real" EV is just for compliance. If they manage to get the law repealed like they did the last time, I'm sure it will be gone faster than you can blink.


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Puppies puppies everywhere, and not one in my lap!
According to Hoopla Ha:
Chris and Mariesa are back with their second episode of Life in the Dog House (watch the pilot to meet the whole Hughes bunch) with Storie, a pregnant dog they rescued from a shelter.
Less than a day later, they welcomed her 12 newborn puppies into their home, making the total tally of 21 dogs in the household. It sounds like it would be mayhem, but these two dog lovers handle it like pros.
I'll take one! Okay, fine, I'll take five.


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Nov 9, 2009
Wrynn: Make doing business in New York easier
NYSID superintendent addresses PIANY/NYIA CEO Conference
GLENMONT, N.Y.–New York State Insurance Department Superintendent James J. Wrynn shared his agenda for the coming year with the nearly 100 insurance executives who attended the 2009 PIANY/NYIA CEO Conference, hosted by the Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc., and the New York Insurance Association Inc., Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Albany Marriott. PIANY also presented for discussion the results of its 2009 Company Performance Survey.
?Superintendent Wrynn shares many goals with our association: helping insurance consumers in New York state and enhancing the markets available to independent insurance agents,? said Ellen D. Kiehl, Ph.D., PIANY?s senior research analyst. ?The discussion of his agenda and concerns for the New York state insurance industry provided conference attendees with valuable insight on what to expect in the coming year.?
Wrynn, who was confirmed as superintendent in September, first addressed the NYSID?s necessary involvement in the national financial crisis over the past year. According to Wrynn, while these financial problems have increased ?the threat of federal regulation,? he is optimistic that state-based regulation of the insurance industry will remain in place. A shift to Washington ?could have a tremendous impact? on the state?s finances, he said–with ?several hundred million dollars? of revenue potentially at stake. His department is monitoring the federal health-care reform developments on a daily basis, Wrynn added.
Wrynn outlined three major areas where he intends to focus his energy, in addition to all that is happening at the federal level. These include emphasizing the local insurance market he regulates; bringing to a successful completion a number of endeavors the NYSID currently has underway; and enhancing New York?s stature as a world financial center conducive to doing business in the state. ?I?d like to make it easier to do business–create a business environment that promotes insurance. I want companies to want to work here.?
Among the many issues addressed, producer compensation disclosure drew the most pointed questions from the audience. When the basis for the disclosure initiative was challenged, Wrynn defended the NYSID?s actions: ?There?s a history. The concerns were the consumer?s right to know and a level playing field.? He described the process by which each of three successive drafts responded to producer comments. ?The consumer has a right to know,? Wrynn insisted. ?The customer already feels this way. The disclosure is just memorializing that fact. We?ve tried to make it as fair as possible. Now, are you paying for the sins of others? Yes, to an extent you are. But, if nothing is done and some other group of producers does something, then we?ve failed, in a way.?
In closing, Wrynn urged insurance agents to provide him with recommendations ?that will let you service your clients better. I?d like to be less a regulator and more a facilitator? for agents as well as companies, he said.
PIANY?s Director of Business Issues Jim Pittz, CPIA, also outlined the findings of the association?s 2009 Company Performance Survey at the conference. During his discussion, Pittz shared details and results, indicating that the survey included four states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire); was conducted over 40 business days; reviewed 77 companies; gathered data from 1,226 respondents; garnered 6,079 comments from agents about their carriers; and yielded 7,002 individual company evaluations.
Afterwards, the conference participants gathered in discussion groups (mixing both agents and carriers) to discuss the findings; recognize strengths and weaknesses of agency-company partnerships; and offer suggestions and solutions.
?The discussions provided unique perspectives from participants on the industry?s most pressing issues,? said Pittz. ?The Annual CEO Conference gave PIANY and NYIA members the chance to confer about the issues agents and companies have in common.?
Pittz noted the prominent theme of the important role that communication plays between agents and their carriers. As one participant said, ?When things are going well you can tell communication [between the agent and carrier] is up; when things are bad; you can tell communication is down.?
PIANY is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state.


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KKR Submits $75-Per-Share Bid for Gardner Denver
By Mike Spector and Sharon Terlep
KKR & Co. on Thursday bid $75 per share for industrial pumps manufacturer Gardner Denver Inc., said a person familiar with the matter.
The private-equity firm appeared to be the only suitor lobbing in a bid ahead of a Thursday deadline for offers. Other firms, including TPG, Onex Corp. and CCMP Capitol Advisors showed some interest in Gardner Denver, but proved less interested than KKR, people familiar with the matter have said.


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Vehicle Wrap – Concept Artwork
Mobile Wraps is a division of Central Graphics, a premiere visual advertising company located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. We specialize in car decals and car graphics, known today as car wraps and vehicle wraps thanks to the amazing vinyl material we use to literally wrap your vehicle in colors and images. From fleet graphics and truck wraps to motorcycle graphics and car wraps, we specialize in vehicle wraps for land and water transportation that advertise your business message in a bright, modern way impossible to ignore. Contact us today to learn more about our prices, process and reputation as one of northeast Ohio's most innovative graphic advertising firms. We look forward to making your vehicle an eye-catching mobile advertising message that gets your business the attention you need.


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razmik had een nieuw logo ontwerp nodig en lanceerde daarom een wedstrijd op 99designs.
Een winnaar werd gekozen uit23 ontwerpen ingezonden door14 freelance designers.
Looking for a professional, clean design for my site. Full description and layout provided.
The project includes icons/buttons, page layout in PSD (uncoded), and Logo in Vector format.
Can you come up with one?
Desired Color Scheme:
Prefer Dark Blues, Shades of Grey as primary scheme but open to ideas
Desired Style:
See Basic Layout: http://www.supportuniverse.com/su-new.htm
Accepted File Formats:
psd for template / vector for logo
Ive owned http://www.supportuniverse.com for some time now and left it unattended as I was sidetracked with other projects.
Funny enough the site has started doing well in the SERPs and is attracting quite a few visitors (about an 1100 a day), who find a dead site and move on
The code has problems that will be fixed within the next few weeks.
My plan is to re launch the site offering both project owners and service providers free access and no commissions, with payment through http://www.escrow.com, and make a little money through advertising and affiliate programs.
The site design should be sober and business like.
The logo must also be a sober, simple professional design.
I have uploaded a basic layout that will give you the general idea of the site layout that I am looking for at: http://www.supportuniverse.com/su-new.htm
It is a combination of http://www.getacoder.com and our existing site.
That layout shows the basic proportions of the various panels which Ive numbered 1 through 13. The key is that the projects list can not be pushed bellow the fold.
1- Top nav bar Not much to say.
2- Header will have the name/logo, some graphics and allow for a banner.
3- This area will have a combination of text and graphics. It could emulate http://www.elance.coms step 1, step 2. Kind of a thing.
4- Join Now! Self explanatory, with email and password boxes and Forgot Password.
5 and 6 - Self explanatory,
7 and 8 - Self explanatory, and needs buttons for join now or get started.
9- For Skyscraper type banners and adwords. The home page will have a banner advertising our site.
10- Tabs and List - Self explanatory.
11- Empty space for now, but will have a search box in the future.
12- Some kind of space for text to help with optimization. See existing site.
13- Standard/simple footer, with text links to the main pages.
There is going to be need for designing small graphics (icons) for:
- Status (open and closed)
- place Bid
- Send a Message (or PM)
- Portfolio
- Feedback
- And whatever you can think of.
The winner will be expected to adapt the layout for other internal pages for $20/page.
This contest was originally listed in multiple categories:
- Logo Design
- Web Page Design
- Buttons & Icons
Bekijk hoe een ontwerpwedstrijd werkt of leer meer over logo ontwerpdiensten.


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|Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on May 10, 2017
At the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council, Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia will pay an official visit to China from May 13 to 17 during his attendance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
During Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to China, he will attend major activities of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. There will also be meetings and talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Chairman Zhang Dejiang of the NPC Standing Committee and Chairman Yu Zhengsheng of the CPPCC National Committee. He will also attend China-Cambodia business trip forum. We hope and believe that his visit will help consolidate traditional friendship between the two countries and push forward our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
China and Cambodia are neighbors enjoying traditional friendship, and established comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2010. There are frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful cooperation in different fields between the two countries. In 2016, President Xi Jinping and King Sihamoni visited each other, and Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Hun Sen had three meetings. All these gave a strong boost to the growth of bilateral relations. We believe that the bilateral relationship will achieve steady and all-round progress under the concerted efforts of both sides, delivering benefits to the two peoples and contributing to regional peace, stability and development.
At the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor will pay an official visit to China from May 12 to 16 during his attendance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
During his stay in China, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Chairman Zhang Dejiang and other leaders will meet and hold talks with him to exchange views on the bilateral relationship, the Belt and Road, China-Central and Eastern European countries cooperation and issues of common interest.
Hungary is one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with the new China. China and Hungary enjoy a long history of traditional friendship, vigorous practical cooperation and close people-to-people exchanges. The current relationship is faced with new opportunities. We believe that Prime Minister Orban's attendance at the Belt and Road Forum and official visit to China will help strengthen political mutual trust, complement each other's development strategies, advance the building of the Belt and Road, promote cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields and elevate the bilateral relationship to a new height.
Q: The ROK national election commission announced the result of vote counting on May 10. Democratic Party candidate Moon Jae-in was elected as new ROK president. What is China's comment on that? Does China want to work with the new ROK administration to improve the bilateral relationship?
A: President Xi Jinping has sent a message to President Moon Jae-in, congratulating him on becoming the 19th president of the ROK.
President Xi Jinping said in the message that the Chinese side attaches great importance to the ROK and the relationship with the ROK, stands ready to work with the ROK side to uphold the hard-won outcomes of the bilateral relationship, consolidate political mutual trust, properly address differences, enhance coordination and cooperation and push for the sound and steady growth of the relationship based on mutual understanding and mutual respect.
Q: It is said that the US once told China that they would arrange for a meeting with the DPRK if the latter stopped nuclear tests. Is that true? What has China done to facilitate direct communication between the US and the DPRK or multilateral talks?
A: Similar questions have been raised to us these days.
First, it is China's long-standing position that the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula should be peacefully resolved through dialogue and consultation. We have been in touch with all relevant parties, encouraging them to increase communication and contact and make joint efforts to bring the issue back to the track of dialogue and consultation.
Second, the Chinese side has noted remarks by the US on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, as well as the positive message conveyed through the remarks of peacefully resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation. We believe that relevant parties have also noted the remarks and the message, and will take them seriously.
Third, we have been stressing that the US and the DPRK, as parties directly concerned to the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, should demonstrate their sincerity to each other and gradually build up mutual trust. It is hoped that the two sides will join China to bring the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula back to the right track of peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation.
Follow-up: You just said that relevant parties have also noted the message and will take it seriously. Are you referring to the DPRK? Has China ever communicated with the DPRK about the message?
A: The Chinese side is in close communication with all relevant parties.
Q: China has announced that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will pay a state visit to China and attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Can you tell us more about the arrangements? How do you comment on the current China-Uzbekistan relationship?
A: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan is coming to China for a state visit and the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from May 11 to 15.
President Xi Jinping will hold talks with him, and jointly sign and release the China-Uzbekistan joint statement. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman Zhang Dejiang will meet with him. Leaders of the two countries will have in-depth discussions on the bilateral relationship, comprehensive cooperation and international and regional issues of common interest. It is believed that the visit will add new impetus to China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Mirziyoyev will also attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Uzbekistan is a major country in the building of the Belt and Road. We welcome its active participation in the Belt and Road cooperation, so as to realize common growth and prosperity.
Q: This Sunday, China will host the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The European Union delegation in Beijing says that the Commission Chief of the EU Juncker has not been invited by China. Can you confirm that and tell us why? Does this demonstrate a change in China's attitude towards the EU?
A: Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made a preliminary introduction of all parties' attendance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in a recent briefing.
The detailed name list will be released in due course. What I want to stress is that the Belt and Road initiative is an open and inclusive initiative. We welcome the active participation of all relevant parties to make joint efforts for the growth of world economy and better livelihood of people around the world.
Q: China announced the visits by Chilean and Argentine presidents to China and their attendance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Can you brief us on their visits and China's relations with Chile and Argentina? What is China's opinion on the participation of Chile, Argentina and other Latin American countries in the Belt and Road initiative?
A: Both Chile and Argentina are China's important cooperative partners in Latin America. Last November, President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Chile, and announced together with President Bachelet the establishment of China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership, which ushered our bilateral relations into a new stage of development. Last year, President Xi Jinping had two meetings with Argentine President Macri and reached important consensus on strengthening friendly and win-win cooperation across the board, thus charting the course for the development of our relations.
China attaches great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with Chile and Argentina. We would like to take the visits of the two presidents as an opportunity to further deepen the friendly and win-win cooperation across the board with Chile and Argentina and advance the two pairs of comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Belt and Road initiative, proposed more than three years ago, has also been drawing broad attention in Latin America. Many countries, including Chile and Argentina, have expressed positive attitude of participation. The Belt and Road initiative is open and inclusive. We welcome the active participation of Chile, Argentina and other Latin American countries to strengthen complementarities between their development strategies and practical cooperation in various areas. In this way, the Belt and Road initiative can better contribute to China-Latin America cooperation and world stability and prosperity.
Q: The new ROK President Moon Jae-in said that he would have consultation with China and the US on the THAAD issue. What is China's comment on that?
A: China's position on the THAAD issue is clear and consistent. We hope that the ROK side can pay attention to China's concerns and properly settle the issue.
Q: A US congressional delegation led by the Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi met with the Dalai Lama in India on May 9. Does China consider this a signal of the administration's policy towards Tibet? What is China's comment on that?
A: We have noted relevant reports. The 14th Dalai Lama, under the cloak of religion, is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China activities aimed at splitting the country. He is the ringleader of the group advocating the so-called "Tibet independence". The meeting between the US congressional delegation and the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala has sent an awfully wrong signal of supporting "Tibet independence", and violated the US commitment of not supporting "Tibet independence". China has expressed firm opposition and lodged serious representations with the US side. We urge relevant congressmen to be prudent in dealing with Tibet-related issues, stop any forms of contact with the Dalai Lama, and take immediate measures to eliminate any negative effects.
Q: Mr. Moon Jae-in was elected today as the new president of the ROK. The Japanese government hopes to hold the China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting at an early date. What is China's comment on that?
A: We have answered many similar questions before regarding the China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting. We always hold a positive attitude towards the cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK. As for the meeting, we think it requires the right atmosphere and proper timing. We will stay in touch with relevant parties on this issue.
Q: There are reports about a major traffic accident in Weihai, Shandong Province on May 9, which led to the death of several children from China and the ROK. Can you brief us on this incident? What has China done in response? Did China communicate with the ROK?
A: The major traffic accident in Weihai, Shandong Province has, so far, taken the life of 12 people, including children from China and the ROK.
Highly concerned about this unfortunate incident, the Chinese leaders made important directions, asking relevant departments and local authorities to do their best to deal with the aftermath. Shandong Province and Weihai City have immediately activated their contingency plans, leading officials have rushed to the scene to direct the rescue work and make special arrangements to console and settle the bereaved families. Relevant departments of Shandong Province held a press conference last night to provide relevant information.
On the same evening, the Chinese side conveyed through the ROK side the Chinese leadership's deep sorrow for the victims and sincere condolences to the bereaved families. China will provide facilitation to the ROK families and other relevant people and work with the ROK to properly cope with the aftermath. China will stay in touch with the ROK through diplomatic channels.
Q: Does China have any plan to invite representatives of the new ROK administration to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation?
A: The Belt and Road initiative is an open and inclusive one. We will release relevant information, if any, in a timely fashion.
Q: Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other world leaders will be attending the Belt and Road Forum on May 14 and 15. Would you like to share more information on arrangements for Prime Minister Sharif's meetings with Chinese top leadership?
A: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. All the participants are our guests, and as the host, China will show our warm hospitality to all our distinguished foreign guests, including those from Pakistan. Pakistan is an important partner of China in advancing the Belt and Road initiative. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a pilot flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative, has already made positive progress. China believes that the attendance of Prime Minister Sharif will further promote international cooperation of the Belt and Road.
Q: It is about the drafting of the Belt and Road Forum outcome document. Have you got any details you can release about how the process is going?
A: I believe all of you are interested in the outcomes of the forum. As the host, China is currently discussing and consulting with participants to the Leaders Roundtable about an outcome document following the usual practices of international conferences and taking into consideration the opinions of various parties. As far as I know, we are making smooth progress in the discussion and consultation. I believe the document will be a product of joint consultation and showcase the consensus of leaders on promoting international cooperation of the Belt and Road initiative.
Q: The new ROK President Moon Jae-in said he would visit Pyongyang under right circumstances. Will President Xi Jinping also visit Pyongyang under right circumstances? And in the affirmative case, what would be those circumstances?
A: China and the DPRK are close neighbors who maintain normal exchanges and cooperation. With regard to arrangements for visits between the leaders, it depends on whether the two sides are convenient or not.
Q: Were President Xi Jinping's comments to French President Macron about the Paris Agreement intended to pressure the US into honoring its commitments on climate change?
A: As you might have already found, we have released information about President Xi's telephone conversation with President Macron. Both sides stressed that they should safeguard the outcomes of global governance including the Paris Agreement on climate change and increase communication and cooperation within the G20 framework. Climate change is a challenge for all. The Paris Agreement is a reflection of international consensus. China is firmly committed and determined to join hands with the international community and deal with climate change through cooperation.


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Gramm, McCain Guru Linked To Subprime Crisis
[Election 2008]
The general co-chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign, former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), led the charge in 1999 to repeal a Depression-era banking regulation law that Democrat Barack Obama claimed on Thursday contributed significantly to today's economic turmoil.
"A regulatory structure set up for banks in the 1930s needed to change because the nature of business had changed," the Illinois senator running for president said in a New York economic speech. "But by the time [it] was repealed in 1999, the $300 million lobbying effort that drove deregulation was more about facilitating mergers than creating an efficient regulatory framework."
Gramm's role in the swift and dramatic recent restructuring of the nation's investment houses and practices didn't stop there.
A year after the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act repealed the old regulations, Swiss Bank UBS gobbled up brokerage house Paine Weber. Two years later, Gramm settled in as a vice chairman of UBS's new investment banking arm.
Later, he became a major player in its government affairs operation. According to federal lobbying disclosure records, Gramm lobbied Congress, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department about banking and mortgage issues in 2005 and 2006.
During those years, the mortgage industry pressed Congress to roll back strong state rules that sought to stem the rise of predatory tactics used by lenders and brokers to place homeowners in high-cost mortgages.
For his work, Gramm and two other lobbyists collected $750,000 in fees from UBS's American subsidiary. In the past year, UBS has written down more than $18 billion in exposure to subprime loans and other risky securities and is considering cutting as many as 8,000 jobs.
Gramm did not respond to an e-mail and was unavailable for comment, according to a UBS spokesman. The bank has no official position on the subprime crisis, the spokesman said, but is a member of the Financial Services Roundtable and other industry groups that are actively lobbying Congress on the issue.
Now, some housing experts and economists see Gramm's thinking in the recent housing proposal from McCain, the Republican Party's presumed presidential nominee. Gramm is often a surrogate for the Arizona senator, particularly in meetings focused on the economy. And McCain has hinted he'd consider the former Texas senator for Treasury secretary in a McCain administration.
McCain delivered an economic speech Tuesday that had Gramm's input, but it was written by domestic policy adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin.
"Sen. Gramm was one of dozens of folks whom Sen. McCain has consulted on the housing issue, including Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman from eBay," said McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers. "They've been friends for years, and he values Sen. Gramm's advice."
In the speech, McCain rejected the type of aggressive government intervention in the economic meltdown that has been embraced by his Democratic opponents — and even some Bush advisers.
"I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers," McCain said. "Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy."
McCain's campaign later clarified that he would support programs for "deserving" homeowners and reforms that would improve transparency and accountability in capital markets.
Andrew Jakabovics, a housing expert at the liberal Center for American Progress, said McCain's interpretation of the crisis puts little blame on investment banks for their role in packaging the subprime loans into dangerously complex and ultimately hard-to-value financial instruments.
"I'd characterize this as the deux ex machina theory of financial products," Jakabovics said. "He views this as a market problem that manifests at the local level as housing, meaning he's more likely to argue in favor of these guys when they argue for deregulation."
Wall Street firms are increasingly under scrutiny for contributing to the economic downturn by packaging and selling risky mortgage securities. When the home loans tied to the mortgages defaulted, investors and the banks lost billions, contributing to a widespread credit crunch.
"I think [McCain's] attitude is the market can basically handle this and government doesn't need to be heavily involved," said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard and Poor's.
McCain and Gramm have a long political history. The two became close when they worked together as senators to defeat Hillary Rodham Clinton's 1993 health care plan, holding meetings at hospitals and clinics across the country.
In 1996, McCain was national chairman of Gramm's unsuccessful presidential bid.
In 2000, the duo had a rare parting when Gramm backed his home-state governor, George W. Bush, for president instead of McCain. But they've reunited in this presidential race.
Gramm stood by his former Senate colleague in his worst days last summer when his campaign went broke and his candidacy was all but written off by political observers.
Gramm, who had joined the campaign in March as a domestic policy adviser, was among those who helped cut staff and shrink the budgets. He traveled with McCain in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and stumped for him in Georgia.
Staff writer Victoria McGrane contributed to this story.
(politico.com) http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9246.html
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I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...


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The Kinetic 80 offers the tech including K2's softboot and stability plus cuff. To give the proper amount of support is the stability plus cuff adding great power transfer from your foot to the skate. The traditional lacing holds tight and secure while skating. Comfort and stability for your skating session.
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