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FSS Core Shamanism
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies ASIA
"Shamanism is a path of knowledge, not of faith, and that knowledge cannot come from me or anyone else in this reality. To acquire that knowledge, including the knowledge of the reality of the spirits, it is necessary to step through the shaman's doorway and acquire empirical evidence."
Michael Harner, Ph.D., FSS founder, and author of The Way of the Shaman
Core Shamanism
Core Shamanism is the universal or near-universal principles and practices of shamanism not bound to any specific cultural group or perspective, as originated, researched, and developed by Michael Harner. Since the modern world overwhelmingly lost its shamanic knowledge centuries ago due to religious and political oppression, the programs in Core Shamanism from The Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS) are particularly intended for modern persons to reacquire access to their rightful spiritual heritage through quality workshops and training courses. Training in core shamanism includes teaching students to alter their consciousness through classic shamanic non-drug techniques such as repetitive drumming so that they can discover their own hidden spiritual resources, transform their lives, and learn how to help others.
The Way of the Shaman:
Shamanic Journeying, Power, and Healing
The Basic in-person Workshop in Core Shamanism
During the Basic experiential workshop, participants are introduced to core shamanism, the universal and near-universal basic methods of the shaman to enter non-ordinary reality for problem solving and healing. Particular emphasis is on the classic shamanic journey, one of the most remarkable visionary methods used by humankind to explore the hidden universe otherwise known mainly through myth and dream. Participants are initiated into shamanic journeying, aided by drumming and other techniques for experiencing the shamanic state of consciousness and for awakening dormant spiritual abilities, including connections with Nature. Practice includes comparisons by participants of their discoveries in shamanic journeys as well as being introduced to shamanic divination and healing. They are also provided with methods for journeying to meet and study with their own individual spirit helpers in non-ordinary reality, a classic step in shamanic practice. Participants learn how the journey is utilized to restore spiritual power and health, and how shamanism can be applied in contemporary daily life to help heal oneself, others, and the Planet. Two days, usually 9:00am-6:00pm.
And announcing:
NEW Advanced 3-Year Shamanic Initiations: 1-12 July 2024~2026
The Way of the Shaman basic course: Comments from participants
- The course was everything I hoped it would be. I look forward to practicing what I've learned, and I feel I received a lot. Kevin's approach was great. He made us all feel confident as we undertook the journeys. He's humble yet very knowledgeable, and offers a gentle but sure atmosphere. I look forward to advanced courses soon.
- Eye-opening, super-effective, and gave me confidence and trust. Kevin's explanations made me feel that it was easy to access the Upper and Lower Worlds, and it was! I'm definitely registering for advanced courses.
- I was amazed at how easy it was to enter the Lower and Upper Worlds. Kevin is full of humor and patience. His explanations were thorough and with examples pulled from a wide variety of spiritual disciplines.
- Wonderful – new levels of experience came one after the other.
- Nice flow overall, and good balance of theory and practice. We got right into the work!
- I made connections to worlds I hadn't known before. I could relax and have fun.
- Kevin's answers to questions were not just replies but rather full of rich clues to understand the nature of shamanism more deeply. I look forward to applying these principles in my life.
- A great workshop. Kevin displays a deep knowledge of the Spirits. I look forward to learning more in advanced workshops.
- Kevin's explanations were clear, comprehensive, easy to understand and supported by his own rich experience. I feel he's a wonderful person in both knowledge and humanity.
- To know the existence of the Upper and Lower Worlds alleviates much of the distress here in the Middle World. I feel much lighter. Fascinating talks – I now feel like I've read several books on shamanism as a result of this course.
- Learning and practicing shamanism in a shrine is the best of all locations – it had an immense effect on me.
- Kevin's maintained a very high quality of course material throughout the duration of the two days – I felt his sincerity.
- The many practical exercises were fun, exciting, easy to learn and understand.
- A very substantial course. Everything worked beautifully. The practices and explanations were profound.
- The course was an amazing experience for me – my first time to experience the Lower and Upper Worlds!
- Kevin knows his material thoroughly, and his sense of humor helps us all relax and feel comfortable.
- Learning to have experiences of my own has been just essential and this workshop succeeds in offering participants their own experiences.
- I felt a wonderful unity in the group, and the shrine in which the course is held is a very holy place.
- Informative, precise, with lots of laughter and stories to explain the principles. I believe this course is the best way shamanism can be offered.
- Enlightening – a good mix of theory and practical exercises. The light-hearted approach worked well.
- I feel inspired and want to study shamanism more! Exciting, interesting. Kevin was just great, and the shrine was the ideal place to practice.
- Learning the essence of shamanism at such a low price is amazing! "Core Shamanism" is just great – it bypasses the ritualistic and religious baggage.
- I now have an overall understanding of shamanism, and what can be achieved with these techniques.
- Kevin is very knowledgeable and makes challenging concepts easy to understand. Very enjoyable.
- Kevin has a very thorough knowledge of his subject, and I feel fortunate to have had him as my instructor. I look forward to advanced courses with him soon.
Suggested reading: Books by Michael Harner
Advanced Courses from The Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS)
[Completion of The Way of the Shaman basic workshop is prerequisite.]
Shamanic Extraction Healing Training
Participants are initiated into the extraction method of healing, including how to see, sense, and remove localized illness and pain connected to spiritual factors. This is an important part of shamanic healing training. We will also learn how shamanic practitioners can work in partnership to increase the effectiveness of this work. The Extraction Healing Training workshop is designed for those who wish to bring shamanic healing work into their practice with others.
Shamanism, Dying, and Beyondc
Participants learn how to explore dying, afterlife navigation, and the destiny of souls from a shamanic perspective. The workshop is both for those who wish to learn for themselves, and for those who wish to help others who are in terminal situations or who have already passed on. Experiences to be undertaken include learning how to become experientially familiar with the after-death realms, tracking a person using shamanic journeying, completing unfinished business, helping a person to cross over (classic psychopomp work).
Power Soul Retrieval Training
Soul Retrieval is one of the most powerful shamanic healing practices. It aims to return portions of the soul that may have moved away from us (dissociation) as a result of trauma or any situation in which we were unprepared to feel the associated emotions. Shamans believe that soul loss is a common source of illness, depression, and chronic fatigue, as well as a variety of mental and emotional disorders. In this advanced course, we will learn how to find and retrieve these portions for clients in a healing session. ** Both Extraction Healing and the Shamanism, Dying and Beyond advanced courses are prerequisite for this course.
Shamanic Dreamwork
In this unique experiential workshop you will have the opportunity to explore the nature, meaning, and use of dreams among shamanic peoples, with dreamwork practices from a range of cultures. Researched and developed by Michael Harner, subjects to be covered include shamanic dream theory and big dreams, as well as dreams and the soul, spirits, shamanic journeys, the Dreamtime, and the vision quest. You will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge to contemporary life, including the use of dreams in divination, health, and healing. *This is not a dream recall program – we'll be primarily working with dreams you had in the past.
Shamanic Divination Training
One of the classic tasks of the shaman is to journey into non-ordinary reality in order to obtain answers to questions, both at the request of others and for oneself. Participants in the workshop have the opportunity to engage in divination journeys for each other as well as for themselves and to gain experience in using various time-tested shamanic divination techniques. In the shamanic search to become persons of knowledge, they learn, as shamans have from time immemorial, how to converse with plant and animal spirits, how to learn about the use of quartz crystals, and how to seek and receive revelatory knowledge from visionary sources.
Shamanism & the Spirits of Nature
From ancient times, shamans have worked with the spirits of nature for healing, survival, and knowledge. By learning from the plants and animals, from the rocks and mountains, from the winds and waters, and from the sun, moon, and stars, shamans helped their peoples live in harmony with the universe. In a world now out of balance, the way of the shaman can teach how again to respect nature, our Planet, and its inhabitants at a deep spiritual level. As our ancestors everywhere once knew, our survival depends on the survival of the other species. By working together intensively through shamanic journeys and other spiritual experiences, we will dedicate ourselves to working in both non-ordinary and ordinary reality to restore and maintain a living Planet.
Shamanic Training in Creativity
Creativity is both fundamental and complex, and a driving force in our lives. Shamanism brings a fresh approach to contemporary persons for cultivating their creative potential. In this workshop, based on years of research, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their creativity through the practice of shamanic methods. Selected historical and anthropological examples will illustrate connections between shamanism and creative abilities, and a variety of specific shamanic exercises will be taught that participants can apply to their personal lives. (Article: "Shamanism and Creativity" by Sandra Harner.)
Advanced Practitioners Seminar
A rare chance to review, exchange information and discuss shamanic healing case histories with the director for Asia and other advanced practitioners. Those who are beginning a shamanic healing practice, as well as experienced practitioners seeking to increase their proficiency, can benefit from this hands-on training. These 2 days provide participants the opportunity to "put it all together" by applying multiple core shamanic healing methods in a solo session for another participant. The first day includes a review and practice of these primary methods: extraction healing, power animal retrieval, psychopomp work, and power soul retrieval – these are not reviewed in the 3-Year, so this is useful for everyone! . General parameters of a shamanic healing session, as well as how to work with clients and important ethical considerations will be discussed. On day two, participants will have the opportunity to offer a complete shamanic healing session for another workshop participant. Afterward, there will be group Q & A and discussion focused on clarifying the methodologies and addressing issues that arise during the healing sessions. Saturday and/or Sunday evening social gatherings planned – join us for a reunion of advanced students! (Three-Year Program students are welcome, but we're not practicing 3-Year techniques in this course). *Prerequisites: Extraction, Dying, and Power Soul Retrieval (2-day) courses.
Current Schedule and Course Registration
COPYRIGHT: All FSS workshops and training courses are copyrighted, and were originated, researched, and developed by Michael Harner.
Kevin's biography can be seen here: www.shamanism.org/fssinfo/turnerbio.html
Drumming Circles in Asia
About The Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS)
The Foundation for Shamanic Studies is dedicated to the preservation, study, and teaching of shamanic knowledge for the welfare of the Planet and its inhabitants. See this film about the work of Michael Harner: https://www.shamanism.org/way-of-the-shaman/documentary.php
"What Yogananda did for Hinduism and D.T. Suzuki did for Zen, Michael Harner has done for shamanism, namely bring the tradition and its richness to Western awareness," say Roger Walsh and Charles S. Grob, in their book, Higher Wisdom. "Michael Harner is widely acknowledged as the world's foremost authority on shamanism and has had an enormous influence on both the academic and lay worlds."
Started in 1979, the Foundation for Shamanic Studies presents the world's foremost training programs in shamanism and shamanic healing. They are based on the pioneering work of anthropologist Michael Harner, who brought shamanism to contemporary life in the West after extensive field and cross-cultural investigation, experimentation, and personal practice. He originated, researched, and developed core shamanism, a system designed for modern persons to apply shamanism and shamanic healing successfully to their daily lives. This system is based upon the underlying shamanic principles and practices, rather than upon culture-specific variations and elaborations. Core shamanism does not focus on ceremonies, such as those of Native Americans, which are part of the work of medicine men and women, persons who do both shamanism and ceremonial work.
When invited by indigenous peoples who have largely lost their shamanic knowledge, the Foundation may send a team to help them establish firsthand shamanic contact with their own spirits and learn from them. With this work done in short time, the team leaves. The Foundation has done this by invitation in various parts of the world, including the Arctic of Eurasia and Canada, and in central Asia.
Where the survival of indigenous shamanism is threatened by outside forces such as religious and political persecution, the Foundation may designate elderly shamans as Living Treasures of Shamanism and provide lifetime stipends to help them pass their precious knowledge on to their peoples.
Shamanic Healing: We Are Not Alone
An Interview with Dr. Michael Harner
For more information about the Foundation in English: www.shamanism.org
Journeying CD available from FSS
Download Journeying MP3 here
Or press on CD below to order CDs:
19 Jun 2009 admin


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Obama's Green-Jobs Fantasy
Don't buy the president's environmental snake oil
Anyone who understands basic economics already knows that President Obama's $2.3 billion green-jobs initiative was snake oil. Now, thanks to Kenneth P. Green, we have statistics as well as theory to prove it.
In a new article, "The Myth of Green Energy Jobs: The European Experience," the environmental scientist and a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute writes, "Green programs in Spain destroyed 2.2 jobs for every green job created, while the capital needed for one green job in Italy could create almost five jobs in the general economy."
Ironically, Obama boasts his initiative "will help close the clean-energy gap between America and other nations." But Green says, "(C)ountries are cutting these programs because they realize they aren't sustainable and they are obscenely expensive."
Obama claims that if we "invest" more, "the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs—but only if we accelerate that transition."
What could make more sense? A little push from the smart politicians and—voila!—we can have an abundance of new good-paying jobs and a cleaner, sustainable environment. It's the ultimate twofer.
Except it's an illusion, as economic logic demonstrates.
"It is well understood, among economists, that governments do not 'create' jobs," Green writes. "The willingness of entrepreneurs to invest their capital, paired with consumer demand for goods and services, does that. All the government can do is subsidize some industries while jacking up costs for others. In the green case, it is destroying jobs in the conventional energy sector—and most likely in other industrial sectors—through taxes and subsidies to new green companies that will use taxpayer dollars to undercut the competition. The subsidized jobs 'created' are, by definition, less efficient uses of capital than market-created jobs."
Green is using good, solid economic thinking. Many years ago, Henry Hazlitt wrote in his bestseller, Economics in One Lesson, "The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups."
In judging any government initiative, such as Obama's green-jobs plan, you can't look just at the credit side of ledger because the government is unable to give without first taking away.
Worse than that: Inevitably, more is taken away—destroyed—than is given because the government substitutes force and taxation for consent and free exchange. Instead of a process driven by consumer preferences, we get one imposed by politicians' grand social designs. It's what F.A. Hayek called "the fatal conceit."
So we shouldn't be surprised that green-jobs programs make energy more expensive. "(F)orcing green energy on the market (is) much, much more expensive," Green said. "Using Spain as a model, when you do the math, you realize that creating 3 million new green jobs could cost $2.25 trillion."
Of course, many people who push "green jobs" want the price of energy to rise so we'll use less. If the environmental lobby wants Americans to be poorer, it ought to come clean about that.
The advocates of such programs don't just misunderstand economics. They have lapsed into a pre-economic mentality. Rulers once believed they could do whatever they wanted, subject only to the physical laws of nature. If things didn't work out as planned, it was because the people had failed to cooperate. But as economist Ludwig von Mises wrote, once economics emerged as an intellectual discipline, "it was learned that in the social realm too there is something operative which power and force are unable to alter and to which they must adjust themselves if they hope to achieve success … ."
That "something" is inescapable economic forces like the law of supply and demand.
Green is right when he says, "Central planners in the United States trying to promote green industry will fare no better (than Europe) at creating jobs or stimulating the economy."
John Stossel is host of Stossel on the Fox Business Network. He's the author of Give Me a Break and of Myth, Lies, and Downright Stupidity. To find out more about John Stossel, visit his site at johnstossel.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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"This means that local public services organisations will not incur any significant additional costs or burdens..." mean that we can have RDP or similiar allowed again?
Mickey mouse operation if you ask me
The Cabinet Office has reached an agreement with local government organisations about security standards for connection to its GCSx network. The Society of IT Management (Socitm), which helped negotiate the terms, said that the agreement included cost reductions in connecting to the Government Secure Extranet (GCSx). It also …
Why in the name of god would anybody consult local government (or national government for that matter) about security?
It's like
Actually I can't think of a suitable simile without stealing from Blackadder.
This will probably alienate some public sector workers but they are either
1: the exception to the rule
2: simply don't know that they're crap
GSI wasn't set up as one massive silo - actually, no decently designed intranet ever is.
At most you could see it as a backdoor to the interdepartmental traffic if the connecting firewalls allow access to that traffic (which they shouldn't, but that's another issue), but to get into a department you'd have to get past their own GSI interconnect firewalls - they don't exactly trust each other either, so any GSI connection is firewalled in itself.
This means that you could get at most to a departmental DMZ, which is indeed what should happen.
I'm personally more astonished that it has taken either government or GSI contractor (is it still C&W?) more than 10 years to implement something that was actually part of the original growth plan for GSI. Given the cost savings this could have brought over the years that borders on scandalous.
It simply means that Central Government have recognised that Local Government do not deal in state secrets and that a one size fits all security policy across all levels and departments is not sensible.
From the wording it appears that this has been done on the basis of cost but it should also be seen as the way ahead on the basis of data security - imposing draconian security measures where they are not appropriate does nothing other than encourage that most serious of security holes - the undocumented, unapproved work-around,
... becuase if you don't, you can't hook up to the DWP for figures. They don't dish them out any other way any more. There isn't really an option for local governments to NOT comply.
As for keeping costs low, that presumably references cutting staff wages, which is where a good portion of the implementation costs are.


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London, United Kingdom – Bensoftware today announced the release of SecuritySpy 3.3, an update to the premier multi-camera video surveillance software for the Mac. With features such as motion detection, real-time compression of multiple camera feeds, and network video and audio streaming, SecuritySpy is designed for demanding video surveillance applications. New features in this version include support for BlackMagic video hardware, the latest Apple FaceTime cameras, and several new network cameras.
"This update represents our ongoing commitment to maintaining top-quality software and responding to our customers' feedback" said Ben Bird, the developer of SecuritySpy. "Combined with Mac OS X, the rock-solid operating system from Apple, SecuritySpy offers unsurpassed functionality, stability and ease of use."
The main features of SecuritySpy are as follows:
* Display and record multiple cameras simultaneously
* Support for all major brands of IP cameras
* Support for all industry-standard media formats: JPEG, MPEG-4, MxPEG, H.264 and AAC
* ONVIF compatibility, and HTTP and RTSP streaming, for maximum camera compatibility
* Extensively multi-threaded to take advantage of multi-core computers
* Built-in web server for remote viewing and administration
* Pan/Tilt/Zoom support
* Sophisticated motion detection
SecuritySpy supports a wide variety of IP cameras and video servers, including the popular Axis, Dahua, Panasonic, Sony and Vivotek ranges. SecuritySpy features sophisticated motion detection, which can be used to trigger recording as well as email alerts and audio alarms. The built-in web server allows remote viewing of live video/audio and captured footage, as well as configuration of the software, from over the internet using a web browser or a mobile device such as an iPhone or iPad.
Pricing and Availability:
Pricing is in British Pounds, Euros or US Dollars and depends on the number of cameras used, ranging from GBP 29.90 (approx. USD $50) for the single-camera version, to GBP 649.00 (approx. $1100) for the unlimited-camera version. SecuritySpy supports any Intel Mac running OS X 10.5 "Leopard" through 10.9 "Mavericks". A 30-day fully-featured trial of SecuritySpy is available to download.
SecuritySpy 3.3
Download SecuritySpy
App Icon
Bensoftware is an independent software development house focused on providing high-quality video-related software for the Macintosh platform. Copyright (C) 2014 Bensoftware. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac OS X, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.


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Register for Webinar Wednesday - Apprentices, Indentured Servants, and Redemptioners: White Slavery in America by Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG
February 27, 2017
It is frequently assumed that the only enslaved Americans were those brought on the slave ships from Africa. Yet, an estimated one-half of early immigrants came to America as apprentices, indentured servants, and redemptioners. And, a good many of those were children.
Join us and Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG for the live webinar Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.
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About the presenter
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, was involved in genealogy before she was even born. The daughter of avid genealogists, she was spending time in courthouses and cemeteries while other children were playing on swings and going to the beach. The love of her family's history has never left her. With her experience as a former Family History Director, she is a frequent speaker at genealogical societies, workshops, seminars, and webinars where she loves bringing genealogy to life. Some of those would include The Ohio Genealogical Society, The Ohio State University, Brigham Young University, and many other state and local genealogy societies. She has recently completed several Legacy QuickGuides on Appalachia, which are also available on www.legacyfamilytree.com and www.amazon.com.
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We look forward to seeing you all there!


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This article is more than 1 year old
Your Flying Car? Delayed again, but you WILL get it, says Terrafugia
And the VTOL hybrid job to follow, promise engineers
But I'm not a pilot, and I hardly ever drive past a couple of airstrips during a journey. What about me?
But what of the TF-X? After all, most of us aren't pilots. Most of the journeys most of us make don't pass near a couple of handy airstrips which would let us do part of the trip airborne in a Transition, weather permitting. Where's the flying car for the rest of us? Is it really feasible?
At first glance the answer would seem to be a pretty firm no - it isn't.
A simple comparison with the only tilt-rotor aircraft actually flying in any numbers - the MV-22 Osprey - doesn't look good for the TF-X. An Osprey lifts off weighing 50,000lb (22.7 tonnes) using 9 megawatts of power. The thrust discs of its big props are loaded at around 20lb per square foot.
We can see from the vid that the TF-X's prop discs are around a hundred feet2. With a megawatt of lift power available, it's clear that the TF-X is expected to have heavier disc loading than the Osprey and as such it won't generate as much lift per watt. In rough envelope-scribble terms the TF-X's maximum all-up weight must be a good bit heavier than 2,000lb and a good bit lighter than 5,000lb. Say 4,000lb to be kind - Terrafugia didn't care to give any specifics.
Subtract 800lb for people and 400+lb for the cruise engine at the back and its fuel - presumably it's a relatively conventional lightweight internal-combustion job or something similar (again, Terrafugia are reticent). Assume for the moment that the airframe, wingtip rotor pods, avionics etc weigh nothing. That leaves a maximum of 2,800lb for a battery pack which is able to put out 670 kilowatts (Terrafugia did specify that the engine will be feeding power to the rotors as well during hover operations, so the requirement is 900 horsepower not 1200). That battery pack needs to be able to survive a road crash safely as well - this is a flying car, remember.
One of the best road-safe certified power packs you can buy (provided you have deep pockets) is the one in the Tesla Roadster battery supercar. It can put out 215 kilowatts: three of them could provide almost all the juice we need to get the TF-X off the ground.
It can't do this for long, though - and there'd be a lot of stuff blowing about
Unfortunately three Roadster battery packs weigh 2,970lb on their own. That's too heavy already, and we haven't even allowed for the weight of the airframe, rotors, motors etc. And that's not the only problem: those Tesla powerpacks can't sustain that level of output for long. The theoretical maximum is just under 16 minutes, but in real life it would be much less.
Terrafugia wisely specify that the TF-X should be able to attempt vertical landing three times in a row with little if any engine recharging, allowing for aborted approaches or other problems:
Prior to departure, the operator selects a primary target landing zone and backup landing zones. If the TF-X™ calculates insufficient energy on board to conduct last minute aborts at the first two sites and safely navigate to and land at the third within a 30 minute reserve, or if the forecast weather in any of the three landing zones would be outside the allowable limits, or if any of the selected landing zones are in temporarily restricted airspace (TFRs), departure will not be allowed until appropriate landing zones are selected.
Ten minutes or less of hover time to go up and down three times would seem like a big ask. And anyway the batteries are much too heavy. We put this to the Terrafugia people, and they said:
Basing your numbers on the Tesla battery pack is not representative of the state of the art in battery technology today - it is representative only of what is certified for automotive use. Tesla's packs are designed for long range and crash - not high power-to-weight and crash. Our concept relies on higher power density cells than Tesla uses, combined with a different strategy for crash. These cells exist today but are not yet certified for road use.
That's a fair point: there are battery technologies which theoretically might offer a considerably lighter battery pack with the necessary power - though there aren't that many which would leave much of a margin for airframe, motors, rotors etc. Whatever Terrafugia are eyeing, they'll have to make it road-crashworthy as Tesla did. And the fact remains that the Tesla packs, optimised for endurance as they are, are already pretty marginal on the length of hover time they could deliver. Switching emphasis to power rather than energy would in all likelihood cut this time even further.
Terrafugia did more or less admit this last, saying:
Your point that there will be a limited hover time is correct. We estimate the time will be sufficient for two or three aborts before a horizontal landing would be required.
Which is fair enough again: if the computer autopilot couldn't get the TF-X down before the battery approached exhaustion, it could always revert to aeroplane flight and head off for a runway, where it could make a rolling landing under engine power alone.
Still though, when you reflect that enough ordinary light-aircraft engines to provide the required hover horsepower would only weigh 1400lb-odd, you have to wonder just why the enthusiasm for batteries among PAV inventors these days. To be sure, electric thrust would be quieter and less prone to breakdown than normal engines, and the need to put heavy weights at the wing tips is reduced: these are good things for flying cars.
The fact is, however, that those light-aircraft engines have always been there and yet there are very few operational tiltrotors in the world, and those there are belong to exotic branches of the US military with special requirements (namely the Marines and the Special Ops command), not commercial organisations or wealthy individuals. They aren't powered by piston engines either; they need the improved power-to-weight offered by gas turbines. So it would seem that tiltrotors are just not simple to make, and the chance of genuinely making battery-powered ones (which can fold and unfold rotors in midflight, too) is pretty slim.
Looking at the troubled development of the Osprey - and the struggle Terrafugia is having getting the relatively pedestrian Transition to work - you have to say that the TF-X is not, as Terrafugia says, really "what is physically possible with today's technology". Even if it was, the rotors and rear engine would probably still make it too noisy to land and take off in urban areas - and its high disc-loading might make this very unpopular even if it were quiet enough. (Ordinary low disc-loading helicopter downwash is serious enough. The Osprey's has been known to cause serious devastation, and the TF-X's wash, while not as widespread as the Osprey's, would be even more intense: albeit not aggravated as the Osprey's is by downward-pointing jet exhausts.)


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It was a hard day, and I retired. Bummer. It is the first time I have not finished a race.
In retrospect I made some mistakes and there were factors I couldn't control that caused havoc with my ride strategy.
I felt very good in the morning and rolled into the starting grid for the "red", long course (183 Km) at 7:30a.m. The start was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Ms. E. was very gracious in getting up early to take some photos. The race organizers announced a change from previous years: there would be 15 minute breaks between the starts of each course; long would start at 8:00, medium at 8:15 and short at 8:30. The big implication of this for me was that if I were dropped no group would be coming by for at least another 15 minutes.
A very loud cannon announced the race start. The long course attracts the strongest riders so we are off like rocket ships. I was at the back of the red grid. Mistake number 1: the back of a grid is not a good place to be, I was jettisoned off the back immediately. I worked hard to get back into the main group but was making minimal progress. Not how I wanted to start. Fortunately, the group had to slow down about 1 km from the start due to some cars that had gotten onto the road. If was enough of a delay for me to latch back on. From then on I was flying at 55 km/h for 20 km; I love riding in fast groups. I was feeling good, going harder than I wanted but I thought it was better than riding by myself.
20km into the race the red course group was still "gruppo compacto". After passing Ponton there is a slight pitch that bites and I went off the back again. Here I found myself with a smaller group and we all worked together to arrive at the Spiazzi climb. The sign announced that it was 12 km long, 6-7% if I recall the indications on the signage. About half way up I was caught by the leaders of the medium course that started after me. At this point things were still going well. I arrived at Spiazzi and now I was onto roads that were new for me. Mistake number 2: Underestimating how difficult the following climbs were going to be.
From Spiazzi to Novezza was 12.7 km, 9-10% with one very short stretch at 18%. This tired me out a bit, especially since things are moving along at a very un-social ride pace. The "killer" came next: Novezza to Valico Monte Baldo, 2.3 km, where we were literally in the clouds of Monte Baldo. A 19% stretch. My god. I made it to within 10 meters of the top when my right hamstring cramped (last time I had a cramp was at the GF Italia which also had a long, flat, start). I managed the last 10 meters and then rode along a flat section before beginning the descent. First, I put on my windbreaker and rolled up my arm warmers.
The descent into Avio was an incredibly beautiful, somewhat technical, 22 km. The views were spectacular; I'll have to ride up there again some time with my camera. On the descent I was passed by a number of ambulances which always gives me the chills. I passed two down riders that looked seriously injured. A reminder that you always have to be very careful on descents on these small roads.
I then found myself alone TTing along on the flats between Avio and Peri. As I approached Peri I realized Mistake number 3: the red course had a time cut-off at 2pm at Erbezzo; if I didn't make I wouldn't be categorized as I would be forced onto the medium course. A digital clock at Peri announced "12:15" which surprised me; I couldn't believe that 4 hours+ had already passed. At this point and next on the agenda was the 10 km, 10% average, max 16%, Peri-Fosse climb. On a very good day, and fresh, I have made it up Peri-Fosse in 55 minutes. I didn't look good for making it to the Erbezzo cut-off in time. But, just maybe....
On the Peri-Fosse climb I really felt miserable. My right hamstring was cramping, my legs were not interested in turning over, my heart rate was much higher than normal for the amount of effort I was doing, and it was hot with the sun blazing. Five switchbacks later I called it a day. I descended to Peri and rode back to Verona. Even that felt hard although comparatively speaking it's "flat". I was all of cooked, fried and toasted.
Arriving back in Verona I went to the post race pasta party at the Arsenale where I met up with Beppe, Daniela, Attilio and Juliana who had more intelligently opted to do the short course. We had a nice lunch and shared stories about our day.
Back home I checked my POLAR stats: 4 hr 43 of race time before retiring; average heart rate 152; maximum heart rate: 185; September 16, 2007.
Obviously it was a too ambitious undertaking, on this particular day, for me. It's also obvious that I need to do some more training going flat-out fast on the flats to build up the muscles particular to this discipline, it is twice now I've cramped later in a race after an ultra-fast start.
Photos: I was at the optimistic at the start; the start area in Piazza Bra with the Arena (Roman coliseum), the cannon goes off and the motorcycles lead out at precisely 8:00 a.m. towards Corsa Porta Nuova.


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Sound Stage 28 at Universal Studios in Burbank, Calif., looks like any other Hollywood set — littered with wires, crew members everywhere. We pick our way through cables and cameras and stuff that would make Oscar the Grouch's trash can look tidy.
But then we head up — up a flight of wooden stairs that leads to the old set of the 1925 Lon Chaney silent film The Phantom of the Opera. It's draped with dusty red-velvet swags, and it looks like it might still harbor a ghost or two.
This is where, for the first Muppet movie since 1999's Muppets in Space, a Hollywood crew has re-created the old Muppet Theatre — which, in the new film, is being threatened with demolition by a tycoon who wants to drill for oil.
We've come on a day when director James Bobin, co-creator of the HBO musical comedy Flight of the Conchords, is shooting a scene in a cramped balcony box overlooking the Muppet Theatre stage.
Below, a few puppets hang limply from various stands as their puppeteers ready themselves for action. Muppet captain Bill Barretta is in charge — checking sightlines, positioning monitors, tweaking costumes.
Barretta also performs: He's the man behind several characters previously enacted by the late Jim Henson, including the Swedish Chef, Rowlf the Dog and Dr. Teeth. He performs some newer characters, too — not least Pepe, the little Spanish-speaking shrimp.
"Not a shrimp, please — he's a king prawn, OK," Barrett objects, in Pepe's voice. "Big difference. Size is what matters, alright."
Barretta says his wife's Spanish aunt was the inspiration for Pepe.
"[She] had this great way of talking to people — she only spoke in statements," he explains. " 'Iz a black shirt, OK. Come on, Beulah, we go to the mall, OK.' That's what she said all the time: 'OK,' at the end of everything."
It happened that during a brainstorming session for a 1996 Muppets TV show, Barretta found himself describing his aunt-in-law.
"She was a little bit selfish in a way, and I said, you know, 'She's very fun but a little shellfish,' by mistake. And one of the writer-directors said, 'Wait a minute, OK, maybe it's a lobster or it's a crab or a shrimp — no wait, it's a king prawn, 'cause maybe he has a problem with size.' "
Sometimes, it takes a village to make a Muppet.
But then, collaboration is a Muppet tradition, according to Barretta.
"That was something Jim created," he says, "and I'm just glad to be part of that process."
Barretta's aunt-in-law, by the way, loved the character. "She said, 'Iz OK, OK.' "
Ad-Libs And Angles Add Up To Muppet Magic
Special guest stars show up on this shooting day, to do cameo roles for a scene in which the Muppet crew puts on a telethon to help save their imperiled theater. So, jammed into that small balcony box are Whoopi Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, Neil Patrick Harris, John Krasinski, James Carville and others. At the cry of "Action," they start ad-libbing with one another and the Muppets.
But hand puppets can't see the stars — can't see anybody or anything, for that matter. So Barretta and his colleagues rely on strategically placed monitors, "so puppeteers can see what they're doing, and at the same time see what the other person is doing, and at the same time, moment-to-moment react as an actor would do. So all these things come together at once."
The puppeteers have to pretzel themselves in the small balcony to keep out of camera range. They sit, they squat, they belly-down under tables and ledges, sometimes using knee padding for comfort. Some sets are raised a few feet off the ground for easier Muppet maneuvering.
Working outside is trickier. For a big song-and-dance number, the filmmakers shut down Hollywood Boulevard for two days while dancers, human actors and Muppets all performed in the real world.
"We have to be down on the ground with little rolly chairs," says Barretta, "and straining, trying to get your head down below the shot. It's much more difficult to be out in the real world."
Some Things Never Change
James Bobin, director of The Muppets, is making his feature-film debut. And he's a total Muppets newbie.
"No Muppet training whatsoever, " he says — although he allows that the cast of Flight of the Conchords used to watch the Muppets during downtime, just for laughs.
So Bobin relies heavily on veterans like Barretta.
"Whenever I have an idea, I say, 'Bill, is that possible?' And he tells me yes or no. Normally he says yes, which is good for me. But there are obviously limitations using Muppets: Door handles are a nightmare — the wrong height. Windowsills are a no-no. ... They're hand puppets, so ... they often have no legs. Shh, whisper it quietly. Don't tell people that."
You'd think, in this age of computer-generated special effects, they could make some Muppet legs. But Bobin says not so: "This is very much a puppet festival. It's all about felt and fur and seeing that for real, not computer graphics."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Feature Article - WA's Merchandise trade with the rest of the world Western Australian exports have risen significantly in two of the last three financial years - up 18% in 1997-1998 and 17% in 1999-2000. In the intervening year, exports fell by 4%, reflecting the impact of the Asian financial crisis on key Asian export markets as well as interruptions and disruption in the supply of some commodities. The significance of Western Australia's continuing growth in international merchandise trade is reflected in increases in the contribution its exports make to Australia's exports and to the states' economic growth:
EXPORTS MAJOR COMMODITIES Western Australia's position as Australia's major exporting state is based on exports of goods classified to four of the ten main commodity groups:
These groups contributed 88% of the state's export income in 1999-2000. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS - SELECTED COMMODITIES, By Value of Trade
In the ten years to 1999-2000, the value of exports increased by $15,289 million. Commodity exports which increased significantly in value during this period were Petroleum and petroleum products, contributing $3,146 million of the increase in the value of exports; Non-monetary gold, contributing $2,676 million; and Natural and manufactured gas, contributing $2,026 million. Other commodities to record significant export growth were Non-ferrous metals - from $14 million in 1989-1990 to $1,109 million in 1999-2000 (of which nickel accounted for $1,029 million); Live animal exports - from $68 million to $299 million; Oil seeds (Canola) - from an insignificant amount to $294 million; and Transport equipment (excluding road vehicles), around 95% comprising ships and boats, which increased in value from $62 million to $222 million. Another view of Western Australian exports is provided by the ABS' Manufacturing Industry Survey. In 1997-1998 (the latest data available), Western Australian manufacturers directly exported 24% of the goods that they produced. This compares with 20% in 1994-1995 when this information was first collected. In 1997-1998, manufacturers exports were valued at $3,923 million, of which Metal product manufacturers contributed $2,039 million (or 52%). MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS Western Australia's top export markets (those with a value of export trade over $1,000 million) accounted for 68% of exports in 1999-2000. Japan continues to be the state's major export partner with exports in 1999-2000 worth $6,580 million (or 26% of export trade). WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS - MAJOR DESTINATIONS, By Value of Trade(a)(b)
Since 1989-1990, the United States of America moved from being the state's second largest export destination in dollar terms (with 17% of exports) to our third largest destination in 1999-2000 (with 9% of exports). While exports to the United States have increased by a significant $588 million over that ten year period, there has been a stronger rate of growth in exports to South East Asian and North Asian countries. The Republic of Korea led the way, with exports to that country increasing five times to be worth $2,318 million in 1999-2000 making it Western Australia's second largest export destination. Korea, together with Singapore (which increased four times to $1,905 million), China (increasing almost four times to $1,867 million) and Taiwan (increasing almost five times to $1,351 million) accounted for 29% of the state's export market in 1999-2000, up from 17% of the market ten years ago. Of the selected country groups with which Western Australia trades, exports to ASEAN (up an average annual increase of 16%) and to Developing Countries (up an average annual increase of 13%) recorded the greatest increases in the ten years to 1999-2000. For our ASEAN neighbours, Singapore continues to dominate exports (56% of total state exports to ASEAN in 1999-2000) while strong growth was recorded for Thailand (from $30 million in 1989-1990 to $333 million in 1999-2000), the Philippines (from $48 million to $201 million) and Viet Nam ($516 thousand to $57 million). SELECTED EXPORT COMMODITIES AND THEIR DESTINATIONS A significant proportion of Western Australia's commodity exports are, for data confidentiality reasons, unable to be published according to their country of destination. Commodities subject to restrictions include Natural gas, Wheat, Nickel and Alumina. The more significant commodities exported in 1999-2000, not subject to confidentiality restrictions, were:
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS: SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES AND MAJOR DESTINATIONS, By Value of Trade(a)(b), 1999-2000
Japan and China are also important markets for a number of other commodity exports. In 1999-2000, Japan received $320 million of Liquified Petroleum Gas, and $194 million (or 37%) of Fish and crustaceans exports. China accounted for $161 million (34%) of the state's wool exports and $160 million (54%) of the growing Canola exports. IMPORTS While strong world demand for Western Australia's rich resources has positioned the state as Australia's leading exporter, demand for merchandise imports is driven more by the need to sustain the state's industry and population. As such, Western Australia ranked fourth (after the larger eastern states) in terms of its contribution to the value of Australia's imports (9% in 1999-2000). MAJOR COMMODITIES Of all Western Australian imports, 70% of the total value in 1999-2000 related to three commodity groups:
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS: SELECTED COMMODITIES, By Value of Trade
Non-monetary gold imports have been the major growth commodity, increasing substantially from negligible value ten years ago to be worth $1,781 million in 1999-2000. The next highest valued import was Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials which contributed 13% of total imports. Other imported commodities to have increased significantly in value over the last ten years have been Office machines and computing equipment, increasing twelve times to $613 million in 1999-2000 and Organic chemicals, increasing over six times to $288 million. MAJOR IMPORT MARKETS The United States of America and Japan have traditionally vied as Western Australia's major source of imports. In 1999-2000, the United States of America was the state's main supplier with 17% ($1,587 million) of imports followed by Japan with 10% ($985 million).The Republic of Korea was the state's third largest source of imported commodities, having increased markedly from supplying 2% of state imports ten years ago to 9% in 1999-2000. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS: MAJOR SOURCES, By Value of Trade(a)(b)
The majority of Western Australia's goods imports are sourced from APEC and European Union countries. Countries comprising our nearest neighbour ASEAN have, in the main, significantly increased their contribution to state imports, particularly Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. As a result, the value of goods imported from ASEAN in 1999-2000 accounted for 21% of the state's import trade compared with 9% ten years ago. SELECTED IMPORT COMMODITIES AND THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN The Republic of Korea and Viet Nam were the main contributors to Western Australia's top commodity imports (Non-monetary gold and Crude petroleum) in 1999-2000:
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS: SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES AND MAJOR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN, By Value of Trade(a)(b), 1999-2000
Japan's dominance as a supplier of motor vehicle imports continued in 1999-2000, with 62% of Private motor vehicles and 39% of Motor vehicles for transporting goods (including off-road vehicles). Singapore was the leading supplier (38%) of the high growth import commodity Automatic data processing machines (mainly computers). REFERENCES ABS FASTTRACCS Service. An ABS special data service providing customised international merchandise trade statistics. International Merchandise Trade, Australia (cat.no.5422.0). Australian National Accounts: Quarterly State Details (cat.no.5204.0.40.001)- an ABS special data service. Australian System of National Accounts (cat.no.5204.0). Manufacturing Industry, WA (cat.no.8221.5). PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION OF "WA'S MERCHANDISE TRADE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD" Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window. |


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Personal Transformation - One Step at at Time. Understanding the Gospel and Living it Out.
256 pages
"If you are serious about wanting to experience the deep truths of God in your life, then this is possibly the most relevant and pertinent tool of ministry I have discovered. It is insightful, challenging, and informative. I heartily endorse this tool of transformation. And now I challenge you to read it and prepare for change!"
Alistair P. Petrie Executive Director – Partnership Ministries
"It is an inexpressible relief and joy to discover daily teaching from the Word of God which embraces the breadth of Christian teaching, and whose depth, by the convicting and instructing power of the Holy Spirit, reaches the nooks and crannies of the reader's heart. This comprehensive teaching about the ways, works and words of the living God, always invites us deeper into intimacy with Him. It is personal and practical, pastoral and prophetic, encouraging and educating, appealing and revealing. It is Christ-centred, Holy Spirit empowered and inspired. I love it! I need it! I'm going to use it! So should you!"
Stuart McAlpine Pastor, Christ Our Shepherd Church, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
"The church is starving through lack of teaching that connects us to Christ and builds our foundation in Him. This is why I am so thrilled with Journey to Freedom. It is a marvellous discipleship tool that can inspire you in your walk with God and help you overcome every personal struggle. I hope you can make this part of your daily devotions. It is strong meat that boosts your spiritual diet!"
- Lee Grady Director, The Mordecai Project and former Editor, Charisma Magazine
"Down-to-earth lessons in the reality of our lives, with desperately needed spiritual answers. They teach us how to apply the blood, cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ to transform us from weakness to strength, incapacity to capability, misery to blessedness."
John Sandford Co-Founder of Elijah House Ministries
"Journey to Freedom presents an amazing array of information that is at once biblical, practical and comprehensive. Discipleship is generally a lost art in the church today. So, to find a guide like this, covering the simplest truths of the faith to the deepest and most profound is like discovering buried treasure – simply outstanding!"
David Kyle Foster Director, Mastering Life Ministries, Franklin, TN and Producer of Pure Passion TV Channel
"What an incredible opportunity for the body of Christ to help people grow into strong, mature Christians. Simple, understandable and yet profound teaching that anyone interested in finding fullness in the Lord can easily access. The materials are presented in a practical way with opportunity for personal application. An incredible opportunity to learn the ways of the Lord."
Ruth Ruibal President, Julio C. Ruibal Ministries, Colombia
"Consecutive, practical Bible teaching in a straightforward and understandable way – pastoral in content and personal in application. It is designed to engage us where it finds us but not to leave us as we are. It will stimulate the mind; stir the emotions; strengthen the will; and nourish the spirit. My concern is not just to commend it to you, but to plead with you to take a look for yourself with a view to making a new discipleship commitment to our Lord Jesus."
Rev. Jim Graham Former Pastor of Gold Hill Baptist Church and Director of External Ministries.
"As I read through the teachings, I was drawn into the spiritual journey toward wholeness that is offered by Journey to Freedom. Peter Horrobin's insights into God's purpose in creating each of us are powerful and he is anointed with God's desire to call us to lives that are healed of sin and its consequences. I was reminded of the scripture 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect' (Romans 12:2)."
Rev. Peter Tsukahira Co-Founder and Director, Or Ha Carmel Ministry Centre, Haifa, Israel
Stage 1 – Living in God's Vision for My Life
1.1. First a Believer, then a Disciple
1.2. The Lesson of Love and Obedience
1.3. More on Gifts and Abilities
1.4. God's Orchard
1.1.Living in the Present
Stage 2 – Running the Race
2.1. Running the Race – in the Real World
2.2. Rest and Recreation
2.3. Eyes Fixed on Jesus
2.4. Keeping Fit
2.5. Moving into God's Plan for Your Future
Stage 3 – Finishing Well. 129
3.1. Keep Your Life Pure
3.2. Don't Deviate from the Path
3.3. Guard What You Believe
3.4. Perseverance, Opposition and Endurance
3.5. Finishers – Not Starters Only
Stage 4 – Destined for Glory
4.1. My Kingdom is not of this World
4.2. Journey's End
4.3. From Death to Life
4.4. The Crown of Life
4.5. Destination Reached – Back to Earth
Stage 5 – Epilogue
View From a Distant Hill


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COLORS has tremendous respect for all communities including the Sikh community and we would never do anything to hurt or disrespect the sentiments or religious feelings of any community. In fact the producer of the show is a Sikh herself and even has a niece named Gurbani. Being from the Sikh community she has tremendous respect for her own religion. Gurbani, the name of the lead protagonist symbolizes everything that is pure, cultural and spiritual about Punjab. Our protagonist is a girl who lives for everyone but herself. She is pure, kind hearted and God fearing. She is, in fact, the kind of girl who will be an inspiration to all. It is through her that we showcase purity, sacrifice and love, love for family and mankind.
The primary reason for naming her 'Gurbani' is because she is the kind of person who will make every Punjabi proud. Whatever life's throws at her, she tackles that with humility, positivity and dignity. As the story progresses she takes on every situation that comes in her life and the lives of people around her and brings happiness to everyone in her life.
This is a show about real people with real values and emotions. Every character is inspiring and positive, including the mother with the NRI dream, her stance is also justified. We only highlight that her way to achieve her dream for her daughter may not be right. Overall this show is about Punjab that depicts the state as a place where everyone would want to stay, depicts the kind of people that everyone would inspire to be and depicts a community that exemplifies, love, humanity and values.
Over the last month, our team has travelled extensively for promotional activities in Amritsar and Delhi with the cast and crew of Gurbani. No one has raised any objections to the show name. Infact we held press conferences in both the cities and the media including the Punjabi press reacted very positively to the show, which can be seen in the positive coverage the show has received.
The show promotions also have been on air for almost a month and till a few days back nobody raised any objections. With utmost respect and humility we request the complainants to view Gurbani as merely a name and in context of a fiction show that endeavors to bring a social issue to the fore. However to respect the sentiments of the people, we have decided to change the name of the show to Bani-Ishq Da Kalma. The rest of the aspects of the show, like the concept, the talented actors and the fresh storyline remains the same. And we hope that the viewers will warmly accept Bani into their lives.


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SOCHI, Russia – Ukraine will compete in the Winter Paralympics in Sochi despite Russia's military moves in Crimea.
The Ukrainian Paralympic Committee decided against boycotting the games, announcing a few hours before Friday's opening ceremony that its athletes would stay.
The decision came after discussions between Ukrainian officials and athletes over whether to pull out in light of the crisis back home and Russia's military takeover of the Crimean peninsula.
"We are staying at the Paralympics," Valeriy Sushkevich, president of the National Paralympic Committee ofUkraine, said at a news conference.
However, he added that the circumstances were far from ideal.
"I don't remember a situation when the organizing country during a Paralympics started an intervention on the territory of a country taking part," Sushkevich said, according to the R-Sport agency. "I don't know what to extent the team can focus on the result now."
The Ukrainian official said the team would leave Sochi if there is any escalation of military conflict.
"I declare should this happen we will leave the games," Sushkevich said. "We cannot possibly stay here in this case."
He said he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night to discuss the situation and request peace during the games.
Suskevich said he did not receive any guarantees but it was important that Putin agreed to listen.
Putin and IOC President Thomas Bach are expected to attend Friday's opening ceremony. Several countries have decided not to send political leaders or dignitaries to the ceremony in protest of Russia's actions inUkraine.
Ukraine's decision to compete in Sochi was welcomed by the International Paralympic Committee.
"We want sport to prevail and a full complement of teams to compete in what we are confident will be a fantastic Paralympic Winter Games," IPC President Phillip Craven said.
"All week the IPC has been working closely with the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee in an effort to keep them here in Sochi. The talking point of Sochi 2014 needs to be great sport and great athletes, not global politics."
The IPC has appealed for Russia to recognize the U.N.'s Olympic Truce, which asks warring parties to cease hostilities during the Olympics and Paralympics.
About 575 athletes from 45 countries are due to compete in the 10-day Paralympics. Five sports are on the program — alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, sledge hockey and wheelchair curling.
Ukraine has entered 23 athletes for the Sochi Paralympics. It finished fifth in the medals table at the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver in 2010, with a total of 19 medals and five gold.
Ukrainian athletes chanted "peace to Ukraine" as they apparently walked out of a flag-raising ceremony in Sochi on Thursday night. That is now under investigation by the IPC as a possible breach of rules banning political protests.
"What we're trying to do is gather the evidence, gather the transcripts and then we will see if any steps are necessary," IPC spokesman Craig Spence said. "If there was a political protest, obviously we'd be disappointed by that because we have said all week that this is about sport, not politics."


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Facebook introduces 'Graphic Search'
Tons of people love Facebook, but most will agree that the search function sucks. It's pretty surprising that new developments have taken so long for Facebook in this area, but today's big announcement reveals a pretty impressive evolution in the whole search concept.
Graph Search, which is initially launching as a beta product for U.S. audiences only, will allow users to uncover social connections between other members of the site and quickly identify which friends have been to certain places, "liked" specific topics or appeared in certain photos.
Friends, places, interests and photos will be the foundation for queries when the search engine launches, Facebook said. For example, Facebook explained how Graph Search could be used to find "My friends who live in Palo Alto who like Game of Thrones," "Indian restaurants liked by my friends from India" or "Photos of my friends taken in Paris." Singles looking to meet people could search "Friends of friends who are single men in San Francisco." Someone trying to remember a person she'd met at a friend's party evening before could query, "People named Drew who are friends of Peter and went to Harvard."
We'll see if the actual service lives up to the hype, but the potential seems significant.


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Farel Hruska
With nearly 20 years' experience as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and educator, Farel Hruska has been with FIT4MOM since March 2002. Joining founder Lisa Druxman shortly following the launch of Stroller Strides® - the first FIT4MOM program - Hruska has become the Global Fitness Director. Hruska manages all fitness-related programs and initiatives for FIT4MOM, supporting thousands of instructors and franchisees nationwide in addition to supervising Instructor Certifications through the FIT4MOM Academy program for Stroller Strides, Fit4Baby®, Stroller Barre® and Body Back®. Hruska is also an international presenter and educator at numerous fitness conferences including EMPOWER, FitFest, SCW, Asia Fitness Conference (Bangkok), MEFIT PRO (Dubai), Fitness Festival (China) and IDEA WORLD & PTI numerous times, covering the topic of pre- and post-natal fitness as well as, overall fitness education. Having been a regular contributor to Active.com for her expertise on moms returning to running or starting for the first time after having a baby, Hruska has been featured by numerous press outlets for her fitness expertise, including The New York Times, WebMD, Women's Running Magazine, SheKnows.com, Pregnancy.com, Shape.com and many more. Hruska is an approved Continuing Education Provider for ACE and AFAA. Hruska graduated from Pepperdine University and is the mother of three daughters.


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It Was 'Smart Money' That Got Burnt In $FB IPO
There's a lot of anger around the botched IPO of Facebook but much of that is from the "smart money" that wasn't able to convince retail investors, the regular people who invest in stocks, to take their shares.
The point of a "pop" in an IPO is to provide an incentive for retail investors to acquire the risk -- the shares from investors and insiders -- and then to continue holding that stock and limit volatility.
But the smart money had already decided what the stock was valued at because of trading activity in secondary markets, which was in a range of $38 to $42 and only wanted to price a 10% pop, which is why the $38 price was chosen. That's not much of an incentive to take on a very risky investment.
The fact that retail investors disagreed with the valuation and largely stayed away is a very good sign because it shows that they are far more sophisticated than the Wall Street bankers and their clients.
So let's not shed tears for the "smart money" they were the ones that literally bought the hype about Facebook's future prospects. The SEC isn't going to help them because they are considered to be sophisticated investors that know the risks.
The good news is that few small investors bought shares; the bad news is that few small investors bought shares.
This means that the smart money, in its zeal to leave as little money on the table in the IPO (it's called fair pricing), has messed things up for future tech IPOs and prospects for getting their money out of their other positions. Greed has its consequences.
The Facebook fiasco also puts the spotlight on secondary markets and the role they play in helping private companies raise capital and for early investors to find an exit.
It should be good news for private stock markets such as Sharespost and Second Market because tech IPOs will be cutback leaving these markets in a great position as the only alternative to being acquired.
The problem for the smart money is that these private markets have little liquidity and share prices are far more susceptible to hype and manipulation than in public markets. It could quickly become be a dumb investment.


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Last week's Green Lantern Corps #8, written Pete Tomasi and illustrated by Fernando Pasarin and Scott Hanna, featured an interesting discussion among the Alpha Lanterns regarding what to do about John Stewart in light of his killings of a fellow Green Lantern who seemed close to revealing Corps secrets under torture by the Keepers.
This exchange raises terrific questions about the nature of criminal justice as well as the role of the Alpha Lanterns in particular. From Boodikka's comment that "our duty is to be impartial and render justice," it sounds like the Alphas are more than just police. As usually understood, police do not "render justice" but merely play a role in it by investigating and apprehending suspects--an important role, of course, but not quite "rendering justice." So let's assume Boodikka was getting ahead of herself, and continue to understand the Alphas as the internal affairs division of the Corps.
The more interesting issue here is about the proper role of incidental consequences to the execution of justice, even at the level of arrest and arraignment. There seems to be no question among the Alphas regarding what Stewart did; the only question is whether to arrest him for it (and presumably transmit him to the Guardians for "trial," as they did with Laira before the relaunch). Boodikka and Relok Hag take the position that they must arrest Stewart no matter what the consequences, especially those due to "emotion," in order to serve justice. Green Man and Varix, on the other hand, urge consideration of the broader consequences, particularly those that impact their ability to enforce justice in the future.
The first position has clear appeal: the Alphas have good reason to believe John Stewart committed a crime against the Corps, and he should be brought in for future questioning. Arresting him should imply nothing about his guilt (though the Alphas have grounds for reasonable suspicion), and the Guardians will pronounce judgment at trial. But the second position is more inclusive: it doesn't deny the importance of arresting suspected wrongdoers, but it admits other factors relevant to the decision whether and how to do it. Stewart is a leader in the Corps, widely admired and respected by his fellow Lanterns as a pillor of honor. Bursting into a crowded room to arrest Stewart (as they do at the end of the issue) is an extremely bold show of force, especially toward someone like Stewart who would likely submit himself willingly for trial. John's popularity, the moral ambiguity of his actions, and the Alphas' brashness in response make it likely that the Green Man's prediction of divisiveness will come true, and as Varix said, "the ability to enforce justice will be severely put to" the test.
Green Man and Varix are not suggesting that they don't arrest John at all, but merely that they do so in a way that preserves the Alpha's authority and whatever respect the rest of the Corps has for them. By following Boodikka and Relok Hag's hardline position (especially in the way in which they did it), the Alphas will compromise their own standing and make the pursuit of justice more difficult in the future. In other words, justice viciously served is self-defeating. Once the arrest decision is made, the Alphas should consider how best to take John into custody to make sure that they are seen as fair and--yes, Boodikka--impartial in their "rendering" of justice. This is not a compromise in the pursuit of justice, but a way to make the pursuit of justice better. Arresting John the right way will serve justice in this particular case and ensure that they will enjoy the respect and authority necessary to continue to serve justice in the future.
But what if Green Man and Varix had been suggesting that they not arrest John at all (at least not until the Guardians ordered them to)? Do the Alphas have that kind of discretion? In a sense they must--as far as we know, there have only ever been five of them at any given time! Unless the 7200 rank-and-file Lanterns are extremely well-behaved (or the potential violations that would attract the Alphas' attention are very few), the Alphas can't possibly investigate and apprehend every wrongdoer among the Corps.
In the real world on Earth, police have tremendous discretion over which crimes to address, especially regarding misdemeanors like traffic violations and littering. Even in areas with a lot of officers per capita or square mile, they can't possibly go after every wrongdoer they see, and so they must use their judgment regarding which ones are most important to spend their time and resources investigating. Of course, people who double-park are one thing, but we wouldn't like to think of police letting murderers get away. Prosecutors, however, can certainly decide to drop a case against a suspected murderer if they think their limited resources can be better used somewhere else, either because of a weak case or even community pressure (though this is obviously a dangerous and inadvisable road to take). This is a tremendous amount of power, of course, and we trust our prosecutors to use it wisely and sparingly, but given the scarcity of their resources, they cannot possible prosecute every crime that comes across their desks, and must own judgment in choosing amongst them.
The idea that the Alpha Lanterns "embody the independent thought process of a Green Lantern along with the efficient logic of the Manhunters" is extremely intriguing one to a philosopher, especially one who has interests in rationality and judgment. This issue was the first of the "Alpha War" arc, so let's hope there is more to talk about in future installments.
For more on justice and scarcity, see Michael Cahill paper's "Real World Retributivism" (Washington University Law Review 85, 2007, pp. 815-870), and my paper "Retributivism in a World of Scarcity" (from Theoretical Foundations of Law and Economics, edited by Mark D. White, Cambridge University Press, 2009, pp. 253-271). The Alpha Lanterns and the trial of Laira are discussed in two chapters in Green Lantern and Philosophy (edited by Jane Dryden and Mark D. White, Wiley, 2011): Andrew Terjesen's "Will They Let Just Anybody Join?: Testing for Moral Judgment in the Green Lantern Corps" (pp. 53-68) and my "Crying for Justice: Retributivism for Those Who Worship Evil's Might" (pp. 162-174).


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Item #: SCP-033
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-033 should be inscribed on any single sheet of irregularly-shaped and hand-crafted paper, papyrus, canvas or vellum when not involved in active observation or study. The dimensions of the paper-like product should have no parallel borders, no right angles, and no side's length should be equal to any other (033-Safe dimensions). When contained in this manner, the paper-like product should be secured in a locked non-combination storage vault at least 30 meters from any computing or recording device. Logs for check-out or check-in of SCP-033 should be filled out at the minimum safe distance of 30 meters to avoid possible contamination of the paper product or electronic device the log is kept in.
When removed for study, SCP-033 can be copied to a white/chalkboard with 033-Safe dimensions by Class D staff. Upon transfer to the white/chalkboard, the paper-like product that had contained SCP-033 should be incinerated. Observation and study should take place in a secured conference room at least 30 meters from any computing or recording device for the maximum 2560 second viewing window. All observations or notes should be made on 033-Safe materials. Under no circumstances should any notes regarding SCP-033 leave the storage facility or be input into a computing or recording device.
At precisely 2000 seconds of viewing, research must stop and SCP-033 should be transferred to a new 033-Safe paper-like product and returned to storage by Class D staff. The white/chalkboard utilized in research must be incinerated as soon as possible after the transfer is complete, regardless of whether SCP-033 has faded "naturally" from its surface at 2560 seconds.
Whether 033-Safe procedures halt or merely slow the deleterious effects of SCP-033 is unknown. It is theorized the irregular borders and hand-crafting by mathematically unpredictable humans somehow disrupt the logic which allows SCP-033 to function.
Description: SCP-033 appears as a field of complex mathematical symbols ranging from simple layman-identifiable representations to those only interpretable by highly-trained mathematicians. The "sum" of the symbols is equal to a previously unknown integer (designated Theta Prime by Prof. Hutchinson) of intermediate value between █ and █.
As all modern mathematical calculations are performed lacking the knowledge or use of SCP-033, its introduction into any system organized without it begins eroding the numerical and eventually structural integrity of said system. This effect extends to SCP-033's transfer to any paper-like (defined as paper, vellum, papyrus, canvas) surface not possessing 033-Safe dimensions or any computing or recording device it is input into. If inscribed on any other material, SCP-033 fades into unintelligibility in precisely 2560 seconds. In addition, SCP-033 has shown an ability to "leap" from an 033-Safe material to a manufactured or electronic material which it can destabilize in at least one (1) instance (Incident report 033-D), requiring the institution of a 30 meter safe distance for electronic devices and paper-like products without 033-Safe dimensions.
There is currently no 033-Safe specification for electronic storage. █ of the ██ operational research projects involving SCP-033 are dedicated to finding such a method for electronic storage. ██ operational research projects are dedicated to the application of SCP-033 as a neutralizing factor for potentially hostile, machine logic-based SCP objects. Clarifying commentary from Prof. Hutchinson follows for non-specialist staff in document 033-A. Effects may be reviewed in document 033-Q.
Document 033-A: Debriefing of Prof. Hutchinson after first observation.
[Transcript edited for clarity]
Prof. Hutchinson : Every school child knows that 2 plus 2 is 4. The solid mathematical certainty of numerical order and value is the basis for all logic-based systems. We know that after 2 comes 3 and after 3 comes 4. What this formula proves is that we missed a number somewhere. Imagine if all our technology was based on the belief that after 4 came 6. We simply didn't know or conceive of 5. That is, in essence, what this formula proves—we missed a number.
Prof. Hutchinson : I can't tell you why the hand-crafted vellum works best. I can only surmise that it displaces mathematical predictability in two ways. One, the irregularity of the crafting process due to human error serves to eliminate any traces of regularity that would be found in a machine-created product. Two, the irregular borders seem to confuse it somehow, as if it gets locked up looking for a pattern to identify and use as an escape hatch. I'll tell you this, though, I don't think it should be left on anything longer than a few days. It will find a pattern eventually.
Prof. Hutchinson : I don't think it "destroys" anything. I think it tries integrating itself into our system and our system can't hold it. It's like trying to cram another book into a full bookshelf. If you get a hammer, you can get it in there, but the whole shelf bursts eventually. If it gets out into the internet, we will potentially experience a full IT infrastructure collapse within hours.
Document 033-Q: Test results, Trial 033-Delta 5.
SCP-033 inscribed onto a single sheet of standard eight point five (8.5) by eleven (11) inch manufactured white copy paper (hereafter X1). A second sheet of identical paper (hereafter X2) placed 30 centimeters away.
80 seconds: Symbols consistent with the content of SCP-033 begin appearing on X2. X1 unchanged.
160 seconds: Full content of SCP-033's formulae appear on the surface of X2. X1 unchanged.
320 seconds: X1, X2 both appear wet. Symbols still visible.
640 seconds: X1 is now roughly one (1) part (apparently) water and five (5) parts pulp-like substance, still filling an eight point five (8.5) by eleven (11) inch flat plane. Symbols become unintelligible. X2 still appears wet, symbols visible.
1280 seconds: X1 no longer visible at all. Liquid part appears to have evaporated, pulp-like substance apparently sublimated. X2 now roughly one (1) part liquid and five (5) parts pulp-like substance, still filling an eight point five (8.5) by eleven (11) inch flat plane. Symbols unintelligible.
2560 seconds: X2 no longer visible at all. Liquid part appears to have evaporated, pulp-like substance apparently sublimated.


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BillboardIn its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends. |
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album American Angeles Antonio Carlos Jobim April ASCAP awarded Ball Gum Bally Billboard British bulk vending Capitol capsule Celler cent Chad & Jeremy Chicago City coin machine Columbia Columbia Records Composers concert Copyright Country and Western Country Music dance Decca deejay Dick director Discotheque disk jockey distributor Duchess Music Epic Festival film Flip gospel music Grammy Hall Hirt industry jazz Jimmy Jordanaires juke box label last week locations London LP's manager Manufacturers MARY POPPINS Maslan ment Music Corp operators Orch Orchestra ords performance phonograph play president Price promotion Publisher Quartet radio RCA Victor record release Rock-Ola Roger Miller scheduled score Seeburg sell Sherman-Clay singer singing single Skaff songs SPECIAL MERIT star station stereo Symphony tape tion vendor vocal Wurlitzer York


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Viewers look to TV characters for clues on talking about sexual health
"What would Samantha and Miranda do?" That's what viewers of the past HBO series 'Sex and the City' may ask themselves when faced with the prospect of uncomfortable discussions about sexual health with partners, friends and doctors.
Researchers found that college students were more than twice as likely to talk about sexual health issues with their partners after watching a Sex and the City episode featuring the characters Samantha and Miranda having similar conversations, compared to students who saw different episodes.
"One of the powerful things about entertainment programming is that it can get people talking about important issues that they might not otherwise talk about," said Emily Moyer-Gusé, assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University and lead author of the study.
But the key is that the TV show can't just raise the topic of sexual health – the characters in the TV show have to be shown having frank discussions with their friends, partners and doctors.
"Viewers will model their behavior after the TV characters, and have these conversations in their own lives," she said.
Moyer-Gusé conducted the research with Adrienne Chung and Parul Jain, both graduate students at Ohio State. The study appears in the June 2011 issue of the Journal of Communication.
The study involved 243 college students with an average age of about 20. They were shown one of three versions of an episode from 'Sex and the City', all of which were edited for purposes of the study.
In one version, Samantha and Miranda have discussions with friends, doctors and sexual partners related to the sexually transmitted diseases chlamydia and HIV.
Other participants saw a version of the same episode that included content about HIV and chlamydia, but did not include any scenes in which the characters extensively discussed with others their issues with these diseases.
A third group of participants saw a completely different episode of 'Sex and the City' with no relation to sexual diseases.
Immediately after viewing the program, participants completed a questionnaire assessing their reaction to the program, and a range of other questions about their identification with the characters and their thoughts and plans concerning talking about sexually transmitted diseases.
Two weeks later, all participants completed an online questionnaire concerning whether they had talked to others about sexual health issues.
The results suggested that many people may be more likely to discuss sexual health issues with others when they see favourite characters on TV do the same, Moyer-Gusé said.
Almost half (46 percent) of the participants who saw the 'Sex and the City' characters discuss sexual health issues ended up talking to their romantic partner about the subject in the following two weeks.
In contrast, only 21 percent who saw the similar episode about sexual health issues, but with no character discussions, ended up talking about the issues with their romantic partner. (About 15 percent of those who watched the unrelated episode had such discussions with their partner.)
"That's a pretty substantial behavioral effect after watching just one episode of a TV show," Moyer-Gusé said.
"When participants saw the characters demonstrate the confidence and ability to successfully navigate these tricky conversations, it gave them a social script to follow in their own lives. They felt they had the ability to bring up these difficult issues."
One key, though, was that the viewers had to identify with the 'Sex and the City' characters in order for the episode to affect their behaviour, the study showed.
In other words, viewers had to feel the emotions the characters were experiencing and feel like they knew what they were going through.
After watching the episode, viewers who identified with the characters reported that they felt more confident that they could discuss sexually transmitted diseases with their partner, friends and health care providers, Moyer-Gusé said.
They were also less likely to find flaws in how information was presented in the 'Sex and the City' episode or feel like "arguing back" with what was going on onscreen.
"Those who identified with the characters were less likely to find faults with the story and were more likely to feel like they could talk about their sexual history, just like they saw on the program," she said.
Another interesting finding was that, immediately after viewing the show, even those who saw the episode in which the characters discussed sexual health were not more likely than others to say they would discuss these issues with partners, friends or doctors.
"It took a while for the program to really have an effect. They may not have thought that watching the episode affected them, but in the end it did change their behaviour," she said.
The results of the study applied to both men and women who watched the program.
"While women probably watch 'Sex and the City' more often than do men, it didn't seem to bother the men in our study to watch the episode," she said. "They had reactions that were very similar to what we found in women viewers."
(Source: The Ohio State University: Journal of Communication)
More information
For more information on different types of sexually transmitted infections, prevention of STIs, treatments and effects on fertility, see Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). |
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Solid sterling silver letter "D" pendant accented with 24K gold vermeil.
Two Sizes Available
Standard Pendant: 16mm (height) on an 18" sterling silver wheat chain
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Corsiva jewelry is made on-demand, by skilled artisans.
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© David Atlas/Retna Ltd./Corbis
Mike Portnoy has announced he is leaving Dream Theater. The drummer revealed the news through a lengthy statement released this morning.
Portnoy, who is currently touring with Avenged Sevenfold, said that this was a decision that he had "struggled with for the last year or so".
He continued: "I've come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired.
"We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a 'hiatus' to recharge our batteries and "save me from ourselves.
"Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather...I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be."
You can read the full statement over at the Roadrunner website. For more from Portnoy pick up the latest issue of Rhythm.


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You're reading an outdated article. Please go to the recent issues to find up-to-date content.
According to the Los Angeles Times, methamphetamine addiction and rapid growth in China are two of the main reasons behind a recent upsurge in copper thefts nationwide.
Police say thieves, most of them addicts, are getting increasingly brash in their thefts, now stealing anything they can get their hands on, including fire hydrants, buried phone cables, the wire used in power-generating windmills, telephone wires and spools of copper weighing up to 1,000 pounds. The booty is typically sold at recycling plants and from there shipped within a day to China.
"The thieves are getting more sophisticated," said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez, a spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department in California. "We had some come out from Walnut to strip wire from windmills in the desert. They are driving around in white vans so people think they are workers."
Thieves are even cutting down telephone poles with chain saws to reach wires, Gutierrez said. "The one common denominator we have noticed is that they are meth users. ... They are awake at all times, walking around like zombies."


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This cool cube ottoman features a rustic-meets-refined farmhouse stripe. From our High Performance upholstery line the simple pattern, in versatile tones, is elevated with a patchwork design that makes this pieces an easy choice for any space in your home.
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New Cover Only Option! Now you can mix and match to your heart's desire! Already have a Tonic Living foam ottoman in this exact shape and dimension and want to switch out the cover? Just buy the Cover Only option so you can easily change the look as the seasons change. Please note foam is not sold separately.
- Size: 16.75"w x 16.75"d x 16.5"h (finished dimensions)
- Fabric: Rodin Stripe, Natural 100% olefin
- Insert is made with a soy-blend, high density foam. Our foam is made from a sustainable polyurethane and natural soybean based oil that ultimately helps to lessen greenhouse gasemissions.
- Constructed with a hidden YKK zipper to make the cover removable.
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- Care Instructions: Spot clean with soap and water. No ironing or hot dryer—this fabric does not like heat. For tougher stains spot clean with ordinary bleach and water (1:1 ratio), scrub gently to prevent "fuzzing," lay flat and let air dry. Drycleaning is NOT recommended; high-performance fabrics can be damaged bysolvents used in the dry cleaning process.
- More Info: Our High Performance fabric collection is a remarkably durable, stain resistant line that allows life to happen around you without the anxiety of stains resulting from a good time. Olefin is inherently stain resistant and does not absorb water, it is not treated with any additional stain resistant coatings or finishes.
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