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There are a variety of ways in which a blog can have an impact on the lives of others. If you want to influence others, then blogging might be just what you are looking for. Discover some basics on how to blog successfully by reading the information in the following article.
Check to be certain you have not overused keywords, Adsense postings, images or plug-ins. Doing this will raise a red flag on search engines and cancel out your hard work. Write in a natural manner which is enjoyable to read.
Don't copy anything you see. Plagiarism is a sure way to ruin your reputation in a hurry in the blogging world. Don't worry about whether you are a good enough writer; if you write about subjects you love, readers will return to your blog again and again.
Blog about topics that people want to know about. Everyone does daily chores like vacuuming or washing dishes. It will be hard for readers to engage with such familiar, dull content unless you present it in a unique and novel way. Chose subject material that you feel confident readers will be interested in. After all, your ultimate goal with blogging is to get people to your website.
Keep your posts brief and to the point. Although you should give readers the details they are looking for, too much information can bore them. Blog readers do not want a post written in a Shakespeare manner, with unnecessary details. They are interested in the meat of your topic, not the seasoning!
This article has provided you with blogging information which will improve your blog, no matter what the reason for it's existence. Use the tips which fit your needs, and keep in mind that everything you publish online will be there for eternity, so watch what you say.Copyright 2016 , All rights Reserved.


text: Home > Business China's economic dilemma: Woes lie beyond its borders Reuters Posted at Sep 10 2012 09:32 AM | Updated as of Sep 10 2012 05:33 PM Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn BEIJING - China's August trade data is set to reveal an awkward truth. For all the strength and flexibility policymakers in the world's second-biggest economy have, the sector of activity they can do least about is causing them the biggest problem. August export growth is forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll to have been just 3 percent year on year, which would make it the weakest August since 2009 - near the depths of the global financial crisis and underlining President Hu Jintao's warning of the "grave challenges" posed by the world economy. The data is due on Monday. Such weak growth would be grim news in a country where exports generate 25 percent of gross domestic product, support an estimated 200 million jobs and where analysts already expect the economy to have its weakest year of expansion since 1999. Some economists fear the outlook is so poor that China may miss its official 7.5 percent growth target for 2012 without a fresh round of swift policy stimulus on top of the monetary and fiscal easing undertaken since last year and the $150 billion-worth of infrastructure projects announced last week. Those fears were amplified by data on Sunday showing industrial output growth hit its weakest annual pace in August in more than three years. The problem is that despite deep government pockets, record tax receipts, a budget in surplus in the first half of the year and monetary policy still on the tight side even with inflation near two-year lows, there is little policymakers in Beijing can do to stimulate demand beyond their borders. "Difficulties are increasingly emanating from the external sector," said Alistair Thornton, China economist with IHS Global Insight in Beijing. "More support measures, such as tax rebates, are in the pipeline for the exports sector, but they can simply aim to keep businesses afloat. They have little impact on aggregate demand." China's biggest customers are the debt-ridden, recession-bound European Union and the still struggling United States. Without a big boost in demand from those two economies, Beijing policymakers face an uphill battle. "China needs three engines (exports, investment and consumption) to drive growth and stabilising investment is very important. However, it is not the way out to focus only on government investment," Wu Xiaoling, a former vice governor of the central bank, told reporters at a forum in Beijing on Sunday. INVESTOR FOCUS SHIFTS The focus of investors has clearly shifted though to more aggressive efforts to stimulate domestic activity to compensate for declining external demand. They are worried that six successive quarters of slowing growth risk sliding into a seventh in the third quarter despite the "fine-tuning" of economic policies which began in November 2011. Two interest rate cuts, the freeing of an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan ($190 billion) for new lending by cutting required reserve ratios (RRR) at banks and a raft of tax tweaks have so far failed to halt the slide. Instead China's factories are running at their slowest rate of expansion since May 2009, data on Sunday showed. Industrial output growth in August eased to 8.9 percent year on year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Sunday. Surveys of purchasing managers in the manufacturing sector earlier this month showed concerns growing about new business, suggesting that factories will run inventories down further before they begin to turn production up again. Those data points, together with statistics showing that annual inflation was 2 percent in August - well below the government's 4 percent target for the year - suggest to Zhang Zhiwei, chief China economist at Nomura in Hong Kong, that Beijing will take more policy steps to boost growth. "Leading indicators suggest both property and infrastructure investment will likely pick up in coming months. This reinforces our view that total investment growth will pick up soon and GDP growth will rebound above 8 percent in Q4," Zhang said. A surge in new project investment in August back his view. Zhang says the annual rate growth was 33 percent in August versus 25 percent in July and he expects it to top 40 percent in coming months as China approves more infrastructure spending. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENT China's growth is clearly being supported by fixed asset investment and a double-digit rise in Sunday's data underlined that fact. Fixed asset investment, which accounted for half of China's net economic growth in the first-half of 2012, grew 20.2 percent between January and August compared to the year earlier period. That was a touch below expectations for a 20.4 percent expansion but was stronger than other indicators. Officials last week revealed they had given the green light to 60 infrastructure projects worth more than $150 billion, as Beijing seeks to energise the economy. The announcement fuelled investor hopes the world's growth engine may get a lift in the fourth quarter of the year and beyond. The approvals are roughly a quarter of the total size of the massive stimulus package unleashed in response to the global financial crisis in 2008. Fixed asset investment contributed 3.9 percentage points to China's 7.6 percent second-quarter growth. Chinese leader Hu urged Asia-Pacific nations on Saturday to speed up infrastructure development to help face the "grave challenges" from the global economy. A political imperative is also at play, given the upcoming once-a-decade handover of power at the top of China's Communist Party leadership. Expected later in the autumn, the showcase event is supposed to take place against a backdrop of economic prosperity and stability. "Putting together economic fundamentals and timing of major political events, we reckon there will be a second round of policy easing including RRR cuts and some fiscal stimulus," economists at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch wrote in a note to clients after Sunday's data. "Adding home supply and improving urban infrastructure are the two best ways to contain home prices, speed up urbanisation and increase social welfare," they added. Qiu Xiaohua, former head of the National Bureau of Statistics and now a senior researcher with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), told a forum in the city of Xiamen on Sunday that the government still had room to act to bolster growth - and urged it to do so. "I think the government should accelerate the pace and further increase the strength of policy fine-tuning to give a lift to the economy," Qiu said, adding that he expected third-quarter growth to slow to 7.4 percent or less. Share Facebook Share on Twitter LinkedIn Business,Top Stories,china,Chinese economy Read More: china Chinese economy

subset: commoncrawl


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Are you in need of a contribution for Thanksgiving dinner with bae's family? Maybe you're hosting this year? Or maybe, you're taking something to the office potluck? Whatever your current situation, I've got you covered with this little roundup of side dishes! Each one is easy to make, visually impressive, and, most importantly, will pass the taste test! Some of these dishes are new but each one has been road-tested by me at various functions and even plain ol' weeknight dinners. These are perfect to take to someone else's Turkey Day dinner because they don't infringe on the staples like dressing, sweet potatoes, greens, etc. that the host would have already made themselves. (Bringing the greens without being asked is equivalent to fighting words, by the way.) I do #Friendsgiving and #Phamsgiving dinners with friends each year and these sides are good for those events, too. Because the dinners are a bit non-traditional in themselves, you get to mix classic dishes with some that are more modern or tied to a specific culture and blend them all together with good company…and a little Hennessy, if you're like my friends. 🙂 If you are looking to make something more traditional, go with the mashed potatoes or root veggies and if you want to do something a little different go with the ginger curry carrots (my fave!) or zesty lemon squash will work. Each of these dishes has a unique flavor profile and the textures range from crisp (brussels sprouts) to creamy (mashed potatoes). Just click on any of the links below for the full, printable recipe for the corresponding dish. If you're looking for dessert ideas, check out this desserts roundup.
Traditional Sides
- Bacon Mac & Cheese
- Candied Sweet Potatoes (slow cooker, GF, vegetarian)
- Crispy Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts (vegan, GF, paleo)
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Root Veggies (vegan, GF, paleo)
- Rosemary Parm Roasted Potatoes (vegetarian)
Something a Little Different
- Balsamic Brussels with Bacon & Brie (keto)
- Brown Butter & Roasted Garlic Mac & Cheese
- Roasted Ginger Curry Carrots (vegan, GF, paleo)
- Garlicky Green Beans (vegan, GF, paleo)
- Lemon Alfredo Roasted Cauliflower (vegetarian)
- Spicy Honey Roasted Brussels (GF, vegetarian, paleo)
- Massaged Kale Salad (vegetarian)
- Zesty Lemon Squash (vegan, GF, paleo)
- Jollof Rice
- Dodo (vegan, GF)
- Champagne & Greens Salad (vegetarian)
Are you taking a dish to the table this year or maybe doing the hosting? Let me know below in the comments section.Wishing y'all a happy and yummy Thanksgiving and, as always, thanks for reading!


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Points vs. Performance Leaderboards
Our points leaderboard has been put in place to allow you to CUMULATIVELY track your athletes as they complete assignments. You are able to allocate a point value to each activity in order to track your athletes' as completed. Use the points leaderboard to view progress and see which athletes are putting in extra work for your team.
Use the performance leaderboard as a tool to drive inter-team competition. Athletes are able to record their results, and see where they rank for SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES on your team in real time. From a heavy bench-press to timed sprints on the hardwood, MaxOne's performance leaderboard has you covered.


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Having first tried Wheelchair Basketball at the age of 13, Louise found herself hooked on the fast paced game and joined a London Wheelchair Basketball team shortly after.
After many years playing in the National League, Louise was invited to a Great Britain training session and although she was unsuccessful in getting into the squad for the 2002 World Championships, she came back and got her first international experience at the Europeans in 2003 where the team qualified for Athens Paralympics 2004. Her commitment and dedication to the Great Britain team saw her attend every major competition between 2005 – 2014.
Major accomplishments include 5 bronze medals from 6 European Championships, Gold at the 2011 Paralympic World Cup and competing at Beijing and London Paralympic games.
Louise has also had the honour of meeting HRH Queen Elizabeth II and visiting Downing street as well as meeting many celebrities. Photos of some of these events can be found in the gallery.
Having officially retired from Wheelchair Basketball in 2017, Louise has recently discovered a new passion in Para-Powerlifting and is enjoying being involved in elite level sport again and the challenges it presents. Her continued Paralympic journey can be followed on twitter, as well as in blog updates on the website.
Using the navigation bar at the top of this page you can find out more about Louise and other areas of interest, including having her visit your school or workplace.


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A Georgia high school baseball player is being praised for an amazing display of sportsmanship during a game last month.
Jo Vaal Hollingshed is a senior at Henry County High School and on March 29, his team took on the Eastside High School Eagles out of Newton County.
It was an emotional game at home for Eastside because just one week before, the father of pitcher Michael Hipps Jr. suffered a medical emergency during a home game and passed away as a result. It was the first game back for Hipps since his dad's death.
The Eagles released balloons in honor of the late Mr. Hipps before the game started. Then, the game got underway and Hollingshed was first at-bat.
Just before Hipps threw the first pitch of the game, Hollingshed stepped away from the plate, put his bat down on the ground and made his way toward the pitcher's mound.
"With compassion and a selfless spirit, the visiting team's player reached out to hug his opponent, shook his hand, and offered his condolences for the loss of his father. The two returned to their respective positions and the game commenced," Henry County Schools said in a news release.
And that's what it's all about. For all the asshole parents screaming at kids, for all the coaches losing their minds, and for all the blown calls by an umpire we counter it with a simple yet thoughtful gesture.
Nothing about what batter (Hollingsworth) did was difficult. He ran to the mound and offered his condolences, but it was probably very powerful for the pitcher (Hipps). A nice reminder that even the smallest gestures can have a huge impact.
And again….sports. They're the best for so many reasons.


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Earth Science, Aloe Vera Complexion Toner & Freshener, Alcohol Free, 8 fl oz (237ml)
Flash Deals are limited time, limited quantity promotions, so act fast! Limited to: 1 unit of 1 flash deal product per order. If you order more than one unit or re-order or order other flash deals, you will pay our regular low price. Flash Deals are ineligible from all other promotions.
Earth Science, Aloe Vera Complexion Toner & Freshener, Alcohol Free, 8 fl oz (237ml)
- Expiration Date: January 2024
Shipping Weight:?0.32 kgSwitch to Imperial unitsShipping WeightThe Shipping Weight includes the product, protective packaging material and the actual shipping box. In addition, the Shipping Weight may be adjusted for the Dimensional Weight (e.g. length, width & height) of a package. It is important to note that certain types of products (e.g. glass containers, liquids, fragile, refrigerated or ice packed) will often require protective packaging material. As such, these products will reflect a higher Shipping Weight compared to the unprotected product.
- Product Code: ERS-00069
- UPC Code: 054986000691
- Package Quantity: 8 fl oz
4.8 x 4.8 x 18.8 cm , 0.27 kgSwitch to Imperial units
Product Rank:
- Dry/Sensitive Skin
Aloe Vera Complexion Toner & Freshener
A unique alcohol-free toner that purifies the skin by removing dirt and makeup. This revitalizing, cooling freshener helps to tone and refresh the skin. It is non-drying, and actually helps to moisturize with the richness of Aloe Vera, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid and Sea Kelp. Prepares skin to receive a moisturizer. pH 5.5.
Suggested Use
After cleansing, or any time, saturate a cotton ball and gently wipe the face and neck area.
Avoid getting into eyes.
While iHerb strives to ensure the accuracy of its product images and information, some manufacturing changes to packaging and/or ingredients may be pending update on our site. Although items may occasionally ship with alternate packaging, freshness is always guaranteed. We recommend that you read labels, warnings and directions of all products before use and not rely solely on the information provided by iHerb.
Aqua, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, algae extract, panthenol, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, macrocystis pyrifera (kelp) extract, bixa orellana (annatto) extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower oil, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, retinyl palmitate, oleth-20, cellulose gum, pentetic acid, zinc sulfate, acetamide MEA, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol, fragrance (parfum).
Always paraben free, no animal ingredients or testing.


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Lady Gaga Hates Photoshop
Lady Gaga loves a bold statement, and the singer made several of them last night at Glamour 's Women of the Year Awards. From a double-take-inducing ensemble to an impassioned speech on the evils of Photoshop, Gaga took the event as an occasion to reiterate why, exactly, she loves to bend the confines of fashion, and in doing so, encouraged viewers to remember why imperfection is so darn important.
The performer arrived at the awards ceremony outfitted in a pearl-emblazoned Thom Browne skirt suit, white gloves and towering custom-designed platform sandals, but her hair and makeup was the real shocker of the look. With a teased, powdered, white-blond wig, white eyeliner, and lurid spots of blush on her cheeks, Gaga could easily have been mistaken for an extra in Amadeus. While onstage accepting her Woman of the Year award, Gaga said "I don't even look like this". We're glad she admitted it.
One of the stranger moments of Gaga's acceptance speech, however, was her decision to criticize Glamour for Photoshopping her December cover and the corresponding photo spread, reminding viewers that she values peculiarity over perfection. Gaga took the award ceremony as an opportunity to reiterate her famous "Born This Way" credo in reference to the December issue, saying "I do not look like this when I wake up in the morning." In addition to a seemingly slenderized nose and a more angular frame in the article's accompanying photos, Gaga said "I felt my skin looked too perfect. I felt my hair looked too soft."
Airbrushing is certainly a hot button issue for fashion publications and readers alike, and Gaga's statements are in keeping with her trailblazing, chameleon-like approach to fashion. To date, Gaga's most visually conventional beauty look appeared in her early work including music videos for 2008 dance hits "Poker Face" and "Just Dance", in which she dons a pin straight blond hairdo, heavy black eyeliner, and thick lashes. The look hearkens back to '90s pop princesses from Baby Spice to Britney Spears, whose appearances were meant to look sleek, perfect, and soft in an attempt to sell albums. Gaga's ode to the ordinary was short lived, and she returned to rejecting style standards at every possible opportunity.
After the The Fame achieved notoriety, Gaga immediately dove into more challenging material both musically and stylistically, including "Bad Romance" and "Telephone," and effectively ditched any associations she may have had to a traditional pop icon image. Gaga took the advent of fame to encourage her Little Monsters to both celebrate their innate beauty and express it, instead of viewing their individuality as a misfortune. Gaga has since run the gamut with her fashion choices, utilizing her stardom to experiment with avant-garde couture looks and technologically advanced designs. Recent winners include a mustache and fur coat ensemble in Berlin and a black, textured Philip Treacy hat which looks like it obstructs vision in addition to sunlight. From the looks of it, the only style statement Gaga isn't willing to embrace is conformity.
Gaga's problem with the Glamour cover, therefore, has less to do with conventional beauty and more to do with the fashion industry's means of imposing conformity. Gaga once again illuminates the disparity between magazines who claim to celebrate unique style, and their digital enhancement of even the most prolific tastemakers to fit an ideal of beauty. The one consistent message we can glean from Gaga's many manifestations is that style has no single definition, and as such, we should "fight back against the forces that say you have to be beautiful," especially when beautiful means erasing imperfections. Glamour's transgression, it seems, was attempting to refine the image of a woman who pledges allegiance to her outré and individualistic style, flaws and all.


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Feedback from our patients
Dickie Bird
DICKIE BIRDHaving played and umpired cricked for many years I sustained numerous injuries particularly to my neck and shoulders. I was suffering with neck pain that got progressively worse till it became a constant intense ache with sharp pains of 10/10 especially in the morning when I could not bear the terrible pain trying to get out of bed. My neck had become stiff and I could not turn my head for the pain. In March 2015 I saw Don Corlet at Wakefield Chiropractic Clinic. He treated my neck and I now am free of pain! In May 2015 I fell in the shower and hurt my lower back. Don treated my lower back and helped me recover. I see Don every couple months to keep my neck and lower back comfortable and I enjoy going!
Chris Kamara
CHRIS KAMARAAfter many years of both professional exercise and generally keeping fit, I have developed back problems which have caused me pain. Don, at Wakefield Chiropractic Clinic, has treated me for the past few years, and it is thanks to him that my pain is manageable and i can continue keeping fit, as I have done for all of my adult life. I would recommend a visit to Wakefield Chiropractic Clinic for anyone looking to relieve their pain and improve mobility - I am confident they can help!
I AM DRIVING AGAIN!I suffer from spondylosis and needed an operation for a replacement left shoulder, my right shoulder was also very painful, my surgeon said this would need to be replaced at a later date. Because of this I had been unable to drive for a few years. Following the operation for the left shoulder a friend recommended Don as he had helped her with a back problem. Now 3 years later, my right shoulder and neck have good movement and I am driving again. I can highly recommend him, he's changed my life. I now visit him every 2 months just to keep movement and because of Don I have not needed the right shoulder replacement.Margaret Fozzard
Valerie Youel
DON IS A LIFE SAVER"I have been seeing Don since 1997, as I had a very sore spine and could hardly walk. A friend of mine recommended Don, he really is a life saver. He worked miracles on my spine and keeps me mobile. My husband visits on occasion and he too is more than satisfied. I recommend Don to my family and friends.
William Armstrong
ROAD TO RECOVERY"I have known Don Corlet of Wakefield Chiropractic Clinic for well over 10 years and have always had the utmost faith in the treatment I receive from him. I have been known to hobble in to see him and then walk out which I find truly amazing. Since February 2013 I have visited a few times after injuring my back and I am now well on the road to recovery. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending him to anyone who suffers with back problems.
MUCH IMPROVEMENTDon Corlet has been treating me for chronic headaches for approx two months now and I am already much improved. I feel totally confident in his treatment and travel for an hour each way to my appointments which is testament in itself to my belief in his abilitiesGwyneth Whipp
John H
HUGE DIFFERENCE"I had suffered with a back problem for a number of years. A discussion with a friend in January 2012 resulted in me arranging a consultation with Don at Wakefield Chiropractic Clinic. After my initial consultation and subsequent visits for treatment I can't believe the results and huge difference in the way I feel, move, work and live. I am now virtually pain free and would say to anyone who is hesitating, "don't go on suffering and putting up with pain…..Wakefield Chiropractic Clinic really does work!


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And the Major Is...
I don't particularly like asking people for help. Whether it's due to my independent streak or my stubbornness, I'd much rather puzzle a problem out by myself. However, when I'm really in a bind or trying to make a hard decision, I might ask someone for advice. Even so, when I ask someone for advice, I tend to ignore it, no matter how good or bad it is, and then stew. As one might imagine, that isn't a great decision-making strategy, and yet I've finally (as of about two weeks ago) managed to make the biggest decision I've been faced with this past year. That's right, I've declared a major.
It's not as if I had no idea about what I wanted to major in at the beginning of the semester. I had already narrowed my choices down to English (likely with at least one minor in a foreign language) and comparative literature, but beyond that, I was crippled by indecision. In an attempt to remedy that, I attended the Majors Fair, where I was surprised to have several helpful conversations, the most relevant of which was with Jed Deppman, the chair of the comp lit program1, my Intro to Comp Lit professor, and an all-around brilliant man.
I told him that I was considering a comp lit major and he responded by asking me what I wanted to be able to do by the time I graduated from Oberlin. The first thing I told him was that I want to be fluent in two foreign languages, at which point he cut in and said that alone made me a classic comparative literature major. We continued talking for a while, I told him about my other interests, he told me about the comp lit major, but the most important thing I got out of our conversation was that question, what do you want to be able to do?
Now I don't want to give Professor Deppman too much credit, I've been told to ask myself this question many times. My dad, my former advisor, and Barbara have all told me to ask myself this question on several occasions (seriously the three of you should be friends) but for whatever reason, I actually followed the advice this time! That same night, I went back to my room and made a list. I determined that in addition to being able to communicate comfortably in two foreign languages, I want to be able to read literature critically and for pleasure, to write more clearly and eloquently, and to possess a broad base of knowledge rather than a very specific one by the time I graduate Oberlin. Perhaps more importantly than any of that, I realized that on graduation day I want to feel like I have the skills to do meaningful, creative, and original work after I leave Oberlin and to feel like I have already done some work that could reasonably have one of those adjectives in front of it.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that studying comparative literature (which the program website defines as "the study of literature, theory, and criticism across the boundaries of language, nation, culture, artistic medium, genre, and historical period") would give me the best chance of accomplishing at least some of those things. After that realization, all I had to do was choose an advisor (Shout-out to Ida and Professor Boos for the advice on this), get him and Professor Deppman to sign my declaration of major form, and turn it in to the registrar's office.
I know that declaring a major really isn't a big deal. I can change my mind about it a dozen times if I want to, but I think I've made the right decision, and that, my friends, is a beautiful thing. When I tell people about my newly-declared major, my enthusiasm is incredibly obvious. For the past two years, I've honestly dreaded telling people about my evolving academic plans (it turns out that people are really judgmental, who knew?), but now I relish the opportunity to tell anyone about my new course of study. Even now as I type this post more than two weeks after submitting my form, a huge, goofy grin is spreading across my face because even though I hardly know this discipline or even this particular program, both already feel like home.
I suppose that what comes next is the hard part. Figuring out the classes I need to take, deciding where to study abroad, actually completing my coursework and eventually my capstone project - all of that should probably stress me out more than getting a piece of paper signed did. It's going to be a lot of work, no doubt about it, but now that I know how many people are willing to help me out if I ask, I think it might not be so stressful after all.
Just remind me of that in a month or two when I'm freaking out again.
1Comparative literature isn't technically a department at Oberlin since the discipline is by nature interdisciplinary.
Responses to this Entry
Congratulations on declaring a major! Doesn't it feel nice? As someone who spent a fair amount of time agonizing over my decision to declare a major, I'm interested as to why you decided against the English major.
Posted by: Eleanor on January 4, 2013 9:32 PM
Yay! I'm happy for you Emily! Best of luck!
Posted by: Tim Gemesi on January 8, 2013 3:58 PM
The day I declared my cinema studies major, I decided to wear sparkly alien antennae for the rest of the day. I feel that it was a good life choice.
Congratulations on declaring!
Posted by: Ma'ayan on January 9, 2013 11:27 AM


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Prof Russell Foster, a neuroscientist from the University of Oxford, said lack of sleep is damaging the health of the nation, with too many early risers trying to function with brain skills so damaged they could be drunk.
The comments follow studies which suggest that working night shifts speeds up the ageing process, and is linked to increasing risks of cancer, heart disease and type two diabetes.
Prof Foster, director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, called for a change in attitudes towards getting an early night.
"There certainly is a culture of, well I only had five hours of sleep last night how fantastic am I?" he said. "In fact, we should be looking down on those sort of things – in the same way that we frown upon smoking I think we should start to frown upon not taking our sleep seriously."
Read the entire story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/11765723/Sleep-deprivation-as-bad-as-smoking.html


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Professional Community for Car Dealers, Marketing, Advertising and Sales Leaders
Here in Houston on the Gulf Coast, we get hurricanes every season except the last few. We helped with the New Orleans aftermath of Katrina in 2005, assisting the survivors and absorbing here tens of thousands of citizens who were displaced from there--and then just three weeks later, we performed the largest (3million +) evacuation in US history ahead of Hurricane Rita, which actually fizzled and turned north with little damage. The evacuation was poor, actually, and led to not only supreme changes for Houston in evacuation prep and paths, but also led to a model for the rest of the country.
For us in Houston, the most recent bad hurricane was Ike in 2008. It hit Galveston square on and traveled north right up the Gulf Freeway (I-45) through Houston and into Conroe and The Woodlands. Second most costly hurricane in US history.
Take care of yourselves, then, and I see from the news that many of you have apparently prepared well. If it hits your area like Katrina or Ike did on the Gulf, however, then you will be surprised at the steps you must take to be safe. Plan ahead, and don't stay near the water. If you want to know why, Google "Hurricane Ike Galveston Bolivar Peninsula" while you still have Internet connection. It's way too easy to underestimate such a storm, especially near the water.
And stay safe!
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The Daily Grind—Tuesday, February 1
Swedish pop diva Robyn is on fire—everything she's produced over the past year has been laced with a heavy dose of pure dance floor magic. Here, she teams up with two heavyweights off of Diplo's Mad Decent label, Savage Skulls & Douster, for an upbeat pop explosion. I'm lovin' the tropical house sound!
Savage Skulls & Douster feat. Robyn-Bad Gal by maddecent
About The Daily Grind
Check back regularly for The Daily Grind, in which San Francisco's very own DJ Grind shares the great music everyone else will be listening to tomorrow, as well as must-hear undiscovered music we all should have been listening to yesterday.
DJ Grind's January Podcast
Eighty minutes of awesome music! Get DJ Grind's January Podcast!
About DJ Grind
San Francisco-based DJ Grind is a lover of upbeat, hands-in-the-air tracks that bring joy to the dance floor. He delivers an energetic mix of vocal house, electro-pop, and mash-ups at his two residencies—Pledge @ LookOut and D-Lish @ Harlot—and he regularly books some of the Bay Area's biggest parties, including Fresh @ Ruby Skye. This February, DJ Grind will headline RSVP Vacations' 25th Anniversary Caribbean Cruise. Full bio.
Contact/Bookings: firstname.lastname@example.com
Find DJ Grind on Facebook


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This description is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Any changes made to the Wikipedia article will not be immediately reflected here.
1. Just Ain't No Love2. Little Green Apples3. Funky Is As Funky Does4. Love Makes A Woman5. Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy


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Japan's Sumitomo Corp. is planning to develop a large industrial park in northern Vinh Phuc province, complete with factories for lease for smaller Japanese businesses wanting an easy entrance into manufacturing in Vietnam. The corporation expects to spend a total of $120 million to construct the 200 ha site, which may be opened in 2018. About 10 per cent of the site will be dedicated to small-scale factories for lease.
This will be Sumitomo's seventh overseas industrial park and its third in Vietnam, following one each in Hanoi and northern Hung Yen province, which have a combined area of 620 ha and house 150 companies.
Sumitomo is not alone in the business of industrial parks. Sojitz, another Japanese conglomerate, also plans to develop at least three more in Vietnam, following the Loteco and Long Duc Industrial Parks in southern Dong Nai province. The upward trend of Japanese investment in Vietnam is the reason behind the expansion plans of both Sumitomo and Sojitz.
Although Japan's FDI fell in 2014 as the weakening Yen and other factors encouraged some Japanese firms to focus on domestic production, the industrial park investments by Sojitz and Sumitomo herald a new wave of Japanese investment into Vietnam.
Out of China
In April the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) released a survey on the international operations of Japanese firms, underscoring the increasing number of Japanese companies moving away from China. ASEAN countries were the most popular transfer destinations, accepting 47.9 per cent of all relocations.
Japanese companies blame increasing production costs and personnel costs for their relocations. "Among respondents selecting transferring from China to ASEAN countries, almost half of them (57 in 129 cases) selected Vietnam as the destination," JETRO stated in the survey report.
Nearly half of Japanese companies operating in China cited rising labor costs as one of the biggest barriers to them expanding their investment in the country. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese enterprises saying Vietnam's labor costs are too high is just 12 per cent. This reflects the difference in labor costs between the two countries and explains why more and more Japanese companies want to transfer their operations to Vietnam. In addition, nearly two-thirds of Japanese companies operating in Vietnam want to further expand their investment in the year to come.
Kyocera, for instance, will build a new plant in Vietnam this year to significantly increase its output of multifunction printers. The investment aims to improve its price competitiveness by relocating some production from China. The new plant, capitalized at around $57.8 million, can manufacturer metal molds and form plastic parts. By 2018 it will turn out 2 million units a year, or four times as many as now. Accompanying the expansion, its workforce will be tripled to around 5,000 employees.
Japanese stationery supplier the King Jim Co. has also announced it will build a third plastic paper file factory in Vietnam by late 2016, to reduce its production in Vietnam's northern neighbor.
"Vietnam's labor costs are one-third of China's and new factories in Vietnam will help improve Japanese companies' competitiveness," said Mr. Hideo Okubo, Chairman and CEO of investment consultants the Forval Corporation. He added that the good relationship between Vietnam and Japan is a key factor in attracting investment from Japanese companies. Vietnam and Japan have signed a free trade agreement, both are involved in negotiations over the TPP, and Japan is Vietnam's biggest bilateral donor.
Local focus
As an investment advisor, Mr. Okubo sees a growing appetite among Japanese companies for service sectors and consumer products in Vietnam. "Ten years ago most Japanese companies eyed Vietnam as a manufacturing base for export, but now I see a lot of companies coming here to exploit growing demand in the local market," he said. "This is because of Vietnam's young population and an emerging affluent class." He pointed out that service sectors, including financial services, IT, and retail, are especially attractive.
Recent investment activities by Japanese companies also reflect this trend. Japanese credit card company Credit Saison this year entered Vietnam's consumer finance market by buying into a subsidiary of the Ho Chi Minh City Development Bank (HDBank), spending around $41.4 million on acquiring a 49 per cent stake in HDFinance, Vietnam's third-largest consumer finance business. "As Vietnam's economy has grown, rising incomes have boosted demand for appliances and motorcycles," Credit Saison said in its announcement. "But loans are used for only 20 per cent of such purchases. Credit Saison saw considerable room for growth compared with such markets as Indonesia, where the figure is 80 per cent."
While Credit Saison sees opportunities for consumer finance products in Vietnam, Japanese retailers have also found their own opportunities. Just last month, Japanese convenience store chain Ministop teamed up with Sojitz in an effort to reinvigorate its stalled operations in Vietnam. Ministop at one time planned to open 500 stores in Vietnam, in cooperation with local coffee giant Trung Nguyen. The arrangement came to an end this year, but its deal with Sojitz, a sister company of FamilyMart, indicates that Ministop's plans to enter the market haven't come to an end.
The AEON Group, the biggest retailer in Japan, has set Vietnam as its hub in the Southeast Asian region. The retailer is now running two stores in Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City and a new store is about to open in Hanoi. But this is not enough. To enhance its foothold in the market, AEON in January entered into a capital and business tie-up with Vietnam's Fivimart and Citimart.
The partnership is part of the Japanese retailer's strategy of "Shift to Asia" under its Medium-term Management Plan during the 2014-2016 period. "In order to achieve rapid growth in the Vietnamese market, we believe the partnerships with Fivimart and Citimart, companies with strong business foundations in two of the largest cities in the north and the south of the country as well as knowledge about varying regionally-oriented customer needs, are of great significance," AEON noted in its announcement.
Vietnam's property sector, which Japanese companies used to largely ignore, is also attracting more attention from Japanese investors.
Following the investment by the Tokyu Group, which joined hands with Becamex IDC to develop a $1.2 billion township in southern Binh Duong province, many other Japanese real estate developers have jumped into Vietnam. Mitsubishi and Toshiba will partner with South Korea's Lotte Group to develop a $2 billion complex with a luxury trade center, hotels, office blocks, and apartment blocks on a 10 ha site in Ho Chi Minh City.
Haseko, meanwhile, will develop an apartment block in Hanoi in cooperation with local giant the Him Lam Group. The two have set up a joint venture, with Haseko holding a 95 per cent stake. This marks the first overseas expansion by the Japanese company since 1988. And the Tokyo-headquartered investment fund the Creed Group last month inked a deal to invest $200 million in An Gia Investment, securing a 20 per cent stake in the Vietnamese real estate company. This is the second investment by the Creed Group in Vietnam this year, after its investment in 577 Investment Corp. to jointly develop 1,100 apartments in Ho Chi Minh City.
"Although Vietnam experienced a severe bubble in its real estate market from 2006 to 2007, it is the only country with continuously falling property prices among all Southeast Asia countries," the Group said. "Vietnam's property value could be underestimated given its condensed population and industrial segment's prosperity."


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Neuigkeiten aus Neuseeland
Interview with Megan Hull - NZ Hockey representative U16
Megan Hull from Wairarapa College in Masterton (New Zealand) is one of the best Hockey Girls in all New Zealand in her age group. On her 16th Birthday a special, but also well deserved surprise came her way. She was named in the New Zealand Junior Black Sticks squad!
It was at the national under 21-Tournament in Hamilton where she represented the Region "Capital" -Wellington and became fourth with her team. She put up a outstanding performance and was named into the squad to prepare for the Junior World Cup in 2013.
Young Megan grew up on a farm in the Wairarapa around 200 km north-east of Wellington. When she moved to Wairarapa College in Masterton in 2009 she started playing Hockey on a daily basis. Her passion for the sport was discovered very early and her Coach says about Megan: "She's a pretty special talent!"
Thank your very much Megan for having the chance talking to you about your selection into the Junior Black Sticks and combining this with your daily routine in school.
1. Is it really all about talent or are you working hard as well?
I would say 20% talent and 80% hard work is what is needed if I really want to make it to the top. I have always tried to work as hard as I can at trainings because I know they are what are going to benefit me the most. Right now I am training 4 times a week with one game being in chucked in there. If I miss a training I like to go for a bit of a jog to make up for it or I just generally hit the pavements if I'm in the right mood! Rest is really important in my books also so I tend to give myself a couple of days off a week to recover/refresh my body and mind.
2. I have never seen you train hard or play a lot, but you always seemed that well trained! How do you structure your day at your school?
Very lovely of you to say that! Definitely not all true though. I know I need to be putting everything into my trainings but sometimes I am guilty of switching off or being in a bad mood so I don't train as hard. Something I'm very keen to change! Well being at a boarding school they pretty much structure all my meals for me, which I love to hate…as the food isn't always great! But I get up for brekky (most important meal so I always try to have something at the beginning of my day), head off to school and try and stick out a full day in class which is always a challenge! After school I normally have training straight away so I head of to that and then after my school training I have u21 capital training in Wellington which means I have to leave school training early to make the hour and a half drive and be on time. That finishes up at about 9 and normally I'm back tucked in bed at about 11. A long day but I'm getting used to having very little sleep these days!
3. Do you have a passion for other sports as well? How did you discover these?
HUGE passion for other sports as well! I'm a wee bit sporting mad. I love and am lucky enough to play tennis, cricket, volleyball, dragon boating, indoor netball, touch rugby, basketball and soccer. If I just played hockey all day long I think I would get sick of it so I reckon it's really important that I play all these others as well. I basically just try and give everything that I see a go and if I'm okay at it then that's just a bonus. My life would be incredibly boring without all these sports. Definitely plenty of opportunities to play sports in colleges over here that are that are affordable, to play touch rugby and volleyball I only had to pay $5. The schools are set up for kids to come in and give different sports a go. The ones I named are just a tiny selected few and there are plenty more on offer. There is no way you wouldn't be able to find a sport you loved, especially going to a bigger high school. I believe we are very lucky over here with all the sports we are offered and the support that is received from teachers, parents and coaches is awesome! People are always encouraging you to give things a go and there are so many things to get involved in. The great thing about the college I'm at is that we tend to be pretty good at the sports we do which always makes that little bit more enjoyable.
4. What does sport in general and Hockey in particular mean to you?
As you can probably tell already it means an incredible lot to me. It's what I do every afternoon, it's what I think about during school (keep that quiet) and it's something that makes me happy. It has made me lifelong friends who I may never have met if it wasn't for joining a particular team. Hockey in particular is basically what I do, it's not who I am, but it's definitely what I do. It means the world to me and for everything that I have put in; it has given me so much back. I love it and ever since I picked up at that stick at the age of 4 I have never looked back. I still get a rush of excitement when I pull my stick out of my hockey bag and I still love the game. I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to represent my country in the game I am most definitely devoted to.
5. If you went abroad to visit a school in - let's say – Europe, how important would it be for you to continue playing Hockey with your new class mates?
How awesome would that be! Quite important I think because obviously I would want to continue playing hockey over there and hopefully it would help me to get to know them a lot more and also to meet new people. They could introduce to me to the way they want to play the game and explain to me the in's and out's. I think it would make me feel a lot more comfortable and apart of the team.
6. What would you think international students love about NZ schools?
I think the variety which is offered at NZ schools not just sporting wise but academically and culturally. The opportunities to experience lots of new things in such a small country, we are very lucky here to have so many different things in such a small space. A host family could become like second parents or going into a boarding school would mean meeting new people more quickly and potential friends for life.
7. What do you think about international students coming to Wairarapa College?
We have quite a few international students come to our school and every single one that I have talked to have said how much they loved it. Waicol has a great friendliness about it as do many other schools and making the students feel welcome and comfortable is a priority. Everyone makes an effort to say hello the exchange students and they get amongst everything at school which is awesome. We encourage them to talk to the whole school at assemblies to get their face known and share their experiences with everyone else which is always awesome for both them and the other student & teachers.
8. What do you love about your country and think that foreign students would miss, if they didn't join a New Zealand High School!
The freedom and open spaces that we have to offer!! We are such a great country with a lot of pride and knowledge. The people are just so willing to help everyone and this kind nature is what some people find is the best part of NZ. I love that the mountains are close nearby and tramping, hiking or going for a run can be so scenic! Experiencing New Zealand life and culture is something I definitely recommend and I have no doubt in my mind that it would be enjoyed!
That was great, thank you very much Megan. For your career in Hockey and in private life Sport International Exchange wishes you all the best. We are sure we will hear a lot about more about you in the future.
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Please join the Nordic Division e-mail list and we hope that it can be a resource to get some questions answered and get advice from fellow translators.
Please note that this list is not to be used for self-promotion. This is a moderated group, and repeated self-promotion will earn you a ban.
However, we are interested in hearing about events, publications, concerts, movies, etc. that may be of interest to the wider Nordic language community.
Hope to see you there!


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Is there anything different in what a blogger carries around vs what everyone else carries around? I'm not sure, but I'll be showing you what I carry around on the daily and let you be the judge of that.
- My notebook; I always have a notebook with me, wether it's to sketch or to write, I leave the home without something to write in.
- Earphones; I'm pretty sure everyone carries around earphones, am I right? I usually have one pair in my pocket and one pair in my bag. I am currently in love with SudioSweden's earphones, they look gorgeous and they have amazing sound as well!
- Polaroid camera; to be honest I don't even take that many pictures with my polaroid camera, simply because it can get quite expensive. But still, I always have it on me, because I do not want to run into something beautiful and miss the opportunity to have an amazing shot.
- A book; in total I spend about 15 to 20 hours weekly travelling by train, tram or underground so having something to read is a total must for me.
( I am currently reading 'I was here', totally recommend it! )
- A watch; now this might be a weird one, and I don't think this is necessarily something that bloggers carry around, it's probably just me. There's a 99% chance that you will find a watch in my bag for various reasons; 1. you're not allowed to wear a watch during exams so I will drop it in my bag and most likely forget about it & 2. by leaving my watch in my bag when I take it off I can not forget it at home the next day.
- My iPhone; I don't think there'a lot of explaining needed for this one… I mostly use it to talk to friends and family, take pictures, and to see wether my train/underground is on time or not (more often not..)
- Random stuff; a water bottle (stay hydrated kids!), painkillers, deodorant, hair ties, etc.
Shop shop shop:
– Notebook here
– Earphones here
( you can use my code 'perfecttsoull' for a discount!)
– Polaroid camera here
– Book here
– Watch here
– Phone case ; unfortunately not being sold anymore, sorry!
What do you carry around on the daily? Let me us know below! x
I just want to give a big thanks to Julia and Melli for writing a guest post for me and letting me write one for them, it's been a great experience and I look forward to working with the two of you again!
Thank you so much for writing a guest post for our blog! You guys should definitely check her out. Lotte has an amazing blog called perfecttsoull.com! We are looking forward to work with you again too.


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Behind every piece of technology is a well-informed cybersecurity professional.
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Hands-on, skill-based exercises take learned knowledge out of the classroom and into realistic, on-the-job scenarios.
The escalating cybersecurity skills gap is widening the attack surface for hackers and without properly trained cyber teams, companies will continue to jeopardize their security environment, their employees, and their customers. Now is not the time to rest on the laurels of cyber teams who desperately crave professional development opportunities that stimulate their skills and put their knowledge to the test in real-world scenarios. Learning and assessment of current and prospective cyber teams is the first and strongest step to take in preparing all organizations for advanced attacks and evolving threats. Learn more about our cybersecurity solutions below to find what platform works best for your needs.
Clearly defined mission objectives with tiered levels of difficulty and time constraints.
Spawn a large number of cyber range notes to replicate various attack scenarios.
Trainees can engage in both offensive and defensive assignments for a more holistic learning experience.
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We believe in the power of education and training as a key approach to securing company networks, protecting company reputations, and preventing monetary losses. Safeguard your data, your people, and your job with cybersecurity solutions centered on the PEOPLE that use them.


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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Even though they got back on the winning track, the Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot to figure out if they want to make the playoffs.
Cam Atkinson and Artemi Panarin scored in a shootout and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped both New Jersey attempts as the Blue Jackets posted a 2-1 win over the Devils on Tuesday night in a game in which they were outplayed.
''Other than our first couple shifts of the game, they absolutely dictated the pace of the game,'' Atkinson said after Columbus snapped a two-game losing streak. ''We got out-battled and lost all the 50-50s and it's unacceptable and obviously without Bob, they would have had a lot more goals. We're lucky to come away with two points, let alone one.''
The Blue Jackets made big moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid, but the team now built to compete for the Stanley Cup has not looked good.
''Very important points but certainly some struggles,'' said coach John Tortorella, whose team has been sliding in and out of playoff position. ''No matter what it looks like or no matter what the reason is, we've been inconsistent and we just got to go each day at a time and find a way to get better.''
Atkinson also scored the Columbus goal in regulation. Bobrovsky had 29 saves as the Blue Jackets swept their four-game season series with New Jersey.
Travis Zajac scored for New Jersey in regulation and Cory Schneider had 17 saves as the Devils lost their fourth in a row.
''Overall with the amount of firepower they have I thought we did a tremendous job defensively, making them work,'' Schneider said. ''Offensively, I thought we had a couple of chances to get the go-ahead goal and just missed or Bobrovsky made a big save. Not good enough to get a win, but you know, that's kind of how it goes.''
After Bobrovsky stopped Blake Coleman's attempt with his shoulder, Atkinson scored on a backhander.
Schneider said Atkinson's top move is a forehand shot.
''Every goalie knows my tendencies and went with my B and it worked,'' Atkinson said.
Bobrovsky poke-checked the puck away from Drew Stafford on the Devils' next try, and Panarin ended the game by slipping one between Schneider's pads.
The Devils had two great chances to take the lead late in the third period on a power play. Bobrovsky stopped a tip by Nick Lappin and Michael McLeod hit the post in a bid for his first NHL goal.
The Devils had the better scoring chances in the first two periods and they finally capitalized with three minutes left in the second period.
Coleman, who had not had a point in 13 games, set up the goal by carrying the puck into the Columbus end and slamming on the brakes. He faked a shot and sent a cross-ice pass that Zajac put into an open net.
''Like I said, we are not scoring as much as we need to but we are a really hard team to play against right now,'' Coleman said. ''Our forecheck and our effort is very obvious. A lot of guys are starting to show they can play in this league.''
Atkinson had given the Blue Jackets the lead less than a minute after the opening faceoff with the help of a fluky bounce off the end boards. Defenseman David Savard took a shot from the left point that hit the boards and came out the other side to a wide-open Atkinson for his career-high 36th goal.
The Devils' injuries continued to mount. Forward Jesper Bratt left the game early in the second period after being hit in the leg by a shot. Nico Hischier, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft, was hurt in Boston on Saturday and missed his first game since Nov. 18 with an upper-body injury.
Devils coach John Hynes had no update on Bratt's injury after the game.
NOTES: Columbus made one lineup change, scratching C Lukas Sedlak and dressing F Markus Hannikainen. ... The Devils activated F Stefan Noesen off injured reserve. He was out almost a month with a lower-body injury. ... Former Devils G Keith Kinkaid, who was shipped to Columbus at the trade deadline, was the Blue Jackets' backup. The Devils showed a video with highlights of his career in New Jersey. ... Devils D Sami Vatanen was out with an illness.
Blue Jackets: At Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Devils: Open a six-game road trip at Washington on Friday.
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Copyright 2019 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.


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As mentioned in a previous post, rapists are very often serial offenders. The current "person of interest" is 32 years old, so if he perpetrated a crime against Hannah Graham, it is very unlikely this is the first time he has struck. This is not an acquired taste.
What that means is that if indeed Jesse Matthew was involved in any misdeed leading to or resulting in the disappearance of Ms. Graham, this will not have been the first time. And that leads to one of the reasons rapists are able to be serial offenders: their victims don't report the crime(s) for personal reasons. This underlines the urgency for encouraging reporting and for pursuing any investigation into sexual assault and/or rape to a conclusion.
Therefore the investigators should be aggressively calling for any information from acquaintances of Matthew, including prior assaults, rapes and/or drugging, that has not been reported. Silence is an enemy to the liberty of everyone who comes in contact with persons who are able to commit these acts without regard to or fear of the consequences.
The courage to report such a demeaning victimization is essential to protecting literally the lives and liberty of many others. Anyone who has hidden any information about an interaction with this "person of interest" or any assailant should learn from this sad situation. Report, report, report. And not just about this case; and no matter how long ago.


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UK shale plans 'substantial' drilling expansion
By Edwin Lane
Business reporter, BBC News
- Published
The companies at the forefront of the UK's nascent shale gas industry are planning a "substantial" expansion in the number of drilling sites.
IGas, one of the four companies partnering with French oil major Total, says it is planning to explore new fracking sites across the UK.
Total is investing at least $21m (£12.7m) in UK shale gas.
Energy minister Michael Fallon said he expects up to 40 shale gas sites to be drilled in England over next two years.
"This is going to be a crucial step for the industry," said a spokesman for the United Kingdom Onshore Operators Group (UKOOG), an industry body. "The amount of sites, planning permission permitting, is going to go up quite substantially."
So far just one exploration well has been drilled in the UK - in Fylde near Blackpool.
'Not every village'
Energy minister Michael Fallon said there could be "some 20 to 40" exploration wells drilled in the next two to three years, but said these would not be "all over the country".
"You're not going to see wells in every village or every field. You're going to see 20 to 40 exploration wells and then we'll see exactly where the companies are most likely to get it out," he told the BBC.
Drilling attempts so far have drawn protests from pressure groups concerned about the environmental impact of fracking, and the continued investment in fossil fuels instead of renewable sources of energy.
IGas said it would be applying for permits for "extensive surveys" to identify potential new fracking sites in north-west England, where it already holds licences, but would also seek permits to survey areas of the East Midlands and south England.
The UKOOG trade body estimates that 40 wells would mean 10-20 drilling sites, as each site hosts more than one well, covering an area of two to three football pitches.
The industry has been encouraged by Total's investment, which will see it take a 40% stake in two exploration licences in Lincolnshire, partnering with IGas, Dart Energy Europe, Egdon Resources and eCorp Oil & Gas.
Shares in Egdon Resources rose 45% in morning trading. IGas was 13% higher and Dart Energy rose 13%.
Total is the first "major" oil firm to invest in UK shale, following the smaller French firm GDF Suez, which signed a £24m exploration deal with Dart Energy in October.
British Gas owner Centrica also bought into licences owned by Cuadrilla in a deal worth up to £160m in June.
The size of the investments remain small, however, compared with the tens of billions of dollars spent by companies like Total every year.
But the investment is seen as an initial vote of confidence in the industry. The UK is seen as one of the most promising shale gas sites in Europe.
The British Geological Survey estimates there may be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas present in the north of England alone.
Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics programme, Mr Fallon said the shale gas industry "could - I repeat could - make a huge difference to our economy".
Advocates of fracking have also suggested that domestic shale gas could cut energy bills, as happened in the US following the shale gas boom there.
But Lord Browne, the former BP boss who is now the chairman of shale gas company Cuadrilla, told the BBC that any impact on energy prices was far from certain.
"It will depend on the scale of success," he said. "Moderate success probably won't move the price that much.
"If we produce a lot of gas like in the US, we would produce a gas surplus and the price would come down. [But] saleable gas at the end of a pipe - that takes a lot of time and effort."


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Pittsburgh, PA
Today the Pittsburgh Marathon kicked off at 7:05am. At the start of the race, the temperature was hovering in the upper 50s with overcast skies. The weather remained pretty consistent throughout the race and the rain held off making for near perfect race conditions.
Ten Wolf Creek Track Club (WCTC) runners participated in the day's festivities, however, the standout performance of the day came from Nick Edinger. Edinger claimed 8th place overall in the marathon with a career best time of 2:18:32 (5:18/mile). Edinger's time qualifies him for the 2020 USATF Olympic Trials in Atlanta. This is the first time in Edinger's career that he has qualified for the Olympic Trials. Pittsburgh is widely regarded as one of the most challenging major city marathon courses among runners, making Edinger's accomplishment even more impressive. Nick Edinger's time also set a new WCTC record in the marathon. To put into perspective how impressive Edinger's time is, he ran 8 minutes and 6 seconds faster than our winning relay team which consisted of four competitive runners. This race was Edinger's 2nd marathon in 2018. His first was another outstanding performance at the NYC Armory Indoor Marathon World Record Challenge where he placed 2nd overall in 2:22:06.
The Wolf Creek Track Club team consisting of Theo Reynolds, Ryan Budnik, Dan Spaulding, and Andrew Mascio claimed the Pittsburgh Marathon Relay title for the 2nd time in 3 years. The relay had to overcome an unexpected injury to Moses Greenspan in the days leading up to the race. Since Greenspan was unfortunately unable to run the lead-off leg as was originally planned, Theo Reynolds was forced to double, running the first two legs. Theo ran a total of 9.1 miles and posted a solid time to keep the team in it despite racing two runners from the other competitive relay teams since they had full relay teams of 5 members. When Reynolds handed off to Budnik at the second relay exchange zone, the team was in 3rd place trailing the 709ers and SuperSmashGang. Budnik was able to catch both of those teams during his leg and by the time he handed off to Dan Spaulding, the WCTC team was in first place by about 45 seconds.
Spaulding, a former all-time great at Grove City College, extended the lead during his 6.5 mile leg and provided Andrew Mascio with a 69 second lead heading into the final 4.2 miles to the finish. Two miles into his leg, Mascio was challenged by the 709ers team. A runner from the 709ers had closed the 69 second gap in a mere two miles by taking advantage of the downhills on the final leg. Mascio and the 709ers runner ran side-by-side for the next 2 kilometers until Mascio was able to pull away in the last mile running 4:58 to seal the victory by 21 seconds over the 709ers. The 709ers runner averaged an impressive 5:10 per mile on his closing leg, while Mascio averaged 5:21 per mile.
The WCTC team's overall finishing time was 2:26:38 (5:36/mile). That time is a new club record for the marathon relay surpassing last year's club record time of 2:28:45 by 2 minutes and 7 seconds, while doing so with only 4 runners. The 709ers finished in 2:26:59 (5:37/mile) good for 2nd overall, while the SuperSmashGang placed 3rd in a time of 2:39:07 (6:05/mile). In total, 965 teams competed in this year's marathon relay.
The relay victory marks the club's 5th team title in its 3-year history. The other titles include the 2017 St. Barnabas 5k Team Challenge, 2016 USATF TRA Cross Country Championships, 2016 Pittsburgh Marathon Relay, and the 2016 St. Barnabas 5k Team Challenge. All-time, the club has won 5 of the 7 total team competitions it has raced in.
Other great club performances on the day included Sean McDonnell placing 11th overall out of 12,500+ competitors in the non-elite half marathon field with a career best time of 1:16:03 (5:49/mile). Sean's time is good for second best in Wolf Creek Track Club history trailing only Theo Reynold's time of 1:13:30 from the Cook Forest Half Marathon. Rachel Martin also ran the half in a career best time of 1:31:09. Martin's time set a new club record for the half marathon and placed her as the 27th overall female finisher out of 7,400+. Additionally, club member Travis Myers-Arrigoni finished the marathon in 2:46:53 (6:23/mile) qualifying him for the 2019 Boston Marathon. Myers-Arrigoni finished 32nd overall. Club members Brandon Wise and Hannah Steele both competed in the half marathon as well. Wise finished in 50th place in 1:23:50, while Steele finished in a time of 1:45:23.
Fikadu Girma Teferi claimed the men's marathon crown in a time of 2:13:47, while Sydney Devore took the women's title in 2:32:38. Chris Derrick claimed the USATF Half Marathon Championship crown in a time of 1:02:37 just edging out Parker Stinson who ran 1:02:38. Aliphine Tuliamuk claimed the women's title in 1:10:04.
The Wolf Creek Track Club would also like to congratulate all the weekend warriors and first time half and full marathoners who ran at this year's event. Running is truly one of the most unique sports in the world where the top elites toe the same start line as everyday runners. It was great to see another fantastic Pittsburgh Marathon to keep growing and promoting the sport of running in the region. The 11th Annual Pittsburgh Marathon is set for Sunday, May 5th of next year.


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Trowulan is a district in Mojokerto regency, East Java, Indonesia. Sub is located in the western part of Mojokerto district, bordering the Jombang District.
In this district there are dozens of sites covering nearly 100 square kilometers of buildings, statues findings, pottery, and burial relics of the kingdom of Majapahit. Allegedly, the central kingdom in this region, written by mpu Prapanca Kakawin Nagarakretagama in the book and in a Chinese source of the 15th century.
Book Negarakertagama mention poetic description of the Majapahit palace and its surroundings, but the explanation is limited to about royal and religious ceremonies. Detailed descriptions are not clear, some experts are trying to map the archaeological capital of this kingdom came up with results different.
Research and excavations in Trowulan in the past focused on the monumental heritage of temples, tombs, and petirtaan (bathing). Recent archaeological excavations have found some relics of industrial activity, trade, and religious, as well as residential areas and water supply systems. All this is evidence that this area is a dense residential area in the 14th century and the 15th.
According to the book Prapanca Negarakertagama; Majapahit palace surrounded by red brick walls high and thick. Nearby there is the post where the Ponggawa guard. The main gate to the palace (palace complex) is located on the north side wall, a grand arch with a large door made of wrought iron. In front of the north gate there is a long building where the annual meeting of state officials, a market, and a purified crossroads.
Enter into the complex through the north gate of the field is surrounded by a religious shrine. On the west side of this field is surrounded by hall of canals and ponds where people bathe. At the southern end of this field there are rows of houses built on terraces berundak, these houses is home to the palace courtiers. The other gate to the third field is filled with great buildings and halls. This building is the waiting room for guests who will be the king. Complex of the king's palace residence located on the east side of this field, in the form of a pavilion or marquee is built on an engraved brick, with large wooden pillars carved a very gentle and roof ornament decorated with clay. Outside the palace there is a complex place to live preacher Shiva, Buddhist monks, members of royal families, as well as officials and nobility (nobility). Further out, separated by a broad field, there are many other royal building complex, including one residence Mahapatih Gajah Mada. Until here Prapanca depiction of the capital city of Majapahit ended.
A note from China 15th century Majapahit palace describes very clean and well maintained. Mentioned that the palace was surrounded by high red brick wall more than 10 meters and a double gate. Existing buildings in the palace complex has a large wooden pole as high as 10-13 feet, with wood floors covered with soft mats where people sit. Palace roof made from pieces of wood (shingles), while the roof to house the people mostly made of palm fiber or straw.
A book of etiquette and manners of Majapahit palace described as the capital; "A place where we do not have to walk through the fields". Temple reliefs from the time of Majapahit no urban ambiance, but described the area walled settlements. The term 'kuwu' in Negarakertagama intended as a unit of walled settlements, where people lived and led by a nobleman. This settlement pattern is characteristic of the Javanese coastal town of the 16th century, according to European explorers. It is estimated that the capital of Majapahit composed of a collection of many such settlements unit.
Ruins of ancient cities in Trowulan discovered in the 19th century. Based on the report Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who served as governor of Java from 1811 to 1816, stated that; 'the ruins of the temple …. spread for miles in this area '. At that time this area is a dense teak forests that survey and a more detailed study impossible. However, Raffles very interested in history and culture of Java, fascinated by what he saw and called Trowulan as the 'Pride of the island of Java'.
Excavations at around Trowulan shows some of the ancient settlements still buried in the mud volcanic sediments of the river and a few feet below the ground due to overflowing of the river Brantas and Kelud mountain activities. Some archaeological sites scattered around the village Trowulan. Some in disrepair, while some other sites have been restored. Most of these ancient buildings made of red brick.
Candi Tikus is a ritual bathing pool. This pool may be the most exciting archaeological discoveries in Trowulan. Name of Candi Tikus given because at the time were discovered in 1914, this site is a rat's nest. Redeveloped into the present condition in 1985 and 1989, bathing complex which is made of red brick-shaped hollow square container. On the north side there is a ladder to the bottom of the pool. The main structure protruding from the south wall is estimated to take shape Mahameru legendary mountain. Buildings are no longer complete the form terraces that crowned square towers arranged in a concentric arrangement of the highest point of this building.
Not far from Candi Tikus, in the district Bajang Palace gate stood the Queen, is a gate of paduraksa elegant red-brick materials is estimated to be built in the mid-14th century AD. This building forms a slim 16.5-meter-high tower of the roof decoration shows a complex carvings. Bajang Queen in Javanese means King (royalty) that stunted or deformed. The tradition linking the existence of people around this gate with King Jayanegara, the second king of Majapahit. Based on the legend when the little King Jayanegara fell in this gate and cause defects in the body. This name may also mean "Little King" because Jayanegara ascended to the throne at a very young age. Historians attribute this gate with Çrenggapura (Cri Ranggapura) or Kapopongan in Antawulan (Trowulan), a sacred place mentioned in Negarakertagama as pedharmaan (shrine) dedicated to the spirits Jayanegara who died in 1328.
Wringin Lawang is located not far south from the main road in Jatipasar. In the Java language, Wringin Lawang means "door Beringin". This great archway made of red brick with a broad base 13 x 11 meters and 15.5 meters high. Estimated to be built in the 14th century. This gate style commonly known as 'Bentar temple' or split gate type. This architectural style may appear on the Majapahit era and are now commonly found in Balinese architecture. Most historians agree that this gate is the entrance to the complex of important buildings in the capital of Majapahit. Allegations about the original function of this building invites much speculation, one of the most popular is supposed to be this gateway entrance to the residence of Mahapatih Gajah Mada.
In the district there Bejijong Brahu Temple. This temple is the only sacred building which still remains intact from the sacred buildings that once stood in this area. According to the local people's confidence in this temple held a cremation ceremony (the burning of the bodies) the first four kings of Majapahit. Although difficult to prove these allegations, but the physical evidence indicates this building is a building that allegedly sacred worship is to glorify the holy royal family members who have died. About who the king of Majapahit characters or glorified in this temple is still unclear. Near the ruins of the temple Brahu Gentong Temple.
Princess CEMPA tomb is a tomb believed to be patterned Islamic community is the tomb of one wife or concubine of the king of Majapahit who came from Champa. According to local tradition, Princess CEMPA (Champa) who died in 1448 is a Muslim who married one of the last king of Majapahit dibujuknya finally managed to convert to Islam.
Segaran swimming pool is large rectangular size 800 x 500 square meters. Segaran name comes from the Javanese language 'immediate' which means 'sea', the local community may liken this big pond as a miniature ocean. Walls and red brick embankments around the pool which also gives shape to the pool. When discovered by Maclain Pont in 1926, the structure of the dike and the red brick walls were covered by dirt and mud. Restoration done several years later and is now swimming Segaran enabled by locals as a place for recreation and fishing ponds. Original function of this pool is unknown, but research shows that this pool has several functions, among others as a storage pond to meet the water needs of the urban population is dense Majapahit, especially during the dry season. Another popular suspicion is pond was used as a bath and swimming pool exercises Majapahit soldiers, besides the pool is alleged to be part of the amusement park where the Majapahit aristocracy entertained the ambassadors and royal guests.
In the northeast corner of the ruins of the pool Segaran 'Menak Temple Orange. The building is now only ruins remain scattered in the form of rocks and building the basic foundation is still buried in the ground. The uniqueness of this building is a building made of andesite stone in the outer layer, while the interior is made of red brick. The most interesting part of this building is on the roof there is a magical creature carving identified as Qilin, magical creatures in the mythology of China. These findings suggest that there are cultural relations between the Majapahit was strong enough with the Ming Dynasty in China. Local tradition linking these ruins with the marquee (pavilion) Wungu Kencana Queen, queen of Majapahit in the story Menak Damarwulan and Orange.
On the base site, there are several reasons the rock where rivet beams. It is estimated that a part of the wooden building. Since made from organic materials, wooden building had been destroyed, leaving only the stone base.
In the district found some Troloyo patterned Islamic tombstones. Most gravestones dated 1350 and 1478. These findings prove that the Muslim community not only been present in Java in the mid-14th century, but also as proof that Islam has recognized and embraced by a minority population of the capital of Majapahit. Locals believe that the tomb is the tomb Troloyo Raden Wijaya, and each held Friday Legi this pilgrimage at the tomb.
Sites other important include:
- Balong Bunder
- Hall Penyalamatan
- Site gold and bronze craftsman
- Ngliknguk
- Temple Kedaton
- Sentonorejo
- Temple Sitinggil
A lot of gold jewelry from this period have been found in East Java. Although there is a lot of gold mines in Java, the import of gold from Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi allows gold producers to produce and work in Java.
One district in Trowulan called packaging, which comes from the word which means gold mas. Gold jewelry and gold craftsman tools found near this area. Small pottery bowls that may have been used to melt the gold, base and stone cast bronze three-legged round average is used as a base for metal forging and carving. A large number of clay that is used to melt bronze and printing are also found in the village of Ferns. Some of the bronze is used to print money gobog, large coins are often used as a talisman. Several other metal objects were also found, including an engraved bronze lamps, water containers, bells, and other objects that may be used for religious ceremonies and bronze drum musical instrument. Similar objects made of wood and bamboo can still be found in Java and Bali. Many also found iron tools that may be imported into Java because Java has a little iron ore mines.
Manuscript Nawanatya mention of royal officials in charge to protect the market. 'Eight thousand pieces of cash each day' received this official. The cash referred to in this manuscript is money kepeng China, which became the official currency of Majapahit since 1300, replacing some of the functions of gold coins and silver have been used for centuries. Coin or coins are preferred because China is in a small value or a dime, ideal for everyday transactions in the market. These findings illustrate the economic changes in Trowulan marked by the emergence of business and more specialized jobs, with wage payments, and the acquisition of goods of daily needs by buying and selling. Important evidence Javanese society's perception of the 14th century portrayed the money in the form of pig piggy bank with a hole in the back to insert coins. The relationship between the figure of a pig with a very clear case of money; in Javanese and Indonesian, the word 'piggy bank' can mean just saving money container or savings. While he said his own roots 'boar', which means boar. Container and other forms of money were also found.
Art pottery is the main activity of Majapahit society. Most furniture pottery used for household purposes, such as for cooking or storage containers, with decoration limited to the stripes of red paint. Coconut oil lamp from pottery are also common. The finest pottery made generally in the form of barrel-shaped containers, jars, and jars with thin walls, beautiful shape and smooth surface shiny red color obtained by sanding either before or after combustion. Pottery works was confirmed as the work of a skilled potter and professional. Container of water is the main urban pottery products Majapahit and many round water butt found. There is also a box-shaped water containers decorated with motifs underwater scenes and other sights. Statue of clay pottery produced in large quantities and represent many things. Starting from figure gods, humans, animals, miniature buildings, and scenery. Exact function is not known; may have many functions. Some of the clay figures may be part of a small temple where prayers in their respective houses as there are now in Bali. Examples of pottery in the form of miniature buildings and animals are also found near the shrine in the mountains Penanggungan. Several other figure is a playful depiction of foreigners and immigrants in Majapahit, may also be used simply as children's toys.


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SIBEL EDMONDS- Two Recent Interviews
Sibel Edmonds: US government needs to keep the fear factor alive
Published on May 9, 2012 by RTAmerica
The Obama administration has the worst track record when it comes to prosecuting whistleblowers. Obama once claimed he'd work hard to have a transparent government, but many have faced retaliation for revealing controversial government information. Sibel Edmonds, who is a whistleblower, waited 340 days for FBI clearance of her memoir but finally released it on her own. Edmonds, founder of the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, joins us for more.
Ungagged: Telling the Sibel Edmonds Story
Published on May 8, 2012 by corbettreport
Despite the remarkable efforts to suppress the story, or perhaps because of them, the narrative of what Sibel Edmonds had to say finally began to emerge, less due to the occasional efforts of mainstream media organizations or supposed whistleblower organizations than through the diligent, painstaking efforts of independent journalists, radio hosts and documentary filmmakers who were willing to persist despite overwhelming odds.
Find out more about the quest to bring Sibel Edmonds' story to light in this week's Eyeopener report from BoilingFrogsPost.com
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Sibel Edmonds: Obama's Despotic Rule Over America
Sibel Edmonds: Obama's Despotic Rule Over America


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I recently upgraded my Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro. I am using Dell Inspiron.
I have the following issues.
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3. Is there an option for Graphic equalizer in Windows Music?


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Forget about Batman, James Bond, and Luke Skywalker: Pop culture's favorite hero is Sherlock Holmes. Seventy-five different actors have played him in the movies and countless more on TV, not to mention all the Sherlockian knockoffs, from the smirking Mentalist to stone-faced Mr. Spock, who once referred to Holmes as his ancestor. Yet in over a century, there's never been a more enjoyable version of the character than on Sherlock, the BBC series that ingeniously transposes the adventures of Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) to the present-day London of smartphones and tabloid TV—Watson chronicles their adventures on his blog. As the show begins its superb second series on PBS (be sure to watch the series one cliff-hanger first), it has gone from cultish English hit to international sensation, raved about by the likes of Steven Spielberg.
It's easy to understand the enthusiasm. Everything about Sherlock clicks, from the nifty graphic tricks showing us how Holmes picks up clues, to the witty design of the duo's bachelor flat at 221B Baker Street, to the rousing score by David Arnold and Michael Price, which keeps the show charging forward. Although the first and third episodes are better than the second ("The Hounds of Baskerville"), the series is wonderfully cast throughout. Even as Rupert Graves brings a lilting sobriety to Inspector Lestrade, who grasps that Holmes may be a pain but a pain with genius, Una Stubbs is hilarious as 221B's landlord, Mrs. Hudson, who seems less long-suffering in the face of Holmes and Watson's antics than amused at seeing what her boys are playing at. And the show's creators, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss (splendid as Holmes's brother Mycroft), have scored a coup with the two most important intruders into the Holmesian universe. As dominatrix Irene Adler, the one great love of Sherlock's life, Lara Pulver is sharp, alluring, vulnerable, scheming—foxy in every sense. And Irish actor Andrew Scott is eerily riveting in his portrait of Holmes's intellectual coequal and archenemy, Jim Moriarty, whose style is so unpredictably weird he unsettles even Holmes.
Of course, I can't forget the show's stars, who are both destined to be world famous this time next year. Where Dr. Watson usually comes off as a bit of a dullard, Freeman—the lead in **Peter Jackson'**s upcoming movie adaptation of The Hobbit—makes him a smart, brave everyman who's unafraid to tell Sherlock off and only slightly abashed when people think the two are actually lovers. Watson is, as ever, our surrogate, and thanks to Freeman we're not embarrassed to be like him. As for Cumberbatch, both a villain in the Star Trek sequel and the 2012 winner of the Olivier Award for Best Actor on the London stage, he plays Holmes as a petulant schoolboy goaded by brilliance—and boredom. It's a performance that has gotten "Cumby" idolized by women from Tottenham to Taipei, who follow his every public move like a pride of leopards. And why not? Sonorous of voice and infectiously restless, Cumberbatch is the greatest Sherlock Holmes of all time, a feat that's anything but elementary.
Episode one of series two of Sherlock airs Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Masterpiece Mystery! on PBS.