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this is a page for active drafts. non active drafts are considered failed projekts and pieces not in article format are fiction projekts
The Tianjin Building Plague
Item #: SCP-XXX
Object Class: Safe (i think?)
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XX is currently stored in a 4m3 aluminium oxynitride cube equipped with four coolant pumps for pacification purposes. Personnel interacting with SCP-XX are to be equipped with Type 6 containment suits and must undergo mandatory biohazard checks afterward.
Colonies of SCP-XX encountered in the wild are to be dealt with using Class 4 incendiaries. Use of any Arson-type cover story, such as 014-Electrical Fire or 067-Deviant Firebug, is automatically approved.
Description: SCP-XX is a previously unknown creature that bears superficial resemblance to Asteroidean echinoderms, such as Asterias rubens. SCP-XX consists of a central body structure that houses its nervous and digestive system and hundreds of branching feeding tendrils that act as a "root system". Each tendril is capable of punching through human skin with relative ease and draws moisture and edible nutrients into the central body. A specimen of SCP-XX has a lifespan of up to sixty years, barring the destruction of its "nest", human intervention, or starvation.
SCP-XX nests in the crawlspaces, walls and floors of human habitation exclusively. The central body will attach itself to a secluded area and extend its feeding tendrils in every direction. Once a tendril encounters a species SCP-XX considers prey, SCP-XX will immobilize it via constriction and begin the feeding process. This can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to several hours, dependent on the size of the prey and number of tendrils involved. Each tendril shows the capability to branch a seemingly unlimited number of times, and will continue to do so until the whole of the interior of the building has been infested. If any single feeding tendril reaches a sufficient length, another central body will be formed through a metamorphic process not entirely understood. SCP-XX does not seem to be dangerous to humans until it has exhausted food supplies within the walls of its "nest". However, once this food supply is exhausted, SCP-XX will begin to consider organisms previously too large and/or dangerous for consumption to be prey.
Addendum: SCP-XX was first discovered by Imperial Japanese Army officers during the occupation of Tianjin after the discovery of four dessicated corpses, confirmed to be members of Rikugun Taii1 Yoshijiro Nishio's staff. After a brutal interrogation of Tianjin residents offered no explanation, the incident came to the notice of the Imperial Japanese biowar research group Unit 731. After an investigation of the Captain's headquarters, SCP-XX was found, contained, and relocated to 731 headquarters in Harbin, Manchuria. After several attempts to weaponize SCP-XX for use against the United States (targets included the White House, shipyards and subway stations), the project was canceled and all examples of SCP-XX under Japanese control were incinerated to prevent acquisition by Soviet or American scientists. SCP-XX was thought extinct, however, colonies of SCP-XX have been investigated and/or terminated in Harbin, Beijing, Yokohama, Saigon, Vladivostok, and [REDACTED] as recently as ██/██/████.
Exploration Log 348/I/024
currently unused ideas
battery of 7 letter words to be used for codenames. A names are always team leaders, V names are always support staff. names assigned at random. field commanders always have names implying authority and can be eight letters (Autocrat, Emperor, Hierarch, Overlord, Tyranny, etc). there's only one field commander at a time per operation so name overlap is not a problem.
the following have been used: adamant baroque bulwark censure cistern dynasty epitaph forager galleon harvest inkwell jacobin verdict
A: abandon abstain acclaim affront amalgam animist atrophy avarice
B: badland ballast bandage bastard bombard bravado bulwark butcher
C: caldera carrion caustic cavalry censure chancer chloric coercer culture cyclone czarist
D: danseur deadman debauch decimal defiant demesne dowager dredger drowned dynasty
E: echelon eidolon elector embargo enchant endless enforce envenom epitaph extinct
F: faction falchion fallout federal feudist fiction fisheye forager fortify fulcrum
G: gallant galleon gallows gambler garrote germane gestalt godhead gunshot
H: haggard halcyon hangman harvest hatchet hellion hypoxic
I: icefall ignitor imagist impaler indicts ingress inkwell isagoge iterant
J: jacobin jezzail jodhpur jugular justice
js are hard.
V: valiant variant verdict veritas vertigo viscera vitriol voltage vulture


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Escapes Landscape and Design was founded in 2008. Owner and President, Nick Reiter, graduated from Iowa State University with his B.S. in Horticulture with an emphasis on Landscape Installation and Design in May 2008. After a year designing and installing for a company in Ames, he decided to venture out. He moved back to the Waterloo area, where he was raised, and has been growing the business since. Escapes became incorporated in 2014. We primarily serve Eastern Iowa, although we do travel throughout the state and beyond.
Escapes has exciting plans for the future. A retail greenhouse, materials yard, and country store are all on the horizon. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates.

subset: commoncrawl


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Now Showing Resource Section: Test Coordinators - Interim Assessments
Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments Structure and Understanding /core/fileparse.php/2224/urlt/Interim-Assmnt-Structure-Understandings-FINAL-6-10-14.pdf
|This document describes the structure of the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments.
Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments Statement of Purpose /core/fileparse.php/2224/urlt/Interim-Assessment-Statement-Purpose-FINALmerged.pdf
|This document describes the purpose of the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments.
Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments Item Counts /core/fileparse.php/2224/urlt/Smarter-Balanced-Interim-Item-Counts-_2016-17.xlsx
|This document contains the English Language Arts and Mathematics item counts for the Interim Comprehensive Assessments (ICA) and Interim Assessment Block Assessments (IAB).
Mathematics /core/fileparse.php/2224/urlt/Math_Interim_Assessment_Blocks_Blueprint.pdf
English Language Arts /core/fileparse.php/2224/urlt/ELA-Interim_Assessment_Blocks_Blueprint.pdf
|The Smarter Balanced preliminary Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) blueprints describe a type of interim assessment available for teacher use in the classroom. IABs are short, focused sets of items that measure one or more assessment targets. These blueprints present the specific blocks that are available by grade level for English Language Arts/literacy or mathematics beginning at grade 3 and continuing through high school. Each block-level blueprint contains information about the claims, assessment targets, and depth of knowledge levels addressed by the items in that block, as well as the numbers of items allocated to each of those categories. Other more subject specific information is also included. The Interim Comprehensive Assessments (ICAs) use the same blueprint as the summative assessment.


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Sabina Loving always knew she wanted to work for herself.
So much so that, when an abandoned storefront was renovated and became available for rent across the street from her house on the South Side of Chicago in 2010, she decided that one day she would operate her budding tax-preparation business out of it.
"When I saw the landlord fixing it up, I inquired about it, and he said, 'Oh, no, it's already rented,'" Loving, 47, recalls in an interview with The Daily Signal.
But Loving, at the time a single mother who worked a full-time job and spent nights preparing taxes for low-income clients, was determined.
"I said to myself, 'That is going to be mine.'"
As fate would have it, when the people who had leased the storefront had to go out of town for an extended period of time, the owner ended up renting the space to Loving.
The storefront was open for business for the first time in a decade as Loving excitedly launched Loving Tax Services, grew her client list, and left her full-time job to pursue what she calls her "passion."
The Internal Revenue Service promptly slapped her with regulations.
"I opened my business in 2010, I incorporated in 2010, and in 2011, they started the whole licensing conversation," Loving says.
That "licensing conversation" went something like this: In 2011, the IRS sought to begin regulating the nation's roughly 300,000 independent tax preparers based on an 1884 statute called the Dead Horse Act.
The IRS argued that the 127-year-old law, enacted before the nation had an income tax, allowed them to extend current rules to tax preparers.
Critics, arguing that tax preparers already were strictly regulated, called it overstepping.
"The statute that they were relying on was passed in an era when there was no income tax, and there were no tax preparers," lawyer Dan Alban, who represents Loving, says. "That was a bridge too far."
Alban, part of the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm, adds:
This was the largest number of people affected by [occupational licensing] that we've ever encountered. It was a nationwide licensing scheme.
By law, roughly one-quarter of all American workers must have a license to do their job, a fivefold increase from the 1950s, according to a recent White House report. The study, "Occupational Licensing: A Framework for Policymakers," was produced by the Department of Treasury's Office of Economic Policy, the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Department of Labor.
Loving says the unexpected IRS regulations threatened the core of her business, since she wasn't able to hire employees and expand.
"I worked in corporate America for 12 years as an accountant," Loving says. "I did everything I was supposed to. I went to school. I have two degrees. Started a career. And that did not protect me."
At the time, she estimates, the new regulations cost her several hundred dollars to a thousand dollars per employee.
"A lot of tax preparers are seasonal, and they only do a handful of returns per year," Alban says. "It quickly becomes not worth it to prepare [a return] if you then also have to pay $116 to take an exam, $63 to get a [personal tax identification number], however much the continuing education costs. All of those costs add up."
With the help of Alban, and the Institute for Justice's Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago, Loving and two other tax preparers sued the IRS. Last year, she won the case, Loving v. Commissioner.
"The IRS invented out of whole cloth these regulations, and did not actually have the statutory authority to implement them," Alban says. "Both the U.S. District Court here in D.C. and the D.C. Circuit agreed with us, and the IRS decided not to appeal to the Supreme Court."
It was a victory for Loving, a small business owner who calls America "the land of opportunity."
Despite that victory, though, Loving still fights to operate her business free of intrusive regulations.
An amendment proposed by the Senate Finance Committee, led by Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, would alter Title 31 of the U.S. Code to give the IRS the authority to regulate tax preparers.
The bipartisan bill, which also takes steps to protect taxpayers against identity theft, went through a committee markup Wednesday.
Loving, saying her livelihood is threatened, testified against the proposal Tuesday in front of the Senate committee.
When Loving finished sharing her story, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, thanked her for "particularly powerful testimony" and for "standing up to the power of government and the power of big money and lobbying."
Loving wonders why that power is arrayed against her.
"I'm still growing a business, I'm only 5 years old," she says. "And for someone to try to put you out of business when you're just getting started. … Why now?"


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A directionless dystopian political/sci-fi snoozefest that can't seem to decide what topic it wants to take on.
Level 16 (Blu-ray Review)
Like a YA version of 'The Handmaid's Tale' only limited by budget and production
Another Evil (TheaterByte Movie Review)
This comedy/horror that borrows liberally from 'The Exorcist' has new cult favorite written all over it.
Emelie (TheaterByte Movie Review)
Sarah Bolger is an unhinged babysitter in Michael Thelin's atmospheric horror/thriller 'Emelie.'
We Are Still Here (2015) Movie Review
A couple's new home houses a slumbering darkness that must be fed in this new throwback horror film We Are Still Here.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray Review
The genre-defining cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre arrives in a spine-tingling 4K transfer
Restored Texas Chainsaw Massacre Gets "Black Maria" Limited Edition Blu-ray Box
4K restoration of Texas Chainsaw Massacre coming in 4-disc limited edition box set, 7.1 audio, and collector's edition combo sets.
Stitches (2012) Blu-ray Review
This Irish comedy/slasher film needs to go back to the drawing board, find some originality, a better villain, and actual comedy in the "humorous" half of the film.
My Sucky Teen Romance Blu-ray Review
This teen romance vampire spoof shows a lot of potential for its young filmmaker, but it will only appeal to a limited audience.
The Innkeepers Blu-ray Review
Ti West's The Innkeepers is reminiscent of many other haunted house films in its style and technique, conjuring up Hitchcock classics and Kubrick's The Shining, but it ultimately fails to deliver on the scares.


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The Student Activity View allows you to see your student's progress on a given assignment and you can even see the exact version of the problem they are working on. This helps you determine where a given student may be struggling. Connect's Section Performance report provides a dashboard view of how well your students are doing on course assignments.
Consolidated Instructor Resources
All of our instructor resources are conveniently housed within Connect — right where you need them — including our PowerPoint files, Instructor Manuals, Test banks, and more. You can access these materials whenever you are online.
No need to reinvent the wheel, share your courses and assignments with peers
This feature permits you to share your assignments with other instructors and colleagues for consistency across multiple sections. You control permissions such as whether another instructor can modify your content or if you will update material and automatically share those revisions. Once assignments are complete generate a number of powerful analytical reports. In the end, everyone involved with your course accomplishes more in less time.
Effortless Grading
Connect's assignments are auto-graded, saving you time and allowing your students to instantly see how they performed. Connect's Reports then allow you easily review student and section performance. And for those of you who use Bb, the grades from Connect will seamlessly appear in your Bb grade book.
Lecture Capture with Tegrity
Tegrity makes your classes available anytime, anywhere. With simple, one-click recording, students can search for a word or phrase and be taken to the exact place in your lecture that they need to review.


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A fault with the light fittings could cause an electric shock.
Holstens has recalled some of its Outdoor Festoon / Bistro string lights. Some of the fittings have been fitted with reverse polarity.
If someone attempts to remove a light bulb while the power is connected, and touches the metal side of the light bulb fitting while it is still in contact with the holder, they may experience an electric shock.
Only purchases after 7 December 2016 are affected:
E14 fittings
E27 fittings
Stop using the products and do not try to change the light bulbs while the string of lights is connected to the power.
Return the lights to the place of purchase for a full refund or a correctly configured and certified replacement product (when available).
For more information, email Holstens at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Information provided by Product Recalls — part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Get access to comment


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Discussion by: nblizzard
Growing up Christian (and then turning to Mormonism), my parents always completely rejected (and still do) Evolution in any way, shape or form. Although I was always quite spiritual etc, in the back of my mind I sort of always knew that it must be true, but because my knowledge of text on the subject was extremely limited, I had no idea how to go about learning more about it.
When visiting the King Tut Exhibit at my local museum on my 21st Birthday, I stumbled across Coyne's "Why Evolution is True" in the museum gift shop. I reluctantly put it down, but after not having it to read bugged me for months, I eventually bought and read it. The rest is history.
I guess because I felt so cheated by religion, since reading Coyne's book I've been adamant about gaining more knowledge on the subject especially in regards to religion etc. I tried reading Neil Shubin's Your Inner Fish:, but stopped half way. I can't stand his writing style as I find its more of a memoir than an educational read.
Anyway, to get to the point, I was wondering if anyone in (or previously in) a similar position or with a similar interest in mind can recommend any books for a person like myself, with limited knowledge on the subjects. I'm also very interested to eventually read all of Dawkins' books, but I'm not sure which I should begin with?
Any help would be very greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.


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The original Dhivehi article was published on Avas.mv website on 9th April 2017. By Moosa Rasheed
The following is a loose translation:
Foreign nations, associations and NGOs attempt to interfere with the Maldives internal affairs is not something new and of which that started recently. When we dive back into the history it is clear that it is a huge interest of foreign powers to criticise and interfere into various internal affairs of the Maldives. A clear example is that Maldives was once under the colonial rule of the British Empire in some manner. The main reason for such influencing is that Maldives being strategically located in the Indian Ocean. Hence, the intervening, pressuring and squeezing Maldives ensues.
Leave that aside and on to the other side of this debate. In this globalised world, superpowers will always criticise other nations. The reason is that it is a globalised world and even Maldives cannot be outside the sphere of influence. Developed societies will guide, highlighting what was improper when things do not differ from the declarations of organisations which Maldives has signed and are a party to. But this is not the way to address such issues. They should find parties on both sides and address the issue in an unbiased manner.
However, to date, are some of the foreign parties acting neutrally? Or are their criticisms lopsided to the party who may bring political benefit for them in the long run? If we look at some of the recent statements made by these super-powers on the political situation of the Maldives, you will have your answers.
"The German Embassy is deeply concerned about the continuing erosion of democracy in the Maldives in recent days.
The non-confidence motion against the Hon Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament was defeated after the vote had been conducted in a way that clearly violated the rules of procedure of the Parliament.
The disturbing news about the ensuing harassment of opposition politicians is contrary to democratic standards. The ongoing worrying developments are clearly not conducive to the sustainable economic development of the Maldives.
Germany strongly urges the Maldivian government to respect democratic norms and to stop the harassment of media, opposition parliamentarians and civil society"
A recent German embassy statement said.
"We are concerned about irregularities that impeded a free and fair vote in the Maldives Parliament on March 27. We call on the Government to restore faith in democratic processes by ensuring free and impartial proceedings in Parliament, free, and fair local elections, and basic freedoms of press, assembly, and speech". – The US embassy in Sri Lanka said in their statement.
To summarise what these two statements are reiterating what the opposition said on the 27th of March after walking out of the parliament floor. If the opposition is talking as per the rules and regulations of the law then there is no issue that a foreign government repeats it. But they should at least hear out what the government coalition has to say too. They have to look at both sides of the issue.
While these two statements say that the roll-call was taken contrary to the parliamentary procedure, if you read clause 165 (h) of the parliamentary procedures, it is clear that the statements were baseless. As in that clause when a roll-call is proposed, seconded, and passed by the parliament, going for a roll-call on the particular issue is allowed as per the parliamentary procedures. Not stating here the vote went perfect, but this roll-call vote can be taken in accordance with the procedures of the parliament. And on that day the vote was taken in this manner.
When is it clearly stipulated, is there any way to say that the events of the day were not in accordance parliamentary procedure? This raises the question of how much the foreign nations studied the events of the day before issuing such statements.
"Recently I met and asked an ambassador on these statements. I asked if they had read the clause 165 of the parliamentary procedures before issuing the statement. That ambassador said they did not read it before issuing the statement. Then, I asked why didn't you check at least that much before issuing the statement. The ambassador then said the statement was issued based on the information the embassy had received. Then I asked if they inquired from the government or the secretariat of the parliament on the matter. The ambassador said they did not do even that." , Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Mohamed Shainee shared to Avas a conversation he had with an ambassador.
Then, how can we accept such irresponsible statement? It is clear that the statements from the foreign bodies are politically stained"
Another huge criticism from foreign entities is to allow the opposition to have the opportunity to participate in the debates in the parliament and respect the norms of democracy. While they say that, any sane person will know that each individual member to verbally give their vote is the most transparent vote method that can be taken. Is not addressing issues which impact the citizens being conducted in the most transparent manner the best democratic way?
While some nations criticise based on what they heard from the opposition we have to see how things really are in that nation too. Last week the US was most criticised because they launched a missile attack against Syria without respecting the laws and regulations and without any consent from the house of representatives and the senate.To conduct such a direct attack against another state, getting the consent of the senate is what their opposition debates are about.
When Germany calls to ensure the rights enshrined in democracy, it's not long ago that a case where they spied upon foreign journalists was revealed. Is not reading emails of journalists and listening to telephone calls of journalists taking away several rights all at once?
That's why I am saying that what has happened is very clear. The foreign nations criticisms are heavily lopsided in favour of the opposition, in this way they will gain politically. Because the opposition has an approach similar to the colours of these nations that is why they are nodding their heads in agreement to whatever they say.", Minister Shainee said.
If the foreigners give constructive criticisms Maldives will also have to accept it. However, when they are always bigoted it will be difficult to embrace them. The opposition claims that the foreign nations criticisms are justified and on the dot. However, the government is not too keen to listen to these as the government wants to isolate the Maldives from the rest of the world. But the question is why do we have to bow to whatever criticism which comes from a foreign nation? Maldivian's issues need to be dealt by Maldivians. Isn't it time we find a solution to our issues internally?
Source URL: Avas.mv


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Hunters' Julian McMahon Tells Us More About His Out-There Terrorist
Nip/Tuck's Julian McMahon is back on series TV in Syfy's just-announced alien drama Hunters, based on Whitley Strieber's novel. And this time, he's getting under the skin—literally—of someone even wilder than bed-hopping plastic surgeon he played for six season on FX's late soap.
At the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena last night,the Australian actor told us that the new series from Walking Dead EP Gale Anne Hurd about an FBI agent (Nathan Phillips) who joins a secret group's battle against alien sleeper cells on Earth after his wife vanishes serves as an allegory for our very modern times. "The way I look at the piece is, if you substitute aliens for terrorists, that is a good way to describe how the whole show works." In fact, the show features a suicide bombing similar to the Paris attacks, which actually occurred after production had begun.
Describing his character McCarthy as a low-level alien operative "who thinks he's the boss, which is always dangerous," McMahon revealed that it'll be some time before we see exactly what really lies beneath the interlopers' human facade. "You won't see [them] in the first episode," he says of the beings out to possibly take over the planet. "We see it further down the down the track. At the beginning of the show, it's hard to figure out what we're dealing with."


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Asia Pacific Media Educator
Article Title
For three years, the University of the South Pacific has hosted a unique week-long annual conference of young Pacific Island leaders where they "live out" daily examples of good governance and accountability. SPICOL, or the Student Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, is a university interdisciplinary simulation exercise. Students take on the role of prime ministers, cabinet ministers, lobbyists, researchers — and reporters for the news media. Journalism students report, edit, publish and broadcast for their campus station Radio Pasifik and the special conference training newspaper, Spicol Daily. In 1999, Spicol Daily became a tabloid "newspaper within newspaper" publishing in one of Fiji's three national newspapers, the Daily Post. The challenge provided a dramatic and practical learning curve for students.
Recommended CitationRobie, D., Spicol Daily: A pacific media partnership case study, Asia Pacific Media Educator, 8, 2000, 34-41.
Available at:https://ro.uow.edu.au/apme/vol1/iss8/4


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Business Breakfast Bytes - February 2019
Topic: How to Effectively Correct Performance, Discipline, Remediate and Separate Employees from Employment
The February Business Breakfast Bytes will feature an expert from von Briesen & Roper, s.c. who is knowledgeable in the best practices on how to correct work performance issues. Attendees will learn the latest tools necessary for correcting substandard performance, implementing discipline and, when necessary, terminating employees. These tools could help you avoid costly litigation.
Hosted by: Keller Williams
Jon Eiden, an attorney from von Briesen & Roper, s.c., will lead the session.
Are you looking to learn from an actual Labor and Employment attorney? Can your managers use a refresher on how to effectively correct work performance issues? Are you looking to familiarize yourself with the proper termination procedures?
The need to correct an employee's behavior is usually an inevitable experience in a manager or HR professional's business career. While it is not always a comfortable conversation to have, it needs to be done. This presentation will help attendees learn how to handle these types of situations, and to do it in a way to avoid potential legal disputes. What works? What does not work? What should you avoid? Jon Eiden is ready to share his expertise with you.


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Many of the same principles of a thermal inspection in a home can be applied to a commercial property inspection. In this video, Chip Wade shows you how you can take your business to the next level by offering commercial property inspections. He spots a problem in a warehouse that is being converted to an office building that could have cost thousands of dollars down the road.
Chip then sums up the benefits of investing in a thermal imaging camera from Fluke. As he states, an imager can pay for itself with just ONE commercial building inspection. Fluke also makes it easy to get started, offering in-the-box training, and many hands on training and certification courses. Learn more about how thermal imaging offers a clear, competitive advantage by clicking here.
Click HERE to watch the final episode. Thanks for tuning in!


text: All Dancing Bee Acres Pollen is dried without heat. Granules are the most natural method of securing the benefits of this powerhouse. Conveniently portioned in 500 mg capsules, this product is easy to work into a busy lifestyle. No fillers or synthetics. More than 40 research studies document the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of bee pollen. 60 Capsules Per Bottle


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Wednesdays at St. Luke's U is a time to explore your spiritual journey, uniting with others in Christian community. Everyone is invited to join us, with programming for Children and Youth beginning after school and opportunities for group study and choir rehearsal for adults beginning after dinner.
Click below to view/register for Wednesday Bible Studies:
Join us as we eat, laugh, and get to know each other a little better!!
Each week, we will meet together for dinner [cost: $8 for adults, $7 for children (ages 4-12)] beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Click the button below to RSVP for dinners:


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Love it Caesare! As always, it's extremely well painted. If the young man falls and breaks his neck in pursuit of such an attractive damsel, well, some risks are worth taking.
Love it Caesare! As always, it's extremely well painted. If the young man falls and breaks his neck in pursuit of such an attractive damsel, well, some risks are worth taking.
My Gallery:
Deviant Art Gallery:
Right, dear BB! It's probably less worth when the lady living in the palace has a huge scorpion tail though! Thank You!
Panta rei (everything flows)!
With his legs spread like that he could end up splitting his difference if he falls wrong Expertly paint my dear Cesare
Treat Others as you wish to be treated
Wondering what might the Pumpkin face been thinking ..... The expression seems like it's planning to do something. Nice illustration.
LOL No problem, dear Amanda. Considering the age and the place of the tragedy, he can anyway change his career from lover to a treble singer!
Thank you!
Thank You, dear Chaos79! Oh, the pumpkin moon may just observe and enjoy the nasty trick the scorpio-lady is going t play to the ministrel (or Romeo, "is it You Romeo?")
Panta rei (everything flows)!
Speaking of fish, who ordered the piece of cod?
You're right Caesar. You haven't got this Halloween thing quite down yet, but this makes for a very refreshing take on a very traditional holiday. I think it gets lumped in as a holiday even though it's still a work day.
Yes, based on what they write about her in history, Lucretia Borgia with her murderous penchant for poisoning would fit right into Halloween, despite her being pre-Gothic, and more late Renaissance.
This black widow you painted is a funny twist on Juliette. And Romeo suddenly got miscast as the damsel in distress for another offer of emasculation. . . ripe for the picking so to speak.
I think this year's Halloween I shall dress as a Roman painter, you demented lad.
"Not a bit is wasted and the best is yet to come. . ." -- remembered from a dream
Thank You for Your funny and positive comment, dear D Akey.
I also realized that my historical period choice doesn't fit with the Gothic art style ususally adopted for Halloween. To my excuse, it's probably due to the fact that we got out of the Middle Age sensibly sooner here ...
Let me play the lecturer for a little bit. In Italy, not considering more localised architectural style (like the Bizantinian, Moresque, Amalfitan, Venitian or Swabian to cite some examples) ,after the Roman Empire we had more or less the following succession for buildings and visual arts: Paleo-christian, Romanic, Gothic, Renaissance, Manierism, Baroque, Rococò, Neo-classical/ Palladian. The following periods were, more or less like in the rest of Europe.
As I anticipated, in most cases they appeared before or far before than in the rest of Europe.
We don't even celebrate Halloween, but we share somehow its Celtic roots in many places of Italy once ruled by Barbarians, the Longobards in particular. Moreover we have many traditional spooky stories grandparents and old people used to narrate and many of them right from middle age, where we had our outstanding share of saints, and honest amount of alleged witches and heretics, alchemists, Inquisition and so on, without an obscurantism and terror vaguely comparable to that in Spain and without getting affected by their nightmares which seem to have haunted Goya.
Panta rei (everything flows)!
A 'tale' with a sting in it .....i really like your sub dialogues
Draw what you see!....not what you think you see!!
My artist friend
We Must each think of ourselves as an endless work in progress ....Harley Brown
Thank You, dear Enchanter! his Halloween inspiration was a way to get closer to fantasy illustrations where You're a real master.
Panta rei (everything flows)!
Wow I am in awe at your talent plus your painting tells a story which is always a bonus.
You are a true artist.


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Pilot program designed to enhance visitor experience
Press Release
Following a transportation study conducted earlier this year, the Garden of the Gods Foundation and the City of Colorado Springs' Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department will partner in implementing a free public shuttle this summer in Garden of the Gods Park. The optional shuttle will be offered for approximately 90 days between the end of May and beginning of September, which is when the park experiences the greatest number of visitors. An estimated 5.8 million people visited the park in 2017.
"Launching the shuttle system this summer is part of our incremental approach to apply small-scale pilot programs to gauge impact and measure feedback on utilization patterns," said Kim King, parks and recreation manager. "We know we won't have all the answers right away, but because we want to increase alternative ways to experience the garden, it's critically important to test programs like this shuttle."
The shuttle fleet will be comprised of two 14-passenger vans that will take approximately 30 minutes to complete a three-stop loop at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center and the intersection of Gateway Road and Juniper Way Loop, which connects to a trail into the Central Garden zone. To accommodate parking for shuttle users, a temporary parking lot with the capacity to hold 400 vehicles will be constructed near the intersection of 30th Street and Gateway Drive at Rock Ledge Ranch. Shuttles will depart the free Rock Ledge Ranch parking lot approximately every 15 minutes daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Adventures Out West – which currently offers guided, purchasable jeep, Segway and trolley tours from the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center – will manage and operate the shuttle. It will be funded by both the Garden of the Gods Foundation, a 501(c)(3) created in 1994 to preserve and maintain the park, and the parks department. The foundation also owns and operates the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center.
Shuttle users will be encouraged to participate in a text-based survey to share their feedback. Additional information will be available at gardenofthegods.com and coloradosprings.gov/gogtransportationstudy.
The transportation study, funded by the Garden of the Gods Foundation, was conducted by Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. In addition to the study, the Parks department also sought feedback from residents in March about proposed ways to alleviate congestion, enhance access and reduce emissions.


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Made in 2006, Idiocracy is one of the stupidest AND funniest movies I have ever seen. Pvt. Joe Bauers, a completely average guy, is forced into a military experiment, in which he and Rita, an average woman who is also a prostitute, are put into suspended animation for a year to see whether it might work at all. The experiment goes haywire, and they don't wake up for 500 years. By that time, 500 years of over-populating by the dumbest people in society and under-populating by the smartest have resulted in a country that is so dumbed down, that Joe and Rita are the two most intelligent people in the world. There is a lot of evidence that this dumbing down process is not just fiction. You can read about it here. https://curmudgeon550.blog/2019/06/03/why-are-we-becoming-dumber/
The movie projects the trajectories of present trends 500 years into the future, with no ameliorating forces. Some of the sight gags are ridiculously hilarious. Buildings in cities are crumbling and held together with wire. The Washington monument is leaning to one side. Costco warehouses are the size of small cities, but the shelves are piled so high that the merchandise is unreachable, and most of it has crumbled into heaps of junk. The furniture section features only thousands of identical red sofas, because no one can figure out how to make anything else. The President of the US is a black rapper played to the hilt by hugely muscular Terry Crews, wearing a gold wig. Predictably, the movie gets dumber and less funny as it tries to substitute a plot for sight gags, but the lack of meaning and purpose in life infects everyone. They probably hope for a mass shooting to liven things up, or to end their meaningless existence.
As a sample, the most popular TV show in the country when Joe wakes up is called Ow, My Balls. It's an endless reel of men performing stupid stunts that result in getting their crotch impaled, and the most popular movie, which has hundreds of patrons giggling, simply called Ass, is hours of naked saggy butts. I then realized that this movie inadvertently illustrates the driving forces behind these manifesto-driven "mass shootings." How so? Writes Alyssa Ahlgren: Regarding modern day life, "more people are on medication than any other time in modern human history. Rates of depression and suicide are at an all-time high. The dismantling of the family unit is destroying our youth. There is a lack of purpose and higher calling as we become cold to the thought of the existence of God or anything greater than ourselves. Our minds are denigrated to a place of immorality without the guidance of a virtuous purpose above our own subjective feelings. This lack of purpose allows for a dangerous dogma to fill the void. Mental health problems and disgusting ideologies like white supremacy take the place of the unifying religious and American values that fuels the human spirit."
She's correct, but as usual, proposes solutions that generalize about what the royal "we" needs to do. "Instead of more legislation, we need to better enforce the laws already on the books. We need to build up our mental health system that was destroyed in the 50s and 60s. We need to be proactive in treating the sick among us. We need to make sure law-abiding citizens have the ease to exercise their Second Amendment right when the institutions designated to enforce the laws fail us. And we need to revitalize the higher purpose and values that built this country in the first place. Guns have been a widespread presence for 243 years; staring at an inanimate object instead of the problem won't cure this cancer of the soul."
Okay, all well and good, but….These manifesto driven killers are actually hungry for community, personal acknowledgement and authentic relationships. That's a big reason for writing their rambling online manifestos. This is their meaning in life, their minds are confused vacuums filled with blame, shame, anger, all of which demands someone to blame, like Hitler blaming the Jews for Germany's post WWI woes. I am going to suggest two ideas here, one is what the authorities can do, and the other is a basic truth of life that the rest of us might strongly consider. This basic truth is: You are ultimately alone, unless you are resting in the lap of God. People move on, relationships move on, life moves on, friends and family die, move away, become estranged. As Jackson Browne put it in his song, For A Dancer, "no matter how close to yours, another's steps have grown, in the end there is one dance you'll do alone." Accept it, embrace it, if you want friends, first be the friend you're looking for, or get a dog, but don't fight your feelings or blame someone for your isolation. If you are more or less well adjusted, blaming others for this fact of life may just sadden you, but for the manifesto killer, sadness and loneliness transform into bullets, then the media and politicians transform the bullets into bullshit.
As for what the government can do: If these killers are looking for notoriety, or don't fear death or prison (if they find lots of like-minded friends or fans), deterrence might not be possible, but what's the most likely deterrent? Let it be known that whatever population the killers hate the most, according to their manifesto or statements, that's the very group they will live with in the general prison population. For example, the guy who killed in El Paso says he hated Mexicans, make sure he is incarcerated with lots of them. Of course that's a death sentence, but 1. It's deserved and 2. If anything could deter his actions, it would be that. Is that too cruel? You might raise the objection that such a fate would make death preferable, so the killers will not surrender but try to kill more. Don't they already try to kill as many as possible?
Am I being satirical or serious? "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil."- Ecclesiastes 8:11. So said Solomon, the wisest man who lived. The average death row inmate spends 20 years, 3 months in prison from sentencing until the sentence is carried out. Virtually all the mass shooters surrender to police when apprehended rather than choosing to shoot it out, so you have to ask yourself, why prefer prison to death? Could it be that their expectations of prison or their trials is about prolonging their notoriety?
Evil is no longer deterred by the threat of prison, prison has even become something cool to certain types who think it brings street cred. Gangs operate with impunity inside prison, they terrorize the least of the criminals and elevate the worst. Mass shooters are probably lionized and protected by their particular hatred group. My idea would create the opposite situation. They would know what it is to be terrorized. But that's not enough. Their prison experience needs to serve as a lesson to would-be manifesto murderers.
I wrote all of the foregoing before seeing the latest news about reactions to the El Paso and Dayton shootings. Now I have to do a part two, because the Idiocracy isn't in 500 years, we already live in it.


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Job: Edinburgh PHP, Javascript, CSS
28 January, 2012 Leave a comment
This just in from Edinburgh University:
The e-learning unit, within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine 's Learning Technology Section (LTS), is seeking to recruit an e-learning systems developer to build, maintain and support computer based teaching and learning resources to support medical, veterinary and other healthcare education both within the University and in partnership with our portfolio of external partners.
The successful candidate will have a degree in a related subject and demonstrable ability in a range of technical development skills including object oriented PHP, JavaScript, and CSS. Also desirable would be experience with PHP frameworks, ASP/VB Script, JavaScript libraries (e.g. jQuery), andASP.NET.
Ref: 3015303. Closing date: 23 February 2012. Salary Scale: £30,122 – £35,938.
Full details of this position can be found at - http://bit.ly/LTS-02


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|The stupid question is the question not asked
Re: The golf course looks great, my swing feels good, I like my chances (Part II)by ambrus (Abbot)
|on May 01, 2009 at 10:32 UTC ( #761252=note: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
You know, it doesn't really surprise me that perl isn't always optimal for golf. I've seen it in action in that fibonacci golf tingy at Re: Fibo Golf challenge on 3 monkeys and (OT) Fibonacci numbers in Ruby - final shot - 24 chars etc. Also, when I write one-liners, which I do a lot, and I don't golf on purpose, the ruby ones always turn out to be shorter than the perl ones, only the ruby ones get hard to manage earlier when they grow. Ruby just has a larger, better standard library for basic things, but cpan wins when you need more complicated stuff like xml parsing.
As for ruby,
<Reveal this spoiler or all in this thread>
In Section Meditations


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Your home's HVAC system is by far one of its most important components as it helps to ensure that the house remains cool and comfortable during the hot Long Island summer months and keeps you from freezing during the cold New York winter. Unfortunately, HVAC problems can and do occur anywhere at any time. If your heater or air conditioner won't run or isn't heating or cooling properly, it is an obvious sign that something is wrong. However, having an unpleasant odor emanating from your HVAC system can also be a sign that there is some sort of problem, which makes it important that you know a bit about the most common HVAC odors and what causes them.
Smells That Indicate a Minor Problem
The majority of unpleasant HVAC odors are generally nothing to worry about too much as these smells tend to indicate a more natural, easier to fix problem instead of being a sign that there is something seriously wrong with your heater or air conditioner. Mold or Mildew Smell Probably the most common HVAC odor, mold and mildew smells are usually a sign that excess water isn't draining away from your air conditioner properly. In this case, the water could leak out and lead to mold or mildew growing inside your A/C unit or vents. As well, the smells could be a sign that you have a leak somewhere that is causing water to get inside your ventilation system and leading to mold growth. As some types of mold can be toxic, it is important that you have an HVAC professional inspect your system as soon as you notice the smell. However, the smells could also be coming from your A/C filter. Therefore, you may want to try cleaning your filter to see if that doesn't eliminate the odor.
Bad Feet Smell
If your air conditioner isn't draining properly, stagnant water can also build up inside the unit. Over time, this can lead to it giving off a smell that resembles stinky feet. In this case, you'll need to have the A/C cleaned and also repaired to ensure that it drains properly.
Rotting Smell
If it smells like something is rotting whenever you turn on your heater or air conditioner, it could be a sign that a bird or rodent crawled inside your ventilation system and died. Although it may be gross, this situation is nothing to worry about as all you'll need to do is find and remove the dead animal to eliminate the cause of the bad odor.
Smells That Indicate a Potentially More Serious Problem
In some cases, a bad smell coming from your heater, air conditioner or vents could indicate a sign of a more serious problem with the HVAC unit itself or something else altogether. For this reason, you should be on the lookout for any of the following smells and seek professional assistance if your nostrils pick any of them up.
Burning Smells
Everyone has experienced the smell of burning dust and debris that occurs when you turn on your heater for the first time in several months. However, this burning smell should usually dissipate within 30 minutes or an hour. If the smell doesn't go away or you notice a burning smell at any other time, it could be a sign of an electrical problem or it may indicate that your heater or air conditioner is overheating. Either way, you'll want to contact an HVAC professional to have the system examined so as to identify any issues before they become a serious problem.
Gun Powder Smell
The smell of burning gun powder is quite distinctive, and if you notice this smell coming from your HVAC vents, it is usually a sign that the fan motor or one of the circuit boards inside your air conditioner has a short. As this type of short could potentially ruin the unit for good, it is imperative that you have the unit inspected as soon as you notice the smell.
Rotten Egg Smell
Like gun powder, the smell of rotten eggs is incredibly distinctive. In this case, there is usually only one possible cause a natural gas leak. Although natural gas is odorless on its own, gas companies add the smell of rotten eggs to the gas to ensure that leaks can easily be detected. If you notice a rotten egg smell coming from your vents, the first thing to do is vacate the premise. Only once you and your family have fully left the property should you then call the gas company and an HVAC repairman.
Raw Sewage Smell
If you suddenly notice the smell of sewage wafting through your vents, it could be a sign that your sewage system has backed up somewhere near your property. The smell is actually caused by methane gas being released by the sewage. As methane can be dangerous, you'll want to immediately contact a plumber to have your sewage system examined.
As you can see, HVAC odors can be related to a wide variety of different issues. Therefore, it is important that you stay diligent and begin to take action at the first sign of an unpleasant odor. By doing so, you may be able to catch the problem early and prevent something minor from turning into a major issue. It is always a good idea to call your Dole technician when you notice something out of the ordinary occurring in your HVAC system. We are available 24 hours a day,7 days a week to address all of your Long Island heating and air conditioning issues.


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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS | More
Dr. Steven G. Geanopulos
Dr. Steven G. Geanopulos, affectionately known as 'DrG', is a speaker, writer, and leader in the world of functional neurology / functional medicine and is quickly becoming one of America's leading experts in lifelong, optimized living. His experience and clinical approach has proven that diminished health and vitality can be reclaimed by just about any proactive person at any age.
His practice has 3 main areas of focus:
- Brain health
- Metabolic health
- Structural and functional integrity and optimization.
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Ben Velazquez, an award-winning, nationally recognized, and sought after strength and conditioning coach, personal trainer, and physical fitness advisor to professional athletes and corporate executives. Ben has consistently demonstrated ability in assisting clients to improve peak performance and achieve desired results applying strong assessment, analytical, motivational and interpersonal skills. He possesses a sixth intuitive sense in evaluating individual ability, then determining suitable corrective action for overall improvement. He has delivered over 200 seminars to over 1,000 sports professionals. Ben is fluent in Spanish and is regarded as "…a diplomatic no-nonsense, get-it-done-now and get-it-doneright" professional when dealing with people and projects. He is recognized for work ethic, motivation, and a commitment to sports excellence.


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A pediatric nurse, before listening to the children's chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up in amazement. But she never got a response to equal that of six-year-old Molly's.
She tucked the sleek stethoscope in her ears and placed the smooth disk over her heart. "Listen," she said, "What do you suppose that is?" Molly drew her eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the drum beat of the strange lub-dub, lub-dub deep within her chest. Then her freckled face broke out in a marvelous, gap tooth smile. "Is that Jesus?"
This Easter season, having just celebrated the Holiest of Weeks with its beautiful images and faith rituals: waving palms, recalling institution of the Eucharist, washing feet, Way of the Cross, kissing the crucifix, lighting new fire, blessing the water, Baptisms, renewing the promises, and more...we embrace Paschal Mystery. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…" John 3:16
Easter faith offers us the experiences of Magdalene in the garden, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the apostles out fishing. Make time this Easter Season to listen, figuratively speaking, to the rhythm of your own heartbeat. With springtime freshness, sing out Alleluia in praise and thanksgiving for the miracle of Easter Resurrection and be prepared to see and hear Jesus everywhere in a living, personal presence.
- What is one of my favorite rituals of Holy Week? Why do I say that?
- As an associate or member of a religious congregation, how do our charisms call me to be and to recognize in others a personal Christ presence?


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Do you ever wish someone could explain business to you from the beginning? Slowly, patiently, and without confusing language – just real-world advice and examples that were relevant to you?
- Do you wish you could run your business like a pro, even if you don't feel like an expert?
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- Are you tired of learning everything about marketing + social media without getting real results?
Imagine you woke up to clarity about your business model, your strengths, and knew the clear actions to get you to the next level. Imagine bottling your message into a profit-generating, attention-getting business where people wanted your products or services every day.
The Breakthrough Mastermind Program is private, 1:1 high-impact work to take you to the next level of your business. This customized program gives you clear strategy on the long vision of your business, the impact you want to have, and tells you how to get there. It's marketing, sales, and branding rolled into one program to focus you only on the high-impact activities of your business. Whether you want to build a brand, launch a product, or write a book, you must laser-focus on the things that get you results. Business Mastermind is designed to help you stop feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and get you excited about your business. The program is perfect if you've started your business and want to grow (more clients + sales) or if you're new to business and want to learn to build in a stress-free way.
This intensive will give you clarity on:
1.) Business model, name, target market, and message.
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Get a process that works for you and breathe easy knowing you're spending your time wisely. Go from a lost beginner to confident professional in your business, and get clear strategy to make a profit, build your email list, and get clients even before you feel ready to do so. Learn the most effective sales and marketing techniques, expand your network, and own your position as a business owner. This program is for you if you're overwhelmed by what you need to learn in business and the tactics you've already tried.
This two hour intensive is where I'll get clear on your most important business goals and vision. We'll create a customized plan to build real strategy into your business and get clear on your offerings and what you want to give to the world.
Every month we'll have two 50-minute phone calls to get clarity on your business model and offerings, and strategize what actions you should focus on, including revenue, securing clients, and building your platform. The program is designed so you don't feel confused or unclear how to move forward, and I'll tell you exactly what your focus should be. We make tweaks to your plan as needed, and you will feel competent and confident in managing the most important tasks in your business.
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• #1
Hi Guys
Just wanted to know if there is a port that exists for running Espruino on RTL8195/8711 chipsets. I have experience running espruino on nrf52/nucleo boards and recently also ported the chnages to the RAK itracker module along with full support for on board sensors
If no such port exists for the REALTEK chipsets, can someone guide me as on how to get a basic port functioning. any suggestion would be welcome and i would be glad to contribute back to the community
• #2
I don't believe there is a port, no.
There's a bit of info on porting in the github repo's readme at https://github.com/espruino/Espruino and you could use the other ports as references - there are now a bunch of ARM-based ports.
Getting it running to blink lights is probably not too bad, but I imagine your big challenge will be getting the WiFi working, since that'll probably involve pulling in quite a lot of RTL-specific libraries. For instance there was a port to the EMW3165, but the actual WiFi support was never actually done.
• #3
Hi Gordon
Thanks for the quick reply. Seems like a nice challenge for me :) will keep the forum posted on the developments. I do agree that the real uphill task would be the wifi as the normal GPIO inits and drivers would be fairly straight forward. Lets see what I can make of it. There is a fair bit of community around the REALTEK Ameba boards. Maybe I can ask them for a collab on the board :)
• #4
Also have been working on Espruino port to the RAK itracker module by RAK wireless. Got all the sensors working and waiting for confirming the working of the NB IoT and GPS module as well.
I am pushing my changes here:
Also in works is a Espruino port on a BLE+LoRa module again from RAK
But would really love to send these changes upstream. Will need sometime to do a self code review to keep the code in line with the code quality in the main repo. Will push my changes soon !! :)
• #5
There might be some interesting info on porting to ARM in this thread: http://forum.espruino.com/conversations/310219/
However I'm not merging third party modules in to the main code. It just makes a lot more work for me if something in the build needs changing and I think I'm right in saying that every single contributed board other than ESP8266 and ESP32 has been contributed and then totally left to rot.
If RAK themselves are interested then they could pay for me to maintain builds for their boards - much like Ruuvitag and Seeed do (for the WIO) - but otherwise I'm afraid you'll have to maintain a fork.
It's annoying, but I have to pay myself a salary and I can't afford to end up in a position where I'm working for free to help some other company sell their modules :(
• #6
Hi @Gordon
Sure I understand the implications and the maintenance required when handling 3rd party code. It becomes tough to keep things in order with contributed code gets abandoned or when the project needs to undergo revamp/updates.
I'll be maintaining the code for the itracker module here:
Nonetheless, I really appreciate your efforts with the Espruino project. Keep up the good work. I got to learn a lot from the project and wanted to give back what I had learnt to the community.
• #7
If you've got non-board-specific improvements then it'd be great if you were able to issue a PR for them though.
I noticed you'd pulled in some existing C drivers for the 2 sensors in the iTracker. When I've had to do stuff like that I've generally been using JS modules for the hardware (there is already one for the BME280), so I guess you might find it easier to do that for other ports (they won't be hardware-dependent - your existing drivers seem like they'll only work on nRF5x?).
I do have some code that'll build JS files directly into the firmware in a way that doesn't eat RAM, so hopefully that'll make its way into normal Espruino at some point in the future.
• #8
Hi Gordon
Thanks for looking into the code and also showing me the correct way of integrating sensors. Seems there are a plethora of sensor drivers available. I would definitely try and port my code to JS so that it uses your framework in the intended fashion.
Yes as you might have seen, my code was very specific to nrf52, but after seeing the JS code i believe I can write the JS equivalents and push the sensor libs for the remaining sensors (LIS2MDL , LIS3DH, OPT3001). I am not a pro with JS (I am mostly into embedded Android, apps and J2EE in my day job) but it would be good excuse to learn JS :)
Will keep the forum posted on the developments.
• #10
Thanks! I haven't pushed that code yet (it was part of another branch), but stay tuned - I'm in the process of supporting another board where I'll be doing exactly that. I'll let you know here when the code goes in early next week.
In the mean time, it's actually a lot easier to develop JS modules anyway, since you can debug much more easily (eg, requesting the values from registers on the fly)
• #11
Awesome @Gordon !!!
Will await your code push and the new board ;) This weekend would be a good time for me to go through some of the sensors driver you have authored and understand how to port my boards sensors. Since the sensors drivers aren't board specific, I can send a PR for those to the mainline project for your review.
• #12
That's be awesome, thanks!
This is the form I'm writing most device drivers in now, if it helps: https://github.com/espruino/EspruinoDocs/blob/master/devices/BH1745.js
- Private
Cfor constants
- Private class for the device (some modules make the class public) with methods on prototype
- Public 'connectX' functions - some modules have different connection types (I2C, SPI 3 wire/SPI 4 wire), so I pass in the read/write register functions as arguments to the constructor
It seems to work pretty well for most stuff.
Generally to develop, I either:
- Use the Web IDE, add
exports={}up the top, and develop with the library and test code in one file.
- Use the Espruino command-line tool with
-wto watch a file, then put the library in a
hope that helps!
- Private
• #13
Got it !!!
I'll then use the BH1745.js driver as a reference to keep the code consistent and in-line with the standard followed across the Espruino drivers. Thanks for the debug suggestion @Gordon. Actually I was just about to ask you a better way to debug the drivers quickly :). Maybe you heard my mind's voice !!!
i saw a sliughtly similar approach in the LIS2D12 driver and thought ill take up as reference for the accel and magnetometer on the iTracker module. the opt3001 driver should be fairly easy to port. I haven't yet got the revision 2.0 of the board which fixes some board errata according to RAK. Once I get the board ill test my drivers on that and then send the PR.
Naresh K
• #14
I had a word with the CEO of RAK Wireless and he seems interested in your proposal for a port maintenance for some of his boards. I am sharing his email id here:
ken.yu at rakwireless dot com
I am just a contributor for some of the projects using their boards. Hence I wanted you to have a direct contact with him regarding your proposal. My humble request to please do follow up with them as I feel its a good opportunity.
I was not sure if you would be comfortable in sharing your official email id with me hence I am requesting you to share the same with Ken himself directly :)
Naresh K
• #15
That's great - thanks! I'll drop him an email!
• #16
There's a little error in BH1745.js var MEASUREMENT_TIMES = [ 160,320,640,1280,1560,5120 ]. 1560 should be 2560 i think.
• #17
Thanks! Yes, just fixed it in GitHub
• #18
@narioinc89 try this one out: https://github.com/espruino/Espruino/tree/master/libs/js


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text:
Hello, Everyone, and welcome to the new Academic Year! Who's excited? I know I am!
Now, raise your hand if you're scared out of your mind. Did yours go up? I know mine did.
I know what you're thinking – I'm one of the cheeriest, most excited people on campus. What do I have to be scared of? Plus, I'm a senior. Shouldn't I be used to this whole college thing by now?
Well, if we're going to be completely honest, the truth is I am scared. I'm scared about being a student teacher, about being someone people look up to, and about the future. The truth is is that it never gets easier. Yes, by your sophomore year, you have your group of friends, and you maybe even have a significant other, and you think you know what you're going to do for the rest of your life. But then time passes, and the friends you were once so close to start to look a little different, and you realize that things are changing. You are changing.
And that's ok.
Change is a healthy process that we're all go through, and it's something that cannot be stopped. We all change due to the experiences we go through, who we talk to, and where we learn from. At Saint Rose, we always learn things that will help us better the world, and that's wonderful. We learn new things about ourselves that we never thought we could, and it's amazing. But because of that, we change what we want out of life and what we want to give to the world. We change who we want to be.
And that's ok.
Here's a fun, personal story: I'm a singer. I'm good at it. I love doing it. But until I realized that I could do something with this talent, and until I got pressured by others to pursue this dream I always had, I realized that it wasn't what I wanted out of life. I don't want society and a career to take away the love I have for singing (not that it definitely would, but I know that a singing career would be more of a chore to me than anything else). I want my love of music to live on through others. And that, essentially, is what led me to want to be an educator. I want to share my passion for music with younger generations and show them why music is so amazing. The way I want to show them is not only through performance (that will never go away), but also through my teachings to them.
In actuality, I want to make a difference in the world. And the best way I know I can do that is through not just my song, but through my words in a classroom, and through my influence of others. I want to work in a college or some institution that will make kids live their dreams like I have. I want to help people change their lives for the better, just like Saint Rose has helped change mine. I want to make a difference.
And that's ok.
To the freshmen who are scared, and to my friends and colleagues who are still trying to figure it all out, it's ok. It's ok to still try to figure things out. It's ok to be scared of the future. We're all trying to figure this thing out that is life, and we're going to continue to try to figure things out until our time on this Earth is over. I can guarantee that it does get easier. Being at an institution like The College of Saint Rose makes it easier to figure these things out. Having a loving and supportive community makes it easier.
So smile; it's a new academic year, and you've got your whole life ahead of you. You've got the entire world ahead of you. And you're going to take it by storm. Just know that you're not alone with trying to figure things out. There is a loving a supportive community here at the college, and a lot of people who want to help you on your journey. Don't be afraid to talk to your RA, someone at the Counseling Center, a Professor, or just a Friend.
You Got This. You're Going to Be Ok. 🙂


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Subfloor ventilation
The space under a suspended timber-framed floor must be ventilated. A minimum of five air changes per hour should be provided (and double that for wet subfloor spaces). A clear opening area of 3500 mm2 (100 x 35 mm) should be provided for every square metre of floor area. Openings should be provided within 750 mm of corners, and evenly spread around the building at 1.8 metre maximum centres.
While ventilation openings may appear to be sufficiently large enough, the area of clear opening often does not meet the minimum requirement, so extra openings should be installed.
A building with baseboards should have 20 mm minimum gaps between the boards to allow sufficient ventilation.
Houses built during the 1970s were sometimes built with a floor structure that extended past the foundation line so ventilation could be provided over the top of the foundation wall and between the floor joists. If necessary, install mesh over this gap to stop vermin from getting under the house.
It is very common for subfloor ventilation to be blocked over time as a result of:
- soil levels being built up in gardens around the base of the house
- dense planting in gardens around the base of the house
- raised concrete pathways or driveways reducing the ventilation spaces
- thick paint reducing the airflow in metal gratings
- storage of building materials or other items under the house.
Where this has happened, reduce the blockage to restore good ventilation. In some cases this may be as simple as lowering the level of a garden.
Where blocked vents cannot be unblocked, or there were insufficient vents to begin with, you may need to create new vents. This may require cutting through timber or drilling through concrete.


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I had my hair ombre' at a hairdressers a couple of months ago, the ashy tone was starting to fade and I was left with a blonde that was way too yellow for my liking. Something needed to be done. I'd always wanted to add a more 'exotic' colour to my hair so I thought now's a better time than never. I bought the 'Lavender' dye by Colour Crave for £5.99, it was so cheap that I didn't give it a second thought.
When I first opened the tube of dye I noticed that the consistency was rather thick, this meant that when I started applying it to my hair it didn't spread easily at all. I tried using the brush applicator that came with the kit but that didn't really make a difference, it still clung to the little piece of hair you initially put the dye on. I became so scared that it was going to come out incredible patchy or I was going to run out of dye before i'd covered my whole head. I put tiny bits of dye on at a time and by the time I'd covered all my hair I still had half a tube left, I put this aside thinking how handy it is that I've got enough for a second use. I washed the dye out 15 minutes later, parts of my hair turned out a lovely lavender however my fringe and parts of my hair were still very yellow/blonde.
I decided to apply the rest of the dye, this time I mixed it in with a little conditioner to make it spread easier. This time I left it on for 40 minutes in the hope that the rest of my hair would turn purple, luckily enough, IT DID! I was over the moon with how it came out, it made me feel like Elsa!
The dye stated on the box that it should last 15+ washes, I've washed mine 4 times and the purple has totally faded! I'm left with an ashy silver colour, luckily i'm just as in love with this but it's worth baring in mind that's it very much a wash in/wash out purple. That's not a bad thing though, if you want to dye your hair for a short period of time with the guarantee it'll come out Colour Crave is perfect. Likewise, if you want to dye your hair silver then the Lavender shade will become that after a few washes. I'm loving my hair loads and i'm for sure going to buy another box after my silver fades, can't complain with the results.
I'd love to know what you think of Colour Crave dyes if you've tried one out!


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The markets around the world are rattled silly this morning by the first ever downgrade of the U.S. Government's debt by Standard & Poors. That is understandable but not, in my mind, rational.
There is no way the U.S. Government is going to default on its debt obligations. Its debts are no less safe this morning than they were on Friday or one year ago or ten years ago. It is true that our country's balance sheet is less healthy than it was a decade ago, but look what we have been through — a recession the depth of which had not been experienced since the 1930's while simultaneously engaging in two wars. Debt buildup and fiscal deficits were inevitable.
At the end of World War II, our debt as a percent of GDP was far higher than it is today. The Government spent huge amounts of money subsidizing mortgages and providing education through the GI Bill. The country emerged from that era into a sustained period of growth and prosperity which allowed the balance sheet to right itself.
Today we face more than a few challenging issues but they are not insurmountable if only our elected officials would work for the good of the people. There is a need first and foremost to get the economy revitalized. The reason that is proving so difficult to achieve is because the balance sheet of the consumer is still going through a downsizing. In addition, the banks are also continuing to downsize their own balance sheets. It is difficult to spend when you are trying to pay off debt.
Corporations are becoming the easy whipping boy for not hiring more of the unemployed. But they are not the culprit. They came through the recession in solid financial shape and they would like nothing more than to see good demand that would allow them to increase employment.
One thing is for sure — a massive tax increase will NOT be productive for the economy or as a means of reducing the debt levels of the Government. Such a strategy would be counterproductive. However, eliminating tax loopholes — the unfair tax treatments that allow large and profitable companies to pay nearly NO taxes — is an essential step in moving towards reducing the fiscal deficit.
The same is true regarding individual taxes — the wealthiest individuals should not be able to take advantage of tax loopholes that allow them to pay the lowest tax rates. It is appalling that Congress cannot agree in a bipartisan way to eliminate tax loopholes — genuine loopholes, NOT the very legitimate deduction of mortgage interest and charitable contributions.
Longer term there is no doubt that the issues of Social Security and retirement health care must be addressed. At least they are now being discussed. Only a decade ago, they were referred to as "the third rail of politics." So progress has been made. At some point in the not too distant future, Social Security will be means tested — as it should have been all along. And individuals will be required to work longer before receiving their benefit. This is simple arithmetic that goes hand in glove with the increase in life expectancy.
A better solution would be to allow — no, to force — individuals to save for their own retirement. The money would be their own, not the government's, and they would be able to pass it on to future generations if not consumed in retirement. Admittedly, such a program would need to provide supplemental support for those who could not save sufficiently during their working life. That would be the Social Security part, but it would be necessary for the few not the entire population.
I admit that none of these issues is really simple but what is disheartening, or perhaps better said, infuriating is to watch our lawmakers on both sides of the aisle engage in brinksmanship rather than productive dialogue and action.
Congress spared no words demonizing 'Wall Street' for the recession of 2007 and the precipitous decline in the markets, never admitting their own culpability in the debacle. Today the turmoil in the markets can be laid right at the feet of Congress. Let's hope they understand the seriousness of their criminally inept behavior.
Patricia W. Chadwick has had more than 35 years of investment experience. She is the founder and president of Ravengate Partners LLC, a consulting firm that provides advice on financial markets and global economics.


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I dont know about the 7000B series, but this is my experience with my 7000 series: I had no recovery CD, just the old Win98 HDD and some drivers from the internet. I placed a new (bigger and faster) HDD, and just installed WinXP from a XP Prof SP3 CD-Rom, installed the drivers, and installed the latest firmware (The tools package, this includes the scope program) from the Tek website. Did windows update, and now everything runs fine! XP runs that much better than Win 98/2K. You might even be able to run Windows 7. Your HW should be able run Win 7 without problems, but be sure to check if your SW supports Win 7.I did get some CMOS tools from the old hdd, as I was unable to find it anywhere. This was it.
Windows did not include the drivers for the ppc board and front panel. I downloaded the drivers mentioned earlier on this tread.
How did you determine that NVRAM have correct data? I'd suggest use serial console to check all parameters.
I think I need to focus on the PPC chip itself and see if I can verify the basics such as power supply, clock, and reset based on the datasheet.
How long after power on should it take fro the PPC board to show signs of life on the 7 segment, or console port? Does it boot from the hard drive before, or after Windows boots?
Just in case anyone needs drivers for TDS7000/TDS7000B/CSA7000/CSA7000B series scopes:Display driver from TDS7000B/CSA7000BUSB Front Panel driver for TDS7000/7000B/CSA7000/7000BPowerPC board driver for TDS7000/7000B/CSA7000/7000B
Quote from: andy2000 on May 23, 2015, 02:44:12 pmI think I need to focus on the PPC chip itself and see if I can verify the basics such as power supply, clock, and reset based on the datasheet. I would follow that strategy also... Check whether the basic conditions for the CPU to run are there.
Have you looked into powergood from onboard DC-DCs? Usually on PC hardware like motherboards and videocards powergood from onboard bucks driving resets to ensure correct ramped voltages and proper power sequence. Might be same case here.


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Interactive Intelligence Group
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Interactive Intelligence Group beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly. Non-GAAP earnings per share expanded significantly. GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.
Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, net margins increased.
Revenue details
Interactive Intelligence Group reported revenue of $73.2 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated sales of $64.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 39% higher than the prior-year quarter's $52.8 million.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
EPS came in at $0.17. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.02 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.17 for Q1 were 89% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.09 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.07 for Q1 were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.01 per share.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 64.7%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.7%, 410 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)
Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $68.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.06.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $288.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.43.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 366 members out of 393 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 117 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 114 give Interactive Intelligence Group a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Interactive Intelligence Group is outperform, with an average price target of $46.83.
Software and computerized services are being consumed in radically different ways, on new and increasingly mobile devices. Many old leaders will be left behind. Whether or not Interactive Intelligence Group makes the coming cut, you should check out the company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead the pack in "The Next Trillion-dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.
- Add Interactive Intelligence Group to My Watchlist.


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CT regulators ignore health and climate destroying methane leaks
Below is a press release sent by the Connecticut Sierra Club.
Gas pipelines in Connecticut leak at a much higher rate than is admitted by the companies who own them, and the environmental community is increasingly troubled by government appointed regulators who deny these leaks, and try to pretend away a serious and growing problem.
Natural gas is 97% methane, a powerful greenhouse gas and pollutant. Methane is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide at causing global heating, which means that transport and use of methane in Connecticut is contributing to worsening climate disruption.
What is of most immediate concern for residents is the negative public health impacts that are caused by leaking methane. Methane contributes to ozone smog, which is a major contributor to asthma, and is linked to other respiratory diseases and increased risk of cancers. The gas is fracked from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and includes other components in addition to methane. Some of these components are volatile organic compounds, which lead to the formation of ground level ozone smog that can trigger asthma, impair lung function and exacerbate emphysema and other pre-existing respiratory diseases. One of these is Benzene, which is linked to cancers, respiratory illnesses, and birth defects; Ethylbenzene is linked to neurological and blood disorders (both benzene and ethylbenzene are constituents of raw geothermic gas); and lastly, Formaldehyde is linked to some cancers and respiratory disease. All these components and methane are leaked in substantial amounts from compressor stations that service the main gas pipelines through the state of Connecticut.
PURA (Public Utilities Regulatory Authority) is responsible for intrastate gas pipeline safety oversight, and is authorized by the Federal Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration/Office of Pipeline Safety to monitor interstate pipeline safety. PURA claims that it records and monitors all leaks that are reported to it. PURA claims that Eversource and Iberdrola/UI check their pipelines, but those checks are done electronically and remotely, and underestimate the true number of leaks. The electric and gas monopolies Eversource and Iberdrola/UI never do the type of objective study that was undertaken by the Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club.
In order to determine the number and estimate the size of methane leaks in the city of Hartford, a group of scientists sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club conducted a mobile methane leak survey on all public streets of Hartford, from February 25 through March 31, 2016. This survey replicated studies previously conducted in Boston and elsewhere. This study found approximately six times more leaks in five weeks than found during the entire year of 2016 by PURA (only Grade 1 and Grade 2 leak level data were available, not Grade 3, which was not reported). (Figure 1)
The smaller, more frequent and numerous leaks, albeit perhaps of lower severity, are also problematic because: a) smaller leaks can progress into larger ones and may not "fix themselves" (a quote from PURA), b) accumulated smaller leaks waste product similar to or greater than, bigger leaks, and c) more distributed smaller leaks cause more human and environmental health risk and harm.
According to data analytics expert Tim Keyes, Ph.D. of Evergreen Business Analytics LLC. and Gale Ridge, Ph.D., a scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, "The approach being described is a proactive alternative to PURA's approach which is reactive. The CT Sierra Club study scientifically identified leaks using vehicle mounted sensing equipment, while PURA's approach is to depend on after-the fact voluntary human reporting. Considering how easy testing equipment can be mobilized, a proactive approach is superior in terms of public health, environmental protection, and long-term cost-benefits to both the State of Connecticut and gas companies. PURA, suppliers, and operators should not be threatened with the work done by the Sierra Club. The intention is to help improve gas system-wide performance, and enhance public understanding of how it might be monitored and managed, relative to product waste (methane lost). Ultimately, this is PURA's responsibility as an agent of public trust. Furthermore, the approach PURA uses to gather data is incomplete and not sufficiently transparent: Grade 3 leaks are not reported, and neither is the volume of each leak in their public records. There were 100 Grade 2 and 24 Grade 1 leaks in 2016. Generally speaking, the lower the Grade number, the greater propensity for an explosion. PURA should use an approach which transparently measures and manages all system defects, from small to large, on a proactive basis, taking into account both the frequency and severity of leaks, using established risk management procedures." (For display of all Grade 1 and Grade 2 leaks found by PURA in the 2011-2016 time frame, see Figure 2 at the end.)
Methane leaks have negative public health and climate impacts, which translates to negative economic impacts on the state. Ratepayers are forced to pay for gas leaks under a 2014 law, Public Act 14-152, so gas companies are rewarded for leaking and are not incentivized to repair leaks. Additionally, ratepayers are forced to subsidize intrastate gas pipeline expansion and may pay for future interstate gas pipeline construction, although gas pipeline companies are private, for-profit, shareholder driven businesses. For these reasons, legislators have been attempting to introduce bills for two years that would force repair of gas leaks, and remove the gas pipeline tax.
State Senator Ted Kennedy introduced Senate Bill 346, An Act Concerning the Threshold For Investigating The Lost And Unaccounted For Gas Of A Gas Company. "It is unbelievable to me, in the face of enormous consumer energy costs and the skyrocketing rate of greenhouse gas emissions, that current Connecticut law permits gas utility companies to avoid fixing their pipelines," said Senator Kennedy. "By allowing such a high rate of gas to leak before utilities are required to make repairs, and by permitting the gas companies to simply pass on the cost of leaked gas to ratepayers, there is absolutely no financial incentive for gas companies to proactively search out leaks and repair their gas lines. For the sake of our planet and in fairness to ratepayers, we have to reduce PURA's maximum allowable leakage rate from 3% to a very reasonable 1%."
State Representative Chris Rosario introduced an amendment to House Bill 5343, An Act Concerning Fines Ordered By PURA…For Calculating Lost And Unaccounted For Gas, which would remove the onerous financial burden on ratepayers to build new and enlarged gas pipelines. Rep. Rosario stated, "My constituents pay a high percentage of their income for energy, and energy costs in Connecticut have risen significantly in recent years. This gas expansion plan was supposed to save ratepayers money but it's had the opposite effect. Construction of gas infrastructure such as pipelines, compressor stations, and gas power plants has raised energy prices for consumers, at the same time as the gas expansion has created more methane emissions in the atmosphere, harming our climate and constituents' health."
But instead of insuring gas leaks are repaired, PURA is pushing back on legislative attempts to address this serious public health and environmental problem. Chair of PURA Katie Dykes opposes the bill to lower the methane leak threshold, because the bill would "take away from… the natural gas companies the flexibility they currently have to prioritize and respond to Class 1, 2 and 3 natural gas leaks based on the level of severity." This statement avoids admitting the truth, that many leaks, if not most, are not repaired by the gas companies and PURA doesn't demand repair. Furthermore, PURA fails entirely to acknowledge that methane is a public health and climate risk in addition to the risk of explosion.
Once upon a time, people were tortured or burned for stating the obvious: the earth circles the sun, or the earth is round. Today, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has attempted to suppress science regarding climate disruption and the impact of air pollution. We are living at a terrifying moment in history when public entities deny scientific truths and public regulators defend corporate rights to pollute over the welfare of the people. Hopefully, we can do better in Connecticut.


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Kuzo Zangpola ! Thank you for visiting Tergo Travels.
Tergo Travels is inspired by local legend of Pema Lingpa. "Ter" means hidden treasures and "go" means door. Bhutanese legends have many stories about the "ters" or the hidden treasures. The great treasure revealer or the "terton" Pema Lingpa, found many of these scared treasures. It is from these legends that Tergo Travels took inspiration from and offers you to discover the scared treasures of Bhutan.
Bhutan is a dream destination of many travelers who want to get an experience of the country's rich culture, tradition and of pristine environment. Tours can range from adventurous to luxurious to religious. Our wide range of itineraries will give an overview of what we offer. We believe in listening to our clients and being flexible to come up with customized tours. The goal of the customized tours will enable us to fulfill our client's desires so that they leave Bhutan happy and contented.
We believe in quality and we ensure quality by keeping our group small so that we can provide individual attention to each one of our clients. Hence, the ideal number is 8-10 people per group.
Tergo Travels will assist you with planning and organizing your dream holiday. So come and discover the hidden treasures of Bhutan through Tergo Travels.