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John Langan Merchant was an adventurous, loving Renaissance man. A creative force with boundless energy and a wonderfully dry sense of humor, he had a generous spirit that touched all who knew him.
His extraordinary life began on March 10, 1944 in Sacramento and ended on January 14, 2020 in San Francisco. In his 75 eventful years, John's path included serving in the Vietnam War, where he earned a Purple Heart; becoming a husband, father and grandfather; and co-creating Indian Springs, one of the most iconic resorts in the Napa Valley.
John, along with his three sisters, spent his formative years in Yakima, Washington. He made lifelong friends there and briefly joined the Jesuit seminary after high school. Becoming a Jesuit brother, however, was not in the cards, and seeking adventure, John joined the military. He served honorably as an intelligence officer in Vietnam before suffering severe injuries from a grenade explosion.
In San Francisco, John recovered at Letterman Hospital before completing the remaining months of his service commitment. He then obtained a degree in biology at USF, with the hope of becoming a doctor. Pursuing this goal, he attended medical school in Liege, Belgium. Returning to San Francisco, John supported himself as an ambulance driver. It was during this time that a friend encouraged him to invest in real estate. Borrowing a small amount of money from his mother, he purchased his first property. From that point on, one of his ongoing passions was real estate investment.
It was also in San Francisco that John met his future wife, Patricia, a kindred spirit (and a spirited match). Together, they created a rich, experiential life for their family. John loved being a father and raised his three children in his own eclectic way. Erin, Ryan and Danny were at the center of his life and a part of countless adventures, including round-the-world trips, living abroad in Spain and France, African safaris, and yearly scuba diving trips to Mexico. John was proud of each of them and reveled in their accomplishments and successes. In turn, how John lived his life to the fullest while providing for his family set a lasting, invaluable example for his children.
John continued to grow his real estate investment business before discovering a gem in Calistoga. When an historic but somewhat distressed resort property came up for sale, he fearlessly purchased it. Over many years, John's energy and vision helped transform the property into the Indian Springs of today. The resort was also an emotional investment for John; he never tired of seeing and hearing how much people enjoyed being there.
In addition to his business acumen, John had a constant desire to create beauty around him. It was an important element in his business projects and a key interest personally. With a great appreciation of art, John's adventures took him to many of the world's major museums and galleries. Not content to be a passive "consumer," John drew and painted after taking classes in Paris and the Bay Area. He championed local artists and collected a variety of artwork.
John had a curious mind and a continual need to seek out new experiences and share them with family and friends. He dreamed big and his enthusiasm for life and ideas encouraged others to do the same. John believed strongly in the benefits of real estate investment, always encouraging others to try their hand at it. As many of his friends have said, it was one of John's ongoing themes, and he frequently handed out books on the subject to friends and strangers alike. Motivated by a desire to lift others up, he generously offered a helping hand whenever needed.
With his zest for life, John was the focal point of many indelible memories and amusing stories. He could rap on nearly any subject—and did so often. He explored local farmers markets, the flea markets of Paris, and much of New York City with equal enthusiasm. An independent thinker, John read constantly on a wide range of topics. He savored a good steak or a plateau de fruits de mer, as well as the occasional after-dinner cigar. John valued his diverse, extensive circle of friends, many of whom he had known for decades. Although he enjoyed a crowd, he loved having one-on-one conversations, always deeply interested in other people's lives.
John leaves his beloved wife and partner, Pat Merchant, his daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Tom Furtney, his son Ryan Merchant, and his son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Jackie Merchant. He also leaves his adored grandchildren: Fiona, Ford, Audrey and John Ryan Furtney, and Oliver Merchant. John leaves his sister, Judy Neid, her family, and the families of his two other sisters, Mary and Peggy.
John's family has been touched by the many heartfelt messages they have received and would like to thank everyone who has reached out to them.
A celebration of John's life is planned for February 15 at 1:00 p.m. at Indian Springs, Calistoga.
Assisted by Monte's Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo, CA.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John L. Merchant, please visit our floral store.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Written by Ecologise, 6th September 2018, 0 Comments
HIGHLIGHTS: *Floods in Assam, Nagaland and U.P. *SC Stays construction in all states pending Solid Waste Management policy *Govt claims India restored 9.8 million hectares of degraded land since 2011 *NGT forms panel on potable groundwater *Thousands march across US to protest environment crisis *Scientists calculate 'point of no return' for dealing with climate change
In Flood-Hit Nagaland, 50,000 People Cut Off
The government is sending a team of ministers to Nagaland today after Chief Minister Niephiu Rio took to social media last week urging the nation for help to rebuild the damaged infrastructure due to floods, heavy rain and landslides last month. Twelve people have reportedly died and over 3,000 families have been displaced. About 50,000 people in Nagaland in over 530 villages have remained cut-off for a month after road communications were snapped. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Mr Rio on Saturday and assured all possible support to the flood-ravaged state.
How the Doyang Hydroelectric Project Flooded Assam and Nagaland
The Wire
Two weeks ago, waters of river Doyang – a tributary of Brahmaputra – were released from the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO)'s dammed project to produce 25 megawatts of electricity, which inundated close to 10,000 hectares. Nearly 1,00,000 people living around the project in both Nagaland and Assam were affected, with some of the areas getting flooded for the first time. While locals from both the states say that no prior warning was issued by NEEPCO, the dam authorities say that both Assam and Nagaland were notified about the release of the water. (Related: Assam floods: 225 animals dead in Kaziranga National Park)
27 Uttar Pradesh Districts in Grip of Floods
The Weather Channel
As widespread rains lashed the state for the better part of this week, several rivers were flowing above the danger mark. More than 30 deaths were reported from across UP since Monday with the Ganga, Ghaghara, Ramganga, Sharda and Kuwaun overflowing in several districts. On Thursday, CM Yogi Adityanath inspected the flood-ravaged areas of Sitapur, Basti, Gonda and Barabanki and announced that villagers settled along the banks of the flood-hit rivers would be settled in safer areas. "Families will also be given benefits under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana," he said. (Also read: Flood threat looms large over Patna after Madhya Pradesh releases water from Bansagar dam; officials put on alert)
Rains wash away Himachal highway four-laning
Tribune India
Three years of efforts of four-laning in the first phase of the national highway in Himachal Pradesh between Parwanoo to Solan towns have again virtually been washed away this monsoon — with less than 10 per cent of the 39-km long, newly-laid road motorable in one stretch. Motorists say the maximum damage to the road is on a 30-km stretch between Parwanoo and Kumarhatti, where over 20 km is either badly damaged or piled with boulders and muck due to frequent landslides.
High alert issued in Kerala after rat fever claims 12 lives
India Today
High alert has been issued in Kerala after 12 people have died in the flood-hit state due to leptospirosis since August 1. There are 372 confirmed cases of the rat fever have emerged in Kerala while there are 719 suspected cases since August. Leptospirosis, or rat fever, transmits from animals to humans and the risk of getting it is high during floods. With Kozhikode reporting the maximum number of cases, a special isolation ward has been opened at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital. (Related: 1) After devastating floods, water level in Kerala rivers fall 2) Kerala floods: Dams cannot provide relief if it rains like this in Kerala again, says CWC director 3) Kerala landslides: GSI advocates land use and zoning regulations 4) Alarmed by Kerala floods, NGT bars further reduction in Western Ghats ESAs)
SC Stays Constructions in All States and UTs Till They Frame Solid Waste Management Policy
News 18
All states and union territories, including BJP-ruled Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, cannot have any construction activity until they frame a solid waste management policy. The Supreme Court on Friday stayed construction activities in these states, Chandigarh, and in all other states where the governments have failed to frame policy on solid waste management. "In case the States have the interest of the people in mind and cleanliness and sanitation, they should frame a policy in terms of the Solid Waste Management Rules so that the States remain clean. The attitude of the States/Union Territories in not yet framing a Policy even after two years is pathetic, to say the least," said a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur.
India restored 9.8 million hectares of degraded land since 2011
India recently released its progress report on The Bonn Challenge, revealing that it has brought an area of 9.8 million hectares of deforested and degraded land under restoration since 2011. India has committed to restoring 21 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. India's made the pledge in 2015 and this progress report is a first from any of the Bonn Challenge countries. The report reveals that there was a sudden decrease in the area being restored after 2012-13 but in 2016-17 the area being restored increased in comparison to the past years. It also cautions against the use of exotic species of plants for restoring the degraded land.
Agricultural Loans Worth Rs 59,000 Crore Went to 615 Accounts in One Year
The Wire
Government banks handed out Rs 58,561 crore to 615 accounts in agricultural loans in the year 2016. On average, each account has been given over Rs 95 crore in agricultural loans. This information was revealed by the Reserve Bank of India in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Wire. Agricultural loans incur lower interest rates as compared to other common loans, and they are also given under fewer preconditions than the average loan. These changes were made to make it easier to give loans to small and marginalised farmers. At the moment, farmers are given agricultural loans at the interest rate of 4%.
Pest responsible for food crisis in Africa reaches Karnataka
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), an exotic pest from the Americas, has been reported for the first time in India, from maize fields in Karnataka. Since the pest is not from India, it does not have any natural predators here. The species is tough, resistant to regular pesticides and can fly long distances in the adult stage. The species invaded Africa in 2016, and has been causing widespread devastation since. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources is working with officials from the Karnataka state agriculture department to plan the way forward. (Also read: Pink bollworm pests reach Maharashtra's Yavatmal early this year, adding to farmers' distress)
GM mustard impact on soil not to be studied
The New Indian Express
A committee under the union environment ministry has decided to drop the requirement of conducting a study on the impact of GM mustard on soil microflora, with activists saying the decision has been influenced by crop developers. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the environment ministry considered the application related to "Environmental release of Transgenic Mustard Hybrid DMH-11".
NGT forms panel on potable groundwater
The Hindu
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a monitoring committee to finalise an action plan to enhance availability of potable groundwater. A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted the committee to "monitor the situation for six months with a view to enhance the availability of groundwater by adopting suitable measures, check contamination and take a final call on the plans for proper utilisation of treated effluents". (Also read: Cabinet clears ₹1,600-crore mission to map coasts)
By the Numbers: New Emissions Data Quantify India's Climate Challenge
World Resources Institute
India has ambitious climate change targets. However, existing inventories of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions don't cover recent years and lack clarity about methodologies and data sources, hampering the design of effective climate policies. The GHG Platform India, a collective civil-society initiative, documents GHG emissions at a more granular level. The data is also more recent than other available offerings. The analysis is for the years 2005 to 2013. 2005 is the base year for India's Paris pledges; 2013 is the most recent year for which reliable data for key economic sectors exist.
Delhiites Breathed Poor To Severe Quality Air For 398 Days Out Of 703 Days In Last Three Years
India Times
Delhi witnessed an improved air quality this year as compared to 2016 and 2017. The air quality hovered between satisfactory or moderate on the air quality index (AQI), according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Monday. It stated that between 120 days were designated between poor and severe and a sharp spike in particulate emissions was recorded in June. Out of a total of 703 days, poor to severe air quality was observed in the national capital for 398 days, considered over a period of three years.
New Ganga clean-up law plans armed force, prison terms & fines
The New Express
An armed Ganga Protection Corps (GPC) whose personnel will have powers to arrest those who pollute the river; treating a slew of actions — from obstructing the flow to commercial fishing — as cognizable offences that may attract a prison term of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. These are among the measures in the draft Bill prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation which has sought opinion of various stakeholders.
41 Oil Blocks To Vedanta Is Corporate Bonanza, While ONGC Is Bled Dry
News Click
So the Indian government held the first auction of oil and gas exploration blocks in the country in eight years — under the new and very 'liberalised' Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) announced the results on 28 August. And Vedanta — a multinational resource extraction conglomerate with worldwide infamy for its flagrant violations of human rights and environmental as all manner of other laws as also for its persecution of workers and the general loot of resources, from Odisha to Zambia, with the latest case being in Thoothukudi— was awarded 41 out of 55 blocks on offer.
Gujarat land Bills cleared by President
The Hindu
President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to two land amendment Bills in Gujarat that proposes to allot surplus agriculture land, meant for landless farmers, to industries and civic bodies. The two bills are the Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling (Amendment) Bill, 2017. Gujarat Congress had opposed the legislations, alleging that surplus agriculture land acquired during land reform days in 1960s that are meant for landless and marginal farmers will be handed over to industrialists. (Related: Adani Group got land at cheapest rates in Modi's Gujarat)
Adani power plant gets 142 hectares more forest land
The Times of India
The state government on Friday finally gave a green signal to divert 141.99 hectares forest land near Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) for country's third largest power plant Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML) in Tiroda in Gondia district.
The said land in Kachewani and Mendipur villages is equivalent to roughly 103 football fields and is barely 8-9km from Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR). Of the 141.99 hectares, 24.06 hectares is protected forest (PF) and 117.93 hectares is zudpi jungle. (Also read: 1) Jharkhand villagers ask why should they lose land for Adani project supplying power to Bangladesh 2) Mumbai builder allowed to build golf course and a residential project on a large water body surrounded by mangroves)
Experts raise red flag over mega greening drive in Delhi
India Today
As many as five lakh saplings were planted in Delhi on Saturday, said the AAP government on its day-long greening drive, kick-started by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal amid much fanfare. But this did not impress a group of top environment experts. On the same day, they said they were "astonished" by the government that is "facilitating" the destruction of the city's tree cover due to "selective and limited" implementation of green laws. Experts at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) said the government must first revive the Delhi Tree Authority (DTA) constituted in 2007 to protect and expand greenery.
Gujarat: Fishing licence suspended as 'Brahmins object', fishermen move High Court
Indian Express
The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the state government on a petition moved by an association of fishermen for revoking the suspension of their fishing contract licence. Their licences are under suspension as per the order of Sabarkantha district collector following representation by a group of Brahmins and also in view of a public interest litigation (PIL). The petition mentions that this year on February 2, the contract for fishing was suspended because "certain persons belonging to Brahmin community had raised objection against fishing in Pratapsagar lake on the ground that their religious feelings would be hurt if fishing activity is permitted in the lake."
Yogendra Yadav detained for six hours in Tamil Nadu, arrested after he says will meet farmers
The Indian Express
Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India Party was detained by Tamil Nadu police for nearly six hours on Saturday, and was subsequently formally arrested later in the evening, within an hour of his release, during his visit to Tiruvannamalai district. Yadav was visiting the district to meet party representatives and some farmers' families who were ostensibly affected by the land acquisition for the proposed Chennai-Salem greenfield corridor project. Around 10 am, as Yadav and his party members were heading to Naniyendhal village in Tiruvannamalai district, after meeting villagers in Athipadi, police officials intercepted their vehicles and took them in custody.
Make Cooling Panels From Farm Waste Instead Of Burning It And Fouling Delhi Air: A Scientist's Solution
Green Screen, a US start-up co-founded by Daniel Cusworth, proposes a solution by converting the farm waste that is usually burned into cooling panels that can protect the poor in the Delhi urban agglomeration from extreme summer heat. The screens, expected to cost no more than Rs 350 ($5) per piece measuring just under one square metre–or about half the size of a standard door–will be made with a new material technology that involves using a natural binding agent, such as certain kinds of fungi, to convert crop stubble into a moldable substance.
Progress slow at UN climate change conference in Bangkok
Greenpeace International
As UN climate talks in Bangkok wrapped up on Sunday ahead of COP24 in Katowice in December, Greenpeace East Asia Global Climate Political Advisor Taehyun Park made the following statement: "These talks have been beset with tension and parties have wrestled with reaching a balanced proposal on the Paris rulebook. Progress has slowed, leaving the heavy lifting for COP24. A leadership deficit is the root cause of this slow pace and needs to be immediately addressed. The upcoming California Climate Summit, New York UN Climate Week and Pre-COP must now be leveraged to unlock contentious issues like finance and differentiation.
Nearly Every Ecosystem on the Planet Will Be Transformed By Climate Change
Yale Environment 360
If nations fail to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions, nearly every terrestrial ecosystem on the planet — from forests to grasslands to marshland —will undergo "major transformations" that will completely change the world's biomes, warn a team of 42 scientists from around the globe in the journal Science. This will have consequences for everything from food and water security to public health. The researchers, led by geoscientist Connor Nolan of the University of Arizona, examined fossilized evidence from nearly 600 locations around the world of how ecosystems changed at the end of the last deglaciation. (Related: 'Archived' heat has reached deep into the Arctic interior, researchers say)
Rise for Climate: thousands march across US to protest environment crisis
The Guardian
Tens of thousands of people took part in marches and other events across the US on Saturday, calling for a swift transition to renewable energy in order to stave off the various perils of climate change. The Rise for Climate protests was spearheaded by what organizers called the largest ever climate march on the US west coast. The march, which snaked through the heart of San Francisco, came ahead of a climate change summit in the city next week that will gather mayors and business leaders from around the world. The march comes days before world leaders, researchers and activists arrive in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit, organized by the UN and Governor Jerry Brown. (Related: New California Wildfire Closes Miles of Major Freeway)
Wheat genome unravelled: can help in dealing with climate change
Two hundred scientists from 73 research institutions in 20 nations, including India, have sequenced the genome of bread wheat, the world's most widely cultivated crop. India is the world's second largest wheat producer. This will pave the way for development of wheat varieties with higher yields, enhanced nutritional quality, improved sustainability and varieties that are better adapted to climate challenges. Major challenges to wheat productivity in future in India will pertain to enhancing yields by 2050 and accelerating the breeding of climate-resilient wheat varieties. In a separate study, researchers have also shown that the impact of ozone pollution on wheat yield is at a comparable level to pressures from other stresses in some areas of India. Also, the area of highest ozone impacts on wheat production, coincide with an area with high levels of heat stress. (Related: Rise in insect pests under climate change to hit crop yields, study says)
Scientists calculated a 'point of no return' for dealing with climate change – and time is running out
Business Insider
The goal of the Paris Agreement was to ensure global temperatures didn't rise more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. If temperatures hit that point, we'll be more likely to see the worst projected effects of climate change, including rising seas, severe storms, extreme heat, drought, and fires. The world needs to transition to renewable energy fast if we don't want temperatures to rise that much, according to a new study. In that study, the authors calculated a "point of no return" for acting on climate – and it's soon (Related: World leaders who deny climate change should go to mental hospital – Samoan PM)
Myanmar dam breach displaces thousands
Heavy monsoon rains have caused a dam to overflow in central Myanmar, displacing tens of thousands. Rescuers were working through the night to help people trapped in homes half submerged under water. More than 50,000 people in central Myanmar were forced to evacuate their homes on Wednesday after heavy seasonal rains caused a dam to overflow. The Swar Chaung dam spillway, which regulates the release of water, collapsed due to heavy seasonal rain, causing water to flood the rural flatland region of Bago.
Amazon mangroves 'twice as carbon rich' as its rainforests
Carbon Brief
The vast mangroves of the Amazon store twice as much carbon per hectare as the region's tropical forests, new research shows. The relatively understudied ecosystem also stores 10 times more carbon than Amazon savannahs – a type of grassy plain with sparsely populated trees, according to the study. However, the wetlands face threats from deforestation and climate change, the researchers say. Introducing more measures to protect mangroves will be key to preserving its large carbon store, they add. (Also read: In Win for Marine Life, California to End Drift Gillnet Fishing)
France becomes first country in Europe to ban all five pesticides killing bees
The Telegraph
France will take a radical step towards protecting its dwindling bee population on Saturday by becoming the first country in Europe to ban all five pesticides researchers believe are killing off the insects. The move to ban the five so-called neonicotinoids has been hailed by beekeepers and environmentalists, but cereal and sugar beet farmers warn it could leave them all but defenceless in protecting valuable crops against other harmful insects. (Also read: Lawyers in Monsanto Roundup Lawsuit "Only 10% of What We've Got" Was Divulged at Trial; Much More To Come)
As Mexico Was Busy Celebrating World Cup Win, Gov't Approved Water Privatization Decrees
As Mexicans celebrated a historic win against World Cup defending champions, Germany, Mexico's federal government of Enrique Peña Nieto has cleared the way for the extraction of water in 300 areas, making up 55 percent of Mexican surface water, by companies within the mining, fracking and oil industries for the next 50 years, a move that is being described by some as "water privatization." The new 10 presidential decrees, published on June 5, lift 295 out of the 756 decades-long prohibitions on extracting water from previously protected basins, which coincide with areas where mining, fracking and other extractive activities are planned.
Botswana poaching spree sees 90 elephants killed in two months
The Guardian
Ninety elephant carcasses have been found in Botswana with their tusks hacked off, in what is believed to be one of Africa's worst mass poaching sprees. Most of the animals killed were large bulls carrying heavy tusks, Elephants Without Borders said on Tuesday. The discovery was made over several weeks during an aerial survey by scientists from Elephants Without Borders and Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks. (Also read: Eight bird species are first confirmed avian extinctions this decade)
Scientists get ready to begin Great Pacific Garbage Patch cleanup
The Guardian
A team of scientists and engineers will on Saturday begin an ambitious cleanup of plastics in the Pacific Ocean targeting a stretch of water three times the size of France known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A 600m-long floating barrier will be launched off the coast of San Francisco and, powered by currents, waves and wind, will aim to collect five tonnes of plastic debris each month. The marine apparatus known as System 001 is the brainchild of the Dutch inventor Boyan Slat who founded The Ocean Cleanup at the age of 18 in 2013. (Also read: 1) Invasive Species Are Riding on Plastic Across the Oceans 2) Australian government's reef monitoring stalled during crisis bleaching event as funds dried up)
Cigarette Butts—Not Plastic Straws—Are The Worst Contaminant of Oceans, According to New Study
Plastic straws are the target du jour of corporations, retailers, and even states and cities. Everyone from Marriott and Hyatt to Starbucks and McDonald's are implementing their own plastic straw bans. But according to a new report from NBC News, the source of our collective energy may be misplaced. The report suggests that the biggest man-made contaminant of the world's oceans is not plastic straws, or even plastic bags, but cigarette butts. (Also read: Animal husbandry is contaminating China's water and has been linked to turning lakes bright green, a phenomenon known as eutrophication)
Groundbreaking 'spinning' wind turbine wins UK Dyson award
The Wire
A 'spinning' turbine which can capture wind travelling in any direction and could transform how consumers generate electricity has won its two student designers a prestigious James Dyson award. Nicolas Orellana, 36, and Yaseen Noorani, 24, both MSc students at Lancaster University, have created the O-Wind Turbine which – in a technological first – takes advantage of both horizontal and vertical winds without requiring steering. Conventional wind turbines only capture wind travelling in one direction, and are notoriously inefficient in cities where wind trapped between buildings becomes unpredictable, making the turbines unusable. (Related: 1) World's largest offshore windfarm opens off Cumbrian coast) 2) BBC issues internal guidance on how to report climate change)
STUDY: After Natural Disasters, Whites Accumulate Wealth While People of Color Lose It
Color Lines
Black and Latinx people in the United States disproportionately live in areas that tend to be hit by natural disasters such as floods. A new study shows that they are not just geographically disadvantaged in the face of climate disasters, but also economically disadvantaged. The journal Social Problems released "Damages Done: The Longitudinal Impacts of Natural Hazards on Wealth Inequality in the United States" last week (August 14). The study sought to investigate how families' personal wealth was affected by natural disasters and related recovery efforts.
JP Morgan's top quant warns next crisis to have flash crashes and social unrest not seen in 50 years
J.P. Morgan's top quant, Marko Kolanovic, predicts a "Great Liquidity Crisis" will hit financial markets, marked by flash crashes in stock prices and social unrest. The trillion-dollar shift to passive investments, computerized trading strategies and electronic trading desks will exacerbate sudden, severe stock drops, Kolanovic said. Central banks will be forced to make unprecedented moves, including direct purchases of equities, or there could even be negative income taxes. Timing of when this next crisis will occur is uncertain but markets appear to be safe through the first half of 2019, he said. (Related: 1) Fueled by debt and years of easy credit, America's energy boom is on shaky footing 2) Wealthy Americans have stepped up investment in New Zealand as doomsday escape plan)
Ottawa Professor Blasts The US Military For "Owning The Weather" For Military Use
Collective Evolution
Princess Basmah Bint Saud, humanitarian and daughter of King Saudi, compared geoengineering science and programs to weapons of mass destruction, arguing that their implementation is like setting off a bomb without the nuclear explosion. You can read more about that here. David W. Keith, a professor at Harvard University and chairman of Carbon Engineering, when asked about the spraying of these heavy metals into the atmosphere, of which millions of tonnes would have to be used, he said: "You may end up killing many tens of thousands of people a year as a direct result of that decision."
Massive drought or myth? Scientists spar over an ancient climate event behind our new geological age
Many scientists say, however, that the "4.2-kiloyear event" was neither a global drought nor fixed to that moment in time. "The whole idea of defining the subdivision of the Holocene with a break at 4.2 seems a bit baseless," says Raymond Bradley, a climatologist at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Jessica Tierney, a paleoclimatologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, says ICS, following the lead of some paleoclimate scientists, mistakenly lumped together evidence of other droughts and wet periods, sometimes centuries away from the 4200-year-old event, to mark the beginning of the Meghalayan.


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CBS has a piece where they argue that hand writing is dead, but some disagree. I personally still have a paper notebook where I jot down ideas and perform creative drawings of user interfaces or sketches of product ideas but obviously when ideas are clear, the work is then performed on the keyboard. How about you? Do you still use a pen? What for?
Also check the video at 6'11 where the Das Keyboard Ultimate is presented with a hero perspective. Pretty cool.


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Volunteering: Apply Now!
To apply for the upcoming TRMF Volunteer Season, just complete our online form. We encourage folks to use the online form, even if you don't have an email address or you need a little help from family to fill it out!
Using the online form means your application is processed much faster and assured it reaches us on time.
Applications for the 2020 season are open November 15, 2019, through January 3, 2020. Selections will be made in February and all volunteers will be notified of their status within the month. Volunteers selected will be expected to send back their acceptance agreements by April 1, 2020.
Keep scrolling to see the Volunteer Opportunities and to Apply...
Volunteer Season Descriptions
Before filling out the forms, please read all the following information. There are changes to the regular seasons, a new "Special Assignments" section, and a new set of opportunities at the Bully Pulpit Golf Course.
Each year, we get more applications than spots available. The intent of the expanded choices is to build a more expansive pool of volunteers with diverse areas of expertise. We do this by welcoming a good mix of new applicants and seasoned vets which is necessary to keep the volunteer program strong and viable.
Therefore, it is very important you have a clear understanding of each of the choices so that you know what is required of you when you make your selections! Please read thoroughly.
Pre-Season- 3 seasons- late April to Mid-May
- Help us prepare the town to welcome summer guests!
- Each season is 5 days in length running Monday through Friday.
- Duties include but not limited to raking, weeding, mowing, carpentry, pruning trees and shrubs, cleaning, painting/staining, and various general maintenance duties.
Early Birds - 1 season
- Break out those customer service skills because Early Birds are some of the first volunteers to serve our guests!
- 8 day season in late May to include Memorial Day Weekend.
- Duties will be a combination of those listed above in Pre-Season and what is necessary to work at the various venues open to guests during the holiday weekend such as the Badlands Pizza, Shooting Gallery, Mini-Golf or other food service or retail venues.
In- Season (Green Vesters) - 16 seasons - May 25 to September 13
- Green Vesters are their name and Customer Service and Guest Interaction is their game!
- Each season is an 8-day commitment, arriving Monday and leaving the following Tuesday morning.
- Green Vesters rotate through a variety of venues daily following an assigned schedule.
- Duties include but are not limited to food service, ushering at the Medora Musical, guest services at the Gospel Brunch, Pitchfork Steak Fondue, Shooting Gallery, Mini-Golf and many more.
General End of Season - 3 seasons - Mid-August to September 13
- End of Season Volunteers = Operation Angels!
- EOS volunteers fill in for employees who have to return to school or return to their home countries before the Medora Musical closes for the season.
- EOS #1 is 10 days, EOS #2 is 14 days, EOS #3 is 10 days with daily shifts averaging 6-7 hours. Openings for EOS will be determined by June 5.
- Duties include but not limited to Maltese Burger, Badlands Pizza, Rough Riders Hotel catering, or Life Skills Center Cafeteria. Other positions may be with Maintenance, Grounds, Laundry, Campground or any of the other retail or entertainment venues as needed.
Bully Pulpit End of Season - 6 seasons - Mid-August to 1st Week in October
- Bully Pulpit Volunteer End of Season Brigade!
- These volunteers work exclusively at the Bully Pulpit (BP) Golf course.
- EOS #1 is 10 days, EOS #2 is 14 days, EOS #3 is 10 days, #4 - #6 is 7 days.
- Duties may include customer service, outdoor services, tournament help, player prep, delivery and cleaning of carts and/or operating the snack bar (pop, chips, candy, etc.)
- Knowledge of golf is helpful but not required
BP Golf Course Turf Care Team - Late April to First Week in October
Regular Turf Care Team - 23 seasons
- Early riser gets the green...turf that is!
- Start time is 5:30-6:00 am and length of day may be up to 8-9 hours including breaks
- Preferable length of each is 1 week but could be longer or shorter
- Duties may include basic course set-up, mowing, using a blower, some upkeep on buildings, filling divots, cleaning up landscape areas, brooming sand into the turf and other general tasks involved in maintaining a top-notch golf course and assignment of duties will be matched to volunteer's physical capabilities.
Special Projects Turf Care Team
- Looking for enthusiastic individuals who love to play in the dirt, build things and work with machinery!
- larger, short term projects where duties may include earthmoving and shaping, bunker removal, drainage installation, wooden stairway construction.
- Dates/length of stay is dependent on need of project with mutual agreement from volunteer and Bully Pulpit crew.
The best part ---- all the golf you want to play when not on duty!
If you only want to be a part of a Turf Care Team, follow the link titled that on the application. If you wish to do this in addition to another choice, be sure to fill in both the regular application and the Turf Team application.
May select these in addition to Regular Season choices or as your only choice!
Spring Into Retail - 5 seasons - March 30 to May 1
- Unpacking Warriors and Organization Wizards -- this one is for you!
- Duties may include unpacking boxes, folding, sorting, tagging merchandise and stocking shelves.
- These sessions begin earlier than applications are due so please submit your application before March. If this is your only choice, be sure to check the "Special Assignment Only" choice in the preference selections under the Regular Seasons area of the application.
Flower Crew - 1 season - May 25 to May 29
- Green Thumbs Unite!
- Exclusively for preparing flower beds and planting flowers around Medora therefor experience and knowledge of gardening is helpful.
- CHANGE - NOT part of a Pre-Season group as before –If only one spouse of a couple wants to plant flowers, the other spouse will be assigned to duties similar to Pre-Season.
- If this is your only choice, be sure to check the "Special Assignment Only" choice in the preference selections under the Regular Seasons area of the application.
Roosevelt Outpost - Open June 6 to September 12
- Retail Wrangler!
- 2 week minimum is preferred/ longer assignments can be arranged
- Ability to operate or learn to operate a Point of Sale register
- Comfortable greeting the public and selling merchandise
- If this is your only choice, be sure to check the "Special Assignment Only" choice in the preference selections under the Regular Seasons area of the application
Guest Shuttle Driver - May 30 to September 12
- Like to drive and visit with guests...this is the job for you!
- Sessions range from 9-11 days each and you may sign up for more than one session.
- Skills must include the ability to drive a 15 passenger van
- Duties include driving guests to Fondue and Musical and picking up at the end of the Musical. May also include assisting at the amphitheater during breaks as needed.
- 5-6 hour evening shift/breaks included
- If this is your only choice, be sure to check the "Special Assignment Only" choice in the preference selections under the Regular Seasons area of the application
Living History - May 30 to September 12
- Bring History to Life!
- Sessions last 8 days arriving on Monday and leaving the following Tuesday
- Living history volunteers will work 5 hours per day with some necessary prep work before arriving to Medora
- Volunteers must provide their own historical clothing (will be required to submit photos), we are not looking for gunfighters or saloon girls
Ready to Apply?
Applications for the 2020 season have closed. If you would like to be considered in case of cancellations, please join our wait list.
2020 General and Special Assignment Volunteer Application
2020 Turf Team Application
Using the online application is the easiest and fastest to apply for all involved, plus it allows TRMF to save on printing and save some trees! We encourage you to use the online application form -- we promise, it's a breeze.
Still Have a Few Questions?
If you have questions about the volunteer program? Check out the FAQ page or feel free to contact us at any time. We can't wait to meet and work with you in Medora! Together, we will Connect People to Medora for Postive, Life-Changing Experiences!


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When a group of people were asked what personal development actually meant to them, the answers included the following comments ...
- "Living my life to my fullest potential"
- "Learning more about myself"
- "Developing my skills and capabilities to help me achieve my goal"
- "Gaining a deeper insight into who I am and what I want from my life"
- "Not allowing fear to hold me back"
- "Becoming more self-aware"
- "Letting go of past disappointments and learning to be more positive about the future"
- "Being happy and discovering a sense of life purpose"
- "Becoming more confident within myself"
What does personal development mean to you? ......Clearly there is no right or wrong answer to this question - but maybe it's about deciding who you want to be and how you will get there
In this short video clip, the actor Will Smith shares some great personal development insights
Self -reflection
When you step back and take some time at the end of each day to reflect upon your experience, you are engaging in personal development. Asking yourself questions such as ...
1. What do I feel good about, that I accomplished this day?
2. What would I have done differently this day?
3. What have I learned?
4. What do I want to accomplish tomorrow?
2. What would I have done differently this day?
3. What have I learned?
4. What do I want to accomplish tomorrow?


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Cavaliers outlast Celtics, advance to NBA Finals
BOSTON — (2nd UPDATE) LeBron James had 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists to send the Cleveland Cavaliers back to the NBA Finals after an 87-79 win against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night.
James has reached the NBA Finals in eight straight seasons, including four in a row with Cleveland. Only Bill Russell (10), Tom Heinsohn (nine) and Sam Jones (nine) have made more consecutive appearances in NBA history.
The Cavaliers will play the winner of Monday's Game 7 of the West finals between Houston and Golden State. Cleveland has faced the Warriors in the last three NBA Finals, winning in 2016 and losing in 2015 and 2017.
"We've been counted out for a long time this season," James said postgame on ESPN. "Right around the trade deadline, no matter if we made a trade or not at that point in time, I kind of just switched my mindset on saying, 'Let's get this most out of this season I can.' I'm determined to get the most. I'm trying to squeeze this orange until there's no more juice left.
"This is a heck of an accomplishment for our ballclub — without our All-Star power forward (Kevin Love), as well, for basically two games. This (Boston) team was undefeated in the postseason at home, and for us to be able to do this, and for me to be able to lead these guys, it's a treat."
James, who entered with an NBA-record Game 7 average of 34.9 points, improved to 6-2 lifetime in Game 7s.
Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue rated James' performance Sunday alongside that in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals as the forward's two best.
"I mean, the bigger the stage, the bigger the player, and he's been doing it for us since we've been here," Lue said. "The great quote from the great Doc Rivers is you always want to go into the Game 7 with the best player, and we have the best player on our team going into a Game 7. I like our chances. And he delivered again."
Jayson Tatum scored 24 points to lead the Celtics, who lost at home for the first time this postseason in 11 games. Al Horford added 17 points and Marcus Morris had a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards.
Boston was denied its first Finals trip since 2010, when it lost to the rival Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
Jeff Green had 19 points and eight rebounds, JR Smith scored 12 points and Tristan Thompson had 10 points and nine boards for the Cavaliers.
Cleveland won without Love, who missed the game after sustaining a concussion in Game 6. Love has entered the NBA's concussion protocol, and his status for the NBA Finals is uncertain.
Lue said of the Cavs winning without Love: "We told the guys that Kevin wasn't coming back, and they all got together and just huddled up and just came together as one, and coming into tonight, we knew he was going to be out, and we said we want to do this for Kevin.
"It's tough, Kevin wanted to play, to be in a Game 7 situation like this in the Eastern Conference finals, being an All-Star, being our second-best player, and he just wasn't able to go. So he was down, but the guys picked him up, so now he has another chance when we get to the Finals to be ready."
After Cleveland was ahead 76-73 with 4:44 to go, Boston missed its next nine field-goal attempts as the Cavs opened the lead to 86-74 heading into the final seconds.
Green's 3-pointer with 4:56 left in the third quarter put Cleveland up 53-51, the Cavs' first lead since the opening minutes. Cleveland went ahead by as many as five after that before taking a 59-56 lead into the fourth.
Tatum hit a 3-pointer after his driving dunk over James put Boston up 72-71 with 6:04 remaining in the game, but Green answered with another trey at the 5:44 mark, and Cleveland didn't relinquish the lead after that.
Boston was up 43-39 at halftime after leading by as many as 12 in the first half.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, "I thought the biggest moment of the game was when we couldn't extend the lead in the second quarter. We were in really good shape, really good shape — and then we just couldn't quite extend the lead. I thought that added to probably the shooting the rest of the game."
Boston wound up shooting 34.1 percent from the floor, including 17.9 percent from 3-point range (7 of 39). Cleveland made 45.5 percent of its field-goal attempts, including 9 of 35 from beyond the arc (25.7 percent).
James went flying into the stands with less than nine minutes left in the first quarter trying to deflect a full-court pass out of bounds. After slowly getting back on his feet, James shook hands with a fan he knocked over.
Horford said of James' overall performance, "It's one of those things that I've got to tip my hat off to him. As a group, we really fought hard, we did everything we could. We put ourselves in position. We were one or two shots away from being there, and it just wasn't enough."
For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.


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Moscow On the Hill Restaurant
A real Russian celebratory meal is easily a seven-hour affair, full of hearty drinking, heavy dining, singing, dancing, and extreme revelry of every sort; in a restaurant, it's typical for one party to remain at a table from evening's open to late night's close. If you've got the time, the will, and the stamina, that experience can be found at Moscow on the Hill: Start off with one of a dozen varieties of vodka, follow with a bowl of borscht, more vodka, sing along with the live music for a while, get some blini or pickled fish, drink some more vodka, down a creamy entree like beef stroganoff, more vodka, and then, singing, wander off to your cab. In summer, be sure to add the lovely patio to your bar-hopping rounds.
Venue Details
Sun 4pm-11pm, Mon-Thu 11am-11:30pm, Fri 11am-1am, Sat 4pm-1am
Dining Features
Delivery, Full Bar, Lunch, Outdoor Dining, Private Party, Reservations Accepted, Takeout
Lot Available, Street
$$, $$$


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24 Mini Orange & Chocolate Cupcakes for Christmas
This product is currently not available. Check it out again during Christmas holiday season.
Enjoy a true Christmas delight with the new festive...
This product is currently not available. Check it out again during Christmas holiday season.
Enjoy a true Christmas delight with the new festive set of 24 orange and chocolate mini cupcakes, decorated with sweet Christmas motifs!
A generous amount of orange jam and natural chocolate in the base, fresh cocoa cream cheese frosting and delicate sugar paste decorations - this is our recipe for an extremely delicious and cheerful celebration.
Invite these little treasures to the Christmas party at home, at the office, or anywhere you plan to celebrate and have fun!
Order now with delivery throughout Sofia.
See also:
Christmas Mini Vanilla Cupcake Set – your favourite vanilla cupcakes, decorated with Christmas drawings.
Christmas Cupcake Promo Set – for the big Christmas parties, with a 6% discount and free delivery throughout Sofia!
Weight: 850 g +/- 5% for 24 cupcakes.
Ingredients: Cow's butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, orange jam, white wheat flour, white crystal sugar, eggs, natural chocolate chips, cow's milk, cocoa, baking powder, orange essence, salt.
Decoration: Fondant, food colourings.
Allergens are in bold.
Nutrition Facts. Amount per 100 grams: Energy 1794.1 kJ/428.8 kcal. Fats: 25.0 g of which Saturates 15.2 g. Carbohydrates: 46.2 g of which Sugars: 35.1 g. Protein: 4.7 g. Salt: 0.3 g.
- In the field Receive on* select a day and a time frame window for delivery or pick up from a Take a Cake bakery. Order before 16:00h for next day delivery/pick up
- Choose packaging*
- To this product you can also add a greeting card, a cupcake stand, and certificate of quality
- Choose quantity and press Add to basket
More information on 'How to order'
- Take a Cake makes deliveries within Sofia city limits. The delivery fee depends on the area the shipping address is located in. Check out the delivery fees
- We carry out deliveries every day, including weekends, from 8:00 to 20:00, within two-hour time frame windows
- During checkout you can choose to collect your order from a Take a Cake Bakery. Find the locations of our bakeries on the Bakery locator
See more on Delivery/click and collect


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50 Thoughts on Writing: Part 1
1. Writing fiction is really lying, in order to tell the truth.
The audience wants to be fooled—but they also want to feel something real. There is a great line in the film The Prestige, where a dying magician tells his rival the real reason he does magic:
The audience knows the truth: the world is simple. It's miserable, solid all the way through. But if you could fool them, even for a second, then you can make them wonder. -The Prestige
People pick up books and go to movies for the same reason: they want to escape, to be fooled, to believe in the impossible, to connect, to feel something.
2. Write for yourself.
Writing is deeply personal—and the truth is, this business changes faster than you can keep up with the trends, so don't even try. By the time you finish your vampire story, vampire stories will be out and Elf stories will be cool again.
3. Write what you want to read.
Maybe you spent months grueling over your manuscript and only your mother buys a copy. Two hundred query letters later, your cousin now has a copy. So what—if when you read your own story, it keeps you up into the wee hours of the morning, and it is the best story you have ever read, don't you think it was worthwhile?
"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." -Toni Morrison
4. Understanding how to create a plot is simple.
Every story ever told has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Every story has a conflict and a resolution. It's the foundation of a building; lay a solid foundation and you then have the freedom to tell whatever story you like.
5. The audience wants to feel something.
The audience is investing time in your story because they want to feel what it's like to feel loss, to love, to be betrayed, to conquer their fears, to overcome a trial, to start over, to be a spy, to be a dancer, to be a crime boss—whatever it is, make sure they feel it.
6. Its all about desire.
Every character, behind every action and word, wants something. Find out what it is and tell a story about it.
Every Character wants something.
7. Conflict is everything.
There is no such thing as a story without a conflict. Our whole world is in conflict and your story is an act of war.
8. There is nothing new under the sun.
A corrupt cop, a bored housewife, an artist lured away by the cruel mistress of fame: it's all been told. In fact, all stories derive off of a simple set of archetypes. If a story feels familiar, it's because it is.
As humans, whether we want to admit it or not, we are all very similar and want similar things. Storytelling is really an intricate act of recycling.
9. Goal #1: Trap the rat!
Your goal, as a storyteller, is to hand your poor little protagonist a conflict, then heap every obstacle in front of him, until it looks like there is no hope whatsoever. Corner him like a rat, watch him squeal, watch him cower—and don't ever hand him a life raft. Nope, make him build his own.
10. Every chapter, every paragraph, and every word should ooze with tension.
Just having a 3 point conflict plot structure isn't enough, every word needs to move the story towards the climax. Tension is the coal being shoveled into the engine—it is the energy that moves the story forward. No coal=no movement=no story.
11. "I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of. " - Joss Whedon
Drop Your Character Out on the Dance Floor and Make them Dance!
- Make Them Dance: A Guide To Writing Irresistible Fic...
Writing irresistible fiction starts with getting your characters out on the dance floor, upping the stakes, multiplying the consequences, and piling on the tension.
12. Let the characters tell the story.
A plot can point you towards a target, but the real motion of the story belongs in the hands of the characters. They will tell you where they want to go, even if you have to drag them kicking and screaming.
13. Drop your character into a conflict.
A game I used to love to play was Roller Coaster Tycoon. Within the game, you could pick up any of the visitors to the theme park and drop them anywhere you wanted. They could be named, and they each had different personalities and ride preferences. You'd pick one up with a giant claw and drop them in front of a roller coaster; one would jump for joy, while another would throw up, keep walking, and get in line for the ferris wheel.
That is what you must do with your characters, take the giant claw and pick up a plumber from Montana, drop him in the Big Apple, and see what he does with it. Take an ordinary character and drop him or her into an extraordinary or unlikely situation, then watch them squirm.
14. Words have power.
"I have a dream," "For God so loved the world," "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," "The bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there," "Houston, we've landed."
Words have the power to give life, to end a war, to fight for freedom, and to trample injustice. They can hold a whole country in the palm of their hand and they can echo back across the span of centuries. Don't ever underestimated the power and privilege you have as a writer.
Continue on to Part 2!
- 50 Thoughts on Writing: Part 2
Part 2 of my series on writing. Be inspired to write your best!
© 2015 Jennifer Arnett
Interesting thoughts on writing. Now I am going to Part 2. Voted up.
I agree that words are energy and power. Please post more article like this. I think everyone knows how to write but with your help we can be better. What is your best article for authors?
The way you present a snapshot of each part of writing summarizes it so that we are at the heart and soul of writing.
As I read each one I would go 'check' if I did it and question myself if I did not. I do not write much fiction but am considering delving more into that area.
Angels are on the way to you this morning. ps
Voted up+++ g+ tweeted and shared
You have provided more than food for thought, you have provided a banquet! This could be chapter one of the writer's bible.
You descriptions, quotes, everything make this a must read for every writer.
Voted up, useful, awesome, interesting, and shared.
Thanks for some good food for thought to ponder. This intricate act of recycling, as you put it so well, is a joyful exercise to those who love weaving words together.
Great hub, Jennifer, full of sound advice. I'm in the process of writing a short story for a competition and you've reminded me of a few pertinent things, so thanks for that.
Your writing is spot on and therefore so is your advice. Experience and practice say a lot.
Happy new year!
I can follow most of your advice in my writing, but I have to admit that I'm not capable of writing in the genre that I love to read. Perhaps that is why my favorite genre is scifi-fantasy. It takes me to a world that I can't live in. I can write in my second favorite, historical fiction, so I think I'll stick to that. I'll be waiting for part 2.
Afternoon Jen.
I've got to sit back for a while and digest what you have written here in part one, but I'm thinking it will all come together when I read part two.
You've written a lot of interesting fact, so I'll have to make a nice cup of tea (hate coffee) and get my thinking head on and go sit in a quiet corner.
Take care Jen and have a nice day. Oh! Happy New Year.


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It's very bizarre, as I noted earlier. When has a vice-presidential candidate upstaged not only her opponents but also her presidential running mate? The fight on both sides now is concentrated on her. You can see what kind of impact she has made by looking at some blogs and seeing how much material is devoted to a discussion about Palin, in one form or another. Last week, at Huffington Post, at least half of the blog column entries for that day were about her. For whatever reason, she is now the central battlefront of this election.
I think that is what is really upsetting to most Democrats, liberals and progressives that are dedicated to electing Obama. Once again, the Republicans are making the election about an issue about people. I hesitate to call this a "personality issue", since Palin could very easily be the president in very short order if the Republicans win in November. But the issues being discussed are not about terrorism, the dual wars that are draining our military and monetary budget, not about climate change, not about the crappy economy or our dependence upon foreign oil. It's not about any of these pressing issues that this country faces. No, the Republicans have succeeded in making this about a person, yet again.
I am very depressed that, once again, this tactic is working for the Republicans. If there ever were an election the Democrats should have a cakewalk, this would seem to be it. Yet, there is a very real possibility that the Dems will lose. Many likely voters seem to be going for Princess Palin, she who shoots wolves from helicopters and lies through her teeth on just about everything. And it's still working. The electorate has been polarized, and the election will come down do a few thousand votes in a few key states that will ultimately decide the electoral college count. For Democrats, Palin has become yet one more, albeit powerful, symbol of what is wrong with the Republican party these days. For Republicans, she has become the standard bearer of Republican beliefs. But what is even more important, I would guess, is that the presence of Sarah Palin on the Republican ticket pisses off Democrats and liberals, and THAT is what is really important to the Republicans these days.
George Bernard Shaw was truly correct when he said, "Democracy is a device that ensures that we shall be governed no better than we deserve." If the Republicans win this election in the midst of all the chaos and wreckage they have caused this country over the past eight years, then we shall truly deserve what we get.


text: How can you stay on your feet all day and still look stylish? We know the answer- it's the Barker Amber. Lovingly handcrafted from the finest quality materials, this stylish wingtip loafer is the perfect combination of both comfort and style, and proves you don't have to sacrifice one for the other. Available in gorgeous Calf Leather and Suede, the Barker Amber has an elegant Cuban heel which ensures comfort all day long – and with full leather lining, it's truly hard to resist these loafers.


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This topic describes how to deploy non-native instances of Marathon to isolate Mesos roles, reservations, and quotas for your DC/OS cluster.
- Native Marathon The Marathon instance that is installed as a part of your DC/OS installation. This instance runs on the master nodes.
- Non-native Marathon A Marathon instance that you can install as a DC/OS service. Non-native Marathon instances run on private agent nodes. You may need additional private agent nodes to accommodate the increased resource demands.
Isolating Resources
DC/OS Enterprise security features provide robust fine-grained access control. However, there are situations when you might want a partitioned environment, for example:
- Testing DC/OS upgrades or API changes.
- Isolating developer groups from each other securely, such that developers in one group cannot negatively impact workloads running in another group. By default, each DC/OS service uses the same Mesos role that the native Marathon registered with for quotas and reservations. This means that Marathon users can run tasks under any Linux user that Marathon can run tasks under.
You can isolate workloads by using non-native Marathon and leveraging these Mesos features on DC/OS:
- Reservations: used to reserve resources in specific agent nodes.
- Roles: used to specify that certain resources are reserved for the use of one or more DC/OS services.
- Quotas: used to specify the minimum amount of resources that the role is guaranteed to receive.
Dynamic and Static Reservations
You can reserve cluster resources for specific agent nodes. You can reserve resources directly in an agent node (static), or specify reserved resources in your app definition (dynamic).
- Static: Configure an agent with resources reserved for a role. To modify a static reservation, you must drain and restart the agent with the new configuration.
- Dynamic: Reserve and unreserve resources by specifying in your non-native Marathon app definition.
For more information, see Mesos reservations.
Deploying Services Using a Custom Marathon
This topic describes how to deploy a non-native instance of Marathon with isolated roles, reservations, and quotas.…Read More
Granting Access to Jobs
You can implement fine-grained user access to jobs by using either the DC/OS GUI or the API. The Metronome permissions allow you to restrict a user's access to jobs on either a per job or a per job group basis. This section walks you through the steps to accomplish this.…Read More


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Hostel Manager Job at Ocean Backpackers, North Devon
An exciting employment opportunity for those of you who have a working visa in the UK. Earn money and spend time in a pretty location in Devon!
Ocean Backpackers has an exciting new position available for Hostel Manager for 2017! They are based in Ilfracombe, North Devon and this is a short term 8 month contract which commences on 28th March and ends around the 1st November 2017.
The successful candidate will work an average of 5,1/2 days per week with shifts split between 9am-midday and 4pm-10pm. Duties will include reception, cleaning, bed changing, laundry and managing Help Exchange staff. Please note shifts will include most weekends.
There is plenty of experience to be gained in all aspects of running a busy Youth Hostel with emphasis on offering fantastic customer service in a clean and friendly enviroment so that guests have a really enjoyable stay!
This job would suit a friendly, confident and enthusiastic person who wants to combine a live-in job in a warm and homely enviroment with a love of the "big outdoors!" Walking, surfing and cycling are popular pursuits and the Hostel sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with Woolacombe-"Britains Best Beach" a ten minute drive away!
This is a live-in only job with wages of £220 per week and 18 days holiday entitlement.
The closing date for applications is February 10th 2017.
All applicants should apply to Chris and Abby Tappenden via email – email@example.com. Please include a current c.v. and a forwarding letter detailing why you are the right person for the job! Feel free to email with any questions prior to applying or ring them on 01271 867835.


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- Currently Unavailable Summer Wars & Girl Who Leapt Through Time: Boxset (Blu-Ray)
- Currently Unavailable
- Submit your email to be notified of changes.
- Store prices may vary
Double bill of anime features directed by Mamoru Hosoda.
In the fantasy 'Summer Wars' a teenage boy moves to Nagano with his crush, in order to fool her 90-year-old grandmother into thinking that she is engaged. Kenji (voice of Ryunosuke Kamiki) is a shy eleventh-grade student when he is asked by the confident, older pupil Natsuki (voice of Nanami Sakuraba) to take a summer job at her home.
Upon arriving, he is shocked to learn that the 'job' requires him to pose as Natsuki's fiance. Their 'romance' is interrupted, however, when Kenji receives a mysterious text message containing a mathematical problem. Being a maths whizzkid, Kenji can't resist solving it, but he soon realises disaster has struck - he has caused the seizure of a huge social networking site that is used by most of the world's businesses and services.
It is now up to Kenji and his newly acquired family to put things right.
'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' is an award-winning, feature-length sci-fi anime adapted from Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1965 novel 'Toki o Kakeru Shojo'. High school student Makoto Konno (voice of Riisa Naka) discovers that she possesses the ability to travel through time and space, and uses the gift to readjust past events in her favour. However, as she learns that every change she makes has the potential for serious repercussions in the present, Makoto is forced to continually revisit the past in order to put right the wrongs she has unwittingly created, eventually realising that everyone's alloted time, even those who can travel through it, is finite.
- Genre
- Rating
- Type
- Cat. No.
- 2305370
- 5022366802543


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Vegenation is our new favorite hidden vegan gem in Las Vegas. We haven't really ventured too far off the strip in the past, but since we were staying North of the strip, this restaurant was right on the way home as it is a couple blocks from Downtown / Fremont Street. It has a great atmosphere, with an awesome green / living wall and some great art on the walls. We walked in and were able to be seated right away and the staff were all super friendly.
We definitely recommend Vegenation as it is a great combination of good food and good prices. We ate here and picked up food at least 3 or 4 times while we were in Las Vegas. Definitely don't miss this spot!
What we ordered
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings- Homemade hot & spicy buffalo sauce covered cauliflower with a side of ranch dressing. If you've been keeping up with our adventures, you know that buffalo anything is a guaranteed order. These are some of the best buffalo cauliflower wings we've had and could easily be in our top 3 so far. The breading on these were damn near perfect and the sauce was a great flavor, but mild, buffalo sauce. Something that Hayden definitely appreciates! The ranch was super thin and watery but had good flavor. Pro tip: eat these fresh as they do not reheat well.
Picante pineapple pizza- Pineapple, jalapenos, and Italian sausage crumble. Aaron did not like the pineapple portion of this pizza but found a new love in the jalapeno and Italian sausage crumble combo to the point where we ate this two more times. We believe it is using the Follow Your Heart cheese which paired extremely well with the flavors on this. Aaron prefers this with no pineapple and Hayden prefers it with no jalapenos.
Chicken Pot Pie Gnocchi- Homemade cream sauce, chicken, peas & mushrooms with a local herb blend. Holy moly is this good! This dish was devoured in almost record time and had us scraping the bottom of the bowl with our spoons. This is highly recommended!
Brownie Sundae- Vanilla and chocolate ice cream, caramelized banana, brownie, assorted berries. This was a pretty good combination of flavors but the berries can introduce a bitterness which overpowered some of the sweetness to the dessert. The banana was great and the brownie perfectly complemented the vanilla and chocolate ice cream.
Carrot cake- Raw cashew with lemon frosting. This was, unfortunately, a severe let down especially since carrot cake is Hayden's go to dessert. It felt as if the base of this was ground up canned carrot that had an unpleasant texture to it. Granted it was more on the raw side, so it was good in that way, but just wasn't to our liking.
Restaurant information
Name: Vegenation
Location: 616 Carson Ave #120, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Price: $
Cuisine: American Italian
Vegan options: Fully vegan
Dress code: Casual


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About Suwanee Creek Roasters
We love coffee... so much so, we roast our own and share it with the world (well, those in the state of Georgia, anyway)! We are a Cottage Foods company and a very Small Business located in Suwanee, Georgia. Come experience the freshest-roasted coffee available at very affordable prices. Special requests are always welcome!
We typically ship out or hand-deliver our coffee the next day for orders received before 10am ET; Orders requiring a grind will take one additional day to let the coffee rest.
Thank you again for your support of our small, but growing company and we look forward to making your mornings better, one cup at a time!
You can reach us here:
owner - Eric Wolman
email - firstname.lastname@example.com
phone - 404.832.5644
location - Suwanee, GA 30024


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Safety Deposit Box Heist in London Reminder of Need For Insurance and Top Level Security
- One week on and police appear no nearer to catching those responsible
- Crime only seems more audacious with every new detail that emerges
- CCTV has given tantalising glimpse of the six men who went into vaults
- Many victims of Hatton Garden robbery had all their wealth uninsured in safe deposit boxes
- UK as a jurisdiction has not been very secure in recent years, with numerous high-profile heists in London
- Shows vital importance of insurance for boxes and bullion storage
- Diversification on every level is key, including how and where bullion is stored
The highly-organised Easter weekend safety deposit boxes raid at a facility in Hatton Garden, London, demonstrates once again that holding tangible assets outside of the fragile banking system is a risky exercise, if the manner in which those assets are stored is not thoroughly secure and fully insured.
While many of those who stored valuables in the boxes were jewellers, reports are emerging of how some of the victims had their entire life savings, including cash and bullion, in boxes which they believed to be secure. Many had no insurance partly because they could not afford the extra cost and partly because they were convinced their property was secure in the Hatton Garden facility.
"The robbery was reported on Tuesday but by Friday we had still not been told whether our stuff had been taken" said one jeweller who asked to remain anonymous. "I had £350,000 worth of cash and jewels and I was in a terrible state".
"By Friday, some of us owners had had enough and each paid the staff at the building £100 to have a look at the list of boxes missing. Mine was fine but a friend had his life savings completely stolen, worth £500,000."
There appears to have been a shocking lapse in security surrounding the Easter weekend heist. The security lapse reflects badly both on the company and on the police.
"On Friday it emerged the Met received a call on Good Friday and were told an intruder alarm had gone off - but decided it did not require a response. Officers are now investigating why the call was given a grade that meant no police response was deemed necessary," according to the BBC.
An alarm was reported to police but no response was deemed necessary. Yesterday, this decision was described as 'totally incompetent' by ex-head of the Flying Squad, John O'Connor.
Local residents reported loud drilling over the weekend. "I heard drilling late on Thursday but thought it was workmen after we had a huge power cut. When I heard the news, I realised it was the gang drilling into the vault," said John Han.
Further questions are being asked regarding the competence - or worse - of the Met over why CCTV footage was not released in the critical period following the discovery of the robbery which may have helped to identify the thieves who may have left the country by now.
The footage was released by the Mirror newspaper on Saturday. "The Met Police said it had already recovered the footage 'at the earliest opportunity', but declined to comment on why it was only released after being published by the newspaper," adds the BBC.
For our clients, the how of owning gold is important as the why and the manner in which bullion is stored is as important a consideration as the necessity to own bullion.
The nature of bullion ownership and having insurance is absolutely vital.
We operate a system of bailment and as such customers' precious metal investments are held in custody, directly in their name. Customers can view the contents of their storage account at any time by visiting the GoldCore website and reviewing the contents, bar numbers and location of their holdings in their account. Reconciliation between the internal GoldCore client holdings which can be seen online and with our storage partners is done on a daily basis.
Clients are able to review the assets under their subaccounts based on their unique subaccount number. Their assets are always fully insured through the storage providers.
GoldCore works with an independent audit company, Inspectorate International, who audits the assets held in GoldCore's secure storage locations. This is done bi-annually and the results of this audit are shared with every customer that has assets in secure storage with GoldCore.
Every participant in the international bullion market requires adequate insurance to cover loss, damage and indeed theft.
This applies to mining companies, refineries, mints, financial institutions, bullion transporters and storage specialists.
The insurance of precious metals vaults and storage depositories is predominantly underwritten by specialist risk underwriters operating through the international insurance market such as Lloyd's of London.
Our clients' bullion holdings are covered by 'all risk' insurance underwritten by specialist 'specie'. This insurance agreement, which is governed by English law, covers precious metals and other valuables against physical loss, damage, theft or disappearance up to the value of $50 million for any one loss in any one location. The agreement can be viewed by GoldCore clients.
It is vital to ensure that your bullion provider and its storage partners have adequate insurance cover. With low cost bullion providers generally comes low levels and inadequate cover.
Diversification and owning bullion in the safest vaults in the world and in the safest jurisdictions in the world is key.
A safety deposit box in a facility in one's own jurisdiction would play an important role in this type of diversification. It is important to have access to an allocation of one's gold in the event of an international crisis causing a temporary disruption to access to an overseas vault or indeed capital controls or problems in the banking system and international payments system.
We believe, however, that such an allocation should always be insured and it should be just large enough to meet emergency requirements or an intended small-scale sale. The bulk of one's bullion should be stored in highly secure specialised, professional bullion vaults.
We provide fully insured bullion storage service in the safest vaults in the safest jurisdictions in the world, such as those operated by Loomis International in Zurich (formerly Via Mat International) and Brink's in Singapore.
The jurisdiction in which one stores larger allocations of gold is also important. London has seen a number of high profile jewellery and gold heists in recent years. This is somewhat understandable given the concentration of wealth in London but at the same time such events are virtually unheard of in other international financial hubs like Zurich or Singapore.
Allocating a small proportion of one's wealth to physical gold is of vital importance in these days of geopolitical tension, desperate monetary experimentation by central banks and gargantuan unpayable global debt. At the same time, one needs to consider very carefully how one stores this gold.
The experience of many of the unfortunate safe deposit box holders at Hatton Gardens demonstrates that one cannot take security for granted. In the coming months and years, as the current monetary insanity comes to its logical conclusion, bullion will become a highly desirable target of both criminal elements and bankrupt governments.
Hence the need to own it in the safest ways possible.
Vital importance of nature of ownership and insurance is covered in our must read guide
How To Store Gold Bullion - The Seven Key Must Haves
Today's AM LBMA Gold Price was USD 1,197.85, EUR 1,136.72 and GBP 820.54 per ounce.
Friday's AM LBMA Gold Price was USD 1,201.90, EUR 1,133.49 and GBP 820.58 per ounce.
Gold climbed 1.1% percent or $13.10 and closed at $1,208.20 an ounce on Friday, while silver rose 1.79 percent or $0.29 closing at $16.49 an ounce. Gold finished up 0.57 percent for the week in dollar while silver slipped 1.49 percent. Gold in euros was over 3 percent higher and in sterling gold was over 2 percent higher for the week.
Gold prices in Singapore were off 0.3 percent at $1,204.16 an ounce near the end of day trading. Comes U.S. gold for June delivery was unchanged at $1,204.30 an ounce.
Gold made a sharp reversal higher last week despite the stronger dollar and buoyant record hitting stock markets and this is bullish for the coming months.
On Friday, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Jeffrey Lacker said he continued to favour a rate increase at the June policy meeting, suggesting some of the recent forecast-missing US data was weaker because of unseasonably adverse weather.
The yellow metal shrugged off the hawkish comments finishing up on Friday. The next FOMC meeting is scheduled April 28-29th.
Concerns about the health of the world's number 2 economy, China, has been highlighted by poor economic data. Chinese exports fell 15 percent in March while import shipments dropped at their highest rate since the 2009 global financial crisis.
This is a shock and suggests that global economy is vulnerable to a slow down. The trade balance falling from $60.6 billion in February to $3.1 billion in March. Economists had $43.4 billion forecasted. The World Bank cut their Chinese economic growth forecasts for 2015 from 7.4 percent to 7.1 percent, and 2016 from 7.2 percent to 7 percent.
In late European trading, gold was trading down 0.66 percent at $1,199.42 per ounce. Silver was off 0.74 percent at $16.34 per ounce. Platinum also slipped 0.69 percent at $1,159.20 per ounce.
Breaking News and Award Winning Research Here


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British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday called for the UK to stand up for religious freedom in her annual message to mark Easter.
The embattled leader, who continues to face pressures from within her Conservative Party to step down amid the ongoing Brexit delays and uncertainty, focussed her message to mark the Christian festival on hope.
"Easter is a particularly special time, when we remember the powerful message at the heart of our Christian faith. A message of hope — of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when we can look forward to a new life in Christ. I will spend Easter as I do every year, giving thanks in church," she said.
The British PM, daughter of a vicar and a practising Christian, noted that for many Christians around the world, such "simple acts of faith" can bring huge danger.
"Churches have been attacked. Christians murdered. Families forced to flee their homes," she said.
Read | Sri Lanka bomb blasts: At least 156 killed in coordinated attacks on churches, hotels
"That is why the government has launched a global review into the persecution of Christians. We must stand up for the right of everyone, no matter what their religion, to practise their faith in peace," she added.
Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn compared Jesus' experiences to the challenges currently facing refugees around the world.
"The refugee crisis is a moral test. Jesus taught us to respect refugees," he said.
Cross-party talks initiated by Theresa May earlier this month in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock are set to resume after the Easter break on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the pressure on her to step down as PM continues with some media reports indicating that the Tory back-bench 1922 committee is set to give her an ultimatum that she must step down by the end of June.
MPs on the executive of the influential committee are reportedly set to meet on Tuesday to decide whether to change the party rules to allow a new vote of no confidence in Theresa May before the one-year buffer she had won when the previous vote of no-confidence in her leadership was defeated last year.
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