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Header image: Wlcx, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For Fridays, I thought I would try something a little different. Instead of a daily journal-style post, I thought I would share with you some of my life memories to help you better know me as a person, as well as a kinkster. I hope you enjoy these posts and if there is anything you want me to write about sometime (ie where were you when… ). Leave your suggestions in the comments and I'll be sure to try and answer them in a future post.
I grew up in the small village of Shirehampton, neighbouring the port village of Avonmouth. Going back in history, Shirehampton was home to many of the men who worked on Avonmouth docks, and many of their descendants still live in the village to this day. Shirehampton has a vibrant community and a friendly spirit, and even strangers can be friends here. There is also lots of history in the area with some links back as far as Roman times.
Whilst a lot of people think Avonmouth docks sees most of our trade, this isn't strictly true. Royal Portbury docks are where the cars come in, and the imports at Avonmouth docks are typically food, coal and scrap metal. While none of these seem particularly dangerous, a more perilous danger lies just off to the right side of the docks.
Smoke Lane.
Smoke Lane gets its name because of its industrial past. Whilst most people would drive down it without a second thought, for residents in the neighbouring areas, this is where the danger lies. On Smoke Lane and in nearby Chattening lie numbers of chemical works, some of which use, store or produce hazardous chemicals such as petroleum, ammonia and sulphuric acid.
Between sites and in nearby areas, a number of siren masts are positioned. In the event of a hazardous chemical leak, Avon & Somerset police will send a radio signal to these masts and a siren will ring out. Fortunately in my lifetime, no serious leaks have ever happened. These masts are mostly positioned in Avonmouth, Chattening and Shirehampton, but they can be heard in our home in Southmead, too. The mast in the header image is the one in Shirehampton, and I have walked past it myself a number of times. It's oddly terrifying to look at. It looms high above the footpath and I'm often internally terrified that it might sound while I'm walking nearby.
On the third of every month, at 3pm. the sirens ring out. It's not a perfectly planned incident but a test to check that the sirens work, so that we, the civilians, know what they sound like, and so that, ideally, we can have a little practice run at what we should do:
Go In. Stay In. Tune In. That's the motto.
Go indoors, stay indoors, tune in on the TV and radio.
There are other rules which might seem silly, such as not to use anything with a spark ignition (such as a gas cooker) that could ignite chemicals in the air. You're also not supposed to call out on the telephone so that the emergency services can call you and instruct you on evacuation plans, if necessary. Parents are not allowed to collect children from school, either. In the event that it ever happened, the schools are trained to safeguard your children until the all-clear sounds, or until evacuation measures are put into place.
Now, you'll note that I said we practice this every month 'ideally' because in truth, most people don't.
"What's the date?"
"The third."
"Ah, okay. That explains that then."
That's about as far as it goes.
Maybe this all sounds very organised and secure and yet, there's nothing more eerie than actually hearing the siren test run. It's a haunting sound and on cold winter days, it can make things seem even more depressing than they really are. During the lockdowns, the sirens even gave us an 'incoming zombie apocalypse' feel.
As a child, I hated the sirens and in a sense, I was even deathly afraid of them. I'd sit on the stairs with my fingers in my ears, willing the noise to go away. Sometimes I'd run upstairs and jump into my parents' bed, and Mum would have to lay with me until the sirens stopped, then convince me and reassure me afterwards that everything was okay. Eventually though, she got sick of those games.
"No! You're ten years old. Take your fingers out of your ears and listen to them, you're perfectly safe."
Reluctantly, I did.
Throughout my teenage years, I still didn't like the sirens, and I can remember hearing them go off during one science class and so desperately wanting to jam my fingers back into my ears. Just listen, I told myself, and breathe.
Over time, I began to accept the sirens and even for a time, they sort of became a novelty and a bit of a giggle for me. Matt asked me to be his girlfriend ('officially', because dancing drunkenly to Justin Timberlake's Like I Love You didn't really explain too much) on 3rd January 2017, and he proposed on 3rd February 2010. For us then, the sirens become a sort of celebration of our love as well; a sort of twisted joke between the two of us.
One of my most frightening experiences with the sirens happened on 3rd July 2017. I was in my Mum's garden, blissfully ignoring the test run for summer sun, when a low-flying jet flew over from east to west.
I have to be honest with you, we all thought it was a terrorist incident. We all thought that it was a hijacked plane and maybe, just maybe, we actually should get indoors, get safe and hopefully, get out alive on the other side.
No such ordeal.
After the siren test, it turns out, Airbus had decided to run a test of their own, testing how low they could fly one of their newer jets without disturbing residents. It disturbed us in a way because a number of people had called the police to report a plane "acting strange" and the mass panic even made the local news. In the grand scheme of things, Airbus' timing couldn't have been better.
Today. the sirens don't really bother me anymore. They're there, they happen and provided it's only the third at 3pm, I don't take too much notice. I live far away now not to be at any risk of explosions or chemical leaks and I live uphill from the sites, so I'm not at risk of contaminated water. That's not to say that I completely ignore the sirens though, because while I'm safe here, I still have loved ones that I still worry about in the area.
If you're curious, you can take a watch of this really awesome video of the Shirehampton mast sounding out. I must warn you though, you may suffer an earworm of these sirens – particularly the second warning tone – for days or hours afterwards . Welcome to the life of a Sh'ramptoner!
If you're interested in reading the most recently distributed safety leaflet or reading more about the plants at Avonmouth (I don't know why you would, but you do you, boo!), you can also find that here.
I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any ideas for Flashback Friday, don't forget to get in touch!
Until next time,
Stay safe & have fun,
An Added Giggle From The Village: On the roundabout in Avonmouth is white road markings for Shirehampton. However, 'Shirehampton' is a long word and road lanes are only so wide, so the road markings on the lane for Shirehampton read 'Shi'ton' instead!


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Item Guide
When you defeat certain enemies,
items that enhance
the Silver Hawk Burst's abilities will appear.
When you defeat certain enemies,
items that enhance
the Silver Hawk Burst's abilities will appear.
The Silver Hawk Burst is equipped with Shots (air to air), Bomb (air to ground), and Arm (barriers), which can be enhanced with special items. Acquiring one item will add one additional gauge to one Power-Up Level, while acquiring five will boost the Power-Up by one level. When this happens, the icon for that weapon will change.
The initial shot equipment, which fires missiles. It can dissipate certain types of enemy fire.
A laser that cuts through enemies. It can also dissipate certain types of enemy fire.
Fires a wave that cuts through enemies and obstacles.
The initial bomb equipment, which can fire bombs downwards from the front of the ship.
Fires two bombs upwards and downwards, from the front of the ship.
Fires four bombs upwards and downwards, from both the front and the back of the ship.
Boosts the ship's durability. Initially, the durability is boosted by 3, then by 1 with each additional item acquired.
Boosts the ship's durability. Initially, the durability is boosted by 3, then by 1 with each additional item acquired.
Boosts the ship's durability by 3 and protects it from collisions with the environment.
Holding the Burst button uses some of the Burst Gauge in order to fire the Burst beam, the Silver Hawk Burst's most powerful weapon. The gauge can be recharged by attacking enemies, connecting with lasers and dissipating enemy bullets.
Hold down the Burst Button to fire a powerful Burst Beam from the front. When you release the button, the Burst Beam will deactivate. In addition to destroying enemies, it can dissipate almost all enemy bullets. The downside is that it uses up a lot of Burst Gauge energy.
Press the Burst Button twice quickly, or press the Fixed Burst Button to lock the Burst Part that fires the beam. In addition to destroying enemies, it can dissipate almost all enemy bullets. It uses less Burst Gauge energy than the normal Burst Beam, and can last for a longer amount of time. Hold down the Shot Button during a Fixed Burst to lock its direction.
When you release the Shot Button, the Burst Beam's nozzle will rotate. The direction of the beam is affected by the positioning of the Burst Part in relation to your ship. For LEGEND and FORMULA, it will be the reverse of your ship's direction. For NEXT, it will be the same direction your ship is facing.
If you hold down the Shot Button again after changing direction, you can lock the direction of the beam. If you press the Burst Button again or run out of Burst Gauge, the Fixed Burst will deactivate.
If you activate your Burst at the same time as an Enemy's Burst while in the path of their beam, you will fire a powerful Counter Beam. You can also activate Counter Beams from other directions with the correct timing. Firing your Burst just as the enemy Burst hits your ship is key.
Press the Burst Button once to fire a Spark Burst. The Spark Burst continues moving forward as it destroys enemies and bullets. Once the Burst Gauges run out, the Spark Burst will disappear.
Press the Burst Button again while firing a Spark Burst to unleash a Burst Finish.
Press the Burst Button once when the Burst Gauge turns yellow to use up the entire Burst Gauge and fire a Black Hole Bomb. The Black Hole Bomb is a powerful attack that sucks up enemies and bullets.
When you have two Support Units, hold down the Burst Button to prepare for a Burst. When you release the Burst Button, you will fire a α Burst Beam until the Burst Gaunge runs out. By hitting an enemy's Burst Beam with your α Burst Beam, you can easily activate a Burst Counter. The longer you counter an enemy's Burst Beam, the more powerful the α Burst Beam becomes.

subset: commoncrawl


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By Sam Piha
We know that young people missed a lot of classroom learning time when schools were closed due to the COVID-19 crisis. We also know that afterschool programs will likely be pressured to help make up for this classroom time that was lost. Afterschool programs may feel pressured to make up for these missed instructional minutes by doubling down on academics. But we know that afterschool programs have something much more important to offer. High quality afterschool programs specialize in positive relationships, safe and supportive environments, and engaging activities. All of these rejuvenating experiences will be essential to get students' brains re-balanced and ready for learning after an incredibly disruptive spring and summer. We can anticipate that the transition to learning will be particularly hard for students who may be coming from unstable or stressful environments. Afterschool programs can play a vital role in supporting learning and well-being by focusing on their core areas of expertise and experience.
On May 18, 2020 we sponsored a webinar entitled, COVID-19 Era- Afterschool's Whole Child Approach featuring Katie Brackenridge (Turnaround for Children) and Deborah Moroney (AIR). You can view a recording of the webinar here.
Katie offered Turnaround for Children's "3-R's Framework" (Relationships, Routines, Resilience) to describe how we should prioritize our work when we re-open afterschool programs. Below she offered relevant practice examples:
Relationships: For example-
- Learn about your students' lives.
- Talk to students one- on- one.
- Check-in with families.
- Run morning meetings/ advisories.
- Loop teachers for more than one year.
Routines: For example-
- Co-create and practice norms and routines.
- Keep it simple- clear instructions, written signs and non-verbal signals.
- Model ways to organize and prioritize tasks.
Resilience: For example-
- Liberally spread oxytocin with smiles, hugs and laughs.
- Be attuned to individual students' emotions and reactions.
- Use mindfulness, journaling, movement to calm the brain.
Katie Brackenridge joined Turnaround for Children in 2019 as a Partnership Director. Katie has worked in and with schools, school districts and community organizations for her entire career. Before becoming a consultant, Katie was the Vice President of Programs at the Partnership for Children & Youth (PCY). Katie's work is grounded in her nine-year experience as Co-Executive Director for the Jamestown Community Center, a grassroots youth organization in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Dr. Deborah Moroney is the Managing Director, American Institutes of Research (AIR). She specializes in bridging research and practice, having worked as a staff member for out-of-school programs early in her career. She's written practitioner and organizational guides; co-authored the fourth edition of Beyond the Bell®, A Toolkit for Creating High-Quality Afterschool and Expanded Learning Programs, a seminal afterschool resource. Presently, Dr. Moroney serves as the principal investigator on national studies of afterschool initiatives.
By Sam Piha
Different communities and individuals have strong opinions about how schools and youth programs treat the issues surrounding human sexuality. We were interested in hearing the views of a young person who is taking a stand on one of these issues.
Maggie Di Sanza is a 16-year-old high school student and advocate for menstrual equity. We first learned about Maggie through her article in EdWeek and her website, Bleed Shamelessly, which works to put an end to the harmful stigmas against menstruation and further gender equity through journalism, education, and protest.
Below are Maggie's responses to some of our interview questions regarding her work.
Q: How would you define 'menstrual equity'?
A: Menstrual equity refers to the idea that period hygiene should be a fundamental human right. It encompasses the philosophy that everyone who needs menstrual products, should be able to get them, and that natural need should not inhibit access to education or work. The reason that the term 'equity' is used as opposed to 'equality,' is because of the economic and social disparities that plague our society.
Q: You have written about the role of schools in supporting menstrual equity, but what about out of school programs that serve a large number of older girls?
A: Afterschool and summer programs carry the same barrier that typical school programs do when it comes to menstrual equity. From supplying menstrual products in all public restrooms, to complete and inclusive education. As a start, ensuring that all restrooms provide pads and tampons for free. No student should be concerned with paying for their menstrual products; as to not get in the way of their education, afterschool and summer programs can ensure that the district or individual school provides said products. This involves clear cut and administrative advocacy.
If it is the job of an after school or summer program to prompt sexual or reproductive health conversations, make sure that you are promoting inclusive and accurate information. If we open the conversation up to gender-expansive and transgender people, much more testimony and accurate information surrounding menstrual stigma becomes clear. Especially when it comes to adolescents, who are already questioning a great deal about gender and sexuality, affirming their bodily experiences regardless of sex or gender, is incredibly important.
Q: How can staff promote menstrual equity while being inclusive to transgender or non-binary youth?
A: Staff can affirm this idea through using gender neutral language when referring to menstruation. Instead of addressing period-having people as women, girls, or females, I do my best to use gender neutral language. This is because not all menstruating people are women, and not all women menstruate.
As we know, typical gendered language does not apply to the transgender, or gender-expansive community; these groups are constantly disregarded when speaking about reproductive health, healthcare, and education. Thus, it is the job of all advocates for menstrual and reproductive healthcare to include all folks in the conversations. I urge all people beginning this conversation to refer to period-having people as menstruating folks, as opposed to using strictly feminine-tied language. Thus, we will eventually disassociate womanhood, with menstruation.
Next, we can ensure that our education is inclusive and accurate by respecting and sharing testimony and menstrual experiences. Everyone experiences menstruation in different ways, shaming someone for not properly experiencing a bodily function is unproductive and dehumanizing. Instead, we can promote the different ways that menstruation occurs by sharing, recognizing, and valuing the encounters of others.
Everyone will, at some point, come across someone who is on their period. Simply because one does not identify with a particular group or experiences does not negate the fact that it is important to have sensitivity regarding the issue. Imagine the compassionate and inclusive society we could have, if we did not limit our education to such outdated binaries.
Q: What about youth programs that offer information related to sexuality?
A: We must make sure to bridge the gaps that traditional schooling excludes from menstrual education. Teach about what healthy menstruation looks like, and equally, what unhealthy menstruation can look like. Educate students about the products they can use to manage their periods, and how to properly take control of their own healthcare and bodies. Inform them of where to get menstrual products, and how they can support their peers who may not have access to menstrual products. Include information surrounding the menstrual disparities that plague our world, and how we can all take action in terms of abolishing social stigma as well as the systemic barriers to menstrual products.
Q: If the schools in which these programs exist do not have any policies or support for menstrual equity, how can after-school programs take on an advocacy role?
A: Those working for and managing afterschool and summer programs can write letters to head administrative staff in a district or school, and ask why certain bathrooms do not have free menstrual products. Urge them to promote not only the wellbeing, but education of all students in order to maintain productive and just educational environments. This can be as simple as an email-writing campaign, or a call to a principal or superintendent.
When advocating for free menstrual products in schools, it is important to emphasize the impact on the productivity of students. How can we expect menstruating students to succeed educationally if we do not give them the tools to manage their periods? If we ensure that menstrual products are physically accessible, it removes the common barrier to education and productivity that many period-havers face. It is the job of out-of-school programs to promote menstrual equity through education and conversation. By pointing out the ways in which students are inhibited by the system itself, administrators are far more likely to adjust their policy.
Menstrual hygiene should be a fundamental human right; we should no longer perceive making menstrual products accessible as a privilege to those receiving them. It is not a privilege to have a period; but rather it is a necessity for those in power to provide the tools to manage it.
You can also advocate by uplifting student testimony. Listen to and value the experiences of students within the program who have faced similar inequality when it comes to menstrual education or a lack of accessible products. Use their stories to advocate for your position and push for their experiences and values to be heard.
[Read this article on this topic from a Philadelphia newspaper.]
How are afterschool programs supporting girls through menstrual equity?
Please write us regarding any activities you conduct in you program.
Maggie Di Sanza is currently a junior at James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wisconsin. Social justice has always been a large part of her life, and promoting the wellbeing of all people. She is currently the Co-President of Memorial's Gender Equity Association, and a member of our Sexual Assault Prevention Club, GSA, and Student Activist Club. She has lobbied for rights at the capitol, protested alongside her peers for equal rights, and presented the importance of equality at multiple educational institutions. She started Bleed Shamelessly with the hope of educating others about the menstrual inequities that exist in our culture, and improving accessibility to menstrual hygiene products; because she believes no one should feel incapable due to their period.
covid-19 crisis: articles by dr. shawn ginwright (sfsu) and jennifer peck (pcy)
Shawn Ginwright and Jennifer Peck are important leaders in the afterschool and youth development movements. They have both been frequent contributors to our blogs and conferences. Below are articles they recently published during the COVID-19 crisis.
Coronavirus Underscores Need for Healing America's Racial Divisions
By Dr. Shawn Ginwright
A history of policies that exclude and inflict harm have led to higher rates of persistent traumatic stress environment, leaving African Americans and Lations more vulnerable in the fight against COVID-19.
Now is the time to shape a new world and remedy past injustices. The reports of racial disparities among COVID-19 victims should not surprise us. African Americans and Latinos have typically experienced disproportionate exposure to a range of health issues. (Read the full article published in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 14, 2020.)
Summer Matters More Than Ever
By Jennifer Peck
There are some unique challenges in front of us as we think about this coming summer, when learning loss, social disconnection and mental health challenges will be as intense as ever.
We should be doubling down on supports for kids over the summer, but there are a lot of unknowns. We don't yet know to what extent we will be allowed to congregate in groups and when. We don't know what the resource picture will look like. We don't know how we can staff programs. The barriers seem immense, and feel overwhelming while our system is still trying to implement distance learning at scale.
What we cannot do is become paralyzed. There is too much at stake. Right now, we must be planning for different scenarios so that we can be ready to serve as many students as possible with various combinations of virtual and small group in-person time, including creative, project-based activities for students. (Read the full article published on Ed100.org on April 24, 2020.)
Shawn Ginwright is professor of Education, and African American Studies at San Francisco State University and chairman of the Board of Directors for the California Endowment. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Pivot: A Dramatic Shift Toward a Healing Centered Society. Dr. Ginwright has been a frequent contributor and speaker for Temescal Associates and The How Kids Learn Foundation.
Jennifer Peck, Executive Director of the Partnership for Children & Youth (PCY), has led the organization since its founding in 2001. During this time, she has grown PCY to be the leading California intermediary building access to high quality expanded learning opportunities for students living in our state's lowest-income communities. Jennifer led the creation of the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance, the California Summer Matters Campaign, the California Community Schools Network, and HousED which builds on-site learning supports for students living in public and affordable housing.
By Sam Piha
(Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has been very disruptive to afterschool providers and we will cover this topic ongoing. However, as afterschool leaders plan for Summer and next Fall, we will also offer posts that advances thinking for the afterschool movement.)
Katie Brackenridge is a long- time pioneer and advocate for afterschool learning opportunities which promote positive youth development. She recently joined Turnaround for Children, and we interviewed her regarding their Developing the Whole Child project. Below are some of her responses.
Q: Can you say something about Turnaround for Children.
A: Turnaround for Children was founded immediately after the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Our founder, Dr. Pamela Cantor, was commissioned by the NYC Board of Education to assess the impact of the attacks on the city's public school students. She found that 68% of the children observed were experiencing trauma that impaired their school functioning. But, the trauma was not related to the attacks, rather it was from their on-going experience of adversity and stress from growing up in poverty.
This realization led Dr. Cantor to initiate a set of supports in New York City that involved intensive mental health services for students in schools in high poverty communities. Turnaround for Children has since expanded beyond New York City to schools and school districts in Washington DC, Chicago, Tulsa and the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a member of the Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) Alliance, which includes the Learning Policy Institute, the Forum for Youth Investment, the American Institutes for Research, Education Counsel and Populace.
Katie Brackenridge will be joined by Dr. Deborah Moroney (AIR) to host a webinar on COVID-19 Era- Afterschool's Whole Child Approach.
Q: Regarding your work on the Developing the Whole Child project, can you cite the main takeaways of the brain science that undergirds the work?
A: I've been working in the youth development field for a very long time. As a young after school educator, I figured out quickly that having good relationships with students made my job easier and more enjoyable for everyone. In my thirties, I was involved in all the great San Francisco work that you, Sam, were leading with the Community Network for Youth Development where I learned the research backing for positive relationships and supportive environments.
From the science, I've now learned that relationships and environments are important because that's how our brains are wired. You can find a full description in this article and in this video on the SoLD Alliance website. The key takeaways are:
This science provides the biological rationale for the positive relationships and safe, supportive environments that researchers and practitioners have found to be so important and effective.
Q: Can you cite the primary essentials for the Developing the Whole Child framework that supports all aspects of child development?
A: Youth developers will see the immediate parallels to expanded learning quality standards and the principles of Learning in Afterschool and Summer from Temescal Associates.
Turnaround's Vision for Student Success takes the Blue Wheel into practice for schools (and possibly youth development organizations) by defining resources and tools at the educator, classroom and school level, all supported by strong leadership and shared ownership. The Turnaround wheel looks like this:
For each of the components of the Vision for Student Success (VSSS), Turnaround has professional development resources and practice toolkits. The "Whole Child Inventory" allows staff to self- assess their current strategies, structures and practices against criteria in each component of the VSSS.
Q: The concepts represented in your blue wheel are very similar to earlier research on youth development, the features of quality afterschool programs, the YPQA, etc. What do you think are the added benefits of the Whole Child wheel?
A: What's exciting to me is that this framework and the science of learning are a strong and concrete affirmation of the youth program quality standards, in place across the country. They provide further call to action for school systems and youth development organizations to work together to provide more consistency and coherence in young people's experiences.
The frameworks and related tools provide some new and more specific approaches for some of youth development's tried and true practices. Turnaround, for example, has taken the concept of relationships and further defined - based on research - the exact characteristics that need to be in place for a relationship to be developmental and therefore impactful. These characteristics include emotional attachment, reciprocity, joint activity and balance of power. The message is not different from youth development principles, but provides a level of detail based in science that can help practitioners be more intentional.
Turnaround also names the specific skills and mindsets (the Building Blocks for Learning) that young people need to succeed. Executive Functions, for example, are the skills that everyone needs to get things done and include remembering what you're supposed to do, keeping yourself on task and being flexible when things change or don't work out. These Executive Functions are particularly challenging for young people who experience adversity because they require high functioning of our pre-frontal cortex (regulation) and hippocampus (learning and memory) and not as much from the amygdala (reactions and emotion). Teachers and youth developers can help students build Executive Functions by teaching them to use tools (ie: calendars, check lists, breathing) and structures (ie: visual reminders, quiet spaces) that help them succeed academically and in all kinds of tasks. This additional information and the way it is translated into practices can help educators, including youth developers, be more intentional and individualized in their support for students.
Q: Does your organization offer any tools or resources that will help afterschool program leaders implement practices that support the development of the whole child?
A: Turnaround is primarily focused on K-12 education, but, clearly the science of learning and development is relevant to the youth development field. Many of the tools and resources could be easily adapted for youth development leaders and practitioners. The Forum for Youth Investment is a member of the SoLD Alliance and is intentionally working to ensure that the perspectives and strengths of the youth development field are understood and leveraged as the momentum around the science of learning and development builds. The science of learning and development is a significant asset to after school and summer programs, particularly those that are hoping to align more closely with the school day. The science clearly validates youth development practice and supports the building of authentic partnerships for student skills and success.
Katie Brackenridge joined Turnaround for Children in 2019 as a Partnership Director. Katie has worked in and with schools, school districts and community organizations for her entire career. Most recently, she was an independent consultant focused on improving learning conditions and social-emotional supports for young people through public school systems. Before becoming a consultant, Katie was the Vice President of Programs at the Partnership for Children & Youth (PCY), a nonprofit intermediary organization focused on improving practice and policy for after-school and summer programs in public schools and affordable housing. Katie's work is grounded in her nine-year experience as Co-Executive Director for the Jamestown Community Center, a grassroots youth organization in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Sam Piha is the founder and principal of Temescal Associates, a consulting group dedicated to building the capacity of leaders and organizations in education and youth development.
October 2020


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Nomura Holdings Inc. (NMR) Found Liable In Subprime Mortgage Case
A federal judge has found Japanese bank Nomura Holdings liable for selling U.S. government agencies faulty loan products in the run-up to the subprime mortgage crisis, in a case that provided a rare view into the bank practices that helped plunge the financial system into chaos in 2009.
Together with the Royal Bank of Scotland, which underwrote some of the loans, Nomura could pay up to $450 million in damages over allegations that the bank misled government-sponsored lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on bundles of home loans.
The case was unusual. After the dust had settled from the subprime mortgage crisis, the Federal Housing Finance Agency sued 18 banks for nearly $200 billion over subprime loan sales. Banks like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, seeking to avoid potentially unflattering public trials, settled out of court in carefully worded agreements with the government.
But Tokyo-based Nomura stood firm, arguing that the issue wasn't the billions of dollars in mortgage securities it sold, but the wider unraveling of the housing market that made those securities toxic.
U.S. District Judge Denise Cote didn't agree. "The magnitude of falsity," Cote wrote in her decision, "is enormous." In her ruling, the judge recited expert testimony that claimed between 45 percent and 59 percent of the loans were "materially defective."
Nomura representatives promised an appeal, saying the bank was "consistently candid, transparent and professional in all of its dealings with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."
Cote said that Nomura joined the subprime-mortgage frenzy late in the game. In its eagerness to cash in on the shaky products, the judge wrote, the lender cut corners and misled investors. "The offering documents did not correctly describe the mortgage loans," Cote wrote.
Cote also countered arguments made by Nomura's lawyers that broader economic phenomena were to blame for the fizzled loans, not poor underwriting. The "securitization frenzy associated with those shoddy practices" had a direct connection to the economic collapse that followed, she wrote.
© Copyright IBTimes 2022. All rights reserved.


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HTC Lexikon, a new member of "Droid" family heading to Verizon
A new Android 2.2 handset, the HTC Lexikon will soon join the "Droid" family and arrive to Verizon. This new baby has a QWERTY keypad, makes use of the HTC Sense 1.6 and it seems will be branded as a Droid smartphone. HTC Lexikon features a 3.8 inch WVGA display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution, a 5 megapixels camera, […]» Read more


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USA have announced the squads that will compete at the U-23 and U-18 women's football tournaments in La Manga
USA U-23 Squad:
Aubrey Bledsoe – Wake Forest; Cincinnati, Ohio
Abby Smith – Texas; Dallas, Texas
Abby Dahlkemper – UCLA; Menlo Park, Calif
Amanda Frisbie – Seattle Reign FC; McKinney, Texas
Arin Gilliland – Kentucky; Lexington, Ky
Jaelene Hinkle – Texas Tech; Castle Rock, Colo
Kassey Kallman – FC Kansas City; Woodbury, Minn
Emily Sonnett – Virginia; Marietta, Ga
Danielle Colaprico – Virginia; Freehold, N.J.
Caprice Dydasco – UCLA; Honolulu, Hawaii
Jenna Richmond – FC Kansas City; Centreville, Va
Meleana Shim – Portland Thorns FC; Honolulu, Hawaii
Frances Silva – FC Kansas City; Overland Park, Kan
Erika Tymrak – FC Kansas City; Bradenton, Fla
Shea Groom – Texas A&M; Liberty, Mo.
Maya Hayes – Sky Blue FC; West Orange, N.J.
Jennifer Hoy – Chicago Red Stars; Sellersville, Pa.
Kealia Ohai – Houston Dash; Draper, Utah
Katie Stengel – Wake Forest; West Melbourne, Fla
Chioma Ubogagu (Stanford; Coppell, Texas)
USA U-23 Women's National Team will start its 2014 campaign with a challenging match against Japan on March 1st then against Sweden on March 3rd and Norway on March 5th.
USA U-18 Squad:
Rosemary Chandler – Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.
Casey Murphy – PDA; Bridgewater, N.J
Anna Bialczak – Maryland United FC; Lutherville, Md
Madeline Elliston – OMA Elite Girls' Academy; Omaha, Neb
Megan Keeth – MVLA; Los Altos Hills, Calif
Gabrielle Matulich – MVLA; Los Gatos, Calif
Kaleigh Riehl – BRYC; Fairfax Station, Va
Niki Romero – UNC; Las Vegas, Nev
Carlyn Baldwin – BRYC; Oakton, Va
Jaye Boissiere – MVLA; Los Altos Hills, Calif
Katie Cousins – Richmond Kickers; Lynchburg, Va
Jordan DiBiasi – Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo
Annie Kingman – PSV Union FC; Woodside, Calif
Emily Ogle – Internationals SC; Strongsville, Ohio
Jessica Vigna – PDA; Farmingdale, N.J
Kayla Cappuzzo – Albertson Fury; Merrick, N.Y.
Imani Dorsey – Freestate United; Elkridge, Md
Darian Jenkins – UCLA; Riverton, Utah
Amber Munerlyn – UNC; Corona, Calif
Rebecca Rasmussen – Georgia; Golden, Colo
USA U-18 Women's National Team will start its 2014 campaign with a challenging match against Sweden on March 8th then Norway on March 10th and France on March 12th.
What are your views? Leave your comments below.
The WSU Team bringing you news and updates from the world of women's football.


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I founded Manna Digital on a principle that marketing can be meaningful for small businesses. Proven through working at a few high-growth startups, I have been able to provide significant value when it comes to social media and content strategy. I intend to share my expertise with growth-oriented businesses so they can establish and scale their content and social media programs for long-term success. And frankly, I love taking on new challenges with a variety of businesses.
Online marketing has changed dramatically in the past decade. You can't win the game today with the plays from the last season. What has remained true is the consistent practice of knowing your customers, providing them value, targeted advertising, and delivering remarkable experiences. You have an addressable market with needs and interests--will they trust you or your competition to solve them?
After working with dozens of growth-oriented small businesses, it became clear to me that owners are too busy to dedicate their time and resources to digital marketing. And they shouldn't do it themselves, either. There are hundreds of priorities that founders need to focus on in their business, trying to understand the technical specifications of the Facebook Pixel shouldn't be one of them.
If you measure success by word count or keyword density, this probably won't work out. However, if you define success as either building your audience, attracting qualified leads, and converting those prospects into thriving, profitable customers—this just might work.
I invite you to have a look around. Read our blog to learn helpful marketing tips, check out our digital marketing services, or drop me a line if you have any questions.
To help small businesses create remarkable customer experiences through digital marketing.
Be good.
Deliver results.
Quality wins.
I'm in my early thirties, married, live in Phoenix and have a little dog named George. I enjoy watching criminal dramas, documentaries, and automotive-themed action movies. I'm not a coffee freak, but when I do enjoy a cup, I like it iced.
More than ten years ago, I developed my craft to create content for businesses that consumers love. I have refined this gift over the years, and my methodology has proven valuable for startups and mid-sized companies to build audiences, nurturing prospects, and converting customers. I have served in a social media and content marketing role at a few high-growth startups including Infusionsoft, Local Motors, and OfferPad.
I genuinely enjoy producing meaningful content for small businesses so they can increase leads, sales, and share of voice in their industry -- and that begins with strategy. I appreciate the thoughtful balance between brand and market-driven content, so it improves a business' online presence and attracts more customers.


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Complete the form to join the LRN and find out how membership can work for you.
Whether you're a multi-national company, an established local manufacturer or start-up, trade union, employers' association, service provider, research organisation or NGO, our network will bring you together to benefit both workers and business in a virtuous ethical circle.
Local advisors are required to provide 2 referees. After you have completed the registration the LRN team will check your references before approving your membership.


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Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that is starting to reach maturity, with AR smart glasses (ARSG) showing great potential for seamless integration. With this we are facing a paradigm shift with early adapters starting to integrate ARSG into production but with a majority not still taking the step. This project aims to enable more and faster integration of ARSG into production. The method used is to develop a tool for assessing compatibility for specific production lines to guide in the first steps of integrating ARSG as an operator support tool in assembly.
Increased demands for customization is making mass production and automation hard, meaning that operators will continue to be an integral part of assembly. But the increased demands for customization and global competition means a higher demand for operators to handle faster and broader product cycles, thereby increasing the needs to handle information processing. Augmented reality has been proven to have the potential of increasing efficiency by being able to present information interactively, individually, and in the correct spatial context. Of the different forms of AR mediums, smart glasses are the most suitable for operators by being hands-free, portable, and able to present on an individual level. The market of augmented reality smart glasses (ARSG) has seen a dramatic increase in number of sold units and technical capabilities and early adapters within industry has already started to use them with value-adding results. But the majority of manufacturing companies and possible use cases do not yet use ARSG. This research project aims to increase the use of ARSG as a support tool for operators by providing guidance in how to assess compatibility of a production line with ARSG and how to initiate the process of integrating ARSG into a maintainable production support tool.


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The Blacklist Renewed For Season 8!
The Blacklist is still kicking. The NBC series starring James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington has been renewed for an eighth season. He plays one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives.
The show also stars Amir Arison, Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix, Hisham Tawfiq, and Meghan Boone. Season 7 will return on Friday, March 7 with two new back-to-back episodes, according to Variety.
The Blacklist Was A Massive Hit For NBC When It Made Its Debut In 2013
"Congratulations to our incredible cast, producers and crew, all of whom continue to reach excellence week in and week out," said Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta, co-presidents of scripted programming for NBC Entertainment. "We couldn't be more excited to continue Red and Liz's story into season eight."
The Blacklist was a massive hit for NBC when it made its debut in 2013. It averaged a same-day rating of 3.6 among adults 18-49 and 12 million viewers. During its current season, the show averaged a 1.1 rating and garnered 6.6 million viewers after seven days of delayed viewing. Sony Pictures Television and Universal Television along with Davis Entertainment produces the series.
The show continues to tell wildly imaginative and exciting stories to this day, according to co-president of Sony Picture Television, Chris Parnell. He credits the cast and crew for its success. He's excited for viewers to see what will happen in the eighth season. Details about the upcoming eighth season were not revealed.
Arrow Series Finale Will Include Green Lantern Feature https://t.co/wY4x42fa7d
— TV Soap Videos (@tvsoapvideos) February 21, 2020
The Show Continues To Tell Wildly Imaginative And Exciting Stories To This Day
This comes after the cast and crew celebrated the 150th episode on Thursday, Feb. 20, according to TV Insider. The milestone episode is titled "Roy Cain" and is directed by Daniel Willis. It will air sometime in April 2020.
The Blacklist is amid its seventh season. When will Season 7 of the series be available for streaming on Netflix? According to The Digital Weekly, the Netflix release schedule will not be immediately available. Since it has been renewed for Season 8, the scheduled release date for Season 7 is not until September 2020. If you rather stream it on Netflix than watch it live on NBC, then you'll have to wait until then. What do you think of the Blacklist being renewed for Season 8? Do you still watch the series? Sound off below in the comments section.
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A California teenager accused of driving while livestreaming on social media and causing a car crash that killed her sister made her first appearance in court today, and her attorney later told reporters that she is "absolutely broken apart."
The driver, Obdulia Sanchez, 18, of Stockton, California, is accused of driving under the influence when she crashed on July 21 in Los Banos, California, about 80 miles southeast of San Jose, the California Highway Patrol said. The car went through a barbed wire fence and overturned in a field, ejecting Sanchez's two passengers, the highway patrol said.
The passengers were both 14 years old and were not wearing seat belts; one was killed and the other suffered a major injury, the highway patrol said.
Her defense attorney entered not guilty pleas on her behalf in court this afternoon. Her bail was set at $560,000 and a preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 9.
ABC-owned station KFSN in Fresno reported that Sanchez was livestreaming video on Instagram when the crash occurred. In the video, she is seen singing and dancing along to music as she drives.
According to KFSN, Sanchez says in a video following the crash, "I ------- killed my sister. I know I'm going to jail for life. ... I don't ------- care at all."
Chuck Mosley, commander of the highway patrol in Los Banos, confirmed the authenticity of the video obtained by KFSN and told ABC News, "We do know she was livestreaming via social media at the time of the collision."
The highway patrol said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
Sanchez, who was arrested and booked at the Merced County Jail, was officially charged today with one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated; an alternative count of gross vehicular manslaughter; two counts of driving under the influence resulting in injury; and two counts of driving with a .08 percent blood alcohol content causing injury, with great bodily injury allegations for all four vehicle code violations.
Sanchez faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and eight months in prison if convicted, the district attorney's office said.
Sanchez's defense attorney, Ramnik Samrao, told reporters today his client is "absolutely broken apart. She feels terrible."
"She's grieving for her sister," he said. "It's an absolute tragedy."
"Whether or not a crime was actually committed in this case, that is what the justice system is about. Everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty," Samrao said.
"Certainly anybody can say very easily that she's responsible for that death, she believes that, too," Samrao said, referencing what Sanchez said in the video. "Whether or not a crime was committed, that's a separate story," he said, adding that it hasn't been proven that his client was drunk.
"I think that it's very unfortunate that so many people would rush to judge Ms. Sanchez in this case based on a few minutes of a video clip," he said. "They've never walked a single step in her shoes. They don't know how she's been a foster child. They don't know that she's been a victim of human sex trafficking."
Samrao did not elaborate on the alleged sex trafficking but said he would provide more information in the coming weeks.
Samrao said he plans to ask the judge on Friday to consider reducing bail or consider releasing his client from jail.
Obdulia Sanchez's father, Nicandro Sanchez, told KFSN, "It's an accident."
"It happened that way," he said. "Who knows why?"
Merced County Chief Deputy District Attorney Harold Nutt said in a statement today, "The behavior demonstrated both prior to and after the incident, as documented by the defendant's own recording, is disturbing and shocking."
He added, "The Merced County District Attorney's Office will do everything in its power to see that justice is done in this matter."
Nutt noted that the district attorney's office is not ruling out the possibility of additional charges.
ABC News' Annie Pong contributed to this report.


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Double F Manager Mark Rogers explains how he went from playing college basketball to managing artist. Mark credits his impeccable hustle for his success. Mark plans on being one of the greatest managers of all time and giving back to his hometown Phenix City, Al. Artist under Mark's management company Double F Ent have been able to open for some of the biggest names in HipHop such as Money Man and Lucci. Double F management also sealed a distribution deal for their artist @CJXNEZ . Check out the interview below and SUBSCRIBE!!!
Leave a Reply.
February 2021


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Industry Updates
- aims to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030 – IATA
- Domestic air passenger traffic rose 23.14 per cent to 64.47 million from 52.36 million for the period Jan – Aug 2015 as compared to 2016.
- Indian domestic air traffic is expected to cross 100 million passengers by FY2017, compared to 81 million passengers in 2015 - Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA)
- FDI inflows in air transport (including air freight) between April 2000 and March 2016 stood at US$ 931.05 million.
- Boeing in joint venture with TATA to setup new manufacturing unit in Hyderabad.
- Course Designed As Per Industry Requirements
- Go Air to buy 72 A320neo aircrafts from Airbus.
- Govt in 'mission mode' to expand aviation sector, says PM Narendra Modi.
- Government aims to make air travel affordable and after implementation of the policy, scheduled commercial flights will increase from 77 in 2016 to 127 by 2019- PM Modi.
- Domestic ticketing is expected to grow from 8 crore in 2015 to 30 crore by 2022- PM Modi.
- Out a new regional connectivity scheme under which people can travel with airfares of only Rs 2,500 for up to 500 kms distance.
Avlonite kaushal Bhatia
Cabin Crew
Go Air
Cabin Crew
Go Air
Avlonites Left to Right Apoorva Malik, Sanam Tmanag, Akshita Aggarwal, Syed Sohail Ansari, Shivani Rawat, Jyoti Chauhan, Nisha Rawat
Cabin Crew - Go Air
7 Alvnoites ready to fly
Cabin Crew - Go Air
7 Alvnoites ready to fly


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Starting price:
Capacity of the venue
What did we love the most?
The sense of peace
*The estimated price is for 300 guests for midweek, learn more
Tel Aviv wakes up in the morning, puts on rays of sunshine and a chill, peaceful vibe - while the sun sets it becomes a vibrant and dynamic metropolis. The Riverside goes through the same transformation, when it changes through the day from one kind of place to the other. When it's surrounded by the city of Tel Aviv, the natural landscape of the Yarkon park becomes a significant motive in it's total look.
The combination of natural and urban view affects the interior look of Riverside itself as well, thanks to the large glass windows it has and it's balcony, which brings the nature into the urbanic space. Thus, unique events are created and within them the most magical vibe.
They live on Rokah St 2, Tel Aviv. Tel: 077-670-6624
From the editors
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leave your contact information here, it goes straight to them
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more hot spots for tlv wedding
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recommended places outside the city
Gan Vradim
In the heart of a bustling Metropolitan area stands a beautiful events garden, lush with greenery. Its location turns it into an oasis in an urban and concrete-filled scenery. This combination makes it unique and ideal for unforgettable events.
The estate is in the plain area. Magical and authentic place. The stables,
sheds, the well house and the structure of the packing house are inseparable from the atmosphere of the place.
In the heart of the Sharon Park - one of the last and most beautiful nature
reserves in the coastal plain. A unique and meticulous place. A nature
reserve of Quality.
*All the places and businesses listed on the site selected by the system and do not pay for being presented on the site.


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The use of an Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) chemotherapy drug after surgery for pancreatic cancer delayed recurrence of the disease in a patient trial, researchers reported.
The study's results, to be published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, could support wider use of Gemzar, which has been the standard treatment for people with advanced pancreatic cancer. Cancer of the pancreas is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, with fewer than 5% of newly diagnosed patients living at least five years.
Most cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, and Gemzar, also known by its generic name gemcitabine, is usually given as a front-line therapy. But in some people, the cancer is still in a relatively early stage and is treatable by surgery to remove all or part of the pancreas.
Surgery can sometimes cure the disease, but it recurs in many people who undergo surgery. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic-cancer patients who undergo surgery is 23.4%, according to the authors of the new study.
Rather than wait for a recurrence of the disease to begin giving Gemzar, some doctors have advocated the drug's use soon after surgery as a way to prevent or delay recurrence, a use known as adjuvant therapy. But there has been disagreement among doctors over whether this is effective, and patient trials to test this hypothesis have provided inconsistent results, according to the German researchers who wrote the new JAMA study.
The latest trial was conducted from 1998 to 2004 in Germany and Austria, and involved 368 patients who had undergone complete pancreatic resections. Following surgery, about half the patients took Gemzar while the other half received no treatment and were monitored.
The primary aim of the study was a comparison of disease-free survival, or the time from the start of treatment to the date of disease recurrence or death. The study found that median disease-free survival in the Gemzar group was 13.4 months, compared with 6.9 months in the control group.
Although Gemzar prolonged disease-free survival, it didn't demonstrate a significant increase in overall survival, which is the time from the start of treatment until death from any cause, the researchers wrote. Median overall survival was 22.1 months in the Gemzar group and 20.2 months in the control group. However, the researchers said longer follow-up of the patients may demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for Gemzar.
"Postoperative gemcitabine significantly delayed the development of recurrent disease after complete resection of pancreatic cancer compared with observation alone," the authors wrote. "These results support the use of gemcitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy in resectable carcinoma of the pancreas."
Toxicities and certain adverse events such as nausea and vomiting were seen in some Gemzar patients, but researchers said the regimen was generally well tolerated. They also wrote that the therapy didn't compromise quality of life.
Gemzar had $1.3 billion in sales in 2005, the last full year reported; Lilly is set to release 2006 financial results later this month.
Lilly provided funding for the study, and two of the study's authors reported having received compensation or research grants from Lilly and other drug companies, JAMA said.
-Contact: 201-938-5400


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OMA Connections Partner, Barnes & Thornburg, posted this alert about immigration actions in the workplace: "On Oct. 17, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Thomas Homan, announced that the agency intends to quadruple the number of worksite enforcement actions throughout the country. This means employers should expect a dramatic increase in the number of Form I-9 inspections initiated by ICE. These inspections involve ICE agents auditing an employer's Form I-9s and other employment records to evaluate whether the employer properly verified its employees' work authorization statuses and to determine whether the employer is employing unauthorized aliens."
And: "Employers should consider preparing for these anticipated enforcement actions, particularly in the food service, hospitality, manufacturing, construction and agriculture industries, which ICE tends to target."
Read more from Barnes & Thornburg here. 10/23/2017


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FORT MYERS, Fla.– The Southwest Florida Public Defender's Office was hit by a malware intrusion, last week.
According to officials, offices are open and operational.
The Public Defender's Office has a cyber security team working to determine the extent of the intrusion.
Public Defender Kathleen Smith said efforts to fully restore service are underway and going well.
The reason for the attack is unknown, at this time. This is a developing story.


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GVTTA Team League: Competition and Comaraderie Near Vancouver
(by Steve Hopkins)
Every Tuesday at 7pm, the Greater Vancouver Table Tennis Association (GVTTA) runs its league in Burnaby, British Columbia. The league format is 3-person teams with 9 singles matches each round. The cumulative rating points must be under 4000, which keeps the teams relatively equal and creates some additional layers of strategy. This league is unique to the Vancouver area – a great opportunity for competition and camaraderie. Check the GVTTA website (gvtta.ca) for additional information.
GVTTA is a non-profit organization established to promote the sport of table tennis in British Columbia, Canada. Located in Burnaby, a suburb East of Vancouver, the 3200 square foot facility is easily accessible to the greater Vancouver metropolitan area.


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The morning after our recent snowfall of a couple inches, I detoured to my little piece of paradise - carefully, in case the road was still snow covered and impassable (there's a hill leading down to the water.) Fortunately, it was clear, so I could drive down without concern.
In the following picture, there is some snow, and yes, the water is high...because it's high tide:
Here's a view across the inlet:
When I first drove in, lo and behold, there was already a car parked there! (That was a first!) An elderly gentleman was sitting in the driver's seat, enjoying his morning coffee alone in the car, and he greeted me "good morning, Ma'am." I responded in kind, and went on about my business taking pictures. No issues, no problems. (However I did sense that he looked me over fairly thoroughly...)
It's nice to know that someone else has good taste in serene locations!
One of my readers observed in a recent comment that, in winter, cis-women (other than those in NYC) tend to dress in pants or leggings and tops (or a dress serving as a top.) Following is a picture of one of my everyday outfits. This is what I typically wear - various turtleneck tunics, stirrup leggings (in warmer weather, capris) and pantyhose or tights, with flats. Absolutely nothing from the men's department. And if my January trip actually comes to pass, it will be made wearing everyday outfits just like this:
However, I still plan to take one (1) skirt - just in case the opportunity to fully-dress arrives. Unfortunately, space in my suitcase dictates ONLY ONE. :-( Initially, I thought I might take my mid-calf denim skirt (with flats instead of Mary Janes - which unfortunately don't fit well enough to wear all day while traveling):
But now, I'm "waffling" on that choice....so it may be this knee-length denim skirt - which you've seen in posts several times previously:
Or this red one - again, with flats for traveling:
IMHO, the front runner right now is my knee-length denim skirt. A close second in line is the above red one. Anyone care to offer suggestions or thoughts about my selections, or share any other thoughts on "What should I wear?"
Your ideas are welcomed...and I could be convinced to change my mind! (Before you ask, yes, I still have that jumper dress I wore on an excursion a couple of months ago!)


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From the recordings The Best of DEADMAN Volume 1 (1999 - 2009) and Paramour
From "Paramour", this song is a modern take on a ghost story.
The music was finished when the band showed up at the Paramour Estate in Silver Lake, CA to record the album. Steven didn't have any lyrics and once the song was tracked, he went outside for an hour and returned with the finished lyrics to sing the vocal.


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The Old Northwood Community hosts many events throughout the year, both at neighbors homes and our very own community center. We strive to promote a responsible civic
and social community and create experiences that everyone can enjoy. We
hope you will join us at our many cocktail parties and other events that Old
Northwood offers.


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CARACAS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday tapped Major General Manuel Quevedo to head of state oil company PDVSA and the country's oil ministry in what he said was an attempt to clean up the energy industry amid growing corruption scandals.
"The time for a new oil revolution has come," leftist Maduro said in his weekly televised program, vowing to "clean up" PDVSA. (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Mother lets baby born without eyes die of starvation
The community where the child was born is of the belief that it will bring misfortunes to them.
The woman's uncle, Hassan Dzuya, told Daily Nation News that his niece had refused to breast-feed the infant as everyone is afraid of getting close to the child.
A strike by nurses in the town had forced the family of the infant to resort to self delivery which resulted in a disappointment to them.
Dzuya also believes that the baby is most likely going to bring misfortune to her parents and the community, a reason why it was condemned to death according to the Mijikenda practice.
"Everyone is scared of the baby. They think it's bad omen. In our traditions, when such a child is born, we take it to a secluded sacred place and leave the gods to deal with it," he said.
Before being made to starve to death, the family of the deceased, its mother's uncle in particular, took it to the Port Reitz District Hospital for examination at the facility but they were turned away due to tensions in the health sector.
ALSO READ: 10 scariest body deformations
According to reports, the devastated mother who already has three healthy children gave birth to the baby prematurely.
The Daily Nation suspects that the infant suffered from Anophthalmia, a condition in which one or both eyes do not form during pregnancy. When both eyes are affected, blindness results.
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Do Slot Machine Advertisements Work in General?
Slot machines are part of one of the biggest industries in the world. Since they are part of one of the biggest industries in the world, the casino industry, millions of dollars are spent on advertisements for them. These advertisements are shown a lot through internet and tv. In most cases their advertisements are enough to make people want to play the machines.
What Are The Key Components of the Advertisements?- There are a few key components in slot machine advertisements. For one, the slot machines always look very fun. The people who are playing the machines in the advertisements always look like they are having fun. Another key component is that the machines always have a lot of lights on. The lights often at times make the machines more appealing to its audience. They tend to make the machines look more fun and exciting. Advertisers are very aware of how seeing colors can have an effect on one's mind. A lot of them know exactly how the mind works, especially ones who have a long experience with advertising. Advertisers do like to use as many tricks as they can to get people to believe in their product. All of the tricks combined are what makes the advertisement become successful.
Do Slot Machine Advertisers Have To Be Aware of Who They Are Targeting in Their Advertisements?- Yes, advertisers do have to be very aware of their target audience. Knowing their target audience is one of the most important key components. Since minors are not allowed to play the machines at a casino, they cannot make them their target audience. Their target audience has to be geared towards groups who are allowed to play the machines by law. There are some companies that do not allow any type of gambling advertisements. Companies that are geared towards children do not allow any form of gambling advertisements. There are some professional sports leagues like the NBA that do not allow gambling advertisements in their arenas. Since there are limits on where gambling advertisements can be placed, advertisers in the industry have to be able to use where they can use advertisements to their advantage really well. Up to this point so far, most advertisers have done a fantastic job at making sure they know who to target.
Do Advertisements Play a Role in Problem Gambling?- The answer to this question really depends on who you ask. There are so many different layers to this questions and different perspectives for it. Some people think it does. However, there are others who think that they do not play a role in problem gambling. Problem gambling has been becoming more of a concern since slot machines have started to expand more. Also, now it has become easier for many people to have access to slot machines thanks to how the internet works today. There are a few different factors that plays into problem gambling. As long as slot machines exist, there will always be someone who is addicted to slot machines. Slot machine operators want their machines to receive as much attention as possible. In order for any machine to receive a lot of attention, there has to be a lot of advertisements for it.
Advertisements are supposed to attract people. If they do not attract people, then the advertisers did something very wrong. Having these kind of advertisements seen in a lot of different places does have its pros and its cons. Advertisers only think about how the product can benefit off the advertisement. When it comes to the machines, typically all they think about is money.
Advertisements for the casino industry in general have a lot of money involved in them. In a lot of cases, when there is a lot of money involved in the advertisements the better the chances of the product being well received. However, this is only if the machine is worth the hype. If the machine is receiving a lot of hype, but is underperforming in a lot of areas then that is basically wasted. When the machine is not underperforming and there is a lot of hype generated for it, more than likely there will be a lot of success. A lot of casino operators have a good understanding about this. This is why a lot of their advertisements end up being successful in the long run. Advertisers for the machines want to make sure all of the key components come together very well. Even if just one key component is missing, the advertisement would not have its full potential. That one missing component can make the advertisement a turn off for many. Successful slot advertisements know how to make players want to play the game right away.


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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Giveaway
- Twitter: @Nichstaroni
- Subscribe: YouTube.com/Nichstaroni
- Twitch: Twitch.tv/Nichstaroni
Here is a giveaway for a beautiful game that I swear I will finish one day. I just have to.
The Witcher was made by CD Projekt RED. They have a new title coming out, hopefully next year, called Cyberpunk 2077 that looks very interesting.
Anyway, don't be like me, if you win a copy of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, play it.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt giveaway posted in the forums.


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Emilie Rowe
- Qualification & subject:
- Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Agriculture
- Profession:
- Works in Agricultural Accounts
Emilie studied Bsc (Hons) Agriculture and now works in agricultural accounts but is hoping to start her own farm with fiancé James.
Emilie's Hartpury Experience
"I actually came back to Hartpury University after travelling around New Zealand and Australia on a gap year, where I decided I'd like a career in farming. I had previously studied A Levels at Hartpury College. I studied a Foundation degree in Agriculture. I do not come from an agricultural background, so the theory and practical lessons helped me learn the skills I needed. I also took a few short courses in tractor driving and spraying available at Hartpury University to boost my practical skills. I enjoyed the business management aspect of the course so much that I decided to take a home study course in bookkeeping on top of my degree. I qualified as an assistant bookkeeper in 2015. At the end of my studies, I gained a distinction and won the Berkeley Hunt Agricultural Award for top final year student on my course."
Developing Industry Connections
"After completing my degree, I was offered a stockperson position straight away at a family run organic pig farm in the Cotswolds. Here I could put everything I had learnt at university into practice! I stayed there until 2016, when my fiancé James and I took the leap and moved to Saskatchewan, Canada. Currently, James manages a 13,000 acre arable farm growing durum, peas, lentils and barley. I am working in our local accountants as a bookkeeper for agricultural clients. We are currently looking into financial funding to start our own farm.
Hartpury University taught me all I needed to progress in the agricultural industry and gave me exciting opportunities that have led to a new adventure here in Canada."


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Jeremy and I had the great privilege to host both families again this year for Thanksgiving. We feel so blessed to have the families we do, and the home that we do, so we love nothing more than opening it up for things. While some people would cringe at the thought of hosting 25 people, we love it!! … [Read more...]
DIY Silverware Holder
With tomorrow being September 1st, that gives us all free reign on thinking and doing all things Fall, right?! While it is still miserably hot here in Phoenix, I still can't get Fall off the brain. And with Fall comes Thanksgiving, and about a million and one other large events. Dinner parties, … [Read more...]


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Unraveling the Mystery of Pike in Alaska's Vogel Lake
The case started when Northern Pike (a fish that's found naturally north of the Alaska Range but is considered invasive south of it) were discovered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Vogel Lake within the Kenai Peninsula's Miller Creek watershed. Other known pike infestations on the Kenai had already been removed, but the Vogel Lake infestation was the first to be located mostly on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge lands.
Since the discovery, an investigation team consisting of ADF&G, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Kenai Watershed Forum formed with the aim of protecting the native fish community by removing Northern Pike from the Miller Creek watershed.
Although a popular sport fish in many places, pike are an invasive species south of the Alaska Mountain Range. U.S. law defines an invasive species as any plant or animal that is both non-native and causes harm. Pike meet both criteria. Not only were pike illegally introduced to the Kenai Peninsula in the 1970's, but also, they quickly caused (and continue to cause) harm. Piscivorous (fish-eating) pike eat native fish and endanger local fisheries. Juvenile salmon are a preferred meal for pike but they are opportunistic feeders so their menu can also include insects, frogs, small birds, and mammals. Pike can occasionally be cannibalistic too. When the richest fish prey is gone, that can start a cycle where mostly small, stunted pike are left.
Everybody was wondering: "How did pike arrive in Vogel Lake?"
To understand why this was a puzzling question, we need to open the case files on Northern Pike in Alaska. Typically, pike are a freshwater fish that prefer to hide in relatively shallow, weedy, or slow water. Using these conditions as cover, they save their energy until they strike their prey.
The two most likely scenarios: They were illegally introduced or pike from a source population in another part of southcentral Alaska ventured across Cook Inlet. While reports of pike in saltwater are not uncommon in Europe, reports of pike in saltwater are very rare in Cook Inlet. A critical clue in determining where the pike originated came from an otolith (inner ear bone) from one of the fish, which showed traces of a saltwater isotope signature. While at least one of the pike in Vogel Lake likely spent time in saltwater, the origin of the remaining pike is still under investigation, but most are possibly descendants from pike that potentially crossed Cook Inlet.
With the first mystery partially unraveled, another question needed answering: What can be done to protect the native fish community?
If pike were to be left unmanaged in Vogel Lake, the local Rainbow Trout are mathematically predicted to be almost nonexistent in this waterbody by 2030. Additionally, Vogel Lake is interconnected with many other waters. This means that if allowed to remain in Vogel Lake, pike could further spread, and the cycle of harm could continue. These pike could also become a new source for illegal stocking on the Kenai Peninsula.
The case here becomes even more complex when thinking of where the infestation is located. The affected resources stretch across federal, private, and Borough lands. Working with various partners therefore becomes critical for finding a solution to this challenge. Because Vogel Lake and a portion of the Miller Creek Watershed are located within the boundaries of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (federal land), a series of processes must happen before any action to address pike can be taken to both protect the land and ensure that the final action chosen is well-informed.
One such process is an Environmental Assessment. It outlines the options a federal agency can take in order to manage a natural resource. For Vogel Lake, these are:
- Take no action and leave Pike in the Miller Creek watershed
- Physical/mechanical removal (netting and containment),
- Chemical removal (low concentrations of Rotenone, a plant-based compound commonly used by fishery managers to affect creatures with gills ), or
- Combination of techniques known as Integrated Pest Management.
Each option contains both pros and cons. Further details on each option can be viewed here: Draft Environmental Assessment — Northern Pike Management in the Miller Creek Watershed on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
As a member of the public, you can comment on which of the options is best for managing pike in the Miller Creek watershed. Comments are accepted during the 30-day public comment period starting March 15th. By acting now, you can help protect native fish on the Kenai Peninsula from invasive Northern Pike.
Remember to always check relevant fish regulations to ensure that you are following the law. If you spot Northern Pike anywhere south of the Alaska Range where they are not already known (see Invasive Northern Pike in Southcentral Alaska for all known pike waters), please report your sighting online at the ADF&G Website Invasive Species Reporting Tool or by calling 1–877-INVASIV. Help keep the Kenai Peninsula wild and free of invasive species.
To learn more, check out these resources:
Refuge Notebook: Why northern pike are bad for the Kenai Peninsula
Invasive Pike in Southcentral Alaska
Native v. Invasive Pike: A Tale of Two Ranges
Alaska Invasive Species Partnership Facebook page
Story by Deborah Kornblut (Regional Invasive Species Outreach Coordinator) and Ben Wishnek (South Region Early Detection Rapid Response Project Manager), Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program. Special thanks to our partners for your work and dedication to keeping Alaska wild and free of invasive species.
In Alaska we are shared stewards of world renowned natural resources and our nation's last true wild places. Our hope is that each generation has the opportunity to live with, live from, discover and enjoy the wildness of this awe-inspiring land and the people who love and depend on it.
Follow us: Facebook Twitter fws.gov/alaska/


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Fionnuala lectures at the Royal Academy on the trafficking of illicit antiquities
Posted May 1, 2019
In April 2019, Fionnuala presented a lecture at the Royal Academy on the trafficking of illicit antiquities. Following which, Fionnuala participated in a panel discussion as part of the RA's programme: Art crime: the myth vs the reality. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/event/courses-classes-art-history-crime-theft-vandalism#about-this-course


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I met with James A. Partin on February 23, 2001 in a restaurant near his home. Partin preferred that our discussion concerning his involvement in the incident not be recorded. He was friendly and cooperative in responding to questions, but requested that he not be contacted further.
His general recall is vague though he remembers being onboard during the incident and was able to recall viewing the object from above. He provided a drawing of the flight path of the B-52 following the first approach. The notations are mine based on information provided by Mr. Partin.
Thomas Tulien


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This version of documentation is OUTDATED! Please switch to the latest one.
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Unigine::Plugins::FMOD::Bus Class
|#include <plugins/UnigineFMOD.h>
This set of functions is available when the FMOD plugin is loaded.
Represents a global mixer bus.
Bus Class
void setPaused ( bool paused ) #Sets the pause state for the bus.
- bool paused - true to pause the bus, false to unpause it.
bool isPaused ( ) const#Returns the pause state.
Return valuetrue if the bus is paused, otherwise, false.
void setVolume ( float volume ) #Sets the volume level.
- float volume - Volume level in range [-inf; inf].
float getVolume ( ) const#Returns the current volume level.
Return valueVolume level.
void setMuted ( bool muted ) #Sets the mute state.
- bool muted - trueto mute the bus, false to unmute it.
bool isMuted ( ) const#Returns the mute state.
Return valuetrue if the bus is muted, otherwise, false.
void stopAllEvents ( ) #Stops all event instances that are routed into the bus.
void release ( ) #Releases the bus object.
Last update: 2022-10-10
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Why Join the Lehigh Valley Contractors Association?
The mission of the Lehigh Valley Contractors Association is to provide the proven, professional contractor with a united voice in all matters affecting the industry. The objectives of the Association are to promote and advance the common interests of its members as a trade association for union construction contractors and subcontractors in and around the Lehigh Valley; provide informational and educational programs relevant to the industry; represent the industry to legislative, administrative, regulatory, and other public and governmental bodies: promote safety practices and programs; and, market its members to institutional, commercial and public agencies.
Membership in L.V.C.A. is composed of construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors. The Association is managed by an executive director and policy decisions are made by a board of directors, composed of six representatives who are currently a director, partner, owner, or an officer of an active member of the Association.
L.V.C.A members benefit from services in the following areas:
- Negotiation with several of the basic trades (carpenters, laborers, cement masons, plasterers)
- Assistance with collective bargaining, wages, jurisdictional disputes, and grievances as well as other issues that may arise
- Publication and updating of wage rate schedules for all trades in the greater Lehigh Valley
- Safety seminars adapted to trades and construction projects
- Assistance with O.S.H.A. questions or citations
- Promotion of association members to all levels of public agencies and officials involved with construction
- Lobbying of local, state and federal officials to promote favorable legislation related to the needs of the association and its members
- Market L.V.C.A. members to commercial developers and institutional project managers
- Access to plans and specifications associated with institutional, industrial and commercial projects
- Plans available for review on weekends or overnight
- Information distributions via mail, fax and email
- Publication of "News at a Glance" including plans on file, safety tips and professional services articles
- Distribution of a membership directory to the entire membership, municipal officials, engineers, architects and other construction users.
Inclusion on our website, which:
- Allows construction users to access the membership directory in order to assist them in selecting member contractors for their projects
- Provides information pertinent to the association and its membership
- Provides links to members websites
Open to all union contractors
General contractor - $600 per year
Sub-contractors - $300 per year
Membership applications can be obtained at the Millard Street office or click on the PDF Icon to download an application.


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Students planning to go abroad on exchange still facing uncertainty
Everybody is hoping things will go back to normal in higher education in the next academic year. But, since that's not guaranteed, many Dutch universities have decided to approve exchange programmes conditionally. That is the case of Utrecht University, which is greenlighting exchanges provided that the student's country of choice is coded green or yellow at the time of the exchange.
Green means that no restrictions apply, while yellow means that travellers should remain 'vigilant'. There are also orange and red travel advisories. Currently, almost the entire world map is coded orange, which means only necessary travel is allowed. There are also a number of red countries, for which all travel has been suspended.
The University of Twente has opted for a similar approach, giving its students (and programmes) the go-ahead to prepare for exchanges in September, as long as they take into account that there might still be restrictions. Meanwhile, the Delft University of Technology is limiting its exchanges to the European Union.
But this conditional approval may mean that the institutions may risk wasting time and resources. It remains to be seen. That's why some institutions, like the University of Amsterdam, have decided to cancel their exchange programmes once more, rather than waiting to see how the pandemic will develop this summer. This way, students who were hoping to go abroad this year have plenty of time to figure out something else to do.
UvA students were not pleased. They are now protesting the cancellation, demanding to know why their university is choosing to scrap exchanges when other institutions are allowing their students to go abroad.
But most institutions are still undecided, as is the case of the Codarts University for the Arts and the Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences, which have not yet made a definitive decision. VU Amsterdam will base its decision on the travel advisories on June 1st for exchanges outside Europe and July 1st for exchanges within Europe, which includes Turkey.
But what about the students themselves? Do they get a say? "We do believe that student participation councils should have the right to advise on this, but it's a grey area", says Dahran Çoban, chair of Dutch National Student Association ISO. "The law is open to interpretation." This gives institutions leeway to approach the matter as they see fit.
As scrapping exchanges altogether is a drastic decision, Çoban believes administrators should involve the students in the decision regardless, even if there's no formal requirement to do so.


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It's a happy horror holiday as we get another Joe Bob Briggs Christmas special on Shudder with Joe Bob Saves Christmas. This night has everything! Killer Santas! Home invasions! Charity auctions! QVC-stylings! It makes for a nice, full night of heartwarming horror fun. Between Dial Code Santa Claus, Christmas Evil, and heartwarming auctions, there is something worth stuffing into every mutant's stocking.
On another note, however, I may have gone a bit overboard with Christmas puns during the live tweets throughout the night…
Dial Code Santa Claus
Opening Rant: "Shut the fuck up."
My experience with Christmas horror films has been fairly limited and because of this, 1989's Dial Code Santa Claus (also known as 3615 code Père Noël, Game Over, and a billion other titles) was not on my radar. It turns out that I have been missing out. This French holiday horror film is such an odd but wonderful movie.
The movie follows perhaps the bougiest child protagonist since Richie Rich who, eager to contact Santa Claus, uses the internet to reach out to who he thinks is Saint Nick, only to get the attention of a disturbed Santa Claus wannabe who sets his deadly sights on this child and begins a fairly low-key murder spree. The film is an odd sort of artifact for horror fans and has some striking similarities to the holiday classic Home Alone. Both films climax with a home invasion, and while Home Alone's is far less lethal, Dial Code Santa Claus does not shy away from deadly consequences and disturbing revelations. The revelation of the state of mind of the pseudo-Santa Claus upon gaining the upper hand in this Christmas battle is absolutely terrifying.
It's a gorgeously shot movie and the craftsmanship is readily apparent. René Manzor's stylish approach to the material creates such a wonderfully messed up story that explores growing up in the absolute worst way possible during the Christmas holiday. Manzor still mostly works in French cinema, but as Joe Bob Briggs reveals during the host segments (in between hawking wares) that he directed some installments of various series such as The Red Shoe Diaries and The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. At times earnest, horrific, and that special sort of late-1980s cheesy, Dial Code Santa Claus is a holiday horror film that deserves to be seen and is a perfect sort of film for the spotlight of The Last Drive-In.
As for the inter-film shenanigans we come to expect from The Last Drive-In, the coronavirus is still wreaking havoc with the production dynamics of the show. I felt that it hurt the last Halloween special, feeling oddly isolated and melancholy, but this time around the gimmick does a lot of work to keep the proceedings light, funny, and also allowed for friends of the Drive-In to leave behind holiday wishes. For this special, the team does a sort of QVC-cum-horror network experience, complete with requisite graphics and title cards. It's a lot different from the usual experience but in a way that fits the tone of the night, particularly given the film selections.
Throughout the night 18 different auctions were dropped on a special website and the proceeds of the bids which climbed throughout the night were designated for four distinct charities. These charities were very much right in the wheelhouse of hosts Joe Bob and Darcy, including The Trevor Project, The National Women's Law Center, The Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, and the Organization for Autism Research. One of the highlights throughout the night was seeing the bids climb both on social media and the occasional reference on show to the impressive numbers. Bidding continues until the 22nd of December, so if you are interested in some incredible swag for good causes, be sure to take a look.
As far as the first half of the night goes, one couldn't ask for a better holiday horror film; Dial Code Santa Claus was funny, thrilling, incredibly French, and had a requisite out-of-place Bonnie Tyler sad music montage. Joe Bob Briggs gave the film three stars, but I'd argue he scored it a little low. It is easily worth an extra half-star for the wide-eyed beard-flocking sequence alone. The movie is a great Christmas experience, surely nothing could be better… You'd think that, but you'd be wrong. The second film of the night is even better than the first. But don't let that detract from the pure, unadulterated joy of Dial Code Santa Claus. I give the movie the four Cthulhu treatment.(4 / 5)
Best Line: "I don't like your face." – One perceptive little girl
Christmas Evil
Opening Rant: Crystal chakras or some insanity in the desert.
The second film of the night, also a new experience for me, was my favorite: Christmas Evil. A film adored by John Waters is always a great sign. Released in 1980 on the heels of Halloween and Friday the 13th, one would expect the film to be just another sort of holiday-themed slasher copycat, but this is far from. Lewis Jackson's film is relatively tame in violence, skewing more psychological than a slasher, but the film benefits all the more from the approach, crafting an ultimately heartbreaking chronicle of a man drifting further into madness over the holidays.
The film is a b-movie at heart, however, and for however subtle and nuanced it can be, it also delights in the absolute insanity of creating a Christmas-themed horror story. It delivers on multiple levels. The movie follows a man, Harry, who has grown up traumatized by a childhood witnessing of his parents engaged in sexual acts while his father is dressed as Santa Claus. As an adult, Harry has grown obsessed with Christmas, decorating his home with various seasonal decorations and knick-knacks and working at a toy factory. At home, he engages in dressing as Santa and taking on the requisite duties of observing and recording the local children, documenting their behavior in his book.
Harry, put upon by his coworkers and his frustrated younger brother, begins to spiral and believes himself to be Santa Claus, acting oddly but harmlessly, donating stolen toys from the factory to the local children's hospital. This doesn't last long, however, and soon Harry's actions turn to murder and the film's final act echoes the horror classic Frankenstein in several surprising ways. The film is a bit slow, however, and lacks a certain visual punch, but that's no dealbreaker.
The film is ultimately a sad story about a broken man who truly needs help and doesn't get it. It's actually fairly fitting for a movie set in a season of high suicides and melancholy. This is also the more interesting when paired with a trans allegory, as Joe Bob reveals was theorized by John Waters. Given the time the film was made, the theory slides into place; it would be hard to do a trans movie, but burying the message in a movie about a man who thinks he is Santa Claus is a bit easier to swallow. General audiences didn't really respond to the film though, so much of this discourse feels newer and in a way a little more timely. It all clicks, however, and whether or not it was intended, is worth discussing further given today's trans community discourse.
As for the rest of the festivities throughout the night, however, one of the great treats of the host segments was the video Christmas cards featuring Drive-In favorite guests and Silver Bolo winners. Whereas the recent Halloween special felt more isolated, there was a certain level of togetherness presented in this special's festivities, and those video Christmas cards went a long way towards that. The more live nature of the bidding on the auction also helped out quite a bit, really letting viewers feel like they were a part of something in the now.
While it was a great night for holiday horror, the standout of the films is most certainly Christmas Evil, both as a sort of holiday horror classic, but also on a more intellectual level. Sometimes the Last Drive-In pokes fun at the more scholarly side of the film world in the pursuit of blood, breasts, and beasts, but sometimes Santa Joe Bob gives unto us good little children a little something to chew on for a while, even awarding it that coveted four stars; Christmas Evil gives me just the sort of film I want to gnaw on for a bit. Happy holidays indeed! Definitely the full five Cthulhu sort of film I adore.(5 / 5)
Best Line: "But now I want you to remember to stay good boys & girls. Respect your mothers & fathers and do what they tell you. Obey your teachers and learn a whooooole lot! Now if you do this, I'll make sure you get good presents from me eeeevery year. Ha ha ha… but if you're bad boys & girls, your name goes in the 'Bad Boys & Girls' book, and I'll bring you something… horrible." – "Santa" Harry
Haunted MTL Drive-In Totals
As always, we begin with the official Drive-In totals, courtesy of the Shudder twitter account:
As for my own totals? Here is what I have:
- 1 Yuki sighting
- 1 Dead dog
- 2 Bad Santas
- 3 holiday themes
- 3 alternate titles
- 3 instances of holiday aardvarking
- 18 auction items
- 25k eBay monthly earning limit
- 23 minutes of exposition
- 36.15
- Globe Crushing
- Overly French holiday traditions
- Child endangerment
- Open-eyed beard flocking
- Christmas terrorism
- Terror train
- Suspiciously rich family
- Mansplaining QVC
- Child slapping
- Child spooking
- Eye gouging
- Santa transitioning
- Catholic Joking
- Gratuitously elaborate handshaking
- Gratuitous Frankensteinesque torch pursuit
- Gratuitous "Hogzilla" chanting
- Gratuitous Bonnie Tyler sad Christmas sequence
- Minitel Fu
- Video Christmas Card Fu
- Silver Bolo Award: Geeks Who Eat
Episode Score
In a world beset by a plague, nothing can be business as usual, and the Last Drive-In is no exception. The show continues to be fun, but after the relative disappointment I felt from the Halloween special, I was concerned that coronavirus was going to take yet another toll on a show I love. I am pleased that is not the case with Joe Bob Saves Christmas. The show found a great gimmick this time around that worked in the necessary COVID 19 restrictions while also delivering on a sense of community that is more vital than ever.
It's good to be a mutant.(5 / 5)
Well, that's it for The Last Drive-In until the start of the new season, or another special. What comes first? It doesn't really matter… we'll still be covering it and doing our live-tweet sessions here at Haunted MTL.
… the drive-in will never die.


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Akios VERTRON SUPER SPORT COMBO BOAT & UPTIDE Rod 20-30lb / 9ft6-7ft6
AKIOS VERTRON SUPERSPORT COMBO BOAT & UPTIDE ROD – Arguably the most versatile boat rod available!
The AKIOS VERTRON SUPERSPORT COMBO BAOT & UPTIDER rod is a game-changer, a truly innovative piece of kit that offers immense flexibility for all boat anglers, from the occasional charter boar angler to the avid small boat owner angler.
In its fully assembled form, the VERTRON SS COMBO is an uptider with a powerful butt and midsection progressively blending into a rolled glass tip that offers both the sensitivity and strength that's expected of a top-end boat rod.
When casting simply twist and extend the butt section to form the full 9ft 6in length that provides extra leverage to propel large leads and baits beyond the scare zone. Once the bait is in the water, twist and lock the butt section back into the retracted position for a more manageable and compact 8ft 9in length.
A removable 2ft mid-section ingeniously transforms the rod into a 6ft 9in conventional boat rod that can be extended to 7ft 6in for casting by extending the twist-lock butt section.
An impressive array of no less than 11 quality SeaGuide guides adorns a blue-carbon weave blank, whipped on with cobalt blue, violet and copper whippings.
For the in-shore boat angler, the VERTRON SUPERSPORT COMBO is a uniquely versatile elite boat rod that covers all needs.
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Removable 2ft Mid-Section Offers Transformation from Uptider to Conventional Boat Rod
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- Akios PBS (Power Band System)
Quality SeaGuide Guides Suitable for both Mono & Braid
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Ergonomic EVA Handle Grips
Supplied with Akios Padded Rod Bag
4 sections
Rod Length: 2.9m-2.3mm / 9ft 6″ – 7ft 6″ (handle extended)
Rod Length: 2.6m-2.0mm / 8ft 9″ – 6ft 9″ (handle retracted)
- Rod Class: 20-30lb