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Ciara Cronin is a yoga teacher qualified at 500ERYT level and is in private practice as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist. A yoga and meditation teacher with over 30 years experience. Ciara brings her broad experience of meditation, spiritual practice and many years' experience working in the private and voluntary mental health sector to her teaching style. Creating a supportive environment and taking to heart each student's experience, Ciara addresses individual needs and encourages a deep and focused practice in class. Attention is directed to cultivating and sustaining an inner calm while finding a compassionate, embodied relationship with our bodies, emotions, thoughts and path through life. Ciara is Director of The YogaRoom's yoga teacher training 200-Hour and 500-Hour programmes.
Phelim's classes balance Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga to create a strong, stable and dynamic practice that uses asana to bring a sense of balance and positive acceptance that can be taken off the mat and into the world. Phelim has been practicing Vinyasa yoga for over 12 years; in Yoga Phelim found a practice that facilitated a profound journey toward self acceptance. Looking to share his experience with others he completed the Yoga Alliance 200hr teacher training at The YogaRoom. Over the years he has studied with Catriona McCormack, Ciara Cronin and attended workshops with David Muehsam, Marianne Jacuzzi and James Higgins.
Becky is qualified at the highest level of yoga qualification 500RYT. Originally interested in the anatomy and alignment aspects of the Asana, as she delved deeper into the practice she came to appreciate the huge benefits of Yoga for mental as well as physical health. She is an experienced prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher, and in child and teen Yoga. Becky enjoys teaching vinyasa, ashtanga and gentle yin yoga. Since her original training, Becky has also completed her antigravity yoga teacher training and a 100 hour Yin teacher training, worked in a number of studios and gyms across Sydney, organized Yoga Charity events and has taught on retreat in Tanzania.
Annette is one of Ireland's most senior Iyengar yoga teachers. The emphasis on alignment and proper sequencing that characterise the Iyengar method were key to her decision to train in the method to become a teacher. She started teacher training in 1992 and has been teaching since 2000. Over the years she has studied with senior Iyengar teachers such as Geeta and Prashanti Iyengar at the Iyengar yoga Institute in Pune, India and with Firooza Ali, Jawahar Banguera, Birjoo Mehta, Zubin, Margaret Austin and Christian Pisano. She is a founding member of the Dublin Iyengar Yoga Institute and is fully committed to the promotion of the Iyengar method. Annette holds an intermediate Level 3 certificate. In her classes she focuses on alignment and the right sequencing of asanas to achieve balance and improve general well being. Originally from Colombia, has been living in Dublin with her family for the last 20 years. She started her yoga practice in the late 80's while living in France.
Aisling Conn has been practicing yoga for close to 20 years and is a qualified Yoga and Pilates teacher since 2010. She holds the highest qualification mark in yoga, an ERYT500 Alliance Certification. She's been teaching yoga full time since completing her 200-hour training at the YogaRoom in 2010 and subsequent 500-hour training. She's also a Certfied Mat1&2 Pilates Teacher, having trained with Sarah MacLachlan in Pilates Performance Ireland. Aisling is a lead trainer on the 200 and 500-hour teacher trainings at the YogaRoom. Her approach to yoga is inspired by the styles of Iyengar and Ashtanga Yoga and has studied under teachers in both Australia and Ireland, including Donna Farhi and Marianne Jacuzzi. Her main Yoga practice is a blend of Iyengar, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow with teaching emphasis on correct, safe alignment in postures and the unlimited benefits, both physical and mental, that a regular practice can bring to any body.
Aoife has practiced yoga for over 15 years and is qualified at the 500RYT teaching level with Yoga Alliance. Having personally experienced the power of yoga and meditation following a horse-riding accident she understands how mobility, breath and body alignment can support people in everyday movement and in the sports they love. Yoga became a steady, calming contrast to an often-stressful executive working life, and she began teaching in 2015. Aoife is an ICF certified Executive/Life coach and incorporates movement and yoga in her coaching practice as a more holistic way to support well-being and greater body awareness for clients. She is trained in Restorative Yoga and Yoga & Mindfulness, is an avid cyclist, tennis player and loves how the practice of yoga gives the body greater freedom and resilience to keep moving. She is a certified Equine Coach (2015) and has introduced voice work to explore sound healing within the body having studied classical voice in the RIAM. Her practice is a mix of Ashtanga, Hatha yoga and Anusara.
Cara is a friendly and down to earth teacher, who takes a gentle Hatha approach to practice, thereby making yoga accessible to all ages and abilities. Her classes encourage the integration of body, mind and spirit, creating alignment within the body through physical practice (asana) and focusing upon breathwork (pranayama) to harmonise the free flow of energy. She is a 500hr qualified Yoga instructor (including Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra and Yoga & Mindfulness). Additionally, she has trained in Integrative Restoration (iRest) style Yoga Nidra, with Dr. Richard Miller, which specialises in deep relaxation and meditation, which can be useful for healing, coping with stress and resolving trauma. The purpose of practice is not only to promote physical wellbeing but to help develop awareness, focus the mind and cultivate resilience.
Keith has practiced yoga for 20 years since sustaining a back injury from weight training. The concept of intertwining the breath and fluid movement drew him to the Ashtanga Vinyasa style of practice. In 2003, Keith decided to travel to Mysore in India, where he spent several months studying with BKS Iyengar. Following his return, he qualified as a 200-Hour teacher in 2006 with YogaTherapy Ireland. Since then Keith has completed the YogaAlliance.org 500hr Advanced Teacher training with The YogaRoom in 2013. Since then Keith has practiced and taught many styles of Yoga. His teaching style greatly values the importance of variety in sequences to explore asana in different ways, whilst always honouring the breath. Keith encourages each student to find their own level within a sequence and incorporate mindfulness in the practice. Keith continually seeks to improve and refine his teaching skills, regularly undertaking training courses with talented teachers. Most recently Keith has started learning from Rod Stryker of the Para Yoga lineage.
Gail has been practising yoga for over 20 years. She is passionate about yoga as a tool for physical strength and flexibility, keeping the body vibrant, toned and healthy. Integral to her yoga practice is also her deep commitment to meditation which she believes when combined with a regular asana practice brings a sense of inner peace, harmony and balance to everyday life.
Ruth holds the highest level of yoga teacher qualification RYT500hr Yoga Alliance Certification and is a lead trainer on The YogaRoom 200hr & 500hr teacher training. She is also a member of the Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist teacher team, and has completed certifications on 55hr Hip Therapeutics, 55hr Shoulder Therapeutics, 55hr The Nervous System & Restorative Yoga, 20hr Yoga International Anatomy, and 20hr Sequencing with Purpose.
Ruth teaches vinyasa and restorative classes with a focus on mobility and stability to enable her students to move more freely in their everyday life both physically & mentally. She has a particular interest in the powerful benefits of restorative yoga and works with students to cultivate a strong, resilient and balanced nervous system. To share the many benefits of yoga, Ruth also created Yogaru 108 Asana Yoga Sequencing Cards, the popular home practice tool. Along with many other publications she regularly contributes to the award winning online publication WellFest, UK's top yoga magazine Om Yoga Magazine and has featured in Yogamatters 'Meet our brands' and 'From Yoga to Yogaru'.
Following many years of yoga practice, Julia completed her teacher training in India under the guidance of Yogacharya Lalit Kumar. In 2017 she returned to India to complete an advanced 500-hour yoga teacher training, when she deepened her on-going research into yoga and low back pain and yoga for stress relief. Julia believes that every body is unique and has individual needs, and thus encourages the use of props and suggests individual modifications in her classes. In this way she gently facilitates her clients to challenge themselves and advance at their own pace, no matter where they are in their practice at any given time. Julia is also a certified level 2 practitioner of Ayurvedic Yoga Massage and a trained teacher of laughter Yoga which is a fun and effective practice to strengthen the immune system. when she's not teaching Yoga or seeing private clients, you'll probably find her taking a stroll on Dun Laoghaire pier.
Mari is a teacher, yogi, leadership consultant, Integral facilitator, coach, mentor and entrepreneur. She also shape shifts as a change maker, inquirer, and wisdom holder. Mari's yoga classes weaves her experience of ancient wisdom practices mindfulness, self-compassion, embodiment and the Celtic Wheel with contemporary developmental psychology, neuroscience and Integral spirituality.
Aisling has practiced yoga for over 10 years, completed 500-hour teacher training, in Dublin and New York, and also works as a nurse in Tallaght Hospital. After completing a 200-hour teacher training in The YogaRoom, Aisling moved to New York to expand her yoga experience. She studied at YogaWorks Soho to complete a 300-hour teacher training and completed specialist training in children's and pre-natal yoga at Karma Kids yoga New York. Aisling uses her nursing experience to modify positions to make yoga accessible for everyone- regardless of fitness, flexibility or injury. Her Vinyasa-style classes focus on alignment, but with many variations they remain challenging and the mat becomes a safe space for the yoga student to enjoy practicing. The individual needs of Aisling's students inspire her to evolve her classes – no two classes feel the same!
As a yoga teacher and kinesiologist, Eithne believes passionately in the importance of yoga in our everyday lives and and that practicing yoga should be an enjoyable and uplifting experience that empowers the individual and offers a tool for life. Eithne has practiced many styles of yoga including Hatha, Anusara, Shadow, Vinyasa Flow and brings aspects of these together to create a flowing class that emphasises the importance of alignment and breath while building strength and flexibility. Eithne is a yoga teacher qualified at the Advanced ERYT500-hour level. She is a Lead Trainer on the 200-hour and 500-hour teacher training programmes at The YogaRoom.
While working in the corporate world Ariane discovered her love of yoga. After practicing for 10 years she made a life change to become a yoga teacher and a mom. She completed her 200-hour teacher training with YogaWorks in the Yoga Room in 2010 and in the same year qualified as a pre-natal yoga teacher with Yoga Therapy Ireland. Since then she's been teaching vinyasa and hatha style classes as well as Pre- and Post-natal yoga classes, both in studios and on a private basis. In 2017, Ariane obtained her certification with Silver Age Yoga (Organization based in California), in order to teach Yoga for Seniors. In 2023 she'll complete her 500-hour teacher training which she is studying at the moment. With a gymnastics and diving background, she emphasizes the importance of building body awareness, and creating a fluid connection between body, mind and heart. She truly believes that through yoga we can experience and express our self in a whole and integral way.


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Nexo founder on importance of crypto lending insurance and the differences between the 2017 and 2020 Bitcoin bull run
CryptoSlate recently had the opportunity to chat with the Managing Director of Nexo, Antoni Trenchev.
CryptoSlate recently had the opportunity to chat with the Managing Director of Nexo, Antoni Trenchev.
Nexo is a leading digital asset company best known for providing the world's first instant crypto credit lines. Prior to catching the blockchain bug in early 2013, Trenchev studied finance law at King's College London and Humboldt University of Berlin. After college, he worked in the hedge fund industry before turning his attention to financial technology, becoming the chief innovations officer at Credissimo, a European fintech group specializing in online consumer lending that was an early backer of the Nexo enterprise.
As a member of Bulgaria's parliament, Trenchev advocated for progressive legislation to enable blockchain solutions for a variety of e-government services, most notably e-voting and the storage of databases in a distributed ledger.
In the interview we discuss:
- How Trenchev got started in crypto
- Why Nexo's management team operates out of London
- Nexo's notable achievements and product roadmap
- Why and how Nexo offers insurance on user funds
- How Nexo is working to prevent a similar loss-of-user-funds incident as the one that happened at Cred
- Biggest challenges of building a crypto lending platform
- What blockchain developments Trenchev is most excited about
- Trenchev's crypto predictions for 2021 and beyond
- Biggest obstacles for mainstream adoption
- Differences between the 2017 and 2020 Bitcoin bull run
- Trenchev's most controversial opinion relating to blockchain
Disclaimer: Nexo is an advertising partner for CryptoSlate but this is not a sponsored post.
Interview with Antoni Trenchev, Nexo Managing Partner
What is your professional background and how/when did you get into crypto?
Before entering the blockchain space in 2011, I studied Finance Law at King's College London and Humboldt University, Berlin, and then worked in the hedge fund industry. Having always had a concurrent interest in all things tech, I gradually got involved in fintech and quite naturally became a crypto enthusiast.
My belief in blockchain's potential for positive change led me to run for office in my home country, Bulgaria, where I served as Member of Parliament between 2014 and 2017, advocating for progressive legislation to implement blockchain solutions for e-government services, including e-voting and storage of databases in a distributed ledger.
My experience over those few years gave me a well-rounded vision of what finance and the economy of the future should look like, and I wanted to be part of shaping that future. I joined the leadership team that launched Nexo in 2017 and shortly after, we made the first steps in that direction by launching the platform in April 2018. We now manage $2 billion in assets for over a million users worldwide and actively push for mass crypto adoption by making our offering ever-broader and more accessible and acting as a spokesperson for the space.
Where is your team located and why did you choose that jurisdiction?
Оur management team mostly works out of London, where our headquarters are. Besides London's growing fintech and crypto scape, this makes a lot of sense for us as we're a global business – we can easily hop on a plane and get just about anywhere.
Having said this, and considering the fact that we serve over 200 jurisdictions, we have offices all over the world, including in Switzerland, the US, and in my home country, Bulgaria, where some of our key operations, like our Communications and our Customer Support teams are primarily based.
How does Nexo decide which crypto assets to list on its platform?
Like any sensible business, we strive to create the products that our clients want and need. At the same time, we make sure to protect our clients and the business. Because of this, we have approached the integration of new assets to our platform in two ways.
The first is by asking our community to vote for the asset they wish to see next on Nexo. We initially conducted such polls on the Nexo website and we have now extended the practice to asking our Twitter community about the assets they use and want to see integrated.
Our in-house specialists also play a big part in selecting new assets for integration. Our team is great at identifying legitimate cryptocurrencies and digital assets with progressive characteristics and growth potential. These are the assets we are eager to support.
In approaching asset integration like this, we provide our clients with quality services that they've already confirmed they want, ensure the safety and legitimacy of our platform, and propel the adoption of crypto.
What are some of Nexo's notable achievements and/or milestones?
When we launched Nexo in 2018, we were the first company to provide instant crypto credit lines, basically carving out the market niche. This was our first accomplishment and one we're still extremely proud of. We also backed the first mortgage in crypto, so Brock Pierce could purchase a house — that was a huge step both for us and for the space.
We're not ones to rest on our laurels though and we've been on quite a roll since. Over the past few months alone, we launched our Earn on Crypto & Fiat suite, distributed our third dividend, which brought the total funds Nexo has shared through dividends to $9.5 million, and started Nexonomics — a comprehensive tokenomics overhaul, which came with interest rate bumps for Earn, an Earn in NEXO option, a new loyalty program, and most recently — a $12 million buyback program.
Thanks to these efforts, we now boast industry-best yields on most cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and fiat, our native NEXO token's price has risen by over 185% since the launch of Nexonomics, and we presently manage $2BN in assets for over 1M users, across 200 jurisdictions. This is up until now — we have more launches and announcements coming up by the end of 2020.
What are the benefits of using Nexo as opposed to other crypto lending platforms?
When compared to a number of other players in the blockchain space, we have a sustainable business model that makes sense, that is based on best practice from traditional finance — an industry that is as old as time. Within the management team of Nexo alone, we probably have a century's experience in finance between us, and Nexo's model is based on the best of that experience.
We are self-sufficient in that we don't rely on venture capital, i.e. access to cheap and easy money. In contrast, there are players in our space that have taken the worst out of traditional finance — those who have billions of transactions, yet at the same time, their CEOs take unsecured loans from their own companies to, say, buy houses in prime locations. Those companies are often on the verge of bankruptcy, needing fresh capital every few months to keep the house of cards upright. A more colloquial term for this is a Ponzi scheme.
But unlike most of our competitors, we maintain our policy of only lending on an over-collateralized basis, because this ensures we protect both our clients' assets and our business, making us sustainable in the long term and accountable for our footprint in the blockchain space. This is because we believe that, ultimately, it is the sustainable companies that will emerge as the next Amazons, the next Googles, and the next Apple. Those who share this belief and have the patience and realistic expectations of what is possible will be the ones like those who bought Apple in '97 for a dollar a share.
That's the holistic view. If we are to go into the details of our products, our sustainable business model means that our Instant Crypto Credit Lines continue to dominate the industry with their flexibility and low rates. We charge 5.9% and allow clients to withdraw as much or as little funds as they want from their available credit, while only getting charged interest on what they actually use. To the best of my knowledge, currently, we are the only lender that offers dynamic credit lines as opposed to loans that saddle users with a series of commitments.
When it comes to savings accounts, we offer both the best rates in the industry – up to 12% – and the most advanced security for digital assets, so keeping funds with us is a real no-brainer. As explained in answers to your other questions, we have top-tier insurance and military-grade security for the Nexo Wallet and stringent lending policies — all assets held with us are backed by our 200-500% overcollateralized credit lines, which, on top of all the security measures and insurance, guarantees the safety of your funds through the oldest, and most sustainable trick in the book.
What can you tell us about the Nexo product roadmap? What upcoming features are you most excited about rolling out?
I'm really excited to say that Nexo will soon be launching our very own internal exchange. It will allow our users to trade between various assets without having to leave the Nexo platform.
This is something our community has been asking for for a long time, and we're on the last stretch of its development, so be on the lookout for the announcement.
Alongside the exchange, we have more Nexonomics releases coming up, which aim to further boost the utility and growth potential of the NEXO Token and are preparing for the release of the Nexo Card. In the mid-to longer term, we are also developing our prime brokerage suite and working towards acquiring bank licenses, which will allow us to offer 360-degree commercial banking services.
Does Nexo offer insurance on user funds?
"Safety first" is a key principle in financial services, especially in a new industry like crypto and digital finance where we don't yet have the full perspective on all the possibilities and vulnerabilities. This is why insurance is a must at Nexo. We presently get ours through BitGo, who is a leader in crypto custodianship. In addition to providing us with 100% cold storage, BitGo provides top-tier insurance for all assets held at Nexo through Lloyd's of London.
With so many hacks and examples of poor financial practices making the headlines in our space, it should be obvious to all by now how unfortunately things can end when you forgo insurance and proper security. In addition to using BitGo, we only lend on an overcollateralized basis, conduct thorough KYC via our partner Jumio, and have very strict security measures in place internally. We're currently also finalizing deals with additional wallet management solution providers, which will further boost our insurance and the security of our clients' assets, аs well as looking into setting up a proof-of-reserves mechanism to give clients additional reassurance.
Although many of our partners have classified us as a "boring Swiss bank" due to our strict policies with regard to security and risk management, I'm quite proud of the example we're setting and am confident that, as the "wild west" days of crypto come to an end, it will be an example that leads the industry into a bigger, better, and more sustainable future. We have never been hacked, which goes to show that "being boring" works. On a personal note, it helps me sleep at night knowing that our clients and the business I've contributed to building over the past three years are protected.
Given what happened to crypto lending platform Cred recently, how would Nexo prevent a similar event from happening?
Cred created quite a ripple in the crypto lending industry, there's no doubt about it. The loss of trust that ensued from this case has, I'm sure, negatively impacted every single player in our field, as well as the space in general. On the positive side, it's a case that should unite the industry — we now have an even greater responsibility to rebuild this trust and must each do our bit towards this, as it is a setback for mass crypto adoption, which should be the goal for every participant in our space.
Let me expand on the topics I touched upon in the previous question to highlight why Nexo sets a good, if not the best, example with regard to security and why a Cred scenario is so highly unlikely.
Unlike most of our competitors, we maintain our policy of only lending on an over-collateralized basis because this ensures we protect both our clients' assets and our business, making us sustainable in the long term and accountable for our footprint in the blockchain space.
To keep operations in line with our mission and policies, the safety of our clients' funds must be a top priority. This is why our cold storage wallets are kept in bank-grade Class III vaults, provided by BitGo, whose platform is SOC 2 Type 2-certified. This is further enhanced at Nexo's end by authentication features such as biometric-based identity verification and segregated multi-signature cold wallets.
We work with leading custodians including BitGo to guarantee top-tier insurance amounting to over $100M, so that whether it is a third-party hack, an insider theft, or whether private keys are lost or copied, the funds kept with us remain protected. Additionally, we are in the advanced stages of further growing our custodian partners and significantly increasing the insurance coverage on clients' assets.
Our information security management system (ISMS) has been successfully audited by CISQ, a member of IQNet and the world's largest provider of management system certification, and by RINA, who have decades of experience in certifications, ensuing in an ISO/IEC 27001 compliance certificate. This guarantees that our security infrastructure is of the highest standard and carries minimal risk to clients and investors thanks to rigorous security policies, impeccable risk assessment, data protection, and state-of-the-art cybersecurity.
Our own extensive firewall server architecture, combined with a stringent Employee Access Policy built on conditional enrollment and compliance status-based access to applications, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and step-up authentication, further ensure that no breaches to our infrastructure occur. Our staff also undergo regular cybersecurity workshops to keep them up to speed with the latest security threats. To prevent so-called "insider jobs", very few employees have access to clients' assets and even for those that do, MFA and step-up authentication ensure that no employee can act individually and in isolation to the established chain of command.
Additionally, to comply with international "know your customer" (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and protect our clients' assets, we verify account holders' identities. While this is a requirement for traditional financial institutions, it is not yet one for crypto industry players. We choose to perform KYC and AML checks, and do so via our partners Jumio and Onfido – two leading identity verification providers working with global clients, including Monzo, Rappi, and HSBC — as we believe this to be best practice and fundamental to the institutionalization of the space.
Maintaining an impeccable safety and security record is key to our pursuit of a banking license, which we are in the advanced stages of acquiring. As you can imagine this requires us to have audited financials, strict internal policies, and procedures, as well as to comply with multiple regulatory requirements. With this in mind, and in light of the events preceding Cred's Chapter 11 filing, we're planning on setting up a proof-of-reserves mechanism to further reassure clients with respect to their assets' security. We'll be announcing further details soon.
Another aspect of ensuring the security of a platform that's often overlooked is educating account holders on how to best keep their information safe and reminding them that it is as much their responsibility as ours to safeguard their accounts — we're talking basics like using a strong password, enabling two-factor authentication, controlling all login credentials to Nexo, taking offers that seem too good to be true with a pinch of salt and, generally, having a sound understanding of both finance and technology.
What are the biggest challenges of building a crypto lending platform for crypto users?
There were a number of challenges to overcome when we were creating Nexo. The biggest one, which remains an issue in the cryptocurrency industry, was building trust in an area notorious for hacks, scams, crime and money laundering. People are understandably very hesitant to place their money into new, unknown platforms especially when few people have the technical knowledge to understand blockchain – so proving ourselves to be reliable and trustworthy has been a process and we're pleased with our progress to date.
Additionally, building a simple and attractive user experience is important to attract and hold on to new users, cryptocurrency is a complicated industry to most everyday consumers so simplifying it, and making it usable and attractive to users has been a real challenge.
What other projects and/or blockchain developments are you most excited about?
Besides our own developments — the Nexo exchange, the card, the next installments of our Nexonomics campaign, the prime brokerage suite, and, of course — on a more macro level, Bitcoin storming through the borders of the crypto space and into mainstream finance with institutional investment behind it, what I'm especially excited about seeing over the next few months is how Defi progresses.
Defi has been the most controversial dimension of our space over the past year — on the one hand, it has witnessed exponential growth in a matter of months and, at its core, it very much epitomizes the principles that the crypto space stands for. Perhaps extremely so, but it encompasses the essence and ethos of what a crypto can bring to the world of finance — true democracy, a shared economy, power to the unbanked. At the same time, it is fraught with risk. It is not user-friendly. It needs work.
While I firmly believe in what Defi stands for, I am no idealist. It has a long way to go before it is fit and palatable for mainstream consumption — especially by way of security and UX. These are the areas in which I think Cefi and Defi can and must work together — they are not mutually exclusive, as has so often been said. They stand to gain a lot from each other and it is only in working together that they will truly benefit the crypto space and propel it into the mainstream.
In a nutshell, I cannot wait to see how Cefi and Defi strike a golden mean and the results that will follow.
Do you have any blockchain and/or crypto predictions for 2021 and beyond?
As I've said many times before, I'm not the biggest fan of predictions. That said I do believe Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency, will go up a lot. At the start of 2020, I made a prediction that it would reach $50,000 by the end of the year. Given COVID-19 and the rather shaky economic situation, it's only just now that Bitcoin is entering a bull run and circling the $20,000 threshold. So it may be coming with a slight delay, but I still think BTC is heading towards $50,000 and the climb to that height is not far.
Besides the previously mentioned developments that I expect and am excited to see unfold, I also feel like 2021 is the year where we will edge closer to mass adoption and, in many ways, the COVID-19 crisis has played a positive role in this respect. Many investors — primarily smart-money institutional players, but also tech and finance-savvier retail users — are looking for ways to beat inflation as governments keep pumping fiat into the economy to cushion the impact of the pandemic.
What are the biggest obstacles for the mainstream adoption of crypto?
Besides user-friendliness and security issues that make the headlines, insufficient financial literacy on the retail front is, I feel, a big impediment to mass crypto adoption.
The cryptocurrency market is still in its infancy, which brings with it both an overpowering sense of possibility and a lack of understanding. Recent surveys suggest there are two distinct groups of crypto newbies: beginners who venture into projects they don't fully grasp, and aspirants to crypto investing who question their own capability of getting involved.
I recently came across a survey which concluded that nearly half of online investors were not trading crypto because they felt they lacked the proper education. An interesting nugget of information — the women surveyed (and they do tend to be more cautious), in particular, admitted that their lack of knowledge was the biggest barrier to entry into crypto investing, even though their interest in doing so matched men's. Another poll, from 2019, found that U.S. investors would be more likely to invest in BTC if they were more knowledgeable about the asset, relative to stocks and bonds. This means that we're not getting across to the critical thinkers out there — that perhaps we're stuck in our own crypto vacuum and niche terminology, thus preventing potentially smart investors from coming into our space.
Interestingly though, those with the lowest crypto knowledge tend to demonstrate high or medium confidence in its future, which makes for an uncomfortable journey towards mass crypto adoption. Interest, whether matched by sound understanding or not, is definitely a step in the right direction, but it can backfire as those who are at a loss after making uninformed decisions take to crypto Twitter or some other social media and slam the space, with the bulk of discontent ultimately making mainstream media headlines.
This also holds true at the company level — when the businesses that are responsible for protecting their users' funds don't ensure their security because of insufficient knowledge (or disregard) of best practice, this casts doubt over our space. Furthermore, and considering how new crypto is and its mission to make financial tools available to all, "best practice" should entail financial education, or at least ensuring that products and services are thoroughly and transparently explained to users. A failure on either of these two will result in a setback for everyone in crypto, or at least for those of us who believe in and aim for mass crypto adoption as a better alternative to the current financial system.
On this note, I was really pleased to hear CoinMarketCap's interim CEO Carylyne Chan say earlier this year that she was leaving CMC with the hope that it will play a "more prominent role in cryptocurrency education." Hers is a voice of reason and we must all take heed. For the space to progress and enter mainstream finance, as it deserves to, the "quick-buck" men.
What is the biggest difference between the 2020 bull run and the 2017 bull run?
Unlike 2017, the recent BTC rally has stayed under the radar. It is different altogether, led by the larger players and institutions behind them, like Stone Ridge, Paul Tudor Jones, Stanley Druckenmiller, among others. By contrast, the 2017 frenzy and subsequent 2018 bubble burst was retail-driven, with price action intensified by the ICO phenomenon.
With smart money at the helm, the current BTC rally is looking a lot like the gold bull market of the 1970s: stealthy institutional purchases announced to the world once Bitcoin makes it into treasuries. This means we can expect small funds to also jump in, given that the whales are now in and there is no longer a need to justify these investments.
What is your most controversial opinion relating to blockchain and/or cryptocurrency?
We're not doing anything fundamentally innovative here. Just taking the principles and best practices from the age-old industry that finance is and implementing them in a digital dimension.

subset: commoncrawl


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Internet Day (SID) is an international education and awareness-raising
effort spanning more than 100 countries around the globe to promote
safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones,
especially amongst children and young people across the world.
is among one of the very first countries where government has taken
keen interest to protect children and youngsters on the Internet. In
this context, a Child Online Safety Action Plan was developed by the
National Computer Board (NCB) and endorsed by the cabinet in 2009.
Following the aproval of the action plan, number of activities have been
started on Child Online Safety since 2009 including organisation of the
Safer Internet Day.
year is the 6th edition of Safer Internet Day which will be celebrated
in Mauritius. On this occasion, CERT-MU, a division of the National
Computer Board is organising several activities. The activities are as
Subscribe to the monthly newsletter, to be informed of the latest news portal, and
new services added.


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TM Quietly Reduces Free LTE Mobile Data for Unifi Mobile – Now More Limited Than Before
It seems that that Unifi Mobile users will be receiving even less free LTE mobile data as TM has quietly reduced the quota even further. But that's not all…
TM Quietly Reduces Free LTE Mobile Data for Unifi Mobile
When TM first launched Unifi Mobile January 2018, users would be eligible for 20GBs of free LTE mobile data. Each person could even register up to 5 numbers if he / she wants to. Soon after, the free LTE mobile data was reduced by half, 10GBs, with each user only allowed to register a maximum of 3 SIM cards.
Well, according to a report which has surfaced online, TM has reduced the numbers even further now.
According to Lowyat.net, a user has reported to them that the number has reduced to just 2GBs of free LTE mobile data, and each person can only register for a single SIM card.
TM has updated their Unifi Mobile FAQ section to reflect the recent changes. Unfortunately, no reason was given by them with regards to the changes. It's worth noting that the free LTE mobile data is still being listed as a "promotion" in the FAQ section. Why is it interesting? Well, simply put, a promotion doesn't last forever.
We'll be reporting more on the matter if and when information becomes available.
Source: Lowyat.net / Unifi Mobile FAQ section
Pokdepinion: Well, if it's a promotion thing, then it's not truly part of the plan and thus, the duration will always be limited. Well, let's see what happens when they decide to remove the free data completely.


text: Parkville, Victoria – Australia 'Melbourne Zoo – Day 1' Photographed by Karen Robinson December 2018 Comments – We just became members of The Royal Melbourne Zoo and this was our first visit for decades, and how it has changed. Hubby and I spent just a couple of hours there with the intent to come back many other times during next year. Photograph featuring tall, elegant giraffes – black and white photograph version


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Inspired by Michael Gondry's film Be Kind Rewind, I mentioned to a few friends and neighbors recently that I'd like to explore the possibility of rallying our community to the task of sweding a film. (To "swede" a film, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, means to recreate a famous movie with amateur actors, using limited resources and technology.) The people that I was with seemed to like the idea quite a bit, and we sat around for the following hour or so, debating which film we should seek to recreate. As I recall, there were quite a few good ideas. Someone, I seem to remember, was adamant that we should pick a film that has musical numbers. (If I'm not mistaken, he suggested either Xanadu or Saturday Night Fever.) Someone else was advocating for horror. I lobbied on behalf of Mel Brooks' satirical Western comedy Blazing Saddles, which I thought would not only be fun to do, but would also give us an excuse to build a fake town on the desolate plot of Ypsilanti real estate known as Water Street. (As you'll recall, the good guys in Blazing Saddles build a fake town on a barren piece of land, in hopes of diverting the henchmen of the sinister Hedley Lamarr.) The horses might present a bit of a problem, as would the decidedly non-PC tone, and the fact that the fourth wall completely dissolves in the final reel, during which the actors from the fictional old West are propelled onto the set of an extravagant musical being shot on a Warner Bros soundstage, but I think it would be an interesting project to undertake together, as a community. (Who knows, we might even come to like one another in the process.)
And I'm sure there are better ideas than Blazing Saddles. I just threw it out because I thought that the rapid comedic pacing would make it fun, and I know that it would have a built-in audience. If you can think of something that would be better, though, please leave a comment… Films that would would make use of local landmarks, and the regional resources we have to work with, would be especially welcome. (How about shooting a remake of Deliverance, Apocalypse Now or The River Wild on the mighty Huron, for instance?)
Here, if you're unfamiliar with the beauty that is sweding, is Star Wars Uncut, a complete scene-for-scene remake of the classic sci-fi film Star Wars.
[note: If we do Deliverance, I'd rather have the Jon Voight part than the Ned Beatty part.]


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Please support this project and donate
We are a team of two engaged and never sleeping developers, and we really love to provide you this service.
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Your donation is very welcome!
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Letter from Margaret Gallant to Cardinal Medeiros | Page 1
August 1[0], 1982
Posted by the Boston Globe
Margaret Gallant complains in a four-page handwritten letter to Cardinal Medeiros that her family's claims that Geoghan molested seven boys in her extended family have been ignored. She demands that Geoghan be removed and denounces a suggestion that she keep silent.
[Back to article: Church allowed abuse by priest for years. See also the Globe's transcription of Gallant's handwritten letter.]


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A mellow, minty sleep supporting blend
This blend is a soothing combination of herbs traditionally used to promote relaxation and sleep.
Chamomile flowers, catnip, and peppermint leaves together calm occasional nervousness and restlessness. Sleep Easy helps reduce everyday stress to support sleep. Relax and enjoy a cup before bedtime for a good night's sleep.


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Author: AL Jackson
Series: Fight for Me #1.5
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 1, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
More Info: Goodreads
Never underestimate a man that knows what he wants...
A stand-alone novella in the Fight for Me series...
Broderick Wolfe is a man accustomed to getting what he wants. He will hunt it, fight for it, and make it his own.
Lillith Redd is a straight-laced attorney who's dedicated her life to serving the people of her hometown of Gingham Lakes.
When Wolfe Industries sets its sights on leveling the old part of town and building a high-rise hotel in its place, Lillith steps up to go toe-to-toe to with its owner.
Little do either of them know, they've just met their match.
Hunt Me Down is a modern-day reboot of Little Red Riding Hood set in the world of A.L. Jackson's bestselling Fight for Me series, originally a part of the Glamour Anthology and previously titled Red Hot Pursuit. This novella is a fun, flirty, uber sexy contemporary romance. The only fantasy happening here is in the bedroom. So hold on—you're getting ready to sink your teeth into something hot and sweet. It has not been changed or added to in any way. This novella does not need to be read before Show Me the Way and does not give away any spoilers for other Fight for Me novels.
Title: Hunt Me Down
Series: Fight for Me #1.5
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Cover Design: RBA Designs
Author: AL Jackson
Release Date: December 1, 2017
Show Me the Way (Fight for Me #1)
Amazon US
The first sexy, captivating, stand-alone novel in the brand-new Fight for Me series from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author AL Jackson…
Rex Gunner. As bitter as he is beautiful.
The owner of the largest construction company in Gingham Lakes has been burned one too many times.
His wife leaving him to raise their daughter was the last blow this single dad could take. The only woman he'll let into his heart is his little girl.
Rynna Dayne. As vulnerable as she is tempting.
She ran from Gingham Lakes when she was seventeen. She swore to herself she would never return. Then her grandmother passed away and left her the deed to the diner that she once loved.
When Rex meets his new neighbor, he knows he's in trouble.
She's gorgeous and sweet and everything he can't trust.
Until she becomes the one thing he can't resist.
One kiss sends them tumbling toward ecstasy.
But in a town this size, pasts are bound to collide.
Caught in a web of lies, betrayal, and disloyalty, Rex must make a choice.
Will he hide behind his walls or will he take the chance…


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Nuclear energy is not without greenhouse gas emissions
In a Sept. 12 letter to the editor [Sierra Club opposes climate-friendly energy], David C. Hammel misrepresents the Sierra Club's position on hydroelectric power and also promulgates the myth that nuclear power produces "zero greenhouse gases."
I'm not a member of the Sierra Club, but I was suspicious of Hammel's assertion that "they (Sierra Club) constantly lobby for the dismantling of dams and nuclear plants." One Sierra Club website, "the planet newsletter," includes the club's stance on several power sources.
While they do oppose new "large-scale" hydroelectric plants, they encourage "small-scale" projects. The Red Rock hydroelectric plant, near Pella, now under construction and due to be completed in 2018, would be a nice example of the small hydroelectric generating facilities. There is no mention of "dismantling" anything in the website. Finally, anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle knows that nuclear power is not without greenhouse gas emissions.
Hammel seems to be upset that there haven't been more nuclear plants built lately. He's forgetting, I guess, that most electric utility companies have decided that there are much cheaper and cleaner sources of power like wind, solar, natural gas, and small-scale hydro.
— Dennis C. O'Brien, West Des Moines


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Is There A Satan?
Tell me, does Satan exist? Personally, I think Satan exists, and it is Satan who rules this world. My question is, is it possible to defeat him, or will he lead us to the end of the world?"
Answer: "Satan" stems from the Hebrew word "sote," which means leading us away from the righteous path.
This is our egoism. I will tell you a secret. He is in each of us, sitting somewhere in a corner with horns and hooves. 🙂 He encourages us all the time. This is Satan.
Question: So, your answer to the first question, "Tell me, is there a Satan?" is "Yes?"
Answer: Yes. In each one of us.
Question: And he rules the world, as you are asked?
Answer: Our world, that is, our state, is ruled by him until we correct it. We cannot expel it from ourselves , we can only correct it.
Question: To the question, "Can it be defeated?"
Answer: You can. For this purpose, the science of Kabbalah has been given. It explains how to do it for us.
Defeating our selfishness is what we need to do. Each, within himself, and each, relative to the others. This is done in a group, in a circle of people who want the same thing. Just do not think that they are in the business of casting Satan out of themselves.🙂
They are simply engaged in what they want in order to approach the property of bestowal and love among themselves. That is all.
Question: That is, to put oneself in this environment and move with them?
Answer: Yes.
Question: And regarding the last part of his question, "Or will he lead us to the end of the world this way?"
Answer: He will lead us to the end of the world, this Satan. But, we can speed up this process and come to the end of this world much faster.
Question: What does "the end of the world" mean to you?
Answer: The end of the world is the end of the egoistic, limited, petty existence of a person in this terrible, otherwise dark world.
Question: And then, what is revealed to a person?
Answer: Infinity, eternity, perfection.
Question: So you are for the end of the world?
Answer: I am in favor of the end of this world as soon as possible because, immediately after it, comes the beginning of another world.
Question: The real one?
Answer: Yes. A higher one.
From KabTV's "News with Dr. Michael Laitman" 11/23/20
Related Material:
A Devil With Horns Or Our Own Egoism?
There Is No Place For Evil Forces In Nature


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Grab your tissues! An emotional Kim breaks down in a sneak peek of 'KUWTK: About Bruce' over Kris' endless crying about Bruce's gender transition. She reveals to Kylie and Kendall that it makes her 'really sad' to see Kris so broken down. Watch the clip here!
Kris Jenner, 59, has showered her ex-husband Bruce Jenner, 65, with tons of support since he publicly revealed he was becoming a woman during his tell-all Diane Sawyer interview. However, it wasn't always easy on Kris, and Kim Kardashian, 34, is extra sensitive to her mom's feelings. In a sneak peek of KUWTK: About Bruce, Kim cries over the thought of how her mom was initially dealing with Bruce's transition — by crying a lot herself.
Kim Kardashian Cries For Kris Jenner Over Bruce's Transition
In the clip released by E!, which was taped before Bruce's big gender transition announcement, Kim, Kylie, and Kendall discuss his upcoming interview with Diane.
He's going to tell his first story, Kim says. At first I was like, 'I'm totally going to cry! I'm totally going to cry!' My throat was literally burning.
Kendall admits that she feels that too. Aww.
Kim clarifies that talking to Bruce makes her emotional because she can't help but think about how Kris feels.
I was thinking, 'Mom this is really hard for her.' It's so sad. She cries all the time and it makes me really sad, Kim says between her own tears. We should really appreciate all the things she does for us, because she does a lot.
Kris Jenner Hosting Viewing Party For E! Bruce Jenner Special
Of course it's natural for Kris to be initially shocked and saddened by the news, but Kris has become one of Bruce's big supporters. Bruce even revealed how much he loves and appreciates Kris in a new interview!
HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY learned that Kris is holding a viewing party for the special, much like she did for Bruce's interview. Kris will be watching the special with Bruce and invited the whole family to partake in the event. So sweet!
Part One premiere on May 17 while Part Two follows on May 18.
What do YOU think, HollywoodLifers? Will you be tuning for KUWTK: About Bruce? Let us know!
— Julianne Ishler


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For Tuyet, Katrina, KaSandra, and Luc
my inspiration
Chapter Twenty
Casey's Pub, Grand Ave., Monday, Feb 23, 2009…1pm
The big Arab was faster than he looked and was beside my table hovering over me before I could ferret out an escape route. I glanced out the bay window to make sure Judy and Ronnie were okay then mentally prepared myself to be murdered in front of twenty or thirty eye witnesses. Holding my breath for a five count I leaned back in my chair and gave the grizzly faced thug my best tough guy sneer, pushing the chair across from me toward him with my foot. The rickity old chair made loud scraping and squeaking noises, like fingernails on a chalkboard as the narrow legs skid along the wood planked floor. Then, lazily I waived my hand toward the empty seat and silently invited my would-be assassin to sit and be my guest. He smiled wryly and took me up on the offer. We eyeballed one another for a second or two before I took the high road and initiated contact.
"Fancy meeting you here. Hassan isn't it?" I said. He did not answer.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"Thank you, no," he replied finally in perfect English, the accent of whatever his native tongue may have been was barely noticeable.
"My compliments Mr. Roode, you have a much better memory than our mutual acquaintance, Detective Abernathy. And thank you also for confirming you over heard our very private conversation the other night," he added.
Hassan folded his hands on the table in front of him, lacing his fingers together slowly, as if preparing to pray. His hands were large, his fingers thick and covered with a generous amount of black hair that matched the wavy mop on top of his head. The man's eyes were black as coal and he studied me intensely with them, amused by the look on my face as I realized I'd revealed way too much, damn it! The fact that he never blinked under those bushy eyebrows, not even once, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Actually, between you, me, and the fencepost, it made my sphincter pucker as well. This was one scary fella!
"Yeah, well let's not fall in love just yet slick? Fact is Ray Ray ain't exactly a Rhodes Scholar now is he," I said as calmly as I could, trying not to look scared as I was. I doubted he was buying any of it but what the heck, I continued to play the tough guy role.
"But I guess I don't need to tell you that. I mean you're here and he's not, right?" "So much for LA's finest," I added with a grin, hoping my sarcasm masked my fear.
"Detective Abernathy is not important. As for his absence, he is not here because he was a parasite, and, unfortunately for him, had become a liability."
"Yes, was. As have you and your friend outside," Hassan answered pointing through the window in Judy's general direction.
She looked up and caught us staring at her and waived, her eyes asking who'd taken her seat. I waived back and gestured for her and Ronnie to make tracks. She didn't waste any time and spun Ronnie around, pulling her quickly up the stairs to the street above. I turned my attention back to Hassan, making sure that he wasn't planning to pursue them.
"You needn't panic Mr. Roode, I am not here for that," Hassan said without stirring in his seat.
"By that I assume you mean murder. What? Ain't we on your 'to-do' list?" I asked sarcastically, anger replacing fear for the moment.
"Not yet. That will be up to you and Dr. Looney I expect. All my employers ask is that you abandon your investigation into Miss November's unfortunate demise."
Now he went and done it! That was as good as a double dog dare for me. Consequently my addiction to curiosity trumped my basic survival instincts and I pressed him further. Solving Mei Li's murder had become a blood oath after Lu and Jai deaths and I couldn't let that go. Hassan's expression told me that he suspected as much. I really don't have a very good poker face which probably explains most the bad breaks in my life and why I still live alone in a run down apartment in seedier part of Los Angeles. Well, that coupled with the great state of California's version of blackmail, spousal support, what a gyp!
"So what was Sally to you guys anyway? What is it that your employer is afraid we might find?" I demanded more than asked.
"She was nothing to me, merely a task. However, I suspect that she was about to become somewhat of an embarrassment to others, as do all whores eventually."
"That's deep Hassan. Why do I get the feeling that there is more to it than that?"
"Why indeed. In any event you needn't look any further. I will confess that it was I who killed your friend's niece," Hassan said coolly.
"That's it? You tracked me down to confess? How do you know Judy hasn't already called the cops? What if I cuff you right now to that chair you're planted in and wait for them to get here to haul you in? What about that?"
"Please Mr. Roode, do not insult my intelligence or waste my time. Surely you and the good doctor have collected enough evidence now to link the girl with my Russian friends?" Hassan asked tiredly.
"Actually, we haven't, you give us too much credit. What's this about the Russians anyways?" I replied, suddenly embarrassed by how little I really knew.
"Perhaps Detective Abernathy gave you too much praise. I was led to believe you were quite intelligent? Let me spell it out for you in an effort to save time."
His eyes shifted slightly to his right and then to his left before continuing, checking both entrances to the bar. He had my complete attention; I was all ears and pumped full of adrenalin. Russians he said, really? This was getting pretty interesting.
"Miss November was more than an acquaintance of my employer; she was shall we say an employee as well."
"I see; an employee of your Russian friends?" I asked interrupting.
"Yes. As I was saying, Miss November was far too close an acquaintance if you ask me, but alas that was not my business. In her capacity as a hostess shall we say; she was privy to certain habits of powerful and influential individuals, a position of trust, a trust which she chose to violate, a deadly choice in the end. Her ambition was equal to her beauty, which as you know was considerable. Apparently her ambitions led her to keep a journal of these potentially valuable facts to use as the foundation for her dangerously unwise demands. And, she had a partner. A friend of yours I understand. Their mistake was choosing the wrong broker."
"Ray Ray?"
"Yes, this is where Detective Abernathy enters the picture. By the way, he was also an occasional employee of Russian friends. Shall I continue? You look puzzled?" Hassan asked.
To be honest I was flummoxed as to why he was telling me all of this, when it would be much easier just to put a bullet between my eyes and give Judy the same treatment? I'd suspected that Mei Li was in over her head from the get go, but blackmail? That hadn't occurred to me. I had a pretty good idea who her partner was and Ray Ray wasn't him. He may have been involved but he wasn't smart enough to be a player, at best he was probably shaking down Mei for freebies to look the other way. I didn't need Hassan to tell me that Ray Ray's association with Sally had cost him his life. That was obvious. But now I was pretty sure that Hassan knew what I knew, that he all about Jai as well, which meant it Hassan who'd killed my friends, the rat bastard! Strange as that sounds it was a relief to know that they hadn't killed each other. I had figured out that Sally was working with Jai, which meant that he knew all along she was nearby and that he kept that information from Lu. What I hadn't figured was why and for how long. Neither of them was around to grill. Jai didn't need money, he and Lu were loaded. And soft touch that he was, Mei Li would want for nothing in life with good old Uncle Lu nearby. It just didn't add up for me, it just didn't make sense until now. God damn it, now I was pissed!
I wondered why Hassan was putting so many cards on the table. That bothered me. I sensed that he wanted more than he asked for. Was he setting me up somehow, and for what? Or was he warning me? As bad a dude as this guy was, there was something odd about him approaching me that struck me as genuine concern? Why would I get that sort of vibe from a hired gun? I needed time to think, I needed to talk to Judy again. I needed to know what the retest on those threads may have uncovered. Was Hassan the one who'd been tailing her, it seemed likely now, or was it me he was stalking through her? If Judy was his mark then it was Hassan who murdered Ernie, the lab rat at UCLA. Maybe, but for some strange reason I didn't think so. There was a huge piece of the puzzle missing and what or more precisely who was on those threads might prove to be the key. Hassan cleared his throat and I could see that he was getting impatient. I decided to lay a couple of cards of my own on the table and watch how he played them. For now I needed to convince him that I would take his advice and back off.
"Yeah, I gottcha Hassan. You killed Sally November to silence her. Then you did likewise for her partner Jai Lei. And then you added in Ray Abernathy for good measure. Does that sound about right?"
"The consequence of their actions, do you understand Mr. Roode?"
"Wait minute! Her journal, you never found her journal, am I right? Oh brother, three murders and nothing to show for them. The Russians must be pissed!"
"Yes, they are concerned. So you see why I am here now, yes?"
"You're warning us that solving this case would be fatal. But why warn me, why not just kill us?"
"I kill when there is a need to kill, when I am hired to do so, not for sport," Hassan explained.
"Leave it be Mr. Roode, and live," he added leaning toward me for effect.
"What about the journal? What about your employers? Won't they wonder why you let us go?"
"You misunderstand. They do not know that you or Dr. Looney exist. I know, but they do not. As long as that remains true you're both safe. Let it be Mr. Roode, let it be and live."
"Call me Whitey."
"Very well, let it be Whitey, your life depends on it."
"I see, well just one more question then."
"What do you plan to do about the law? You murdered a freakin police detective for Christ sake! Look, I'm no super sleuth, but if I got close enough to earn myself a personal visit from you, then so will the coppers sooner or later. Have you thought about that Einstein?"
Hassan shrugged and relaxed for the first time since he arrived. Straightening his collar he gave the lapels of his sport coat a quick tug and signaled for a server to come over to the table. For a moment there I thought I saw a grin forming slowly on his big face.
"I believe I will accept your drink offer now," he said, catching me by surprise.
"Really? Okay."
"As for the police, perhaps we extend the offer to them as well," he added pointing at a couple of Lt. Celaya's detectives about to enter the bar. I recognized Iggie Ingram right away but I had no clue about the Asian doll with him? If she was typical of Oscar's crew back at Hollenbeck, my old stomping grounds, then I needed to consider begging for another chance! Seriously though, this wasn't a good coincidence. I had to choose between getting pinched for breaking into Sally's apartment and obstructing justice or risk becoming a corpse my own self by ignoring Hassan's warning. No brainer Whitey, just wait for Oscar's minions to come over, invite them to join the party, run a tab and play host to the circus for a while and pray that Hassan doesn't whip out an Mac-10 and kill the lot of us! I'll just meet up with Judy later and we can decide our fate together.


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We are a collective of photographers dedicated to recording the world around us.
Maria lives on her farm in Norway with husband Nik, three (very soon four) kids and a bunch of animals. She works as a photographer specialising in birth and lifestyle, and pinches her arm quite often to see if she will wake up from this lovely dream she's having. So far so good.


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The Compact 1 is ideally suited for greasing steel belts, conveyor belts and, for example, dough slices. This installation consists of a control unit and a separate sprayhousing. Because the control unit is equipped with wheels, it can easily be moved. The sprayhousing can also be removed from the system and is therefore easily accessible for maintenance. Various versions are available with a 10 and 20-litre container, and with or without automatic filling system.
Back to product overview
Unispray B.V.Hoefslag 74131ME Vianen (Ut)The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)347-322097
Unispray designs and manufactures spraying systems for the food industry.The Unispray spraying systems are well known for their hygienic design, simple operation, stable action and maintenance-friendly construction.
Privacy Notice


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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Teachers gear up
to change more lives
Re. "It's a normal-ish return to school," Page A1, Aug. 5:
When I see teachers Erica Guerrero and Molly Lin-Utzig preparing their classrooms for the new school year and then photos of professional athletes on the pages of the sports section on any given day, I ask myself who of all these people are the most important and critical to our society. And who should be truly deserving of high salaries?
Erica has a vacuum cleaner next to her. Do our athletes have a broom or blower nearby to clear off any debris that might be found on the court or playing field before a game starts? And I ask our readers if all the teachers and athletes were removed from this Earth, what would be the impact on our society. Thank you, all teachers.
Gary Fong
San Ramon
Assembly challenger
deserves to be heard
Re. "Lee disappoints in Assembly but still best option," Page A6, Aug. 5:
Bob Brunton deserves to be heard. He is a solution-oriented candidate.
He, for instance, wants more people to own their own abode. He wants renters to have the possibility to own. He is also incensed about the building of tiny homes close to the freeways and calls that disrespectful to human beings. He also wants to fight crime but believes in giving people a second chance such as by working at places like Pride Industries in order to learn new skills.
So let us look at what he wants to do instead of his party affiliation.
Marianne Haas
Call it what it is:
taxpayer funding
I continually hear organizations say they need more government funding to accomplish their mission. It would be more accurate to call it what it is: taxpayer funding.
It is misleading to call it government funding; it is not as if the government has its own money. Some people think government funding doesn't cost them anything. It does. It might help some people to be more hesitant and judicious with government spending. Imagine what the world would be like if every government spending proposal was identified as taxpayer funding. Then one can have the perspective: Do I want my taxes to go to this project?
As they say, money does not grow on trees.
Douglas Abbott
Union City
This is not a good
time to anger China
I am very concerned about China being so upset that Nancy Pelosi went to Taiwan. They're threatening us, and that's very concerning to me.
Our military is depleted. People aren't signing up because they remember that military personnel were fired for not getting vaccinated during the height of COVID. And now our military is politicized because of this woke movement. They care more about skin color and White privilege instead of training to fight our enemies. We're way too weak to take on China, and China knows it.
We need to bring back a strong military like we had in the past that is only concerned about defending this great country of ours.
Cathy Ledbetter
Vote for abortion
rights in November
I've always lived in blue states and have never had to worry about having access to an abortion. But with many states banning abortion, I feel more inspired than ever to fight for reproductive rights.
We must not back down and let Republican politicians strip our rights. We can't let this country get even more behind. We must protect abortion in every community.
This election in California is so important with Republicans fighting for a nationwide abortion ban. This election would codify Roe into law if Democrats are able to secure a victory. California must remain a haven state.
My community is pretty supportive of abortion, and I know that if I ever needed to get an abortion, I could. But that is not the case for everyone. This November everyone in California should vote to codify Roe into law. We must ensure the right to choose.
Franny Willardson
Democratic Party
reflects our values
"The Democratic Party does not represent our common values," says Lester Price in his Letter to the Editor ("Voters should abandon Democratic Party," Page A6, Aug. 5).
Preserving Social Security; expanding affordable health care; addressing climate change to protect our children's future; making taxes fairer; and allowing safe, legal abortion are our common values. The Democratic Party is the one that works to uphold them.
Karen Lee Cohen
Walnut Creek
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.


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February 7, 2008
Contact: Mike Burns
ChampionChip USA
(734) 665-7052
Set Your Time … Permanently
Timing-industry leader brings permanent timing system to the U.S.
February 7, 2008—ChampionChip®, the world leader in timing technology, announced that TimePoint, its ground-breaking permanent timing system is now available in the U.S. for installation.
Based on the ChampionChip technology, TimePoint offers a unique way to attract users to health clubs, hotels, parks or other sports areas. With TimePoint, athletes can see their lap times up in lights along the track, just like the pros. Currently installed in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, TimePoint is now available for U.S. installations.
The TimePoint system comprises three parts: ground antennas, the housing and a display that shows an athlete his or her time as soon as he or she passes the system. The way it works is simple: the moment an athlete passes the antennas, the chip sends a code and recorded time to the TimePoint reader. The code and time are immediately displayed. The display is optional but certainly a benefit of the system as athletes receive instant gratification.
Additionally, the time is sent to the mychampionchip.comWeb site where athletes can track their laps and training progress and compare their data with other athletes around the world. It's a virtual scoreboard and training tool combined into one. From this site, owners and managers of the TimePoint systems can also monitor the use of the system and check the status of the equipment.
Upkeep of the system is minimal. All that is required is the initial installation of the system, defining your track standards and selling the chips, which can be personalized with your logo. TimePoint comes with a maintenance program to guarantee its smooth daily operation.
TimePoint offers sports facilities a great, new opportunity to attract more participants to sport, which has become a national focus in light of the rise of obesity. With TimePoint, athletes can enjoy a range of activities, such as running, walking, cycling, skating, Nordic skiing and other active sports along with seeing the results of their efforts immediately.
To learn more about TimePoint, visit www.timepoint.com. To see how you can track your training firsthand, visit www.mychampionchip.com.
About ChampionChip
ChampionChip has revolutionized timing for active sports events. In 1994, the company introduced a portable automatic timing system, which could not only time the finish but also record split and start times. This made net times for every individual athlete possible.
Today, ChampionChip is the world's leading timing technology. It is repeatedly proving its superior performance in all the foremost city marathons, Ironman triathlons, and thousands of other events around the world. For more information, see: www.championchipusa.com.
What is a ChampionChip?
ChampionChip is a miniature transponder in a specially designed plastic housing. This device contains a chip in combination with an energizing coil. These elements are encased in a waterproof glass capsule, meaning the ChampionChip can be used under all conditions.
There are no batteries in the ChampionChip. The transponder is passive until moved into a magnetic field of the well-known red mats or the TimePoint. The transponder gets powered and then transmits its unique identification number to a timing computer.


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UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen again across Coventry and Warwickshire - with almost 500 fewer people joining the dole queue in just one month.
The number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance across the region has been falling each month since February – with Coventry on the brink of dropping below the 10,000 mark.
According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics, unemployment fell in Coventry from 10,321 in April to 10,099 in May – a fall of 222.
The city has not seen unemployment below 10,000 since December 2010 – when it fell to 9,580.
Yesterday's figures also show a fall in Warwickshire with the number of claimants dropping by 246 - from 8,584 in April to 8,338 last month.
The monthly figures reveal that once again unemployment across the city and the county are at their lowest levels this year.
The news has been welcomed by Coventry and Warwickshire business leaders, who say the figures are 'encouraging'.
Chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Louise Bennett said: "The unemployment statistics are heartening and show that the numbers of people out of work have steadily fallen since January.
"The last time the unemployment figures in Coventry were below 10,000 was in December 2010 and we are slowly inching towards that.
"Despite the positivity, we need to remain focused on helping businesses to expand, explore new markets and take on more staff.
"This can only happen if reducing red tape remains one of the priorities of the government because we need to clear any hurdles which prevent companies from growing."
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: "Any fall in unemployment is very welcome but I remain cautious over the next few months given the continuing economic challenges we face."
In the West Midlands the number dropped from 173,053 to 164,526. The local figures bucked the national trend where the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance rose by 8,100 in May compared with April.


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Ahhh shit I've been following the wrong Jim Rome this whole time.
How many of you bag ass clones are on Twitter and members of the JTP? (Jungle Twitter Possee).Follow me @HannahNDenverRome is @jimromeAlvin is @alvinDelloro
Are you fvcking high?
I don't twit.. much but I am now following your trucker ass.
i dont see any new followers on my list. 😐


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ORLANDO, Fla. — It's time for more of Chasson Randle in March.
It took nearly a week, but Randle finally showed why Brandon Jennings got released.
With Carmelo Anthony resting his sore left knee in the locker room, struggling Derrick Rose benched in the fourth quarter and Kristaps Porzingis hounded by foul trouble, the Knicks' new rookie point guard became the team's mover and shaker in his first non-garbage time action.
The Knicks put forth a terrific fourth quarter led mostly by Randle's floor leadership and the bench crew to ring up a 113-105 victory over the Magic at Amway Center on Monday.
"He just knows how to play,'' Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said. "He does the little things. I can't say enough for a guy who hasn't played yet and then all of a sudden gets in there."
Randle notched seven points, five assists and five rebounds in 25 minutes. But here's the most mind-boggling stat: Randle finished the game a plus-27 while Rose was a minus-23 in the Knicks' first victory without Anthony since the 2014-15 season.
It's been a weird ride for Randle, who starred on the Knicks summer league team in July, was invited to training camp but was cut after fracturing an orbital bone. Randle played for the D-League Westchester Knicks before the Sixers picked him up in January, then released him at the trade deadline.
The Knicks signed Randle last week when they opened up a roster spot with Jennings' release — a look toward the future.
In spearheading a 19-4 fourth-quarter run as the Knicks won here for the second time in five days, he's earned a larger look as he competes for backup duties with fellow undrafted rookie Ron Baker. The Knicks signed Randle to a partial guarantee for next season.
"Ron has done a nice job, but Chasson is more of a typical point guard,'' Hornacek said. "Yeah, he's earned it.''
"It felt good especially when you can go out there and play halfway decent and win a game,'' Randle said. "I tried to come out there and play with energy. The result was a win. I'm glad we got it and in this jersey.''
Sitting behind Baker, Randle had played just the final 1:30 of the Knicks' blowout win here last week.
"He brings energy,'' Porzingis said. "He's able to drive to the basket and find shooters and he's really quick. He's able to stay in front of guys, too. We moved the basketball. It seemed like a team win.''
"We saw him in training camp and liked him then,'' Hornacek said. "We were all surprised that nobody picked him up prior to Philadelphia getting him. We were stuck with 15 guaranteed roster spots. It was tough to keep him. But we always thought when he becomes available, we're going to try to get him back somehow."
The Knicks, who rallied from a seven-point deficit after three quarters, moved to 26-38. As the lottery police will lament, the Knicks had a chance to fall to the league's sixth-worst record. But the loud coterie of orange-and-blue-clad Knicks fans on hand weren't thinking ping-pong balls. The Knicks remained 5½ games out of the eighth seed in their all-but-hopeless chase for a playoff spot.
Rose had a rough outing, shooting 2-of-9 with two turnovers. He was coming off a scare Sunday after inadvertently getting elbowed in the eye by Porzingis. He saw a specialist following the game when the eye swelled.
In what he claimed was related to the orbital fracture he suffered last season, Rose said he experienced blurry vision Sunday, but played through it.
Rose said the specialist recommended protective goggles, but he refuses to wear them. Though he scored 28 points Sunday, he couldn't get going Monday and his minutes could go down as a youth movement begins. He said he'll try not to "go insane.''
"The noise, the crowd, the lights were getting to me a little bit,'' Rose said of Sunday's game. "But I got through it.''


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Hydrex is an impregnating sealer for all types of natural stones like marble, granite and slate.
It basically seals natural stones from absorbing water and other fluids that may damage or harm the natural stone thereby lengthening its useful life.
Hydrex is transparent and will not alter the color or luster of natural stones after drying.


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PuTTY is an open source terminal emulator, used to connect to SSH, telnet and similar servers for remote administration. Developed by Simon Tatham, who released the first version in 1999, PuTTY has been upgraded a number of times over the years to add new features and fix bugs. PuTTY also enables you to connect to a device attached to the serial port on the computer, sending typed commands to the serial device and displaying the reply. This is useful for debugging networking hardware equipped with serial ports, or connecting to microcontrollers and other electronics devices.
Step 1
Click on the Windows "Start" menu, and then click on the "PuTTY" program group to open. Click on the "PuTTY" icon to launch the program.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Click on the "Serial" radio button to set the connection type.
Step 3
Type the COM address for the serial port in the "Serial Line" box to select the COM port the serial device is attached to. For example, COM1 or COM2. Type the baud speed the serial device operates at in the Speed box; for example 9,600 or 115,200. If you are unsure of the baud rate to use, check the documentation for the serial device. If no documentation is available, start at a high speed such as 115,200, and work your way down until you can connect to the device successfully.
Step 4
Click on the "Serial" menu item under Connection in the Category menu tree on the left side of the PuTTY window to change the default parameters, if necessary. You can set the number of data bits and stop bits, as well as the parity and flow control method used to connect to the serial device. If you are unsure of the settings to use, leave these set to the default values, which will work in the majority of cases.
Step 5
Click the "Open" button to initiate the connection to the serial device. You may see some introductory text sent from the serial device when the device has connected, but some devices do not respond until you send a command. Once you have typed some data and pressed the "Enter" key to transmit to the serial device, you should see a response from the device displayed in the PuTTY window.
Step 6
Close the PuTTY window by clicking on the close button to end the serial connection when required.
To find which COM port the serial device is using, open the Windows Device Manager from the Windows Control Panel. The serial ports are listed in the Ports (COM and LPT) section of the device tree. If your computer or laptop does not have a serial port, USB to Serial converters are available at a low cost online or from computer or electronics stores.


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Is it nearly time for you to get on an airplane and head to beautiful Mexico? Summer is approaching soon. Even though the COVID pandemic has made a few challenges for people wanting to travel, you can still have a safe and enjoyable vacation to Mexico. Before you decide on your destination, you should check to see if the destination has received the Safe Travels Stamp. This designation is awarded to locations that have COVID safety measures in place so you won't be worrying and stressing out about possibly getting sick. Until it is time for your Mexico vacation, read below to learn what to pack for your vacation.
Mexico Vacation – What to Pack
Swimming Suits
The first thing you should do before you head out for your vacation is to check the weather. Most destinations in Mexico are sunny and warm right now, but summer is also the rainy season in Mexico. The climate and forecast are something to consider when you are packing. In general, the most important piece of clothing that you should pack is swimming suits. Most people that vacation in Mexico spend most of their time at the beach or by the pool at their resort. If you pack several swimming suits, then you will always have a fresh and dry suit to wear each day.
Comfortable Shoes
Your vacation to Mexico wouldn't be complete if you didn't explore some of the small towns and quaint neighborhoods that make the country so charming. Many towns in Mexico have cobblestone streets that can be a bit tricky, so make sure you pack comfortable shoes. Sneakers, flip-flops, or any comfortable shoes should be packed. A Mexico vacation is usually a casual one, so you don't need to worry about packing high heels.
COVID Test Restrictions
Mexico has been welcoming visitors to their country for some time, and you don't have to bring a negative COVID test with you. However, Mexico does require that all visitors that arrive at the airport have their temperature taken. Then, you will need to fill out a short health questionnaire. It is very important that you check with your country to know what travel restrictions they are requiring. When leaving Mexico, the United States does require that you provide a negative COVID test that was performed 72 hours before your plane departed. Currently, Canada has stopped flights from Mexico temporarily, but they are expected to resume soon. Canada will likely require a negative PCR test from travelers to return home. If you need any help clarifying current regulations, then you can ask the front desk where you are staying. Some Mexico resorts are providing onsite COVID testing, so their guests won't have added stress to comply with COVID travel requirements
Don't Overpack For Your Mexico Vacation
Many people that will be vacationing in Mexico often overpack. Most people on vacation in Mexico will usually spend 80% of their vacation at the beach or at the pool at their resort. Therefore, you really don't need to pack a lot of clothes. The recommended clothing that you should pack for your Mexico vacation would include several pairs of shorts and tank tops, one pair of pants, one or two pairs of comfy shoes, a jacket, several swimsuits, and sunglasses. If you happen to forget to pack something, don't worry, because there are numerous shops where you can purchase things at an affordable price.
Make Sure Your Passport Is Up To Date
Lastly, when you are searching for flights for your Mexico vacation, you also need to make sure your passport is up to date. The last thing you want to deal with is an expired passport. Once you arrive in Mexico, you will be given a temporary visitor VISA which is valid for six months. Make sure to hold on to the temporary VISA paperwork. When you return to the airport to head home, you will need to return the VISA form to the airport staff at check-in.
Are you ready to start booking your Mexico vacation? You now know what to pack for your vacation. If you need a great place to stay in Mexico, then you should consider Villa La Estancia in Riviera Nayarit or Cabo san Lucas. They currently have special vacation packages now for affordable all-inclusive vacations. Plus, Villa La Estancia also has a limited number of beachfront residences for sale. If you are in the market for a second home in Mexico, it's a great choice. They have an ideal hotel-condo concept that savvy investors really find attractive. Call them today to learn more.


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Liability law
The field of liability law is very varied and applies to numerous situations in which a person may be held to be liable for damages. This is the case with workplace, sporting and traffic accidents, as well as with medical errors and breaches of contract. It also applies in more specific cases, for example the responsibility of the owner of a work of art or the owner of an animal. In addition, activities associated with risk, such as school outings or clinical research protocols, fall within this field of law. The legal management of such situations is extremely complex, and the support of an attorney is usually necessary to try to determine whether an obligation for reparations can be imposed on a person who has caused injury to others and, if this is so, to calculate the amount of the compensation. A lawyer can also guide his or her client by explaining the links between insurance law (social and private) and liability law.
Avocats concernés :- Antonella Cereghetti
- Jean-François Dumoulin
- Xavier Rubli
- Jean-Claude Perroud
- Jeanne-Marie Monney


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|Streams with less annoying ads
|all times GMT +2
Soccer streamsILEMI has no soccer links just now. Come later, go to OTHERS, or just get out of computer and do something nice for your body!
Hey! Do not forget to tell your friends about ILEMI. You can use the share buttons! If you like to bet, register thru our links to sportsbooks. Thanks!


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2203 Streamhurst Lane
Sugar Land, Texas, 77479
Lovely home with large open floor plan and a second story loft over looking the living room! This is a perfect rental due to the large master bedroom, 2 extra bedrooms with Jack and Jill bathrooms and a huge yard! This home is zoned to amazing schools and centralized next to Sugarland Mall and Town Center!! This is a must see and will go quickly!


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Last week U.S. President Donald Trump joined LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton CEO and chair Bernard Arnault to cut the ribbon on Louis Vuitton's new leather goods workshop in Alvarado, Texas.
The presidential visit to the new atelier has sparked a new controversy in fashion industry. And yesterday, Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of the brand's women's collections, got involved. Via Instagram, the designer issued the following statement on his account: "Standing against any political action. I am a fashion designer refusing this association #trumpisajoke #homophobial." The message appeared beneath a cover image of the 1980s Evelyn Thomas track "High Energy."
The post has garnered at least 5,000 likes and hundreds of comments, with support coming from Camille Miceli, accessories creative director at Louis Vuitton; Paco Rabanne's creative director, Julien Dossena; stylists Elizabeth Stewart and Karla Welch; and transgender model Teddy Quinlivan.
Quinlivan, whom Ghesquière is credited with discovering in 2015, posted the comment "Thank you for standing on the right side of history." Members of the the fashion industry have been critical of the Trump Administration and its efforts to repealing some U.S. laws against transgender discrimination.
The LVMH-Trump event last week was in support of Louis Vuitton's new Texas workshop, which is linked to Trump's America's Workers initiative, a pledge to boost employment in the U.S. The new workshop is designed to create 1,000 jobs for Americans over the next five years.
At the ceremony, Arnault attempted to distance the event from politics: "We are very honored to have the president of the United States. I'm not here to judge any types of policies; I'm here to work with my brand, and we are going to, over five years, have 1,000 people working here, and that's what matters."
However, fashion watchers and fans lashed out on social media, threatening boycotts of Louis Vuitton's products.


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A couple of reviews of my recording of Egon Kornauth's music have come to my attention: 'There is only one other piece by Egon Kornauth (1891-1959) listed on ArkivMusic, another performance by the present pianist, recorded at Schloss Husum in 2009 and reviewed previously in Fanfare 34:5 by Scott Noriega. This is the first full disc ofContinue reading "Egon Kornauth CD, reviews"
Monthly Archives: September 2013
Sorabji 6th Piano Symphony
I'm currently nearing the end of learning process of Sorabji's 6th Piano Symphony. I'll give the world premiere of the piece in Den Toonzaal in 'S Hertogenbosch on 27 October (my third visit to this excellent concert hall), then will take it to Oxford, UK, on 2 November. In November I'll be playing the symphonyContinue reading "Sorabji 6th Piano Symphony"


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This Dad Finding Out His Wife Is Pregnant Will Make You Want To Get Pregnant [VIDEO]
We love us the 'we're going to have a baby' videos around here, and this one will definitely make you want to get pregnant! This guys thinks he's doing a taste test, but his wife is just having a little fun before she lets him in on the big secret.
His reaction is so sweet, but if you don't want to wait for the big moment, just go to the 2:30 mark for his reaction.


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10 Tips for Surviving Gala Season
Uber it!
It's safer if you're consuming alcohol, plus you can skip the valet line at the end of the evening.
Touch it up
If you forgot to make a hair appointment, cover those gray roots with a quick spray from the drugstore. And search out make-up/mascara that doesn't drip in the humidity.
Put your best foot forward—literally
When posing for the paparazzi, it's one foot out, hands on hip—that's the way.
Skip the stilettos
Slip on comfy walking wear, especially if the party is outdoors, like Selby Gardens' Orchid Ball. Besides, sneakers make you stand out.
Excuse yourself
Avoid the endless paddle raise portion of the evening with a strategically timed bathroom break.
Keep the water coming if you're sipping booze, especially if it's warm.
Nibble beforehand
Remember Mammy's advice to Scarlett O'Hara and eat a little something before the gala. It can take a while to be served your dinner, and you don't want to be seen wolfing it down.
Rent the Runway
Find your party wear at renttherunway.com. You run less risk of seeing your dress on someone else, and you don't have it hanging in your closet forever.
Keep it light
For your dinner table conversation, avoid politics—unless you really want to stir things up.
Snag that must-have auction item
Don't be ashamed of hovering over that Jeremy Hammond-Chambers dinner- for-8 auction sheet, or wait until last call is announced and make a dash for it.
Get involved!
Grateful for how arts and culture enrich our community? Visit thegivingpartner.guidestar.org to find organizations that match your interests.


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Aura Hygiene
Rough Peru Stromatolite Fossil Stone
Regular price $3.33 Sale price
Unit price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
1 Piece of Rough Peru Stromatolite Fossil Stone
Stromatolite is a rock formation composed of the fossilized remains of a micro organism know as cyanobacteria, also called Blue-Green Algae.
Peru Stromatolite Healing Properties and Benefits
- Stone of Transformation
- Assists in healing at an emotional level
- Gently removes blockages within the heart
- Great meditation aid assisting with past life recall
- Teaches the purpose of life on Earth and our part in it
- Helps One to Accept Others for who they are
Origin: Peru
Chakra: Base/Root, Heart
Birthstone Zodiac: Aries ♈, Virgo ♍
*Each Fossil may vary in Size, Color, and Patterns since these are Natural forming and no two are alike


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January 29, 2010 – Sri Sathya Sai Hyderabad Youth Conference – Day One
The Sai revolution is a silent one. It does not sweep one off their feet; it actually ensures that one's feet are placed firmly on the ground. It does not come as a thunder from the vast skies; it breezes as a soft whisper from within.
It does not move across lands like a conquering army; it merely sprouts like a tender sapling and grows into a mighty tree! And Swami, the divine gardener, just invests in "seeds" and more seeds! One part of this revolution is happening in the city of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.
The Sai Youth, by practice and precept, have shown to thousands in this city the way to enrich their lives, making them more meaningful. As a result of these seminars and service activities, more than a thousand inspired youth made the pilgrimage to Puttaparthi to have the darshan of Swami.
1100 youth were thus the audience to inspiring talks by the venerable Prof. G. Venkataraman and the All India President, V. Srinivasan in the Poornachandra auditorium in the afternoon. For the evening, Swami had permitted the youth to put up a drama "Namami Bharateeyam". By 4:30 p.m., the backdrops were ready and a contingent of Veda chanting youth were waiting at the divine residence.
It was at 5:10 p.m. that Swami arrived. He blessed the poornakumbham and flagged the Vedam procession to begin. Bhagavan then followed and as has become the practice of late, threw vibhuti packets to those devotees whom He knew needed it. As soon as He passed across the ladies' side, He cut and moved towards the interview room. Taking a round in the veranda, He arrived on the stage.
The Veda chanting was on and once Swami told the programme to begin, it was stopped. The youth coordinator prayed to Swami for blessings and various members came forward to show Swami cards which contained the work they were doing. Swami blessed them all and finally the drama began.
The presentation started with two commanders from the army lamenting to their grandfather about the state of affairs in India today. They use the example of one student to depict how people are ready to go abroad and do even menial jobs as being abroad is considered prestigious.
The grandfather narrates anecdotes from the freedom struggle, reliving the inspiration and patriotism of the times. The discussion meanders about Values and finds fulfillment in the faith that Sai is here to lead the youth. The drama was interspersed with patriotic dances and quotes from Swami, and lasted about 45 minutes. Finally, all the participants made a formation.
Swami asked whether the programme was over before moving down the ramp. The youth had organized themselves wonderfully in a disciplined manner. Swami posed with all the actors. Then one of the coordinators asked Swami whether the dancers too could take a picture with Him. He agreed and the dancers came ahead. After those pictures were taken, Swami moved back up the stage. He blessed prasadam to be distributed to all as instrumental patriotic music from the PA system filled the air.
Swami asked the students to sing bhajans and slowly the youth who had come first time to Swami also began to participate. Swami now asked for the famous alaap bhajans. As these were sung, the clapping and decibel levels went high. The bhajans after them too seemed to benefit from the enthusiasm that had been generated! After a few more bhajans, Swami received aarthi and retired for the day.
Dear reader, how do you like this section? Does it help or inspire you in anyway? Please share your reflections with us by writing to [email protected]g mentioning your name and country.
Thank you for your time.


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Engage in the large-scale exploration of outer space and learn about the existence of new planets. Try to download TerraGenesis Space Settlers for PC and do the most interesting thing. This simulator for building your own planets will be full of fun. It will be very difficult to tear yourself away from such an interesting simulator, and even more so it is devoted to the great planetary science, which means it will be useful. The entire gameplay is based on real data from the NASA Science Center. Thus, this game will be very informative, and you can learn a lot from it. Learn how to change the biosphere to achieve success.
About TerraGenesis Space Settlers:
When you decide to download TerraGenesis – Space Settlers, then go to the universe and you can colonize a huge number of planets. When they are under your control, you will develop and conduct space experiments. You are waiting for worlds filled with alien creatures, and with them, you can easily capture the entire cosmic world. Without any restrictions on possibilities, and you can easily carry out Terraforming of your planets.
You can become a sovereign participant in any of the four-space teams, but before that, decide which one to join is more profitable. View full statistics of the characteristics and features of the planet and engage in the colonization of huge worlds. Dwell in this area and become a leader in space adventures. Achieve great results and success in the game. You can even do moon exploration, Mars or Mercury, and finally, you get to the globe. This game will just have a huge number of functions, using which you can not tear yourself away from the game and adventures in outer space.
How to Download TerraGenesis Space Settlers for PC:
If you already have downloaded an Android Emulator skip this step. However, if you haven't downloaded any, follow this link. Once downloaded and installed, follow the steps below.
- Use a G-mail ID to set-up the emulator. However, we prefer not to use an old one, hence you need to create a new one.
- Once configured, you need to let the emulator settled.
- Then open Play Store and search for TerraGenesis Space Settlers
- Click on Install and wait.
- Once the app appears in the App Drawer, you are good to use it as you want.
Final Words:
The game concept is excellent, graphics and music are wonderful. But the UI could use some help. You have to bounce between screens to get all the info you need to make good strategic decisions, and it's hard to time your development just right without having to bust out a calculator.