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Facilities
Manitoba Service Center to Welcome New Slitting Line
Cascadia Metals, a network of steel service centers operating in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States, has ordered a new Strand Extensioner slitting line from Herr-Voss Stamco.
The new line, for the Cascadia facility in Manitoba, Canada, will provide rewound coils and offer leveling and burr reduction of slit material. Capacity: 0.012 to 1⁄4- in. material thickness, with incoming coil capacity to 50,000 lb. by 72 in. wide. | {
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5. Pantalonetas o faltas muy cortas. No pueden exponer la ropa interior o usarlos muy abajo de la cadera. Bottoms: Skirts or shorts must be at least as long as the level of your finger-tips, with your arms straight down at your sides. No exposed underwear or area below the waist.
2. Los estudiantes que necesitan cambiar alguna prenda de vestir tienes la opción de llamar a casa o usar una prenda prestada por la escuela (si está disponible). Students who must remove clothing will have the option of calling a parent/guardian for a change of clothing, or using an item borrowed from the Alianza office (as available).
3. Los estudiantes que no puedan cumplir con la política del uniforme después de sido mandados a la oficina, serán suspendidos por el resto del día después de notificar a los padres, guardianes o contacto de emergencia. Students who are unable to comply with the Dress Code after being sent to the office will be sent home, pending notification of a parent, guardian, or emergency contact. | {
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Leafs Pre-Game report: October 25th, 2016 – Lightning @ Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at the Air Canada Centre. Puck drops at 7:30 for an exciting battle between a potential division winner, and a Leafs team on the rise.
Many questions surround the Leafs heading into this game, including the overuse of veteran defensemen, the shaky goaltender play (Leafs have the 6th worst 5v5 team sv%), and the potential unsustainability of their offense (Leafs have the 5th highest 5v5 team shooting%). The Leafs come into this game after yet another blown lead to the Chicago Blackhaws. The Lightning, on the other hand, beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 after suffering their first loss of the season to the Colorado Avalanche.
There’s no question Tampa Bay will be a goliath in the Atlantic Division this year, whereas the Leafs seem to be shaping up to be among a mix of mediocre teams outside of the two Florida teams. This will shape up to be a tough matchup for the Leafs, who look to get a lead and keep it for only the 2nd time this year.
Coming to Toronto for the first time this year will be the Maple Leafs’ offseason acquisition gone awry, Steven Stamkos, who has settled back into his return to the Tampa Bay Lightning nicely with 5 points in 5 games.
Tonight will also be the debut of the Leafs’ waiver claim (no, not Seth Griffith) ((no, also not Frank Corrado)), Ben Smith. We’ll look to see if Smith can capably fill the “niche” role that Babcock wanted him for.
In the vein of debuts, the Lightning debuted Brayden Point for his rookie season, a prospect I’ve been rooting for since his days with the Moose Jaw Warriors. He has two points this season, and has definitely been playing well with a CF% of 55.88%.
Tonight’s lines for the Maple Leafs:
LW
C
RW
Hyman
Matthews
Nylander
Van Riemsdyk
Bozak
Marner
Komarov
Kadri
Brown
Martin
Smith
Holland
LD
RD
Rielly
Zaitsev
Gardiner
Polak
Hunwick
Carrick
G
Andersen
And the lines for Tampa Bay will be:
LW
C
RW
Namestnikov
Stamkos
Kucherov
Palat
Johnson
Drouin
Killorn
Filppula
Point
Paquette
Boyle
Brown
LD
RD
Hedman
Stralman
Garrison
Sustr
Nesterov
Coburn
G
Bishop
KEYS TO THE GAME
Here are some keys for the Leafs:
Pay close attention to the penalty differential – The Lightning have just an electric (get it?) powerplay as the Leafs do. Do what you can to minimize potentially costly penalties
Create traffic – Ben Bishop, as we know, is huge. Get the puck moving around the zone and get shots on net, hoping that traffic can bury the rebounds
Goaltending struggles – Get in the passing lanes and limit the cross-ice movement Andersen has to make. With the more aggressive style he’s been playing, he’ll be much more vulnerable to cross-ice passes, even from non-high-danger shooting areas.
And keys for the Lightning (keep this on the DL!);
Offensive zone entry – Continue to use the schemes that are clearly working for you, but make sure to target the Leafs’ slower veterans on defense for zone entries
Defensive targeting – Target the offense driver on each line, and take advantage of the Leafs’ spread out offense. Holland, Marner and Kadri are guys who should especially be pressured
Get the puck to the net – Not a revelation, but obviously the Leafs have both shaky goaltending and a penchant for defensive mistakes thus far, so it’s especially important tonight | {
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Denis Wick DW5582 Trombone Travel Mute
Trombones are currently running at an all-time high in the instrument popularity stakes, so ‘bone mutes – particularly travel mutes, are well up on the accessories wanted list. The DW5582 is the latest in a long line of tried and trusted quality mutes from the Denis Wick stable, but calling this red beauty a Travel mute doesn’t quite cover the whole story, as the DW5582 also functions perfectly as a warm up mute and a practice mute. We used to use a wooden Maslet, but in recent years have moved on to a Best Brass aluminium model (made in Japan). While we were always happy with the Best Brass, slotting in the Denis Wick model was a revelation. OK, it’s slightly heavier than our Best Brass, but it fits the bell perfectly, has a flawless finish and it’s airtight – in fact, it’s a superb bit of engineered design. With a constant sound throughout and consistent resistance across the full range and exceptional dampening properties, this is one accessory that should always be in your travel bag. And it’s the best bit of ’bone kit out there if you don’t want to wake the world – guaranteed. | {
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Blog Archives
Possibly the best game Nintendo has released, ever. Yeah, I know, that’s a heavy claim. But it might be true.
Now for years, I’ve been a staunch supporter of “A Link to the Past” as the best Zelda game ever. There are plenty of people that say that “Ocarina of Time” is the best. I’m not even willing to entertain those people. I will accept arguments for other Zelda titles holding spots above “A Link to the Past”, but not Ocarina. The problem with “Ocarina of Time” is that it’s a flawed game, development-wise. A Link to the Past has no flaws (we can argue that another time).
But that’s not what this is about! This is about “Breath of the Wild” being the best Zelda game ever made. Is it? I don’t know yet. But after only playing for about 30 minutes, I found myself uttering that statement to myself. I couldn’t believe the thoughts and feelings I was having. I felt like I was cheating on myself somehow; that somehow these thoughts weren’t true and were simply alien in nature, placed there by outside forces. After 25+ years, has something finally trumped the vaunted The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past? I don’t know. I’m still figuring it out. Either way, I can’t get enough of this game.
I figured since the Skyward Sword released that it would be prudent of me to talk about some fan made Zelda games.
Link's Awakening
Probably most deserving, and more importantly the most complete, I’ve seen so far is this remake of Link’s Awakening. Made by Xfixium using RPG Maker 2003. This Game Boy classic has been lovingly recreated with 16 bit graphics, combining the look of A Link to the Past and Four Swords Adventure. Up until recently (the 3DS now has this available as a download), this was one of the few Zelda titles that has not seen a re-treatment. A couple quick features that made Link’s Awakening a stand out title – you were not required to wield a sword and shield; it was the first in the series to be able to assign them to specific buttons, switching them out when necessary. And aside from a passing mention of Princess Zelda, this one has little to do with the other Zelda games. Musical instruments were used in place of the Triforce and it all takes place entirely on Koholint Island.
Xfixium also has an Ocarina of Time 2D remake in the works. Check out the Zelda Fan Game Central for a whole host of other user created Zelda games. There’s some cool ideas on there that I look forward to seeing completed. The Legend of Zelda: Threads of Despair is a fan original tale which is styled after A Link to the Past but borrows some concepts and sound effects from Ocarina of Time. The Legend of Zelda: The Sage Knight is a traditional turn based RPG, though I’m not sure how I feel about this one yet. Even as a fan created game, it doesn’t appear to carry much of the Zelda series with it aside from the fact that you play as an elven eared Link.
Realm of Shadows
There was also as completed version of a game titled, The Legend of Zelda – Realm of Shadows. This one uses a style taken from Link’s Awakening although a bit more colorful. It was originally written in spanish, so as long as you can stomach the poor english translation, it’s a pretty decent game.
I’ve also heard of a Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 3D fan remake but there wasn’t much information about it so I’m sure it was shut down by Nintendo. Shigeru Miyamoto himself has hinted that he’s really interested in recreating A Link to the Past as the next official Zelda release.
Lastly, and probably the most impressive, The Legend of Zelda: Wand of Weather. Unfortunately the entire thing is in german. Though you can get through much of it without knowing what’s going on. Dialogue in Zelda has never been too important. Has the look and feel of a GBA Zelda game. If there is an english translation out there somewhere, I’d love to see it. Get the download HERE and check out the trailer below. | {
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Because hitting two gluttonous, multi-course beer dinners in one week would just be ridiculous, Bonanno's BBQ is hosting a supper with small batch Ilegal Mezcal instead. Each of the three courses will be paired with its own mez-tail, for a lineup including a coriander/ agave concoction with diver scallop ceviche, and a carbonated Reposado mezcal/ housemade Mexican coke/ chipotle drink with a smoked pork belly.
Mezcal Dinner
Because hitting two gluttonous, multi-course beer dinners in one week would just be ridiculous, Bonanno's BBQ is hosting a supper with small batch Ilegal Mezcal instead. Each of the three courses will be paired with its own mez-tail, for a lineup including a coriander/ agave concoction with diver scallop ceviche, and a carbonated Reposado mezcal/ housemade Mexican coke/ chipotle drink with a smoked pork belly. | {
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James Franco spent his early 20s taking lead or secondary lead roles in gritty urban thrillers like Deuces Wild, Sonny, and City by the Sea, not to mention the sympathetic villain in the Spider-Man films. With his smoldering go...
Read the backstory on these guys, and you’ll think they’re superheroes. Paraplegic street musicians who tool around the streets of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on custom-built motorized tricycles...
Before the United States entered World War I in 1917, there were already a small number of American men who had gone to France to fight the Germans. Some of them trained to fly airplanes. These were the first American fighter p... | {
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Sterling Silver Charm Heart Toggle Link Bracelet
Currently priced at
$ 185.00
Sterling Silver link bracelet with a 1 inch heart Charm and an unusual Toggle link closure. The bracelet is 7 3/4 inches and the links are large and srtrong enough for more harms to be added to it. There is a Design mark on one end like 2 double arrows, and it is also marked 925 in 2 places
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About Me
I’ve been playing with Phaser recently and I’m really liking it so far. I plan to use TypeScript for the language as it has a bunch of advantages over straight javascript. I found the Phaser tutorial was a little out of date so figured I would put together a quick tutorial to help others get started with Phaser development in Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition using TypeScript. The new Community Edition of Visual Studio is free for commercial use which means anyone running Windows can start making WebGL games in Phaser with a powerful IDE at no cost. Below are the instructions, if you find any problems please let me know. | {
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A book pack ideal for teaching children about differing abilities. Learn why some children wear leg braces, what it is like to be autistic, how blind people read and more. A pack of 6 books which covers blindness and braille, deafness, sign language and hearing aids, asthma and inhalers, autism, wheelchairs and leg braces and crutches. Age: 3 years+. | {
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The greatest all-time WNBA basketball player. She is known as the female Michael Jordan and often goes by the name of LJ (like MJ). She is also famous for pulling the fake hair of Lisa Leslie who is no match for the Jackson drive.
After an epic win against your opponent, your friend says
"Damn! you were like LJ (Lauren Jackson) out there" | {
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Younger U.S. Workers Most Likely to Report Workplace Hiring
Story Highlights
Majority of 18- to 29-year-old workers say employer is hiring
Likelihood to say firm is hiring decreases with age
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. workers between the ages of 18 and 29 are significantly more likely than older workers to report working for companies that are hiring new people. Gallup's Job Creation Index -- a measure of net hiring activity in the U.S. -- is +43 among younger workers. This finding is much higher than the +30 among those aged 30 to 49, +21 among those aged 50 to 64 and the much lower +14 for workers aged 65 and older.
These findings come from aggregated Gallup data collected from January to April 2015, involving interviews with more than 65,000 full- or part-time workers. Gallup's Job Creation Index is based on the percentage of workers who say that their place of employment is hiring minus the percentage who say it is letting workers go. The index has been relatively static for the first four months of 2015, averaging +29. In April, it reached +31, its highest score so far this year.
But whatever the pace of job expansion nationwide, young American workers are the most likely of any age group to report that their companies are expanding. A slim majority, 52%, in this youngest age group say their employer is hiring new people and expanding the size of its workforce, while fewer than one in 10 (9%) say their employer is letting people go and reducing the workforce size. The percentages in other age groups who say that their employer is hiring are nowhere near majority status. Workers aged 30 to 49 are about as likely to say their employer is hiring new people (42%) as say their place of employment is not changing its workforce size (40%). For those aged 50 and older, however, the most common response is that their employer is neither decreasing nor increasing its workforce.
One potential explanation for these findings is tied to young people's likelihood to be recent hires themselves. While the Gallup Daily tracking data do not measure how long a worker has been at his or her current job, one could assume that younger workers are more likely to have been hired more recently than older workers simply because of their age. To that point, the median tenure of 20- to 24-year-old workers was 1.3 years in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while 45- to 54-year-old workers had been with their current employer for a median of 7.9 years. In other words, because young people are more likely to have recently sought new employment opportunities, they have naturally ended up at organizations and firms that are expanding their workforces.
More generally, younger Americans tend to be more positive than older Americans about the economy -- particularly on forward-looking measures. This positivity is evident in younger versus older Americans' confidence in the national economy and reports of their standard of living.
Bottom Line
Young American workers are more likely than any other age group to report that they work for employers who are hiring. In some sense, this may be repetitious: Young employees are more likely to be recent hires, so it is only fitting they should find themselves at firms that are hiring. It is also true that young Americans appear to have a cheerier disposition about the economy, according to Gallup's measures.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Jan. 2-Apr. 30 2015, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 65,873 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, who are employed . For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.
Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.
Recommended
Gallup's U.S. Job Creation Index reached +31 in April, inching past its previous high of +30 from September of last year. The latest reading is up two points from March, and is a break from six months of fairly static measurements. | {
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O'Keefe's Latest: North Carolina Voter ID Practices
Project Veritas: n North Carolina we find people who are listed as non-citizens according to Jury refusal forms and who are also registered to vote. We get their comment and are offered their ballots. We are offered a ballot in the name of a dead man, and interview an election Judge who says he only wants to uphold parts of the state constitution. We also interview the following officials at UNC who seemingly embrace voter fraud:Terri Phoenix — Director – UNC LGBTQ CenterDean Blackburn UNC Assistant Dean of StudentsAdam Limehouse – Director for the Coalition to Protect All NC Families. | {
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MEMORIAL: Arnie Roma holds a memorial plaque taken from the new home of Anderson Cooper.Ron Romano
There’ll be little room for history in Anderson Cooper’s new home.
Before he bought his century-old firehouse in Greenwich Village, bronze plaques honoring members of Fire Patrol 2 who died in the line of duty — including on 9/11 — were stripped from the building to make it easier to sell.
The plaques were rescued from a pile of trash by Arnie Roma, whose son, Keith, a member of the fire patrol that worked out of the building, died on Sept. 11, 2001, rescuing people from the World Trade Center. A plaque in his son’s honor graced the firehouse’s facade.
Roma said he got a call last week from the Board of Fire Underwriters, the insurance-funded group that sponsored the patrol before it was shuttered in 2006, letting him know where he could find the plaques.
“If you want, come up here and get them because we don’t know what to do with them,” Roma said he was told by the insurance group. “They were laying in a corner with dust and garbage all around them.”
The four plaques that once hung at the firehouse had been pulled down and removed by the building’s former owners, fearful that the presence of the historic plaques might have made Cooper reluctant to buy the building, Roma said.
The board sold the firehouse to Cooper for $4.3 million late last year. The CNN newsman is now renovating it into a home. | {
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Uses: Holy Week Scripture: Mark 15:1-5; John 18:28-38 One of the most dramatic pieces you will ever encounter is found in this scene from the passion of Christ before Pilate. From the powerful martial opening theme depicting the Roman inquisition to the fugue that displays the violence and cacophony of the mob's cries, this anthem is unrelenting in its impact. A difficult moment to translate into music but an important moment to experience because it reminds of the price of grace!
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Wiktionaryβ
User talk:90.209.77.109
Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to Wiktionary! We notice that you're making changes anonymously. Although this is perfectly all right, we'd like to encourage you to take the time to create an account and sign in to it when editing – it's free and easy. A number of good reasons to do so are listed at Wiktionary:Why create an account?.
Please note that we are notWikipedia. If you have edited there, it won't be very difficult for you to find your way here, but there are a number of differences. For example, Wiktionary is case-sensitive: Kind (German) is not the same as kind (English, Danish, Dutch etc.) Also note that Wiktionary never uses parenthetic disambiguation, so where Wikipedia might have separate articles on Mercury (planet), Mercury (element), and Mercury (mythology), Wiktionary will only have one entry on Mercury which addresses proper noun uses, and an entry on mercury which addresses regular noun uses.
Questionable entries will be listed for verification, and, if they fail that process, will be deleted. Also, keep in mind our copyright policies: don't copy material from copyrighted sources here. Such additions will be deleted on sight. Submissions from IP addresses unfortunately are looked at more closely, so please take a minute to create an account.
I know your entries are made in good faith, but you must learn proper formatting. These are some changes you should make:
When you include the etymology of a word, put it in an ===Etymology=== section instead of beside {{ja-noun}} (as in 変身).
When you link to other articles under ===See also=== or ====Derived terms==== or any other header, you don't need to write their literal meanings. Save them for the etymology sections of their pages.
When you add translations to translation tables, a few translations are enough, and you don't need to put literal translations (again, they belong only at the etymology sections of their pages).
No Japanese nouns have plurals, so it is not necessary to add (s) after English meanings.
On the subject of apostrophes and slashes, just pick one word or the other, because they can can actually make things harder to read. For example, at 雪女 you have written "(a/the) spirit of (a) woman(/women)". If you simplify it to "the spirit of a woman", it is much easier to read, and it just looks better.
When you use a context template like {{anime}} in a Japanese entry, please sort it into the Japanese anime category by adding the parameter "|lang=ja" as in {{anime|lang=ja}}.
I hope you don't think I'm trying to bite your head off, but everyone needs to follow formatting rules so Wiktionary isn't a blend of 100 different people's ways of formatting. Ultimateria 02:49, 2 July 2011 (UTC)
Information about the "Language of Flowers" is culturally-specific information that should appear in a Wikipedia entry, not in a Wiktionary entry, since it applies to the topic and not to the word. --EncycloPetey 01:55, 7 July 2011 (UTC)
We do not include the "Language of flowers". Synonyms sections are for words that refer to the same object, not for words with similar cultural connotation. --EncycloPetey 21:40, 7 July 2011 (UTC)
Please stop adding "language of flowers" information. This does not belong in a dictionary. --EncycloPetey 18:27, 8 July 2011 (UTC)
You have repeated problems in understanding Wiktionary format, do not know what synonyms and antonyms are, and fail to adjust editing patterns in response to comments. This suggests that you need time to learn format before you continue editing. Your repeated problems are creating a lot of work for other people who have to clean up after you. Please use the time that you are blocked to investigate proper format and learn Wiktionary conventions. --EncycloPetey 21:48, 9 July 2011 (UTC)
You continue to have the same problems and create a mess for other people. Please learn standard format on Wiktionary. --EncycloPetey 21:20, 13 July 2011 (UTC)
Either way, I'm noticing a string of recent edits of yours that appear to be incorrect, as best I can tell. One example is 禍津日, which you've entered as meaning:
a philosophy in Shintoism; refers to the negative aspects of the 四魂 (しこん, shikon; lit. "four souls") within one's heart
Do you have any citation for this? I can't find anything about 禍津日 being a Shinto philosophy, but the word is listed right here in my Shogakukan Japanese dictionary as being the shorter name for the god 八十禍津日神 or Yasomagatsuhi-no-kami, the Japanese god of misfortune. Another dictionary I have states that 禍津日 is the common name for two gods, Yasomagatsuhi-no-kami and Ōmagatsuhi-no-kami, who together are the gods of misfortune. Moreover, the kanji in the short name literally mean bad harbor day, and in the long name eighty bad harbor day god. There's no mention of epidemic in either form, and the short form includes no mention of spirit.
This is quite a discrepancy. I have therefore completely rewritten the 禍津日 article.
Moreover, you've added links to the Japanese Wikipedia on a few pages, like 禍津日 and 直霊, where there is no such Japanese Wikipedia page. Please make sure the page exists before adding an interwiki link.
Your energy and enthusiasm in contributing to Wiktionary is a wonderful thing. In the interests of making sure your efforts are not wasted, however, please double-check your terms before going to all the trouble of adding them. Use multiple kinds of sources, like dictionaries and websites covering different kinds of materials. Do not rely just on manga or manga-related materials. Note that manga often use wildly inventive meanings and sometimes just plain make up words, so if you see it in a manga, please check elsewhere before assuming that the meaning used in the manga is the only one.
Please note: Removing blank lines after headers is pointless. Editing will automatically put the blank lines in, and so will bots. Removing the lines is a waste of your time. --EncycloPetey 23:52, 7 August 2011 (UTC)
Please do not revert my changes to the 魔法 page. The page is in need of a cleanup and reduction. Please note that Wiktionary is *not* Wikipedia, and we do not need or want Wiktionary entries to be encyclopedically complete. As such, the list of synonyms and compounds for 魔法 (or any other entry) do not need to include everything. Please do not keep adding long lists of synonyms, compounds, see others, or similar items to entries. You will be nominated for blocking if you continue.
I have also found that some of your entries are not proper Japanese, approaching instead a kind of pidgin (such as 母自然 or 父土地, neither of which are real Japanese terms). Note that a good dictionary is a great place to start. For learners, I would recommend a dictionary that includes furigana, such as Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary. Adding pages for terms that do not exist is another great way to be nominated for blocking.
In addition, I've noticed that you add {{wikipedia|lang=ja}} to many Japanese entries, despite the fact that there often isn't any corresponding Japanese Wikipedia page. Please check to make sure the Japanese WP page exists before adding such interwiki links.
Lastly for now, many of your entries include unneeded formatting messiness in the English glosses for terms, such as the bolded text below:
We do not use "lit." in glosses unless unavoidable. Likewise, we do not use quotes, italics, or alternate word forms in parentheses. All of these should be stripped out, producing instead the visually cleaner text below:
(Note that the bolding here is only for illustrative purposes and should not be included in an actual entry. Note too that my use of 魔法能力 here is also only for illustrative purposes and this term should not be included in the list of derived terms for 魔法, not least because this is simply the addition of 魔法 + 能力, with no change in meaning for either term.)
I very much appreciate the time and energy you are putting into Wiktionary. Please also take the time to learn proper formatting and expected entry conventions. Continuing to disregard community standards is disruptive, and will ultimately result in you being blocked. Feel free to contact myself at my Talk link below, or any of the rest of the community on our fora, listed at Wiktionary:Discussion rooms, if you have any questions. -- Kind regards, Eiríkr Útlendi | Tala við mig 16:13, 9 August 2011 (UTC)
Please stop adding {{wikipedia|lang=ja}} tags to pages when the corresponding article does not exist on the Japanese Wikipedia. You have been warned of this in the past. Continued disruptive behavior will result in you being blocked. -- Eiríkr Útlendi | Tala við mig 19:08, 10 August 2011 (UTC)
This is the discussion page for an anonymous user who has not created an account yet or who does not use it. We therefore have to use the numerical IP address to identify him/her. Such an IP address can be shared by several users. If you are an anonymous user and feel that irrelevant comments have been directed at you, please create an account to avoid future confusion with other anonymous users. | {
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Sat nav is driving away basic navigation skills
We all have our pet hates, things that make us as hot under the collar as a Jeremy Corbyn disciple watching BBC Question Time.
I have a long list of them which, among others, includes Audi drivers - especially the ones who leave a couple inches of stopping distance when they tailgate their poor unfortunate prey; teenagers or anybody that doesn’t remember Top of the Pops, who use the phrase ‘back in the day’ and people I don’t know who address me as ‘mate’ - Sir will do.
But right at the very top of my own Room 101 wishlist comes the dreaded sat nav, a device that has reduced the car driving population to a mere shadow of its former self. For many years I refused to get one, regarding it as an assault on my masculinity. Like all issues of any significance in our house, I was eventually overruled and we became the not-so-proud owners of what has to be the smuggest sounding piece of equipment ever invented. At least the irritating Alexa, the smart speakers found in nearly every middle class home, will simulate the sound of flatulence but the joyless screens on dashboards everywhere suck the life out of any car journey.
If your childhood was anything like mine then it would’ve been punctuated by endless squabbles between parents about why they didn’t take the A419 rather than the obscure B road. But we always got to our destination, we didn’t drive off a cliff and, as a result, dads (and mums) of thirty years ago seemed to be much more at home behind the wheel than we are today.
Call it looking at life through rose-tinted specs but before sat navs became as ubiquitous as dental braces at an Ed Sheeran concert, most drivers felt in control because at least one person in the car knew how to read maps but this is a skill which has, pretty much, been rendered redundant by the advances of technology.
Don’t take my word for it, ask Bradford Parkinson, the leading engineer who headed the team that pioneered GPS technology for military purposes some 40 years ago, who now decries society’s inability to map read.
To point the finger of blame at the man who invented the satellite technology that led to sat navs is rather like pinning the current obesity crisis on Mr Kipling but he is right, as being able to follow basic directions means that motorists are not slaves to a device, which can easily lead to them becoming distracted. There have long been concerns that drivers are too busy looking at their intended direction of travel, rather than paying attention to potential hazards on the road.
Besides, getting lost is never really the end of the world and, if you are anything like me, you will never get lost again while going to that particular destination. It is called learning.
There was a time that if you had gone out of your way, you would simply scour the streets, looking for somebody sensible to ask for directions. The sat nav has also put paid to that, which is a shame as nobody really talks to strangers anymore as we are all to busy looking at Twitter or laughing at singing cats on YouTube.
We might not get lost any more but do we really know where we are going? | {
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There has been a very long overdue congratulation in order. As the Campaign Creations Campaign Contest ended, many who dared to attempt the stressful task of creating a unique campaign failed. The unexpected toll, however, was so great it left only three entrees in the finals. It was a great run...
Up to three winners will have their chance to select from the three prize packs below. First place gets the largest selection of prize packs, being allowed to pick one package from all three; second place will select from the remaining packs, and third place will receive the final pack.
Name: Jim_Raynor
Age: 16 (Was 15 when contest started.)
Direction: Resonance tells the tale of Lieutenant Kevan Storm of the Koprulu Liberation Front. Sent on a covert ops mission with his squad to the frozen Dominion wasteland of Floe, his primary objective is to...
Direction: I'm going to make a KILLER Brood War campaign about the sadistic and sexually uninteresting journey of IskatuMesk upon the production of Black Sun; as a tribute to one of the most ambitious and awesome "bound-to-be" mod that I've ever witnessed. As a...
Name: Thalraxal
Age: 25
Direction: While many would see the task of overseeing the militia of a small, backwater colony like Dalton as a dull task, Lt. Ulrich preferred to see it as an opportunity. The position on the newly established colony on Dalton would provide him with a chance to escape the...
Direction: I will produce a RPG campaign, which will consist of 5 maps. It will have a dark atmosphere and horror elements. The story will take place inside an UED military base located in Char during the UED's downfall. Moreover, the "Raynor's Raiders" find,...
Direction: I will make a lengthy campaign entitled "Resilience Rising", modeled after Blizzard-like build-and-destroy missions and commando missions reminiscent of Aeon of the Hawk and Flame Knives. This campaign will be at least ten...
Direction: This campaign consisting of 8 missions tells the story of an elite Terran Dominion recon squad, due to the circumstances forced to do the dirtiest job: suppression of miners' revolt on a God-forsaken planet at the edge of the galaxy, blackmail and kidnapping of a...
Direction: Miriam is a ghost-in-training who's being transferred to a different hub, due to some past problems at the Academy she was in. She sees it as an opportunity to start her military life anew. Soon after she arrives, however, Miriam bears witness to a strange incident:...
Alias: Taeradun
Age: 25
Direction: I will produce a cyberpunk-themed campaign not set in the normal StarCraft universe. The story follows a hacker working with a small squad of mercenary soldiers, hired to carry out industrial espionage in a futuristic world dominated by powerful megacorporations...
Direction : The Administrator has tasked you with assembling a crew of mercenaries to take on a rival corporation. You must not only convince each to join your company of ill-repute, but also keep these unique personalities from killing one another! No easy task when...
Name: Legion
Age: 26
Direction: I want to create a campaign for SCBW that tells the story of a distant Terran world ruled by a dark regime. The player assumes the role of a resistance fighter known as Andrew Lake.
The campaign will feature different mission types and plot tricks that will have the...
In the dark of time, 7 millenia before the onset of the human race, a light shone in the dark void of existence. They were the first, and shall be the last. They were the Watchers, the Keepers, the Gods of Old, and they shall return to finish what they started.
Name: Black Overseer
Age: 20
Direction:This will be about the UED after 3 years later the brood war. There was a change of the power and a huge growing of technology. Meanwhile the government wasn't interessted in their troops which was sent to the Korprulu Sector but there is a guy who was...
This campaign will be set in 15th century in east Europe, when Turks invaded most of the Balkans and also middle European countries were under attack. It will feature battles fought by Stephen III Moldavian, who was the most succesful leader of Moldavia. Another prominent...
Eye of the Skulking Shadow
Name: Gemmon
Age: 33
Direction: In early December, 2499, Magistrate Walker is assigned to help relocate the militia of the Bastion colonial outpost, on the rogue research planet of Signa Cor, after its fall to the Zerg. Unfortunately, Magistrate Walker is soon to play an...
Name: Biophysicist
Age: 17, but 18 in five days.
Direction: A petty dictator has to deal with a revolution. The player commands rebel forces against said dictator and his twofold forces, the Glorious Fist and the Internal Bureau. It begins...
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How to Make the Most of Your Holidays
[caption id="attachment_6217" align="alignnone" width="625"] Tips and inspiration to keep the season low on stress and high on meaning [Photo credit: Getty Images][/caption]By Heidi Raschke for Next Avenue
From gifts that are truly meaningful to tips on navigating tricky family situations, we’ve got advice and inspiration from the Next Avenue stories below to help you have truly happy holidays:
Traditions and Family
Four Jews and a Christmas Tree — I grew up in a Jewish household where Christmas dawned each year with only one thought in mind: “Woo-hoo, the ski slopes will be empty today!” As my mother made clear, the trees, the ornaments, the music — that wasn’t for us. That was for the family one street over, who (charitably) let my three siblings and me come over each year to help decorate their tree. If our line of menorahs seemed less festive, well, we knew where Mom stood on the idea of a “Hanukkah bush.” Then came love. Then came marriage. Then came the Christmas trees Mom had disparaged. Read more.
30 Beautiful and Heartwarming Quotes About Family — As families gather for the holidays, here are some touching words on the subject. Read more.
Why Family Estrangement Is Roughest at the Holidays — When you’re about to ask a friend or a colleague whether they’re going home for the holidays this week, think twice. The holidays — so often tied to family and tangled in questions of going home — are not always so happy when you are estranged from a parent or child. They’re even more difficult when well-meaning types push you to bury the hatchet for the sake of peace in this theoretically joyous season. Read more.
6 Steps to Keeping the Peace This Holiday Season — Our expectations of family members and a desire to have a heartwarming, joyful time with them seem to peak during holiday gatherings. Yet that’s precisely when relatives can be at their worst, replaying old grievances and interacting in incredibly unproductive ways. To help prevent disappointment and ensure a happier season, try applying six strategies. Read more.
8 Ways to Handle Awkward Holiday Situations — It’s that tricky holiday time when you can find it hard to avoid the brutal truths like there is no Santa Claus and “I hate your marshmallow sweet potato casserole.” To help us negotiate those awkward moments, we decided to tap into Southern courtesy by consulting etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, the San Antonio-based owner of The Protocol School of Texas. Here’s how she recommended responding to a bunch of holiday hot potatoes. Read more.
How to Be Happily Alone for the Holidays — If you’re solo this holiday season, it may be by happy choice or you may be suffering a recent loss or simply missing your family. But alone doesn’t have to mean lonely. This time of year can be ideal for reconnecting with friends, taking care of yourself, creating new traditions and finding purpose through giving. Here are six ideas to help you enjoy your own company and add meaning and joy to this celebratory time of year. Read more.
An Empty Nester’s Christmas Morning — The presents are piled under the tree. The stockings hang from the mantle. The Yule log blazes on the TV. The big plastic Santa that my son and I rescued from a dumpster behind the local beauty parlor one long ago January has taken his customary spot in the corner. And my wife and I, up for hours now, watch the clock. It is 11:18 a.m., Christmas morning. Read more.
Gifts and Giving
Holiday Gifts That Give Back — Did you know you can stand up for gender equality by buying a soccer ball? Or help the homeless by giving your loved ones comfy socks? Read on for our list of holiday gifts that give back — by promoting literacy, keeping vinyl out of landfills, supporting sustainable farming and fair trade, helping people find meaningful work and more. View the slideshow.
A True Gift of the Heart — Last year, as the season of giving thanks gave way to the season of giving-because-it’s-a-given-that-we’ll-give, I received a party invitation that eased the transition from graceful comity to gross commerce. “Bring a small wrapped gift,” it read. “But make it an item you own and love … and would like one of us to receive along with its story.” So lovely, this idea of parting with something you own and love in hopes of affording another person pleasure. It instantly brought to mind a gift I received from my mother seven months before her death in 2010, one that continues to provide me with joy daily. Read the story.
How to Give Your Grown Kid the Holiday Gift of Money Smarts — Since I frequently speak to audiences and write about the importance of financial security, I’ve realized that one of the best holiday gifts I can give young people — and you can give your grown child or niece or nephew — is the gift of investing knowledge. It’s a gift with a far-reaching impact (and if you don’t get a huge “thank you” for it this year, you will one day.) Read more.
Best Gifts for Caregivers — As you work your way down your holiday gift list, there’s one group for whom it may be more complicated to shop, even though they deserve something special: the caregivers within our families and among our friends, as well as those who work with our aging loved ones. Read more.
Holiday Health and Well-Being
How to Practice Mindfulness to Stress Less During the Holidays — In the interest of helping all of us not only to survive, but maybe even to enjoy the holidays, I offer you a mini-tutorial on a practice that has been known to help everyone from cancer patients to Fortune 500 executives: mindfulness. Read more.
The Fiftysomething Guide to Staying in Shape Over the Holidays — With all the feasting and shopping and party-going and year-end budgeting, it can be tough to keep up a regular exercise routine. But research shows that taking just a week or two off from exercise can erase months of favorable metabolic gains, and gaining just 1 percent of your body weight can have serious health implications. Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of activity to prevent both of those things from happening. Read more.
When You’re Depressed During the Holidays In the midst of frenetic advertising, pressure to shop for gifts and the ubiquitous seasonal music, the holidays can be an especially hard time if you’re depressed or missing a lost loved one. Read more.
Diabetes at the Holidays: Tough Lessons We Learned — When our families gather for the holidays, there will be sadness mixed in with the joy, as we look around and miss several members who have died prematurely as a result of type 2 diabetes and its complications. In sharing our personal stories, we hope to renew the battle against type 2 diabetes in ethnic groups who suffer the disease at higher rates. Read more.
Holidays, Caregivers and Family: Making the Most of Time Together — One of the best things about the holidays is getting together with family and friends. It may be one of the few times of the year for out-of-town family to spend extended time with an older parent or relative. In addition to reminiscing and making memories, this time provides the opportunity to take a critical look at the health and wellness of a loved one and her surroundings. Read more.
Celebrations and Fun
30 Quotes Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas — To those who celebrate, we offer 30 Christmas quotes that capture the magic and mirth of the holiday. Read more.
Why I Love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ I make a point to watch It’s a Wonderful Life every year — a tradition that started after I saw the film with friends in the Music Box Theatre in Chicago as part of an annual holiday sing-along and movie night. If you don’t watch It’s a Wonderful Life all the way through, though, you miss some great scenes — and some great life lessons to boot. Here is a quick rundown of several of my favorite moments from this classic.Read more.
How to Take Great Family Photos This Holiday Season — Taking frame-worthy family portraits requires patience, planning and know-how. This is how a famed portrait photographer does it — and how you can, too. Read more.
10 Vintage Christmas Tunes to Put You in the Holiday Spirit — These 10 holiday songs, sung by some of our favorite musicians of years past, are a great way to get in the Christmas mood. Read more. | {
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Hurricane Irene washed away homes in the Bahamas Thursday as its battering winds and rain headed toward the U.S. eastern seaboard including densely populated New York and New England.
U.S. emergency officials have urged residents from the Carolinas north to New England to watch for Irene, now a major Category 3 storm, which is forecast to rake up the coast starting Saturday.
The northern part of the North Carolina coast went on a hurricane watch in anticipation of Irene’s forecast landfall on Saturday evening in the state’s eastern Outer Banks barrier islands, which are popular with vacationers in the summer.
The U.S. Navy said ships of the Second Fleet based in Hampton Roads, Virginia, were under orders to put out to sea as a precaution to ride out the upcoming storm. Officers said large ships can better weather big storms at sea than in port.
North Carolina authorities have already started evacuations from exposed barrier islands, while along the East Coast residents rushed to stock up on food and water supplies, boarded up windows and secured roofs, vehicles and boats.
Irene, which has already caused the deaths this week of at least one person in Puerto Rico and two in the Dominican Republic, with others reported missing, was lashing the Bahamas capital Nassau with heavy rains and gusting winds Thursday. Wednesday, it tore through sparsely populated low-lying southeastern islands in the Atlantic archipelago. The Bahamas newspaper The Tribune reported on its website that on Acklins Island “homes have been completely washed away or have lost entire roofs, power lines have been downed and trees are blocking roads.” Many residents sought safety in shelters. No report on casualties was immediately available.
At 8 a.m., Irene was packing winds of 115 miles per hour and was located about 65 miles east northeast of Nassau. Many tourists in the Bahamas had already fled the storm and major cruise lines canceled stops there.
The first hurricane of the storm-filled 2011 Atlantic season was expected to gain strength after it leaves the Bahamas Thursday and race across open waters to clip North Carolina’s jutting Outer Banks region Saturday.
After that, forecasters see it hugging the U.S. eastern seaboard, swirling rains and winds across several hundred miles as it churns northward toward New England.
The Miami-based NHC said it would move over the northwestern Bahamas Thursday and pass well offshore of the east coast of central and north Florida later Thursday and early Friday.
U.S. National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read warned Wednesday that Irene could become a “big threat for New England and perhaps Long Island” from Sunday onward.
Read said North Carolina could get tropical storm-force winds as early as Saturday morning.
If Irene makes a direct landfall in the continental United States, it will be the first hurricane to hit there since Ike pounded Texas in 2008. But forecasts showed it posing no threat to U.S. oil and gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the state’s Office of Emergency Management to prepare for possible impact from Irene.
Insurers kept a nervous watch in case Irene threatened wealthy enclaves such as the Hamptons, an eastern Long Island playground for New York’s rich.
Forecasters warned that even if the center of the hurricane stays offshore as it tracks up the mid-Atlantic coast, its wide, swirling bands could lash cities including Washington and New York with winds and rain, knock out power, trigger coastal storm surges and cause flooding.
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Mencari untuk memperoleh sedikit wang?
Dianugerahkan kepada:
if you pay the [login to view URL] commission and give me a good review I'll do it for nothing..... this job seems too small to charge for........... pm me for a sample of a globe spinning............
Ping
$5 USD dalam 0 hari
(2 Ulasan)
0.8
25 pekerja bebas membida secara purata $102 untuk pekerjaan ini
Dear Sir,
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Oil fall 1 percent as U.S. data soft, storm threat recedes
Barani Krishnan
3 Min Read
An oil pump jack can be seen in Cisco, Texas, August 23, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Stone/Files
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell around 1 percent on Friday, heading for a weekly decline, as weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data weighed on the energy demand outlook and Hurricane Joaquin veered away from oil installations in the U.S. East Coast.
The dollar’s drop limited losses in oil. The currency fell on concerns that the U.S. economy may still be too weak to allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.
Oil and most other commodities are traded in dollars and a weaker greenback makes those raw materials more affordable to users of the euro and other currencies.
Brent, the global oil benchmark, was down 62 cents, or 1.3 percent, at $47.07 a barrel by 11:45 a.m. EDT (1545 GMT).
U.S. crude was off 60 cents, or also about 1.3 percent, at $44.14.
Both Brent and U.S. crude were down about 3 percent on the week.
U.S. employers slammed the brakes on hiring over the last two months and wages fell in September. U.S. factories were feeling the global chill and shed 9,000 jobs in September after losing 18,000 in August, according to the Labor Department’s survey of employers.
The weaker U.S. data “just took a rate hike off the table for this year and heightens fear of a global slowdown,” said Chris Jarvis, energy analyst at Caprock Risk Management in Frederick, Maryland.
Hurricane Joaquin pounded the Bahamas for a second day with powerful winds and waves, but was not expected to be a major threat to the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
The U.S. East Coast is home to the New Jersey coast and New York Harbor, where several oil refineries, pipelines and other energy infrastructure are located.
Traders and investors will be looking out at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) for the weekly reading on the U.S. oil rig count to gauge how domestic crude production was faring.
The data, issued by industry firm Baker Hughes, showed last week that U.S. energy firms cut oil rigs for a fourth week in a row, although the drop of four rigs was also the smallest since the declines began. [RIG/U]
Additional reporting by Simon Falush in London and Jacob Gronolt-Pedersen and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Dale Hudson, William Hardy and David Gregorio | {
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Fight your way through the Wild West, birthplace of the term
"shooter," in the only game to give you an authentic look into the
Old West and all its glory through the eyes of the hunter AND the
hunted. South Texas. 1882. Billy Candle has just turned 19 and he
stands accused of murdering his mother and stepfather. Hot on his
trail is Reverend Ray McCall, his stepfather's brother and an infamous
gunfighter who believes the Lord has chosen him to be Billy's judge,
jury and executioner. Call of Juarez is an epic western adventure
about vengeance, survival and the search for a legendary lost treasure. | {
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NuAxis Innovations is proud to deliver quality IT infrastructure solutions to the federal government while maintaining a workplace that is dedicated to its employees above all else. We are honored to have received the recognitions below. | {
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} |
Analysis sees U.S. falling behind on research gains
U.S. spending on research and development has led the country to become a global innovation powerhouse, but an analysis done by the Boston Consulting Group shows that the nation can do more to realize gains from such investment.
The United States remains dominant at the front end of R&D; the nation invests three times as much as any other economy in basic research, which focuses on the pursuit of scientific knowledge and applied research, which turns discoveries into technologies useful to industry.
But the United States looks different when it comes to the back end of the R&D chain — development research that translates new knowledge from basic and applied research into commercial products and new manufacturing processes.
China recently surpassed the United States as the biggest spender in that area. In another five years, China will be investing as much as twice as much as the United States on development research, assuming that both economies maintain their recent pace of spending growth.
“Our analysis indicates that there is significant potential for the U.S. to generate much more product and process innovation from its investments in basic and applied research by streamlining existing ‘adapters,’ such as universities, for linking government-funded academic research to private industry,” the firm said. “U.S. research universities can accelerate product innovation by reducing friction and serving as better bridges between academia and industry.”
The private sector in the United States provides less funding for university research and development than other big manufacturing economies do, ranking fifth behind China (No.1), Russia (No.2), Germany (No.3) and South Korea (No. 4).
“We essentially are calling for improving the ‘software’ of the existing U.S. industrial innovation system, rather than adding expensive new ‘hardware’ in the form of new programs and bureaucracies,” the firm said. | {
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Monster Fest 12
Monster Fest is the annual one-day horror convention held at the Chesapeake Central Library in Virginia for fans of classic horror in film and literature.
Monster Fest 12 will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015.
Doors open at 10:00am.
Begun in 2003 by Rob Floyd and artist Clayton Sayre, Monster Fest is a day of vendors, panel discussions, special guests, a costume contest, live music, trick-or-treating for all kids in costume, and a horror movie marathon! | {
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This report lists the locations of the most recent visits to the site.
The country flag and country name is listed for each visitor.
If it can be determined, the state/region and city of the visitor is also shown.
The last column will show the distance from your site to the visitor if you've
identified the Lat/long location of your site (in the manager section of your account). | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Child Support and Custody
Parents who have split up have equal rights of custody to their children until the courts decide otherwise. However, if only one parent obtains a legal order to take custody, the other parent can feel slighted. Therefore, both parents should obtain legal assistance when the separation isn’t amicable.
Influential Issues
The family lawyer will take a position on the following when appearing before the court:
• The parent’s ability to provide financially and emotionally.
• The relationship each parent has with the child.
• The wishes of the child or children if they are old enough to communicate their wishes.
Court Considerations
Lawyers will be aware of the following factors in making their argument:
• When there are two or more children born to the same parents, the court prefers to keep them together, rather than living in different homes.
• The court will try and minimize the disruption to the life of the child.
• The ability of the parent to spend time with their children in the future will also be weighed, as divorce results in increased financial burdens for both parents, frequently leading to increased working hours.
Parenting Precedents
A lawyer will make the client aware of the situations favoured by the court:
• A devoted stay-at-home mother is almost always favoured over a working husband.
• The parent who has already taken control of the children before any declaration by the courts will typically find the status quo upheld.
• A parent that has been a primary caregiver for a child will find past experience supported by the court.
Working out a Conclusion
• Couples often agree on terms of reasonable access on reasonable notice, where the parents share the right to see, and receive information about, their children.
• Parents have to work out the days and times when they will each see the child.
• When there is reason to believe that a parent receiving access will harm the child, access can be arranged at a community centre, or another supervised setting.
Child Access versus Child Support
• The courts consider access and support to be separate matters. If one of those is being denied, the other parent is not allowed to retaliate by denying the other, as the child will suffer the most.
• A parent being denied the access or support provided for in an agreement or court order can bring further legal action, but their obligations must continue in the meantime. | {
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Santa
Santa has visited us just about one hour ago. He was great and handed out lots of amazing Christmas presents to everyone. Unfortunately, Greger kept recognizing him and jumping up on his lap. Also, Santa had lost his Santa sack somewhere along the way, so instead he was using one of those huge black garbage bags!.. | {
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Friday, October 9, 2015
Post-Truth vs Post-Policy
The word of the day in politics seems to be "chaos," as in the chaos that is currently gripping the Republicans in their search for a new Speaker of the House. My tendency is to not get into the specifics of the process, but to take a look at the bigger picture of how the Republicans got to this point.
In order to examine something like this, you have to pick a particular starting point in history - which is always a problem. But because we have to begin somewhere, let's go with the day President Obama was inaugurated. We know that was when Republican leaders made the fateful decision on a strategy to deal with the fact that they had not only lost the presidency, but the House and Senate had maintained (and grown) their Democratic majorities. Their plan was to simply obstruct anything and everything the Democrats tried to do - even if they were things Republicans had previously supported. In other words, instead of presenting policy options, they would simply oppose. That's why some pundits began to suggest that Republicans were post-policy.
In order to be successful in this strategy, they fanned the flames of racism, anger and fear at the newly elected President. That led Sen. Mitch McConnell (then Minority Leader in the Senate) to say that his number one goal was to make sure that Obama was a one-term president - even at a time when the country was trying to climb out of the Great Recession and extricate ourselves from two wars in the Middle East. But Senator Lindsay Graham said it even more bluntly:
Anytime you challenge the president, Obama, it’s good politics.
That strategy worked well for Republicans in the 2010 midterms, but didn't stop Barack Obama from being elected to a second term. And then, in the 2014 midterms, Republicans gained control of the Senate, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress. At the time, Boehner and McConnell promised that they were now ready to govern and made great promises about their ability to do so.
Americans have entrusted Republicans with control of both the House and Senate. We are humbled by this opportunity to help struggling middle-class Americans who are clearly frustrated by an increasing lack of opportunity, the stagnation of wages, and a government that seems incapable of performing even basic tasks.
Looking ahead to the next Congress, we will honor the voters’ trust by focusing, first, on jobs and the economy. Among other things, that means a renewed effort to debate and vote on the many bills that passed the Republican-led House in recent years with bipartisan support, but were never even brought to a vote by the Democratic Senate majority...
Enacting such measures early in the new session will signal that the logjam in Washington has been broken, and help to establish a foundation of certainty and stability that both parties can build upon...
Will these bills single-handedly turn around the economy? No. But taking up bipartisan bills aimed at helping the economy that have already passed the House is a sensible and obvious first step.
We all know how that turned out. By February, the Republicans in Congress were engaged in a fierce battle over shutting down the Department of Homeland Security because of President Obama's executive actions on immigration. And Speaker Boehner's surprise resignation was an attempt to buy off the lunatic Freedom Caucus to avoid a total government shutdown over funding for Planned Parenthood. So much for "bipartisan bills aimed at helping the economy," huh?
What happened is that the lunatic Freedom Caucus got elected to be post-policy and to see their agenda of slash and burn implemented. But establishment Republicans wanted to go back to the good-old-days when you don't alienate most of the country by talking so truthfully about your real intentions. In other words, they knew that governing meant pivoting away from being post-policy and going back to the Republican standard of being what David Roberts called post-truth.
Republicans thus talk about "taxes" and "spending" and "regulation" in the abstract, since Americans oppose them in the abstract even as they support their specific manifestations. They talk about cutting the deficit even as they slash taxes on the rich and launch unfunded wars. They talk about free markets even as they subsidize fossil fuels. They talk about American exceptionalism even as they protect fossil-fuel incumbents and fight research and infrastructure investments.
In short, Republicans have mastered post-truth politics. They've realized that their rhetoric doesn't have to bear any connection to their policy agenda. They can go through different slogans, different rationales, different fights, depending on the political landscape of the moment. They need not feel bound by previous slogans, rationales, or fights. They've realized that policy is policy and politics is politics and they can push for the former while waging the latter battle on its own terms. The two have become entirely unmoored.
This is what some people are referring to when they say that the conflict between the lunatic Freedom Caucus and establishment Republicans is all about tactics rather than substance. The all agree on the latter, the establishment folks just don't want the lunatics to be so damn truthful about it!
Putting the genie back in the bottle isn't sitting very well right now with the lunatic Freedom Caucus. But everyone seems to think that Rep. Paul Ryan is just the one to bridge that divide. We'll see. If Erick Erickson and the folks at Red State are any reflection of that, it doesn't look promising. This tells us a lot about what the post-policy folks are looking for:
Others who are more in line with Ryan’s principles and goals have the same questions about him that linger over Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and, in a different context, over Chief Justice Roberts – whether this polite, intelligent, reasonable and eloquent spokesman for our ideas really has the spine to play the stubborn bad cop and sacrifice some of his own reputation for reasonableness when it’s necessary to get to the dirty, knife-fighting business of brinksmanship with ruthless progressives of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid variety...The fact that Ryan has never been willing to do the dirty work to seek out either the Speakership or the Presidency suggests a virtue of character but a deficit of political ruthlessness of this sort. Ryan is likely to seek much-needed common ground between House moderates, the Freedom Caucus, the Senate leadership of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Senate hardliners of the Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) variety; whether that exists, and whether he has the necessary bloody-mindedness to impose it on them, is another story.
The highlights are mine. Those words give you some idea of how the lunatic Freedom Caucus sees the game of post-policy politics. | {
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This episode makes me curious what happened during "The Legend of Dratini". It's interesting that Jessie takes such an interest in dratini while it's still a dratini, but loses all interest when it evolves. I wonder what happened in the episode we didn't see. The ritual in the episode wasn't too interesting, but I like the old guy in the Clair episodes.
I liked how we met clair, and ash found out one of the pokemon Clair had, but it started a chain of clair episodes, with the best ones probably being where Dragonite wrecks the dragon's den and the battle between Clair and Ash.
Used to be Absolkid, -Absol-, Former Absolkid and Cipher Admin Absolkid!
That is so true it made me cry.
Dude! This was like my favorite episode of the series! Clair's like so "You know I pwn" and I'm like drooling.
Brock has very very good taste in women. I wish I could flirt with Clair.
That old guy was so funny.
One result of this entire episode
Clair is drop-dead gorgeous!
And that Dratini is sooo cute!
I really liked the EP. One of my favorites. Her Dratini was cute, and I loved the part when it tried to slither to the river and Jessie kinda pulled it back. Dragonair had the beauty, I love its color and its cry.
Thanks UmBreon for the banner
Thanks Light Venusaur for the animated Eevee Evolutions
A proud member of the Dragon Clan and the ~Misty Club~!
Oooh, Jesse seems to want a Dratini for herself, huh? Too bad when she wanted Clair's Dratini for herself, it ended up evolving into Dragonair. I don't know why it happened, but I loved how Dragonair could fly. Clair seems kind, and interesting. My overall rating is 9/10.
This is my favourite. Normally I don't like flashbacks, but the one to lake of rage was great. 4 dragons in one ep must be a record. As for the Dratini> Dragonair evulotion I guess Dratini got mad and wanted to fight team rocket.
I thought this was a great episode. It was a really good introduction to Clair and to Blackthorn City. I thought the Dratini was cute, and I like how Gyrados was protecting it. I enjoyed seeing the ritual of the Dragon Fang, and also seeing Dratini evolve into Dragonair. I thought it was interesting when Kaburagi told Ash, Misty, and Brock about how when a dragon Pokemon dies it becomes a star in the sky.
I <3 May.
I do not do competitive battling and I really do not have any desire to. I also do not go out of my way seeking for shinies because I never really understood why they were so great anyways. All I truely enjoy pokemon contests, breeding, and in-game battling.
I think grass pokemon are the greatest ever and I take great pride in the ones I have raised. I also think that Chikorita is the most adorable pokemon ever!
Finally, Dratini's official US debut. It was too bad it was short-lived. Dratini evolved of course so we didn't get to see it's cutest form for long. As for Clair: she looked funny in a jacket and pants haha. I liked that they added the Dragon Fang item from the games' Blackthorn City storyline to the anime in an interesting way; by adding a ritual to the mix. Pretty nice way to start the whole Dragon arc as I call it. 6/10.
Ash was quite enthusiastic to start his 8th gym battle. At the begining and at the end.
Clair's Dratini evolved, but I always wanted to see if Ash can beat a Dratini. At least they had him facing against his evolution, who has various attacks, and it's a bigger challinge, of course.
I don't know why, but I pretty loved the old man.(Clair's assistant). Too bad he didn't use pokemon.
Damn! Clair was such a badass in this episode ! Also Wobbuffet was useful for once in battle as he had successfully used mirror coat against Pikachu's thundershock, and it had shocked Ash & Pikachu in return . | {
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Health Overhaul Overlooks Retirees
By
Ellen E. Schultz and
Jessica Silver-Greenberg
Updated Oct. 9, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET
Glenn Franco was excited to hear that the new health-care law requires insurance plans to offer coverage for dependents up to age 26. But when he recently called his health-plan administrator to ask about enrolling his 24-year-old daughter, Michelle, he was told she wouldn't be eligible for the new law taking effect on Sept. 23.
The reason? He is retired.
ENLARGE
Glenn Franco, a retired community-college instructor in Michigan, tried to get his 24-year-old daughter on his health plan—and was turned away.
Fabrizio Costantini for the Wall Street Journal
A retiree health plan is one that provides coverage until age 65, after which it either phases out or acts as a supplement to Medicare. While the health-care overhaul doesn't cover retiree-only plans, it does cover retirees with individual policies, as well as health plans that include both employees and retirees.
A spokeswoman for Alcatel-Lucent says the company's retiree-only plans for salaried and union retirees won't cover children up to age 26. Verizon declined to comment on the specifics of its retiree health-care plans, but a spokesman says, "Verizon intends to fully comply with the Affordable Care Act."
Some companies offer both types of plans. AT&T Corp.T-0.17% has a retiree-only plan for a small number of former employees (who aren't covered by the new rules) and plans that cover retirees and active employees. For the latter, a spokesman says, "we will provide medical benefits for dependents up to age 26 for both active employees and retirees starting on Jan. 1, 2011."
The exemption of retiree-only plans from the health-care overhaul can be changed only by amending the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. That isn't something regulators at the Department of Labor and the Treasury have the authority to do. Congress passed the law, and only Congress can revise it.
Enacted 14 years ago, HIPAA was intended to preserve coverage for workers who change or lose their jobs. It included a handful of safeguards for employees, such as a rule that employers can't refuse to cover their employees' pre-existing conditions. Retirees generally weren't affected by the situations to which the HIPAA rules applied, and retiree-only plans were exempt from the rules.
The new statute, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was added to the existing HIPAA statute, and included more than a dozen new safeguards for patients.
The retiree-only exemption wasn't an issue until last month, when retirees began calling their former employers to enroll adult children in their health plans and found they couldn't, because of the existing 1996 exemption.
Mr. Franco, a 61-year-old retired community-college instructor who lives near Ann Arbor, Mich., wanted to enroll his daughter in his plan from the state of Michigan. She had racked up $1,000 in debt for an emergency-room visit in July, and her father says he worries about her accruing more.
"We are not compelled to provide coverage for adult children dependents until the age of 26," says Phillip Stoddard, director of Michigan's Office of Retirement Services. "Retiree-only plans are not included in that portion of the national health-care reform. We have to run our plan based on statutory authority, and these plans are excluded."
Larry Lynch, 61, a retired Navy pilot in Portland, Maine, was initially told that his 22-year-old son, who graduated from college in June, wouldn't be allowed to remain on his Tricare plan, a government health plan for military families.
But that might change. Rep. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, introduced a bill called the Tricare Dependent Coverage Extension Act, which has been included in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The bill would ensure that Tricare retirees could extend coverage to their dependent children up to the age of 26.
Employers say they might drop retiree coverage altogether if Congress were to force them to extend dependent coverage and comply with other provisions under HIPAA and the ACA. "They would be very inclined to get rid of it," says Gretchen Young, senior vice president for health policy at Erisa Industry Committee (ERIC), which lobbies for employers on benefits matters.
"This is something employers are doing out of their goodness of their hearts, and it would be difficult for employers to continue to provide the coverage without the exemption."
In recent comments to regulators, ERIC suggested that other groups should be exempt as well. "The exemption for retiree-only plans should be clarified to include plans covering rehired retirees, individuals on long-term disability, and certain individuals with end-stage renal disease," the letter said.
Ms. Young says employers want assurance that if a retiree plan includes rehired employees or people with end-stage renal disease, the plan won't lose its retiree-only exemption.
Some companies are likely to discontinue their retiree-only plans by 2014, when the new individual exchanges established by the health law are up and running. Already, one major employer, 3M Co.MMM-0.15%, has announced it will eliminate group coverage for pre-65 retirees when that happens, noting that new options on the market are often lower-cost than what retirees pay for coverage through 3M.
For many retirees, the only way to get dependent coverage to age 26 may be to get an individual policy.
Several websites, including eHealthInsurance.com, allow shoppers to compare among 10,000 different plans. Insurance agents paid by the company are available to answer questions on prices and coverage.
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. | {
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August 19, 2016 PCSO Lotto Results (6/45, 6/58)
Hello! The PCSO lotto results for Friday, August 19, 2016 can be viewed here. These are the winning combinations in the 6/45 and 6/58 draw.UltraLotto 6/58
07-38-40-31-53-30
In any order
Jackpot Prize: Php 50 Million
No Winner
Consolation prizes for this game are up to P280,000 for 5 winning numbers, up to P3,800 for 4 and P20 for 3.
MegaLotto 6/45
22-25-19-31-43-30
In any order
Jackpot Prize: Php 27,619,528.00
No Winner
Consolation prizes for this game are up to P50,000 for 5 winning numbers, up to P1,500 for 4, and P20 for 3. | {
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Greens from a Dream
I had posted this in orkut a long time ago. Back then, i dug up this image from my archive, coz it had appeared in a dream i had that morning. A hair-pin bend in Conoor, TN. Double post today. T'was the weekend! | {
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We do a lot of NextCloud installs, and use PHP-FPM + chroot for maximum security. This gets tricky though, and one of the more obscure gotchyas we’ve run across is trying to create a new user or set a user’s email address and getting back “invalid email address” despite the address being, well, valid.
Another issue which we later discovered was related was that the user list doesn’t update automatically like it should when adding a new user. The new user doesn’t appear unless you manually refresh the admin page.
After a lot of debugging and careful logging we saw this error mixed in with a lot of other things: | {
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Tonight, Nick Saban makes his triumphant return to Miami, where he coached the Dolphins for two largely unpleasant and unmemorable years in 2005 and 2006. Saban's clearly a good coach—he bookended his 15-17 Dolphins stint with a 48-16 record at LSU and a 62-13 record at Alabama—but he never seemed comfortable in Miami. In late 2006, he assured the pro press corps that he had no interest in the Bama job, but then he took it two weeks later. Everyone wound up better off with things this way: Miami won a division title two years later under Tony Sparano, and Saban terminated Alabama's lost era under NCAA sanctions and rough coaches (Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, Mike Price, Mike Shula). But we remained wondering why exactly Saban took the Dolphins' job in the first place. The New York Times's Greg Bishop apparently has, too, and he may have gotten an answer:
"I'll say this about him: I don't think he really wanted to take that job," said Gil Brandt, a longtime N.F.L. personnel executive, Sirius analyst and a friend of Saban's.
The story Brandt heard, a story others involved with those Dolphins teams said circulated widely, is that H. Wayne Huizenga, then the owner, flew to Louisiana and presented Saban's wife with a check that contained a number and at least five zeros.
Huh. That sounds nice.
Strangely enough, it was also Terry Saban who gave the most illuminating statement on Nick's potential NFL future. In December, she told ESPN 97.3 The Zone in Birmingham, "As far as jobs go, this is it for us. I don't mean to be presumptuous. I would have to talk this over with Nick, but as far as I'm concerned, this is it." This is an admirably strong marriage. The Sabans wedded over 41 years ago. Presumably Nick recently filled his back with a caricature of Terry in a Greg McElroy jersey. | {
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Warning: This post contains spoilers from Outlander‘s Season 2 finale (and slight ones for Season 3).
Sing me a song of a lass that is gonna do it all over again.
Outlander‘s season finale on Saturday ended on a hopeful note: After learning that Jamie actually didn’t die on the field at Culloden like she’d feared, Claire knew that she had to go back through the stones to reunite with the love of her life. (If you missed the episode, rest assured: She didn’t immediately jump into the circle and disappear. These things take planning, after all.)
The extended episode leading up to that moment took place both in the late 1960s, as Claire, now a widow, and her adult daughter, Brianna, attended the Rev. Wakefield’s funeral in Scotland. There they ran into Roger, now all grown up, who took a fancy to Bree and invited the women to extend their visit a bit longer.
Meanwhile, back on the eve of the battle, Claire and Jamie wound up killing Dougal when he walked in on them, and then attacked them for, talking about poisoning the prince in order to stop Culloden from happening. Knowing he’d have to answer for what he’d done, Jamie spirited Claire back to the stones and insisted that she return to Frank and safety. When she protested, he revealed that he knew she was pregnant again, so she had to go for both her and the baby’s sake. So the Frasers kissed, cried and had sex one last time, then Jamie stoically walked his wife into the circle at Craig na Dun.
Back in the ’60s, as Roger and Bree got to know each other better — and met the pre-time-traveling Geillis Duncan, aka Gillian Edgars — Claire finally said farewell to Jamie’s memory by visiting Culloden. But when Bree asked for Roger’s help investigating an incident Frank mentioned in a letter to the Rev. Wakefield, she eventually came to the conclusion that she was the product of a years-long affair Claire had with another man.
Confronted, Claire tearfully confessed that Bree’s father was an 18th-century Scot named James Fraser. Bree treated this idea as sheer lunacy… until she, Roger and Claire witnessed Gillian/Geillis travel through the stones mere feet from where they stood. Shortly after, Bree and Rog showed Claire proof that Jamie hadn’t died with the rest of the poor souls during the terrible battle. And a shocked Claire suddenly knew exactly what she had to do.
As soon as we saw the finale, we knew what we had to do: Get executive producer Ron Moore on the phone to talk about the Frasers’ goodbye, Dougal’s demise, Roger and Bree — and absolutely anything he was willing to tell us about what he has planned for Season 3. (If you haven’t read Voyager, aka the third book in Diana Gabaldon’s series of novels, most of what Moore says won’t spoil you for Season 3. But if the words “print shop” have any meaning to you, you’re gonna want to read on.)
TVLINE | Talk to me about how you condensed the rest of the Dragonfly in Amber novel into this last 90 minutes of the second season.
It all came from the decision to open the season in the 1940s, and going from Claire and Jamie on the ship sailing off to France. Jumping from that to 1968 was too big of a narrative leap for the TV audience. I thought, let’s start a little bit more chronologically. Let’s start in the ’40s. It’s a huge thing already to see that Claire returned to the 20th century, and left Jamie and is pregnant, and that Culloden was a disaster, so let’s start there. But when do you tell the 1968 story? So I said, “We’ll catch up to it at the end of the season, and we’ll intercut the last beats of Jamie and Claire at Culloden and him sending her back in time.” It was a big structural choice that we made at the very beginning of the season.
TVLINE | Did you see a lot of people for the roles of Roger and Bree, and what was it about Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton that really nailed it for them?
We saw quite a few people. It was a big decision, because these characters become big players and definitely permanent parts of the family as the series goes forward, so it was more complex than just casting a guest-star role. They both just nailed it. We saw their audition tapes and, much in the same way as when we saw Sam [Heughan] and Caitriona [Balfe]’s audition tapes, you went, “Oh wait a minute, maybe this is who they are. I see the character for the first time.” Then we did a chemistry test where we had Roger and Bree on camera together. Once that worked, we felt like we had all of the pieces.
TVLINE | In the book, Claire is present for, but not directly involved in, Dougal’s death. In the finale, she helps Jamie push the blade into his uncle. Why the change?
We felt that when you saw it on screen, you would be struck differently than you were on the page. If you watch the scene play out on the screen [the way it does in the novel], Claire would very much be a spectator during the entire thing. We felt like she should participate, and watch her and Jamie be more of a team again. It just didn’t feel right for our Claire to stand and watch while this life-or-death struggle was playing out just a few feet in front of her.
TVLINE | Did you personally have any conversations with Sam and Cait about the goodbye at the stones?
We have talked about it since the beginning of the season. I don’t remember any specific conversations with Sam and Cait other than after the table read, we always have a quick catch up with the cast. We probably talked about it in some fashion, but I don’t recall anything specific. It’s a big moment, and I think what we had to do in TV was condense it a bit. We needed to maintain the urgency of the situation on the battlefield, so we had to keep it tight. We couldn’t stay up there for a very long time because the TV audience would start going, “Doesn’t Jamie have to get back to that battle?” There is a lot of good stuff in the book we had to shorthand to make it narratively work.
TVLINE | Jamie seems a little bit more at peace with the leaving than Claire is. In your mind, is this something he came to a while ago — he knew this was going to happen, and he just got there a little bit quicker, emotionally, than she did?
I agree with that. The character can see the writing on the wall about the war. Clearly, it is not going well. It had been foretold it was going to be a disaster, and he’s watching that disaster play out in front of him. Despite everything he tries, it just looks like this is not going to work. Jamie’s starting to think, “Well then, what happens? And what happens to Claire?” And once he began to realize she was probably pregnant, then he decided, “OK, if she’s pregnant and this is all a loss, here’s what I’m going to do.” He kept that to himself, I think deliberately, so that in the moment he could play that card. He could say, “You’re pregnant. You’ve got to go,” as a way of forcing her to do it, because he knew she would object. He knew that she’s not going to want to leave him, but he knew that he had to have some kind of trump card at the end to get her on the horse and push her through those stones.
TVLINE | Are you thinking the Battle of Culloden will be another production the size of what you did with Prestonpans, or are you going to do something smaller?
We’re talking about all of that now. I’ve written the script, and I don’t want to give too much away about how we’re going to realize it, but it’s certainly something special.
TVLINE | Talk to me about when we see Jamie again in Season 3 and it’s 20 years later. Have you been doing makeup tests? What’s the status of aging Sam?
We have not been doing makeup tests yet; we will at some point. Once you get into Season 3, as you know with the third book, there is a whole story before he ages fully to 20 years. It’s a more gradual process with his story, so we have time to figure out the makeup and all of that.
TVLINE | Hugh Munro survived the episode at the Duke of Sandringham’s estate, though he does not in the books. Are there any other characters you are considering not killing off in the show that die in the books? Or vice versa?
Possibly. [Laughs]
TVLINE | The print shop scene in Voyager is one of the biggest scenes of the entire series. Give me something — anything! — about how it’ll be in the show.
Well, we decided not to do it. Jamie’s going to be a wandering minstrel. He’ll be out on the road, he’s got a whole bunch of women with him. [Laughs] We’ve just decided to go in another direction. You’re going to love it! [Laughs]
TVLINE | I’m sure I’m going to love it.
When he’s out there, playing his flutes, and the kids are sitting around him, and the squirrels, it’s so much better than the print shop. [Laughs]
What did you think of Outlander‘s season finale? Grade the episode via the poll below, then hit the comments to elaborate on your thoughts. | {
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Greek creditors say agreement on reforms reached
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protesting municipal workers argue with the riot police outside the Administrative Reform ministry during a meeting between the debt inspectors of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund with the leadership of the ministry, in Athens, on Friday.ASSOCIATED PRESSEnlarge
ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s debt inspectors reached an agreement with the cash-strapped country on reforms needed for the release of the next batch of bailout loans despite warning today of an “uncertain” economic outlook.
Though the country’s international creditors noted that progress has been made in some sectors, they said more needs to be done if certain economic targets are to be met. They added that the Greek authorities have “committed to take corrective action” to ensure that they are.
The latest review of Greece’s economy by the so-called troika — the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund — will feature heavily in key discussions later over Greece’s bailout. The finance ministers of the 17 European countries that use the euro meet in Brussels later and are now expected to approve the release of another installment of the rescue funds that Greece has been relying on since May 2010. They will also assess the employment policies in the Greek public sector and overall reform.
Hammered by a financial crisis since late 2009 and in the sixth year of a deep recession, the troika said Greece’s reform program remained “broadly in line” with projections. It also laid out the hope of a gradual return to growth next year.
However, it said “policy implementation is behind in some areas” and that the Greek authorities have said they will do more to ensure delivery of the fiscal targets for 2013-14, noting in particular efforts to restrict overspending in the health sector.
The government has also “committed to take steps to bring public administration reforms back on track,” including pushing through plans to reduce the number of civil servants, one of the required measures that has been among the most contentious — and delayed — in Greece’s reform program.
The government must put 12,500 civil servants on administrative leave by the end of 2013, with the possibility of dismissal. Those targeted include 2,200 school security personnel, 3,500 members of the Athens municipal police, which will be disbanded and most of its members absorbed into Greece’s police force, at least 2,000 local government employees, 1,500 teachers and several employees of various ministries.
They will be paid 75 percent of their normal salary and if they aren’t transferred to other state agencies within eight months of being put on leave, they will be subject to dismissal.
Municipal workers across the country went on strike today to protest the plan, while the country’s civil servants union, ADEDY, called a four-hour work stoppage from noon for all civil servants in the capital, Athens, and a demonstration in the center of the city.
The municipal workers’ strike was expected to see all local services, including trash collection, suspended, with the exception of welfare and social services.
After years of fiscal mismanagement and overspending, Greece has found itself locked out of the international borrowing markets and relies solely on funds from its bailout for the past three years. In return for the cash, the government has pledged to overhaul its economy.
But the reforms, which have included big cuts in salaries and pensions as well as repeated tax hikes, have left the economy mired in the sixth year of a deep recession, with unemployment spiraling to above 27 percent.
A public backlash has resulted in frequent violent protests and led to repeated political crises that have led to four different Greek governments in less than four years.
Critics say Greece’s rescue plan was mismanaged, with the austerity hampering any chance of growth. The depth and scale of the recession is way more than expected and that’s worsened the country’s debt dynamics.
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M & A Chemicals corp.M&A is primarily engaged in the distribution of chemical products and raw materials internationally. Being a subsidiary joint company of Sichuan Chemical Works (SCW), which is one of the largest independent chemical manufactures in China, with di...Member since 24 January, 2008, China - Sichuan
M & C Trade Co., Ltd.M & C Trade Co., Ltd lies in beautiful strand city - Putian, Fujian, China. we are a professional company which manufacture and export world brand sneakers, clothes, hangbags, jeans, T-Shirt and so on.. we bringed in the best production equipments, t...Member since 6 April, 2007, China - Fujian
M & H technology Co., ltdM & H Technology Co., Ltd is a high-tech enterprise which has passed ISO9000:2000 Quality System Certification and ISO14001 environment system certification. Our company is clean, capacious and bright, which is designed with the anti-static mode. We ...Member since 7 June, 2013, China - Guangdong
M & M knitting Co., Ltd.M & M group is a term which provide custom service for you to made unique gift for your unique lover!
We design the light up knitting hat, knitting scarf, knitting gloves with LED lights, according your special expression. We own professional des...Member since 11 March, 2015, China - Guangdong
M Fresh High-Tech Co., Ltd.M Fresh High-Tech Co., Ltd. is a Sino-foreign cooperative joint venture that combines innovation, manufacturing, marketing as one body and is professional in the field of R&D and manufacture of various high voltage power and environmental protection...Member since 6 August, 2008, China - Beijing
M&A Chemicals Corp.As the sole company to sell SCC’s melamine product to the oversea market (except South-east Asia), Sichuan M&A Chemicals Corp. would like to cooperate with all clients from all over the world. So far, with 6 melamine production units of EUROTEC...Member since 28 July, 2009, China - Sichuan
M&A InternationalDEAR SIR / MADAM, I AM AN INDIAN LIVING IN CHINA DOING MOBILE PHONES. I AM LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD BUYERS FOR INDIA MARKET, I HAVE FEW GOOD MODELS OF MOBILE PHONES WITH ALL CERTIFICATES (ORGINAL IMEI, ETC) WITH ONE YEAR GUARANTEE. P...Member since 21 July, 2009, China - Guangdong
M&B Imp & Exp Co., Ltd. Shanghai PRCWe are M&B Imp & Exp Co., Ltd. Shanghai PRC，I hope we can collaborate with your company; we are one of leading providers of high quality and best price of industry products, authorized by Chinese government. We can provide any products by fact...Member since 20 May, 2009, China - Shanghai
What is TTL? Targeted Trade Leads is a new optional online e-mail service we provide to Wholesale Suppliers on demand. By using this service you can easily send tens, hundreds or even thousands of buy sell offers to importer exporter companies, directly to their Inbox! You can send TTL to Importers Exporters by Industrial Categories.
Statistics: Companies: 655,200+, Trade Leads: 164,300+, Products: 107,300+, Contacts / Replies: 8,149,100+There are currently 1282 users online browsing our B2B network. 10:20 GMT, Sunday, March 17, 2019Privacy PolicyImportant Notice! TradeHolding.com B2B Network does not provide an escrow service! Any member who asks you to pay for their products by Western Union to an agent of "TradeHolding.com B2B Network" is fraud and should be immediately reported to us. Do not pay anything to any member who states your money will be added to TradeHolding.com safety deposit account!
All Trade Leads / Offers / Products / Company Profiles / Images and other user-posted contents are posted by the user and B2B TradeHolding.com and TradeHolding.com B2B Network shall not be held liable for any such content. However, TradeHolding.com B2B Network respects the intellectual property, copyright, trademark, trade secret or any other personal or proprietary third party rights and expects the same from others. For concerns, please contact us. | {
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Weather
Global warming Images provides stock photographs that cover the entire range of environmental issues that global warming raises and also acts as a tool to inform, educate and raise awareness of global warming. | {
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Nom News: January 4, 2019
January 4, 2019
Each Friday, we compile South Florida food-related news and events that we couldn’t fit on the site earlier in the week, as well as other local news that piques our interest. Want to be included in our next roundup? Shoot us an email at [email protected].
Now Open: Pink Pie
Celebrated South Florida-based pie shop, Pink Pie, has now opened its flagship location in Wynwood. Situated in the heart of Miami, near Wynwood Walls, the 900-square-foot pie and coffee shop offers a New York-inspired minimalistic and modern space where visitors can enjoy handmade mini pies and a well-crafted coffee and beverage program.
Pink Pie brings an all-new innovative approach to the world of pie with mini pies that are small in size but bold in flavor. The pies are three inches, made fresh daily, with sweet and savory options. The company innovates in flavors and uses modern techniques to enhance the pie experience. The kitchen is constantly creating new flavors, including vegan and gluten-free options. The Wynwood shop features a rotation of sweet options and savory options, with some flavors being part of the permanent menu and others change according to season and special holidays. Permanent flavors include Oreo Nutella and Key Lime. Limited-edition favorites include Tiramisu; Caramel Pretzel, and Hot Cocoa among others.
Drawing on the owners’ experience of working at Michelin starred restaurants in New York City, husband and wife duo Michael McGowan and Paloma Machado-McGowan create special flavors that might seem ordinary at a first glance but are far from it. For instance, the S’Mores pie is smoked with hickory wood and uses burnt marshmallows inside the filling, recreating the s’mores campfire experience.
Savory pies include Bacon, Egg and Cheese; and Chicken Onion Confit among others. All pies are the same price regardless of flavor. Savory pies are $3.50 and for sweet flavors, the larger the purchase quantity, the lower the individual price per item. Pies start at $3.50 for one pie; 2 pies for $6; 4 pies for $11; 6 pies for $15; 8 pies for $19 and 12 pies for $28.
Apart from mini pies, Pink Pie features “pies’cream sandwiches” (Choice of two pies with a scoop of ice cream, $6.50) and pie milkshakes ($7) with the available flavors of the day. The shop also offers a full beverage program that complements the pies, including coffee, tea, and coming soon craft beer and wine. Pink Pie has partnered up with Counter Culture Coffee to bring the highest quality coffee. The coffee menu includes espresso-based drinks as well as manual pour over. Prices of beverages range from $3 to $9.
Rooftop Yoga at Atton Brickell
Namaste your way into the new year with free rooftop yoga at Atton Brickell Miami on Sunday, January 6th, at 9:30 a.m. Soak in the sun and 360-degree views of Downtown Miami with an hour of Vinyasa-style yoga courtesy of Skanda Yoga Studio. This class is open to both hotel guests and the public, and it is friendly for all experience levels. Spots and yoga mats are available on a first-come first-served basis.
Release Party at Concrete Beach
A popular favorite on-tap, the Pisco Sour Berliner, co-created by Concrete Beach’s newest brewer Alexandra (Ale) Miranda, and inspired by her Peruvian roots will be available in cans as of January 26th at noon. Celebrate the release with the Save the Drama for your Lllama event, (Jan 26th at 5pm), with a llama-themed scavenger hunt, pin the tail on the llama, silk-screened commemorative llama t-shirts with design and execution by local artist Moonlighter Makerspace, plus a Peruvian Cumbia DJ and Peruvian eats throughout the night.
La Jamoteca Opens at Dadeland Mall
La Jamoteca, an independent gourmet store that delivers fabulous Spanish ham and gourmet foods, has opened its first ham bar at Dadeland Mall. In addition to the best selection of Iberico products, they also offer carving classes, hand carved ham and baskets for special occasions. La Jamoteca is located near Cheesecake Factory and Guest Services
La Jamoteca specializes in Jamon Iberico de Bellota, Spain’s greatest gastronomy treasure. Acorn Fed 100% Iberico ham (Jámon Ibérico de Bellota) is known as the king of Ibérico Ham because of its flavor, quality and production process. Try La Jamoteca’s Iberico or Serrano ham sandwich with mother dough bread baked at their location, with ham masterly hand carved by their “cortadores”. | {
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Vietnam veterans remember the fallen at 24-hour vigil
Saturday
May 3, 2014 at 6:11 PMMay 3, 2014 at 6:11 PM
By John ReynoldsStaff Writer
Veterans and their families gathered at the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Oak Ridge Cemetery Saturday to remember the soldiers who didn’t make it home from that far-off country so many years ago.
The gathering marked the 26th anniversary of the memorial’s dedication, and was also the start of a 24-hour vigil. During the vigil, veterans stand watch at the memorial, which lists the names of nearly 3,000 Illinoisans who were killed or are listed as missing from the war.
“The vigil symbolizes that we are not forgetting,” said Vietnam veteran and Springfield resident Thomas Jones. “These are our comrades who died. We have not forgotten those who have fallen. We honor them by making sure this happens every year.”
Jones, a Navy corpsman who served with a Marine unit in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968, was the master of ceremonies during Saturday’s program. He was also one of the early proponents of the memorial.
Bill Lorton, an Army veteran from Springfield, said the names on the wall bring him back to the annual ceremony each year. He served two tours in Vietnam: one in 1966 and 1967 and a second in 1969 and 1970.
“That’s the biggest thing. To remember those who were over there, those who didn’t come back and those who came back not standing up. It’s an honor to honor these people,” Lorton said.
Navy veteran Dan Underwood of Sherman expressed a similar sentiment. He was on the dock landing ship USS Catamount in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969.
“I’m here for the guys who didn’t make it back,” Underwood said.
Jones said it’s important to remember there is a real person behind each of the names etched into the memorial. He added that he hopes the vigils will continue in the future — even after the veterans who fought in the war have died.
“Obviously, everybody dies. We all grow old,” Jones said. “As we go into the future, it’s going to be the families of those who have served who will carry that mantle on.”
It was a little windy during Saturday’s ceremony, but the sun was shining and it was a comfortable 68 degrees.
Jones said the organizers hold the ceremony each year no matter what is happening with the weather. The ceremony has been held in the bitter cold and during rainstorms.
“We’ve had it where if you didn’t hold onto something, you’d get blown away,” Jones said. “No matter what the weather, no matter what the difficulties, the vigil goes on. That’s the kind of history we want to make sure we leave.” | {
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WHAT IS YOUR BACKUP POLICY?
You are responsible for your backups and web content. We create our own weekly backups of Cloud servers, and we can restore your web, email and database content from those per your request. However, this is NOT a procedure you should rely on to keep copies of your content safe; we recommend you make your own backups. You can take a backup from your cPanel.
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The GMC Terrain is designed to be the perfect combination of luxury and utility and it all starts with distinct, bold design features and striking grille. The Terrains bold design features a new hood design, redesigned front and rear fascia with chrome accents, new LED daytime running lamps and a new ...
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MSRP: $31,415.00Dealer Discounts: $466.00 Dealer Discount of $466.00 has been applied. Price and special offer are subject to change The GMC Terrain is designed to be the perfect combination of luxury and utility and it all starts with distinct, bold design features and striking grille. The Terrains b... | {
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Saturday, January 16, 2010
Living in the 21st Century?!
(I'm using a green font today, because the subject is money, as in I NEED some green)I am frustrated by the 21st Century Check Clearing law. We are living in the electronic age of supposedly instant gratification. If the check I write to pay my utilities can clear in 24 hours or less, why do I have to allow two to four weeks (or God forbid, six to eight weeks) for somebody to pay me?!I belong to a few select survey groups, but am growing steadily more frustrated with the industry. In the first place, NO ONE will ever get rich or even be able to survive off of survey groups or product development panels, despite what tv commercials say. In fact, when I first started, one wise woman counseled me that I would do well to make coffee money off of the industry. She also warned that most "survey panels" were in fact scams to take your money. I got burned by one that was supposedly a test panel for a new laptop, and that gift just keeps on giving. I even had to close my bank account and will probably have to change banks before it finally is over. When I started, I qualified here & there, but it was "nothing to write home about". I did get invited to participate in one panel, ONE TIME, in over two years, that paid $75 for three days of discussion panels. It took over a year to get paid for it. The company apologized, somehow, my completion credit wasn't put through properly when the panel concluded and the study was closed. Other than that, the biggest survey payment I received was $7 and I'm waiting on that one now.Most of them offer cashout thresholds. Initially most required $20 in earnings to cash out, in order to justify them issuing a payment. Now, one is up to $30, another $45 and one even requires 60k points which is equal to $60. Don't get me wrong, I would love a $60 payment, if I qualified for more survey panels with that company. It seems like I get screened out much more often now. Perhaps what is most irritating is the lag time for getting paid. I understand that some studies take longer than others to conclude and confirm payment. What I have a harder time understanding is why when the company has been paid for their services and credited me for my earnings, does it take so long to send them to me? It is even more confusing when it is being sent to my paypal account. When I pay for something with my paypal account, the seller usually contacts me back confirming payment within the hour. Is the paypal a one way current like a river and do my earnings have battle upstream like spawning salmon?Come on, people, what's the deal? If my money I pay out has to be available in 24 hours according to the 21st century check law, why doesn't their payment to me fall under the same regulations? Or does it and I am just being snowed?!If we are truly living in an electronic age of instant gratification, why am I ungratified?Let's get our acts together companies! Some of us are out here sitting without our medicines or even food while you dither around taking your sweet time. I have been steadily been trying to qualify for surveys for two years and in all that time have not made the $400 required to pay self employment tax in the entire time, let alone per year. I have moved into the 21st century. Join me, won't you? | {
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Buy a KAYA® T-Shirt!
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*If you are picking up your shirt at the Town Hall, please make sure that shipping charges are set at “Free Shipping”* | {
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NEW Baby's Trousseau White Cotton Knit Sweater and Pants Set with Matching Hat
This beautiful white soft cotton knit outfit is made by Baby's Trousseau, a top designer of knit baby garments. The sweater features chevron openwork with a white collar. Long sleeves with knit cuffs and a back buttoned closure finish the sweater. The long pants have an elasticized waist for flexible fit and knit cuffs. There's even a matching cotton knit hat! This darling little knit pants and sweater set is the perfect year round take home outfit or christening outfit for your baby boy.
When your new baby is coming home, you want that first outfit to be memorable. Grammie's Attic has one of the most special collections of take home dresses, gowns, and rompers you'll find anywhere! Be sure to see all our precious little outfits and accessories for bringing your newborn baby girl or baby boy home from the hospital. | {
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SanDisk's stock collapses as Samsung withdraws buyout offer
SanDisk's stock value took a nosedive yesterday following Samsung's decision to withdraw their offer to buy the company. Shortly after Samsung claimed that a lack of progress in discussions and financial losses on SanDisk's part killed the deal, shares of the flash memory manufacturer dropped nearly 31% in a single day.
While SanDisk certainly isn't alone in value losses, with many companies in the U.S. and around the world suffering financial setbacks, their loss was still significantly large. The company's stock value was down to $9.91 per share, a bit more than a third of the $26 Samsung originally offered. SanDisk rejected that bid earlier this year considering it was too low an offer, similar to how Yahoo and Microsoft have reacted to each other. | {
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Their marriage hangs in the balance, but on this wind battered Christmas Eve, a miracle is born…
When Ellie hooked up with world renowned neurosurgeon, Peter Medeci, aka 'Prince Charming’, she thought her dreams had come true. But the demands of being the model wife to his career triggers a mutiny within her and she decides to ditch the 'royal' life until he sees her as more than his bedroom playmate.
So I started this one early morning before my alarm went off thinking, oh I will just start this book before getting up…..20 minutes later my alarm went off and I had finished it – I was like hang on a second where did that time go?!
This is obviously a short snappy novella, but it is one that makes you think. What is important to you? What will make you happy?
We meet Ellie, in a time of life where she has left her “Prince Charming” living in squalor leaving the high life she has known and loved…well to a degree.
She wants more from life but has not communicated this very well to her husband who is working hard to provide for her. To make sure she never goes without because he knows what that is like. Peter too has not been completely honest, he has kept his secrets. They truly do love each other but do they really know each other?
There is passion and love, both fighting for each other but needing to truly listen to each other and build on what they have. Plus who does not love a bit of damsel in distress and Prince Charming concept especially when it is as realistic as this one is.
The root of the novel is to make reconfirm that marriage is work, it is not what is going on the outside it is behind closed doors that count. Add Christmas to it and it is a cute little story to make you smile. Ms Chara has made a novella to keep you warm at night and leave you with a smile on your face.
Giveaway – Win a $20 Amazon Gift card and an e-copy of All Wrapped Up In You (Open Internationally) *Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
Follow the rest of the tour here
Thank you so much to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and the author for a copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review
About Sun Chara
Sun Chara, an Amazon top 100 bestseller, writes sexy, hip ‘n fun contemporary romance, and romantic comedies w/a divine twist for HarperImpulse. She makes her home in southern California, and has appeared on stage/film to rave reviews in How the Other Half Loves, General Hospital, and McGee and Me. She has a Masters Degree in Education and membership in SAG/AFTRA and Romance Writers of America. Sipping Frappuccinos topped with whipped cream/sprinkles, and dancing on the beach make everyday a celebration!
Thank you!!! Zoe for reading All Wrapped Up in You. If you’d like to read more of Peter & Ellie’s story, it continues in Italian Millionaire, Runaway Principessa. Here’s the link if you’d like to have a look: http://hyperurl.co/1nixom :)))
Thank you so much! Jen for reading All Wrapped Up in You. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :))) If you found it too short, there’s good news… this is a prequel to Peter & Ellie’s story that continues in Italian Millionaire, Runaway Principessa. Here’s the link if you’d like to have a look: http://hyperurl.co/1nixom | {
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S1 E01 Series Premiere: Abandoned
42:17 | 08/07/18 | TV-PG | CC
Twelve diverse individuals are dropped alone throughout various islets in Indonesia and challenged to survive among washed-up luggage, scattered resources, and abandoned structures. The only way to leave the remote islands is to persevere long enough to be rescued or to quit. | {
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Young Romanians Prefer Paying in Cryptocurrencies
Over the past few years, Romania has slowly established itself as a country that embraces technology wholeheartedly. With its growing presence in the online staffing industry where Romanian freelancers signify a noticeable segment of established entities, it is no wonder that is one of the top 50 in Forbes’ Best Countries for Business list.
And it seems that the country and its citizens are ready to welcome the next big technological breakthrough after online freelancing. According to a recent poll, a significant number of Romanians are taking to the idea of cryptocurrency payments, and believe that they are the way to the future. Yes, in Romania cryptocurrecny payments may be in demand. Youth or younger individuals seem to show more proclivity toward the emerging space as evidenced in countries like South Korea, US and more.
More details about the romanian cryptocurrency poll
The poll was conducted by iSense Solutions, a research company that is based in Romania which has access to online representation from over 80 countries and has conducted studies all over the world, including but not limited to the U.S., the U.K, France, and Germany.
In order to gather data for the poll, iSense Solutions had 500 online respondents, aged 18-65, participate in the process. The respondents all belonged to urban areas and are members of ResearchRomanio.ro, another research platform from Romania which specializes in providing centralized marketing information from multiple segments.
What does the poll say for cryptocurrency payments in romania
According to the poll, 57 percent of Romanians have heard of cryptocurrencies, while 35 percent out of those people stated that they trust the way cryptocurrencies function.
44 percent of Romanians mentioned that they would be comfortable with making payments in cryptocurrency, whereas 17 percent stated that they actually intend to buy cryptocurrency within the next 12 months.
Another murmur of agreement that was noticeable was about cryptocurrency being the “future of payments”, as 30 percent of the participants believed that notion.
Not too shabby for a country where out of all participants in the poll, only 8 percent of them had purchased any cryptocurrency in the last 12 months.
These figures get even more interesting when they are segregated by age, as doing that shows that young Romanians are actually friendlier towards cryptocurrencies as opposed to their older counterparts.
By looking at the answers from the perspective of people under 40, it is evident that younger Romanians are more open to the idea of cryptocurrencies.
As compared to 35 percent of total Romanians who stated that they trust cryptocurrencies, 44 percent of participants under the age of 40 agreed with that approach.
This trend also held true when it came to making payments with cryptocurrencies: while 44 percent out of the total number of Romanians had leaned towards it, the number went to be 50 percent when it came to people under 40.
It was also mentioned that as opposed to 17 percent of total Romanians, 22 percent of people under the age of 40 stated that they plan to buy cryptocurrency within the next 12 months.
This shows growing interest in what could be an emerging market for cryptocurrencies
The poll, at the very least, signifies that Romania’s interest in cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency payments in Romania is growing.
The way that younger citizens are even more open to the idea of them and actually tend to trust them predicts that cryptocurrencies could turn to be a significant industry within Romania in the future.
Only time can tell that for certain, but the signs definitely look positive. | {
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Lake Tahoe’s Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has just set a new goal for itself, and it doesn’t involve snow, slaloms, or après-ski eating. The ski resort has teamed up with Liberty Utilities, the local electric service provider, to power the resort with 100% renewable energy by as early as December 2018.
Squaw Valley is the first ski resort to make a commitment of this size and on such a rapid timeline. To make it work, Squaw Valley and Liberty Utilities are teaming up with Tesla, which will manufacture the new energy storage system. The project will put the companies on the path to exceed the California state mandate of 50% renewable energy supply by 2030.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that moving to all renewable energy in the present tense–not a generation from now–is not just possible, it’s entirely doable,” Andy Wirth, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, said in an email. “We have all got to generate the demand for renewable energy and support world-class and progressive companies like Liberty Utilities.”
Switching over to renewable energy will reduce the resort’s total annual carbon footprint from 13,078 metric tons to an estimated 6,682 metric tons–a 49% reduction. That’s equivalent to saving the emissions generated by 959 homes. | {
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Daniel Craig Seeks His 'Quantum of Solace'
About this photo set:
Daniel Craig is sandwiched between his Bond girls Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton at a photocall for the 22nd James Bond film Quantum of Solace at London's Pinewood… Read More Here | {
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Roulette Odds
Roulette, like all gambling games, is all about odds. To get the most out of your roulette play it is critical to know how often you can expect to win and how much of an advantage you need to overcome.
At the most basic level, we talk about roulette odds in terms of the house edge – the advantage the casino holds over the player. In American roulette the house edge on virtually all bets is 5.26% (or 2/38), while in European roulette, the edge for the casino is 2.70% (1/37). Essentially, you can figure out the edge by dividing the number of zeroes on the wheel by the total number of pockets. That is true at least for standard roulette games that pay out at odds that would be fair if the wheel only contained the 36 numbers without zeroes.
However, these are only the most basic of roulette odds. Looking deeper into the odds is a good way to get a better understanding of what’s actually going on in this game.
Roulette Payouts and Odds
Let’s look at how likely you are to win various bets in roulette and why the odds ultimately result in the same house edge for nearly every bet on the table. For the purposes of these examples we’ll be using American roulette, though the same calculations can easily be done for European roulette as well.
For an even money bet – let’s say red/black – players win if the ball stops on any of the 18 pockets that share that color. That makes your chances of winning 18/38, or approximately 47.37%. Calculating the house edge for a bet that pays out even money is simple – 47.37% of the time you gain a bet and 52.63% of the time you lose a bet.
This makes the calculation:
.4737 – .5263 = -.0526 (or 5.26%)
However, things get a little trickier when we talk about other bets. For instance, let’s say we make a bet on a single number. This bet pays 35-1. We can only win if our exact number hits, meaning that our odds of winning on any given spin are 1/38, or 2.63%. In addition, when we win we win 35 units, but when we lose we only lose one unit.
That makes the calculation:
(.0263 * 35) – .9737
.9211 – .9737 = -.0526 (5.26% house edge)
While the odds and payouts vary on different roulette bets, ultimately the house edge is the same. While in many other games proper strategy is required to get the best possible odds for the player, roulette merely requires that players place bets in order to win.
Winning Roulette Odds
Many of the most famous incidents in roulette history have involved players taking advantage of biased wheels. These are roulette wheels that do not have the proper construction to ensure that every pocket will be hit with equal probability. If a particular wheel has a bias towards certain numbers then players might be able to take advantage of this, as it is possible that those numbers could be hit frequently enough to overcome the house edge.
But just how often does a number have to be hit in order for players to be able to bet on it profitably? It’s important to remember that roulette games pay out “fairly” for a 36-number wheel. That means we’d have to hit our number once every 36 spins in order to break even – or 2.78% of the time. That’s not much more than the 2.63% of the time you’d expect to hit a number on an American wheel, or the 2.70% of the time your number should hit on a European roulette wheel.
This should show why it’s so important for casinos to make sure their wheels are free of even small amounts of bias. Since the edges on individual numbers are based on just a small difference between the payouts and the odds of numbers being hit, any tiny change could put things in the player’s favor.
For instance, in European roulette, if a single number is expected to win 5% more often than at random – meaning it would be hit just 21 times on average for every 20 times each other number was hit – that would be enough to give the player a slight edge. Should a number manage to be hit on a full 3% of spins, the player edge would be an enormous 8% over the casino.
Odds of Unusual Roulette Events
Players are sometimes curious about the possibility of odd occurrences happening in roulette. For instance, many players wonder how often they will lose their entire stake when attempting to use the Martingale system, in which players double their bets each time they lose. It might take seven consecutive losses on an even money bet in order to hit the table limit, at which point the player will no longer be able to double their bet. On a European roulette table, the odds of this occurring are approximately 1 in 106.
Sometimes, unlikely events can turn in your favor as well. It’s not impossible for the same number to hit two or even three times in a row, though it’s not something you should count on happening. Before any spin the odds that a number you’ve chosen repeating on the next three spins is 50,652-1 in European roulette and 54,871-1 in the American game.
It is worth remembering that while betting systems sound like a good idea, they have been proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to be losing plays.
American Roulette Odds
The American Roulette wheel has a zero, a double-zero and 36 regular numbers. Hence, you have 38 possible spaces on which the ball may land. When you bet on a single number, you have a 1/38 chance of winning. Over time you will win 1 out of every 38 spins. Take a look at the probabilities for every possible outcome illustrated in the table below.
Bets
Payout
Probability
Odd
1:1
46.37%
Even
1:1
46.37%
Black
1:1
46.37%
Red
1:1
46.37%
1-18
1:1
46.37%
19-36
1:1
46.37%
1-12
2:1
31.58%
13-24
2:1
31.58%
25-36
2:1
31.58%
Single Number
35:1
2.63%
Combination of two numbers
17:1
5.26%
Combination of three numbers
11:1
7.89%
Combination of four numbers
8:1
10.53%
Combination of six numbers
5:1
15.79%
Combination of 1-2-3-0-00
6:1
13.16%
Remember that these are the American Roulette odds. The European table does not have the double zero and, due to this fact, is much more advantageous to the player.
European Roulette Probabilities
In European roulette there is no “00” hole, giving players a much better chance of winning. For example, for every $1 you bet on European Roulette you could expect to get back 97.37 cents over the long run ($1 minus the house edge of 2.63%, or 2.63 cents). Playing American roulette, you can expect to get back only 94.74 cents. | {
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Airtight Games’ Quantum Conundrum is an amusing and fairly challenging first-person puzzle romp, but it could have used some fluffing up in terms of offering more puzzles and overall longevity. If you don’t mind forking over a few extra shekels, soon you will be able to extend your dimension-shifting adventures with “hours of additional puzzles.”
Two new DLC puzzle packs are fast on the way to make Quantum Conundrum the fluffiest damn puzzle game ever created. Puzzle pack #1, The Desmond Debacle, will be available on Steam first starting July 31st, followed by PSN and XBLA releases on August 14th and 15th, respectively. Puzzle pack #2, IKE-aramba!, will carry similar PC-first time exclusivity, launching August 28th on Steam before eventually making the console leap on September 11th and 12th.
Both DLC add-ons will run you $2.99/240 MS Points, which means if you put up the extra five bucks for the special Steam Season Pass version, you’re saving yourself a whole dollar. Or, if you already counted the included soundtrack as being worth the $5, you can try to tell yourself that these puzzle packs are “free.”
The Desmond Debacle:
In The Desmond Debacle, the first puzzle pack, gamers will power up the Inter-Dimensional Shift Device for a brand new adventure deep in an unexplored wing of the labyrinthine Quadwrangle Manor. Old friend Desmond, the drinking bird, offers up even more brain-twisting and complex puzzles for hours of inter-dimensional puzzle solving.
IKE-aramba!
In IKE-aramba!, the second puzzle pack, gamers are charged with rescue duty once again, but instead of a missing uncle, this time the victim is IKE (Interdimensional Kinetic Entity)! In this all-new adventure, players will have to rescue IKE and leap seemingly endless chasms while traveling through a newly discovered wing of Quadwrangle Manor.
About the Author
Matt Litten is the full-time editor and owner of VGBlogger.com. He is responsible for maintaining the day to day operation of the site, editing all staff content before it is published, and contributing regular news, reviews, previews and other articles.
Matt landed his first gig in the video game review business writing for the now-defunct website BonusStage.com. After the sad and untimely close of BonusStage, the former staff went on to found VGBlogger.com. After a short stint as US Site Manager for AceGamez, Matt assumed full ownership over VGBlogger, and to this day he is dedicated to making it one of the top video game blogs in all the blogosphere.
Matt is a fair-minded reviewer and lover of games of all platforms and types, big or small, hyped or niche, big-budget or indie. But that doesn't mean he will let poor games slide without a good thrashing when necessary! | {
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SPORTSBOOKS
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Nerves appeared to be fraying among Republicans faced with the increasingly unappetizing prospect of opposing new curbs on Wall Street.
…
Republican aides said the party faced a dilemma: It could sign on to a bill that they and many of their constituents won’t like, or watch a bill pass with them largely on the sidelines and give Democrats an issue to run on in the fall.
–Blanche Lincoln’s derivatives plan is meeting some resistance in the Democratic caucus, but she’s not letting it go quietly. | {
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Archive
Archaeologists argue the actual date when the first painter stenciled his hand onto cave walls, somewhere in the vicinity of 40,000 years ago. Earliest man was compelled to make a mark, to leave something behind. A memory of him. A gift to us. The human hand is a powerful symbol of our human potential. Flesh and blood, our life coursing through our veins, from our hearts to our hands, and into our sensitive fingers. Touch is how we experience the world.
The hand can reach and grasp: a tool, a paintbrush, a pen, a weapon. Perhaps its greatest strength is what it conveys through gesture, in both the secular and sacred world. Our non verbal communication is a affirmation that something beyond words connects us. The symbolism of a hand gesture may only be within the context of esoteric rite or ritual and known only to that community. Or, it may extend itself to the global family. Our communal symbols and signs are how we experience the world.
From the shameless to the sublime, we know what gestures signify. It is the rudeness of giving someone the proverbial finger. Thumbs up, thumbs down. The calm of the open V peace sign, the power of the fist clenched in solidarity. Deliverance. Defiance. The Hindu and Buddhist mudras. Hands in prayer. The bending of ring finger and pinky in benediction blessing as a sign of the Trinity. A kohen (priest) forming the Hebrew letter “Shin” with both hands, fingers split (“shin” also represents the word Shaddai, a name for God) to confer a blessing.
In an episode of television’s Star Trek called Amok Time, Leonard Nimoy‘s character, Mr. Spock, half human, half alien, is introducing us to other people of his Vulcan race. We are glimpsing an alien greet his alien community. To signify the moment, and to create a richness of their culture and civility, Nimoy created the single hand, split finger version of the kohen’s Hebrew blessing he had seen as a boy. The Vulcan race, with its manner of ritual, of greeting, of community, offers the sign to one another with its message: “Live long and prosper.” It was the power of the hand, the strength of its gesture. Nimoy said that it “touched a magic chord.” It did. We immediately understood.
Leonard Nimoy died on Friday, February 27, 2015. He was 83. He has left his mark, his memory, and his gift to us, in that same unending way as the early man stenciling his hand on a cave wall. To the far reaches of space, where words and time hold no sway, the enduring image remains.
Orbiting 250 miles (400 km) above earth on the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Terry Virts commemorated the passing of Leonard Nimoy with the Vulcan hand gesture. To the right of Virt’s hand is Nimoy’s home state, Massachusetts, though Leonard Nimoy’s world would become so much bigger. We give the greeting to Mr. Nimoy, who gave it to us, this one last time. We offer it in softest silence, as he, now with his fully human heart at rest, makes his voyage to the eternal frontier.
Donatello – Less outspoken, a calmer, more reserved member of the group. He is the the wise one, and though quiet, he is intense. The least violent in the group, he uses peaceful methods to solve conflicts, but never hesitates to defend his brothers. He is a Ninjitsu master.
Weapon: Bo Staff. Color: Purple
Michelangelo – Easy-going, fun-loving, athletic. He is often the comic relief in the group, with his physical antics and carefree style. While he loves to relax, he also has an adventurous side. He knows how to wield those sticks!
Weapon: Nunchakus. Color: Orange
Wait a minute! These aren’t the Beatles, they’re the Ninja Turtles. Or — are they?
But…it WAS 50 years today when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
And here’s another clue for you all: Leonardo was Paul.
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
Cheshire Cat: That depends on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don’t care much where…
Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn’t matter which was you go.
Alice: …So long as I get get somewhere.
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you’re sure to do that, if you only walk long enough.
Sometimes the path you walk seems clearly defined, but then, something happens. It looks unfamiliar, and you realize you’ve lost your way.
Maybe you’ve encountered a rift in the earth. One tectonic plate sinks beneath another. It’s not the kind of ground breaking you had in mind.
Or the way might be flooded and you can’t get through. It’s not the image you had of yourself, rising up from the sea foam like Poseidon, or Aphrodite on the half shell.
Or maybe you are trapped, mesmerized by the reflection of your own image in the floodwater. It’s not what others meant by staying fluid. You might be like poor Echo, pining away watching someone else watch their reflection in the water.
Even simpler, maybe the compass rose has lost its petals and you realize you are traveling in the wrong direction.
Have you ever found yourself lost like this? Are you lost, right now, like this? Does it feel like the intersection of blood and guts? Which way do you go?
Go this way, and it’s the blood of the walking wounded, or the sacrificial lamb. Maybe that lost little lamb is you. Or maybe you will be the one to hurt someone else down the road. It’s the easier path to take. No apologies necessary. Losses cut. The escape route.
Or go that way, with guts – it’s taking the long, winding road. Perseverance. Compassion. All options and consequences considered. A harder path to walk.
None of it’s easy. Free will? It’s a bitch.
Maybe the journey takes us along all of the paths. The road is filled with seekers, navigating blood and guts. May the rose ride up to meet you, may the wind be at your back… We are Whitman wanderers walking towards a glowing inner light…
In language, some words diminish in value, the meaning loses its weight over time. Today, everyone’s a genius. And everything that happens is epic. There are also words and phrases that completely lose their true meaning, their relevance, and their beauty, in a devolution of their original form.
Over the weekend I attended the virtual Essential Magic Conference, hosted in Portugal by Luis de Matos. It was filled with the best in magic, and attended by over two thousand people from 74 countries. It is a fine learning experience, and creatively stimulating, even if you are not interested in magic. One of the presenters was Norberto Jansenson, whose work combines storytelling, mystery and magic. His talk was intense and inspiring, and something he mentioned struck a chord. It was the true, lost meaning of “abracadabra”.
While the word “abracadabra” may bring to mind faded images of magic acts replete with red curtains and a rabbit in a hat, the original word is far more compelling. There is a theory that the word is derived from a Semitic language. Jansenson says it is Aramaic in origin: “Avra kehdabra” — meaning “I will create as I speak”. How beautiful, rich, and powerful. It represents the spontaneity that, in the moment, gives way to articulation and creativity — sparking and igniting right before your eyes. It is a shared experience of wonder, from the ancient Greek theater to this morning’s street performer, occurring in full presence of the moment.
With a little digging, I found the source of the phrase may originate from these three words – ab (father), ben (son) and ruach acadosch (holy spirit). The three points form a triangle, a trinity, and the enclosed space of the three lines is where building is possible. Where things begin. Where magic happens. Art. Articulation. Astonishment. I will create as I speak. Abracadabra.
While walking through Brooklyn’s Williamsburg, I came across this poem written on a window that had been cemented over. Even though it is not English (it’s Italian), it evokes a dark mood, with its sloping black S words on a cement wall. The alliteration creates a snaky hissing sound, and the words seem to reveal dreams with the weight of a serpent, writing, eschewing vanity (smiling monkeys “spit on mirrors”), vulgarity and its slippery steps, slinking and sinking into the night’s moon…and silence. Is this a dream of awakening — an uncoiling spiral of kundalini energy? A anxious, sexual dream filled with innuendo? What significance does this hold for the writer? What compelled him to write his dream on the wall?
I also read a friend’s blog post, author Dr. Jean Raffa’s post on the significance of dreams. It’s a exploration in brilliant decoding, explaining the meaning and symbols a particular dream revealed to her. These are the things that propel us towards spirit, their unfolding and synchronicity plug us in to a deeper awareness. But, they require an intimate relationship between our consciousness and our attention. In today’s world, we wade through information overload and a pull towards material possessions. Information is not knowledge. Objects are not symbols. They distracts us from tapping into discovery of the self. In the truth of that discovery, even when it’s painful, we have a better sense of the world and our relationship to it.
Both the wall poetry and Dr. Raffa’s blog reminded me of Paul Simon’s tune, Sound of Silence, with its recounting of a dark and moody dream. The image and symbolism remain with him when he wakes up. The song, written by Simon when he was only 21, is a cautionary tale of how our distraction, apathy and materialism point us in the wrong direction. Lack of awareness is isolating, and ultimately leads to a breakdown in communication. That kind of silence is never golden and a neon sign can never supplant our divine spark.
How about you? Do you focus on symbols, or objects? Are you brave enough to decipher and share share your dreams? | {
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Newsletters
M&S launches major plus-size offer
As it works to boost its clothing sales with essentials as well as fashion-focused pieces, M&S has taken a deep dive into plus-size with the launch of a line targeting the growing number of UK women who wear sizes 18 to 32.
Danielle Vanier Instagram
It’s the retailer’s first-ever plus-size collection but it’s certainly a big one with the new M&S Collection Curve featuring more than 100 SKUs across multiple clothing categories.
An edited 30-piece offer has debuted online this week with the full selection arriving in M&S’s webstore and 30 selected physical stores on January 23. The summer offer will launch in March.
The line was put together with advice from around 2,000 women and the company also worked with prominent plus-size blogger Danielle Vanier, who has over 94,000 Instagram followers, and who designed several pieces in the line-up.
It includes topwear, knits, day and evening dresses, outerwear and a strong weighting towards stretch denim as that was category particularly in-demand, the retailer said. Prices range form £7.50 up to £89.
The company said that fit was a key focus with many of the women telling it that the generous cuts of many plus-size ranges tend to hide the body rather than celebrating it. | {
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Apple yesterday rolled out two-step verification, a security measure that promises to further shield Apple ID and iCloud accounts from being hijacked. Unfortunately, today a new exploit has been discovered that affects all customers who haven’t yet enabled the new feature. It allows anyone with your email address and date of birth to reset your password — using Apple’s own tools.
Naturally, I tried to enable two-step authentication after reading this. However, it turns out that it’s only available in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand right now. This is a big problem. | {
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By God's grace, our team has safely returned from a 5,600km Mission throughout 6 provinces of South Africa. In the last month we conducted 140 meetings at 11 schools, 7 churches, 5 Mission stations, 2 Bible colleges, a Ministers' Conference and a Great Commission Seminar.
Despite some torrential rain and thunderstorms in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu/Natal, we managed to keep almost all the materials dry and on this Mission and only experienced two punctures.
Back to the Bible
I was invited to present a week of lectures on Church History at Back to the Bible Training College. There are over 60 languages represented amongst the 140 students and 25 staff at BBTC. My lectures there included, Understanding the Times, The French Revolution, Crusades Vs. Jihad, Understanding the Crusades, ISIS, Iraq, Nigeria, Egypt, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Al Shabaab and Boko Haram, Samuel Ajai Crowther of Nigeria, Unequally Yoked, God and Government, Biblical Principles Which God Blesses, Charles Spurgeon - The Prince of Preachers, Between Edinburgh 1910 and Cape Town 2010 Missions Conferences, The Causes and Catastrophic Consequences of the First World War, How the Greatest Century of Missions was Derailed Into the Worst Century of Persecution, Lies We Have All Believed and Distinguishing Between Propaganda and Real History.
KwaSizabantu Ministers' Conference
It was a privilege to be a speaker at the Ministers' Conference, attended by 1,500 delegates, at KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu. Participants came from Angola, Armenia, Belgium, Benin, the Congo, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The theme of the Conference was, Lord Abide With Us. The text of the message presented at the KwaSizabantu Ministers Conference and the PowerPoint that accompanied it, are accessible on our www.frontline.org.za website on Slideshare.
William Carey School of World Missions
We also had the opportunity of conducting a two-day Great Commission Seminar at the William Carey School of World Missions near Verulam in KwaZulu/Natal. This included, Putting the Greatness Back into the Great Commission, Making Disciples of All Nations, The Family, Faith and Upbringing of David Livingstone, an Evangelism Workshop, (incorporating Way of the Master and Evangelism Explosion), and a Muslim Evangelism Workshop, (including The Challenge of Islam, The Bible Vs. the Quran, Jesus Vs. Muhammad, and Challenging Muslims), How the Greatest Century of Missions Was Derailed into the Worst Century of Persecution, C.T. Studd - Cricketer and Pioneer, Samuel Ajai Crowther and Christian Preparedness. We also screened the Andrew Murray film as part of this Great Commission Seminar.
Christian Action
The International Co-ordinator of the Christian Action Network, Taryn Hodgson, spoke at 27 meetings, which included: 3 Christian Action updates, 3 Sunday schools and 17 school meetings. Her presentations included Fight the New Drug, Traffick Proof, How to Survive and Thrive at University, Reaching Young People for Christ, a Christian Action Workshop and an Evangelism Workshop. Trainee Missionary, Abraham, spoke at 13 different meetings, including 8 school meetings. In total, I conducted 98 meetings, including 60 lectures, 20 radio programmes, 7 sermons, 6 school assemblies and 5 Bible studies.
School Ministry
Our presentations at schools included the Ten Commandments, Way of the Master, Evangelism Explosion, Animals in the Bible, Will Animals be in Heaven?, In The Frontline - Angola, Mozambique and Sudan, and The Threat of Islam and Persecution of Christians Today.
Making Disciples
Sermons presented included: The Hard Words of Jesus, Martha and Mary, Amos, The Threat of Islam in Biblical Prophecy and Today, 2 Timothy 2 and 1 Timothy 4, These will all soon be accessible on our www.livingstonefellowship.co.za website and through our www.SermonAudio.com link.
Security and Survival Preparedness
Our Mission team also conducted three Security and Survival Training Workshops and Christian Preparedness practicals at Mission stations and Bibles colleges. This included P.T., Self-Defence practical drills, lectures and Bible studies on scenarios in the Bible and recent history. To assist vulnerable Christians in threatened areas, Frontline Fellowship is designing Security and Survival Workshops and Manuals. We are developing a comprehensive strategy to help Churches set up security ministries and providepractical, hands-on, training for farmers, families, congregations, missions, ministries, Bible Colleges and vulnerable communities.
Serving the Suffering
As a Mission of Christians from a military background, dedicated to serving persecuted Christians for over 33 years, we have experienced ambushes, attacks, aerial bombardments, rocket and artillery fire, thefts, terrorism, capture and imprisonment. Utilising lessons learned from these experiences, we are offering training for Christians to be able to withstand and resist Islamic terrorist attacks. For this we need all the help, practical support and intercessory prayer that you can offer. Churches throughout Africa are facing some of the most intense, sustained and violent threats in recent memory. With such a vast amount of Churches being targeted, attacked, looted, burned and bombed in Nigeria, Niger, Egypt, the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania, obviously something must done. "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1Timothy 5:8
Resisting Jihad
The Jihadists have had an open playing field with no other team on the field to prevent them scoring endless goals. Churches have been seen as soft and easy targets for terrorism. In Cape Town the Reformation Society has conducted four Security and Survival presentations and the staff of Frontline Fellowship have gone through Security workshops to prepare our personnel for contingencies. (The audio MP3's and lecture notes will soon be available.) "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14
Wonderful Wildlife
We had the privilege of seeing giraffe, elephant, rhino, silver-backed jackals, wildebeest, buffalo, crocodiles, hippos, baboons, monkeys, kudu, impala, wild dogs, lion and eagles. "For since the Creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and Divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." Romans 1:20
Education is a Battlefield
It was inspiring to visit so many Mission and Christian schools around the country. We also managed to minister at some government schools. The contrasts are quite striking. Many government schools are woefully overcrowded, sometimes with 140 students crammed into a single class room, with 30 desks to share among them. Yet, incredible private Christian schools are being increasingly harassed with time-wasting and expensive accreditation, teaching and facilities assessments from the Department of Education. Umalusi is a task force set up by the Department of Education to accredit and "quality assure" independent schools. The schools are expected to pay for the accreditation procedures every seven years, submit to a "performance evaluation" twice in those time periods and update Umalusi annually on policy development and Evaluations.
Exorbitant Extortion
Despite the fact that these schools are actually taking students off the hands of the overcrowded state schools, government representatives from Umalusi, are attempting to charge exorbitant fees for inspectors and assessments which the schools neither need, nor want. As most of these schools already belong to the Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA), or the National Alliance of Independent Schools Association (NAISA), these time wasting and expensive procedures seem totally unnecessary. Most private, or independent, schools, particularly the Christian ones, are vastly superior in the quality of their education compared to the state schools. Teachers and principals have pointed out that although they have already gone through complex and demanding accreditations with their own associations (ACSI, ISASA and the CIE) they are now expected to be pay again to be accredited with Umalusi!
Time Wasting Expensive Bureaucracy
Some teachers wondered whether this is about government "job creation", or revenue raising, because many teachers are drowning in paper work and have to spend their weekends and holidays filling out forms that they doubt anyone is ever going to read! Many of these Christian schools have 100% Matric pass rates, while some of the local government have a 0% pass rate! Several schools have reported that they have had to employ people just to handle the Umalusi paper work.
Harassing Bible Colleges
Even Bible Colleges are being harassed by the South African Qualifications Association (SAQA) and told that they have to pay tens-of-thousands of Rands to SAQA to have their certificates and diplomas approved! The Constitution guarantees Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Association. However these freedoms are being violated by the intrusive, time-consuming, money-wasting demands of SAQA and Umalusi.
Hypocrisy
It does seem highly hypocritical that officials from the government are walking around impeccable independent school facilities solemnly counting the numbers of desks and bathroom facilities, while state schools are often in a state of ruin and disrepair, with broken windows, overcrowded class rooms, no plumbing and frequently no textbooks being delivered even for an entire academic year!
Wide Gates to Hell
Reformer Dr. Martin Luther warned: "I am much afraid that schools will prove to be wide gates to hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not constantly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt."
Crime and Violence
It was also disturbing to see the deteriorating security situation in many parts of the country with even remote Mission stations and Bible colleges needing to erect high fences, security gates and burglar bars, even on chapels, as a result of increasing crime and violence in their areas.
Wild Fires in Cape Town
Cape Town has been hit by a devastating series of wild fires that have destroyed over 5,500 hectares of forestry reserve, damaging over 6 Million Rands worth of Table Mountain infrastructure. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated, 198 hours were flown by 26 aircraft dropping 2 million litres of water in 2,000 water drops. Even Rondebosch Common was hit with a wild fire. Fire fighters confided to me that they definitely suspect arson. They expressed their strong suspicions that these wild fires have erupted since the ANC threatened to make the Western Cape ungovernable, in their attempt to seize control here.
The Battle over History
During this South Africa Mission we were also able to visit a number of monuments, museums and battle sites. While some of these museums are well run and carefully maintained by diligent and committed people, those that are in state hands are often mismanaged and we saw evidence of attempts to hijack history. It was Karl Marx who declared that "the first battlefield is the re-writing of history".
Hijacking History
It is critically important that we seek to preserve and treasure our history from a Christian perspective. It was shocking to visit the Mission Church Museum in Long Street, Cape Town and see how all the beautiful wooden free standing displays of Missions, Churches and Missionaries who established Christianity in South Africa have been taken off the floor, folded up and are collecting dust and cobwebs upstairs, behind the organ. Political, ANC, Mandela and Islamic propaganda displays have been set up obscuring the Bible displays and part of the pulpit area, in what is the oldest place of worship still standing in South Africa.
Forgotten Heritage
Even many independent schools are not visiting Christian monuments such as the Huguenot Monument and Museum, or the Castle, but are allowing the children to be railroaded into politically correct propaganda day trips.
Christian Heritage Museums Needed
There is a desperate need for suitable buildings to be made available for an independent Christian Heritage Museum. The Reformation Society has been accumulating artefacts, maps, posters, pictures, books and manuscripts on our Christian heritage and producing PowerPoint presentations and Church History Overview to empower Christian school teachers with Providential History. With suitable venues, we can set up inspiring, God-honouring displays and presentations to inform and inspire students, tourists and history enthusiasts with our Christian Heritage and a vision to fulfil the Great Commission in our generation.
Creation Science Museum
There is also a real need for a Creation Science Museum in South Africa. The Creation Museum near Cincinnati has been a tremendous success. We visited the Science Festival at the 1820 Settlers Monument in Grahamstown and were struck by the need for Christian ministries to be better represented at such events. As we have Creation Scientists such as Dr. Philip Stott and Dr. Angela Stott in South Africa, sponsorship needs to be arranged to ensure that their Scripture and Science ministry is prominently represented at such Science Festivals in the future.
Discipling Nations
We are involved in a world war of worldviews. A Clash of civilisations. In this battle for hearts and minds, museums, monuments, textbooks and teachers are vital. We need to invest in education, not only through establishing Christian schools, and resisting state pressures to compromise our curriculum, but by establishing and maintaining Christian museums and monuments and developing more Bible-based textbooks and curriculum resources.
Resources for Reformation
Visit www.reformationSA.org website for articles, PowerPoints, audio lectures and historic links and the www.christianlibertybooks.co.za website for books, manuals and DVDs that will empower your congregation and school with a Biblical worldview and perspective on history and current events.
Recovering from Attack
By God's grace, our Webmaster, Brendon, has mostly recovered from the vicious attack in January, when he was stabbed 15 times with a screwdriver, while waiting on Muizenberg railway station platform. Brendon recovered sufficiently to be released from hospital despite suffering from a collapsed lung and water on the lung. He has recovered his ability to walk and is now back at the Mission.
Please Pray for Lenora
My wife, Lenora, and I, celebrated our 26th Wedding anniversary this week (25/3/15). Last week Lenora had surgery to remove six lymph nodes from under her right arm. Biopsies revealed each of them to be cancerous. We met her Oncologist today to discuss treatment which she recommends to include radiation and chemotherapy. It is almost 5 years since Lenora's cancer surgery. We thought that we had finished with this battle against cancer. However, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power of love and of a sound mind. We have won the victory over cancer before and we will beat it again.
Bibles for Africa
Our Literature4Africa ministry offloaded another 17 tonne container of Bibles and books today. We are also preparing another 30 tonnes of Bibles and books for shipment to Zimbabwe.
Building Project
With our Mission bursting at the seams, we are trusting the Lord for the resources to build on to our Mission facilities and converting our loft into a multi-purpose hall with more bedrooms to accommodate Missionaries and participants for our courses. At the moment most of our services are held outside and many of our GCC participants are accommodated in tents on our lawn.
Thank You
We are most grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support, without which none of our ministries would be possible. Thank you for the financial sacrifices you have made to enable this Mission in Africa to advance. Please continue to pray for our many ongoing Book Projects, outreaches and cross-border field Missions. | {
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Come and enjoy a variety of drinks!
FREE WIFI
Darts and VIP room with DAM Karaoke
I'd like to have a information about Events
And party.
When and what time is good to meet people?
Amy Sun, 24 Aug 2014 08:51
Hi, I visited you 2nd July at my biz trip from Tokyo. Good time with the crocodile game. Will visit on 24th, see you.
Mune Tue, 06 Aug 2013 06:17
I just ran across your website and it brought back memories. I used to frequent the bar during my time in Fukuoka (1994-2000)....and I even worked there part-time for a short time in 1997. So glad to see it's still there!
Lillian Sat, 11 May 2013 05:42
Had a wonderful time, Amita. Haven't been to FIB in ages. It was great! All the people were warm and wonderful. I'll see you again soon.
Craig Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:25
I think will visit Fukuoka again close to christmas season as a business trip again. ;-)
Kim Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:36
Thanks for making our night in Fukuoka great. Sorry about abusing your locals with cutlery!!
Darren
Darren Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:42
hi
i was the lad from Manchester who came to the bar on Saturday night. Just like to say i had a great time and thank you for being very hospitable.....the night ended up very messy!
Jav Wed, 12 May 2010 16:10
Klodian, you should start a facebook group for the bar. One day I shall return!
Luke Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:51
hy my name is alex i wnat make frend`s in japan have 21 age
alex Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:09
check out the cheesepizza! sweet website ;)
Becca Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:00
Best Bar in Fukuoka!
Great Website Ken! Hope I can come to Fukuoka asap.
Markus Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:13
International Bar is the best in Fukuoka!
Jordan Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:53
Great! About time International bar had one.
Katie Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:13
great, fun bar! i will visit again soon!
chuck Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:35
I had good time last night, I enjoyed the magic games and practicing my English. Mata ne . Yumiko
Contact Us
Messages
NameEmail ( Will not be made public )Message (No more than 250 characters)Are you human? 2 + 3 =
I'd like to have a information about Events
And party.
When and what time is good to meet people?
Amy Sun, 24 Aug 2014 08:51
Hi, I visited you 2nd July at my biz trip from Tokyo. Good time with the crocodile game. Will visit on 24th, see you.
Mune Tue, 06 Aug 2013 06:17
I just ran across your website and it brought back memories. I used to frequent the bar during my time in Fukuoka (1994-2000)....and I even worked there part-time for a short time in 1997. So glad to see it's still there!
Lillian Sat, 11 May 2013 05:42
Had a wonderful time, Amita. Haven't been to FIB in ages. It was great! All the people were warm and wonderful. I'll see you again soon.
Craig Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:25
I think will visit Fukuoka again close to christmas season as a business trip again. ;-)
Kim Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:36
Thanks for making our night in Fukuoka great. Sorry about abusing your locals with cutlery!!
Darren
Darren Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:42
hi
i was the lad from Manchester who came to the bar on Saturday night. Just like to say i had a great time and thank you for being very hospitable.....the night ended up very messy!
Jav Wed, 12 May 2010 16:10
Klodian, you should start a facebook group for the bar. One day I shall return!
Luke Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:51
hy my name is alex i wnat make frend`s in japan have 21 age
alex Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:09
check out the cheesepizza! sweet website ;)
Becca Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:00
Best Bar in Fukuoka!
Great Website Ken! Hope I can come to Fukuoka asap.
Markus Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:13
International Bar is the best in Fukuoka!
Jordan Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:53
Great! About time International bar had one.
Katie Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:13
great, fun bar! i will visit again soon!
chuck Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:35
I had good time last night, I enjoyed the magic games and practicing my English. Mata ne . Yumiko | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Is the economic crisis really that bad?
There’s definitely a lot of talk going on about the global economy — along with the obligatory wailing and gnashing of teeth — but it’s either an incredibly slow slide, or perhaps something else is going on or it’s not as straightforward as it appears. I say this after conversations with colleagues and friends who — aside from preventative job losses and the news about banks — have not really seen what all the fuss is about.
Of course it may be that myself and everyone I’ve chatted to is sufficiently insulated from the situation that it’s not affecting us directly yet (it certainly didn’t take long back in early 2001 when I experienced my first redundancy). Yes, it’s likely that one of our glorious capitalist system’s regular “busts” is happening, as part of the recognised boom and bust cycle, but is it actually any worse than the 2-3 such situations over the last 15-20 years? It’s hard to tell when you raise your head above the reportage, which seems prudent as the news media are hardly objective sources of information.
I’m beginning to wonder if this might be a combination of regular bust — exacerbated by globalisation, monopolisation and near-absent regulation (if they’re bringing in the money…) — combined with media hysteria, post-9/11 politics, and the changing face of media and advertising. The news media are currently saying that it’s the worst economic situation since World War 2, which is a highly emotive statement in the UK and Europe. I’m guessing they’re leaving Great Depression references to pull out as a trump card at a later date. Perhaps it’s time to declare shenanigans.
The post-9/11 politics of the West, in particular, is markedly different to society before 2001. These changes can’t be justified by saying it’s a more dangerous world now, as countries like the UK have suffered terrorism from organisations such as the IRA since before World War 2. A cynic might say that the rules changed when an attack happened on American soil — and that might not be entirely incorrect — but that notwithstanding, there has been a systematic worldwide change in global politics since those awful events in 2001. There seems to have been a visible shift in government’s perspective on the public, resulting in a state of perpetual suspicion of the citizen and systematic erosion of hard-won liberties. And with the advances in technology such as biometrics has followed unending attempts at forcing or sneaking through legislation to mandate biometric identification of populations – with all the idealism, hopes, fears and dread that such measures make. And none of that deals with the wars we’ve created and funded, whatever the validity or justification, and the economic costs of prolonged warmongering.
And of course the media hysteria. Thanks to the proliferation of what currently passes for journalism, the public seem convinced that every male teacher is an unproven paedophile, that they will be mugged if they walk any town at night, serial killers exist in every village, all parents who discipline their children are child abusers, that all teenagers are knife-wielding, crack-smoking, drunken, granny-bashing louts, that violent games/films cause violent acts (yet comedy doesn’t cause humour on the streets…), and so on ad nauseum. Just watch Sky Two in the evenings, or read any Red Top or Daily Whatever newspaper.
But is there any reliable evidence that it’s statistically any worse than it was a century ago? It reminds me of the 1970s song by the Australian band The Skyhooks, called Horror Movie: Horror movie… it’s the 6:30 news. (I couldn’t find the uncensored lyrics, so you’ve got the video instead). If you go back to 1970 or 1940 or 1910 you’ll find the exact same “society is falling apart, we’re all doomed!” spoken as fact. I’m not sure it hasn’t always been like that so, instead, please cast a skeptical eye on the spoon-fed news and political talking heads.
I don’t know the truth, but common sense suggests that it’s not neat enough to fit into a 15 second soundbyte or 3 newspaper column inches. | {
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During World War II, comic books and movies buoyed the public's spirits and offered hope to combat the uncertainty of a world at war. However, these visual media often did so at the expense of portraying authentic military ... | {
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The BBC and Sky speak for no-one, except themselves
Once BBC had the respect of the World now they are worthless ignoramuses blundering around without a shred of common sense.
The BBC and Sky speak for no-one, except themselves. They are a bunch of ignorant, biased nonentities, which most people with an iota of sense and sanity, ignore.
Their heyday is over. Lord Reith would turn in his grave. A despicable bunch of liars, all of them.
The whole country was disgusted and annoyed at the behaviour of one of the British reporters who asked President Trump how could he get along with PM May given that they are so different. She, he said, the hard working daughter of a vicar, and he, a brash TV celebrity.
Can you imagine if an American reporter at the same meeting had asked Theresa May “what gives you the idea you can run a country when all you came from was being the daughter of a vicar” ! Trump no doubt would have soon put that particular reporter in his place, so should Theresa May have done on this occasion with the BBC, or do we defend insults and bad manners towards a leader of a country nowadays ?
We have to pay a license fee of £145.50 per year, per household in the UK, or face going to jail, it`s disgusting how they say they represent the people with lies and propaganda when the fee is the law ! They represent themselves and the Liberal facist brigade
The BBC is an extremist propaganda outlet for globalism and against a democratic, sovereign UK. It is a real danger to British democracy and should be abolished.
Not genuine questions, simply grandstanding. Rudeness, arrogance and embarrassment in equal measure. Not only to their hosts and themselves, but all UK citizens. They unfortunately have not the first idea of their inherent deficiencies.
Shame on the UK media, for condoning this behaviour, and employing people unworthy of cleaning my windows as our public face on the international stage. | {
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Huge ND Wastewater Spill Prompts Calls For Fracking Regs
Beaver dams have so far prevented about 1 million gallons of fracking wastewater discovered spilled July 8 from a rural North Dakota pipeline from spreading too far. But area residents, environmentalists and even a Republican state legislator all want more reliable measures.
The spill of the toxic saltwater, a byproduct of hydraulic fracturing, came from gas extraction operations at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and occurred days before it was discovered.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency said the underground pipeline spilled about 24,000 barrels, or 1 million gallon, in North Dakota’s thriving oil and gas region.The water, which can be 10 times saltier than seawater and contains salt and fossil fuel condensates, was being piped away from fuel extraction sites for safe disposal.
The spill has been threatening Bear Den Bay on nearby Lake Sakakawea, which provides water for the reservation occupied by the Arikara, Hidasta and Mandan tribes, though the EPA said there is no evidence that the lake has been contaminated.
In fact, it said, most of the saltwater had pooled near where it had spilled and that beaver dams in the area had kept it from spreading. As a result, the EPA said, the local soil has simply been absorbing the spill.
That’s a bit too fortuitous for Wayde Schafer, a spokesman for the Sierra Club in North Dakota. He said there have been four other spills in the region recently, including three caused by lightning strikes and a fourth attributed to a cow that rubbed against a tank valve.
With its current oil and gas boom, North Dakota has become the second most productive energy state behind Texas. By relying greatly on fracking, though, it also produces millions of barrels of wastewater daily that, like nuclear waste, must be buried underground forever.
In 2013 alone, there were 74 pipeline leaks that spilled 22,000 barrels of saltwater. Yet that same year, the North Dakota Legislature voted 86 to 4 against a bill that would have mandated flow meters and cutoff switches on wastewater-disposal pipelines. Energy companies protested the cost of such measures, and even state regulators argued they wouldn’t detect small leaks.
State Rep. Dick Anderson, a Republican farmer from Willow City, about 140 miles northeast of Lake Sakakawea, wants the legislature to reconsider the bill. He said a revised bill should require energy companies to conduct more frequent examination of the wastewater pipelines, including dogs trained to sniff for spills and even aerial drones that can spot pipeline breaks.
Arrow Pipeline LLC, which owns the pipeline whose spill has been threatening Lake Sakakawea, said the accident wasn’t discovered until employees were reviewing reports on production losses.
Crestwood Midstream Partners LP of Houston, which owns Arrow Pipeline, said the cleanup is likely to last for weeks. | {
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We spoke with Microsoft Studios' corporate vice president Phil Spencer today immediately after the Xbox One reveal presentation, and during our chat PC gaming came up. I took the opportunity to ask him if the lovely new Xbox One controller will work for PC gaming, as the current Xbox 360 controller has almost become the standard for PC controller options.
Spencer shot us down on a definite answer, saying that they're not talking about the connectivity to PC just yet. But he did give us some hope:
"We're completely wedded as a company to the success of PC," Spencer told us. "It's important to us at Microsoft. I think you can kind of fast forward on some things, and clearly, looking at what we did with [Xbox] 360 controllers..."
Spencer left it at that, but you can see where he's going with this. We're betting it'll make for a fine PC controller.
In its push to expand the "Steam universe," Valve has added store listings for Steam Machines as well as the finalized Steam Controller and also Steam Link, a PC-to-TV streaming device.
All of this stuff will become available...more
At GDC 2015, Microsoft announced plans to release a wireless adapter for Xbox One controllers on Windows later this year. Great news, but we need dates, Phil Spencer. Specific dates!
I had terrible luck with my wireless adapter for the Xbox 360 gamepad -- damn thing was spotty at best, non-functional at worst -- so here's hoping these new ones are an improvement.more
Weird as it might still look, you have to admit that Valve's Steam Controller has come far.
Remember this photo? Or this more recent one? It's like leafing through your worst yearbooks.
Given that I play PC-centric games with...more | {
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Why is great financial advice for expats so hard to find?
International financial advice is (nearly) always bad
It started with a blank sheet of paper in a room in Geneva. AES International had no clients, no financial backers, and no awards; but there was one thing - a really exciting mission, a mission we remain completely committed to over a decade later. So why is great financial advice for expats so hard to find? Simply because huge (and often hidden) upfront commission payments incentivise sales people to do the wrong thing – to sell expensive financial products to expats which destroy their investment returns. Here's the story of our journey to change this.
As a group of late twenty-somethings, we wanted to take on the international financial services marketplace - to challenge the status quo. We wanted to pioneer the transformation of an industry. Turning one that manufactures and vends toxic investment products into a profession centred round the client and changing people’s financial futures for the better; by delivering the best information, the best prices, the best advice and the best service.
This means change. However, we know that most people hate change: it often elicits fear, anger and resentment.
But, our type of change is Positive Change.
Based on our core values of Knowledge, Integrity and Teamwork; we dare to do everything within our marketplace very, very differently. Our radical transparency can make many people uncomfortable. Why? Because...
1. Financial sales people (or, as we call them, dinosaurs) don’t want us to tell others the truth; and
2. Clients aren’t used to being told the truth.
In order to achieve this we are unreasonably picky about the type of people we employ. Our people are completely critical to our success and we strive to create a positive environment for positive people, whatever their role in the firm. We therefore invest in championing our people, putting us in the top 1% of all Investor in People firms.
As well as loving our people - we obsess over our clients, not our competitors. This is all part of our DNA.
We wanted to be one of the key drivers for change in the international financial advice market for expats. We wanted to help turn the industry into a respected profession, healing the lack of trust and improving the lives of those we serve and those who we employ. We started the business because we believed that it would succeed that it would be profitable and sustainable, and that it could change the world.
This is why AES International exists today, and why we have won over 26 awards for our international financial advice in the last five years. So why not subscribe to our blog, call us, or socialise with us - we'd be delighted to help you plan your future. | {
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Watch out for common Halloween hazards for pets
More Info
If you think your pet has eaten any of these Halloween treats, call the Pet Poison Helpline, $39 per call, at (800) 213-6680
Related Media
Common Halloween hazards for pets are chocolate, candy and raisins.
Chocolate: Of all candies, chocolate poses the biggest Halloween “threat” to dogs. Many dogs are attracted to the smell of chocolate, making it a significant threat for massive ingestion. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. Methylxanthines are the chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous to pets, and they are more concentrated in darker chocolates. A single ounce of Baker’s chocolate can make a 50-pound dog very sick. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are less dangerous, but should still be kept out of the reach of pets. If you think your dog may have ingested chocolate, signs to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated heart rate and in severe cases, seizures.
Candy and sweets overindulgence: Candy and other sweet foods — especially those containing poisonous xylitol — can also be poisonous to pets. Signs include a decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and potentially kidney or organ damage.
Raisins: Mini-boxes of raisins are dangerous. Dogs can experience kidney failure after ingesting very small amounts of raisins (including similar products with grapes and currants too). For this reason, any ingestion should be treated as a potential poisoning. Signs of raisin or grape poisoning include vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, excessive or decreased thirst and urination, bad breath, and rapid onset kidney failure. | {
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Nearby Recreation
Garden Lodge Meeting Rooms & Events
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Location: Floor 2Flooring: carpet
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Hoteliers! Is your listing up to date? With over 130,000 hotels in our database, no other source compares to our depth of information. Click here to review and be sure the travel professional knows your hotel’s latest details. | {
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Oklahoma, a US state with one of the busiest death chambers in the country over the past three decades, will have at least a two-year delay in lethal injections after officials declined to consider new execution procedures.
The state's Board of Corrections did not take up new execution protocols at a regular meeting that Attorney General Scott Pruitt wants in place before executions can resume.
After a botched execution in 2014 and drug mix-ups during the last two scheduled lethal injections in 2015, Pruitt said he wouldn't request any execution dates for five months after the new protocols are approved and he's confident the death penalty can be carried out without any problems.
Botched US lethal injection raises concerns
"I want to assure the victims' families who continue to await justice that this review process will continue to be both deliberate and empirical," Pruitt said in a statement.
"The protocol is a work in progress," said board spokesman Alex Gerszewski. "There currently is no timeline on when anything will be released."
Meanwhile, five Oklahoma death row inmates have exhausted all of their appeals and are awaiting execution dates.
Oklahoma has executed 112 people since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, the highest per-capita rate in the nation and second overall only to Texas, where 537 inmates have been put to death over the past 40 years, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Oklahoma was the first American state to authorise lethal injection as a method of execution, and capital punishment has strong, bipartisan support in the Oklahoma legislature.
After the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in 2014 - who writhed on the gurney during a lethal injection that prison officials tried unsuccessfully to halt - politicians approved the use of nitrogen gas as an alternative to lethal injection.
The legislature also passed a resolution seeking a public vote on whether to enshrine the death penalty in the state constitution, making it more difficult for future legislators or the courts to end it. That state question will appear on the ballot in November.
Representative Mike Christian, a former policeman and staunch advocate for the death penalty who sponsored both measures, said he's disappointed prison officials have taken so long to develop new procedures and wants them to include the use of nitrogen gas as an alternative to lethal injection.
"My question is why they don't at least have some kind of protocols established for nitrogen hypoxia," said Christian. "It's second in line behind lethal injection, and I think lethal injection is on its way out the door."
Still, death penalty opponents voiced concern that Oklahoma appears to be moving in the opposite direction of other states, where executions are being reconsidered altogether.
"The last thing the state of Oklahoma needs to do is rush back into the business of executing people," said Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma. "We would prefer that the state get out of the business of executing its citizens altogether." | {
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General
10 Things You Should Know about Safaricom Digital Decoder ‘theBIGbox’
The Safaricom digital decoder, theBIGbox is a revolutionary product from Safaricom that enables you to enjoy fast Internet connectivity and has additional value of crystal clear local and international programming on digital TV.
theBigbox theBIGbox is the most advanced and futuristic box in the market with an android platform. It has the following capabilities: 3G/4G Internet browsing capabilities. Internet hotspot (Wi-Fi) creation. Free YouTube streaming via youtube.com for the first 3 months. Internet hotspot (Wi-Fi) creation.USB and SD media playback for pictures, music and videos, TV recording capabilities. Parental control for TV channels.
You can purchase theBigbox from any Safaricom Shop countywide during this offer period valid from 7th May – 4th August 2015.
It is easy to install theBIGbox if you already have an existing outdoor aerial installed. An installation guide will be given to you when you purchase theBIGbox to guide you through the initial installation.
You can enjoy the free YouTube streaming service on theBIGbox for the 3 months (7th May-4th August, 2015) by going to youtube.com
theBIGbox will have two payment plan options.
Payment
Price
Installments
Internet Bundle
Free YouTube
Easy Payment Plan
KSHS.4,999
KSHS.999 for six months
6 GB Bundle free per month for 6 months
YES
One-Off Payment
KSHS.9,999
N/A
6 GB Bundle free per month for 6 months
YES
theBigbox has The Internet bundle options below that are available on a monthly basis.
Price
Bundle
Validity
KSHS.999
6GB
30 days
KSHS.1,500
10GB
30 days
KSHS.2,000
20GB
30 days
KSHS.4,000
50GB
30 ays
you can pay your monthly subscription dialling *422# or by accessing the Safaricom bundle webpage safaricom.com/bundles on theBIGbox.
You can pay for theBIGbox using your account number found on the sticker Under theBIGbox, with a number labeled MSISDN. This is also found on the side of the packaging of theBIGbox. This is your account number to purchase bundles or content for theBIGbox.
if you exhaust your bundles before the 30 day expiry period, You can purchase other available Internet bundles by dialling *422# or by accessing the Safaricom bundles webpage safaricom.com/bundles on theBIGbox.
theBIGbox cannot permit you to sambaza the allocated Internet bundles. However, you are able to receive bundles from another Safaricom line.
You will get a notification on your TV screen and an SMS to the mobile number you used during registration of your purchase once you start running out of bundles. | {
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Last night gymnast Shawn Johnson won "Dancing With the Stars." Apparently the diminutive gold-medal winner was an underdog to some dude who is "famous" for being naked in the "Sex and the City" movie. I guess they're using the "Stars" part of the show's title fairly loosely. I've seen exactly ... | {
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We're offering this assessment for free exclusively to our past patients. If you have an ache, pain, performance issue, or question, sign up below for a free screen from one of our skilled physical therapists!
Sign Up Now
At Advance Rehab, we believe that everyone should have their joints, muscles, and movement patterns assessed every year to ensure continued physical health. That is why we are launching a campaign to promote a lifetime of pain free movement in our community by offering an initial wellness screen to all of our past patients. Simply fill out the form above and we'll get in touch to schedule your 1-on-1 session with one of our physical therapists.
During your assessment, our skilled PTs will:
Take a complete musculoskeletal history and learn about your goals.
Perform a movement screen and selected physical tests to see what is working well and what needs some help.
Develop a plan to improve any areas of concern and help you achieve your goals.
* Not applicable to patients in federal or state funded programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
* Screenings are consultations and do not involve a physical therapy evaluation or treatment. | {
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Meta
It’s the Fiancee’s birthday, so yet again, I’m taking the day off. Well, that and I have nothing I want to talk about really. I mean, Ame-Con Girls Wonder Woman was fun, but she still isn’t the Diana from the old Canon. So there is that. But if you do want your wonder Woman with some fucking Charactoraztion aside from being a blow up doll that is there, it is a way to go. And that is really all I can say about it. Nothing I can turn into a full blog post.
DC has had me rage out to the point where I can’t even get angry any more. Just sad. Sad I can’t even read the old Canon Wonder Woman, because it just reminds me of what I have lost. So it is what it is.
And so this post doesn’t end up how awsome my Dog is. (And she is by the way. She is the Batman of Recuse Dogs.) I gonna leave you with the panel that always makes me want to punch Batman in the Tit.
Oh you Son of a Bitch….. I mean the face, the smug ass face that makes me want to just kill him.
I think what is great about this is on some level it is true. If we look at the freak out when DC said that they were going to make a character gay, everyone had a cow. And it was miss handled.
But Alan Scott is still the shit. Even if they murdered his boyfriend for no fucking reason it all. It would have worked better if everyone was dead, not just a few people on that train wreck. But the reason for it was to have a gay male, without having to show the relationship.
But I have been over that horse with a bat a few times. See ya tomorrow.
1) If Diana was still in love with Steve, why did she break it off? At least this makes it less like Steve was raping her….What? I couldn’t have been the only one who got that read from the flashback that they had of him and her, where they are holding hands. Diana’s mentality at time was like a small child, so it’s creepy to me that a grown man is sexuality attracted to that. And I felt that he tricked her into a relationship and that is why she broke it off. If that isn’t the case, how the fuck was I suppose to read that? Can someone explain that to me please? Because now I am questioning my read of that, and I wasn’t the only one I knew who felt that way too. My fiancé read it the same way. We were like, what? Why is this here? Why would the other men in the League let this happen to her? She was clearly a child. Mental. I don’t see Hal or Bruce or any of them letting that go on. They would at least make sure she understood what was going on between her and Steve the second they caught wind of it.
Edit: Okay, maybe rape isn’t the right word here…..sexaul conversion. Either way, it was fucking werid to me.
2) How the fuck is the team working if they don’t seem to like each other at all. Batman doesn’t count, but really, it doesn’t feel like any of the team members like each other at all. I don’t think you would be hanging out with each other like they appear to do if you don’t like them. I don’t hang out with people I don’t like, and really, they only need to be a team when the earth is threatened. When it isn’t, what is the point of having them in the watchtower at all. We know Bats has trust issues, so that is why he is distance. (Plus I don’t think he wants to care about anyone again, just because of all that has happened to him. The man’s heart has been through a wood chipper.) But there isn’t a good reason for anyone else to be. So what is up with that.
3) The most important to me, HOW THE FUCK DOES ANY THING HAPPENING NOW TIE INTO THE FIRST ISSUES? Those were a fucking flash back. You started the fucking story arc with a god damn flashback and it has been 11 issues, where is the fucking pay off?
Yea, this comic made me angry. I am sick of trying to find the threads in this one. Because the characters aren’t making sense. Come on Johns, you can write better than this. We all know you can, so could you at least pretend to give a fuck and write better? I know you can write, I picked up Batman Earth One and that kicked ass. So could you channel what ever you did for that and get that into Justice League please?
AND NO ONE GIVES A SHIT ABOUT SHAZAM! There. I said it. I don’t read it at all. I gave up on that one. I don’t want to have to give up on Justice League. Could you at least get them to act like they give a shit about each other. Because it doesn’t feel like they do at all. They did in the old canon. Why can’t they here?
I was sick all weekend, so didn’t have much of a chance to get on to starting this blog post…so we are going to get another drive by. Sorry. But it is about women, so how can it be bad?
Wonder Woman #10
Well, she is a bamf
One of the things I’m really enjoying about the New Wonder Woman stuff. I know a lot of people are upset by it, for whatever reason they have, but I’m really digging it.
The reason is because I really enjoy Greek Mythos, so seeing the cannon go back to that opens realms of possibilities. Especially if they are going to bring in other Demi-Gods. There are some great ones to choose from. Example, one of the demi-god sons of Poseidon, could not be harmed on dry land. How would one defeat him? Well, in one of the versions of Theseus tale, he defeats him by holding him off the ground and stabbing him in the neck. Yea. I can’t wait to see what comes out next.
I also like how Wondy is a little bit of a punk in this. And hear me out, but after she finds out that she is Zeus’s daughter she goes to a club in London….a Club in London that looks like a punk club. And this isn’t the first time she shown listening to punk music. She gets a taste in Odyssey. So it is nice to see that Wondy is getting a personality that isn’t like the one in JL. She seems like an over active child that wants to just punch things in that. I’m hoping the time skip is going to fix that.
The redesigns of the Gods have been pretty awesome. I mean, they are creative and interesting to look at. Which is always important in a visual median. The only thing I will get a little nerd pissy about is the Eros is not Hephatestus’s son, he is Aries. But I think the point was that the Smith loves him anyways, so I’m going to let that slide.
And it was cool to see that Diana didn’t have to lie to save Hades. And the depictution of the underworld was pretty cool.
Batwoman #10 Aww yea.
Oh Dear…She’s A MAN!
I picked up all the Batwoman stuff after picking up the trade. And I wasn’t disappointed at all. Like I said before, I love transformed folklore, which is funny that the two series I have talked about in this drive by feature that. But I love it when writers present their research in a way without beating us over the head with it, I felt that has been done with Batwoman.
I’m not too keen on the jumping around telling the story in different points in time, because I feel that the reader loses out on a lot in the first straight read; but I’m willing to overlook it. I feel that they have structured it in a way that it works really well and there is no reason to stop it. It just gives me more to enjoy when I reread it.
I’m also glad that it looks like the love Triangle that Sune, Kate, and Maggie find themselves in, doesn’t look like it will be played up that much. Because I find that shit annoying because it is shitty writing, and not a way to drive up drama. And there is no reason for it because Kate doesn’t like Sune and I feel they have set Maggie’s and Kate’s relationship in a way that yes, it has problems, but it is still pretty small. I don’t think the kiss from Sune is going to affect it, because Maggie doesn’t know Kate is Batwoman. It would be a different story if she did know. I think that there is a problem between Kate and Maggie, and Sune is going to have no effect on their relationship. It is going to be Batwoman that is the problem. Really their love triangle is Kate, Maggie and Batwoman.
And Sune turning into a man, I can’t wait for #11.
So that is really it. I will have something better for tomorrow, promise. It will either be a rant on how it is unfair that the night of owls lead into Batman #10 because now I feel I can’t be mad at it, or Green Lantern Corps #10. Still on the fence on that. | {
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On May 5, Reuters headlined "UN has testimony that Syrian rebels used sarin gas: investigator."
Geneva-based "UN human rights investigators have gathered testimony from casualties of Syria's civil war and medical staff indicating that rebel forces have used the nerve agent sarin, one of the lead investigators said on Sunday."
"The United Nations independent commission of inquiry on Syria has not yet seen evidence of government forces having used chemical weapons…."
On May 6, the UN News Centre headlined "Syria: UN human rights Inquiry has 'no conclusive findings' on use of chemical weapons."
The International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (COI) issued a statement saying:
It "wishes to clarify that it has not reached conclusive findings as to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by any parties to the conflict."
"As a result, the Commission is not in a position to further comment on the allegations at this time."
"The Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, reminds all parties to the conflict that the use of chemical weapons is prohibited in all circumstances under customary international humanitarian law."
"In line with its mandate, the Commission is currently investigating all allegations of violations of international law in the Syrian Arab Republic and will issue its findings to the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 3 June 2013, as mandated by resolution 22/24."
In other words, clear evidence that Washington-backed insurgents used sarin and perhaps other chemical weapons no longer matters. HRC's COI about-faced. Credible testimonies are now inconclusive.
Western pressure forced the retraction. COI's had no credibility since inception. Neither does HRC. More on that below.
On August 22, 2011, HRC resolution S-17/1 established the COI. It's mandated to investigate all alleged human rights violations in Syria since March 2011.
"The Commission was also tasked to establish the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable."
On September 28, 2012, the Human Rights Council (HRC) "adopted six resolutions in which it extended" the COI.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is the organization's chief human rights official. She works closely with the Human Rights Council. She long ago fell from grace.
She's an imperial tool. She suppresses truth. She ignores Western and Israeli human rights abuses. She's in lockstep with Washington's war on Syria. So is Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. More on him below.
Pillay's a former South African High Court judge. She also served on the International Tribunal for Rwanda (ICRT). From 1999 - 2003, she served as president.
ICRT lacked credibility. It served imperial interests. It pointed fingers the wrong way. Guilty parties were absolved. Victims were prosecuted. While president, Pillay bore full responsibility.
She serves Washington's imperial agenda. She did so on the International Criminal Court. She served from 2003 - 2008.
ICC targets victims Washington and other Western powers want charged with crimes of war, against humanity and genocide. Responsible major powers are absolved. Victims are guilty by accusation.
Pillay went along. She advanced her career by doing so. She's doing it again now. She's waging war on Syria. She targets victims. Guilty parties are absolved.
She wrongfully blames Assad for "massive scale" killing. Doing so turns truth on its head. Earlier she asked "Where is the international community? Why aren't (world leaders) acting to stop this slaughter."
She favors intervention to do so. She's complicit with Washington's longstanding plan to ravage and destroy another country.
So is Pinheiro. In September 2011, he was appointed COI chairman. His reports lack credibility. They suppress truth. They show contempt for justice. They bear testimony to his pro-Western bias.
On May 6, the Washington Post headlined "US skeptical on reported use of chemical weapons by Syrian rebels," saying:
They "had seen no evidence to confirm the reports."
"The Obama administration has said it believes the Syrian government likely used the nerve agent sarin in recent months and has supported a UN investigation into the use of chemical agents in Syria, where the government of President Bashar al-Assad has alleged the illicit weapons were used by the opposition."
During his May 6 press briefing, White House press secretary Jay Carney said:
"We are highly skeptical of suggestions that the opposition could have or did use chemical weapons."
"We find it highly likely that any chemical weapon use that has taken place in Syria was done by the Assad regime. And that remains our position."
"The fact of the matter is the terrible situation in Syria is the fault and responsibility of Bashar al-Assad."
"He has murdered tens of thousands of his own people. He has acted with impunity like a tyrant to hold on to power."
"And it is the rightful demand of the Syrian people that they be rid of this tyrant and that they have a say in their future."
"And we have worked with international partners as well as the Syrian opposition to help bring about that opportunity for the Syrian people."
Asked about Israel's weekend bombings, he said:
"I'm not going to comment on any actions the Israelis may have taken. What I can tell you is that we are in close coordination as a matter of course with the Israelis, and continue to be."
"But I'm not going to comment specifically on actions that the Israelis may or may not have taken. I would certainly refer those questions to the Israeli government."
Asked what the administration plans to do next, he added:
"Well, you heard the President address this several times last week. It is essential that we continue to gather evidence, that we work with our partners as well as the opposition in the accumulation of evidence about the use of chemical weapons."
"But we are not waiting for United Nations action alone."
"We are working through other means to try to build on the evidence that we already have of chemical weapons use, to assert in a concrete and firm way the chain of custody, when chemical weapons were used, by whom, and the full consequences of that use."
"It is by definition a game-changer (if) chemical weapons (were) used. (T)he president made clear (it's) a red line….(If) crossed (he said) he would take appropriate action."
On May 6, Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) said:
"US suggestions that the Syrian government could have used chemical weapons have been treated as fact by some media outlets, and are helping to fuel the case for greater US military involvement."
Those outlets include US broadcast and cable channels, as well as major publications. Former New York Times executive editor Bill Keller warned:
"Whatever we decide, getting Syria right starts with getting over Iraq." In other words, he claims, Syria won't become a similar catastrophe. It's well along toward one now.
Keller promoted war on Iraq. He supported it once begun. He's urging Obama to wage war on Syria.
He and other Times editors back Washington's imperial agenda. Rule of law principles and unconscionable carnage don't matter.
FAIR commented on the mindset of many so-called pundits. "(O)nce again (they're) rallying in support of US military action based on sketchy reports about weapons of mass destruction."
On May 6, Wall Street Journal editors marched in lockstep. They headlined "The Non-Intervention War. The US failure to lead on Syria has resulted in a wider regional conflict."
It "threatens to….damage US interests from the Levant to the Persian Gulf and perhaps even reach the homeland."
Journal editors urge forceful US intervention. They favor "imposing a no-fly zone and air strikes against Assad's forces."
They don't "rule out the use of American and other ground troops to secure the chemical weapons."
Invading Syria means replicating Washington's war on Iraq. "(T)he most important strategic goal continues to be to defeat Iran," Journal editors stress.
On the one hand, they blame Obama for creating a "wider regional conflict." At the same time, they urge one.
On May 6, Mossad-connected DEBKAfile (DF) headlined "IDF on war alert. Iran-Syrian-Hizballah war of attrition threatened. US set to act on Syria."
Israel's weekend airstrikes "appear to be part of a tactical plan put together by the US, Israel, and two Sunni powers, Turkey and Qatar, to break up the Tehran-Damascus-Beirut radical bloc and eventually force Iran to give up its nuclear bomb aspirations."
"Washington is meanwhile expected to follow up on the Israeli operation in Syria by the end of May, early June, with operations ranging from US arms supplies to the Syrian rebels to demolishing Syria’s air force facilities and missile sites by US air strikes from Turkey, Europe and Israel."
"Barak Obama used this tactic to overthrow Muammar Qaddafi in Libya two years ago."
"Since the Syrian rebels are being systematically ground down and falling apart under the crushing weight of the Syrian army backed by Iranian and Hizballah troops and Moscow, feeding the rebels more weapons may no longer avail."
"So this would be the less probable of the two options."
On Sunday, Israel initiated its "highest level of war alert." Who'll make the next move, asked DF.
"(T)he Pentagon not only provided chemical weapons to Al Nusra, an affiliated Al Qaeda terrorist organization, but also provided training to the rebels in the use of these weapons."
"And once these Al Qaeda rebels had been supplied and trained in the use of WMDs by military contractors hired by the Pentagon, the Syrian government would then be held responsible for using the WMDs against the Syrian people."
"This in turn would provide a justification for a humanitarian R2P intervention to 'protect' and come to the rescue of the Syrian people."
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Full Show Summary: A television anthology series which attempted to illuminate various aspects of the Vietnam war by dramatizing true stories of both combat and personal relations. Most of the stories were not actual representations of the originating events, but were stories which were inspired by real-life events while being wholly fictional in details. Most of the episodes were written by Vietnam veterans. | {
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Description
Move in ready and up to City Code! This darling ranch is so clean with hardwood floors, eat in kitchen with enclosed back porch leading to flat backyard with privacy fence. The bathroom is updated with tile floor, tile surround in tub/shower combo and updated vanity and top. Both bedrooms have ample closet space. Home has a whole house attic fan, washer & dryer hook-up is in the 1 car attached garage. All appliances stay. Perfect starter home. Enclosed back porch is 12 x 12 and is not included in square footage as it is not heated or cooled.
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July 2018
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19 NIV)
From the Pastor's Desk
July 2018
Dear Saints,
THE MUSTARD SEED FAITH
…”Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 NIV).
. The background to this passage is that, a man had brought his sick son to the disciples for cure while Jesus was away; but the disciples could not cure the child. This man waited at the foot of the mountain until Jesus came down from his Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-13). He reported to him the inability of his disciples to cure his son who is suffering from seizures. Jesus rebuked the demon of sickness and instantly the boy was healed. The disciples later came to Jesus in private to find out why they couldn’t cure the boy? His response is the passage quoted above.
One may ask; “What is faith”? “Why would Jesus qualify the faith the disciples need to have as ‘little’”? These questions undoubtedly need exploring and explanation. According to the writer of Hebrews chapter 11:1, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (NLT). This is a plausible definition; but somehow, some critics may find problem with it. Why? Faith could become panacea for all our woes and sufferings in this world. Some people will use it to replace hard work and tenacity of purpose which often bring rewards of self fulfillment and accomplishment with shear laziness. However, as Christians, we do know and understand the role faith plays in our walk with God. To me, faith is not limited to Christians only – everyone in this world has some measure of faith. Faith therefore, could be categorized in three ways: – the natural faith, the saving faith, and the waiting or trusting faith.
THE NATURAL FAITH is the kind of faith we are born with. By nature we are all people of faith – both Christians and non-Christians. Faith plays a vital role in our day to day existence. For example, it is because of faith we are able to interact and move freely with our neighbors, co-workers, and other associates in life. To a large extent, the natural faith undergirds all our business transactions as we buy clothing, houses, appliances, cars, groceries, or travel. It is this faith that enables us to have sound sleep in hotels, enjoy our meals at the restaurants and take our medications without fear. The same faith make us take risks in live to pursue education, start up a business venture, emigrate to another country, or use our God-given gifts and talents to help ourselves and others. Yes, we might be cautious in our moves and dealings with people; but our natural faith makes it easier for us to live freely and enjoy each other.
THE SAVING FAITH is the faith that brings us to God through Christ. It is the kind of faith that convicts an individual to see himself in need of a Savior. Some of the following passages could bring that conviction and lead a person to accept Jesus as his Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”. Jesus cried out to the crowd and said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Acts 4:12 reads, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given to men by which we must be saved.” The apostle Paul answered the Philippian jailer’s question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” By saying; “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Romans 10:10 & 17 reads; “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
THE WAITING (TRUSTING) FAITH is the faith we need to have after we have come to Jesus. This faith is also a ‘trusting’ faith – a faith that will keep us afloat and our heads cool when the storms of life seem to sink our boat; as we travel with Jesus on life’s high seas. This faith is wholly and totally anchored in God and his faithfulness in keeping his covenant and promises with those who walk with him. This faith helps the Christian in many ways some of which are outlined below:
We are able to please God (Hebrew 11:6).
We are able to believe God for what he has promised to do for us (Heb 10:21-25).
We are able to live a righteous life (2 Timothy 2:19-24; 1 John 2:28).
We are able to overcome every adversity as we live in obedience to God (2 Timothy 2:8-10; 1 John 5:1-5; 2 John 6).
We are able to prepare our minds to accept what life throws at us because of our relationship with Jesus (Job 1:20-22; Philippians 1:21).
It evokes confident joy in us as Christian with the hope of receiving our crowns when we are about to die (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
It is therefore not out of the ordinary the writer of Hebrews 11:1 to define faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Jesus knows the importance of faith in the life of the believer; so told his disciples to have faith as little as mustard seed. God is not looking for a big faith from us; he is interested in those who have little but consistent faith in him. Faith, that deepens our relationship and opens wide our lines of communication with him irrespective of the pressures and circumstances of life. For, it was such faith that men like Cain, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel had as they served God faithfully without wavering and quitting.
In our world today, God is still interested in how you and I apply the mustard faith we have to honor and bring glory to his name in this world of instant fame and self-aggrandizement. In conclusion, let’s remind ourselves of the lyrics of the hymn “The Solid Rock” by Edward Mote:
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand – All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand – All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand – All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking ground.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand – All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.1
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Twitter: @disciplesrevive
1 Mantey, Charles. July 2014 Newsletter
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It’s time to wave goodbye to warm champagne, to say farewell to lukewarm wine, and to offer a decisive sayonara to bad design.
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Happy 43rd Birthday Tyler Perry
Today Tyler Perry, the man who made a gun-toting senior citizen by the name of Madea a household name turns 43 years old. Tyler has had to fight really hard over the years to silence his critics (most from the Black community) because of the messages they felt he was sending through his movies, but I still believe that he is a talented man who has accomplished so much in a very short time and has opened up many doors for people of color in entertainment.
Tyler announced his birthday today by posting this photo of him as a baby. | {
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Welcome Sharon Page. So pleased you could join me in an interview. Sharon, I see you have two new books coming out in September from Kensington Aphrodisia, Sin and Wild Nights, can you tell us a little about the premise of the stories?
Though both are very hot erotic romance, they're very different stories. Set in Regency London, Sin takes my heroine on a dangerous journey to a scandalous orgy. To save her destitute family, Venetia Hamilton draws erotic art—and her lush paintings are society’s secret pleasure. Targeted by a ruthless killer, she must accept the protection of Marcus Wyndham, the Earl of Trent—a powerful man whose expert touch is only the beginning of her carnal education…
Midnight Man is my novella in the Wild Nights anthology. Michael Rourke is six-foot four inches of male perfection—but he is also a Varkyre, the most damned species of vampire. He has found his soul mate, Erin Kennedy, a mortal who does not yet know the real meaning of pleasure. Can he convince her of his love before the full moon destroys him?
Can you tell us a little about Kensington Aphrodisia? Is this the steamy line of their books?
Ultra steamy! Aphrodisia is Kensington’s erotic romance line, spicier than Brava. Intensely erotic—including ménages, BDSM, etc. There’s a terrific variety of story lines—contemporary, historical, futuristic, paranormal. All have satisfying endings, but a happily ever after ending is not required. My stories are all romances, ending with a committed relationship, even if it is between two men and a lady.
Do you find you tend to mirror your own experiences to draw emotion into you characters?
As an author, I do tend to this. I like to create scenes that speak to my soul and I hope they speak to readers. One of my favorite scenes in Sin is the one when Marcus holds his baby nephew and is at once honored and terrified. I remember holding my own brand-new baby and watching our daughter in my husband’s hands!
Did you have to do a lot of research for Sin?
I love reading regency-set romances, and had been writing my own for a few years before I sold A Gentleman Seduced to Ellora’s Cave, and then Sin to Kensington. Also, I love reading research material on the time period—it’s so fascinating to see what life was once like. There are always details that need to be checked—from which flowers are blooming to quirky settings for sex. For Sin, I acquired books about Regency erotic art, and I used to be an avid painter, so writing about an artist came naturally.
Have you considered a sequel to Sin? Why or why not?
Sin is the first in a trilogy about bohemian artist Rodesson’s illegitimate daughters. Venetia is the feisty artist—the one who takes care of them all. The second sister, Maryanne (in the upcoming Black Silk) is the quiet writer—but I’m planning to have her publishing the erotic writings of courtesans who need a new career. Grace, the youngest, will be the rebel—though how she will rebel in this family, I’m not yet sure.
How has being a writer changed or affected your life or you?
That’s a tough question. I’ve been writing most of my life, so I suppose it has affected me in many ways. I still can't believe I am living my dream of being a published author. Eventually I hope I can show my children that you can achieve dreams with lots of hard work.
Do you have a routine for writing? Or just when the mood strikes?
I worry about deadlines. I used to work for a structural engineering office and usually had several deadlines a day. When I have a deadline, I like to be progressing toward it, so I write every day. I have to miss some days, but I set a schedule of interim deadlines and strive to reach those.
Tell us about the moment you made up your mind to submit your work to a publisher.
At an August social for my RWA chapter, I decided I was going to work toward getting published. During renovating our house, and having my first child, I didn't write a lot. But making that decision helped to get me focused. I targeted Ellora’s Cave in ’03, and my story sold. As soon as I heard about Kensington’s Aphrodisia line, I sent a submission.
You have a Historical Vampire series BLOOD RED coming out January 2007?
Yes, Blood Red launches my new historical vampire series. Blood Red is a sinfully sensual indulgence for me—two heroes! It’s a tale of vampire twins—one is an arrogant, powerful earl, the other is the bad boy younger brother, both with tortured pasts. Writing two alpha heroes and making them both men that the heroine (and the reader) would fall in love with was a challenge I loved taking on.
Excerpts for Sin, Wild Nights, and Blood Red (my January vampire novel from Aphrodisia) are there. And a new contest will be up soon.
If you could say one thing to readers, what would that be?
A big "thank you" for your support! It is so incredibly exciting to meet people who have read my stories, who’ve enjoyed them, and liked spending time with the characters.
Sharon Page, thank you so much for joining me in this interview. Are there any other upcoming works you would like to mention or anything you would like to add about Sin and Wild Nights?
Thank you so much for inviting me. I really enjoyed writing both Sin and Wild Nights. I am an Agatha Christie fan and in Sin I loved blending steamy erotica, emotional romance, and a who-dunnit mystery. Wild Nights is my first vampire story and my first contemporary. I discovered I love writing paranormal as much as I love to read it—I love the intensity of paranormal stories—life and death, loss of soul, eternal damnation, or the chance of salvation. It works beautifully with the power and intensity of erotica and romance.
Fabulous Interview, Thank you Ms. Page, and Coffee Time Romance also wants to take this time to thank you for joining us today. Thank you. | {
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WrestleMania 34 takes place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on April 8. I could be alone in this, but Carmella is one of my favorites on SmackDown Live.
'So if it takes feeding your ego to make it happen, allow me to try my best'.
The Phenomenal One opened up last night's show by addressing the match with The King Of Strong Style. And last night, Styles and Nakamura both turned their attention towards that match in the opening segment of the night. Nakamura won at the end though in what was a decent opener for the show.
Tonight's Mixed Match Challenge bout will be the final second round match with Flair and Bobby Roode vs.
Jinder Mahal came out to attack both men after the bell in a signal of what may be next on the agenda for the title at WrestleMania.
Jinder continued his reign of terror in the division by this week defeating Bobby Roode on SmackDown, before being laid out by an RKO from Randy Orton.
Jay-Z, Beyoncé coming to Arlington in September
Tickets to all US dates of the stadium tour go live on Ticketmaster March 19 and will most likely sell out instantly. Music superstars Jay-Z and Beyonce are bringing their OTR II ( On The Run ) tour to Gillette Stadium.
The dream match that the WWE universe has wanted to see for a while wasn't a complete guarantee heading into WrestleMania 34.
For weeks now The Bludgeon Brothers have been teasing that they want a shot at the Tag Team Titles, and they made that very clear on Sunday night at the Fastlane pay-per-view. Come join us for a show that, whether titles change or not, should have a few worthwhile matches on it.
Do you think that Asuka will beat Charlotte down, following the confidence in herself and capabilities?
Charlotte, meanwhile, has been SmackDown Women's Champion since November after defeating Natalya in a main event match on an episode of SmackDown Live.
The first-ever women's Royal Rumble match victor Asuka made it official on Sunday that she wants a fight with Miss Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania in the WWEFastlane.
Even after Undertaker's legendary undefeated streak was ended by Brock Lesnar in 2014 at 21 consecutive victories, a match between Undertaker and Cena at WrestleMania still would've appealed to me. It was an overbooked match, but it was still fast and entertaining. A kick-off worthy match, this would be the ideal platform for women superstars from RAW and SmackDown - not in the title picture - to be part of Wrestlemania and also provides WWE the opportunity to introduce NXT upstarts, setting them up for a big main roster debut.
I thought Shane acted like a heel here because his interference in the match seemed unfair to both Owens and Zayn.
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Leonard , the 2014 Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, was first revealed to be injured in training camp. Leonard's return would bring an end to a seemingly endless saga, and one highly unusual for the usually drama-free Spurs .
For his part, Modi pointed out that India has started the world's largest renewable energy expansion program. India and France called for affordable solar technology and concessional finance for promoting solar energy.
T-Mobile has set two Guinness World Records to coincide with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus tomorrow. Long story short, you need a case or you're nearly certainly going to smash your hot new Samsung phone.
The state's unemployment rate in January 2018 is at record low 3,1%, state Department of Workforce Development reported. The nation's businesses added 313,000 new jobs in February, cutting the unemployment rate for black men and black women.
Gottlieb said the FDA would also be seeking comment on more potential rules, including possibly limiting menthol in cigarettes. The study was published March 14 in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
The break of the alliance comes before the Lok Sabha election and the assembly elections due next year. However, these could not come up today after proceedings were disrupted by the opposition protests.
Flourgon seems to thinks Miley's declaration of not stopping is the same thing as him saying he 'runs things'". The single " We Can't Stop " is certified platinum and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2013.
During the production, he clashed with producer Effie Brown in a conversation that was perceived to be racially insensitive. Big-name actors can often negotiate riders in their contracts allowing them to make special requests.
Last season, Brees completed an NFL-record 72 percent of his passes for 4,334 yards and 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions. So close , they have just agreed to a new contract for $50 million over two years.
In Cricket, Australia women defeated India by 8 wickets in the first One-Day International of the three-match series in Vadodara . She was asked about the new central contracts where the elite women players stand to earn Rs 50 lakh per annum.
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QB Case Keenum intends to sign with Broncos, sources say
Keenum played in two fewer games than Cousins a year ago and finished just 546 yards behind the former Washington quarterback. But in the case of many others, Keenum may be the consolation prize to Kirk Cousins, the top free agent on the market.
Ace is Fitbit's new kid-focused fitness tracker
That said, Fitbit is providing the option to mix the two for the first time; allowing kids to go half-and-half on the bands. One downside of buying the Versa instead of the Ionic is that it theoretically lasts one day lesser (4 days vs 5 days).
Amazon Brings Calling and Messaging to Alexa on Tablets
This means that the regular Echo speaker could not make these video calls but the Echo Spot would be able to make video calls. If you have the Alexa app, read on to learn more about what this new messaging and calling capability can help you do.
January unemployment rate in ME was 3 percent
That number is also slightly up from last month's 3.3 percent, though county figures are not adjusted for seasonal job losses. Most of the hiring occurred in administrative and support services (+3,000), while management of companies decreased 1,300.
Who is David Solomon? Goldman banker moves closer to top role
In the years ahead, a priority for Solomon, if he indeed succeeds Blankfein as CEO, will be the rivalry between the US and China. Solomon will become sole president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs as of April 20, the company said Monday. | {
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Are you Inspiring or Deflating? 5 Ways to Encourage the Best in Others
I recently fired someone. It wasn’t that he was doing a bad job, per se. The main reason was because his way of communicating with me was to scold me for what he considered my underperformance, rather than encouraging me to do better. This professional (for whom I was the client, paying him) made a point of telling me that my early efforts were “off to a very poor start,” and that all of his other clients were doing a far better job. He even went so far as to get downright punitive, charging me $200 for a missed appointment after I cancelled because of a raging stomach flu.
No one wants to be constantly scolded or treated like a two-year-old, even when they have significant room for improvement (as I do!). Most people know where or when they’re falling short, so pointing that out doesn’t help improve the situation. Instead, why not set a higher bar and encourage people to reach for it?
Here are five relatively easy ways to take an inspirational approach:
1) Tell them you believe in them. Saying to someone, “I know you can do this,” is far more motivating than questioning their abilities. It also sets a positive expectation that they will perform at the level you expect them to. If you want to take it a step further, make it clear to the entire team that you know for a fact that Susan can and will do what’s needed.
2) Surround them with successful and inspiring peers. Those we work with most closely can have the greatest impact on our own performance. I’m a member of a global learning community of some of the world’s leading consultants. We bolster one another’s skills, learn from each other’s experiences and mistakes, and take turns being leaders in the areas in which we excel. That’s inspiring all the way around.
3) Ensure they have appropriate support. Even the most talented staff member may fall below his or her anticipated performance level if the needed supports aren’t in place. For example, can you really expect your program officer to spend time networking and building new relationships if she’s also expected to handle all of the administrative functions related to her grant portfolio? Can you fault a program manager who falls behind on grants processing when you forbid remote access to your files while he’s traveling for work? The last thing you want to do is inspire someone to climb higher if there are no rungs in the ladder.
4) Help them figure out course corrections. Everyone hits roadblocks. The difference between being inspirational or deflating someone is in how much you’re willing to help find the way around. This doesn’t mean doing the work for them, or making excuses for them. It means helping them evaluate the obstacle and determining the approach that will work best for them. As a consultant, I use this practice frequently. I know that what I would do in a given situation may not be the best solution for my coaching clients, so I ask a LOT of questions – about what they see as the main obstacles, what they consider viable options, what the pros and cons of each might be, what resources are at their disposal, and what feels like the best solution for them.
5) Applaud their success. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like to be told that they’re doing a great job, or that they really made a difference, or that they’re just downright awesome at something. As part of your process to inspire someone, don’t forget to point out what they’ve done well. I’m not suggesting balloons and confetti here – just a simple, “nice job!” is really all it takes to makes someone feel great about themselves and their abilities and ready to do more.
None of these approaches is unique to philanthropy or even the professional world. They’re also useful for building the confidence of your bridge team or golf partner, for leading a volunteer committee and even for raising kids.
Of course, not everyone can live up to this level of inspiration all the time. I certainly don’t think I offered any words of inspiration when I let that person go. But in retrospect, I wish I’d said something like this: “It’s clear that you have an eye toward helping others improve, and with a little coaching on interpersonal skills, I think you’ll become a very valuable and valued asset to many more clients.”
If you’ve got a great tip for inspiring change in others rather than scolding them about their shortcomings, I’d love to hear it. Please share with me and I’ll send you a complimentary copy of my forthcoming book, Confident Giving.
Kris Putnam-Walkerly will be speaking on April 20, 2016 at the NEPA Alliance Grantmakers Forum, in Scranton PA on “5 Practices of Extraordinary Grantmakers”. This provocative session for foundation CEOs and trustees will address creating a culture of innovation, having an abundance vs. poverty mentality, streamlining operations, intentionally learning and improving, and collaborating with other funders for impact. Contact her at [email protected] if you are interested in booking a speaker for your next event, or hosting a training for your board.
“Working with Putnam is extremely beneficial. Their attention to detail – specifically in analyzing and sharing information to support our decision making – helped us to stay organized and on time and really made an RFP process that was so overwhelmingly big seem well organized to all participants. | {
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Google has reportedly been building a new messaging app that will allow the users to chat with their friends or message an intelligent Google bot for answers to their questions.
Google has reportedly been building a new messaging app that will allow the users to chat with their friends or message an intelligent Google bot for answers to their questions.
According to The Verge, the company has been working on this new service for at least a year, though it is not known when it might launch.
The details are still light on this. It is also reported that Google will likely allow other developers to build chat bots that run on the service, so the users could receive an answer from an app that has the information they are looking for
The service looks like it’s meant to directly compete with Facebook M, a bot that Facebook is testing inside of Messenger. | {
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Kolkata Knight Riders are expected to make sign big names in the IPL Player Auction in Bengaluru on 6 February.
Kolkata Knight Riders have now won four out of their last five games at the Eden Gardens.Shaun Roy / IPL / SPORTZPICS
Former Australia batsman Simon Katich, who is the assistant coach of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, is expected to form a solid partnership with KKR captain Gautam Gambhir and coach Jaques Kallis in IPL 2016.
The trio, who will play an important role for KKR in the ninth edition of the IPL, that starts on 9 April, has huge experience under their belt. However, their first task will be to pick some strong players in the IPL Player Auction on 6 February in Bengaluru.
These experienced campaigners are going to be under pressure as team's co-owner Shahrukh Khan wants his team to win the title. KKR is one of the most popular and successful franchises, which have won the IPL in 2012 and 2014. Can they deliver a hat-trick by winning the title in 2016?
Katich, Kallis and Gambhir played the game with passion and were never shy of having a go at their opponents when they wore their national colours. One such occasion that springs to mind immediately is Gambhir's spat with Katich when India played against Australia in 2008. The umpires intervened before the situation went off the boil.
The Aussie remembers the incident and stated that the duo has already laughed it off.
"Yeah, we had a good little run-in in Delhi, when I was bowling," said Katich. "I think that will be the first thing all the boys mention if I see any footage of it. Gautam and I have already had a laugh about it, but that was in a former life. So now that we're working together, that's done and dusted," The Times of India quoted Katich as saying.
Irrespective of whatever has transpired in the past, they need to erase it from their memories and join hands to help KKR lift the title in 2016, which is possible with a number of stars in the team.
With players such as Manish Pandey, Lasith Malinga, Chris Lynn and Andre Russell in their ranks, they have the ammunition to fire in the 2016 IPL. These players can play a huge role in making Katich's stint with KKR a success. They are expected to bid for some big names during the IPL Player Auction in February, and are also said to be interested in signing Jos Buttler.
"I'm looking forward to working with him and Jacques and hopefully having a good campaign," said Katich. | {
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A Grand Old Sentinel was at Risk in Seattle'sGreenwood Neighborhood.
This is the story of what happened...
A truly Exceptional, Western Red Cedar was endangered in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood.We, a group of neighbors, created this site as a place to share information about the value of trees in our urban neighborhoods, raise awareness of City codes that put Exceptional Trees at risk, and give our fellow citizens a way to follow and support our campaign.
After over 10 months of perseverance against staggering odds, we reached a settlement with the developer, Andy Duffus, which included a covenant that will prevent removal of this tree, in perpetuity, and a requirement that he build to a footprint that preserves the tree.
For more, read on below.
Huge thanks to all who supported this campaign!
Watch
"The Power of Trees"A short film by The Nature Conservancy of Washington
A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this means is that we must address trees as we must address all things, confronting them in the awareness that we are in the presence of numinous mystery.- Brian Swimme
Our Story
A beloved 100+ yr-old Western Red Cedar on the 500 block of North 82nd Street in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood - here before any of the houses on our street and home to various birds and creatures - was slated to be cut down so a big developer could construct two large (3,000+ sq ft) homes on a lot one small farmhouse has occupied since 1904.
Loopholes in the City's building codes result in a less than Emerald City. As of 2007, tree canopy is below 20% in single-family residential areas, and it seems things have not improved since.
We are a group of Greenwood neighbors who fought as hard as we could to save it, against all odds. Now, this tree will remain a grand sentinel on our block and in our neighborhood for many years to come, likely longer than any of us.
We developed this site as a way to share information about urban trees and development in Seattle, share the story of our tree, as well as provide information about how to help the cause and ways to take action. Thanks for visiting!
The Journey
In December of 2016 we learned that the lot at 516 North 82nd Street had been purchased by Andy Duffus and his brother Dan, who have built several large houses on small lots in our neighborhood in recent years. They have made a practice of buying lots large enough to be short-platted (split into two smaller lots) for the price of the land, then build two large houses where one had been for many years. To be fair, they are completely within their legal right to do so. This is an excellent equation for business, but can be a disastrous one for retention of increasingly rare and beautiful, old growth trees.
We became immediately concerned about losing this tree. Even though it stands at the southwest end of the lot, on the western lot line, we feared its size would impede development if the developer planned to split the lot and build two houses, to maximum limit of each lot's boundaries. We reached out to him with a letter, signed by over 30 neighbors, appealing to him to spare the tree in his plans. He responded with two possible solutions: 1) that we could buy that plot for $500k or 2) he would draw up plans for a smaller house and run the numbers to see if it would be feasible. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find a buyer for half of the lot and he came back to us with news that it would not pencil out for his firm to build the smaller house, unless we gave him $175k. This wasn't a viable option for us either.
Through many communications with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) and researching flexibility regarding building restrictions where Exceptional Trees are concerned, we came up with several ideas of alternative designs that would allow the developer to build a smaller house, but recover more profit (using $175k as a goal.) We also met with city council member Mike O'Brien, who was very responsive to our concerns, and although he admitted there may not be anything the City can do for this particular tree, he promised us he would work to change the SDCI short-platting codes to consider Exceptional Trees.
The current City codes do not consider protection of this tree in permitting the short-plat application process. Once short-plat is granted, the tree would no longer be protected, as the parcels will be smaller than 5k square feet. The SDCI, permitted the short-plat application on May 1st. We filed an appeal of this decision on May 15th. The evidentiary hearing was scheduled for August 22nd, and we began a three month preparation of our case and alternative solutions. The morning of August 21st however, we received news that the hearing examiner had dismissed our appeal, and made a judgement without hearing our case. Our tirelessly passionate attorney, Dave Bricklin, appealed the dismissal, and we were granted a reprieve: our day in court. The new hearing date was set for October 3rd.
Then came a turning point for our campaign: Nicole Brodeur's column about our tree in the Seattle Times (September 12th, 2017) attracted the attention of local, award-winning green builder: Anthony Maschmedt, principal at Dwell Development. Reading the story, he decided he wanted to buy the parcel with the tree and build a smaller house, saving the tree. Owner, Andy Duffus, through Blueprint Capital, was agreeable to selling the parcel to him, along with an easement to allow Anthony's house to be moved over to allow a safer margin for the tree.
We settled our appeal with Mr. Duffus on October 2nd, the night before our hearing. Most importantly, our settlement included a covenant that will prevent the removal of this tree, in perpetuity, unless it becomes diseased and/or unsafe in some way. Later, Anthony withdrew from the project, however tree protection and his smaller building footprint remain part of our settlement agreement to be carried out by Andy Duffus in development of this lot.There were so many times this campaign could have been over, and the tree lost. This resolution is the result of many months of blood, sweat, tears and dollars from: a cadre of wildly-perseverant neighbors with differing skills brought to the task; an incredibly sharp and passionate attorney; a group of fabulous expert witnesses (arborist, land use specialist, architect;) the invaluable help of Nicole Brodeur at the Seattle Times and the support of many friends, family and community.
We are deeply grateful for the efforts of all who supported this campaign. You made a difference here.Thank You!
They stood still and gazed at the forest,They looked at the height of the cedars,They looked at the entrance to the forest...They beheld the cedar mountain, abode of the god,Throne-seat of Irnini.From the face of the mountainThe cedars raise aloft their luxuriance.God is their shade, full of delight.
- The Story of Gilgamesh
It's Up to Us to
Campaign for Change
Beyond our efforts to save this tree, our aim is three-fold: to develop a model and tools that enable neighborhood groups to fight urban deforestation as a result of residential development, to join together with neighborhoods/neighborhood groups across Seattle to protect urban trees and forests; and to organize political action for change at the level of local government.
"...Seattle needs to update its tree ordinance to require permits to cut down significant trees (over 6 inch diameter), two week posting of tree cutting proposals, registration of arborists with the city and tree replacement. These are all things that SDOT already requires for street trees and they need to extended citywide to help maintain our tree canopy in the face of intense development occurring in Seattle." - Friends of Seattle's Urban Forest
The Cause
Canopy &Quality of Life
Adiel Kaplan, in her article for Investigate West (July 27th, 2016,) noted recent moves in the wrong direction by city planning officials. Proposed changes to the City's "Comprehensive Plan, which lays out broad goals for how Seattle will grow over the next two decades, have also triggered unease among those who preach the benefits of trees. The 2005 version of the plan, which is updated roughly every 10 years, set out to expand the tree canopy to 30 percent coverage of the city by 2037 and ultimately to 40 percent. It also called for “no net loss of canopy.”
"(T)he percentage goals remain but the “no net loss of canopy” goal has been removed. City planners say it was redundant and removing it signifies no change in policy, but neighborhood groups fear that without the “no net loss” language, it will be easier for the city to go back on its word in the future."
More recently, however, Adiel Kaplan and Robert McClure note in their Investigate West article (October 27th, 2107,) "It’s been nearly a decade since the City of Seattle set out to protect the pollution-catching, health-promoting tree canopy that gave the town the nickname “The Emerald City.” But little actually happened. Meanwhile, a post-recession building boom unleashed a torrent of development that chipped away at the city’s leafy umbrella. The results are not pretty. Seattle’s current canopy-preservation system is “not supporting tree protection,” according to a city report quietly completed earlier this year."
Still, there is reason to be hopeful. "...things may finally be changing. This month city officials began signaling that they are ready to take some steps to keep the Emerald City green...City Council member Rob Johnson said he will be pushing to adopt an updated and strengthened city tree protection ordinance, which first was passed by the City Council in 2008. That 2008 law was viewed as an interim measure. But years went by with no tougher ordinance." Now needs to be the time.
We firmly believe that retaining our urban tree canopy will require local governmental leadership and change of City codes and philosophy in regard to development where Exceptional and Heritage Trees are concerned. We can't leave the fate of these irreplaceable trees to the sole discretion of development interests. Loss of tree canopy, especially Exceptional Trees, will have far-reaching impacts on our environment, general health and quality of life here in Seattle.
Significantly reduce runoff and improve water quality through filtration
Reduce urban particulate pollution and work to offset CO2 emissions
Improve the mental health of urban inhabitants
A SELF- EVIDENT TRUTH: The Urban Forest is essential.Trees save money through their green infrastructure services. They reduce stormwater run off, mudslides, urban flooding, soil erosion, and reduce energy costs by moderating the local climate.
Trees are good for the environment: they increase bio-diversity, protect habitat, pollinators, and wildlife. They provide for a cleaner Puget Sound, and they mitigate the causes and effects of global climate change.
Tree Designation
There are two designations urban trees can be granted to provide limited protection in construction and development projects. This tree was unable to be designated Heritage because the property owner (in this case, the developer) must agree to it. However, a professional arborist's report has designated it an Exceptional Tree.
Seattle Director's Rule 16-2008 designates an Exceptional Tree as:a tree or group of trees that because of its unique historical, ecological, or aesthetic value constitutes an important community resource, and is determined as such by the Director according to standards and procedures promulgated by the Department of Planning and Development. By this rule, Exceptional trees must also meet benchmarks of health and age (indicated by trunk diameter.)
Building Codes
While some City codes include protections for Exceptional Trees, residential development on lots smaller than 5k square feet is not required to protect trees if they impede a developer from building to the maximum legal limit of the lot (up to 5ft on side lot lines and ~20ft from rear lot line.) Thus, short-platting practices (division of a 5k+ lot into two smaller lots) put these exceptional trees in harm's way and all but guarantee they will increasingly disappear from our city's neighborhoods. | {
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Dr. Dobson's Parenting Devotional - Aug. 11
I began my sophomore year of high school experiencing all the usual teenage changes.
But there had also been one very unusual one.
Near the end of junior high, I began to realize that my eyesight was deteriorating.
As I picked my way carefully through the packed hallways of Glades Junior High, I was amazed at how my classmates streamed through the crowd with such ease—even in dark stairwells. How could they do that without bumping into schoolmates or lockers? When we played softball in P.E., I couldn’t understand how my teammates could catch the ball so easily. I would stand out in right field, glove in hand, and stare intently at the ground, trying to see the shadow of the approaching ball. Then I’d listen to where it landed and hope I could find it.
Difficult as it was to admit…I began to realize that it wasn’t normal for me not to be able to see a softball in the air or the stairs in a stairwell. As a result, I began to feel more awkward and self-conscious. At last I became so concerned that I told my mother, who (as you might imagine) immediately took me to an ophthalmologist.
The eye doctor tried to remedy my failing sight with prescriptions for stronger glasses, but they didn’t help. Eventually, he referred me to an eye hospital. After several days of testing, the doctors met with my folks and me. They told us that I had retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease that slowly eats away the retina of the eye.
There was no cure and no way to correct damage already done.
The doctors said I had lost so much vision that, at fifteen, I was already legally blind. And they told us that my retinas would continue to deteriorate until I was totally blind.
Blind…totally blind.
The words sounded so final. So certain. So cold. I felt a chill inside that I’d never felt before.
Nothing else was said. Silence fell upon us like shadows fall just before night, and it shrouded us as we left the hospital, walked across the parking lot, got in the car, and journeyed home.
I have often thought that it was probably much harder for my parents that day than it was for me. Yes, my eyes were being robbed of sight, but their hearts were being crushed. Can you imagine their heartache? Can you hear the sound of that door slamming in their souls? Surely one of life’s greatest sorrows must be to watch your child suffer…and to feel helpless to prevent it.
My dad gripped the steering wheel tightly as he piloted us home through the spidery Miami streets. I could only imagine the prayers he must have been praying. He had always been my source of wisdom, my counselor, my comforter, my rescuer, and the one man I trusted completely. I wonder if he was thinking, Dear Lord, how can I fix this?
Yet on the ride home he was silent.
My mother sat next to him in the front seat. I could feel her broken heart. A mother’s heart is so tender. I wonder what her prayers were like on that day. My mom was my standard, my cheerleader, my encourager, my mentor, and my friend. I think she must have been wondering, Will she be safe?
Yet on the ride home, she too, was silent.
I had always been strong-willed, trusting, sensitive, and talkative. Yet, sitting in the backseat, I also kept silent. I remember the reasons for my silence as if it were yesterday. My heart was swelling with emotion, and my mind was racing with questions and thoughts. How will I finish high school? Will I ever go away to college? How will I know what I look like? Will I ever get a date or a boyfriend? Will I ever get married?I remember feeling my fingertips and wondering how in the world people read Braille.
And then it hit me.
I would never be able to drive a car.
Like most teenagers, I thought that having wheels was just like having wings. I couldn’t wait to drive! That was a step toward independence to which nothing else compared. But now it was a rite of passage I would never experience, and I was crushed.
After forty-five long minutes, we arrived home. Once inside, I went immediately to the living room and sat down at our piano. It was old and stately and had a warm, comforting sound. For me it was a place of refuge.
By then I had played the piano for several years. In fact, I’d had almost five years of lessons. The funny thing about my lessons, though, was that I’d managed to stretch them out over an eight-year period. I was one of those kids who would beg my mother to let me take piano lessons—and then after about six months beg her to let me quit! Three or four months later we’d start the whole routine over again.
I barely muddled through my lessons, and I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant for the listener to hear me practice. Let’s just say that I was a little short on natural talent! I did, however, practice diligently every night after dinner. That’s because if I did, I was excused from clearing the table and washing the dishes.
But this time was different.
I wasn’t seeking refuge from chores, and I didn’t play the few songs I’d memorized. Instead, I began to play by ear, and the melody that filled the living room that afternoon belonged to a song I’d never played before. My fingers followed a pattern along the keyboard that was new to me, yet…somehow familiar.
The song I played was “It Is Well with My Soul.”
I think God guided my heart and hands to play that hymn. Some people have told me it was a miracle that I could sit down at the piano that day and begin to play by ear for the first time. Perhaps it was. Who knows? But to me, there was a bigger miracle that dark day.
The miracle was not that I played “It Is Well with My Soul,” but that it actually was well with my soul.
Now, more than twenty years later, I look back and wonder at all that has happened. I still can’t see, of course, and I know well the hardships that blindness brings. Yet I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and two sons, as well as a meaningful speaking ministry. God has been good to me.
On that day so long ago—in the hospital, on the ride home, and at the piano—even as I mourned my loss, I looked into the heart of my Teacher. I knew His Word and His character, and they were what allowed me to say then—and still say today—“Whatever my lot…it is well with my soul.”
Looking ahead…
There are times when we as parents are not able to shield the children we love from troubles, disappointment, and heartache. Rejection by friends, failure, injuries, and illness are, for the most part, matters over which we have little control. When these trials occur, we end up feeling as helpless as Jennifer Rothschild’s parents on the day they learned that their daughter was going blind.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus warned us that life on earth would not be easy: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Yet we know that one reason the Lord allows trials in our lives is to create opportunities to draw near to Him. He understands how easy it is for us to fall away from daily prayer, worship, and study of His Word when times are good. It is why the apostle Peter said, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12–13).
It can be terribly difficult to rejoice in the midst of hardship or crisis, especially when our own children are involved. Yet these are the times, more than ever, that your family needs to know that God remains in control and is still the source of all love, comfort, and strength. We’ll talk more about this important truth in the days ahead: Even when it is not well with our circumstances, it can be well with our souls.
- James C Dobson
“It Is Well with My Soul” by Jennifer Rothschild. From Lessons I Learned in the Dark (Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2002). Used by permission. | {
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Fig, Sweet Potato, and Wild Rice Stuffing
I can’t really take any credit for this recipe, aside from the eating. It was almost completely the brainchild of our friend Bonnie, who had all the ideas except adding in the crispy garlic, which Dave came up with. I’m just playing photographer and stenographer, this time.
(Incidentally, Bonnie makes and sells the cutest, awesomest sock monkeys. I wish she had a website I could link to in saying this. If you are craving sock monkeys, you should let me know so I can send you her way.)
Stuffing is generally seen as a Thanksgiving tradition, and I know very few people who bother with it at any other time of year, myself included. What a damn shame. Now is the time for stuffing, it turns out, while the markets are full of fresh figs and local sweet potatoes. The figs add so much flavor to this stuffing, added in raw at the very end. The sweet potatoes add richness and pull up the figs’ sweetness to a level I prefer, and the texture of the wild rice is the perfect foil for the rest.
I must confess that stuffing is a misnomer, as we never stuffed this stuffing into anything but our bellies. What of it? The best Thanksgiving stuffings are usually those cooked outside of the bird.
Rinse the sweet potatoes and poke holes in them with a fork, then wrap them each separately in aluminum foil and bake at 375°F until tender (45-60 minutes). Once they’re ready, unwrap them and let them cool just enough to be able to peel them and chop them into 1/2″ chunks.
Boil plenty of salted water, add in the wild rice, and gently boil, covered, until tender (45-60
minutes). Drain and set aside.
Heat the butter in a pan and cook the garlic in it over medium heat, stirring often, until crispy.
stir all ingredients together and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Hey Danielle – this looks like a winning combination. I’m thinking that it could almost be a main course if you baked it in a casserole and maybe threw some parmesan over the top. I might have to try it!!!
Sexy photo too.
Sock monkeys (and glass beads for that matter) can be sold internationally on Etsy.com. I’m not selling anything there at the moment but I do spend hours looking at things other people have made. Sometimes I buy too!
Is there a way I can print this receipe w/o printing this whole page? Looks yummy. I just finished eating a box of Mission Figs…not all at once now. I just add them to my hot oatmeal when I microwave it. I also put them into my vitamin smoothie and blend/ And then I mix them with blueberries, a little honey and coconut oil. Microwave for about 20 sec(depending on how much you are doing. Tastes like blueberry pie. Delicious. I sure do love figs. I sometimes just pop them in my mouth like candy and eat them.
We recently moved to Hattiesburg, MS. Our neighbors have a dozen or so Fig Trees. New to us, being from Iowa. It is such a pleasure to see the variety of fruits. We just don’t know what to do with all the bounty. I am going to try your recipe, I think it will be a big hit. Thanks. | {
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About: The Sword and the Fox or Ken to kitsune is a story about a young swordsman named junko who goes to seek sword left in the supposedly haunted castle of a former emperor and meets princess Hayami, a kitsune beast women Who now lives there. Your goal is to guide Junko through this journey to find the sword and find out who this kitsune is and why she invited you in.
Hello I am looking to make games myself soon, ill be putting up a proof of concept game in rpg maker 2003 but hope to port the assests to something like game maker to have more control.( assuming game maker will stop being as complex as it is with its lack of the tutorials i need). | {
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Innocent schoolgirl Moeka Kurihara will get her throat extremely fucked until she chokes and drools throughout her school uniform. Her throat abuse finishes with your an enormous sticky facial that they does not know what hit her at TokyoFaceFuck.
Yui Kawagoe is really a submissive little slut who likes to get cock shoved lower her throat. She sucks cock but it is insufficient, so she begs to be rammed lower her throat hard. She will get so excited she needs to masturbate until she gets to be a massive sticky facial at Tokyo Face Fuck.
Sweet innocent Luna Kobayashi is our little face fuck pet today. Excited for use just like a fuck toy she welcomes a thick cock by having an open wet mouth and requires a hard throat ramming until her face is included with throat slime and cum at TokyoFaceFuck.
Ayaka Yamashita comes back home still in her own secretary uniform when she is built to jump on her knees and suck dick. She gags difficult on the firm cock rammed deep into her throat and her face is destroyed with a lot of throat slime and cum at Tokyo Face Fuck.
Youthful wife Yuma Miyazaki is really horny she’ll do anything whatsoever for cock. Therefore we tie her up and provide her plenty to swallow. She gags and chokes constantly until her pussy is really as wet as her slimy face at TokyoFaceFuck.
Maria Ono is tangled up and begs for dick while her dom friend Natsuki shoves her face into cock. Natsuki will get horny watching Maria get her mouth pounded and should not help but to masturbate while holding Maria’s mind firmly while she gags at Tokyo Face Fuck. | {
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I’ve written here before about the ongoing puzzle of improving the ratio of women to men in the tech sector. It’s an issue with many angles. There’s an acknowledged “pipeline problem” – a lack of women graduating from university with...
Hi. I'm Lauren.
I'm a seasoned tech entrepreneur and author who asks a lot of questions. I offer strategy and coaching for creatives, entrepreneurs, and accidental bosses who want to infuse more joy, curiosity, and ease into their lives and work – and create growth that has meaning and purpose.
More about me…
Special Delivery
If you like what you see here, get on my email list to get new articles delivered right to your inbox. | {
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The Morning Routines of Crazy-Successful People
Great work requires just that: work. However, discipline looks different for everyone -- maybe you're more of a night person and your mornings are better spent lazily making breakfast. Or, perhaps you know that you're sharpest in the morning and you need to hop to it.
Part of what makes looking at how talented, prolific people spend/spent their mornings so fascinating is the sheer diversity; there's no one prescription for success. Your morning ritual is your own and should reflect your loves, goals, and personal quirks. And there are a lot of quirks in this list. Looking at you, Beethoven.
Marilyn Monroe, actress
Monroe may have pioneered the high-protein breakfast smoothie, but of course, the star's version stands out from the crowd of kale, mango, and almond butter that fills up Pinterest boards today. In a 1952 interview, she said, "I've been told that my eating habits are absolutely bizarre, but I don't think so. Before I take my morning shower, I start warming a cup of milk on the hot plate I keep in my hotel room. When it's hot, I break two raw eggs into the milk, whip them up with a fork, and drink them while I'm dressing. I supplement this with a multi-vitamin pill, and I doubt if any doctor could recommend a more nourishing breakfast for a working girl in a hurry."
related
Toni Morrison, writer
The last American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Morrison is a working girl’s genius. While the canonically great men of the ages had servants and wives to support them because they were too busy staggering under the weight of their own brilliance, Toni Morrison had to get it done all on her own.
According to Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, Morrison used to write in the evenings, but in the '90s switched to mornings. She rises around 5am, makes coffee, and pauses to “watch the light come.” She explains, “Writers all devise ways to approach that place where they expect to make contact, where they become the conduit, or where they engage in this mysterious process. For me, the light is the signal in the transaction. It’s not being in the light. It’s being there before it arrives.”
Joan Miró, artist
Miró struggled with depression his whole life, Currey says, but when he discovered painting, his illness became much more manageable. To keep his mental health and his artistic process healthy and productive, he created a disciplined morning routine, starting at 6am. First, he washed, then enjoyed his coffee and a few slices of bread. At 7, he painted in his studio until 12, and then engaged in an hour of vigorous exercise: boxing in Paris, jumping rope in Sweden, gymnastics in Barcelona, and swimming at Mont-roig, the seaside village where his family spent their summers.
Gertrude Stein, writer, and her partner, Alice B. Toklas
The modernist writer and her partner had an endearingly bizarre morning routine that revolved around the pursuit of cows and rocks. And while Stein relied on Toklas to take care of every detail of their lives “almost to the point of parody,” as Janet Malcolm writes, somehow Stein’s codependency manages to remain charming.
Case in point, the profile of the pair that appeared in a 1934 issue of TheNew Yorker: “Miss Stein gets up every morning about ten and drinks some coffee, against her will... After her bath, she puts on a huge wool bathrobe and writes for a while, but she prefers to write outdoors, after she gets dressed... Miss Stein gets out and sits on a campstool with pencil and pad, and Miss Toklas fearlessly switches a cow into her line of vision... When the great lady has an inspiration, she writes quickly, for about fifteen minutes. But often she just sits there, looking at cows...”
Flannery O'Connor, writer
O'Connor was diagnosed with lupus in 1950 and realized she would have to be careful and disciplined with her body and her writing. She once wrote to a friend, “Routine is a condition of survival.” She started the day at 6am with meditative morning prayers from A Short Breviary. After her infusion of spirituality, she shared a Thermos of coffee in the Georgia kitchen with her mother and listened to the weather report over the radio. Then, back to praying for the 7am morning mass. After this second dose of the good news, she wrote from 9am until noon, generally averaging three pages in these three hours, which still left her exhausted due to her condition.
related
related
Louis Armstrong, musician
Armstrong was on the road so much, Currey claims, that he washed and dressed at his hotel room, then arrived at the performance venue hours before he had to be on stage, just so he could perform his daily maintenance ritual.
He drank glycerine and honey to "wash out the pipes," Maalox to soothe his stomach, and applied a salve to his lips. His mornings also started late because he suffered from insomnia, and he relied on marijuana, music, and an herbal laxative called Swiss Kriss to soothe his mind and body. He was such an avid believer in the healing properties of Swiss Kriss that he had advertising cards made with a picture of himself on the toilet to show his support. Whatever works!
Ludwig van Beethoven, composer
Currey says Beethoven started his day by counting out a self-prescribed 60 coffee beans, which he ground and brewed for his morning coffee. His bathing habits were particularly unique. According to biographer Anton Schindler, Beethoven believed that the prophet “Mohammed did not exaggerate a whit in the number of ablutions he prescribed.... he would stand in great déshabillé at his washstand and pour large pitchers of water over his hands, bellowing up and down the scale or sometimes humming loudly to himself. Then he would stride around his room with rolling or staring eyes, jot something down, then resume his pouring water and loud singing.”
Audrey Hepburn, actress
Hepburn never skipped breakfast, usually choosing two eggs, whole-wheat toast, and coffee with milk. Once a month, she would have a “detox day” during which she kept herself well hydrated and ate only fresh fruit, vegetables, and yogurt. She preferred to eat organic, and the only exercise she liked to take was walks in the fresh air. Hepburn believed that her care and attention to a healthy diet gave her the energy she needed for her demanding schedule as an actress, activist, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
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Jessica Reidy is not trying to have it all but she is writing a few books, working her Romani (“Gypsy”) family trades, and teaching university writing classes while espousing the virtues of balance in her yoga classes. Follow her at @JSReidy while she lights some candles for her daily “everything’s gonna be fine” rituals. | {
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So a guy walks into a bar and says, “Hey, wait a minute, I could do this at home!” Make your cocktails just like you like them and surprise your guests with something different. All you need is a cocktail shaker and a few basic ingredients—swizzle stick optional. | {
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Integral Ad Science: H1 2018 Media Quality Report ANZ
In IAS' latest report, they explore media quality benchmarks for display and video ad inventory on desktop, mobile web, and mobile in-app platforms. Download the report to discover key insights for the ANZ digital market, as well as highlights from around the globe, based on hundreds of billions of impressions analysed during H1 2018. | {
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If you routinely use autoexposure, one guaranteed way of making for
wasted effort is to
mount the image carelessly and include a light leak.
As demonstrated in the previous page, autoexposure operates by adjusting the
scanner's exposure until it maximizes the range of intensities that are achieved over the
scanner's sensitivity range. It searches for the brightest area of
the image and increases or decreases exposure until that area is close to the
right edge of the histogram. Increasing exposure has the effect of moving
the right edge of the histogram rightward; decreasing exposure has the effect of
moving the right edge leftward. Though the crop box defines the boundaries
of the image to be produced, NikonScan evaluates the full frame, not just the
crop area. Therefore if the brightest area is outside the crop area, as it
will be with negatives, the user may have to add exposure to obtain a full range
of tones. Normally this is modest or zero. A light leak, however,
confounds the exposure system with an area
so bright that NikonScan thinks the image contains the most extreme dynamic range
possible.
Fig. 2a Left, raw scan (without color corrections or
points set) of a carelessly mounted transparency with a light leak.
The light leak is so much brighter than any density in the image that
the autoexposure determines that the dynamic range is much greater than
it actually is. As a result the image is noticeably underexposed
and has low contrast
Fig. 2b RGB histogram. Compared with fig.
1b the light leak results in a constricted range. The red arrow
indicates that the brightest highlights (mainly in the plate) have been
misplaced. The blue arrow is the position of the brightest
highlights in fig. 1b. The light leak is represented by the spikes
(for the RGB channels)
at the extreme right
Effect of Light Leaks on Negatives
(Low-Contrast Films)
Here is a negative scanned as a positive that has been properly masked:
Fig. 3a Left, raw scan of a negative
Fig. 3b RGB histogram for main subject of fig. 3.
Fig. 3c Histogram for main subject of fig. 3
(yellow crop box). Range of intensities is typical for negative
film -- less than transparency film.
Fig. 3d Blue channel histogram
(yellow crop box)
The effect of a light leak on negatives is more serious than with
transparencies:
Fig. 4a Left, raw scan of negative with light
leak not masked
Fig. 4b Histogram for raw scan of negative with
leak, fig. 4a
Fig. 4c Histogram for main subject of fig. 4a
(yellow crop box)
Fig. 4d Note the impoverished range of the blue
channel as compared to fig. 3d
An obvious question is why I didn't use NikonScan's color negative mode to
demonstrate the effect of a light leak. The reason is that much of the
negative mode's underlying functionality, which is shown deconstructed here, is hidden
from the user. By performing an 8+ bit scan, NikonScan is able to return a
histogram with a full-range of tones, the end-product that the user sees. | {
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Text available as:
Shown Here:Introduced in House (10/31/2007)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to
affect elections.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 31, 2007
Mr. Higgins (for
himself and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the
following joint resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the
Judiciary
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to
affect elections.
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each
House concurring therein), That the following article is
proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall
be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified
by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years
after the date of its submission for ratification:
“article —
“section 1. Congress shall have power to regulate the
raising and spending of money, including through setting limits, for campaigns
for nomination for election to, or for election to, Federal office.
“section 2. A State shall have power to regulate the
raising and spending of money, including through setting limits, for—
“(1) State or local ballot initiatives,
referenda, plebiscites, or other similar ballot measures; and
“(2) campaigns for nomination for election to,
or for election to, State or local office.
“section 3. Congress shall have power to implement and
enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.”. | {
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