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__label__cc	0.728463	0.271537	strategic talent advisors Accelerated Executive & Team Success Strategic Talent Management CEO Succession & Transition Human Resources Coaching & Capacity Building The Talent Blog Why Talent Management Investments Generate Poor Returns and What to Do About It A couple of days ago my dad was updating me on what he is up to. For some time he has been active in his local chapter of a political organization and was just named chair of the candidate nominating committee. And since two of the candidates are current board members and must step down, he was recruited to re-join the board as vice-president. My father is 81. I recount this story to highlight what we are experiencing in every organization and corner of society - a dearth of talent rising through the ranks. My father, at 81, is healthy, quick-witted, competent, organized, diligent, committed and passionate. He will do an excellent job, which is why his colleagues sought him out. But where are the 60-somethings who are going to step in behind him? Despite huge investments in identifying, hiring, developing and managing talent, most organizations are not jumping up and down complaining they are awash in it. To the contrary, ‘talent’ consistently lands on the top 5 list of issues facing most organizations. By all accounts, we don’t seem to be making much headway in slaying the talent dragon. As one recent survey reports, while 60% of organizations report increased talent investment, less than 25% say their efforts are effective (Mercer, 2013). The critical question is: are we, by continuing to invest in talent management programs and initiatives, simply throwing good money after bad? I won’t claim to have all the insights or answers to this question. But after 20 years working with and for organizations on the talent dilemma, I have a few observations. The purpose of the the Strategic Talent Advisors blog series is to be constructively provocative. I believe there is a lack of honest dialogue and intellectual rigour in many of our debates on complex organizational issues. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, reactions and ideas on these issues as well. Organizational Sabotage: Things Organizations Do That Keep Them on the Talent Treadmill Some organizations have a reputation as talent engines: GE at its peak is an example of a company with a reputation for attracting the best talent, developing talent to a high standard, and regularly pruning its branches to make room for more talent. Fostering talent was a conscious decision on its part. Organizations are failing to win the talent game, in part, as a direct consequence of their intentions, decisions, and actions. Over the next few blog postings I will offer up what I see are some key contributors to talent-building failure and how they might be addressed. Here I look at the first of three organizational habits that sabotage the talent agenda: the diversity problem. Shrinking the talent pool by limiting diversity Let’s set aside research suggesting diversity leads to a wide range of positive outcomes and drive it down to a pure numbers game with a little help from our Statistics 101 course. For the sake of simplicity, let’s say there are 2 equally sized pools in the world from which you can fish for talent - the red pool and the blue pool. The law of averages kicks in: all things being equal, the number of ‘talented’ fish will be the same in the red pool as the blue pool. If you only fish from the red pool, you have the opportunity to catch all the talent from that pool. But you will miss the opportunity to catch talent from the blue pool. By fishing equally from both pools, you double the number of talented fish you can catch. The normal distribution curve sets limits on the percentage of a population that is ‘exceptional’ on a trait at <10% of any pool. So trying to get more absolute talent by increasing the number of fish you extract from the red pool won’t solve your problem. The top 20% of the red pool will not be as “talented” as the top 10% of the red pool + the top 10% of the blue pool combined. This argument holds with human talent, and can be applied to any subset of the population. In general, nature does not discriminate in awarding traits - the percentage of those in the population who possess inherent talent for leadership is the same regardless of subgroup (ie, men, women, aboriginals, people with disabilities, visible minorities, etc.). If you are doing most of your fishing from one pool, you are setting artificial limits on supply and you will never win the war for talent. It is hard to imagine another situation where a business would limit its search for an optimized solution. For example, when an organization looks to borrow money, does it limit its search to three of the big banks or does it scour the market for the cheapest and most flexible source of capital? The selection and management of human talent is probably one of the least strategic and most idiosyncratic efforts an organization undertakes. We often apply the diversity argument to advocate for change in situations where women or visible minorities are under-represented. But organizations and teams over-represented by women or minorities suffer the same fate - a smaller pool of potential leaders. The only way you can maximize your talent is by maximizing the diversity of your pool. Winning the war for talent by breaking with the status quo Intentionally tapping into and leveraging diversity is one way to make significant gains in increasing the availability of talent in your organization. And I’m not talking about the broad, newly-trendy definition of diversity as encompassing all potential points of difference between people (ie, thinking style, life experience, leadership approach). I’m talking about the hard-core categories of human demographics (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.) that, statistically-speaking, have the highest probability of presenting you with more top-quartile talent to choose from. Strategies for success Some organizations are well down the path in recognizing the strategic opportunity and competitive advantage diversity brings in the war for talent; for others, it is a work in process. And it is not easy - if it were, we would not be struggling so hard with this issue across so many domains. Many people much smarter than I am on this topic have addressed it at length and developed strong recommendations and solutions for enhancing diversity. I have three suggestions for tackling this issue in the context of building the talent pipeline. Have clarity of purpose. Driving for diversity without a clear and compelling rationale around why leads to insipid efforts and lacklustre results. If you feel the pain around not having enough pure talent somewhere in your organization, take a look at your demographic make-up to assess whether your pipeline is constrained or optimized. Do you have the opportunity to increase the amount and quality of your talent by fishing from more pools? It is okay to say you are hell-bent on diversity because you want to surround yourself with the best talent. Resist the siren call of ‘diversity in all its forms’. As someone who stands out as a little bit ‘different’ (or so I am regularly told!), I am all for embracing diversity in its many and various forms. But in an effort to be inclusive, when we broaden the definition of diversity too much we risk watering down its power as a talent-building strategy. If the goal and purpose is to increase the pure talent of an organization, focus on demographics. More expansive ways of measuring diversity are better utilized as part of a talent deployment strategy once you have the most capable teams at your disposal. Embrace monitoring and accountability. As a society we tend to resist other people telling us what to do. It is funny that ‘quota’ is a good thing when you are talking about maximizing sales but a bad thing when you are talking about maximizing diversity. Establishing expectations, measuring progress and monitoring results have a long track record of success in shifting workplace demographics at all levels in organizations, from the sales floor to the board room. I am not advocating for external bodies imposing standards. But I would advocate for organizations setting their own standards and holding themselves accountable. The board has a powerful role to play in helping diversity initiatives succeed - setting expectations, overseeing strategies, monitoring progress and celebrating success. Stay tuned for the next Talent Blog issue on this topic: the retention problem. Talent Barometer Survey. Mercer, 2013. My dad, who taught me to stand up for what I believe no matter what other people think, and for proving you are never too old to lead. Rebecca Schalm, Ph.D. Strategic Talent Advisors Inc. © 2014 Strategic Talent Advisors Inc.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1433993
__label__cc	0.715961	0.284039	We are officially 'outstanding' Under the 2011 Education Bill, schools previously judged as outstanding are no longer subject to routine whole-school inspections unless concerns are raised about performance. OFSTED contacted Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls in April 2011 to confirm their assessment of our sustained outstanding performance since our 2008 inspection. For a copy of their letter please click here. The staff and students were all delighted to receive an outstanding verdict from OFSTED inspectors during their last inspection in 2008. The inspectors commented that: “Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is an outstanding and high attaining school and there is no complacency. Students’ outstanding achievement is the result of good teaching, an outstanding curriculum and the excellent guidance they are given, together with their own determination which is a response to the high quality expectations that are enshrined in the school’s ethos” OFSTED praised the positive atmosphere in the school, noting that “the students are buzzing with enthusiasm”. They spoke of the school as “a harmonious community where different faiths and cultures are respected” and of the “excellent contribution made to the community”. Pastoral support and guidance was seen to be strong throughout and they said that “students are prepared well for their future, they are mature, confident, articulate and develop excellent leadership skills” The report was a very positive endorsement of the work of the school and the partnership approach involving staff, parents, students and governors. It paid great tribute to the hard work and dedication put in by everyone to ensure the high levels of achievement in all aspects of school life. We were pleased that the inspectors recognised the school’s commitment to the pursuit of excellence at all times and that they judged us not to be complacent about success. We have maintained these qualities in the years since, and are fully committed to continuing to do so. The school Ofsted report is available to download here. Ofsted survey inspection programme - Creative Learning - November 2008 The Ofsted feedback letter is available to view by clicking here. You can see our Ofsted profile page and view previous Ofsted reports here. PDF documents on this page you will require a PDF reader, such as the free Adobe Reader, available from Adobe. School ProspectusSchool Prospectus Term DatesTerm Dates School Day TimingsSchool Day Timings Statutory InformationStatutory Information Pupil PremiumPupil Premium Safeguarding and PreventSafeguarding and Prevent School PoliciesSchool Policies Examination ResultsExamination Results Ofsted ReportOfsted Report Student LinksStudent Links Parent LinksParent Links Staff LinksStaff Links Teacher TrainingTeacher Training	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1433996
__label__cc	0.529651	0.470349	Credit: Marvel Tag: Comics Awesome Stuff Weekly: The Wasp makes her incredible Hot Toys debut Luke Brown Tag: Awesome Stuff Weekly Tag: Ant-Man and the Wasp Tag: Hot Toys Tag: Big Trouble in LIttle China Tag: Funko Tag: mass effect Tag: Hasbro Tag: super7 Tag: Mondo Tag: toys Tag: Robotech Tag: SDCC 2018 Tag: San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Tag: CONS Hope you had a great holiday, because now it's time to get back to business... the business of toys and collectibles, the most serious business of all. Even with a midweek celebration of America's independence taking up time, there's plenty of hot news to soak up, including new Ant-Man and the Wasp figures, some new Comic-Con surprises, and Big Trouble coming to your tabletop. Credit: Hot Toys Ant-Man and Wasp Get Some Hot Toys More Ant-Man and the Wasp Who is Ghost? A guide to Ant-Man and the Wasp's new villain Michael Douglas says Hank Pym is 'pretty pissed' at Scott Lang in Ant-Man and The Wasp Where have Ant-Man and Wasp been since Civil War? They sure as heck weren't in Infinity War. That's okay though. We wouldn't have wanted to be on the front lines during the fight against Thanos either. Turns out Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne were just busy getting their likenesses captured for the upcoming Hot Toys figures that tie into their new adventure, the conveniently titled Ant-Man and The Wasp. Both Ant-Man and the Wasp will be getting the sixth-scale treatment from the Japanese manufacturer, which has built quite a roster of Marvel's cinematic heroes and villains over the past decade. This is hardly the first Scott Lang/Paul Rudd figure, but it is a delight to find that Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne won't be left out of the action this time around. As strong as the Ant-Man figure is, there's not all that much difference in the costume and articulation from previous Hot Toys' interpretations. There will however be a new Paul Rudd portrait, but it still hasn't been approved, so Hot Toys can't show us what it looks like just yet. That's not the case for Hope, who gets a spectacular figure complete with terrifically accurate Evangeline Lilly head sculpt. If that portrait isn't quite your style, the alternate helmeted head does include LED lights inside to make it look like Ms. Van Dyne is ready for action at any size. Combined with the elaborate wings and dynamic posing stand, Wasp is going to be a great figure. Both Ant-Man and the Wasp are currently up for pre-order, and are expected to arrive in Q4 2019. Credit: Gaming Heads Renegade Shepard Gaming Heads has long been in the business of making wonderful and massive statues based on video games like Fallout, Doom, Ratchet and Clank, and more. While they're often expensive, the pieces are beautiful and would be the focal point of any collection. Now the company is returning to its Mass Effect license, and offering a 20-inch statue commemorating the one true savior of the galaxy, Femshep. As a customizable character, Commander Shepard took many forms across just about every gamer's playthrough of the original trilogy, but everyone knows Femshep was the best possible version of the spacefaring hero. There will be two versions available for $399.99 each, with the exclusive edition coming with more weapons to pose Femshep when on display. The pose could be stronger, but it does look very accurate to BioWare's original design. Video of Big Trouble in Little China: the Game - Trailer Big Tabletop in Little China There's a Big Trouble in Little China board game out right now from Everything Epic. The officially licensed adventure comes complete with 40 miniatures, tons of dice, and a quest book so that you and your friends can take the fight to Lo-Pan just like Jack Burton and the gang did in the classic John Carpenter film. If you can't find any friends to play as Gracie Law or Egg Shen, you can shake the pillars of heaven all on your own, too. San Diego Comic-Con Surprises Until San Diego Comic-Con actually begins, and probably even as the show is going on, more and more exclusives will continue to be revealed. Not that we're complaining, because SDCC brings out the best in collectible company creativity. It should be noted though that many of us will be complaining about having to pay outrageous prices on the second-hand market since we can't all be at the big show. But I digress. Credit: Super7 Super7 often has some of the most clever toys at SDCC every year, and 2018 is no exception. Already we've covered the memetic He-Man figure they'll have on hand, but this Hammerhead-by-way-of-Alien retro figure is quite inspired. Credit: Toynami Toynami will have some dope Robotech figures on hand, which is incredible simply for the fact that we haven't seen figures based on the mecha anime stateside in decades. That they also look good is just icing on the cake. Credit: Hasbro Hasbro, already with a number of exclusives on deck, announced even more items including the Netflix Defenders box set and a delightful '80s-inspired My Little Pony set. Punk rock Rainbow Dash for the win. And hey, Mondo looks like it's going to have a sweet new Shredder figure and mayhaps a Gordon Freeman from Half-Life 2 to show off too. Don't count on them going up for pre-order until well after the show though. Credit: Funko Funko Goes Breakfast As if Funko didn't already have its hands in just about every aspect of geek culture with its wide array of licenses and products, the Washington-based company is now hoping to join you for breakfast. That's right, Funko is getting into the cereal business with the sugary snack, FunkO's. Available in red, blue, and green, the multigrain cereal will come in boxes themed around Freddy Krueger and Jason Vorhees (FYE), Mega Man (Gamestop), Cuphead (Hot Topic), Gollum (Boxlunch), and the company mascot Freddy Funko. Each box comes with edible cereal and a miniature Pop vinyl figure of the character on the outside of the box. More cereals are planned too, so be sure to leave some room in cupboard if you hope to collect (and eat) them all.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1433999
__label__wiki	0.985344	0.985344	Santhanam's Double Damakka Release \| Vijay Sethupathi's next with \| Live update on Thalapathy 64 \| Vijay Sethupathi, Dhanush and Parthiban's Movies is in Oscars List \| Ishari K Ganesh gifted a car to comali director \| Lakshmi Menon join hands with Rajasekara Pandian \| Sathish has got engaged to Chachi's sister \| Bala and RK Suresh join Hands \| Vijay's gift to Archana Kalpathi \| Nayanthara's next Rajinikanth's 1981 hit Film Tittle \| Aishwarya Rajesh next with Karthik Subbaraj \| Suriya request to his fans \| Superstar Blessed Karthick Naren \| Thalapathy Vijay next project with Sivakasi Director \| Jayam Ravi clarification for Comali topic \| Harish Kalyan share screen space with Thadam heroine \| Thala Ajith's AK60 Music Director ? \| Ilaya Super Star Dhanush's Next \| Shah Rukh Khan's cameo in Bigil disclose \| EXHIBITION - A CINEMATIC IMAGINATION \| Cinema News List Bala and RK Suresh join Hands Updated on : 18 September 2019 RK Suresh of Studio 9 productions had turned an actor with director Bala's Thaarai Thappattai starring Sasikumar and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, where he played the villain. He had later starred as villain in movies like Marudhu, Sketch, and played lead role in Billa Paandi. The actor is having a number of movies lined up as the hero, and now he has signed a new movie, joining with director Bala who had launched him. RK Suresh will play the hero in the Tamil remake of the Malayalam hit movie Joseph, and will play the role played by actor Joju George. Director M Padmakumar who directed Joseph will direct the remake as well, and this movie is also expected to be named Joseph itself. Bala will produce this movie which will begin shooting in November and the team is planning to release the movie by next March. Stay Tune for more updates... Santhanam's Double Damakka Release After Thalapathy now Santhanam is here to give a Pongal surprise to his fans. And Santhanam wishes his fans Happy Pongal along with the release date of Server Sundaram. Which took a long time to make into screens. Server Sundaram set to Release on January 31st 2020 But another Santhanam movie title call and Server Sundaram releasing in same day January 31st. Server Sundaram is action comedy film. Server Sundaram Director Anand Balki very happy for his Release. Santhosh Narayanan Music big plus for this movie. Radha Ravi made a important roll in this Film. Santhanam Fans waiting for Double Damakka Vijay Sethupathi's next with Vijay sethupathy celebrated his 43rd birthday today. Vijay sethupathy currently working with Thalapathy Vijay In Master. As a Special return gift to the fans an announcement is released that Vijay Sethupathy is going to work with Stylish Star Allu Arjun in his next. The movie going to direct by Sukumar and Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead. The film tentatively titled as AA20 as it is Allu Arjun's 20th film. More updates very soon... Live update on Thalapathy 64 Latest updates from the 'Thalapathy 64' team who from Monday have been confirming the starcast one by one namely Vijay Sethupathi, Antony Varghese Pepe, Shantanu Bhagyaraj and finally Malavika Mohanan who plays the leading lady opposite Vijay. Now director Ratnakumar of 'Meyaadha Maan' and 'Aadai' has confirmed that he is on board as an additional screenplay writer and will be collaborating in that department with director Lokesh Kanagaraj and Pon Parthiban. 'Thalapathy 64' directed by Lokesh Kanagarj and produced by XB Film Creators has music by Anirudh, cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan and editing by Philomin Raj. The shooting has started with a pooja on October 3rd and will continue full-fledged after the pooja holidays to have a grand release in Pongal 2020. Vijay Sethupathi, Dhanush and Parthiban's Movies is in Oscars List The most awards show in the world, the Academy Awards, also officially and popularly known as the Oscars, is held every year in Los Angeles, California, and recognizes artistes and technicians working in films in Hollywood and also from across the globe. Likewise, the screening of various films for India’s official entry for the 2020 Oscar Awards to be held next year has begun in Kolkata with three Tamil films revealed to be featured in a list that comprises of a total of 28 films. The three Tamil films in the list are Director Vetrimaaran’s Vada Chennai, starring Dhanush, director Thiyagarajan Kumararaja’s Super Deluxe with Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role and Parthiban’s recently released, Oththa Seruppu Size 7. The screening process for all the films had begun on September 18 and has been revealed to continue till September 22, after which an announcement will be made by a jury, which will decide the official Indian entry for Oscars 2020. The jury comprises of Aparna Sen as the Chairperson of the committee followed by Padmanabha Das, Pratim Gupta, Sujay Dutta Ray, Debojyoti Mishra and Ashok Vishwanath. Some of the other notable films include Article 15, Uri, Gully Boy, Badhaai Ho, Badlaa, and Andhadhun in Hindi, Dear Comrade in Telugu, And the Oscar goes to… in Malayalam and many other ventures. Ishari K Ganesh gifted a car to comali director Comali success 2019 has turned to be a phase of non-stop celebrations for the production house of Dr. Ishari K Ganesh’s Vels Film International with back to back hits. Following the grand success of RJ Balaji-Priya Anand starrer "LKG" that was released earlier this year, Vels Film International has yet another reason to celebrate now for its recent release "Comali" has touched a blockbuster mark in box office. Released on August 15, 2019, the film starring Jayam Ravi and Kajal Aggarwal in lead roles opened to positive reviews from both critics and general audiences. And now, producer Dr. Ishari K Ganesh overwhelmed with the tremendous result has gifted a luxurious High-end Honda City car to Pradeep Ranganathan, director of this film and gold coins to the entire crew. It is noteworthy that the producer had expressed the same gesture as a token of appreciation to Prabhu, director of LKG by gifting him a car in accordance to the film’s success. Pradeep Ranganathan, director of the film says, "This is a huge surprise to me as I never expected such an unbelievable gift from Dr. Ishari K Ganesh sir. He has been a complete support to me right from the beginning of this project. Now, to see his unconditional gesture of surprising me leaves me emotionally excited. Well, I missed out a particular element about the life of 90s kids in Comali, where the parents would promise of gifting what their kids ask for if they manage to pass examinations with high grades. But in my case, Ganesh sir, who I admire him like a father-figure has made it perfect without making any promises. I thank Jayam Ravi anna, Kajal Aggarwal, Samyuktha, KS Ravikumar sir; Hiphop Aadhi and every member of the team for making this film a huge success. Lakshmi Menon join hands with Rajasekara Pandian Lakshmi Menon had started her career in Malayalam and entered Tamil with Vikram Prabhu's debut movie Kumki. She acted in movies like Kutti Puli, Sundara Pandian, Vishal's Pandiyanadu and Naan Sigappu Manithan and Jayam Ravi's Miruthan. Lakshmi Menon had also acted with Thala Ajith in Vedalam as his sister, and was last seen in Tamil in Vijay Sethupathi's Rekka released before three years. While her movie Yung Mung Sung directed by Arjun and starring Prabhudeva is awaiting release, the actress has reportedly got her next movie. Lakshmi Menon has been proposal to a new movie pair with actor Aari of Nedunjalai in lead role. This movie will be directed by debutant Rajasekara Pandian, He is assistant director of Vasantha Balan, and an official decipherment on Lakshmi Menon's presence in this movie is expected soon. Stay tune for more Updates... Sathish has got engaged to Chachi's sister Actor Sathish one of the busiest comedy actors in Kollywood and he had been seen recently in movies like Mr Local and Gorilla. Now Sathish is all set to get marriage. Sathish has got engaged recently, and though the actor is yet to announce the details officially, details on the bride have been revealed. Sathish was last seen in the movie Sixer starring Vaibhav and directed by debutant Chachi, and when he was shooting for the movie, talks of his marriage came up reportedly. Chachi's family also had been looking out for a suitable bridegroom for Chachi's sister, and Sathish had approached the family after getting to know this. As Chachi discussed in his family, they have accepted the proposal after initial hesitation, and now Sathish has got engaged to Chachi's sister. Vijay's gift to Archana Kalpathi Archana Kalpathi who is looking after the production of 'Bigil' on behalf of AGS Entertainment is a hardcore Thalapathy Vijay fan and has shared the fact in many interviews. Archana has received an awesome gift from Vijay who has given her an autographed football to her. The mass hero has written in Tamil "Priyamudan Vijay to Archana". The theme of the film is football and Vijay had already gifted gold rings and footballs to the three hundred cast and crew members of the 'Bigil' Team. 'Bigil' directed by Atlee and starring Vijay and Nayanthara as the lead pair with A.R. Rahman scoring the music will have its audio launch tomorrow September 19th and is set to release worldwide on Diwali 2019. Nayanthara's next Rajinikanth's 1981 hit Film Tittle Nayanthara's 65th film titled as Netrikann goes on floor today (15 September). The announcement was accompanied with a poster from the film. The intriguing poster is splash with blood and features items like handcuffs and whip. Which makes us wonder if Nayanthara's character will be visually impaired in the upcoming thriller. Netrikann is produced by Vignesh Shivan under his maiden production venture, Rowdy Pictures. The film will be direct by Aval filmmaker Milind Rau. Vignesh Shivan thanked Kavithalaya and Rajinikanth for letting them use the title of their comedy-drama. The actress who was last seen in Love Action Drama alongside Nivin Pauly has some big releases in her pipeline. She will be next seen in the historical drama Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy and AR Murugadoss' cop drama, Darbar . She is also confirmed to play a pivotal role in the highly-anticipated sports feature, Bigil. Shoot starts today with all your blessings. Aishwarya Rajesh next with Karthik Subbaraj Aishwarya Rajesh holds a very important place in Tamil cinema and the talented actress is known for her giving her best in diversifying roles. She is gearing up for the release of her next big, Namma Veettu Pillai, which is scheduled to hit the screens on September 27. Her other films which are in different stages of production include Dhruva Natchathiram, Idhu Vedalam Sollum Kadhai, Ka Pae Ranasingam, Vaanam Kottattum, and an untitled Telugu project with Vijay Deverakonda. Adding up to this list is a new film which Aishwarya has signed recently. Yes, the announcement on this new project was made in social media. Aishwarya Rajesh will be doing a new film under the production of Karthik Subbaraj's Stone Bench Creations. This untitled film will be directed by Rathindran R Prasad who earlier directed Aishwarya's Idhu Vedalam Sollum Kadhai, which is yet to release. The duo will join hands once again for this new film which will be a mystery horror thriller. On the technical front, the film will have some new talents like Prithvi Chandrasekhar (music), Roberto Zazzara (cinematography), and Anand Geraldin (editing). The filming is to begin from today (September 15) at Ooty. The rest of the details about the film is expected to be known in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates. உலகக்கோப்பை தகுதிச்சுற்று - ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்சை சுருட்டியது அயர்லாந்து 20 ஓவர் போட்டியில் ‘ஹிட்’ விக்கெட்டான முதல் இந்தியர் ராகுல் 3 நாடுகள் போட்டி - இந்தியா-வங்காளதேசம் நாளை பலப்பரீட்சை முத்தரப்பு 20 ஓவர் கிரிக்கெட்: இலங்கை அணியை பழிதீர்க்குமா இந்தியா? இன்று மீண்டும் மோதல் வங்காளதேச கிரிக்கெட் வீரரின் வித்தியாசமான பாம்பு நடனம்	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434004
__label__cc	0.60155	0.39845	The Advantage of Being at the Epicenter of the Empire We don't need to learn a foreign language. The globe understands our language. % of students learning a foreign language Liechtenstein 100% Luxembourg 100% Malta 100% Norway 100% Austria 100% Romania 100% France 100% Spain 96% Sweden 92% Finland 84% Italy 82% Iceland 78% Netherlands 70% US 20% (Pew) — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 7, 2018 The NAPster August 7, 2018 at 2:33 PM % of students learning the language of liberty: under 1% (how many attend Mises U?) OldMexican August 7, 2018 at 3:20 PM --- We don't need to learn a foreign language. --- True, a lot of English-speakers don't need to learn a foreign language, a fact that turns the canard that American culture is at risk of replacement because of immigrants, into a ridiculous paranoid fantasy. Donxon August 7, 2018 at 3:35 PM Most Americans cant even speak English. I can vouch for that ──I tried ordering a burger at A&W in Louisville. It was an (almost) impossible task. I was so frustrated I wanted to try sign language or something. I don't know what those kids were speaking but it barely registered as English. Donxon August 7, 2018 at 11:36 PM You're in Scotts-Irish cultural territory. What you're hearing is a heavily Celticized version of English. Even what we now call Ebonics has it's roots in Scotland. Paul Hansen August 7, 2018 at 5:35 PM Lol. Someone should tell that to the hordes of mestizos flooding across the border. Most don't habla and will never bother to learn. Re: Paul Hansen, ── Someone should tell that to the hordes of mestizos flooding across the border. ── Someone is already telling them, Trumpista: The Market. ── Most don't habla [sic] ── You're certainly NO slouch when it comes to illiteracy. Your requirement that people speak English immediately (immediately, I tell you!) is mesmerizing only because it is so incredibly imbecilic. People learn English very easily, especially after being bombarded by American music, television and technology, which is evidence, by the way, that you're also a liar. Today's immigrants, even the "illegulz" who lurk under your bed, waiting to castrate you or something, learn English at a faster rate than the immigrants who came 120 years ago from Europe. Paul Hansen August 7, 2018 at 10:23 PM Keep telling yourself that MS-13. I used to drive a truck around California's Wine Country up in Sonoma and Napa. Roadside taco trucks were my usual lunch. More often than not there's a kid (like 10 or 11 years old)taking orders in English, then relaying them the cook (grandma) in Spanish. The kid in making change, dealing with customers.... learning all sorts of useful jobs skills. Meanwhile Johnny America is learning New Math down at the public school. ── Keep telling yourself that MS-13 ── Ha, ha ha! You're funny. A Trumpista, yes, but a funny one. I studied Latin for 6 years. Today I am a chemist. In a couple years I will be a chemical engineer, but I don't feel like my time spent reading first hand accounts of important historical events in the language of the witnesses was wasted. I don't even think the time spent reading 2,000 year old love poetry was wasted. Learning a second language is good for your brain in the same way learning a musical instrument is good for your brain. It's mental pullups. Most people will never actually find themselves hanging from a cliff, but pullups get you in shape nonetheless.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434006
__label__cc	0.735152	0.264848	Welcome to Sunshine Reads! Spreading the love and sunshine to authors and readers where I can! Christmas/Holiday Books Military/Veteran Romance Books Trish’s Reviews Book Teasers/Graphics My on going effort of compiling holiday/Christmas books. If you have or know of any not listed please feel free to let me know. Christmas Doings by MariaLisa deMora Ester’s life has changed for the better. When she found Bones she’d been adrift for a long time, homeless and living on the edge of humanity. Those days have left their scars, on her mind and body. Finally settled into their relationship, she wants to give Bones the greatest gift, only to realize those dreams are a casualty of her past. Ester has become adept at taking what life handed her and figuring out how to make the best of a bad situation. Lemonade made from lemons with a quick twist of the wrist and judicious application of whatever sweetener happened to be at hand. Dogs, birds, kids, and every day being Bonesday—these were the best in the history of everything when it came to making her happy. And when her old man—a big bad biker named Bones—is on a mission to give her everything she ever wanted, she quickly learns to accept the inevitable and hold on for the ride. Along the way, there are club whores, Great Dane pups, ride-or-die brothers, and tiny humans. Is there a better kind of holiday story than one of true love? THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY by Jennifer Hoopes! Stranded in the middle of the road in big sky country, Wyoming, at eight months pregnant isn’t exactly what Sofie Pennington had planned when she decided to pack up and surprise her sister. Fly Creek is a fresh start for her, one where she’s finally free from her controlling ex and can figure out this whole single parent thing. First, though, she needs to get there. To her shock, her rescuer comes in the form of a frustratingly handsome cowboy. Dan Rigby is on his way out of town—for good—when he stumbles across a very pregnant Sofie. She’s the most obstinate, exasperating woman he’s ever met…and the most appealing. She drives him crazy, in more ways than one. When her sister suddenly has to leave, and Dan becomes Sofie’s welcoming committee, they find themselves growing closer despite their desire for conflicting things. Can Dan convince Sofie that Christmas miracles do happen? Each book in the Fly Creek series is STANDALONE: * Her Cowboy’s Promise * The Cowboy’s Homecoming Surprise * The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby Under the Mistletoe (Celebration Book 3) Frankie Denton liked his life exactly the way it was. As the owner of a successful auto repair shop, the idea of adding a wife and kids to the mix never crossed his mind – until the day the sassy redhead he’d met at a friend’s wedding informs him she’s pregnant, a result of their one-night stand. Resolved to do the right thing, nonplussed when she declines his marriage proposal, he sets out to prove he’s not only husband material, but father material as well. After spending an exhilarating night in the arms of the sexy mechanic she met in Celebration, Roxie Malone discovers she’s expecting. Embracing the prospect of motherhood, determined to raise the baby on her own, she’s shocked when Frankie steps up, demonstrating time and again that he’s eager to be part of their lives. But she has first-hand experience that fathers don’t always keep the promises they make, and she’s hesitant to put her trust in a man she hardly knows. Frankie has a lot to contend with in order to win Roxie over; a jealous friend who wants to marry her himself, a complication with her pregnancy, and a misunderstanding that threatens to drive them apart permanently. Faced with the possibility of losing the family he never knew he wanted, he scrambles to find a way to convince her they should be together. With Christmas just around the corner, will he get the gift he wants most? Christmas Spirits (Girls’ Night Out Book 5) Army medic Brandy Henderson has spent her entire adult life helping others. Now, she’s come home to Silicon Valley to help take care of her family. Working as a barista and bartender during the busy holidays leaves little time for a social life and even less time to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. When fellow veteran and notorious flirt Seth Valenti shows up for coffee, attraction begins brewing on both sides. Brandy tries to make room for one more person in her already hectic life, but soon she begins to question if she’s stretched too thin between desire and obligations. Seth has returned home to a family he’s failed. Guilt weighs heavily on his shoulders along with the responsibilities of running the family construction business and an inheritance he no longer deserves or desires. Brandy brings laughter and joy in an otherwise bleak holiday season, but the new romance strains his commitments to his family and widens the rift. As complications arise, Seth must convince himself and Brandy he’s worth her time, and Brandy must learn to respect her own limits and needs before she can best help those around her. When tragedy strikes, their tenuous bond will be tested. True love and lives hang in the balance, but tis the season for Christmas miracles. Worst Holiday Ever: A Family Drama Romance Anthology by Kilby Blades, R.L. Merrill, Robin Covington, Kari Lemor, Adrienne Bell, Eva Moore, Meg Bellamy, Preslaysa Williams, Erin St. Charles, Marie Booth It’s the most wonderful time of the year! OK—scratch that. It’s time for another obligatory family gathering. And nothing spices up the egg nog like bringing your partner home. Surely your belligerent brother-in law, your gimlet-eyed granny and your drunken uncle will keep it classy. With forced proximity and alcoholic beverages, what could possibly go wrong? Christmas at the Clubhouse Anthology Join 12 of your favorite MC authors bring you 11 inside look stories about how Christmas is done at their Clubhouse. ALL proceeds from this release will benefit Toys for Tots. COLBIE KAY DM EARL GERI GLENN JC EMERY KATHLEEN KELLY KE OSBURN KERRI ANN MARIALISA DEMORA SHELLEY SPRINGFIELD Badger’s Christmas Chance by Aden Lowe Badger considers life outside the Hell Raiders MC, but to get the woman he’s always wanted, plus pecan pie, can he stay put? Silver Belles by Avelyn Paige The big day has finally arrived for Raze and Darcy. Everything is finally falling into place, but just before the wedding bells can ring, disaster strikes. Now, Darcy is between a rock and a hard place. She must choose between pure wedding bliss or no wedding at all. A Sinner’s Christmas by Colbie Kay Bam Bam thought this Christmas would be like every other year at the clubhouse until the door opens and the woman he could never have is pushed into his arms. Santa…Nope The Grimm Wolves by D.M. Earl When one of their own needs help will the club be able to pull together in time or will their efforts be too late? A Bastard for Christmas by Emily Minton and Shelley Springfield Mistletoe, presents, and decorations, it’s Christmas time again. Let’s gather around the tree and sing some carols. Screw that. We’re doing this biker style. Whiskey, women, and weed. It’s time to celebrate like a Bastard. A Korrupted Christmas by Geri Glenn Tease hates the holidays, but most of all Christmas. And now, with his club dealing with yet another catastrophe, he could do without it entirely. But that isn’t going to fly with Laynie. She’s determined to give her man a festive dose of Christmas spirit, whether he likes it or not. A Forsaken Mistlehoe by JC Emery Tomorrow is Christmas, but I’m unwrapping my present tonight. Zander Strand is MC royalty and the love of my life. So what if he doesn’t know I exist? He doesn’t need my name to make this angel’s bells ring. I just hope he can get it in and I can get out before anybody realizes who I really am. Savage Christmas by Kathleen Kelly Can Dane find Kat the ‘perfect’ Christmas present? Or will all his efforts be in vain as his club, his kids and those closest to him foil all his hard work? Steeling Christmas By K E Osborn When a club girl vanishes, Steel and his brothers will do all they can to get her back, even delving into the life he thought he’d left behind. Can Steel keep his life in order or will he lose it all… just in time for Christmas? Merry F’n Christmas by Kerri Ann Christmas hasn’t been a pleasant event in my life or the club. Oubliette–the tinsel terrorist–is trying to make Christmas great here in the Broken Bows. Will it kill me? Most Rikki-Tik by MariaLisa DeMora Kirby Westbrook came home from overseas with a mission, to resurrect his grandfather’s MC. Billionaire’s Christmas by Sierra Cartwright Billionaire philanthropist Rafe Sterling is a greedy man. Hope Malloy, the woman of his dreams, has agreed to marry him. But Christmas is approaching, and the feelings evoked by the season make him want his own gift—a wedding date, and the promise of a baby or two. While she’s madly in love with her fiancé, Hope wants time to adjust to her new life and Rafe’s sexy demands. Can she take the final steps toward trusting him, getting past her final fears, so they can have the future they deserve? * * * * * Although Christmas Billionaire features a continuation of matchmaker Hope Malloy and hotel magnate Rafe Sterling’s story, it can be read as a standalone. This ultrahot story featuring mild domination has a feel-good Happily Ever After. Christmas in the Mountains: A Mountains Trilogy Novella by Phoebe Alexander Their cabin won’t be the only thing shared in this sizzling hot holiday read! James and Sarah McAllister are thrilled to finally enjoy a much-needed getaway not too far from their new home in the Colorado Rockies. But when a blizzard dumps two feet of snow in the mountains near their quaint, romantic cabin built for two, it threatens to keep them from getting home in time for Christmas with their family. The blizzard has another effect too: it strands Charlie and Zora Fox out in the cold when their nearby cabin loses electricity. Playing the Good Samaritans, James and Sarah invite the young, attractive couple to share their close quarters and provisions as they wait out the storm together. As things heat up in the hot tub and in front of the cozy fireplace, it appears the cabin won’t be the only thing shared… *Readers 18+ due to graphic content and adult situations* Mountains Trilogy Series (Only the original trilogy needs to be read in order): Mountains Wanted (Mountains Trilogy Book 1) Mountains Climbed (Mountains Trilogy Book 2) Mountains Loved (Mountains Trilogy Book 3) Christmas in the Mountains (A Mountains Trilogy Novella) The Navigator (A Mountains Trilogy Novel) Love Me Now (Encounters Holiday book #1) by Fifi Flowers Nick Granger, an entertainment attorney, immersed himself in work logging ridiculous hours and avoiding a social life. The only connection he cared to make was with a certain ski bunny he met on a Christmas break trip years ago. Victoria Davine, once on the road to the advertisement world, found herself traveling a different path after life intervened. Content with her new direction, she finds herself decorating and improving other people’s lives while pushing her own desires aside. When unexpected guests announce their plans to invade for the holidays, Nick must cancel his yearly ski trip and quickly trim his apartment for Christmas. Lacking the time or talent to make his place look homey and inviting, his enthusiastic assistant hires St Davine Interiors to save her boss. And once she meets the owner, Victoria, she thinks maybe she is exactly the divine angel Nick needs to bring him back to the land of the living. A Very Wicked Christmas – A Wicked Lovers Short Story by Shayla Black Sometimes the holidays are so busy—work, kids, shopping, baking, partying, wrapping, decorating, planning, and Christmas music—that you don’t have time for the one you love most. Can the spirit of the season bring the first two Wicked Lovers closer forever? Join Jack and Morgan for some holiday cheer. Best after having read WICKED TIES (Wicked Lovers Book 1) A Dye Hard Holiday (Curl Up and Dye Mysteries, #5) by Aimee Nicole Walker It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year for Gabe and Josh Roman-Wyatt as they celebrate their first holidays as fathers, but someone’s war on St. Nick threatens to ruin their holly jolly Christmas. The Norman Rockwell holiday they had envisioned implodes and shenanigans ensue in true Josh and Gabe style, but that only makes the couple more determined to rejoice in the love and joy they have found in one another. A Black Friday showdown, two foul-mouthed birds, one lumbersexual, ugly Christmas sweaters aplenty, four invading grandparents, and a sexy twist on an advent calendar lead up to oh, holy nights. Catch up with your favorite characters and meet some new faces in a tale that is sure to make you feel as warm as Josh’s creamy, hot-buttered rum concoction. A Dye Hard Holiday is a funny story about two fathers trying to hold it all together as they juggle busy careers and family life while planning the perfect holiday season. Will they be rocking around the Christmas tree or will it be a blue Christmas? The book is approximately 50,000 words long and is not intended as a standalone book. This supplements the Curl Up and Dye Mysteries series, which should be read in order. This book contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults 18 and over. The Naughty Stepbrothers : Book Three of The Naughty Series by Trinity Blacio In the third installment of best-selling author Trinity Blacio’s Naughty Christmas series, Xena Castor had always believed she was Daddy’s little girl. It was just the two of them against the world, until that fateful day when her father met the Stepmom from Hell. Then said little girl had no one, until two wolf-warriors showed up in her life–her stepbrothers. Were they a gift from Santa or another curse following her as she ran from the danger she knew was coming? Would her Christmas wedding dream ever become a reality? Or had she been too Naughty, needing a good old-fashioned spanking that secretly craved? Naughty Mommy and Santa’s Helpers : Book Two of The Naughty Series by Trinity Blacio In the second book in best-selling author Trinity Blacio’s Naughty series, newly married Annabelle, who has just given birth to triplets, must decide if she is ready to try her hand at the family business: Christmas! Will she be able to convince her three husbands that her new project, the Elves Hot Line–a help line for overwhelmed parents– won’t get in the way of raising their children? Will her project be able to distract her from what she really wants–her masters’ touch, all three of them, before someone else tries to kill them? Marcus and Lance, twin vampire brothers, and Alocer, an alien dragon shifter warrior, know their wife is still trying to find her place in their paranormal family, but they are bound to keep her and their children protected at all costs. Slowly, their secret has spread, that the beasts of the Christmas legend would save the innocent. But while some are happy the prophecy has arrived, others will try to destroy them, by killing the one thing that holds the three of them together: their Naughty Angel. The Naughty Angel and Her Three Very Wise Men: Book One of The Naughty Series by Trinity Blacio Annabelle Wordly is at the tail end of a bad divorce, expecting to spend Christmas alone in her mid-40’s. Even her parents have gone away on a cruise. Her best friend Sandy Bowers surprises her with a Christmas present of two weeks on the newly opened resort on the private island of vampires and she’s ready for some Christmas fun! So when two hot men take an interest in her, she takes her chance! But the men aren’t what they seem, and Annabelle proves so irresistible to the supernatural alphas that a third hot hunk claims to be her soulmate as well. All are quickly swept into an alternative world of Christmas magic, power and prophecy. Powerful forces are threatening, and it may be up to Annabelle to save Christmas from being destroyed in a magical ménage! This is the first novel in best-selling Trinity Blacio Naughty Christmas trilogy that brings the supernatural to Christmas you’ve never imagined it before. Cross Country Christmas by Diana Duncan The best gifts in life are surprises… Surprise! Thanks to a blizzard named Blitzen, Christie McQuade can’t make it home for Christmas. Stranded in an airport, things look bleak…until she runs into delicious Deputy Damian Reade, who along with his four-year-old son, Eli, is likewise wondering how to salvage his holidays. A ’57 Chevy Bel Air christened “Vixen” is their last hope. Christie’s not always the trusting type…but after a background check through her investigative brother clears Damian – and after all, how can a man who’s so patient and loving with his son be dangerous? – she joins them on a Cross Country Christmas adventure filled with fun and surprises…not the least of which is the powerful chemistry between Damian and Christie. Chemistry is one thing. Heart-tugging is another. And damned if both father and son aren’t soon tugging on Christie’s previously-broken heart-strings. A child’s unshakeable faith in Santa, his seemingly impossible Christmas wishes of the Jolly Old Man, and a whole lot of holiday magic may lead Damian and Christie to the biggest surprise of all…love. Although the first two books in this series are Romantic Suspense, this special Christmas novel does not contain suspense. You do not need to read the first two books in order to fully enjoy this story, as it stands alone. However readers of “Laws of Attraction” and “Big Bad Wolfe” will love revisiting their favorite characters and celebrating with them during the holidays. Jingle Belled And Mistletoed (Serendipitous Book 1)by Jeanette Lynn Jinny Belle Reynolds is trying not to dwell too deeply on her terminally single status, much to her mother’s consternation. And with the annual family Christmas trip with her parents long time friends and neighbors, the Millers, looming over her head, Jinny’s not looking forward to the madness that ensues when those two particular households come together. It’s going to be a long cold winter for Jinny Belle this holiday season.Or is it… Ring in the holidays with Jinny as she attends her parents yearly joint Christmas get together and navigates the perils of a busybody mother, her mother’s good intentioned best friend, one smooth talking determined ex, a mischievous best friend, and her best friend’s sharp tongued, frosty natured, younger brother. A Kinkmas Carol by Tymber Dalton Seth and Leah are hosting a kinky Christmas party for their friends, complete with a rigging contest. This time of year is always hard on both of them as they each remember Kaden in their own way, and the past and present come together in their hearts and memories. Kaden wasn’t just an important part of their lives—he mentored countless people as a founding member of the Suncoast Society munch group. As the revelers congregate and reminisce about their lost friend, it’s soon apparent to some that, just maybe, there’s an extra guest in attendance who wasn’t on any RSVP list. Are their imaginations simply running wild due to the evening’s high spirits? Or is it possible that the ultimate control freak is fulfilling a promise he made to those he loved most? A Merry Little Kinkmas by Tymber Dalton Seth and Leah are putting on a kinky Christmas party for some of their closest friends in the Suncoast Society. How do kinksters celebrate the holidays? One thing’s for sure – sexy fun will most certainly be on the agenda. From singing kinky carols, to playing their own festive reindeer games, have a voyeuristic visit with some of your favorite characters. It gives a whole new meaning to “decking the halls.” And just wait until you get a load of Santa’s sack… A Club Esoteria Christmas by Cooper McKenzie You are invited to Club Esoteria’s Christmas Party Friday, December 23, 2011, 8 p.m. until ? Entertainment: A Sub’s Talent Show RSVP required; floggings will be administered to those who do not Antony returns from an eight-month deployment and wonders if Jenna will let him return for good. Gentry worries that he will be kicked out now that Antony is home. Whitney gets new toys for Christmas as Taurus pushes her boundaries. Sloan, Dane, and Merlin make their appearance though Sloan is seven and a half months pregnant. They leave early when Sloan goes into labor after she and Merlin dance for the talent show. Jackson is juggling bartending and keeping his lovely submissive satisfied. He grows more nervous about proposing but he is determined that she will marry him. Will Jenna let Antony back into her household? Will Sinclair agree to Jackson’s proposal? Will everyone have a spanking good Christmas party? * A Siren Erotic Romance A Christmas For Eve Kindle Edition by Michael James Eve Thornton spends the holiday at her home in a small town in upstate New York. She is overworked at her job at Glazed Marketing and couldn’t take time off to go home to be with her family. When she ventures out to look at Christmas lights, she stops off and finds herself in a tree lot. When returning home, a neighbor she did not know about is at her car wanting to help her with her tiny tree. Kevin Steed is home for Christmas. He has been living in Los Angeles and is an MMA Fighter. When he plays street hockey with the neighborhood kids, he sees Eve, and he wants nothing more than to meet her. He goes over to her car when she runs back outside to get her Christmas tree and takes a chance. He invites her over for dinner with his family, when he comes back to Eve’s house to give her decorations for her tiny tree. He will not take no for an answer. When Christmas morning comes what will Eve do? Will the gift of a fighter be the Christmas gift she did not know she wanted? A Secret Christmas by LK Shaw Spend Christmas with your favorite Secrets family… Marcus and Penny After almost three years of marriage, Penny wants a baby. Can Santa give her the gift she wants this year? Connor and Bridget Connor and Bridget adjusted well to becoming an instant family of three. But alone time has been hard to find with a teenager in the house. That is until Kris Kringle gifts them with a long weekend alone. Josie and Miles As Josie’s collared sub, Miles is more than content. Until one day he discovers it’s not enough. With the help of jolly St. Nick, Miles finds the perfect ring, but will Josie say yes? Donovan and Phebe It’s been six months since Donovan proposed to Phebe. In the spirit of Christmas, Phebe gives Donovan the best gift of all. Complete submission. * This novella was published in the Wicked Winter box set. There is no new content in this story. * Bought for Christmas by Doris O’Connor I’m the beast, haven’t you heard… Christmas is supposed to be a time for miracles and one will surely be needed when Emilia Duncan finds herself sold to the beast to save her father’s company. Having lusted after the much older, enigmatic man for as long as she can remember, spending the Christmas weekend as his submissive will satisfy her raging libido, but can she protect her heart? Bear Shifter Hunter Monahan cannot stand idly by when Emilia is thrown to the wolves. There is only one shifter who will get his claws into her and that’s him. The contract ensures her submission for the weekend. Too bad his bear wants much more than that. Hunter is used to hiding behind his gruesome scars, but in the bid for Emilia’s heart, that is not an option this time. Isolated in his cabin, it’s not just the snow that melts. Time for Change Kindle Edition by Sam Crescent Christian Scopes was a married man with a beautiful wife and daughter—and then a plane crash took it all away from him. The only person he has left is Rachel, his wife’s younger sister. He adores her. She’s beautiful and charming, not to mention a hard nut intent on keeping him sane. Rachel has loved her brother-in-law for as long as she can remember. He’s been there for her when no one else was. After losing her sister, she tries to be everything he needs … until he brings a woman home with him. For three long years they try to ignore their growing feelings but cannot help growing closer with every passing year. This year is different, as their lives are about to change. Christian cannot let the woman he loves find someone else. The holidays are about second chances. Could this be his chance to finally settle down with a woman he loves? Can Rachel get past her insecurities to give him what he wants? ‘Tis the season for change. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (The Demons Age) by Kallysten With Christmas only hours away, Anders does some last minute shopping, preparing a surprise for his lover Selena and decorating a tree for her. Elsewhere, in another time, this all would have been a matter of course, but it is unusual in Newhaven, a city that has been besieged by demons for longer than any human fighter can recall. The situation is even more atypical because Selena is not at the hospital, helping wounded soldiers with her magic like she usually does. Instead, she has accompanied a group of fighters outside the city, where they hope to close the breach between dimensions that allows the demons to come in, and to stop the invasion once and for all. All Anders can do for now is wait, and hope that Selena will return to him safe and sound. When she does come back, magic is bursting out of her and she accomplishes true miracles. To Anders, though, the only thing that matters is that, like she promised, she is home for Christmas. Seducing Her Beast (Unlikely Love Book 4) by Sam Crescent Wayne and Lily Brown have been married for twelve years. However, their marriage didn’t start out in the most conventional of ways. Wayne feels the weight of what he did to Lily all those years ago, so he tries to set her free. Lily is devastated when she realizes what Wayne is trying to do. She doesn’t know how to show him that she loves her life. When she is convinced to go on a date with another man, she’s hesitant. When Wayne see his wife with someone else, he knows he has to do everything he can to win her back. But Lily is intent on showing her Beast, how good life can be if he learns to slow down and to let her inside his heart. This Christmas, Wayne Brown is going to learn what it means to have a family and a woman to love. Candy Cane Kisses: A Jasmine Lane Novel by Haley Jordan Worst. Anne Baumann usually loves this time of year. There’s nothing as cheery as Christmas in Venice, Florida. Unfortunately, her disastrous love life and dismal financial situation have turned her into a total humbug. And with her parents now living nearby and eager to celebrate their first Sunshine State Christmas, Anne finds herself forced to suck it up and pretend her world isn’t about to implode. She darn sure doesn’t need the handsome but grumpilicious Dr. Jim Grant as a distraction. Jim Grant lost his beloved wife three years earlier around Christmas, making it doubly heartbreaking. When he forces himself to attend the neighborhood block party, he certainly doesn’t want to schmooze with the new neighbors’ gorgeous daughter, Anne. Except that he does. Can an out-of-practice doctor and a headstrong, heartbroken woman find a Christmas miracle of their own? Might take something a little stronger than mistletoe… Blaine: Christmas at The Skulls by Sam Crescent It’s Christmas at The Skulls and you’re invited. When it came to Emily, Blaine messed up. He knocked her up and wasn’t there for her. He went off the deep end and lost everything including his woman and his daughter. He owes Angel everything for bringing his girls back into his life. Emily has tried to forget the past and move on but she can’t. Blaine is back to being the man she fell in love with but for how long? Can she trust him? There are so many questions that she can’t answer. It’s the time for forgiving. Blaine’s determined to prove to Emily he’s not going anywhere. He’s back and he’s taking her as his wife. Will she accept or leave him for good? Nothing is ever certain at The Skulls! A McLendon Christmas (The McLendon Family Saga Book 2) by DL Roan Grab another box of tissues and join Gabby and her three favorite cowboys at Falcon Ridge for a special Christmas holiday. Meet the newest tiny members of the McLendon family, and laugh out loud at Grey in the delivery room. Catch up with all your favorite characters from DL’s ‘McLendon Family Saga’, and get a sneak peek at all the fun and excitement in store for their future. HEAT WARNING: Contains three sexy cowboys who are still very much in love with their wife, love making love with her—together—and spare no details when doing so…every chance they get. Grey still has a dirty mouth, but thanks to Gabby’s efforts, tries to keep it clean in front of the children. It doesn’t always happen. Author Note: A McLendon Christmas is not a standalone novel. The Heart of Falcon Ridge should be read first to fully appreciate the McLendons’ Christmas story. Previously published as Second Christmas. Remastered for The McLendon Family Saga series. GENRE: Erotic Western Romance, Menage Romance, (MFM, MFMM), Contemporary Cowboy, Christmas, Holiday The McLendon Family Saga reading order: The Heart of Falcon Ridge A McLendon Christmas Rock Star Cowboys Rock Star Cowboys: The Honeymoon The Hardest Goodbyes Return to Falcon Ridge Bound for Christmas (Club Kink Book 1) by Sam Crescent They rarely spoke. They only touched hands. Until now. Bernice Rowe has been fascinated by the man who regularly visits the library where she works. They never speak and only stare at each other. When she learns that her mystery man is one of the dominant men at Club Kink, she makes a choice to become a submissive. Master Leon has been visiting the library for one reason—Bernice. He wants her desperately but knows his desires are not for everyone. When Leon finds her at the club he makes sure everyone knows she is his submissive. He takes her away and starts her training. Leon is determined to make her his woman in time for Christmas. Neither know how the other feels, and it looks like it is going to be a Christmas to remember for both of them. Under The Mistletoe Kindle Edition by Rhonda Lee Carver Santa wears a cowboy hat and plays a good holiday boyfriend… Dreading the holiday, Alex is down on her luck. Stopping in Vegas for a little fun before she’s forced to face her family solo for another year of Christmas cheer, she hopes for a big win, but didn’t expect it to be wrapped in worn jeans and a cowboy hat. She has an offer that’ll make things a bit merrier for the holiday… Jax is having a bad day. A bad month. After his father dies and the family ranch is in financial problems he must come up with enough money to save his legacy. He heads to Vegas to test his luck, but what he finds there is much more than a winning hand. He might just find the answer to all his issues. Alex isn’t looking for a holiday romance, but she does have a solution to her problems. Jax would make a perfect boyfriend—even if she must pay him to be her man. Money well spent to keep her parents off her back for the week so she can enjoy snowman building and gift giving—and more of the cowboy who she wants to get under the mistletoe. Santa has a plan. The gift Alex and Jax find under the tree is more than cash for services. Warning: New Cover. Lots of new content. A sweet holiday romance with a little spice to make everything sexy nice. A Cowboy for Christmas: The Callahans by Susan Fisher-Davis Reid Callahan misses his best friend and blames himself for not doing more to save him from the bull that killed him. He also carries the guilt of being in love with his best friend’s wife who blames him too—or did. Now she says she’s always been attracted to him. Is he just a replacement, a fill-in for her late husband? Lucy Albright has forged out a life for herself and the son her husband never met after widowed at a young age. When the man she’s always secretly lusted after returns to town for the holidays, she finds herself wishing to have the sexy handsome cowboy for her own. Can she give her heart to a man so like her husband, yet so different? Or worse, is she just his holiday fling? When Reid decides he needs to do one last thing to honor his best friend, will Lucy understand or say goodbye to the cowboy she got for Christmas. A Dom for Christmas (A Dom for All Seasons Book 1) by Raven McAllan Christmas is a time for dreams and miracles—or is it kink? Dreams and reality merge for Angie this season, and life may change forever. When Angie falls in a struggle over her beloved Christmas tree angel, she wakes up in 1818. The Earl of Camberley’s relief at finding his beloved wife finally awake is only surpassed by his anger at the ruffian who dared to attack her on his doorstep. His lady seems rather confused and he can only hope that she remembers who he is and what they share in private. Theirs is not a conventional marriage. As they work to piece together the mystery surrounding her angel, passion flares and Angie realizes that she loves this Regency Dom as much her Dom back home. Where is home however, and where will she end up? Christmas With His Best Friend by Doris O’Connor They’ve been friends for twenty years until … this Christmas. How do you tell a sweet, naïve, and clearly vanilla girl that you like to tie women up and torture them for mutual enjoyment in your spare time? Josh Mackenzie has no idea, but when his best friend Emma walks in on him pleasuring himself, everything changes. For Emma, coming face to face with her secret longings is mind-blowing. It’s one thing to fantasize about your best friend, but dare she take that leap into the unknown? Will it not ruin their friendship, and is—what would undoubtedly be awesome—sex worth risking that? While Josh shares her fears, she is all he’s ever wanted in a woman, and he’s determined to show her that they can have it all. This woman is his to mark, cherish, and love forever, and he’ll prove it to her, one spank at a time. All I Want for Christmas is You (Fate with a Helping Hand Book 1) by Mondello, Lisa From New York Times and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Lisa Mondello Contemporary Holiday Romance – ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU BOOK 1 in Fate with a Helping Hand Series “Christmas magic is right anytime – highly recommended.” C Penn, WordWeaving “All I Want For Christmas is You is a heartwarming Christmas story that will put you in the mood for the holiday season.” Debra Holland – Author of Wild Montana Sky “This romance is heartwarming and sweet…” Reading Romance Reviews “This was a cute little Christmas story…it was heartwarming to watch them become a family together.” The Book Garden Not So Over Eli: A Midnight Ink/Kinky Christmas Carol Story by Robin L Rotham Paramedic Bart Rigger finally has the life he wants rather than the one his father dictated, thanks to hot new fiancée Rhonda Giannetti. But a whirlwind trip to New Orleans puts it all at risk when he’s forced to confront unresolved feelings for his first love, tattoo artist Elijah Bell. The Dukes’ Christmas Abductions by Doris O’Connor & Raven McAllen Follow your heart and cross space and time… When Clara lands the job as curator of Faversham House it’s a dream come true. Especially when her favorite Regency Erotica writer Vicky Hopewell shadows her in the run up to the annual estate ball—a tradition left over from Regency times. The costume ball is always the highlight of the year, but neither woman expects to be confronted by two drop dead gorgeous Dukes. Daniel Danvers, the Duke of Hockwell thinks Clara is one of the servants invited to the estate ball. Kit Capel, the Duke of Aulban cannot understand why his wife Victoria acts as though she doesn’t know him. As both couples slowly come to terms with the reality of their situations, can they find happiness? Is it as simple as following your heart? A Carnal Christmas (Carnal Harvest Book 3) by Robin L Rotham Custom farmer Joe Remke once thought he would never be happy again. Fortunately, Ariel Jane Pender and Brent Andersen had other ideas, and now the three of them are building a farmhouse—and a future—together. Toss in the occasional orgy with Hake and Mandy Stivers, and life just doesn’t get any better. Or so Joe tells himself when his darkest fears whisper to him at night, urging him to leave while he can still survive on his own. But it may already be too late—Mandy and Hake are coming for the holidays, and they’ve got a lot more than visions of sugar plums and noncon role-play dancing in their heads. The gift they’re about to offer AJ could put an end to Joe… Or give him the faith he needs to stay forever. Reader Advisory: This book contains boys on boys, girls on girls, ménage, noncon-roleplaying, D/s and most everything you love about Robin L. Rotham books. A Man Under Her Tree by Cooper McKenzie Noelle Wynter is a holiday-loving woman wishing for her forever man to appear under her tree on Christmas day. Emergency Medical Specialist Nick Klassen hates the holidays and wishes he could hibernate until the middle of January. When their paths cross at the grocery store, both feel attraction, but fight it. Later, fate steps in as he bumps her with his truck in the parking lot, causing some minor injuries that demand Nick’s special attention. Throw in wine and Nick doesn’t stand a chance.Or does he? Can Noelle change his heart so that the holiday season is not one filled with darkness, but once again with light and love? Or will Nick find a cave he can hide from the holidays that have always been so painful? This is a previously published work. It has been edited for Evernight Publishing. A DADDY FOR CHRISTMAS by Maren Smith Sue Lyndon Katherine Deane Maggie Ryan Kara Kelley Adaline Raine A Daddy for Christmas is a sexy collection of ALL-NEW age play romances, brought to you by six USA Today and international bestselling authors. Daddy always knows best, and the young ladies in these smoking hot novellas are lucky to have the firm guidance of a father figure during the most magical time of the year. Grab some hot chocolate, snuggle up in your favorite reading spot, and let these dominant but loving daddies take charge. Papa’s Little Bride by Sue Lyndon Build-A-Daddy by Maren Smith Santa Daddy by Katherine Deane Mountain Man Daddy’s Christmas Surprise by Kara Kelley The Daddy Contract by Adaline Raine His Little Noelle by Maggie Ryan Publisher’s Note: The stories included in this romantic age play collection contain spankings, sexual scenes, and other naughtiness sure to keep you warm during the holidays. Please do not purchase this box set if such material offends you. Blue Christmas by JF Holland Divorced mother and romance writer, Lorie Foster, loves her job. She gets to work in slippers and be home for her son. The only problem is her books are no longer selling. ‘Sex sells,’ her editor informed her, ‘so spice up the sex scenes.’ A seemingly easy fix, but for an inexperienced Lorie, not so much. Dane Trevors is a bachelor, who’s recently got out of a rough relationship. He’s moved back home to be close to his sister Dara; Lorie’s best friend. Dara introduces Dane to Lorie, and he’s more than interested, he’s captivated. The only problem is, Lorie thinks he’s gay. To make matters worse she also needs to learn about sex, and he’s been wrote out of the equation. He’s going to try to help her out of her dilemma, but he’s got to remember to keep his hands to himself. Surely that won’t be a problem? It’s getting closer to Christmas, and the only thing Dane wants is Lorie. He has a surprise for her, but things don’t go quite to plan. Lorie can forgive many things, but can she forgive his lies? Can Dane sort out the mess he’s unwittingly found himself in? Or is he set for a very Blue Christmas? Throw in a flatulent Bulldog pup, an ex-husband and a mother from hell, and you have the makings of a spoof. But this isn’t a comedy, this is Lorie’s life. The Trouble with Mistletoe: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel by Jill Shavlis (A standalone Heartbreaker Bay novel) If she has her way . . . Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her . . . He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking. Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him . . . Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice . . . Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work . . . A Very Lusty New Year by Cara Covington Anna Cooper knows her mother wants her to find a rich husband but Anna refuses. Since her mother has always harangued her for being fat and frumpy, she knows no man would want her. Eschewing the idle-rich existence her mother lives, Anna answers an intriguing ad in the paper. Craig and Jackson Jessop might be considered investment gurus, but organized they are not. They decide what they need is an office manager – someone who can create order out of their chaos and manage them. It would be helpful, too, if the successful candidate possessed good pattern recognition skills. The minute they set eyes on Anna Cooper, they know she was meant to be theirs. Winning her as their bride should be easy. All they have to do is negotiate their way past a beast of a future mother-in-law, a con man looking to scalp them, and the biggest obstacle of all – Anna herself, who doesn’t seem to know what a gem she truly is. Getting Scrooged (The Smutketeers Present…A Kinky Christmas Carol Book 1) by Eden Bradley It’s never the wrong time for a HOT holiday read! Blinded to the Present…Avoiding the Future…Running from the Past The Smutketeers Present: A Kinky Christmas Carol! The Knight Family is a wealthy, powerful Chicago clan that knows everything there is to know about making money—but they have plenty to learn about love. In this three series novella—Eden Bradley’s Getting Scrooged, Robin L Rotham’s Not So Tiny Tim and R.G. Alexander’s Marley in Chains—you’ll meet Holly Knight, her nephew Tim, and her cousin Marley Knight-Williams as they face their ghosts, fulfill their fantasies and finally discover the magic of Christmas. Not So Tiny Tim (The Smutketeers Present…A Kinky Christmas Carol Book 2) by Robin Rotham Avoiding the future… Video game mogul, philanthropist and heir to the Knight empire, Tim Crichton has three F-zones—the friend zone, the family zone, and the, er… fun-buddy zone. No crossover is allowed because it might create a fourth—the forever zone—and Tim knows forever just isn’t in the cards for him. Miranda Girard has always known she and Tim were meant to be together, but when she got tired of waiting and made a move, he rejected her. Now it’s time for their Christmas reunion dinner and she’s damn well going to put on a happy face and attend—after she stops at the bar for a little liquid courage. Peter Vaughn can’t wait for his new house to be finished so he can move out of Tim’s apartment—living with a man he wants and can’t have gets old quick. But work on the house has ground to a halt and he’s stuck there until after the new year. It all seems hopeless until a jolly old doorman nudges Peter and Miranda together, and a little Christmas magic quickly escalates to a scorching holiday encounter that will either rescue Tim from a lonely future…or cost him the two most important people in his life. Reader Advisory: Contains 30% more cheese and 20% less kink than your usual Robin L. Rotham fare. (It’s Christmas, people!) Also contains ménage, m/m, mild BDSM elements, four ice-skates, three lovebirds, two black towers, and a doorman with a plan. Marley in Chains (The Smutketeers Present…A Kinky Christmas Carol Book 3) by RG Alexander From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author RG Alexander Running from the past… Marley Knight-Williams has avoided the ghosts of her past for seventeen years. Now, after one thoughtless decision and too many margaritas, they’ve found her. Her memories, her heartache…and her men. Just in time for the holidays. Boxer and gym owner Michael O’Shea is at the end of his rope. When his best friend Carlos comes home from serving his country, he’s a changed man—broken and wounded, inside and out. Michael knows there is only one person who can bring him back, one person who can make this a Christmas they will all remember. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her around. Even if he has to break out the chains. Time has changed them all, but it’s only banked the embers of their passion, and when the flames flare to life, they burn hotter than ever. Will the heat be enough to sear away the obstacles that stand between them? Or will it drive them apart before they can finish what they started all those years ago? Four For Christmas (Ménage and More Book 3) by RG Alexander Dreaming of a White Christmas led her straight into their arms… In this holiday spin off of the bestselling novella Three For Me? Saving a man in a snowstorm leads Georgia Bale to an isolated cabin, where three men have an important promise to keep. A promise Georgia soon becomes caught up in herself. She just wanted to survive Christmas, and her bad holiday karma. She had no idea that accepting a friend’s invitation to Colorado would lead her to her perfect man. Times three. What does an eccentric writer do when a compassionate doctor, a dominant police officer, and a handsome adrenaline junkie only have eyes for her? Use her imagination. But when the storm clears, she’ll have to decide which path to take. The way back home, or the road less traveled. Red Robin and the Huntsman: A Two Thrones Novella by Nicola M. Cameron It’s Frostfair time in Ypres, but not everyone is looking forward to the winter holiday. Army captain Duncan Bardahlson has been dispatched to the tiny province of Wellen mere days before Frostfair to track down a legendary bandit known as the Redbird. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Duncan also has to deal with Roberta “Robin” Busse, the widowed countess of Wellen and his long-lost love. When Duncan learns that Robin and her young son Charlie are in desperate straits, the hunt for the Redbird takes an unexpected turn. An overbearing tax collector, an impish priest, a very large pig, and a pair of bickering younger brothers all promise to make this holiday season a nightmare for Duncan — unless he can rekindle his romance with Robin. And find the Redbird, of course. But Duncan isn’t called the Huntsman for nothing… Peppermint Passion by Ann Mayburn Warning, this book contains a young woman curious about BDSM and two sexy Dominants who can’t wait to show her all the dark pleasures it has to offer, including bondage and chemical play, resulting in intense, screaming orgasms- Shyla has dreamt about, lusted after, and fallen in love with her to hot as hell bosses over the past year that she’s waitressed for them at their exclusive BDSM club. With only a few months left before she graduates and earns her teaching degree, Shyla decides to make her move at the company Christmas Party. As if that wasn’t nerve racking enough, her plans to ensnare her Dominant bosses’ attention revolves around them bidding on her at the charity submissive auction. Trent and Jack have been fighting a losing battle to keep their hands off of their beautiful and innocent employee, Shyla, until she graduates. Her gentle spirit and genuinely good heart call to them almost as much as her obvious submissive inclinations. When she surprises them by arriving at their Christmas party dressed like a wet fetish dream, and they learn she plans on being part of the submissive auction, the men quickly decide that the time to show Shyla who she belongs to, and who truly loves, her has arrived. *This is a re-release of a previously published book. While it has been revised, no major plot changes were made from the original version.* Christmas Miracle in July (Christmas Miracle Series Book 1) by R.M. Gauthier Charlotte Rose runs a Christmas Store in Christmas town with her father. For years, she has enjoyed the town and all it offers. Her hopes and dreams have always revolved around the town and store, until a certain man materializes and turns everything upside down. Arriving in Christmas Town, on assignment, Jack refuses to fall under the magic of the Christmas theme, using his dislike of the holiday season to shield him from its spell. His Christmas Wish by Lorraine Nelson Colin Reyes is tired of the matchmaking attempts by family and friends. He knows they mean well, but if he can’t celebrate the holidays with the one person he loves most, he’s decided to spend this Christmas alone. Fatima Leone is out searching for the perfect Christmas tree when her car skids off the road near Colin’s mountain hideaway. At first angry at the interruption, then concerned, he goes to lend a hand and finds Fatima unconscious. Has fate intervened on his behalf by bringing them together? Or will she walk out again? Her Christmas Wishes by Lorraine Nelson Erica London needs some time alone to figure out if she should continue with the in vitro treatments. They haven’t worked so far. She really wants to have a baby and an heir to the ranch…to know he or she was on the way before Christmas. Of course, wishing for a man to love her and produce said baby would be wonderful, but that’s not about to happen. She rides over to the London Lodge, situated on the back end of the London Ranch, to clean and close it down for the winter. A freak blizzard has her snowed in, but she doesn’t mind in the least. She has food, shelter, and wood fires to keep her warm. Besides, she enjoys not having the phone ringing or wranglers stopping in to chat. Spencer Rafferty is on his way to his brother’s wedding when he takes a wrong turn and ends up on a side road. His car hits a nasty drift and barrels into the ditch. With no signal on his cell phone, he looks around and all he sees is white. He smells wood smoke but can’t determine where it’s coming from. Then, in a moment of clarity when the wind dies down, he sees the smoke and walks down the road toward it. Erica opens the door with gun in hand, unsure whether or not to allow the stranger in. But the storm is a raging blizzard and she takes pity on him. When not covered in snow, she sees just how handsome the man is…and he’s not wearing a ring. When the power goes out, things heat up. Could this man be the one to make her wishes come true? Did she have it in her to embark on a weekend affair? And could she survive his leaving when the storm was over? High-Tech Holiday by Lorraine Nelson Kris Temple is a web graphics designer, an ambitious entrepreneur striving to survive in a dog-eat-dog world. She also wants to win her family’s Christmas contest. She adorns herself in full holiday gear the night before thanksgiving and is flying home fully decorated. She’s thrilled to find herself seated next to a handsome man. But Kris has a speech problem. However would she converse with this man without stuttering and embarrassing herself? Aaron Masters is not thrilled to be flying economy, but his personal jet is in for repairs. He’d had to scurry to the reservation desk at the last minute to book a seat on the only flight out, and now he finds his practical, no-nonsense demeanor assaulted by a woman dressed as a holiday advertisement…his seatmate. How could he hope to ignore this woman for the entire flight? With their flight being rerouted, calls from her ex-fiancé/co-worker pleading for assistance, and his ex-girlfriend stalking him, they are certainly in for a memorable flight. Mistletoe & Mr. Hoe by Lorraine Nelson ‘Master Baker and Owner of Toy Shop work together to create a little Christmas cheer for the town’s orphans.’ Simon Hoe left his wealthy upbringing behind to put some real distance between himself and childhood tragedy, never letting his emotions past the wall he’s formed around his heart. A master baker, he owns and operates ‘Simple Simon’s Pie Shop.’ Noelle Parsons survived her lonely foster care childhood only to have her one attempt at happily ever after end in disaster when she discovered her fiancé and best friend making plans to elope. She moves to Parson City where she opens ‘Winter Wonderland Toys & Crafts’. Noelle enjoys everything Christmas, sees another lost soul in Simon, and tries to convince him he has every right to believe and to enjoy life, holidays and all. She despairs of ever breaking through the barriers he’s erected. Will their attraction to each other fizzle and die? Or can they work through their hurts and differences to find happiness? Once Upon a Christmas Wish by Lorraine Nelson Widowed mother, Christina Madison, is a work-from-home seamstress struggling to make ends meet in order to sup[port herself and her son. She finds it extra difficult during special occasions…like the upcoming holiday…Christmas. Ethan Forrester is a man on a mission to find a twin brother he never knew he had. Instead, he finds his brother’s widow and little boy. He never believed in love at first sight until he met Christina. But is her attraction to him because of the man he is? Or because he is identical to her deceased husband? The Cowboy’s Christmas Auction by Lorraine Nelson Can an organic grower and a cattle rancher find common ground? When the acreage next door comes up for bid, Dustin Granger attends the auction hoping to obtain the property for his growing herd. Along with the creek running through the property, his cattle need more grazing land. What he doesn’t need or want is a city girl outbidding him to establish an organic farm. Meredith McRae inherits a small fortune from a distant uncle and decides to invest in her future. The estate she’s come to bid on has everything she needs and no neighboring cowboy was going to thwart her…regardless how handsome. Mischief Under The Mistletoe: Fourteen Festive Romance Novellas by Maren Smith,‎ Amelia Smarts,‎ Gracie Malling,‎ Sheri Lynn,‎ Kelly Dawson,‎ Brandy Golden,‎ Delia Grace,‎ Jaye Elise,‎ Joelle Casteel,‎ Shelly Douglas,‎ Molly Alvarado,‎ Allysa Hart,‎ Kathryn R. Blake,‎ Katie Douglas Mischief Under the Mistletoe: Fourteen fierce festive stories in one AMAZING anthology extravaganza, fresh from international and number one bestselling authors alongside hot new talent! Editor’s Note: These delightfully naughty Christmas spanking stories feature scorching romance and BDSM. Some involve age play, all involve spanking. There’s also a bit of LGBT+, some magic, and a drunken incident with a photocopier. If this isn’t your scene, it might be better to find a nice book about knitting lamp shades, instead. White Christmas: A Holiday Novella by AJ Harmon Lisa had always known she’d been adopted, but when a high school report requires her to answer the question, “Who am I?” she begins to have questions about her biological parents. Finding them isn’t the hard the part. Getting them to realize they are still in love with each other after all these years, however, will take the deft matchmaking skills of a fourteen-year-old. “It all started with a family tree project and ended in a wedding…in between is a heart-warming story that will touch your soul. 5 sweet emotional stars.” “It’s amazing how a writer/author of whom I’ve read every single book she’s ever had published, can amaze yet again for writing something so truly unique and different from what previously she’s written. This story is one that will stay with me for a very long time. Thank you AJ Harmon for such a wonderful heartwarming story of love.” “Lisa has always known she was adopted. Upon receiving an assignment to do a family tree in school she decides it’s time to look for her birth parents along with the help of her Mom and Dad. Could it be possible the two people who brought life to Lisa could still fourteen years later still have feelings for each other? This is such a touching story of love, loss, redemption and second chances. It’s got all those good feels that every reader loves in a great story.” Victoria’s Surprise Santa [Men of Montana 9] by Eileen Green The loss of a loved one can lead a person to one of two places. Victoria Jennings, the mayor of Polson chose the holding pattern for her life, waiting to see if love would ever find her again. In her everyday duties, she watches the man that’s an anomaly to the town. Gruff and abrasive, Glen Slater keeps everyone at arm’s length, causing people to flee from the premises of his diner as soon as they eat. But she has seen something within the man she doesn’t think even he knows exists. Finding the Santa look-a-like fascinating as well as lovely, she waits for him. On a cold, blustery, snowy day, she is blessed with the opportunity. She doesn’t realize how lonely he has been through the years and once he opens his heart, he can’t seem to absorb enough love. Will she be able to capture his heart for herself? Or will he sink into the dark hole again? ** A Siren Erotic Romance Montana Wedding Belles by Eileen Green Heather Bowers needed something to do since she graduated college and hadn’t been able to find a job yet. Her mother and friends are getting married and have asked Heather to be the wedding planner. Planning a wedding for one person can be daunting. Planning a wedding for eight brides seems impossible. Matthew Campbell had his heart captured by Heather years ago but hasn’t done anything about it. He decides now is the time to pursue her. Being abandoned by her father before she was born has Heather leery of relationships. She watched her mother struggle with raising her, and Heather doesn’t want that to happen to her. Matthew wants to show Heather that all men are not the same. He needs to show her that love and happiness are in the cards for her while helping her with the wedding plans. With all the love that Heather is witnessing, can Matthew convince her of a happily-ever-after? Cover Reveal for Jane Henry Priceless by Miranda Silver Naughty Alice by Jennifer Johnson Misadventures with a Firefighter by Julie Morgan My Hell Cover Reveal Archives Select Month January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 Latest Book Trailer Tymber Dalton Jon Dalton/Haley Jordan Founding Member of Passion Flix Copyright © 2020 Welcome to Sunshine Reads! — Uptown Style WordPress theme by GoDaddy	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434011
__label__cc	0.52701	0.47299	McCartney fans SLAM new ‘download-only’ Flowers in the Dirt deluxe edition December 16, 2016 by Paul Sinclairtags: 1970s, 1980s, paul mccartney Just some of the reaction to the digital downloads-in-physical product furore We pay for physical product, we expect physical product Paul McCartney fans have reacted with anger and incredulity to the news that more than a third of the audio content in the forthcoming £120, four-disc, physical deluxe edition of Paul’s album Flowers in the Dirt will only available as a digital download and is not being issued on CD or any other physical format. The fans, many of whom have bought the previous deluxe sets, who took to SDE (and other forums), were almost unanimous in their condemnation of this strategy that delivers 16 tracks – which include many long out-of-print B-sides (such as the first Costello Collaboration, Back On My Feet), single edits and remixes – as a digital download. In less than 24 hours, SDE has already had over 160 comments about this set. Below is just a taste of what our passionate and knowledgeable fans had to say. Can ANYONE at MPL or Capitol who reads this, still think they’ve made the right decision? They seem to have forgotten completely who the audience for these sets are. We are hoping that they are big enough to see the error and come up with a solution… Paul: “This is just absolutely ridiculous and an insult to the fans.” Mark: “Finally jumped the shark. Reached the point where the actual music is almost an afterthought and download only but chuck in lots of printed material. Crazy” Marcel: “Not paying that much for a deluxe edition if I am stuck with digital files in the end. I hope this decision will be reversed.” Carlton: “Download only b-sides? Seriously?” Simon: “Not having a physical release of the b-sides within the box is outrageous Mark: “Do these people actually think that those who are spending premium dollars on a physical product want download only material?” Ben: “For the folks like me who read this blog and are so interested in physical product, Downloads seems like a slap in the face.” Ollie: “I can’t see any point in buying a deluxe CD box set where a significant portion of the contents aren’t actually included on CD.” Eduardo: “His team should know by now that the buyer of these expensive boxsets is not the digital download fans but people who appreciate the physical formats.” Ben: “People buy the big super deluxe edition because they want physical music. To fob people off with a download… is a disgrace” Alan: “WTF! no SDE option for those period bonus tracks? For the love of all that’s holy, let it be a mistake!“ Lee: “What’s the point of releasing a deluxe edition with download-only content? Isn’t the idea to deliver the definitive physical release? Dave M: “This beggars belief.” Wayne: “It just doesn’t make sense. Who makes these decisions?” Avitom: “The whole idea of buying a physical item is that it is PHYSICAL!” Dave: “Insane decision to have download only content.” Jay: “Unbelievable decision. Jason: “We need to act fast on the off-chance that there’s something that can be done” Inge: “A good example of how not to do it.” As I said, that is just a taste. You can read all the full feedback here. While it is true that McCartney had flirted with ‘free’ downloads in the past – either as an incentive to order from his online store (when he had one) or as a tool to generate social media traffic, this is the first time a significant part of the product is being offered in this way, and it sets a dangerous precedent for future Archive Collection releases and also flies in the face of the current trend for big physical sets, such as the 27-disc Pink Floyd Early Years box, or the 36CD Bob Dylan The 1966 Live Recordings set. The list of tracks being offered as download only is below. You can read more about the new Flowers in the Dirt reissue here. [socialpug_share] DOWNLOAD ONLY: Original B-sides, remixes and single edits: 1. Back On My Feet 2. Flying To My Home 3. The First Stone 4. Good Sign 5. This One (Club Lovejoys Mix) 6. Figure Of Eight (12” Bob Clearmountain Mix) 7. Loveliest Thing 8. Où Est Le Soleil? (12” Mix) 9. Où Est Le Soleil? (Tub Dub Mix) 10. Où Est Le Soleil? (7” Mix) 11. Où Est Le Soleil? (Instrumental) 12. Party Party (Original Mix) 13. Party Party (Club Mix) Cassette demos: 1. I Don’t Want To Confess 2. Shallow Grave 3. Mistress And Maid 172 responses to McCartney fans SLAM new ‘download-only’ Flowers in the Dirt deluxe edition Pingback:Watch Paul McCartney perform ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore’ live in 1987 \| superdeluxeedition Pingback:Lennon v McCartney: How John eclipsed his old rival Paul with the Imagine box \| superdeluxeedition Jim Gilbert says: Man, Bought the new CD release and as a collector of all things Beatles, I had everything already, but that does not excuse this awful release, soon to be forgotten in my collection. Just couldn’t put the B-sides on a CD and have the boring demos, as your downloads bonus. As the price you are asking for, this is a disgrace to you. I won’t buy that thing you call a deluxe edition ever, and it stops my habit of buying everything. Pingback:Paul McCartney / Flowers in the Dirt deluxe edition / SDE review \| superdeluxeedition Pingback:Paul McCartney • Flowers in the Dirt [2017 Reissues] \| nudisc JudeMac says: The Voodoo records release of this title (Bootleg) actually has better selections, nevertheless, Paul should have released this material on a CD (had bassically 98% already). As a collector got it, made a special CD of the downloads & put it inside my Super deluxe box set for the collection. Paul if you read this made a big mistake on this release and hope it doesn’t happen on future reissues. george lennon says: if no-one bought them they will listen but f they made money from the gullible then they won’t care. Pingback:McCartney’s manger reaches out to SDE to explain Flowers in the Dirt downloads \| superdeluxeedition Pingback:Saturday Deluxe / 21 January 2017 \| superdeluxeedition CartoonCoyote says: I both wrote a letter of my own and signed the petition. Let’s see what happens. The Japanese version seems to be cd only with no downloads. That would seem therefore to be the answer. I don’t think it is. No worries. The Japanese bootleggers will happily pirate the downlod content on pressed picture discs with bonus tracks and artwork and packaging better than the legit release ! Adey says: I don’t and won’t buy overpriced crappy downloads at all. The deluxe edition of Bob Marley live! Is another example of greed driven record companies driving people to pay cd prices for downloads. Personally, I boycott them as i want a physical item if i have paid a fair price for my music. If i was into non physical downloaded music i would go on a torrent site for it and pay what its worth to me (nothing!) (By the way, I DON’T download from torrent sites- just for the record!) Eugen Sokolov says: burned cd is a sort of hand made, and placing it in the deluxe set would look like handwritten papers put into an expensive book – very awkward 2 jon: >how bout just download the songs, burn a cd, stop complaining and shut up and enjoy the music How about just put all the songs on cds officially, with no download content – without making troubles? Quite an easy task for a record company to make every single SDE buyer happy. Philip Cohen says: The only problem with your instructions(download, then burn a CD), is that McCartney’s download may be MP3(not full CD sound quality), and the download system at McCartney’s website has often been unreliable. how bout just download the songs, burn a cd, stop complaining and shut up and enjoy the music My father, and I’m sure a lot of other older fans, does not have a computer or the means to download and play these tracks. Why should he not be able to enjoy them just because of his age and circumstances. CL says: jon: “how bout just download the songs, burn a cd, stop complaining” That’s utterly ridiculous. If McCartney was gifting this material to fans, then fine – you’d be right. Just like the free downloads from “Venus and Mars” (that really should’ve been included on the bonus CD) – they were free. This, with “Flowers,” is different. If this release is important to you (it is to me), there’s every reason to complain about an expensive set that treats vital B-sides and other archival material as afterthoughts. Pingback:An Open Letter to Sir Paul McCartney: Listen to What The Fans Said \| superdeluxeedition Is it clear/ confirmed that the b-sides have been remastered? Any thoughts would be appreciated. My assumption based on the wording of the press release is: no. The download-only tracks have not be remastered. 347 signatures during 24 hours. Not bad. Join us! https://www.change.org/p/capitol-records-add-additional-cd-of-b-sides-remixes-etc-to-flowers-in-the-dirt-reissue-by-paul-mccartney RikTheHib says: From Maccas own website: The Paul McCartney Archive Collection release of Flowers In The Dirt was, as always, personally supervised by Paul himself. So, there, from the horses mouth…….. Fair enough. Then the buck stops with the Big Man himself. Methinks he’s been ill advised on this one. “Technology, Paul. That’s the way to go. Everyone loves to download!” Let’s be perfectly honest folks, even the previous archive releases were a tad thin in any really special extra content when put against comparable box sets by other artists. They were and are overpriced in relation their overall contents. No live unreleased material where I’m pretty sure some must exist, for instance. McCartney has been taking us all for a ride with his archive releases but up until now he did it more stealthily. Now he takes the full plunge with the bizarre choice of a 80’s album, however a good one it may or may not be? One arrogant complacent release too many I’d say. Does anybody know just how much involvement does McCartney have with these reissues? Is he very hands on with the whole lot, or does he just throw the archives open, ala Bowie with Rykodisc, and let the record company decide how it’s all going to be packaged and sold? I can’t help but wonder if this was a descsion made by someone who doesn’t really have their finger on the pulse of what the buying public really wants, but rather what they want the public to have. It wouldn’t harm anyone to have someone in charge of re-issues that is a fan of the maerial/artist, yet can be removed enough to be objective. Too many times we see the artist take total control over the re-issues and the results are dire – my classic example is U2. The reissues there were great, the Achtung Baby box set is magnificent, but, because they believe that Rattle & Hum and Pop were failures (read – didn’t sell enough in America) there’s no reissus, deluxe editions or box sets. I’d love deluxe editions or box sets of R&H and Pop and, honestly, I could put them together very easily. But I’ve given up on the band issuing them. Instead we’ll see deluxe/boxes for crap like Atomic Bomb and ATYCLB before the others. So, back to the topic, is this debacle down to Macca or someone working for Capitol? Geoff G says: Eugen, no it’s not confirmed. I just read it on a forum when the last batch came out. That doesn’t make it truth. So, I hope I’m 100% wrong. I would love a Back to the Egg with the promo video album they did on DVD as the ones on YouTube are unwatchable. Can someone remind Paul about the principles behind Apple? Some years ago, records companies wondered what to do against illegal download. The answer was obvious : deliver products of quality (that is through physical products!) to the buyers, and even some extras for the same price (some vinyls are still delivered with a cd of the album). My attachment to music is also linked to sleeves, photos, lyrics and notes that I can handle through a physical product. I bought my first record in 1985 so maybe it is a hard habit, but I will never pay for a file that can be indefinitely duplicated with a simple paste/copy manipulation. I understand the frustation: prices for some so-called deluxe edition are going crazy, if the price included some immaterial music, this is insane! Eugen, I signed. Although I like Ben’s letter more as it goes into much more detail. Nevertheless, good job on getting it up, already over 100 signatures. I actually like all the stuff we are getting in the box. Books, DVD, and music. It’s a lot in comparison to the last four Archive releases. BUT I do not like the downloadable content. Ben said it right when it was noted that you have to have a personal computer to get this music. That should not be the case, it should be a CD. A last note. I was under the impression that this was to be the final Archive release? I thought that was brought up during the last batch of Archive releases; Pipes of Peace and Tug of War. I agree that Ben’s letter is better and has decent arguments. But I do hope that my petition will work. “You may say l’m a dreamer but l’m not the only one”. How do you know that this is the last archive release. Is it confirmed? Such a disgrace for the Archive Collection which began so hopeful 6 years ago. Its first mistakes (16:9 video aspect ratio instead of original 4:3 for 1973, 1974 and 1980 promos) and random omissons of some rare collectable tracks from the corresponding eras (original 1971 mono mix of ‘Another Day / Oh Woman, Oh Why’, 45” versions of ‘Love In Song’ and ‘Get It’, ) were sad but this news about phisycal absence of 1989 B-sides is just a complete failure. You can’t do that!!!!! It fucks up the whole idea… People from MPL, please do something until it’s too late! bertielego says: Excellent letter. …and a blueprint for future similar complains! DaveM says: Brilliant letter Ben and particularly like ‘The future sales of the Archive Collection depend on it’. Being a hopeless completist myself, the dilemma of whether to even keep the nine I already have is seriously looming if the situation is not resolved, and in future I will always refer to Capital as Crapital. Thanks. Feel free to copy and paste the letter and email them with it! The more that send it, the better :-) Just for reference, sent this in the post and in email to MPL, as well as an email to Capitol: An open-letter to Paul McCartney and Capitol Records, in regards to the forthcoming deluxe re-release of ‘Flowers In The Dirt’: Dear Paul & Capitol Records, I am writing to you in regards to the announcement of ‘Flowers In The Dirt’ to be reissued in March next year. Many of us that have been purchasing the Archive Collection deluxe editions so far have all been longtime fans. We’ve been to the concerts, we’ve bought the albums, we all bought them again in 1993 when EMI reissued them, as well as collecting the singles, the DVDs and most of us remember the times our favourite McCartney albums were released. Back in 1989, Flowers In The Dirt was a big hit in the UK, reaching number one. All The Best had been released two years prior, going 3x platinum and reminding the world of all the big hits. A world tour loomed at the end of the decade, with Hofner bass and Beatles hits in hand. All in all, a great period to be a McCartney fan. In the publicity photographs, this reissue set all looks wonderful. Remastered original album, tick. Long-sought-after demos with Elvis Costello, tick. More demos with the band, tick. Exhaustive DVD with original videos, documentaries and new interviews, tick. All the B-sides, remixes and bonuses, download-only. Wait, hold on a second… We have all been collecting these sets to “archive” all the official recordings from the time of the album (and unreleased tracks) in lovely, lavish deluxe editions, all following the same trend of previous sets so that eventually we’d have a ‘complete’ collection on CD. What happened? Why was this decision made? Those of us that purchase expensive sets believe in physical product, that is why we buy it, year-in, year-out. That is why vinyl is on the rise and cheap sounding and throwaway mp3 sales are on the decline. An important factor is the increase use of tablet computers, unable to download music files directly. Download-only music, available in the way you are offering it, is utterly wasted on those without a desktop computer. This set is currently retailing at £120 on the Universal music store. And that is before postage. 4 discs and some books at this price is extremely over-priced. These sets do cost money to design and manufacture, I understand that but you only have to look at a few past examples (including your own back catalogue) that multi-disc and quality deluxe reissues do not have to be too expensive to still recoup the budget (and then some) and at the same time offer real value and a real experience to all those who dearly want sets like this, especially in an age when streaming is becoming the norm. These sets are aimed at people like us that want to buy physical music. Take a look at the recent Bruce Springsteen ‘The Ties That Bind’ box set. The River album on 2 CDs remastered, either 2 Blu Ray discs or 3 DVD discs of documentary and concert footage and 3 CDs of bonus tracks, both released and unreleased, all culled from the album sessions. Whilst you don’t have to exactly replicate the way any other artists do their super deluxe editions, but you can surely look at those sets that have been received well critically and commercially with the fans. Also of note, the Springsteen set was typically less than £75 at most retailers here in the UK. It contained double the amount of discs of this reissue of Flowers In The Dirt and similar amount of books, etc. And still cheaper. Even the recent Bob Dylan box set offered a whopping 36 discs for £100! Even if you priced this new set at £100, you could still offer more content within the set, most importantly these B sides and remixes advertised as ‘download-only’. There are more songs from 1987 to 1989 that are completely worthy of inclusion. For example, you offer Back On My Feet and Loveliest Thing but no Once Upon A Long Ago, Love Come Tumbling Down, Same Love, Atlantic Ocean or PS Love Me Do and many more, which stem from the same period. Fans are clamouring for these tracks in good sound, not on long out of print singles or bootlegs. You surely want to demote piracy? Imagine how many more sets would be sold if more rarities were included? The more that buy the early ones the more that will buy the later ones. Imagine releasing McCartney II with no Check My Machine or RAM without Another Day? It would seem strange and ill-thought. And that is crux of the issue here. You are alienating a lot of people who buy these sets by not including basic things that have been included on previous sets, and fans deserve better treatment and better value. We love you and your work. We love your new music (Flaming Pie, Chaos & Creation and NEW are absolutely fabulous works, up there with your best!) and we merely ask that we have celebration of your landmark albums with all they have to offer, warts and all. Take a look at the comments on ‘SuperDeluxeEdition.com’, a leading music release website. In the first couple of hours of the reissue announcement, hundreds had voiced their anger at the decisions made in the contents and pricing of this set. I urge you to take heed at these comments – these are the people that buy these sets. I hope sincerely that you reconsider the contents of this box at this price. There is still time. Even including a 4th CD with the B-sides and remixes, etc in a paper sleeve (if packaging has already been printed and completed) and slipped inside the box. The future sales of the Archive Collection depend on it. Ben Williams. Good letter. What if we all send the same? Can you share e-mails of Capitol and MPL? MPL have a contact us page on their website (google MPl Communications) and Capitol, I just emailed: communications@umusic.com 26 have signed already. Come on join us https://www.change.org/p/capitol-records-add-additional-cd-of-b-sides-remixes-etc-to-flowers-in-the-dirt-reissue-by-paul-mccartney?recruiter=653875553&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink Ask for advice: where else can I post the link? Charlie Waffles says: Hey, Mac: What have you been smoking lately? I do not plan on buying this set. I will buy another set from an artist who makes sense of what I will pay for. Shame on you! https://www.change.org/p/capitol-records-add-additional-cd-of-b-sides-remixes-etc-to-flowers-in-the-dirt-reissue-by-paul-mccartney?recruiter=653875553&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink Please sign the petition Signed ! With download-only content on this McCartney box and no CD release for a recent Bob Marley concert album, we are obviously seeing the first of what will be a series of provocations against Compact Disc collectors (and eventually against vinyl collectors as well) from Universal Music. One of Universal’s label’s (Capitol) has already stated that they will no longer offer recordings on any physical format after the end of 2018. I’ve heard this too and was horrified. Vinyl sales out-sold mp3 here in the UK, last year was it? I hope that’s its just a crazy rumour.. I hope they get the remaining McCartney remaster titles out on CD before 2018. I wish I hadn’t sold my copy of Back To The Egg back in 2010 too. I assumed all the remasters were coming out quickly. Boy, was I wrong! ed silverman says: Feel the need to go on record with my displeasure at the decision not to release evrything on cd. This fan won’t be spending any money on the reissue. Dave Cox says: Well the Flowers In The Dirt package is now on the horizon which I have been waiting in anticipation for some time now. I have bought the whole series of these releases and to say the very least the content has been dwindling on the last 2 releases and this is the final straw, we can have the tracks if we down load load them at a vastly over priced box set.What is the point of down loads when we want something physical, a download is definitely not. If the down load was included on CD everybody would be happy with the exception of the price.However they have still omitted several tracks that came with the Flowers In The Dirt album and the many different single configuration releases which were included on the Japanese 2 disc version. Where is the Long And Winding Road, the 2nd version of Rough Ride, Mamma’s Little Girl, Same Time Next Year and PS Love Me Do. I seriously hope that the powers that be in Capitol can see all these negative comments. I can’t fathom out why Paul who apparently has been heavily involved in putting this compilation together would do this to his loyal fans who have stuck by him all these years, I think this is pretty shabby treatment. He has so much money, why would he want to short change his fans. Come on Paul put this right and make it something you and the fans can be proud of and enjoy that will have a long lasting effect that will outlive us all. Tino Stabile says: I admire Sir Paul and all he has accomplished either with the Beatles and with Wings and to a lower extent most of his solo output. Although I have to say one of his strongest ones was this one (Flowers in the Dirt) and a shame that this is transpiring at this juncture. I think Rush have had some great reissues with the vinyls with the download cards available and with the 2112 respectful reissues. However Mr. Ian Anderson with Jethro Tull need to be commended and are by far the ones that are listening to the fans the most. Great reissues, book size, reasonable price with 80-100 booklets with 2 Cd/2DVD with complete history on the making of the albums. If all record companies would follow suit it would be a wonderful world. Speaking of wonderful world… I would like to wish you Paul and all your followers and a great holiday season with plenty of great new reissues in 2017 and plenty of money from Santa so we can take part in some of these. Fernando de Oliveira says: Definitely the Macca team needs some fans (UK, USA and South America) to serve as consultant for these releases. It’s a shame what they are doing. Agreed Fernando — the fact that they don’t is astonishing. This is probably because they intend to do a re-release at some point…hopefully with Blu-ray… At the rate they have reissued the back catalogue so far, we might not still be around to see that! Someone on the internet pointed out that the demos included in this boxed set have long been available unofficially, and(knowing the length of those songs) that individual calculated the total length of the demo disc that McCartney intends to include in the “Flowers in the Dirt” boxed set. It has a total running time of a mere 26 minutes. McCartney and his manager have a poor sense of what constitutes good value for money at this price point. Why should this set be priced nearly double the price of the “Tug of War”, “Pipes of Peace”, “Venus and Mars” & “Wings at The Speed of Sound” boxed sets? Its the same tracks as on youtube at less than 26 minutes, shockingly bad value, if musically fascinating. Someone earlier said drop the tub dub remixes, but for me the period between 1984 and 1992 is maccatastic, Ian Peel’s book on mccartney avant garde is a brilliant read and these remixes were ground breaking. Treat them with more than contempt please Paul. The extra disc in the Speed of Sound box was about the same length DJ Boji says: A laughing stock and a great nonsense. Hopefully MPL and Capitol did not hire a new manager, who used to work at Burger King before that. I remembered the interview which Paul did with David Stewart from Eurythmics. I have laughed a lot when Dave was telling the Story about a manager who used to work at BK and then went to work at MCA and this manager intended to Give away free Eurythmics EPs with a special Hamburger menu. I really wonder who comes up with such a bullsh.. and who from The music companies approve that and to what extend the artists who really involved in such decisions. I wish we had a similar hot discussion about other reissues e.g. George Michael’s Listen without prejudice as there is lots of material instrumentals, remixes and demos that are not included. Wake up Sony and Colombia and come out of the comfort zone when it comes to reissues !!!! Other thing are all this rocket prices for some boxes which are also unrealistic. Often including LP’s in the boxes to make the price utopic is also a big nonsense. Since it is now official that in the UK more LPs were sold in 2016 than downloads it makes sense to separate things a bit more. If I have to be Honest for me Universal does the best work on reissues – content and price wise and offering various formats as well. Welldone !!!!!! E.g. Tears for fears Boxes, U2 boxes etc. My biggest wish is that the records companies will pay a bit more attention to all The Feedback given from all the music lovers on this site and from The people who are buying the products. Wake up and smell the coffee. Steen Hansen says: Good job, Paul. And I mean Sinclair! If MPL doesn’t listen, I hope people stay away from this product. What a bummer! Andrew Grant says: Macca/MPL/Capitol/whoever – just have a look at the beautifully packaged and very reasonable Steven Wilson Jethro Tull reissues. The argument that ‘if we dopn’t buy this, all deluxe editions will be stopped’ is fallacy. It is so clear from the reaction here that this is a specifically and particularly poor and thoughtless way to reissue material for such a major recording artist. A slap in the face to all fans After a hectic Christmas season release schedule, I’m (finacially & personally) relieved that the schedule is now quieting down. The only items that I presently have preordered are the Japanese surround sound SACD of “Jeff Beck Group-Rough and Ready”, the “Cream-Fresh Cream” boxed set and “The Move-Magnetic Waves of Sound” CD + DVD set. And, in the near future, I’ll preorder the expanded reissue of “Shoot-On The Frontier”. If the archival release schedule remains quiet after February, I can then consider some of the items that I previously had been unable to fit into my budget, including Jimmy Page’s mail-order 4-CD set of film soundtrack music, some 2014 Level 42 expanded remasters, and perhaps Pink Floyd’s “The Early Years” box (if the issue of faulty Blu-Ray discs is adressed) and The Monkees Blu-Ray box. For 3 months, sales of The Monkees Blu-Ray box was suspended, when the original packaging proved too fragile to withstand postal handling. The packaging was then re-designed and manufactured….only to have factory workers forget to include “disc 7″(the exclusive bonus content) in some of the re-packaged sets. I just didn’t want to take on the possible stress of the Pink Floyd and Monkees sets at this time. I’ve collected so-called “Classic rock” for slightly over 50 years. If there’s a slight drought in new archival releases in the first half of 2017, I’m O.K. with that. It may be an opportunity for me to play some of my CD’s, SACD’s, DVD-Audio & Blu-ray Audio discs for a second time, and to work my way through a more than 2000 disc backlog of CD-R’s and homemade DVD-Audio discs that i have yet to play. Playing discs for the first time is, for me, a quality control procedure (to be sure that the discs play properly). Playing a disc for the second time is for pleasure; to actually enjoy the music. A guy from Capital I know sent me an email & asked if I had seen this. I had. What a strange idea but these guys actually believe they are doing you a favor! In their mind, this is a really cutting edge idea. Those of you who know Mr Barentt will know what I mean. The good news is that downloads are down 40% + since their peak in 2012 and the offering will be dead by 2019.Some very important people will have a conversation about this and it will last all of 5 minutes. Bear in mind that SDE readers are fans, collectors and are passionate in the extreme. These guys look @ record releases the way you & I look @ a loaf of bread. Good luck Paul. And I mean both of you. Just don’t understand what people at Capitol think about this dissatisfaction. Are they gonna revise the flowers reissue by adding one more cd? The Paul McCartney reissues haven’t been that bad so saying all of them have been poor is a bit harsh. I have all the deluxe ones so far and have been pleased with the majority. Yes more could be included but overall they have been done well. This one however with the download tracks and price has unfortunately left a bad taste. Hopefully they sort it out for us fans Eoghan says: I wouldn’t necessarily say the macca sdes are bad, but I get more value from a ten Euro deluxe 2cd kinks album, by a mile. I want to buy them by they’re such bad value for money, with little or no extra content to speak of (live stuff, documentaries, unheard tracks). Maybe the price is sunk into the admittedly impressive books. Very disappointing release. Will pass on this one if te b-sides are download only. I agree with everyone here, it’s a shame and a real lack of decency for the fans who are the only ones to buy the SDE ! Where is the petition to have the download bonus on a 4th CD for me to sign it ???? pinkfloyd says: The following are my top3 choices on the SDE reissue Hall of Shame* Peter Gabriel So 25th Anniversary SDE released a year late… 2012 Phil Collins ‘Take a look at me now’ 8 albums reissue… 2016 Paul McCartney Archive Collection… 2010 – (or rather, “how not to reissue your precious back catalogue to your fans for idiots”) I think that McCartney II was reissued spot on, which good for me as its in my top 3 Macca albums but I agree with your list. The actual Phil Collins remasered albums were top notch sound-wise but the bonus material on them was shambolic! The latter albums had better bonus content than the early ones.. For me, the only two Collins reissues that were spot on (for me) was But Seriously and Testify, in terms of cohesive and good bonus tracks. And as for Gabriel’s So 25th.. “How not to reissue your best album example for all artists”. Only good thing about that reissue was the fabulous Back To Front tour! Colin H says: Do we think he’ll Listen To What The Fan Said…? rosegirl says: I have bought all the McCartney sets as high-res digital downloads, but I can completely understand the annoyance of fans who spend a lot of money to end up having to then download a quarter of the set’s contents in unknown quality. I am also worried that I’ll be buying the hi-res download and won’t actually be able to get the extra download material, which is what I actually want, rather than a bunch of demos. It seems frustrating to me that many acts I love are doing big boxsets of their albums and sticking a few live / demos on as the extras whilst ignoring the released B-sides (looking at you in particular Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins) which are falling down the back of the sofa of history, or are only “available” via illegal torrents. I like the phrase “falling down the back of the sofa of history”. Nicely put :) It’s difficult to know whether the record company or the artist is to blame here and with other box sets. The Pink Floyd effort was excellent. On the other hand, the Crimson box sets, whilst involving a lot of work, ended up releasing mostly stuff already bought (and these editions are directed at the fans who have invested a lot already). The recent Ian Hunter box set was a good example – most of the people buying the set already owned 75% of the stuff. As for the tracklisting on this Flowers SDE they can barely have spent half an hour thinking about it, which is fairly contemptuous. Phil G. says: Good work, Sir Paul. You’ve managed to make the Human League boxset look like a complete bargain. The easiest way out of this is simply boycot buying the album. Don’t even buy one copy of it! Ola says: Here in Sweden we celebrate April fools’ day April 1, but I guess you in U.K. celebrate in December…or is it true? B-sides only in downloads? Seriously? / Ola Alastair says: You know, one of the most disappointing things about this release is that the bonus content on CDs 2 and 3 and the dvd looks really enticing, and would have made this a must buy (at the right price), but the ‘download thing’ really sours it. I’m also disappointed if this is the template for releases under the Capitol contract, and not a rogue final Concord one as I assumed it was. You pay a super deluxe edition, – you get the songs as a download. I don’t believe! Bill Hammell says: I’m fed-up. I’m only buying the 2-disc. I’ll hunt down any B-sides I don’t already have, and I only care about the demos with “Elvis Costello”, not the demos of album tracks. Got to be promo discs of the “download-only” tracks. The hunt is on! What springs to my mind is how Macca used to be so proud of putting lots of extras in ‘Pepper’, the cutouts etc, as a way of giving something extra to the fans. Admittedly there are a lot of paper extras in the current item of contention, but it would be nice if Paul could remember his thinking of youth. Gisabun says: I can see many here are probably like me: I buy the physical copy over the digital copy unless the digital copy is unavailable [official bootlegs is an example]. So why would I want to spend quite a chunk of my money for a digital download. As I mentioned in the original post, there is plenty of room on the 3 CD. Discs 2 and 3 could probably fit on one disc. Even throwing them on the DVD would be better than this &$#^$% format. If need room, toss the remixes. Do we really need a Tub Dub Mix, a Club Mix or an Instrumental mix? Matt C says: I’m a lifelong McCartney fan and have bought all of these sets as they’ve been released. I started to get some alarm bells going on the Tug of War set with the questionable remix being used as the primary. This one just confirms my worries that Macca has gone off the rails. He sometimes strikes me as the painter that doesn’t know when to put down the brush. OceanBlue says: People should not buy this, first because it is very expensive, secondly and mainly, because of the download only material. It’s so wrong in so many ways, it’s so wrong especially if this becomes a standard ! Not simply worng, a tragedy. But Garbage already did that, so Macca is simply following Garbage. We just need a third one ! So can we get the addresses, please? I find it strange that the vast majority of complaints here is about having to download the b sides and not about the ridiculous price of this box set. Steve gilmour says: Paul I appreciate the Floyd ‘bonus’ disc with early years was as a result of a mistake of having put the wrong disc in the set…but could the macca team not do the same thing now if boxes are already in pre production i.e. just do a card sleeve and put the bonus b sides disc inSIDE?? Strikes me that perhaps the lack of remixes on the last physical sets, might mean a separate remixes set? The best way to fight this is to NOT BUY IT. I hope you all refrain from supporting such nonsense. Issue is more that we all DO want to buy this set but if we do not complain to Capitol about this then further future box sets will be worse or potentially not even considered. Ben: If you buy it, then you’re endorsing the approach. In the end, it’ll be the numbers that count. What I mean is, I want to buy all the McCartney deluxe editions but when they don’t include obvious tracks in the box then its like, well I want to buy it but can’t as they haven’t put these on disc. But you’re right, its the numbers that count. joseph maffei says: Your right Dean just don’t buy it. You can find most of these songs on bootlegs anyway. I hate to say it but the bootleggers give the fans what they want, not the artist . Phil Davies says: Let’s be perfectly clear, this crackpot decision is down to PM, not the “management team” or the record label but Paul himself – he must have signed off on this and he could easily reverse it if he chose to do so. Let’s see if for once he actually listens to the people who buy these things. I’m not holding my breath. Ultimately, whether the related released B-sides and remixes are offered as download-only or via CD, the artist and song publishing royalties(that Universal Music must pay out) are much the same. And, so how much money would it cost to press those songs on CD? A CD pressing would add perhaps 50 cents(half a dollar) to the manufacturing costs of a boxed set with a $140-$150 retail price. And McCartney and/or Universal Music think that they can’t afford the miniscule cost of pressing that CD. What a bunch of stingy penny-pichers! Kind of odd they can’t just throw all that stuff on a Bluray and be done with it. Seems to me that they might actually SAVE money by pushing server costs and download bandwidth (an ongoing expense) off their income statement and instead just put everything on a few discs and not have to maintain the downloads… Makes no sense, no matter how one looks at this. Tony Gubba says: This is the worst thing ever. Nothing will be the same from this point in. Complete disaster Kauwgompie says: It pissed me off to no end that Pipes of Peace didn’t include the 12″ mixes of Say Say Say, hence I didn’t buy it. As a child of the 80’s I want the 12″es on the SDE’s!!! Not as download or vinyl but on CD (or both). These downloads are cheap, complicated and unnecessary. They barely save any money by not including a 4th cd so why mess around with this???? And for pete sake, add all the 12″es, not just 1 or 2. I would also like to add, that over the course of “The Paul McCartney Archive” series, that several companies have been utilised to administer the High Resolution 24-bit audio downloads. Sometimes the downloading process has been simple and reliable(“Venus and Mars”/ “Wings at The Speed of Sound”) and sometimes it has been slow, unreliable and impossible (“Pipes of Peace”/”Tug of War”). When my attempt to download one of those albums froze, I wasn’t permitted a second attempt. Customer service might have helped, but my attempt to contact them through the McCartney website failed, and website gave me an “error” message. I bought the “Pipes of Peace” & “Tug of War” boxed sets and I had the high resolution download coupons, but ultimately, it was much easier to obtain the high resolution downloads from unofficial websites. Incompetent download administration at McCartney’s website made the official download coupons utterly worthless and useless. In the end, I got my high resolution downloads(to which I was entitled anyhow), but not via the means that McCartney’s website intended. I am wary of any kind of official downloading. You could pay good money, and the download could freeze(due to server failure at the download company) and you get nothing. Customer service? Good Luck. David M says: Good point. I actually (legally) downloaded the Tug of War Hi res files last night. I could not believe that there was no full album file zipped up to download. Had to click on each song individually, very tiresome. Whose idea was that? Cary Allen Wilson says: Wow, seeing all the download-only tracks listed together in one place makes me angry all over again. I am now seriously thinking of NOT BUYING THE DIG DELUXE VERSION, MPL, like I have all the others. Just crazy stupid of them. I’m sure everything’s been covered in the amazing responses to this issue, but I wanted to add my voice anyway. Omitting a CD of this material in a super deluxe edition of Flowers in the Dirt is a big mistake. Paul is one of the wealthiest entertainers in the world, and the fans buying these super deluxe boxes are devoted enough to buy this material multiple times. It can’t cost that much to add another CD with this material, especially at this price point. I understand that Paul was involved in the making of this edition, although he may not be aware this particular element of it. I hope that enough noise is generated that his new label and maybe even Paul himself will fix this situation. Pink Floyd’s massive Early Years box had an extra disc slipped in to correct an oversight, perhaps the same can happen here. Kudos to Super Deluxe Edition who also came to bat during the Peter Gabriel “So” issue a few years ago! https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/peter-gabriel-responds-to-open-letter-about-the-so-deluxe-box-set/ This set makes So look like very good value indeed in comparison. graeme ewan says: there is one obvious option of course. Don’t buy it. This is probably done with the intent of selling the download stuff again on a re-release in physical form of some sort. Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous 25” was entirely canceled because they decided that the world’s best selling recording artist can no longer sell. Carlton Fisher says: They cancelled Dangerous 25?????? I was really looking forward to that because there is reportedly so much unreleased material from that album. Jackson had supposedly originally planned a 2-disc album, but cut it back late in production to one disc. I was really hoping that we’d be getting those lost tracks (or at least some of them) in a re-release. glenn roger says: I have all the other Paul McCartney box sets and was really excited when “Flowers In The Dirt” was announced. But to be honest, I am not a big fan of the “download” and never really utilize that part whenever it is in any box set. I am not a computer geek and not into downloads and online music. I am old school, meaning, I love the physical, in my hands, record or cd. I think Paul McCartney and his team putting this release together has lost sight of that. Here in the US, the pre-release price is already staggering for this box set, but now that I found out that the really cool stuff is downloadable only, I doubt very much I will get this box set unless they change course and place another cd in the box. What gets me is that every box set released up to this point has been outstanding, Paul even won a grammy award for packaging. But it just looks lazy to me to not include what people have been really wanting and to brush it off into a computer download. I hate to say it, but its the teenagers and young adults that go online to download that want it for free, those are the ones downloading Paul McCartney’s downloads, not the older collector that wants a physical classic box set and is willing to pay to get it. I will have to really consider getting this box set, but as of now, I am leaning on a NO! > The end of the slippery slope is a huge empty cardboard box with only a download card in it, for access to a load of compressed MP3s, and a link to a website containing the pages that might once have been in a book – and they’ll be asking 150-odd quid for it. While a different category of product, this is more and more common now with software and video games. So something similar isn’t a radical thought for music, especially once the generation that still appreciates physical product (of which I include myself) dies off. And from a marketing point of view, making people go to a site to see content like photos allows you to also strategically place ads for the most recent products you’re selling. While artfully avoiding my soapbox, I will say that software and video games do not have the tradition of physical product which music does. It’s not even apples and oranges. Lawrence Geller says: I have all of the prior boxes and have never listened to the CDs, only the hi-rez downloads. I’m STILL pissed about this, anyway. Thrillington gets it’s own disc, but there’s no room for ACTUAL Paul recordings. I’ve alerted McCartney’s PR team to this and asked them to highlight it to management/label. They have promised to do so, so we’ll see what happens… revroth says: Thank you, Paul! Fingers crossed… Bravo Paul! The only way that most fans will react is like me….I’m not buying it! If they included the downloads, as a separate disc I would! I dint mind high Rez downloads but, even in that case, it’s an add on for fans who want physical product. I’m kind of surprised that McCartney and MPL have not gone the Jethro Tull (DVD-A), XTC, King Crimson, Yes route of CD/Blu-Ray or DVD-A (in the case of KC and Yes). This is regressive product and shows a lack of thoughtful product development and/or not listening to their fan base. Johnny Jane says: The most thing to do is put all the B-sides in the 2-CDs edition, and then all the demos in the deluxe box set, why was it so complicated for them to come up with that ? I mean, even if they do something about it, I guess the standard edition will remain the same, which is weird. I’m a po’ boy and I ain’t got no money, why am I not allowed to get Flying To My Home ? This is wrong on so many levels that I do not even want to get into it. For the love of god, put the downloads on a cd and print a paper sleeve and shive that into the box before release. This makes me sick that it could have even been thought up let alone get this far. Very disappointed as a fan. RJSWinchester says: To add some conviction to your protest, you should remove the Amazon links on the corresponding post about this release. Not really. That’s a news story, saying this is coming out. This is a news story about how people have reacted. It’s not for me to dictate to people what they should or shouldn’t do. That’s an individual decision. Hopefully, this Paul McCartney SDE doesn’t start a bad marketing trend for other recording artists, wherein the consumer will be offered a book of memorabilia in a nice box set slipcase, but part or all of the musical content made only available as downloadable mp3 files. The end of the slippery slope is a huge empty cardboard box with only a download card in it, for access to a load of compressed MP3s, and a link to a website containing the pages that might once have been in a book – and they’ll be asking 150-odd quid for it. Actually, that sounds like a great idea for the Turner Prize competition. (I wish I was joking…) It’s the superdeluxe box set equivalent of Channel 4 buying The Great British Bake-Off – £50 million (or whatever it was) for an empty tent and a public relations disaster, and then a few million more for Paul Hollywood to try and prop the whole thing up. Some companies are already taking this “empty box with a download card inside” approach for video games–even console games. I may be really old fashioned, but if i pay money for something like that, I want a physical product on a real disc, not a file that may get corrupted and then I have absolutely nothing. If a disc gets scratched, that’s my fault. I often don’t have control over what a hard drive does to a file. Michael I’ve actually dreaded that for a long time. “Here’s a book of notes and pictures, son. Oh, the music? Just go download it. We offer it in compressed, lossy format so that everyone can enjoy it, no matter their platform! After all, we know how storage space can be a problem, and we know that in reality your equipment isn’t good enough for you to distinguish lossless music anyway, not to mention those pesky disc players you’ve been hanging onto for the last fifteen years. We’re doing you a favor!” Hopefully it never comes to that. The letter has been sent to MPL. An email will be sent to Capitol and MpL tomorrow with the same letter. I can post it here at some point. Paul Wren says: As others have said, simply just do not buy it. I’m not a fan of PM’s music, but I am a fan of physical product, and given the price point of this set, every tidbit of outrage to me is warranted. Paul is right about record label self-awareness though – they always point the finger outward regarding their mistakes. This is why they keep releasing what I consider highly vexing box sets, of all artists and genres. MPL Communications, 1 Soho Square, London, W1D 3BQ. I’m sure they’d love to get a load of cheesed-off letters. It’s a weirdly secretive set-up. I recall phoning once, ages ago, with a business-related query and the response was, ‘How did you get this number?’ I guess it’s full of people toadying around McCartney and stopping access rather than people running a business. This first Capitol release for Macca sure doesn’t make a lot of friends. A new Archive release should be a joyful experience. But if I was a Capitol executive, I’d be far from content reading all this anger. The open letter for Paul McCartney/Capitol is written – anyone know where to send it and how to send it? Download only disc is not cool at all. They don’t have to change the artwork, just add the bonus disc in a paper white sleeve and include it in the box. Simple. The question of whether ‘it’s about the music, man – not the sound carrier’ is invalid in the case of (super) deluxe editions. The whole USP of these high-price items is that they ARE an expensive ‘artefact’ or physical product in which music in a physically-held form (or forms) is a crucial part of the package along with visual and textual content (books/nooklets/reprints of collectable ephemera) and sometimes audio-visual content (DVD/Blu-ray). The market is accepted – by buyers and creators, alike, one would have thought (until now) – to be people who are committed fans/collectors who almost certainly have some or all of the content in previous forms/formats and are choosing to buy a luxury item that is both physically attractive (and also has a tangible value and hence a physical re-sale potential, should they wish) and contains some content that is exclusive to it in some way. The first issue with the downloads, aside from the resolution/quality issue, is that they are not a tangible asset – they have no actual value, and cannot be a part of any re-sale potential of the set. Denying a buyer this tangible value in return for their 3-figure wad of cash is mean-spirited, aside from being wholly against the concept of super deluxe products in being entirely about ‘stuff’ – physical content in a box. The set should never have come to market like this. It is pure greed from a man who most certainly doesn’t need the money – and McCartney is the man who has control/sign-off on these products. The cost of manufacturing one extra CD is literally a few pence in a project like this. There are two solutions to the current disgrace (assuming the sets are manufactured): 1. The Third Man Records approach, used in their ‘cabinet’ sets of the Paramount Records catalogue, which is to include a bespoke USB containing some exclusive hi-res audio content (alongside CDs, books, vinyl in their case). It would not be rocket science to create a USB with the McCartney B-sides in hi-res audio and create a moulding within which to place it along the pages-out side of the set, encased in heavy shrink-wrapping. 2. Perhaps more conveniently, the Free ‘Songs Of Yesterday’ 5CD set approach, in which 4 CDs were placed in clip-in trays within a long-form three panel fold-out book-type set (a bespoke design by Phil Smee) but with the free-floating slipped-in insert of a single CD with extra material in a simple thin wallet (with a reel of studio tape as its design). Maybe this fifth disc was an afterthought in that project, but it worked perfectly well. The set was shrink-wrapped so naturally the fifth disc didn’t fall out when on sale. It’s everyone’s own business if they buy this set as it stands. Personally, I think people should make a stand. Ah, great observation made about the diminished resale potential of the set. Hadn’t thought of that. I’ll bet MPL really likes that part a lot. I feel like that strategy as well as the pricing is an inetntional hedge against 3rd party reseller syndrome. I really do think this is a bite back at that aspect of the market – possibly Mr. McCartney is willing to sacrifice some sales in this regard to make such a point. Just plain lazy and insulting to the fans. I can see the way this is going – have been waiting forever for Wild Life with the two lost singles as extras (Give Ireland Back To The Irish & Mary Had a Little Lamb) – what’s the betting that they’re left out again as with all previous compilations (yes I know they were on the ’93 reissue but that’s difficult and expensive to find). Jim Edwards says: Charles K. I couldn’t agree more. If you sell a physical product then that’s what we should get. Don’t buy and they will understand we are not to be taken for cash cows. Too many SDEs recently have done us over, can’t even be assed to mention them all but it’s time to stop this looting. If I pay £100+ I expect great remastering, great packaging and everything that should be there. Sam Brown’s latest should be the way forward. Thanks Paul. Record companies are fucking is all over, we have to stop this. Dead or Alive, David Bowie’s Legacy or Blackstar “12 Japanese only vinyl, Suede, T. Rex – well anything by Edsel… Oh, I could go on for days. So effin’ tired of all of this. You want my money and attention… then do your job properly and stop insulting and hurting the fans: your money makers. Mister Stick says: Pardon if this point was presented in an earlier comment… There’s another issue to consider when looking at all of the Macca reissues: Short discs. For example, the Wings Over America “bonus disc”. That included just 8 cuts, totaling around 30 minutes. Why not fill the disc to at least an hour? If the producers think we would be interested in hearing another live version of “Maybe I’m Amazed”, then why not “Live And Let Die”, too? In the case of Flowers In The Dirt, 9 of the treasured Costello demos are a disc, and band demo versions of those songs are another disc. Odds are that both sets would fit on a single CD, right? That would open the door to put all (or most) of the content slated for download to fit on the 3rd disc, raising the value of this over-priced set, and quieting the storm over the necessity to download a lot of songs. And if all of the download content wouldn’t fit onto a single disc, they could easily add the b-side material to the end of the original album (I know some people hate this, but it is at least additional material recorded in the time period and of-a-piece with the tone of the album for the most part) and put the mixes/single versions on the bonus disc. What a unified chorus. Really great to have a place to vent about this kind of thing. In my earlier squawk, I mistakenly used “Live And Let Die” as an example of songs left off the bonus disc of Wings Over America. Then I actually looked at the damn thing to see it was there all along. But you get the idea: The WOA “extras” disc had only 8 songs for about 30 minutes, when it might have easily boasted twice as much. Point is, make better use of each 12 centimeters in the set. Why make us download stuff when you have the disc space to cram it all onto the CDs? And I’m guessing that is actually less hassle for the label than supporting download pages. The McCartney series should set the mark for quality and value and easily could. Instead that honor goes to the current run of Wilson-remixed-and-remastered Jethro Tull reissues: A small format with lots of printed content as well as wall-to-wall sound across all discs. You forgot about the LP-version. It has to be double, as usual, not tripple. 18 tracks (9 +9) just won’t fit, that’s the reason. Although I bought all previous McCartney archive boxes except “Wings Over America”(because the bonus tracks were merely more versions of the same songs, albeit performed in a different city), I’m going to pass on the “Flowers in The Dirt” box. It is overpriced, and Capitol & McCartney must be sent a message that the decision to not offer the related B-sides & 12″ mixes losslessly and/or on CD, is appalling, especially at this price. MP3’s? No way, with a boxed set this pricey. Granted, I’ve got some of these B-sides and remixes on original CD singles or 12″ singles, andI have the remainder of them on an unofficial 14-disc lossless audio download called “The Paul McCartney Singles Collection”. As for the “Put it There” video program, I’ll make do with the DVD-R that I burned from my old Laserdisc. Mike Cox says: Rather sad about this reissue. I’ve frankly been disappointed in the whole series. Starting with a handful of the “Unplugged” songs being released on dvd on the “McCartney” set and leaving the rest in the vault. The Unplugged show was over 25 years ago and I don’t think it has been released on dvd (or VHS for that matter). ken.e says: I have to admit, happy to see the set finally get released but I’m old school, I what my music in a physical format. I don’t think an additional disc or two would have been that that difficult to include. To me these sets have been awesome as an experience but seem to always leave me thinking that there are missing parts. It will find it’s way to my shelf however there are some great b-sides that really should have been available on disc and vinyl again. When the physical product stops delivering too, people will just edge towards illegal downloads. Especially when the price is ridiculously high. This point to how clueless some artist are when re-releasing their past catalog. As it goes with Oasis as well the release prices are outrageous. Are the management teams of those artist that really out of touch ? “Lets charge $150+ for a 3 cd set and a dvd. We’ll throw in a booklet and some pieces of paper” For a cheaper price you can get a 14 cd set from Bowie or perhaps the Lou Reed box or maybe the new Dylan 16 cd set which is still cheaper than McCartney. The added slap was the omission of the b-sides in a physical format. These sets are geared towards fans that have the money and why would they piss on those ? I paid less for a Dead or Alive set that contains EVERYTHING they ever recorded–not just one album with some extras. If I’m going to pay even more for just a single album and it’s associated era, it better have EVERYTHING that goes with that era, and it better be on disc. PAUL FRASER says: Don’t buy it. If you care about physical product, don’t buy it. Vote with your feet. That’s how to get the record companies to listen. But you will buy it. You’re a McCartney fan and you have an insatiable need to own everything on its day of release. This is a moan before you still shell out for it. The record company will ride it out, unless it hurts their bottom line. That should work in theory… But the label will blame lack of sales on something else (market conditions, price) rather than being self aware enough to understand that they weren’t delivering what fans actually wanted. StevieB says: I shall buy the 2-CD set, as I have generally done with the McCartney re-issues…and I will happily wait if I think it’s overpriced. I am really looking forward to hearing the demo disc as Costello is one of favourite artists and this is one of my favourite McCartney albums. That said, I support all of the critical comments as regards the digital download tracks, and as many others have pointed out they could have put all of the demos one on CD and then put the B-sides etc on the spare disc. Such a shame really as this would have been a very credible release content wise if they’d done that, although £50 would have bene a fairer and more reasonable price. One compromise solution could be to issue on CD only the actual B-Sides (non-album songs), which are tracks 1 through 4, track 7 and the 3 cassette demos (maybe adding Once Upon A Long Ago), and leave all the remixes as download only material. I dont think MPL really cares . Macca likes to be at the for front of new tech to get his music across to a new young audience but at the same time kicks his original fans in the teeth . Be a miracle if any thing is done about this mess , but who knows , Christmas is coming . Ex-Oligarch says: Downloading mp3 files isn’t exactly “the forefront of new tech.” It’s more like, “what you do when you don’t want to pay for the album, let alone a superdeluxe packaging edition of the album.” I know downloading isn’t new , but Macca wants everyone to know his music and if downloading is more acceptable then physical product to younger people he will do it . Macca does what Macca wants ! Charles K. says: Honestly, I wish going forward that artists would just use Simple Minds and Lloyd Cole as examples of how to do it right. Both bands released deluxe box editions of their catalog or individual albums and both were perfect. Sure, the Commotions box didn’t include 5.1 mixes but that was probably never gonna’ happen due to their commercial appeal compared to Minds, however, they showed how to do it right minus those. After my recent disappointment regarding the Crowded House remasters (way overpriced and over packaged for what you got though I did buy them all) I’m starting to wish the bands or artists would start including fans in the earlier stages to get an overall consensus of what content should include. I understand that some artists hate b sides or remixes but who cares, the fans buy this stuff and want them. If they don’t want to release key items or if they cop out as in this case and relegate key tracks to the waste lands that are digital downloads then don’t bother re-releasing them at all. Derek Langsford says: While I agree the Simple Minds sets were a terrific presentation of the albums they were far from perfect: Sparkle in the Rain – Booklet printing problem, 5.1 mix in mono – booklet and DVD-A replaced by Universal Once Upon A Time – three songs on Disc 3 clearly used inferior sources – no replacement offered though better sounding versions found elsewhere including one on the NGD set New Gold Dream – Poor remaster (accentuated bass but poor high end), 2 tracks for which there were no discrete multi-tracks stick out like sore thumbs on the DVD 5.1 because Universal just copied the 2005 5.1 mix rather than reprocessing it with improved software to blend better with the discrete channel tracks -no replacement offered So Perfect they were not IMHO. CAB says: Charles K, I couldn’t agree more. As far as I can see, ‘consumers of product’ can currently be divided into 3 groups. The first is those who listen to music in any available format (MP3, YouTube etc) The second is the new generation of vinyl lovers. The third is the collectors. I’m one. I love this new box set culture, and when they get it right it’s great. I just bought King Crimson’s ‘On and Off the Road’. Utter and total joy. The Commotions boxet was great, but I missed the UK mixes of some of the Rattlesnakes LP (as promised), and Mr Cole omitted the live version of Forest Fire (B side of Cut Me Down 12″) which I love (and have ripped from my original vinyl). As much as I tip my hat to you, it’s not about you, Lloyd. You both make great points and yes there were flaws but I’ve yet to see a release that didn’t have some issues. I guess I was speaking to what they included, for the most part there wasn’t any trolling by the artist or label. In both bands cases they included 99% of what I wanted, some I didn’t even know about! This McCartney issue is the type of offense that didn’t occur with the ones I mentioned. Robert Hollowood says: I agree that a super deluxe box set is not the place for download content like this. They should be offering uncompressed downloads of everything at these prices and including all the content on disc as well. The XTC reissues being done by Andy Partridge with a blu ray are a nice compromise with all content on a physical format at a reasonable price. I’m surprised at the disappointment with the Crowded House reissues another poster had. There’s 7 full discs worth of bonus material, much of it never having appeared anywhere before. If I was assembling a reissue campaign myself it’s exactly what I would have done and exactly what I wanted from the reissues. Got each double disc set for less than $20 US shipped. Extremely pleased and without a doubt my favorite reissues of the year. The decision is stupid but what annoys me even more is that this series of boxsets started with a £45 price tag for the first albums and now they want 4 times that amount. I regret falling for this scam. You don’t have to buy them. By waiting a while I have got all the ones that I wanted for around 25-40 pounds (including RAM and Wings Over America) Agreed. Yanking up the price in such fashion is just rubbing it in the faces of loyal buyers. The love of physical product is why we fans buy these sets in the first place. Offering half of the content as download only is a real insult to the people who buy these sets. Feels like a true bait and switch to me. If anyone knows an email for Capitol or MPL that will be read for sure, please post it here and we all might send a furious email of complaints to them…. -SG- says: If this is the new strategy, it does beg the question as to why even release the product in the first place. Well, making money of course, but…. for those who are supposed to part with their cash, this misses the audience and the point entirely, and takes for granted that people will just buy anything, which is a dangerous way to do business. I’m sure, it would be much easier to offer it as a download only and a nice coffee table book or pdf, instead of a comprehensive physical product, but who is a buyer there? With the availability of digital files, they need to get that the whole point in something like this is not just about the music, it is a complete well thought out product, executed and planned out, you pay a premium price for a premium product. The buyer should not need to do any additional work to access what they already paid money to get. The argument that the CD medium is obsolete is irrelivant, we are talking about a record that is nearly 30 years old, what is new or is the latest marketing fad is of little relevance here. Know your audience and save the downloads for Ariana Grande fans, they really wont care. A nice book about Macca with an incomplete set and a burnt homemade cdr inside is not a legacy release and is lazy, super tacky and lame and just does not cut it. For audiophiles, it would also make sense to offer an option of a nice book with one blu-ray with everything included in high resolution audio and an interactive component. Daran says: All disc only or downloads as a backup / saving time burning mp3’s. U2 did that with entire Uber Achtung Baby. Everything on disc + wav and mp3 downloads of ALL disc content. No reason PM can’t do it too. I fear this may be a damned if you do damned if you don’t scenario. The logical thing would be not to buy the set at all, tough for a fan to do. But then the record company can say “Aha, see, this product doesn’t sell anymore” and we can kiss any future deluxe editions goodbye. If we buy it the record company will say what a positive response they got to the downloads and next year’s reissue will be all download (with the requisite booklet, posters and stickers.) I’m hoping, as these sets are most likley produced, and sitting in a warehouse, that Capitol will slip a form in the set to send away for a physical disc of the downloads. While it won’t fit nicely in the set, it would at least show Capitol is listening and perhaps be a wake up call for the future. Only in this case we’re talking about the unique & sole preference of Macca/MPL. Hard to believe the label would willingly trifle with the public in this manner. They’re along for the ride with us in this case. Make no mistake. Dissapointing that CD Japan are listing the SDE as 3 CDs as well. I reckon they are in too deep with the artwork etc to fundamentally change the packaging (as Paul has intimated), but I think the best we can hope for is a seperate CD of the download tracks bundled with the SDE if they take on board the outrage. Clearly when Paul championed Ram as part of his radio interview they have not taken note. Lets hope they listen now. Problem is people keep buying these box sets at stupid prices which is encouraging record labels to set these prices because they know they will sell. £171.99 for 3 cds and a DVD anybody who pays that must be off their rocker. That price is not real. Bullmoose is already offering it at $120, which probably comes to around 100 quid when tax is added. Still the B sides etc should be on a CD. Paul Hillier says: I’m not so frustrated by the use of downloads, as such. But I AM concerned that they won’t be unlimited hi res and I am concerned that we won’t get all the recording details that are usually included in these sets. My biggest frustration is the price that this set is being offered at. At a time when money is scarcer than ever, I think any artist who truly wants to offer value for money really needs to make sure they can justify such a price. At the end of the day, we’re being offered 9 tracks we’ve never heard before. And to get them we have to pay over £100. Shameful. whilst im not a fan of Paul McCartneys work this story is a fascinating read and hopefully the record label will take out. it raises a very important point. these types of product are clearly going to be mostly bought by fans, so record labels really need to understand what people want and clearly its the physical content most people want. John Lennon says: Not a fan of McCartney’s work??? Jacob Dickens says: I’m not too bothered by the downloads, since I don’t use the cds anyway. However, they must* be hi-res downloads like the rest of the album, at the moment they don’t look to be. Lossy mp3s would be an even bigger slap in the face. That said, this sets a dangerous precedent. I’m glad we’re getting more bonus material, but it’s not fair on those who prefer physical media that a third of the deluxe album is delivered like this. Simple question says: At the end of the day, is MUSIC the most important thing to you? Not that we don’t already know the answer to this, obviously. But it’s awfully damn sad. Avitom says: John Lennon would say: “if I was ‘Here Today’ I would remind you Paul of ‘How Do You Sleep At Night’ David W Tevault says: ALL but a select few of the remixes are only available on vinyl. Shame on you paul and your record company for being so cheap and making your fans have to jump thru another hoop of fire, sans the price, to be a true collector. It’s not too late to correct the issue. Leave a Reply to Matt C Cancel reply	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434012
__label__wiki	0.531017	0.531017	We empower rural communities, farmers and disadvantaged urban youth through training and literacy programmes, enabling them to live a life of independence and dignity The Tata culture of giving back flows from the tradition of nation and community building sowed more than a century back by Jamsetji Tata, the Founder of the group. Tata companies are involved in a wide variety of community development projects, which relate to skills training and entrepreneurship, livelihoods and women empowerment. Tata companies work towards empowering people by helping them develop the skills they need to succeed in a global economy. The group equips communities with information, technology and the capacity to achieve improved health, education and livelihood outcomes. Okhai is a collective of rural women artisans Okhai Set up by Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD), Okhai is determined to be a brand that symbolises empowerment of rural and semi-urban women while promoting traditional handicraft techniques. Self-help groups (SHGs) have been formed in the villages of Okhamandal with the goal to empower 5,000 rural artisans over the next five years. Tata Steel's Samvaad promotes tribal arts & culture Tata Steel Samvaad — A Tribal Conclave Samvaad is a four-day conclave that celebrates the tribal community. The event commemorates the birth anniversary of iconic tribal leader Birsa Munda, as well as the Foundation Day of the State of Jharkhand. It is part of Tata Steel's continuing efforts to revive, preserve and promote tribal culture. Over 20,000 families have reached target income levels through Lakhpati Kisan Lakhpati Kisan Through their ‘Lakhpati Kisan - Smart Villages’ initiative, the Tata Trusts work in 17 remote blocks in Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat over a five-year programme. The aim is to bring 101,000 families out of poverty by the year 2020 by raising their income levels to over Rs. 1.2 lakh annually. Women & children have benefited greatly from the Trusts' data governance initiatives Tata Trusts helped build a data-based micro-development plan for 290 villages. With it, government officials could identify which households had no grid connectivity, ration cards, LPG connections, toilets or access to processed tap water, and which ones were eligible for skills-training or subsidised insurance programmes. Skilling youth with Tata STRIVE Tata STRIVE Skill building is a key focus area for national development. The Tata STRIVE mission is to build capacity to train youth for employment, entrepreneurship and community enterprise. It reaches out to communities, develops skills of people from financially challenged backgrounds and acclimatises them with the changing work environment. Net Gains Tata Trusts is helping empower undeprivileged communities through digital literacy. The Tata Mumbai Marathon deepens the group's connect with running communities. A Brand With A Soul Tata Chemicals’ Okhai empowers rural women by embracing digitalisation. Parsi Bhonu For The Soul A look back at the Sir Ratan Tata Institute's enduring legacy on its 90th anniversary.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434015
__label__cc	0.614014	0.385986	Applications Open for Tellin’ Stories Race, Equity, and Family Engagement Seminar – Spring 2020 Teaching for Change leads a professional development course for pre-K and elementary school educators to examine how race and class affect family engagement, and what equitable strategies can look like. The Tellin’ Stories Race, Equity, and Family Engagement Seminar brings teachers, counselors, and support staff from local public schools together to learn about these issues and develop strategies to meaningfully engage families through an equity-based lens. Learn more. Tellin’ Stories Race, Equity, and Family Engagement Summer Institutes The Tellin’ Stories Race, Equity, and Family Engagement Summer Institutes teach participants to apply an asset-based lens to family engagement that is grounded in popular education, community organizing, racial equity, and family engagement research. Read about the 2019 summer institutes for principals, and for teachers and staff. The summer 2020 institutes will be announced in January — sign up for the Teaching for Change newsletter so you don’t miss out! Professional Development for Teachers and Other School Staff Over 40 years of research shows us that involving families and the community contributes to children’s academic and social success. Despite this knowledge, schools and policymakers continue to grapple with ways to effectively engage all groups of parents in the education of their children. Many immigrant, low income and ethnic minority families (95% of the DC public school student population) do not feel welcome at their children’s school, let alone involved, and are marginalized from formal engagement in their child’s school. Parents are viewed as obstacles to their children’s progress and are often blamed for any shortcomings. Teaching for Change has developed a highly successful approach to parent-school engagement which successfully addresses the limitations of a one-size fits all approach. Tellin’ Stories has been recognized by the Harvard Family Research Project’s National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group as one of the most effective approaches in the country for engaging traditionally marginalized parents (2010). Our work is informed by research on best practices for engaging parents to improve student achievement; but most importantly, our work is field-developed and tested with the families so when theory and research conflict with families’ knowledge and experience, we revise our project to best meet the needs of our constituents. Tellin’ Stories is a unique approach to parent engagement that begins with community building as the basis for leadership and collective action. When parents feel they have the power to change and control their circumstances, their children tend to do better in school. When schools work with families to develop connections, families become powerful allies and advocates for public education. All school staff, from the principal to the custodian, can benefit from learning more about how to work effectively with parents and community members. Between Families and Schools Learn about our approach from Between Families and Schools: Building Meaningful Relationships. This publication is based on the findings of an action research project on family engagement, complete with stories, suggested actions, and guides to investigate at your school. Between Families and Schools addresses two key questions facing schools today: “How do we get more parents involved in our schools?” and “How do we enhance collaboration and communication between parents and teachers?” The second edition of this invaluable booklet is available as a PDF download for personal and institutional use. Click here to purchase Between Families and Schools. Professional Development and Consulting Teaching for Change offers professional development and consulting for schools and school districts to implement a family engagement approach based research and best practices learned from our work in schools for more than 15 years. Featured Professional Development Workshop: Between Families and Schools: Creating Meaningful Relationships. This full-day workshop engages participants in rethinking their assumptions about parent involvement and why traditional approaches are often unsuccessful. Creative and effective alternatives are offered as participants develop strategies to effectively build relationships with parents. This workshop is tailored to the needs of participants and is particularly useful for teachers, school staff and administrators. Other Professional Development and Consulting Topics include: Connecting Family Engagement to Academic Success Develop a Strong Family Engagement Work Plan Creating a Welcoming School Climate Creating a Family-Friendly Parent Center Learn to be a Great Parent Coordinator Build a Better Back to School Night Designing Parent-Principal Chit Chats that Parents Want to Attend Effective Academic Parent-Teacher Dialogues Improving Parent-Teacher Communication How to Share Data with Parents Develop a Family Literacy Program in Your School Demystifying Parent Outreach and Recruitment Cultural Sharing and Community Building with Parents The Secrets to Engaging Parent Meetings Attendance, Testing, and ELL: How to Turn the Tough Topics into Engaging Parent Meetings Download Professional Development and Consultation information as a PDF. Professional Development Fees Training and professional development fees correspond with the number of training hours. Please note that the number of hours may vary by training topic. The pricing schedule below is offered as an estimate. Final fees are determined based on a sliding scale. For more information, email: Allyson Criner Brown, associate director, ts@teachingforchange.org. Quotes From Tellin’ Stories Partners: “The teachers really helped us [Spanish-speaking parents] learn how to help our kids with reading. We were closed to those activities and opportunities before, but now they are open to us.” Parent, Thomson Elementary “I like that the teachers and the principal keep an open door policy, and that we can tell them our concerns and questions and they are listening to us.” “There’s a lot more openness. Parents feel they can come in, ask questions about the homework or something else, and really interact with the teachers. Before, they may have never even come in the door.” Teacher, Thomson Elementary “I think most of the benefit has been with the kids. They see their parents in the building, especially the first graders, and they are excited about learning every day. They know their parents know what they are learning and are connected to their school.” Principal, Thomson Elementary “We’re definitely realizing that parent engagement looks different for different parents… and we’ve also realized that parent engagement is not just about activities.” “Parents are WAY more involved, comfortable, and active here [at Orr] than before Teaching for Change started working with us. And way more so than I’ve seen in other schools.” Teacher, Orr Elementary “After sharing our concerns, I have seen a change in some of the teachers’ attitudes. They are more friendly toward us and other parents.” Parent, CAPCS Amos II “[With Teaching for Change] we’ve been able to have more conversations, to build connections with our parents.” Academy Leader, CAPCS Amos II	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434018
__label__wiki	0.877089	0.877089	Iran unveils newest achievements on Space Technology Day February 1, 2017 - 20:21 TEHRAN – On Wednesday Iran unveiled its latest achievements in the field of space technology during a ceremony marking the ninth National Space Technology Day. President Hassan Rouhani attended the ceremony during which two satellites named Payam-e Amirkabir and Nahid 1, as well as an orbital maneuvering system named Saman-1 were put on display. Minister of Science, Research, and Technology Mohammad Farhadi and Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan were also present at the event. During the exhibition, Rouhani was briefed by engineers and experts on the achievements of the country’s space technology. Nahid 1 is Iran’s first communications satellite manufactured at Iran’s Space Research Center. It has been designed to provide telecommunication and imaging services. Built by Amirkabir University of Technology, Payam-e Amirkabir was also unveiled at the exhibition. The homegrown satellite is able to take surveying images at resolutions below 40 meters. Another major achievement of the space technology is Saman-1, a system for controlling the orbital transition of satellites. Speaking at the ceremony, Rouhani called for further self-sufficiency in developing the space technology. He emphasized that the country needs to tap domestic potential and benefit from international experience as well. The president also said that space technology is a source of power for the Islamic Republic. Space technology brings authority to the country, he said. In recent years, Iran has made great technological advances in manufacturing satellites. In February 2009, the Islamic Republic launched into the orbit its first homegrown data-processing satellite, dubbed Omid (Hope). In January 2013, Iran sent a monkey to an altitude of about 120km (75 miles) in a Pishgam (Pioneer) rocket for a sub-orbital flight before returning intact to Earth. Iran also sent another monkey into space at the end of 2013, as part of a program aimed at manned space flight. MH/PA Iran plans to unveil four new satellites Two homegrown satellites ready for launch: minister Official: Iran to launch 3 satellites into orbit in one year Iran claims 5 orbital slots to place satellites Iran to launch three satellites Iran working on key space technology projects Iran to place ‘professional satellite’ at GSO by 2025 Defense Ministry working with 95 universities 'Private sector could help enhance national space tech' Iran enjoys development in space technology: official Iranian space satellites pass pre-launch tests Space Technology Day Iran satellite	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434022
__label__wiki	0.81827	0.81827	COLUMN: Catholic bishops, the Supreme Court and sexual morality By James F. Drane Even people who are not religious will be interested in an upcoming case before the U.S. Supreme Court. A few Catholic bishops brought the case against the federal government. They claim that their religious liberty is violated when they have to pay for government-sponsored health care for employees when this health care includes contraception or birth control. According to the bishops, if they have to pay for such government health care insurance for female employees, then they themselves become complicit in sinful sexual acts and this forced sinfulness violates their religious freedom. Bishops here in Pennsylvania have been actively involved in this case from the beginning. On the other side, a government spokesperson said that it has made special accommodations for Catholic employees, and that “the policy we have in place appropriately balances the need for millions of Americans to have access to birth control while also considering religious freedom, which is protected in our constitution.” For many people, this court case comes across as strange. Why are celibate religious authorities involved in issues of marital sexuality? This involvement actually has a long history. Different forms of birth control have been in use forever. The moral position of Catholic bishops in the upcoming Supreme Court case also has deep historical roots. The bishops’ claim is that sexual relations without an openness to procreation are sinful. This moral claim actually comes from an opinion expressed by a fifth century Catholic bishop from North Africa: Augustine of Hippo. Augustine converted to Christianity about 1,600 years ago. Before his conversion, he belonged to a religious community called Manichees or Manicheans. They believed that everything sexual and pleasurable is sinful and, therefore, imposed a complete sexual abstinence. In his criticism of this extreme group, Augustine argued for the morality of pleasurable sexuality in marriage, as long as the sex was open to procreativity. Because of his important place in Christian history and Christian theology, over time, Augustine’s response to Manicheans became the official Catholic moral stand, and the official Catholic sexual morality. Modification and change in Catholic moral teachings does happen, but never quickly. Augustine’s enormous prestige as a saint and theologian is some explanation for why it has taken so long for normal evolutionary change to come about in Catholic sexual moral theology. It took until the 19th century for moral sexuality in marriage to be recognized as the fostering and the expression of love. Even then, however, the traditional Augustinean justification also had to be present. Not even the important and powerful expression of love in sex could dislodge the Augustinean requirement that sex be open to procreation. Understandably Catholic sexual morality was often criticized for being an unhealthy Puritanism. Real change, however, did finally come in the mid-20th century, at the Second Vatican Council. Speaking of love in marital sex, council fathers said: “This love is singularly expressed and perfected by the proper work of marriage. The acts then by which the spouses intimately and chastely unite with each other are decent and worthy, and exercised in a truly human way; (they) signify and foster a mutual giving by which, with joyful and grateful spirit, they reciprocally enrich one another,” (Section 49, Scheme 13, On the Church in the Modern World). This official council document finally gave moral sexual relations in marriage some independence from a fixation on procreation. The criterion for morally judging sexual relations in marriage was greatly broadened. Conjugal love finally reached its proper moral status independent of procreation. Catholic married couples, today, have an important role in the ongoing evolution of sexual morality in marriage. They now have to help celibate Catholic bishops with no experience with marital sexuality to loosen up a little and to pay some attention to them. After all, they have the experience necessary to bring about further moral evolution in Catholic teachings on sexuality in marriage. Now, married Catholics also have official support in documents of the Second Vatican Council, and the moral thinking of most married theologians. St. Augustine was reacting to a pathological Manichean extremism when he made his case for moral marital sexuality. After 1,600 years, and improved insight based on much more extensive experience, moral theological thinking has made an expression of love to be the moral core of marital sexual morality. Pope John XXIII, who called together the Second Vatican Council, had previously established a commission to study marital sexuality. This commission made up of theologians and married couples moved sexual morality away from a fixation on Augustine’s fifth-century viewpoint, and toward a respect for the importance of love promotion, and for the extensive experience of good and decent married people themselves. Contraception and birth control are sometimes an important aide for love and marital unity. Recognizing this role of contraception and birth control for the promotion of love and unity in marriage makes possible a more reasonable and more respectable Catholic sexual morality. Catholic married couples, today, have to help certain celibate bishops accept this important and long-awaited evolution in official Catholic morality; a change that is much needed and has been a long time coming. The James F. Drane Bioethics Institute of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is named for Dr. Drane. Ashlynn Attic Corry MFG Dial reality TitusvilleAuto DonovanBauer	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434028
__label__wiki	0.977579	0.977579	Fabregas completes Monaco switch, will wear Jersey 44 - in Football, Sports Comments Off on Fabregas completes Monaco switch, will wear Jersey 44 Cesc Fabregas has completed his move to from Chelsea to Ligue 1 strugglers Monaco, in a deal that will run till 2022. Fabregas put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Stade Louis II after passing a medical earlier in the day, as he teams up with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry on the Mediterranean coast. Fabregas after signing the contract, said on Twitter: Wow. I’m honoured to announce that I will be starting an exciting journey with this wonderfully historic Club. @as_monaco will be my home for the next 3.5 years and I cannot wait to start this new challenge.” The club’s vice President Vadim Vasilyev also said: We are very pleased to welcome to AS Monaco Cesc Fabregas, a world-class player and a great professional, whose arrival demonstrates the ambition of the club. “This is obviously a very good technical reinforcement for the team but we are convinced that his experience at the highest level will bring a lot to our players on and off the field”. AFP quoting sources said that Chelsea will only receive payments related to Fabregas’ performance on the Mediterranean coast, contrasting with media reports that Monaco had already agreed to pay Chelsea 10 million euros ($11.5 million) for the player who could now make his debut for his new club in Sunday’s Ligue 1 game away at Marseille. Fabregas played with Henry at Arsenal at the start of his career, between 2003 and 2007, and the two share the same agent in Darren Dein. Now 31, Fabregas eventually made the same move as Henry when he left the Emirates Stadium for Barcelona, but he returned to English football with Chelsea in 2014. After winning two Premier League titles with the Blues, he has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge this season under new coach Maurizio Sarri. Fabregas made a tearful farewell to Chelsea fans in Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup win at home against Nottingham Forest, where he had a penalty saved. Having enjoyed a glittering career, capped by winning the World Cup with Spain in 2010, Fabregas arrives at a club who were French champions just 18 months ago but are currently in crisis. France legend Henry was appointed coach in October after Monaco started the season poorly under Leonardo Jardim. However, they have won just twice in nine league games since Henry’s arrival and currently languish in the relegation zone, five points from safety before the weekend’s matches. Nevertheless, Monaco have already progressed in both domestic cup competitions since the turn of the year, and the arrival of Fabregas takes the number of signings made by Monaco in the January window to three already. Veteran defender Naldo was the first to join from German club Schalke 04, and on Thursday Monaco announced the signing of France under-21 left-back Fode Ballo-Toure from Lille for 11 million euros plus bonuses. One player who will not now be signing on at the Stade Louis II, though, is the midfielder William Vainqueur. The former Marseille and Roma player was expected to put pen to paper on a move from Turkish club Antalyaspor, but Monaco announced earlier on Friday that he had failed a medical due to a calf problem. Previous article Police move Senator Melaye to public hospital Next article JCI: Nominations Now Open For 2019 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria Arsenal Appoint Mikel Arteta As New Head Coach Anthony Joshua reclaims world boxing titles from Andy Ruiz J Sanwo-Olu names Onikan stadium after late Mobolaji Johnson Arsenal sack Emery after 18 months in charge Mourinho replaces Pochettino as Tottenham Hotspur manager #AFCONQ2021: Nigeria edge Lesotho in six-goal thriller, Cameroon down Rwanda Eaglets’ Victory, A Lesson In Resilience, Says Buhari Brazil 2019: Eaglets stun Ecuador 3-2 to reach Round of 16 Liverpool recover from early shock to beat Spurs Brazil hold Super Eagles 1-1 in friendly encounter Manchester United, Arsenal draw 1-1 in EPL clash	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434029
__label__wiki	0.997042	0.997042	LSU sophomore forward Emmitt Williams, shown in a 2019 NCAA tournament game against Maryland, had a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds in the Tigers' 92-88 loss to the Dominican Republic in the first game of their Spain tour. Associated Press file photo LSU basketball starts strong in Spain debut, but falls late to world-ranked Dominican Republic BY SHELDON MICKLES \| Staff writer Sheldon Mickles The LSU men's basketball team opened its slate of games Thursday on its tour of Spain with a hard-fought loss to the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic, which is 18th in the latest FIBA world rankings and is in Spain training for the upcoming World Cup, overcame a strong push by LSU in the fourth quarter to take a 92-88 win over the Tigers in Madrid. LSU, which trailed 74-65 early in the final quarter, got a three-point play from Emmitt Williams with 8:29 left to start the rally that almost carried the Tigers to victory. Dominican Republic held a 72-63 lead after three quarters, but Will Wade's team crept back in the contest after the teams traded baskets to start the final quarter. Starting with Williams' old-fashioned three-point play and a 3-point field goal by Darius Days with 7:47 to play, LSU went on a solid 20-8 run to make it a game. The run was capped by a Marshall Graves' basket that gave the Tigers an 85-82 advantage with 2:42 to go. But Dominican Republic closed it out by outscoring LSU 10-3 down the stretch — starting with a three-point play of its own going into the final two minutes. Dominican Republic scored eight unanswered points for a 90-85 lead before LSU freshman Trendon Watford nailed a 3-point basket in the closing seconds. But that's as close as LSU would get as Dominican Republic added a pair of free throws with 12.1 seconds remaining to walk out with a four-point victory. LSU got off to a 19-8 lead early and held a 25-19 advantage after the first quarter before Dominican Republic bounced back for a 52-48 edge at halftime. "I thought we got off to a great start, and then their physicality wore us down as the game went on," Wade said. "They're just older and bigger; we just wore down." Williams, whom Wade said has had an excellent summer, scored a game-high 28 points for LSU and also led the Tigers with nine rebounds. "I thought Emmitt played really well," Wade said. "I was really proud of him. "He was phenomenal. But outside of that, we were average at best." Watford scored 18 in his debut with the Tigers, while veteran guards Skylar Mays and Javonte Smart, had 12 points each. Eulis Baez led the winners with 14 points, while Victor Liz and Rigoberto Mendoza pitched in 13 each. "I was proud of our guys; it was kind of what we did last year," Wade said. "We just hung around, hung around, hung around and we made a game of it. "But we get out of the way late in the game and don't take a charge, then they take a charge on us late in the game. Those are the details that we really took care of in the past and really didn't take care of today." LSU will next face the Valencia All-Stars at 10 a.m. CDT Saturday in Valencia. There will be no TV or radio coverage for the contest. Tigers are national champs! Click here to buy officially licensed LSU championship gear! BECOME AN LSU SPORTS INSIDER Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. LSU Daily News Stay in the know about LSU athletics' biggest news headlines. Sign up today for our newsletter! Email Sheldon Mickles at smickles@theadvocate.com LSU basketball team's tour of Spain continues Saturday against Valencia All-Stars The LSU men's basketball team will play the second game in its tour of Spain on Saturday when the Tigers go against the Valencia All-Stars in … LSU basketball rebounds from loss in Spain tour opener with 111-86 romp over Valencia All-Stars Seven players score in double figures as LSU basketball team wallops Barcelona All-Stars Follow Sheldon Mickles	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434034
__label__wiki	0.885698	0.885698	Giancarlo Sopo Democrats fret as polls show Bernie Sanders surging in early primary states More than 50 percetn of Democrats describe Sanders as 'too progressive' Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) A fresh batch of polls show Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) starting the new year with a surge in the 2020 Democratic primary race. According to the CBS Battleground Tracker survey, Sanders finds himself in a three-way tie with former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, each at 23 percent, among caucus-goers in Iowa. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) find themselves in a distant fourth and fifth places, respectively. The FiveThirtyEight average of Iowa surveys finds a similar scenario with Biden slightly ahead of Sanders and Buttigieg, well within a polling margin of error. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, the Vermont socialist leads the field with 27 percent support among the state's primary voters. He is closely followed by Biden at 25 percent, and Warren at 18 percent. Sanders' lead in CBS' poll is consistent with a RealClearPolitics average of surveys showing him with a four-point advantage in the Granite State. Sanders' voters are the most enthusiastic The CBS survey also found that Sanders' supporters are, by far, the most enthusiastic of any of the Democratic candidates, an important factor in tight races. Among voters who said they intend to back him in the Iowa caucuses, 67 percent said they were "enthusiastic" to support him, compared to 49 percent who said the same about Biden. Similarly, in New Hampshire, 65 percent of Sanders' called themselves "enthusiastic" about supporting him, surpassing all other candidates, and were more certain in their voting decision. Nearly half (47 percent) of Sanders' New Hampshire backers said they've definitely made up their minds while only 15 percent of Biden's supporters said the same. One possible problem for Sanders in Iowa, though, is that his campaign relies more heavily on first-time caucus goers, with 36 percent of his supporters saying this would be their first caucus, compared to Buttigieg's 25 percent and Biden's 24 percent. This is important, as the state's unique caucus system relies heavily on organization which may favor more experienced voters. Democrats worry Sanders cannot beat Trump Sanders' electoral resilience is worrisome to Democrats who prioritize beating Trump in the general election above policy and ideological considerations. As a May 2019 poll showed, 65 percent of Democratic voters said that taking back the White House in 2020 was their top concern. However, voters are unsure if Sanders can beat the president. Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire alike said that Biden has a better chance of winning the general election. Additionally, half or more of the voters in both states told CBS' pollsters that Sanders' policy were "too progressive" for winning over swing voters. The Iowa caucuses is scheduled for Feb. 3, followed by the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 11.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434038
__label__cc	0.652883	0.347117	Crewroom Launch New Retail Range of The BNY Mellon Boat Races Performance Wear Crewroom, the Official Performance Wear Partner of The BNY Mellon Boat Races, is to launch a new retail range of branded technical clothing to support both Races. The company has already won the contract to supply both The BNY Mellon Boat Race and The Newton Women’s Boat Race crews with race and training kit for the April 11th event. One of the UK’s leading sports brands, Crewroom are also the UK distributor for JL Racing, the Californian-based company who are world-renowned for their high-quality rowing clothing with unique technical fabrics worn by many international and university crews around the world. The Boat Race retail range offers members of the public the opportunity to display their support for their chosen team. Effective from 25th February 2015, the range of merchandise will be available for purchase from www.crewroom.co.uk. Highlights of the range include: • Softshell Jacket: An all-rounder of a jacket with a few notable features including a zip chin guard, internal pockets for modern media devices, a soft fleece lining, a water-resistant softshell outer and popper/velcro cuffs . Great for throwing on post training, this jacket keeps you warm and dry in the elements. • VX Bodyshell: Crewroom have designed this as a form-fitting garment – a contoured second skin – making this a perfect base layer for our cold winter months. The fabric uses their bamboo charcoal technology to keep you warm and smelling fresher for longer whilst the stretch nylon shell and raglan sleeves gives you ultimate manoeuvrability. • VX Cap: Crewroom have included a long peak and dark underside to reduce the sun’s glare. The soft and supple Vapour-X fabric moulds the shape of your head beautifully so you barely know you’re wearing it. Other features include carbon particles woven into the fabric which protect you from UV rays whilst wicking away sweat. Added to this, the internal towelling band keeps sweat away from the eyes so you can train without distraction. Speaking about the retail range, Kate Giles, Founder and CEO of Crewroom, said: “For the first time, we are proud to offer supporters of the BNY Mellon Boat Races high-quality sportswear which both shows off the individual’s allegiance to their chosen club and is an award-winning performance range.” “Some of these garments are used and worn by the athletes themselves. We’ve developed these products using the best possible fabrics and finishes to produce a retail range which is fitting for such a prestigious event.” The BNY Mellon Boat Races will take place on April 11th 2015. The BNY Mellon Boat Race and the Newton Women’s Boat Race will begin at 5:50pm and 4:50pm respectively.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434039
__label__wiki	0.775244	0.775244	From Scandal to Opportunity: Virginia's Political Turmoil by Helen Horan \| 3/6/19 2:30am February has been a hellish month for my home state of Virginia. The state has been hit with a storm of scandals that have rocked the political hierarchy. First, there was the revelation that Governor Ralph Northam had worn blackface in the past when a photo surfaced from his medical yearbook. He offered an apology but then came a reversal, as Northam ignored calls for his resignation. Another admittance of blackface followed suit by a different top state leader — Attorney General Mark Herring. And on top of all this, Lieutenant Governor Justin E. Fairfax, Northam’s designated successor, faced two allegations of past sexual assault during the same week. (The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General rank in the top five most powerful leaders in the Virginia state government — all three positions are currently held by Democrats clouded in scandal). While the sexual assault allegations add to the ongoing conversation during this #MeToo era, the blackface confessions have reignited conversations about racism we thought we no longer needed. All of this happened during African-American history month. Virginia is not doing well. An Inescapable History The magnitude of the state’s systemic history of racism and mistreatment of African-Americans cannot be summarized in a few paragraphs. It is a shameful and ongoing story stained with centuries of slavery, slews of Jim Crow laws and the 2017 white nationalist rally that turned deadly. The remnants are there: I often drive on what was, until recently, known as Jefferson Davis Highway or spot Confederate flags around me. On the capital’s main road, Monument Avenue, enormous statues of Confederate soldiers cast haunting shadows down at passersby, reminding them of a not-so-distant past. Yet my state has come a long way, and it is one I am proud to call home. Virginia regards itself as a political outlier in the South and a vessel of change of which Ralph Northam has often been the captain. College Democrats member Jacob Maguire ’21 noted the commendable shift in Virginia politics in the past 10 years, citing the three Democratic women who were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives this year as evidence of Virginia’s growing progressivism. The state supported Barack Obama twice and Hillary Clinton for president and elected America’s first ever elected black governor in 1985. Virginia runs through my blood. Both of my parents attended the University of Virginia, my siblings went to college in-state and my sister’s boyfriend is a student at the medical school Northam attended. This progressive yet historic place raised me — it is where I caught lighting bugs and relished snow days, visited presidents’ estates and waited for Septembers to come. Our state motto is “Virginia is for Lovers,” an ethos sadly incongruent with hateful acts like Northam’s. As Virginia faces intense scrutiny for a dismal past, I find myself reexamining my perception of the state as a progressive-minded “New South” haven. But in all this darkness I am desperately searching for some tint of light. Ergo, I seek to find a silver lining from these heartbreaking headlines from Virginia. What is Blackface? Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used by performers, often white, to represent a caricature of an African American. In 2019 (as well as in 1984 when Northam acknowledges donning blackface for a Michael Jackson costume), society largely understands that blackface is unambiguously racist. For most, however, this is where our knowledge ceases. The offence is often tucked away, better kept where we do not have to see its blatant racial ugliness. It is usually not in our textbooks; rarely do students learn much about it in schools. But if any good can come out of Virginia’s current disaster, it will be a recognition and increased education about blackface and its existence in the past and present. As we condemn Northam and Herring for racism, it is important we do justice to our testimony and educate ourselves about the practice and why it is such a painful mark on African American history. Blackface minstrelsy emerged in the United States in the 1830s and quickly became a popular form of entertainment in the country during the 19th century. The theatrical form was central to “how white Americans came into their own identity and worked through what it means to be white,” explained Kellen Hoxworth, a postdoctoral fellow in theater at Dartmouth. Hoxworth researches the history of blackface and his current book project, entitled “Transoceanic Blackface: Empire, Race, and Performance,” traces the formation of blackface throughout the British empire and broader world. “There were many active and organized movements in the 1950s and ’60s to push back against the derogatory practice, but that of course does not mean it went away, it just went elsewhere,” clarified Hoxworth. College campuses were the main environments where blackface persisted as means for whites to reclaim their space in response to integration. Modern forms of the vice have kept us from escaping the painful legacy. In 2013, Dartmouth faced backlash after Alpha Delta fraternity and Delta Delta Delta (now Chi Delta) sorority hosted a “Bloods and Crips” themed party that mocked black culture with dress and language. Even our beloved alumni Theodor Geisel ’25 is not immune from crticisim. According to NPR, Seuss wrote and performed in an entire minstrel show in college where the main character was in blackface. Children’s literature scholar Philip Nel has researched the racial origins of “The Cat in the Hat” and linked it to blackface. In essence, the form was ubiquitous. By the time of Northam’s offense, the practice had gone mostly underground. But the ever truth about blackface is its remarkable persistence; every so often it creeps back up and sends a shock through the system. Our discomfort with race is prodded, we are reminded of a past we want to forget, and the outcry begins again. Hoxworth calls blackface “capacious” and believes its simplicity, the act of dressing as “the other” in order to understand oneself, allows for its longevity. Can Blackface be Washed Off? Despite almost universal calls for Northam’s resignation from Democratic leaders across Virginia and the nation, as well as by the College Democrats, the Governor intends to remain in office and try to mend the racist scar. Currently he is planning a series of discussions around the state on race, a sort of “reconciliation tour.” Northam believes this moment “can be the first small step to open a discussion about these difficult issues,” and plans to devote the rest of his time in office towards improving race relations. Perhaps here is our silver lining — the opportunity for honest conversations and racial progress. Hoxworth, however, is weary of Northam’s “Reconciliation Tour” and this “washing-off the mask” plan because that has always been a trope of blackface. “If we are thinking about how blackface creates a white identity that only happens by washing off the blackface,” he said. The form rests on the idea that blackness can be put on and scrubbed off so that black people exist only insofar as to edify whites. Northam’s well-managed footsteps toward redemption are not a real confrontation of blackface, but rather a deliberate movement away from it. He is currently saying and doing the proper things to reintegrate into society. At the same time, there are some signs suggesting the insensitive incident was not a one-off, but a symptom of something else. Throughout his attempts to prove himself not racist, Northam has struggled to show he has a full grasp of black history. He referred to slaves as “indentured servants,” nearly responded to a request to moonwalk (in reference to his blackface for his Michael Jackson costume) and just last week, the Governor’s wife allegedly handed raw cotton to African-American students during a tour she gave of her mansion. Is this racism or just cluelessness? If we are willing to forgive someone for an act of ignorance — perhaps benign, perhaps malicious — it is important for Virginia citizens, myself included, to ask how far that ignorance goes. Transcending Colorblindness Many who personally know Northam can’t square that he could commit such a vile act. Some mention his childhood as proof of innocence. Northam’s parents kept him in the integrated public school system instead of sending their son to an all-white private school, as was common for people of their stature. A young Northam often hung out in black neighborhoods, and a significant number of his classmates were African-American. Yet isn’t the “I have black friends” defense dated? Clearly vicinity to black people does not shield white people from committing racist acts. The argument that Northam grew up in proximity to blacks is a shallow one neglecting the importance of thoughtful and complex conversations surrounding racism. Unwilling to recognize racial differences and his white privilege, instead Northam claimed he doesn’t see color: “I have a lot of African-American friends that I went to school with, played ball with, and I suspect I’ve had as much exposure to people of color as anybody.” Maybe instead of pretending that race doesn’t exist, it is important to see color and how it has disenfranchised some and empowered others. If Northam truly grasped what it meant to be black, I doubt he would have smeared shoe polish on his face. Race is a touchy topic, and people still do not know how to talk about it, but it is time we try. We need to have these conversations that will be unavoidably messy and uncomfortable, but raw and necessary. Hopefully we will see Northam, and other leaders, address concrete issues beyond the superficial offence of blackface — law enforcement reform, lack of school funding and continued housing discrimination. The silver lining can be the recognition of racial disadvantages and the implementation of policies toward dismantling them. The Political Lessons While we cannot erase the past, we do not have to stay imprisoned by it. Beyond the moral lessons, there are concrete political lessons from this disaster. Maguire noted that this situation demonstrates “the importance of thoroughly vetting candidates in primary elections in detail, even if that involves asking difficult questions or uncovering challenging issues.” In pursuit of atonement, Northam must first ask what systemic racist policies need to be changed in order to help black Virginians. This could materialize as the expansion of voter rights, improved health care or criminal justice reform. Politicians need to build trust by listening to marginalized groups they are supposed to serve. In the case of Northam, it may be stepping down that is in the best interest of his constituents. This situation ignites a discussion on the nature forgiveness to which Pastor Andy Sutton of Trinity Baptist Church in Lebanon spoke to me about. He believes the black community has an amazing opportunity at hand to offer forgiveness. “The extension of forgiveness is beautiful,” Sutton said. From a pastor’s perspective, to forgive one’s enemy is a way to imitate God. Northam’s sins calls on us to be merciful and give him a chance to repent. But real repentance part will take more than a crafted apology and careful words; it demands real action to repay those who have been historically wronged. Maguire is a former member of The Dartmouth Staff. Tags: mirror Women in Politics at Dartmouth and Beyond How PPGA Adds Their Voice	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434044
__label__cc	0.671837	0.328163	Commercial Tyres Michelin Tyres for Sale by ttwpadmus \| Apr 21, 2017 \| Tyres, Commercial Tyres Michelin Tyres and the Future of Tyre Technology On the surface, the car tyres for sale today might not appear very complex at all. They are rubber compounds with steel belts and air, and that is all there is to it, right? Perhaps a few decades ago, that might have... Industrial Tyres for Sale by ttwpadmus \| Mar 28, 2017 \| Tyres, Commercial Tyres Taking Care of Your Industrial Tyres When browsing among all the brands of industrial tyres for sale in South Africa, it’s clear to see that these tyres can be an expensive purchase. It’s because of this that you need to make sure you get as much value from your... Thomas Tyres Gauteng by ttwpadmus \| Aug 4, 2016 \| Tyres, Commercial Tyres Thomas Tyres – Keeping Gauteng Motorists Safer on the Road Since 1964 When it comes to choosing which tyre store in Gauteng to do business with, there are a number of important factors to keep in mind. Choosing a company with a tried and tested record of excellent... Tyres and Fitment Specialists Leading the Way Forward in Tyre and Fitment Services in Gauteng In order to remain at the top of your industry for more than 50 years, you need to stay abreast of the latest technology, and that is exactly what we do. At Thomas Tyres, we remain one of the best tyres... Dunlop Tyres Specials Get More from Your Money with Great Dunlop Tyre Specials South Africa has more than 10 million vehicles using our roads on a daily basis. This is a staggering amount, and when you consider that every car has to have at least four tyres, it’s easy to see where the... Affordable Tyres Affordable Tyres are a Reality Do you have to break the bank to afford the best quality tyres? Leading tyre brands can often leave your bank balance in shock, but it doesn’t have to be the case. It all depends on from where you source them. Leading suppliers... © 2020 Thomas Tyres, All Rights Reserved \| Articles \| Privacy Policy	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434051
__label__cc	0.696952	0.303048	Real Estate & Estate Planing Kalamazoo Marijuana Possession Defense Lawyer Michigan Drug Defense \| Marijuana Have you been charged with possessing, using, growing or selling marijuana? If you answered yes to any of these options, you should seek professional legal counsel from Kalamazoo marijuana charge attorney Gary Tibble as soon as possible. Because Michigan currently outlaws the possession, use, sale and cultivation of marijuana by recreational users, you could be facing serious penalties if convicted, including fines and court fees, community service, prison time and a permanent criminal record. Only recently has the state legalized medical marijuana that must be prescribed by a physician solely for the use of pain relief, nausea, movement disorders and other ailments. Michigan residents using medical marijuana must have applied to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program. Reliable Michigan Marijuana Crime Lawyer At the Tibble Law Office, P.C., we want to protect your future by aggressively defending your rights and by building a solid case that will help reduce or dismiss your drug charge. Throughout his 20 years as a defense attorney, Gary Tibble has provided vital legal representation to residents of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the surrounding area who were facing marijuana charges, including: Marijuana use - Penalties include up to 90 days in prison and/or a $100 fine, given at the discretion of the ruling judge. If you are convicted of marijuana use in a public park, you could face a felony charge. Marijuana sale - Penalties can include both misdemeanor charges (if sold but there is no collection of money) and felony charges for sale that could end with 15 years in prison and a $10 million fine depending on the amount of marijuana sold. Marijuana cultivation - Penalties include felony charges and four to 15 years in prison and up to a $10 million fine depending on the amount of marijuana grown. Marijuana DUI - Penalties include possible community service, minor jail time and a small fines for your first and second offenses, your third offense could result in a felony charge with five years in prison, community service and up to a $5,000 fine. Because of the seriousness of the these penalties, Gary Tibble will take every step necessary to work toward safeguarding your future, especially if this is not your first marijuana charge. He will defend your case by examining the circumstances around your arrest to prove the police had probable cause, plus determine if the marijuana was in your physical possession or on the property at the time of your arrest. If evidence was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights, Gary Tibble will also file a motion to suppress it, as well. Call Today for Marijuana Charge Help Have you been charged with using, selling or growing marijuana in Michigan? Call Tibble Law Office today at 269-383-6000, or contact us online. Michigan lawyer Gary Tibble is ready to help protect your rights. Call for a free initial phone consultation Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact Tibble Law Office P.C. OWI - First Offense OWI - Second Offense Suspended/Restricted License License Restoration Methamphetamine Charges Felony/Misdemeanor Charges Clear Your Record Mortgage and Foreclosure Assistance Office Location Tibble Law Office, P.c. 5144 Gull Road © 2020 by Tibble Law Office, P.C. All rights reserved. Disclaimer \| Site Map	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434052
__label__cc	0.66457	0.33543	Welcome from the Chair of the Governing Body Our Commitment to Pupils and Parents Star British Values Statement Members of our Governing Body Faculty of English Faculty of Modern Foreign Languages Faculty of Sports Star Diploma Homework and Independent Learning Attendance and Behaviour Parents’ Guide to a Safer Internet Timing of the School Day Password Protected Page Intervention Calendar (Provisional) Internal Exams Calendar (Provisional) Friends of TIBHS and Parent Council External Exams Calendar Admission to School Faculty updates Pupil Newsletter Join our team and we promise a rewarding experience in return. Read more › Click here to see our school term and holiday dates for 2019-2020. You are here: Home / Work for Us / Staff Benefits We know that, to achieve our vision, it is our people who will make the big difference. In order to attract the strongest talent, we offer a competitive reward and benefits package. Competitive salaries We offer competitive salaries for both teaching and non-teaching staff based on the type and level of role you do. We are an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer . This ensures we are treating people fairly across the Trust as well as remaining competitive. Pay ranges are reviewed annually with our recognised unions. Your starting salary will be determined by the pay range for your role, your experience as well as external market conditions. National Terms and Conditions Star Academies is committed to offering national terms and conditions in line with the School Teacher’s Pay and Conditions document (“STPCD”), the Burgundy Book (for Teachers) or the NJC Green Book (for Support Staff). This commitment is protected via a Recognition and Collective Agreement between Star and the national Trade Unions and Professional Associations. All contracted members of staff will be automatically enrolled into a career-average pension scheme with either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme (whichever is appropriate). You don’t pay tax or national insurance on your contributions and Star adds a generous employer contribution, which varies depending on your salary. All staff are entitled to opt-out of the pension scheme should they wish to do so. We recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and provide generous holiday entitlements. This entitlement is in addition to any Bank or Public holidays. If you work part-time, your holiday entitlement will be pro-rated. Teaching staff receive the standard school holiday allowance. Flexible and Family Friendly Policies We understand that our employment policies need to be flexible and responsive in order to promote diversity and equality, and to attract and retain the highest quality workforce. We offer flexible working opportunities; job share arrangements and part-time roles; generous family leave packages; and leave to support you with emergencies or for compassionate reasons. We’re proud to have a range of schemes, which recognise the achievements of our staff and show our appreciation of their contributions. Our Star Letters scheme and annual Star Awards provide a way for managers to reward and recognise colleagues who go that extra mile. We also like to take the opportunity to formally recognise and celebrate the loyalty of those who have worked for us for a significant period of time. All staff are offered a Healthcare Cash Plan from Simplyhealth. The Cash Plan allows you to claim money back on the cost of everyday healthcare, such as dental treatment, eye tests, physiotherapy, acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic treatment, homeopathy and chiropody/podiatry, all up to an agreed annual limit. Advice and Counselling Services Our Employee Assistance Programme offers free and confidential advice available 24hrs, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You will also have access to structured counselling of up to six sessions available either face-to-face or over the phone. Through our partnership with Simplyhealth, we offer 24/7 telephone access to GP services. You can speak to a GP at any time and if appropriate treatment requires medication, the GP can offer you a private prescription. Lifestyle Benefits and Discounts We provide a variety of discounts and deals on a range of health-related activities and experiences, including gym memberships, sports equipment and family days out. Our Cycle to Work scheme enables employees to purchase brand-new bicycles and cycling equipment via salary sacrifice, making tax and National Insurance savings. If you’re interested in working for us, please search our latest vacancies for a role that suits your skills. If our school doesn’t have any suitable vacancies currently then you may find another Star school does. If you don’t see what you’re looking for now, check back at a later date. Search current vacancies Today’s readers, tomorrow’s leaders Star Academies has recently launched a series of exciting new reading initiatives to promote the joys and benefits of reading. Key Notices Principal's Newletter Please see the December edition of the Principal's Newsletter Access useful information Access all the latest tool and utilities to help with your projects. Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School Sumner Street BB2 2LD Email: info@tibhs.staracademies.org Privacy Policy / Cookies Policy / Terms and Conditions ©2020 Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School This website uses cookies to give you the best online experience and to provide site analytics. You can change your cookie settings at any time. If you do not consent to the use of cookies, you can disable cookies through your web browser. 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__label__wiki	0.634634	0.634634	Medical Costs Transparency: As Clear as Peanut Butter By Marilyn M. Singleton What if purchasing medical products and services were like buying peanut butter? Grocery stores have several brands and varieties: smooth, chunky, old-fashioned, natural, organic, no added sugar, reduced fat, no-stir, and pre-mixed with jelly with clearly marked prices ranging from $1.75 for the store’s generic brand to $7 for the over-priced Yuppie brand. After carefully examining the labels, our shopper chose a 16-ounce, $5 jar of no-added-sugar peanut butter. She paid the cashier $5 for the peanut butter and went home. Hoaxes, Scams, and Your Medical Care Hoaxes and scams have been dominating the news lately. We have a marginally known actor faking a hate crime supposedly to raise his Hollywood profile. His attempt to claw his way to the middle could have resulted in race riots, injury, and death. His punishment? All charges dropped. The scandal about Hollywood and other elites buying their children’s way into top-rated universities really hit home. I remember when I had tutored some recent Vietnamese immigrants for a debate contest to win a scholarship for college. I could only hope that their hard work was rewarded and not wiped away by special favors bestowed on the “haves.” Thought Police (Oops, Medicare) For All The new Medicare for All bill (H.R. 1384) has come and hopefully will go the way of the pet rock. Everybody now knows the basics: the government will take care of all medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, and long-term care services with no out-of-pocket expenses. The bill prohibits parallel private insurance, and has the glaring absence of a financing mechanism. Jumping Into Medicare For All With Eyes Wide Shut The unveiling of the ballyhooed House of Representatives Medicare for All Act of 2019 bill will be met with chants of “equal healthcare for all!” While the country will be forced into a government-run program, the limousine liberals and champagne socialists will keep their array of medical care choices — whether on or off the record. Eugenics, Euthanasia, Infanticide, and the Lord’s Work By Marilyn M. Singleton, MD, JD New York’s Catholic Democratic Governor had the World Trade Center in lights to celebrate its abortion-on-demand-until-the-day-of-birth law. This law was framed as empowering women through guaranteeing “Reproductive Health.” Women in New York must be really powerful since New York’s abortion rate is twice the national average. This and eight other similar state laws were largely ignored as merely codifying Roe v Wade. But the state of Virginia’s Democratic pediatrician governor’s ghoulish advocacy for abortion until delivery of the infant was jaw-dropping as he explained that killing the infant after birth was allowed. Free, Black and Twenty-one I ran into a 20-something fellow wearing a T-shirt that said “I love being black.” I had a wave of fond nostalgia remembering how my mother began our outings with “I’m free, black, and 21 – let’s do it!” What happened to that great attitude? We have allowed it to be hijacked by the likes of race baiters and charlatans. It remains an embarrassment that Al Sharpton was able to parlay a giant provable lie into hosting a TV show. It seems the media’s flavor of the day is anyone who is black, female or new to this country. Worse yet, white males are painted as evil for the sake of political gain with no qualms about the negative effect on social and race relations. (Beware: the white male-hating circle will ultimately engulf strong black men who support their families.) New Years Wish: No More Morally Superior Phonies My new year’s resolution is to expose the hypocrisy of the morally superior politicians whose election strategy was to pretend they cared about crafting policies in the country’s best interest. Take “the wall” on our southern border. Ignoring the opinion of the border patrol agents (51 percent of whom are Hispanic) that it would “without a doubt” be a helpful tool, Nancy Pelosi and her people claimed it would be ineffective in stopping everybody. That’s like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopping its flu vaccination campaign because the vaccine is only 40-60 percent effective. The Healthcare Revolution: More Choices, Not More Taxes Paris is in flames over a fuel tax increase that would pile 30 cents onto the $7.06 per gallon price paid by citizens whose average monthly salary is $2,753.This burdensome “carbon tax” on the middle class is intended to help meet Europe’s commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and thereby halt global warming or climate change. It appears that the 21st century French Revolution has begun. This time, Brussels is sending in tanks to protect the new elite and its agenda. The Real Loser in the Midterms: Individuality After the election, sappy statements on social media exhort us to bow down in praise that the first minority this or the first woman that was elected and how this means we have catapulted our nation out of the Neanderthal era. Funny how no one mentions Young Kim’s victory – but she is not a Democrat so it does not count. It’s funny how no one cheered women of color when Condoleeza Rice was secretary of state. Instead she was called an Aunt Jemima and a house nigga’ in a nationally syndicated cartoon. Healthcare is this Year’s Political Football Healthcare is the political football of the midterm elections. But unlike the game of football, there are no rules. And the goal is to win – not for the benefit of the team (the voters) but to gain status and power. Politicians are looking for a sound bite that catapults them into the spotlight. Spartacus was a dud. People like free stuff. Let’s try Medicare-for-All! Of course, the ads won’t mention that taxes will be doubled and private health insurance is essentially outlawed. Judge Kavanaugh’s Character Assassins Could Be Controlling Your Medical Care Our legislators have been at their worst over the Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. What a shameful display: condescending, arrogant show-boating senators questioning him in a manner reminiscent of the Grand Inquisitor. The only things missing from this B-grade movie were the rubber hoses and interrogation lights. Some of us remember that you could count on one hand the “nay” votes for the confirmations of ACLU attorney Ruth Bader Ginsberg and known conservative Antonin Scalia. Expanded and Improved Medicare for All: Beware of Greeks Bearing Broccoli During the Supreme Court oral arguments in the challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to purchase health insurance, people laughed when the late Justice Scalia asked whether the government could make you buy broccoli. Never happen? The laughable has become reality. A California bill awaiting the governor’s signature forbids restaurants from serving any beverage other than water or unflavored milk with kiddie meals. As of yet, the meal’s purchasers, unlike the restaurant, won’t be fined for ordering another beverage for their child. Mission Possible: Saving Freedom in Medical Care In the original Mission: Impossible series, against all odds, through brilliant strategizing the good guys thwart stealth communist plots to undermine democracies. In trying to provide affordable, quality, personalized medical care, independent physicians face seemingly insurmountable obstacles: digging out from under piles of electronic paperwork, breaking free of third-party red tape, dodging hospital buyouts, and shielding patients from data mining and privacy intrusions. The Courage to Trust Medical Care to Patients and Physicians The days of trusting your legislators to have your best interests at heart are in the rear view mirror. Apparently, their main interest is parroting the buzzwords of the moment to get elected and then being too busy banking lobbying money to listen to the voters. Our legislators have become spectators who wait for the perfect moment to pounce on their political “enemy” and then go on cable news shows to boast about it. The “us against them” attitude, punctuated by hyperbolic, apocalyptic rhetoric closes the door to finding solutions. Our interests would be better served by having town hall meetings where voters could state their concerns, air their differences, and learn what legislators are doing about their issues. Caution: meetings at 9 a.m. on Wednesday when paid activists are guaranteed to outflank the working general public are prohibited. Who Is Your Doctor? By Dr. Jane M. Orient People used to know who their doctor was. His name and phone number were on the wall or the refrigerator next to the telephone. He was there for you and could manage most of your problems. When I was about 13, my mom took me to our pediatrician for belly pain. He was on his way out the door, but he stopped to take care of me. He diagnosed appendicitis based on history and physical examination. He called his favorite surgeon (“Billy,” a Tucson legend), who came from the golf course to meet me in the emergency room. Within hours, my red-hot appendix was in a jar. My parents paid the hospital bill ($150—10 days’ pay for a construction laborer) as I was discharged a few days later. Sacrificing Freedom to Vaccination According to the Oath of Hippocrates, physicians have the duty to advise their patients according to the best of their ability and judgment. In In most cases, most physicians recommend vaccination, believing that for a particular patient, the benefit exceeds the risk. Patients or their parents, however, have the right to decline to follow their doctor’s advice. But with vaccination, government restricts this right. Every time there is a measles outbreak somewhere there is an outcry to restrict vaccine exemptions, to protect the public—and, just coincidentally, vaccine manufacturers. SOTU 2019 and American Medicine So What If ACA Is Unconstitutional? Epidemics, Fear and Denial: How Every American Is Threatened The Children, the Caravan, and Health What To Do About A Caravan Of Rag-tag Migrants Marilyn M. Singleton Dr. Jane M. Orient Dr. Lee Vliet	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434055
__label__wiki	0.944711	0.944711	Does Cape Town have something to hide‚ asks housing policy researcher 26 July 2018 - 07:01 By Katharine Child Image: The Times Researcher‚ activist and author Dr Crispian Olver has questioned whether the City of Cape Town has something to hide‚ after he was refused access to documents – and permission to interview officials – about its housing policy. Olver‚ a qualified medical doctor who penned an explosive book about corruption in Nelson Mandela Bay‚ had asked permission to study the city’s audit and forensic reports and conduct interviews with officials about its housing policy. The request was made as part of his PhD at the Wits School of Political Studies‚ where he is researching how property developers influence local governments who must approve certain building plans or sign off on new developments. Olver explained: “The Cape Town case study is particularly focused on planning and zoning decisions‚ the way that developers have influenced decision making within the party in power.” He is studying this topic in a few cities across the country and plans to share his findings to help cities strengthen their local governance‚ he says. Entrepreneurs keep home fires lit until market revives Middle-income flats go up as residential funds foresee upturn But the City of Cape Town refused his request to interview staff and access reports – but inexplicably said it would welcome his 2019 feedback session. Olver has not had any other city deny him access to information. He said: “No other city has ever said no and I have investigated quite a few in my time.” The city’s response to his request for access to info for his PhD specifically stated that he should not be granted permission “due to the high risk and significant impact on the City of Cape Town”. It then suggests he consider a different city for his work‚ or reapply to do his research in a year’s time. City communications director Priya Reddy did not explain what risk his work posed‚ despite being asked. She said: "Dr Olver requested access to political representatives and city officials to conduct interviews through a city endorsed process as well as access to forensic reports and audits - which are highly confidential.” Cape Town scraps R8-billion Foreshore project Cape Town has scrapped its multi-billion rand plan to revitalise the Foreshore and resolve the problem of the city centre’s unfinished freeways. The City of Cape Town housing policies have been controversial‚ with pressure group Reclaim the City making headlines in 2017 by pushing the city to create more affordable housing. The group pointed out Cape Town apartheid dynamics persist‚ with poor people living very far from the city centre and having to spend a lot of money and time to get to work. Property has become unaffordable‚ even for the middle class. The City of Cape Town has since moved to free up some provincial and city-owned land to develop affordable social housing‚ as announced last year by city councillor Brett Herron. The city also made headlines in 2017 for initially selling a school in Sea Point to wealthy property developers‚ instead of using the prime land for affordable housing as activists had demanded. Olver said he didn’t expect the city to refuse his request for interviews and access to documents. “It’s difficult to understand why‚ despite their public commitment to transparency and good governance‚ the city would not want to investigate an area in which malpractices have been so evidently deleterious to the functioning of the city." He has not faced this censorship before. How the cost of living in SA compares to other countries Cape Town is South Africa's most expensive city to live in, according to a new ranking of cities by their cost of living. Take Even when writing his book‚ How to Steal a City‚ that detailed corruption in Nelson Mandela Bay‚ he had access to information. He said: “Despite the extent of corruption and political instability at the time‚ the [Nelson Mandela Bay] city gave me full access to all their records and staff to conduct my investigations.” He said he would be able to use Promotion of Access to Information requests to get some data‚ but would not be able to conduct anonymous interviews with Cape Town city officials‚ which will weaken his research. Reddy said the refusal was “about the timing of the research‚ given the administrative and legal processes currently underway‚ which directly links to the main focus on the research topic. This was communicated to Mr Olver”. She added: “Forensic and audit information are not public information documents.” Olver asked on Twitter if the City of Cape Town had “something to hide”. It said it did not. Reddy said: “The city does not rely on academic research to reveal corruption. There are internal processes to uncover corruption‚ which is dealt with in a decisive manner according to strict procedures. Evidence of this includes the city receiving its 13th consecutive unqualified audit opinion and fourth consecutive clean audit opinion from the auditor-general of South Africa in June last year."	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434056
__label__wiki	0.638875	0.638875	Health & Sex The Edit/Fashion & Beauty African psychology in a decolonised world 'The World Looks Like This From Here' encourages Africans to look past preconceived notions of what it means to be African Wits University Press Academic publishers 'The World Looks Like This From Here: Thoughts on African Psychology' by Kopano Ratele. Image: Wits Press What does the world look like from Africa? What does it mean to think, feel, express without apology for being African? How does one teach society and children to be African – with full consciousness and pride? In institutions of learning, what would a textbook on African-centred psychology look like? How do researchers and practitioners engage in African social psychology, African-centred child development, African neuropsychology, or any area of psychology that situates African realities at the centre? Questions such as these are what Kopano Ratele grapples with in this lyrical, philosophical and poetic treatise on practising African psychology in a decolonised world view. Employing a style common in philosophy, but rarely used in psychology, the book offers thoughts about the ideas, contestation, urgency and desire around a psychological praxis in Africa for Africans. While setting out a framework for researching, teaching and practising African psychology, the book in part coaxes, in part commands and in part urges students of psychology, lecturers, researchers and therapists to reconsider and reach beyond their received notions of African psychology. This book builds a case for thinking and doing psychology differently in and for Africa. Its strength lies in the author’s arguments on psychology as a colonial discipline and what it does as it is transported to the African continent. — Floretta Boonzaier, associate professor, Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town. Ratele is the kind of scholar whose experience means he can jettison old ways of doing things in favour of experimentation and breaking boundaries. He insists on meddling with and poking at accepted ways of knowing and doing. Innovative in both form and content, the book is an important contribution to our scholarship. — Hugo Canham, associate professor, Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Kopano Ratele is a professor in the Institute for Social and Health Sciences at the University of South Africa (Unisa) and a researcher in the South African Medical Research Council’s Violence, Injury and Peace Research Unit. He is a regular guest on radio and television, co-hosting a radio programme, Cape Talk Dads. His books include Liberating Masculinities (2016), Engaging Youth in Activism, Research and Pedagogical Praxis: Transnational and Intersectional Perspectives on Gender, Sex, and Race (co-edited with Jeff Hearn, Tammy Shefer, and Floretta Boonzaier, 2018). Article provided by Wits University Press Hlumelo Biko's Africa Reimagined an appeal for a rediscovery of our identity Biko shows how a reimagining of Africa can restore the sense of abundance and possibility, and what a rebirth of the continent on Pan-African lines ... 'This book is an attempt to make sense of black life and black history from a continental perspective' – Achille Mbembe on Critique of Black Reason "This book is an attempt to make sense of black life and black history from a continental perspective." African voices from the past speak again Eighteen months ago, celebrated South African author Antjie Krog arrived at the offices of Oxford University Press (OUP) in Cape Town with an idea ... Time to retire that calling card of African self-hatred, 'sellout' The lumpen vulgarity that has taken over our political culture makes one yearn for the aristocratic gentility of the older generation of Albert ... We have failed to make Steve Biko's dream a reality This week marked 41 years since Stephen Bantu Biko was wantonly murdered by the apartheid state. Abducted, raped, stabbed and left for dead: Alison Botha’s incredible story of ... News Launch: 'Balance of Power' by Qaanitah Hunter (November 25) Events Climate activist Greta Thunberg in her own words Non-Fiction World Read Aloud Day 2020 - help reach the target of 2-million children reading ... News Launch: 'Beyond Coloniality' by Aaron Kamugisha (December 5) Events	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434057
__label__wiki	0.565896	0.565896	June M. Perry June Martin Perry was born on June 10, 1947, and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She received her B.A. degree from North Carolina Central University. Perry attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received her M.S. degree in social work in 1971. She has also completed her course work for a Ph.D. in urban studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Perry and fellow social worker Geri McFadden started New Concept Development Center, Inc., in 1975 to address what they saw as a lack of local social services, specifically those for African Americans. New Concept is a non-profit social services agency that targets African Americans. Services include family counseling, housing, and employment assistance, as well as case management for HIV patients. In the 1980s, New Concept expanded into a greater set of social services by starting a mentoring program for girls at the Hillside Housing Project, providing a Youth Motivation Seminar for Role Models and Youth, and developing its first youth-managed and operated business through its youth entrepreneurship program. In 1986, New Concept authored a Blue Ribbon report on Teen Pregnancy Prevention for the City of Milwaukee. New Concept developed the first Prenatal Care Program which soon became the model for Title XIX benefits. In the 1990s, New Concept Development Center again expanded its services by opening Milwaukee’s first Father’s Resource Center and developing a First-time Juvenile Offenders Program which became a model for Milwaukee County. What began as a two-woman operation has grown into a 50-employee business serving more than 7,000 families a year operating a budget of $2.5 million. After retiring from New Concept Development Center in 2006, Perry created Access 2 Success, an organization which acts as a technical assistance intermediary between business, government and non-profits to expand the capacity for non-profit sustainability and strategic planning. Perry is the recipient of many awards including the Sacajawea Trailblazer Award, the Woman of Influence Award, Mentor of the Year, the Black Women’s Network Lifetime Leader Award, the Kraft Foods - Essence Award, the Black Administrators in Child Welfare Long Term Leaders Award, and the Community Service Award from SET Ministries. Perry’s current volunteer involvement includes being a founding member of the African American Women’s Fund, membership on the board of directors of the Aurora Health Care Metro Region, and the oversight and advisory committee for the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership for the University of Wisconsin School of Public Health. Perry is also an independent travel agent for Keystone Travel. She has recently traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Turkey, France, Italy, and Mexico. Perry has two adult children and enjoys spending time with her life partner, Bill Stevens. Nonprofit Executive Organization of Organizations Mosaic Partnership Delta Sigma Theta Sorority African American Women’s Fund W A Perry Middle C. A. Johnson High School Carver-Lyon Elem PER05 John and Irma Daniels and the Fellowship Open If It Is Going To Be, It Is Up To Me. Social worker and nonprofit executive June M. Perry (1947 - ) started New Concept Development Center, Inc., a non-profit social services agency that targets African Americans, in 1975. In 2006 Perry created Access 2 Success to expand the capacity for non-profit sustainability and strategic planning. Wisconsin Department of Public Welfare New Concept Self Development Center http://www.fellowshipopen.com/ 0,0:7910,151:39005,504:39905,517:40805,537:43805,603:44780,620:45830,641:48455,687:49430,701:49730,706:54245,728:55745,745:63030,793:64980,822:66630,846:67455,855:68055,865:68430,871:68805,877:69705,895:70605,909:71130,921:71505,927:72030,935:76176,956:76668,963:76996,968:77324,973:79210,1004:79784,1013:82326,1058:85196,1130:85606,1138:86426,1161:90510,1189:99645,1377:100776,1396:101298,1415:106352,1463:107122,1480:107815,1491:108508,1501:112666,1585:116516,1687:117440,1707:117902,1715:119981,1751:128090,1838:129455,1852:130295,1861:130820,1867:131240,1872:131660,1877:134510,1882:136656,1921:138358,1965:138728,1972:139172,1979:154160,2209:156032,2238:156422,2244:161492,2364:166562,2490:176641,2604:180791,2690:187029,2753:188108,2767:188689,2776:189436,2787:190515,2804:191179,2814:193500,2822:193860,2827:196560,2861:197910,2885:198630,2896:199080,2902:200070,2919:211890,3044:212226,3049:214494,3084:217434,3141:218358,3153:237470,3464$0,0:6039,201:6732,210:7227,216:10230,233:10950,251:11590,260:12710,346:21990,451:22425,458:23295,469:23643,474:23991,479:26949,507:27297,512:31377,543:34694,580:35229,586:35657,591:41828,666:42238,672:47110,714:47979,736:48453,743:49243,755:49559,760:49875,765:53430,830:54931,857:58500,867:60866,909:68146,1031:68783,1039:75500,1093:78662,1146:79580,1156:82130,1184:87652,1243:90116,1286:99920,1398:101270,1426:101795,1434:102245,1446:103145,1494:104795,1523:109716,1544:110086,1550:114600,1604:115251,1613:119796,1687:120693,1700:123144,1780:123788,1789:128020,1853:128572,1860:129032,1866:130320,1885:133908,1948:140455,1985:140835,1990:142070,2009:142545,2015:143685,2037:144255,2045:147964,2068:152760,2130:153390,2145:154920,2163:158290,2201 Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of June M. Perry's interview Tape: 1 Story: 3 - June M. Perry describes her mother's family background Tape: 1 Story: 4 - June M. Perry describes her maternal grandfather's career as an electrician Tape: 1 Story: 5 - June M. Perry talks about her family's roots in Africa Tape: 1 Story: 6 - June M. Perry describes her paternal ancestry in Jenkinsville, South Carolina Tape: 1 Story: 7 - June M. Perry describes her mother's upbringing in South Carolina Tape: 1 Story: 8 - June M. Perry describes her father's family background Tape: 1 Story: 9 - June M. Perry describes her parents' personalities Tape: 1 Story: 10 - June M. Perry describes her earliest childhood memory Tape: 1 Story: 11 - June M. Perry describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood Tape: 2 Story: 1 - June M. Perry describes the role of religion in her childhood Tape: 2 Story: 2 - June M. Perry describes her community in Columbia, South Carolina Tape: 2 Story: 3 - June M. Perry describes her grade school experiences Tape: 2 Story: 4 - June M. Perry recalls experiencing racial discrimination in the late 1950s Tape: 2 Story: 5 - June M. Perry remembers C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina Tape: 2 Story: 6 - June M. Perry recalls her brother's sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina Tape: 2 Story: 7 - June M. Perry remembers North Carolina College at Durham Tape: 2 Story: 8 - June M. Perry recalls meeting Howard Fuller in Durham, North Carolina Tape: 3 Story: 1 - June M. Perry recalls her decision to study at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tape: 3 Story: 2 - June M. Perry remembers moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tape: 3 Story: 3 - June M. Perry describes her community organizing work in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tape: 3 Story: 4 - June M. Perry describes the Organization of Organizations' role in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tape: 3 Story: 5 - June M. Perry recalls her community at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tape: 3 Story: 6 - June M. Perry recalls her work at the Wisconsin Department of Public Welfare Tape: 3 Story: 7 - June M. Perry describes racial segregation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tape: 3 Story: 8 - June M. Perry describes her work as a child abuse investigator in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tape: 4 Story: 1 - June M. Perry recalls the psychological toll of child abuse casework Tape: 4 Story: 2 - June M. Perry recalls founding the New Concept Self Development Center Tape: 4 Story: 3 - June M. Perry describes her parental counseling services Tape: 4 Story: 4 - June M. Perry describes the problems in the Milwaukee Public Schools Tape: 4 Story: 5 - June M. Perry describes the Each One Reach One mentoring program Tape: 4 Story: 6 - June M. Perry describes her work with teenage parents Tape: 4 Story: 7 - June M. Perry describes her preparations for retirement Tape: 4 Story: 8 - June M. Perry describes the programs at the New Concept Self Development Center Tape: 5 Story: 1 - June M. Perry describes her work to decrease childhood incarceration Tape: 5 Story: 2 - June M. Perry reflects upon her career at the New Concept Self Development Center Tape: 5 Story: 3 - June M. Perry reflects upon her legacy Tape: 5 Story: 4 - June M. Perry describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community Tape: 5 Story: 5 - June M. Perry reflects upon her family life Tape: 5 Story: 6 - June M. Perry describes her plans for the future Tape: 5 Story: 7 - June M. Perry narrates her photographs June M. Perry recalls experiencing racial discrimination in the late 1950s June M. Perry describes her work as a child abuse investigator in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Now, the country was really getting into the Civil Rights Movement in the late '50s [1950s], you know (simultaneous)--$$(Simultaneous) Yeah.$$--Little Rock [Arkansas], and you had, you know, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and--$$Yes.$$And so were things starting to heat up in--$$Yeah.$$--South Carolina?$$I remember when we went to the movies, we, you know, had to sit upstairs and I remember, you know, the news talking about segregation and the--kind of an escalation of the fear--well not fear, but just conversation about you shouldn't drive alone at night because, you know, the Ku Klux Klan [KKK] is around and we'll never see you again, just those kind of things being a part of the conversations that were prevalent in the community in the school. Yeah, so I remember the difference and more attention to the things that we had lived with, like the black and white water fountains and the different bus station and train waiting rooms and all of the things that were segregated. I remember that.$$When you first encountered--can you remember when you first encountered that kind of thing or took notice of it?$$As a little girl, I remember my [maternal] grandmother [Rosena Martin] taking me to ride the bus and the fact that we had to sit in the back. And I would ask her, "Why do we have to go to the back," and she would say, "That's just the way it is." Yeah, and like I said, being with my [maternal] grandfather, and knowing that he had to collect money from white people and sometimes they wouldn't pay him, and also recognizing the difference of he always called them mister and they always called him Uncle Willie [Will Martin]. So, you know, I always--you knew those things happened and also my family would travel, drive, when my father [Mark Martin, Sr.] was alive. I remember we drove to Canada, to Quebec, and we would stay in people's homes that they knew because we couldn't stay in hotels and stop on the side of the road and, you know, have a picnic because we couldn't go in hotels or--you know, in restaurants. So, I--yeah, I remember those things.$$Once you got to Quebec, was it still segregated?$$No. I remember staying in the hotel in Quebec and I think that's, you know, probably why we wanted to go there because it was a different country with different rules, but I remember that.$$It's interesting in those days, a lot of places in the North, black people couldn't stay in hotels either, yeah, I know so--$$Yeah, that's true.$$Yeah.$$The North was just as segregated. It just wasn't talked about as much, you know, but it was. It was--Baltimore [Maryland] was awful, you know, and where--the Mason-Dixon Line, it was supposedly after you crossed that, everything was okay, but I don't think so. And I had my grandmother's sisters, several of them went to New Jersey to work in very wealthy homes, so they worked for people who had a lot of money, for white people, and they lived in a neighborhood in New Jersey, I think it was Newark [New Jersey] then, that was not a bad neighborhood. People had very nice homes and--excuse me--all the people who lived there worked, but it was a--certainly a distinction between what white people and what black people and how they lived.$$Okay.$$Yeah.$$So--usually the pattern is South Carolina goes to New York, and--$$D.C. [Washington, D.C.]$$D.C., too (simultaneous).$$(Simultaneous0 Uh-huh.$$Okay.$$Yeah, a lot in D.C. I have one aunt in D.C., one in New Jersey.$$Okay.$$Yeah.$So you were organizing on the North Side of Milwaukee [Wisconsin], the black (simultaneous)--$$(Simultaneous) Yeah.$$--part of town?$$Yeah, uh-huh.$$All right.$$Yeah.$$So, were you still investigating cases of child abuse?$$That was when I got out of graduate school [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin].$$Okay.$$That was my first job, was investigating child abuse, yeah, and mostly in the central city and the North Side. But, again, that was a very rude awakening to me of poverty, very different than in the South, I think. The things that I saw, I had never seen before.$$Like what, for instance?$$The level of poverty, how people lived, homes where there was no food, where, you know, people were living in actual squalor and kids were neglected, didn't have food to eat, you know. I--there are poor people in the South, but I never saw that level of poverty and mistreatment of children before, so that was a rude awakening to me of kind of a difference. And I was thinking, some friends and I were talking about growing up. In the South, everybody lived in a house and had a yard--a yard. People didn't live in high-rise apartments or--the projects were one level, you know, maybe three or four units joined together. But, I think the difference was people were more independent but connected. There were neighborhoods where, like I said, my family--people--no child would go without food because people were around you that knew if you were poor, you lost your job, they were going to help you. So, I had never seen the kind of poverty and mistreatment of children before I came here. That was new. And that was really kind of the motivation for starting the agency [New Concept Self Development Center, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin].$$Now, what was your analysis of I guess the child abuse problem?$$Yeah, it was before crack cocaine, so it was some drugs, but not real prevalent. It was poverty and it was frustration, not having--people were most often referred for child neglect, children who came to school with, you know, very dirty clothes or who--the abuse was I would say maybe 20 percent of the time, but neglect because of poverty was more prevalent. Read more about June M. Perry Subscribe to Medical College of Wisconsin	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434059
__label__cc	0.694176	0.305824	October 2018 – April 2019 Oct 2018 – Apr 2019 Member Spotlight 2019 Oct 1 2018 @ 10:00 am – Jan 31 2019 @ 3:00 pm The Member Spotlight program will feature a new work of art every quarter, created by members of THELMA, which will be displayed alongside pieces from the permanent collection. Submissions will be juried by our THELMA curator, with submissions accepted quarterly. THELMA welcomes and encourages its members to show off their talents for the Member Spotlight regardless of artistic experience. Artists and non-artists are invited to submit work in various forms of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, woodwork, glasswork, jewelry and more. Artists must be age 16 and up. Submissions for the fourth quarter of 2018 will be accepted via email (info@thelmaarts.org) or mail. Registration form and display protocols can be found in the documents below. Current Member Spotlight: Chris Dolan – Beanfield in Autumn Laura Schneider – Medieval Paris Medium: Giclee Nancy Donohue – Hard Edge Medium: Acrylic on canvas Download the Protocols Form Download the Registration Form Categories: Art Current Exhibit Sheboygan Visual Artists Nov 1 2018 @ 10:00 am – Jan 5 2019 @ 5:00 pm Exhibition Dates: November 1 – January 5, 2018 Sheboygan Visual Artists (SVA) is a growing and active network of over 100 professional and amateur artists and patrons in the Sheboygan area who believe that artistic expression increases artistic and personal growth and enriches communities. SVA’s mission is threefold: Empower visual artists through professional development and collaboration, Promote member artists and their work, and Create opportunities for the community to experience and enjoy visual arts. Sheboygan Visual Artists are capable of showing a huge body of work that includes painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, glass, wood, fiber, jewelry and digital art. Ten times a year the SVA presents a new show with opening night on the last Fridays of the month. All these events, known as Final Fridays, happen at EBCO ArtWorks, the home base of SVA on 12th and Erie in Sheboygan, and are open and free to the public. SVA artists are active in the wider community as well. Presently, the Kaleidoscope program conducts art workshops for under-served youth and their mothers. Collaborations with Mead Library, City of Sheboygan and offsite exhibits in surrounding art centers are imbedded in the SVA program. SVA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, completely run by volunteers who invest thousands of hours each year to do what they love…. MAKE ART AND BUILD COMMUNITY. Categories: Art Past Exhibit Ancient Survivors Jan 10 @ 10:00 am – Mar 2 @ 5:00 pm Featuring sturgeon artwork, artifacts, and history. The exhibit also includes decoys, audio and articles related to the culture and science surrounding sturgeon. These elements have been collected from across Wisconsin and the Midwest and will be the first time these will all be together in one place for display. This exhibition comes to THELMA in collaboration with The UW Sea Grant Institute, UW Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Minnesota Duluth Fine Art Department, Oshkosh Public Museum and Sturgeon for Tomorrow. Exhibition Dates: January 10 – March 2 Jan 31 @ 10:00 am – Apr 29 @ 3:00 pm Emmet Sandberg: Departures Mar 7 @ 10:00 am – Apr 20 @ 5:00 pm Departures by Emmet Sandberg Exhibition Dates: March 7 – April 20 These “Departures” examine how I process experience and make sense of the world. The act of redacting reveals how the sorting and organizing of experience allows us to explore the references and associations used to create the narratives that situate us in our time and place. – Emmet Sandberg Mel Kolstad: 200 Days: A Life in the Quotidian Mar 7 @ 10:00 am – Apr 20 @ 10:15 am 200 Days: A Life in the Quotidian “When Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts first approached me for this solo exhibit over a year ago, I knew I wanted to “go small” but didn’t quite know which medium to showcase. I also wanted to make a ridiculous quantity of pieces. Enter drypoint! And tininess! And watercolor! I wanted to challenge myself and create very tiny prints – each of the prints measures only 1.5×2”. Every one of them is a drypoint print first, and probably 95% of them are enhanced with watercolor. Beginning on April 1, 2018 and ending on October 20 of that year, I created a drypoint print a day. That’s 200 days (give or take three days, because I just forgot). Each piece began with a photo I took that day, and I gave myself rules – no going out of your way to get a photo; no “cheating” and taking a week’s worth of photos in one day; and try not to “pose”. Because I had no idea what was going to happen on any given day, this project was a complete surprise to create. I couldn’t plan for anything! It was so exciting to see how my prints turned out once I had created the drypoint print from the photo, and again after applying the watercolor. This exhibit is site-specific; I purposely made 200 pieces for the exhibit and the size they are to fit the gallery. The only thing I knew immediately was that I wanted the prints to be framed identically and to be hung in a straight line, like a “timeline” or journal of my days. I hope you enjoy the exhibit as much as I enjoyed creating it for this beautiful space! Approximately 1500 hours went into the creation of these little friends, and it is most certainly my magnum opus at this point in my career. But something else happened along this 200-day journey – I fell in love with my work again. I would catch myself tearing up with happiness when creating these small friends, because I realized just how lucky I am to be able to do this. It was the most important thing to come from this exhibit.” – Mel Kolstad Price list for artwork is available in our lobby at our front desk. Call 920-921-5410 for artwork inquiries or stop in Monday through Friday 10 – 5 pm or Saturday 11 – 3 pm. The Jimmys aren’t your typical blues band. With awards and reviews rolling in on their new album “Hot Dish” the Jimmys are primed for the world stage. Get to a club or a festival and see what they’re all about. THE JIMMYS are what you get when you combine the seasoned keyboard/Hammond organ talents of Jimmy Voegeli, long time member of Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band, the expertise of southern Wisconsin’s finest bass guitar, and the legendary blues guitarist Perry Weber on six-strings and vocals…OH and lets not forget the horn section! Seven piece award winning blues and R&B band Artist of The Year: 2013, 2014 Blues Band Of The Year: 2012-2014 Jimmy Voegeli (Hammond Organ/ keys/ vocals) Perry Weber (guitar/ vocals) John Wartenweiler (electric and upright bass) Pete Ross (Saxaphones) Mike Boman (Trumpet) Derek Hendrickson (Drums) Chris Sandoval (Drums) WAMI Awards: 2013, 2015 Keyboardist Of The Year MAMA Awards: 2013-2014 Artist Of The Year 2011-2015 Keyboardist Of The Year 2013-2015 Brass Instrumentalist of The Year 2012-2013, 2015 Saxophonist Of The Year 2013, 2015 Blues Performer Of The Year 2014 Blues Song Of The Year 2014 Blues Album Of The Year Concert begins at 8 pm Bar opens at 7 pm Standing room only $15 ($9 for Members of THELMA) General admission $25 ($15 for Members of THELMA) Bistro Table for Four $145 ($87 for Members of THELMA) Pub Table for Two $85 ($51 for Members of THELMA) Reservations required for tables. Please call 920.921.5410 to reserve your bistro table for four or your pub table for two. Limited number of tables available. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Kendall McMinimy: Cropping to Circles Apr 25 @ 10:00 am – Jun 8 @ 5:00 pm Cropping to Circles by Kendall McMinimy Exhibition will be on view from April 25 – June 8, 2019 Cropping to Circles “A mechanical marvel, Central Pivot Irrigation Systems deliver water to otherwise dry lands and food to an otherwise hungry planet. With outstretched steel arms, these wheeled giants twirl slow-motion pirouettes of simulated rainfall pumping atomized sprays from groundwater reserves far below the surface. As an outgrowth of the “Green Revolution,” center pivot irrigation is a system that encircles multiple conflicting truths—a worldwide revolution in food production is also complicit in the depletion of groundwater; humanitarian aid aligns with hegemonic order; global market forces allow and deny local economies; a system simultaneously produces and diminishes. These structures, chasing their own tails, morph into lumbering memento mori and echo our own existence rotating through the repetitive rhythms and cycles of life. The images serve as reminders of a reality that is tethered to an ever-increasing detailed, ubiquitous, and immediate ease of technological and satellite surveillance. Minimal signifiers amplify ambiguities, create associations, and stretch the legibility of representation. Vacillating between the familiar and the fictitious, the work reveals little of the subject’s true spatial immensity, nor the monumental investment represented. Viewed through the particulars of place, this project is an inquiry into circular arguments, the fluidity of truths encircled by a framework, and the cyclical acceptance and rejection of those truths. It is also an invitation to consider the “in between,” the budding potential revealed in the voids and blanks of the prints. Shifting with time, these breaks from conformity illuminate the continual shifts in the topographies of possibilities.” Kendall McMinimy Kendall McMinimy uses photography, digital art, printmaking and sculpture to explore structure and ideology as filtered through place. Stretching the legibility of representation, his work vacillates between the familiar and the fictitious, amplifying ambiguities and associations to allow for continual shifts in the topographies of possibilities. Notable awards and exhibits include: “Critical Mass 50, ” GuatePhoto International Photography Festival, Guatemala City, Guatemala (2015); “Process,” Photo Center NW Gallery, Seattle (2014); The Print Center’s 88th Annual International Competition, The Print Center, Philadelphia (2014); and Review/CENTER, Santa Fe. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows around the United States, and “Cropping to Circles” was published in Harpers Magazine (March 2014). McMinimy holds an MA and MFA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Born and raised in the High Plains of Kansas, he has resided in Wisconsin since 1998. He is a frequent guest lecturer and teaches Digital Arts at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, and Photography at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Sharon Garrison: Friends & Family plus passing acquaintances and me Opening Reception: Thursday, April 25, 6 – 8 pm Free admission and open to the public, meet the artist as you view her work. Cash bar and snacks available. Artist’s Exchange: Thursday, May 30, 6 – 8 pm Free admission and open to the public, listen to a Q&A talk and learn about her process, inspiration, and execution of her work. Cash bar and snacks available. Sharon Garrison is an artist who specializes in portrait. She works intuitively as did Alice Neel and Lucien Freud, two of her sources of inspiration. A professor once compared her work to that of Soutine. She was not aware of Soutine at the time and headed straight to the library to look up the artist. She did not see a similarity but others have also made the comparison. Shape and value are of primary importance. Her colors tend to be realistic, even somewhat monochromatic in nature. Although never one for drawing, her recent work is a series of portraits entitled “Friends & Family plus passing acquaintances and me”, made with Sharpie markers. These drawings are a combination of realism and caricature applied to images of acquaintances, family and friends. She often enhances memory of past relationships to create what she surmises a contemporary version of the past might look like and vice versa. She is presently exploring cattle markers and cold wax and oil as mediums, using a trial and error approach. Her work in general is based upon trial and error methodology. Although the portraits seem to be classical in nature, there is often an edgy quality to them. Sharon feels that the artist’s work is complete when she deems the piece finished. It is then time for a dialogue between the viewer and the artwork. With this sequence of events the work takes on a new life with each different onlooker, creating an expanded continuum. For this reason, she does not attempt to explain her work. If the work is successful, there should be no need for explanation. However, the life experiences of the viewer melding with the art work facilitates a fresh dialogue between the viewer and artist, often resulting in a mutually beneficial understanding of the piece. She earned an Associate Degree from UW Fond du Lac and a BFA from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She has shown in many venues around the state: 2018 Wisconsin Visual Artists Biennial, Mowa Neville Public Museum Union at the University of Wisconsin Madison Gail Steinhilber Gallery, UWO Frank Juarez Gallery, Sheboygan 1996 Faculty Alumni Show, Priebe Gallery UWO Two person show UW Fond du Lac Solo show Langdon Divers Gallery, Fond du Lac Solo show Riverwalk Art Center Fond du Lac Many Alive in the Arts juried shows, Plymouth Art Center Invitational show Trista Holz Studios, Fond du Lac THELMA member shows Mowa member shows Ecological Show, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire art gallery Signage for Prairie Theater, UW Fond du Lac Mowa Members Show Director’s Award 2017 Merit Award Plymouth Alive in the Arts 2018 First place Plymouth Members show 2018 Three meritorious designations and inclusion the the gallery books for Jack Richeson International Art Competitions A featured artist in three Frank Juarez Artdose Guides 1994 Designer of the Year, UWO Many Wisconsin Regional Artists awards Part of the “soul-revival” movement with their own style of Memphis flavored soul, roots, and blues! Formed in late 2010, Tweed featuring Gervis Myles (formerly known as Tweed Funk) garnered national attention with the release of 4 albums and dates throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Southern United States. With Gervis Myles on board, the band recorded, mixed, and released “Love Strong” in just 8 days, a 10 track album featuring 9 original songs. 2019 WAMI nominee for R&B/Soul Artist, Tweed has appeared at some of the top festivals and blues rooms in the Midwest, South, and Northeast. In 2018, Tweed successfully toured Europe performing shows in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Austria, and Slovakia. Another tour of Europe is currently being assembled for fall of 2019. Tickets $10 ($6 for Members of THELMA) Bistro Table for Four $80 ($48 for Members of THELMA)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434062
__label__wiki	0.698339	0.698339	Chicago Girl, 8, Fights Off Man Who Put Plastic Bag Over Her Head, Attempted to Kidnap Her Monique Judge ABC7 Chicago screenshot Police in Chicago are searching for a man they say attempted to kidnap an 8-year-old girl as she played outside her grandmother’s house Sunday afternoon. The family was gathered for a weekly dinner at the home of Teressia Kidd, the girl’s grandmother, ABC7 Chicago reports. The children always play outside in the South Austin neighborhood while waiting for dinner to be ready. Cheneice Kidd, the girl’s mother, told ABC7 that she is outraged this happened on such a family-friendly block. “It is strange. It is scary. It is very sickening, and this is a family block,” Cheneice said. Teressia echoed those thoughts. “We thought everything was fine because around here we kind of look out for each other, you know. So something like this you don’t really expect just to happen,” Teressia said. “I’m scared, not just for my kids, but for everyone else’s kids,” Cheneice said. According to police, as the girl was riding her bike around 3:30 p.m., an unknown man approached her and put a plastic bag over her head. The girl kicked the man and ran into her grandmother’s house. The man fled down the street. “You could see in her face something was wrong. She is not a crybaby, so she wasn’t crying. She was just confused as of the incident that took place,” Cheniece said. Cheniece told ABC7 that she attempted to track the man down after calling 911. “I immediately drove my car and rode around and try to find the man she described, but I didn’t find anybody,” she said. Cheniece also told ABC7 that she was thankful her daughter knew what to do to protect herself. “I am extremely proud that I raised a fighter. She is not going to give up and let nobody take her. She knows she has family that loves her and wants her home,” Cheniece said. “You got to be prayed up. Expect the unexpected. Things can happen at the wink of an eye,” Teressia said. According to ABC7, the suspect is described as a black male, 5 feet 5 inches tall, medium build, approximately 40 years old, with a bald head and a tattoo of a heart on his neck. He was last seen wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt, black pants and blue low-top shoes Thankfully, the girl was not hurt in the incident. Read more at ABC7 Chicago. News Editor for The Root. I said what I said. Period.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434065
__label__wiki	0.983071	0.983071	Ohio State, other Big Ten East powers facing uncertainty Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty CHICAGO - The two most important spots on a football team are the coach and the quarterback. Ohio State has questions at both. The Buckeyes aren't the only powerhouse program with uncertainty in the Big Ten's East Division. Michigan and Michigan State each have a new offensive coordinator, and Penn State has to find a replacement for quarterback Trace McSorley, a sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens. For the Buckeyes, Ryan Day has taken over for Urban Meyer, who resigned after seven seasons and a national championship. Day was the offensive coordinator and has already gotten a taste of being in charge on the sidelines: Last season began with a three-game suspension for Meyer following an investigation into his handling of allegations of domestic abuse against former assistant Zach Smith. ''I think the easy thing to do is to ask how are you different than Urban Meyer, and that's not something I really like to answer because first off, you don't replace a legend,'' Day said Thursday at Big Ten football media days. ''You don't replace one of the best football coaches in the history of the game. What you can do is just be yourself, and I think that's what I'm doing.'' Senior wide receiver K.J. Hill said the two coaches have similar approaches but Day is less intense. ''(Meyer) was more of an old-school coach,'' he said. ''Coach Day is going to ask for the same thing but it's more in a laid-back way. We respect both coaches and there's no difference. Instead of yelling and screaming at you, (Day's) just going to demand it in an asking way. I've had it the opposite way my entire life, so this doesn't faze me.'' Hill is just 48 catches from breaking David Boston's school record. The question remains: Who will throw him the ball? Dwayne Haskins broke every major Ohio State single-season passing record, and nearly every Big Ten single-season passing record last year en route to finishing third in the race for the Heisman Trophy. Day is hesitant to name a starter, but Georgia transfer Justin Fields is the presumed starter over Kentucky transfer Gunnar Hoak. ''He has a strong arm,'' Hill said of Fields. ''He had to get used to the receivers, the routes, a different offense, but I feel like Justin can bring a lot to the offense because he can use his legs a little more than Dwayne did last year. A lot more RPOs (run-pass-option) in the running game, so I feel like he brings a lot to the offense.'' Rival Michigan hired former Alabama wide receivers coach Josh Gattis as its offensive coordinator. Gattis spent one season as Nick Saban's co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He previously coached for six years under James Franklin at Vanderbilt and Penn State. Gattis, 34, is considered one of the elite, young offensive minds in the sport, but he is embarking on the biggest job of his young career. ''(I've) been watching coach Gattis since he was at Western Michigan and followed his career,'' Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. ''I felt he was just very decisive. ... We've been learning from him. He's got a great system.'' Michigan State also has a new offensive play-caller with Brad Salem the new offensive coordinator. Dave Warner and Jim Bollman, who previously shared the role, were reassigned to position coaches. Salem, who is entering his 10th season as an assistant, also is back to coaching running backs, which he did from 2010-12 before taking over as quarterbacks coach in 2013. The Spartans were 13th in the conference in scoring last season, averaging only 18.7 points a game. They finished 7-6 and lost to Oregon in the Redbox Bowl, 7-6. ''(I've) been very, very impressed with the way we've gone about our business since the bowl game,'' head coach Mark Dantonio said. ''We're excited about `19.'' Michigan State this year hosts Penn State, a program that is also looking to fill a rather large hole on the offensive side of the ball after the departure of McSorley. ''Obviously, whenever you lose a quarterback that played as many games and started as many games as Trace McSorley did for us and was able to win at such a high level, obviously there's question marks going into the season,'' Franklin said. ''But we've been fortunate to be able to recruit extremely well. Very confident in the way we developed that position, as well, and we think we're going to have great competition.'' Franklin said he anticipates redshirt sophomore Sean Clifford and redshirt freshman Will Levis competing for the starting job. Etienne returning to Clemson for senior season LSU's Thaddeus Moss declares for NFL draft Baylor hires LSU DC Aranda as head coach Early top 25 for 2020: Clemson, Ohio State lead the way Syracuse hires Sterlin Gilbert as offensive coordinator Arrest warrant issued for OBJ for slapping police officer's ... Clemson backup quarterback Chase Brice announces intent to t... Fuente says he'll stay at Virginia Tech amid reported intere... Edwards-Helaire becomes 7th LSU underclassman to turn pro LSU contacts NCAA over Beckham's cash exchange with players LSU's Jefferson to enter 2020 NFL Draft Clemson's Higgins declares for 2020 NFL Draft LSU's Delpit declares for NFL draft Bobby Petrino named head coach at Missouri State Report: Joe Moorhead expected to land Oregon's OC job TV audience up slightly from last year for CFP championship Report: Joe Brady leaves LSU to join Panthers' staff Ex-Penn State player says in lawsuit Franklin ignored hazing Orgeron: LSU's title-winning squad 'a team for the ages'	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434066
__label__cc	0.740464	0.259536	SeeHearRead Left Bank Leeds Arts Prize 2019: Open Call By The State of The Arts March 12, 2019 Art & Photography. Leeds. The Left Bank Leeds Arts Prize 2019 is now open for submissions, and The State of The Arts are collaborating with Left Bank to support this year’s event. The Left Bank Leeds Art Prize awards an exceptional artist or collective £500 to support the development of their practice. From 17th to 20th July Left Bank’s summer group show will feature the work of over 50 artists who have been longlisted for the award. Visitors to the show’s opening night will be asked to vote for the winner from a selection of shortlisted artists. We’ll be featuring each shortlisted artist here on The State of The Arts in the weeks before the exhibition. Left Bank Leeds is a multidisciplinary arts venue set in a Grade II* listed former church building in Headingley, Leeds. At the heart of the late gothic revival architecture is a breathtaking space used for events and activities designed to promote creativity, connection and well-being. 2019 is the fifth year of Left Bank’s summer exhibition, and the second year of the Art Prize. 2018’s winner was print artist Hazel Roberts from Manchester. There are photos from the 2018 group show here. This year, artists and collectives are asked to submit work related to the theme of connection. The theme is open to interpretations and all mediums are considered, including painting, photography, dance, drawing, performance, film, sound and textile. The open call for submissions is on CuratorSpace at bit.ly/2019LeftBankLeedsArtPrize The deadline for submissions is 2nd June 2019. Filed under: Art & Photography Tagged with: Left Bank Leeds, Left Bank Leeds Art Prize, Left Bank Leeds Art Prize 2019 David Sowerby interview: Left Bank Leeds Art Prize 2019 By The State of The Arts Northern Opera Group announce new 2016 productions By Sophie Joelle Theatre & Dance. Leeds. Leon G Varga interview: Left Bank Leeds Art Prize 2019 [statictweets skin="default" resource="usertimeline" user="TSOTArts" list="" query="" count="2" retweets="on" replies="" show="time"/] More of this sort of thing! © 2020 The State Of The Arts	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434069
__label__wiki	0.907621	0.907621	PepsiCo, Brett Kavanaugh, Fox and IHOP (or IHOb?) - 5 Things You Must Know U.S. stock futures rise modestly on Tuesday as investors switch their focus to earnings season; Donald Trump announces that Brett Kavanaugh will be his second nominee for the Supreme Court; Fox is preparing a new bid for Sky PLC that would top Comcast's offer, a report says. Joseph Woelfel Here are five things you must know for Tuesday, July 10: 1. -- Stocks Rise as Wall Street Gears Up for Earnings Season U.S. stock futures rose modestly on Tuesday, July 10, and global stocks traded mostly higher following one of the strongest sessions on Wall Street in over a month, as investors slowly switched their focus to the upcoming corporate earnings season. Contracts tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 46 points, futures for the S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained 4 points and Nasdaq (^IXIC) futures were up 27.25 points. PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) - Get Report earned an adjusted $1.61 a share in the second quarter, beating estimates by 9 cents. Revenue of $16.09 billion rose 2% from a year earlier and also beat forecasts. The stock rose 1.8% in premarket trading. Four of the biggest U.S. banks -- Citigroup Inc. (C) - Get Report , JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) - Get Report , PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC) - Get Report and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) - Get Report -- report earnings on Friday, July 13. Earnings season is expected to deliver a 20% year-on-year increase in S&P 500 earnings, according to projections from FactSet, down from 24.8% in the first quarter but still the second-best three-month period since 2010. U.S. Earnings Season Could See 20% Growth, Second-Best Quarter Since 2010 - FactSet The upbeat sentiment on profits, as well as an apparent lull in the trade war rhetoric between Washington and its economic allies, propelled the Dow to a gain of 320 points on Monday, July 9. As for Tuesday, the economic calendar in the U.S. includes the Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for May at 10 a.m. ET. PepsiCo, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS member club. Want to be alerted before Jim Cramer buys or sells the stocks? Learn more now. 2. -- Brett Kavanaugh Is Trump's Supreme Court Pick Donald Trump on Monday announced that Brett Kavanaugh would be his second nominee for the Supreme Court -- a pick widely considered to be of historical significance because it would solidify for many years to come a 5-4 conservative majority on the court. If confirmed, Kavanaugh will replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, 81, who recently announced he was retiring at the end of July. Kennedy was a key swing vote on issues such as abortion, affirmative action, gay rights and voting rights. Kavanaugh, 53, was among the front runners for the open position on the high court and even clerked for Kennedy. He is a Yale Law School graduate and has been a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals judge since 2006; he also worked in the solicitor general's office in the George H.W. Bush administration and was an assistant to Ken Starr, the independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton. During the announcement of Kavanaugh's nomination at the White House, Trump described his nominee as being "universally regarded as one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time." "I am deeply honored to be nominated to fill Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court," Kavanaugh said. He added, "I believe that an independent judiciary is the crown jewel of our republic." 3. -- Fox Is Preparing a New Offer for Sky to Top Comcast - Report Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. (FOXA) - Get Report is preparing a new bid for Sky PLC that would value it at about £25 billion ($33.1 billion), a clear sign it is committed to beating Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) - Get Report for the television group, the Financial Times reported. Fox is preparing to make the new bid as soon as this week if, as expected, its earlier bid for Sky is formally approved by the U.K. government, according to the Financial Times. Fox's offer is expected to be a premium to Comcast's most recent bid of £12.50 a share, the Financial Times reported, citing two people briefed on the matter. Comcast is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS member club. Want to be alerted before Jim Cramer buys or sells CMCSA? Learn more now. 4. -- Takeda Gets FTC OK to Buy Shire Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. (TKPYY) received approval for the $62 billion acquisition of Shire PLC (SHPG) - Get Report from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The remaining hurdles for Takeda include getting a regulatory OK from the European Union and China and approval from shareholders of both drugmakers, according to Reuters. The acquisition of Shire would make Takeda one of the world's largest drugmakers. 5. -- IHOP Admits Change to IHOb Name Was Fake Pancake chain IHOP has admitted a name change announced last month was just a publicity stunt to promote its hamburger menu. IHOP already had burgers on the menu but had started using the IHOb name on social media, its website and for in-store promotions to draw attention to a new line of burgers made of Black Angus ground beef. On Monday, the company was back promoting a pancake deal tied to IHOP's 60th birthday, the Associated Press reported. "That's right, IHOP! We'd never turn our back on pancakes (except for that time we faked it to promote our new burgers)," the company, a unit of Dine Brands Global Inc. (DIN) - Get Report , said on Twitter. Free White Paper: 7 Things All Investors Must Know in 2018. Start the second half off right with our free white paper on seven key things to watch this year. From how much cash to have on hand to the three reasons this bull market might die, our white paper features key takeaways from an all-star panel that TheStreet and Fisher Investments recently hosted in New York. Click here to register for your free online copy. StocksWorld5 Things To Know Before The Market OpensMarkets	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434070
__label__cc	0.701291	0.298709	Luxury amphibious vehicle For those of you who has a deep pockets and get bored with a collection of luxury cars, it would not hurt if you try to have one of these amphibious vehicles. Chicago-based start up hovercraft manufacturers, Mercier-Jones offering their new hybrid supercraft product, that has an unusual look as a hovercraft in general is merely pugnacious and "uncomfortable" impressed. Even with its design, this hovercraft can be regarded as the amphibious vehicle's Bugatti. Mercier-Jones, the world's first supercraft. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1oPp2uY) The supercraft equipped with a powerful 60 hp engine combined with two electric motors that are powered by lithium-ion batteries, Mercier-Jones Supercraft able to spewed a total power up to 102 hp. Mercier-Jones Supercraft can be regarded as the amphibious vehicle's Bugatti. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1nRyxNL) It able to traverse any terrain, including land, ice, sand, water and even all terrain conditions that exist among them with a smooth and comfortable, this supercraft will certainly provide a new driving sensation for you. The supercraft made of sporting carbon fibre body panels affixed to a still chromium alloy frame. Its open cockpit features two seats in tandem and carries an Android OS instrument panel complete with Bluetooth, on-board WiFi, navigation, and heated seats. Its interior is accented with wood inlays. It is about the length of a Range Rover Evoque and the height of a Ferrari 458 Italia (or L x W x H = 4,318 mm x 2,159 mm x 1,219 mm) and a weight of 318 kg, the vehicle runs at a distance of 193 km at an average speed of 64.37 kph and sold at a price of U.S. $75,000 per unit. *** [EKA \| FROM VARIOUS SOURCES \| MERCIER-JONES \| THESCOUTLIFE] Related posts: Automotives post by Eckhart_Rakasiwi on Saturday, July 19, 2014 Label: Automotives Automotives\|	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434072
__label__wiki	0.709803	0.709803	Home is where the reo is A Te Wānanga o Aotearoa te reo Māori programme has proved itself so popular that it is struggling to keep pace with demand. Papa Reo, the level 1 Home Based Learning te reo Māori programme has waiting lists stretching to late 2019 in some parts of New Zealand. A recent Radio New Zealand story stated that a reo Māori beginners course (Papa Reo) in Wellington was full with the next intakes not available until September 2019. The long waiting list is partly due to the programme’s own success but largely because of the Tertiary Education Commission’s Level 1 and 2 competitive process that determines the volume of enrolments Te Wānanga o Aotearoa can accept. Lauren Te Tai, programme development and manager for Papa Reo, said the home delivery model was an opportunity to get te reo Māori into the home. “When we decided to go down the home-based delivery model it was aimed to give people the option of learning te reo Māori in their homes but also to build confidence within their own environment and share with their whānau so everybody was learning together.” Tauira on the 60-credit, 12 month-long programme that was launched last April receive four kete via the mail through the year. Through books, CDs and games, tauira learn basic te reo Māori including pronunciation, placenames, simple mihi, basic conversations, pepeha and kupu hou. Lauren said the programme was a pathway for tauira to continue to Te Ara Reo Māori Level 2 and other te reo Māori programmes within Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. “It’s really about building confidence. We are getting a lot of phone calls from home school parents who want to enrol their children.” “We are unable to because of the age criteria but we have suggested parents enrol on the programme and they can do the programme together.” Lauren said the first cohort of Papa Reo tauira have completed their studies and she is looking forward to receiving their feedback about the programme.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434077
__label__cc	0.691583	0.308417	Course Catalog (Undergraduate) Apply (Undergraduate) Course Catalog (Graduate) Apply (Graduate) Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Program Purushotham V. Bangalore Professor; Assistant Director, UAB Center for Cyber Security University Hall 4141 Research and Teaching Interests: High Performance Computing, Grid/Cloud Computing, Parallel Programming Paradigms, Introductory Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures, Parallel Computing Office Hours: By appointment B.E., Bangalore University, Computer Science and Engineering M.S., Mississippi State University, Computer Science Ph.D., Mississippi State University, Computational Engineering Dr. Purushotham Bangalore is a professor and director of the Collaborative Computing Laboratory (CCL). He also serves as the assistant director of the UAB Center for Cyber Security (The Center). + - Recent Courses Click to collapse CS 303: Algorithms and Data Structures CS 201: Introduction to Object Oriented Programming + - Research Interests Click to collapse Dr. Bangalore's current research work focuses on developing novel programming techniques to synthesize parallel programs for heterogeneous architectures and next-generation High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms. He also undertakes research in the area of Grid/Cloud Computing to support rapid grid-enablement of multidisciplinary applications and scheduling applications on the grid/cloud. + - Select Publications Click to collapse Cassandra C. Garbutt, Purushotham V. Bangalore, Pegah Kannar, M. S. Mukhtar. 2014. Getting to the edge: protein dynamical networks as a new frontier in plant–microbe interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 5:312. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00312. June 2014. Robert W Thacker, April L Hill, Malcolm S Hill, Niamh E Redmond, Allen G Collins, Christine C Morrow, Lori Spicer, Cheryl A Carmack, Megan E Zappe, Deborah Pohlmann, Chelsea Hall, Maria C Diaz, Purushotham V Bangalore. 2013. Nearly complete 28S rRNA gene sequences confirm new hypotheses of sponge evolution. Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 373-387. September 2013. Ferosh Jacob, Jeff Gray, Jeffrey C. Carver, Marjan Mernik, Purushotham Bangalore. 2012. PPModel: A modeling tool for source code maintenance and optimization of parallel programs. The Journal of Supercomputing, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 1560-1582. September 2012. Ritu Arora, Purushotham Bangalore, Marjan Mernik. Tools and techniques for non-invasive explicit parallelization. 2012. The Journal of Supercomputing, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 1583-1608. September 2012. Enis Afgan, Purushotham Bangalore, and Tibor Skala. Scheduling and planning job execution of loosely coupled applications. 2012. The Journal of Supercomputing, vol. 59, no. 3, pp. 1431-1454. DOI: 10.1007/s11227-011-0555-y. 2012. Ritu Arora, Purushotham Bangalore, and Marjan Mernik. 2012. Raising the Level of Abstraction for Developing Message Passing Applications. The Journal of Supercomputing, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 1079-1100. DOI: 10.1007/s11227-010-0490-3. 2012. Ritu Arora, Purushotham Bangalore, Marjan Mernik. 2011. A Technique for Non-Invasive Application-Level Checkpointing. Journal of Supercomputing, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 227-255, DOI: 10.1007/s11227-010-0383-5. 2011. Enis Afgan, Purushotham Bangalore. 2011. Application Information Services for distributed computing environments. Future Generation Computer Systems, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 173-181. DOI: 10.1016/j.future.2010.08.004. February 2011. Enis Afgan and Purushotham Bangalore. 2010. Exploiting performance characterization of BLAST in the grid. Cluster Computing, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 385-395. DOI: 10.1007/s10586-010-0121-z. 2010. SaveSaveSaveSaveSave William E. Byrd Thomas Gilray Ragib Hasan John K. Johnstone Sidharth Kumar Nitesh Saxena Mahmut Unan Da Yan Chengcui Zhang Yuliang Zheng 1402 10th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35294-1241	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434078
__label__cc	0.669602	0.330398	Naples Tourist City Pass Explore in Naples and enjoy the experience Purchase El Pass Purchase Roma Pass 72h Purchase El Passto What is Naples Tourist City Pass? Safe money and time for Tourism experience Through its program, TopVolunteer™, GetLance partners with leading nonprofits and NGOs around the world who need high-skilled talent for their volunteer initiatives. Members of the GetLance network are encouraged to offer their skills and experience to these projects, whether to solve a timely problem or to contribute on an ongoing basis. Fill easy form Get your ticket 2 THE ROMA COLISEUM The Coliseum is the main symbol of Rome, an imposing construction that, with almost 2,000 years old, will take you back in time to discover what the ancient society of the Roman Empire was like. The construction of the Colosseum began in the year 72 under the Vespasian regime and ended in the year 80 during the mandate of Emperor Tito. After the completion of construction the Colosseum became the largest Roman amphitheater, with dimensions of 188 meters in length, 156 meters in width and 57 meters in height. The Roman Forum was the area in which public and religious life developed in ancient Rome. The Forum is, together with the Colosseum, the greatest example of greatness of the Roman Empire that can be seen today. At the end of the Empire, the Roman Forum was left in oblivion and little by little it was buried. Although in the sixteenth century the existence and location of the Forum was already known, it was not until the 20th century when the excavations were made. BARBERINI PALACE The Barberini Palace, located at the confluence of one of the most important roads in the city, Via del Tritone, is one of the touristic places in Rome that is worth visiting. Former residence of the Barberini family honors one of the most famous papal lineages. The Barberini Palace, moreover, has become the headquarters of the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica. It has thus become one of the most prestigious museums and with the greatest number of works of art in the Eternal City. The palace is the work of Baroque architect Carlo Maderno. However, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini also worked on him. There you can admire, among others, works by Titian, El Greco, Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, Guido Reni. Let yourself be dazzled by the gigantic roof with Pietro da Cortona's 'Triumph of Divine Providence' ... An oasis of tranquility in the midst of a populous city. CLOSED ON MONDAYS. This basilica is located in the heart of one of the most touristic districts of Rome. Santa Maria in Trastevere is presented as one of the oldest basilicas in Rome and the first that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The place of the foundation is not casual. According to tradition, the church was founded in the 'Meritorious Tavern', a place where an oily fountain sprouted in 38 BC. C. Later, in the third century, Callistus I founded a small place of worship. During the pontificate of Innocent II (1130-1143) Santa Maria in Trastevere was extended and renovated with materials from the Baths of Caracalla. On the old hill of the Capitol, one of the most historic tourist sites in Rome rises above the city of Rome. It is also one of the best museums in the world built on the site of the ancient temple of the Capitoline triad. It houses works of great value and, in fact, it was the first public museum known as such and inaugurated in 1734 by Pope Clement XIII. The first donation that will form the initial nucleus of the Capitoline Museums was made by Sixtus IV. This pope gave in 1471 to the Roman people some statues that were located in the Lateran palace: the Capitoline Wolf, the Espinario, the Camilo, the equestrian statue of Marco Aurelio and several parts of the colossal sculpture of Constantine. Galería Nazionale di Arte Moderna (GNAM) di Roma Talking about Modern or Contemporary art in Rome seems to be out of place but the Eternal City keeps many surprises. The Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Roma is located on the Viale de Belle Arti, a name very suitable for a museum. It was built in 1911. There we can admire works of contemporary art both in its permanent collection and the various temporary exhibitions it houses. When you put a foot in the entrance you realize that it is not one of the typical museums and even less one of those that you expect to find in Rome. In its lobby, sculptures from the late nineteenth century coexist on a glass floor that seems broken. A perfect harmony that extends throughout the museum. On your tour of the GNAM museum you will find important works of art: Hercules and Licas de Canova, the Water Lilies of Monet or the Three Ages of the Woman by Gustav Klimt are some of the most famous pieces. Miró, Kandinsky, Polloky Duchamp await you in the various rooms of contemporary art distributed on the first and second floors of the building. Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano The basilica of San Pedro was built on the tomb of the apostle San Pedro. On the hill of the Vatican, in times of the Roman Empire there was a cemetery where the apostle was buried. The old basilica of the time of the emperor Constantine remained standing until the fifteenth century when they began work that would not be completed until the s. XVII. When you come to Rome you can not miss this place full of interest and with such important spiritual and historical significance. CASTELLO DI SAN ANGELO The Castel Sant'Angelo is one of the best examples of the conservation and reuse of a building throughout history. It was originally built as the mausoleum of the emperor Hadrian and his family. It receives its current name in the year 590 when Pope Gregory I observed at the top of the castle the Archangel Saint Michael sheathing his sword. At that moment, the plague that had struck Rome ended. In the twentieth century the castle passed into the hands of the state making it the museum that we can currently visit. From the terrace of the Castel Sant'Angelo you can enjoy a great view of the city. A special place for its history, situation and beauty. GALERIA BORGHESE Built inside the Villa Borghese, this museum was once the palace of this wealthy and powerful Sienese family. A unique place of interest for the richness of its art collections. Visiting the Borghese Gallery on your next trip to Rome can be a great goal. Because of its location in the wonderful park. With its rooms full of masterpieces. Thanks to the tranquility that is breathed during the visits. It is a perfect place to experience Rome. SANTA MARIA SOPRA MINERVA Built inside the Villa Borghese, this museum was once the palace of this wealthy and powerful Sienese family. A unique place of interest for the richness of its art collections.Visiting the Borghese Gallery on your next trip to Rome can be a great goal. Because of its location in the wonderful park. With its rooms full of masterpieces. Thanks to the tranquility that is breathed during the visits. It is a perfect place to experience Rome. Inside a starry roof receives the visitor. The only light comes from the high windows of thousands of colors found in the central nave. They give the church a mystical air very different from the sensations produced by the rest of the churches in Rome. Make advanced bookings and resevations for attractions and experiences, get to your address of stay in ucfirst(losangeles) with Transfer Service, and Enjoy a big list of important city attractions. When will my exchange order arrive? Just chosse your country. Where you will receive via mail your JRPass. 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Anim pariatur cliche reprehenderit, enim eiusmod high life accusamus terry richardson ad squid. 3 wolf moon officia aute, non cupidatat skateboard dolor brunch. Food truck quinoa nesciunt laborum eiusmod. Brunch 3 wolf moon tempor, sunt aliqua put a bird on it squid single-origin coffee nulla assumenda shoreditch et. Nihil anim keffiyeh helvetica, craft beer labore wes anderson cred nesciunt sapiente ea proident. Ad vegan excepteur butcher vice lomo. Leggings occaecat craft beer farm-to-table, raw denim aesthetic synth nesciunt you probably haven't heard of them accusamus labore sustainable VHS. Where do I go incase I have a complaint? Do you have any outlets in the country ? How can I file a complaint? How can I join the team? In case I forgot my password, what do I do? Find below a comparison between the 48h and 72h holidays in Rome that you can have without and/or with the Roma Pass.Please check the different Museums Entry Ticket's Cost that you can not save or have reduced without the Roma Pass, so you will easily confirm that purchasing the Roma Pass is totally worth it! Unlimited 48h ATAC transport (Subway, Bus, Trailway) Coliseum, Palatino and Roman Forum (No Lines for Roma Pass Holders) Castelo di Sant'Angelo Galleria Borghesse Galleria Nazionale Di Arte Moderno di Roma Palazzo Massimo alla Terme Without Click here for see your uploaded PICTURE With Click here for see your uploaded PICTURE SAVE 40.50 € Purchase Roma Pass 48h > info@japanr-pass.com www.japanr-pass.com	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434086
__label__cc	0.73003	0.26997	A-Z Services+ About Chapel Hill+ Fast Facts about Chapel Hill+ Chapel Hill Fact Sheet Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cemeteries and Burial Records Historic Town Properties+ Peace and Justice Plaza Links to History Arts and Leisure+ Community Arts & Culture Community Sustainability- Coal Ash Disposal Site Remediation Project- Memo from Town Manager Bicycle and Pedestrian+ Chapel Hill Mobility and Connectivity Plan What We Hear From People Who Bike and Walk Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Education+ Partners to Make It Safer Use of Crosswalks and Pedestrian Refuge Islands Estes Drive Connectivity Project Residents » Community Sustainability » Coal Ash Disposal Site Remediation Project Memo from Town Manager Roger L. Stancil to Mayor and Council As part of the asset management initiative of the Town, we recently conducted a property assessment of the police building, which is one of several Town owned properties that the Council is considering for potential sale. Based on previous knowledge of the site, we engaged Falcon Engineering to provide due diligence environmental services to qualify this property for potential redevelopment activities. The assessment identified an old coal ash disposal site located off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north of Bolin Creek adjacent to the Chapel Hill Police building. Soil boring tests found the materials 15 feet underground on the southern edge of the property. The environmental assessment shows that the materials that were disposed here should not pose a health issue. However, the material – fly ash – is an environmental pollutant. We provided the assessment report to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR) on Friday, October 18, and posted the information at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=2311 The report states that the property appears to have been used as a borrow pit from which construction material such as sand or gravel is taken for use as fill at another location in the late 1950s through the early 1960s, then as a fill site or dumping site from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. The Town acquired the 10-acre property at 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and constructed the police building in the early 1980s. We are looking to the expertise from NC DENR to help us move forward with an action plan. The Town may be responsible for steps to contain and remediate the conditions. Those required steps have not yet been determined, but we will take all necessary steps to maintain our clean and green environment. Upon receiving this initial report, we extended our contract with Falcon Engineering to include working with the Town as a site consultant. This is the beginning of a long process, and we recognize that we don’t have all the facts yet. We will follow the direction of NC DENR and will provide more information as it becomes available on further action and next steps.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434087
__label__wiki	0.53828	0.53828	Operations Decision By : UK Custom Essays Writers Assignment 2: Operations Decision Assume you have been hired as a managing consultant by a company to offer some advice that will help it make a decision as to whether it should shut down completely or continue its operations. It currently uses 100 workers to produce 6,000 units of output per month (working 20 days / month). The daily wage (per worker) is $70, and the price of the firm’s output is $32. The cost of other variable inputs is $2,000 per day. You are told that the firm’s fixed cost is “high enough” so that the firm’s total costs exceed its total revenue. The marginal cost of the last unit is $30. This assignment allows you to determine the specific details about this fictitious company in order to conduct an environmental scan of this company. Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you: 1. Briefly describe the details of the fictitious business that you created for this assignment. Assess the current environmental scan factors that are relevant to the decision making process. Determine the factors that will have the greatest impact on plant operations and management’s decision to continue or discontinue operations. Provide a rationale for your determination. Evaluate the financial performance of the company using the information provided in the scenario. Consider all the key drivers of performance, such as company profit or loss for both the short term and long term and how each factor influences managerial decisions. Be sure to show the calculations that helped you reach your conclusions. Recommend how the company can improve its profitability to deliver more value to its stakeholders. Then, develop a brief plan to implement the recommendations. Assess the circumstances in which the company should discontinue operations and how management should react when confronted with these circumstances. Provide a rationale with your response. 6. Use at least three (3) high-quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources. Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additionalinstructions. "Are you looking for this answer? We can Help click Order Now" Machiavelli says that glory is the goal of the prince (and by extension, the goal of politics in general). Organizational Growth And Expansion Definition of the concept “anxiety” in regards to schizophrenia Conduct research to determine three types of computer crime. Information Security Discussion Customer Persona – Outdoor Entusiasts Backpack Security Lapses and Data Breaches: An Examination of the Failures to Protect Business Data and their Consequences Quantitative Analysis Discussion How to Fix Travel Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission Protectionist Sentiment In The US Treatment Of Offenders Approx. 275 words / page Font: 12 point Arial/Times New Roman Free bibliography page Free table of contents We write on any topics	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434089
__label__wiki	0.669955	0.669955	I spent 10 years living in Oshkosh, WI after high school, attending college and discovering punk and indie rock in the Fox Valley and Green Bay scenes of the mid-1990s. As my own musical palate was developed and the bands i played in evolved into better, louder, (hopefully) more original noise-rock juggernauts, it was done understanding that there were larger music scenes in Madison and Milwaukee--and to a lot of music lovers in the state, those cities were all that mattered. This, of course, only grew the chip that's always rested on my shoulder as my bands and i have strived to put together something unique--sometimes stumbling across the way, but always dealing with the repercussions of not following the latest trends, away from the big music centers of our country (or even our state for a while there). The bands i have played in over the years have never been the hip local bands that set the town on fire, even now that we're based in one of those Wisconsin music centers--Milwaukee--instead of Oshkosh. But it turns out that the title of Wisconsin's best, most interesting indie band probably resides in Oshkosh after all, in the guise of some old friends that we met along the way, not long after the start of their own journey to find their voice. Yep--Oshkosh's Haunted Heads have become a must-see outfit, away from the hip spotlight of Wisconsin's larger music cities (i mean, we don't have an Austin or a Brooklyn here, but fuck it), where they could just do their thing and do it better than most could hope. Haunted Heads - "36 Sharpened Saws" Music Video from Northern Outpost on Vimeo. There's nothing flashy or complicated about what Haunted Heads does--you could pull elements of their sound out of 90s standouts like The Wrens, Built to Spill, Silkworm, or loads of other bands. But influences mean nothing without the talent, the harmonies, and the pure songwriting skills to mold them into great tunes. And Haunted Heads write amazing tunes. Their 2014 self-titled EP is a brisk, crisp march through shimmering chords, rapid-fire drumming, earthy, organic bass lines, and off-kilter, instantly infectious yelping melodies that stick in your head for weeks. Watching these guys put a song together for UNINTIMIDATED at Howl Street after decades of knowing them was a treat and a joy. They blasted through "285 Feet Tall" about twice before they knew they had the take they wanted, leaving drummer Chad and bassist Kyle to chill out on the sofa while guitarists Andy and Eric weaved their vocal harmonies together like a beautifully disjointed patchwork quilt of melody lines. "My hands and feet are made of wood/with billion-dollar strings/and i can be anything!" It's one of their most blistering tunes, played with a punk rock moxie that matches the snarky accusations of their lyrics, and easily a standout on an album of unstoppable standout tracks. These boys have been at this rock 'n' roll thing for more than two decades at this point, floating through various bands and developing their talents before settling into their current configuration (The Fox Valley in general and Oshkosh in particular excels in the classic Local Scene Trope of a half-dozen key players forming bands, putting out amazing records, breaking up, reforming in a slightly different lineup, and repeating the process). I could list a half dozen of their former bands off the top of my head right now--Crayonblack, Salt, Chinaski, Shelf Life, Congratulations on Your Decision to Become a Pilot, The Willis, Happy (ok, that's seven). Is Haunted Heads the culmination of all those groups, the best thing they've done to date? Who knows, but i'm guessing these guys aren't done getting better. After all, when there's no hot trend to slave yourself to, no pressure to "make it" or be the new Cool Thing because you've stayed put in the place where you grew up, the only proper direction for your creative energy is right back into the songs...the way it should be for everyone. I'm guessing it may be hard for these guys to peak if they just keep evolving. Haunted Heads EP by Haunted Heads Labels: Band news, Haunted Heads, Propaganda	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434094
__label__cc	0.690951	0.309049	Israeli Political Crisis: Netanyahu Fails To Form Government Gary Wednesday, May 29, 2019 UPDATE (4:30 PM CT): The last minute wrangling was to no avail. Netanyahu and his Likud party failed to gain support from the 61 MKs needed to form a government. In the end, Avigdor Lieberman wouldn't budge on his demands. Then, moments ago, the Knesset voted 74-45 to dissolve itself and hold a new election on September 17th. This is unprecedented in Israeli election history. The vote was held to prevent runner-up Benny Gantz from being offered the opportunity to form a government. It appears that Netanyahu will remain Prime Minister in the interim. UPDATE (2:00 PM CT): Netanyahu caves on Lieberman's demand. Will support draft bill as is. Netanyahu has apparently secured 60 MKs and needs just one more. Kulanu will also throw in with the coalition if Netanyahu can get the 61st MK to sign on. The question now remains: how will Lieberman respond and will the ultra-Orthodox parties jump ship? With less than four hours to go before a midnight deadline, current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is racing to cobble together the 61 seat coalition in the Knesset needed to form a government. Prospects have turned grim as Avigdor Lieberman is refusing to abandon his push for a bill that would make mandatory conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the national draft. If no coalition is formed by midnight, the Knesset will dissolve and new elections will need to be held—unprecedented in Israeli history. Why this? Why now? Apparently Netanyahu is suddenly scrambling to garner support from political enemies like the Labor Party, but so far they have turned down the offers. What this is leading to in the short term, and how this ends, is anyone's guess, but it's all happening at a very fragile time in the Middle East with Russia and Iran firmly planted in Syria, and Iran now moving full throttle toward enriching weapons grade uranium, all the while U.S. and Iranian forces are in a tense standoff. I can say this with confidence: if the Knesset dissolves, Israel will be entering dangerous and turbulent water. Will her enemies look to exploit the power vacuum and political chaos for attack? In other news, this week Jared Kushner travels to the Middle East to once again shore up support for his comprehensive "Deal of the Century", and, from his perspective, hopefully seal the deal. The Palestinian Authority is not on board, but all of the key Gulf players seem to be behind it. Topics Breaking News, Gary, Israel, Political, Politics, World news And what will this do to the timing of the peace plan? Put it off? If it goes too long, Trump isn't going to want to start this when it gets close to campaigning for the 2020 run. Gary 5/29/2019 1:33 PM It looks like the phase 1 reveal is still scheduled for second to last weekend of June. suehmartin12@gmail.com 5/29/2019 1:25 PM Ever since I heard this news this morning on the 700 club, and CBNNEWS.com, I have been waiting for your comments on UNSEALED! We all need to pray for Netanyahu, Israel, AND President Trump NOW! Thank you for not making me wait all day for your response! Sue and Ray Martin Ray, seems to me you're a pretty hardcore Zionist then? Try to watch #Know More News or #TruNews on YouTube regarding the danger you're heading to. Noahide Laws. That's what you're praying for. The bible calls it the system of the "beast" (Revelation 13). Good luck! Ray, no offense but perhaps this is the prayer you should join then: https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/126642/secret-story-prayer-redemption-world/ It's from Kabballah and openly calling to kill Christians in fact. #Israeli News Live YTC informs about that too. TruNews is replacement theology, a false doctrine which negates the eternal covenant regarding the Holy Land in which place Jesus returns to sit on the Throne of David when His people finally recognize Him as their promised Messiah. The "Beast" is the Catholic Church. Israel is the Woman. The Woman is surrounded by the sun, moon and twelve stars. The only passage of scripture that mentions all of these heavenly bodies together is Genesis 37, where Joseph’s dream of the sun, moon and 12 stars symbolized his father Jacob, his mother Rachel, and the twelve sons of Jacob who, along with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were the patriarchs of the nation Israel. I heard a few days ago that the Saudis have offered several BILLION dollars to ABBAS if the Palestinians will go to the meeting in Bahrain on June 25. Have you heard of this? Sue and Ray Martin I haven't, but if you find a link please send it my way (: Dean 5/30/2019 7:39 AM $10 Billion.... Dr. Evil kind of money. Link: https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Saudi-Arabia-offered-Abbas-10-billion-to-accept-Trumps-peace-plan-report-588294 Lisa Wade 5/29/2019 2:02 PM https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Saudi-Arabia-offered-Abbas-10-billion-to-accept-Trumps-peace-plan-report-588294 Gary 5/29/2019 10:26 PM Thanks for spotting this. Goes to show, even the Gulf states are on board. They desperately want this deal. Moin 5/29/2019 3:00 PM At https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7077787/Secretive-Bilderberg-meeting-address-Russia-cyber-threats-Brexit-130-worlds-elite.html "Secretive Bilderberg meeting to address Russia, cyber threats and Brexit as 130 of world's elite including Henry Kissinger, Mark Carney and the Dutch King prepare for Swiss summit". Will this Bilderbergmeeting usher the arrival of the antichrist? KJS 5/29/2019 3:54 PM With less than an hour to deadline, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it seems that a new election might be inevitable as Israeli lawmakers head to vote on a bill to dissolve the Knesset, effectively sending the country to a new election seven weeks after Israelis went to the ballot. Israel to hold fresh election as Netanyahu fails to form coalition WOW! I mean... WOW!!! Pastor Rich 5/29/2019 8:45 PM PIN-POINTS ON THE 40TH DAY OF THE OMER Ascension Day Greetings! Blessings to you and yours in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord!! Did you know, 1) Torahcalendar.com has the Israeli elections happening on the fourth day of Sukkot (Feast of Booths/Feast of Tabernacles). Of course that is the ecclesiastic calendar and not the civil calendar. 2) Election Day will be three (3) before Hoshana Rabba (M7D21) or the 21st of Tishrei. (Remember that Jewish days begin/end at sunset). 3) Hmmm, 7/21. Lots of sevens in there?! 7 / 7 + 7 + 7 == 7/21 Now that you mention it, Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21 are the 730th day since the Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting/Feast of Trumpets) and the Great Sign in 2017. As in, two solar years! Q: About how old was Jesus when the Maji arrived and time came to celebrate the first Christmas? A: About two years ( 365 * 2 = 730 days) Q: What is Strongs (G730)? A: (G730) “ἄρσεν" [arsen] as in English, “She gave birth to a male child” (Rev 12:5 ESV) Q: Which Knesset just got dissolved? A: The 7 + 7 + 7 = 21st Knesset Q: How many letters are in the Hebrew Alephbet? Q: What is the last letter in the Hebrew Alephbet? A: Tav “ת” is the 22nd and last letter. Q: What is the mark Ezekiel records as being put on the faithful in Ezekiel 9? A: The Tav “ת” or what then looked more like a cross or letter "x". ...but the plot only gets deeper! PS...The calendar references regarding Hoshana Rabba this year are by the ecclesiastic calendar NOT the civil calendar. Many of you will know that there is about a month offset between the civil and spiritual calendar this year. Confusing, I know, if you're not used to the Hebrew calendars and leap month. Wowza! A PIN-POINT Jordanian King tells Kushner a Palestinian state is the basis for peace Quoting, i24news.tv, "The Jordanian head of state unequivocally told Donald Trump's son-in-law that a Palestinian state within 1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital was a non-negotiable condition to any peace agreements." So from what I'm reading it's a little complicated regarding the political situation in Israel. The Prime Minister has the power to dissolve the Knesset himself and call for snap elections, which is not unusual. But what's unique here is that the Knesset has never dissolved itself. Since the Knesset elects the PM, the PM can't dissolve it following the general election since they haven't elected him yet. That's why MKs had to vote to dissolve via a bill. That's what's brand new here. If I'm understanding this correctly, it means there will be no Knesset between now and the elections, but Bibi will remain PM in the interim. Crazy stuff. And on Ascension Day! As a little rapture tidbit: "Knesset" is the Hebrew word for assembly. The "Church" comes from Greek ekklesia, which technically means "assembly". So around midnight on Ascension Day in Israel (when the vote was held)... The "Assembly" disappeared. Miguel P 5/29/2019 10:49 PM Nice wrap up here brother. Encouraged. Thank you. Jimmy 5/30/2019 4:33 AM Thanks for the great article. Hopefully today will be our ASCENSION day It seems like there was a lot today pointing toward a soon rapture. Annabel 5/30/2019 10:26 AM Gary, you surely should watch this one here: https://youtu.be/K67uPqzsmt8 #Know More News "Israel Hacking Elections Worldwide" 5/30/19 So the point is: To usher in the antichrist "Messiah" Netanyahu wouldn't need any opposition to Noahide Laws. That is what he urgently wants to get rid of in new elections now in his own government. Check out #Israeli News Live also with DeAnne Looper interview today regarding Kabballah. You might be surprised what you have been supporting here. Wake up to reality or wake up some day to Revelation 13. MARANATHA! Yes, Israel remains in unbelief. No, that doesn't mean Israel therefore loses its right to the land. It means Israel is going to have to suffer terribly for 1260 days until God takes her to a place of safety once the Trib begins. There are dozens and dozens of promises to the Jews and to national Israel. I want every Jew in Israel to recognize who Jesus is. Tragically, it will take the DoTL for them to finally get it. That said, I am still, and unashamedly, a Zionist 100%. The land belongs to Israel and only Israel, however, I do not support a Third Temple. The Third Temple is blasphemous (see God's thoughts on it in Isa. 66). I do not support TruNews or the anti-semite Rick Wiles. His messages are false, as is his anti-Jewish, anti-rapture, post-trib theology. Wiles is bad news. Beware of him. Nearly every country on the planet is aligned against Israel, either military or politically. That tells me what I need to know. Hmewrdbd 5/30/2019 6:45 PM I agree 100%, Gary! Interesting opinion piece on Jerusalem Post: https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Best-of-both-worlds-for-Netanyahu-analysis-591132 Oh wow Gary, that's a Bild statement indeed. Did you know that according to what national Israel has planned for Revelation 13 you just CANNOT be a Christian simultaneously to being an "unashamed 100% Zionist"? Hmmm... I would think that over if I were you. Blessings your way! PS: God FOREKNEW political Zionism. Just like He foreknew the crucifixion of Jesus. Doesn't mean He SUPPORTED it nor is He pleased by Christians supporting the synagogue of Satan. Think about that whom you want to please by saying this. Note: The children of Levi were the priests who didn't own any land on earth. This is the picture for the church with a heavenly citizenship. On whose side are you to be found when the LORD calls? Rhonda 5/30/2019 9:47 PM according to Jack Langford and Gary Stearman (Prophecy Watchers) there is a picture of the Rapture on Pentecost. Pentecost is 10 days from today as most of you know. You can find that video and listen to the evidence. High watch time with everything that's going on:) Maranatha! Pastor Rich 5/31/2019 1:23 AM Yes, Jack Langford makes and excellent case for the picture of the resurrection/rapture in Pentecost; but at the same time says that it may not be on Pentecost. I highly recommend Jack's books as offered on Prophecy Watchers and have a few of them myself. Here is a link to the show on PW, Jack Langford: Pentecost and the Rapture You may remember that Jack said we live one second from going home. It is a fact that has a maturing effect on us as followers of Christ. He was very specific on this point and humble in expressing his need to constantly pray to stay in the centre of the Lord's will. I share that sentiment.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434096
__label__wiki	0.662244	0.662244	These clothes are comfy and stylish and can make life much easier for kids with autism. "Revolutionary? No, just 'mom sense.'" Like every parent, Lauren Thierry wants her son to be independent. That includes the ability for him to dress himself without getting frustrated. "A lot of people with autism have issues with fine and gross motor skills," Lauren, whose son, Liam, has autism, explained to ABC News. "I know it sounds like such a non-issue. And yet, if your kid can't get dressed, they can't get out of the house. You start to realize mom is not going to live forever." Lauren and her son, Liam. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thierry. That's why she created a clothing line designed specifically for kids with cognitive impairments and physical disabilities. It's called Independence Day Clothing. And it's awesome. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thierry. They may just look like a stylish group of kids. But their clothes are unique in subtle and important ways. Because of those issues Lauren mentioned above, some common features on clothing — things like buttons, zippers, tags, and lace — can make it difficult for children with autism to get dressed by themselves. So, you won't find any buttons, zippers, tags, or lace on Independence Day clothes. Lookin' fly, guys! Photo courtesy of Lauren Thierry. Essentially, there's "no way to wear it wrong," Lauren says. The clothing line is filled with items made with super-sensory-smooth (aka very comfy) fabric and without a clear front or back so that kids can put them on whichever way they please. Many items are also equipped with GPS devices. Having a child wander off unsupervised can be a nightmare for any parent, but it can be especially troublesome if that child has autism. Independence Day Clothing includes tracking technology in several of its items, putting moms and dads at ease. "Anytime I want to know where my child is, I whip out my iPhone — there's an app right there," Thierry told HuffPost Live in March 2015. "Four seconds later, I know exactly where [my son] is." These clothes aren't just easy and stylish, they keep kids safer too. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thierry. Lauren also has other cool items in the works, like sweaters, unisex shorts, and socks with no heel or toe seam. Seriously, we want to see these designs rocking a red carpet soon. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thierry. These clothes may be innovative. But to Lauren, her work comes down to simply wanting what's best for her kid. While some may consider Independence Day Clothing "revolutionary" — as one media outlet proclaimed — she told Upworthy she sees it otherwise: "What I did was not revolutionary. It was simply something that had to be done. Like the moms in the 1960s who safety pinned mittens to their kids coats before there were mitten clips. The moms did it because those 'kittens' might lose their 'mittens.' Revolutionary? No, just 'mom sense.'" diversity and equality disabilities	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434098
__label__cc	0.54366	0.45634	Boeing Dreamliner Un-Grounded; It’s Like, Thank God By Juli Weiner The Boeing Dreamliner has been grounded sinceJanuary. Yes, that’s why it wasn’t at Kyle’s party. No, not because it wasn’t invited. Who said that? Brianna? O.K. Brianna is the one who puts on this, like, gross cucumber-melon lotion after gym class and it’s like, “Um, cool Brianna. I guess my mom just threw out all my stupid Bath and Body Works gift certificates I got for my bat mitzvah, but apparently using them well into high school works, too.” Loser. Anyway the Boeing Dreamliner finally changed its behavior or attitude or flammable lithium-ion batteries or whatever enough to get un-grounded. In the United States, Europe, and now Japan, the Dreamliner has been given permission to go outside and hang out with people during commercial flights. Oh, except Brianna hasn’t been cleared to hang out with the Dreamliner because the F.A.A. is concerned that the weird chemicals in her tacky lotion are actually poisonous and might cause all air travelers to suddenly think they’re hot shit because they made J.V. lacrosse. Sign up for our essential daily brief and never miss a story. It's on the house.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434101
__label__wiki	0.980317	0.980317	meet jo march Little Women: This Scene Is Exactly Why Saoirse Ronan Is Getting Oscar Buzz In this exclusive clip, Ronan delivers a monologue that speaks for generations of women. By Yohana Desta It only takes one scene to realize why Saoirse Ronan is drumming up Oscar buzz for Little Women. In the film, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Ronan plays Jo March, the iconic tomboy and bookish scribe of the March family. Though Jo is full of fire and wit, there’s one scene—available to watch exclusively above—where her tough facade crumbles while talking to her mother (Marmee, played by Laura Dern). She’s left searching for meaning in a world that demeans and devalues women, while also reckoning with the fact that she wants to find a partner. “I just feel like women, they have minds and they have souls, as well as just hearts,” Jo says through tears. “And they’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty.” It’s a moonshot of a monologue, with Ronan packing a world of emotion into a brief, 32-second moment. The actor has long been considered a best-actress contender, and this scene easily proves why. Should she land an Oscar nomination, she’d likely be up against competitors like Renée Zellweger (currently a front-runner for Judy), Charlize Theron (Bombshell), and Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story). Little Women, the latest of many adaptations of the Louisa May Alcott classic, has been drumming up awards buzz in general; Gerwig is a strong contender for best-director and best-adapted-screenplay nominations, while Florence Pugh, who plays the petulant Amy, and Meryl Streep, who plays the fussy Aunt March, could be in contention for best-supporting-actress nods. Timothée Chalamet, who plays heartsick rich kid Laurie, is also a possible contender for best supporting actor, though the competition is stiff (Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, and Al Pacino are just a few of the other contenders in this stacked race). Behind the scenes, it seems likely that two-time Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat could earn a nod for his wonderfully treacly score. The film has been earning strong reviews from critics, including Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson. “For others, including the many teary, sniffly people in my screening audience, the film ought to perfectly satisfy the promise created by its very existence: A strong cast works well in a charmingly mounted version of a cozy old story,” he wrote in his review, taking special care to praise Ronan specifically for giving “perhaps my favorite performance of hers to date.” Little Women hits theaters on December 25. — Our cover story: RuPaul on drag’s future and why true drag will never be mainstream — Learn about Queen Elizabeth’s real-life betrayal inside Buckingham Palace — Doctor Sleep works best when it stops worrying and forgets Stanley Kubrick — The Crown reveals the truth about Charles, Camilla, Anne, and Andrew’s love quadrangle — Why Frozen 2 fails to recapture the magic of the original — Emilia Clarke reveals how she’s had to fight over nude scenes after Game of Thrones — From the Archive: The man to call for fighting studio battles, suppressing scandals, and keeping the tabloids at bay Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story. Photos: First Look Greta Gerwig’s Little Women By Wilson Webb/© 2019 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The March sisters picnicking on the beach. From left to right: Emma Watson as Meg, Florence Pugh as Amy, Saoirse Ronan as Jo, and Eliza Scanlen as Beth. Little Women tells the story of their modest, imaginative girlhood. Author Louisa May Alcott based the story on her own upbringing. From the awards race to the box office, with everything in between: get the entertainment industry's must-read newsletter. Saoirse Ronan, a Classic Jo, Promptly Ignored Her Little Women Etiquette Lessons “Jo’s ethos is ‘Everything everyone else is doing, I’m going to do the opposite,’” Ronan said. Little Women Review: Saoirse Ronan Soars in Greta Gerwig’s Brisk, Fan-Service Exercise The latest adaptation of the classic novel hits some great notes, but plays its tune awfully quickly. By Richard Lawson The Ultimate Guide to Awards Season As Oscar season kicks into high gear, V.F.'s experts brave the sprawling landscape of contenders to bring you 20 must-see movies. By Vanity Fair	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434102
__label__wiki	0.579204	0.579204	Emergency by Referral, Mon-Fri 8:00am-Midnight 129 Glover Ave, Norwalk \| CT 06850 Surgery (Orthopedic, Soft Tissue, Minimally Invasive) New Canine Cancer Treatments Available PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Cancer isn’t just for humans. It’s a big problem for pets too, and now new treatments are becoming available for our four legged friends. 3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on cancer cures for canines.It’s estimated that one third of dogs, and one in every four cats will get cancer at some point in their lives. But veterinarians are finding new ways to help pets live longer and better lives, with fewer side effects. Meet Maizey, and Dakota. Both pooches are battling cancer. “Had no appetite. She couldn’t keep anything down. And unfortunately it got to the point where she couldn’t walk,” said Joan Brown, Maizey’s owner. Veterinarians treat between four and six million cases of canine cancer each year, using radiation and in Maizey’s case newer chemotherapy drugs, like Palladia, which targets certain molecules in cancer cells to kill them. “Her survival time instead of being 2 months it’s likely going to be between one and three years,” said Dr. Gerald Post, a Veterinary Oncologist. Warning signs of cancer in pets are similar to people. Watch for a lump that gets bigger or changes shape, unexplained bleeding or chronic weight loss. Dakota had surgery to get a fast-growing lump removed. The vet followed up with a new treatment called IMRT or Intensity modulated radiation therapy that he hopes will cure Dakota. “We can kill cancer cells with those dosage of radiation that spare all the normal tissues around that area,” said Dr. Post. Vets are also prescribing new anti-nausea medications to minimize the side effects, and it worked for Dakota. Cancer treatments for animals can be expensive and usually aren’t covered by insurance. by Stephanie Stahl Watch Video on the PHILADELPHIA (CBS) website! 129 Glover Ave TEL: (203) 838.6626 Specialty: M-F, 8:00am-6:00 pm Emergency: M-F, 8:00am-Midnight	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434103
__label__cc	0.557214	0.442786	Get in touch Close Form Creative Conquerors Blog 407 801 9166 If you're interested in collaborating with me on a website, design, and/or branding project or on a consulatative basis, please contact me directly by phone or email or simply fill out the contact form below. The Powerful Branding Practices of Rammstein July 12, 2019 // By Victor Beazzo Home // Branding What’s in a brand? What are the ingredients to good, strong, modern branding? When the subject of branding comes up, we in the creative business often have the mixed joy of enduring the same few examples— Apple, Nike, Starbucks, Amazon, etc. These are the prototypical “good brands,” that everyone knows and everyone can relate to, and with good reason. There’s certainly a lot there that’s worth talking about. But it got me to thinking…what else is there? What are some other, perhaps less conventional examples that I could I bring up to twist the conversation into new and interesting places and to make people consider the merits of a good branding through a fresh lens? The band, circa 2017 Enter Rammstein! Here’s one! One which you may or may not be aware of, depending on your age and the circles in which you frequent (or perhaps you are aware, but you don’t even think of it as a brand at all.) I invite you to follow me, as we venture outside the mainstream consumer market for a moment, down a deeper and darker spiral, to a place that’s the stuff of dreams and nightmares, of highbrow sophistication and primal brutalism, with a dash of dark comedy. I’m talking, of course, about RAMMSTEIN. Above: Here’s a small taste of Rammstein for the uninitiated Rammstein, for those of you who haven’t heard of them, are a German “Neue Deutsche Härte” or industrial metal/shockrock/performance band who hit their peak popularity as part of the “nu metal” movement in the late ’90’s/early 2000s. If you do know them, (if you’re American) you likely know them for “Du Hast” (their biggest single here) and that’s about it, but they’ve been doing their thing within the metal scene (churning out insanely powerful music and setting things and people ablaze on stage) for over 20 years now. In this article, I’ll conduct a deep-dive dissection of this complex “band brand.” I’ll review the components and evolution of the Rammstein brand, i.e., how it came together and how it has evolved through the years. My goal here will be to shed some light (and maybe a little FIRE) on the merits of fantastic brand-building. I have to warn you though, things may get a bit, uncomfortable. Rammstein is well known for their over-the-top takes on some pretty controversial subject matter. If you’re sensitive to dark, violent, and/or sexual themes in art, I wouldn’t head too far down this rabbit hole. 1. Rammstein: The Music: Like many aging metalheads, I’ve mellowed with time and life experience and I’ve mostly outgrown the metal scene with its largely synonymous sounds and subject matters, Rammstein being the notable exception. Along with the rest of their loyal fanbase, I’ve followed their illustrious career very closely for the past almost twenty-ish years (God, I’m getting old.) What kept me hooked was that the band itself continued to grow and mature as I did, taking on new subject matter, experimenting with new techniques, but all the while remaining true to their unique style and approach (Despite a lot of variety in the music, you will NEVER mistake a Rammstein for anything other than a Rammstein song.) Rammstein’s music has always been heavy and raw at its core. Each album takes on various themes and styles without ever getting too soft, too overly produced, or straying too far from core style. Please Note: I’m not a musician nor a musical critic (nor do I play one on TV,) so I won’t pretend to be one here (ergo I won’t attempt to talk about the merits of their music with any degree of credibility or sophistication.) But as I mentioned before, this article isn’t really about the music. “All the best brands are able to evolve with the times, while sticking to their core values and mission. It’s about continually reinterpreting the same message, themes, or values for an evolving audience.” Lesson: Gradual Evolution on a Backbone of Continuity: The Creative Paradox to Good Branding The lesson here, from a brand perspective, is continuity. Stylistically, fans know they can expect Rammstein to stick to the things that made them unique and distinctive to begin with. They use a combination of poignant and dramatic lyrics to broach very taboo subject matter (almost exclusively in german), insanely heavy guitar riffs paired with grandiose orchestral melodies, and larger-than-life onstage theatrical performances to craft their uniquely dark, mostly nihilistic, often satirical symphonies. Oh yeah, and FIRE, lots of FIRE (more on that later.) All the best brands are able to evolve with the times, while sticking to their core values and mission. It’s about continually reinterpreting the same message, themes, or values for an evolving audience. This is something Rammstein does well, not just musically, but though all facets of their brand— music, marketing, style, videos, live performances, merchandise, and more. The idea extends directly into visuals as well. You can see from the examples below some examples of how some major brands have evolved to meet with contemporary styles while maintaining their fundamental personality and brand equity. How does this apply in more mainstream examples? The short answer is, know thy brand. Let’s look at Google as one example. Through the years, Google was smart enough to realize that their success stemmed from one single quality of their brand, that is, the simplicity of their homepage. They knew that maintaining a simple, uncluttered homepage was important, so important in fact, that they appointed someone specifically to the role of protecting it from the internal forces within the organization, fighting for attention. Google knew that in this case, they were their own worst enemy and that, without proper safeguards and self-policing, they had the potential to destroy the very thing that had led to their incredible success. Now that’s understanding your brand. 2. Rammstein Branding: The Name The band was originally named after the 1988 Ramstein air show disaster, but the extra “m” in the band’s name makes it translate literally as “ramming stone”. If you’ve ever heard the music, you can instantly understand how that literal translation “ramming stone” perfectly encapsulates their musical style. I couldn’t think of a better name, honestly. This literal “pureness” of the name, rooted with a deeper, (and darker, in this case) story behind it, is a great case study for naming any new brand. Key Naming Lessons/Takeaways: When crafting a new brand, choose a name loaded with some history, deeper meaning, or something you can form a narrative around, ideally a narrative that plays into the values or characteristics that the brand embodies. Also consider ways to make it feel more unique or proprietary. An example of would be the extra “m” added to “Rammstein.” Note: be careful here, we’ve all seen the trendy ‘e’ is replaced with a ‘3’ stuff in web 2.0 tech logos, etc., I’m not proposing that level of absurdity here. Just consider adding something subtle but distinctive to make it feel more custom. Overall you should be seeking something familiar with a sense of the novelty (yes, I know that’s a direct contradiction.) It should be a name that consumers can deduce some basic meaning or idea from, without too much mental gymnastics, but at the same time feels a bit fresh or novel. It’s a delicate balance, for sure. Not every great brand follows the above two rules, certainly, but when you’re crafting something new these suggestions can help you connote the right ideas and better control how your brand is perceived as it enters the market. Remember that first impressions do matter. In general, simple is better. 3. Rammstein Branding: The Logo The Rammstein logo, designed originally by Dirk Rudolph, hasn’t evolved much through the years since it appeared on their first studio album, Herzeleid. It’s minimal and fairly geometric, with a “Malevich cross” standing in for the ‘t’. It definitely feels influenced by Malevich Modernism/Suprematism, all though the designer has stated that he wasn’t ‘consciously influenced or inspired by it. Rammstein’s Iconic Logo is rooted in symbolism Regardless, I think the stoic, geometric forms coupled with the harsh angles and varying widths of the letterforms perfectly capture the band’s musical style—the juxtaposition of sophisticated techno-industrial beats with raw heavy metal. A reduced iconic version of the logo, with just the ‘R’ and the ‘T’/ Malevich cross icon was created as an abbreviated version of the logo, which gets used on a lot of merchandise and promotions, and has become almost universally recognized by fans. Key Logo Lessons/Takeaways: Logos should be designed with meaning, make sure the visual style of the logo reflects the particulars of your brand. Letterforms and iconography can be thoughtfully executed to capture the unique qualities of the product/brand, no matter how nuanced. Consider taking influence from past art movements or styles to make a distinctive statement but tweak these treatments as appropriate to create something more original, contemporary, or timeless. Think forward when designing – create something that will stylistically reduce well. Think in terms of how a logo can be abbreviated down to its essence and still communicate everything it needs to. This can become a powerful and ubiquitous branding tool for companies when executed correctly (think Nike swoosh, McDonald’s Arches, etc.) 4. Rammstein Branding: Collateral/Merchandising When it comes to supporting materials, What I like about the Rammstein brand is that it is versatile enough to allow broader interpretations. Outside of the logo, the visual components of the brand are not beholden to any specific treatments or color schemes. This allows the brand to adapt easily to different use cases. Generally, this manifests itself as separate interpretations with each new album or major release, which becomes a kind of “sub brand” designed to fit the themes and requirements of that particular item. Another example of an “adaptable” brand that does something similar would be the Aol. rebrand a few years back, what Google does with its homepage to mark different special days and occasions, Coca Cola’s personalized “named” bottle promotion or Starbucks’s seasonal holiday-themed cups. Rammstein’s merchandising is diverse. Lots of colors, styles, interpretations make it more accessible for a broad audience with broad tastes, but at the same time, some products make specific nuanced references to songs or lyrics that only dedicated fans would know. Key Lessons/Takeaways: Brands and visual systems can be build to be malleable, with clearly-defined key brand “pillars” that are sacred and untouchable, granting enough flexibility to allow for fresh interpretations that keep things creative and interesting. Brands that can be interpreted more broadly can increase the likelihood of engagement. Conversely, for an established brand, referencing very specific/esoteric elements can also be a powerful way to tighten the community around the brand culture and create a strong “tribal” resonance. This Rammstein Vodka called “Feuer Wasser” references a Rammstein track entitled “Feuer und Wasser” (Fire and Water”) 5. Rammstein Branding: Live Performances Anything that sounds as big as Rammstein’s music would need a live performance to match, and Rammstein does not disappoint. Rammstein is perhaps best known for their unique live performances, which feature carefully crafted and executed pyrotechnic effects at various points of the show (as well as some other rather bizarre props and acts which I won’t get into here.) Its a fundamental cornerstone to the brand. The effects are impressive and generally tie to the theme of song they’re performing. For example, during the song “Engel” (which translates to “Angel” in English) the lead vocalist, Till Lindemann, emerges wearing giant, mechanical angel wings, which extend and ignite into flames, partway through the song (check out the video above.) I’ve been to a Rammstein live show and can say from experience that you can feel the heat from far back into the stadium, I can’t even begin to imagine what the band endures on stage. That kind of dedication to exceptional delivery is a concept that can be borrowed and implemented in other industries and offerings. Differentiation is key: what do you bring to your brand that’s completely unique? What can you become ‘known for?’ How do you deliver above and beyond your competition and how can your brand become a symbol of that? What exclusive experience(s) can your audience consistently depend on your brand for? “How do you deliver above and beyond your competition and how can your brand become a symbol of that? What exclusive experience(s) can your audience consistently depend on your brand for?” These are just a few examples of how Rammstein has become an unconventional example of powerful brand-building tactics done right. What other bands can you think of that could also fall into this category? Or do you have examples in other industries that have done something similar? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments section. Creative Conquerors is powered by Victor Beazzo and dedicated to building a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, marketers, and managers looking to grow their revenue through innovative web marketing and branding. If you need assistance with a web, marketing, or branding project, please contact me today. Receive inbox updates when new articles and content is added to the blog. The Powerful Branding Practices of Rammstein posted on July 12, 2019 \| under Popular, Branding UI / UX is for Everyone: Usability for Non-Designers posted on October 14, 2019 \| under Popular, Design, Ui/Ux, Web/Digital Creative Collaboration: Marketing with Tighter Teams & Higher Standards posted on July 3, 2019 \| under Popular, Creativity, Marketing, Productivity Web/Digital Artyst Tyrant website design ©2020 Victor Beazzo. All right reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434106
__label__cc	0.72662	0.27338	Florida's Best Kept Secret This perfect picture postcard kind of place moves at a very slow pace. Often know as Florida's best kept secret, Anna Maria Island sits at the southern tip of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and is perched north of Longboat Key. Leave the car at home and travel the island by trolley bus. Cycle or walk to your favorite watering hole to enjoy the sunset. Stay at one of the Anna Maria Island hotels or vacation rental homes scatted around the Island. There are no high rise buildings in this area, just houses with the “Old Florida” feel, in neighborhoods that are not far from the water’s edge. A kayak or fishing boat is the favored transportation for exploring the inlets and canals that shelter Snook and Redfish beneath age old fishing docks. With and average temperature of 75 degrees, this year round attraction with its laid back feel is the place to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the delights of some of the award winning restaurants. The beaches of Anna Maria Island are some of the best on the Gulf Coast. Not for just the soft sugar white sands and the rich turquoise blue water but the most incredible sunsets that this part of the world is famous for. Manatees and Dolphins Wildlife is in abundance everywhere you look. Stroll the shore and look for the occasional Manatee and Bottlenose Dolphin just beyond the waves. May to July is turtle nesting season so be careful where you walk. Wild Parrots can be heard chattering from the trees or see them fly past in droves searching for a safe place to perch. In the summer months Turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Herons will wait close to the fisherman ready to steal bait from his bucket of pinfish and shiners. Pelicans sit patiently in the Mangroves and perch on the deck post waiting for fish to swim by. Sit for a while in the shade beneath the Australian Pines, sea oats dancing in the wind, Terns and Sandpiper run between the surf, hungry for crabs and crustaceans. The Areas Most Popular Attractions Each of the three fishing Piers are places to sit and watch the world go by. Nets in hand, locals cast their weighted mesh on to an approaching shoal of Mullet. If the catch is good, sometimes too heavy to lift back onto the deck. The Rod and Reel Pier offers tremendous views of Egmont and Passage Key whilst the most popular Anna Maria City Pier gives a closer look at the Skyway Bridge just off in the distance. Watch Cruise Ships and Cargo Vessels leave Tampa Bay to destinations unknown delicately sailing beneath its span. Ask the waitress for a window seat at the City Pier Restaurant and observe fisherman reel in a big one. At weekends, as the sun goes down, listen to Howie on the Guitar playing requested songs or talk with Bill the rock guy, who sells his wares, polishing his rocks and fossils outside the restaurant. The ice cream shop at Bayside is popular with young and old and serves up treats late into the evening long past the sunset. Take the Trolley with its complimentary fare as it travels the full length of this island, 7 miles in length, stopping at popular spots on the way. Picture Galleries display wonderful renderings from local artists. Holmes Beach Captain’s moor their vessels at Catchers Marina and couples walk the plaza shops looking for a souvenir to save the memory. Anna Maria Island is was only accessible by boat until 1921. Passengers would arrive by steam ferry from the nearby port of Tampa, stepping off the boat at the Anna Maria City Pier. The island Visitors would walk down Pine Ave to the beach and sit on the sugar white sand to watch the Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. A bridge was eventually built from the village of Cortez on the eastern side of the island across the intra coastal waterway. Parts of the bridge still remain today as the fishing Pier at Bridge Street Pier in the City of Bradenton Beach. Where is Anna Maria Island? Directions - Anna Maria Island is 53 miles from Tampa International Airport (a short 1 hour drive). Take I-275 South from Tampa, across the stunning Skyway Bridge overlooking Tampa Bay. Then follow route 19 to 64 west which takes you to the beaches and Holmes Beach. (Google Map, Tampa Airport) Sarasota - Bradenton International Airport is a convenient 18 miles away which takes on average 30 mins drive time. Take route 41 towards Bradenton, Head west on route 70 (Cortez) to 75th St. Take 75th Street North to 64 west (Manatee Ave). Follow 64 to the beaches and Anna Maria Island. (Google Map, Sarasota Airport) Whether you're planning an island wedding, looking for Anna Maria Island real estate, beach holiday or Anna Maria Island vacation rental from one of the local management companies, use this business directory to find what you need. Take plenty of pictures when you arrive to share with friends and relatives; we know that you'll be back.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434113
__label__wiki	0.720805	0.720805	About the Islands First Time Visitor's Guide Printed San Juan Islands Map Island Books Lopez Village Parks & Shorelines Visitor Centers & Chambers of Commerce Airlines & Charters Passenger Ferries & Water Taxis From SeaTac Airport / Shuttles Travel by Train or Bus To and From Canada Hotels, Inns & Resorts Lopez Island Experiences Orcas Island Experiences San Juan Island Experiences San Juan Islands Scenic Byway Whale & Wildlife Tour Operators Wineries, Breweries, Cideries & Tasting Rooms Food, Farms & Artisan Producers Shopping, Galleries, 2nd-Hand & Grocery Boating & Sailing Tours & Rentals Fishing in the San Juans Pet-Friendly Activities Family & Kids Activities Search Activity Availability Responsible Travel Tips What Makes the Islands Special? Explore the Islands Voices of the Islands Island Stories Blog Major Annual Events Events on Lopez Island Events on Orcas Island Events on San Juan Island Wedding-Venues-Guide Weddings on Lopez Island Weddings on Orcas Island Weddings on San Juan Island Meetings & Retreats Venues Summary Meetings & Retreats Venues San Juans in the News Island Experience 10 Fun Things to Do in Friday Harbor Stroll the docks, streets and shops of the charming, historic Town of Friday Harbor—Gateway to the San Juan Islands A charming seaport just steps from the ferry landing and docks, historic Friday Harbor has plenty to keep you busy for a day or a week—from small, water view cafes to gourmet restaurants, galleries and museums, boutiques and spas, a community theater and a two-screen movie theater—all within one square mile. 1. Find Treasures on Spring Street Friday Harbor has a wide range of shops to browse, from boutiques and bookstores to galleries and gift shops, where you can find jewelry, fine art, books, locally made women's clothing and gifts. The main shopping district is centered on Spring Street from the waterfront up to Argyle Street, including the cross streets Front, First, Second, and Nichols. Explore great shops in Friday Harbor. 2. Indulge in Delicious Friday Harbor Food & Drink Friday Harbor is full of great places to eat, from fish & chips on the waterfront to succulent halibut at a quaint restaurant. Savor the flavors of locally harvested oysters, reef-net caught salmon, locally raised meats, fresh Island Grown vegetables, fruits, cheeses and more. Enjoy a glass of locally made wine, beer, cider and spirits with a great meal, or a tasty cocktail with a water view. 3. Experience Community at Brickworks Plaza Restored in 2013, the Brickworks—taking its name from its original, historic role—is now a center for cultural life in Friday Harbor, with a large hall and outdoor plaza for concerts and community gatherings. On Saturdays, don't miss the San Juan Island Farmers' Market where you can find the freshest local ingredients, meet the farmers, eat delicious baked goods and other foods cooked on-site, and listen to great music. 4. Discover Friday Harbor's Creative Side The new SJIMA offers quarterly exhibitions of fine visual art from around the world. A beautiful front atrium shows fascinating art installations, and galleries in the main building show paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and more, from a diverse collection of artists such as William Morris, Ansel Adams and Ai Weiwei. The museum's mission is to connect people with art that inspires, challenges, and enlightens. Explore Friday Harbor's public art, including the stainless steel "Fluke" by Micajah Bienvenue, just behind the ferry lanes, and murals on the outside of The Whale Museum, and on a wall in Sunken Park near the ferry landing. Browse art galleries, or watch a performance at the San Juan Community Theatre. In the summer, Music in the Park and Music on the Lawn draw dynamic on and off-island musicians. Check our calendar of events for more information. 5. Walk (or Fly) through History On the grounds of the former 445-acre James King farm, the San Juan Historical Museum consists of eight buildings, four from the original farm: the 1894 farmhouse, carriage house, root cellar and milk house. The original San Juan County Jail, a barn, a log cabin and resource center round out the remaining structures. Stroll the grounds, enjoy a picnic and step back in time. New exhibits include a Museum of Industry, displaying the logging, farming and fishing history of San Juan Island. If you are up for an interesting walk, pick up a Historic Friday Harbor on Foot Guide at the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce. If you'd like to fly back in history and enjoy a bird's eye view of the islands, take a flight around the islands with one of the several charter companies. Experience the islands like never before! 6. Find Underwater Wonders at The Whale Museum Housed in an 1892 Odd Fellows Hall, The Whale Museum has promoted stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research since 1979. You can see a young orca skeleton, watch amazing videos of orcas at play, and find treasures in the museum gift shop. Upstairs, visit the Gallery of Whales and learn about how you can "Adopt an Orca" to support the 80-plus Southern Resident orca whales that call these Northwest waters home. 7. Explore the Waterfront Wander the docks in Friday Harbor and look at the boats, from the two-masted schooner Spike Africa to visiting mega-yachts. Watch local marine life up close at the Spring St. Landing mini-aquarium, the 400-gallon mini-aquarium at Spring St. Landing, housing a fascinating collection of local sea flora and fauna. Enjoy the waterfront walk down to the Port of Friday Harbor, appreciating the "Portals of Welcome" Coast Salish house posts in Jack Fairweather Park, and the many visiting boats from around the world. The piece is titled "Interaction" and was created by Coast Salish artist Susan Point, a member of the Musqueum Tribe, as a symbol of welcome and an acknowledgement of the Native presence in the San Juan Islands. From the docks you may catch a glimpse of Popeye, a female harbor seal that has been a frequent visitor to Friday Harbor since 1995. In 2005, the Port commissioned her sculpture, which sits near the main marina dock entrance. Enjoy "Music at the Port" in the summertime. You can also buy fresh seafood at Friday Harbor Seafood on the main dock. 8. Outdoor Adventure Hub Friday Harbor is a hub for exploring the natural beauty of the islands. Go on a guided kayaking tour or rent kayaks on your own, rent a boat, rent a bike, or rent a moped. Grab a map at these locations and start exploring the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway and the waterways of the islands. 9. Take a Whale & Wildlife Watching Tour Start your whale watching tour from the waterfront, and you will also have a chance to see eagles, sea lions and harbor seals, all while cruising the stunning shorelines of the islands. Orca whales often hunt for their favorite foods in the waters on the west side of San Juan Island, just a 20-minute boat ride from Friday Harbor. You may also see minke whales, Dall's porpoise and the occasional humpback whale. 10. Friday Harbor Film Festival & Seasonal Events The Friday Harbor Film Festival in the fall focuses exclusively on documentary films that "entertain – inspire – enlighten" us about the people, cultures and environment that make up the area known as the Pacific Rim. Films are shown at five venues throughout downtown Friday Harbor, just blocks from the ferry, close to restaurants, pubs and lodgings, making it a walkable, fun, fall getaway. For everything you want to know about Friday Harbor and San Juan Island, this is the place to start. The Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center office on First Street has a great selection of maps, brochures and information about accommodations, restaurants, activities, attractions and upcoming events.. From kayaking and hiking, to historic biplane flights, art museums and more, there are plenty of things to do in the San Juan Islands. Featured Itinerary Stops Brickworks 150 Nichols St. San Juan Island San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) 540 Spring St. San Juan Island San Juan Historical Society & Museum 405 Price St. San Juan Island The Whale Museum 62 First St. N. San Juan Island Portals of Welcome 2-98 Front Street San Juan Island Spring St. Landing Aquarium Spring St. Landing San Juan Island Popeye the Harbor Seal Port of Friday Harbor San Juan Island Featured Experience Friday Harbor’s Haunted Past and Present What small town doesn’t have a good ghost story or two? The historic port of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island certainly does. See Full Experience See more experiences San Juan Island Food & Farms Tour San Juan Island's agricultural history is still visible in its landscape, dotted with weather-worn barns and farmhouses, fields of hay, cattle, horses and market gardens. Take the Pledge! The 7 Principles of 'Leave No Trace' in the Islands By signing up for our Newsletter you agree to our Privacy Policy. Follow Us! #visitsanjuans Request a map/brochure © 2019 San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau Lopez Island Visitor Center & Chamber of Commerce Orcas Island Visitor Center & Chamber of Commerce San Juan Island Visitor Center & Chamber of Commerce Find out what's new in the San Juan Islands! Enter your email address for monthly updates.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434115
__label__wiki	0.501214	0.501214	Stories from Sun Valley 9 Off Mountain Winter Activities to do in Sun Valley, IdahoSara Sheehy Epic Pass Road Trip: Sun Valley, Snowbasin, and Park CitySara Sheehy Local Beta for Planning Your Ski Trip to Sun ValleySara Sheehy Sun Valley Nordic Festival, featuring the Boulder Mountain Tour The Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour and Sun Valley Nordic Festival welcome you to NordicTown USA in beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho. Independent groups, organizations and individuals such as the Blaine County Recreation District, Galena Lodge, Sun Valley Nordic Center, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Vamps, local businesses and a host of generous dedicated individuals have come together to give you the best cross country experience on the planet. Come to Sun Valley, Idaho and enjoy everything NordicTownUSA has to offer. 2020 Schedule Wednesday, 1/29 – Nordic Town USA Town Sprints and Opening Celebration, Thursday 1/30 – Ski clinic with SVSEF Gold Team members, Friday, 1/31 – BMT Expo and Race Bag Pickup Saturday, 2/1 – 47th annual Boulder Mountain Tour/Awards Party Sunday, 2/2 – Demo Days at Sun Valley Resort Wednesday, 2/12 – BMT Volunteer Party SV Nordic Festival and Boulder Mountain Tour Schedule of Events Saturday, January 25 Galena & the Trails Winter Benefit 5:30 p.m. Limelight Room, Sun Valley Inn The Galena and Trails Winter Benefit brings friends together to celebrate the importance of our local treasure. This year marks the 26th anniversary of the community’s efforts to “Save Galena Lodge” from being torn down. This year’s benefit ... Festivals Sporting Events Featured Kid Friendly Outdoors Skiing & Snowboarding Sporting Events Sun Valley Music Festival Winter Series Argyros Performing Arts Center For community members who live in Sun Valley year-round, and those who flock to the recreational opportunities the area provides in the winter, the Sun Valley Music Festival aims to provide an uncommonly rich concert experience. The Winter Concert Series will feature familiar and unfamiliar musical pieces in a refreshingly new environment, exploiting a wide range of acoustic possibilities and encouraging concertgoers to interact and engage with musicians in fresh ways. By up-ending the traditional structure of an orchestral performance, the concerts aim to reinvent what it means to enjoy music together. Stay tuned for details later in 2019. “Our goal is to create an event unlike any other our concertgoers have attended—a shared experience that breaks down the walls between musicians and audience, and re-defines the ways in which classical music can enhance our lives. It won’t feel familiar in every way… but it will be very Sun Valley.” —Alasdair Neale, Music Director I’m speechless. On the drive home, I was racking my brain for an adequate adjective for this evening’s performance and I’m at a total loss. Kudos to everyone for one of the most amazing nights of music in my life. —Patron, Winter Festival 2019 Arts & Culture Festivals Music Arts & Culture Featured Music Sun Valley Film Festival The Sun Valley Film Festival brings together over 4,500 festival goers for five unforgettable days where industry insiders and movie lovers alike gather to celebrate the art of filmmaking in a majestic setting. A combination of cutting-edge content and unprecedented access in Sun Valley’s cinematic setting makes SVFF a “can’t miss” in this year’s lineup of destination festivals. Exclusive Screenings From documentaries to narratives, shorts and episodic work, SVFF provides an insider look into the gems of the independent circuit. See films on the big screen—as they were meant to be experienced—in an intimate, authentic setting with fellow film lovers. Engage in exclusive Q&As with working artists and the breakout storytellers of tomorrow. Panels and Labs SVFF’s panels and labs are a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the industry with names you know and those that you will know. Opportunities include Coffee Talks, the Screenwriters Lab, Salon and more. These are your chance to hear war stories from the best and the brightest in visual storytelling. Parties and Gatherings Main Street comes alive with non-stop celebrations and gatherings throughout the five day event. Festival HQ is an immersive lounge where guests are invited to connect, grab ... Arts & Culture Festivals Film Arts & Culture Featured Film Camping & RV Ballet Sun Valley Mon, Jul 13th - Tue, Jul 14th ($25+) Get Directions Website Add to Calendar through Tue, Jul 14th Sun Valley Pavilion 300 Dollar Road, Sun Valley, Idaho, 83353, United States Ballet Sun Valley is a non-profit organization that was formed to bring the world’s most celebrated ballet companies and dancers to the Sun Valley area. Our mission is to ensure that international ballet becomes an annual addition to the rich cultural offerings of this special community. Ballet Sun Valley is proud to present Pacific Northwest Ballet, performing in the Sun Valley Pavilion, on July 13th and July 14th, 2020. Artistic Director Peter Boal has curated a unique and distinct program for each night of the Festival. Under the musical direction of Maestro Martin West, the festival orchestra will again provide beautiful live music. Maestro West is one of the foremost conductors of ballet and has been the conductor of all of the BSV Festivals. Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers in Benjamin Millepied’s Appassionata Photo credit: Angela Sterling all-day Sun Valley Nordic Festival, feat... @ Various Locations Sun Valley Nordic Festival, feat... @ Various Locations all-day Sun Valley Music Festival Winter... @ Argyros Performing Arts Center Sun Valley Music Festival Winter... @ Argyros Performing Arts Center all-day Sun Valley Film Festival @ Various Locations Sun Valley Film Festival @ Various Locations all-day Sun Valley Forum: An Impact Acce... @ Argyros Performing Arts Center Sun Valley Forum: An Impact Acce... @ Argyros Performing Arts Center The Sun Valley Institute announces the sixth annual Sun Valley Forum’s dates to be June 7-10, 2020. Details to come! all-day Sun Valley Wellness Festival & C... @ Various Locations Sun Valley Wellness Festival & C... @ Various Locations For over two decades the renowned Sun Valley Wellness Festival and Conference has inspired thousands of people to live healthier lives, and features some of the world’s foremost wellness speakers. The four-day conference features top wellness experts with more than 30 presentations and workshops addressing diverse aspects of body, mind, spirit, and environmental wellness. The festival also offers movement classes, a Wellness Experience Hall, music, and more. _______________________________________________________ The Sun Valley Wellness Festival & Conference (SVWFC), widely recognized as the longest-running wellness festival in the world, announces a move to downtown Ketchum for its 2020 event, taking place June 26-29. SVWFC will utilize the Argyros Performing Arts Center, the Limelight Hotel, Forest Service Park and Washington Avenue and envisions the use of these adjoining locations as the SVWFC Wellness Path. SVWFC Board President Andria Friesen said, “This exciting move is being made to take advantage of the extraordinary new facilities in Ketchum and to accommodate the space needs of the expanding event. While we immensely enjoyed our past two years at The Community School, change is continuing as our well-received programming and new June event date have created the need for a larger footprint. The Argyros Performing Art Center, the Limelight Hotel, ... About Sun Valley Trails & Snow About Visit Sun Valley Press Releases & Updates © Visit Sun Valley See What We’re Made Of Get the scoop on the latest Sun Valley stories, events, deals & more:	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434117
__label__wiki	0.718825	0.718825	Strike at Montréal airport: normal operations maintained 1 active alert Phone number to contact us. Chat At the click of the chat button, a new window will open. Language selection. Press Enter to choose the language of your choice. Your choice is Close the dialog box. Book Dropdown Menu: Press the enter key to show the sub-menu. Book your travel New car rental Activities / Interests Option Flex South South and United States Cruise & Stay packages Deals Dropdown Menu: Press the enter key to show the sub-menu. All last minute deals South Packages Vacation Intervention Promo 48-hour sales Packages under 899$ Early Booking Promotion Long Stay Vacations Cruise Month Florida Packages All theme parks All Europe tours Destinations Dropdown Menu: Press the enter key to show the sub-menu. (flights only) Experiences Dropdown Menu: Press the enter key to show the sub-menu. Sun Collections Distinction Collection Travel South differently House, Villa and Apartment rentals Urban and boutique hotels Bahia Principe - Happiness Sale More Hotel partners Travelling responsibly Eco-responsible hotel partners About Transat Air Transat voted Second on the Best Leisure Airline List MONTREAL, June 20, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Transat was recognized as the second best leisure airline in the world at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, making it the best leisure airline in North America for the sixth consecutive year. Every year, travellers from around the world take part in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey, a global benchmark of airline excellence, to determine the winners. "It is an honor to be recognized by this prestigious international award for the sixth consecutive year", says Jean-François Lemay, President-General Manager of Air Transat. "Thanks to our on-board experience, attentive crew and cabin comfort, passengers feel on vacation as soon as they board the aircraft. Families also benefit from special attentions, including priority check-in and boarding, as well as our Kids Club that keeps youngsters busy. Finally, our Option Plus and Club Class upgrades, as well as our recently enhanced meal offer with the Chef's Menu by Daniel Vézina, help get the vacation started even before reaching the destination." The World Airline Awards began in 1999 when Skytrax launched its first global, airline passenger satisfaction survey. The survey collects travellers' opinions on 320 airlines over a 10-month period and in 105 countries. Airlines are ranked according to nearly 50 criteria, from check-in and boarding to staff service and seat comfort. This year's survey polled more than 19 million passengers worldwide. In addition to its international win, Air Transat was recently voted Best Charter Airline at the 18th annual Agents' Choice Awards, conducted by Canadian Travel Press, Travel Courier and TravelPress.com, for the tenth consecutive year. Air Transat was recently ranked 5th in the AirHelp world airlines ranking. To learn more about the World Airline Awards, visit www.worldairlineawards.com. Air Transat is Canada's number one holiday travel airline in the Canadian and transatlantic markets. Every year, it carries nearly 4.5 million passengers to approximately 60 destinations in 25 countries. Based in Montreal, the company employs more than 2,500 people and operates a fleet of Boeing narrow-body and Airbus wide-body jets. In 2016, Air Transat was named Best North American Leisure Airline for the fifth consecutive year by Skytrax. In recent years, the carrier has earned multiple distinctions for its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. Since 2011, it has consistently been ranked number one in North America for energy efficiency, and in the Top 20 worldwide, by the Atmosfair Airline Index. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., a leading integrated international tourism company active in air transportation, accommodation, travel packaging and distribution. Transat was awarded Travelife Partner status in 2016 in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development. The vacation travel companion par excellence, Transat celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2017. SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc. Marie-Annick Lalande, Public Relations and Marketing Advisor, Transat Tours Canada, 514-987-1616, ext. 4076 Initiatives for a better world Corporate Responsibility › Conditions of use of the site Choosing Transat Our Sun Collections Travelife Certification Flight schedules (arrivals & departures) Print your e-tickets Electronic brochures Agent Direct access Prices for packages are per person, based on double occupancy. I accept Click here to close this window.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434118
__label__cc	0.586959	0.413041	With Schools and Systems BCRC Partnership CORE Districts Partnerships NewSchools Invent Partnership The exSEL Network With Youth Serving Organizations With Policymakers SEL Assessment The exSEL NetworkEmily Perrier2019-09-23T16:25:23-04:00 The exSEL Network is a group of Massachusetts school districts committed to working together to expand SEL in schools. Five statewide associations representing superintendents, School Committees, elementary and secondary principals, and educational collaboratives have come together to raise public awareness and promote reforms designed to address all of Massachusetts students’ needs, including their mental health and wellness. Too often, educators tend to tackle problems in isolation, whether in an individual classroom, school, or district. But when we come together to address challenges, we multiply our ideas, expertise, resources, and knowledge. The members of the exSEL network share a common goal of expanding social-emotional learning in schools. Participants in the network are able to learn from a wide range of experiences from districts across the state, gaining insight into key successes and lesson learned when implementing SEL strategies in diverse contexts, for different types of students, and working with a wide range of available resources. By working together, you’ll learn from a wide range of experiences from districts across the state. You will gain insight into key successes and lessons learned when implementing SEL strategies in diverse contexts, for different types of students and working with a wide range of available resources. Meet the Districts The exSEL Network launched in 2017 with nine school districts and grew to 19 in 2018. In 2019-2020, we are hosting multiple cohorts, including a learning group for districts new to the exSEL Network and a launching group for returning teams. The districts in the Learning Network will be focused on four year-long outcomes: Increase knowledge of social-emotional competencies, strategies, and resources, and apply new knowledge to practice. Understand the current state of SEL in each district. Build district capacity to improve social-emotional learning by building a team, strengthening communications, and creating actionable plans. Map priorities and identify areas of focus for future years. Network members from prior years are listed below: Statewide Social-Emotional Learning Summit This spring, the exSEL Network will gather together with educators from across the state to further our learning and share what the exSEL Network has collectively accomplished throughout the year. The second annual SEL Summit will include skill-building workshops and the opportunity to highlight the great work that the exSEL districts have done to prioritize and integrate social-emotional learning in their communities. More details on the date, time, and location will be announced in the coming months. Be sure you are subscribed to our mailing list (if you aren’t you can subscribe here) or continue checking back here or on our Twitter page (@Transforming_Ed) for more information! MESH – Mindsets, Essential Skills, and Habits – refers to the subset of intrapersonal and interpersonal mindsets and competencies that have shown to be: meaningful, measurable and malleable. Examples of MESH include self-management, growth mindset, and social competence. As educators focus on student #SEL, research points to the importance of teachers to that work. This @FutureEdGU po… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets can set students up for academic and life success. 11/6 join us a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Building and sustaining strong, positive #relationships between and among students, teachers, & leaders is fundamen… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 115 Broad St, 4th Floor © Copyright Transforming Education All content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest information on whole-child development. Your Role Type: Teacher School/District Administrator Policymaker Researcher/Academia School support organization Funder Parent/Community Member Non-Profit Other	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434119
__label__cc	0.726884	0.273116	Jamie XX Coachella Pre-Party Catch Ben UFO, Four Tet, Francis & The Lights, Jamie xx, Kamaiyah, Sampha and Special Guest PNL at Young Turks in Palm Springs on April 13 How to win a pair of free tickets: Simply go to the event’s Facebook page and RSVP as “going” and share the event to your newsfeed. Then, send me a direct message on Instagram saying “Young Turks ticket raffle.” Once you have done those two things, your name will be entered into the raffle. On Tuesday April 11th, I will randomly select the winner of the two tickets. I’ll be posting the drawing on my Instagram story so you can see that it is truly random! The winner will receive electronic tickets for the event directly from Goldenvoice. simply RSVP “going” and share the event to your news feed, then send me a DM to be entered into the raffle. On April 13, 2017 Young Turks will descend on Palm Springs for a night of music at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Presented in conjunction with FYF & Goldenvoice, the night will be a diverse range of sets from Young Turks friends and family including Jamie xx, Ben UFO, Sampha, Four Tet, Francis & The Lights, Kamaiyah and special guest PNL. To amass excitement for the party and provide some music for your voyage to the desert Jamie xx has dropped a 6-hour mix (taken from his Night + Day Brixton set for Reprezent radio) today that you can listen to here. Stream Jamie xx’s Night + Day Brixton mix HERE In 2016 Young Turks & FYF presented Jamie xx in Pioneertown at Pappy & Harriets in the lead up to Jamie xx’s debut performance at Coachella. This year Young Turks artists The xx and Sampha will perform at Coachella, with The xx headlining on the Fridays and Sampha playing earlier that same day. Young Turks is a record label, among other things, based out of London. Releasing records from The xx, Jamie xx, Sampha, FKA twigs, NoLife, Amnesia Scanner, Koreless and more. FYF & Goldenvoice present Young Turks in Palm Springs Pre-sale tickets available here $40 at the door night of show RSVP to the event on Facebook Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram coacehlla, parties More from Evan Thomas 20 important tips and tricks for Coachella 2013 – Part 1 Tis the season. It’s almost time for the 2013 Coachella Valley Music... Previous articleBase Camp “Pop-Up” RV & Tent Camping Resort Returns to Coachella & Stagecoach Next article#REVOLVEFestival and Billboard lineup announced!	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434121
__label__cc	0.532763	0.467237	TravelOnline Holidays 5 Places to Love on Oahu 6th Sep 2017 Pacific Holiday Destinations If you grew up watching Brady Bunch repeats and old-fashioned Elvis Presley films, you probably think Hawaii’s main island of Oahu is still a haze of hibiscus shirts and happy hang loose vibes. While this is still true to a degree, Honolulu has grown into a cosmopolitan and modern city with much more to explore than just its cocktail menus. While Waikiki Beach is most certainly beautiful, it doesn’t provide the full Hawaii experience. Once you’ve spent some time shopping, swimming and sampling the local cuisine, there’s some must-do experiences that offer an insight into a more authentic Hawaii and trust us, there’s lots to love. 1. The North Shore Just over an hour’s drive from downtown Honolulu, Oahu’s North Shore is the version of Hawaii you were expecting. A barefoot paradise that hugs the Pacific coastline, the North Shore is where life really slows down and you begin to appreciate island life. Sure, there’s stuff to do if you want to (the Polynesian Cultural Centre is certainly worth a look) but this beachside hamlet is really best for doing not much at all. Offering some of Hawaii’s most famous surf beaches you can spend lazy days in the crystal clear waters of Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay and Banzai Pipeline. The little town of Haleiwa is a relaxed spot by the beach where locals sit and chat on deckchairs outside surf shops. The main street is lined with delicious food trucks offering everything from traditional Hawaiian fare to more modern morsels. While here you simply cannot pass up the opportunity to try local delicacies Giovanni’s garlic butter shrimp and Matsumoto Shave Ice. 2. Waimea Valley While up on the North Shore, take a detour off the Kamehameha Highway for a natural attraction that also offers history, wildlife and culture. Awarded to the local people (known as Kahuna Nui) in 1090 by Oahu’s then ruler, the land of Waimea Valley was cared for and lived off by high priest descendants until 1886. These days, the lush green 758 hectares that make up the valley promise untold treasures to discover. Littered with wildlife and sacred sites, the Valley offers postcard-perfect views and plenty to explore. For a small fee you can enter the natural park and take the leisurely walk up to stunning Waihi Waterfall for a swim. Along the way you’ll find huge botanical gardens with more than 5000 varieties of tropical and sub-tropical flora as well as native fish, endangered birds and approximately 78 archaeological sites including fishponds, agricultural terraces, houses and shrines. Known as Kauhale, this incredible nature attraction is considered an ancient Hawaiian living site. 3. Byodo-In Temple Long before Hawaii and Japan were linked by the infamous events of Pearl Harbor, Japanese immigrants had been living and working in Hawaii for more than 70 years. Located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in the shadow of the Ko’olau Mountains, Byodo-In Temple is an intricate, non-denominational Buddhist temple that is a more modest replica of the original 950-year old temple located in Uji, Japan. Dedicated in 1968, the temple marked the 100 year anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. Aside from the sheer beauty of the temple’s exterior, inside visitors will also find the gigantic gold Amida Buddha stature, the largest of its kind outside of Japan. The temple grounds also feature a Bell House, complete with 3 tonne brass bell cast in Osaka in cooperation with the Japanese government and a Meditation Pavilion for endless tranquillity. The Shinji-ike reflection pond is filled with countless koi which you can feed with food available from the gift shop. If you’re lucky, you might also catch one of the resident peacocks strutting their stuff and showing off their colourful plumes. 4. Doris Duke’s Shangri La A rich collection of Indian and Middle Eastern art and antiques is not something you’d expect to find in Honolulu, however it’s this pleasant surprise that makes heiress Doris Duke’s former home and museum such a unique delight. Known as Shangri La, this incredible home is perched on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the shade of Diamond Head and houses a world-class collection of treasure. Having inherited millions from her father’s death in 1925, Doris set off on her honeymoon around the world at 23 and become more enamoured with Islamic art and architecture than she did her husband. While the marriage didn’t last, her love for these antiquities did, as did her love for Hawaii – the last stop on her honeymoon and her new home towards the end of the 1930s. First discovered in the palaces of Moghul India, Doris collected everything from marble screens from India to 900 Iznik tiles, a hand-painted ancient Iranian prayer nook from a Vermin mosque and even entire carved and painted rooms imported from Syria. The house is now a museum which can only be accessed as part of an intimate tour which begins at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Volunteers guide you through the lush gardens and house where this is no ‘free time’ to explore and absolutely no touching. This limited access to an incredible art collection is a privileged experience and an insight into another world. It’s something truly special. Just a few minutes away from the longboards and legendary hotels of Waikiki is a wave of activity in Chinatown. Beginning on Maunakea Street, you’ll find gorgeous fresh flower headdresses and leis handwoven from exquisite orchids, fragrant frangipani and tuber rose. You’ll also find the old school Maunakea food market where the rich ethnic diversity of Hawaii is on display. Chinese, Filipino, Korean and Vietnamese vendors trade alongside each other selling everything from Chinese greens and fresh-off-the-boat fish to blue swimmer crabs and neon-pink salted duck eggs. The area is still a little edgy thanks to some of the trendiest new restaurants in the city opening up shop. Channelling Hawaii’s emerging organic local farm-to-table food ethos, these interesting eateries serve up a variety of unique fusion food. When your belly is full, lighten off your wallet at the old Hawaii tchotchkes and collectibles at the funky Tin Can Mailman or pop into Roberta Oaks for a modern take on aloha wear. Shopped off some of that food coma? Shoot across the road to Madre Chocolate for a spot of dessert and sample their incredible bean-to-bar chocolates. CEO Series Travel Stats & Surveys How To Maximise Your 2019 Holiday Leave 5 Simple Steps To Beat Jet Lag The CEO Series: Top 5 Fiji Resorts For Families How Australians Justify Their Holidays Top Holiday Packages: Bali $979 Fiji $1399 Gold Coast $635 Hawaii $1489 Phuket $1395 QLD Islands $585 Thailand $1395 Vanuatu $1299 Vanuatu Holidays Exotic Cook Islands More Holiday Destinations	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434123
__label__cc	0.602933	0.397067	Webinar: Bug Bounties and How They Help Watch now Webinar: Container Security that Matches the Speed of DevOps Save your spot Home Office Online Store 1-888-762-8736 (M-F 8am - 5pm CST) Centralized Visibility & Cyber Risk Index 1-888-762-8736 (M-F 8-5 CST) BEC Scammers Steal US$1.75 Million From an Ohio Church Business email compromise (BEC) continues to be a bane to many organizations, with the FBI reporting that the scam cost businesses US$1.2 billion in 2018 alone. And it seems that BEC threat actors are expanding from their traditional enterprise victims toward nonprofit and religious organizations, with a recent incident involving a church. On April 17, the Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio, discovered that it had been the victim of a BEC attack. The church found out about the attack shortly after it was contacted by Marous Brothers Construction, one of its contractors, regarding its unpaid bills for its repair and restoration project. The bills added up to US$1.75 million — the same amount stolen by the perpetrators of the BEC attack. According to the FBI, Saint Ambrose was made to believe that Marous Brothers had changed its bank account. The attackers managed to gain access to two employee email accounts. These accounts were then used to trick other members of the organization into wiring the payments into a bank account owned by the cybercriminals. Unbeknown to the parish, it had been sending its payments to a fraudulent bank account. Since the intended recipient — Marous Brothers — had not been getting the payments, the construction firm had to inquire as to why the church had been in arrears. In a letter sent to parishioners, Saint Ambrose said that only the email accounts were compromised, with other data such as the church’s financial information and the parishioner database remaining safe. The letter also mentioned that the church would be reviewing its security strategy and systems to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. BEC beyond businesses BEC, aka email account compromise or EAC, is a highly prevalent scheme used by crooks to quickly make bank. Most times, it does not require much technical skill, given its focus on tricking people into wiring money meant for trusted entities to bank accounts controlled by the criminals. Despite its name, though, BEC is not limited to businesses only — organizations of all forms and sizes present lucrative targets to scammers as long as money is involved. The problem is exacerbated when considering that many of these organizations implement only the bare minimum of security in their networks and systems. And the reality is that it is often up to the members of the organizations to ensure that their environments are as secure as possible. Here are some best practices to help prevent BEC attacks: Employees should always verify any fund transfer request, preferably by checking with the relevant person whether they actually did send the request. Emails should always be examined closely to check for any red flags. While many BEC threat actors try to make their messages as convincing as possible, there are often telltale signs that an email is not legitimate. Organizations should encourage their members to use stronger credentials and authentication methods for their online accounts. For example, using two-factor authentication (2FA) when available provides an additional layer of security beyond that of simple passwords. Aside from these practical steps, enterprises can benefit from advanced technologies that can keep fraudsters from stealing substantial amounts of money from email-based attacks. Trend Micro’s email security products use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to defend against BEC. This anti-BEC technology combines the knowledge of a security expert with a self-learning mathematical model to identify fake emails by looking at both behavioral factors and the intention of an email. Trend Micro’s solutions also employ Writing Style DNA technology, which uses AI to properly and securely recognize the DNA of a user’s writing style based on past written emails to compare it with suspected fake emails. The Writing Style DNA is used by Cloud App Security™ and ScanMail™ Suite for Microsoft® Exchange™ solutions to cross-match a suspicious email’s writing style to the supposed sender’s using 7,000 writing characteristics as patterns, which include capitalization of words, usual sentence length, and the use of punctuation marks. Posted in Cybercrime & Digital Threats, Business Email Compromise BEC Scam Successfully Steals US$1 Million Using Look-alike Domains BEC Scam Costing Almost US$11 Million Leads to FBI Arrest of Nigerian Businessman Sodinokibi Ransomware Increases Yearend Activity, Targets Airport and Other Businesses Schneider Electric Patches Vulnerabilities in its EcoStruxure SCADA Software and Modicon PLCs	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434125
__label__cc	0.671122	0.328878	Trentemøller Try A Little - OUT NOW! The next song from Trentemøller's upcoming album is out now: Try A Little - featuring vocals by JennyLee of Warpaint! The intro drum loop signals something is about to happen. A tense anticipation sinks in, not unlike the feeling one gets taxiing down a runway. Something is warbling in the background. A synth? A voice? It echoes a pent up whimper, finally being released, after interminable periods of overarching confusion, exhaustion, and even dread have taken a person to the breaking point. A long overdue conversation is finally about to happen. It’s not difficult to connect, personally, to many of Trentemøller’s songs. We see ourselves in the partner who has compromised themselves in a relationship, or the person burdened with unrequited love, who holds out hope for something that will never be, but “Try A Little” might just be the most relatable yet. "This song is very dear to me. It speaks the truth regarding some of the hardest things to admit to oneself. It was an act of vulnerability. As per usual, it was a stream of conscious exercise, this time directed towards myself and the relationships most present in my life, asking for help, presence. You know... 'show up! Please!’” Anders’ music and Jenny’s lyrics pair so well it will come as no surprise they have worked together in the past. It only made sense to give it another go for this release, even though the album it will be included on, Obverse, was intended to be entirely instrumental. "It’s always been extremely challenging coming up with vocals to music that is not my own, yet for some reason it happens pretty effortlessly every time with Anders, whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with again." The music video for ‚Try A Little‘ has been produced by experimental filmmaker and Emmy nominated animator Thomas McMahan and features singer jennylee. Try A Little 30.08.2019 on In My Room 01. Try A Little (Radio Edit) 02. Try A Little 03. In The Garden Artwork by Jesse Draxler buy + stream Time to wake up 'Sleeper' A song for Stærk&Christensen ... On a cold christmas night Harbour Boat Trips Vol. 02 - Copenhagen out now! Never Coming Back (Trentemøller Remix) 'Transformer Man' by Neil Young "The Last Resort" on triple vinyl! "Julekalender 2017"	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434126
__label__wiki	0.630062	0.630062	Jill Duggar Chopped Off 14 Inches of Her Hair to Donate: 'It Felt So Much Lighter Right Away' Aurelie Corinthios People December 20, 2019 New year, new ‘do. On Friday, Jill (Duggar) Dillard revealed that she chopped off a significant amount of hair — two or three years’ worth, by her estimation — in a post on her family website. “I usually get my hair trimmed twice a year and it was getting to be that time of year,” she said. “I wanted to get a little more cut off than I did last time and wanted to get it done soon because it was getting to be hard to manage, the boys were getting tangled in it, I was sitting on it and the weight was contributing to headaches!” “I got to thinking about it and got excited thinking that if I got a little bit more taken off then I’d have enough to donate to an organization that makes free wigs for people who have lost their hair,” she continued. Jill (Duggar) Dillard pre-haircut \| Jill Dillard/Instagram RELATED: ‘New Bangs!’ Joy-Anna Duggar Debuts a Fresh Fall ‘Do — and Her Sisters Love It Jill, 28, ended up getting about 14 inches cut off, “plus whatever was cut off additionally after that to even things up and add some layers,” seeing as most organizations require 8-12 inches. “I love it and it felt so much lighter right away!” she said. “It had gotten so hard to manage that I was wearing it up most of the time, so I’m looking forward to being able to wear it down more now!” “Fun fact: I didn’t have my hair trimmed for the first time until I was about 14 years old and haven’t had more than 4-6 inches taken off until this week,” she added. RELATED: Jill Duggar Promotes Book of ‘Bedroom Games and Sexy Activities’ to Spice Up Your Sex Life Continuing, the Counting On star said she wants to donate her hair “to be used in a wig for kids or people who have lost their hair, like my mother-in-law when she was battling cancer over five years ago,” and asked her fans for their recommendations. Alongside several photos of her haircut, Jill also posted a nine-minute YouTube video documenting the process from start to finish — including the moment she got home and showed husband Derick Dillard, who said she looked “cute.” Meanwhile, Jill’s sister Jessa (Duggar) Seewald is still rocking the long hair and recently posted a video tutorial demonstrating how she styles her signature curls. 916CHARLES: Funny, Trump seems to have forgotten what Kim called him, Oh yes, Trump and Kim have a great love relationship. Prince Harry Tears Up as He Remembers Keeping Meghan Markle's Pregnancy a Secret Kylie Jenner Declares 'Don't Talk to Me or My Daughter Again' in Cryptic Instagram Post Entertainment Tonight Videos Meghan Markle Drives to Canadian Airport to Pick Up Friend from L.A. Amid Royal Exit Robert Downey Jr. explains why he picked 'Dolittle' for his first non-Marvel movie in 6 years	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434131
__label__wiki	0.903244	0.903244	Vector Smart Object2 About Yahsat Look Angle Calculator Yahlive Viewership Surges To Over 10 Million Households In North Africa Yahlive, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite joint venture between the world-leading satellite operator SES and UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat, today announced that more than 10 million households across Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco have their dishes pointed to Yahlive at 52.5° East, according to SES's annual market research, Satellite Monitor. The survey concluded that Yahlive now serves 64% of households in Algeria, 51% of households in Tunisia, and 58% of households in Morocco. Yahlive is an affiliate of SES that serves 13 million satellite TV homes in the Middle East and North Africa. Globally, SES reaches 351 million TV homes and serves more than 1 billion viewers worldwide. SES reaches 32 million homes in Asia-Pacific, 30 million homes in Africa, 75 million homes in North America, 167 million homes in Europe, and 33 million homes in Latin America. Yahlive launched its first bouquet of Arabian Maghreb channels in November 2015, with 43 Algerian channels. Today, Yahlive serves this community with more than 160 Arabic and French channels, of which 115 are only available on Yahlive. The consistent focus on sports, movies and news, combined with exceptional image quality offered by Yahsat’s Al Yah 1 satellite, makes Yahlive a compelling proposition for its customers and viewers. Commenting on the recent numbers, Ammar Baranbo, Chief Operating Officer, Yahlive, said: “Since inception, the Arabian Maghreb has been a key focus for us. We are thrilled to see our commitment to delivering a comprehensive range of premium television content, catered to the tastes of culturally diverse audiences and communities, gaining such widespread acceptance. Our efforts will continue to increase the available number of local and international premium TV channels year after year,” he added. Yahlive will present a detailed report of this survey at ASBU’s Radio & TV Festival on 26th April 2018, in the City of Culture, Tunis. Get all the latest news direct from Yahsat © 2018. Al Yah Satellite Communication Company PJSC (Yahsat), A Mubadala Company. YahClick	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434132
__label__cc	0.566954	0.433046	New Faces at YA! We are proud to announce that we have a few new faces here at Young Audiences! Lindsay Roberts, Arts Education Fellow As YA’s new Arts Education fellow, Lindsay will lead YA’s Adopt-A-School Initiative. Lindsay is also an international teaching artist and educational consultant. Her previous experience includes curriculum development, program planning, and evaluation. She has designed and implemented creative curriculum in Ghana, Germany, India, China, and across the United States. Additionally, Lindsay is an award-nominated actress. She holds a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University. “Young Audiences offers a wonderful opportunity to provide access to premier arts education programming to students in the region that I call home. My career in the arts has always held quality arts education and access to it as a cornerstone and I am so thrilled to be a part of an pioneering organization with the scaling potential to have maximum reach in the region. I hope to help our school partners create thoughtful and impactful creative experiences for their students that produce both measurable and immeasurable outcomes in their lives.” – Lindsay Roberts Connect with Lindsay at [email protected] Joseph Ahmed, Artist Services Fellow Our new Artist Services Fellow is Joseph Ahmed. Apart from his work at YA, he is a teaching artist and performer throughout the tri-state area. He is a member of Barrymore-winning Philadelphia theater company Tribe of Fools, and has performed throughout the region as a member of YA roster artist Almanac Dance Circus Theatre. In 2018 he completed the Teacher’s College Teaching Artist Certification program at Columbia University, and continues his teaching work through the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts and Enchantment Theatre Company. He holds a BFA in Theater Arts from Boston University. “I’ve been a teacher of theater and circus for years, and YA gave me the opportunity to put that experience to work serving a broad array of students. Through working with YA it quickly became clear to me that YA is a focused and resourceful organization with a ton of commitment to both the schools and teaching artists. It’s very satisfying to get to work for an organization so dedicated to pursuing true excellence in educational programming. My main goal at YA this year is to reach out to new artists who might be interested in joining our roster. I find this an exciting job because I have personally benefitted from the services YA provides and the opportunities it gives teaching artists to do their work. I hope to create stronger feedback loops between existing roster artists and YA, while also bringing in new artists and artforms to continue to expand our roster to be able to serve every child in our area.” – Joseph Ahmed Connect with Joe at [email protected] Samantha Clarke, Artists in Education Administrator Samantha has joined the YA team as the new AIE Program Administrator. She is a writer, director, and theatre educator. She attended Philadelphia’s University of the Arts (BFA Acting) and London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (MA Text and Performance). Samantha has had the pleasure of working in and around the Greater Philadelphia and Southeastern PA areas as an actor, director, playwright, and non-profit administrator. Samantha has worked as a teaching artist with the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre and the Yocum Institute for Arts Education, and has recently served as an adjunct professor and theatre director at Pennsylvania State University (Berks) and Montgomery County Community College. ” YA combines my passions into a mission statement: providing young people with access to the arts through the thoughtful and innovative expertise of teaching artists. When I watched the videos tied to AIE and saw the experience the students were having under the instruction of these incredible teaching artists, I knew I had to be involved! My goal is to provide a strong, consistent voice to both the AIE grant and the new APLI program, while finding new partnerships to help each program grow. In addition, I aspire to providing every student we reach a quality arts experience, whether that’s through the professional development of their teachers (APLI) or by working with a resident teaching artist in a long-term residency (AIE).” – Samantha Clarke Connect with Samantha at [email protected] Please help us give our new staff members a warm welcome as they help YA continue to strive to reach every child every year with quality arts experiences. Dazzle Meet & Greet on 1/31 – Meet our Dance Stars! Our Courageous Dazzle Dancers UNMASKED…. YA Mourns the Passing of Arts Advocate and Former YA Trustee Barbara Broad We mourn the passing of Barbara Broad, who served.. Arts United – YA Launches New Diversity Equity, Inclusion, and Access Initiative The Art of Gratitude 💛 ON THIS DAY OF THANKS WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR….. Redefining Success – Arts Impact Victories They come in all shapes and sizes. They are..	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434133
__label__cc	0.658421	0.341579	Tokopah Falls Sequoia National Park / Lodgepole, California, USA North America >> USA >> California >> Southern and Central Sierras >> Fresno County, Lodgepole, Sequoia National Park About Tokopah Falls Hiking Distance: 3.4 miles round trip Tokopah Falls (also known as Tokopah Valley Falls) probably has the tallest cumulative drop of the known and accessible waterfalls that we’re aware of in Sequoia National Park. It’s said to drop some 1,200ft at the head of Tokopah Valley, but the cascade twists and turns as it tumbles its way down into the Marble Fork Kaweah River. So we never really got to see the whole height of the falls in one shot (if it is indeed as tall as stated). Watching over the whole scene is the so-called Watchtower – a pointy rock formation across the river on Tokopah Valley. It prominently showed itself starting at roughly the half-way point of the roughly 3.4-mile round trip out-and-back trail. Tokopah Falls surrounded by still lots of snow We’ve read that this waterfall can dry up in late Summer though each time we’ve come here, it was during Spring. And for some strange reason, both of those times had enough snow to make the waterfall appear to blend in with the rest of the scenery. I also had read that it was possible to look down upon this cascade from a different, more strenuous trail to the Watchtower, which leaves from Wolverton. However, that was something we haven’t tried so we can’t say more on that. Hiking to Tokopah Falls From the trailhead (see directions below), we had to cross a sturdy bridge over the Marble Fork Kaweah River, and then continue on the trail immediately to our right just after the bridge. A sign indicating “Tokopah Valley Trail” helped us identify where to continue. Next, the trail pretty much meandered in parallel with most of the river. The hike felt like it was mostly flat as the elevation gained here wasn’t noticeable. Looking through the trees at one of the ephemeral waterfalls across the river beneath the Watchtower We were always within earshot of the rushing river (which rushes turbulently in the Spring), and in some stretches, we were close enough to even see the river do its thing snaking through the valley. About half-way into the hike, we started to notice the Watchtower across the river from various angles, which changed as we continued along the trail. We also noticed some tall but temporary waterfalls as well, which helped to keep our interest in the scenery throughout the hike. Moreover, we happened to see some deer on our latest hike in 2005, which further assured us that this part of the ecosystem was more or less healthy and minimally disturbed by man. Eventually after about 1.5 miles into the hike (after crossing over a pair of creeks), the trail started to get rougher as we traversed a large boulder field and gained most of the overall 500ft elevation change. It was also during this stretch that we started to get a clean view of Tokopah Falls and its twisting cascade coming down the head of the U-shaped Tokopah Valley. As we got closer to the end of the trail, less of the uppermost tiers of the waterfall was seen, but then we got to examine more closely the tumbling cascade’s main “bulbs” (since that was how some of the cascade appeared to us). We opted not to do any more scrambling beyond trail’s end to go any higher or much lower as the scrambling became trickier and a bit more treacherous with the presence of the fast-moving water. We saw this trio of deer while hiking along the Tokopah Valley Trail Also from the very end of the trail, we were able to look downstream where we could see the pointy peak of the Watchtower as well as some surprise ephemeral waterfalls plunging right across from Tokopah Falls as well as beneath the base of the Watchtower. For the purposes of photography, it seemed like this was an ideal afternoon waterfall as the falls faced west. Anyways, this was our turnaround point, and the rest of the hike back was pretty smooth sailing as it was pretty much all downhill. Tokopah Falls is in Sequoia National Park. For information or inquiries about this area as well as current conditions, visit the NPS website. To get to the trailhead, you first have to get to the Lodgepole Campground turnoff, which sits right at the heart of the vehicle-accessible part of Sequoia National Park (about 75-90 minutes north of Three Rivers at the south entrance of the park). Three Rivers is a little over a half-hour drive east of Visalia. Visalia is 3 hours drive north of Los Angeles. Lodgepole is also about 2 hours drive east of Fresno (which itself is 3.5 hours drive north of Los Angeles). Turn into the campground and its large car park and drive about 3/4-mile to the Log Bridge part of Lodgepole Camp. There’s a bridge traversing the Marble Fork Kaweah River here, and the trail starts immediately to the right just after crossing the bridge. Left to right sweep of the falls under some threatening skies, also showing the Watchtower Kings Canyon and Sequoia Memorial Day Weekend Itinerary – May 27, 2005 to May 30, 2005 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Itinerary – April 26, 2002 to April 28, 2002 Looking towards the Watchtower and a trio of ephemeral waterfalls from the end of the Tokopah Falls trail Just to the south of Lodgepole was the short climb up to the top of Moro Rock for 360 degree views Also the south of Lodgepole was the Giant Forest, which featured the General Sherman Tree – the largest one in Sequoia National Park To the west of Lodgepole was the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park. This included a nice walk through the grove letting us get a real sense of just how big sequoia trees really are Tagged with: sequoia, lodgepole, fresno county, visalia, tulare, generals, three rivers, sierra, california, waterfall, kaweah river, national park Correction on Tokopah Falls September 16, 2009 11:34 pm by William H. Haas - The article about Tokopah Falls is incorrect. Tokopah is not on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River as stated in the article. Instead, Tokopah Falls is on the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. The article needs to be corrected. ...Read More	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434136
__label__wiki	0.522339	0.522339	Mystic Falls Yellowstone National Park / Old Faithful, Wyoming, USA North America >> USA >> Wyoming >> Old Faithful, Teton County, Yellowstone National Park About Mystic Falls Difficulty: 2.5 Hiking Distance: 2.4 miles round trip (direct to falls); 4.1 miles loop (incl Biscuit Basin Overlook and top of falls) Suggested Time: 90 minutes (direct to falls); 2.5 hours (entire loop) Mystic Falls (not to be confused with the name of the town in the Vampire Diaries TV show) was a very attractive multi-tiered cascading waterfall said to tumble with a cumulative height of about 70ft on the Little Firehole River. What was striking about this impressive waterfall was that there was noticeable steam rising from near its top, which turned out to be geothermal activity resulting in hot springs feeding the waterfall. I had to believe that if someone came up with a list of largest geothermal waterfalls in the world, this waterfall would most certainly make that list. Indeed, it was said that back in the 1930s, visitors would swim at the base of the falls to enjoy its heated waters (that would explain why we noticed a trail that led down there when we first visited in June 2004). The Little Firehole River would eventually feed the Firehole River just past the Biscuit Basin – a popular geyser basin not far from Old Faithful. So if you put that combination of hot springs and sizable waterfall together, this felt like an excursion unlike many other places in the world! The Biscuit Basin and Mystic Falls Trail to the Start of the Loop Overall, it was a short 2.4-mile out-and-back hike on a fairly easy trail that meandered through a forest recovering nicely from the 1988 wildfires. It began at the Biscuit Basin parking lot then crossed a bridge over the Firehole River before entering the boardwalks meandering within the Biscuit Basin itself. Colorful springs flanked the boardwalks in the Biscuit Basin The basin featured attractive thermal features like the abyss of the Sapphire Pool and spasming Jewel Geyser. The waterfall trail then continued at the end of the boardwalks at the far end of the basin (about 0.4 miles from the parking lot). From there, a dirt trail meandered among a wooded area full of lodgepole pines that had now grown tall enough to obscure the neighboring hillsides once again. These trees were noticeably bare or fallen over when we first hiked it in June 2004 as a result of the 1988 wildfires. After climbing a short hill, where the scenery briefly opened up before it meandered back into the forest, we then reached a signposted trail junction roughly 0.3 miles later (or about 3/4-mile from the parking lot). While both paths would eventually lead to Mystic Falls (as it was a loop trail), the easiest and more straightforward path was on the left. This was where the Mystic Falls Trail briefly opened up after climbing up to this hill before re-entering the forest and eventually reaching the trail junctions The path on the right was actually a pretty tough steeply climbing trail over several switchbacks eventually leading to an overlook of the Biscuit Basin. The next section provides a trail description of the optional longer loop trail to the Biscuit Basin Overlook and beyond. The section after that continues on the Mystic Falls Trail as if we skipped this longer detour. Optional Detour to Biscuit Basin Overlook The path on the right started off innocently enough amidst the lodgepole pines, but it didn’t take long before the trail started ascending switchbacks in earnest. I had lost count of the number of switchbacks in this stretch of trail. But given that the aforementioned Biscuit Basin Overlook sat at the top of the neighboring plateau, it was no wonder why I found these switchbacks to be pretty tiring. One of many steep switchbacks on the longer loop detour leading up to the Biscuit Basin Overlook Afterwards the trail followed along the plateau back towards the Fairy Creek Trail. That meant that I could have combined Mystic Falls with Fairy Falls as part of an even longer loop. Anyways, continuing past this junction with the Fairy Creek Trail, the Mystic Falls Trail then descended steeply to the Mystic Falls itself. This path from the top included an unsanctioned spur trail that descended rather steeply to the waterfall’s top. That was where I was able to look carefully over the brink of the falls. The spur also revealed some thermal springs feeding the Little Firehole River. The Biscuit Basin Overlook after working up a sweat to get up here The longer loop trail added an additional 1.7 miles to the overall hike making this route 4.1 miles round trip instead of just 2.4 miles round trip. Heading Straight to Mystic Falls Assuming we didn’t take the longer detour to the Biscuit Basin Overlook, we continued left of the fork at the bottom of the loop. This trail meandered some more towards another trail junction just a few paces later. At this junction, we kept right (the trail on the left went to Summit Lake) then the forest started to thin out as the trail followed along the Little Firehole River. After rounding a bend to the right roughly 0.4 miles from the trail junctions, Mystic Falls started coming into view. The views would continue to improve the closer we’d get to the falls. Approaching Mystic Falls from the shorter main trail However, it wouldn’t be until the trail climbed high enough past a thin seasonal waterfall before reaching a switchback with a signpost and the attractive view of the waterfall that you see pictured at the top of this page. This was about 0.6 miles from the trail junctions or 1.2 miles from the Biscuit Basin Parking Lot. An Old Spur Trail and Closing The Loop During that final quarter-mile stretch of the trail, I swore that the park service must have re-routed the trail at some point because I recalled in our first visit in 2004 that it used to switchback somewhere downstream of the seasonal waterfall. And near one of those switchbacks we inadvertently took a spur trail that we used to think led closer to the falls except it turned out to disappear into the Little Firehole River as a scramble that probably eventually led up to the base of the waterfall. It was only when we realized that the views of the waterfall weren’t that great from down there that we backtracked and found the correct trail. Back on our first visit in June 2004, we inadvertently took a path along the Little Firehole River and ended up with this partial view of Mystic Falls. That was when we realized the official trail climbed higher than where we somehow deviated from it Anyways, in hindsight, that must have been the historical trail and scramble that visitors from the past would use to access the geothermally-heated waters at the base of the falls. So in retrospect, it made sense that the park service would obscure that lower path because it was rugged and prone to erosion from the heavy foot traffic on the main trail up above. As the sign at the Mystic Falls view indicated, we could continue climbing up the switchbacks towards higher and more angled views looking down at the cascading waterfall. It would eventually make one long switchback climbing well above the falls before backtracking towards the aforementioned unsanctioned spur. That unsanctioned spur was where I made the steep descent to the brink of Mystic Falls while bringing me closer to the sources of some of the geothermal springs heating up the Little Firehole River. Looking upstream from the top of Mystic Falls towards thermal springs feeding the Little Firehole River Overall, the first time Julie and I did this hike was the shorter out-and-back path, and it took us a leisurely 1.5-2 hours. The second time I did this hike solo was the longer loop hike that involved the Biscuit Basin Overlook, and that took me 2.5 hours. Mystic Falls resides in Yellowstone National Park. For information or inquiries about the park as well as current conditions, visit the National Park Service website. The Biscuit Basin was about 2 miles north of the Old Faithful turnoffs and ramps (or 3 miles from Old Faithful Village) along the Grand Loop Road between Madison Junction and West Thumb Junction. The turnoff was well signed and although the parking lot was spacious, I did notice that it filled up quickly, even on a rainy day! For a little context, Old Faithful was about 17 miles (under 30 minutes drive) south of the Madison Junction and about 19 miles (30 minutes drive) west of the West Thumb Junction. It was also about 98 miles (2.5 hours drive) north of Jackson and about 32 miles (an hour drive) east of West Yellowstone, Montana. For additional geographical context, West Yellowstone, Montana was 58 miles (at least 90 minutes drive) south of Gardiner, Montana, 90 miles (over 90 minutes drive) south of Bozeman, Montana, 72 miles (under 2 hours drive) north of Flagg Ranch (near Yellowstone’s South Entrance), and 321 miles (about 4.5 hours drive) north of Salt Lake City, Utah. 360 degree sweep showing the falls and its creek as well as the surrounding cliffs Back and forth sweep from one of the switchbacks above the official viewing spot of Mystic Falls Scrambling down to the brink of Mystic Falls showing the thermal spring responsible for all the steam rising out from its creek “Disconnected Connectedness” (Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons – August 5, 2017 to August 15, 2017) “The Near Fall” (Southwest Yellowstone – June 18, 2004 to June 20, 2004) Top 10 Yellowstone Waterfalls Summer Road Trip of the Pacific Northwest – July 27, 2017 to August 20, 2017 Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Itinerary – June 17, 2004 to June 27, 2004 Yellowstone Waterfalls Guide Yellowstone Highlights Yellowstone: Reviews of Travel Resources The geothermally active Biscuit Basin, which directly preceded the Mystic Falls Trail, was such an interesting spot that we nearly spent as much time here as on the waterfall trail itself Although it wasn’t necessary to go up to the Biscuit Basin Overlook if the goal was to just visit Mystic Falls, it did provide a commanding view of both the Biscuit and Upper Geyser Basins Nearby the Biscuit Basin and Mystic Falls is the Upper Geyser Basin, which has tons of predictable geysers like the Grand Geyser shown here Probably the most impressive of the geysers we managed to see erupting in the Old Faithful area was the Beehive Geyser, which was said to go off once or twice a day Tagged with: biscuit basin, midway, old faithful, madison, fire, yellowstone, west yellowstone, wyoming, waterfall, rockies, rocky mountains, jackson, park county	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434137
__label__cc	0.645632	0.354368	What is anarchism audio Eyewitness Afghanistan - DABF 2012 Audio Dublin Housing Action: Past, Present and Future Greece, the crisis, resistance & elections -... Turkish anarchist on background to Gezi Park... A history of pro-choice struggles in Ireland from... Afternoon of the Anglo Irish Bank protest, after the arrests Date: Mon, 2010-05-17 20:45 About 100 people were gathered outside this infamous bank, Anglo Irish Bank, on St. Stephens green by the time I'd arrived. I had already been informed of the fact that 7 members of Eirigi had been arrested after occupying the building from early morning. The Gardai had sprung into action and decided to clear out the occupation and they'd done that with the brute force that's become a bit of a speciality over the last few years. Now there was approximately 1 garda for about every 3 protestors. A not so thin yellow line protected this bank, which should be protected as the rock that sunk the Irish economy. Whilst other countries attempt to control unemployment and stimulate their economies back into some action – in Ireland our leaders have successfully yoked up this massive burden onto the shoulders of the working people. They've let unemployment run rampant, emigration is on the rise, savaged our public services, destroyed community services, and the responsibility of clearing up the mess is with us, the Irish people. The developers, the bankers, the politicians who thought this could never happen just load on the burden to us, to this generation, the next, and the one that follows. In the midst of all this, a hundred people on a sunny afternoon in Dublin are here to protest that we enjoyed none of the gain of the Celtic Tiger, and we'll be damned if we are going to take all this pain so that they can put the wheels back onto Casino capitalism. Music played, papers and leaflets were distributed to passers by. There was a fair amount of goodwill from the passing drivers and passers by. People know what is going on, and are encouraged when they see someone who is prepared to draw attention to this swindle. It was also fitting that this Nationalised Bank – had to be protected by the police. It is like they are protecting a black hole, into which the future of this rotten republic is being sucked. Music played and there were a few chants of 'Whose Cops, NAMA's Cops.' There was a flurry of activity when the Guards decided that they were going to stop an effigy of Seanie Fitzpatrick from being burnt. The guards are so desperate to protect the bankers and their golden circle that they'll even weigh in to protect their effigy's. Thankfully they relented when they saw that it was going to be strongly resisted and into the afternoon breeze and into the nostrils of the passing tourists wafted the smell of a burning effigy of a banker. From there a group went down to support 7 Eirigi members who were due to appear at a special hearing in the Bridewell at 4.30pm. Roll on Tuesday's protest – let them know we are onto their game and we're not going to take it anymore, we are not going to bankroll this bail out. Words by Dermo Audio of part of speech Geography: Dublin Multimedia: Images, Video Source: Opinion Workers Solidarity 94 - 2006 Workers Solidarity 94 is now available online including the PDF file of this issue. Download the PDF file of WS 94 CPSU activists produce leaflet against Public... The CPSU activist group have produced a leaflet calling on members of the CPSU to vote No to the public sector deal. "Many public sector workers have been shocked and angered that such a deal was agreed in the first place, some general secretaries including our own... Occupation of 35 Summerhill Parade in Dublin to... Solidarity with Anarchist / Antifascist Political... Science Day / March4Science in Dublin April 22nd...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434138
__label__cc	0.516196	0.483804	Tel: +44(0)1234 326691 Email: shop@wymeruk.co.uk Other non fiction Department S The Dickies Genesis 2018 Heavyweight Re Issues Guns 'N' Roses You are in: All categories > Books > Rock > Various. Who Invented Heavy Metal? Martin Popoff Code: 978-1-912782-12-3 Publication date: 5th April 2019. It’s one of the great debates in musicology and the answer is as complicated as it is hotly contested. Popoff’s Who Invented Heavy Metal? provides the most detailed, well argued, reasonable, ridiculously complete, and most lively and readable telling of the early history of heavy metal yet, arming the argumentative headbanger with all the facts and figures one needs on hand to win those bar room bets around this provocative question. Ultimately, Who Invented Heavy Metal? aims to be a book that doesn’t limit itself to heavy metal fans. The book provides wide instructional scope of teachable moments through unfolding, subconscious, telling by osmosis of the very history of heavy metal’s origins through events inside the genre but, surprisingly, many events outside of its own kerranging reverberations. Divided into four parts: Trace Elements: 1250 BC - 1966, beginning with the Battle Of Jericho through shocking concerts in ancient Greece, Vikings, Paganini, the blues, the invention of the electric guitar and why Little Richard, Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis — but most notably, Johnny Burnette, might be called the first headbangers. Lead: 1967 - 1969: Discussing extreme vocals, distortion, feedback, guitar heroes, psychedelics, amplification, the first riffs, the first power chords and the first heavy metal songs. Steel: 1970: where Martin argues for the “real” or “correct” answer to the titular question being Black Sabbath given their groundbreaking Black Sabbath album, but also that band’s Paranoid, Uriah Heep’s debut, and most important of this set of three, Deep Purple’s In Rock. Dozens of other bands are discussed as well. Titanium: 1971: In the final stretch Popoff talks about the wildest, heaviest full albums of 1971. Readers should come away with a new way to look at this question, whether they become convinced of Martin’s arguments completely or not! Zappa The Hard Way (Andrew Greenaway) Pink Floyd Captured Through Time Lights Out: Surviving the ‘70s with UFO (Martin Popoff) Famous Frets by Steve Clarke The Sun Goes Down: Thin Lizzy's Final Years More Tales Of A Rock Star's Daughter by Nettie Baker. Also in Various. Woodstock and Altamont: The Music Festivals that defined the 1960s Famous Frets Smokin' Valves: A Headbanger's Guide To 900 NWOBHM Records Martin Popoff Wheels Of Steel : The Explosive Early Years of NWOBHM This Means War : The Sunset Years of NWOBHM Swords & Tequila: Riot’s Classic First Decade Martin Popoff Chasing Shadows. The Search For Rod Evans. Tales Of A Rock Star's Daughter By Nettie Baker Perilous Journey (Steve Pilkington) A Hart Life Zermattitis: A Musicians' Guide To Going Downhill Fast (Tony Ashton) The More Black Than Purple Interviews (Jerry Bloom) Blackmore's Night Ghost of a Rose Tour Programme We accept Credit and Debit cards or you can use your PayPal account to make payment. Registered Office: Wymer (UK) Ltd. G20, Bedford i-Lab, Priory Business Park, Stannard Way, Bedford, MK44 3RZ United Kingdom Contact Details: Tel +44(0)1234 326691 Email: shop@wymeruk.co.uk CDs/VINYL I am happy to receive newsletters from Wymer UK	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434141
__label__cc	0.7461	0.2539	1-800-805-5783 GET A QUOTE On Demand DevOps Teams Unity development Customer Engagement Strategy Digital product development CX Consulting Innovation as a Service Chatbots in eCommerce: How Smart Bots Are Boosting Customer Engagement & Revenues By [x]cube LABS Published: May 29 2017 “A computer would deserve to be called intelligent if it could deceive a human into believing that it was human.” – Alan Turing (Computer scientist) Digital technology has made it easier for brands to learn customer’s behavior, their needs and offer them the best experience. Technologies that include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, mobility, wearables, IoT platforms, and analytics has taken the customer experience to the next level. Chatbots or virtual assistants are creating an uproar in the digital market today. The Retail industry is embracing this technology majorly to redefine the customer experience. According to the Business Insider, more than 11,000 bots came online soon after Facebook released a bot-development platform for Messenger. Macy’s, an American departmental store has launched AI-based app, “Macy’s on Call” for their retail operations. This service is now available in 10 of its stores across the country. Gartner predicts, by 2020 more than 85% of customer interactions will be managed by artificial intelligence. Also, chatbots are expected to be the subset of Artificial Intelligence technology in the next five years. What’s chatbot? Google defines chatbot as a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the Internet. According to Techcrunch, Chatbots are programs that respond to natural language text and, optionally, to voice inputs in a humanlike manner. They can execute tasks, give specific commands (think voice control, or most Slack bots), but their raison d’être is that they listen, talk and seem to converse. Chatbots in E-commerce Chatbots perfectly fits into the e-commerce space. The business owners are finding numerous benefits and are encouraged to use and create chatbots. Chatbots has grabbed all the big brand’s attention, as the study says, user penetration of messaging apps is estimated to be more than 68% by the end of 2019. It’s basically a messaging app that offers an amazing customer experience, boosts business opportunities, interacts with customers, retains them, and provides personalized shopping experience. Dylan Bourguignon, CEO and founder of insurance startup So-Sure says, “My take on chatbots is always: ‘what do customers want?’ My answer to that is: ‘a quick, correct and complete answer to their question’. Until AI is able to do that, humans are the best respondents.” Chatbots act as an interface between the customer and the brand by conducting an intelligent conversation in natural language. It not only automates customer service by helping customers to make a shopping decision, but also solves problems and answers trivial questions. Therefore, helping e-commerce to build a faster relationship with their customers. Spring, an e-commerce company was the early adopter of this technology. Similarly, Taco Bell’s also tested TacoBot where customers can order on chat. Other big brands like, Amazon, a giant e-commerce site has also launched their bot ‘Alexa’ to help customer have an excellent experience while shopping online. Why Chatbots? There are multiple reasons why chatbots have been able to establish themselves in e-commerce. It is completely changing the e-commerce functions, it holds multiple platforms that bring potential opportunities for the sellers. Once it’s integrated it makes the retailer’s job easy by driving sales. For example; you want to book a movie ticket with a chatbot— by simply opening your Facebook messenger and typing movie ticket, the bot will book it for you. It will ask your preferences like time, location, seats and show you some alternatives too. It also saves the order history so next time it will be more convenient for you to shop online! Chatbot cuts down all the extra apps, save lots of time and allow users to shop in a conversational way. Also, helping sellers to generate more lead opportunities. For example; there is a chatbot for cooking recipes and 50K people have subscribed to it. The chatbot sends daily healthy food recipes to the subscribers. Now, a grocery store can target them and advertise its products on the chatbot or the chatbot can simply recommend the store’s product with a link to make the purchase. Likewise, chatbot can also act like salesman and do upselling and cross-selling of your product. Based on the order history it makes the recommendations or shows complementary products that the shopper might like while placing the order. All these things will help sellers to boost the customer experience by engaging with customers and providing personalized, quick and convenient service to their users. Retale, a technology company that develops mobile-first shopping experiences, took a survey among 500 Millennials ages 18-34. Their study says, nearly 60% of Millennials have used chatbots. 40% who have not used a chatbot when asked, more than half said they’d be interested in trying one. Dan Cripe, CTO of Retale said, “chatbots are a relatively new consumer application, but it’s a growing trend, especially among millennials. As we have seen with their embrace of other bleeding-edge platforms, millennials, as an audience, are early adopters – and they see real value in chatbot services.” Among those who have used chatbots, 70% described their experiences as positive, with 39% of that group saying they were “very positive.” Alternatively, 21% have had negative experiences with chatbots. Of that group, just 6% described their experiences as “very negative.” In recent years, major brands have launched their own chatbot applications. When asked whether or not they had any interest in trying chatbot experiences from consumer brands, 71% of millennials surveyed said that they are interested versus just 18% who said they are not. When asked if brands should use chatbots to “promote deals, products and services” to consumers, nearly 90% (86%) of millennials said “yes,” while just 14% said “no.” When asked how likely they are to purchase items and services from brands via chatbots, 67% said they are likely to do so, with 36% of that group calling it “very likely.” Only 14% said that they were not interested and 19% were “neutral.” E-commerce future with Chatbot We are living in the most advanced digitally empowered world where the expert says this is just the start! Chatbots have become the engagement tool that is convenient, easy and fun to use. With further developments in the bot space and artificial intelligence becoming more advanced, chatbots are expected to become more intelligent. In the near future each brand will have their own e-commerce chatbot to interact with their customers, solve issues and connect with human on an emotional level. Experts research says, Chatbots or virtual assistants are going to understand human emotional state, analyze itself and give accurate responses. Tags: chatbots, ecommerce Becoming a Successful Digital Enterprise in 2020: The Approach You Need 9 Technology Trends That Will Shape 2020 4 Tips to successfully scale up your digital product development 2019 Digital Healthcare Flashback and What It Means for Future [x]cube LABS Achieves HITRUST CSF Certification for Top-Notch Data Security in Healthcare Applications Robots at the Helm: The Present and Future of Manufacturing Automation Current State of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing: Driving Factors, Opportunities and Learnings Do You Truly Know Your Customer? Leveraging Data to Drive CX Transformation Agriculture to Agritech: Trends, Challenges, and the Path Forward with Digital Technology and Software Solutions Transforming Customer Experience Using Digital Channels: Top Tips ©2020 [x]cube LABS. 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__label__cc	0.738992	0.261008	In the change of the centuries Christmas in the First World War The imperial-royal Christmas The Little Ice Dream Information curling Accordion Childrens Activities Volkshalle A A A+ A++ When Christmas Comes to Vienna When Christmas is coming, all people, all regions, even all families have their own traditions to celebrate this festive time. aus: "Wenn's in Wien weihnachtet", Christine Schäffer, Edition Mokka, ISBN 978-3-902693-63-1 A special position regarding such traditions is held by Vienna. Vienna is not only the heart and center of Austria, but also of a former global power: the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Here, in the capital of both the democracy and the former monarchy, traditions took their origins and travelled over the whole country. In this book we want to find answers to questions such as how Christmas was celebrated in the times of the monarchy, or how the imperial family celebrated it. Did Empress Sisi, dressed in exquisite gowns, admire a Christmas tree with her children, delighted by their excitement? Who had the first Christmas tree in Vienna? How did the citizens celebrate Christmas? And what about Christmas in the 21st century? Which traditions do we still follow today – what is new? If you have grown curious, you can find the answers below. Christmas Traditions in Vienna through the Ages The time before Christmas is full of preparations and excitement. The days and nights leading to Christmas Eve have always been filed with festivities. In the Middle Ages already citywide events took place for citizens, travelers and the aristocracy. These festivities were both secular and religious, just like today. The wintery happenings of old times are enthralling for modern people and can transport them to dreams filled with fantasy. The Scarlet Race One of these traditions in winter was the scarlet race. It took place until the mid-1500s and was a horse race. It started in St. Marx, led to the Wienfluss and ended again in St. Marx. One evening prior to the race, trumpets would announce it at the Hohe Markt, a gathering point for the people as well as a market place. The winner of this race would receive a piece of scarlet. Scarlet was a highly valuable red wool, which was worth more than a crossbow or a pig! These two things namely were the second and third prices respectively. Altogether, six to thirteen riders participated in this race – this relatively small number is probably due to the price for a racing horse itself and the entry fee for the race. It was one Hungarian forint, which was one of the strongest currencies in those days! Oracle Traditions – Who Will Be My Love? There is a surprisingly great amount of old traditions that want to predict luck or a wedding. Especially the Andreasnacht, the night of St.Andrew’s on November 30, was said to be ideal for predictions. There was for example the oracle of throwing shoes: One would throw a shoe over their shoulder and, depending how it fell down, one would know if they would marry or not. If the tip of the shoe pointed to the door, one stayed single – if the heel pointed to the door, a marriage was bound to take place. A similar oracle is that of the walnut shells which was very popular. Two candles were stuck on two walnut shells each, lit and put into a bowl of water. The shells represented oneself and the person one was in love with – if they bumped into one another, you were destined to come together with your sweetheart. Tired out from all these oracles, you should eat a baked figure made out of water, flour and salt and then go to bed. It was said that this figure would bring dreams of your future husband – but only if you ate it in the night of Saint Andrew’s. It gets a little hotter when it comes to lead melting. This is a very popular tradition in Austria even though it is now mainly done on New Year’s Eve, to find out what the new year will bring. A few centuries ago though, people did it on Christmas Eve. And it worked – just like today – like this: You melt lead over a little fire, let it drop abruptly into cold water and let it cool. Then you start guessing. What kind of form does the lead have now? Back then people said a woman could see the tool of trade of her future husband in it! Melting lead used to be a much slower process than today. Impatience grew easily when people waited for the lead to melt over a little candle light – the melting point of the lead was too high and therefore it took a very long time to become liquid. Only the Austrian Erwin Perzy I. had a wonderful idea how to melt the lead more quickly. And this is what happened: On New Year’s Eve in 1900 he saw how long it took to melt the lead. The lead was, by the way, won from lead bullets. Little shreds of lead were pulled from venison before it was cooked and held on to for New Year’s Eve! So there Perzy I. was, watching his sisters slowly melt lead and he started to think how he could lower the melting point of it. He knew a lot about metals so he added tin to the lead – it had a much lower melting point and therefore the whole process could be accelerated. His sisters were thrilled. The next thing he did was to create a mould in the form a caulkin. A caulkin is a stud for a horse shoe, screwed into the metal to protect the horse from slipping on muddy grounds. They sometimes came loose and when a person found a caulkin on the streets it was a sign of good luck. So Perzy I. created little caulkins made from his tin-lead alloy and gifted them to friends and family in the next year. They were as excited about it as Perzy’s sisters had been and he started to produce his lucky charms on a larger scale. This production still continues to this day through his grandson Erwin Perzy III. in the form of the world-renowned Wiener Silvesterguss! It is not surprising that mainly women participated in the aforementioned oracle traditions and that they were mostly concerned with marriage. Most women needed a husband in order to survive – a marriage usually promised a better life for the woman than remaining single and alone, with limited prospects of finding adequately paid work. Therefore we shall continue with another traditional oracle day, December 21st. When a girl wished to know whom she would marry, she should kick against her bed three times before going to sleep and say the following: Bedpost I kick you, St. Thomas i beg you, Let me see, The dearest of me. If she followed these instructions, she was sure to see her future husband in her dreams. A more general kind of luck is predicted with the last oracle which still exists in Austria to this day: On December 4, some twigs were cut off a fruit tree – ideally of a cherry tree. These twigs are called Barbara’s twigs, as they are cut on St. Barbara’s day. They are watered at home and if they blossom before Christmas, the New Year will be a lucky one! All these notable nights, St. Andrew’s and St. Thomas’ night as well as Christmas Eve, were called “Lösselnächte” or “Losnächte” in Vienna, which roughly translates to nights of lots. According to popular belief these nights were especially potent for oracles. Today only the tradition of lead melting and cutting Barbara’s twigs are still practiced. Traditions falling out of fashion are completely normal and even good – they leave room for new traditions of new generations after all. We Viennese people of the 21st century have our own customs that are important to us and remind us of our childhood. We fondly remember the whole family attending a Christmas market and drinking punch together or lighting the candles of the advent wreath every Sunday in December, telling stories and singing songs in its soft light. And especially distracting the children on Christmas Eve, for example with a walk or a visit to the theater, so the Christkind has enough time to put presents under the Christmas tree. Riding a Sleigh The customs and traditions described above took place indoors, but naturally people didn’t stay in their homes all winter long. They went for long walks in the park, went ice skating or rode a sleigh. Only rich and noble families could afford a proper sleigh ride. Their ways often led them to the Neuen Markt, where they rode over the square in sinuous lines. The squares were blocked for commoners then, so they would not come in the sleighs ways. The sleighs also turned towards castle Schönbrunn often – the imperial family enjoyed inviting other aristocrats to share the beautiful sights of their gardens and frozen ponds with them. If there was too little snow, the nobility had to use regular carriages which evoked their dissatisfaction and was a matter of complaint in some years. The middle class had to content themselves with alley rides. They did not have beautiful sleighs but carts similar to those used in trotting races. The Viennese of course also had to avoid crowded places and used unbuilt areas for their joyful rides. If one were to look for such sleigh rides today they would not find any in Vienna’s busy streets –much to the delight of motorists, the roads are kept clear of snow. But of course there is always the possibility of riding a characteristic Viennese Fiaker, even in winter! They provide thick blankets for their passengers as well as the horses and the ride leads past Stephansplatz, Heldenplatz and Michaelerplatz where knowledgeable drivers tell stories about Vienna and its architecture. And one must not forget sledding! Outfitted with a wooden sled, the parks of Vienna or the meadows of the “Viennese mountains”, for example Kahlenberg, become proper pistes for young and old. Traditions Are Ever Changing Christmas was not always celebrated the way we do it today. Back then, there was no tree and no nativity scene. Advent calendar? That too is a relatively new invention! And as is common with new inventions, at first it is observed with great scepticism. This scepticism is amusing for modern minds, which is why a direct quote recording is played back. After reading, each individual can decide which form of celebration is the nicest ... Nikolaus and Christkind In Austria and therefore also Vienna, it is the Christkind, often portrayed today as an angel, that delivers everyone’s presents on Christmas Eve. But that wasn’t always the case! 300 years ago Catholic families were visited by St. Nikolaus on the 6th December, who was the one to bring small presents. The celebration of St. Nikolaus was the most important festivity in Catholic Christmas time. Catholic families wanted to distinguish themselves from Protestant families, who did not celebrate St. Nikolaus but the Christkind on December 24th. Back then, Catholic and Protestant traditions diverged strongly from one another. This changed in 1781 when Emperor Joseph II. signed the Patent of Toleration. From then on, Protestant traditions were adopted by Catholics. For example, the Christkind started to deliver the presents and the main focus of celebration shifted from 6th to 24th December. Today, Catholic families look forward to both Nikolaus and Christkind, but the latter is more prominently featured. Speaking of the Christkind, it is not, as some may assume, little baby Jesus but the personification of the Holy Ghost! Christmas Even by Thusnelda Wolff-Kettner Dawn spins its web through the alleys, As the sleigh bells merrily ring. The Christ child quietly enters Through the snowed covered doorsteps. In front of closed doors listening Breathlessly filled with wonder. Merry children whisper, When inside secrets rustle. Today everything has a deeper meaning. And when the bells gently rings It sounds like religious angels singing That is heard through all the old alleys The Christmas tree, as it is known in Austria today, has also developed from Protestant traditions. Could we glimpse into prosperous Protestant households 300 years ago, we would see a little Christmas tree. In Catholic households however we would see a nativity scene. They did not have a Christmas tree – only a tree from St. Nikolaus who delivered it on December 6 together with the children’s presents. It was first decorated with apples, later with fruits and nuts and eventually with glass baubles and sweets. But why was it decorated in the first place? The festive fir tree actually symbolizes the apple tree of the story of the fall of mankind. Aside from Christ’s birth on December 24th, Christians also commemorate Adam and Eve’s fall and that they, with all humanity, are absolved from their sins. Especially the imperial family has to be thanked for the successful dissipation of the Christmas tree in all Viennese homes, regardless of religious background. Henriette von Nassau-Weilburg, the wife of Archduke Carl, was the first member of the imperial family to prepare a beautiful Christmas tree – this was in 1816. As soon as it was made known that even the Emperor’s family participated in this custom, most wealthy families acquired trees for their own homes. But Heinrich Anschütz was also a strong force in popularizing the Christmas tree among Vienna’s people. Anschütz, a well-known actor of the Burgtheater in the 19th century, arrived in Vienna in 1821. He wished to celebrate Christmas as he knew it from his Protestant home back in Germany and went on a search for the ideal fir tree. In his recount it is very easy to see how much Vienna has changed in the last centuries. Next to a nativity set we can now find a glowing Christmas tree. The Christmas tree also met with some resistance at first – it was, after all, a Protestant custom and not a Catholic one. Archduke Johann, who experienced the debut of the Christmas tree first hand, wrote in his diary how little he appreciated the hot light of the candles and the absence of the crib. But these sentiments were held by a minority of people and the Christmas tree grew on every Viennese citizen, becoming a well-loved part of Christmas Eve. In order for people to be able to buy trees enough specimen had to be brought to Vienna of course – soon, there were fir tree vendors on every street corner and a Christmas tree market was established. Frances Trollope, an English novelist, witnessed Vienna before Christmas and relates how the city turned into a veritable forest. She describes the joy of those who moved past the numerous trees and how their happiness was equal to that of a rich lady, choosing expensive gifts for her friends and family. The Christmas tree therefore has not only brought changes to our homes but also to the Viennese streets themselves: next to a lovingly made nativity set is a beautifully decorated tree. Often there are two sets, one made of wood and another out of paper, which has been crafted by the children of the family in primary school. These paper nativity sets are proudly presented at home and placed next to the wooden set. The custom of installing a nativity set stems from the Middle Ages. A nativity set was supposed to be a realistic depiction of the miraculous birth of Jesus. As there were no Christmas trees yet on which Catholics could vent their creative energy, they created more and more opulent nativity sets instead. Public sets started to incorporate complicated mechanisms to surprise and entertain the audience. In 1716, a Viennese newspaper reported on an installation of the Nativity that not only included a little pond with fishes but also trick fountains and angels that descended from the heavens. Even the secrets of Christ’s childhood were portrayed using shadow play. Obviously, the creators of this nativity set did their best to entertain the public. One might assume that this set was located in the middle of a market or some other secular space – but this is wrong: it was just next to the parish church of St. Anna!The clergy apparently chose to entertain their flock in order to both convey the Christian doctrine as well as draw their “audience” into the chapel. With time, this secular spectacle of course began to separate from its clerical beginnings, especially when Maria Theresia, in 1762, prohibited the installation of nativity sets in churches. This prohibition strengthened the trend of erecting sets in a family’s own home and to decorate them more and more ornately. These nativity sets soon reached lengths of impressive two metres! To find the ideal set for one’s home, the nativity set market at the Graben was the right address to stop by at. During the 19th century however this market was substituted for a Christmas tree market. But this does not mean that there are no nativity sets in Vienna’s homes anymore, far from it! Here and in all of Austria the most beautiful sets one can dream of are found – and crafted. Lovingly, they are created from scratch with moss, wood, plaster and wire. One of the most famous nativity set builders of all times came from Austria and his artworks were and are coveted all over the world, from Germany to Canada. Alexander Schläffer was the name of this talented man, who made his sets with a lot of love and patience and who collected the twigs for them himself, in Salzburg Pinzgau. Schläffer even built a nativity set as the representative show piece of Austria for the Summer Olympics in Mexico City in 1968. But even the most beautiful private sets could hardly compete with the elaborate mechanics of public nativity sets in the 19th century, called Krippenspiele. They were no mere static nativity sets but used moving parts and special effects. They did not only display the Nativity but entire sequences of the bible, starting with the Genesis! These nativity plays truly were little theatre plays and of course an entrance fee had to be paid by the audience. Especially the Altlerchenfelder Krippenspiel was a great spectacle. It was one of the last large nativity plays in Vienna, at the turn of the last century. Effects were used in abundance: The burning bush truly caught fire; when the Noachian Flood began the audience was sprayed wet from rain and Manna came from the heavens. Today, there is a particularly crazy Krippenspiel in the time before Christmas in Vienna. It takes place in the Kabinetttheater in Porzellangasse 49: It is Dadaist and written by Hugo Ball himself, a great Dadaist. In seven images the Nativity story is told, accompanied by Dadaistic poems, sounds and different voices. During the show baked apples are prepared, their smell tickling the audience’s noses, which can be eaten after the play. The Advent wreath symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus. It was most likely first made by the Protestant pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern, who managed an institution for poor children in Hamburg, Germany. The children simply could not await the celebration of Christmas anymore and asked for something that would show them how much longer they had to practice their patience. Wichern had a fantastic idea: he installed a wreath with 24 candles on a wheel. Twenty of them were small and white. The other four, which were lit ever Sunday in Advent, were large and red. This first happened in 1839. Children and adults alike were thrilled by this and the custom quickly spread in Germany. In Austria and Vienna the wreath only became a tradition after the First World War. The Advent wreath is not only a symbol of light itself, its individual parts are also symbolic for closeness to God, love and hope: The circle of the wreath for example stands for eternal life, for resurrection. The green twigs from which the wreath is made symbolize the hope of Jesus’ return and the red colour of the candles is God’s love for us. Violet candles on the other hand are an invitation to reconsider one’s life and choices. In some advent wreaths a rose or white coloured candle takes the third spot (never the fourth!). It is lit on Gaudete Sunday, which translates to “Rejoice” Sunday. It symbolizes the anticipation of Christ and is lit on the third Sunday. Sometimes a wreath has each a violet, red, rose and white candle which are also lit in this order – the white one being the traditional festal colour of the Western Church. Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus ex Maria virgine, gaudete! Tempus adest gratiae Hoc quod optabamus, Carmina laetitiae Devote reddamus. Deus homo factus est Natura mirante, Mundus renovates est A Christo regnante. Ezechielis porta Clausa pertransitur, Unde lux est orta Salus inventi Ergo nostra contio Psallat iam in lustro; Benedicat Domino: Salus Regi nostro. Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary, rejoice! The time of grace has come – what we have wished for, songs of joy Let us give back faithfully. God has become man, (with) nature marveling, The world has been renewed by Christ (who is) reigning. The closed gate of Ezekiel is passed through, whence the light is raised, salvation is found. Therefore let our gathering now sing in brightness Let it give praise to the Lord: Greeting to our King. The Advent Calendar The Advent calendar is supposed to make the waiting for Christmas more endurable. A small daily ritual eases the overall excitement and turns the expectant gaze from a distant Christmas Eve to the much closer following morning. Around 1800 for example it was common that children in convent schools were allowed to put some straw or cotton in the crib of baby Jesus every day in Advent. Later on tear-off calendars were introduced or calendars where a simple chalk dash was added every day. Gerhard Lang’s mother had a particularly nice idea at the end of the 19th century. She gave her son 24 pastries, allowing him to eat one every day until Christmas had arrived. Gerhard Lang became a successful publisher as an adult and created his own advent calendar in approximately 1904: he printed 24 little images that could be cut out and glued on an additional cardboard with little verses on it. Nowadays Advent calendars are a must-have for everyone and they range from simple calendars with images to calendars filled with chocolate or even precious eau de toilet. At school children tell each other excitedly what they found in their calendars that morning and sometimes bring their gifts along. In some classes teachers even make their own calendars and fill them with little somethings for their pupils. Knecht Ruprecht From out the forest I now appear, To proclaim that Christmastide is here! For at the top of every tree are golden lights for all to see; and there from Heaven’s gate on high I saw our Christ-child in the sky. And in among the darkened trees, a loud voice it was that called to me: ‘Knecht Ruprecht, old fellow,’ it cried, ‘hurry now, make haste, don’t hide! All the candles have now been lit -- Heaven’s gate has opened wide! Both young and old should now have rest away from cares and daily stress; and when tomorrow to earth I fly “it’s Christmas again!” will be the cry.’ And then I said: ‘O Lord so dear. My journey’s end is now quite near; but to this town I’ve still to go, Where the children are good, I know.’ ‘But have you then that great sack?’ ‘I have,’ I said, ‘it’s on my back. For apples, almonds, fruit and nuts For God-fearing children are a must.’ ‘And is that cane there by your side?’ ‘The cane’s there too,’ I did reply; but only for those, those naughty ones, who have it applied to their backsides.’ The Christ-child spoke: ‘Then that’s all right! My loyal servant, go with God this night!’ From out the forest I now appear; Now speak, what is there here to be had? Are there good children, are there bad? English (Englisch von © 2006 Denis Jackson. Isle of Wight. http://www.theodorstorm.co.uk/Life/knechtRuprecht.htm) The country saying If the winter stays away in December, there is usually a late winter. December warmth is followed by ice. White fog in the winter is caused by frost. If there is no winter until the Epiphany, then there will be no winter at all. Traditional Meals in Advent Not all animals could be brought through the winter and meat could only be conserved in the cooler season, which is why most livestock were butchered towards the end of the year. In November, poultry is still butchered today according to old traditions – the so called Martinsgansl, the goose eaten for St. Martin’s Day on November 11, comes to mind. After the poultry, with cold creeping in more and more, the fish lakes are emptied and the crabs processed. The last harvests of autumn fruits, among them chestnuts, pumpkins, pears and appels, are brought in and dried to last. The store room was of course also filled with eggs and honey. The big finale was marked with butchering the Christmas pig and making delicacies such as sausages, ribs or hams out of it. Gathering all these delectable foods together, from fruits to roast meat, it is obvious that winter and Christmas time have always been a culinary zenith of the year. One could eat to their heart’s delight! Except for December 24 which is considered a day of fasting and meat should definitely be avoided. But let’s not forget – firstly, the bigger part of society did not adhere to this too strictly and secondly, fish was not considered meat – so it could be eaten without guilt or bad conscience. Because of the latter, fish was and is a traditional Christmas dish. A common menu for a middle class family in the early 1800s was a fish soup to start, followed by cod with potatoes and lamb’s lettuce. 700 g fish (with head and roe) ½ celeriac ½ nutmeg freshly grated Soften the butter in a pan and fry the innards of the fish. Add the rinsed and cut vegetables and fry together. Add water, boil and add seasoning to the soup. Serve with bread rolls. Carp cooked in beer 1 kg carp Onions, cloves, nutmeg The original wording of the old recipe: “The carp is scaled, gutted, torn and cut into pieces, first a little salt is sprinkled on to it and then wiped off and put into a casserole or pot with lots of chopped onions and a few cloves and mace blades. Pour beer over it until it is completely covered and cook it over a strong fire until there is nothing left of the beer but a smooth stock and then it is served." Christmas goose Ingredients (for 4 people) 1 ready-to-cook goose, approx. 3 kg 200 ml red wine 100 g white bread Salt, sugar and lemon juice Wash and thoroughly dry the goose. Wash the apples and remove the core so that a small base remains standing. Pour a little wine into the apple openings and fill them with pieces of white bread. Salt the inside and outside of the goose, fill it with the apples, the quartered onions and mugwort and finally sew it closed. Tie the joints and wings to the rump. Fill a roasting tin with hot water reaching 1 cm, add salt, place the goose into the tray with the back facing down and slide the roasting tin on to the lower rail of a 200°C preheated oven. While roasting, poke the goose below the wings and joints so that the fat can be released. As soon as the juices start to turn brown, add more hot water to the roasting tin in order to replace the evaporated water. Now reduce the temperature to approx. 150°C. Baste the goose with the juices every now and then so that it is brown on all sides. If the goose is cooked (calculate approximately 1 hour cooking time per kilo of meat), loosen the string and take out the filling. Force the filling through a sieve. Mix the cooked juices and the sieved filling with a little water on a hob and turn it into a sauce and season with salt, sugar and lemon juice. Now cut the goose into the portions and serve the red cabbage and dumplings and garnish with parsley. approx. 3 to 4 hours Winter punch 1 l good red wine 500 ml strong white wine 100 g brown sugar 500 ml freshly brewed, strong black tea 500 ml Arrack palm wine Mix the wines in a put and dissolve sugar in it. Squeeze 4 lemons and add the juice. Add the freshly brewed black tea, cinnamon and the Arrack. Finally put the pot on a hot hob and heat the punch until it nearly boils. Quickly take a sieve and using a ladle pour the punch into the glasses and decorate using a slice of lemon. Back to “In the change of the centuries” Continue to “Christmas in the First World War” Vienna Christmas Dream Winter 2019 \| Wiener Rathausplatz © stadt wien marketing \| Imprint \| Website by indeco.cc	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434151
__label__cc	0.691324	0.308676	The Ending of Time: Where Philosophy and Physics Meet by Jiddu KrishnamurtiJiddu Krishnamurti Paperback(Revised) Want it Today? The provocative and penetrating philosophical classic of science and spirituality—a discourse between the revered spiritual leader Krishnamurti and renowned physicist Dr. David Bohm, exploring the origin of human conflict and what we can do about the barriers that stand in the way of insight and consciousness, now revised and updated with a new introduction and added dialogues. The Ending of Time is a series of important and enlightening dialogues in which Jiddu Krishnamurti and Dr. David Bohm—men from vastly different backgrounds in philosophy and physics, respectively—debate profound existential questions that illuminate the fundamental nature of existence, probing topics such as insight, illusion, awakening, transcendence, renewal, morality, the temporal, and the spiritual. Along the way, Krishnamurti and Bohm explore a person’s relationship to society and offer new insights on human thought, death, awakening, self realization, and the problem of the fragmented mind. The Ending of Time also refers to the wrong turn humanity has taken—a state that they argue can be corrected. Though they insist that mankind can change fundamentally, they warn that transformation requires going from one’s narrow and particular interests toward the general, and ultimately moving still deeper into that purity of compassion, love and intelligence that originates beyond thought, time, and even emptiness. This updated edition, edited and revised in clear and engaging language, includes a new introduction and a conversation previously published separately which examines “The Future of Humanity.” HarperCollins US J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986) was a renowned spiritual teacher whose lectures and writings have inspired thousands. His works include On Mind and Thought, On Nature and the Environment, On Relationship, On Living and Dying, On Love and Lonliness, On Fear, and On Freedom. Introduction vii The Ending of Time 1 1 The Roots of Psychological Conflict 7 2 Cleansing the Mind of the Accumulation of Time 35 3 Why Has Man Given Supreme Importance to Thought? 61 4 Breaking the Pattern of Egocentric Activity 97 5 The Ground of Being and the Mind of Man 123 6 Can Insight Bring About a Mutation of the Brain Cells? 143 7 Death Has Very Little Meaning 175 8 Can Insight Be Awakened in Another? 203 9 Senility and the Brain Cells 229 10 Cosmic Order 265 11 The Liberation of Insight 291 12 The Intelligence of Love 313 13 The Ending of "Psychological Knowledge" 333 14 The Mind in the Universe 349 15 Can Human Problems Be Solved? 371 Appendix: The Future of Humanity 395 Introduction David Bohm 397 First Conversation: Is There an Action Not Touched by Thought? 401 Second Conversation: Is There Evolution of Consciousness? 445 About the Authors 483 xlibris corporation physics book philosophy book physics book physics and philosophy selected essays book by antonella corradini book by arkady plotnitsky A complete story of time: THE PHYSICS AND Only physics and mathematics can answer the ultimate question that can be arising, by our ... Only physics and mathematics can answer the ultimate question that can be arising, by our intelligence. The string theory slowly approaches to solve the ultimate problem, where from the creation starts? In Indian philosophy some theory are written in a ... Between Rationalism and Empiricism: Selected Papers in the Scheibe is one of the most important philosophers of science in Germany. He has written ... Scheibe is one of the most important philosophers of science in Germany. He has written extensively on all the problems that confront the philosophy of physics: rationalism vs. empiricism; reductionism; the foundations of quantum mechanics; space-time, and much more. Since ... Compendium of Quantum Physics: Concepts, Experiments, History and With contributions by leading quantum physicists, philosophers and historians, this comprehensive A-to-Z of quantum physics ... With contributions by leading quantum physicists, philosophers and historians, this comprehensive A-to-Z of quantum physics provides a lucid understanding of key concepts of quantum theory and experiment. It covers technical and interpretational aspects alike, and includes both traditional and new ... Cosmology, Physics, and Philosophy: Including a New Theory What is unorthodox in this book? Much has happened in the last few years, especially ... What is unorthodox in this book? Much has happened in the last few years, especially in terms of the somewhat surpris ing rate at which the theories presented herein have been gaining increasing acceptance and support even by the most ... Elementary Particles: Mathematics, Physics and Philosophy This book has come into being as a result of scientific debates. And these debates ... This book has come into being as a result of scientific debates. And these debates have determined its structure. The first chapter is in the form of Socratic dialogues between a mathematician (MATH.), two physicists (pHYS. and EXP.) and a ... Great Problems in Philosophy and Physics Solved? A college-level sourcebook and textbook on several problems in philosophy, physics, and metaphysics, with tentative ... A college-level sourcebook and textbook on several problems in philosophy, physics, and metaphysics, with tentative solutions using the new methodology of information philosophy, which goes beyond logic and language to the underlying information structures. Chapters include metaphysics, ontology, free will, ... HarperCollins Dictionary of Philosophy, 2nd Edition: In-Depth The student of philosophy often feels bewildered by the vast terminology of the subject. HarperCollins ... The student of philosophy often feels bewildered by the vast terminology of the subject. HarperCollins Dictionary of Philosophy helps lessen the confusion by providing a single source of clear and understandable definitions of philosophic terms. Emphasis is on the areas ... On Physics and Philosophy Among the great ironies of quantum mechanics is not only that its conceptual foundations seem ... Among the great ironies of quantum mechanics is not only that its conceptual foundations seem strange even to the physicists who use it, but that philosophers have largely ignored it. Here, Bernard d'Espagnat argues that quantum physics--by casting doubts on ...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434157
__label__wiki	0.587151	0.587151	Message service blocks 78 ISIS-related encrypted channels Paris attacks demand 'wake-up call' on smartphone encryption ISIS is a virus that Anonymous plans to cure: Hacktivists hammer ISIS with... Anonymous just might make all the difference in attacking ISIS The hacking group’s activities have always seemed dubious, but in this case, success will be quite welcome Pascal Rossignol/Reuters In the wake of the horrific attacks in Paris, military operations against ISIS terrorist strongholds have increased. When someone hits you, it’s natural to hit back. But can you win by killing an enemy that seeks death — and when those who are killed inspire desperate others to replace them? Along with the news that the French had launched air strikes against ISIS positions came the word that the cyber-revenge group calling itself Anonymous has declared war on ISIS. I never thought I would say this, but Anonymous might be our savior. Attacking ISIS militarily is necessary, but the group has always exerted its influence through social media, using it for both fundraising and recruitment. Both activities are essential to ISIS’ continuing existence and effectiveness. The weaponry it uses in its terror campaign is expensive, and when every successful operation ends in death or the arrest of all participants, recruitment is critical. Which makes Anonymous’ involvement intriguing. ISIS, you should be very scared. Anonymous’ official Twitter area for Operation Paris has already reported that “more than 3,824 Twitter accounts pro-ISIS are now down,” a number that has been steadily climbing. That’s on top of tens of thousands of pro-ISIS Twitter accounts that Anonymous took down before the Paris attacks, along with a large number of donation pages for the group — housed on the dark Web — that Anonymous closed, according to a report in The Atlantic. Anonymous’ key message on Twitter is: “Make no mistake: #Anonymous is at war with #Daesh. We won’t stop opposing #IslamicState. We’re also better hackers.” That last sentence is key. What Anonymous is talking about is a cyberwar against ISIS, one that is not restricted by any of the laws that could hamper a cyberattack undertaken by U.S., French or Russian governments. And, to Anonymous’ credit, they are indeed better hackers. This could be very effective. While governments bomb and soldiers attack on the ground, it’s essential that ISIS’ recruitment and funding be killed. If DDoS and other shutdown tactics make social media useless to the terror group, it will find it far more difficult to fund terror and recruit replacements. Let’s take a look at Anonymous’ prospects for weakening ISIS in these areas. ISIS does get some funding from governments, but that’s generally done quietly. Governments are subjected to International pressure to make ISIS a pariah, so most funding from nation states is kept secret. But Anonymous is impressively good at revealing secrets, so its activities could make it much harder for evil-oriented governments to back ISIS without paying a price. ISIS also makes money by selling items it steals, but that funding is limited. Mostly, ISIS relies on small donations from supporters, after they’ve been indoctrinated. The Anonymous campaign can be effective in this area in two ways. First, by repeatedly shutting down huge numbers of donation sites, Anonymous will make it far harder for people who want to donate to do so. Second, by shutting down propaganda sites, it can reduce the number of people who feel the desire to donate. By the way, this has to be done in conjunction with military attacks. As those attacks happen, ISIS scum (sorry, but that’s the harshest language Computerworld will let me use) will use them to recruit people and beg for money. Anonymous shutdowns will make it far harder to get those messages out and for anyone who does see such messages to respond. In this area, Anonymous’ cyberwarfare can be far more effective than bombs and bullets. Recruitment requires three elements: Get messages to potential supporters and sympathizers; convince them to support you; give them the means to connect with you. (Note: Attempts to infiltrate these operations are another great tactic because, if nothing else, they force ISIS to be ultra-suspicious of anyone too eager to join.) Social media and the dark Web are the only practical ways — beyond word-of-mouth, which is far too slow and inefficient for a global operation — ISIS can do this. Its leaders have learned social media well. If Anonymous can keep ahead of ISIS in shutting down propaganda, recruitment and fundraising sites and feeds of all kinds, its cyberwar, in conjunction with standard military attacks, can work. So, though I have never had kind words for Anonymous in the past, I am truly hopeful that in this endeavor it will find success. When we see atrocities like what happened last week in Paris, it’s natural for many of us to feel helpless. But the coders and other technically oriented folk who have joined forces with Anonymous have a chance to make a difference.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434158
__label__wiki	0.956349	0.956349	5 things you should know about the blockchain IBM offers advice on how to secure blockchain in the cloud Blockchain: It's not just for finance anymore Healthcare, retail industries give blockchain a try Blockchain: You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers By Bob Violino Contributing Writer, Network World \| Chances are you’ve been hearing about a technology called “blockchain” because it has received a lot of hype lately. As with any newer technology, lots of claims and notions are being floated around. To help make sense of blockchain and what it might mean for your organization, we’ve put together a primer based on input from experts who are covering this area closely. What is blockchain and where did it come from? Blockchain is a loose term these days, and there are lots of short, punchy definitions, says Gilles Ubaghs, senior analyst, Financial Services Technology, at research firm Ovum. Gilles Ubaghs “It’s a complex topic that is worth breaking down into detail, but technically is a means of maintaining a ledger of transactions across a network over time,” Ubaghs says. “To use a metaphor, each page in the ledger recording the transaction forms a block [and] that block/page has an impact on the next block/page” through the use of a cryptographic hashing. When a block is completed, it creates a unique secure code, Ubaghs says. That code then ties into the next page/block, and subsequently has an impact on that block’s secure code. Any attempt to make an alteration to the ledger of transactions in any pre-existing block will have an impact on the cryptographic hash/secure code and be detectable. “Hence, it is tamper proof,” Ubaghs says. The other aspect of blockchain that’s perhaps more critical, Ubaghs says, is the method of reaching consensus across the network. With Bitcoin—a digital payment system—blockchain operates on a “proof of work” consensus model, whereby “miner” nodes within the network offer processing power for these transactions. + ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD Is the blockchain good for security? + “They race to find the solution to a computation puzzle, which is verifiable by the rest of the network,” Ubaghs says. “Once a node/miner cracks the puzzle, this effectively closes off one block in the blockchain, and the network as a whole moves to the next block, with a record of those transactions now basically in stone and untamperable.” Through this consensus model, there’s no need for one central authority to verify the transactions and ensure the accuracy of the ledger. “And that’s really the idea that has people excited,” Ubaghs says. The concept of blockchain is not new; it goes back to old computational and even philosophical issues on how to ensure compliance without a centralized authority. The Bitcoin blockchain is just one version of the technology, Ubaghs says, and other forms are now emerging such as hyperledger, Ethereum and the R3 Consortium’s Corda protocol. “It’s branching out and developing quite quickly,” Ubaghs says. “As the tech evolves, the terminology is evolving too away from just blockchain, to distributed ledger and even just ledger technologies.” Does anybody understand how blockchain really works, and what’s driving the hype? Clearly there’s a lot of confusion about blockchain. “Many—some might say most—of the people writing and talking about blockchain don’t understand the concept and the underlying technologies at a technical level,” says Martha Bennett, principal analyst at Forrester Research. Fabio Chesini The confusion is understandable, because the technology is new and complicated, adds Fabio Chesini, research director at Gartner. “Blockchain is often described as a distributed general ledger, but even beyond its distributed nature, there’s a fundamental difference between a traditional general ledger and a blockchain distributed ledger,” Chesini says. In a traditional general ledger, “all you need to do to know is the current balance of a given account is to go to the last movement,” Chesini says. “The blockchain is more complex.” Because of the hype surrounding blockchain and in particular Bitcoin, people tend to see it as a simple distributed general ledger for exchanging a pseudo currency, Chesini says. “But the true power of blockchain lies in the ability to use it as a mechanism to transfer any asset and the underline value associated to it,” he says. Some of the hype is driven by the competitive nature of the finance industry. “There’s a lot of FOMO—fear of missing out—around,” Bennett says. “When banks see competitors announce that they’ve done a deal with a blockchain start-up, or running blockchain [proofs of concept], many feel compelled to follow suit.” MORE ON NETWORK WORLD: 26 crazy and scary things the TSA has found on travelers There’s clearly a huge gap between hype and reality. “Very little has been proven in practice to date,” Bennett says. “To be clear, that’s not to say that I don’t believe in the disruptive potential of blockchain concepts and technology. We are indeed looking at taking distributed computing to a new level. It’s just that not everybody is prepared to admit that we’re at the ‘just barely learning to walk’ stage.” Those who do understand blockchain today are developing innovative distributed applications and new platforms based on blockchain technology, Ubaghs says, including the ones he mentioned. “But it’s also an overhyped and widely misunderstood term,” Ubaghs says. “The vast majority of the market is just getting to grips with what the technology is, and the ‘consultants’ are now emerging to help them.” How about a simple example of how blockchain works? “Let’s say that Alice sells products to Bob, and they agree to use U.S. dollars as the currency for all transactions,” Chesini says. “Alice uses a general ledger for accounting purposes, to track all her transactions with Bob. All she needs to do to determine the balance at a given point in time is to look at the latest closing balance in her general ledger.” In a blockchain, however, the concept of the closing balance doesn’t exist. Determining the balance of a given account is a matter of going backward from the last block in the blockchain to the block containing the very first transaction between the two parties involved, Chesini says. “So let’s say Alice decides to use a blockchain general ledger,” Chesini says. “If she wants to know the balance at a certain point in time, she’ll need to trace back through all the transactions she’s ever had with Bob.” + RELATED: What is blockchain and how does it work? + The blockchain introduces entirely new characteristics to the traditional accounting system being used in any industry, Chesini says. “One important characteristic is the distributed nature of the ledger, which makes it resilient and distributes operational costs among the participants,” he says. Another key characteristic is provenance, which brings with it transparency and auditability. Who’s taking the lead on developing blockchain, and what are the possible business applications? Many different parties are taking on lead roles in blockchain development, depending on use case and motivation, Bennett says. “There’s no single body that drives development,” she says. Blockchain isn’t just one technology, Ubaghs notes, and there are a few major players making waves. These include Ripple Labs, Data Assett Holdings and Ethereum, among others. “Most of this initial development is happening with a focus on financial services and financial markets in particular,” with work being done by the NASDAQ and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) as well as other organizations, Ubaghs says. “But the applications are veritably endless, with major potential in the Internet of Things.” Any service that requires a centralized data connection can now be distributed, opening up the possibility for all sorts of new services, such as automated payments via smart goods, automatically negotiated smart contracts, etc. The permanent verifiable nature of blockchain means all sorts of contractual, documentation and legal functions can be driven with the technology. “In theory, it even leads to the potential for full autonomous organizations to form and operate—corporate boards, and voting systems, etc.,” Ubaghs says. Is blockchain going to change the world of internet transactions, and if so how? In the immediate term, no. “Not for the average consumer in any case,” Ubaghs says. “The primary use case for blockchain technology in financial services is on backend infrastructure. What that means is payments will become cheaper, faster and eventually much more global. That will open up significant potential in terms of remittances, and cross-border commerce.” If I’m a security professional, why should I care about blockchain? For security professionals, the distributed nature of blockchain and its implications for the business model is a key aspect to consider about the technology, Chesini says. “We are seeing lot of different consensus mechanisms being used by different metacoin platforms, mainly in trusted ecosystems, that bring lots of unknown scenarios that need to be fully assessed,” Chesini says. “Another key characteristic of blockchain is that you cannot easily decouple IT and business requirements, which makes holistic understanding of the problems that must be solved a key concern for security professionals.” Blockchain offers significant security potential in terms of storing data, but there are still potentially weak points in terms of getting that data into or out of a blockchain, Ubaghs says. “It could be a very strong security solution, but it needs to be understood,” he says. What does the future hold for blockchain? Blockchain has the potential to have huge repercussions for a lot of business processes, Ubaghs says. “How exactly this will pan out, no one really knows yet,” he says. “However, it’s imperative that all organizations begin learning and understanding the technology now. The snake oil salesmen are coming out, and blockchains aren’t suitable for every situation. But in some situations the impact will be profound.” The good news is most blockchain technologies are open source, “which means learning, experimenting and getting your hands dirty with the technology is pretty easy to do,” Ubaghs says. “However, with such hype in the space, there’s a real challenge in recruiting talent. Nurturing and developing that in-house now could be beneficial longer term.” As for business applications of blockchain, overall there’s little for which blockchain hasn’t been proposed as a solution, Bennett says. “It’s too soon to tell which applications will actually prove practical for large-scale deployment,” she says. Her main advice to IT executives: “Make sure the tech offering matches your use case, and look very carefully at the background of the teams involved in blockchain startups. There’s a lot of technology brilliance, but not always an understanding of enterprise requirements in terms of speed, security, scalability and compliance.” Violino is a freelance writer. He can be reached at bviolino@optonline.net. This story, "Blockchain: You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers" was originally published by Network World. Bob Violino is a contributing writer for Insider Pro, Computerworld, CIO, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World, based in New York.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434159
__label__cc	0.538525	0.461475	Dreaming About Nano Health Care CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Leading health, technology and health technology professionals gathered on Monday to dream the increasingly possible wellness dream. MIT's Media Lab hosted the first gathering of its deceptively simply titled Health Special Interest Group. This debut Health SIG gathering proposed to do no less than rethink the entire multibillion dollar medical industry and envision a future where the health-care dollar depends more upon the informed consumer and less on the passive patient. "My basic idea is that new tools are giving consumers – not patients – the ability to take control of their health and maintain their lifestyle," said Alex Pentland, academic head of the Media Lab and a prime mover behind the Lab's new health-care focus. "That will be the main front line where people take care of themselves, learn about themselves and take action for themselves. Rather than a doctor contending only with the sick or the 'worried well,' they may find a much more informed populace coming to their doorstep." As he presented it in the morning's introductory remarks, four potential directions for research and development beckon: creating systems to encourage and enhance healthy behavior and learning; designing wearable systems and smart environments; creating and processing "data-rich," personalized medical service and developing micro-fabricated biosensors for health maintenance, observation and early disease detection. Pentland wasn't the only dreamer in the crowd, though. Indeed, one exercise for the afternoon was for the participants – including many of the lab's own free-ranging thinkers as well as representatives from across industry, academia and government – to scribble out their wish lists: What's the most important development in the "health industry" that they could hope for? Some saw it as an opportunity to get an early word in with Santa Claus; others forecast a political, social or legal climate change as the key component to making the Health SIG's dreams come true. "'Tricorder' technology?" one correspondent asked. Other gadgetry must-haves included biological sensors in a pill, a personal health card that "does it all" (while guaranteeing privacy), and even an oral health sensor on a toothbrush. On the other hand, one Health SIG participant wrote that the most important change was to "focus on the home as a center of health-care delivery," while another requested "natural interfaces good enough for kids and elderly." And, seeking the ultimate e-nanny, one wrote: "The ideal product: An agent that will have access real-time to all my biometric info and that will nag me to do all the right things." Media Lab faculty, students and post-docs held court for most of the day, showcasing their health-related technological innovations – although, at times, the relevance to the topic of the day involved some roundabout diversions by way of advanced statistics or toy castles made out of Lego bricks. Perhaps the most far-reaching developments on display were found in the interface between wireless communications, biological sensors and nanotechnology. The Lab's new recruit, Scott Manalisnow, leads the nanoscale sensing vanguard – moving toward remote microscopic laboratories that conduct body chemistry and genetic tests from anywhere, including inside a person's body. Manalis' work was not only on display at Monday's Health Initiative kickoff but also is one of the centerpieces of Tuesday's Silicon Biology symposium. "There's a company that's developed a pill that you can swallow that measures temperature in your body," Manalis said. "The pill is a little bigger than a vitamin C pill, but it has inside it a battery, an antenna and an oscillator so when the temperature changes it changes the frequency that comes out. And you can wear something on your side, so you can measure the temperature inside your body." Other projects highlighted during the day included printable semiconductor chips for interfaces to biological sensors, wearable personal health monitors, computer applications for children undergoing kidney dialysis and diabetes therapy and a prototype "smart medical home." But, amidst the gee-whiz, a few voices from outside the Lab tempered their enthusiasm with notes of caution. Jake Galler of Quest Diagnostics reminded that while consumers will be seeking more control over their health care – as the group anticipates – they'll still be demanding a vigilant privacy policy over their records. "I know I would not like to see my genomic sequence up on a website somewhere like sometimes you'll see these financial returns of Hollywood stars," he said. "So that really is critical as we move forward." Furthermore, Mary Jo Deering of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added two other crucial caveats. "Eighty percent of the problems are not technology," she said. "They're sociology and psychology. The barriers are personal. Professional and institutional behavior is more addictive than lifestyle behavior – it's harder to change. You have to work overtime. So as you design these systems, think of yourself as trying to change slow-moving oil tankers. Pace yourself and be in it for the long term. "And my final suggestion to you is in all the testing that I've heard about and all the advisory panels, I haven't heard of any consumers and patients as your advisers. I strongly urge that you do that. To the extent that you have a home-based, person-based delivery system, you had better hear from the people who are going to use it."	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434162
__label__cc	0.713618	0.286382	CCPL secretary, board member and tutor Claire Schreiner is available to help those with literacy needs. Angie Mindus photo Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy can help you Reach a Reader: Gaining literacy skills necessary for life Jan. 23, 2019 7:30 p.m. Workplace success involves acquiring and developing skills the Government says are essential to get ahead. Reading a variety of materials and documents with understanding is the first step. The ability to use numbers in money matters, data, scheduling and measuring comes next. Writing text and documents with understanding is vitally important. The next skill involves clear spoken communication with co-workers, customers and others. In most jobs, a person needs to be able to work with others without problems. Many jobs require problem solving and decision making skills. The ability to use computers and other technologies is called regularly in daily situations especially for job searches and government forms. Last but not least, a person needs to be able to continue to learn for the job and to keep life interesting. (paraphrased from abclifeliteracy.ca) Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy offers free help to people who may feel they lack some of these skills. From basic reading and writing to upgrading for advanced training, one-to-one trained tutors are available to help at our PAL office on Third Ave S. We offer services for new immigrants and refugees at our IMMS office on First Ave N. Free computer and technology sessions run every Thursday morning at the CRD Williams Lake Library, to book phone 250 392-3630. Help with understanding finances is another of our services, including filling out forms and applications and job searches. Programs for Seniors include writing life stories, financial literacy, using IPads, tablets and cell phones, and reading groups. Learning begins at a very young age. CCPL provides services to help develop literacy in children. Books for Babies provides a bag of books for newborns and another book at the 18 month checkup. Bright Red Bookshelves offer free gently used children’s books at 16 public locations in Williams Lake. We set up Story Walk books at community events such as Children’s Festival and Strong Start parties. CCPL gives free children’s books at community events such as Family Fest and presents puppet shows and storytelling. Currently we have a grant for after school tutoring for a group of elementary students. We always welcome new volunteers to help with our programs. For more information, visit our website at www.caribooliteracy.com or contact our Immigrant Services office at 778 412-9333, or our PAL office at 250 392-7833. Claire has been with CCPL since its early days and has volunteered in many different roles in the organization. Claire is on the CCPL Board and is now the secretary. What a difference 3 years makes Lax Kw’alaams prepare to lead All Native opening ceremonies	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434166
__label__wiki	0.779467	0.779467	Cart/£0.00 0 Doc hoping it’s a case of knee-sy does it for Wolves Tim Nash November 4, 2019 Wolves Bite - Blog 0 Comments Matt Doherty is hoping a recurrence of his knee problem doesn’t keep him out of contention for Wolves. The Ireland international was forced off in the 71st minute after suffering discomfort in the same joint that has caused him problems since sustaining the injury in pre-season. Doherty, Wolves’ longest serving player, was replaced by Ruben Vinagre in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates, but is hoping to be available for Thursday’s Europa League encounter at home to Slovan Bratislava. “It was my right knee, I just fell on it and I just had that strong deflection,” said the 27-year-old. “The way my knee is at the moment it is not really that good for it.” Doherty insists there was no way he could have continued at the Emirates, so he didn’t come off as a precaution. “If I could have continued, I would have continued,” he added. “But I just felt like I could not run properly. So it was probably better for me to come off.” Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is keeping his fingers crossed the right wing back will be available on Thursday, but stressed the squad is deep enough to cope with his absence. “Let’s see how Matt is. I hope it’s nothing serious, but we have other options. Players go down, other players come up,” said the boss. “We have to manage well and we always have the back-up of the Under-23s which we trust, and we will always be able to compete. “This is what we want to achieve – always a strong 11 to compete, no matter where.” Meanwhile, Doherty is targeting more goals to add to his two strikes this season after being denied by Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who made a fine stop to palm away his 25-yarder. Doherty scored eight goals and got the same number of assists last season, by far his most productive campaign to date. So he seemed rather harsh on himself as he said: “I get myself in to forward positions and I just wish I could put it in the net a little bit more than I do.” Wolves have become the draw specialists of the Premier League, with seven so far this season, two more than closest contenders Arsenal and Watford on five each. On six of those occasions, Wolves have come from behind to claim a point, while 86 per cent of their goals have come in the second half. Doherty feels they have deserved more wins than the two they have registered so far. “We are not losing, which is the main thing, we have drawn games we felt we should possibly be winning but I think we have been doing really well,” he concluded. Football News24/7 Wolves kid Giles might Kop Liverpool before Shrewsbury Nuno: Pedro will put big-time despair for Wolves behind him to Net-o again Wolves boss Nuno welcomes decision to ask rulers to scrap handball rule Wolves cub Connor Ronan heads out on loan again Scan for Vinagre as Wolves recall Ryan Giles from Shrewsbury United might have won the war but Wolves won the midfield battle – Fletcher Wolves keeper Ruddy’s rant: ‘I’m not a fan of VAR, never have been, never wanted it’ Cutrone says he had to go as Wolves ‘didn’t trust me any more’ Portuguese starlet bags treble as Wolves U23s knock ‘Dale for six Wolves cub Austin motors out of Molineux with loan move Wolves v FC PyunikAugust 15, 2019 Express & Star Kenny Hibbitt Book Copyright © 2020 Wolves Bite – Powered by Midland IT Specialists. By continuing, you agree to the use of cookies. To change this and find out more follow Read More Accept	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434167
__label__cc	0.742478	0.257522	You are here: Home - Saving & Banking - News - 46 per cent of UK adults now use mobile banking Written by: Kit Klarenberg Nearly half (46 per cent) of UK adults say they now bank online through their mobile (whether via browser or dedicated app) – and over a third (37 per cent) say they log in to their online accounts daily – according to research released by thinkmoney. The findings highlight a number of fresh trends in consumer banking. It was perhaps to be expected that younger generations overwhelmingly bank via mobile phone; 69 per cent of 18-24s and 72 per cent of 25-34s said their mobile phone formed their primary contact with their account provider. However, older generations appear to have embraced new technology too, with two-fifths (41 per cent) of 45-54s now banking via mobile. According to the findings, it is only the over 55s who are yet to take to mobile banking, with just over one in five (21 per cent) saying they use their phones for banking. The findings also suggest that the growth of mobile banking has led to customers accessing their bank accounts with increased frequency. For instance, 88 per cent of mobile banking users age 25-34 say that they login at least once a week. The chart below illustrates the rates of usage. “Given that rate of uptake of mobile banking, it won’t be long before over half of current account customers are using their phone to keep up to date with their account, transfer money and pay bills via Faster Payments,” said Ian Williams, spokesperson for thinkmoney. “Not only does mobile banking allow customers to stay more on top of their finances – but it allows them to do so wherever and whenever they choose to.” Regulator to ban sale of locked mobile phones Natwest customers hit with IT problems on Black Friday Revolut now allows users to pay direct debits Banks suffer IT glitches five times a week Tagged: mobile banking mobile payments Mobile phones online banking By Kit Klarenberg HSBC regular savers: your options once its 5% interest rate ends A swathe of people will see their HSBC 5% regular saver deal come to an end in the next fe... The top 10 bizarre tax return excuses and expense claims There are just two weeks to go to file your self-assessment tax return. With the deadline ... UK set to waste over £1.3bn ISA tax savings UK savers are due to waste up to £1.3 billion this year through failing to use all the available tax-free...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434173
__label__cc	0.507221	0.492779	Beverly Hills Teens intro DirRudy Unsubscribe from DirRudy? Beverly Hills Teens is an American animated children's television program produced by DIC Entertainment. Distributed by Access Syndication and originally airing in first-run syndication in the United States from September 21, 1987 through December 18, 1987. Suggested by WildBrain Fingerlings And Friends Beverly Hills Teens 3 - The Makeover (Part 1 of 3) - Duration: 7:22. XcuseU 26,218 views Beverly Hills Teens 1987 Episode 37 Look Deep Into My Eyes - Duration: 21:56. chase lowrey 11,356 views Beverly Hills Teens: "Bianca's Diary" (1/2) - Duration: 10:33. NinnikNishukan3 5,698 views Beverly Hills Teens 2 - The Dog Ate My Homework (Part 3 of 3) - Duration: 7:01. XcuseU 36,310 views Beverly Hills Teens - Bianca's Dream 1/2 - Duration: 11:00. Omnis Validus 36,317 views "The Buck Stops Here" (1/2) - Duration: 10:52. NinnikNishukan3 5,287 views Beverly Hills Teen 1 - Double-Surfing Double-Cross (Part 1 of 3) - Duration: 7:15. XcuseU 54,445 views Heathcliff - Opening Theme - Duration: 1:28. BenW783a 1,286,658 views Guess the Disney Song - Duration: 9:44. Justin Goode Recommended for you Heathcliff (intro) - Duration: 1:12. Mill Creek Entertainment 336,451 views Beverly Hills Teens - McTech P.I. 1/2 - Duration: 10:50. Omnis Validus 13,772 views Beverly Hills Teens 5 - Robot Romance (Part 1 of 3) - Duration: 7:22. XcuseU 18,133 views Beverly Hills Teens - Diet Please Part 1/2 - Duration: 10:34. Omnis Validus 23,504 views She-Ra Opening Theme - Duration: 1:13. Animated Cartoons for Children 3,220,857 views Jem and the Holograms - Theme Song - Duration: 1:14. Hasbro Recommended for you Zootopia but every time a new character comes on screen it gets faster - Duration: 2:52. Sly The Fox Recommended for you	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434175
__label__wiki	0.866677	0.866677	994 results for “Audi” Test Drive: 2015 Audi A8 L TDI Noise? Smoke? Soot? Forget it! The 3.0L TDI V6 under the Audi A8 L’s hood emits almost none of the above. Start it up: barely a peep. Stand at the rear: all’s quiet at the tailpipes. Keep up with flowing traffic? Noiseless. Engage a tidal-wave of luxury-thrust to fly by an 18-wheeler on the highway? The subtle roar from the engine sounds like its c Find of the Week: 1994 Audi S4 If you're looking for a retro-classic AWD performance sedan, then the autoTRADER.ca Find of the week might be just the ticket. It's an oddball performance car that's increasingly rare on the road today, one that helped start a now-iconic performance brand off with a warble. It's a 1994 Audi S4, the Ur-S4. The S4, introduced in 1991, was the firs Test Drive: 2015 Audi A7 TDI Clean Diesel There are few silhouettes as alluring to me as that of the Audi A7 . The proportions of the rear deck lid and the long hood balance out the “four-door coupe” perfectly. To my mind, this is the most original and best execution of this design fad. It’s stunning. Truly stunning. This A7, as with most of them, has Audi’s 3.0L TDI engine inside. The Next-Gen Audi R8 In V10-Versus-Volts Tug Of War Audi's performance car division says it wants to keep putting a V10 engine in the R8 despite a push to go electric with the next-generation version. UK's Autocar spoke to Audi Sport director Oliver Hoffman at last weekend's Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race, where the Audi R8 LMS Evo finished first overall. Hoffman said Audi Sport customers "L By Chris Chase Preview: 2017 Audi R8 Spyder NEW YORK – Audi of the Americas President, Scott Keogh, strode onto the New York stage to the beat of Bowie's "Starman", the theme song for the company's popular Super Bowl ad. "There's no ceiling on performance. And sometimes there's no roof either." "We're shooting for the moon," said Keogh, noting that Audi's birthdate coincided with By Lesley Wimbush Preview: 2018 Audi A8 BARCELONA, Spain – Amidst an over-the-top presentation featuring Big Bang Theory star Kunal Nayyar as MC, and a full-scale Audi A8 being effortlessly spun around like a toy model by a giant robotic arm, the Ingolstadt company unveiled its new flagship sedan, the 2018 Audi A8. The A8 is the first car on the market developed to be capable of By Jeff Wilson Test Drive: 2015 Audi Q3 Mini crossovers are, like, sooooo hot right now. This season’s colours are mini, crossover and luxury. Get your 2015 garage-style upgrade here. It seems lately like the automotive world is as fickle as the fashion world. And right now in Canada there is nothing hotter than a small, luxury crossover. Enter the 2015 Audi Q3 . The little Audi cute I was trying to explain the concept of a small crossover to my mom over the phone. She likes the idea of a crossover, but hates climbing up into a vehicle. “You sort of plunk down into the Audi Q3, a little bit. It’s more like getting into a car.” Later on, I took mom out for a coffee, and she gave the Q3 two thumbs up: one for being easy to boa Audi Reveals All-New Q3 Audi has just revealed the all-new Q3 crossover, which receives a more athletic look and more tech as well as new powertrain options. The Q3 starts with a big octagonal grille. The gaping maw looks like the equally bold grille on the new Q8 crossover, and it's part of a new look for the brand's SUVs. Aside from the grille, and the angry headligh First Drive: 2016 Audi Q7 Verbier, Switzerland – The alpine roads around Verbier, Switzerland wind and twist up and down the mountain faces, connecting the chalets and villages liberally sprinkled wherever the skiing might be best. The scenery is truly breathtaking and it feels as if you’re travelling from one postcard to the next. With ski season behind us, the smooth a First Drive: 2017 Audi A4 Venice, Italy – A city renowned for its canals seems the most unlikely of places to hold a launch event for a new sports sedan; even less so when it’s one as important to the brand as Audi’s A4 is. Despite the obvious family resemblance, the 2017 model’s body is 99 percent new. But that’s exactly where the Ingolstadt-based company unle Test Drive: 2016 Audi TTS Volkswagen’s new Golf R hot hatch has been receiving heaping doses of praise from enthusiasts and the media alike. Heck, as one of three finalists for the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s Canadian Car of the Year Awards, it was nearly crowned the best new car for 2016. Imagine a car that amplifies all that’s endearing about the First Drive: 2018 Audi A5/S5 PORTO, Portugal – Driving mountain roads as often as we do, we’re used to seeing the occasional cyclist. But coming out of a tight corner and encountering a multi-coloured flock of goats spread out across the roadway – well, that’s a new one. We slowed to a crawl as a pair of enormous, black dogs bounded up, and began to expertly herd the goats ont Used Vehicle Review: Audi RS5, 2013-2015 Vehicle Type Performance Coupe The Audi RS5 is a majestic performance coupe that’s ready for thrills, all year round. History/Description All hail the almighty snorting German rocket-coupe! With two doors, four seats, all-wheel drive, seven paddle-shifted gears and a furious little V8 spinning to 8,000-plus revs with a smile on it Test Drive: 2015 Audi A4 Allroad As we lose more and more wagons (and manual transmissions, for that matter) with every generation of cars launched in North America, we at Autos.ca must do everything in our power to cherish each and every long-roof we can lay our hands on. Audi has a legacy of wagons, Avant in Audi-speak that is rivaled by few, though the truly delectable hot-rod By Jonathan Yarkony	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434176
__label__cc	0.641855	0.358145	Mohammed Nosseir - Daily News Egypt How Egypt lost its soft power edge Egypt was always widely renowned for its soft power, which it used to shape and influence millions of Arabs – those living in the Middle East region as well as Arab emigrants abroad. Unfortunately, we have been steadily losing our clear superiority in this area over the last few decades, due to hindrances created by … Mohammed Nosseir Egypt’s tourism challenges are internal, not external By Mohammed Nosseir ‘Have you been to Egypt?’ is a question I ask most people I meet abroad, after introducing myself as an Egyptian. In response to my question, I usually receive one of two sets of replies: ‘No, I haven’t been there yet, but Egypt is on my dream list of countries that … How much longer can Al-Sisi manage to manipulate Egyptian politics? By Mohammed Nosseir People may think that authoritarian rule is an easy task. However, the truth is quite the opposite; it is a far more complicated undertaking than democratic rule. Whereas democratic rule is a collective work, in which responsibilities are shared among the President, members of Parliament, governmental institutions and others, authoritarian rule requires … Egypt hurt by being completely security-driven By Mohammed Nosseir Security is the name of the game in Egypt! All of the country’s key entities – government organisations, private sector corporations, universities, NGOs, sports clubs or even social cafés are influenced and driven by the state’s security mindset. Security entities are by far the most powerful organisations in Egypt, making the Minister … Al-Sisi’s risky economic gamble: Egypt’s challenge lies in its present reality, not its potentiality By Mohammed Nosseir The Egyptian government recently held a very successful Economic Summit. Although the conference was mentored by an Arab country and managed by an international agency, the credit for its success still goes to the Egyptian government for its open-mindedness in this respect. Nevertheless, in my opinion, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) has … Why do Egyptians value authoritarianism? By Mohammed Nosseir While authoritarianism may be perceived by many as hereditary in Egyptian DNA, it is in reality a mechanism of rule that has been forced upon its citizens for centuries in a determined effort to get rid of any attempt to establish genuine democracy (such as the 25 January Revolution). The challenge we Egyptians … A word of advice to Al-Sisi: Prompt reform to prevent chaos By Mohammed Nosseir President Al-Sisi ran a very successful election campaign, persuading millions of Egyptians to vote for him in order to save the country from the Muslim Brotherhood. So far, the president appears not to heed the fact that Egyptians initially revolted against the lack of justice, freedom and dignity that existed for almost … United States: A tale of morals and cruelty By Mohammed Nosseir There is no doubt that the United States of America is by far the most controversial nation among Arabs. Consecutive US Administrations have somehow managed to cultivate an intense love-hate relationship with millions of Arabs. The valid question ‘Why do they hate us?’, raised in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, can … Let’s not fool ourselves – The roots of terrorism extend beyond Islam By Mohammed Nosseir After committing their deadly crimes, terrorists often leave a message that Islam or the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is the motive behind their crimes. Scholars logically follow this lead, digging deeper into the Quran in an attempt to solve the puzzle of Islam to determine what motivates Muslims to kill innocent people, and … Freedom matters – even in a poor and uninformed nation By Mohammed Nosseir Freedom is, and will continue to be, the most important attribute not only of genuinely democratic nations, but also of a people’s development and progress. Freedom is a gift from God that people can enjoy without burdening their respective governments. Yet autocratic rulers, who usually believe that they are right, are unable to … Upgrading Egyptian mentality should take priority over expanding its infrastructure By Mohammed Nosseir An annex to the Suez Canal is rapidly being built, thousands of new roads are under construction, bridges are being erected to overcome traffic bottlenecks, hundreds of schools are in the pipeline – these are just a few examples of exploits the Egyptian government has announced over the past few months. Other … Which is better for Al-Sisi: Strengthening Egyptian society or neutering it By Mohammed Nosseir President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who is perceived as the strongman of Egypt, constantly claims that his goal is to lead a strong country – yet he is actually working on neutering Egyptian society. To ensure that it will not be the source of any solid opposition, steps have been taken to … How does Egyptian culture influence its politics? By Mohammed Nosseir Culture matters! And when it comes to Egyptian politics, it matters enormously. In the absence of a proper political structure, where the existing structure is often altered to better serve the ruler, culture plays an essential role in mobilising Egyptians. To better understand the dynamics of Egyptian politics, one must first understand … How are Egyptian politics manoeuvred and formed? When the melody plays, you are obliged to sing along! Should Egypt be governed by majority rule or by rule of law? By Mohammed Nosseir The term ‘majority’ could be a very pleasant one, used to refer to a segment of any given society. In reality, rulers and citizens tend to commit a number of mistakes based on a false assumption known as ‘majority rule’. This is what has been happening in our attempt to develop a … Middle East Realism – How power completely overcomes values By Mohammed Nosseir What matters in the Middle East is the reality on the ground. Having good ideas and some moral values – but no power – makes you a useless entity, while possessing power but no ethical values can sustain your presence for a lengthy period and enable you to gain more ground. This … Egypt’s identity: Hovering between love and rule of law By Mohammed Nosseir Egyptian rulers gamble when they think that they can manipulate the national identity to serve their political goals. Each ruler has his own perception of the Egyptian identity that he wants to impose on society either through expressing love or by applying harsh laws that aim at fine-tuning citizens to fit into a … How uncertainty managed to negatively affect the Egyptian economy By Mohammed Nosseir Egypt is in need of a coherent economic vision complemented by explicit economic policies. Undermining both, or using economic initiatives as substitutes and surprising citizens with an assortment of mega investment projects (even if they are beneficial) will not do our country any good. In a very short period, Al-Sisi has managed … Egypt keeps changing suits – but its mindset remains intact By Mohammed Nosseir Egypt has not changed a bit! It claims to have gone through two revolutions in less than three years and it has managed to have four different rulers since Mubarak was toppled from power, and has been shaped by the diverse styles of its successive rulers. However, the same mindset that was … Do Egyptians deserve a better life? By Mohammed Nosseir In principle, every citizen deserves a better life; why should people suffer if their lives can be improved? However, a better life won’t be dished out and served up on a golden plate. To lead better lives, citizens should not only work hard, they must abide by a number of values that … Egypt needs a fair and firm leader – not a hero By Mohammed Nosseir Egyptians are looking for a hero, a person who will magically solve their problems with minimal contribution on their part.. Egypt’s current president, aware of this issue, capitalised on this fragile emotional bond to garner additional votes and reinforce his popularity. It would be a serious mistake for President Al-Sisi to believe that … Does Egypt need to use more muscles or more brain? By Mohammed Nosseir Egypt is certainly facing a political crisis. Whether you perceive 30 June to be a revolution or a coup, its consequences have, undeniably, driven the country in an unpleasant direction. The nation is polarised, split into two main political groups, and numerous terrorist acts are being committed across the country, hindering political … Is politics about dirt or values? By Mohammed Nosseir ‘Politics is a dirty game!’ is a phrase often used to justify the behavior of politicians. If you are a believer in this maxim, please vote for the most corrupt politicians you know and bring them into government or parliament. This will ensure that, ultimately, Egypt’s governing authority and legislative council will … Egyptians’ lives: Between reality and fantasy By Mohammed Nosseir Egyptians live two parallel lives: the life of reality that they struggle through daily and a fantasy existence of which they dream, a fantasy that they feel is quite close to reality, but have never managed to reach. Although the gap between the two is large and constantly growing, most Egyptians don’t … How Egyptians are trapped in polarity & prejudice By Mohammed Nosseir “I accuse you of high treason!” is a phrase frequently used by Egyptians in the course of political discourse. Most of the people who use the phrase don’t really think of its actual meaning, but it is a good tool for polarisation and expressing prejudice. Apparently, Egyptian society prefers accusations and criticism … Egypt: Absent Justice By Mohammed Nosseir Egypt is a country that has been lacking justice for decades. Two revolutions and thousands of marches and demonstrations demanding justice, among other things, have taken place in all Egyptian governorates. So far, however, nothing has been achieved, be it the amendment of laws or the actual application of justice on the ground. …	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434177
__label__cc	0.734408	0.265592	Roxy Bruna Review [Editors rating (9.9)] = (WalkJogRun) score (9.9)/10 Editor rating: 9.9 / 10 User's rating: based on 0 user ratings By Alanna Elia What was originally the first line of ladies water-wear and hailed from the surf-inspired, Quicksilver, has become an extremely popular brand for ladies around the world. Roxy is now a household name that you’d be hardpressed to find a girl who didn’t know the line. Since their 1990 debut, Roxy has continued to grow in popularity and has expanded to sponsor athletes in professional tournaments and more. Their Bruna boot somehow fails to impress, with appearances, that is! This boot is an excellent choice for functionality but leaves little to desire from its outward appearances. The Bruna by Roxy is a basic utilitarian style boot that offers little in the way of fashionability. Its plain appearance won’t do much for your appearance, but if you’re shopping for a pair that’s functional then this is an excellent consideration. These boots offer a lugged outsole that provides superior traction on almost any terrain so you won’t have to worry about any slips or falls. At the same time, Bruna’s cushioned footbed helps to keep you comfortable while you’re on the go. Anyone who prefers a versatile boot will enjoy this pair that offers a convertible fold-down shaft so you can choose between two choices of how to wear them. A soft faux-fur lining material is ideal for keeping you warm and toasty when the weather outside is cold which is why these boots are the ideal choice for fall and winter wear. Lugged Outsole Metal Grommets Wide Laces Convertable Shaft Minimal Colorways Narrow Fitting Plain Appearance This pair is a utilitarian combat style boot. It has a convertible design that lets you fold the shaft down for a versatile style. It’s rather plain in appearances though it does stand out well in the military-like boot section! If you’re shopping for a functional pair of footwear than this is a good choice for you, though if you’re looking for something stylish you might consider shopping around. The Bruna is a very good choice for walking in wet or slippery conditions thanks to its strong traction that will keep you stable on your feet. It offers cotton laces and 'Roxy' logo on both the insole and outsole. These boots have a lightly padded footbed and interior faux-fur lining that helps to make them an enjoyable pair to wear. A cushioned footbed is important for helping to better absorb the shock of impact and can lessen the chance of leg and foot pain when you wear them for a long time. This also helps to protect the delicate arch area of the foot and prevents excess strain in that area. It features a 'Roxy' label on the footbed and is quite comfortable overall. Oustole The Bruna boot has a deep lugged sole that provides superior traction on nearly any surface. This type of tread is excellent for maneuvering difficult terrain and will keep you stable on your feet even in wet or slippery conditions. It’s made from long-lasting synthetic materials that are able to withstand daily wear and tear with ease and are able to walk on both wet and dry areas without issue. In an attempt to add more personality to this pair it features a 'Roxy' on the outsole. The Bruna offers an assortment of accessories that help to make this utilitarian pair even edgier! Its metal grommets give it an army like feel while a rounded cap toe only adds to this persona. This pair’s broad laces are uniquely its own and give off a distinctive vibe that makes others take notice. A statement lugged sole and raised broad-shaped heel is reminiscent of Russia and makes you feel like marching! These boots offer a unique convertible shaft that can be rolled down to form a completely different style than when the shaft is upright. When its rolled down, the faux-fur lining is visible which helps to make this pair come off as being a bit more feminine. This is a welcomed change from the normally masculine vibe that this pair oozes. The shaft is approximately 7 ½-inches in height which means it sits midway up the calf for better lower leg protection. This is ideal for colder weather as it will help to keep your calves warmer thanks to the furry lining material. A ¼ -inch stacked block heel makes for a stable ride that’s easy to walk in. A stacked heel looks like it’s made from multiple thin layers of material which are stacked on top of each other. Though, in reality, it’s really just made from one solid piece that gives off that illusion. When the heel is made from a solid piece it’s much more durable than if several pieces are glued together. In that case, it’s easy for the glue to come apart which causes the materials to separate and can ruin your pair of shoes. Stacked heels offer the same kind of structure and comfort as a wedge heel and are much easier to walk on than a thin heel. Stiletto’s for example, are extremely difficult to walk in, whereas a block heel feels quite natural. This pair of boots offers a plush and cozy faux-fur lining material that will keep you warm during colder weather. This super-soft lining is derived from 100% animal-free products so vegan wearers can breathe a sigh of relief! Faux-fur mimics the real deal which means these boots are going to offer a warm and comforting environment for your feet during the fall and winter months and helps to make these boots appropriate for wearing while it snows. The most versatile part of this boot is its convertible fold-down shaft! That makes for a nice change and lets you style it the way you prefer. It also adds a more feminine touch to this otherwise, masculine silhouette. When it’s in its folded position it shows off the faux-fur lining as opposed to the rather drab appearance when it’s raised. Its imitation leather upper unit is a good choice for both rain and snow which gives it a nice adaptability. Despite Bruna’s desire to come off as a military-like pair, it still lacks in the way of colors! This pair comes in your standard dark hues like black and brown but leaves little in the way of excitement with its plain-Jane colorways. If you’re looking for your basic boot with little-to-no pop of color than the Bruna is a good choice for you! But if you like a little more pizzaz from your shoes than you might consider something else instead. These boots look like they would offer a roomy toe box, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite! Most wearers find that the toe area fits quite snug and often need to order a half-size larger to compensate. The reason behind the narrow forefoot could have to do with the faux-fur lining that makes the boot feel smaller than it actually is. So consider opting for a larger than normal size if you’re feet are anything but dainty and narrow. Overall, the Bruna lacks in visual appearance but is a good choice for anyone in search of a utilitarian style boot. It offers a good line-up of features geared towards work or other manual labor and will hold up well under daily wear and tear. In terms of appeal, this boot lacks anything that meets the eye and comes off as quite a boring choice. It really boils down to what you’re looking to get out of your boots. If it’s fashion, you should consider searching elsewhere! These boots offer a lugged outsole that provides a solid grip on almost any terrain so you can certainly wear them for almost any outdoor activity. You should consider this pair for colder weather because its plain colorways include dark hues and its faux-fur trim would get a little uncomfortable in the spring or summer. Despite its fairly boring exterior, this boot does try to spice things up with some accessorizing. Things like metal grommets and cute clips to attach the shaft when it's folded help to add some personality. It also has 'Roxy' logos on the outsole and footbed. 10 Birkenstock Arizona Review Birkenstock Arizona Review 9.0 Birkenstock Mayari Review Birkenstock Mayari Review 8.9 Helly Hansen Belfast Review Helly Hansen Belfast Review Best offer on: Jan. 18. 2020 $88.95See Deal	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434179
__label__wiki	0.816705	0.816705	Healthier Puget Sound depends on healthy people, report finds Environment \| News releases \| Science \| Social science \| UW and the community Michelle Ma A thriving Puget Sound depends on healthy habitat that can support the animals and plants that live here. Shellfish free of toxins, salmon dashing up streams and forests full of diversity all are important benchmarks for the full restoration of Puget Sound. But what about the people who live here? Should our well-being and the aspects we care most about in the natural world bear any weight on the plans — and money — being poured into cleaning up the Sound? They should, according to the state agency tasked with organizing the recovery of Puget Sound. The Puget Sound Partnership today adopted new targets that seek to quantify aspects of the natural environment that boost our collective happiness and wellness. These people-focused benchmarks will help inform restoration plans and assess future progress in cleaning up Puget Sound. “With the understanding of how humans benefit from the environment and what the environment needs to be sustainable, we can better understand the tradeoffs when talking about new strategies for restoration,” said Kelly Biedenweg, lead social scientist with the Puget Sound Institute at University of Washington Tacoma. “It’s really highlighting the whole system as opposed to working in a silo.” Biedenweg led a three-year effort to systematically survey and measure people’s well-being as it relates to Puget Sound. Her final report, which includes a set of about 20 factors, is the blueprint for the partnership’s focus on tracking human well-being. Each human indicator is intended to be measured and tracked, so it’s a specific statement that can be evaluated. Examples are: Percent of swimming beaches meeting fecal bacteria standards Availability of and access to locally harvestable food species (shellfish, fish, hunting, gathering) Number of jobs in natural resource industries Percent of residents who feel a strong sense of stewardship for their watershed Average frequency of residents experiencing reduced stress, calm or relaxation from being in the Puget Sound natural environment The partnership’s original vital signs wheel. (click image to enlarge)Puget Sound Partnership Proposed changes to the vital signs diagram. (click image to enlarge)Puget Sound Partnership Puget Sound Partnership’s leadership council approved adding the human indicators to its “vital signs” list, which means they will be considered along with biological and ecological aspects when making decisions about restoration projects. The partnership uses these vital signs to track how overall recovery of the Sound is going. Since it was formed in 2007, the partnership’s goals for restoring Puget Sound have included incorporating human factors into recovery plans. But without a scientifically based way to measure these factors, recovery projects have focused more on biological aspects, said Scott Redman, science and evaluation program director with the partnership. “By adopting these vital signs, we can turn our attention to a better balance again,” Redman said. “It’s just very inherent in our responsibility for the future that we think about the future of the human benefits, services and well-being in the ecosystem.” Each people-focused indicator made the final list after an exhaustive scientific process that included hundreds of interviews and multiple workshops with residents all over the region. “I think I listened to a lot of different perspectives to get these indicators,” Biedenweg said. It’s not an easy thing to quantify how people feel about the natural environment. Though some researchers found the task daunting, Biedenweg was determined to prove that while personal feelings and opinions will vary, it’s possible to scientifically whittle everything down to a concrete, measurable list of which factors are most important. A framework showing different types of human well-being factors.University of Washington “Ecological variability is everywhere in the natural world, so why should we take social variability as a reason to do nothing?” she said. The UW team focused its data collection on three areas in Puget Sound — the Hood Canal watershed, the Puyallup watershed and Whatcom County. They exhaustively read existing literature and interviewed a broad swath of the people in each geographic region. Despite talking to people with a range of opinions and backgrounds, after about 25 interviews in each location, Biedenweg started to hear repeats. That meant people could agree on certain goals, such as being able to harvest shellfish with generations of family members or swim at clean beaches. “I was blown away by how supportive people were of this process,” Biedenweg said. Though the UW team didn’t formally interview King County residents, they did analyze all of the social indicators already identified by other agencies and worked those into the final, Puget Sound-wide recommendations to the partnership. Both partnership staff and Biedenweg attribute the success of creating these new well-being indicators to integrating both policy and science perspectives into the process early on. Funding for this research came from Biedenweg’s National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellowship, the Puget Sound Institute, The Russell Family Foundation, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Local Integrating Organization grant and the Puget Sound Partnership. For more information, contact Biedenweg at kbied@uw.edu or 253-254-7030 ext. 8010. More information from the Puget Sound Institute and the Puget Sound Partnership. Tag(s): Kelly Biedenweg • Puget Sound Institute • UW Tacoma	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434180
__label__cc	0.51995	0.48005	Why Watsons? NG16 Market Report Watsons Estate Agents mail@watsons-residential.co.uk Title/Salutation: Please Select Mr Mrs Miss Ms Dr Other Forename: From time to time we will send you information about properties that we feel may be of interest to you and/or provide you with information about our valuation services. I would like to hear about your valuation services. I would like to hear about your mortgage and finance services. I would like to hear about your commercial property services. © 2020 Watsons Estate Agents \| Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy & Notice \| Built by The Property Jungle Address Keyword: Minimum Price: Minimum Price £50,000 £100,000 £150,000 £200,000 £250,000 £300,000 £350,000 £400,000 £450,000 £500,000 £550,000 £600,000 £650,000 £700,000 £750,000 £800,000 £850,000 £900,000 £950,000 £1,000,000 £2,000,000 £3,000,000 £4,000,000 £5,000,000 £6,000,000 £7,000,000 £8,000,000 £9,000,000 £10,000,000+ Maximum Price: Maximum Price £50,000 £100,000 £150,000 £200,000 £250,000 £300,000 £350,000 £400,000 £450,000 £500,000 £550,000 £600,000 £650,000 £700,000 £750,000 £800,000 £850,000 £900,000 £950,000 £1,000,000 £2,000,000 £3,000,000 £4,000,000 £5,000,000 £6,000,000 £7,000,000 £8,000,000 £9,000,000 £10,000,000+ Minimum Bedrooms: Minimum Bedrooms 1 Bedroom 2 Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms 4 Bedrooms 5 Bedrooms 6 Bedrooms 7 Bedrooms 8 Bedrooms 9 Bedrooms 10 Bedrooms Property Type: Property Type Barn Conversion Commercial Property Detached Bungalow Detached House End of Terrace House Semi-Detached House Terraced House List Search Minimum Price: Minimum Price £350 PCM £450 PCM £500 PCM £550 PCM £600 PCM £650 PCM £700 PCM £800 PCM £1000 PCM £1500 PCM £2000 PCM £3000 PCM £4000 PCM £5000 PCM £6000 PCM £7000 PCM £8000 PCM £9000 PCM £10,000 PCM+ Maximum Price: Maximum Price £350 PCM £450 PCM £500 PCM £550 PCM £600 PCM £650 PCM £700 PCM £800 PCM £1000 PCM £1500 PCM £2000 PCM £3000 PCM £4000 PCM £5000 PCM £6000 PCM £7000 PCM £8000 PCM £9000 PCM £10,000 PCM+	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0008.json.gz/line1434182

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