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__label__cc	0.671588	0.328412	Comp. y Sist. vol.20 n.2 México Apr./Jun. 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.13053/cys-20-2-2218 An Experimental Study of Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Network Algorithm Alain Guerrero-Enamorado1 * Daimerys Ceballos-Gastell1 1Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas (UCI), La Habana, Cuba. alaing@uci.cu, dceballo@uci.cu This paper aims to obtain empirical information about the behavior of an Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Network (EPUNN) in different scenarios. To achieve this, an extensive evaluation was conducted on 21 data sets for the classification task. Then, we evaluated EPUNN on eleven noisy data sets, on sixteen imbalanced data sets, and on ten missing values data sets. As a result of this evaluation process, we conclude that there does not exist a significant difference between EPUNN and the four algorithms assessed; the accuracy of EPUNN rapidly worsen in the presence of noise, so we do not recommend its utilization in noisy environments; we found a tendency to robustness in EPUNN while the imbalance ratio grows; finally, we can state that it is able to handle missing data, but in this kind of data, a significant performance deterioration was manifested. For future work, we recommend to assess the impact of irrelevant attributes on EPUNN performance. In addition, an extension of noisy data set evaluation would be opportune. Keywords: Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Network (EPUNN); missing values; imbalanced data; noisy data A simple method to classify patterns provides the probability of class membership based on evaluating linear functions on a set of predictive variables. However, quite often, in real-world classification problems, we cannot assume linearity in input variables. Specifically, in this paper we analyze an algorithm that avoids the effects of non-linearity of the input variables. Using an approach based on non-linear functions constructed with the product of the inputs raises to arbitrary powers. The exponents are real values and can be adjusted by machine learning. These functions can discover relations between predictive variables. The Product-Unit based Neural Networks (PUNN) were introduced by Durbin and Rumelhart in 9. They are an alternative to sigmoidal neural networks and are based on multiplicative nodes instead of additive ones. Their training is more difficult than the training of standard sigmoidal-based networks. The cause is the existence of multiple local optima and plateaus in the error surface. The main reason for this difficulty is that small changes in the exponents can cause large changes in the total error surface. The complexity of the error surface associated with PUNN justifies the use of an evolutionary algorithm to design the topology of the network and to train its corresponding weights. In this case PUNN becomes EPUNN. This novel approach has been subjected to few comparisons in different scopes since its invention by Martínez-Estudillo et al. 16. For this reason we compared the Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Network Classifier (EPUNN) with some of the top ten 26 classifiers: NB, SVM, KNN, and C4.5 in four different comparative scenarios: noisy data, imbalanced data, missing values data sets, and classical data sets. In section [section:EPUNN] we describe in detail the main characteristics of the EPUNN classifier and in section [section:related:work] we describe the remaining algorithms. With this work, we have made the following contributions: we validated experimentally (in 21 classical data sets) that EPUNN behaves similarly to four of the top ten algorithms; we showed that its performance is greatly reduced (exponentially), when the level of noise present in the data sets increases; we found that its performance is better than the performance of the others algorithms on imbalanced data sets; finally, EPUNN decreases its performance when executed on data sets with missing values (see details about the data sets in section 4.1). The methodology for the evaluation can be consulted in section 4, the tools are presented in section 4.2, and the statistical analysis is given in section 4.3. 2 Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Networks Classifiers The method consists of obtaining the neural network architecture and simultaneously estimating the weights of the model coefficients with an algorithm of evolutionary computation. A cross-entropy error function is used in the neural model. In this way a neuro-evolutive model is obtained from the training set and then checked against the patterns of the testing set. Some advantages of Product-Unit Neural Networks (PUNN) are their increased information capacity and the ability to form higher-order combinations of inputs. In the early work of Durbin and Rumelhart 9 it was determined empirically that the information capacity of product units (learning random boolean patterns) is approximately 3N, compared to 2N of a network with additive units for a single threshold logic function, where N denotes the number of inputs to the network. Despite these advantages, product-unit based networks have a major drawback: they have more local optima and more probability of becoming trapped in them 12. The main reason for this difficulty is that small changes in the exponents can cause large changes in the total error surface and therefore their training is more difficult than the training of standard sigmoidal based networks. Several efforts have been made to carry out learning methods for product units 12, 10. Studies carried out on PUNN have not tackled the problem of designing the structure and weights simultaneously in this kind of neural network, either using classic or evolutionary methods. In this type of algorithm it is not possible to work with inputs that have negative values. Because weights are often non-integer values, therefore there would be roots of negative numbers which result in complex numbers. Since neural networks with complex outputs are rarely used in applications, Durbin and Rumelhart suggested discarding the imaginary part and using only the real component for further processing but this manipulation would have disastrous consequences. To avoid this problem, the input domain is restricted. We define the input set by x=x1,x2,…,xn∈Rn:xi>0,i=1,2,…,n In 17, 16 a neural architecture was proposed shown in Figure 1, an input layer with n nodes, a hidden layer with m nodes, and an output layer with l nodes, one for each class. The activation function of the j-th node in the hidden layer, hj , is given by equation 1; where wji is the weight of the connection between input node i and hidden node j: hj=∏i=1nxiwji, j=1,2,…,m. (1) Fig. 1 Product-unit neural network The activation function of the k-th node in the output layer, gk , is given by equation 2 where υkj is the weight of the connection between hidden node j and output node k: gk=∑j=1mvkjhj+vk01, k=1,2,…,l. (2) By default the transfer function of all hidden and output nodes is the identity function. In this way, the estimated function gk from each output k=1, 2, …, l, is given by the equation 3: gk(x)=∑j=1mvkj∏i=1nxiwji+vk01. (3) 2.1 Evolutionary PUNN The authors of 17, 16 applied an evolutionary neural network algorithm to learn the weights that minimize the cross-entropy error function and design the structure of PUNN. The search begins with an initial population of PUNN, and in each iteration the population is updated using a population-update algorithm. The population is evolved by replication and mutation. The authors exclude the crossover operator due to its potential disadvantages suggested by 27, 18 in evolving artificial networks. The pseudo-code of an Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Network (EPUNN) is shown in (Algorithm 1). 2.2 Classification with EPUNN A classification problem starts with feature measurements xi, i = 1, 2, …, n for any single individual (or object), then the individuals should be classified into one of the l classes based on these feature measurements. A training sample D = {(xt , xt ); t = 1, 2,…, T} is available, where xt = x1t , x2t , …, xnt is the vector of feature measurements taking values in ψ ⊂ ℜn , and yt is the class value of the t-th individual. Based on the training sample we intend to find a decision function C: ψ → {1, 2, …, l} for classifying individuals. A misclassification occurs when a decision rule ψ assigns an individual (based on the feature measurement vector) to a class k when it actually comes from a class q ≠ k, where k, q = 1, 2, …, l. The authors of EPUNN defined the corrected classification rate (CCR) by CCR=1T∑t=1TICxt=yt, where I(⋅) is the zero-one loss function. A good classifier tries to achieve the highest possible CCR in a given problem, for this, they consider the SoftMax activation function 4 in the output layer, obtaining the equation 4: f(x,k)=exp(gk(x))∑k=1lexp(gk(x)), k=1,2,…,l. (4) Observe that SoftMax transformation produces positive estimates that sum to one and, therefore, the outputs can be interpreted as the conditional probability of class membership. In general, the parameters needed for operation of the algorithm are given in the next subsection 2.3. 2.3 EPUNN Parameters This model must be configured in KEEL 1 2 with the following parameters: - Hidden nodes: define the number of neurons in the hidden layer. - Transfer: define the transfer function in each neuron of the hidden layer (the input uses the identity transfer function). - Generations: define the maximum number of generations in the evolutionary algorithm. 2.4 EPUNN Properties This model was designed for operation under the following conditions: - Continuous Variables: true. - Nominal Variables: true. - Discretized Variables: true. - Integer Variables: true. - Variables without values for some examples: true2 - Variables with imprecise values for some examples: false. 3 Related Work In this article, we compared the competence of the EPUNN with four widely-known techniques for classification task. More specifically, we compared it with C4.5 20, NB 15, 13, 8, KNN 11, 6, 24, and SVM 5. The KEEL platform was used for all of them. 3.1 C4.5 This algorithm induces classification rules in the form of decision trees from a set of given examples. The decision trees are constructed top-down. In each step a test for the actual node is chosen (starting with the root node), which best separates the given examples into classes. C45 is an evolution of ID3 algorithm 19. The extensions or improvements of ID3 are that it accounts for unavailable or missing values in data, it handles continuous attribute value ranges, chooses an appropriate attribute selection measure (maximizing information gain), and it prunes the result decision trees with minimal description length principle 21. 3.1.1 C4.5 Parameters This model must be configured in KEEL with the following parameters: - Prune: allows activating or deactivating the pruning mechanism of the tree. - Confidence: defines the minimal confidence that a leaf must have in order to be considered in the tree. - minItemsets: defines the minimum number of instances per leaf. It is an integer value that determines how many data instances must be contained in a leaf in order for the leaf to be created. 3.1.2 C4.5 Properties - Variables without values for some examples: true. 3.2 NB The NB classifier is based on Bayes’ theorem, assuming independence between predictor attributes. The conditional probability of every example to be in a class is computed. Then the output class of the example will be assigned as the highest conditional probability calculated. A Naive Bayesian model is easy to build, with no complicated iterative parameter estimation which makes it particularly useful for very large data sets. Despite its simplicity, the NB classifier often performs surprisingly well (even when it is not known if there is independence between predictor attributes) and it is widely used because it often outperforms more sophisticated classification methods. 3.2.1 NB Parameters This model must be configured in KEEL without parameters; however, we utilized uniform frequency discretization 14 prepossessing to convert numerical attributes (real and integers) to nominal ones. 3.2.2 NB Properties - Continuous Variables: false. - Integer Variables: false. - Variables without values for some examples: false. 3.3 KNN This is a supervised classification method that permits to estimate the density function of predictive attributes for each class. This estimation is obtained from the information provided by a set of k nearest neighbors. One point in the space is assigned to the class-C if this is the most frequent class between the k nearest examples in the training set. A special case is k =1, in this case the algorithm is known as the Nearest Neighbor Algorithm 6. The Euclidean distance is commonly used as a distance metric. 3.3.1 KNN Parameters -K: the number of neighbors to be tested. If this value is too high (similar to the data size), then it is the majority class classifier. When k=1, then it is the nearest neighbor algorithm. -Distance Function: KEEL-KNN implements tree distance functions: -Euclidean, with normalized attributes. -Heterogeneous Value Difference Metric (HVDM) ; this distance function uses the Euclidean distance for quantitative attributes and the VDM distance 22 for qualitative attributes. The VDM metric considers the classification similarity for each possible value of a qualitative attribute to calculate the distances between these values. -Manhattan, the distance between two points is the sum of the absolute differences of their coordinates. 3.3.2 KNN Properties 3.4 SVM An SVM performs classification by finding the hyperplane that maximizes the margin between two classes. The vectors (instances) that define the hyperplane are the support vectors. The algorithm begins with defining an optimal hyperplane (maximizing the margin). Then the data is mapped to a high dimensional space by means of a Kernel function, where it is easier to classify with linear decision surfaces: the problem is reformulated so that data is mapped implicitly to this space. In the ideal case SVM should produce a hyperplane that completely separates the instances into two non-overlapping classes. However, perfect separation may not be possible, or it may result in a model with so many cases that the model does not classify correctly. Hence SVM finds the hyperplane that maximizes the margin and minimizes the misclassifications. This method is also apt to classify problems with more than two classes with a voting scheme. 3.4.1 SVM Parameters - KernelType: which kernel will be used to transform the data. - C: cost; it is the penalty parameter of the error term. - Degree: sets degree in kernel function. - Gamma: sets gamma in kernel function. - Coef0: sets coef0 in kernel function. - Shrinking: reduces the size of the optimization problem without considering some bounded variables. The decomposition method then works on a smaller problem which is less time-consuming and requires less memory. 3.4.2 SVM Properties - Nominal Variables: false. - Variables with imprecise values for some examples: true. A more detailed description, performance evaluation, and review of current and further research of the four algorithms that we selected for this work can be found condensed in a survey paper 26. They are recognized by the research community as ones of the most influential algorithms for data mining in the classification task. 4 Empirical Evaluation In this section, we present the experimental methodology followed to evaluate the algorithms presented. In order to undertake the evaluation process, we performed four experiments. In the first one, we compared the performance of the EPUNN algorithm against the others using the accuracy metric. In this case, the evaluation was performed on 21 real-world data sets, in subsection 4.1.1 we present the main features of them. The second experiment was conducted by executing the algorithm EPUNN compared with the others on 11 data sets that were generated with different noise levels. The accuracy was used again as the evaluation metric in this case. Details of how these data sets were generated can be found in subsection 4.1.2. The third experiment was conducted to study the behavior of all algorithms under analysis on a series of data sets with different levels of imbalance, in subsection 4.1.3 we present the main features of them. In this case, as an evaluation metric, the well-known area under ROC curve (AUC) was used, following the recommendations of 23. Finally, we conducted the fourth experiment where we evaluated the behavior of the EPUNN accuracy on several data sets with missing values, the characteristics of these can be viewed in subsection 4.1.4. In what follows, we present the real-world problems chosen for the experimentation, the experimental tools and configurations parameters for each tool, the experimental results, and the statistical analysis applied to compare the obtained results. 4.1 Training Sets 4.1.1 Classical Real-World Training Sets To perform the first experiment and evaluate the behavior of the EPUNN classifier, 21 real-world data set were chosen from the KEEL repository 1. KEEL is an open source Java software tool which empowers the user to assess the behavior of evolutionary learning and Soft Computing based techniques; in particular, the KEEL-dataset includes the data set partitions in the KEEL format for using regression, clustering, multi-instance, imbalanced classification, multi-label classification, etc. The experiments were executed on the following data sets: appendicitis, australian, automobile, balance, banana, bands, breast, bupa, ecoli, glass, heart, hepatitis, ionosphere, iris, lymphography, pima, sonar, wdbc, wine, wisconsin, and zoo. A summary of the characteristics of these data sets can be seen in Table 1. Table 1 Data sets characteristics Data set Instances Atributes Class appendicitis 106 9 2 australian 690 14 2 automobile 159 25 6 balance 625 4 3 banana 5300 2 2 bands 365 19 2 breast 277 9 2 bupa 345 6 2 ecoli 336 7 8 glass 214 9 7 heart 270 13 2 hepatitis 80 19 2 ionosphere 351 33 2 iris 150 4 3 lymphography 148 18 4 pima 768 8 2 sonar 208 60 2 wdbc 569 30 2 wine 178 13 3 wisconsin 683 9 2 zoo 101 17 7 4.1.2 Led Data Sets In order to obtain several data sets for the second experiment, we utilized the led generators from the UCI3 repository 3. With the parameters shown in Table 2, 11 data sets were generated with 512 instances in each one and with noise from 0 to 50. Table 2 Led generator parameters Data set # Instances Seed % Noise led7-i512-n00 512 12345678 0 led7-i512-n10 512 12345678 10 4.1.3 Imbalanced Data Sets To perform the third experiment and evaluate the behavior of the EPUNN classifier, 16 imbalanced data sets were chosen from the KEEL repository 1. In this case the experiments were executed with the following data sets: glass1, ecoli-0_vs_1, pima, iris0, glass0, glass-0-1-2-3_vs_4-5-6, ecoli1, ecoli2, glass6, ecoli3, ecoli4, glass-0-1-6_vs_5, glass2, glass4, glass5, and ecoli-0-1-3-7_vs_2-6. The first ten data sets have an imbalance ratio less than 9, and the last six, a ratio greater than 9, see Table 3. Table 3 Imbalanced data sets Data set Imbalanced Ratio glass1 1.82 ecoli-0_vs_1 1.86 pima 1.90 iris0 2.00 glass-0-1-2-3_vs_4-5-6 3.19 ecoli1 3.36 ecoli4 13.84 glass-0-1-6_vs_5 19.44 glass2 10.39 ecoli-0-1-3-7_vs_2-6 39.15 4.1.4 Missing Values Data Sets To perform the fourth experiment and evaluate the behavior of the EPUNN classifier, 10 missing values data sets were chosen from the KEEL repository 1. In this case the experiments were executed with the following data sets: australian+mv, ecoli+mv, iris+mv, pima+mv, wine+mv, automobile-mv, bands-mv, breast-mv, hepatitis-mv, and wisconsin-mv, see Table 4. The first five data sets are used for standard classification with induced missing values. Table 4 Missing values data sets Data set % Missing australian+mv 70.58 ecoli+mv 48.21 iris+mv 32.67 pima+mv 50.65 wine+mv 70.22 automobile-mv 28.83 bands-mv 32.28 breast-mv 3.15 hepatitis-mv 48.39 wisconsin-mv 2.29 4.2 Experimental Tools The experiments were done with the KEEL framework 1. For the experimental executions we used an Intel Core i3-2350M, 2300 MHz dual processor, with 6 GB of RAM, and Ubuntu 12.10 with Linux kernel 3.5.0-46 as the operating system. For each algorithm, we used the default KEEL configurations, except for the case of KNN where we set a value of k = 5. 4.3 Statistical Analysis We followed the recommendations pointed out by Demšar 7 to perform the statistical analysis of the results in experiments 1 and 3. As suggested by him, we used non-parametric statistical tests to compare the accuracies of the models built by the different learning systems. To compare multiple learning methods, first, we applied a multi-comparison statistical procedure to test the null hypothesis that all the learning algorithms obtained the same results on average. Specifically, we used the Friedman’s test. When the Friedman’s test rejected the null hypothesis, we applied post-hoc Bonferroni-Dunn test and Holm’s step-up step-down procedure. 4.4 Experimental Results 4.4.1 Experiment #1 In the first experiment we evaluated the performance of all the models with the accuracy metric (the proportion of correct classifications on previously unseen examples). We used a ten-fold cross validation procedure with 5 different random seeds over each data set. The average values of the results for each collection are shown in Table 5. The last row shows the average rank of each algorithm. As it can be seen, EPUNN-C is the KEEL implementation of EPUNN algorithm. Table 5 Accuracy of the algorithms on the classic data sets Data set NB-C C45-C KNN-C SVM-C EPUNN-C appendicitis 84.27 (4) 83.27 (5) 85.91 (3) 87.91 (1) 86.09 (2) australian 86.67 (1.5) 85.22 (4) 84.78 (5) 85.80 (3) 86.67 (1.5) automobile 67.95 (2) 80.93 (1) 56.54 (5) 61.97 (3) 58.38 (4) balance 91.20 (3) 76.80 (5) 86.24 (4) 91.68 (2) 96.16 (1) banana 71.17 (4) 89.08 (2) 89.11 (1) 55.17 (5) 74.45 (3) bands 70.50 (1) 64.99 (5) 68.46 (4) 69.46 (2) 69.24 (3) breast 74.40 (2) 76.92 (1) 72.28 (4) 70.75 (5) 72.93 (3) bupa 61.16 (5) 67.00 (3) 61.31 (4) 70.14 (2) 72.76 (1) ecoli 81.56 (1) 79.47 (3) 81.27 (2) 75.92 (5) 76.82 (4) glass 69.28 (1) 67.44 (2) 66.85 (3) 62.59 (5) 64.40 (4) heart 82.22 (2) 78.15 (5) 80.74 (4) 84.44 (1) 81.85 (3) hepatitis 84.83 (2) 84.00 (3) 86.27 (1) 83.56 (4) 80.36 (5) ionosphere 88.90 (3) 90.90 (2) 85.17 (5) 88.03 (4) 92.30 (1) iris 94.67 (5) 96.00 (3) 96.00 (3) 96.67 (1) 96.00 (3) lymphography 85.76 (1) 74.30 (5) 79.44 (4) 83.98 (2) 81.30 (3) pima 74.88 (3) 74.23 (4) 73.06 (5) 77.10 (1) 76.71 (2) sonar 77.38 (2) 70.07 (5) 83.10 (1) 77.26 (3) 74.90 (4) wdbc 94.38 (4) 94.55 (3) 96.83 (1.5) 94.37 (5) 96.83 (1.5) wine 96.05 (1.5) 94.90 (4) 96.05 (1.5) 94.38 (5) 96.01 (3) wisconsin 97.67 (1) 95.63 (5) 96.95 (2) 96.51 (3) 96.36 (4) zoo 94.47 (3) 92.81 (5) 93.64 (4) 96.50 (1) 95.89 (2) Rank 2.4762 3.5714 3.1905 3.0000 2.7619 According to the results obtained, see Table 5, we statistically analyzed the results to detect significant differences in the accuracy of the obtained models by the different learning methods. The multi-comparison Friedman’s test did not reject the null hypotheses that all the systems performed the same on average with p = 0.1631. The obtained pvalue > 0.05 shows that there does not exist a significant difference between the five algorithms under study. Using an α = 0.10 in equation 5 with k, the number of algorithms, qα = 2.241, and N, the number of data sets, a critical difference of 1.0935 was obtained: CD=qαk(k+1)6N. (5) Figure 2 shows the results of Bonferroni-Dunn test, comparing all systems by means of accuracy. The major advantage of this test is that it seems to be easier to visualize because it uses the same critical difference for all comparisons 7. Figure 2 Comparison of one classifier (NB-C) against the others with the Bonferroni-Dunn test The EPUNN algorithm behaves similarly to four of the top ten algorithms, because its performance is within the critical difference, see Figure 2. In the second experiment we evaluated the performance of all models in the presence of noise with the accuracy metric. We used a ten-fold cross validation procedure with 5 different random seeds over each data set. The average values of the results for each collection are shown in Table 6. Table 6 Accuracy of algorithms in the presence of incremental noise in led7 data set Data set % Noise C4.5-C KNN-C SVM-C NB-C EPUNN-C led7d-i512-n00 0 100.00 100.0000 100.0000 100.0000 99.84 led7d-i512-n05 5 85.94 87.8167 86.0173 85.6082 80.28 led7d-i512-n10 10 70.25 72.1395 71.1606 70.5539 63.05 As we can see in Figure 3, the accuracy of the EPUNN algorithm decays rapidly (exponentially) in the presence of noise. In the same manner, the remaining algorithms worsen exponentially. In Figure 3, the red dotted line represents the exponential curve fit to the EPUNN behavior. Figure 3 Accuracy graphic of the algorithms in the presence of incremental noise in led7 data set In the third experiment we evaluated the performance of all the models with the AUC metric. We used a ten-fold cross validation procedure with 5 different random seeds over each data set. The average values of the results for each collection are shown in Table 7. The last three rows show the average rank when IR < 9, the average rank when IR > 9, and the total average rank of each algorithm. Table 7 AUC achieved by the algorithms on the imbalanced data sets According to the results obtained, see Table 7, we statistically analyzed the results to detect significant differences in the AUC of the obtained models by the different learning methods. The multi-comparison Friedman’s test rejected the null hypotheses that all the systems performed the same on average with p = 0.0824. The obtained pvalue > 0.05 shows that there does not exist a significant difference between the five algorithms under study on the imbalanced data sets. However, we can note a tendency to robustness of the EPUNN classifier with the increment of the imbalanced level. To validate these results, we also applied the Holm’s step-up and step-down procedure sequentially to test the hypotheses ordered by their significance. As it can be observed in Table 8, the Holm’s test at α = 0.05 detected a significant difference between EPUNN and SVM-C, this is an important difference with respect to the exper/iment #1. Furthermore, in experiment #3, the winner algorithm was EPUNN. Table 8 Holm / Hochberg Table for α = 0.05 i algorithm z=(R0 - Ri)/SE p Holm/Hochberg/Hommel 4 SVM-C 2.5156 0.0119 0.0125 3 C45-C 0.8385 0.4017 0.0167 2 KNN-C 0.7826 0.4338 0.0250 1 NB-C 0.0559 0.9554 0.0500 In the fourth experiment we evaluated the performance of the EPUNN classifier with the test accuracy metric. We used a ten-fold cross validation procedure with 5 different random seeds over each data set. The average values of the results for each collection are shown in Table 9. The last row shows the average rank of EPUNN over each data sets group. Table 9 Accuracy of EPUNN on classical data sets and EPUNN on data sets with missing values % Missing Data set EPUNNvsMV EPUNNvsNotMV Data set Difference 70.58 australian+mv 77.97 86.67 australian deteriorate 48.21 ecoli+mv 81.85 76.82 ecoli progress 32.67 iris+mv 94.00 96.00 iris deteriorate 50.65 pima+mv 75.01 76.71 pima deteriorate 70.22 wine+mv 88.76 96.01 wine deteriorate 28.83 automobile-mv 53.10 58.38 automobile deteriorate 32.28 bands-mv 67.27 69.24 bands deteriorate 3.15 breast-mv 71.49 72.93 breast deteriorate 48.39 hepatitis-mv 80.32 80.36 hepatitis deteriorate 2.29 wisconsin-mv 96.23 96.36 wisconsin deteriorate Rank 1.9000 1.1000 According to the results obtained, see Table 9, we statistically analyzed the results to detect significant differences. We used the accuracy metric in EPUNN over classical data sets (EPUNNvsNotMV) and in EPUNN over missing values data sets (EPUNNvsMV). The multi-comparison Friedman’s test rejected the null hypothesis that both cases (with and without missing values) behaved equally with a p = 0.0114. The obtained pvalue < 0.05 shows that there exists a significant difference. To check this results, we also applied the Holm’s step-up and step-down procedure sequentially to test the hypotheses ordered by their significance. As it can be observed in Table 10, Holm’s test at α = 0/.05 showed significant differences between EPUNNvsNotMV and EPUNNvsMV. Table 10 Holm / Hochberg Table for α = 0.05 i algorithm z = (R 0 - Ri )/SE p Holm/Hochberg/Hommel 1 EPUNNvsMV 2.5298 0.0114 0.0500 Based on these results, we can conclude that the EPUNN algorithm was able to handle missing data, but in this kind of data, a significant performance deterioration was manifested. 5 Conclusions and Future Work In this paper, we tested the competitiveness of an EPUNN algorithm for classification task, generally using accuracy as the evaluation metric. Furthermore, AUC metric was used in evaluation of imbalanced data sets. As a result of the four experiments described in section 4.4, we can make the following conclusions: - From experiment #1 described in subsection 4.4.1, we conclude that there does not exist a significant difference between EPUNN and the four algorithms assessed. We based this statement on the evaluation done over 21 benchmark data sets. For this reason, we recommend its use for the classification task. - From experiment #2 described in subsection 4.4.2, we determined experimentally that the accuracy of EPUNN rapidly worsen in the presence of noise. For that reason, we do not recommend its utilization in noisy environments. - From experiment #3 described in subsection 4.4.3, we can note a tendency to robustness in EPUNN despite of the growth of the imbalance ratio. - From experiment #4 described in subsection 4.4.4, we can conclude that EPUNN is able to handle missing data; but in this kind of data, a significant performance deterioration was manifested. In future work, we can also assess the impact of irrelevant attributes on the performance of EPUNN and the influence of noise using other data sets. Also, we can use more different kinds of data sets with missing values, since the nature of values and their distribution affect the performance of the classifiers 1. Alcala-Fdez, J., Fernandez, A., Luengo, J., Derrac, J., García, S., Sanchez, L., & Herrera, F. (2011). Keel data-mining software tool: Data set repository and integration of algorithms and experimental analysis framework. 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Estimating Continuous Distributions in Bayesian Classifiers. San Mateo, California, pp. 338-345. [ Links ] 14. Liu, H., Hussain, F., Lim, C., & Dash, M. (2002). Discretization: An Enabling Technique. Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Vol. 2002, No. 6:4, pp. 393-423. [ Links ] 15. Maron, M. E. (1961). Automatic Indexing: An Experimental Inquiry. Journal of the ACM (JACM), Vol. 8:3, No. January, pp. 404-417. [ Links ] 16. Martinez-Estudillo, F., Henras-Martinez, C., Gutierrez, P., & Martinez-Estudillo, A. (2008). Evolutionary product-unit neural networks classifiers. Neurocomputing, Vol. 72, No. 1-3, pp. 548-561. [ Links ] 17. Martinez-Estudillo, F. J., Hervas-Martinez, C., Gutierrez-Pena, P. A., & Martinez-Estudillo, A. C. (2006). Evolutionary Product-Unit Neural Networks Classifiers. International Joint Conference on Neural Networks. [ Links ] 18. P. J. Angeline, G. M. S. & Pollack, J. B. (1994). An evolutionary algorithm that constructs recurrent neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 54-65. [ Links ] 19. Quinlan, J. (1986). Induction of decision trees. Machine Learning , Vol. 1, pp. 81-106. [ Links ] 20. Quinlan, J. (1993). C4.5: Programs for Machine Learning. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc., San Mateo, California. [ Links ] 21. Rissanen, J. (1978). Modeling by shortest data description. Automatica, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 465-471. [ Links ] 22. Stanfill, C. & Waltz, D. (1986). Instance-based learning algorithms. Communications of the ACM, Vol. 12, pp. 1213-1228. [ Links ] 23. Sun, Y., Wong, A. K. C., & Kamel, M. S. (2009). Classification of imbalanced data: A review. International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 687-719. [ Links ] 24. Wang, J., Neskovic, P., & Cooper, L. N. (2007). Improving nearest neighbor rule with a simple adaptive distance measure. Pattern Recognition Letters, Vol. 28, pp. 207-213. [ Links ] 25. Wilson, D. R. & Martinez, T. R. (2000). Reduction tecniques for instance-based learning algorithms. Machine Learning , Vol. 38:3, pp. 257-286. [ Links ] 26. Wu, X., Kumar, V., Quinlan, J. R., Ghosh, J., Yang, Q., Motoda, H., McLachlan, G. J., Ng, A., Liu, B., Yu, P. S., Zhou, Z.-H., Steinbach, M., Hand, D. J., & Steinberg, D. (2007). Top 10 algorithms in data mining. Knowledge Information Systems, Vol. (2008), No. 14, pp. 1-37. [ Links ] 27. Yao, X. & Liu, Y. (1997). A new evolutionary system for evolving artificial neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks , Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 694-713. [ Links ] 1Knowledge Extraction based on Evolutionary Learning. http://www.keel.es 2KEEL reports this property false, however, experiment #4 shows that this algorithm is capable of handling missing values, although the accuracy deteriorates significantly. 3 http://archive.ics.uci.edu/ml/ Received: March 10, 2015; Accepted: February 18, 2016 *Corresponding author is Alain Guerrero-Enamorado. Alain Guerrero-Enamorado received his B.Sc. degree in Automatic Control from the Universidad de Oriente in 2003. He got a Master degree in Applied Informatics from the Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas in 2009. He is currently an assistant professor at the Department of Programming Techniques of Faculty 1 of Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas. Guerrero-Enamorado is a doctoral student in the Knowledge Discovery and Intelligent Systems Group, his main research interests are in the fields of machine learning, data mining, and their applications. Daimerys Ceballos-Gastell received her B.Sc. degree in Computer Engineering from the Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas in 2008. She is currently an assistant professor at the Department of Programming Techniques in Faculty 1 of the Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas. Ceballos-Gastell is a master student in Applied Informatics, her main research interests are in the fields of artificial neural networks, machine learning, data mining, and their applications. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line791
__label__wiki	0.804355	0.804355	You are here: Home › News › Astronomers cop an eyeful of giant planet’s demise Astronomers cop an eyeful of giant planet’s demise An international group of astrophysicists have been documenting how the massive exoplanet known as WASP-12b is being stretched, distorted and slowly destroyed by its host star. According to the astronomers, the slow-mo destruction represents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe how a planet enters the final stage of its life. “This is the first time that astronomers are witnessing the ongoing disruption and death march of a planet,” says UC Santa Cruz professor Douglas N.C. Lin, co-author of the new report appearing in Nature. WASP 12-b, discovered in 2008, is one of the most enigmatic of the 400-plus exoplanets that have been found over the past 15 years. It orbits a star, in the constellation Auriga, roughly similar in mass to our sun. Like most known extra-solar planets, it is large and gaseous, resembling Jupiter and Saturn. But unlike Jupiter, Saturn or most other extra-solar planets, it orbits its parent star at extremely close range – just over 1 million miles. It is also larger than astrophysical models would predict. Its mass is estimated to be almost 50 percent heavier than Jupiter and it is 80 percent larger, giving it six times Jupiter’s volume. It is also unusually hot, with a daytime temperature of more than 2500& #176;C. To understand the mechanism responsible for expanding the planet to such an unexpected size, the researchers have focused their analysis on tidal forces, which they say are strong enough to produce the effects observed on WASP 12b. On Earth, modest tidal forces between the Earth and the Moon cause local sea levels rise and fall. WASP-12b, however, is so close to its host star that the gravitational forces are enormous. The tremendous tidal forces acting on the planet completely change the shape of the planet into something similar to that of a gridiron football. These tides not only distort the shape of WASP 12-b. By continuously deforming the planet, they also create friction in its interior. The friction produces heat, which causes the planet to expand. “This is the first time that there is direct evidence that internal heating [or tidal heating] is responsible for puffing up the planet to its current size,” says Lin. Huge as it is, WASP 12-b faces an early demise, say the astronomers. In fact, its size is part of its problem. It has ballooned to such a point that it cannot retain its mass against the pull of its parent star’s gravity. As the study’s lead author, Shu-lin Li, of the National Astronomical Observatories of China explains; “WASP-12b is losing its mass to the host star at a tremendous rate of six billion metric tons each second. At this rate, the planet will be completely destroyed by its host star in about ten million years. This may sound like a long time, but for astronomers it’s nothing. This planet will live less than 500 times less than the current age of the Earth.” The material that is stripped off WASP-12b does not directly fall onto the parent star. Instead, it forms a disk around the star and slowly spirals inwards. A careful analysis of the orbital motion of WASP-12b suggests circumstantial evidence of the gravitational force of a second, lower-mass planet in the disk. This planet is most likely a massive version of the Earth – a so-called “super-Earth.” Earth-Like Planets Galore? An Exoplanet With Liquid Water? Moon Dust Could Be Key Ingredient For Giant Lunar Telescope Astronomers mull planetary smash ’em up derby Source: Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University Artist’s impression courtesy ESA/C Carreau Unusual gem find provides evidence for vast underground oceans Hubble spots water on distant exoplanets Earth’s Milky Way neighborhood gets upsized Biodiversity backflip on warming climate No shortage of neo-Earths Prehistoric “terror bird” jabbed prey like a boxer earth, exoplanet, unusual orbit Grizzlies moving in on polar bears’ turf Plastic chemical BPA found to induce epigenetic changes EXO The Lost Planet In Seoul Concert Type-A Key Holder Official K-POP(1 EXO PLANET #1 THE LOST PLANET IN SEOUL concert goods brochure photobook photo Kpop Exo Xoxo Planet #2 Chanyeol Doh Kyungsoo D.O. Doll Plush Toy Handmade Gift Kpop Exo Xoxo Planet #2 Chanyeol Baekyun 23cm Chen Kai Suho Doll Plush Toy Gifts Exo Planet The Exo’luxion OFFICIAL Sticker Card Kpop k-pop Chanyeol Baekhyun Kai	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line792
__label__cc	0.596444	0.403556	Observations of the Public Record from Michigan's 7th Congressional District Walberg Compares Constituent Questions to Domestic Violence Link to formatted, printable PDF of this report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JbcQomS44-onesqTY7p17SnOpPgkXYUL/view?usp=sharing Last year, Tim Walberg received some criticism for his inappropriate remark invoking domestic violence to a constituent question. This report looks into some additional aspects of that incident that did not get much prior coverage, such as: Walberg made that same remark twice over the span of two days The full questions and context in which Walberg made those remarks How Walberg spun and doubled-down when faced with criticism for it Outline of the justifications for criticism of Walberg’s remarks Delta Township, MI Video (23:30 mark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeBuf0ZZkek Moderated Question: “That’s a great segue into questions about education. Harry from Grand Ledge: ‘Do you believe in the scientific method as the avenue for determining what is true about the natural world? If yes, how do you reconcile that with your skepticism of global warming due primarily to industrial activity that began in the 19thcentury. If no, do you think we should drop science courses - physics, chemistry, biology – from high school curricula?’” [Constituents roundly applaud] Walberg: “That’s probably the most comprehensive question I ever heard in my life, other than, ‘When did you stop beating your wife?’. I never started. I majored in biology with a minor in geology in university. I believe in sciences. My best courses in high school and college were in the sciences. I’m a Christian. I believe in a god who created the universe. I believe in a god who wants me to be a good steward of his creation. That’s why science is important. So, I combine those things – being a good steward of the resources that are here, knowing as much as I can about it, but never believing that I’m god in a legislative costume. So, I guess that’s the best way I can answer it. I think it works together.” [At this moment a swell of heckling began which made some news in itself] Every time I review Walberg’s remark there, I’m struck by how he said, “that’s the best way I can answer it.” It would be interesting to have Walberg outline how he thinks his response adequately addressed the question that was asked. Also, Walberg’s claim that he, “majored in biology with a minor in geology in university” is a complete lie. My full report on that topic is here: http://www.takecaretim.com/2018/08/investigation-walberg-lies-to-us-about.html Dexter, MI Video (11:10 mark) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94fkBUrU18Q Moderated Question: “Congressman, the next written question here is from Chris Justice [spelling?]. The question is: ‘You have shown with your votes-’And I should say we have many variations of this one: ‘You have shown with your votes and comments that you want to cut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security. Which one do you want to cut the most?’” Walberg: “And when did I stop beating my wife? Is that the next question?” [A din of groans and disapproval from constituents. For ten seconds, Walberg stares ahead grinning at the constituents who are upset at his remark.] Walberg: “Lemme, let me, let me tell ya’, I have never said that I would do anything except repair Social Security, keep the promise, and that Medicare as well.” [Walberg continues talking about Medicare and Social security, and avoids mentioning Medicaid. At the 14:10 mark, one of the constituents who originally asked the question follows up asking Walberg to address the Medicaid part of the original question.] Walberg: I do not want to cut Medicaid for Medicaid recipients that meet the qualifications of Medicaid recipients.We’re talking only Medicaid expansion that we’re looking at. Live Constituent: That’s still Medicaid! Walberg: That was not Medicaid until Obamacare. Live Constituent: That’s Medicaid! My patients rely on that! My patients rely on that! [A strong round of applause throughout the room] So, Walberg affirmed once again that he wants to make cuts to Medicaid. So, it is not unfair for citizens to ask Walberg why he wants to make cuts to Medicaid, because that is his intention. Walberg’s domestic violence comments got news coverage that day. So, the next day he addressed that criticism in his opening remarks. Hudson, MI Video (3:00 mark) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSPMXaxr8A4 Walberg: “Many of my colleagues have stopped doing it [having town halls]. And the reason they’ve stopped doing it is because they say, ‘Why should I put myself it the setting where the Resist Movement, the Disrupt Movement that’s out there now can have YouTube moments on the cameras, the iPhones that are always there, and have that used against me in my next campaign?’ And that’s what will happen.” “Yesterday we saw strong evidence of that, and are seeing evidences of taking statements out of context. And encourage me not to be as open and honest with my constituents, because of fear of having those YouTube moments, and having it spun against me. The fact that I would be challenged with an untruth, I would – The example with yesterday, be willing to hurt innocent people by doing away with Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, and health care, is a scurrilous statement, not backed up with any truth at all, including my voting record, and direct statements.” “But then to say in my response that took umbrage with that strongly, and now say that I countenance and make fun of domestic violence? Anyone who knows me, and has known my positions, my voting record, know my relationship with my wife of 43 years, and how I’ve carried myself throughout this community, understands why I take umbrage with that. But I’m going to continue doing these town hall meetings, with iPhones pointed at me, with recording being done by trackers for my opposition in the coming campaign. We’re gonna do this because you deserve to hear from your representative. But I hope when you hear those statements, and see those pictures that will come from those cameras, and those statements that are made, you’ll understand there’s another part of the story.” So, Walberg doubled-down that he believes that his domestic violence responses were appropriate. As he originally made them, it did not seem as though Walberg was taking “strong umbrage” to the questions. Walberg grinned both times. People don’t normally grin when they take umbrage to something. Walberg also said that his record will make anyone understand why he would take umbrage with anybody that would accuse him of making fun of domestic violence. As someone who is familiar with Walberg’s record and previous statements, his stance on domestic violence is not clear. Walberg reliably votes against increasing restrictions to guns and concealed carry permits for convicted domestic abusers. Here are two other recent examples: 1) When Walberg was asked about Greg Gianforte violently attacking a journalist for asking a question, Walberg said that what Gianforte did could be seen as courageous, and Walberg was delighted to have him in Congress because Gianforte is a Republican: Coldwater, MI (Video (39:30 mark) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7zz0ub4Ucw Walberg: “He didn’t have a criminal offense. $250 fine. I think probably Montana’s, Montana’s cowboys etcetera didn’t see that as anything but a badge of courage. I promise you, I’m not gonna body-slam a reporter - intentionally. I wrestled in high school and college. I have four rotator cuff, bicep injuries to show that I can’t do that anymore… It does get frustrating, but I won’t body slam them. And Montana’s decided that was okay… they made that decision in Montana. And I’m delighted because I want a Republican in that seat.” Moral Relativism: Belief that morality is a variable cultural construct; there are no universal moral values. 2) Walberg has not made any critical statements about the many allegations of Donald Trump’s sexual assaults and harassment either. Even the ones that Trump has admitted to, and described committing himself. Those things have not hindered Walberg’s support for Trump. FOUR REASONS WHY WALBERG WAS JUSTIFIABLY CRITICIZED Walberg has either deliberately avoided addressing the points of criticism toward his controversial remarks, or he does not understand them. So, I will spell it out: 1)Walberg’s comments lessen the magnitude of domestic violence. – Among the attendees of Walberg’s two coffee hours, there were certainly people who had lived through real domestic violence. Walberg objected to critics for saying he made fun of domestic violence. So, I ask for Walberg to review the videos and see whether or not he grinned both times that he made those wife-beating remarks, and if he grinned at the constituents who had expressed their offense. Even if deep down Walberg was earnestly hurt by the questions that were asked, nobody had broken the rules that Walberg had set for the Coffee Hour. The questions had both been vetted by the moderators selected by Walberg’s office. Whatever stress or offense that Walberg may have endured by to those peacefully moderated questions, could never be compared to domestic violence, abuse, or being falsely accused of a crime. By drawing such a comparison, Walberg minimizes the suffering and lasting effects on people who have endured actual violence. Walberg’s grinning at the constituents who took offense to his remarks also demonstrates a carelessness toward the people he is obliged to represent. 2) Walberg intended to make constituents feel bad for asking perfectly legitimate questions. – Walberg attempted to equate constituents asking topical town hall questions, with constituents falsely accusing Walberg of violent crimes. Walberg attempted to publicly shame his constituents for having asked those questions. There was nothing inappropriate about the questions that were submitted and read aloud by Walberg’s moderators. There is no justification for Walberg to pretend to have been blindsided by inappropriate questions. 3) What context prompted Walberg to invoke domestic violence? – The first question was about science education, and the second question was about cuts to mandatory spending programs. Walberg said that critics were “taking statements out of context”, but he failed to explain what context would have made his comments appropriate in the first place. 4) Walberg thought he was being funny. – The wife-beating line went over better with the people at Delta Township than it did at the Dexter event. I don’t know if Walberg had ever used that line in the past, but it did elicit chuckles at Delta Township. Walberg was probably pleased by that reaction, and figured it would be a useful comeback line whenever tough questions come at him in the future. That is why he grinned both times after he said it. When the line didn’t go over well at Dexter, Walberg attempted to spin his motivation for saying the line. He argued that he had taken serious umbrage with the question that was asked, because the question was based on a maligning premise. However, Walberg should not take umbrage for being asked if he wants to make cuts to Medicaid, because moments later, he affirmed the premise of the question, that he does wants to make cuts to Medicaid. SPINNING IT INTO SOMETHING NICE AND FOLKSY Walberg’s attempts to spin the motivation behind his disrespectful remarks are similar to the October 16, 2017 Coffee Hour in Tecumseh, when he said: “Those of you who think there’s impeachable offenses to Tweets? Get a life. Get a life.” Some of the constituents that day told Walberg that it was disrespectful for him to tell them to get a life. We can see in real time how Walberg tried to spin his own intentions, by saying, “I’m not disrespecting you. If you can’t take a simple statement that says: Folks, we need to get a life. Get a Life! Enjoy America folks! C’mon, this politically correct stuff goes too far. Goes too far. Too far.” So, Walberg tried warp a direct declaration to “Get a life” into a “simple statement” that “we” should all enjoy America by getting a life: Yippy, let’s all unite together in getting a life. Gee golly shucks, it’s all warm and homespun now. Walberg could use that same technique to spin his gaffs into folksy simple statements in campaign slogans, like so: Video of Walberg’s “get a life” remarks See (37:00 mark & and 51:00 mark for Walberg’s spin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2FGy9D9a-E Labels: Coffee Hour, Constituents, District 7, Domestic Violence, Get a Life, Greg Gianforte, Health Care, Michigan, Misrepresentation, Tim Walberg, Town Hall, U.S. Congress - Chris - August 20, 2018 at 8:26 PM Thanks Steve. Somehow this hits me harder than some of your other blogs...but that could be because I read those first ...He's a pretty slimey fellow for sure. Steven - MI-07 August 20, 2018 at 8:42 PM Thanks. I don't like delving into topics of violence. Most of my reports deal with contradictions, and factual error types of things. That's how I tried to keep the focus with this, but it's unavoidable to have to touch upon the more sensitive areas of violence and it's lasting impact on people. It also struck me that unlike some of the other reports I've covered, which highlight an almost comedic pathology with Walberg's lying, this one shows a darker, more visceral disrespect toward the public in the way that he pushed back nastily on their really basic and casual questions on public policy issues. Steven - MI-07 Hi, I’m Steven (Twitter: @TakeCareTim). I began researching my Congress member and writing him letters in 2017, hoping to appeal to him on common ground. I attended some coffee hour events, and in one case, I noticed how Walberg lied right to our faces, holding a paper, saying that he was reading us content from the CBO. That became my first investigative report here: http://www.takecaretim.com/2018/07/investigation-walberg-lies-to-us-about.html - I suspected that if Walberg would lie so brazenly to constituents about such a low-stakes thing, that lying must be an easy and common thing for him. So, I set out to find out what else he has been lying about. I only draw from public sources, which are all cited here. Also, I only investigate claims that Walberg has made in public. I don't think we should be so cynical as to expect our representatives to lie like this. Flip Flop: Walberg on Trump's Wiretapping Allegati... Walberg Compares Constituent Questions to Domestic... Update: Walberg Lying that his Father Immigrated t... Walberg Claims He Was a Police Officer 3 Things Today: Primary / 3 Months Since Walberg C... Investigation: Walberg Lies to Us about his Colleg... Alexander Fleming (1) Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1) Alliance Defending Freedom (1) Alma Larson (4) Anchor Baby (4) Annual Summary (1) Betsy DeVos (1) CBO (2) Charter Schools (2) Coffee Hour (12) Constituents (14) District 7 (11) Donald S. McAlvany (1) FISA Warrant (1) Flip Flop (3) Get a Life (1) Greg Gianforte (1) Gutenberg Bible (1) International Churchill Society (1) John A. Walberg (6) Joint Economic Committee (1) Joseph Stalin (1) Kevin Brady (1) Manchester Mirror (1) Maria Butina (1) Martin Luther King Jr. (1) MCCC (2) Sam Brownback (1) Special Counsel (2) Spring Arbor University (2) The American Spirit (1) The Guy Gordon Show (1) The NRA (1) The Second Amendment (1) The Steve Gruber Show (1) Tim Walberg (26) U.S. Congress (13) Ukraine Prayer Breakfast (1) W. Clean Skousen (1) Warren Reuther Center (1) Western Illinois University (1) Wheaton College (2) I've Renewed this Domain: Quick Check-In Investigation: Walberg Lies to Us about his College Credentials Link to a more nicely formatted, printable PDF of this report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KA7AkXXPmkcXWJ78pbZCDRShTQxTUFjd/view?usp=sh... Tim Walberg lied to us about a Committee Hearing with Betsy DeVos Link to formatted, printable pdf of this report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZLnznZ0pXljNM3UGLKs1RTscHPXidCdy/view?usp=sharing ... An Open Investigation by Steven Meyer Michigan, District 7 Link To Formatted, Printable PDF of this Report: https://drive.go...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line801
__label__wiki	0.9624	0.9624	A ‘mafia move’ is alleged as two cities clash over bus route linking St. Pete to the beaches St. Pete Beach commissioners signed a resolution Thursday opposing the project, despite a letter from St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman urging them to support it. St. Pete Beach city commissioners Terri Finerrty, Doug Izzo, Mayor Al Johnson, Ward Friszolowski and Melinda Pletcher prepare for a meeting Tuesday about a proposed bus rapid transit system from downtown St. Petersuburg to the beaches. In an emergency meeting Thursday, the commissioners rejected the plan. [ANGELIQUE HERRING \| Times] By Caitlin Johnston Updated June 13 Seven hours, eight miles and different beliefs on the role of transit separated two city votes Thursday on the future of a proposed bus project in Pinellas County. In the morning, defiant St. Pete Beach commissioners rejected the project, which would link their city to downtown St. Petersburg. One of them complained of a “mafia move” by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. By 5 p.m., the St. Petersburg City Council had its own vote, this one supporting spending $4 million on making the bus rapid transit project a reality. The dueling votes are the latest in an ongoing feud over the future of a $44 million transit project, which would set aside special bus lanes for much of the route from downtown St. Petersburg, through South Pasadena and into St. Pete Beach. The project was floated more than a decade ago and gained traction in 2015. County officials have called it one of the most important transportation initiatives in the region. It has also faced strong community backlash and has gone through various modifications as planners have sought to address some major concerns by officials and residents in St. Pete Beach. Most recently, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority said it would use standard 40-foot buses instead of 60-foot buses, and would end the route at 45th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard instead of extending it to The Don Cesar hotel. PREVIOUS COVERAGE Lost lanes, 'monster buses' and more: fact-checking St. Pete's rapid bus project Whether St. Pete Beach likes it or not, rapid buses are likely heading its way St. Pete's new bus line forces a choice: bike lanes or parking? In light of vocal opposition from residents and anti-transit advocates in the region, the five-person St. Pete Beach City Commission approved a resolution during an emergency meeting Thursday morning saying that the project could come into their city, but just barely. They wanted the line to extend no farther than the intersection of 75th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. The action came one day after Kriseman sent a letter to St. Pete Beach Mayor Alan Johnson asking that the neighboring beach town “not take any action that could potentially jeopardize the whole project.” Kriseman ended his two-page letter by saying the St. Petersburg City Council would discuss bringing back the extra-long buses and running the route to The Don Cesar “should St. Pete Beach take action indicating its unwillingness to be a partner in this endeavor.” Those words angered at least one St. Pete Beach commissioner and drew strong responses from others during Thursday's meeting. “This kind of letter represents arrogance posing as virtue,” commissioner Terri Finnerty said. “Mayor Kriseman, please take care of your own city and we’ll take care of our own.” Commissioner Melinda Pletcher also criticized members of the transit agency board for how they have characterized St. Pete Beach commissioners. “You throw out words like ‘bigotry’ and you throw out words like ‘unconscionable,’ and then you get into what I would consider mafia move threats just to elicit fear in our city over what?” Pletcher said. “They're messing with our community, and it's not right.” Residents had repeatedly filled commission chambers asking the elected officials to say no to the project. About two dozen people showed up at City Hall Thursday morning to applaud the commission for its decision. “I am so proud of every single one of you here,” Gulf Boulevard resident Jill LaFond told commissioners. “Thank you for listening to us. But in St. Petersburg, half a dozen city residents petitioned their City Council to continue to support the project, regardless of the beach community's actions. “There are some other municipalities who might not see our vision in making this work, but I feel this council and your leadership can show them the right way to go with this,” said Brooks Wallington, vice-chair of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce's transportation committee. The eight council members voted unanimously to move forward with a $4 million investment in the bus route. “Our residents support this innovative bus rapid transit project,” council member Darden Rice said. “Our citizens are eager to use and enjoy the benefits (the route) will bring not just to St. Petersburg but the entire county.” The project aims to give buses their own lane along First avenues N and S in St. Petersburg and on part of a 2-mile stretch of Pasadena Avenue S. Cars could use these lanes only to make a turn into a business, driveway or side street. That would leave two regular traffic lanes in each direction. Once the buses leave South Pasadena near the Corey Causeway, they would run in mixed traffic. Project organizers had previously wanted the buses to run down Gulf Boulevard to The Don Cesar. But with commissioners not wanting the route to extend anywhere south of 75th Avenue, it would jut into St. Pete Beach for about a third of a mile instead of close to 4 miles. St. Pete Beach isn’t saying no to the project, commissioner Ward Friszolowski said. “But we want it to where its acceptable to us.” RELATED: St. Pete Beach: PSTA mislead feds about bus rapid transit project The bus authority also removed any mention of St. Pete Beach providing money for the project from state and federal documents. Commissioners and residents were outraged when they learned the authority had listed a $1.5 million contribution from the city as a possible local funding source, despite the fact that St. Pete Beach has expressed issues with the project since at least 2016. “I think we've made it clear about the funding, we've made it clear about the size of the buses,” Friszolowski said. “It's more about where the terminus is and how we connect to that.” Contact Caitlin Johnston at cjohnston@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8779. Follow @cljohnst. Caitlin Johnston Transportation and General Assignment Reporter Lawsuit: Hillsborough’s new taxi permits cost drivers thousands Cab companies claim they are due compensation after the county got rid of taxi medallions in 2017. St. Petersburg hopes to have scooters in the fall, city says St. Petersburg likely will not allow scooters to ride on sidewalks like neighboring Tampa has. Old rail tracks near Pinellas Trail spark legal battle Late last month, St. Petersburg filed a complaint asserting that the city has the right to the land, which is adjacent to municipal property. But the rail company has already sold the land. Is an electric scooter the same as a bike? Florida law says yes, trail users say no Some who use local trails worry that electric scooters are too fast to be sharing lanes with cyclists and pedestrians. Texting while driving is now a ticketable offense In disputed cases, says Tampa’s police chief, it could come down to the officer’s word against the driver’s. Rosery Road project expected to start in October Largo will begin the project shortly after finishing Trotter Road improvements.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line803
__label__cc	0.605639	0.394361	Tax-Rates.org – The 2017 Tax Resource Start filing your tax return now There are -454 days left until taxes are due. Try our FREE 2017 income tax calculator Tax-Rates.org Income Taxes By State The Federal Income Tax Print Income Tax Forms Local Income Taxes Learn More About Income Taxes How Marginal Tax Brackets Work Social Security & Payroll Taxes Filing Quarterly Estimated Taxes E-File With Income Tax Software View The Income Tax FAQ Sales Tax By State County Sales Tax Rates Excise Taxes By State Use Tax By State Property Tax By State Tax Assessors By State Is My Home Overassessed? World Taxes King George County Assessor King George County Commissioner of the Revenue 10459 Courthouse Drive, Suite 101 King George, Virginia 22485 (540) 775 4664 (Phone) (540) 775 5062 (Fax) The King George County Tax Assessor's Office is located in King George, Virginia. Get driving directions to this office King George County Assessor's Office Services The King George County Tax Assessor is the local official who is responsible for assessing the taxable value of all properties within King George County, and may establish the amount of tax due on that property based on the fair market value appraisal. The King George County assessor's office can help you with many of your property tax related issues, including: Property Tax Appraisals The King George County Tax Assessor will appraise the taxable value of each property in his jurisdiction on a yearly basis, based on the features of the property and the fair market value of comparable properties in the same neighbourhood. The assessor's office can provide you with a copy of your property's most recent appraisal on request. Property Renovations and Re-Appraisals If you renovate your property (such as by adding living space, bedrooms, or bathrooms), the King George County Assessor will re-appraise your home to reflect the value of your new additions. Renovations may be reported to the Assessor's Office by the zoning board, contractors, or by the homeowner themselves. Unreported renovations will generally be discovered by the Assessor during the next on-site appraisal of the property. The Assessor may also re-appraise a property in the event of significant damage Paying Your Property Tax The King George County Tax Assessor can provide you with a copy of your property tax assessment, show you your property tax bill, help you pay your property taxes, or arrange a payment plan. Payments may be made to the county tax collector or treasurer instead of the assessor. Homestead Exemptions The King George County Tax Assessor can provide you with an application form for the King George County homestead exemption, which can provide a modest property tax break for properties which are used as the primary residence of their owners. Additional exemptions might be available for farmland, green space, veterans, or others. Call the Assessor's Office and ask for details. Property Tax Appeals If you believe your house is unfairly over-assessed, the King George County Tax Assessor can provide you with a tax appeal form and inform you of the tax appeal process. If your appeal is accepted, your property valuation (and property taxes) will be adjusted accordingly. How can I contact King George County? If you need access to property records, deeds, or other services the King George County Assessor's Office can't provide, you can try contacting the King George County municipal government. The King George County seat can be found in the County Administration Building in King George. You can contact King George County with general inquiries using the contact info listed below. County Administration Building King George, VA 22485-3866 King George County Contact Info: Get directions to the county offices For more details about taxes in King George County, or to compare property tax rates across Virginia, see the King George County property tax page. How can we improve this page? We value your comments and suggestions! Send Instant Feedback About This Page My Tax Refund Tax Brackets Property Tax Appeal Income Tax By State Tax-Rates.org provides free access to tax rates, calculators, and more. © 2019 Tax-Rates.org	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line805
__label__cc	0.601132	0.398868	International Federation of Chiropractors & Organizations Who is the IFCO? Leadership Scholarship Chiropractic As A Career IFCO On-line STORE The International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations (iFCO) is an international organization of chiropractors, students and others who support the practice of chiropractic for the purpose of correcting vertebral subluxations because subluxations, in and of themselves, are a detriment to the fullest expression of life in all people at all times. What are the IFCO’s Objectives The objectives of the Federation are: to assist chiropractors in any legal way that is practical; to promote, protect and advance chiropractic and to facilitate the public access to and knowledge of the services of chiropractic. How does the IFCO Define Chiropractic? Chiropractic: Chiropractic is a vitalistic philosophy, science, and art which consists solely of the non-therapeutic objective of locating, analyzing, and assisting in the correction of vertebral subluxations, because they are detrimental to the expression of innate intelligence – PERIOD. IFCO’s History The Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations (FSCO) was a national trade organization chartered in the state of Kansas in 1979 by a group of concerned chiropractors dedicated to promoting the ideals of straight chiropractic. In 1982, we relocated to the state of Georgia and registered to conduct business there. Our national office was located at 642 Broad St., in Clifton, NJ. From 1984 until 2001, when it moved to 2276 Wassergass Road, Hellertown, PA. The FSCO’s fundamental purpose was to preserve the traditional principles of chiropractic, while representing the interests and concerns of straight chiropractors throughout the world. In May of 2011, the Board of Directors and an overwhelming majority of the membership voted to change the name of the FSCO to the International Federation of Chiopractors and Organizations (IFCO) to reflect the organizations new stance as an international trade organization. While the range of the organization’s reach was dramatically expanded, the mission of the FSCO/IFCO has remained the same. All media inquiries should be directed to Renee Hillman, Administrative Assistant Categoriespage Previous PostPrevious Benefits of Membership Next PostNext The Venus Factor – Expert Review & Debunking Facts The Venus Factor – Expert Review & Debunking Facts The Sylva Ashworth Scholarship Back Pain Breakthrough Review – Can It Be Used To Provide Permanent Relief My Back Pain Coach Review: Does It Bring Long Term Relief as Claimed? Back To Life Review: SEE MY RESULTS! International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations 2276 Wassergass Road Hellertown, PA 18055 IFCOChiro@gmail.com	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line806
__label__cc	0.716031	0.283969	Offshore wind and solar power: wacky or inevitable? by Norm Tollinsky In: Commentary, Norm Tollinsky with 0 Comments Professor Dean Millar, MIRARCO research chair for energy in mining, is a voice in the wilderness working away on what some would consider wacky alternative energy schemes for an industry with a voracious appetite for conventionally generated power. A former program director for renewable energy and senior lecturer at the Camborne School of Mines in the U.K., Millar is a classic iconoclast, challenging traditional thinking and daring us to explore new paradigms.The buzz surrounding the planned development of a world-class chromite deposit by Cliffs Natural Resources and a nickel-PGE discovery by Noront Resources in the McFaulds Lake area of Ontario’s Ring of Fire provide Millar with an ideal test case. These two proposed mines are located in the far north of Ontario some 300 kilometres from the nearest road or rail line and will have to rely exclusively on expensive diesel fuel until the area is connected to the province’s power grid. Offshore wind or solar power as part of an integrated power solution including diesel, Millar told delegates at the 5th Mining and Environment International Conference in Sudbury this summer, could save these mines millions of dollars. At some point, a grid connection would probably make sense for McFaulds Lake, but for even more remote mines like ArcelorMittal’s Mary River iron ore project on Baffin Island in Canada’s Arctic, or Vale’s Voisey’s Bay Mine in northern Labrador, getting electricity from a grid will probably never happen. The world’s hunger for iron ore and base metals is forcing mining companies to build mines in the most remote regions of the Earth at the same time that jurisdictions like Australia are proposing carbon taxes, scientists like Sudbury’s own David Pearson are warning about climate change (see Page 14) and nuclear power is looking more and more dicey as a result of the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Mines in the not too distant future will have to rely more and more on the “wacky” alternative energy solutions like offshore wind and solar power espoused by Millar and his PhD student, Kim Trapani (see Page 16 and 18), but in 25 years, as alternative energy technologies mature, chances are we won’t consider them wacky at all. The photographs illustrating our stories on offshore wind and solar power in this issue of Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal offer us a glimpse of what the future will look like. The Robin Rigg Wind Farm off the coast of Scotland supplies180 MW of electricity – enough to power 117,000 homes, while in California’s Napa Valley, SPG Solar supplies wineries with floating solar arrays to free valuable agricultural land for growing grapes. The mining industry has taken cheap, conventional sources of power for granted for too long. It’s time to get creative and pay attention to new alternative energy technologies in anticipation of a future that’s looking more and more inevitable. Tagged Alternative energy, Cliffs Natural Resources, electricity, Energy conversion, energy solutions, energy technologies, Environmental Issue, Greater Sudbury, integrated power solution, MIRARCO, MIRARCO research chair, Noront Resources, Northern Ontario, renewable energy, Solar power, SPG Solar, Sudbury, wacky alternative energy schemes, Wind farm Debut Diamonds targets MacFadyen Kimberlites Debut Diamonds began the year on a positive note with its listing on the Canadian National Stock Exchange (CNSX:DI) on...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line809
__label__wiki	0.890425	0.890425	Why the Knicks backed off their Anthony Davis pursuit 6/17/2019 8:39 AM LAST EDITED: 6/17/2019 8:41 AM The Knicks never made a formal offer to the Pelicans for center Anthony Davis on the teams’ latest round of trade talks, according an NBA official. While the Knicks had interest in the superstar center, talks with New Orleans’ new general manager, David Griffin, were preliminary and brief ever since he began soliciting offers two weeks ago. Davis is headed to the Lakers after Saturday’s blockbuster agreement. The sense is the Knicks believed they could not match the demands of the Pelicans and essentially backed off. On Saturday, the Lakers gave the Pelicans a haul in six future shiny assets: top-5 picks Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, solid sub Josh Hart and three first-round picks, including the No. 4-overall pick in this week’s draft. The Knicks’ hesitancy to make an offer underscores a recent SNY report about the club’s concern of adding too many assets to a potential Davis deal. The Knicks appear content on keeping the third pick in the draft to select either RJ Barrett or Ja Morant, depending on which one the Grizzlies select at No. 2. That the Knicks never made a formal offer is stunning considering, according to a source, agent Rich Paul informed Griffin directly the Knicks and Lakers were Davis’ two preferences. The Knicks weren’t willing to come close to offering up six pieces, as the Lakers did. Former Pelicans GM Dell Demps, fired after he was unable to trade Davis at February’s deadline, had a higher opinion of the Knicks’ young players than did Griffin, who urged the Knicks to find a third team to include in the deal. In fact, Griffin’s hiring on April 17 did the Knicks’ chances no favors. Griffin even was critical of Kevin Knox during NBATV appearances. Griffin also knows Paul, who also is LeBron James’ agent, well from his days as Cleveland GM. Davis and Paul, on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated, probably got their top wish in uniting with James. The Lakers still could have enough cap space to sign a star point guard, with Kemba Walker’s name surfacing. “The Lakers had to get AD, otherwise it would’ve been a waste of LeBron — or whatever LeBron has left,’’ one NBA executive said. If they land Walker, the Lakers are favorites to come out of the Western Conference because Warriors free agents Kevin Durant (if he re-signs) and Klay Thompson both likely will miss all of next season with injuries. The Post reported Saturday that Draymond Green flew to New York over the weekend and was to meet with a recuperating Durant. A source said Green was visiting as “a friend’’ and not a business associate looking to convince him to return to Golden State. The Knicks are still interested in landing Durant. The Warriors appear in the dark about Durant’s plans. Warriors GM Bob Myers said, “I don’t know,” Friday when asked directly if he thought his chances were good to get Durant back. One Golden State player, when asked if he thinks Durant will re-sign because of the injury, said “No idea.’’ The Knicks’ pie-in-the-sky summer has not gone according to plan. They didn’t win the Zion Williamson lottery. They didn’t feel strong enough about their chances to make a formal offer for Davis. And even if he signs with the Knicks, the 6-foot-11 Durant will miss next season and be a slight question mark at age 32 for 2020-21, when he returns from his devastating Achilles tendon injury. The Knicks also feel they will get a meeting with Kawhi Leonard, but the prospect of selling him as a tandem with the injured Durant has probably been blown, too. In addition, reports suggest Kyrie Irving has the Nets higher on his list than the Knicks. While owner James Dolan touted the Knicks’ success in free agency, team president Steve Mills provided caution in an interview with The Post a week after the regular season ended. “The [Kristaps] Porzingis trade wasn’t done because we wanted to do something to create cap room,’’ Mills said. “We needed to make the trade to build our team the right way and the cap room is a byproduct of what happened. There’s a lot of noise and a lot of guys are interested in New York. They like [coach David Fizdale]. They like some of the changes we made in the organization. We hear that from agents. We hear that from other players. At least we’re in the game and hopefully something really good happens. But we won’t know until it happens.” If the stars don’t align for the Knicks, Mills could take his $74 million in cap space and try one-year deals with some of the better free agents. Or in a long-term deal pursue former Laker and Pelican Julius Randle, whom they like, or take a flier on former No. 2 pick Jabari Parker, who has been an injury-riddled bust. But going that route would seem to put off contending for a playoff spot for another season. https://nypost.com/2019/06/16/why-the-knicks-backed-off-their-anthony-davis-pursuit/ it could evaporate at any second, but this gives me confidence in our FO to do the right thing with an eye towards building to the future.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line817
__label__wiki	0.793819	0.793819	The James Bond 007 Dossier \| Bond 24 (Total Film Magazine Future 100) << Aston Martin DB5 for £10,000! \| Japanese James Bond Video8 Tapes find a new home >> 23. April 2014 04:29 by m \| 0 Comments The insider's intel on 007's upcoming as-yet-untitled latest. (I do hope the John Travolta rumors prove to be false)... Also in the Future 100, Star Wars Episode VII. Photos: Back on board: (clockwise from left) Daniel Craig Ralph Fiennes Ben Whishaw Naomie Harris 1 It may not have a name yet but Bond 24 has a confirmed release date: 23 October 2015 in the UK, with a US release scheduled for two weeks later on 6 November. Its only competition right now is the Peanuts movie, also due out in North America on 6/11/15. 2 Sam Mendes will be returning to direct, having initially expressed reluctance to go back behind the viewfinder. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson got their man by giving him time to honour his 2013 theatre commitments, and also to executive-produce Showtime series Penny Dreadful with Skyfall scribe John Logan. 3 Logan is also back to write the Bond 24 script, which he says will “build on what we did on Skyfall ” while being “its own unique animal”. “The themes, ideas and characters can obviously continue,” he elaborated in January. “So I think there’s resonance from Skyfall in the new movie.” 4 Daniel Craig has also offered a few thoughts on how his fourth Bond outing will play. “Hopefully we’ll reclaim some of the old irony and make sure it doesn’t become pastiche,” he mused last year. “I sometimes wish I hammed it up more, but I just can’t do it very well.” 5 Pre-production on Bond 24 will begin in earnest in April, with shooting expected to start in October, although Skyfall lenser Roger Deakins won’t be back. With Pinewood busy hosting Star Wars, though, Eon may have to go elsewhere for the first time since 1995’s Goldeneye . Pinewood’s new outpost in Georgia, perhaps? 6 Then again, they might look closer to home - namely, Ireland. Broccoli and Logan were both extremely complimentary during a visit to Dublin last year, while shooting Penny Dreadful at Ardmore Studios in Wicklow may well have given Mendes ideas. Japan has also been mooted as a potential location. 7 Japan, of course, was where the literary Bond had his last run-in with Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who could be due a comeback now Eon’s interminable dispute over the rights to the character has finally been resolved. Logan is keeping schtum, merely saying “our villain’s appropriate to the story we’re telling.” "THERE WILL BE RESONANCE FROM Skyfall IN THE NEW MOVIE" 8 So who will play Bond’s next nemesis’? Well, John Travolta says he’d be more than happy to accept the part. “They’re going a different way with their villain in this next film,” said the Pulp Fiction star in February, claiming Broccoli “loves the idea” of him in the role. 9 Ralph Fiennes will be back as M - and that is all the actor will reveal. “I know nothing,” he insisted in December. “I’ve not been told anything. I have no information, no dates, I don’t!” 10 Ben Whishaw is also due to return as Q, though he’d like the gadget guru to have more to do this time. “Obviously I would like just for him to be in it more!” said the actor last year. “I had a message from John Logan telling me some of the things he’s looking at and it’s really exciting.” 11 Rory Kinnear has also had some clues from Logan on what Bond 24 may contain. “He gives me snippets, but I know things can change between him writing it and the script being signed off,” says the Broken man, set to make his third appearance as M’s aide Bill Tanner. 12 Rumours suggest Naomie Harris will get a bigger share of the action as Eve Moneypenny in Bond 24 and that her character will be more 007’s sidekick than Fiennes’ secretary. “I’m looking forward to coming back,” says the Mandela star. NS Bond 24 will open on 23 October 2015. [Source: Total Film May 2014, P.72] 61b86264-12c0-4d23-932c-4974ba258cd3\|1\|5.0\|96d5b379-7e1d-4dac-a6ba-1e50db561b04 Permalink \| Categories: Bond 24 , James Bond 007 , Magazines \| Tags: \| Comments	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line830
__label__wiki	0.573444	0.573444	WAKE UP: But, Mr. President, you can still observe Jumat prayer in National Mosque Posted on April 1, 2019 by Editor in Editorial, General News, Islam, News From Left: President Muhammadu Buhari, while receiving in audience Imams and Islamic scholars led by Murshid of the National Mosque, Prof. Shehu Ahmad Galadanci, the Murshid, in State House, Abuja, on Friday 29 March 2019. “The Nigerian Muslim Community want to see you in their midst. After all, you are a major contribution that this community has made to the Nigeria Project, considering the many years of blames that had been hurled by people saying “Muslim leaders ruling Nigeria are the problems of Nigeria.” Your coming has changed the tide and today, although they would not acknowledge it publicly, everybody in the world knows that while neither Muslims nor Christians are problems of Nigeria, CORRUPTION and BAD CITIZENSHIP ATTITUDE are!” On Friday, the President of the united peoples of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the country’s Armed Forces, General Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, explained to Nigerians why he chooses to observe his Jumat Service in the State House Mosque as against doing so in the National Mosque Abuja. The excuse Mr. President gave is a genuine one being that it is about the convenience of humanity against the hardship in traffic people are more likely to be subjected to by the VIP Movement his coming to the nation’s number one mosque for such all-important worship will cause. However, I want to tell Mr. President that the Prof. Galadanci-led delegation of Imams of Nigeria calling his attention to his not coming to pray in the National Mosque should be seen beyond the excuse he has given turning down their request to have him amidst during Jumat Service. This President is too distant from his Muslim Ummah and it is undesirable as, this may have adverse effect, no matter what. Yes, we all believe that President Buhari is a normal Muslim that does not go into extreme. His non-extreme kind of Muslimness is in line with the teaching of Islam. However, to many non-Muslim watching particularly those elements within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) and the so called Retired Christian Generals, they love to see that you don’t connect physically with your religious community although they do not hate the close connection of your Vice, Yemi Osinbajo GCON, SAN, to the extent of him even going to play piano with other clerics in any church anywhere in the country; just like they do not find it out of place for your immediate processor, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan visiting any church service at sight and issuing government policies therefrom, sometimes to the disgust and chagrin of many. I have facts that Jonathan not only chose church going as hobby (which is desirable to me and many who believe in my way because being President must not deprive one of his right of association with his faith side) but also he chose a particular church in Ogun State, Winners’ Chapel as conduit pipe through which he channeled national wealth owned by Nigerians of various religious backgrounds: Islam, Christianity and idolatry to church’s pockets. This for the purpose of using the funds to do good to people so in election time, direction of voting to be decided by Oyedepo would be where benefitted communities and church goers would face. Little wonder therefore that Oyedepo has remained hell-bent damning any consequences in his war against General Muhammadu Buhari as 2015 seeker of office as President and, till recently during the 2019 presidential election period, he pulled strings across Buhari’s path as sitting President seeking re-election in office. It does not matter to Oyedepo whether Buhari is far better than his political party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and whoever it pushes forward for the contest, anybody who could stop him from living a fake life, using Nigerians’ collectively owned wealth to appear to people as if it is his church that is doing the wonder must be crushed. That has been what Oyedepo has done against Buhari since 2015 even till now that 2019 election is over. What did that mean? Pastor Oyedepo then became a nice man as many neighbouring communities of his Ota, Ogun State 15,000-seat capacity church practically applied to him for electricity transformers to power their energy supplies. Many of those communities up to the Toll-Gate, Sango, Oju Oore portion of Idiroko Road areas believed that the road Federal or Ogun State government could not afford to do, only Winners’ Church could do it. This, in a way along with concentrated campaign of Islamisation against Buhari, played a big role in the dangerous religious division that Nigeria suffered during the 2015 election. Not only that, fuel was sold inside Winners’ Chapel as low as N44 per litre as at the time general pump price was N87 for the time Jonathan was in power. Although I do recognize the right of Oyedepo, whose direction is claimed be determined on daily basis by God, has a right to do business. He must however be having unhindered access to free supply or prioritized order from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to be able to sell fuel at that incredibly lower price. I don’t need to remind anybody that Diezani Allison-Madueke, now being exposed on daily basis as spearhead of many electoral misbehavour that happened then under Jonathan, was Minister of Petroleum and Chairman of the Board of NNPC during the time. Oyedepo, according to many of the beneficiaries, gave empowerment loans to people who came to his church as worshippers in need of support and, even independent commuter transporters who ferried the church goers to the church, gave accounts of their benefits from Winners’ Chapels, which unknown to them was their own government indirectly helping them but in most unconstitutional manner of hiding behind religion to cheat others to appear as good church. Just for votes! Although I personally told one of the CDAs in Iju, near Atan area, that “I do not say you should not apply for this transformer you want to apply for, but you should have it in mind that it is your government that in actual fact gives you the transformer because, it is Federal Government money that Oyedepo is using to give those transformers he gives”, not many believed me. I challenge any Nigerian who is committed to Nigerianism and truth to come out and tell me that since Buhari came to power, Oyedepo has given transformer to anybody or any community or that he has sold fuel at N44 per litre even at N80 while the actual pump price is now between N0.00 and N145.00 per litre at pump price. While I would not like to sound immodest, what Oyedepo was doing giving out transformers for communities’ electrification projects was a good thing. But the unfortunate thing about that Jonathan’s attitude, and which nobody is talking about (including those that are praising Buhari today for not associating with his Muslim Community in time of worship but rather choosing to pray in government premises) is that the former President used Nigerians’ collective wealth to advance his own Christian faith making it look to many Nigerians that it was the church (Winners) that was so kind to distribute electricity transformers to those communities and even build their roads. This is one of the areas hypocrisy of many Nigerians may not help them until they repent. So grateful I am that President Buhari’s Change mantra has hymned this out of our public life in Nigeria; to the extent that all sponsorship to Holy Pilgrimages during Hajj has stopped, although CAN would want that policy to restrict only to the Muslim Ummah and it is not affected by it. If not, how come Buhari approved exchange rate for Christian pilgrims during his early days in office after his 2015 inauguration only for the same Christian using all the powers at their disposal including their “almighty media” to cry woes against the President when he did same for Muslim pilgrims same year? However, this attitude of unbiased leadership on the part of Nigeria’s President, a Muslim/Fulani of Northern Nigeria, must not disconnect him from the fact that the Nigerian Muslim Community needs him in their midst at their all-important occasion of Jumu’at Service except when he is out of Abuja. Being too righteous in everything can be extreme sometimes if not tactically handled. There is no better statement to explain why it is necessary. It does not stop people who will call you religious bigot from so calling. Are we not now having situation where the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) even goes to the extent of trying to make us realize that some elements tried not to make it congratulate the President on his re-election victory? It might not be well pronounced but many of us can testify to the fact that CAN did a great underground work asking people in Yoruba Land (I don’t know of the North or Igbo Land) not to vote for President Buhari but Atiku. We however wondered whether Atiku Abubakar was actually a Christian and even a non-Fulani. I however got to know that while Atiku is a Muslim, he is surely not a Fulani man. How has that interested CAN? So, for such religious organization, it should not matter to President Buhari its attacks on him for being Muslim at all times. Just before I stop, let me come clearer to President Muhammadu Buhari. When you came, you met a Nigeria profoundly polarized and heavily divided along religion line. But you said, “I want to lead a Nigeria where Muslims and Christians will practice their religions without fear.” Much as you ensure that, CAN has never rated you positively on religion. It continued, till election time, to present you to Nigerians as a religious bigot who is out to Islamise Nigeria. CAN’s allies that Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo and, above all, the TY Danjuma-led Retired Christian Generals of Nigeria are, have never stopped to mischievously tell themselves – and other vulnerable citizens who blindly follow them – how ethnically jingoistic and religiously bigot you are. But how would you continue to mind such people who appear to be men and women of God but, in actual sense, are not? How would you continue to throw yourself in the hands of people to whom you send a rat all times but in return send you serpent (snakes)? The Igbo people of Nigeria did not vote for you in 2015 but you have been so kind towards them in terms of appointments and regional infrastructure development. Yet, how do they pay you back, though you are using the money of Nigeria, a country many of them do not believe exist except as a Zoo? For 16 years before your coming, their own sons had access to such Nigeria’s money, what did they do to their region? For such people, Your Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, there is little you should do in disconnecting yourself from your own religious community and ethnic group in the name of pleasing a people who do not for once appreciate any good about you. When the ships are down, they would not accept you, it is your own people within the Nigerian marriage that will accept you. I overheard a Northern person saying that, “President Buhari has developed the South more than he does in the North here. How come therefore those over there keep blackmailing us as cheating Nigeria?” This explains how mischievous many Nigerians you try to favour with good character will never see you in good light except that you just continue to do the good things you are doing while we help in praying to Allah to continue to give you the patience and resilience to withstand their ungratefulness and, within our own limited media opportunity, we evangelize to the rest of the country the good news about your government and your personality which they have been deprived from knowing. That’s all! But it should not stop you from coming around to intermingle with your Muslim Community, during Jumat Service, and that is best done – not in the Presidential Villa but – in National Mosque Abuja. Don’t forget that during Olusegun Obasanjo, there was no State House Mosque, although he knew about large number of Muslims working in the Villa. Even after office, the same Obasanjo got some Northern governors who gave him donation in N40 million each on claim that he was launching a Muslim Mosque inside his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Abeokuta, Ogun State. After a long time, the mosque for which about five Northern governors contributed N40 million to build was eventually completed. Now, okay, I have been told by a very influential Nigerian in Abeokuta not to open it until I confirm that no serious Islamic activity is going on in that mosque. I will leave that aspect until I have my fact that the hundreds of millions naira by those Muslim governors to the Obasanjo Library mosque is a waste. Rather, while in office, he (Obasanjo) built an Aso Rock Chapel where the President worshipped. When Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua came, he, rather than build a mosque like Obasanjo built a church, would go to National Mosque Abuja to pray while his Vice, Jonathan, occasionally went to National Church Abuja but often made use of the Aso Rock Chapel which was overblown to the point that Aso Rock was like headed by a Christian President. Ditto the time Jonathan assumed office as substantive and later elected President. Don’t also forget that what you call State House Mosque is just a makeshift that can easily be converted to office under any Christian President. Whoever thinks I am fanatical for saying this obvious can only be on his or her own. So, what is the impression you are creating by telling us why you don’t pray in National Mosque, Your Excellency? If the logjam or restricted access that VIP Movement for Jumat Service period once in seven days (and you are not even in Abuja all the times) would cause is the reason people will take you to be unconcerned leader, LET THEM SAY like King Sunny Ade would sing. How has that concerned the spirit of togetherness that the Nigerian Muslim Community needs to feel from you? To this end, Mr. President, mosque influential Black President and Africa’s number corruption fighter, Alhaji General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, you can still attend Jumu’at Service at the National Mosque and nothing will happen, Insha Allah. It is enough the distancing. The Nigerian Muslim Community wants to see you in their midst. After all, you are a major contribution that this community has made to the Nigeria Project, considering the many years of blames that had been hurled by people saying “Muslim leaders ruling Nigeria are the problems of Nigeria.” Your coming has changed the tide and today, although they would not acknowledge it publicly, everybody in the world knows that while neither Muslims nor Christians are problems of Nigeria, CORRUPTION and BAD CITIZENSHIP ATTITUDE are! Previous Previous post: Tiwa Savage releases “F**k You” (cover) feat. Kizz Daniel Next Next post: Women who put on men’s wears are abomination to God – Kumuyi Osinbajo meets House leadership Dino Melaye sets Senate, Presidency on collision course over Peace Corps Bill MURIC to CAN Again: Your denial of religionaisation of police unconvincing	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line834
__label__cc	0.544647	0.455353	HTML Code Parser Jailbreaks iPhone/iPad Apps Football Streaming Google Introduces Google+, A Social Network To Compete With Facebook Search giant Google has introduced a new social network called Google+ to compete with the world's most popular social network, Facebook. This is not the first time Google is introducing Social Network as they already have Google Buzz and Orkut. But this time Google has come up with something more beautiful and a new Facebook-style social network Called Google +. The network is very similar to Facebook in structure but with beautiful and super design. Let's take a look at the features along with videos to see what Google is offering; Google + Project: A quick look Google + is a new social service that allows people to share thoughts with friends, share photos, upload videos, share links, spread news and more. +Circles: +Circles allows people to categorize their relationships with other people. By allowing to sort friends into different "circles", they can then assign different data to each circle. +Sparks: Sparks delivers a feed of highly contagious content from across the Internet. On any topic you want, in over 40 languages. Simply add your interests, and you’ll always have something to watch, read and share—with just the right circle of friends: +Hangouts: With Google+ we wanted to make on-screen gatherings fun, fluid and serendipitous, so we created Hangouts. By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you're free, and spend time with your Circles. Face-to-face-to-face: +Mobile: These days a phone is the perfect sharing accessory: it's always with you, it's always online, and it's how we stay close with our closest friends. We didn’t want “just” a mobile experience, however, so with Google+ we focused on things (like GPS, cameras, and messaging) to make your pocket computer even more personal. +Huddle: Coordinating with friends and family in real-time is really hard in real life. After all, everyone's on different schedules, in different places, and plans can change at any moment. Phone calls and text messages can work in a pinch, but they're not quite right for getting the gang together. So Google+ includes Huddle, a group messaging experience that lets everyone inside the circle know what's going on, right this second. Do you think Google+ can take over Facebook? You can take a tour of Google+ here. [Via: Google Official Blog] You can follow us on Twitter or Join us on Facebook to receive all updates . . . Share your views... 0 Respones to "Google Introduces Google+, A Social Network To Compete With Facebook" View Newer Entreis View Older Entries Home Subscribe to recieve updates Android Android Apps apple Articles Blogger tricks Did you know? facebook Fun fun fun Games google iPhone iphone apps News Pc Games Playstation 3 Sports Tips and Tricks Xbox Blog Archive May 2018 (1) December 2017 (1) October 2017 (1) June 2017 (1) April 2017 (1) March 2017 (1) December 2016 (3) December 2015 (1) November 2015 (2) October 2015 (1) July 2015 (1) May 2015 (4) April 2015 (1) September 2014 (1) August 2014 (1) July 2014 (3) June 2014 (1) April 2014 (1) March 2014 (1) February 2014 (1) January 2014 (5) December 2013 (1) November 2013 (3) October 2013 (1) September 2013 (3) August 2013 (5) July 2013 (6) June 2013 (2) May 2013 (8) April 2013 (13) March 2013 (19) February 2013 (36) January 2013 (30) December 2012 (30) November 2012 (30) October 2012 (32) September 2012 (27) August 2012 (3) July 2012 (18) April 2012 (1) February 2012 (1) January 2012 (87) December 2011 (6) November 2011 (14) October 2011 (26) September 2011 (23) August 2011 (46) July 2011 (32) June 2011 (55) May 2011 (61) April 2011 (67) March 2011 (69) February 2011 (85) January 2011 (117) December 2010 (24) November 2010 (2) October 2010 (2) March 2010 (2) January 2010 (1) Fulham register victory over Stoke City with 1-0 Meaning of different colors of roses Google Banned Hundreds of Pakistani Adsense Publisher Accounts ALCATEL ONE TOUCH SCRIBE X ANNOUNCED IN CES 2013 South Africa Cricket team squad - Cric world cup 2011 © 2010 - 2017 theinfoW.com All Rights Reserved \| Contact Us \| About Us \| Privacy Policy \| Terms of Use \|	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line840
__label__wiki	0.637861	0.637861	David Carlson and Landis Blair: The Hunting Accident @ Quimby's Bookstore 1854 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 Opening Friday, January 4th, from 7PM - 8PM The MLA Comics and Graphic Narratives Forum Is Delighted to Sponsor a Presentation and Social Event at Quimby’s with Creators of The Hunting Accident David Carlson and Landis Blair Drawing in the Imagination: The Power of Image and Text It was a hunting accident—that much Charlie is sure of. That’s how his father, Matt Rizzo—a gentle intellectual who writes epic poems in Braille—had lost his vision. It’s not until Charlie’s troubled teenage years, when he’s facing time for his petty crimes, that he learns the truth. Matt Rizzo was blinded by a shotgun blast to the face—but it was while participating in an armed robbery. Newly blind and without hope, Matt began his bleak new life at Stateville Prison. But in this unlikely place, Matt’s life and very soul were saved by one of America’s most notorious killers: Nathan Leopold Jr., of the infamous Leopold and Loeb. In The Hunting Accident, light comes from darkness, crime leads to redemption, and killers save lives. It’ll probably be a movie or Netflix show in a couple years, but for now, it’s a damn great comic book.” —GQ “The subtitle barely captures the scope of this ambitious debut graphic novel, a mix of biography, history, social commentary, literary analysis, and more.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review quimbys.com Susan Kirtley skirtley(at)pdx(at)edu Tags: Chicago, David Carlson, Landis Blair, Quimby's Bookstore, The Hunting Accident, West Town	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line845
__label__wiki	0.671191	0.671191	When instrumental music works, it works for the same reasons it always has. Stripping away lyrical content forces listeners to focus on elements that otherwise might get short shrift – arrangement, melody, harmony, and individual playing. Thomas Nordlund gives listeners a lot to do. Multiple musicians appear on Divide Avenue and help create sonic movies invoking landscape, emotion, and action in equal measure. Nordlund’s own playing on baritone guitar draws from a deep grab bag of approaches like jazz and blues mixed in a potent stew of chords, coherent melodies, masterful vibrato, and a perfect touch for the instrument. His musical presence doesn’t consume every second of the album, but it’s the force lurking at its center and drawing all other musical elements into its orbit. “Divide Avenue” sets the stage with the same aforementioned combination of chords, melody, and lead licks. It’s a moody piece, like many of the songs are on Divide Avenue, but there are subtle shadings of mood scattered across the performance. The rhythm section draws attention for their playing here as they will elsewhere. “Whiskey Rumination” sounds, on the surface, much more pensive than it actually is. The song rolls by with simmering, mid-tempo menace and the drumming, specifically, helps push its attitude to the edge. “Whispering Son” comes off as confident, ambling jazz with stronger than usual guitar. The muscular six string work and another great drumming turn from Lars-Erik Larson gives its jazz leanings added oomph. A lighter hand is in evidence on “Ensenada Nights” and it percolates with an entertaining, understated sultriness not common to Nordlund’s album. “Rilke in the Rain” is something entirely different, a quasi-progressive exploration of sound within some well defined confines. The title refers to the poet Rainer Maria Rilke and, based on that, one can only assume Nordlund is aiming at some sonic invocation of the author’s character. It certainly has a dream-like air, but it’s a dream streaked with darkness and shadows. “Wandering Daughter” is a free-floating jazzy excursion marked a little different by Nordlund’s eloquent and occasionally fiery guitar. The album’s final song, “Sagatagan”, is one of its finest moments thanks to a superbly constructed arrangement propelled forward, largely, by Nordlund’s guitar. Based out of Minnesota’s Twin Cities area, Nordlund is an anomaly in our world. This is an American musician who brings a good sense of what audiences want, his own ambitions, and musical facility to his work and manages to balance those competing elements better than most. Divide Avenue shows off this balance splendidly. Its eight songs never run on too long, fire the imagination right off, and are fleshed out by top notch players who seemingly understand everything Nordlund does or are simply willing to trust his vision. You’ll hear few albums ever that are this diverse and so successful at pulling it off. http://www.indieartistsalliance.com/2016/04/thomas-nordlund-divide-avenue/ Indie Music Review ~ Lance Wright	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line847
__label__cc	0.557667	0.442333	Sullivan County Law Court Jury awards $58M to physicians group in lawsuit against Wellmont Highlands Physicians (HPI) filed the lawsuit in Sullivan County Law Court in February 2016, claiming Wellmont tried for years to undermine or destroy the association. HPI is an independent practice association with 1,500 physicians and other medical practitioners, who are mainly located in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Ballad Health Ballad Health: What can patients expect from the merged hospital system? Now that the region’s two largest hospital systems have finally merged, what can Tri-Cities residents expect? As of now, not much different. Wellmont, MSHA increase visitation restrictions Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System reported Friday they have increased visitation restrictions at all their hospitals due to the severity of this year’s flu season. Tennessee extends deadline to close MSHA, Wellmont deal Instead of a Jan. 1 deadline, Mountain States and Wellmont executives now have until Jan. 31 to finalize the hospital merger, which has to occur before the state will officially grant the combined company, Ballad Health, its Certificate of Public Advantage. Wellmont Health System Flu spike causes hospital systems to restrict visitation During the week of Dec. 3, Mountain States and Wellmont hospitals recorded 54 positive flu cases. The following week, that number more than doubled to 140 positive cases. Support local hospitals by attending Night of Holiday Miracles The fourth annual Night of Holiday Miracles is set for Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center. Proceeds will support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a national charity for which Wellmont has served as the region’s affiliate for 30 years. Family practice opens in Hancock County Hospital The practice, which recently opened inside Hancock County Hospital, provides patients with care that puts them on the path to better health, according to Wellmont Health System. Updated Jul 12, 2017 at 10:12 AM Wellmont's finances improve slightly in FY 2015-16 Wellmont Health System’s bottom line only improved slightly during the 2015-2016 year as the health care provider attempted to move toward a merger with rival Mountain States Health Alliance. The not-for-profit system, in its annual filing with the Internal Revenue Service, recorded $696.7 million in revenue for the year compared to $694.1 million the previous year. Breast care for the uninsured gets $50K infusion Susan G. Komen® East Tennessee, a leader in the fight against breast cancer, has awarded $25,000 to Takoma Regional Hospital’s Diagnostic Center for Women’s Health in the newest grant cycle and another $25,000 for Wellmont’s breast centers in Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City. Ballad Health will be new name of merged MSHA/Wellmont systems KINGSPORT — Ballad Health will be the new name of the health care system created by the planned merger between Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System, the two systems announced on Wednesday. “It’s your story. We’re listening,” a release said of the new name. Updated Sep 14, 2016 at 3:37 PM ETSU nursing program coming to downtown Kingsport Twenty students began the program last week and ETSU officials are expected to welcome 20 additional students into the fold each fall and spring semester. The downtown campus currently serves 480 students throughout the day each week, with classes in social work, education, psychology and business.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line850
__label__wiki	0.58361	0.58361	Home › Q & A Q: Why HINDUISM is called SANATANA DHARMA? A: The sanskrit word “SANATANA” means ETERNAL The Vedic seers discovered the identity of “The law of Action” and “The Conservation of ENERGY” & thus claimed that this fundamental principle of mankind will remain for ever. Q: Who is the Goddess DURGA? A: Etymologically the word “DURGA” means the caretaker of the ‘fort’ [durga, the NATURE] & so SHE is the Mother Nature herself. Q: How you explain the IMAGE of the Goddess DURGA? A: The IMAGE of the mother Goddess Durga consists of THREE distinct images: The Goddess Durga with TEN hands, holding TEN weapons, one foot on the Lions’ back and another foot is on the demon [Mahishasura]. Explaination: The Mother Durga [or mother Nature] symbolically represent the “UNIVERSAL POWER” & SHE is covering all the TEN directions [N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW, UP and DOWN] to keep the demon [famine, drought, flood, natural catastrophe etc.] under CONTROL [under her foot]. Moreover, SHE also got help from the animal lion, who is also under her another foot. The Image of the Goddess Durga thus shows the balanced system of the mother Nature, assured the VICTORY over the EVIL-forces. [In the pre-christian era, similar Goddess of agriculture and fertility, exited in Greece as DEMETER; in Rome as CERES.] For all of us, this image of the mother Goddess DURGA, shows the way how to achieve SUCCESS in life, by contolling the FIVE life forces [up-breath, down-breath, back-breath, out-breath, on-breath] and the FIVE sense organs [sight, hearing, smell, speech, touch] {the TEN-weapons} in order to subdue the dark forces [laziness, anger, wrong thoughts etc], which cannot be eliminated. Q: Who is the Goddess LAKSHMI? A: In the first FULL-MOON nite after the Autumnal equinox, we worship the mother Goddess Lakshmi who grants us the BEAUTY & the WEALTH and all of us have a very STRONG attraction towards it [lakshana or sign]. The 19th. Century Indian Saint Sri Ramakrishna said that if we could refocus this LOVE of WEALTH towards GOD, then we see GOD in front of us. Q: Who is the Goddess KALI? A: The Goddess KALI is the PRIMORDIAL POWER [SHAKTI] who is worshipped in the image of SHIVA-SHAKTI where the mother KALI stands upon the corps-like Lord SHIVA. The Mother KALI is the UNIVERSE in whom the three categories [gunas]: SATTVA [knowledge], RAJAS [action], TAMAS [ignorance] are in a state of equilibrium & by the presence of the Lord SHIVA [pure Consciousness], this equilibrium is disturbed, thus starts the process of EVOLUTION. Etymologically, the Sanskrit word KALA means TIME and the POWER of TIME is KALI. The mother KALI kept the Time under her feet & SHE is the Goddess who can grant ANY MATERIALIST DESIRE thru HER right hands but also takes away thru HER left hands. SHE can also take the “DESIRE” [raktabij] thru HER protruding tongue & grant us the IMMORTALITY of the SOUL in this life-time [if we pray for it]. Q: Why the Lord Ganesh’s head is Elephant’s head? A: All the Images of the Gods & Goddesses are related to the Mythological stories & in this case, Ganesh [son of Parvoti & Shiva] was entrusted by his mother Parvati, to guard the door so that No one can enter. Ganesh obeyed the mother’s command & turned down the Lord Shiva to go near his wife Parvati. The compassionate Lord Shiva replaced Ganesh’ head by the Elephant’s head so that devotees could now go to the mother Parvati. Interpretation of the Elephant’ head: The Elephant can uproot a large tree & also can pick up a pin, so acute sense of discrimination power. The Ganesh can screen the genuine devotee & allow to go close to the mother of the Universe. Moreover, one can not enter to the divine mother’s room with the head [or EGO] on the shoulder [final resting place of the HEAD is at the lower left hand of mother Kali.] Q: What are the TEN Mahavidyas? A: The TEN Mahavidyas are the TEN divine forces: GOOD EVIL Kali [power of change] 1. Chinnamasta [end of existence] Tara [potential power] 2. Bhairavi [power of destruction] Sorhasi [power of perfection] 3. Dhumavati [Ignorance] Bhuvaneshari [power of space] 4. Bagola-mukhi [power of illusion] Kamala [power of joy] 5. Matangi [power of domination] Thus the Power of the Universe are in a state of equilibrium. Q: What is the DIWALI festival? A: On the New-moon nite of the month Karttika [the Kali-puja nite], one hundred & eight candle lights are shown to our ancestors [there are other interpretations also prevailed in different parts of India]. The mythological story behind this ancestor-worship is as follows [from; Sathapatha Brahmana]: The name of the month Karttika [Oct-Nov] originates from the FIRST Nakshatra KRITTIKAH of the 27 nakshatra-system of the Lunar mansions, when the moon is full-moon [moon at this nakshatra in the beginning of Aries & Sun is in Libra]. The Krittikah nakshatra [or PLEIADES] was originally consist of SEVEN bright stars [or seven mothers] who were the wives of the Seven Sages [seven stars of the Ursa Major encircling the pole from which the gotras or linages originate]. The seven sisters had the guardian [or deity] AGNI [or Shiva] who had a lustful eye on them & so the Seven sages divorced the six sisters except Arundhuti, the wife of the sage Vasistha & Devi Arundhuti stays with this seven sages as a star Alcor in the Ursa Major. The first son of the Lord Shiva [called SKANDA] was raised by this SIX stars Krittika & thus the name Karttikeya with six faces & HE is the WAR-GOD HERO & the old TAMIL [Indian language] name is MURUKU [young man or bangles]. This seven sisters are the seven mother-aspect of Durga [The SEAL obtained from the Mohanjo-daro & Harappan] contains this SEVEN GODDESSES. The present astronomical observation shows the Pleiades with SIX bright stars [can be seen without the telescope] & these stars are covered by the FIRE, originated by the death of another nearby star. Q: When was the VEDAS composed ? A: According to the English translator of the VEDAS, the Oxford University [U.K] Professor Max Muller of 19th. Century, estimated that the Vedic period was over around 1500 B.C. The recent satellite picture of India shows that the river Saraswati [mentioned in the Rig-veda] was dried up around 2000 B.C. & thus the fall of the Mohanjo-daro & Harappan civilization. Moreover, from the present position of the Pleiades which is at the latitude of~ fifty degrees from the vernal equinox [precession of the equinox is 72 years per degree], supports the estimated time frame of Prof. Muller. Q: What is the definition of “TIME” in Hinduism? A: In Hinduism “TIME” is cyclical and the Cosmic time interval is defined as the Expansion & Contraction of the COSMOS [the Universe] at the rate of 4.32 billion years [and this is the time period of the Creation-Destruction-Recreation cycle of the Universe]. Another time cycle which is the sum total time periods of the four ages [named as Maha-yuga: Krita, Treta, Dvapara & Kali] amounts to 4.32 million years [which also follows the same cyclic rule, but one thousandth part smaller than the Cosmic time scale] & this is the micro-Cosmic time period of birth-life-death-incarnation cycle of the human beings. According to the Hindu Astronomer Aryabhata of 5th century C.E., the Sun, the Moon and all the planets, are in conjunction at Vernal equinox, in the interval of 4.32 million years. Q: Why the monkey-god “HANUMAN” is worshipped? A: The monkey–god HANUMAN was a great devotee of the god-incarnate RAMA, the main character of the epic poem in Sanskrit “RAMAYANA”, composed by the sage VALMIKI. Hanuman was such a great devotee of Rama that only Hanuman could cross the ocean by one jump while chanting the name of the Lord Rama & even the Lord himself could not do so. Hanuman became the GOD himself by the power of devotion & thus the people worship Hanuman as GOD. The sage VALMIKI composed the story of Ramayana in the “Krita- Yuga“ [the golden age], when the four-fold [or complete] aspect of TRUTH, used to prevail in the Society & close contact existed among the gods, the human beings & the animals. We are at the fourth age: “Kali-Yuga” [the iron age], when only ONE aspect of the TRUTH, remains in the Society, so we need both the KNOWLEDGE & WORSHIP. According to the Indian Saint Sri Ramakrishna of the 19th.century, the one truth of the Iron–age, is the SYNCHRONIZATION of one’s MIND, SPEECH & ACTION. Q: What is “DEATH” in Hinduism? A: According to Hinduism, the Supreme Being [or SOUL or UNIVERSAL POWER], resides in the heart of every individual as personal God [or apparent SOUL]. The BODY of the individual follows the cycle of “birth-death-rebirth”, governed by the law of ACTION [or Karma]. The individual soul gets an opportunity to make life better thru this cycle of “birth-death-rebirth”, until it realizes the “ONENESS” of the SOUL. The Vedantic conception of “immortality” is the KNOWLEDGE of the “ONENESS” of the SOUL. The BODY dies but the SOUL [or Supreme Being] exits ETERNALLY. The “book of death” in Hinduism, is the”KATHA UPANISAD” [the conversation between a student & the teacher who is the God of Death]. Q: What is the significance of the symbol “AUM”[or OM]? A: The sound-symbol “AUM” [or OM] is always used at the beginning and at the end of any Mantra or Chanting & thus making a dam to increase the power of the mantra or chanting. The significance of this symbol are as follows: the symbol “AUM” represent the ONE UNIVERSAL POWER which governs every dynamical system of the cosmos. After the THREE-FOLD division of this symbol as A, U, M which are the THREE POWER OPERATORS of the cycle of birth-life-death. The FIVE -FOLD division as A-U-M, represent the FIVE POWER[or Energy] ingredients of the Universe, such as Earth, Air, Water, Fire and the Space. This sound -symbol AUM is sung by using the SEVEN musical notes. Q. Who is the GODDESS SARASVATI? From RIG-VEDA SANHITA: Book 10, Sukta 125. In this sukta, the Goddess SARASVATI is the divine “ONE”[VAK], who is the transcendental ONE BRAHMAN [the Absolute] and also is the immanent CREATING FORCE of the Universe. The 19th. century English translator Ralph T.H. Griffith’ comments on this sukta: “VAK is Speech personified, the Word, the first creation and representative of Spirit, and the means of communication between men and Gods. Here She is said to be the daughter of the Risi Ambhrina.” From KENO Upanisad: The Goddess is the Universal Power and She appeared before the king of the Gods, Indra as the divine mother “UMA”[Light] with four hands, bestowing Dharma[Knowledge], Artha [Wealth], Kama [Pleasure], Moksa [Liberation]. From the MARKANDEYA PURANA: Here the Goddess VAK is considered as the Mother of the Universe [SAKTI], who is the Source of all Creation, and She is manifested as the Sarasvati [the Goddess of Learning and Intelligence] Lakshmi [the Goddess of Wealth] Kali [the Goddess of Liberation] From SANKHYA PHILOSOPHY: The Goddess is the dynamic aspect of the “ONE” as” PRAKRITI”, and the static aspect of the “ONE” as “PURUSA”. The Goddess Sarasvati [no.1 of c.] is worshipped on the fifth day from the first New Moon, after the winter solstice [Bengali month Magha panchami].	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line854
__label__cc	0.5772	0.4228	Louisville & Nashville 152 - 100 Years and Still Going DVD In 2005, the Kentucky Railroad Museum in New Haven, Kentucky, celebrated the 100th birthday of former Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 Pacific #152. On October 15 and 16, just as the fall colors were starting to turn, Diverging Clear Productions visited to catch the century old locomotive in action. The Kentucky Railway Museum operates excursion trains between New Haven and Boston over a former Louisville & Nashville branch line. The museum brings out #152 several times each year to pull its trains. Our cameras filmed throughout the weekend, with multiple cameras trackside and on the locomotive. The program starts before dawn as the locomotive is pulled out of the shop, and as the sun breaks over the horizon museum volunteers ready the locomotive for the day�s run. Once she is hot, cameras mounted in the cab and on top of the tender catch the sights and sounds as #152 first switches her train with former Santa Fe CF7 #2546, and then pulls the train to Boston. The run to Boston is presented in real-time, with trackside scenes complementing the cab and tender-top footage. In Boston, passengers detrain and #152 runs around the train to pull it tender-first back to New Haven. Trackside and cab scenes cover the run back to New Haven, where the locomotive is put away after the run. Narration explains the history of the locomotive and explains the basics of the action, but most of the talking is left to #152. Her mellow chime whistle never sounded better, and there are a few hills to make the locomotive�s exhaust bark as only a steam engine can. Any fan of steam in action will enjoy this video from Diverging Clear Productions. DVD Item#: DC-153100	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line863
__label__cc	0.683074	0.316926	Triskele Books 2010 Short Story Competition Winners It's that time of the year again (a little later perhaps than last year) and our Annual Short Story Competition is once more open for submissions www.wordswithjam.co.uk/shortstorycompetition2011 So, to give you an idea of the fantastic quality of last year's entries, the winners of our 2010 competition are below ... FIRST PLACE: George Was Dead by Janet Edwards When George died, he was prepared for life to change a bit, but a lot of things still took him by surprise. The legal complications to start with. He was taken aback by the letter telling him that Lizzie wasn’t his wife any longer. They had gone through that marriage ceremony eighteen years ago, tied themselves together until death did them part, and now it had. The first successful resurrection process had been carried out a bare fourteen months ago, and legally speaking the issue was a complete mess, with a dozen test cases bouncing through the courts. Untangling it would take years, so as an interim measure the legal system was treating zombies as automatically divorced, and allocated marital assets accordingly. “Well, it’s just a technical detail. We don’t have to let it change anything,” said Lizzie, tearing the letter in half and throwing it away. Lizzie had been a tower of strength through the whole terrible business, and George was deeply grateful to her. She kept repeating that same phrase, that they didn’t have to let it change anything, but of course a lot of things about their relationship were different now. They didn’t sleep together any longer, since zombies didn’t sleep. They didn’t eat together any longer, since zombies didn’t eat. They didn’t have sex any longer, because zombies didn’t do that either. In honesty, George didn’t miss a sex life very much. He didn’t admit it to Lizzie of course, but he had something far better now. Twice each day, he locked himself into his study, used the special lead to plug himself into the electrical socket, and the power surged through his body in the most intense and fulfilling of orgasms. He’d quickly given way to temptation, disobeyed the hospital instructions, and tried plugging himself in more often, but found it didn’t have the same effect unless the electricity in his body was at a low level. He was limited to experiencing that matchless thrill twice a day. Despite Lizzie’s brave words, things had definitely changed, but George felt he could hardly complain. It was, after all, a lot better than staying dead. He had been extremely lucky that his body escaped the car crash without taking enough damage to prevent the resurrection. There were even a few advantages over being alive. Without the need for sleep, he had so much more time. He never got tired either. He finished the multitude of little repair jobs that had been waiting for years, spent hours leafing through his collection of books on steam railways, weeded the garden to perfection point, and put his name down on the waiting list for an allotment. Life, or in his case death, was generally pretty good. It was precisely a month after his return to work, that George was called into Mr Hampden’s office. “George,” said Mr Hampden, leaning back into the cushioned splendour of his executive chair. “I wanted to have a little chat with you. I wondered if you’d had any thoughts about the future. In the circumstances, the firm would be very sympathetic if you wanted to consider early retirement through ill health.” “Early retirement,” said George, in shock. “I’m not even fifty yet. I’m not suffering ill health either.” “You are however, not exactly...” Mr Hampden broke off tactfully. “Alive.” George concluded the sentence bluntly. “You mean, you want to get rid of me.” “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” said Mr Hampden. “It’s true that some of your colleagues are a little uncomfortable around a... However, I’m sure they would adjust given time. When I suggest early retirement, I’m really thinking of you, George. After all, this whole resurrection process is so new. No-one knows how long the effects will last. I’m sure you want to make the most of the time left to you.” George glared at the two faced hypocrite. “Now, no-one is pushing you into anything, George, but it’s really in your best interests to be fully informed. Our pension advisor happens to have a gap in his schedule and will give you a little chat.” George was firmly shuffled off into a meeting room, and a bald man in large glasses talked earnestly at him for an hour. It was, he was told, a golden opportunity. At the moment, resurrected individuals were able to take up their pensions, but at any moment pension companies might change their code of practice to prevent it. “But I’ve paid into the pension fund for twenty six years,” said George indignantly. “I’m entitled to my pension. They can’t take that away.” “It pains me to say it,” said the pension advisor cheerfully, “but you did die. Of course, if the pension companies do act to prevent zomb...., I mean resurrected individuals, taking up their pensions, then they would have to pay your nominated beneficiary the lump sum death in service payment and a widow’s pension. In your case that would be...” “My wife,” said George. “Your ex wife,” the pension advisor corrected him. “You are treated as divorced, remember. That was the last straw. George glared at him. “My fiancé then,” he said, belligerently. “We intend to remarry immediately!” “And the pension? The company has offered to allow you to retire on full pension. It’s a very generous offer, even without the issue of resurrected individuals being prevented from...” “I’ll take it,” snarled George. “If I don’t retire, then I suppose they’ll find another way to get rid of me.” The advisor pushed several papers across the desk towards him. “Please, sign here, here, and here.” George signed, threw the ballpoint pen at the man, and stormed through the door into the main office. He looked around at the suited figures, sitting at regimented lines of desks. “You’ll all be happy to know that I’m leaving!” They looked at him with startled faces, and then hastily turned back to their computer screens and pretended to work. “Just remember though,” added George. “It may happen to you too. Just wait until you’re a zombie, and people don’t treat you as a human being any longer. See how you like it then!” He left the building, remembered he hadn’t cleared his desk of personal items, and decided he would survive without the diary, box of tissues, and twenty five year service award. Lizzie was startled to hear the news. “But... What will you do now that you’re retired?” “We’re getting married again,” said George, “and going on an extended honeymoon. We’ll go out right now and make the arrangements.” “Now?... I’ve got an appointment at the hairdresser at one thirty.” “You will have your hair done in Paris,” said George, magnificently, and they set off for the registry office. “You want to get married?” The woman with bouffant hair looked at them from behind the desk. “No, I came here to buy a television licence.” George shook his head in exasperation. “What a stupid question. Of course we want to get married!” “Well, you can’t,” said the woman, bluntly. “Our latest guidelines say that we can only perform marriage ceremonies for couples who are both alive or both dead.” “That’s rampant discrimination.” George was incensed. “I’m very sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. Rules are rules.” The woman stood up. “I’m now on my lunch break.” George was prepared to make a scene, but Lizzie towed him firmly out into the street. “There’s no point in making a fuss, George. We can go to Paris anyway, whether we get married or not.” They couldn’t. The travel agent was deeply apologetic. “Since you’re dead, your passport will no longer be valid, and until they sort out some sort of process for reapplying then...” “We’ll go to Edinburgh then,” said Lizzie. “But...” George was speechless at the injustice of it all. “Now, George,” said Lizzie. “There’s no point in getting angry. It doesn’t matter where we go. We should be grateful that we can still do things together. If the accident had been a year ago, or done more damage to your body, then all I’d have left of you would be an urn of ashes.” “I suppose you’re right.” George sighed. So they went to Edinburgh for a week, and it rained solidly. They sat in the hotel room for seven long days, watching Scottish raindrops trickle down the window. By the time they returned home to Wolverhampton, George had made plans to fill the days and nights ahead. He would do an Open University degree. He would write his own book on steam railways. He would take up water colour painting and pottery. He would get his allotment and grow prize winning dahlias. Perhaps Lizzie would like to join him in these new plans, he thought. Lizzie didn’t. She explained that she already had enough to fill her days. She was a volunteer driver for Help the Aged, she had two exercise classes, and she manned the till in the local Oxfam shop on Wednesdays and Fridays. George accepted that, and life settled into a new routine. During the day, he dug, painted, and potted. During the night, he collected credits towards his degree and worked on his book. Each evening, he spent three hours watching television with Lizzie, except on Thursdays when she went to her music society meeting. Digging the allotment was George’s favourite activity. He was untroubled by rain, cold, or fatigue, and found the repetitive labour soothing. He spent two hours every afternoon digging, and when his own patch of land had been dug to perfection, he offered to help the other allotment holders. They had regarded him with suspicion, but as one plot of neglected ground after another was methodically dug into neatness, George found himself not just tolerated but almost welcome. The thanks of the other allotment holders, and the occasional gift of spare plants, were a little embarrassing. He had a secret he could not share with them. The true reason he liked the digging was that the work drained his stored power and made the evening power recharge into a moment of ecstasy. George was quietly content with his new life, until the day he came home two hours early from the allotment. He had been offered a small second hand greenhouse, and needed some tools to dismantle and move it from the far end of the allotments to his own plot. George went in through the back gate, took off his muddy boots to leave them on the back doorstep, and saw Lizzie kissing a strange man in the kitchen. Stunned, George picked up his boots, fled back out of the garden, and trudged back to his allotment. He couldn’t believe this. He and Lizzie had always been so... so dependable. It wasn’t Lizzie’s fault, he thought. The problem was that they weren’t allowed to marry. Naturally that left her feeling... The answer to that, and to all of the other frustrations, was suddenly clear to him. If Lizzie was a zombie too, then they would be able to marry. She wouldn’t get tired or need sleep, and she could join him in his night time studies. They could even share the erotic moments of recharging their power together. After Lizzie had experienced the thrill of plugging herself in to the electrical socket, she would no longer want to kiss strange men in the kitchen. He left dealing with the greenhouse to another day, and spent hours digging as he considered ways to kill Lizzie. It had to be something that wouldn’t damage the body too much, and he needed to be able to get her to the hospital within three hours for the resurrection process to work. Drowning seemed relatively painless and could be arranged to look like an accident. Lizzie, of course, would be grateful to join him in death, but he didn’t want to have any silly problems with the police to spoil their happiness. When his plans were complete, he carefully cleaned his spade and went home. “Hello, George,” said Lizzie. “You’re back late today.” She was sitting at the kitchen table, eating dinner. “Hello, Lizzie. I thought I’d spend a few extra hours digging today, because I have some plans for tomorrow.” He smiled at her, confident that she wouldn’t notice anything odd about his manner. Whenever zombies spoke or smiled, it was always a little wooden and stilted. “What sort of plans?” “The weather forecast says it should be nice tomorrow,” he said. “I thought perhaps you could skip your exercise class for once, and we could go for a walk somewhere. By the reservoir perhaps.” “That sounds nice.” She took her empty plate over to put it in the dishwasher. They sat and watched television for the next three hours, and then Lizzie started getting ready for bed, while George went into his study. He locked the door, and felt a thrill of anticipation as he approached the electrical socket. He had spent extra time digging today, and his power was very low. This recharge would be something very special. He opened his desk drawer, to take out the lead and plug himself in, and then frowned. The drawer was empty. He looked round the room in confusion, checked the desk top, the floor by the electrical socket, and the shelves. The lead was nowhere to be seen. He searched further, remembering the time his watch had fallen down the back of the settee, but found nothing except a ten pence coin and a three year old shopping list. His movements were slowing now, and he could not afford to delay any longer. He would have to face the embarrassment of phoning the hospital, confessing his carelessness, and asking for help. He reached into his jacket pocket for his phone, but his searching fingers found nothing. He didn’t understand how he could have lost that too, but there was no time to worry about it. His power was dangerously low now, and he had to call Lizzie before he went into automatic shut down. He lurched over to unlock the door, but the key was missing. He shook his head in confusion, and turned the door handle, but it wouldn’t open. “Lizzie!” he yelled. “Lizzie! I need you.” “Yes, George.” Her voice was unexpectedly close. She must be just the other side of the door. “Lizzie, call the hospital for help. I can’t find my power lead.” “I’m sorry, George. I’m not planning to do that until the morning.” “What? You have to get help now. More than three hours without power and I’ll really be dead.” “That’s the idea,” said Lizzie. “Since we no longer sleep together, I naturally won’t discover you ran out of power until tomorrow. Everyone will understand.” George swayed in shock. That almost sounded as if... No, he told himself, that couldn’t be right. “Lizzie, you aren’t really... You wouldn’t...” “Yes, George, I would,” she replied calmly. “I’m murdering you. Again!” SECOND PLACE: My Final Blog by Karen O’Connor I should be typing this on my iPad. My fingers tapping the keypad, before sending out my latest gem of wisdom into the internet ether. Instead, I’m scribbling this on a thin piece of paper, with a pencil stub, praying the page won’t get wet and my final blog vanish. I should be making shrewd comments about the date, hoping the joke won’t be on me. Sad thing is, the joke’s on all of us these days. Max thinks we should head into the countryside, more space, less disease. We could start that smallholding we always talked about. I tried to seem enthusiastic, but my daily diet of fizzy drink and tiny portions of tinned food makes my thoughts fuzzy. He talked about planting potatoes, having some chickens, making our own bread. My stomach growled in response. I doubted the chickens survived, and I’m not eating anything that’s been grown in the toxic ground. Doesn’t he remember the warnings from the Government, when we had one. Fallout for six months, soil and water toxicity for ten months. Only eat what’s canned or bottled, they said – that’s if you’re lucky enough to find anything. The legions inside my mouth make me think that even that option isn’t safe. It was sunny today. The light had a painful intensity, nipping and reddening any part of my exposed flesh, but it was bright and made me happier. We moved this morning, packed up and off to find our rural idyll. Dorothy and Toto on the yellow brick road to who the hell knows. Max certainly doesn’t. I’m like a fashion model. Whip thin, all jutting hip and cheek bones. If I still had my digital scales I’m sure I’d weigh less than seven stone, and there’s not an inch of fat on me. I’ve even lost my boobs, they’re more like shrivelled flesh pocket flaps. If fashion houses still existed, I’d be front and centre, top of their list to hang luxuriant fabrics on, making the rest of the female population jealous as they reach for their diet shakes and fat rejection tablets. Fashion these days gets exciting if I can get a pair of my rancid pants clean. All this walking is becoming harder, and every day it takes us longer to reach our goal. Even Max is looking thin, and so old – I thought dating an older guy would be glamorous, but those furrows on his forehead just make me think of my dad. I’d stupidly suggested it would be good to have a car. “I think we’ve seen the last of the car.” He didn’t even try and hide his sarcasm. I wanted to scream at him. I know it’s all our fault, we didn’t listen, we kept buying and polluting and fighting with each other, until it was too late. Instead of screaming, I sat down, and opened one of the few remaining tins of fruit. A scary day, our food has gone. We have nothing to eat. I just want to give up. Max made soothing noises at me, but right now, I hate him. He’s supposed to be my provider. Where’s all his big talk about being the breadwinner? This isn’t the most frightening thing. This evening, I felt it move. It should never have happened. I’m too thin, no periods, no chance of a baby, right? Wrong. I’m sure it’s in there, fighting for life, taking my energy to keep itself going. I should love it, encourage my child, but instead I fear it and hate it for taking from me. What kind of monster will it be when it arrives, having sucked in nine months of polluted air and rancid food? Today, I do love Max. He killed a rat and made a fire and we ate meat. It was tough and coarse, but it was food and I adored him for it. I’m losing it, I’m so hungry and angry and today I properly hate Max. Why did he think the countryside would be a good place to go? I’m starving, miserable and all I see is mud, stupid, stunted, dead trees, and fields full of rotting crops. I miss my ready meals, my gym membership, my hybrid car, my vitamin supplements, my isotonic drinks and the internet – that would have solved all our problems, just hit the search button and it did the thinking for you. And, if Max tells me one more time what the crop was and what we could have done if we’d just had some butter and a few herbs I think I’m going to kill him. It moved again tonight. We made a friend today. Judy, a pleasant middle aged woman, with beady eyes. We love her, she has food. She asked lots of questions, where we’re heading, who we know, where we sleep. We answered them all, as we filled our tiny stomachs with the best tasting stew ever. I ate until I felt sick, and then ate some more, just in case. “I have a shed you can stay in.” These words were like magic to me. I love Judy even more than Max. The shed is dry, with only a few biting insects, and I know I’m going to sleep all night. No nightmares, no strange noises. I think we’ve found our idyll. “What does she want?” This is Max’s favourite saying at the moment. He always worries about what people want from you, he reckons they’re just out for themselves. Well, they used to be. Now it’s different, it has to be. Besides, I love Judy, she can’t be after something. We’ve nothing to give. “Trust her,” I told him. This feels like home, I want it to be perfect. Max blathered on about her eyes and the way she stares at him. I ignored him. If he’s trying to make me jealous he’s failing. If I had to choose, I’d pick Judy over him any day. I’ve decided to tell. I trust Judy, she’s like the mother I always wanted, so different from the bulimic, perma-tanned version I vaguely remember. I felt like a child with a dirty secret. I sat at her feet, by hands in my lap. I blurted it out, the word baby stuck in my throat like serrated glass. “A new life, out of the ashes, life always rises,” she said. She’d stroked my hair and told me it would be ok. And that’s all I wanted to hear. Judy’s even had some medical training, which will come in handy, whatever I decide to do. I’m in shock, Max knows about the baby. He was furious, throwing things, shouting. I sat there, seething silently. I didn’t want this, he was just as much to blame as me, yet I’m the one who’s the problem. “Get rid of it.” That was his advice, no debating, he wants it gone. It’s an option I think about every day, but now it’s out in the open the thought chills me. I’d tried to highlight that it was his responsibility too. “We’re leaving,” was his response. Did I ever love this pathetic impersonation of a man? Max decided this was his last day with me. I’m glad, thrilled to be free from his whining, pleading, pathetic arguments, and his juvenile fear of our protector. Now I’m free from him, I can see what Judy meant, he’s just jealous, resentful that a woman makes a better provider than him. Good to see sexism is alive and well on this rotten excuse for a planet. An hour after he’s gone, we celebrated girl power by having a blow out feast. I look pregnant! This is getting exciting and terrifying. Judy reckons I must be at least eight months gone. It’s so hard to tell, but she’s giving me extra food to help me and the baby grow. My baby, I hope it’s a girl. It’s the dead of night, and I’m prepared to admit that I sometimes miss Max. For all his metro sexual ways and his lack of any useful skills – what exactly was a High End Product Placement Advisor anyway - he could be fun and sweet, and would cuddle me when I woke up afraid. I hope he’s safe and happy. I hope he doesn’t miss me, too much. I found Judy’s supplies today. She has a stack of salted meat in the back of the cottage she lives in. All chopped up and bagged. No wonder she’s still so plump and so happy to share, there’s enough to feed an army. She caught me looking and told me to choose a joint for tonight. 22nd August 2036 It happened, in the early hours of the morning, I had my baby – it’s a girl. Judy was amazing. It felt like my insides were being pushed out, but it was so worth it. Best of all she seems healthy. Judy weighed her in her kitchen scales and she’s almost six pounds. I’ve decided to be hugely corny and name her Eve – you never know she could be the first woman to solve this horrible mess we’ve created. Today I found the shed door locked. And I’m on the inside. I called for Judy and I’m sure I heard her moving away but she didn’t come. I hope she’s not hurt. Still trapped inside, and getting hungry now. I tried to pull the door from its hinges, but the wood held. Where’s Judy? I really miss Max. Eve is getting restless, and I’m worried my milk will dry up without regular meals. Judy’s back! At least I think she is, food was pushed under the door. I spent ages banging on the door, but she didn’t come out and unlock it. I’m so tired, I slept for hours, all through the night and most of today, only managing to feed Eve twice. Maybe I’m getting sick. I got another meal. More exhaustion, can barely write a word. Judy came in today – she measured me and Eve up – but what for? I’m so tired, I almost don’t care. She’s dead, I killed her. She came in and tried to cut me up, like a butcher. I suddenly got the beady eyed bit that Max was always going on about. I think Max might be a bit of that salted meat I saw the other day. I’ve got a cut on my arm from the cleaver, but I’m alive. Judy lost her footing and fell down, I saw my chance and grabbed the cleaver. It went through her skull so easily. I’m too scared to move right now – but I can’t leave Judy on the ground for long, it will bring the foxes and rats, and they love nothing more than a bit of human flesh. It seems they’re not the only one. I’ve done it. Today, I finished cutting Judy up, and covered her in salt. She’s bagged and tagged like the rest of the meat. I felt sick as I began, but it’s not so bad once you don’t think about what you’re slicing into. I actually feel quite proud of myself, I’ve got my baby, my supplies, got rid of my pointless boyfriend and secured my own idyll. Now, if I can just work out how to encourage fresh supplies through the door I’ll be completely self sufficient. THIRD PLACE: Omelette by Annalisa Crawford The café is quiet today. Just a little further along the road is a sign saying Roadworks starting 11/01/11 and lasting two weeks, so Josie thinks this must be why. Tucked away, down one of the main roads off this one, the hospital rises high over the other buildings. Josie, as she pushes open the door, glances over her shoulder at the grey imposition and shudders. “Hello,” says the waitress behind the counter. “The usual?” Josie has never had a usual before; never had a local pub where the bar staff poured her drink as soon as she walked through the door, never even had a regular newspaper, or a favourite Starbucks coffee. It makes her feel content, but at the same time it means she has been eating here too long as she bides her time between hospital visits. “Yes. Please.” “Just plain?” Josie glances at the menu hanging on the wall. “Yes. Just plain. Thank you.” She walks to the table in the corner, opposite the large window. Her table. She slips her bag from her shoulder and sweeps her eyes across the paintings on the wall, noting the tiny price tags next to them; noticing them for the first time, which means she mustn’t be so distracted today. “These are good. Whose are they?” she asks when the waitress brings the omelette, plain, salad garnish to the side, no chips. “Mine,” the waitress mumbles turning pink. “Do you sell many?” She shakes her head. “No. But I don’t mind. I’d miss them if they weren’t here.” “Hello,” says the waitress. “The usual?” “Yes, please.” She hesitates, wondering whether she should make conversation. She did yesterday. So, is it expected today? Once there’s a connection, are you compelled to continue it? To be truthful, she doesn’t feel like talking; she wants to sink down into her own concerns. There’s an awkward moment, both women unsure what to do next, then they both drift in their separate directions: Josie to her table, the waitress to the kitchen. Josie sits on her hands, feeling the warmth of her thighs bring a tingle to her frozen skin; she’s forgotten her gloves again, perhaps she should have them sewn inside her coat. That was Meg’s suggestion when she gave them to her for Christmas; Meg knows her too well. Josie sets her mobile on the table, so she can answer immediately if it rings. She sits on her hands and waits. The mobile doesn’t ring or beep. Which is good; she doesn’t want it to ring or beep; that would only bring bad news. “Here you are.” The plate is presented – omelette, plain, salad garnish to the side, no chips – an exact copy of yesterday’s lunch, and the one before that, and the several before that. “Thank you.” She stares at the plate. “Are you all right?” “I’m not hungry.” “Perhaps you’ve just had enough plain omelette?” Josie looks surprised at the idea of another kind of omelette on her plate. She shakes her head. “I’ve been to visit a friend in hospital. She’s getting worse, not better. She was supposed to be coming home today. But she’s not well enough. I was supposed to bring her home today.” She stares down at the mobile, frowns, reaches out for it, then changes her mind. “I don’t want to go home without her.” “How long have you known your friend?” “Forty-three years and four months. We were at primary school together. We were supposed to grow old together.” “You still might?” Josie wipes a tear from her eye and smiles. “We still will,” she says defiantly. She picks up the fork and half-heartedly breaks off the first mouthful of omelette. There’s a space on the wall. Yesterday there was a seascape on the wall opposite her; a beautiful red sunset, a yacht pushing off into the distance. A perfect scene, a perfect sea. Yesterday, Josie stared into the painting and imagined floating. Peacefully floating away. “The painting’s gone,” says Josie, indicating the space, the wall faintly scarred with grime marking out where the frame was. The waitress blushes. “I sold it.” “Congratulations. I liked it. I’ll miss it.” “Thank you. It was the first one I’ve sold.” “Then you should do something special with the money.” “I’ll probably just pay the rent.” Josie looks across the room at the wall. The empty space feels ominous. “How’s your friend?” Josie shakes her head. “Not good.” “Are you hungry today? Would you like your omelette?” Josie pauses. She thinks of her plain omelette; she thinks of Meg not getting better. “You know… maybe… could I have a mushroom one today, please?” “Of course. I’ll bring it over when it’s ready.” “Cheese omelette, please.” “Good choice. That’s my favourite. I’ll throw in some chives, then it’ll be perfect. You seem happier today… your friend?” “Meg’s doing well. Rallying, the doctor said.” “That’s good news. She’s lucky to have you visiting so much. It must be helping her.” Josie shrugs. “She’d do the same for me.” It takes a few moments, sitting down, the smell of omelette wafting from the small kitchen, to realise there’s a new paining on the wall. Two old ladies sitting on a bench, laughing like school-girls. “I put it there for you, for your friend.” “You painted it for me?” The waitress looks sheepish. “Well, no. I had it at home. But when you were talking about your friend the other day, I remembered it. I thought it would cheer you up.” “Thank you.” Josie smiles, but it’s a thin, thoughtful smile. “That was such a lovely thing to do.” Her eyes are drawn back to the picture, lost in this world that might never happen. “It’s breast cancer, you see, what Meg has. She was in remission. But she’s…” Her voice shakes a little. The waitress is unsure how to react. Hesitantly she reaches out and touches Josie’s arm. She moves away, clearing a table close by, not wanting to leave this poor woman, glancing back at her every so often The café isn’t busy, not since the roadworks started – a few people are dotted here and there, either talking in couples or reading books or newspapers alone. Only Josie looks around, aware of her environment, opening herself up. She looks out of the window and notes the start of another downpour; she glances at the headline of the newspaper left behind by someone else. But her gaze returns to the picture on the wall again and again. There are tears bubbling, but she is smiling as well; a soft smile, a slow sad smile. She leaves the omelette half-eaten. She leaves the café. The waitress watches the clock. At one o’clock she tells herself Josie is running late. At two o’clock she fears Josie’s friend has had a turn for the worse. And at three o’clock she convinces herself that she upset Josie too much by hanging the painting of the two old ladies. The waitress finds herself standing in front of it, imagining being sat on that bench with an old friend, oblivious to the world passing behind them. When she painted it, she had no one in mind. The two friends had just appeared as if by magic, fully formed on the canvass. Now it seems intrinsically linked to Josie and her friend. And yet she wishes she’d never brought it in. She remains in front of her painting, trying to view it subjectively; almost amazed that something which could affect another person so much had come from her hand. At five o’clock, as the waitress turn the OPEN sign to CLOSED, heavy rain is falling, car headlamps glisten off the road and people scurry past under hoods and umbrellas. Today is Saturday. Saturdays are different; routines are different, the vibe is different. Fathers in their weekend disguise with their excited kids; friends meeting before a day’s shopping; lovers recovering from their romantic Friday night dinner. Everyone is light and happy, lingering over an extra coffee and sharing a slice of Death by Chocolate. Josie doesn’t come in on Saturdays, so the waitress knows not to glance hopefully out of the window. A busy day. A non-stop day. The waitress coasts through, oblivious to the different people queuing behind each other, oddly oblivious to their stories. Nothing matters; she has been drained of curiosity. The painting – untitled, but in her head now called Josie and Meg’s Happy Days – still hangs on the wall. She thought about taking it down, but it remains there for now. Why does it matter? Why does this woman, Josie, matter where so many other people who come in daily – and there are many – do not even register? She places two cups of coffee in front of two women with several shopping bags wedged on the chairs next to them, and can’t remember the last time she went shopping – or even had coffee – with a friend. She can’t remember the last time she saw a friend, other than at work, or passing in the street and dashing onwards with hurried promises to call. She never does. Never has time. Time doesn’t last forever, though, does it? Josie doesn’t have time. She imagines herself lying in a hospital bed, linked up to wires and monitors, and wonders who would visit her. Monday again. Another week. Another grey and miserable morning. Josie stands in front of the painting, walking straight across to it rather than standing at the counter and ordering. She senses the waitress move across the café and stand next to her. She feels the warmth, the companionship. “Can I buy it?” “Um, Yes. Of course.” “Isn’t it for sale? I thought you said they were all for sale.” “It is… they are. I just… I thought…” Josie turns, curious, concerned. The waitress blushes. “I thought I upset you, putting the picture up.” Josie softens. “No. I love it. Meg’s dying. They’ve only given her a couple of weeks. I wanted to buy the painting for her. I wanted to show her how it will be, in my head.” “I’m so sorry.” The waitress looks away. “It’s a present. Take it.” “I couldn’t. Don’t you have rent to pay?” She gasps a small laugh, then notices the waitress’s earnest gaze. “Thank you.” Josie stares at the board, although none of the options match how she’s feeling today. She wants colour; she wants to be uplifted. Peppers and spinach and tomato: colours of the rainbow filling her plate. She makes her request timidly, unsure whether she is required to adhere to the menu. The waitress smiles. “I’ll see what I can do.” “Meg loved the painting, by the way.” Josie raises her voice slightly, so the waitress can hear her from the kitchen. She glances behind her to make sure the other diners aren’t disturbed by the noise. “We cried a lot.” A head appears around the door. “Oh, I’m sorry.” “No, it was good. We said everything we needed to say. I think she’s ready now… prepared, you know.” Josie’s voice drifts away, her gaze softens. “She never had kids, she got divorced a few years ago and never met anyone else. Just existed alongside everyone else. Makes you wonder why she was here at all, doesn’t it?” Her face drops, horrified that such a thought could have entered her head. “No,” says the waitress quickly. “She was here for you, and for all her other friends. And even for her ex-husband. As soon as you meet someone, you’ve affected them. You and me. We’ve made a difference to each other, even if we don’t realise it yet.” Josie takes a long breath. “Well, I eat different types of omelette now.” The waitress pauses, then smiles. “It’ll be ready in a moment. Take a seat.” Josie plays with her mobile, pressing buttons to watch the screen light up. She waits for the call, hoping it won’t come. She checks to make sure the ringtone is audible. She stares at her reflection in the dark screen. “Do you really believe what you said before, that we make a difference?” she asks when the omelette arrives. “How have you made a difference?” “That’s not for me to say.” “But you think you have?” “I know I have. I must have.” The waitress pauses, then sits down opposite Josie and rests her hands flat on the table. “When I was little – eight or nine – I used to scare myself by looking up at the stars. You could see hundreds, thousands. The more you looked, the more you could see. On really clear nights you could see the Milky Way. And the world seemed so small. And if the world was that small, I must be just a speck, smaller than a speck, totally insignificant in a universe I couldn’t even begin to understand. So I chose to believe that I do matter, that everyone matters.” The waitress shakes her head and laughs at herself. “And I do realise it makes absolutely no sense at all, before you say anything.” She stands and smoothes her apron. “Enjoy your meal.” The waitress steps away awkwardly, pausing as though she’s going to say something else. She is rescued by a new customer entering the café. Josie watches her, smiling and laughing easily with this new person is a way she’s never done with Josie. Perhaps Josie encourages melancholy. Not always; she laughs with Meg. Meg forces her to laugh; even now, in agony in a hospital bed, she jokes with the nurses, reminisces with visitors, cheers others up when they are overcome by her imminent departure. That’s the difference Meg has made to Josie. It’s a good difference. Without her humour, without her lightness, Josie fears she would have sunk low and never risen, fears her encompassing gift for worry and fear would have driven her into a deep depression. She fears she will sink low and never rise back up. “Which one today?” asks the waitress, tempering her mood to match Josie’s. “Just plain?” No, not plain; Meg asks her to describe her meals, now that she cannot eat – how could she make a plain omelette sound exciting? “No. Tuna. Please.” “How’s Meg?” Josie looks grim. She smiles weakly, but shakes her head. She cannot talk. She turns away and sits at her table, glancing out of the window briefly. She puts her head in her hands. The air feels heavy around her, pushing her down. She feels sick now; the smell of food cooking is churning her stomach. When the plate is set down in front of her, she simply looks at it. And then, faintly at first, her mobile rings. She stares at the waitress, and the waitress stares back. Posted by Words with JAM Labels: Competitions, Short Stories Samantha Symonds 2 December 2011 at 15:22 George was dead is a genius piece of work as is My Final blog, love them both, well done guys that's some talented stuff right there! Great stories and beautifully written. Well done! Connect with us ... Writers' Toolbox Publishers' Toolbox Exhibitions and Festivals If you're new to Words with JAM (WWJ), please pull up a stool and take a look around. We post regularly and roundup via email newsletter packed full of interviews with authors and industry professionals, articles on writing, reading, libraries, the publishing industry and indie-publishing once a month, as well as other occasional newsletters. You can subscribe above. Enjoy! Jane (JD Smith) 60 Seconds with David Nicholls Promoting your book, promoting yourself The perilous path to publication – getting an agen... Synopsis Doctor with Sheila Bugler Characters in Novels: People Like Us? Scripts: American Character Is Self-editing a doddle or is editor-speak gobble... Populating the Fictional World WWJ offering a FREE first page critique by an indu... One Woman's Struggle - Nasrin Parvaz discusses oppression, survival and the strength of women by Catriona Troth Many Prisoners in One Room by Nasrin Parvaz In 1979, Nasrin Parvaz returned from England, where she had been studying... The Staunch Prize - Shortlist In February this year,we interviewed Bridget Lawless on the new Staunch Prize . The shortlist is out now! Congrats to all the authors and we... Guy Saville - in conversation with JD Smith Guy Saville is the author of The Afrika Reich , an international bestseller. Born in 1973, Saville studied literature at London University... The Art of Writing for the Stage By Paul Vates The mist snaked round Francisco’s legs. It fused with his own breath, settling on the damp castle walls. All was tense, qu... The Author's Website Robert Mening, founder of WebsiteSetup.org talks JJ Marsh through the considerations when setting up an author's website. What are t... By S.BEE We all need to value the importance of goal setting. This simple technique can help, encourage, motivate and support us to produc... The Long Road to Publication By Andy (Red)Smith The end is nigh. The end of the long road to publication, that is. Breaking the Lore will be published on April 15th,... Jhalak Prize 2019 The winner of the Jhalak Prize is to be announced on the evening of 1st May. As is by now traditional, Catriona Troth has been reading all ... Words with JAM Copyright © 2013 Quinn Publication No part of this website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials. All opinions expressed in Words with JAM are the sole opinion of the contributor and not that of Quinn Publications or Words with JAM as a whole. You may share this website by any of the following means: 1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page (Google Mail, Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, GoogleBuzz) etc; 2. Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate; and 3. 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__label__wiki	0.824461	0.824461	Being For The Benefit Of Paramount Kites Author: Sega Parks Reese skipped around Andy's foyer in her red heels. She had changed into her blue minidress and kept posing in front of the Victorian mirror. "Reese, stop looking at yourself in my parents' mirror." Andy said. "That mirror is expensive." "Very funny." Reese said, pouting at her reflection in the mirror. "But I look adorable." "Yeah, right." Andy muttered, grabbing Maris as she passed by. Maris just shook her head and kept on walking. Chuckling to himself, Andy walked off and started talking to a group of kids in the kitchen. Reese sighed. Andy was never serious. He always made everything a joke. She saw a lot of people walking around Andy's house. The party had just started and people were already getting high and drunk. "Hey, dudes," Andy said, stopping Brandon Albertson, Marilyn Barberis, Jordan Clark, and several other people, "if you're gonna smoke, take it outside. I don't want my parents to be smelling this shit." Reese giggled. She knew that Andy was allergic to pot and didn't want to be around it. She walked around the house and found Gigi Linderman and Melissa sitting on the French couch in the parlor. "What's up?" Reese said, picking up a glass off of the glass table and pouring alcohol in it. She sat down next to Gigi and took a sip from it. "This is good. What is this?" "It's Andy's mom's Vodka." Melissa said. "It's some expensive alcohol that was imported from Paris." Reese frowned. She didn't understand why Andy let them open it. Or did he? She shrugged and took another sip. "So how's Jude?" "Fine." Melissa said. "He's my date to homecoming." Reese was happy for her. Melissa didn't seem happy since Michael Hilton broke up with her the summer before ninth grade. Reese remembered when she was dumped by Jim Alexander. She was hurt for weeks. It was the worst breakup she had ever endured. Her stomach lurched with a feeling of pain. Reese downed herself another glass of Vodka. "So," she said thickly, "I heard Pam gave Brandon head." Melissa wrinkled her honey-blond eyebrows. "Really? I haven't heard." "Everyone's heard." Reese continued. "Brandon wouldn't stop bragging about it." Gigi shook her head in pity. "When will Shelbi find out." "I dunno." Reese said. "No one has the balls to tell her." She guzzled down another glass. "Let's just keep this a secret for now, okay?" The girls nodded. No one needed more drama. Savannah looked around Andy's house. It reminded her of the inside of the Titanic. Everything was so fancy. Two stoned lions were flanked around the grand staircase, seeming to glare at her. She could have sworn their eyes followed her as she walked away from them. A giant chandelier suspended from the cathedral ceiling, lighting up the whole room. She looked around some more and came across the parlor. She peeked inside and saw Reese getting drunk with Gigi and Melissa. Reese saw her and waved her over. Savannah walked slowly in. She was afraid they were doing something stupid. "You know Gigi, right?" Reese asked. "Yeah," Savannah said. She had met Gigi during Freshman Orientation. At the time Gigi struck her as someone she would avoid but after getting to know her, she felt comfortable around her. Melissa scooted over and patted the seat next to her. That was Savannah's cue to sit down. "I think Carter likes you," she slurred. Savannah looked at Melissa. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had a goofy smile on her face. She was drunk. "Okay," she said, not taking Melissa seriously. "This party is pretty awesome." It was kind of a lie because everywhere she went she saw people either getting drunk or making out. "Want some?" Gigi offered, shoving a bottle of vodka in front of her. "No thanks," Savannah shook her head. Gigi shrugged and finished the bottle herself. She wiped her mouth sloppily with her sleeve before giving away a tiny burp. That showed that Gigi was human. Savannah spotted the grand piano on the far corner of the room. It was beautiful. A portrait of Andy and his family hung above it. Andy was holding a white dog with its tongue out. She smiled. She loved dogs. The whole room gave off an old-fashioned vibe. She liked Andy's house. It took her away from reality. There was almost nothing modern in the house. It all looked early twentieth century. She rubbed her shoes on the accent rug and inhaled the familiar scent of blossoms. It took her back when her mom used to take her shopping in the mall. She would be about four and the place her mom went the most was the perfume shop. The smell in Andy's parlor jotted her memory. She left the room and was greeted by several more people she didn't know. She waved before finding Carter sitting on the couch in the living room. He looked cute in his black Adidas hoodie and blue jeans. "Hi," she smiled, sitting next to him. "How are you?" he asked, putting his arm around her. "Good." she said, tapping her feet to an old Mariah Carey song. Andy seemed to have good taste in music. The music that played so far didn't seem to be from this decade. Most of the songs were from the sixties, seventies, and nineties. Some were rock, some were rap, and most were hip-hop. Carter took a sip from his beer can. "I'm glad you're on court." "Don't remind me." she groaned. "I don't even want to think about it." "Okay," he said understandingly. "What do you want to talk about?" "I don't know," she ventured, "Maybe..." Holly, Maris, and Palma came over. "Help me." Holly said, her sapphire-blue eyes wide with excitement. "Peter won't leave me alone!" Savannah knew Holly had broke up with Peter not too long ago and Peter didn't seem happy about it. In fact Holly told her how Peter would curse her on Facebook at every chance he got. Savannah thought Peter should grow up. But she really had no room to talk consider how obsessed she was with Scott Philips. Carter moaned. "I'll tell him to leave you alone." "Thank you!" Holly said. "I really appreciate it." "No problem." he said. "Anything for a friend." Holly took his beer and drunk the rest of it. "What were you and Vannypie doing?" Her eyes flickered as if she knew what was going on. Which she didn't. "Nothing," Savannah said. "Just talking." "Okay," Holly said unconvincingly. "Has anyone seen Andy?" Palma asked, searching around the room. They shook their heads. No one has seen him since they got to the party. It was like he disappeared. Palma just shrugged and went somewhere else. Maris followed right behind her. A white schnauzer came up to them panting. Savannah assumed it was Andy's dog. It barked happily and stood in front of Savannah. It paced around her a few times before stopping. It sniffed her as if he were trying to find something out from her. It pushed it's nosed against her leg. Finally, seeming to be satisfied with her, it barked and jumped on top of her. It began to lick her excessively. "Well, hi, cutie doggy!" she said, playing with him. "I'm Savannah, what's your name?" The dog continued to lick her until Andy came. He scooped him up in his hands and looked at Savannah apologetically. "Sorry about that." he said. "He gets a little excited when he meets new people." "That's okay." she laughed. "At least he's friendly with strangers." She thought it was cute how the dog's hands were spread when Andy held him. "This is Buzz," Andy introduced, wagging the dog's hands at her. "And this is Savannah." "We met." she giggled, letting the dog lick her hand. "He likes you already." Andy said, laughing. "I take it you have a dog." "No guess." she said. "I love dogs. My dog is my favorite thing in the world." "Same with Buzz." Andy said, rubbing his fur. "Maybe one day we can take our dogs for a walk." "That sounds like fun. My dog would love to meet another friend." "So would mine." he smiled. "I'm glad you two met." "Likewise." Savannah liked Buzz. He was happy and energetic like her own dog. The way it panted and made low noises touched her. She reached out to pet him some more. "Oh, by the way, your girlfriend was looking for you." she said. "I think she went that way." "Thanks," he said, "I'll find her." He rubbed her hair before leaving with his dog. Andy may have came from a family with money, but at least he was down to Earth. Carter grinned. "Andy and Buzz are characters." "You're telling me." she said. "I almost peed in my pants when Buzz started licking me. He is such a sweet dog." "You'll love him." he said. "I have a dog too, but he's about to die." Savannah's face deflated. "I'm sorry." "It's okay. He lived a good life. He's sixteen." "That's real old." she said bemusedly. "He's older than us. My dog's only four so he's still a baby to me." Carter nodded. He looked at Savannah for a minute. His throat clenched when he spoke to her, a girl so beautiful noticing him, it was almost beyond belief. "Do you want to dance for a little bit?" he asked. "Um, s-s-sure." she stammered. She was scared to dance with him. For one thing she couldn't dance and she felt weird being around him. Carter took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor. People were dancing, drinking, and laughing. Everyone seemed to be at peace. She took a Sprite can and popped the cap off. Taking a sip, she turned to Carter. "I love this song." The Beatles "Here, There And Everywhere" played over the speakers. Carter placed his hands over her tiny waist and pulled her in closer. Savannah closed her eyes and envisioned colors and swirls spinning around. She literally felt like she was in a dreamland. The atmosphere felt still and calm. Memories of her crying at the school dance in the sixth grade escaped from her head. She was know in a state of peace. She leaned in closer to Carter, feeling comfortable against him. Carter looked down at her and smiled. He rubbed her back and continued to dance slowly with her. This happened to be the best night of Savannah's life. She was on homecoming court and she was dancing with a cute boy. Popularity felt great. She wanted to be with Carter forever. His kindness affected her the most. There was no guy like him. Suddenly, the song stopped abruptly and everyone stopped what they were doing. Savannah saw Andy, a boy who she knew was Stephanie's boyfriend, Lucas, Damien, and several other boys come out of the foyer with Dexter leading the pack. Andy had him restrained, making sure he didn't leave. "Hey, everyone!" he shouted. "Dexter thinks he's Jesus Christ!" "Oh, brother." Carter muttered. "Not now, Andy." Several people in the room laughed at Andy's comment. "He crashed this party and tried to vandalize my front lawn." continued Andy. "And since he thinks he's Jesus Christ, we must treat him like Jesus Christ." "What is he doing?" Savannah whispered to Carter. "I don't know." Carter said, shaking his hand. "He just does things that no one really understands." "Jesus Christ was humiliated," Andy went on, "and because our friend Dexter thinks he's Jesus Christ, we'll humiliate him!" And without any further explanation, Andy grabbed a Pizza Hut box from a wooden table, opened it up, and dumped the whole pizza onto Dexter's head. Savannah cringed as she stared at Dexter's now red hair. Pizza sauce dripped everywhere. She wondered if someone was going to clean the mess up. A chorus of laughter erupted from the party-goers. Carter couldn't help but laugh too. Savannah looked around and saw that Palma had her hands over her mouth. She was trying not to laugh, but didn't succeed. Savannah felt bad for Dexter, but she couldn't help but feel that Dexter brought this all unto himself. He did try to vandalize Andy's property and he haf been bugging him. "You ugly queer!" Dexter said in outraged. "You watch your mouth, you grimy piece of shit!" Andy said threateningly. "Do you wanna step outside?" "Sure!" he said, shoving Andy. "Okay, faggot." Andy said, grabbing Dexter by the collar and leading him out of the room. Andy opened the double stain-glassed door for Dexter and let him out first. As soon as Dexter stepped outside, Andy slammed the door behind him. It earned him fits of applauds. Savannah just stood there with her mouth open. She didn't know what to think. It seemed like Andy did this for shits and giggles.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line871
__label__cc	0.626217	0.373783	Home /Black Button Up Shirt Men/Shirt Jack Design Shirt Jack Design Just like everyone, Dwolla has a lot of cords to manage. We think their space would shine even brighter with turnstone Bivi desk, which provides a sleek option for keeping spaces tidy and powered up in style. Will receive two turnstone buoys for free as a thanks for participating in SPN Startup Spaces.. He surpassed Mike Richter’s franchise career record for victories during the 2013 14 season, when he led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years. Lundqvist holds team records for appearances, wins and shutouts, and he won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2011 12. Malkin, the second player taken in the 2004 NHL Draft, led the League in scoring in 2008 09 and again in 2011 12. This stopped a bit when I got older, when I was in my late teens, but I got back into it after coming here. It was at that time that I got into literary fiction, the type with a political or social bent. So, I think that was probably the start of it. I also come across the incredible true story of Felix Sparks, who led the first US infantry regiment into Dachau concentration camp and liberated its prisoners. Despite the undoubted bravery, there were violent reprisal incidents during which members of the German SS were allegedly tortured, lined up against a wall and shot. I always loved stories that examine the duality of humans and found it fascinating when that heroic, sanitised role of Soldier became clouded. Not that I don’t enjoy pop music (I actually do quite a lot), but I’ll still leave songs play through that I don’t like just to keep an ear to the ground on what’s popular right now. They get stuck in your head regardless of whether you actually enjoy it or not and subconsciously that conditions your brain into writing catchier music. It’s also good because sometimes it makes you go “holy crap, they got to the chorus that quick?” Or “damn that’s an interesting idea for an intro”.Another really important point (IMO) is writing LOTS of music. Canton resident Sarah Fries describes her style as “casual and eclectic. I like things that are very unique and stand out a bit.” When we “glimpsed” the 23 year old assistant coach of women’s volleyball at University of Maryland, Baltimore County having a drink with friends at Nacho Mama’s, she was wearing something that she “threw together at the last minute. It was warmer outside. This is a chance for preseason Heisman favorite Bryce Love to reinsert himself into the conversation. Love missed Stanford 30 10 win last week over UC Davis because of an undisclosed injury, but he expected to be back on the field Saturday. He hasn quite performed up to the expectations he laid out last year, but it will only take one game with a couple signature explosive plays for him to jump back toward the top of the Heisman watch this year.. TAGS: Shirt Jack Design	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line874
__label__wiki	0.513572	0.513572	Hint to Homesh Recovery and More This week's Perasha: כג וְהָיָה, כִּי-יֶחֱטָא וְאָשֵׁם--וְהֵשִׁיב אֶת-הַגְּזֵלָה אֲשֶׁר גָּזָל אוֹ אֶת-הָעֹשֶׁק אֲשֶׁר עָשָׁק, אוֹ אֶת-הַפִּקָּדוֹן אֲשֶׁר הָפְקַד אִתּוֹ; אוֹ אֶת-הָאֲבֵדָה, אֲשֶׁר מָצָא. כד אוֹ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר-יִשָּׁבַע עָלָיו, לַשֶּׁקֶר--וְשִׁלַּם אֹתוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, וַחֲמִשִׁתָיו יֹסֵף עָלָיו: לַאֲשֶׁר הוּא לוֹ יִתְּנֶנּוּ, בְּיוֹם אַשְׁמָתוֹ. (IsraelNN.com) Nationalist activists have announced plans to resettle the evacuated northern Samaria town of Homesh - and the IDF issued a warning Thursday evening not to do so. They said that Israelis may not enter the town without express permission. Several organizations have called upon their activist members to be prepared by Monday to enter Homesh, which was uprooted by IDF forces as part of the 2005 Disengagement Plan. Also on Arutz Sheva: (IsraelNN.com) The prediction by the Biblical prophet Isaiah that enemies will beat their swords into plowshares may have been carried out by the Jews of Gush Katif – but Palestinian Authority Arabs in Gaza got it backwards and are now using the former Jewish agricultural communities as terrorist training camps. The towns of Elei Sinai and Dagit, former Jewish communities in the Gaza region, are now being used to teach new terrorists and upgrade the skills of those who are already experienced in attacking Israeli civilians and soldiers. Earlier this week, Israelis living in the western Negev reported hearing explosions that upon investigation turned out to be part of explosives training exercises carried out by the ruling faction in the new PA unity government. The Gaza trainees are using the formerly Jewish towns to practice producing and using explosives, ambushing soldiers, shooting rockets and more, according to a senior member of Hamas. He added that the terrorists are preparing for an Israeli operation in the area, which they believe will take place in the near future. The Gematria of: צפון שומרון + גוש קטיף = 1336 The verse in Shemuel Aleph 30:18 : וַיַּצֵּל דָּוִד, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לָקְחוּ עֲמָלֵק; וְאֶת-שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו, הִצִּיל דָּוִד. אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לָקְחוּ עֲמָלֵק = 1336 We're waiting for the day that David's descendant will recover the territories stolen by the Amalekites, including Homesh. By Amalekites, I refer to the Palestinians, who act like Amalek, as is shown in the above article. ** I realize that no Palestinians are currently living in Homesh, but that is the eventual goal of Disengagement. Neshama, a frequent commenter on this and other blogs, has started a blog called "Going Home". I wish Neshama much Hatzlaha, and I hope I myself get inspired by the blog. Here is a list of other blogs, among others, that have inspired me to make the move, even though it's not happening at the moment, but hopefully, one day soon (in no particular order): Lyons of Judah Countdown to Redemption From Hollywood to the Holyland There are many others too. I've also noticed that the messages have been getting more frequent and heavier lately. Have you? Imminent War? Tzvi Fishman in Hollywood to the Holyland: KABBALIST WARNS OF WAR 1 Nisan 5767, 3/20/2007 "Stock your homes with water, candles, and a two week supply of food," the elder Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, told a gathering at the Kotel this evening. "War is imminent, and this time, the enemy has missiles far more powerful than the rockets of the Hizballah," he said. "Whoever does not take precautions and stock up with food will be neglecting the mitzvah of carefully guarding one’s life." The Rabbi and students were gathered at the Kotel for a special Rosh Chodesh prayer. "In the month of Nisan, we were redeemed in the past, and in the month of Nisan, we will be redeemed now," he said. "This time, the army of Israel will have the upper hand, and it will bring honor to the Nation of Israel by obliterating our enemies." Rabbi Levy said that everyone should recite Tehillim and work on repentance. He criticized the yeshiva world for not sending groups of top students to kibbitzim and non-religious neighborhoods to bring them closer to Torah. "If a fire breaks out amongst the weeds, it spreads to the haystacks as well," he warned, implying that when misfortune falls, both the wicked and righteous are engulfed in the flames. He also lamented over the plague of immodesty in the Holy Land, saying it was the prime cause of the dangerous decree hanging over our heads. The quote from the last paragraph was from Bava Kamma 60a. Happy Rosh Hodesh Nissan! Interesting Links for Rosh Hodesh Nissan and related ideas: Arutz Sheva has an excellent article on the important days of Nissan Akiva talks about an interesting event in the world scheduled for Rosh Hodesh Nissan Countdown to Redemption tells us that freedom for Jonathan Pollard is a sign for future events Tzvi Fishman offers his own fiction to relay a message of Aliya בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להגאל The following is a translation of Hashem1.net's latest post. Warning: you may not like what you read. A "Be'itah" Redemption may not be pretty. I even hesitated posting this because of "Al Tiftah Pe Le'satan". However, it needs to be told to warn people of the possibilities. Just as the author wrote that he hopes that the words are not correct, I hope the same as well. Let us hope that we still have the merit and will to merit an "Ahishena" Redemption, speedily in our days, Amen. To all readers of the site, Shalom. I have decided that instead of waiting with all the things that I think are worth writing here until I have time to write a full post for each one, together with all the introductions, quotes, proofs, etc., I will write one central post once with all the main points, and whoever wants to elaborate, may do so on his own. I'm coming from a starting point that all readers should at least read "End of Days: Where are we?" (YY - English translation: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3), which was written approximately a year ago. Whatever I'm writing here is only according to what is written [in Tana"ch and Haza"l], and according to how I understand them according to the present course of events. There is no prophecy or future-telling here, just the opposite - I hope and want to believe that a great portion of what I write here is not correct. This is not a secret, we've been talking about this for already many years, a war will break out with Iran. The war is said to be, before everything else, a war of Christian countries against Iran, because it says in the Gemara that Paras (Persia) will fall in the hands of Edom before Mashiah comes. However, according to the Midrashim, and according to what was brought down here on the placement of Magog, which is actually in the area of Iran, it's possible to understand that we're actually talking about a deciding stage of the War of Gog Umagog, and that according to most opinions, it is said to also come here [Israel]. I live among my people, and I hear all the statements about the war in the coming summer. They've been talking about this since last year. The rumor I heard talks about the war preparations of Tzaha"l starting from the beginning of the month of May. There are already people who prepared for themselves plane tickets for a quick escape when needed, this is also known. The timing is interesting, since it fits almost exactly with the Midrashim, as was explained here last summer, over the fact that 40 years after the Jewish people will redeem Jerusalem, the war of Gog Umagog / War with Iran will begin. (You can read a little more on this in the post on the clashes with the Persians, from the subheading "ספר זרובבל: מלחמה..." until the subheading "עניין משיח בן יוסף והריגתו"). As is known, 40 years from the liberation of Jerusalem will be completed in the month of May this year (in the 28th day of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar). The dates that are spoken about for war are in the summer, and in Sefer Zerubavel, it is mentioned that the month of Av is the month of war (despite the fact that according to the Midrashim, it doesn't need to be immediately at the conclusion of the 40 years, but this is a minimum time that the Midrashim give for it). The Midrashim explain a difficult war, wherein the process, in the span of 40-45 days, the Jews will flee from their homes to the "deserts". If we will remember the plans that preceded the last U.S.-Iraq war (2003), we will remember that there were many plans to evacuate the entire Gush Dan (YY - Central Israel) to uninhabited areas like these and those. Assuming Israel will be able to withstand Iranian/Syrian/Hezbolla missile attacks, this scenario is definitely bound to repeat itself, and even if this will not be initiated by the government - this is what will likely happen in the end of the matter. In the period of the second Lebanon War, I believe it was Rav Shimon Dahan Shlit"a, who was quoted as saying that there will be a little bit of quiet after the Lebanon War, and afterwards, there will be a war in which all the inhabitants of Gush Dan will be required "to move away", as a rectification for Kayin (Cain). This is apparently what is going to happen according to what is written. By the way, regarding the identification of Magog as Paras (Iran), which I brought in its time with proofs, I found 2 sources of Midrashim, where the common thread between them proves exactly that Paras is Magog, and that the War of Gog Umagog is a war with Paras. The first source is the Sefer Zerubavel, which was brought down here in the past, and which talks about a war after Israel will be 40 years in Jerusalem (that is, the liberation of Jerusalem by Israel), and it says that afterwards, war will start with the Persians, wherein Mashiah ben Yosef will die. In the Midrash Alpha Beitot - מסכת שטן - almost the same exact words were written, except that this time, after the 40 years, instead of "Paras", it says that "Gog Umagog" will come to fight. The similarities between the sources doesn't leave any room for error: the War of Gog Umagog is the war with the Persians. I am mentioning again that according to the opinion that is based on the words of the Vilna Gaon as is brought down in [his book] Kol Hator (as is mentioned in the posts mentioned above), the spiritual Mashiah ben Yosef is the establishment of Israeli army. His death symbolizes the downfall of the army, and this difficult thing is said to happen in the war with the Persians (Iranians). However, the holy Ar"i established [in our prayers] that we should pray that Mashiah ben Yosef should not die, and it's possible that throughout the generations, the prayers were accepted, and the matters had been mitigated, so shall it be Hashem's will. A few more short words on this matter: The rumor I heard talks about a war with Lebanon and Syria in the summer. It's hard for me to believe that Israel will start a new war, knowing the threats to the Israeli neck, and without previous provocation. Logic dictates that this will be a defensive measure towards the possibility of an American attack against Iran, which perhaps, will be coordinated with Israel. Bush doesn't have much time to attack Iran, since next year is the year of the U.S. elections, and he definitely doesn't want to get the Republican Party stuck in the mud during the time of his election campaigns, especially in light of the last downfall of the Republicans in the congressional elections. The U.S. and Israel apparently are concerned that following Iranian missile attacks (that it's possible that the U.S. thinks it can minimize), there will be a participation of Syrian and Hezbollah in the forming crisis. In recent weeks, it became evident that Prime Minister Olmert admitted that Lebanon Operation (the second Lebanon War) was planned months before it was implemented, what this shows is that this was a preventative operation preceding an American attack on Iran, and this operation was convened to limit the ability of Hezbollah against Israel. In actuality, Hezbollah armed itself stronger than before, and its main threat against Israel - long-range missiles - has become more dangerous. Also, on the spiritual plane, according to what the kabbalist Rav Ben Tzion Mutzafi, Shlit"a explained, that the spiritual ministering angel of Hezbollah and Syria is the same ministering angel of Paras (Persia) in heaven, it logically follows that all these 3 will work in a unified evil track - it even seems right from a spiritual aspect. We all remember that according to what was said by the Gedolim of Israel in previous generations, including the words of the Gemara, "Paras needs to fall to Edom before Mashiah comes", and Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz ZYA"A said that we need to wait for this condition to be fulfilled even if the time for Mashiah to come has arrived. Also, if the war against Iran will start, it will likely last a long time, and according to the famous Midrash, "Said Rabbi Yitzhak: the year that the Mashiah will be revealed...", it comes out that Iran will start doing harsh actions against the whole world, apparently terror operations. Regarding the participation of North Korea and/or China into the crisis, today, this seems unlikely, but no one knows where these things may lead. In recent months, tensions between the U.S. and China have increased the the wake of Chinese missile tests to down satellites, military technology that was until now only in U.S. and Russian hands. Similarly, it's been recently reported that China increased its military budget this year by 15%-20%, which doesn't exactly show it relaxing [from fighting]. Zeiler Commission/The Appointment of Friedman Recently, the Zeiler Commission publicized its sharp findings against senior police officers, including the Inspector General, who is going home. Almost parallel to this, a Minister of Justice was appointed (from the former Shinui Party), whose inspection of the justice system is extremely strong. The new minister, Friedman, intends to implement widespread reforms to the justice system, which is corrupt to its foundation, and one of the retired justices of the High Court of Justice already threatened him with "He will cut off the hand". The previous words are processes that are developing with time, to fulfill the statement of the Gemara that Ben-David doesn't come until the evil officers and judges will be finished from Israel. Assuming that we are continuing to go in the direction of a "Be'itah" Redemption, this process already got strong energy. Foreign Soldiers in Israel The kabbalist Rav Shimon Dahan Shlit"a already mentioned that under our noses in South Lebanon (which from a scriptural aspect is part of the Land of Israel), there are already tens of thousands of U.N. forces from all countries of the world swarming about. This is apparently only an early stage preceding the next stage. In our great stupidity, there are certain people among us that are inviting foreign forces to come and guard us... Avigdor Lieberman from Yisrael Beiteinu did this recently, when he called upon 30,000 NATO forces to enter Gaza. When they come, Mr. Lieberman, to also "guard" Yerushalayim, you will remember that you invited them yourself... After the first Gulf War (with the SCUD missiles), the government of Israel got pressure from the whole world to be convinced to return territories [of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza], and the foundation was set in the Madrid Conference by one of the most right-wing governments with Shamir at its head. After an attack against Iran, the pressures against Israel will jump manyfold, and the government that anyways doesn't want the territories, as was exemplified by the evacuation of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron, will be quick to capitulate to these pressures, by accepting "guarantees" for keeping security. These "guarantees" could be only foreign forces who will "guard" over us, who are supposed to be deployed to all the territories, including East Jerusalem and the Old City. This plan was first publicized in newspapers after Hamas's rise in the Palestinian Authority, I assume before the previous elections, and no one backed down from it. President Bush - the father - said that in order to put pressure on Israel to participate in the Madrid Conference, he used a "trick" of putting the responsibility of the problems of the Middle East on Israel. Doing that trick after Iran is attacked will turn Israel into the most hated of all nations of the world, and again, it will be "The whole world against us." If we will continue to go in the direction of a "Be'itah" Redemption - I suspect that this is more or less the direction that we are coming to - all this is under the assumption that we are in the "optimistic" scenario. The most pessimistic scenario is simple, (YY - assume I'm saying Rahmana Litzlan, Has Veshalom, and Bar Minan throught this paragraph) a direction where the implication of the death of Mashiah ben Yosef is really the military downfall of State of Israel, assuming that this happens with its full sharpness, and that thousands of years of exile hadn't mitigated [the punishment], the outcome will be a total failure of Tzaha"l in war, as its simple meaning implies, which means opening the borders of Israel for capture by Arab armies, and in this situation, foreign (Western) armies would come specifically in order to help the State of Israel, and to prevent those responsible in the government "from pressing the button" of nuclear destruction of Arab countries. As can be remembered, in the Yom Kippur War, then Prime Minister Golda Meir instructed to remove the covers from the atomic missiles of Israel, so that the USSR will see this on their satellites, and will understand what Israel intends to do in case of a crushing defeat of Tzaha"l in war. Is today's army stronger than the army of Yom Kippur[, 1973]? Our strength is only in Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and not in the army, and so therefore, the answer to the question is dependant on our trust in Hakadosh Baruch Hu. A lunar eclipse on Purim eve, and a solar eclipse on Erev Rosh Hodesh Nissan...Were we once in this movie? Maybe last year... In the beginning of the year (5767), the kabbalist Rav Daniel Zer Shlit"a said in his satellite broadcast, that the things said regarding the war with Iran after the eclipse last Nissan, will be fulfilled apparently after the eclipse that will take place in Nissan, 5767. Many things were said last year regarding the solar eclipse on Erev Rosh Hodesh Nissan (see here, here, and here), we hope at least some of them that are favorable toward Israel will maybe be fulfilled this year. Signs of Heaven As is known, the Holy Zohar talks about a special rainbow with different colors (much brighter) that will be seen throughout the world before the Redemption, and it will symbolize the Shechina Who is getting bedecked with jewelry to greet its unification with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. According to my opinion and understanding, this "rainbow" is really the phenomenon of the Aurora [Borealis] ("Northern Lights"), which is an electromagnetic display that is connected to solar radiation, and is mainly seen close to the North Pole or South Pole, and it colors the sky with all the colors of the rainbow. A situation where there's a change in solar radiation can cause these lights, or this "rainbow" to appear in the whole world (scientifically proven), and since Haza"l said that in the future, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will take the sun out of its case, and the sun's case is what protects us from its electromagnetic radiation, logic dictates that this rainbow that will appear will be the Aurora [Borealis], but it will be throughout the world. In history, it's known about one case, in the year 5620 (about 150 years ago) that in widespread parts of the world, they saw a white light in the middle of the night, almost as [bright as] daylight, as an outcome of this phenomenon. This was even reported on in newspapers of that time. The actuality that this natural phenomenon was mainly caused around the period when day and night are equal, which is the equinox between summer and winter, very much reminds me of the words of the prophet: 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall not be light, but heavy clouds and thick [YY - in Hebrew it is קפאון, which is closer to freezing] (Could this קפאון be hinting to the North Pole, where these lights are seen around its area?); 7 And there shall be one day which shall be known as the LORD'S, not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light. 8 And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall the LORD be One, and His name one. Zecharia 14 A Hit by an Asteroid? However, these things cannot happen in a "natural" way (since in the Be'itah Redemption, we are in a state of Hashem's Hidden Face until the last moment) unless some event happens to Earth that will change agricultural conditions, etc. The kabbalist Rav Shimon Dahan Shlit"a quotes those who say that atomic explosions today are tens of times more powerful that that of Hiroshima, and at the moment that one will explode, it will push off darkness from the world. In the last decade, scientists observed an asteroid hitting Jupiter (an event that is said to be very rare), and their observations changed the entire scientific outlook on this matter. A simulation of this event happening on Earth will cause, according to scientists, an incredible explosion that is equal in intensity to all the atomic explosions that exist in the world combined, that will cause the wiping out, according to its simple explanation, of complete countries in the first stage, to a Mega-tsunami that never existed before (and it's logical to assume will never happen again), and for an unbearable raining down of countless meteorites ("אבני אלגביש" according to Rav Dahan Shlit"a), that will be formed as an outcome of the asteroid particles that were formed from the collision in its entering the atmosphere, which will destroy widespread parts of the world. "And the rugged shall be made level" - do you remember? This is exactly what is said to occur in this case. According to the scientific scenario, the whole world will be dark for several days, and the temperature will rise in parts of the world to a temperature of (and I quote exactly:) "An oven!" Do you remember: "For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace"? And when is this thing going to happen? This is the question that they asked the scientist who revealed in his day the asteroid that hit Jupiter. His answer was like this: This could happen the next second. It's logical to say that the mapping of all the asteroids in the world is almost impossible, and their paths are so unpredictable, that it can really cause this [to occur] that exactly in the next second, this will happen without warning. I checked this information against other scientific sources, and under the calming words (that this happens once every 1000 years or more, that there is a mapping of a good percentage of asteroids, etc.), all of these [sources] conclude the same thing under the saying: This could happen at any moment. To watch the video clip from National Geographic on the subject, click here. However, this is acutally what is explained by Daniel that it will happen that the 4 kingdoms who ruled the world will be destroyed, that a "stone" will hit them and finish them for good, and afterwards, the kingdom of Mashiah will rise up. Also, the "child prophecy" mentions this at the end of it. Besides that, reading a large portion of the end-of-days prophecies in Tana"ch according to its simple meaning, like the wearing out (?) of the heavens, etc., after seeing the scientific insights mentioned earlier, looks a lot clearer. And to remind you, only in the past decade were we able to reach these insights (which, by the way, were discovered by Jewish scientists). I already wrote a lot about the bird flu, and almost all of it was from scientists, besides the fact that according to the prophecies, at the End of Days, a harsh plague will come that will affect animals just as it will affect humans. To separate from what was written above, where there's no scientific inevitability that the events will transpire, this plague, according to all the scientists who are dealing with it, will occur - and will also be extremely fatal. The only question is when. The means that they are using right now are means of preventing the spread of the disease in animals in order to prevent the development of the virus (mutation) to become a virus that can be transmittable to humans, because when this happens, Hashem should have mercy on what will happen in the world. The scientists speak about this plague in terms of the worst plague and the most fatal plague that was recognized in modern times, and it's possible that this will be the most fatal plague in history. One senior scientist, who apparently denies the existance of the Creator of the World, calls this, "Biological terror of nature." The truth is that this is biological warfare of the Creator of the World to bring the world to justice. It's hard to absorb what kind of unimaginable catastrophe is expected at the moment that the "Truth Alarm" will be activated, which is when the virus will be transmittable from human to human. The TV networks in the U.S. and Britain prepared a number of scientific documentaries in order to explain to the people with what they are bound to be met in the coming future. The following is a short clip. This clip is not for the weak of heart: Click here to see the video The next stage of Be'itah According to the words that the righteous Rav Levi Sa'adia Nahmeni ZYA"A wrote in his work entitled "וענתה השירה הזאת", the rabbi divides the process of Redemption according to the blessings in the Shemoneh Esrei [Amida] prayer. According to his words, the next stage of the Be'itah Redemption is [the blessing of] "Return our judges as in the beginning", where the idea is the return of power to the Torah. He didn't write how this will happen, but from reading in between the lines of what he wrote in the entire work, it comes out that if we do what we are supposed to do while understanding that the situation has changed and that we are now in a period of Redemption, then the matter will easily be realized, and we will rise up in a relatively easy and simple path, which will be similar to a path of "Ahishena". However, if we will continue to behave in Israel nowadays as we have been behaving for hundreds of years in exiles, without understanding that anything has changed, then the matter will not necessarily work in our favor. As always, the choice in solely in our hands. (This is all I have the strength to write. I'm sorry about some of the descriptions, but the truth is that I refined it a lot, and actually, the things that were written, in relation to current events and the way they're heading, seem even worse. It doesn't have to be that way, this is just an interpretation of the matter, and even if this has to happen, we have a choice, and the question is why are we not implementing it?!) Kol Tuv to all the web-surfers, and may we hear good news. With Hashem's help, I am going away on "vacation" until the next bulletin, and may it be Hashem's will that we should merit the "Ahishena" Redemption soon, when we will finally wake up from our exile-inflicted slumber that befell us in the last thousands of years, and we should all cry out to the Creator of the World, all of us together, that He should redeem us quickly, in order that we should not have to go through the bitter things that are said to Has Veshalom pass upon us in a "Be'itah" Redemption, which we are creeping towards quickly... I am concluding in these days 2 years of laborious work on the Internet regarding the Redemption. Whoever wants to be updated while the site is not being updated, I turn you to the English blog Yeranen Yaakov (YY - thanks for the plug), which is led by yaak (YY - next few words omitted for various reasons - see the source in Hebrew if you must read it). The strength of my works in the matter of the Redemption, I can summarize in one verse, and the one who understands shall understand: גווי נתתי למכים, ולחיי למורטים, פניי לא הסתרתי מכלימות ורוק I gave my back to the smiters, and my checks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (ישעיה נ) Very Interesting Post from BTBY Blessed To Be Yerushalmi, in Countdown to Redemption, has been advocating immediate mass-aliyah before impending disaster for Hutz La'aretz. He now posts the following incredible post: Dear Jews! Good Jews! Hashem's special, chosen nation! Never has such a time period in all of human history held so much potential for the Final Redemption. Look at this... From the Ramchal's Ma'amar Hageulah: "It should be known, that the redemption has two appointed stages. We find this in the redemption from Egypt and in the redemption from Babylon, and it is known to us that it will be so in the future.... Regarding these two appointed times...the first stage...is called 'safeguarding' (Pekidah)...the second stage...is called 'recollection' (zechirah)." From R' Avraham Sutton's translation of the Zohar, Parashat Vayera (1:119a): Rabbi Shimon opened his discourse: "And I have remembered My covenant with Yaacov" (Vayikra 26). Yaacov is written here in its full form [i.e. with a Vav]. Why?... This verse refers to Israel’s [last] exile. When they are in the midst of that exile, they will be Recalled [i.e. Pekidah, i.e. a partial redemption, associated with Mashiach ben Yoseph] in the mystery of the Vav [of the Holy Name], in the 6th Millennium. This Recollection [Pekidah] will take place in the mystery of Vav-Aleph-Vav [i.e. when the letter Vav is spelled out Vav-Aleph-Vav, it attains the numerical value 13]. It will last for a period of 6 1/2 moments [i.e. years] [i.e. half of 13]. [This 6 1/2 year period will come] after 60 years of the 6th Millennium [which correspond to the final Vav of Vav-Aleph-Vav, and parallel the sefirah of Yesod, embodied by Mashiach ben Yoseph] have passed. ...At that time, the G-d of Heaven will arise to Recall [Pekidah] the Daughter of Jacob [the Shechinah and the Nation of Israel]. From that time [of Pekidah] till Zechirah [full Remembrance, full Redemption, Mashiach ben David], 6 1/2 years will pass. After that, another 6 years will pass. Altogether these [60 plus 6 1/2 plus 6] total 72 1/2. ...At that time, all the nations shall unite together against the Daughter of Jacob in order to annihilate her from the world. Concerning that time it is written, "It will be a time of crisis for Jacob, but he shall be saved from it" (Jeremiah 30:7). Now, we already know from other sources that techiyat hameitim must begin no later than 210 years before the year 6,000 (i.e., 5790) and that kibbutz goliyot begins forty years before that (i.e., 5750 or 1990!) Granted, "sixty years" could refer to any 60 year period of time, but if it in fact refers to the sixtieth year of a hundred year cycle within the sixth millenium, 5760 was the last possible opportunity for this to be fulfilled. Remember the Yalkut Reuveni: "In the (Jewish) year of 5760, the depths will rise up and flood the world...." The Chesed L’Avraham, (written around 200 years ago) saw 5760 as the year in which G-d will "remove the spirit of impurity from the land." (Zecharia13:2) Notice the wording again: " [This 6 1/2 year period (Pekidah) will come] after 60 years of the 6th Millennium." Precisely in the very closing hours of Erev Rosh Hashana 5761, after 60 years of the seventh century of the sixth millenium, the Al Aksa Intifada broke out and a "flood" of terrorism and 'natural' disaster rose upon the earth. People of Israel, 6 1/2 years later is Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5767!! Furthermore, we have many sources which all agree that just as the first redemption took place in Nissan, so would the final redemption take place in Nissan. Rabbi Mordechai Nissim commenting on the Ramchal, states: "...at a certain moment in creation there is a divine awakening that shifts the world from Safeguarding (Pekidah) into Recollection (Zechirah). At that moment, ... there is a spiritual awakening in the world, and it is as if God Recalls His pact with mankind. " A lot of people are reporting a deep sense of something like this, particularly since Purim. The way I described it to someone was that it was as if the extra soul we get on Shabbat decided to stay on at Leil Purim and not leave. The Ramchal again: "...the impasse, which occurred because of the exile, is opened up...and there is no concealment anymore. ...In the Recollection stage all is in a revealed manner, and not a hidden one, and regarding this it says,'Who is this that comes from Edom' (Isaiah 63,1). From then on Israel will rise up and exit from the exile...." Time to connect the dots. The Al Aksa Intifada was so named by Divine decree. Our own leaders would not link this war in any way to the battle for 'Jerusalem,' but this is exactly what it was and has been from the very beginning. The rape of the Temple Mount for the building of an underground mosque was an act of war. These reports from today's news detail more acts of 'war.' PA Chief Justice: Moses was a Prophet of Islam (IsraelNN.com) Muslim clerics and many Arab leaders, who have denied that the First and Second Temples ever existed and that Ishmael and not Isaac (Yitzchak) was offered by Abraham as a sacrifice, have added a new idea: Abraham. Moses and Jesus actually were prophets of Islam. Sheikh Taysir Tamimi, chief Palestinian Authority (PA) Justice and one of the most influential Muslim leaders in Israel, told Aaron Klein of Worldnetdaily, "Your Torah was falsified. The text as given to the Muslim prophet Moses never mentions Jerusalem. Maybe Jerusalem was mentioned in the rest of the Torah, which was falsified by the Jews." Tamimi added that the Jewish forefathers, Moses and Jesus were "prophets for the Israelites sent by Allah as to usher in Islam." Concerning the Old City, he stated, "There is no Jewish connection to Israel before the Jews invaded in the 1880's. About these so-called two Temples, they never existed, certainly not at the Haram Al- Sharif [Temple Mount]. "The Western wall is the western wall of the Al Aqsa Mosque. It's where Prophet Muhammad tied his animal which took him from Mecca to Jerusalem to receive the revelations of Allah." Turkish Inspectors Due Next Week (IsraelNN.com) A team of Turkish experts are set to arrive in Israel next week to inspect the site of the Israel Antiquities Authority dig being carried out near the Rambam (Mughrabi) Gate at the entrance to the Temple Mount. The dig is being carried out in conjunction with repair work on a broken footbridge leading to the Temple Mount which has caused an uproar in the Muslim world. Islamic clerics contend that the work is damaging the nearby Al Aksa Mosque. A recent visit by a team of UNESCO inspectors documented the fact that no damage has been caused. Rav Dahan has in the recent past spoken of something important being uncovered in the area of the Temple Mount. Let me remind you of something else. Why are they digging there right now??? Because a few years ago, some snow and rain and a small earthquake caused a wall to collapse and the land to slide away on this hill. What is happening here in the capital of the Jewish people? ...right now?? ... today??? Only four days before Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5767???? It has been raining for days! And not just rain, but rain and hail and snow and thunder and lightning and high winds all at the same time!! Water has flooded the streets and sidewalks of hilly Jerusalem. All of this is a very rare event, especially in the month of March! Surely Hashem measures it out until it is just exactly what is needed to bring 'cleansing' to his Most Holy Place. And if a little shake is needed to complete the job the weather has begun, that can be arranged, too! In addition to the sign of Eisav's impending downfall, will Hashem also give us a sign that we have truly transitioned into the Recollection stage? If, as the Ramchal teaches, this stage is all about revealing what has until now been concealed, what might be uncovered? ...and how might it affect the rest of the world??... and us??? B'ezrat Hashem, on motzaei"sh, I hope to relate some of what has been discussed here to the original subject and prepare to complete its revelation. There is no more time now. The Shabbat Queen is already on her way. The remaining hours until then must be devoted to preparing for her arrival. So many beautiful privileges have been granted to the people that Hashem cherishes!! Enjoy them!!! Shabbat shalom u'mevorach!!!!!!! Im Eshkahech - Matisyahu Style I'm just waiting for the first Hatuna to have that played at the Huppah! Hat tip - R' Lazer Brody Go Fishman! An excerpt from the From Hollywood to the Holyland blog: On Tuesday, my Rabbi and teacher, the revered and holy Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, shlita, journeyed with students to Meron for an all-night tikun at the tomb of the exalted Tzaddik, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, composer of the Zohar, to pray on behalf of the Jewish People. As has happened on many occasions, badly needed rain began to fall immediately, watering the thirsty fields, filling the Kinneret, and forcing immodestly dressed women to flee from the streets of our Land. If only it would rain all summer! ... According to Rabbi Levi, this super acceleration of time teaches that the Mashiach is near. As the cycle of Redemption approaches its climax, the inner spiritual mechanisms which power existence all speed up like the frantic finale of a washing machine’s finishing spin. Connecting Purim and Pesah The following is something I wrote off the blog last year at this time. Let me know your thoughts on it. The גמרא in מגילה1 brings down an argument between two opinions regarding a leap year of two Adars - whether פורים should fall out on אדר א or אדר ב. The first opinion holds that it should fall out on אדר א due to a universal halachic concept of אין מעבירין על המצוות - we never pass up on a מצוה – so the first possible time to celebrate פורים is on אדר א. The second opinion holds that it should fall out on אדר ב. This latter opinion concedes that אין מעבירין על המצוות is important, and would have applied here, except that in this case, we have a special rule that supercedes אין מעבירין על המצוות. That rule is that we want to be מסמך גאולה לגאולה – we want to make the redemption that happened on פורים and the redemption that occurred on פסח as juxtaposed as possible. We therefore place פורים on אדר ב which would make it only 30 days away from פסח, as opposed to 60. The question that bothers me is “Why?” Why must we put these two holidays as close as possible? What’s the connection between the two holidays that forces us to do away with such a universal halachic concept of אין מעבירין על המצוות? When one starts to think about it, however, there are numerous connections between the holidays of פורים and פסח: Both involved evil rulers who wanted to destroy us (פרעה wished to destroy us by killing the males, while המן wanted to kill every single Jew). Both included great miracles of Hashem to save us (although פורים was a hidden miracle, while פסח was an open one). Both holidays have the aspect of drinking wine (פורים to symbolize how the miracle happened through wine, while פסח’s 4 cups show freedom based on the 4 expressions of redemption). Both holidays have a special צדקה associated with the holiday – which we don’t find with any other holiday (מתנות לאביונים on פורים, and קמחא דפסחא a.k.a. מעות חטים for פסח). The first battle the Israelites fought after יציאת מצרים was against עמלק, at which time Hashem told us of our multi-generation battle against עמלק. The wiping out of עמלק, the ancestor of המן, is a central theme of the פורים story. 50 days after יציאת מצרים, we received the תורה at Mt. Sinai. It was the Jewish people’s acceptance of the תורה out of fear. During the פורים story as well, we accepted the תורה a second time – this time out of love of Hashem’s miracle2. In the year following יציאת מצרים, we built a משכן. Shortly after the פורים miracle, the 2nd בית המקדש was built. Much of the פורים story actually took place on פסח. OK. All this is nice and good, but it still doesn’t answer why the redemptions must be placed close to each other, and forego the halachic concept of אין מעבירין על המצוות. Perhaps we can go in a different direction. In the הגדה, we bring down an argument between ר’ אלעזר בן עזריה and the חכמים regarding what is learned from the word “כל” in the verse3 “למען תזכר את יום צאתך מארץ מצרים כל ימי חייך” – in order that you will remember the day of your exodus from the land of Egypt – all the days of your life. The former learns (based on בן זומא’s expounding of the verse) that it tells us to recite יציאת מצרים even at night, while the latter hold that it teaches us that we will be reciting יציאת מצרים even during Messianic times. One may ask: if the future redemption will overshadow יציאת מצרים, why would the חכמים tell us to talk about יציאת מצרים even in Messianic times? The answer must be because without יציאת מצרים, we would not have merited a future redemption. We would have been lost in the 50th level of impurity, from where it would have been impossible to emerge, were it not for יציאת מצרים. Hashem said4 “כה אמר ה’ זכרתי לך חסד נעוריך לכתך אחרי במדבר בארץ לא זרועה” – So said Hashem: I remember the kindness of your youth – your going after Me in the desert in an unsowed land. We will merit a future redemption in part because of יציאת מצרים. We also know that the future redemption from our current exile will mimic יציאת מצרים in its miraculous stature. This is learned from the verse5 “כימי צאתך מארץ מצרים אראנו נפלאות” – like the days of your exodus from the land of Egypt, I will show him wonders. This tells us that the future redemption will have all the markings of the redemption from מצרים. Everything we know about יציאת מצרים will repeat itself in our future redemption. The ירושלמי6 tells us that פורים is the only holiday that will remain with us during Messianic times, based on the verse7 “וזכרם לא יסוף מזרעם” – and their remembrance will never stop from their children. Perhaps a reason for this is that, as we mentioned earlier, a central theme of פורים is wiping out עמלק, which the 8רמב”ם says is a prerequisite for the rebuilding of the בית המקדש. We therefore want the גאולה of פורים, with its concept of destroying עמלק, to be put as close as possible to the גאולה of פסח, which is the parent גאולה of our future redemption. Why must it be so juxtaposed? We are trying to show Hashem that we just got finished destroying עמלק during פורים, and we are now ready to welcome the משיח and rebuild the בית המקדש for our current גאולה. It must be done as soon as possible. We can’t wait any longer. This is also why we learn about the laws of פסח 30 days before פסח – which falls out on פורים! We want to show that we are ready for the coming of משיח, symbolized by the laws of פסח – its parent גאולה – since we just destroyed עמלק. This connection is so important that it even supercedes the concept of אין מעבירין על המצוות. May it be Hashem’s will that we will merit the destroying of עמלק and the coming of משיח which should come במהרה בימינו אמן. 1) 6b 2) בבלי שבת פח. ע”פ פירש”י שם 3) דברים טז:ג 4) ירמי’ ב:ב 5) מיכה ז:טו 6) מגילה פ”א ה”ה 7) אסתר ט:כח 8) הל’ מלכים פ”א ה”ב New Geula Blog and New Situation Summary The commenter known as Blessed to be Yerushalmi on Mystical Paths has started his own blog called Countdown to Redemption. It looks quite interesting. Also, Hashem1.net posted a new summary of the current situation we are in, and how it relates to the Ultimate Redemption. I'll try to translate it BL"N sometime in the next week unless someone else does it first. Ledorotam Berit Olam This week's Perasha talks about how the Jewish people kept the Shabbat. Shabbat is such a gift that its reward was not publicized to the nations, or some say the "extra soul" aspect of it was not publicized to the nations. Gemara Bei'a 16a: א"ר יוחנן משום ר' שמעון בן יוחי כל מצות שנתן להם הקב"ה לישראל נתן להם בפרהסיא חוץ משבת שנתן להם בצנעא שנאמר (שמות לא) ביני ובין בני ישראל אות היא לעולם אי הכי לא לענשו נכרים עלה שבת אודועי אודעינהו מתן שכרה לא אודעינהו ואי בעית אימא מתן שכרה נמי אודעינהו נשמה יתירה לא אודעינהו דאמר רבי שמעון בן לקיש נשמה יתירה נותן הקב"ה באדם ערב שבת ולמוצאי שבת נוטלין אותה הימנו שנאמר (שמות לא) שבת וינפש כיון ששבת ווי אבדה נפש: Said R' Yohanan in the name of R' Shimon Ben Yohai: All the Mitzvot that HKB"H gave the Jews were given openly except for Shabbat, which He gave them privately, as it says, (Shemot 31:17) "Between Me and between the Children of Israel - it is an eternal sign". [The Gemara asks:] If so, non-Jews should not be punished for it! [See Rashi who explains that non-Jews were punished for not keeping the Torah and Mitzvot - see A"Z 2b. The Gemara answers:] He informed them about Shabbat itself, but as for its reward, He did not inform them. And if you want, I will [alternatively] say that He even informed them about the reward for keeping Shabbat, but as for the "extra soul" aspect of Shabbat, He did not inform them, as R' Shimon ben Lakish says: HKB"H gives an extra soul inside a person on Friday and on Saturday night, He takes it away from him, as it says, (Shemot 31:17) "He stopped work (שבת) and He rested(וינפש)." - Once a person's Shabbat is over, oy, the [extra] soul is lost. Arachim speaks of this idea (my translation): The Anshei Kenesset Hagedola (Men of the Great Assembly) included this idea in the text of the Shabbat prayer: "And Hashem - our G-d - did not give it to the nations of the lands, and our King did not bequeath it to the idol-worshippers, and also, in its rest, the uncircumsized will not dwell. For to Israel, Your nation, You have given it with love, to the seed of Jacob, in whom You chose." The promise of the special connection between HKB"H and Israel through the Shabbat is fulfilled in a miraculous way. As is known, in the early days of Christianity, the Christians set Shabbat to be their day of rest. However, as Christianity started spreading through the world, Divine Providence made it happen that the Christians moved their 'Sabbath' one day forward to Sunday. This way, the Shabbat did not lose its uniqueness - its being a sign and symbol as a connection between Hashem and Israel alone. This matter happened a second time with the Muslims. They chose for themselves Friday to be their day of rest, and they left Shabbat as a sign for the special covenant between Israel and its G-d. As a people, we need to understand the special gift that Shabbat is. Shabbat is not something that can be played with. Desecrating it is tantamount to taking this precious gift that is unique to the Jewish people and throwing it in Hashem's face. We need to learn the laws of Shabbat - both Zachor and Shamor - the positive Mitzvot and negative Mitzvot of Shabbat. By doing so, we will have a deeper understanding of how special the gift is. As Mordechai ben David sings: Just One Shabbos and We'll all be Free. If we would keep one more Shabbat properly, as the Jewish people did in the desert, we will be redeemed, Haza"l say. Let us hope that this comes speedily in our days. 5 Shas MKs Stuck in an Elevator It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it really happened. They were stuck for 40 minutes together with a few other people, and some of the people started having trouble breathing. During that time, they said Tehillim, and B"H were rescued. Amazing Hint to Erez Levanon from R' Lazer Brody Life in Israel on the Purim Lunar Eclipse Hashem1.net with a Zohar prediction satire that's more scary and real than funny (It's amazing what you can do by just adding an Aleph to words :) ) Hashem1.net on how the child prophecy from 1500 years ago may be related to the Mughrabi gate and bridge to it, and its connection to the Ge'ula. Jameel put up his long-awaited Purim Podcast here and here !!!miruP yppaH Have a Happy Purim! May our fortunes turn around for the better this Purim! -From Yaak at Yeranen Yaakov	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line881
__label__cc	0.729863	0.270137	Carrie Underwood Says Cute Workout Clothes Give Her A 'Little Boost' posted by Katrina Nattress - Apr 19, 2019 Carrie Underwood has always been all about fitness, but that mindset has been magnified in recent months as she recovers from giving birth to her second son Jacob Bryan in January and gears up for her massive Cry Pretty Tour 360, which kicks off next week. Last month, the country star posted a motivational message on Instagram, admitting it's been a little more difficult for her body to "bounce back" after baby number two and promising to keep up her routine and appreciate her body for what it can do rather than what it can't do. On Thursday (April 18), the singer chatted with People about her secret inspiration. “Putting together a fashionable but also functional outfit gives me a little boost when going to the gym—especially when I need an extra push or I’m not feeling my best,” she divulged. “I try to put a cute look together with my favorite pieces—a legging with a pattern on the bottom, and cute and comfortable tank, and a zip-up hoodie to complete the outfit.” That hasn't been hard to do with all the new gear Carrie's athletic clothing line CALIA is putting out for Spring. “Now that the weather is starting to get nicer, I’ve really enjoyed diving into our CALIA spring collection and putting together new, fun looks. We have a ton of spring pieces in this new dusty pink called Mesa Rose, and every time I wear it I think ahead to the warm weather that’s right around the corner,” she said before adding, “[warm weather] makes me excited for everything that’s to come over the next few months, and I get ready to start my tour in May.” Carrie's Cry Pretty Tour 360 kicks off May 1 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and hits 55 arenas throughout the U.S. and Canada.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line895
__label__wiki	0.746669	0.746669	Running on empty: A year that promised nothing and delivered nothing Home » FEATURES » Running on empty: A year that promised nothing and delivered nothing By Perry Munzwembiri on January 4, 2017. No Comments That 2016 was always going to be a tough year is beyond debate. The seeds had been sowed years prior, with the economy manifestly displaying signs of distress. Inflationary data was negative coming off 2015 into 2016 and banks tightened their purses barely lending at all leading to a severe liquidity crunch largely affecting big business. As the year wore on however, this crisis would eventually blow-up and start to severely affect the individual Zimbabwean on the street at a very micro level. With some commendable level of foresight, finance minister Patrick Chinamasa had announced early in 2015 that it was government`s considered view that bonus payments for civil servants was a luxury it could no longer sustain, and hence bonuses were to be scrapped. However, at an Independence Day speech just a few weeks later, President Mugabe disavowed his minister`s pronouncements instead taking a populist stance of promising that government would continue to pay bonuses. All this despite revenue collections clearly showing that government had no capacity to fund bonuses. This was to be the ghost that would haunt government even in 2016 as it was forced to stagger civil service salaries for the better part of 2016. This unpopular move eventually culminated in the successful mass stay-away in July which coincided with the the social media campaign #ShutdownZimbabwe led by Pastor Evan Mawarire`s #ThisFlag movement. As 2016, drew to an end, government still had not paid this year`s bonuses, having barely managed to pay salaries on time for the month of December. Unfortunately, this is a theme that will very much likely be recurrent in 2017 in the absence of any structural change in the country’s fortunes. Among the year’s highlights was the President confessing in an interview to mark his 92nd birthday that $15 billion in diamond revenues had gone missing without a trace and that treasury had only received $2 billion since 2008. As the country starts the year, no action has taken as yet to recover the billions leaving many frustrated by the government’s unwillingness to tackle corruption unless it furthers someone`s political interests. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor later came in to try and water this down by claiming that the $15 billion the president had referred to was merely an “economic loss,” and not actual realized proceeds from diamond sales. The unwillingness to deal with graft would be on display later in the year when after a government minister was found to have ‘misappropriated’ the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) funds, he simply defended himself by saying he was a Robin Hood before carrying on to serve in government. Indigenization minister Patrick Zhuwawo finished the latter part of the year largely obscure, and unnoticeable, but this wasn`t the case when the year begun. The firebrand minister made headlines going after foreign companies compelling them to comply with the Indigenization Act`s requirement of 51% ownership to be in the hands local Zimbabweans. Earlier, he had announced the imposition of an Empowerment Levy on foreign owned companies equivalent to 10% of their annual turnover. When businesses ignored his demands, his response was to give foreign owned companies up to the 31st of March 2016 to comply with the indigenization law or else he would shut them down. The timing of the young minister’s clash with foreign owned business could not have been any worse. The country was reeling and even more desperate for foreign investment than ever before. His pronouncement all but sealed the perception that the government was not that in wanting to attract foreign investment despite the Finance Ministry’s reengagement efforts with the West. Zhuwawo`s brash mannered approach would set him on a collision course with finance minister Patrick Chinamasa whose response further raised questions of coherence and consistence in government policy. How would an investor possibly invest money in a country where two cabinet ministers have a divergent view of such a critical policy publicly attacking each other? President Mugabe had to eventually intervene issuing a public statement that the indigenization law was “sector-specific” and not a “one-size-fits-all” policy. However noble this intervention might have seemed, it caused further confusion leaving investors even more concerned as the Indigenisation Law itself does not back the President`s statement. Perhaps, the biggest quake to shake the economy in 2016 was the announcement in April by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s governor that government intended to introduce what it called Bond Notes. A form of specially design and printed note issued at par with the US dollar and backed by some loan facility from Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). To the average Zimbabwean, this all but screamed ZIMDOLLAR! This pronouncement served to only catalyze the worsening of an already dire liquidity crisis as panic withdrawals beset banks, mopping out the little currency that was circulating in the formal economy. It did not help matters, that the whole deal was shrouded in secrecy from the beginning as the central bank remained silent on detail. Again, given the general distrust of the public against local monetary authorities, the fact that the proposed release date of the notes kept being postponed also didn`t help matters and the uncertainty began to fuel speculation in the economy. The implications were several. Not least was the development of a two-tier pricing system where cash settlement for goods and services expected a discount of 10-15% off marked prices. Those paying using electronic transfers would pay the full price. The emergence of different prices for the same product depending on method of payment quickly brought memories of 2008 when the country reached record levels of inflation leading to the demise of the local currency. Bond notes appear to be holding their value against the greenback for now, but the key question is for how much longer? The year 2017 will surely be interesting in this regard. The political landscape has been rapidly becoming predictable. Given the events of the previous year, the politics of Zimbabwe in 2016 was always going to be dominated by the internal party struggles of ZANU (PF). In the absence of a cohesive and effective opposition movement, the ruling party would dominate both the political and economic space save for the month of July when social media activists brought the country to a standstill. Further ashore, the world was rattled too, first with the largely unexpected vote by Britons to leave the European Union in what has now become known as (Brexit). This would also see David Cameron quit as British Prime Minister. Further across the Atlantic, Americans went on to defied all predictions and expectation by choosing flamboyant business tycoon Donald J Trump to be the 45th President of the United States of America, and successor to Barack Obama. These two events would become the highlights of seismic shift towards populist politics in the Western world also seen in Italy, Poland and Austria. Fidel Castro, once the longest reigning President eventually answered death`s knock, and the nonagenarian died at a time when frosty relations between Cuba and the USA were beginning to thaw. In Africa, Angolan President Eduardo Dos Santos who has ruled the oil-rich country for nearly 40 years pulled a shocker by announcing that he would step down in 2018. In Ghana, elections were held peacefully, and a peaceful handover of power between John Dramani Mahama and Nana Akuffo Ado is on course, as the country further establishes itself as one of the most stable democracies on the continent. In The Gambia, what promised to be a peaceful transition was brought to a grinding halt as incumbent Yahyah Jammeh who had initially conceded defeat went back on his word and vowed to remain in power despite losing the election. This would serve to be a stark reminder that despite the occasional mirage of progress; Africa will always spring surprises. After all has been said, for Zimbabwe 2016 promised nothing and delivered exactly that, nothing. As the nation remains fixated on the ruling party’s succession battles, it is hoped 2017 can still spring a welcome surprise or two for the distressed economy. Zimbabwe: SMEs are vital, but in a country with viable big corporations CBZ chief is Zimbabwe’s new central bank governor Mugabe appeals for FDI, promises respect for property rights	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line897
__label__cc	0.502666	0.497334	Plainview Grinches Appear in Court Plainview, MN (KROC AM News) - Two men were arraigned Friday as suspects in the theft of dozens of Christmas presents in Plainview. Police were notified about the thefts late Christmas Eve evening. Plainview Police Chief Tim Schneider says the presents were taken from vehicles of residents who had been at family gatherings and were getting ready to go home. According to the criminal complaint, the patrol officer who responded to the initial calls was soon approached by other victims. A short while later the officer spotted two men who appeared to be getting ready to break into another vehicle. As the officer began talking to them, one of the men was so drunk he fell to the ground. The officer found several stolen presents in the men’s car and more at their apartments. The man who fell - 50-year-old David Cavazos - was taken to detox after a test showed he had a blood/alcohol level of .32. The other man - 24-year-old Johnny Angel Lopez - was taken to jail after fighting with officers. A woman who was with them was interviewed but not arrested. The Plainview men are facing felony theft and other charges. Schneider says it was determined nearly 60 presents had been stolen. He says all were returned to the victims. News Update: A deal may be in the works in the Julio Baez case. Source: Plainview Grinches Appear in Court	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line898
__label__cc	0.673853	0.326147	Bitcoin Desktop Wallets Bitcoin iOS Wallets Bitcoin Android Wallets You are at:Home»Fiat Defectors – People Who Suddenly Think Bitcoin is Cool Fiat Defectors People Who All of a Sudden Think Bitcoin is Cool Submit a new Fiat defector! Jamie Dimon – CEO JPMorgan Chase Before: “It’s a fraud ( talking about Bitcoin) (September 2017, Source) After: JP Morgan creates a new position dubbed Head of Crypto-Assets Strategy and appoints Oliver Harris to the role (May 2018 ,Source) Christine Lagarde – Head of IMF Before: “I think the banking industry has quite a few good days ahead of it” (November 2015, Source) After: “I think that we are about to see massive disruptions,” (October 2017, Source) Bruno Le Maire – French minister of Economy Before: “We want a stable economy: we reject the risks of speculation and the possible financial diversions linked to bitcoin,” (January 2018, Source) After: “We agree that crypto-assets can be very interesting for everyone. And we – obviously – are in favor of blockchain technology, which can provide very good support to financial assets in Europe or anywhere in the world.” (March 2018, Source) George Soros – Billionaire Before: “Cryptocurrency is a misnomer and is a typical bubble, which is always based on some kind of misunderstanding,” (January 2018, Source) After: Grants ‘green light’ to his investment fund to start trading in Cryptocurrencies & Bitcoin (April 2018, Source) Mark Cuban – Billionaire Entrepreneur and Shark Tank Star Before: “Nope, I haven’t invested in Bitcoin yet — I go up and down on it,”(January 2017, Source) After: Tweets to his 7M fans “I just subscribed to Inside Bitcoin, and you should too!” (June 2017, Source) Thomas Peterffy – Interactive Brokers chairman Before: “For the first time, I am extremely scared,” (Expressed in regards to Bitcoin’s volatility) (November 2017, Source) After: “I think that bitcoin being listed on two reputable exchanges gives a great deal of reputation to the product itself and I think as a result it will become even more popular than it’s been before,” (December 2017, Source) Bryan Durkin – CME President Before: “I really don’t see us going forward with a futures contract in the very near future.” (September 2017, Source) After: CME plans to launch Bitcoin futures by the end of 2017 ( October 2017, Source) Peter Schiff – CEO at Euro Pacific Capital Before: “Here’s the problem, people are advocating the use of Bitcoins as if it’s a form of money, but it can’t be. Because bitcoins do not represent a store of value. You don’t know what bitcoins are going to be worth next week, next year, in five years….” (May 2014, Source) After: Accepts Bitcoin as payment on his precious metals company. (May 2014, Source) Jay Clayton – SEC Chairman Before: Issues a warning to cryptocurrency investors (December 2017, Source) After: “Distributed ledger technology has incredible promise for the financial industry.” (April 2018, Source) Joe Weisenthal – Former executive editor of Business Insider Before: “Bitcoin is a joke” (November 2013, Source) After: “First of all, it’s wrong to say that Bitcoin has no value. There’s prima facie evidence that this is untrue.” (December 2013, Source) Augustin Carstens – GM of Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Before: Sees ‘no value’ in issuing digital currency (March 2019, source) After: “it might be that it is sooner than we think that there is a market and we need to be able to provide central bank digital currencies.” (June 2019, source) Edward Snowden – Former NSA security consultant, whistle-blower Before: “…One day capital-B Bitcoin will be gone, but as long as there are people out there who want to be able to move money without banks, cryptocurrencies are likely to be valued.” (November 2018, source) After: Admits buying Servers with BTC to Protect Privacy (June 2019, source) Tyler Cowen – Bloomberg Opinion writer and economist Before: “Imagine you hold a currency which, over the next period will either double or halve in value. […] What a good deal that is!” (April 2013, source) After: “Bitcoin Is (Probably) Here to Stay” (June 2019, source) Ray Blanco – Agora, Financial editor Before: “Bitcoin itself, it’s doomed. The end is near. Soon as Congress has a reason, they figure out how to shut it down. You mark my words. Too many banks have too much to lose. And if we know one thing, it’s that big banks and Congress are part of the same beast” (May 2017, Source) After: “Blockchain and cryptocurrency tech is here to stay. The changes we’ve seen so far are just the start. My position’s evolved. Yours should too, if it hasn’t already.” (October 2017, Source) Mark T. Williams – Finance teacher at Boston University Before: Predicted Bitcoin would trade for less than $10 by June 2014 (December 2913, Source) After: “Bitcoin has provided investors with massive returns in 2017 as a one-way space rocket, finally attracting the attention of large hedge fund speculators.” (November 2017, Source) Timothy Sykes – Penny stock trader and entrepreneur Before: “Bitcoin is nothing more than a virtual casino and perhaps the market dynamics of this fast-growing casino are saying that you should buy and hold Bitcoin, as the chart and price action suggests, but it is also the single most volatile and dangerous casino you’ll ever visit as any day the entire thing could collapse under regulations or hackers.” (November 2013, Source) After: Writes a post in which he promotes a guide on how to trade in Bitcoin. (May 2016, Source) Did we forget anyone? Submit a new defector here: Name and title of Fiat defector (required) Link to sources (required)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line900
__label__wiki	0.748832	0.748832	iOS 11 install base about to surpass iOS 10, adoption possibly slower due to iPhone X holdouts Michael Potuck - Oct. 12th 2017 1:32 pm PT @michaelpotuck A week after iOS 11 was released to the public, adoption was at about 25%. Now, just over three weeks since launch, iOS 11 adoption has slowed down but is just about to surpass iOS 10. Data from mixpanel as of 4PM ET shows iOS 11 adoption at 47.26%, close to surpassing iOS 10 that currently sits at 48.05%. When compared to iOS 10 adoption last year, iOS 11 is being installed at a much slower rate however. Last year, iOS 10 hit over 66% adoption twenty-seven days after launch. Although we’re just about to close out the twenty-third day since iOS 11’s launch, the latest OS is sitting about 20% lower than last year’s performance. A major factor this year could be the segmentation of Apple’s iPhone 8 and iPhone X launches. In past years, with more customers upgrading to the latest iPhones at the same time, more users were likely automatically using the latest iOS version as opposed to manually upgrading on their current iPhone. Just yesterday Apple released iOS 11.0.3, the third update in less than a month. As for new features to come, iOS 11.1 beta 2 has brought hundreds of new emoji, while Apple Pay Cash, AirPlay 2, and more should show up sooner or later. Introduced in 2007 by Steve Jobs, iPhone is Apple's flagship iOS device and easily its most popular product around the world. The iPhone runs iOS and includes a large collection of mobile apps through the App Store. Apple's bezel-less, premium 10th anniversary smartphone. Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, and Electrek. You’ll find most of his writing on 9to5Mac where he covers news, reviews, how-tos, and more. Michael Potuck's favorite gear EarBuddyz Awesome AirPods and EarPods covers that create a snug fit! Anker 30W USB-C Power Adapter Solid fast charger for iPhone and iPad. Works for MacBooks too.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line901
__label__wiki	0.531343	0.531343	We help your business Succeed in the Defence and public sectors Vision: To utilise our industry-specific knowledge, unite great minds and align common interests to produce exciting collaborations that deliver unique solutions to real world problems. In aadi Defence we specialise in identifying unfilled capability gaps and shaping solutions to fill them; we believe technologies only truly succeed when pulled by real capability gaps. We integrate market knowledge and strategic guidance to ensure our products and services fulfill the needs of the end user. We assist in the development of early technology and existing products that may be of interest to Defence or the private sector. Our partnerships strengthen the future of a project; deepening expertise, expanding networks and delivering benefits to partners. We strive to bring products to the defence market through the harmonisation of research, design and strategy. Our current partnerships are a testament to our ability to diversify and provide innovative solutions to a variety of industries and projects that present an array of vastly different challenges. We have an unique understanding of the end user and maintain a set of principles that synchronise our research and design strategy. Our foundation for success is to foster an environment where our collaborators and partners can work in harmony, enhancing existing capabilities through hands on engagement of key stakeholders. Our collaborative teams are customised for each project, typically comprising: Ex-military personnel who understand Defense concepts of operations and acquisition processes Former DSTO Scientists who understand current technologies and the expertise to evaluate the technology concerned Defence Industry experts who can identify pathways to market Experts who understand the bureaucracy minefield involved in defence and government We form partnerships with local and international companies delivering projects that have global applications. We deliver Comercialisation pathways Assistance in planning and delivering grant applications Business Case development Projects delivered with our Partners Procept RAN/ DSTO/ ACS AMOG AMOG Alexander Gosling received a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to business through innovative support for research and development, and to the community. He has a reputation for his innovative work driving new products and technologies to commercial success. Alexander Gosling Noel Schmidt was awarded a Conspicious Service Cross for his outstanding performance as Director General Technical Airworthiness with the Australian Defence Force. He has consistently demonstrated outstanding engineering skill and leadership and is considered to be one of Australia’s top engineers. DGTA Noel Schmidt Vice Admiral David Shackleton is a former Chief of the Royal Australian Navy and a distinguished member of Australia’s defence community. David has great strengths in strategic policy and force structure development and is highly respected for his acumen and grasp of future technical and other challenges in the national security environment. VADM David Shackleton Peter Sharp is an experienced member of the Defence Force, with 45 years in service with the Australian Army and Department of Defence. His specialties are policy and strategy. Peter Sharp David Harvey is an experienced member of the defence community; he specializes in business development and marketing strategies. Dr. Ho is a technologist specialising in the development of technology solutions for Defence’s needs. Daniel Ho Lieutenant General Frank Hickling was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to the Army and the Australian Defence Force in the field of military training. Lieutenant General Frank Hickling Colin Sharp is a recognised leader in the field of defence logistics and training. He has proven experience in managing multi-million dollar defence projects and infrastructure changes. Colin Sharp The Department of Business and Innovation has engaged aadi Defence Pty Ltd on consultancy tasks in support of initiatives to sustain and grow the defence industry in Victoria. Department of Business and Innovations While the refocus of “Hotdesk” type services discontinues the direct contract between AADI and DIIC, it is still anticipated that we may continue to directly procure ad-hoc contracts directly with AADI as we have also executed in the past. Typically these procurement activities involving AADI have taken the form of Defence industry specific workshops led by AADI’s unique range of consulting experience. Defence Industry Innovation Centre Warren has a genuine passion for culture change and facilitating collaboration between government and industry. He has significant experience in successful technology transfer and commercialization initiatives both nationally and internationally. Warren Canning © 2018 Aadi Defence Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Visual Desire	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line903
__label__cc	0.536721	0.463279	AAS 204th Meeting, June 2004 Session 34 Detecting the First Stars and AGN Topical Session, Tuesday, June 1, 2004, 8:30-10:00am, 10:45am-12:30pm, 2:30-4:00pm, 4:15-6:00pm, 707/709 [Previous] \| [Session 34] \| [Next] [34.01] The Evolution and Fate of the First Massive Stars A. Heger (LANL), S. E. Woosley (University of California at Santa Cruz) In contrast to later generations, the first stars in the universe formed from material devoid of any metals. Current studies imply that their initial mass function (IMF) may therefore have been very different, prejudiced to massive or very massive stars of tens to hundreds of solar masses. The unique composition of the first stars also changes their evolution and their nucleosynthetic yields. These stars lose less mass and stay hotter than present-day stars, emitting more ionizing photons which contribute to the re-ionization of the early universe. They also produce a unique elemental abundance pattern in their ejecta. We present recent calculations of the first stars following their evolution from hydrogen burning through supernova explosion, including complete nucleosynthesis calculations and their yield of ionizing photons. We also show what remnants one can expect from stars as a function of their initial mass. This work was supported by DOE (W-7405-ENG-36, DE-FC02-01ER41176), NSF (AST 02-06111), and NASA (NAG5-12036). Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #2 © YEAR. The American Astronomical Soceity.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line905
__label__wiki	0.717495	0.717495	US intercepts Russian bombers, fighter jets off the coast of Alaska The four Russian bombers and two fighter jets were intercepted off the coast of Alaska. NORAD says the planes never crossed over into US airspace. US F-22 stealth jets intercepted Russian bombers and fighter jets off the coast of Alaska on Monday, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The four Russian bombers and two Russian SU-35 fighter jets flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which extends nearly 200 miles off the Alaskan coast. NORAD fighters intercepted Russian bombers+fighters entering Alaskan ADIZ May 20. 2x Tu-95s were intercepted by 2x F-22s; a second group of 2x Tu-95+2x Su-35 was intercepted later by 2 more F-22’s; NORAD E-3 provided overall surveillance. The aircraft remained in int'l airspace pic.twitter.com/VrNuSWFOQm — North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) May 21, 2019 NORAD says once the US fighter jets intercepted the Russian planes they provided surveillance. It says the Russian bombers and jets remained in international airspace the entire time. alaskarussiagovernmentu.s. & world 4 kids steal parents' SUV for 600-mile road trip, police say	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line908
__label__wiki	0.930628	0.930628	Eva.Stories Instagram series recounts Holocaust through teenager Eva Heyman's journals By Isaac Scharf & Audrey Horowitz JERUSALEM -- For seven decades, survivor testimony has been the centerpiece of Holocaust commemoration. But with the world's community of aging survivors rapidly shrinking and global understanding of the genocide that killed 6 million Jews declining, advocates of Holocaust remembrance are seeking new and creative ways to share witnesses' stories with younger generations. Much as Anne Frank's diary gripped the older generations, an Instagram account based on a true 13-year-old Jewish victim's journal, called Eva.Stories, is generating buzz among the young. "If we want to bring the memory of the Holocaust to the young generation, we have to bring it to where they are," said the project co-producer, Mati Kochavi, an Israeli high-tech billionaire who hails from a family of Holocaust victims, survivors and educators. "And they're on Instagram." Kochavi and his daughter, Maya, have created a series of 70 Instagram stories that chronicle the downward spiral of Eva Heyman's life in the fateful spring of 1944 when the Nazis conquered Hungary. Heyman was one of approximately 430,000 Hungarian Jews who were deported to Nazi concentration camps between May 15 and July 9, 1944. Of the estimated 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, around 568,000 were Hungarian, according to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. Heyman's tale, produced as a Hollywood-style movie with a cast of foreign actors and multi-million dollar budget, will stream throughout Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins at sundown Wednesday. The installments appear as if Heyman had owned a smartphone during World War II and was using Instagram to broadcast her life updates. The story goes live Wednesday afternoon, opening with Heyman's happier adolescent experiences then darkening as night falls. The Nazis tighten their hold on Hungary's Jews, confiscating her family's business, belongings and home, deporting Heyman to the ghetto and ultimately to the Auschwitz death camp. The story's climactic event is timed to follow Israel's two-minute siren that wails nationwide on Thursday, bringing the country to a standstill at 10 a.m., in annual commemoration of Jewish Holocaust victims. Even days before the series' release, the account had amassed over 180,000 followers. One of them was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who posted a video to Instagram on Monday urging Israelis to follow the account and spread stories of survivors via social media in order to "remind ourselves what we lost in the Holocaust and what was returned to us by the creation of the state of Israel." "What if a girl in the Holocaust had Instagram?" asked the trailer, released on Sunday. The brief film shows simulated cellphone footage of Heyman's fictionalized life, from dancing with friends and a birthday with her grandparents, to Nazi troops marching through the streets of Budapest. Dozens of Holocaust victims kept diaries of their experiences, with the best known work written by Anne Frank. The Kochavis pored over scores of the diaries before deciding on Heyman, who, Maya Kochavi said, is the kind of girl "a modern kid in 2019 could connect to," with an unrequited middle school crush, family drama and grand ambitions to become a news photographer. They hope Heyman's firsthand account will engage otherwise disinterested or uninformed youth. Yet the concept is not without controversy. While the bulk of the feedback appears to be positive, some critics fear the story, with its internet lingo, hashtags and emojis, risks trivializing Holocaust atrocities. "A cheapening of the Holocaust compressed into Boomerang," one Instagram user, Dor Levi, wrote in Hebrew in response to the trailer. He facetiously remarked that "the place for commemorating the Holocaust and getting the message across is on Instagram, between the butt of a random model and a video of a chocolate cake." Maya Kochavi said she anticipated backlash. But she defended Instagram as a place where "lots of very intense and very powerful movements are happening," with potential to convey history's relevance at a time when anti-Semitism is surging in parts of the world, and Holocaust deniers are amplifying their dangerous messages online. "It is frightening but quite clear to me. We might be the last generation that really remembers and cares about the Holocaust," said her father. The Kochavis said that as part of their work, they found that a tiny fraction of social media conversations about the Holocaust in the U.S. and Europe are young people. Their research resonates with recent studies by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany revealing significant gaps in Holocaust knowledge among American millennials. As physical relics disintegrate and human memories fade, Eva's Instagram story contributes to a growing push by Holocaust museums and memorials to capture young people's attention with interactive technology, such as video testimonies, apps and holograms. The efforts aim, Maya said, "to make monumental historical events tangible and relatable," and to preserve stories of witnesses in perpetuity. societywhat's trendinginternetnazishistorysocial mediaholocaustu.s. & worldinstagrameurope HS principal removed after refuting Holocaust was factual Holocaust survivor Eva Kor dies at age 85 Auschwitz exhibit, largest in US history, set to open in NYC This 88-year-old Ski Instructor Survived the Holocaust	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line909
__label__cc	0.504982	0.495018	“Smart” wings offer a composite solution to the threat posed by icing in flight Members of the AMRC who collaborated on the ELWIPS project with the composite wing structure demonstrator. A £1 million-plus project to develop “smart” composite leading edges for aircraft wings with embedded heaters to protect the wings against ice build-up, while reducing weight and boosting efficiency compared to existing systems has concluded successfully after crucial wind tunnel tests. The European Union-funded ELWIPS programme brought together researchers from the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing and aerospace companies Meggitt PLC and AeroTex UK. ELWIPS - the Electro-thermal Laminar Wing Ice Protection System Demonstrator - is a programme managed by aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. ELWIPS, along with other innovative research programmes aim to develop technologies which will feed into their next generation of aircraft. The AMRC designed and built a composite wing structure which incorporates innovative electric heating technology and power control systems developed by Meggitt subsidiaries in the UK and France, while world leaders in icing prevention and prediction, AeroTex, determined the sizing, zoning, power rating and control strategy for the heaters. A section of wing incorporating the technology was sent to the United States, where it recently completed tests in a special wind tunnel operated by the US air and space agency, NASA, which can cause icing and measure its effect on the wing’s aerodynamics. “The whole development process has taught us a tremendous amount and generated a lot of data that will be very useful in future projects,” said Dr Tim Swait, Technical Lead at the AMRC Composite Centre. “The heating technology developed by Meggitt is very impressive and has great commercial potential. Tests in the NASA wind tunnel showed it could prevent ice from forming in the first place and would also shed ice if it was allowed to form on the wing. “If the system is developed commercially it will be a major step forward for lighter aircraft and could have implications for the construction of greener large commercial aircraft.” A number of different systems are currently used to protect aircraft against icing, which can drastically affect wing aerodynamics and has led to crashes in the past. One common system for jet airliners bleeds hot air from the aircraft engine and routes it along ducts in the leading edges, while another, seen on turboprop regional airliners and utility aircraft, uses rubber “boots” on the leading edges which can be inflated to force ice off. Both systems add weight and complexity to aircraft, while bleeding air from jet engines reduces their efficiency and in some circumstances boots have been known to fail, causing crashes. “You only actually need icing protection on a limited number of flights and for typically short periods of time, so you are carrying all that extra weight for no reason a lot of the time and aircraft of the future won’t be able to use bleed air, since manufacturers are optimising their engines to extract every last bit of performance,” says Dr Swait. Electric heating has been difficult to implement on smaller aircraft because systems currently require substantial amounts of power. The ELWIPS project solves that problem by only using power when and where it is needed, instead of heating the leading edge of the whole wing. “A pure electrical system will save weight and allow the wing’s leading edge to be composite rather than metallic, removing the need for ribs, spars and fasteners and reducing weight further. The system will be more reliable, allow the engines to run more efficiently and allow designers to improve laminar airflow over the wing, increasing efficiency even further,” adds Dr Swait. The ELWIPS project was part of the € 1.6 billion Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative, which aims to develop breakthrough technologies to significantly increase the environmental performances of airplanes and air transport, resulting in less noisy and more fuel efficient aircraft, A total of €1.5 million (£1.3 million) was invested in the ELWIPS project, €888,000 (£758,000) of which comes from the EU. Hybrid composite-metal anti-roll bar technology set to revolutionise global rail and HGV sectors Research to develop a revolutionary high-performance hybrid composite-metal anti-roll … Optimisation of FDM composite lay-up tooling for additive manufacture Researchers at the AMRC Design & Prototyping Group have succeeded in cutting the … Composites Innovation 2016 - Advances in Automation NetComposites presents COMPOSITES INNOVATION 2016 Sponsored by the AMRC with Boeing … ISP43: Sensing In Composites 16th December 2015 AMRC Knowledge Transfer Centre, S60 5WGEvent Information: The …	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line911
__label__cc	0.670266	0.329734	Prospects for Anaerobic Digestion Remain Positive Despite Failure of Copenhagen Climate Summit A recent article in the New Civil Engineer magazine, the magazine of the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers, discusses how now after the failure of the Copenhagen Climate Summit it will be possible to rise to the challenge of complying with UK carbon reduction pledges. You only have to read the following paragraphs from the above NCE article to realise the enormity of the task ahead even for just the water industry: The UK government has pledged that emissions of greenhouse gases will be cut by 80% C02 equivalent - measured against 1990 levels - within the next 40 years. Yet over the same time Britain's population is expected to grow by anywhere from 15% to 30%, per capita water use is rising and it is likely the [water] industry will be required to meet higher quality and environmental standards - all driving up energy consumption. How are companies going to square the circle? As readers of my Anaerobic Digestion blog, I am sure that you will not want me to dwell upon the negatives, such as the fact that so far almost all we have seen so far has been rhetoric, while UK carbon emissions have continued to rise. This is despite that fact that we have exported so much of our emissions as our manufacturing industry has declined, in favour of imports. Even the water industry admits to a 10% rise in carbon emissions since 2000. So, where will we find the huge cuts needed? We will clearly have to go far beyond efficiency savings which might optimistically, for example, within the water industry provide 30% to 45% savings given the right (high) levels of investment needed. Opportunities to cut carbon further do undoubtedly exist, and to quote the 14 January 2010 NCE article, for the UK Water Industry example, these might comprise: adoption of new technologies operational improvements better management of catchments and drainage systems and wider use of renewable energy. Now those that have experience of Anaerobic Digestion will know that with present technology the potential for the AD industry to provide renewable energy is large enough to be worthwhile, but not that big. Even with a very high rate of adoption AD will not provide enough power to meet the demand as a major contributor to the 80% reduction target. To do that would need a technical revolution. But, again quoting from the NCE article, Ofwat’s head of Climate Change Policy Mike Keil has said that: “Looking at the next five to ten years you can say with some certainty there won't be a technical revolution. Certainly there will be innovation contributing to carbon reductions, but not a huge step change". Beyond 2020 it is possible there will be breakthroughs as research and development bears fruit and new technologies come to maturity. So, based on current technologies, an 80% reduction looks extremely difficult, if not verging on impossible, to achieve. The lack of hard commitments from the Copenhagen Summit contributes to a feeling that the political commitment to “pledges” far outweighs the ability to deliver, given the enormity of the task ahead. Nevertheless, it is important that Engineers do push forward where this can be done on the basis of economically justifiable results. That is where the prospects for UK Anaerobic Digestion do look very good indeed. Again, referring to the Water Industry; In the next investment period the UK water companies will be making the most of the opportunities offered by enhanced sewage sludge digestion technologies to generate high calorific biogas and reduce the final volume of biosolids as waste for disposal. Adding hydrolysis up front before the digester will help to greatly increase the amount of conversion of the total biomass in sludge to methane, for example. Another development to continue will be that: "By using biogas to drive combined heat and power engines, enhanced biodigestion offers potential to make sewage treatment works energy self-sufficient," says Mott MacDonald head of water regulation Andrew Heather [again quoted here from the NCE article]. Some companies, we are told, are also planning to clean-up biogas so that it can be used as a vehicle fuel or sold into the national gas grid. It will be interesting to report on that in this blog in due course. In addition to the digestion of their own sewage works sludge some Water Companies are also, we are told, looking to increase energy from biodigestion by supplementing sewage sludge with food and industrial waste. So, the prospects for Anaerobic Digestion are good, but the big question mark, which continues to become more urgent to answer remains. Where will the rest of these carbon savings come from, which are so badly needed to plug the huge gap between current reality and an 80% saving? Labels: anaerobic digestion, Anaerobic Digestion blog, carbon emissions, carbon reduction, climate summit failure, Combined Heat and Power, Copenhagen Climate Summit, energy consumption, uk carbon emissions Answers to Recent Questions About Anaerobic Digestion from the Public Why Would a Farmer Choose Anaerobic Digestion? Waste biomass from farming and food-industries, such as slurries and the organic waste from food processing can present a considerable waste disposal problem. Release of large quantities of organic wastes into local water courses or seepage into ground water results in pollution of water courses and water supply. To prevent this occurring, the biomass needs to be treated and suitably stored and Anaerobic Digestion is a great way to achieve this. Biogas is produced by the natural microbial degradation under anaerobic conditions. This technique has been applied to agricultural wastes world-wide on a small scale. Treating the waste by AD gives some environmental benefits, and in addition to AD also results in energy, in the form of biogas. Biogas is an inflammable gas, which can easily be used to generate electricity and heat. The potential benefits are many from on-farm and local use of fossil fuels and provision of energy within rural communities. Some commentators have said that in addition to energy production, there is considerable potential for Anaerobic Digestion to assist in centrally managing the distribution of plant nutrients in manures, together with minimising biosecurity risks (ie pathogen kill). Where is Anaerobic Digestion Most Popular? In countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Switzerland there are many examples of co-digestion of farm manure with other suitable organic wastes in prefabricated digestors. There is a large interest in this option in these countries and in other countries both inside and outside the EU. The most successful digesters utilize all energy produced. The most efficient use of biogas is direct heating. If biogas is burned in an electric generator, the heat produced by the engine must be harnessed and used in order to achieve optimum efficiency. The electricity produced can be used on site or sold into the power grid. What Happens to the Sludge After the AD Process? Once the digestion process is complete, the digested manure, or effluent, is released from the digester and stored until it is land applied. The digestion process breaks down many of the solids contained in the manure. As a result, the effluent causes less stress on pumps and agitation equipment than manure does. Also, effluent is homogeneous and may not require agitation prior to land application. Many agri-food AD systems are located on farms. Farm-based AD systems work well with liquid manure. AD systems provide a valuable manure treatment option, since most other economically effective manure treatment systems (such as composting) require solid materials with dry matter greater than 30%. What are the Most Popular AD Types of Plants? Biogas from biomass has historically been used in Asia as a fuel for household uses such as cooking. Denmark and Germany have many modern digesters operating on farms and in central locations using materials such as manure, energy crops, and food-based products and byproducts. These systems typically use biogas to produce electricity and heat. Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants can be on-farm units, designed to deal with manures and other organic materials produced at farm level. Alternatively, AD plants can be designed as centralised units to deal with products from a number of farms, along with co-digestion of organic materials from other industries. AD plants can include mechanical separation of fibrous solids from the digestate that, after further processing, can give a value added product, such as compost or pellets (fertiliser or combustible fuel). How Would I recognise an Anaerobic Digestion Plant if I Saw One? Anaerobic Digesters themselves are completely sealed vessels which are covered and sealed. Most are insulated and heated, and the digester is an immediatelely recognisable feature at most large biogas plants as a large tall, usually vertical sided, circular tank, with an access ladder and a number of pipes leading to the top where there is also usually a pedestrian access way and handrail. Biogas plant digesters of this type can usually be spotted very easily when you see them by the characteristic pairing of the digester with the biogas storage tank which acts like a traditional town gas ‘gasometer’, and is usually elegantly curved or “globe” shaped. Many visibly expand and contract to accommodate the volume of biogas present, the result is that most of them become significant landmark features. Labels: advantages of anaerobic digestion, biogas, biogas storage tank, biomass from farming, composting, energy crops, Farmer Choose Anaerobic Digestion, minimising biosecurity risks, organic wastes, pathogen kill Anaerobic Digestion Technologies to Get Help Through Feed-in-Tariffs The following has been posted in MRW, and is great news for the future of UK AD. Financial support for anaerobic digestion Liz Gyekye, 02 Feb 2010 The Government has announced ambitious plans to provide financial support for anaerobic digestion technologies through feed-in-tariffs (FITs) and the “world’s first” renewable heat incentive scheme. The schemes are designed to bring about a significant increase in the amount of locally produced green energy and help the UK meet its renewable energy targets. FITs is a financial support system that will incentivise small scale low-carbon electricity generation by providing “clean energy cashback” for householders, communities and businesses. It will work alongside the Renewables Obligation, which will remain the primary mechanism to incentivise deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation. The FITs scheme will start from April 1 and will support new AD plants with a five megawatts limit capacity. The scheme will also support the first 30,000 combined heat and power installations with an electrical capacity of two kilowatts or less, as a pilot programme. Under the FITs scheme AD operators will be paid for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated and metered by a generator. Farm scale AD operators, producing less than 500kW a year will get 11.5 pence/kWh per year over a 20 year period. AD operators producing more than 500KW will get 9p/kWh. Speaking at the launch of the FITs scheme in London [February 1], Energy Minister Lord Hunt told MRW that he thought the FITs would encourage more AD plants to be built. He said: “I think that we have made an adjustment in order to make small scale AD more attractive. I think that the farming community will be very welcoming of this news. I very much hope that we will see a big market growing for AD.” Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband added: “Where there is muck there is brass! “The FIT will change the way householders and communities think about their future energy needs, making the payback for investment far shorter than in the past.” The Government also launched its consultation on the RHI scheme [February 1]. The RHI scheme is a financial support mechanism for individuals, communities and businesses that aims to incentivise low carbon heating and will be introduced in April 2011. Under the RHI scheme, the proposed tariff for solid biomass technology operators will be 9p/kWh, biogas on-site combustion plants will get 5.5p/kWh and biomethane injection technology will get 4p/kWh. Solid biomass can include municipal wastes and biogas can be upgraded to biomethane, which has similar thermal characteristics to natural gas and can be injected into the grid. Where a plant can generate heat from both renewable and non-renewable fuels, the RHI tariff will only reward the renewable component of the mixed fuel load. The RHI consultation stated that this will usually involve combined heat and power using energy-from-waste. Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association chair Lord Redesdale said that he was disappointed at the Government’s announcements on FIT and RHI. He said the Government had “horlicked” the whole thing. He explained: “It is unfortunate that the tariff has come in at nine pence which shows a distinct lack of enthusiasm. We thought it was going to be more than this and were hoping for 13p. “To meet our climate change and renewable energy targets we need as much AD as we can possibly muster. Both the RHI and FITS have not met expectations from industry. “The purpose of the tariff is to encourage entry in the market place but this is not going to be the case because the tariffs are too low. How many plants will be built out of this next year on this basis? If there is not enough plant going to be built you question whether the whole thing has been a success or not.” Lord Redesdale also said that the AD industry was concerned with the issue of “grandfathering” of Renewable Obligation Certificates (see MRW story).Government is likely to alter tariffs for new levels for new projects from time to time to respond to changes in technology costs. However, once installation of a project has been completed, investors will consider it important that its support levels are not changed. Such a guarantee not to change support for existing projects is known as grandfathering. At the moment biomass technologies, such as AD, are not protected through grandfathering. However, the RHI consultation states: “We are nevertheless inclined to provide the RHI tariffs as grandfathered tariffs.” More... Labels: advantages of anaerobic digestion, biomass technologies, feed-in-tariffs, FITs US Climate Bill Setback and Clean Development Rethink on Renewable Energy Developments All those interested in Anaerobic digestion and how demand for the technology might increase over the next few years have no doubt been watching the news on the post Copenhagen Summit devlopments, keenly. Clearly, the way the US acts now will be important for the prospects of continuation after 2012 of Carbon Credit schemes under the "Clean Development Mechanism", such as the EU ETS. The growth of Anaerobic Digestion based technology utilisation is assured in many developed nations, but I would also would expect to see a surge of advanced technology based AD Plant development in the industrializing nations once the post 2012 Climate Emission Reductions (CERs) become tradable. The following is a 22 January Reuters post, which provides an update on the US scene: LONDON (Reuters) - Still reeling from disappointing UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December, clean energy project developers were dealt another blow this week when U.S. Democrats lost their Senate supermajority, potentially killing a federal cap-and-trade scheme for years to come. Although the passage of a U.S. bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 was far from certain, the election of a Republican in Massachusetts to the Senate on Tuesday derailed any momentum President Obama had following his healthcare push toward introducing a cap-and-trade scheme this year. This, coupled with a disappointing UN climate summit in the Danish capital last month where leaders from over 190 countries failed to agree a legally-binding pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, is causing concern for some clean energy project developers and forcing them to reassess their game plan. "I'm not as bullish as I was a year ago," said Sascha Lafeld, an executive board member at First Climate AG. "The U.S. pre-compliance market is cautiously developing, so our strategy is also one of caution ... We're on hold, we'll keep our two U.S. offices open but we're not expanding this year." Frankfurt-based First Climate has a global project portfolio of some 250 projects, including around 20 projects in the U.S., that generate carbon offsets by cutting carbon dioxide. Observers say the spotlight in the U.S. now shifts back to state and regional schemes launched by a handful of states during George W. Bush's presidency, when the prospect of a federal U.S. carbon market was a distant mirage. "It's not ideal but we welcome this as a fallback solution," said Alexander Sarac of JP Morgan-owned EcoSecurities, one of the world's biggest aggregators of carbon offsets. For the full article visit: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE60L4DE20100122 Labels: Clean Development rethink, Climate Emission Reductions, Renewable Energy Developments, US Climate Bill Prospects for Anaerobic Digestion Remain Positive ... Answers to Recent Questions About Anaerobic Digest... Anaerobic Digestion Technologies to Get Help Throu... US Climate Bill Setback and Clean Development Reth...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line912
__label__wiki	0.593069	0.593069	More February Favorites for Book Lovers HomeMore February Favorites for Book Lovers Between Two Shores Jocelyn Green’s meticulous historical research meets with lush prose in her latest release, Between Two Shores. Catherine Stands-Apart Duval makes the choice as a young girl to live with her French father when her Mohawk mother dies. She often regrets her decision. Her choice alienates her from her siblings and her mother’s people. Although she yearns for the Papa she knew as a child, she seldom sees him. He sends her across the river to Montreal to a school that promises to take the ‘savage’ out of her. When that fails, he begrudgingly allows her to stay home and help him at his trading post. The one person who makes life bearable, Samuel Crane, understands Catherine’s balancing act between two cultures. His life changed forever when raiders kill his parents and carry him off captive to Canada—where Catherine’s father pays a ransom for him. Over the years, he and Catherine become soul mates. But then he disappears, taking all of Catherine’s dreams of love and family with him. When he shows up again, France and England have turned the area into a battlefield. But this time, he wants Catherine to guide him on a journey that turns her into an enemy of the state. Kudos for Cultural Sensitivity I found this story compelling for so many reasons. First of all, Green challenges the notion that Native Americans were the only ‘savage’ people living during this time and place—a more realistic view of history than many books about this era present. She teaches readers about the different customs and ways of seeing that different Native tribes embrace. For the most part, she identifies Native Americans by their tribe name rather than the general term ‘Indian’ (which would be akin to thinking that everyone from the European continent has a ‘European’ passport). Furthermore, she avoids the epic love story trope while at the same time presenting the readers with the most epic love story of all. Don't miss @JocelynGreen77 's latest release. It's epic and beautiful AND culturally sensitive. #amreading #bookreview Click To Tweet A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden Her entire life, Eloise Drake has wanted to belong. Her parents never seemed to want her, and at the tender age of ten they’d dropped her off at a hillside mansion with her guardian. She spent hours watching the small town of Duval Springs do life in the valley below. The summer she turned fifteen, she finally mustered the courage to visit Duval Springs. And met Alex Duval. They shared a glorious friendship and fell in love—only to have their castles in the air crash around them when Eloise’s guardian, ‘Bone-Crusher’ Bruce Garret discovered the extent of their relationship. Twelve years after that fateful discovery, Eloise has remade herself into a proper woman of great accomplishments. She is one of six certified public accountants in the state of New York, and has a respectable job with the New York State Water Board. When her supervisor sends her and three co-workers off to Duval Springs to assess the town for demolition, Eloise almost refuses. After all, Alex Duval acts as the town’s mayor. She has no desire to ever see him again. The past should remain in the past, and her future rests in the logical hands of her by-the-books supervisor. For the past 12 years, Alex Duval has searched the world over looking for his first and only love, Eloise Drake. He’s served in the army in Cuba and learned valuable leadership skills. He’s written letters and put advertisements in newspapers, but he’s never heard of Eloise again. For five years he fought the state water board to save his town, and when Duval Springs loses its court case, he resigns himself to the inevitable. And then Eloise Drake shows up as part of the water board’s advance team. Can a CPA and a Dreamer Find Compatibility? Once again, Camden weaves a historical tale replete with interesting details, quirky characters, suspense, adventure, and unusual love stories. Characters from other Camden novels make cameo appearances, but readers don’t have to read the series in order to fully enjoy the books. Readers will cheer Alex on as he tries to woo Eloise (and her guardian) into accepting his hand in marriage. Camden’s understanding of God’s love for his flawed people (and aren’t we all flawed?) shines through on each page, leaving the reader feeling not only satisfied, but redeemed. You'll fall in love with A Desperate Hope, a new release by Elizabeth Camden @bethany_house #amreading #bookreview Click To Tweet If you love a good historical book that inspires and entertains, you’ve come to the right place. Fans of Sarah Ladd and Karen Witemeyer will love this book. Rachel Dylan’s third book in the Atlanta Justice series highlights Mia Shaw, a young attorney working for as a litigator for a big Atlanta law firm. While she doesn’t love her job, she’s dedicated to doing her very best and earning her keep so that she can pay off her expensive law-school education. When she finds her best friend brutally murdered, Mia vows to do everything in her power to help bring the killer to justice—even if it puts her own life in danger. Noah Ramirez loves his job at K&R Security. It allows him to work with his best friends and use his considerable computer skills to fight the bad guys. When a friend from his ATF days calls from prison, Noah vows to do everything he can to prove his friend’s innocence. Mia and Noah butt heads over the question of innocence and guilt. Despite their disagreement, they discover that their mutual respect for each other helps them through the rough spot and that they can work together to fight for justice. As they dig for information, Mia starts to wonder if her very life is in danger. Noah discovers that he’ll do anything to protect Mia. Although part of a series, the book stands alone with cameo appearances by the heroines and heroes from the first two books in the series. Readers who love Cara Putman’s books will enjoy Rachel Dylan’s latest book. Don't miss the third installment of the Atlanta Justice series by @dylan_rachel! You won't be able to put it down. #BreachofTrust #amreading Click To Tweet Book ReviewChristian SuspenseInspirational	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line917
__label__cc	0.687856	0.312144	Case Reports \|1 May 1965 Neonatal Graves' Disease RICHARD A. HOLMES, M.D.; NORMAN H. ENGBRING, M.D.; WILLIAM W. ENGSTROM, M.D. Since publication of C. H. Parry's original description of hyperthyroidism in 1825 (1), little attention has been given to neonatal hyperthyroidism until recently. White, in 1912, recorded the first case (2), and since that time less than 30 cases have been added. The infrequent occurrence generally is attributed either to the infertility or to the rarity of viable pregnancies in thyrotoxic women. Hyperthyroidism in these instances is almost invariably a part of Graves' disease. Although the pathogenesis of Graves' disease remains obscure, a long-acting thyroid stimulating substance (LATS), initially described by Adams (3), has been implicated as a possible etiological HOLMES RA, ENGBRING NH, ENGSTROM WW. Neonatal Graves' Disease. Ann Intern Med. 1965;62:1008–1013. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-62-5-1008 Published: Ann Intern Med. 1965;62(5):1008-1013. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-62-5-1008 Maternal Immune Response and Neonatal Seroprotection From a Single Dose of a Monovalent Nonadjuvanted 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Vaccine: A Single-Group Trial Annals of Internal Medicine; 155 (11): 733-741 Treatment of mild gestational diabetes did not prevent neonatal complications but reduced fetal overgrowth Annals of Internal Medicine; 152 (2): JC1-6 Review: Oral drugs for gestational diabetes do not increase adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes more than insulin Association between the DRB108032 Histocompatibility Antigen and Methimazole-Induced Agranulocytosis in Japanese Patients with Graves Disease Endocrine and Metabolism Endocrine and Metabolism, Thyroid Disorders. Association of HLA-C03:02 with methimazole-induced liver injury in Graves' disease patients. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; Improvement of the MRI and clinical features of Asian Graves' ophthalmopathy by radiation therapy with steroids. Jpn J Radiol 2019.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line918
__label__wiki	0.533469	0.533469	Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión (Android, iOs) for PC Clash of Kings : The… Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión Apk \| Play on PC discussion Editor: Elex Wireless Category: strategy Game Rating: (533 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5) Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión from Elex Wireless is a popular strategy game; the download is currently available for iOS and Android devices allowing users of either device to delve into the intense multiplayer strategy mobile world that is the game. Clash of Kings is one of the hottest real time strategy games created for tablets and smart phones, opening the door to almost anyone who wants to give the game a try. What’s Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión? It’s an online game based around war and strategy where players aim to build a strong city and defend it from invaders while invading others to gain more power. While this is a real-time strategy game, a war game and players must keep this in mind as they build their city in order to create something that can withstand sieges from enemies and is capable of being their base while sending off the army to siege another city. As a strategy game, players must manage their resources in order to build a strong city and a strong army in order to defend against and attack other players. Thankfully, players do not need to compete alone against everyone else; instead they can become allies with other players and wage war together in order to take on stronger empires for strategic gain or for fun with friends. It’s available on several different platforms for all types of players; on PC can be played via facebook. It’s available for tablets and smartphones that can tun the game, providing various ways to access and play the game which is perfect for a potentially addictive mobile game. Expand? Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión for Android and iOS is a purely online game and cannot be played offline which may be troublesome to those looking to play it without much wi-fi access but at least the game is free to download and play! As expected with most free-to-play games, there’s a real money store for game items which hardcore fans will probably purchase from as there’s nothing ‘necessary’ about the items in the store. This game provides constant action and interaction making it difficult to get bored even with extended hours of play; there is also the challenge of upkeeping the city and keeping it protected which in itself will be entertaining especially to strategy game fans. The constant game updates from Elex Wireless is certainly a huge bonus as it means will still be getting new content for all platforms it’s available on and will mean the experience on facebook or PC will only improve. The features vivid fantasy graphics which certainly fit the game’s medieval setting; being a mobile game, the graphics are pretty good and the buildings do look very nice. The music is also pretty nice to listen to however it does loop and is a little bit obvious which can be distracting or ruin the music for some people. Also uses real-time to build and create units which can be annoying for impatient players; basic buildings and units take a much shorter time to build. This is something most freemium management-strategy games use and players can opt to shorten the time by buying an item that speeds up the construction, research or development of whatever the player is currently working on. The alliances feature is pretty important in the game, allowing players to work together to build up their cities or defeating enemies. Players in an alliance can aid I constructing buildings or provide reinforcements that could turn the fate of a battle in this war game. This feature makes the strategy game much more social than many other war games currently available on mobile. The alliance feature means that can be played with friends adding a new element to the war game. Collapse? People who have played to Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión on PC (Windows 7/8/8.1/10/XP/Vista), Laptop or Mac, play with best controls, mouse and keyboard, they have an advantage!, they have improved their stats. Do not stay behind. Here the solution. With an Android emulator for PC! After the installation and run emulator, configure it and add your Google account, remember @gmail.com. Once everything is OK, just open the official Play Store Official and Search Clash of Kings : The King Of Fighters versión game. Make sure it is the correct game, there are always similar applications or games. PreviousPrevious post:Zynga Poker Classic TX Holdem (Android, iOs) for PCNextNext post:Offroad Legends (Android, iOs) for PC Greed for Glory: War Strategy (Android, iOs) for PC Dragon Kingdom (Android, iOs) for PC Guns’n’Glory FREE (Android, iOs) for PC Clash of Three Kingdoms (Android, iOs) for PC Defense Zone – Original (Android, iOs) for PC BattleTime (Android, iOs) for PC Categories Select Category Action Adventure Arcade Board Card casino Casual Educational Music Puzzle Racing Role Playing Simulation Sports Strategy trivia Uncategorized word	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line922
__label__wiki	0.938268	0.938268	Get Powered Up With Rovio's New Content Update For Angry Birds Seasons Rovio has been on a roll lately with its updates. In fact, another one has just arrived. This time, the update is for its "perennial" fowl-versus-swine game, Angry Birds Seasons. The latest update to Angry Birds Seasons finally brings power-ups to the game. Introduced in and at the same time as the official Facebook version of Angry Birds, power-ups have been incorporated in other Angry Birds games. These include the original Angry Birds game, Angry Birds Rio, and Angry Birds Space. And now, power-ups have made their way to Angry Birds Seasons as well. Angry Birds Seasons now lets you use a couple of old favorites, namely, Sling Scope and Super Seed. The former provides laser targeting for pinpoint precision, while the latter turns any bird into a pig-popping giant. In addition, Angry Birds Seasons introduces a never-before-seen power-up in the form of Homing Bird. "This hog-seeking hero," says Rovio, "will head with missile force for the first pig to enter his radar!" The new Angry Birds Seasons update also challenges you to unlock up to eight new levels in the Winter Wonderham and Haunted Hogs episodes. How? By earning stars and Mighty Eagle feathers, of course. Compatible with iDevices running iOS 4.3 or later, Angry Birds Seasons for iPhone and Angry Birds Seasons HD for iPad are available in the App Store for $0.99 and $2.99, respectively. Before this new update to Angry Birds Seasons, Rovio has had a crazy past couple of weeks. To recap, Rovio has also done the following: announced the upcoming “Angry Birds Toons,” released the Road Hogs update for Bad Piggies, announced the upcoming The Croods game, released the “SlashBird” update for Angry Birds Space, released a content update for the original Angry Birds and then made it free for the first time as Apple’s Free App of the Week, released the first gameplay trailer for The Croods, released a content update for Angry Birds Rio, and announce that "Angry Birds Toons" will be available to view in all of the existing Angry Birds games on iOS. [gallery link="file" order="DESC"] Rovio Entertainment Ltd The Excellent Mokriya Craigslist App Gets Even Better With Its Latest Update Oh Snap! You Can Now Snap And Edit Photos Right Within Snapguide	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line924
__label__wiki	0.519692	0.519692	Riven (iPhone version) 12+ The Sequel to Myst Cyan Worlds #59 in Puzzle "Riven: The Sequel to Myst" for iOS - the massive island Age of Riven with all of its amazing detail, in the palm of your hand. (Note: There is also now an enhanced version of Riven made specifically for the iPad.) "Awesome" - 5 stars - by Jesse39 "Love it!" - 5 stars - by Wiredpup "Absolutely excellent!" - 5 stars - by lmiller510 "finally" - 5 stars - by Sephiroth726 "Brilliant - almost art" - 5 stars - by Dlb362 "OMG FINALLY!!!!!!!" - 5 stars - by Bookie290 "Fantastic! Amazing!" - 5 stars - by 159635741 "The most fascinating experience. Pure genius" - 5 stars - by Rafemago "Wonderful Immersion" - 5 stars - by TW "Just as good as I remembered" - 5 stars - by Diggler79 "Yeeeeees!!" - 5 stars - by Mellzer "Excellent!!!!" - 5 stars - by Japleno "Amazing" - 5 stars - by Plumma88 "I absolutely love this game!" - 5 stars - by Doctorwhoisawesome "Awesome!" - 5 stars - by Simoncat Taking up where Myst left off, Riven set an amazing new standard for design, aesthetics, and immersion in gaming. Remember Atrus’ trap book, the Moiety intervention, the mag-lev ride, the Jungle village, Catherine’s prison, Gehn’s Age, the Wahrk throne? Now the entire Riven adventure can be experienced from wherever you are. This is the original Riven - with sights and sounds that have been remastered and meticulously re-assembled for a remarkable experience on your iPhone or iPod touch. Everything that you remember from the original Riven in an intimate new format where every aspect is explored with a simple touch or swipe. - All the original Ages & gameplay - High quality images - Full music & sound effects - Full screen movies & animations - Auto-save and multitasking - "Bookmark" system to save & restore progress - Swipe to turn - Game Center achievement support - Zoom in anywhere for more detail - New! - “Hot Spot” hints - Integrated Hint Guide - For iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad (in Compatibility 2X mode) Riven for iOS is a very large application. We’ve managed to optimized Riven from its original DVD size to a little over a gigabyte, so please be patient - download times can be longer. Because of the way iOS installs apps, you will need to have more than a gigabyte of free space to install Riven. Once it's installed you can use the extra space again. Added support for iOS 12 Added support for Xs, XsMax and XR devices. Increased audio buffers. A few minor fixes. Veggitos , 04/06/2016 Good, but could be better I’m giving 4 stars because it is the same story and world I remember. It’s great seeing the environment again after my old computer won’t play Riven anymore. So, I loved playing it again and that was fun. HOWEVER, the frame rate isn’t correct. I played this on my 6s, so I don’t know if it’s the same on the iPad, but opening doors, pulling levers, and even watching some animals wasn’t as engaging because I know what is supposed to look like. The cutscenes are fine, as they cannot be interacted with. This might be done in order to get the app down in size, but I noticed the frame rate right away, yaaroti , 12/25/2015 Good Memories on an iPhone. I've played nearly every edition of Riven. The story for me doesn't get old; However, the reason for this review, is why you should get it. Riven is a game with a lot of attention to detail for it's time. The story is told through exploring the world you're in. There are no defined quests except, the story itself. You'll find yourself in a world, not sure of what's going on at first. As you explore, you find challenge through puzzles and, curiosity goes a long way to figuring out the world... From a technical side, this version seems to work well. It is missing some visual elements; however, knowing the game like I do, I played all the major elements rather quickly and found no major game or story breaking bugs. If you're new to the point and click (tap and go) adventure game genre. This is and 'Myst' (also developed by Cyan) are the games that set the standard. It really has a lot to offer, if you're in no rush and want to explore everything. Mb866 , 01/29/2016 Better on iPad Riven is my favorite game of all time. If you have an iPad or a computer get that version. Playing riven on a small screen you will miss not only puzzle related elements but also the full beauty of this world. There are small details everywhere. For this version if you double tap u can zoom in on areas but note that isn't normal for other versions. Really this port is great still for iPod and is still better than any point and click ever. having played the game many times I don't have an issue and its great to be able to link to riven at any time Cyan Worlds, Inc Copyright © 2010 by Cyan Worlds, Inc. All Rights Reserved. realMyst The Manhole: Masterpiece Myst Français Myst Deutsch XON Episode One XON Episode Three XON Episode Two Puzzle House: Mystery Rising	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line925
__label__wiki	0.710262	0.710262	Battling Butler (1926) Not Rated \| 1h 17min \| Comedy \| 19 September 1926 (USA) A love-struck weakling must pretend to be boxer in order to gain respect from the family of the girl he loves. Paul Gerard Smith (adapted by: from the 1923 stage success of the same name) (as Paul Gerard Smith), Al Boasberg (adapted by: from the 1923 stage success of the same name) \| 2 more credits » Buster Keaton, Snitz Edwards, Sally O'Neil \| See full cast & crew » What Are Our Most Anticipated Movies of 2019? Check out our list of the most anticipated movie releases for the rest of 2019. Buster Keaton Month - The General Buster Keaton On Blu-ray: Go West/Battling Butler Review 12 November 2011 \| Screen Anarchy Five Essential... Boxing Movies 09 May 2010 \| Flickeringmyth 20's Movies To Watch Films of 1926 Search for "Battling Butler" on Amazon.com Title: Battling Butler (1926) Romance in the 1920s Favorite Feature Film Directed by Buster Keaton 1 nomination. See more awards » Go West (1925) Comedy \| Western With little luck at keeping a job in the city a New Yorker tries work in the country and eventually finds his way leading a herd of cattle to the West Coast. Director: Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Howard Truesdale, Kathleen Myers Comedy \| Drama \| Sport To reconcile with his girlfriend, a bookish college student tries to become an athlete. Directors: James W. Horne, Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Anne Cornwall, Flora Bramley Three Ages (1923) The misadventures of Buster in three separate historical periods. Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Margaret Leahy, Wallace Beery Spite Marriage (1929) Certificate: Passed Comedy An unimpressive but well intending man is given the chance to marry a popular actress, of whom he has been a hopeless fan. But what he doesn't realize is that he is being used to make the actress' old flame jealous. Directors: Edward Sedgwick, Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Dorothy Sebastian, Edward Earle The Navigator (1924) Action \| Comedy \| Romance Two spoiled rich people find themselves trapped on an empty passenger ship. Directors: Donald Crisp, Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Frederick Vroom Seven Chances (1925) Certificate: Passed Comedy \| Romance A man learns he will inherit a fortune if he marries by 7 p.m. that same day. Stars: Buster Keaton, Ruth Dwyer, T. Roy Barnes Our Hospitality (1923) Comedy \| Romance \| Thriller A man returns to his Appalachian homestead. On the trip, he falls for a young woman. The only problem is her family has vowed to kill every member of his family. Directors: John G. Blystone, Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge, Joe Keaton The Frozen North (1922) Short \| Comedy \| Western Buster plays a bumbling villain in this parody of melodrama. Stars: Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, Sybil Seely The Haunted House (1921) Short \| Comedy \| Horror A bank clerk ends up in a seemingly haunted house that is actually a thieves' hideout. Stars: Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts The Saphead (1920) The simple-minded son of a rich financier must find his own way in the world. Directors: Herbert Blaché, Winchell Smith Stars: Edward Jobson, Beulah Booker, Edward Connelly The Play House (1921) Short \| Comedy \| Fantasy After waking up from his wacky dream, a theater stage hand inadvertently causes havoc everywhere he works. Stars: Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Monte Collins My Wife's Relations (1922) By accident, Buster and an intimidating woman end up married. Stars: Buster Keaton, Wallace Beery, Monte Collins Complete credited cast: Buster Keaton ... Alfred 'Battling' Butler Snitz Edwards ... Alfred's Valet Sally O'Neil ... The Mountain Girl Walter James ... The Moutain Girl's Father Budd Fine ... The Mountain Girl's Brother (as Bud Fine) Francis McDonald ... The Prizefighter Mary O'Brien ... Battling Butler's Wife Tom Wilson ... Butler's Trainer Eddie Borden ... Butler's Manager Alfred's father wants him to make of a man of himself so sends him off on a hunting and fishing trip. He doesn't catch or shoot anything, but he does fall in love with a mountain girl. When her father and brothers laugh at this they are informed that he is Alfred "Battling" Butler, the championship fighter. From there on the masquerade must be maintained. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> boxing \| mistaken identity \| idle rich \| valet \| training camp \| See All (9) » 19 September 1926 (USA) See more » Baster, bokserski šampion See more » Bakersfield, California, USA See more » $702,114, 31 December 1926 Buster Keaton Productions See more » Released in the same year as what is considered to be Buster Keaton's finest film: The General (1926). Ironically, while this film attracted less than glowing notices, it became Keaton's biggest hit, while "The General"was a monumental flop. See more » Buster and his valet take the train into "Mountain Girl's" hometown, so that Buster can confess that he's not the new champion; yet when circumstances require that his subterfuge continue, and he leaves to go to train for the fight vs. the Alabama Murderer, they drive away to the training camp in Buster's car. See more » The "THE END" test is shown on a boxing bell. See more » Referenced in Rewind This! (2013) See more » Q: List: Wacky boxing very good story, not quite as many laughs 28 April 2006 \| by MartinHafer – See all my reviews This is a very good Buster Keaton film. However, some might be put off by the scarcity of pratfalls and belly laughs compared to many of his other efforts. That's because this film is much more plot driven and character driven than most silent comedies--and that works well for me, though you might miss the more acrobatic and violent character he plays in his shorts and in some of his full-length ones. Buster plays a spoiled rich young man who really needs to be toughened up--so his dad tells him to go camping. The next segment is probably the funniest, as it cuts to a "wilderness" scene--complete with a butler, tub, poster bed, and all the other modern conveniences (that's the way I'd like to camp!). While "camping" he meets a nice girl and he is smitten. Instead of Buster going to propose, he sends his butler--who immediately knows her dad will say "no" because he wants a virile, more "studly" son-in-law. So, the butler panics and says that Buster is the famous boxer Alfred "Battling" Butler! Now, the two men do have the same name and are roughly the same size--but that's about the only similarity. Daddy gives his hearty approval and Buster is married. But, when the real Butler wins the title, Buster has a hard time pretending any longer. Later, the real Butler retires and Buster takes his place--going to training camp and working for a title defense! You'll have to tune in to see what happens next, as this only takes you through about half the film--watch it and enjoy.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line931
__label__wiki	0.542631	0.542631	A New Westeros Rhaenys Baratheon May 17 So, 99% of this season sucked. 8x02 remains the only good thing to happen to this season. And I’ve decided to rewrite season 7 and 8. Why? Because this season might be the worst thing to happen to me, and I’ve been stabbed before. I actually kept some things from the season that I didn’t mind so much. I’m sure you’ll notice. >>Season Seven<< A Dragon on Foreign Soil >>Riverlands<< Disguised as Walder Frey, Arya poisons all the Frey Bannerman at the feast she throws for them. Finally taking revenge for the Red Wedding. She leaves all the women alive to spread the word that “the North remembers”. She then leaves the Riverlands, heading towards King’s Landing to murder Cersei. She sees a group of Lannister soldiers but covers her face and continues on the road, not wanting to risk a fight. Sandor and what remains of the Brotherhood without Banners take shelter in an old farm that Sandor had once robbed. Thoros has a vision of the White Walkers advancing towards the wall, searching for something but he doesn’t know what and Beric admits he doesn’t know why he keeps being resurrected. That night, Sandor buries the bodies of the farmer and his daughter instead of leaving them inside to rot. >>Beyond the Wall<< Bran and Meera continue traveling towards the wall. Meera is torn up over the death of Summer, Hodor and Leaf but continues to pull Bran along. Once they get to the wall, Bran uses his three-eyed raven powers and his relation to Jon Snow to convince Edd to allow them back through the wall. >>Winterfell<< Despite Sansa trying to convince him to take the Karstark and Umber castles, Jon forgives the youngest members of the families once they swear their loyalty to him. Jon notices the creepy way Littlefinger stares at Sansa. Jon gives Tormund and the wildlings the task of manning East-Watch-by-the-Sea. He also tasks all Northerners to start training their men, women and children to fight. They receive a message from Cersei, demanding the North’s loyalty, but Jon doesn’t put much stock into it since winter has come and he doesn’t think Cersei would send her army. Sansa warns him not to underestimate Cersei. Littlefinger keeps trying to get closer to Sansa and Brienne takes notice. >>King’s Landing<< Cersei is angered when Jon doesn’t bend the knee to her since she knows Daenerys Targaryen is already on her way to Westeros, leaving her with two powerful enemies and not a lot of allies. Euron Greyjoy arrives with the Iron Fleet and a question for alliance and marriage. Cersei denies him but Euron promises to return with something that will change her mind. >>Oldtown<< Sam continues serving the Maesters on his journey to becoming one himself. While tending to the patients, he runs across Jorah Mormont who asks if Daenerys has arrived in Westeros yet. Sam doesn’t know but makes sure to stop by and check on Jorah more often since he feels like he owes it to Jorah’s father. >>Dragonstone<< Daenerys finally arrives in Westeros. Landing in Dragonstone- the place where she was born. She and her advisors enter the castle and her soldiers check to make sure there are no threats. Tyrion watches her dragons fly from the war council rooms window. While meeting with her war counsel, Dany questions Varys’ constantly shifting loyalty, while he reassures her that he only does what he thinks is best for the common people, Dany is still weary of him. She tells him that if he ever feels she is betraying the people, she should tell him, but if he betrays her that she will execute him. Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand both want to launch an offensive against King’s Landing, but Dany doesn’t want to destroy the people or city. Tyrion suggests her armies take Casterly Rock while the Westerosi armies siege King’s Landing, Olenna Tyrell tells her to ignore Tyrion and be a dragon. Dany takes Olenna’s advice and entrusts the siege of King’s Landing to the Unsullied, Martells and Greyjoy’s- leaving the Dothraki to defend Highgarden and her dragons to patrol the waters of King’s Landing and keep any supplies from reaching the city. Maester Ebrose tells Jorah that his greyscale is too advanced to treat and that he has a maximum of six months until the greyscale kills him, that or suicide, which would be preferable to a slow greyscale death. Sam doesn’t accept the diagnosis and searches for an alternative antidote. He comes across a complicated procedure that could cure Jorah, but when he shows it to Ebrose he’s denied from performing it because it could cause the greyscale to infect him it as well. Sam decides to take the risk and performs the painful procedure on Jorah in secret. Jon slowly realizes that a King has more to do than just give orders and plan battles when the grain stores are brought up. Jon seeks Sansa’s council on how to deal with the problem, which she gives. They have all the Lords deliver their grain stores to Winterfell since snow could stop any supplies from coming in. Jon warns Littlefinger away from Sansa, threatening to kill him if he so much as lays a finger on his sister. Jon talks to Davos about finding things to fight the coming dead, including weapons. He sends a raven to Sam, asking him to look through the Maesters archives for anything. Arya stops in an inn to grab some food before continuing towards King’s Landing. While there she runs across her old friend Hot Pie. He gives her a pie and asks what she’s been doing all these years. She tells him she’s been in Essos, traveling. Hot Pie tells her he’s been cooking at the inn and figured out a new pie crust recipe, he asks her what happened to Gendry since the last time he saw her- they were together. Arya tells him they were separated and that she thinks he’s dead. Hot Pie tells her he’s sorry and Arya nods, before Arya can leave he asks if she’s going to Winterfell because her brother is the King. Arya turns and heads North instead of South. On the road to Winterfell she runs across a wolf pack lead by Nymeria and begs her to come home with her. Nymeria says goodbye to the other wolves and follows after Arya. Cersei appeals to lords for support against Dany, including some of House Tyrell's bannermen, portraying Dany as a dangerous foreign invader coming to kill everyone. Jaime offers to make Randyll Tarly Warden of the South if he joins them. Qyburn demonstrates a new weapon - a scorpion- for Cersei; its bolt pierces the skull of Balerion. >>Narrow Sea<< Euron attacks Yara's navy. Euron kills Obara and Nymeria while his men abduct Ellaria and Tyene Sand. Euron then takes Yara as his prisoner. Theon, triggered by the violence from his time with the Bolton’s, jumps overboard, abandoning Yara in Euron’s hands. One of the remaining ships from Yara’s fleet fishes Theon out of the water. When he claims to have tried to save Yara, they don’t believe him, saying he would be dead if he had tried to save Yara. Theon urges them to head back to Dragonstone so he can tell Dany what happened with her allies and find a way to save Yara. Euron drags Ellaria, Tyene, and Yara through abusive crowds in the streets of King's Landing who scream obscurities at them. He gifts the Sands to Cersei for the death of her daughter, who accepts his alliance and promises to marry him when the war is won. In penance for killing Myrcella, Ellaria and Tyene are bound and gagged in the dungeon. Cersei kisses Tyene with the Long Farewell and tells Ellaria she will be kept alive to watch her daughter die and decompose. The Iron Bank comes to collect the Lannisters' loans. Cersei uses Daenerys’ arrival as a possible investment, and secures a fortnight to pay the debt. Ebrose proclaims that Jorah is healed of greyscale and releases him from the citadel. Jorah plans to return to Daenerys and thanks Sam for all his hard work in healing him. They shake hands, the first time Jorah has touched another person in a long while. Jorah leaves, heading back towards Dany. >>Highgarden<< Expecting Tyrion to have attacked Casterly Rock, Jaime takes the Tarley’s and Lannister forces to Highgarden. They’re shocked to find the Dothraki forces surrounding Highgarden. Olenna sends a raven to Dragonstone to inform her of the Lannister movements in the Reach. Dany is discouraged and angry to discover that her Dornish and Ironborn allies have been murdered captured. She’s angry that Tyrion couldn’t predict the Greyjoy attack before it happened since it’s his job to know the enemy and give her an upper hand to win. She continues to question him after receiving Olenna’s raven, Dany is grateful to have listened to Olenna and kept the Dothraki on Reach soil. Sansa and Jon are still preparing the supplies for winter, competently managing to run the North. Littlefinger continues to try and manipulate Sansa, telling her to “fight every battle, everywhere, all the time” so she’ll always know what to expect. Bran and Meera arrive, Sansa and Jon are reunited with Bran. Later, the three of them sit in the Godswood. Jon and Sansa are confused by Bran the Three-Eyed Raven, and Sansa is disturbed by his knowledge of her suffering. After she leaves, Jon chastises Bran on bringing up painful memories for their sister. Bran tells him that Dany has landed in Westeros and that they’ll need her for the coming war with the Night King. Highgarden Olenna sits in her study, drinking wine and watching from the window as the Dothraki and Lannister forces meet. We continue to flash between the battlefield and Olenna alone, it shows the stillness that has fallen over Highgarden since the death of her family. The fighting continues, a maid escorts a Tyrell Captain into her study- he tells her that the Dothraki have captured more than three dozen men, but that Jaime Lannister has managed to escape with a few men. Olenna orders some of the men to continue searching for Jaime before finally pulling out a scroll and beginning to write to Daenerys, telling her that House Tyrell is still standing and loyal to the queen and that the Dothraki have defeated the Lannister army. She also mentions that they found a strange weapon that seems to have been built to kill a dragon. Cersei is staring out the window of her room, watching the city. Qyburn enters and she asks him what he’s found. He tells her that they’ve started mass producing the scorpions and positioning them of the walls of the city, he also says that he’s discovered a new loan they can take out from the Iron Bank that would allow them to employ the Golden Company of Essos. Cersei says Qyburn should enlist Euron to ferry the sellswords across the Narrow Sea, then she asks if there’s any word on Highgarden. Qyburn tells her no ravens have been received. Gendry is working at the forge when he hears two men on the street talking about the new King in the North. He asks if the Bolton’s have turned against the Lannisters and both men laugh before telling him that all the Boltons are dead- Jon Snow took back Winterfell with an army of Northmen and Wildlings and was named King in the North. Gendry returns to his forge, shoves some things into a bag and grabs his warhammer. He takes one look back into the forge before heading towards the gates of King’s Landing. Littlefinger is sitting with Bran in Bran’s rooms, he gives Bran the Valyrian steel dagger that almost murdered him when he was in a coma. Bran accepts the knife but doesn’t give Petyr any information about what he’s done away from Winterfell, unnerving Littlefinger by repeating ‘chaos is a ladder’. Littlefinger leaves the room and Meera enters. She tells him that she’s going to leave Winterfell to ready her family and their men for the fight coming. Bran takes her hand and tells her he’s grateful for all she’s done and all the sacrifices she’s made to protect him and get him home again. They hug and Meera tells him that she’ll be back to protect the realm from the Others when the time comes. Once she leaves, Bran stares into the fire, his fingers playing on the edge of knife. Arya arrives in Winterfell. She’s stopped by the guards who don’t believe she lives there, Arya tells them that if they don’t get out of the way, she’ll move them and they won’t like how. Jon, having heard the commotion comes to the gate, when he sees Arya he shoulders his way past the guards and picks her up. She holds onto him tightly and, for the first time in years, she feels tears on her face. Jon pulls away from her, holding her face in his hands and kissing her forehead. He pulls her inside, finding Sansa and Bran eating breakfast in the main hall. Sansa and Arya hug and Jon rolls Bran out from behind the table, Arya dropping to her knees to hug him tightly. Later, Brienne and Podrick are sparring and Arya comes into the yard, asking to fight Brienne. Jon and Sansa are watching from the closed in balcony. The two of them fight to a drawl and Jon claps slowly, reminiscent of Ned. Theon arrives in Dragonstone. He tells Dany what happened and that he wants to take his leave to save his sister. Dany tells him that the siege of King’s Landing is going according to plan. Her soldiers aren’t allowing anyone into the city, her dragons are destroying any supply ships coming through and it’s close to impossible to leave the city and if he were to try and save Yara, he would certainly be killed by Cersei. Tyrion tells her the Martell forces, led by the remaining Sand Snakes, want to invade the city to save Ellaria and Tyene. Dany tells him to keep holding the lines until she’s sure the city can be taken with limited casualties. Varys tells her there’s a large group of common people trying to leave the city and she should allow them safe passage through her army. Dany agrees, sending a raven to Grey Worm to let the civilians through without harming them in any way. >>On the Roseroad<< Jaime, Bronn, and a handful of Lannister soldiers are hiding from the patrolling Dothraki and Tyrell men. Bronn is angry because, as he tells Jaime, if he dies without getting paid, he’s going to rise out of the grave and kill Jaime again. They continue traveling through the Reach, hoping to make it to King’s Landing without being discovered. Valar Morghulis The captured Lannister and Tarley men are put into cells, until the war is over and Dany decides what to do with them all. Randyll Tarley is brought to Olenna, she tells him to bend the knee to Dany and keep his House from going extinct, like hers. Olenna knows they offered the Tarley’s the South and asks him if it was worth it. “They killed my son, they killed my granddaughter and my grandson. All I have left is the weight of my House. But you, Lord Tarley, you have your family. Why risk them for this betrayal?” They speak and Olenna can tell that Randyll isn’t going to change his mind about being loyal to Cersei, she sends him back to the dungeon and brings back Dickon. She tells him that if he bends the knee to Dany, she’ll arrange his marriage to one of her granddaughters and he’ll be the Warden of the South after she’s passed. Dickon says he wants the lives of his father and family ensured before he agrees to anything. Olenna nods. Bran is using his powers to watch the Night King and his army as they continue to search for something. He tries to discover what they’re searching for but there’s an odd magical energy blocking him from finding out. When he awakens, Bran tells Jon and Arya they should send ravens to every Lord in Westeros to warn them and ask for their men in defending the realm. While Jon goes to the maester, Arya goes looking for Sansa. She finds her sister and Littlefinger talking quietly in a corner, when she’s spotted Petyr quickly excuses himself and Arya questions Sansa why she’s keeping Baelish around. Sansa tells her it’s for the Vale, but Arya doesn’t accept it as a valid reason, “There’s something else going on, something that he’s planning, and I’m going to find out what.” Ebrose receives Bran's raven and discusses the message with other Archmaesters. Sam interrupts to vouch for Bran, and asks the Archmaesters to use the Citadel's authority to prepare Westeros for war against the undead. Archmaester Ebrose decides the matter needs further study and assigns Sam to continue transcribing old diaries. Sam continues looking for answers to the Others problem, he finds an entry about a large cash of dragonglass under Dragonstone. He sends Jon a raven. Dany is pleased to learn about her armies victories and the continued success of her siege on King’s Landing. She receives three ravens- one from the King in the North, and one from Olenna. She and Tyrion discuss Jon’s story of ‘dead men’ and ‘Night Kings’, Tyrion says she should form an alliance with Jon and the North, since she will be the only Queen soon. She tells him to send a raven to Jon, letting him know that she’ll consider his request for help against his dead men. She thinks Olenna’s idea of marrying the Tyrells and Tarley’s is a sound idea as long as they remain loyal to the crown. Jorah arrives to Dragonstone and is reunited with Dany, swearing his loyalty to her. The last scene is of Dany, reading the last scroll and smiling before she calls for Theon to be called into her study. Jaime returns to Cersei via the smuggler tunnels and declares the war unwinnable for the Lannisters. That without her dragons and only her Dothraki and Tyrell allies, she beat the Lannister and Tarley forces. Cersei tells him it’s his fault for losing the Reach and their army for underestimating the Dragon Queen and their dwarf brother. She leaves Jaime standing on the map of Westeros, meeting with Qyburn about their food stores falling shorter and shorter everyday. Qyburn tells her they’ll only be able to feed the people for another month at most because all their shipments are intercepted by the dragon. She asked when the Golden Company will be arriving with Euron and he tells her it’ll be another half a month. >>King’s Road<< Gendry is traveling up the road towards Winterfell, carried on an old horse. He’s barely sleeping, traveling through the day and most of the night. He reaches an inn and decides to use the last of his money for some bread and cheese for the road. He’s shocked to find Hot Pie there, they talk about what they’ve been doing since they were apart and Hot Pie tells him Arya will be very happy to see him again. Gendry quickly packs up the new supplies, which Hot Pie only took half the money for, and rides faster towards Winterfell. Arya, Brienne, and Jon meet to discuss Littlefinger in the Godswood. All three of them convinced they have to get rid of him to protect the North and Sansa. Jon says they should arrest him and hold a proper trial once the dead have been dealt with, Arya thinks they should just kill him and Brienne thinks arresting him is a good idea but waiting until the defeat the dead is a mistake. Jon and Brienne are called away by Davos on other business and Bran is pushed into the Godswood by Sansa, he tells Arya and Sansa that Petyr has more crimes that they don’t know of. He tells them it’s too dangerous to keep him prisoner because he always finds a way to get out of trouble. The scene ends with Arya and Sansa sitting next to each other, leaning on the Heart-tree as Nymeria sits by Bran’s wheelchair. Littlefinger watches Sansa, Arya and Bran in the Godswood. Trying to overhear what they’re saying but every time he tries to come closer, Nymeria growls and glares around the Godswood. He walks out of the woods, making his way to Sansa’s rooms, waiting for her to return. When she does, he questions her about Arya. Sansa tells him that Arya is planning on betraying him but that she’s on his side and will protect him. Petyr says that she and Jon should confront her about plotting against the Lord Protector of the Vale, because that’s what honour demands. A lonely horse comes through the gates, Arya and Bran are coming back into the castle from the Godswood when Arya spots the man on the horse. He’s older, taller, but undeniably her childhood best friend. She waves the guards aside and takes him inside with Bran. While she goes to get him something from the kitchen, Bran introduces himself and thanks him for protecting his sister. Gendry is a little weirded out but accepts his thanks with an awkward nod. Arya comes back with his food, he thanks her and they sit silently while he eats. The Golden Company is arriving with Euron’s fleet. They’re prepared for a fight but no one shows up to attack them and they make it into King’s Landing without problem. Cersei, Jaime and Qyburn are watching the ships unload the men and horses and she’s drinking wine, asking him how many men there are. Qyburn says twenty-two thousand. The scene changes to show all the men getting off the ships, a pair of boots lands on the dock and the screen travels up to reveal the smirking face of Daario Naharis. Jaime watches Euron and Cersei as they discuss their upcoming marriage. He stares down at his hands, eyes flickering between the golden hand and the flesh and blood. When Euron leaves Qyburn and Cersei alone, Cersei brings up the wildfire catches underneath the city. Jaime’s hand grips onto the hilt of his sword and he turns away from Cersei and Qyburn as they discuss. Outside of the city gates, Dany and the last of her forces arrive. She asks if Cersei has surrendered yet and Grey Worm shakes his head, telling her both of the men sent to ask for her surrender have their heads on spikes. Tyrion advices Dany to wait until the people turn on Cersei, like the slaves did in Meereen, but Dany knows Daario and the Second Sons are inside and will be able to help defeat the Lannister forces and Golden Company. She tells Tyrion that she’s waited years for her Throne and months for Cersei to surrender. That she’s finished being patient. Jorah asks if Tyrion can talk to Cersei and convince her to surrender herself for a trial but Tyrion tells him the only thing Cersei loathes more than Dany is Tyrion. Dany gives the order for Grey Worm to raise the Targaryen flags and begin their march forward. >>The Iron Islands<< Theon, what’s left of Yara’s fleet and Rheagal head to the Iron Islands, to take them back in the name of Dany and Yara, and to keep Euron and Cersei from having anywhere to run to. There are only a few ships at the Islands and they surrender once they see the dragon. They try to name Theon as the liberator of the Islands but he refuses, saying it was all in the name of his Queens- Dany and Yara. Now that the Iron Islands are independent but in an alliance with the mainland. The Iron Throne Dany and the army move forward, Dany ordering all of her men to avoid civilian casualties before she mounts Drogon and takes off into the air. She can see the whole city from the air and she sees the devices Olenna was talking about, aiming straight towards her and Viserion. She watches the gates open and the Golden Company and Second Sons come pouring out, the Second Sons behind the Golden Company. Jaime comes into the throne room to tell Cersei that the army and two dragons have began to march forward and the people are revolting, wanting to get out of the city. Cersei orders the Golden Company to defend the city in front of the walls while the Lannister army protects the streets and the people. Jaime nods and heads out, brushing past Qyburn and several men as they enter the throne room. Jaime makes it down to the commanders and passes on the orders. From the balcony he can see most of the men who visited Cersei slipping from the castle and disappearing in the hectic streets of King’s Landing. His brows furrow and he walks back towards the throne room. Both dragons dive in time to avoid being killed by the first wave of scorpion arrows, but Viserion’s torso is scratched by one and he’s bleeding. Dany waves him away from the battle and he crashes behind her army with a pitiful screech. The army charges forward and the Second Sons turn on the Golden Company. Dany destroys the scorpion on the gate, using the high sun to dive and destroy them one by one as the men fight below. The Martells are the first ones to crash through the gate, followed shortly by half Unsullied while the Second Sons and the rest continue killing the Golden Company. Dany lands on one of the crushed towers, staring at the Red Keep before glancing down to watch her army sweep through the streets of the city. Jaime comes into the throne room and asks Cersei who those men were. She turns to him, “What do you think she would do if she found us? What would she do to you, the man who murdered her father, to me, the Queen? I would rather die than let her have the satisfaction of ordering my execution.” Jaime stares at her as she turns to watch the city, “Cersei, what did you do?” Qyburn and another man come in, Cersei looks at them and nods her head. Jaime stops them from leaving but Cersei tells him to get out of the way. Jaime notices the smell Qyburn and the man have, the scent that Aerys had. He grips Qyburns robes and turns to Cersei, “wildfire?” Dany is feeling like she’s won when the Lannister soldiers drop their swords and she can see the Second Sons have defeated the Golden Company. In the corner of her eye she sees a spark of green before chunks of the city burst into green flame, building collapsing and people’s screams filled the streets. Dany watches, unmoving, as her soldiers try to flee from the city, trying to dodge falling buildings and fire. Lannister men running behind them, innocent people shoving their way as they try to reach the gates. Dany stares on in horror, watching the Red Keep. After seeing the leaks for the finale, I’m absolutely disgusted and disappointed. Did you guys know that there’s a petition up about redoing the entire final season? <- I’m linking it because holy shit, that’s a lot of signatures. Anyways, I know this isn’t a perfect season, but it was written in a week and I’ve done my best to keep to the characters and try to tie up loose ends. See you in part two. Linked Wiki Entries Lyanna Mormont Stark Direwolves 𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝕿𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖞𝖊𝖓 Now that's what we needed! That's what should've happened instead! Great job! :heart: :heart: :sparkles: :sparkles: :sparkles: 2 Reply May 18 Rhaenys Baratheon Author Благодаря мила :blue_heart: :blue_heart: Reply to: Rhaenys Stark Нямам търпение за част 2 :sparkles: :sparkles: :smile: :smile: Reply to: 𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝕿𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖞𝖊𝖓 Незнам кога обаче ще има част 2 :joy: :joy: Baella Dragons deserve more love. Especially like Viserion. They jsut decided to give him to NK. I love her relationship with her kids in the books, it’s the sweetest thing. Wish the show had shown that more ‍‍‍ ‍ Well I'm happy to see passionate fans. A nice and a resulted work you gave us here. Yet, don't speak for us, please. Read 2 more replies Reply to: ‍‍‍ ‍ You’re welcome then! I’m just hoping he publishes one of them soon, because it’s been eight years since the last one and that’s just too long! Yes, that's too much :weary: It’s gotten to the point where I’m worried I’ll die before I read the canon ending Nymeria Stark of Dorne I love this re-write Ally! At one point I wanted some popcorn especially with the Starks reuniting and working as a team to get Little Finger the hell outta here. But what granddaughter was Olenna talking about to marry to Dickon? In the show, one of the girls that was with Maergery in KL calls Olenna ‘nana’, I think she was Alle Tyrell, one of margaery’s cousins - but she disappeared from the show when the Tyrells ended up murdered. I’d assume they went home with olenna Got it. Please continue, I wish this is what we got instead of the nonsense they're trying to pass of as good television or story telling. Everyone has tossed their arcs and their words. All the dialogue is gone. Reply to: Nymeria Stark of Dorne You’re so right and thank you, Nym, that means a lot :heart: I’ll be posting season 8 sometime this month but I don’t know when Meyer27 :wolf: :snowflake: I could only see the whole thing being redone years from now after all the books are done. Would be awesome Oh definitely, I’d love to see the canon ending instead of D&D poorly written Fanfiction Into Thrones? Join the community. From Rhaenys Baratheon Daughter of Dragons and Wolves: CHAPTER XV: SON OF SUNSPEAR Daughter of Dragons and Wolves: CHAPTER XVI: UNION OF THE DRAGON’S DAUGHTER GoT Challenge More from Rhaenys Baratheon Renaera Naelgyreon 2 days ago Home to the most devoted and passionate fans of ASoIaF books and Game of Thrones TV series! Rhaenys Baratheon The Last Baratheon A Call of War The Rebirth Challenge Results! Of Arya Stark and the Third Age #13 GOT Virtues AU: My Wolf, My Moon MY SHIP OPINIONS Bronn \| Art + Process	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line942
__label__wiki	0.593691	0.593691	Art for ART’s Sake By Atlanta Jewish Times March 2, 2015, 2:57 pm 0 Edit Hadassah cancer survivors bare all at Breast Strokes gala By Logan C. Ritchie lritchie@atljewishtimes.com Such images of torsos painted in the fall will be on display at the Big Reveal. Breast Strokes: Hadassah Bares All for ART (Awareness, Research & Treatment) stands to be the most intimate display of beauty and awareness at Greater Atlanta Hadassah’s Big Reveal fundraiser and gala Feb. 28. It kicks off the chapter’s centennial celebration. The Westside Cultural Arts Center, a gallerylike space in West Midtown, is the setting for the affair. A silent auction, a live auction, food and cocktails are part of the evening, but the huge photography exhibition of painted women is the star of the event. In October, 13 local artists met breast cancer survivors and those affected by the disease for a day of sisterhood, revelry and painting — torsos, that is. Thirty-five Hadassah women had their bodies painted from neck to navel and photographed by eight onsite photographers. Hadassah has kept the identities of the models anonymous, but women are proud to speak of their survivorship and contributions to this fundraiser. Lori Holmes, a breast cancer survivor of six years, suggested that the artist paint a specific image on her body. “Where others chose to have the artist make a beautiful picture, I wanted to speak for myself. I took pictures with my sister and best friend, and we held hands. It was the strength of them who got me through,” she said. “It spoke to me and my experience.” Holmes said painting day was empowering. “It was a scene of total camaraderie. We walked away with our breasts exposed, everyone showing off their painting. The openness of women who support the cause struck me.” Sue and her two sisters, all models and breast cancer survivors, were joined for paint day by their mother. Sue is the only local; her family flew in to be a part of the exhibit. “The breast cancer diagnosis we each received brought us even closer in ways we couldn’t have imagined,” Sue said. “When I reached out to my mother and sisters about Breast Strokes, they didn’t hesitate to say yes. We hope our participation as a family will strike a chord in raising awareness of and contributions to research in future generations.” Artist Susan Proctor was invited to paint by co-chair Holly Strelzik. An abstract painter, Proctor said of paint day: “I hardly paid attention to people around me. Painting was intense, and I was so focused that I didn’t know what was happening around me.” Each of Proctor’s three subjects received different designs: one henna, one Picasso and one with an original design. “I wanted to make each person happy because they were very brave,” Proctor said. “I was truly impressed with their courage.” The Big Reveal also marks the 20th anniversary of Check It Out, a joint effort between Hadassah and Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. Check It Out has educated 35,000 women in metro Atlanta high schools on the importance of self-exams to screen for breast cancer, as well as early detection and medical resources. What: The Big Reveal ART Gala and Auction Where: Westside Cultural Arts Center, 760 10th St., West Midtown Atlanta When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 Tickets: $50 in advance, $65 at the door; www.hadassah.org/atlanta/breaststrokes. breast strokes Hadassah Bares All for ART Hadassah Greater Atlanta	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line958
__label__wiki	0.625149	0.625149	Ohio University > Medicine > About > Strategic Initiatives > Strategy > Strategy Since our beginning nearly 40 years ago, the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has been guided by its founding idea: To train excellent osteopathic physicians who serve Ohio’s communities of greatest need, especially in primary care fields. With the 2011 transformational award of $105 million from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, we embarked on a period of growth and renewal. Our initiatives have been built upon our strengths and the beliefs we have championed since our founding. They deliver on our promise of advancing our mission to meet the challenges of successfully preparing the next generation of physician leaders. Our strategic planning process began in 2012-2013 bringing the college community together, which focused our growth and renewal efforts. The 2015-2017 plan that emerged from this process provides a strategic road map as we develop new campuses, advance our research and community care programs, and strengthen the curriculum and programs in our clinical campus system. In late 2016, we began developing a new plan using our 2015-2017 Heritage College Strategic Plan as the foundation to ensure our continuing success in training primary care physicians for Ohio. An experienced consulting firm facilitated the process. Our students, faculty, staff and external stakeholders participated in interviews, planning sessions and surveys to provide valuable feedback as we assessed the existing plan and determined our new goals. We retained the four priorities of the 2015-2017 strategic plan: Transformative Education, Collaborative Research, Community Impact and All-Campus Success. All-Campus Success now has two parts – Workplace Excellence and Operational Excellence – and we added a new priority, Optimized Student Experience. These five priorities support a common goal: To increase the proportion of our graduates who enter primary care practice, especially in Ohio. Strategic planning and review is a continuous, multifaceted process. Progress and updates for strategic priorities are gathered on a regular basis from each of the five team leads. The Executive Dean's Strategy Team and Executive Committee reviews the strategic priorities and are informed of progress and updates. The current overall strategic plan, including goals and objectives, is available on the website for all Heritage College faculty and staff to review and provide feedback/comments. In addition, the Heritage College's internal processes and its continuous improvement plan around meeting the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) standards play an important role in ensuring our strategic plan is on track. As we move forward, we will implement initiatives and continue to refine our plans by identifying objectives and key performance measures. Shared Goals Process and Procedures (PDF) 2018-2021 STRATEGIC PLANNING PARTICIPANTS (PDF) Executive Dean's Strategy Team The purpose of the Executive Dean’s Strategy Team is to implement the strategic plan of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Strategy Team serves in an advisory role to the Executive Dean on all matters relating to the College’s strategy and strategic plan, including development, review and evaluation of policies, plans and processes. For questions and suggestions concerning the college strategic plan, please contact any member of the Strategy Team. Kenneth Johnson, D.O. Executive Dean, Heritage College Isaac Kirstein, D.O. Dean, Heritage College, Cleveland Bill Burke, D.O. Dean, Heritage College, Dublin Beth Longenecker, D.O. Dean, Heritage College, Athens Darlene Berryman, Ph.D. Associate Dean, Research and Innovation; Wayne Carlsen, D.O. Interim Associate Dean, Clinical Education John Schriner, Ph.D. Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs Jody Gerome Zuchowski, D.O. Associate Dean, Curriculum Karen Montgomery-Reagan, D.O. Chair, Department of Pediatrics Jack Ramey, D.O. Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Interim Chair, Department of Specialty Medicine Tom Rosol, DVM, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences Chair, Department of Family Medicine Stevan Walkowski, D.O. Chair, Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Nagesh Rao, Ph.D. Special Advisor, Inclusion Interim Chair, Social Medicine Susan Williams, Ph.D. Special Advisor, Faculty Affairs Amy Zidron, D.O. Assistant Clinical Professor Elected Faculty Chair Beth Maxon, PHR Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Administrative Services Shelley Ruff, M.B.A. Chief Financial Officer, Office of Financial Services PJ Murphy, M.A. Chief External Relations Officer Tanisha King-Taylor, Ph.D. Interim Chief Diversity Officer Rachael Crouch, M.A. Kathy Brooks, M.Ed. Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives Jill Breeze, M.Ed. Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Strategic Plan 2018-2021 View It Here Goals and Action Plan Annual Report Highlights & FAQs Curricular Transformation About the Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum About the Transformative Care Continuum New Medical Education Facilities in Athens	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line963
__label__wiki	0.629332	0.629332	April 2017 sales Ford India domestic sales up 17% in April; exports jump 76% Ford India continued its growth momentum in April with a steady rise in combined domestic wholesales and exports to 25,149 vehicles from 16,470 vehicles in the corresponding month last year.ETAuto \| May 02, 2017, 15:09 IST NEW DELHI: Indian arm of American automaker Ford has posted 17 percent growth in its domestic wholesales for the month of April 2017, the company said in a media release. Ford India exported 17,531 vehicles in the month; up 76 percent when compared with the figures of April 2016. It continued its growth momentum in April with a steady rise in combined domestic wholesales and exports to 25,149 vehicles from 16,470 vehicles in the corresponding month last year. “Ford continues to outpace the industry with a consistent double-digit growth in domestic sales, thanks to our capable and dynamic product portfolio. Our promise to deliver an affordable, transparent ownership experience is bringing scores of new customers to the Ford family,” said Anurag Mehrotra, executive director, Marketing, Sales & Service at Ford India. In April, Ford India introduced Sports Editions of its hatchback Figo and compact sedan Aspire. During the month, Ford India started a new campaign to sensitise car buyers on the importance of safety and urging them to make it a top priority, not just another choice. “The safety of our customers and their loved ones is a top priority for Ford. Hence our entire portfolio in India today comes equipped with advanced safety features such as ABS, EBD, side & curtain airbags as well as industry-first knee airbag to keep vehicle occupants safe,” Mehrotra added. In April, Ford India also strengthened its sales and service footprint with the inauguration of new facilities in Jammu, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. The company now has a presence with 376 sales and service outlets, covering 209 cities across India. Tags : Industry, Ford India, sales performance, Ford, April 2017 sales, Anurag Mehrotra	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line964
__label__cc	0.634267	0.365733	News February 10, 2011 April 10, 2014 Nashville Acquires Mike Fisher from Ottawa for Picks Huge news today out of the Music City. The Nashville Predators have acquired forward Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Nashville’s first round selection in the 2011 draft and a conditional pick next year. The move is a monumental one for the Predators, as only two players, Patric Hornqvist (16) and Sergei Kostitsyn (15), have scored more goals this season than Fisher (14). As a player with an extensive playoff resume, Fisher brings a set of intangibles as a player that is hard to find. The question now is which player will be moved to make room on the Predators roster for Fisher. My guess is that Matt Halischuk will be sent back to Milwaukee, but that is simply speculation. Coincidentally this transaction happens on the same day I write a feature on how important the Admirals have been this season in keeping Nashville alive in the Western Conference playoff race. A curious piece of timing for the trade to say the least. Another curiosity: What role did Mike Fisher play in choosing his new home? Fisher is of course married to country singer Carrie Underwood. She may have been pushing Ottawa’s fan favorite to move south. Combined with Chicago’s trade yesterday of Jack Skille for Michael Frolik and the Francois Beauchemin/Joffrey Lupul deal, it has certainly been an eventful couple of days around the NHL. So Roundtable, what are your thoughts on the Mike Fisher trade? Filed under: Matt Halischuk, Mike Fisher, Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville Predators Admirals Excrement-The-Bed Against Peoria Dex Benched, Ads Throttled 10 thoughts on “Nashville Acquires Mike Fisher from Ottawa for Picks” SantaC says: bad trade, nashville dont need more forwards with all the great prospects in admirals… AdsandPredsfan says: I think it’s a great move. I think that means they have pretty much given up on Lombardi coming back. I think Matt will be back and when 1 or 2 more Preds come back we will get Spals back. Should help both teams in playoffs. Goc was injured last night was he not? I know Trotz said he shouldn’t miss anytime, but can anyone confirm if Goc is ok? I disagree with SantaC. It’s a great move for Nashville. They may have prospects in Milwaukee, but at this point in the season and moving towards the playoffs, a seasoned veteran is worth more than an unproven veteran, especially one with playoff experience. Plus, Nashville basically gave up nothing. The first round pick will be a deeper pick in a weaker draft class. With all the prospects they have, giving up a first round pick really means nothing to the Predators. Excellent move by Poile. I couldn’t agree with you more Creed. I think this is a fantastic trade for Nashville for a player that would not be on the market for long. Quality top-two line centers don’t grow on trees, especially a two-way specialist in Fisher with a decent contract and cap hit. Ask anyone in Nashville, the Predators are trying to win the Stanley Cup this year and they have a club that can make noise in the playoffs. But I am surprised they traded two high picks and not a pick and a prospect. I can think of about eight Admirals who would look great on a rebuilding Senators club. You didn’t mention that Hugh Jessiman was involved in the Skille deal! Poile said they talked about prospects and current players but he did not want to go that route. Since it is going to be a weaker draftI still think it was a smart move. Definitely agree the Nashville brass wants to win a cup. I did think there was a chance they would have traded a goalie though since the orginazation is pretty deep right now. I’m cool with the deal, but am afraid of the next one. One that might take one of our key players away from us. We’ll discuss that in a post after this weekend’s games… Monkey in the Middle says: Milwaukee is a developmental team. If our prospects can be included in trades that make Nashville better, that’s just how it goes. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see a guy like Jeremy Smith, Klasen, Mueller, heck even Geoffrion, leave. Probably the only person I’d be surprised to see go is Dex – in part because any playoff hopes for the Ads would be crushed and in part because Dex is likely to leave on his own in the off season anyhow. Don’t be afraid, Ryan. Embrace change. TheOneGoodThing says: I agree with SantaC, its a horrible trade. Just because Klasen doesn’t play much defense doesn’t mean he should be screwed consistently. TheOneGoodThing, Nashville would much rather have Fisher then Klasen right now. In no way do I think he is being screwed over.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line969
__label__wiki	0.708691	0.708691	2018 &hyphen; 1 Season &hyphen; PG &hyphen; Uganda A documentary series based on African culture. Watch S1 Ep. 1 Trailer More episodes Add to Watchlist Cast Amaato Amaato, also interpreted as canoes is a story of the Ugandan canoes. (22m) Omweso Omweso is a traditional game played by the Ugandan people. It belongs to a family of board games played around the world and sometimes referred to as sowing game or count and capture game. Sylvia Bamusiime Thick Skin Trailer Thick Skin 2017 &hyphen; 1 Season &hyphen; MA &hyphen; USA A tale of a young woman, who struggles to find her identity. Watch S1 Ep. 1 Peter Trailer In an attempt to keep Paul at bay, 4 best friends pull off their biggest and most dangerous heist of all time. The Land of Milk & Honey Trailer The Land of Milk & Honey The Land of Milk & Honey is a series that follows Mel, an aspiring fashion designer, as she battles her way through the trials and tribulations of life. Toll Booth Teaser 2018 &hyphen; 2 Seasons &hyphen; MA &hyphen; USA Following the death of her father, a young businesswoman returns home and is forced to face the consequences of decisions she’s made with love and family. Heritage Trailer	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line971
__label__wiki	0.521033	0.521033	Friday, August 9, 2013 \| 9:13 am City Council Sells Out to UC Berkeley-In Secret Barbara Gilbert is a former city council candidate. Reply to [email protected] By Barbara Gilbert The Berkeley City Council, strong-armed by Mayor Tom Bates and the City Attorney, has held a series of secret meetings and secret votes about a secret document, culminating on May 24 when the Council secretly met and finally voted on a secret final document. This is the so-called "Settlement Agreement" between the city and UC Berkeley wherein the city has signed away our right to control vast university expansion and our right to bill it for a substantial part of the $13 million-plus annually in free services now being provided to UC Berkeley by the City. The dispute is NOT about the value of UC Berkeley, an institution widely respected, cherished, and appreciated. It IS about land, money, and power. There is nothing new or unusual about town-gown friction in our country or history. It erupts periodically, is usually based on real issues and has been written about extensively. There is nothing new about land wars-farmer-rancher disputes, water grabbing and railroad encroachment, throughout history. Now, in a dense, crowded city, we are truly engaged in a town-gown land war. There is nothing new about monetary and tax disputes. Now, in our financially hard-pressed city, we are in a big bucks town-gown dispute over who is stuck with a $13 million tab each year. The city absolutely should not have signed any agreement enabling the university to expand its land uses and damage our neighborhoods without full disclosure, compliances, mitigations and changes. Nor should the city have signed any agreement that accepts pennies on the dollar as compensation for city services. Despite legal precedent for UC getting a free ride on public services, circumstances have changed so drastically that the entire question needs to be revisited. When it comes to money, all public entities always claim to be hurting. In fact, unlike the city, UC Berkeley does have access to deep pockets and other resources. UC regularly raises millions of dollars from millionaires and billionaires for trophy projects, it has profitable joint partnerships with corporations, money from patents and royalties, and vast special purpose endowments. I suggest that the university seriously consider undertaking a City Trophy Project and raise a $100 million endowment to mitigate UC's impacts on the city and its neighborhoods, pay a fair share amount for services, and fund a variety of urban enhancements to benefit both town and gown. This would be a tremendous public service or public good undertaking and donors could receive all the usual accolades and honors that accrue to charitable giving, good works and helping the university and larger community. Right now, it is likely that concerned citizens will be suing the city or university over the numerous crimes and misdemeanors in the Settlement Agreement process and product. It is also likely there will be serious political repercussions for the politicians who supported the secret city sellout, particularly Bates, whose credibility and competence as our leader has been most seriously damaged. OFF THE BEAT: Bookshelves and puzzle pieces Someone once remarked there is absolutely nothing that compares with the...Read More» Sobering reflections of a grad I got defriended this week on Facebook, by someone whose cyber-allegiance I...Read More» By Nikki Dance ...Read More» Professor Healey's denial of tenure is not right As the semester comes to a close, our campus is quietly losing ...Read More» President Trump is a nightmare So I'm sleeping peacefully one night until a dark thought pops into my mind...Read More» I'll write the title later ... Were Procrasti-Nation a country, I would be its queen. Supreme ruler over e...Read More»	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line975
__label__cc	0.648646	0.351354	Hale Hopes to Repeat in Hawaii By Katie Dowd Category: Sports > Spring > Golf (Men's) Stephen Hale probably loves Hawaii, and not just for the weather and the scenery. Competing in his sixth tournament for the Cal men's golf team, the then-freshman fired a 10-under in the John Burns Invitational to win his first collegiate individual title. Two years later, he's got his second chance to take home the Hawaiian hardware. The Bears return to Leilehua Golf Course in Oahu today for the three-day John Burns Invitational, a 54-hole, par-72 event. There, they'll encounter familiar foes in Arizona, BYU and Fresno St., among others. This time around, Cal is primed to do better than just an individual title. The Bears have won their last two tournaments -- most recently a come-from-behind effort at the Arizona Intercollegiate on Feb. 1-2 -- and are currently ranked No. 16 in the nation. The Bears bring a fresh-faced and talented lineup to Oahu. So far this season, four freshmen have played in either the fall or spring campaign. Junior stalwarts Hale and Eric Mina add experience and championships to the roster -- both have won individual titles this season. Eighteen holes will be played per day, starting this morning and finishing on Friday. Tags: CAL MEN'S GOLF, ERIC MINA, STEPHEN HALE	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line976
__label__wiki	0.643687	0.643687	tv News4 at 5 NBC March 11, 2019 5:00pm-6:00pm EDT a plane crash that happened thousands of miles away in ethiopia hitting close to home for students at georgetown university. a third year law student was among those who died. students learned of the tragedy through a -wcampe e-mail. >> here you are moving along in line, going to georgetown university, pushing through your degree and something like this tragically happens. >> cedric asiavugwa was a champion for social justice serving a migrant refugees in east africa. he was a role modelalso, he guided first year students through the ups andow of freshman life. >> he was a light to the community, a fantastic person. brought a depth of compassion and thoughtfulness to everyone he engaged in. >> reporter: the crash also claimed the lives of a leader i climate change at the world bank pilots of the youngest toaptain a boeing 737. max was aommunications leader with the world bank. he was on his way to a conference in nairobi. a world bank statement says max was deeply committed to the flight against cmate change and brought tremendous reativity, energy and passion to hiswork. our deepest sympathies go to his family and loved ones and to those of the other victims of this tragedy. family members identified the pilot of the plane, with ties to northern he's shown in a photo with his cousin, she was not on the flight. his family said in a statement, as a confident captain, his seniority at ethiopian airlines comes with an accomplished record of 8,000 hours flight time and has mads proud of his achievements. we ask you to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult time. >> reporter: we learned that the georgetown student was supposed to be at a conference in chicago but there was a family emergency so he made the inlaste decision to go overseas and ended up on that flight. nwith the latest this investigation and the problems with this plane, let's go to leon harris standing by. >> reporter:to investi in ethiopia have recovered the black boxes as they try to figure out what went wrong on this flight. this is the second deadly crash involving boeing's 737 max 8 aircraft. an upgrade on a model known as the work house aroun the world. in the previous crash last fall it appeared sensors sent incorrect data to the sensors. this time around ethiopian airlines said the pilot sent a distress call. more than ath dozen o victims worked for u.n. affiliated grou o and several were their way to an environmental conference. back here in our country, the aiansportation department it's monitoring everything it can but so far no order to ground the max 8s here in the u.s. eing has delivered about 350 of those planes to carriers worldwide. in a statement, the company said they don't have any new gdance to issue operators. >> thank you, leon. news4 is working for you to keep you safe in the skies. coming up susan hoganindsut which u.s. airlines are flying the max 8 jet she shows us how you can find out what aircraft you're flying anyway. that's at 5:30 here on news4. a wife and mother killed in a fiery car crash knew her commute was dangerous and wanted to change jobs. e lost her life saturday driving up i-95. tonight her husband tells our megan fitzgeraldt feels to lose the love of his life. >> reporter: shana was the rock of her family, her husband hans said she was the best mother to their two children with special needs. and she was the provider to the family. >> i have two autistic chdren. it costs money. >> reporter: that's why hans said she would drive over an hour to baltimore, sometimes six days a week. assistant hysician's at a jail where she helped inmates. >> she wanted to leave the job for the.ongest ti it's very dangerous going there. >> reporter: hans said she was heading to work saturday morning at around 4:00 a.m. but she didn't make it. this is footage of what happened on her way there. c shana' caught fire after crash. in a bad maryland state police first thought she may have been driving the wrong direction in the northbound lane on i-95 near the beltsville exit when shell ed with a car head on before crashing into two other d the car started burnind she burned to death. >> reporter: the crash is still under investig hion, but husband strongly doubts it was shan >> somebody hit her from behind and she started spinning around at the exit. >> reporter: while police try to figure out how this happened, her husband hans is trying to determine how he can move on without her. megan fitzgerald, news4. now detectives tell news4 it will take several weeks to analyze this crash and dermine wh exactly was at fault. a coast guard officer accused of compiling a hit list that included democratic lawmakers and members of the media, pled not guilty to federal charges. christopher hasson was arraigned earlier today. federal prosecutors call him a self-desatibed whitenalist and a domestic terrorist. after his arrest last month investigators found 15 firearms, re than,000 rounds of ammunition at his silver spring artment. he's facing 30 years in prison if he's convicted of all these charges. drivers tell us it's like riding on the surface of th moon, so many craters and potholes on the baltimore-washington parkway. adam tuss has been taking a clos look for us at the road and he joins us live from the parkway. it's rough out there, adam. >> reporter: jim we have moved into tangerous category. that's where i would put it. you were seeing the veo there. let me show you. this is the start of a mile or 2 miles long of deep, deeppo oles. drivers have been told to slow down in this area. you can see whyec it'se such a problem. crater after crater aft crater after crater crater after crater crater after crater crater after crater, it literally goes on for miles. specifically on the southbound side of the baltimore-washington parkway, just south of route32. >> i think the sign said rough road. no, it shouldoa say with deep potholes, be careful. >> is it the worst y ever seen? >> it is. >> dave is a mechanic. he said so many cars pull into his sp right off the parkway. >> people that need new rims, if somebody is driving bmw, they got a smashed up rim, that rim brand new can cost anywhere from 3 to $500 jus for the rim. >> reporter: this gives you an idea how rough this stretch is look at those holes there. these are 3, 4, 5 inches into the ground and they go on and on and on down the parkway. this road is in terrible shape. choppe 4 giving us a bird's eye view. >> watching a drivers try to navigate their way through the swiss cheese that is parkway. too far to the center you risk a flat, too far outside, a bent rim. >> reporter: we eve been tweeting the park service about how bad it is and crews showed up foruthis section like p puttingcoh tape on a hole in your wall, it doesn't work. thhe said need consistently better temperatures to repave the road here. but action is needed sooner rather than later. >> we heard about similar conditions on the gw parkway and cla barton parkway. the park service tells us they have a transpotration infrture backlog that they're not able to get to just yet. >> that's going to be tough. thank you, adam. new fallout as the investigation into whether d.c. co ecil member jackns abused his position for personal gains widens. today d.c. mayor, muriel bowser, would not say if she would support evans if he decided to run for reelection. bowser had this tsesay to mark graves today. >> it's early to talk about reelections andio ele of next year. i can't really comment on the investigation, mark, but i know jack. jack's a friend and he's done a lot of t good work f city. and i'm sure he wants this to get to a conclusion. >> bowser, alongnt with thee d.c. council,st adminitor, several clients of evans' law firm have all been subpoenaed in this investigation. andns e has apologized for, quote, major mistakes. but he insists othe's doneng illegal. the council will vote later this month o whether to officially reprimand him. the white house is out with its new budget request tonight and it'seeting opposition already on the hill where the house speaker called it short sided. the administration is requesting a record 4.75 trillion in spending. the increases the president was $8.5 billion for d wall, well above what congress appropriated last year. it also increases spending for the military andva and it has big cuts to education and environmental protection ending. and it would reduce federal medicaid snding by more than a trillion dollars over the next decade. the white house is responding to concerns it will also increase the debt >> walance in 15 years, our first budget balance in ten, ont reasons we weren't able to balance quicker because it getsarr each year congress doesn't go along with the budgets. six years ago tc maslin robbed and beatenhile he was walking home from a b eball game.an this rm and vicious attack this night changed his family's life in unimaginable ways. >> there wasoerfect before. ere's no perfect now. >> right. >> we had a beautiful life before, we have a beautiful life now.e we h very different sense about ourselves and the world and what'san impo >> just ahead doreen gentzler brings us their story of perseverance and the long road to recovery. only on 4 tonight, the changes under way after a man who shot an alexandria police officer in the head wasen ry able to legally buy a gun. and we're looking at a beautiful d out there right now. 61 in d., 58 in hagerstown, sunshine but cooler weather moving in for morrow. it's going to feel 10 to 15 degrees colr tomo people aren't talking abg giant-brand chicken. they're not talking, because they're eating. oh, hello. at giant, it's the little things that make mealtime ey, so you have more time with the people you love. a young couple relationship tested after a violent robbery more than six years ago in d.c. >> preinjury i was very like future oriented in terms of like planning financially and career andhe kids and houses and things like that. now i think i'm way moreth i present moment. which is really good i think, justha enjoying we have right now. and it's shifted my mindset drastically. >> tc maslin suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that left him unable to walk or >> after that vicious attack his wife faced the challenge of caring forha a man seemed like a stranger in so many ways but they faced the known together and now doreen gentzler joins us with their story today. doreen? >> this is an update to a story we started covering years ago. it's a story about pain and perseverance. the couple forced to look at their relationship with new eyes after a traumatic attack here in d.c.n it's b a long road to recovery, they're still on it, but the jrney has made them both grateful for love and life. >> and school -- >> if you saw w themking down the street together you might think what a beautiful family. and you'd be right. but there is so much more to this family's story than aat. >> polic working on a time line in that beating case of a man on capitol hill. >> 6.5 years ago, tc mazlin was attacked andob rd after he walked home after a nats game. his skull was shattered by all baseba bat, a traumatic brain injury that nearly killed him, insteat him unable to talk, read orig use the rht side of his body. our hearts ached for thi young father and his family. >> i thi i am doing a lot better. >> we met tc and abby six months later. his hospital stayr was o and abby left her teaching job behindo take care of his medical care and therapy and their 2-year-old son jack. it was overwhelming but they were determined >>hi. >> this is tc mazlin today. the injury itself is not always evident to people. it's sort of a -- what's tte i was trying to say. >> invisible. >> invisible injury, right? because you wouldn't see me walking down the street but if you listen to me or sit with me long enough you might catcht eventually. >> after years of therapy and intensive effort, he's back at work at his former position as anal environme analyst, a huge victory. his first goal waseang to his son. >> i saw the value of having a son, having my wife, having m health, and i just kept my eyes on the prize of getting back to that. >> and ab was right there with him. >> if i hadn't kept the idea in my heart this was possible, i don't know that we would be here. i think the hope is what has kept us working so tirelessly over all these years. >> their son was important to recovery, too. >> jack has been a light throughout the entire journey. he was the constant reminder that life goes on, that life is vibrant, that there is light in the world during really, really dark days. >> jacks an 8-year-old that looks like his dad and heas charming sister, row see is 2.5. the maslins are living back in their old capitol neighborhood. abby is teaching at thee s elementary school she left years ago, and she's written a book out their perience. >> it's a book about brain injury, but it's for anybody that had to revent their life. who had a plan or vision about how things might go and needed to look at the world through new eyes. >> abbyescribes the shock of tc's injury, the pain of the long recovery but especially the emotiol journey for all of them. the book is called "love you hard" something tc said to her when he couldn't find the right word. >> 's broken language has punctured the heart of the matter, love is hard. there's no way to save this matter if i compare tc to the person we lost. it's time to stop sitting submerged in my grief and concur it itself and ii can find a way to love the new tc, i'll have done morey than save marriage, i'll have transformed myself in the process. >> how do you feeloueading that loud? saying it out loud? >> it's still true. it wil always betrue. >> it's beautiful. it's beautiful, yeah. >> i just love you that much. >> i know. >> i really do. >> life is not totally back to normal for the maslin's tc'sal challenges are unpredictable. abby's book, "love you hard" hits storees sheomorrow and she'll be on a book tour through our area. we'veet posted a com list of all of her readings on our website.fu wond to get to reconnect with your family. >> what a spirit both of them are. especially her. she not only helped her husband, she had another baby, wrote a book, got back to teaching. >> this book, i will tell yo has all the raw details. all the really paiul emotional challenges. it's a great book for anybody who is facing significant challenge. ma so ny victories. >> it'she likehave a lot of wisdom as well. >> love this family. >> yeah. >> thanks for sharing that with us, doreen. we appreciate that.s for the criminal case, three men were convicted for the attack on tc main, tommy branch was sentenced to 24 years in prison, m michare and sonny cuti were also concted for t roles. las year police began a crack down on pop up marijuana parties but they're not the only ones targeting those events. just ahead pat collins on the violence that erupted during two marijuana parties just this weekend. plus folks we have a cool night ahead and a colder morning at the bus stop. doug is back with a check of your forecast. we e following breaking news. new video from congress heights metro station where a 15ear-old was stabbed a short time ago, a 15-year-old boy. metro police say the boy is in serious condition and a suspect -guys, i want you to meet someone. this is jamie. you're going to be seeing a lot more of him now. -i'm not calling him "dad." -oh, n-no. -look, [sighs] i get it. some new guy comes in helping your mom bundle and but hey, we're all in this together. right, champ? -i'm getting more nuggets. -how about some s? you don't want to ruin your dinner. -you're not my dad! -that's fair. overstepped. [music] [female voiceover] today, people across the nation are discovering a new sense of power. they're king control of their money. and they're periencing the benefits of joining penfed credit union. with the penfed car buying service, they're saving on new vehicles, and enjoying loan rates as low as 1.49% apr. all because they're penfed members. and everyone is lcome to apply. join today at penfed.org [music] doug, we're going t off, huh? >> yeah, after a nice day today, temperatures going down tomorrow i think 10 to 15 degrees colder than today. if you like this warmer weather, tuesday is going to bee ooler. but wet staying on the cold side at all as we ramp the up.eratures back look outside right now, the sunshine making its way back. still l a of clouds in the southern zone but north and wes of washington nothing but sun. temperature right now sitting at 61 degrees winds out of the west at 12 miles per hour we are tracking a cold front that's going to make its way wards our region. 59 manassas, 58 towards martinsburg and 52 in annapolis. a nice afternoon for everybody. average high 54. we're well above that today. but tomorrow we'll be below it. no rain or snow across our region. we have two systems one to the north, that's the cold front that moves in, and one to the south you can see it there before the radar goes out onme. this is what we're watching making its way to the d.c. metro area. 61 d.c., 31 in buffalo, 40 in chicago. really no hot air anywhere across the east uil youet to florida, that's an 86 right now in lando. look at new orleans, 83. jackson 54. for us we'll be back to the 40s and low 50s tomorrow afternoon.f goin a high of 51. so 10 degrees cooler and a breeze, it's going to be a bit colder tomorrow. 48 leesburg, 46 in frederick. 52 towards fredericksburg. temperatures a little bit below average b not a bad day, a day we will need the jackets because with the breeze it will feel that much cooler. 56 on dnesday. then look, back up to 67 on thursday, that's ahead of our next front. that brings more clouds on thursday. friday we see the front come throughnd watchingfriday, which part of the day does it come in, ear we have cooler and showers, later we're warmer with thunderstorms potentially. that's something we're going to be watching for. not t expecting anything strong but the front brings in coolerer weaaturday and sunday. 54 on saturday, 52 sunday. low average for the weekend but still not d. nice on next monday and next week. we are dry, the only exception coming up on friday. we'll watch that one for you right now. a here'sk loo what's ahead. >> reporter: parents, employees and students in prince george's county head down to annapolis to fight for equal funding for schools. i'm tracee wilkins. that story next on news4. plus continuing coverage of authorities in several countries grounding a boeing jet after that second deadl crash with this aircraft. susan hogan has what you need to know if your flight is on one of these planes. only on 4, how a man who shot a police officer but was found not guilty because of insanity was able tourn around t >> announcer: you're watching news4 at 5:00. virginia state police are completing exhaustive review of their do not sell firearms list this evening. newhis action comes after learned a man who shot an alexandria police officer recently bought a gun legally. in a story you will only see on news4 julie carey explains how thathooter was able to get gun and what's being done to make sure this doesn't happen again. >> it's bad. especially, you know, so soon after he gets released. >> reporter: that was former alexandria police officer peter la boy's reaction when he learned last month the man who ot recently rearrested. he was found not guilty by reason of insani in 2014 but last summer a judge released him from a mental health facility. this search warrant affidavit showed he'd gottenis hands on two guns and suppressers now news4 learned one of his guns was purchased legally ats t gun store. stunning news for laboy and the alexandria state's attorney. >> i don't think there's any way to portray it as otherhan a tragedy narrowly diverted. >> reporter: we calledhe police to find out how this could happen. they launched a review. it revealed a human error was made. bashir's name was never added to the list of people barred fro buying a gun, they go on to say, the virginia state police recognes the severity of this situation and is taking the necessary strep steps to address the matter i >> of course concerned it might occur in the future or there might be other similar cases in the same posture right now. >> reporter: laboys thi there should be consequences. >> i don't want to blame anybody in the state police but it has to be at person tould responsible for that. ou know, how can they miss that. >> reporter: a state police spokeswoman tells me they are ming back through all of their records toe sure they haven't missed any other defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity. in alexandria i'm julie carey,w bashir is behind bars in prin william county facing a preliminary hearing later this month on the arson and gun charges. growing safety concerns over boeing 737 max 8 jet. tonight airlines in several countries have grounded that aircraft aer the ethiopian airline crash this weekend, the second crash involving that same kind of aircraft in lxs than months. it was lt october when a lion air flight went down off the coast of indonesia killing everyone on board. and now the question, are there any similarities between these two disa here's what we know. both planes went down soon after takeoff. lion air flightra 610ed 12 minutes after takeoff. ethiopiagh airlines f 302 disappeared from radar six minutes after takeoff. the crews of both planes struggling t maintain control. and we know the pilots of both planes both asked to return before that plane crashed. finding o what went wrong is a high priority for investigators because this is one of the best selling aircraft in the world. as of january 31st. boeing had morehan 5,000 confirmed orders for its new 737 fleet. the max 8 is one of four types. more than 320 of the 350 planes delivered so far are the max 8 aircraft. theit popul of boeing's newest jets means you'll likely find yourself on one of them soon. susan hogan working for you tonight with information you need to k yw ifr next flight is on one of these airplanes. susan? >> what we' learned from the faa is there are approximately 329 of these particular boeing 737 max 8 aircraft inperation right now worldwide. in the u.s., southwest and american airlines curntly fly this aircraft. news4 reached out to both of them, southwest tells us it has 34 in its fleet, american 24. so today, news4 chopper spotted one of the southwest's max 8 planes taking off at bwi airport. both airlines tell us they have no plans to ground the planes a at this point. however, they are monitoring thi investigatio ethiopia, which is standard protocol for any aircraft accident. they also tell us they have full confidence in the aircraft. if you have an upcoming flight and you want to know what type of airplanu're actually going to be flying on, you can click on flightdetails, click flight number, this is going yo gi details of the aircraft. remember, at this point, there arelao in the u.s. to ground the boeing 737 max 8. if you want to cancel because you are concerned, scared, liable fong to be any of those fees. as of right now, china and indonesia are among the countries that have grounded them and i just heard from air i canada 10 minutes ago, 8ey have 24 of these max they're also not grounding them. but you can imagine passengers ngwho are g to be flying are wondering. what we said about what aircraft you're flying on, that goes for everything. >> it's good to know. everyone gets to make their choice. they know what they have to pay if they do. >> susan, thank you. parents and stunts are going to meet tonight to talk about a principal who admitted to using the n word during a black history month assembly. morror this month joy told our tracee wilkins she used the word to make a point as she was explaining theacism she witness stand growing up. the meeting starts at 7:00 at the school in hyattsville, high school students are welcome but the discussions not for younger children. free agency starts and the redskins may be makin a splash. sherree burruss has more on what we're hearing about theteam's big signing. the crowdrireaking that could lead to a cure for sickle cell anemia. a week featuring mainly dry conditions. we have rain in the for ast on friday, maybe even a rumble of thunder. but what about our temperatures? but what about our temperatures? people aren't talking about giant's but what about our temperatures? fresh grab and go salads and sandwiches. they're not talking, because they're eating. oh, hello. at giant, it's the little things that make mealtime easy, you have more time with the people you love. itched to geico and saved hundreds. that's a win. but i's not the only reaswitched. geico's a company i can trust, with over 75 years of great savings and service. ♪ now that's a win-win. switch to ico. it's a win-win. news4 is working for your health.gh to an experimental new treatment is providing hope for millions of people fighting sickle cell disease. this is a painful genet disorder that affects mostly african-american. red blood cells t distorted in shape and block vessels and block vital oxygen supply to new tissues. part of the procedure, blood stem cells are removed from the patient, under go gene therapy and put back in the patient. >> this is a picture from after gene therapy, and there are no visible sickle cells. >> right now the only cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant but patients are only temporarily treated with medications or blood transfusions. doctors hoping this new option could one day cure the disease before theom sym start. and the symptoms can start if a child is jt 4 months old. likesushi? want a piece of sophisticated sushi? a companyt south by southwest is debuting 3d sushi at this festival. it plans to open a restaurant in tokyo next year that will customize its sus to individual dietary needs but it's going to cost you. when you make a reservation, they send you a health test kit that will collect your saliva and your urine, then they turn out the perfect pie of sushi for ur body. no. i likhe it old fashioned away. >>fter that effort it canno be what i want. it is already the home to some uniqu art. and now the museum is trying to raise its profile. the new program that would make it a gatew to the mall. two men shot at two separate pot parties. they were just blocks over the weekend a pair of shootings just a block art from each other in the district. one person killed another niunded. this e we learned both of them have been linked to so called pop up pot parties. rht collins is live in the brightwood neighd in northwest d.c. >> reporter: two shootings same day, close by. saturday morning, a man d.woun police say saturday night another man, ad would be ar robber killed here. surveillance camera video of a suspect car in an attempted armed robbery of a pop up pot party. soon you'll hear a gun shot. that shot had deadly consequences. police move in.rt then s clearing the place out. a violent weekend at popot up parties in the brightwood park section ofur city. shooting number one, the 5400 block of ninth street northwest. police say that someone was using this airbnb for a pop up pot party, people coming and going, coming and going all night. shortly after midnight a man with a backpack goes in and then he comes back out. he tries to get an uberar over here. there's gun fire. he's robbed. he runs back, wounded, to house. terry smith, he lives around here. he says gun n fire iso stranger to this neighborhood. >> we've been hearing gun fire nstantly for ten years. >> reporter: shooting number two, the hubbly bubbly. i'm out front but the action was out front. come with me. about 8:00 saturday night, police say there's a pop-up pot y at hubbly bubbly. they say a man comes up in the alley and goes in the back door and tries to rob the place. there's gun fire and thatld wou be robber wounded. he gets into the getaway carth d take off. but a short distance away, the getaway driver realizes that the wounded man isleeding out. he stops the car, calls 911, the man is taken to the hospital. a shortime later he's pronounced dead. now, leon sims lives nearby where all that happened. bohe's not happy what he saw that night. >> bad. i don't know what to think. i just want to hope that the neighborhood is safe. >> reporter: so who killed the would be robber, and where did he get his gun? was this a case of self-defense or selething ? police, they're working the case. jim and wendy, back to you. >> thank you, pat. doug joins us again and we're kicking off, this is going to be a fairly quiet week, right? >> this is a fairly quiet stretch for us. it is. the storminess is moving off to the west, that's good for us. we need dryer conditions. we'd like dryer conditions and nice warm air and dry days with sunshine. weorave that you too. right now we have the drynd ions, sunshine, we have clouds though. down to the south, southern maryland, down around fredericksburg you're still seeing the clouds but d.c northward it's all sun.en cu temperature 61 degrees. by 7:00, dropping to 57 degrees. it's going to be chilly tomorrow, we haveolr air sweeping in throughout the night. 59 in gaithersburg, maybe about 49 tomorrow. 59 manassas, 61 d.c. a really nice monday. now as we look towards the satellite and radar, nothing here. look at the radar, the wider view. notice the rain down to the south and the sevrse thunrms again in the south, into parts of georgia moving towards t jacksonville, florida area. we're watching this littleha co fronts going to sweep through tonight that's going to bring us colderai at the bus stop tomorrow morning it's jacket. today was a half and half y, you walk outside, i don't need it, i'll take it just in case. tomorrow jkets on, amelia. >> yeah, we're starting with temperatures in the low to mids 30 in the sub burns and 39 in did distric andannapolis. we have sunshine tomorrow not just in the morning but roughout the entire day. it's even chilly tomorrow afternoon, we're going to be 10 degrees cooler than we were today. so the kids not only in need th jackets tomorrow but wednesday as well. at the bus stop on thursday, it's kind of that in between day. i think the kids are going to be fine with long sleeves out there on thursday with temperatures in the 40s. friday we're mild at the bus stop, 50s but the kids will need their raincoat with rain in the forecast. it's not aou wa of a day, we are going to be mild on friday. here's what you can expect, temperatures in the 60s to near 70 degrees. rain is likely but dry time as well. could have a rumble of thunder on friday if that cold gh a little bit later in the day, something we'll be tracking. tomorrow we're going down but then we start to warm up, we esday, thursday intofriday. our average high 54 degrees. i have thein on the cherry blossoms. they love it when the temperatures warm upe to upper 60s. right now they're stage one out of six. but thursday and friday i think we see the buds come out a little bit more. but we ve a ways away to get to the peak bloom april 4 the 8th. >> we expect thers numbe to come down next week. lookt what we've got with the warmer days to thursday and friday. tomorrow a chilly day. next a weekrage high moves up to 55 or 56. we'll be at orelow average just about every day next week ven though we have plenty of sunshine. but temperatures in the 50s this ime of year with sun, that makes for nice weather. i'mething we can get behind here. take 50s. just no more 40s. >> yeah, hear, ar. is getting a front row seat to watch your favorite team really work?or >> one local man the answer is a resounding yes. it i the job of his dream. sherree burruss joins us om capital one arena with the man behind the mic at wizard's games. >> his voice is foettable. >> yeah, when you hear unique things -- you can kind of hear him warming up right now, that is ralph wezsley, and you know it's almost lsme time. he te he's living out his childhood dreamalng wizard's games. >> it's game time! game time. thoset faces are j natural. i'm -- i had no idea i was making tho faces until somebody put me on camera. i was like, wow. the d.c. -- >> reporte one of the most recognizable voices at a wizards game iralph wesley. >> i'm a actor, so even when i'm in the booth at home or 1250u studio, wherever, i get animated, i've always bn that way. when i get excited about something i'm passionate about at's what happens. >> timeout lwmikee. >> reporter: wesley is from and still lives in northeast d.c. getting to root foris hometown team in the best seat in the house, a dream come true. >> bradley beal, d.c. family defense. >> being fro this town, looking in the crowd and seeing people that you know and saying, ralph, he's doing great. i'm making them proud by being here. it's a great moment because i'm a fan.an i'm a and i love the team and i get to cheer for them in my own way. i kind of take it for granted gmetimes because people are like you to sit down that close. they're guys likyou and me. i'm humbled by the experience. reporter: even after nine years ralph saying you know what, this gig doesn't get old. jim? >> seeing his face and the nopressions make the voice even better. we can put the two together. that ought to be on the big game.n the whole switching gears to the gridiron. the redskins making a big free agent sioring. >> repr: yes, they're bringing in ldon collins. if that name sounds familiar, it's because he's coming from the nfc east rival theew york giants with last year's release of dj swearinger, ha ha clinton-dix going t free agency, it's known the redskins weren the market for a safety and they make a big splash with this move. collins grew up idolizing sean taylor, he wore number 21 to pay homage to him. so we'llave more on the addition of lan donin c in sports. today leaders announced a resident orchestra is goi to be part of the outdoor pavilion, there was a piano concert following that announcement. 50 years ago, it was envisioned an orchestra. today they announced soulful symphony out of baltimore will be the first there. both the national orchestra and the baltimore have had stints at meriweather post. it's been a part of the national mall for decad but it's possible you may miss it if you walk by. now the sculpture garden is set for a significant facelift. here's a look at the initialco ept. this will be the first big renovation and redesign since 8 ths. no word yet when this project will begin but it's called a new fron door.t just when you got used to the construction on the memorial ridge, things are changing again. starting tonight crews will be reducing the number of lanes. justin finch explains the impacts should be minimal unless you are traveling overnight. >> reporter: traffic cones, ilrs, crews, cranes, cramped conditions that stick around on the arlington memoria bridge for a bid longer. now work is set to ratchet up, work is down to three les and beginning tonight that trickles down to one lane. the next phase of be repairs calls for lane changes and construction betweenm. 9:00 and 5:00 a.m. that means if you're up and driving in those times you'll see one of now three open lanes shutdown for hours. a second lane will close for 15-minute intervalseaving one open lane. a flag person will be on sight during those urcl. another inconvenience but one with drivers in mind. they're confining this work to overnight hours allowing crews to drive in, layow and install panels. a critical face in the bridge's ongoing rehab. the sidewalk will stay open so bikes and pedestrians will be able to get by. as you look at the bridge, it's very ctill a work in progress. you might wondering how much longer do we have for thi ase? it begins today and runs until the fall daily from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., so if that's your target time for that bridge get your work arounds ready. i'm justin finch news4. now at 6:00, safety in the skies. m twor airline crashes involving the same model pne lead to new questions about safety around the world. >> the company ought to voluntarily itself ground these aircraft. >> tonight theasngers and the pilots on that ethiopian airline flight with connections to our area and why the boeing jets are not grounded in the u.s. plus a budget battle, how the president i reigniting the conversation for his fight for a border wall. >> and veterans waiting on improvement at the local va hospital, an update to investigation. tonight hundreds of boeing aircraft grounded after one of the world's newest planes is involved in its second cra in ss than a year. >> we know authorities have recovered two black boxes from the wreckage ofio ean airlines flight 302 now a witness says smoke was coming from the plaefore it hit the pground. thelane went doub on its way from ethiopia to kenya. more than 150 people o board died. >> it has passengers and flight crews concerned about the boeing 73 max 8 aircraft. as jay gray reports, the u.s. is stil allowint to fly. >> reporter: a News4 at 5 NBC March 11, 2019 5:00pm-6:00pm EDT Us 16, Boeing 11, U.s. 6, D.c. 6, Alexandria 5, Hans 4, Ethiopia 4, Maslin 3, Jack 3, Baltimore 3, Florida 2, Justin Finch 2, Susan Hogan 2, Adam 2, Abby 2, Doreen 2, Julie Carey 2, Doreen Gentzler 2, Bashir 2, Evans 2 Virtual Ch. 4.1 Uploaded by TV Archive on March 11, 2019	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line977
__label__wiki	0.65979	0.65979	Internist from Point Breeze creates, markets lab coats tailored to women \| TribLIVE.com Internist from Point Breeze creates, markets lab coats tailored to women Joanne Klimovich Harrop Mon., November 17, 2014 9:00 p.m. \| Monday, November 17, 2014 9:00 p.m. KAREN MEYERS PHOTOGRAPHY This is a shot of the wallet that is attached to a pocket inside a lab coat designed by Dr. Leslie Latterman of Point Breeze, a board certified internist and a practicing hospitalist for Allegheny Health Network. Latterman launched a company called Designs by Dr. Leslie, a business that creates designer lab coats made specifically for women. Dr. Leslie Latterman (shown) of Point Breeze is a board certified internist and a practicing hospitalist for Allegheny Health Network. She launched a company called Designs by Dr. Leslie, a business that creates designer lab coats made specifically for women. A model wears a lab coat designed by Dr. Leslie Latterman of Point Breeze, a board certified internist and a practicing hospitalist for Allegheny Health Network. Latterman launched a company called Designs by Dr. Leslie, a business that creates designer lab coats made specifically for women. The slits in the sides of a lab coat were more than just openings to access pants pockets. They let through an idea for something better. “One morning after coming home from an especially difficult shift, I complained to my husband about my awful lab coat,” says Dr. Leslie Latterman, a board-certified internist and a practicing hospitalist for Allegheny Health Network. “It was dingy and heavy and it fit me like a tent. In exasperation, I yelled at my husband, ‘What are these stupid holes on the sides for?’ His response was, ‘That’s to allow men to reach into their trouser pockets.’ “That’s when it hit me,” she says. “We’ve been forced to wear a lab coat designed for a man. There was once a time when women physicians felt they had to look and act like a man to be respected. Those days are over. Today, we command respect as a physician and a woman.” And so, these women doctors want a lab coat that suits their needs, Latterman says. It took her six years to launch Designs by Dr. Leslie, a company that makes designer lab coats with women in mind. Her motto is: “You’re extraordinary! … Shouldn’t your lab coat be?” Latterman’s creation is a brilliant idea, says Audrey Guskey, a professor of marketing at Duquesne University and a consumer-trends expert. “What took so long for someone to come up with this idea?” Guskey says. “There are so many more female doctors today.” She’s right. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the number of female medical graduates has grown significantly — from 6.9 percent in 1965-66 compared to 47.8 percent in 2011-12. “Women are into fashion and they want something that looks good on them when they are working,” Guskey says. “They also need to carry items with them and they can’t really bring a purse when they do hospital rounds to see patients. So having the various pockets is perfect. They won’t have to worry about wearing a coat that not’s comfortable or doesn’t fit properly.” When Latterman started her first job, she was asked what size she wore in a men’s lab coat. “A men’s lab coat?” she says. “I had to ask again to make sure I heard the question properly. It’s the same basic coat that doctors have worn for over 100 years. They didn’t have pagers or cell phones back then and they certainly didn’t have very many women physicians back then. That’s when I decided to make something better.” She met with a group of women residents to discuss what a modern woman’s lab coat should be like. They determined it should be designed to fit a woman’s shape. The fabric should be soft and light, as well as wrinkle-free and stain-resistant. They replaced the holes on the sides with large, zippered pockets. An addition of a Velcro shoulder loop secures a stethoscope. They agreed the sleeves should be able to be rolled up. Latterman enlisted the expertise of a panel of textile experts, including the head of the fabric lab at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Helping her move the project forward was Ali Zacharias, who owns U Design 4 U, a company based in Los Angeles that works with entrepreneurs in reaching their business dreams. “I can suture, but I definitely can’t sew,” Latterman says. “She thought of everything,” Zacharias says. “She is so meticulous, from including the special extra details, even down to the finishing — making it stain- and wrinkle-resistant. These lab coats are about function meets fashion. It’s a wonderful option that females didn’t have before.” The logo is based on the caduceus — the medical symbol of two snakes winding around a staff. The coats are priced at $199, including shipping and embroidery. Most men’s lab coats cost $60 with additional pricing for embroidery and shipping. “When you are doing your job, you want to be able to perform at your best,” says Latterman, of Point Breeze. “My neck was hurting because of the stethoscope around it all day, and I couldn’t find my keys and my wallet.” Dr. Yenny Cabrera-Kapetanos, an internist who specializes in hospitalist medicine for Allegheny Health Network, recently purchased a Designs by Dr. Leslie lab coat. “I had a very busy day and this coat delivered,” Cabrera-Kapetanos says. “I was able to use all the features Leslie advertises and they were great. From the separate loop to carry the pager to the shoulder lapels to attach my stethoscope to the fantastic zippered pockets. It fits a woman’s body. As I wore it at work, all I kept thinking was, ‘Gosh, I should have gotten two coats right away.’ ” Dr. Marcie Mitre, a gastroenterologist for Allegheny Health Network, also recently purchased one of the lab coats, which has attracted inquiries from colleagues — female and male. There is definitely a need for these coats, says Mitre, who plans to buy a second one. “We want to look good,” Mitre says. “We want to look sharp. We want a lab coat that fits. And this one fits and fits well. The response I got the first day I wore it was amazing. I am so proud of Leslie, because I have seen her work on this for years. She did her homework on this. The material is comfortable and durable, and they are beautifully crafted and so well made.” Details: designerlabcoats.com JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at [email protected] or 412-320-7889. Judge rejects changes to late woman’s bequests Get TribLIVE headlines on audio devices; here’s how A fond farewell to Carbone’s in Crabtree	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line979
__label__wiki	0.75798	0.75798	Why Cats Kill Their Own Dangerous Trade Catching Wild Animal ... Why infanticide can benefit animals By Anna-Louise TaylorBBC Nature News Dolphins seen trying to kill calf Cheating cheetahs caught by DNA Humpbacks intervene in whale hunt Infanticide is a powerful tool in ensuring the survival of a species, researchers are increasingly finding. It sounds like the cruellest thing of all – mothers and fathers brutally killing their animal offspring. But for many animal infants, the greatest threat to their survival they face is from their own kind. “It’s not like a predation event, which is quiet,” says lion expert Professor Craig Packer. “During infanticide, it’s growling and violent, and really pretty disturbing,” he says, describing how adult lions kill cubs. “They bite them on the back of the head, and neck, crushing their abdomens.” Meerkats are co-operative breeders but females are known to kill each other’s litters Infanticide is an often overlooked way of ensuring the survival of the fittest. It has been recorded in a number of species including mammals such as rodents and primates, and fish, insects and amphibians. Scientific research shows it can provide benefits to the perpetrator, such as increased reproductive opportunities, access to limited resources, direct nutritional benefits, or the prevention of misdirected parental care. Infanticide is often perpetrated by adult males. Baby animals are often protected by their fathers, with male protection playing an important role in infant survival. But when new males arrive on the scene, everything can change. Male interlopers attempt to overthrow these fathers. If they succeed, by hurting, chasing off or even killing a previously dominant male, and taking over the leadership of their group, then infants are suddenly placed at great risk. Because males who have arrived on the scene often only want one thing – to have their own children with the mother. Watch animal offspring live: Planet Earth Live‘s final episode will be broadcast on BBC One on Thursday 24 May at 20:00 BST. Or catch up on BBC iPlayer. It is also being shown as 24/7 Wild in the US on the National Geographic Wild channel. In lion society, for example, killing infants results in their mothers becoming quickly fertile again, increasing the chance of the new males having offspring. And if they don’t kill any infant males that are not their own, they run the risk these cubs will grow up and stage their own coup. But it’s not only male animals who kill young. Females do too, says Professor Tim Clutton-Brock, from the University of Cambridge. “Females kill each other’s babies just as readily,” he says. Female rats eat other female’s kits for sustenance and then take over their nests for their own litter. Mother rats also kill their own if they are deformed or wounded, to allow them to allocate resources to their other offspring. Infanticide can also increase an animal’s reproductive success, by reducing competition for its offspring. Female burying beetles kill off their rivals’ larvae before their own hatch to ensure their survival. More than 40 species of primates are known to commit infanticide, but in many species females have a strategy to reduce the risk, a study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology found. Paternity confusion is used – where female primates mate with multiple partners so the males don’t know who is the father. Infanticide in the animal kingdom: Lions: New males from outside a pride will kill existing babies to increase the chances of fathering new offspring Watch: Male lion threatens cubs This gives their young the best chance of survival when new males try to integrate into a group. “In a multi-male group, in primates such as baboons, if two males breed with a female and neither knows he was the father, that would reduce the risk of infanticide,” says Prof Clutton-Brock. For changes in the dominance hierarchy “infanticide occurs only where the chance for the killer to sire the next infant is high”, the study says. Meerkats are co-operative breeders, where there is an alpha male and female who breed, and other “subordinates” help raise the young. Dominant females are known to kill subordinates’ young, and they too have been known to kill a top female’s young if they have a litter of their own. But male meerkats do not get blood on their paws. Prof Clutton-Brock says: “Meerkat males have never shown infanticide, because as soon as (females) have babies they are ready to mate again. So killing infants doesn’t get a male anywhere.” That’s in contrast to lions, where females spend up to 18 months lactating after giving birth. Nomadic males, or coalitions of males competing for control of prides, are known to kill cubs in order to bring the mother back into season and sire a child with her. The Marsh Pride of the Masai Mara in Kenya is currently being filmed for the BBC programme Planet Earth Live, which is following the fate of young animals around the world during the month of May. Colin Jackson, a BBC producer on Planet Earth Live, says the programme team has been following a single lioness with one cub, called Moja. “I believe historically, prior to us beginning to film, she probably had three (cubs), and that is more normal for a lioness,” he says. He believes Moja is under threat from other lions in the area. “A male lion coming across her and her cub could well be tempted to the killing of the cub in order to bring her back into oestrus and mate with her.” Cheetahs avoid infanticide by having litters sired by different fathers Programme consultant Professor Craig Packer has worked with 25 prides in Tanzania over the last 35 years. He says DNA testing on the many litters of lions he has studied shows every cub in one litter is fathered by the same lion. This is in contrast to cheetahs where every single litter has multiple paternity. Two males will mate with a female cheetah and essentially mix sperm inside her, each fathering some of the cubs. “As far as I can tell, male lions don’t seem to be able to recognise their own children, but if they are part of a coalition they will protect all the cubs,” he says. Lion cubs are often looked after in crèches, and lionesses in a group can defend against males, chasing them off by biting their rear ends. But if they don’t manage to do so, they may be faced with finding their dead young. “If mothers find the carcass of the cubs, they will eat the carcass, and although cannibalism in lions is rare, they see it as a safe meal, of fresh healthy meat,” says Prof Packer of the University of Minnesota, St Paul, US. Although this act of cannibalism is difficult to comprehend in a human context, when meat is scarce, in the natural world it can make all the difference to whether other members of a family survive. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18035811 Dangerous Trade Catching Wild Animal Smugglers Jacquian Williams Visits Big Cat Rescue Peter Renzo, big cat owner, cited on charges of violating County Code SILVER SPRINGS–Although Lyon County gave Pete Renzo 45 days to obtain a Restricted Animal ... BCR November 25, 2010 Big Cat Rescue – Changing The World! Big Cat Rescue is helping change the world! We rescue unwanted, abused or abandoned ... Sri Lanka: Callous death traps and the death of a leopard Text and pix by Shelton Hettiarachchi An adult leopard was caught in a wire ... BCR September 13, 2008	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line980
__label__cc	0.722908	0.277092	Genetic pros or consequences of children born to parents of mixed nationalities? I've gleaned a potentially flawed impression over time that a more diverse gene pool should, in theory, result in healthier progeny. Something about dominant genes promoted over recessive genes.. As a result of the above, I always assumed I should favor a mate from another region if I want to have children, thus hopefully ensuring the children have a diverse mix of DNA bits to assemble out of. I'm an American male (almost 38), and by a curious chance I find myself dating a Russian female (almost 29) who is in a US PhD program. We've been together a little over a year, and we've discussed marriage/children. So far so good. However there's an observational wrinkle.. She sometimes associates with a local group of Russians and I tag along. Not long ago at a gathering with several young families, of which I think many are mixed-national (Russian and American), I was discouraged to observe what I thought was a disproportionate number of children with various disorders. If memory serves, there were 2 or 3 autistic and one down syndrome child out of about 11 or 12 kids of the same age. [It might be worth noting that this is a church group. Church might provide a kind of social safe-haven that allows these families, particularly the children, to socialize with fewer concerns. As such it might make sense to see them in greater numbers.] Anyway, suddenly I'm doubting my prevailing assumption about genetic diversity and wondering if there is a correlation between autism and the children of parents of mixed nationalities. In this article, I read: In the studies conducted in Nordic countries, a statistically significant 58% increased risk of autism was observed among the offspring of mothers born abroad. So I find myself vexed. Is there a propensity for genetic challenges in children born to parents of mixed nationalities? (FWIW I realize our ages dip into another risk factor, but I'm specifically asking about regional genetics.) genetics human-genetics $\begingroup$ Related: Does it make sense to classify all humans in a single species? $\endgroup$ – Remi.b Apr 24 '17 at 20:53 Did you read the rest of that article? The authors suggest many alternative possibilities for the effects they observe: Several hypotheses have been postulated, including the idea that fathers with social disability potentially due to a genetic mechanism associated with autism may be less able to find a spouse from their own country and may therefore find a wife from a foreign country with whom to have children91. More likely, Gillberg et al.91 suggested that women born in another country may not be immunized against the common infectious agents in the country in which she gives birth and may therefore be more susceptible to relatively innocuous infections which may increase the risk for autism. Other possible explanations include a potential role of maternal stress due to the demands of residing in a new country, particularly with limited social support, or stress resulting from the experience of emigrating, perhaps due to economic or social factors. These hypotheses do not explain the relationship with maternal place of birth seen in a cohort study of children born in California between 1989-199416, which showed a 40% decreased risk of autism among the children of women born in Mexico as compared to California. The association between maternal immigration and autism risk requires further examination in other areas of the world to examine whether the relationship can truly be generalized. Gardener et al., 2009 In addition to these factors, note that p-value for that trend was only .06, and although there are a lot of problems with basing conclusions on fairly arbitrary p-values, a p-value of .06 suggests that differences of the magnitudes observed would often occur by chance. I'd say it's an area of open study, but it is quite a leap to jump to a conclusion that mixed nationalities result in higher incidences of things like autism from 1) the observation of a very small cohort of 12 children and 2) this other study which suggests many alternative possibilities for what is a small and possibly insignificant effect. There are two main benefits for populations to avoid becoming inbred. The first is that there may be many deleterious alleles with low-incidence across a whole population, but you have a very high likelihood of producing a homozygous recessive offspring with a close relative. The second is overall maintenance of genetic diversity across a population, which could be important if suddenly exposed to a new disease, for example. However, it is also possible for outbreeding depression to occur, which is a reduction in fitness after mating genetically distant individuals. However, outbreeding depression usually occurs either when fitness of some variable is low at intermediate values: for example, high fitness for small or large animals, but not for medium-sized animals, perhaps due to slightly different niches within the same species. Outbreeding depression can also occur when there is sufficient genetic separation between two individuals such that their whole protein milieu has evolved on a different background, such that alleles that cause no problems in either population alone are incompatible with alleles in the other population. This previous answer here on Biology.SE talks about the lack of evidence for outbreeding depression in humans and a bit about why. Briefly, there is simply not the type of disparity in fitness conditions or sufficient genetic variability within humans for either of those situations to occur. Bryan Krause♦Bryan Krause $\begingroup$ The site has apparently queued my upvote, but you got me--I skimmed the article and missed those alternate theories. However, would it not be true that statistic (58% increase) describes the mere condition that the mother was an immigrant...and the correlation does not regard why, which the alt theories then consider? Maybe it can be immunization and/or maybe it can be stress...or even something else, but the fact is, being a female immigrant was still the common denominator...no? $\endgroup$ – user31840 Apr 24 '17 at 21:26 $\begingroup$ @user31840 That's my understanding - the point, though, is that being a female immigrant is likely to be correlated with all of those other factors, and based on our understanding of not only the unlikelihood of outbreeding causing autism (for the reasons I state later) as well as the poor relationship between autism and purely genetic causes, those are much better explanations than outbreeding, especially because, like the other answer I linked notes, there isn't really any evidence for outbreeding depression in humans in any circumstance. $\endgroup$ – Bryan Krause♦ Apr 24 '17 at 21:58 $\begingroup$ Given a couple of centuries of European immigration to the US (and presumably a good deal of intermingling of European peoples in previous millenia), could mating between a (mosty caucasian) American and a Russian really be consideed outbreeding? $\endgroup$ – jamesqf Apr 25 '17 at 1:11 $\begingroup$ @jamesqf Yes I'd agree that intermingling and immigration means there are very few groups of humans that are truly isolated from each other over an appreciable number of generations, although I don't think there is a specific definition for outbreeding, or inbreeding for that matter, it's all relative. $\endgroup$ – Bryan Krause♦ Apr 25 '17 at 1:22 $\begingroup$ @Bryan Krause: I think you possibly could find such groups, depending on how much isolation is enough. Say Japanese and the !Kung people of southern Africa, or Inuit and Australian aborigines. But any two populations of mostly European descent, no. $\endgroup$ – jamesqf Apr 26 '17 at 3:36 Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged genetics human-genetics or ask your own question. Does it make sense to classify all humans in a single species? Correlation between genetic distance and birth defects How many people are required to maintain genetic diversity? What is the expected number of children that need to be born for every possible point mutation to occur once? How do I know which alleles the parents have? How is it possible for only one in five children to have brown eyes when their parents both have brown eyes? What percentage of people today would likely be descendants a man born 4,000 years ago? On parents' similarity How can my sister have dark brown eyes, while my parents have blue eyes? Genetic modifications in humans to prevent disease Fst genetic distance: Autosomal vs. mtDNA Are all genetic disorders inherited?	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line982
__label__wiki	0.657505	0.657505	bitcoincollapse bitraped In 2018, Facebook issued a new policy banning users from posting advertisements for cryptocurrencies including one of the most popular, bitcoin. Under the heading of “Prohibited Financial Products and Services,” the policy noted: Ads must not promote financial products and services that are frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices, such as binary options, initial coin offerings, or cryptocurrency. The policy also contained some example ads like, “New ICO! Buy tokens at a 15% discount NOW!” Little did anyone outside of the upper echelons of the social media giant know that the company issued its policy in anticipation of introducing its own cryptocurrency, which it just did earlier this week. Called “Libra,” the cryptocurrency was unveiled at the same time Facebook introduced a new subsidiary, Calibra, that will “oversee its interests in the cryptocurrency,” Fox Business Network reported. Noted the technology news site Techcrunch: Facebook has finally revealed the details of its cryptocurrency, Libra, which will let you buy things or send money to people with nearly zero fees. You’ll pseudonymously buy or cash out your Libra online or at local exchange points like grocery stores, and spend it using interoperable third-party wallet apps or Facebook’s own Calibra wallet that will be built into WhatsApp, Messenger and its own app. Today Facebook released its white paper explaining Libra and its testnet for working out the kinks of its blockchain system before a public launch in the first half of 2020. The site noted that Facebook isn’t going to solely control Libra. Rather, the company will have a single vote regarding its governance just like the other founding members of the Libra Association. This includes Visa, Uber, PayPal and Andreessen Horowitz, each of which has invested $10 million into operations. In all, there are 27 investing companies. Going along to get a piece of the pie? The hypocrisy of Facebook’s actions did not, of course, go unnoticed. John Todaro, director of research at TradeBlock, tweeted, “Facebook is revealed to have been working on the Libra #crypto project for more than one year. So, when they banned ads for crypto platforms on Facebook in 2018, they were literally trying to prevent competition.” Facebook is revealed to have been working on the Libra #crypto project for more than one year. So, when they banned ads for crypto platforms on Facebook in 2018, they were literally trying to prevent competition. — John Todaro (@JohnTodaro1) June 18, 2019 Even one-time ‘enemies’ of Facebook in the cryptocurrency realm have suddenly decided to temper their opposition. That includes Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, bitcoin entrepreneurs who, Fox Business Network reported, “signaled this week that they are ready to move past their lengthy feud with [Facebook founder] Mark Zuckerberg” after the platform has launched its own cryptocurrency. You may have heard of the Winklevoss twins before. They sued Zuckerberg at one point for allegedly stealing the idea for Facebook from them, and while that question has never really been answered, they did win a $65 million settlement. More than that, Fox Business Network noted further, there is a reason why they are softening their anti-Zuckerberg stance, perhaps: They were approached by Facebook earlier this year about helping to develop Libra in conjunction with their own cryptocurrency exchange, Gemini. And, in an interview with “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday, they said it made sense that there should be a level of cooperation with the social media behemoth in terms of the wider crypto market. “There’s so much pie to grow [in the market], I mean, at this point, we need to be frenemies” with Facebook, Cameron Winklevoss noted. But is it smart to partner with Facebook on cryptocurrency when the company a) obviously hid the fact that it was developing its own; and b) has been accused of stealing users’ private information and then selling it/sharing it with third parties willing to pay for it (political campaigns come to mind)? Can Facebook be trusted to be an honest broker, a good business partner? And what about all of the platform’s user bans and censorship? What if one or more companies involved with Libra don’t find themselves in agreement, politically, with Zuckerberg? Will he undercut them at some point? The privacy issue is real What makes it a volatile situation is that lawmakers are already beginning to introduce measures aimed at either punishing the social media behemoths for their breaches of privacy and user bans or fining them — or both. (Related: Dear President Trump: If you do not end censorship by Big Tech, you will lose the election and thrust America into a violent civil war.) Neither of which would be good for investors. In mid-May, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., demanded that Zuckerberg provide answers regarding Facebook’s push to maintain user privacy. In a letter, according to Politico, Hawley was questioning Zuckerberg’s sincerity and commitment to the hyped privacy initiative. “You claim your goal is to limit Facebook’s window into users’ lives, but your future profits demand that you expand that window,” Hawley — who has made big tech accountability his signature issue — wrote. “The American people deserve to know how you plan to do that before they sign on to your new vision of supposedly private social engagement.” He also noted that Facebook has become “a major online content platform” that can make or break news organizations that rely on its reach. To that end, Facebook “has not proven itself a worthy custodian,” Hawley wrote, a reference to the platform’s banning and censoring of independent and Right-leaning media. To that end, Hawley, earlier this week, introduced legislation aimed at preventing the tech giants like Facebook from censoring conservatives and others’ speech, noting that if its permissible under the First Amendment, then it should not be blocked. It’s under these conditions that Facebook is now a major cryptocurrency player. And somehow, we’re supposed to believe, despite all we’ve seen from the company, that it will be an honest broker. Read more about the tech giants pushing into cryptocurrency at TechGiants.news and BitcoinCollapse.news. Tagged Under: ban, Big Tech, bitcoin, Censorship, conservatives, cryptocurrencies, cryptocurrency, deception, Facebook, hypocrisy, libra, politics, privacy, privacy issues, tech giants, technocrats, user bans Cryptocurrency plunge once again illustrates that digital coin manipulation is a rampant problem Mike Novogratz’s Crypto Firm Lost A Staggering $273 Million In 2018 Japanese billionaire, founder of SoftBank, lost $130 million on Bitcoin after the crypto-hype imploded Health Ranger fact check: Successfully predicted the dot com crash, the housing bubble crash, Trump’s election victory and the Bitcoin implosion There’s actually an upcoming cryptocurrency that doesn’t waste the world’s electricity like Bitcoin: It’s called “Chia” and it launches this summer The bizarre story of QuadrigaCX reveals why you are a complete fool to trust any crypto exchange IBM, the same company that provided punch card computing systems to the Nazis, lays groundwork for global “Mark of the Beast” cryptocurrency network Cryptocurrencies “going to ZERO,” concludes Goldman Sachs report Study finds that overwhelming majority of Bitcoin trading volume is faked Venezuelan power outage proves that the value of Bitcoin when the grid goes down is exactly ZERO Public pensions risk everything, start piling money into crypto… playing roulette with your retirement Indy media starting to admit Adams was right: Crypto industry “riddled with con artists, scammers and fraud” Bitcoin is NOT decentralized: Just 1,000 accounts control 85% of all Bitcoins in the world… and they easily rig market swings to skim profits from the masses Noted financial guru Roubini says Bitcoin is the “biggest bubble in human history” and will crash to ZERO Maduro to accelerate the final collapse of Venezuela by selling oil in cryptocurrency, a failed Ponzi fad that has already plummeted nearly 90% across the board Investor bet $1 million that Bitcoin would rise above $50K… now it has plunged to almost $3,000 Cryptocurrency is a globalist scam for total control over the world’s money, with total transactional surveillance IMF reveals that cryptocurrency Is The New World Order End Game COPYRIGHT © 2017 BIT RAPED COM	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line983
__label__wiki	0.646965	0.646965	Log in via your Society Select your societyACMSEACPSEMACSEPAMSSMBASEMBASRATCASEMCLINICAL EDGEECOSEPGISSPORTIOCOSCASASMASGMSSMASPCSPNZSSMSSSPASSTSUFTVSG Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: How serious a sports problem is it? Charles H Tator Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Correspondence to Dr Charles H Tator, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Room 4W-422, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8; charles.tator{at}uhn.ca It is now recognised that there is a spectrum of concussion disorders ranging from acute concussion at one end to various forms of brain degeneration at the other end. The spectrum includes acute concussion, second impact syndrome or acute cerebral swelling, postconcussion syndrome, depression or anxiety, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and possibly other forms of central nervous system degeneration. It is essential to carefully evaluate the clinical and neuropathological correlations of CTE that have been published. This has been accomplished in an excellent paper on this subject by Gardner and colleagues in this issue. There have been significant advances in our knowledge of the clinical and neuropathological features of CTE in athletes in the past 10 years. However, we are just at the beginning of our appreciation of this entity due to the paucity of research and the inability to diagnose CTE during life. At present, it is not possible to assess the validity of the proposed methods of classification and grading of the severity of the disease. Additional studies of large numbers of at-risk athletes are essential, especially prospective longitudinal studies. Obviously, such studies would be even more effective if reliable in vivo biomarkers were discovered, especially non-invasive ones such as advanced MRI or MR spectroscopy or invasive ones such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid tests. The major questions that remain unanswered include the frequency of CTE in various collision sports, the causal or otherwise relationship between concussions and CTE, the number of concussions that need to be involved and their management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093040 Definitions of concussion and their consequences: the concussion spectrum of disorders Seminal chronological events in the concussion world were the First International Conference on Concussions in Sports in Vienna in 2001 and the Consensus Statement of 20021 because the clarification of the definition of concussion and the elimination of non-evidence-based grading and staging scales of concussion rank as major achievements in this field. Then, refinements of the definition and management guidelines emanated from subsequent conferences and consensus statements and confirmed the merits of this approach.1–4 Unfortunately, not all concussion practitioners involved in the acute and rehabilitation components of concussions due to non-sport causes including motor vehicle crashes, injuries at work and falls at home adopted the same definition and management guidelines.5 It is time to discontinue the use of less specific definitions of concussion such as mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which is an oxymoron especially when applied to repetitive concussions that can be associated with lifelong symptoms as in postconcussion syndrome (PCS) or brain degeneration as in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The most compelling reason for eliminating the mTBI term is its inclusion of more severe brain injuries including brain contusions and haemorrhages in patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 and 14.6 ,7 Outliers that qualify as mTBI are excluded from being ‘sport consensus concussions’ on the basis of either focal clinical neurological deficits or lesions seen on CTs and MRIs. The inclusion of these more severe brain injuries as mTBI's is highly undesirable because they have different outcomes from injuries with concussion and they muddy the essential research needed to solve problems such as CTE. Importantly, it is now recognised that there is a spectrum of concussion disorders ranging from acute concussions at one end to various forms of brain degeneration at the other end. The spectrum includes acute concussions, second impact syndrome or acute cerebral swelling, PCS, depression or anxiety, CTE and other possible forms of central nervous system degeneration.8 It is highly advantageous to have these long-term consequences of concussions included in the work of the International Conferences on Concussions in Sports. The article by Gardner et al9 in this issue is an excellent example of the superb scholarship in concussion research necessary to bring the knowledge of the consequences of concussions out of the shadows of anecdotes and case series into the clarity of evidence-based medicine. Unfortunately, we are not there yet with CTE, although the field has progressed beyond isolated case reports. Although almost everyone recovers from a single concussion, unfortunately not everyone recovers from repetitive concussions, and this can lead to profound consequences for the individual and also for society because of the frequency of concussions. Indeed, this is currently one of the most important issues in neurotrauma and the sport concussion field: who will develop PCS or CTE as a postconcussion complication, and how commonly does this happen among athletes in collision sports? Unfortunately, until recently, there has been too little scholarship about PCS and CTE. The article by Gardner et al9 brings clarity to CTE, and will be greatly appreciated by practitioners, researchers and the general public. Neuropathology and clinical/pathological correlations of CTE Since Martland's10 paper in 1928, it has been apparent that repeated blows to the head in boxers can cause clinical, cognitive and motor deficits and clinical evidence of brain degeneration. However, since then and until recently there has been insufficient clinical/neuropathological research into the relationship between repetitive blows to the head and brain degeneration, and there are major unanswered questions about the incidence of this condition not only in boxers in whom it was originally described, but now in participants of other collision or contact sports. It is only since 2005 that publications have appeared that attempted to define the clinical/neuropathological correlation between repetitive concussions and brain degeneration in athletes other than boxers. The first group to report case series in non-boxers with neuropathological changes of CTE was led by Omalu et al,11 ,12 and the second group reporting the neuropathology of a large series of CTE cases beginning in 2009 was led by McKee et al.13 ,14 Also, Hazrati et al15 reported the neuropathological evidence of CTE in three of six Canadian Football League players, all of whom had repeated concussions. Notably, the three with CTE also had other types of brain degeneration. Using a defined literature search protocol Gardner et al9 documented all 158 autopsy cases examined to date for CTE including the above three series of cases: 85 were athletes in a variety of sports examined in the last 10 years of whom 20% had pure CTE; 52% had CTE plus other neuropathology; and about 5% had neuropathological features of CTE without clinical CTE features. Gardner et al9 also provided an excellent overview of the potential pitfalls in interpretation in an ageing population subject to the natural history of neurodegenerative disease in the absence of trauma, and which can mimic most of the clinical features of CTE. The authors also correctly advised caution in attempting to establish cause and effect in this population with incomplete longitudinal data to establish accurate clinical–pathological correlation. As a result of these reports, the sports community is now aware that the issue of brain degeneration as a consequence of repetitive concussion is not confined to boxers and applies at least to hockey, football, wrestling and rugby. At this time, there is no neuropathological confirmation of CTE in other sports. It is apparent that there are many unanswered questions to be answered to determine how big a problem this is, especially the percentage of concussed athletes that will develop CTE. We do not know the exact relationship between concussions and brain degeneration. How many concussions are required to cause brain degeneration? Do subconcussive blows lead to the same clinical deficits and pathological changes as concussive blows? Can we recognise the antecedent clinical picture of CTE? For example, is PCS a prodrome to CTE? Are the neuropathological changes of repetitive concussion absolutely specific for concussion or are they similar to the neurodegenerative changes that occur in normal ageing or diseases of ageing, such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body disease and Parkinson's disease? How many non-concussed athletes or non-athletes will have any of the neuropathological changes such as deposition of phosphorylated τ that is considered to be specific for CTE? There are two major reasons for these unanswered questions: the lack of any specific in vivo biomarker for early or late cases of CTE (blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), imaging, electrophysiology, etc); and an incomplete picture of the clinical/neuropathological correlation in CTE. Attempts to further define the clinical and neuropathological features of CTE through classification and grading The reports described above represent significant advances in the delineation of the neuropathology of CTE. Several laboratories have now reported that CTE has reasonably consistent neuropathological features. There is now a much clearer picture of the neuropathology of CTE based on the distribution of phosphorylated τ demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. There is reasonable consistency among these reports showing immunoreactive τ in cortex, subcortical nuclei and white matter. As stated by Gardner et al9 “the pathophysiological hallmark of these cases is the presence of regionally specific τ-immunoreactive neurofibrillary tangles, astrocytic tangles, neuropil neurites observed in both cortical and subcortical regions.” Thus, the case has become more compelling that there is a distinct neuropathological entity in athletes after sustained repetitive concussions. Military cases after blast injuries are also becoming of concern.14 Unfortunately, the clinical picture of sports CTE is still quite variable, but that should be rectified as prospective, longitudinal studies followed by autopsies are performed. Urgently needed are large-scale prospective, longitudinal studies of concussed and non-concussed individuals with neuropathological examination of the brain to search for evidence of τ-immunoreactive changes. To date, the control groups of age-matched and sex-matched cases without a history of concussions have been far too small.14 The fact that most CTE cases worsen clinically over time and the long latency in most cases before florid clinical findings emerge will always mean that cases of pure CTE will be rare, and will be mixed with various other neurodegenerative conditions of ageing as occurred in our three cases of CTE, all of which had identified neuropthological comorbidities including vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and metastatic cancer.15 The admixture of comorbidities, alcohol and drug use also require further research. Recently, two systems of classification of CTE have been proposed to improve the correlation between the clinical symptomatology and the neuropathological features. However, too few cases have been reported to determine the validity and usefulness of the two staging/grading systems reported in 2011 by Omalu et al16 and in 2013 by McKee et al.14 Also, Gardner et al9 have hypothesised that there are two types of CTE, the ‘classic’ and the ‘modern’, with the chronological dividing line being 2005. However, the comparison is impaired by the lack of cases with only 185 cases being reported to date, especially the paucity of reports describing the neuropathology and biochemistry of the earlier, classic version. The authors argued that there are clinical features that differentiate the two such as the classic cases having more prominent movement disorders, and the modern cases showing more frequent neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders, and progressive dementia. The classic cases were mainly boxers while the modern cases were participants in many sports and non-sports activities, including military action. The differences between these two types may reflect the differing severity of CTE, or differing comorbidities, drug or alcohol abuse or differing genetic predisposition. The validation of this hypothesis will require much more research. There have been significant advances in our knowledge of the clinical and neuropathological features of CTE in athletes in the past 10 years. However, we are just at the beginning of our appreciation of this entity due to the paucity of research and the inability to diagnose CTE during life. With our present knowledge of the condition, it is not possible to assess the validity of either the classic-modern classification or the two grading/scoring systems for CTE. Longitudinal studies of large numbers of at-risk athletes are essential. Obviously, such studies would be even more effective if reliable in vivo biomarkers were discovered, especially non-invasive ones such as advanced MRI or MRS or invasive ones such as blood or CSF tests. Indeed there are now a multitude of studies describing various putative biomarkers including Positron emission tomography, EEG, eye tracking, magnetoencephalography and others. These potential biomarkers would facilitate prospective, longitudinal studies followed by detailed brain examination at autopsy in athletes. Aubry M, Cantu R, Dvorak J, . Summary and agreement statement of the First International Conference on Concussion in Sport, Vienna 2001. Recommendations for the improvement of safety and health of athletes who may suffer concussive injuries. Br J Sports Med 2002;36:6–10. McCrory P, Johnston K, Meeuwisse W, . Summary and agreement statement of the 2nd International Conference on Concussion in Sport, Prague 2004. Br J Sports Med 2005;39:196–204. . Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport: the 3rd International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2008. Br J Sports Med 2009;43(Suppl 1):i76–90. Meeuwisse WH, . Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich. Br J Sports Med 2012;47:250–8. OpenUrlWeb of Science Tator CH . Let's standardize the definition of concussion and get reliable incidence data. Can J Neurol Sci 2009;36:405–6. American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Definition of mild traumatic brain injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 1993;8:86–7. Ruff R . Two decades of advances in understanding of mild traumatic brain injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2005;20:5–18. . Concussions and their consequences: current diagnosis, management and prevention. CMAJ 2013;185:975–9. Gardner A, Iverson GL, McCrory P . Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in sport: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med Published Online First: 26 Jun 2013 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092646 Martland HS . Punch drunk. JAMA 1928;91:1103–7. Omalu BI, DeKosky ST, Minster RL, . Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a National Football League player. Neurosurgery 2005;57:128–34; discussion 128–34. Hamilton RL, . Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a national football league player: part II. Neurosurgery 2006;59:1086–92; discussion 1092–3. McKee AC, Cantu RC, Nowinski CJ, . Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2009;68:709–35. Stein TD, . The spectrum of disease in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Brain 2013;136(Pt 1):43–64. Hazrati LN, Tartaglia MC, Diamandis P, . Absence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in retired football players with multiple concussions and neurological symptomatology. Front Hum Neurosci 2013;7:222. Omalu B, Bailes J, . Emerging histomorphologic phenotypes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in American athletes. Neurosurgery 2011;69:173–83; discussion 183. Funding This work was supported by the Canadian Sports Concussion Project at the Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario Canada. Competing interests None. ▸ References to this paper are available online at http://bjsm.bmj.com BJSM e-edition: Female athlete health BJSM education Copyright © 2019 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line986
__label__wiki	0.814999	0.814999	Okaloosa County Weather in Miami Dade County, United States in September So you're interested in going to Miami Dade County, United States in September 18.8 Days of Rain September is a hot and very rainy time for sunbathing in Miami Dade County. September is an excellent month for swimming in Miami Dade County with very warm sea temperatures. Consider visiting Miami Dade County in the months of April, May, November, December, for the best beach weather. Also consider one of our other suggestions for September. Temperature in Miami Dade County in September The average maximum temperature in Miami Dade County in September is 31°. The average maximum temperature is 32° in the previous month and 29° in the next month. The average temperature in Miami Dade County in September is 28°. The average temperature ranges is 29° in the previous month and 25° in the next month. The average minimum temperature in Miami Dade County in September is 24°. The minimum temperature is 25° in the previous month and 21° in the next month. Sunshine in Miami Dade County in September The average day light hours per day in Miami Dade County in September are 12.3 and there are 7.8 hours of sunshine per day on average during September making it a quite sunny month with some cloud cover. The ultraviolet index in Miami Dade County in September is typically 10.4 during September. An ultraviolet index reading of 8 to 10 indicates a very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Unprotected skin risks burning in less than 15 minutes. Take extra precautions because unprotected skin and eyes will be damaged and can burn quickly. Tanning will be safest before 10am and after 4pm but only with a good application of sun screen. For those with sensitive skin stay in the shade and wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses. Generously apply broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours, even on cloudy days. Watch out for relections from water that may increase ultraviolet exposure. Sea Temperature in Miami Dade County in September The average sea water temperature in Miami Dade County in September is 29° which is very warm and ideal for relaxing and swimming for the whole day. Rainfall in Miami Dade County in September The average total rainfall in Miami Dade County in September is 206cm and on average there are 18.8 rainy days in September making it a very wet time to visit the beach. Humidity in Miami Dade County in September The maximum dew point (an indicator of humidity) in Miami Dade County in September is 24° which is very humid and quite uncomfortable for most unless you are on a beach. At night you would most likely require a fan. The dew point is 25° in the previous month and 21° in the next month. The average maximum relative humidity in Miami Dade County in September is typically 90.4%. The maximum relative humidity is 89.7% in the previous month and 87.7% in the next month. The average relative humidity in Miami Dade County in September is typically 75.6%. The average relative humidity is 75% in the previous month and 72.1% in the next month. Wind Speed in Miami Dade County in September The average maximum wind speed in Miami Dade County in September is typically 27kmh. The average maximum wind speed is 28kmh in the previous month and 26kmh in the next month. The average wind speed in Miami Dade County in September is typically 11kmh. The average wind speed is 10kmh in the previous month and 13kmh in the next month. The average wind direction in Miami Dade County in September is from the East. Downtown Hollywood Boutique Hotel Comfort Suites Weston Sawgrass Mills South Weston Hilton Garden Inn Miami South Beach Blanc Kara Boutique Hotel Casa Victoria Orchid Holiday Inn Miami International Airport The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami Comfort Inn Oceanside Deerfield Beach The Miami Beach EDITION The Retreat Collection at 1 Hotel South Beach Nobu Hotel Miami Beach Venetian pool house Me Miami SLS Brickell Faena Hotel Miami Beach EAST, Miami January Tan Swim February Tan Swim March Tan Swim April Tan Swim Best May Tan Swim Best June Tan Swim July Tan Swim August Tan Swim September Tan Swim November Tan Swim Best December Tan Swim Best Los Angeles County, United States Orange County, United States Kauai Island, United States Hawaii Island, United States San Diego County, United States	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line990
__label__wiki	0.733296	0.733296	Foley Award Founder Award Rules and Eligibility 2015 Topical Reporting, Small Newsroom finalist The Broadband Industry Beat Finalist(s) Allan Holmes, Chris Zubak-Skees Topical Reporting, Small Newsroom Entry Links The nation’s telecommunications companies, whose networks are the backbone of the U.S. economy and how Americans run their everyday lives, are among the most wealthy and powerful in the world. By controlling the networks over which Americans’ information flows, they shape how we make decisions and how society is structured. But few Americans know that, and even fewer know about how the corporations led by AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and Time Warner Cable work government institutions to defend profits. That’s why the Center for Public Integrity’s Allan Holmes built a beat to cover how the broadband industry really works. The beat doesn’t intend to break daily news in the traditional sense. Rather, we break news on what telecoms are doing behind the scenes to influence what is in the news. The result illuminates how money and influence form policies, who wins and who loses, and why. These enterprise stories are complex, and require time and attention to clarity and simplicity, without compromising accuracy. Some stories are pegged to major news events in the broadband industry during the past year and were the result of months of research, digging through government databases and regulatory filings, and dozens of interviews. You could call it beat reporting on steroids. In “U.S. Internet users pay more and have fewer choices than Europeans,” Holmes and Center news developer Chris Zubak-Skees teamed up to tell a powerful story through strong reporting—and show it through nuanced data visualizations. Some U.S. cities can claim they have as many as five companies offering high-speed Internet service to their residents. In reality most Americans have a choice of only one or two telecommunications companies for fast service. Holmes, senior reporter, and Zubak-Skees, news developer, used National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) data to map broadband coverage in five U.S. cities. The results show how companies appear to divide up territory and avoid competition. They also plotted broadband prices of five cities in the United States in conjunction with five comparable cities in France. They found U.S. Internet companies charge prices for high-speed broadband that are up to three times higher than those charged by providers in France. The cities were of similar size, with similar population densities, meaning the companies’ infrastructure costs should be comparable. Prices were higher in the U.S. cities for almost every speed offered. The piece shows with clarity the relative lack of competition in the U.S. broadband market, and the effect that has on which services are offered at what price. In most of the cities the team profiled, using maps and data graphics, any individual consumer has a choice of two providers for wired broadband Internet. In many cases, though, the choice is between a DSL provider (which may or may not be rolling out fiber coverage in that city) and a cable provider. In “How big telecom smothers city-run broadband,” they took readers inside the fight between Big Telecom and towns that want to build their own networks. Holmes compiled IRS forms posted on Guidestar.com that showed who funded groups conducting work on behalf of the telecoms. He analyzed data from the campaign and lobby spending databases run by the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute for Money in State Politics to show who took the most money from telecom. To illustrate how the service from telecom providers was more expensive and slower than public networks, Holmes and Zubak-Skees built a database of prices and speeds from various telecom providers in the state. The comparisons required dozens of calls and online searches, but with this information, they built an interactive map of the broadband footprints in the state and added price and speed data for the cities with municipal fiber. To make download speeds real to readers, tiny simulated download bars animate across the screen in the graphic. The Center breaks news on this beat. “Chattanooga wants feds to pre-empt broadband ban” is one example. And, also provides context as in the online radio interview, “Behind the municipal broadband battle.” Ultimately, our beat reporting is telling the story of how our nation’s biggest telecommunications companies influence the “Internet business” to their benefit and not the public’s. It’s a beat that the other outlets rarely take to this depth. But it matters for how we live and who succeeds and who doesn’t. Other 2015 Finalists in This Category Energy, Environment, Economy, StateImpact Pennsylvania Abuse And Neglect at Lakeview, NHPR Predictions for Journalism 2015, Nieman Journalism Lab ‘Dark Money’ in America, The Center for Public Integrity Hurting for Work, The Texas Tribune Winners in this category in other years Immigration in the Spotlight, Arizona Daily Star The Flame Trench, Florida Today Building a Community around Education Coverage, voiceofsandiego.org Center for Responsive Politics, Center for Responsive Politics Winners in the 2015 Awards Space Business, Quartz The 45-Minute Mystery of Freddie Gray’s Death, The Baltimore Sun Election Party!, NPR Charlie Hebdo Real-Time Coverage, reported.ly Promotion Guidelines Finalists’ Organizations Category Change Log Apply for 2019 About the OJAs The Online Journalism Awards™ (OJAs), launched in May 2000, are the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism around the world. © 2019 Online News Association — Privacy Policy \| Terms of Use	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line994
__label__cc	0.504562	0.495438	Leukocytosis as a predictor for progression to haemolytic uraemic syndrome in Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection Report By: M A Anjay - Specialist Registrar in Paediatrics Search checked by P Anoop, A Britland - Specialist Registrars Institution: James Paget University Hospitals, Paediatric Haemato-oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Airedale General Hospital respectively Date Submitted: 31st August 2007 Date Completed: 3rd September 2007 Last Modified: 31st August 2007 Status: Green (complete) In [a child with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection] does [a high white blood cell count] predict [progression to haemolytic uraemic syndrome]? You are the specialist registrar in paediatrics doing the ward rounds. There has been a recent outbreak of Escherichia coli (E coli) O157:H7 gastroenteritis in the community. A 5-year old girl was admitted 3 days ago with bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and vomiting. Her stool has grown E coli O157:H7. She is now stable and her parents are keen to take her home but are understandably anxious and ask you about possible complications. You are aware of the risk for progression to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). However, you are not sure if all such patients should be closely monitored. You note that the patient now has a normal platelet count and renal function and wonder if there are any simple parameters to predict the risk of HUS, which may take up to 2 weeks to develop. You talk to the consultant in public health medicine, who kindly directs to you to the national guidelines by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on the management of E coli O157:H7 infections. Unfortunately, the guidelines do not answer your question. Your consultant has come across anecdotal evidence that leukocytosis may be a predictor for HUS in such children. You decide to do a literature search and critically appraise the evidence. MEDLINE (1966 to date) and OLDMEDLINE (1950â€“1965) searched by the PubMed interface on 29/10/2006. "Hemolytic uremic syndrome" AND "Escherichia coli O157" with limits (English, Human, All child: 0â€“18 years) revealed 267 results. Addition of the key words (leukocytosis OR "white cell count") to the above yielded only seven results. This was felt to be an inappropriately low number, possibly due to variations in the terms used by authors ("elevated WBC", "high leukocytes", "increased white cell count", etc). A wider final search strategy adding suitable new key words to the original search was attempted as follows: ("Hemolytic uremic syndrome" AND "Escherichia coli O157") AND (risk OR predictors). This resulted in 71 hits. Among these, no systematic reviews relevant to the clinical question could be identified. Ten articles were found to be of relevance Tserenpuntsag et al, USA Hospitalised patients with confirmed E Coli O157 infection, 238 with full case notes included 1998-99 Case control study (level 3b) Risk factor: WBC >13x10 to the power of 9/l Confirmed or probable HUS p<0.001. Adjusted OR 4.4 (1.6 to 12.6) Sound methodology. Clear definitions for confirmed and probable cases Confounding variables accounted for However, study also included adults Wood et al, Scotland 170 confirmed or probable E coli O157:H7 infections from Central Scotland outbreak of 1996 monitored in community Prospective cohort study (level 2b) Risk factor: WBC> upper limit for age (reference ranges from local laboratory) Confirmed HUS: Sensitivity 88.9% (51.8 to 99.7). Specificity 79.2% (74.1 to 84.4) Negative predictive value 99.5% (97.1 to 100) Strict exclusion criteria, well validated data. Patients with severe initial presentation needing hospitalisation excluded. Proportion of children in sample size not clear. Concludes absence of leukocytosis indicates very low risk for HUS. Relative risk for absolute WBC counts not provided. Dundas et al, Scotland 120 hospitalised patients with E coli O157:H7 from Central Scotland outbreak of 1996 Case control study (level 3b) Risk factor: WBC >20x10 to the power of 9/l Confirmed HUS OR 8.3 (1.1 to 60.3) Strict exclusion criteria. Confounding variables not fully explained. Study also included adults. Possible overlap with Wood et al's paper on the same outbreak. Gives separate data for neutrophils. Wide confidence intervals for risk Ikeda et al, Japan 288 inpatient school children in the 1996 Sakai outbreak in Japan Case-control study (level 3b) Risk factor WBC >11x10 to the power of 9/l Confirmed HUS OR 5.03 (2.13 to 11.87) Exclusively paediatric study. Confounding factors not clear. High CRP also noted to be significant. "Incomplete" HUS excluded from final analysis. Postulates a "predictor index scoring system" based on WBC count, CRP and temperature. Buteau et al, Canada All children < 18 years with culture-proved sporadic E coli O157:H7 infections seen at Sainte-Justine Hospital 1987â€“1997 Retrospective cohort study (level 2b) Risk factor WBC >11x10 to the power of 9/l Confirmed HUS RR 3.8 (1.5 to 9.7) p<0.002 Excellent methodology Large focussed study looking at leukocytosis Rigid validation criteria. Clear progressive association of HUS with rising WBC count Wong et al, USA Cohort of 71 children <10 years with E Colie O157 positive stool cultures Prospective cohort study (level 2b) Risk factor WBC >13x10 to the power of 9/l Confirmed HUS:Adjusted RR 6 (1.2 to 29.8) p<0.03 Exclusive paediatric study with sound methodology, strict inclusion criteria and clear definitions. Main aim of the study was to evaluate antibiotic-associated risk Kawamura et al, Japan 126 junior high school children with proven E Coli O157:H7 infection in the 1996 Sakai outbreak Prospective cohort study (level 4) Risk factor: WBC >10x10 to the power of 9/l Confirmed HUS:34% of patients with WBC above the cut-off level of 10x10 to the power of 9/l developed HUS Significant difference in median, minimum and maximum WBC counts amoung the two groups Conclusions are based on imperfect statistical analysis. Risk not quantified and confidence limits not provided. Both high WBC and elevated CRP identified as independent risk factors. Bell et al, USA 278 Washington State children <16 years with symptomatic confirmed E Coli O157:H7 infection in the 1990 Saitama epidemic Prospective study (level 4) Absolute WBC cut-off count not defined. 'Rising' WBC count implicated as a risk factor 'Confirmed' and 'incomplete' HUS: Significant differences in WBC count (p<0.05) on day 4 of illness Asymptomatic children were also included by screening. Final analysis also included 'incomplete' HUS Study grossly handicapped by lack of clear data and insufficient statistical analysis Pavia et al, USA 20 residents with E Coli O157:H7 from two institutions for mentally retarded children in Utah; 13 culture confirmed Case control study (level 4) Risk factor: Elevated WBC count (median count among cases 23.7x10 to the power of 9/l) Confirmed HUS:Median WBC count cases vs controls 23.7x10 to the power of 9/l vs 9.1x10 to the power of 9/l, p=0.018 Also included unconfirmed cases of possible E coli infection. Limited size of 'case' and 'control' population Odds ration and confidence limits are not provided E coli O157:H7 is a relatively uncommon cause of infectious gastroenteritis in children. However, the severity of symptoms, the possibility of outbreaks and the potential for severe complications means it is of considerable public health importance. Infections with this subtype are known to lead to HUS in 2â€“7% of overall cases, which may rise to 30% in outbreaks (Griffin, Morgan). The disease can be particularly severe in children, with reported case fatality rates of 3â€“17% and a significant incidence of long-term sequelae in survivors (Fitzpatrick). Since more than 90% of children with E coli O157:H7 infection do not progress to HUS, intensive clinical and/or laboratory monitoring of all cases may not be feasible or cost-effective. Attempts have been made to set up monitoring protocols to identify high-risk patients and help with early interventions (Wood). As the median time for development of HUS is 9 days (range 1â€“15 days), early identification of risk factors will enable triage into high- and low-risk groups and help target interventions appropriately. Identification of clinical risk factors including the intensity of fever, vomiting, duration of illness and presence of blood in stools has been attempted with limited success (Ikeda, Wong). More recent efforts have focussed on objective laboratory criteria such as raised inflammatory markers, low serum protein, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels and albuminuria (Wood, Dundas). An elevated white blood cell (WBC) count has been noted to be associated with a higher risk for HUS, with some authors claiming a sensitivity and specificity of around 90% (Wood). Being a rare complication of an uncommon infection, caseâ€“control studies may be appropriate to define risk in this clinical situation (Tserenpuntsag). However, clustering of a large number of cases during epidemics may enable cohort studies to be performed with relative ease (Wood, Ikeda, Buteau, Wong, Kawamura, Bell). Most authors in our analysis have identified E coli infection on the basis of positive stool cultures and some have also used seropositivity and/or clinical diagnosis (Wood, Bell). In all the above studies, the use of standardised criteria has made the diagnosis of HUS unambiguous. Attempts by some authors to subclassify HUS into confirmed/complete and probable/incomplete forms has only academic relevance and does not affect the validity of the conclusions(Tserenpuntsag, Bell). The relatively short time period between exposure and outcome as well as the serious nature of the condition requiring hospitalisation have ensured accurate data collection as well as lack of attrition in all studies. The relatively short time period between exposure and outcome as well as the serious nature of the condition requiring hospitalisation have ensured accurate data collection as well as lack of attrition in all studies. Leukocytosis has consistently been noted as significant by several authors in their attempts to identify clinical, laboratory and medication-related risk factors for progression to HUS (Tserenpuntsag, Wood, Dundas, Ikeda, Buteau, Wong, Kawamura, Bell, Akashi, Pavia). A comprehensive and focussed study by Buteau et al has demonstrated a clear progressive association of HUS with a rising WBC count. Two well conducted studies by Tserenpuntsag et al and Bell et al have clearly defined the high risk associated with a WBC count of >13x109/l even though the former study included adults as well. Similar results have also been obtained by Dundas et al, Ikeda et al and Wong et al, albeit at different WBC cut-off levels. The latter two reports were exclusively paediatric studies. A well validated prospective cohort study by Wood et al revealed a sensitivity of 88.9% and a negative predictive value as high as 99.5% for an elevation in WBC count. We tried to look at two interesting practical issues, namely the timing of WBC count and the absolute cut-off levels to identify high risk. Most studies assessed WBC counts within 72 h of onset of symptoms, although counts up to 5 days were included by some. The definition of a significant cut-off WBC count varies among different authors, but most studies have quantified the risk to be very high above a WBC level of 11x109/lâ€“13x109/l (Tserenpuntsag, Ikeda, Wong, Bell). None of the published studies suggest that leukocytosis is not a predictor for HUS (Tserenpuntsag, Wood, Dundas, Ikeda, Buteau, Wong, Kawamura, Bell, Akashi, Pavia). Indeed, there is biological evidence to implicate the role of leukocytes in the pathogenesis of HUS.15 (Fitzpatrick, 1992). Leukocytosis has thus been unequivocally delineated as a reliable predictor for the development of HUS following E coli O157:H7 infection. Combining this with other putative risk factors, such as elevated C-reactive protein and albuminuria, might improve the accuracy of defining at-risk groups. Well children seen in the community or hospitalised children who recover rapidly may not require follow-up or investigations. However, where the diarrhoea has not resolved, a clinical impression of "well being" in the child has been shown to be unreliable as a reassuring factor (Dundas, Wong). In such situations the use of validated risk factors is necessary to improve prognostic accuracy. Most of these children would have already had a full blood count and hence additional tests may not be required. A normal leukocyte count will provide reliable reassurance against progression to HUS in nine out of 10 cases (Wood). Similarly, leukocytosis will successfully predict progression to HUS in 70â€“90% of children (Wong, Bell). Interventions like early intravenous fluid therapy have already been proven to reduce the risk for progression to HUS, while other potential measures such as the use of toxin binders remain understudied (MacConnachie). Formulation of a well defined risk assessment tool based on leukocytosis and other risk factors could help to identify high risk children and streamline the monitoring process and early use of appropriate interventions. Editor Comment Authors note:We wish to express our gratitude to Dr Paul Godwin (Consultant Microbiologist, Airedale General Hospital, Keighley, West Yorkshire) for initiating the discussions which led to this literature review. Leukocytosis is a valid, independent and reliable early risk factor for predicting progression to HUS in children with E coli O157:H7 infection. (Grade B) The absence of an elevated WBC count during early stages of the illness makes HUS an unlikely event following E coli O157:H7 infection in children. (Grade B) Formulation of a well validated clinical decision rule (CDR) incorporating leukocytosis with other risk factors is likely to help with early identification of children at risk of developing HUS following E coli O157:H7 infection. Subcommittee of the PHLS Advisory Committee on Gastrointestinal Infections. Guidelines for the control of infection with verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Commun Dis Public Health 2000; 3 (1): 14â€“23. Tserenpuntsag B, Chang HG, Smith PF, et al. Hemolytic uremic syndrome risk and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Emerg Infect Dis 2005; 11 (12): 1955â€“7. Wood R, Donaghy M, Dundas S. Monitoring patients in the community with suspected Escherichia coli O157 infection during a large outbreak in Scotland in 1996. Epidemiol Infect 2001; 127 (3): 413â€“20. Dundas S, Todd WT, Stewart AI, et al. The central Scotland Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak: risk factors for the hemolytic uremic syndrome and death among hospitalized patients. Clin Infect Dis 2001; 33 (7): 923â€“31. Ikeda K, Ida O, Kimoto K, et al. Predictors for the development of haemolytic uraemic syndrome with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections: with focus on the day of illness. Epidemiol Infect 2000; 124 (3): 343â€“9. Buteau C, Proulx F, Chaibou M, et al. Leukocytosis in children with Escherichia coli O157:H7 enteritis developing the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 19 (7): 642â€“7. Wong CS, Jelacic S, Habeeb RL, et al. The risk of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome after antibiotic treatment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. N Engl J Med 2000; 342 (26): 1930â€“6. Kawamura N, Yamazaki T, Tamai H. Risk factors for the development of Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome. Pediatr Int 1999; 41 (2): 218â€“22. Bell BP, Griffin PM, Lozano P, et al. Predictors of hemolytic uremic syndrome in children during a large outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. Pediatrics 1997; 100 (1): E12. Akashi S, Joh K, Tsuji A, et al. A severe outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Japan. Eur J Pediatr 1994; 153 (9): 650â€“5. Pavia AT, Nichols CR, Green DP, et al. Hemolytic-uremic syndrome during an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections in institutions for mentally retarded persons: clinical and epidemiologic observations. J Pediatr 1990; 116 (4): 544â€“51. Griffin PM, Tauxe RV. The epidemiology of infections caused by Escherichia coli O157: H7, other enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and the associated hemolytic uremic syndrome. Epidemiol Rev 1991; 13: 60â€“98. Morgan D, Newman CP, Hutchinson DN, et al. Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 infections associated with the consumption of yoghurt. Epidemiol Infect 1993; 111: 181â€“7. Fitzpatrick MM, Shah V, Trompeter RS, et al. Long term outcome of childhood haemolytic syndrome. BMJ 1991; 303: 489â€“92. Fitzpatrick MM, Shah V, Filler G, et al. Neutrophil activation in the haemolytic uraemic syndrome: free and complexed elastase in plasma. Pediatr Nephrol 1992; 6 (1): 50â€“3. MacConnachie AA, Todd WT. Potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of haemolytic uraemic syndrome in shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli infection. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2004; 17 (5): 479â€“82.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1000
__label__wiki	0.526399	0.526399	No Deal Brexit: Preparing for the Worst The financial regulator is stepping up its preparations for a no deal Brexit, so how concerned should we be? It started out as the ‘easiest deal in human history’ and has gone steadily downhill from there. Today achieving a Brexit deal which keeps everyone happy appears almost impossible, which is why the last month has seen preparations for the dreaded no deal scenario step up a notch. First came the no deal papers detailing what no deal might mean for the financial sector and it doesn’t make pretty reading. There’s plenty of both consumers and the banks to be worried about. Transferring money in Euros could become slower and more expensive. Companies which pay suppliers in Euros could find themselves paying more for the privilege and the end of the ban on surcharges could see you paying much more if you use your credit card overseas. Then we come to the thorny issue of passporting in which firms in the UK can do business in Europe and vice versa. The UK said it was up to the EU to make the first move to ensure continuity for UK businesses operating in Europe. If they didn’t UK firms would lose the ability to do business on the continent. The report states: “This may have implications for their ability to meet contractual obligations with EEA-based clients, where to do so without EEA permissions would breach relevant member state rules and any applicable EU rules that apply to third countries.” The UK has shown a commitment to ensure continuity for EEA firms and funds operating here. At the start of October, the FCA released a consultation paper on a temporary permissions regime which could see those EEA firms affected given temporary permission to do business in the UK even in the event that we leave without a transition deal. Under the proposals, firms would be able to apply for temporary permission which would start on exit day assuming there is no other deal in place. This would ensure continuity as much as possible and give the firm time to apply for permanent permission under whatever regulatory environment we find ourselves post Brexit. They have also set out another consultation paper for what changes it will make to its handbook and its Binding Technical Standards. You can see a summary of both these papers on our platform. As things stand, though, the EU has not made any similar offer for UK firms which leaves companies struggling to decide whether to shift operations out of the UK and into the UK. So, while these documents might have been intended to ease the fears of the financial sector, they’ve managed to focus minds on just how realistic the dreaded no deal exit scenario is starting to look. CategoriesRegulatory Intelligence Previous PostPrevious FCA Consults on Illiquid Funds Next PostNext FCA Updates Guidance on PPI	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1003
__label__wiki	0.758103	0.758103	dateMore Than a Year Ago authorNature Hopes For Revolutionary New Lhc Particle Dashed It would have been bigger than finding the Higgs boson and marked the beginning of a new era in particle physics. Nature From ACM News \| August 5, 2016 Legal Confusion Threatens to Slow Data Science Knowledge from millions of biological studies encoded into one network—that is Daniel Himmelstein's alluring description of Hetionet, a free online resource that... Nature Welcome to the Cyborg Olympics Vance Bergeron was once an amateur cyclist who rode 7,000 kilometres per year—much of it on steep climbs in the Alps. Nature 'kudos' Promises to Help Scientists Promote Their Papers to New Audiences Few people have heard of Michele Tobias's research field—and even fewer study it. Nature From ACM Careers \| August 1, 2016 Planet Hunters Seek New Ways to Detect Alien Life In the search for life beyond Earth, false alarms abound. Nature From ACM News \| July 28, 2016 Chinese Satellite Is One Giant Step For the Quantum Internet China is poised to launch the world's first satellite designed to do quantum experiments. A fleet of quantum-enabled craft is likely to follow. Nature Chinese Scientists to Pioneer First Human Crispr Trial Chinese scientists are on the verge of being first in the world to inject people with cells modified using the CRISPR–Cas9 gene-editing technique. Nature Human Brain Mapped in Unprecedented Detail Think of a spinning globe and the patchwork of countries it depicts: such maps help us to understand where we are, and that nations differ from one another. Nature Atom Wranglers Create Rewritable Memory Engineers can only stuff so much computing power into devices like smartphones and tablets before they run up against physical barriers. Nature How China Is Rewriting the Book on Human Origins On the outskirts of Beijing, a small limestone mountain named Dragon Bone Hill rises above the surrounding sprawl. Nature Brain-Data Gold Mine Could Reveal How Neurons Compute Inspired by the large-scale sky surveys with which astronomers explore the cosmos, neuroscientists in Seattle, Washington, have spent four years systematically... Nature Clouds Get High on Climate Change Clouds are moving up, up and away. An analysis of satellite data has found that, since the early 1980s, clouds have shifted towards Earth's poles and cloud tops... Nature Obama's Top Scientist Talks Shrinking Budgets, Donald Trump, and His Biggest Regret John Holdren is no stranger to the spotlight. Over his long career in science, Holdren—a physicist by training—has worked on controversial issues such as climate... Nature From ACM Opinion \| July 7, 2016 Expansion of Early Universe Modelled in Unprecedented Detail For the first time, cosmologists have used the full power of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity to perform detailed calculations of the Universe's evolution... Nature From ACM News \| June 27, 2016 First Crispr Clinical Trial Gets Green Light from US Panel CRISPR, the genome-editing technology that has taken biomedical science by storm, is finally nearing human trials. Nature Quantum Computer Makes First High-Energy Physics Simulation Physicists have performed the first full simulation of a high-energy physics experiment—the creation of pairs of particles and their antiparticles—on a quantum... Nature 'ransomware' Cyberattack Highlights Vulnerability of Universities The first Patrick Feng knew about a cyberattack on his university was when one of his colleagues told him that her computer had been infected by hackers and rendered... Nature Ligo Detects Whispers of Another Black-Hole Merger Just before 4 a.m. on 26 December, B. S. Sathyaprakash woke up to some good news: gravitational waves had been detected for only the second time in history. Nature A Simpler Twist of Fate Until the day it dies, a cell that has become a skin cell remains a skin cell—or so scientists used to think. Nature Google Moves Closer to a Universal Quantum Computer An experimental prototype of a universal quantum computer can solve a wide range of problems and has the potential to be scaled up to larger systems, researchers... Nature From ACM TechNews \| June 10, 2016 <<45678910111213>>	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1016
__label__cc	0.555132	0.444868	Log In / My CPL {{user_name}} User {{user_name}}. For {{user_name}}. Double-tap to expand. {{else}} Log In / My CPL User Log In / My CPL. {{/if}} The Birthday Girl A Novel (large Print) De la Cruz, Melissa Unknown - 2019/08/06 In the thrilling, suspenseful new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz, all of Ellie de Florent-Stinson's secrets come to light in one eventful evening full of twists, turns, and surprises. Before she became a glamorous fashion designer, Ellie de Florent-Stinson was a trailer-park teen about to turn sixteen. But a night of birthday celebration doesn't go exactly as planned and descends into a night she'll never be able to forget. Now, on the cusp of her fortieth birthday, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted: a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful ten-year-old girl; adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys; lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs; a thriving career; and a dazzling circle of friends. Except everything is not quite as perfect as it looks on the outside--Ellie is keeping many secrets. And hiding those skeletons has a cost, and it all comes to a head the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert--where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not. Old and new friends and frenemies, stepdaughters and business partners, ex-wives and ex-husbands congregate, and the glittering facade of Ellie's life begins to crumble. Beautifully paced and full of surprises, The Birthday Girl is an enthralling tale of a life lived in shadow and its unavoidable consequences. Publisher: Random House , 2019/08/06 Edition: LP Read more reviews of The Birthday Girl at iDreamBooks.com Find it at CPL Locations & Hours Contact Us Accessibility Membership Agreement	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1021
__label__wiki	0.932736	0.932736	BlackBerry QNX autonomous car hits the road in Ottawa test drive Rob Bostelaar OTTAWA - Hundreds of technology workers lined an Ottawa street Thursday to witness what was billed as Canada's first public test of an autonomous car linked to municipal infrastructure. Mayor Jim Watson called the event "a very, very historic day for our city and our country." Watson and Councillor Marianne Wilkinson were among passengers in the BlackBerry QNX Lincoln MKZ test car that zipped along Legget Drive in the Kanata North Technology Park, its sensors reading freshly painted street markings and communicating with dedicated short-range transmitters mounted on traffic lights. The street was closed for the public demonstration, but the car is expected to be operating on city streets in the test area amidst real traffic and pedestrians. The on-street testing actually began without fanfare in September, but BlackBerry QNX senior vice-president John Wall said Thursday's demonstration offered "public proof" of progress at the company's autonomous drive research centre in Ottawa. FRUITS OF LABOUR "Today is the first public fruits of what we've been doing," BlackBerry QNX senior vice-president John Wall said. BlackBerry QNX is developing the software foundation for autonomous vehicles, while Wall said others are working on what he called "the brain." "In a lot of cases, the OEMs want to own that, so the Fords of this world, the Mercedes of this world, that's their secret sauce, they're going to build the brain," Wall said. "We're going to provide all the infrastructure, the security, the safety, the redundancy, the communication, how the signals come in." BlackBerry wants to be the prime supplier of software for autonomous driving, building on the programming it already supplies to carmakers around the world for infotainment and other systems. Automotive and technology companies around the world have been racing to develop self-driving systems. BlackBerry, however, is up against Apple, Google and other heavyweights in the frenzy to bring AV technology to market. 'CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE' Municipal leaders are seeking to establish Ottawa as a "centre of excellence" for autonomous vehicle research that would be built around BlackBerry and as many as 70 other companies in the capital with AV expertise. Technology from Coda Wireless, Luxcom and NovAtel is already part of the on-street testing, while Nokia is scheduled to add LTE and 5G capability to a route that will grow to take in major arteries. However, the federal government didn’t highlight autonomous transportation in its newly announced shortlist of fields for "supercluster" funding, although support could still come from a $2.1-billion program to enhance trade and transportation corridors. Meanwhile, A demonstration test zone has been announced for Stratford, Ont., as part of the Ontario government's plan to create an Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network, with the help of $80 million over five years. Canada is well behind the United States, Germany and other countries that have permitted AV trials on public roads for years. And even while Ontario is now allowing BlackBerry and two other organizations to send out autonomous cars with safety drivers behind the wheel, California is poised to allow testing of full Level 4 vehicles with no human at the controls. SNOW ADVANTAGE Several companies including Uber and Waymo, which was spun out of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc. last year, have been testing self-driving cars on city streets in the United States. But, unlike southern California, however, Ottawa has snow for several months of the year, which both Watson and Wall suggest gives the city an advantage in real-world testing. How well BlackBerry's Lincoln can handle ice-covered streets has yet to be seen, but Watson is confident autonomous driving will be taking place on busy downtown streets – and not just in the Kanata tech suburb – in the not-distant future. "I think it's realistic to say it will be within the next decade," the mayor said. The Canadian Press contributed to this report.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1022
__label__wiki	0.938506	0.938506	Caribbean Pulse Caribbean Pulse is a very dynamic and powerful Reggae Band based in Los Angeles. Caribbean Pulse is made up of three core members, group leader and founder William Smith (Rhythm Guitar) and his brother Jason "Bassy Jay" Smith (Bass) and Ezzy Judah (Lead Vocalist & Percussionist). The complete line up for the band also includes Santa Davis on drums (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh), Michael Hyde on Keyboards (Big Mountain, Wailing Souls) Gil Smith on Keyboards (Lil Wayne, Chris Brown) and Steve Verhault lead guitars (Barrington Levy). Fabian Cooke who is famous for producing the song titled Hakuna Matata (Walt Disney) that was featured on the soundtrack of the smash box office hit film The Lion King, is one of the band’s main producers. Just about decade ago Caribbean Pulse made it’s mark on the Reggae music world with hit songs such Dry Your Eyes ft Tony Rebel and the Billboard charting Jah Is My Rock ft. Damian Marley. The success of these singles fueled the groups popularity among Reggae fans worldwide and within no time the group was being touted as one of the best new bands in Reggae. Such was the musical impact of Caribbean Pulse, that group was requested to perform in Jamaica, Europe, the far east and all over the US. Caribbean Pulse released two critically acclaimed albums Unity in 2000 and Stand Up in 2003. The group went on a musical hiatus in 2004 as the members of the band decided to take time out to pursue other ventures. However not being able to shake their passion for making good Reggae music, the members of the band have regrouped and are now working on their third album, Yesterday, which is slated to be released in 2017. The first single off the album titled Blessed, was released on November 1st. Launching on the island of Jamaica, the single was premiered on the Barry, G show on MELLO FM, Kingston Jamaica. This included a simulcast incorporating Belize (Krem FM) and Maui (Q103 FM). Blessed, will be supported by major promotional and publicity campaigns in the US and the Caribbean. One month after the debut in Jamaica, every single radio station on the island of Jamaica will all join forces and play Blessed. The album is scheduled for worldwide release in the Spring of 2017. What's Happening Now! Hot New Single!!! Caribbean Pulse will be dropping it's newest single Blessed on November 1, 2013 in Jamaica from it's up coming album. Hear the world premier of our newest single, #Blessed on the Barry G Show, MelloFM Jamaican Radio - @ 1pm CST. on November 1st! Listen live as it all unfolds at http://www.mellofmjamaica.com/ Join our mailing list for the latest News & Give Aways Become friends of Caribbean Pulse by signing up on our email list and you will receive our latest single "Blessed". Blessed Vistors You are visitor number: 509700 Caribbean Pulse® Blessed 4:15 Jah Is My Rock...featuring Damian "Jr.Gong" Marley 4:44 Victory 4:47 Dry Your Eyes Ft. Tony Rebel (Da Remix) 4:13	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1028
__label__wiki	0.503701	0.503701	Madness [sound recording] / Sleeping with Sirens. Sleeping with Sirens (Musical group) (Performer, Composer). Quinn, Kellin. (Performer). Hills, Justin. (Performer). Barham, Gabe. (Performer). Fowler, Jack, guitarist. (Performer). Martin, Nick, 1982- (Performer). Feldman, John, musician. (Performer, Producer). Garcia, Zien. (Performer). Rosenberg, Liz (Singer) (Performer). Cervini, Jillian. (Performer). Peskin, Izzy. (Performer). Peskin, Hannah. (Performer). Physical Description: 1 audio disc (41 min.) : digital, CD audio ; 4 3/4 in. Publisher: Los Angeles, CA : Epitaph, [2015] Credits and lyrics (13 pages) inserted in container. Kick me -- Go go go -- Gold -- Save me a spark -- Fly -- The strays -- Left alone -- Better off dead -- We like it loud -- Heroine -- November -- Madness -- Don't say anything. Produced by John Feldman. Sleeping with Sirens; with assisting musicians. Recorded at Foxy Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Emo (Music) Alternative rock music.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1031
__label__wiki	0.765023	0.765023	The Story of Northcote Deck Cabin by Keith & Gladys Hunt Northcote Deck was for twenty years a pioneer missionary doctor and explorer in the Solomon Islands. He later settled in Canada, married, and became the father of two children: Lucy Deck Shaw and John Deck. Writing about her father, Lucy Shaw says, "He was a handsome, twinkle-eyed Britisher of great presence and charm - humorous, vigorous, optimistic, and unself-consciously humble." As an active member of the board of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, Northcote Deck was an appreciative colleague of Herbert J. Taylor. His enthusiasm for this piece of property on Prentiss Bay helped to launch Cedar Campus. Physically vigorous even at 76, he swam in Prentiss Bay without regard to the water temperature. He lived creatively and zestfully until his death at age 82, when a friend said of him, "He's looking forward to heaven as eagerly as a boy expecting his first bicycle." This cabin was built in 1958 and named after Northcote Deck by Herbert and Gloria Taylor who, through Christian Camps Foundation, gave the original grant of land that is now Cedar Campus. Northcote Deck Cabin was constructed and dedicated in 1958. See Wheaton Archon	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1033
__label__cc	0.739487	0.260513	Join the 2019-20 PTO board! Joining the PTO board is a great way to get more involved at CMS! We are currently accepting nominations for two 2019-20 open board positions - Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Volunteer Co-Coordinator. We are also expanding our board to include President-Elect and Co-Treasurer positions. The duties of the President-Elect will be to assist the president in his/her duties and to serve as President for the 2020-21 school year. The Co-Treasurer will share responsibilities with the Treasurer. Our current officers are listed below each position and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you are willing to serve on the board in one of these two open positions, please contact Melissa Dodd for the next steps by April 26, 2019. PTO Board Roles & Responsibilities The board consists of nine members and has the following shared responsibilities: attend board meetings as scheduled (usually 7-8 per year). We strive to keep our board meetings under one hour and offer a variety of meeting locations, days, and times of day to best suit the needs of board members. attend general meetings as scheduled (usually 3-4 per year and lasting less than an hour). serve in the position at least one year and no more than two consecutive years. Download a copy of our bylaws to learn more about the PTO board {Open for 2019-20} Sets the agenda and presides over board and general PTO meetings Serves as the primary contact for the principal Represents the PTO at meetings outside the organization Serves as an ex officio member of all committees Coordinates the work of all the officers and committees so that the purpose of the organization is served Authorized to co-sign PTO checks Contact Charmaine Nicolau for more information Assists the president and carries out the president’s duties in his/her absence or inability to serve Coordinates standing committee work for PTO Contact Jennifer Thibodeaux for more information Receives all funds of the organization Keeps an accurate record of receipts and expenditures and pay out funds in accordance with the approval of the executive board Deposits all funds within seven (7) days and makes all disbursements within thirty (30) days. Presents a financial statement at every meeting and at other times of the year when requested by the executive board Makes a full report at the end of each school year Authorized to co-sign all checks Contact Leslie Iske for more information Coordinates correspondence to and from the PTO Coordinates PTO social media Helps maintain PTO website Responsible for safekeeping all of the correspondences of the PTO Contact Jennifer Brigham for more information Records the minutes at every board, general, and special meeting Provides a copy (upon approval at subsequent meetings) to post to PTO website and/or otherwise have available to PTO membership Contact Lisa Wells for more information Volunteer Co-Coordinator (2) {one open for 2019-20} Coordinates volunteers for PTO events Solicits donations of items needed for PTO events such as Tiger Hunt, Super Trivia Bowl, college fair, teacher appreciation meals, etc. Contact Niki Irwin or Wendy Mills for more information Fundraising Co-Coordinator (2) Coordinates PTO fundraising programs - AmazonSmile and the Brighter Future Campaign Serves as a member of the Super Trivia Bowl committee and coordinates the receipt of STB revenue Sets PTO fundraising goals Applies for grants Contact Sarah Woods or Amber Stephens for more information	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1036
__label__wiki	0.983899	0.983899	Solar Power Is Rising To Fill The Power Void Left In Puerto Rico More than three months after Hurricanes Maria and Irma slammed their island, over a million Puerto Ricans are still without reliable power. But one recent day, Rosa López and José Quiñones finally left those ranks. It happened when four technicians installed Tesla Powerwall solar battery pack onto a wall in their suburban San Juan home. A 275-pound white metal beast that can store enough electricity to keep a house running from sunset to sunrise. López and Quiñones are both engineers and were early green energy adopters. They already had solar panels on their roof before the storms, but the panels only worked properly if they were connected to the power grid. And with the grid knocked out, they had to rely on a backup generator. That’s why they bought the Tesla battery system. “I was looking to see how can I use the full power of the panels,” Quiñones says, “and the only way is installing batteries.” The Tesla system means they’ll no longer be reliant on the grid, which was unreliable even before Irma and Maria. The new system was expensive — close to $10,000 — but so was fuel for their generator, at $400 a week. López says when Maria came “we started calculating, and we understand that we need to make this investment.” López and Quiñones bought their battery system from a company called New Energy. Before the storms, the company sold maybe five batteries a month. But CEO Alex Uriarte says he sold 200 in October, and he’s hired about three dozen technicians to install them. “Before Maria, nobody wanted to buy storage because it was too expensive,” Uriarte says. “And now everybody wants to buy storage. It’s not an issue now of saving money, it’s just an issue of having electricity.” Uriarte says he’s lined up investors for a new solar microgrid with battery storage for a community of 3,000 homes. It would run independently, so if the main grid went down, the microgrid would stay up. “We’re trying to be the first one to do a big microgrid here. We will become like a small utility,” Uriarte explains. After Hurricane Maria, German solar battery company Sonnen donated eight batteries for solar energy to community kitchens and health clinics. Now Sonnen hopes to work with Puerto Rico’s government to convert an old US naval base into a solar-powered housing development. Richetta says Sonnen has sold more than 200 batteries in Puerto Rico since the storm. A number that he says is “really big business for us” in an industry that he admits is still tiny. That’s why the backers of solar are excited about what’s happening in Puerto Rico. It’s a laboratory, and potentially a very big one. Last month the governor of New York joined with Puerto Rico’s governor to announce a plan. Which is to transform the island’s energy system and integrate solar power and storage in remote areas. It’s a longshot plan that would require billions of dollars in federal funding that may never materialize, but boosters of solar are hopeful nonetheless. Among them is San Juan’s mayor, Carmen Yulín Cruz, who dreams of transforming the city’s electric supply and thinks solar has real promise as part of that effort. With roughly 40 percent of San Juan still without power, solar is already helping fill the breach. Along with private homes, Tesla has donated solar panels to run a hospital and a solar industry group working with the Clinton Foundation that will power the city’s main market. And Cruz says she’d love to hear about Blake Richetta’s plans to bring Sonnen microgrids to Puerto Rico. “They’re welcome in San Juan,” she says. “Tell him to call me.” Cruz says outside investors would need to work alongside Puerto Ricans. Also, she says the island’s debt has to be erased so that local governments can invest in these new systems. But bottom line, she says “this could be a wonderful showcase for solar energy for the rest of the world.” Mayor Cruz says that the Puerto Rico that she knew before Hurricane Maria will never be back and that in many ways, that’s a good thing. Puerto Ricans’ embrace of solar energy is an inspiring turn and one that could prove fruitful for the country as they slowly recover. Our team at ClearWorld looks forward to following Puerto Rico’s progress. March 30, 2018 Outdoor Lighting, Outdoor solar lights, Smart City, solar lamps, solar LED, solar LED Lighting, Solar led lights, Solar LED Retrofit, Solar Light, Solar Lighting Solution, solar lighting system, Solar Lights Outdoor, Solar Outdoor Lighting, Solar Powered Led Lights, Solar Security Light, Solar Street light News, Solar City, Solar Energy, Solar LED	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1044
__label__wiki	0.857304	0.857304	Brentford & Chiswick Local History Society A-Z People "Ruined Cities of the Imagination" – Tom Greeves An American President In Brentford Bridget Goshawk Colonel Clitherow’s Box Did Jack The Ripper Die In Chiswick? Eric Kenward Gillian Clegg – a personal note John Donaldson and his Family Lieut-Col Shipway’s Pedigree Mr Young of Young’s Corner Patsy Hendren, Chiswick’s famous cricketer Sarah Lindley’s Letters to Henry Crease, 1849-59 The Tuke Family and their Chiswick Asylums Thomas Griffiths Wainewright Tracing Colonel Shipway’s Pedigree Trimmers Down Under Trimmers Down Under Again Two Amateur Astronomers? Who Was Who on Strand on the Green Jacynth Parsons William Hogarth’s “Hudibras” engravings William John Tomlinson, Chiswick builder William Sargeant: Chiswick Boatbuilder, Electrical Engineer And Architect Archaeology in West London (1981-2) Some Recent West London Archaeology (1979-80) West London Archaeology (1980-81) Brentford’s Jewel: Boston Manor House Brentford's Jullion Clock Brentford's Tower Blocks Chiswick Town Hall Chiswick’s Municipal Stables A Century of the Chiswick Mission A Century of Chiswick Mission St Lawrence’s, Brentford St Nicholas Church Tower Grove House, Chiswick Pillar to Post Post Boxes in W4 The 'Paxton' Conservatory at Chiswick The Firestone Factory The Stables in Gunnersbury Park Rutland House Ladies’ Academy The Royal Victoria Asylum, Chiswick Mall All Mod Cons Homes Fit for Heroes: the Development of the Clayponds Estate Homes for the Workers: Chiswick New Town Industries and Crafts Brentford Mill Brentford’s Gas Company Brentford’s Smoke Record Book Linoleum: A Chiswick Invention Riverside Crafts & Industries The Brentford Clay Pipe Kiln The Great West Road Then & Now The Thames Soap Works (Messrs T B Rowe) of Ferry Lane, Brentford Wilson & Kyle Leisure and Sport The First Chiswick Golf Club Entertainments at Chiswick Town Hall 1876-1899 How Chiswick Celebrated the 1897 Jubilee Patsy Hendren: Chiswick’s Famous Cricketer The Corona Stage Academy The White Swan, Chiswick Underground Chiswick Parks and Estates The Gardens of Chiswick House The Gunnersbury Park Estate Your Honour’s Servant at Command: The Morice Letters (Grove House) Brentford’s Riverside Walk Street Names of Chiswick The History of Hounslow Town The Scott Family and Ravenscourt Park Brentford Elections 1899-1905 The Tram Strike of 1909 Brentford Barge Owners The Past of Brentford’s Waterways Commemorating the Chiswick V2 The Battle of Brentford 1642 The Trafalgar Plaques Working the land Some Chiswick Nursery Gardens Books & other publications Brentford & Chiswick Local History Journal Journal 24 (2015) Journal 1 (1980) Gunnersbury Park Museum’s Golden Jubilee Exhibition Some Recent West London Archaeology The History of Hounslow Manor The History of the Royal Manor of Hanworth The Past of Brentford's Waterways A Local History Librarian's Year Gunnersbury Park Museum 1980-81 The ‘Paxton’ Conservatory at Chiswick The Brentford Gas Company West London Archaeology Who was Who on Strand of the Green Archaeology in West London Brentford’s Tower Blocks Grove House Gunnersbury Park Museum Entertainments at Chiswick Town Hall George Haley's Brentford Election Campaigns 1899-1905 Riverside crafts and Industries Victoria County History of Middlesex W J Tomlinson Chiswick Builder Lieut-Col. Shipway's pedigree The Thames Soapworks of Brentford A View of Chiswick Mall, about 1870 Brentford in Old Photographs Camille Pissarro: Paintings of Stamford Brook, 1897 The Estates Around Chiswick House The History of Brentford Bridge Royal Victoria Asylum in Chiswick The Morice Letters Tracing Colonel Shipway's Pedigree William Sargeant, Chiswick Boatbuilder, electrical engineer and architect A Royal Wedding Day in Brentford Chiswick High Road 150 Years Ago Chiswick Library: The Move To Duke’s Avenue Chiswick’s Early Cinemas Chiswick’s Cigarette Card Collector Johan Zoffany Lived Here Law And Order In New Brentford Mr Ranby And His House The Chiswick Workhouse Beach’s Of Brentford: The World Famous Jam Bedford Park – the first garden suburb: a pictorial survey Chiswick New Town: The Early Years Early Education For The Poor Of New Brentford Moreton Hall: Chiswick’s Lost Mansion The Russells Of Corney House The Wreck at Brentford Thomas Layton, FSA: The Obsessive Collector Wainewright the Poisoner, a review A Chiswick Childhood – Elizabeth Wilcockson Commemorating Hogarth Historical Mural Local History On The Internet Lost Clitherow Portrait Found? Princess Amelia’s Bath-House St Nicholas Parish Church, Chiswick: Some notable tombs in the churchyard The Birth of a Parish: The Creation of St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park The Chiswick Empire The Condition Of The Poor In Rural Brentford Van Gogh In Chiswick Voices of Ealing and Hounslow Work And Colour: Sanderson And Chiswick 1879-1928 A “new” picture of Brentford A Box of (Good) Deeds Hogarth, Griffiths and their Chiswick Friends John Rocque: A Revolutionary Map-maker The 1897 Engineers’ Strike in Chiswick The Birth of Brentford Library The Brentford Boatmen’s Institute The Lamb Brewery Alice Woods: Bedford Park & Co-Education Barkers Rails and the University Boat Race Bedford Park and the Lindley Connection Lions on Chiswick House gates Local Paintings by Lucien and Ludovic-Rodo Pissarro Mary King Missing monuments – St Lawrence’s, Brentford The Battle of Turnham Green 1642 The Rothschild School at Brentford The Royal Brewery, Brentford The Tukes’ Asylum in Chiswick William Sharpe’s grave located Search & Discover Gillian Clegg’s Chiswick History Books/websites Brief History of Chiswick Chiswick Timeline Gillian Clegg 1940-2012 Grand Houses Hounslow’s Local History Collections A Local History Librarian’s Year, 1980-81 Brentford links Chiswick links Local History Sources New Maps of Chiswick Rate Books Indexed Rocque’s Map 1741-5 Victoria County History of Middlesex, Volume VII Gunnersbury Park Museum 1981-2 Gunnersbury Park Museum's Golden Jubilee Exhibition 1979 Reviews of local history books Brentford Library and the First Librarian Chiswick & Brentford In Old Photographs Chiswick In Old Photographs Chiswick Past Hartswood Lawn Tennis Club 1914-2004: a scrapbook of the first ninety years Hogarth & His House Positively Brentford, A Pictorial History of Brentford FC 1896-1996 Stamford Brook: An Affectionate Portrait The Boatmen’s Institute, Brentford The Chiswick Book – past and present The History of Hounslow Manor and the Bulstrode Family The History Of The Great West Road: its social and economic influence on the surrounding area Whitehall Gardens Centenary Celebrations 1897-1997 British Association for Local History Award for Society Chairman West London Local History Conference 2011 by David Shavreen Brentford & Chiswick Local History Journal 8 (1999) The records kept by individual vestries (the vestry was the governing body of the parish) and by the local manorial courts provide a rich source for information about the past history of an area. David Shavreen has trawled through the records of New Brentford (which was a narrow strip of land between the River Brent and Half Acre) and here takes us on a chronological tour to illustrate how law and order was maintained. By 1616, when the Vestry Minutes and Accounts of the Chapel Wardens of St Lawrence, New Brentford begin, the vestry was presided over by the Lord of the Manor, Sir Edward Spencer, ably assisted by the wealthiest family in town, the Hawleys, with rights over the market which dated back to the Middle Ages. A yearly meeting of the Vestry appointed Chapel Wardens, Overseers of the Poor and Surveyors of the Highways, but the appointment of the High Constable and his minion, the Head Borough, fell to the Manorial Court. The constable served for one year and was usually elected by rotation from among the local farmers and craftsmen – the better-off members of the community. The office was unpaid and no expenses were given for loss of earnings. In dealing with petty law and order the constable was responsible for the stocks, the pillory and the cage or village lock-up. He raised the hue and cry, saw to the whipping of vagrants, secured prisoners and escorted them to the Quarter Sessions or Assizes. He also had to collect the rates, out of which he paid for the House of Correction, for roads and bridges and the national taxes. His military duties included the raising of the militia plus provision for its accommodation and transport. In addition he responsible for the lighting of beacons, for weights and measures and the supervision of ale houses. All these activities are reflected in the pages of the vestry accounts. There are many intriguing entries. A somewhat unusual one appears in the record for 1634: ‘Paid Robert Warden (a smith by trade) the Constable which he dispurs’d for conveying away the witches 11s. 0d.’ Brentford had long been associated with witches. Falstaff, in the Merry Wives of Windsor, disguised himself as the old fortune-telling Fat Woman of Brentford, whom Master Ford swore was a witch. However, the witches taken away by Robert Warden were no doubt of more humble origin. Typically such women were old and poor and the victims of the gossiping slander of neighbours who accused them of bringing sickness to both men and beasts. Religion & Riots During the 17th century, religion was increasingly a subject of contention. Roman Catholics were intensely unpopular and Gunpowder Day was universally observed with much ringing of the church bells and bonfires in the streets. The Established Church, on the other hand, was under threat from all those who, gathered under the umbrella of Puritanism, felt that the Church and the Crown were the great obstacles to freedom of trade and belief. Some people were prepared to defend these freedoms by refusing to attend Church, even though this meant a heavy fine. As early as 1625 fines for non-attendance at St Lawrence’s were imposed on John Coggan, a chandler and his wife Ellen, and on John Gates, yeoman and his wife Susan. By 1640 the list included Lady Mountgarett (widow) and Thomas le Folly (yeoman) and in 1642 John Holloway and John Jennings (cooper) were both reported for not resorting to church on seven consecutive Sundays from 11th October. In 1656 the minutes record moneys received for ‘disorder and travailing upon the Sabbath Day’ from: ‘Mr Gould for being drunken and swearing an oath, 8s 4d. Richard Hickson (inn-keeper) for disorders in his house, 10s. Robert Leaver for the like, 10s. For one Benson of Kingston for being drunk, 5s. One Soames of Old Brentford for being the like, 5s. Edward M. Melrose, a carpenter of London, for breach of the Sabbath, 10s.’ These are massive fines and failure to pay led almost inevitably to prison, which was also the fate of those whose religious beliefs aroused the fury of the mob. In 1659 the mob’s fury was directed against the Quakers, whose movement had begun preaching in London in 1654. Below is an extract from A Brief History of the Quakers in Brentford and Isleworth, edited by Joan Wilding: ‘On the eighth of the month called May, John Tysoe, being at a meeting at Brentford, fell under a great concern of mind to go to the steeple-house there, where he began to exhort the people to Repentance and the fear of the Lord but with undeserved returns for his Christian counsel: they falling furiously upon him, pulled him about, thrust him and rent his clothes, stopping his mouth with their hands and, dragging him by the hair of his head, cried “Kill him, kill him”. After which they put his legs in the stocks and left him lying there with his head and shoulders on the ground; and at last had him before a Justice, who committed him to Newgate.’ Disturbances for reasons other than religion are also recorded. In 1668 ‘certain persons of Brentford’ are summoned to the Quarter Sessions to answer for a riot and in 1670 William Smith of New Brentford has to appear before the Justices in London ‘for dispensing a wicked and false scandal upon several inhabitants of the Parish’. About the same time ‘one Thomas Townsend made oath that about St Thomas’s Day last (21st December) Richard White threatened to set fire to the Red Lion’. It was in the Great Room there, that the magistrates dispensed justice. Malpractice and Markets In 1670 James Clitherow, a London merchant, bought Boston Manor House from the former Lord, John Gouldsmith, and with it the right to all the feudal dues and duties attached. These rights were enforced in the Courts Baron and Leet held at frequent intervals usually at the Red Lion or the Three Pigeons. The rights of such courts developed over the centuries included arrangements for maintaining law and order, the inspection of weights and measures, the quality and measurement of essential foods such as bread and ale, the presentment and punishment of petty crimes, encroachments on commons or roads and nuisances such as the fouling of commons. The inhabitants of the Ham, for example, ‘allow their pigs to run wild, they build privies, they make dung hills, they dig up and sell gravel and sand, they dig sawpits to expedite their building operations and, though fined, they persist.’ Occasionally major crime is recorded. In 1692 when the surviving records begin there is an account of the confiscation by the Lord of’ several messuages and tenements, with their appurtenances’, of George Caswell executed for the murder of Andrew Hickson. More typical was the case of Isaac Goring convicted at the Assizes ‘for persuading Thomas Brooks apprenticed to Henry Linacre to desert his Master’s Service for encouraging Brooks to rob Jane Scale and others in the King’s Highway’. He was fined 13s 4d and was ordered ‘to be put in and upon the Pillory in New Brentford Market Place, upon such market day as the sheriff shall speedily appoint for one hour with a paper over his head showing his offence.’ In 1706 we get a brief picture of rascally goings-on in the police force with two entries from the Petty Sessions: ‘Robert King former chief constable of New Brentford to pay Moses Bodicott, gentleman, the money he has received from the rates for passing vagrants’. ‘Robert Pattin chosen chief constable in place of Robert King who has absconded.’ The Market House and the Three Pigeons, Brentford High Street in 1849 The Market, of course, was the focus of the little township and a noisy bustling place it was. The manorial records highlight typical incidents: ‘in 1704 Elizabeth Staines, the wife of a coachman, pleaded guilty at the Quarter Sessions to an assault on John Howard. The court ‘ordered her to make a submissive and public acknowledgement of the said offence in the open market at Brentford where she gave the abuse to the said Mr Howard and to ask his pardon there, which Mr Howard is willing to accept in regard to the poverty of John Staines, her husband.’ In 1711 an old woman, a pilferer, ran away and left one turkey, one chicken, one small pewter dish, all valued at 5s. They were claimed by Mr Ponting in whose hands they were left. In 1714 Langland’s widow was killed by the kick of a cow belonging to her son, Richard, and a composition for a deed and two guineas was raised. In 1716 a man was stabbed at the Wolf Inn and in 1717 the indigent coachman, John Staines was appointed beadle. In 1720 the Justices ordered the township to provide new stocks, a cage and a whipping post to supplement whatever forms of punishment were in use. Christopher Clitherow was approached for a grant of ‘part of the waste lying between the roads leading over Brentford Bridge and throw [through] the Brent River towards Hounslow’ explaining the need to provide ‘for the better securing and punishing all loose and idle persons.’ The cage was to be ‘eight foot square, in the clear height 7 foot to the evesplates to be built of timber, weather boarded without with fir, and lined within with elm boards, the foundation brickwork, the stocks and a whipping post to be affixed and penthouse over them.’ An early occupant of the cage was Deborah Street ‘a lunatick’ who was in 1721 ordered to be moved to the mad-house at Lambeth Marsh ‘or elsewhere till she recovers from her lunacy.’ Bonfires & Bells In 1718, we learn that the Bellman was given a greatcoat. His duties as security officer and time-keeper, pleasant enough no doubt, became onerous on dark wintry nights when he was vulnerable to attack by robbers or drunken young blades. His duties were laid out for him and reiterated towards the middle of the century when it would appear that there had been some laxity in performance: ‘He was to go round the parish twice a night between the hours of twelve and four from the 1st November to 1st March in the dark hours and should his courage fail him or the weather being inclement he decide to stay indoors, he would be subject to instant dismissal.’ The long-established habit of celebrating by lighting bonfires in the streets became a source of ‘divers complaints by Travellers and Townspeople’ in 1748 after the defeat of the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden. It was ordered ‘that for the future if there shall be any necessity for a bonfire, the same shall be made in the Butts.’ It was on the hustings of the Butts that the Middlesex elections took place and they became a focus for political agitation. Tempers became inflamed through a heady combination of political involvement and drink according to an account of a riot in the Market Place in 1768 where the cry was ‘ Wilkes and Liberty’ and it was here that a young man, George Clarke, met his death at the hands of two security men, Lawrence Balf and Edward McQuirk, who had used their bludgeons to quell his enthusiasm. The two were arrested, charged with murder, tried, sentenced to death but afterwards pardoned by royal prerogative since Clarke had not succumbed instantly to his wounds. He had picked himself up, joined the cheering crowds and gone on a drinking bout before finally collapsing a few days later. Brentford High Street was a major stopping place on the route from London to the West Country but the dark narrow road had long been an invitation to robbery and in 1767 an Act of Parliament was passed to secure powers to light the High Street with oil lamps. In the next two years a fund was launched for ‘paving the footways in the township of New Brentford.’ In 1778, the New Brentford vestry was asked to consider what methods should be used ‘to put into execution the more effectual observation of the Sabbath and to prevent drunkeness and profaneness.’ The suggested remedy was to erect a new pair of stocks and to distribute around the parish five hundred abstracts of the Penal Law with the stern warning ‘that it is the design of the inhabitants to put the law in execution according to His Majesty’s late proclamation.’ War with France broke out in 1793 and the burdens on the poor increased. A cold wet summer followed by a poor harvest reinforced the public mood of hostility to the Government and to its costly and so far ineffectual war against France. The protests of the Brentford poor even crept into the church where it was reported that the ringers had refused to ring the bell on 5 November 1798 or to celebrate the anniversary of Charles II’s accession to the throne. Their behaviour, it was reported, ‘had been extremely improper, particularly on the 4th June last, when they got into the belfry between one and two in the morning and rang the bells.’ No doubt their enthusiasm had been fired in one of New Brentford’s ale-houses in view of an indignant note of 23 September 1800: ‘That the Beadle be directed to acquaint the ale-house keepers in this Township that complaints have been made against many of them that they harbour idle or disorderly persons and keep their houses open at unreasonable hours in the night, and often on Sundays during Divine Service’. By the end of that year the vestry had come to the conclusion ‘that there are more public houses in this town than are necessary’ and by an act that must have caused consternation amongst the alehouse keepers, withdrew licences from the Rose and Crown and the Rising Sun. Robberies and Rewards In 1775 a robbery in the Church had resulted in a rush to London to seek advice from the famous Middlesex magistrate, blind Sir John Fielding (half brother to novelist Henry Fielding). Robbery was on the increase. In 1800 John Franklin committed a highway robbery and was duly sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay. However, as a result of his good conduct he was pardoned in the King’s name by the Governor and thus permitted to come home. In 1801 there was an attempted robbery in the church, the details of which are set out in the records: ‘… this chapel was, early on Friday morning, the 27th February last, sacriligously broken into, the vestry room entered and attempts made to remove an iron chest which was inserted in the wall and contained the Communion plate. The watchman of this township in endeavouring to secure three villains as they were coming out of the church was severely wounded in the head by a ball from a pistol … the said villains had left behind them a horse and cart, a brace of pistols, a hand crow, dark lanthorn etc’. The church wardens immediately assembled some of the principal inhabitants to decide what to do. The robbery was reported to the police in London and bills were posted around the neighbourhood offering a reward of £50 on the capture and conviction of any of these robbers. The watchman recovered but was in no fit shape to resume his duties and was duly discharged with a golden handshake of five guineas. The ripples of the Industrial Revolution reached Brentford in the early 19th century with the opening of the Grand Junction Canal. Breweries, mills and other industries began to displace the previous agricultural economy. The coming of the railways, the opening of Brentford Dock, the waterworks, gas works and factories increased noise and pollution, changing the character of New Brentford. In July 1861 there are complaints to the vestry of the ‘annoyance to which the inhabitants are subjected by persons standing about in the streets and obstructing the foopaths thereof and by the obscene, blasphemous and immoral language which are so shamefully and indecently prevalent in the streets of the township at all hours of the day and night.’ The vestry demanded that a requisition be sent to the Inspector of the Police, requesting that the police take action ‘ to prevent such conduct, within the sanctions of the law of the land’. This is almost the last entry in the vestry minutes which cease in 1863. During the 19th century powers had been stripped away from the vestry and given to a variety of elected boards and councils. Policing had become the responsibility of police commissioners in 1829 and an Act of 1839 allowed JPs to create a county force of chief and petty constables. The rough and ready systems that had proved adequate in the past were being transformed into a modem industry. David Shavreen lives in Brentford and has long been interested in its history. He retired 12 years ago after 40 years in the teaching profession, mainly teaching in schools in Brentford and Chiswick. Powered by WordPress & Paul Trainor.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1045
__label__wiki	0.956038	0.956038	NCAA West Regional: Gophers-Robert Morris, SCSU-Notre Dame The NCAA hockey tournament begins Saturday and Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul will be the host site for the Gophers (25-6-6) and St. Cloud State (21-10-5) in the West Regional. At 4:30 p.m. the action begins with the top-ranked Gophers against Robert Morris University. When that game goes final the ice will be cleaned and at 8 p.m. the St. Cloud State Huskies will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (23-14-2). The winners will meet in the regional final on Sunday night, with the champion advancing to the NCAA Frozen Four in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See the full NCAA tournament bracket right here. What kind of challenge will Robert Morris be for the Gophers, the tournament's No. 1 overall seed? With an overall record of 19-17-5, the Rebels don't seem like an impressive team. However, they got hot at the right time and earned an automatic bid to the tournament by winning the Atlantic Hockey Association tournament. The Daily Gopher says Robert Morris played one of the weakest schedules in the country, and they'll have an uphill battle to beat Minnesota. This is Robert Morris' first trip to the NCAA tourney. The university's hockey program has only existed for ten years. St. Cloud State returns 16 players from last year's team that reached the Frozen Four. The Huskies are 1-3 in their last four games at Xcel Energy Center, but as a team, they've been better on NHL-sized ice (12-4) versus the Olympic-sized National Hockey Center (9-6-5) they call home. "Our team really loves playing on the NHL-sized rink and we've played really well on it this year," Huskies forward Jonny Brodzinski said, according to the St. Cloud Times. "To be in St. Paul, where all of our fans can get to and it's not too long for us to travel, it's the best scenario we could have had." Gophers HockeyHockeysportsU of M GophersMen's Gophers HockeySportsMinnesota Wild HockeyRegional CollegesXcel Energy Center Chargs: Driver was watching porn moments before causing fatal crash Gophers destroy Notre Dame; UMD tops SCSU, Mankato rips Bemidji Update: Gophers, St. Cloud State to meet for NCAA West Regional title NCAA hockey bracket set: No. 1 Gophers face off against Robert Morris NCAA tournament: Gophers top seed in West Regional College Hockey Roundup: Gophers fall to Notre Dame Gopher hockey team sweeps Notre Dame with Sunday win College hockey roundup: Gophers beat Notre Dame No. 1 Gophers top No. 2 Notre Dame, 4-1	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1048
__label__wiki	0.743251	0.743251	Latest Indiana at Northwestern News Snap Reactions: Penn State's Matt McGloin for OPOY? Every Saturday during the football season, BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart offers his Snap Reactions to every Big Ten game. See his thoughts from the Big Ten’s three early Week 5 games in this post. Among his thoughts: Is it time to put Matt McGloin in the conversation for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Penn State 35, Illinois 7 1. Is any team in the Leaders Division playing better than Penn State? Hmm. The Nittany Lions have won three in a row after a 0-2 start. With better kicking, Penn State may be 5-0. As it stands, the Did You See This? Colter's four rushing TDs Kain Colter had a day to remember in Northwestern’s Big Ten opener against Indiana on Saturday. The junior ran for a career-high four touchdowns, to go along with 161 rushing yards and 131 receiving yards – both game highs – as the Wildcats improved to 5-0 with a 44-29 victory. Colter’s scores came on runs of eight, eight, 15 and 22 yards. Watch all four scoring scampers now. [AP: Colter leads Northwestern past Indiana, 44-29] Throughout Saturday’s Indiana-Northwestern game, we provided live quarterly recaps and video on our Indiana at Northwestern page. Kain Colter carries 'Cats past Indiana, 44-29 Kain Colter ran for 161 yards and four touchdowns, and Northwestern set a school record with 704 yards of total offense in a 44-29 victory over Indiana on Saturday in both teams’ Big Ten Conference opener. Colter also finished with 131 yards receiving. Trevor Siemian threw for 308 yards, and Venric Mark ran for 138 and a touchdown on a day when the Wildcats (5-0) had to hang on after they appeared to be on their way to an easy win. They led 27-0 lead early in the third quarter before things got interesting. [ RECAP \| BY QUARTER \| 3rd Quarter Recap: Northwestern 37, Indiana 21 Northwestern’s offense looked sharp in the third quarter, scoring 17 points, and the Wildcats now lead 37-21. Northwestern threw for 126 yards and ran for 132 yards in the quarter. The Wildcats’ four big plays, including Trevor Siemian’s 36-yard pass to Tony Jones, sparked the offense in the quarter. Northwestern made its lead 27-0 when Kain Colter kept it himself for a 15-yard touchdown run on the last play of a seven-play, 75-yard drive. A 75-yard drive that ended when Stephen Houston pounded in a 20-yard touchdown run helped Indiana narrow the deficit to 27-7. The Hoosiers made the score 2nd Quarter Recap: Northwestern 20, Indiana 0 Northwestern scored 13 points in the quarter, and the Wildcats now lead 20-0. Northwestern threw for 119 yards and ran for 80 yards in the quarter. The Wildcats expanded their lead to 10-0 thanks to a 12-play, 61-yard drive that ended when Jeff Budzien kicked a 44-yard field goal. Northwestern opened up the lead, 17-0, after Kain Colter scrambled for an eight-yard touchdown run to end a five-play, 73-yard drive. The Wildcats crossed midfield on Trevor Siemian’s 25-yard pass to Rashad Lawrence from the 27-yard line. Northwestern made its lead 20-0 when Budzien made a 34-yard field goal on the 1st Quarter Recap: Northwestern 7, Indiana 0 Thanks to a mean rushing attack, Northwestern leads 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats rushed for 80 yards in the quarter. The Wildcats struck first when Kain Colter took a quarterback draw all the way for an eight-yard touchdown run, the final play of a six-play, 80-yard drive. Venric Mark’s 33-yard run took Northwestern from the 20 and across midfield to ignite the drive. The rushing attack provided every yard for the Wildcats on that drive. Indiana has possession on its own 35-yard line to start the second quarter. [ ALL PREVIEWS \| BY QUARTER \| Watch exclusive live pregame video from Northwestern Big Ten Field Pass on BTN2Go is fast becoming a must-watch event each week, and we’re doing it again on Saturday. BTN Field Pass is when BTN turns on a BTN TV camera one hour before kickoff at a selected Big Ten football game, and it let’s you see the home team’s football stadium and all that goes on before the game starts live on the Internet. This week’s featured stadium: Northwestern’s Ryan Field. This week, we open up the Field Pass at 11 a.m. ET, or one hour before Northwestern kicks off against Indiana. To be clear: This live video Week 5 Previews: What to look for in Big Ten play Earlier this week I helped take a look at who might land in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship game. Well, the road to that big game starts Saturday as Big Ten teams put a rocky non-conference run behind them and focus on pounding on each other. In this post, I take a close look at all six games, and then I’m headed to East Lansing to cover Ohio State and Michigan State on Saturday. Also, every Saturday BTN.com editors provide Rapid Recaps with quarterly updates from every game topped off with my Saturday Snap Reactions. Get those quarterly updates Revsine's Numbers: It's time for Big Ten play By Dave Revsine, 7 years ago Conference play is here – and not a moment too soon. I don’t say that for the reasons you might think (though I’m certainly not complaining about not having to discuss which game this weekend is most important for the Big Ten’s national reputation). For me the excitement is purely selfish. I get some time in my life back – the time I’ve spent over the last four weeks preparing for the Big Ten’s non-conference opponents. You never know when you might get another Appalachian State over Michigan – and my job, of course, is to be prepared to talk Week 5: We predict all six Big Ten games Every week, BTN.com’s Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) and Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) offer their predictions for each Big Ten football game. We also provide a poll for all of the games so fans can vote for their winners. After four weeks, it’s Tom and BTN.com fans on top, at 36-10, while Brent is in the cellar, at 35-11. See our Week 5 predictions and choose your winners in this post. SEASON RECORDS BTN.com fans: 36-10; .783 Tom: 36-10; .783 Brent: 35-11; .761 [RELATED: Week 5 Power Rankings \| Week 5 Player Rankings] Penn State (2-2) at Illinois (2-2) – noon ET, ESPN Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: BTN (bigtennetwork).	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1053
__label__cc	0.73633	0.26367	Posts Tagged ‘cartography’ Posted: December 20, 2014 in collaborative work, interactive cartography Tags: CartoDB, cartography, counter-mapping, data-viz, javascript, odyssey js, postGIS, postgres The Northwest Bushwick Community Map is meant to be a resource for local community organizations and tenants rights groups to easily access disparate information around land use, housing and urban development for the neighborhood of Bushwick in Brooklyn, NY. It is also intended to be a tool to inform NYC residents about what kinds of indicators may be used to predict new urban development and help prevent displacement of residents in their own neighborhoods. Recently I had the opportunity to work with the original author of the map and some fellow designers in the MFA DT program at Parsons to improve the map’s design and functionality. In the fall of 2014 two members of the Northwest Bushwick Community Group (NWB), Michael ‘Ziggy’ Mintz and Brigette Blood, met with several graduate students from MFA DT to discuss improvements to the beta-version of the map. Previously, the map used vanilla Leaflet.js with GeoJSON data created from NYC’s MapPLUTO and Department of Buildings permits open data. However the original map lacked a cohesive design and was slow in regards to loading of the data due to technical issues. Map Improvements To improve the interactivity of the map I chose to host the data on CartoDB and use the CartoDB.js library to handle loading, styling and toggling of the map’s data layers. When the user selects layers, CartoCSS and SQL code is passed to CartoDB to retrieve and style the data being rendered on the map. Hosting the data on CartoDB also allows for processing of the data in the CartoDB dashboard using PostgreSQL and PostGIS. This is beneficial as SQL scripts can be run to automate the processing of new data when the map needs to be updated. To improve the context of the map (the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How) the MFA DT team asked Ziggy and Brigette to provide us with some real world stories that show how the data relates to the dwindling affordable housing stock and displacement of longtime residents in Bushwick. To accomplish this we used the Odyssey.js Javascript API to create an interactive slide show with the map which transitions between three of NWB’s stories. With a bit of hacking we were was able to use the changing of the slides as a jQuery event trigger to toggle the map’s data layers. This allows for the slide show to give background and context about the project while also relating seemingly abstract data in a visceral way. Besides Cartodb.js and Odyssey.js we added some other features to the map to make it more useful for the Bushwick community. As there is a large Latino presence in Bushwick it was imperative to have the text of the map’s UI and the overall website toggle between English and Spanish. Additionally the non-map parts of the site were redesigned responsively using CSS Media Queries so that the other content such as “Get Help” can be easily viewed on a mobile device. In the future NWB plans on adding participatory map data they’ve collected on housing vacancy and new development as well as stories of people who have experienced being displaced or harassed by their landlords. These features may be integrated with the current map or developed separately, but either way CartoDB and Odyssey will allow for the further creation of customized interactive map content to be readily achievable. A preview of the map redesign Code for the map’s redesign The Northwest Bushwick Community Group’s home page Mapping and its Discontents, Berkeley, CA Posted: November 2, 2013 in gallery or event viewing Tags: cartography, counter-mapping, critical-cartography Last thursday I caught a flight from NYC to SFO to attend “Mapping and Its Discontents” at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California. As a day long symposium the event focused on critical and counter cartography. It was sponsored by the Global Urban Humanities program, a collaboration between University of California Berkeley and UCLA. I was drawn to this symposium not only for the theme (obviously) but also for the map contest the event held titled “See Through Maps: Maps That Lay Bare Their Point of View” as well as a range of speakers including Rebecca Solnit, Dennis Wood, Laura Kurgan, Annette Kim, Zephyr Frank and Katherine Harmon. The day flew by as each presenter drew me into well formulated discussions about the history and symbolism of cartography, their personal work and philosophies with a summary and criticism from a respondent following the presentation of each speaker. Dennis Wood, known for being a well accomplished artist, writer, cartographer, intellectual and former professor of environmental psychology and design at the College of Design at North Carolina State University opened the symposium with a talk on the origins and symbolism of power inherent in maps. In his talk Wood stated that prior to ~1500 a.d. mapping as a professional / state tool did not exist. From ~1500-1700 there was an explosion of sporadic map making across the globe from Japan to Russia to Spain; an activity that coincided with the formation of the modern nation-state. Wood argued that although maps had been created prior to 1500 a.d. their role was not as important. What this means is that maps became an artifact that assisted in constructing the nation-state, or in his words; “as maps affirm the state, the state affirms the map.” Despite the map’s evolution in modern times and its appropriation for allegorical methods as well as artists, Dadaists, Situationists, and modern day activists and data-viz the map still remains a tool of the nation-state. For example we currently are witnessing fighting over school and election districts mapping; two areas that greatly influence the lives of everyone in the United States. Both Laura Kurgan and Annette Kim gave presentations about their work in cartography and spatial thinking that encompassed the realm of counter-cartography. Kurgan, a professor at the Graduate School of Architectural Planning and Preservation at Columbia University, director of the Spatial Information Design Lab and co-director of the Advanced Data Visualization Project spoke about being the first artist to appropriate de-classified government satellite imagery during the mid 1990’s. The work she created from the imagery included photographed landscapes that are unusually a single color but represent uniquely critical or contested spaces. Two were a completely white area that was part of the ANWR (Artic Wildlife Refuge) in Alaska, a controversially planned oil well drill site, and a completely blue area representing 0˚ Latitude and 0˚ Longitude, the point of origin for Cartesian plotting all geographic data. Kurgan also created a very powerful map of Brooklyn, NY that thematically represented the amount of money being lost from each census block due to prisoner incarceration. This map provocatively reframes the prison debate by demonstrating that a large amount of capital is being taken away from poor neighborhoods within inner cities. Annette Kim, a professor at MIT’s department of Urban Studies and Planning and director of the MIT research group SLAB spoke about developing methods for Spatial Ethonography and critical cartography . Kim’s projects involved mapping sidewalk life in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam in order to progressively influence that city’s planners. Her approach actively seeks to change the current swath of similar looking data-visualization that has gained growing popularity in the past decade. Her methods included creating non-euclidian and cinematic maps of parts of Ho Chi Minh city. As street vendors face constant harassment and persecution from police Kim sought to bring the lively and highly networked sidewalk life to the planner’s attention with success; she was able to get the planners to step back from their maps and actually walk the ground of the city to make qualitative observations that would influence the planning process. Kim’s work is provocative in the sense that it asks us the question who are using maps? In Ho Chi Minh city it appears to be the city planners, construction companies and tourists but not the people living there and participating in sidewalk life. Thus she asks us to consider how as cartographers we can humanize our work through doing research on the ground instead of only relying on data. There were many other speakers I would like to mention more about but the main take aways from the conference I saw were as follows: Cartography needs to become more democratic, potentially this means that it evolve into a form beyond cartography to escape it’s legacy and association with the nation-state. To this I would add that the practice of cartography needs to become more inclusive. Designers, researchers, and cartographers must make our maps more humanistic through the use of qualitative research performed on the ground, often in a participatory nature. Maps are not necessarily the best method to display information or data; consider using spatial thinking to create forms of visualization that are photographic, cinematic, or diagrams. We should consider the power relations at work when it comes to maps. Rebecca Solnit speaks of how a paper map empowers the user while relying on Google Maps implies a sort of obedience of the user to accept the information Google is providing such as directions to a place. Additionally, what are maps choosing to depict and what are they not? We need to question this when looking at this is important for identify a map’s hidden intention(s). Maps exist as arguments or propositions and are not objective. They embody the biases of the map maker. This can be a good thing for maps have the potential to make the “invisible visible” as with counter-mapping. Similarly, data is never objective or inherently “raw”. It has always been created with a bias and as such we should never treat it as unbiased or entirely true. Posted: October 16, 2013 in major studio one Tags: cartography, manifesto, word cloud carto-manifesto3 I took my written manifesto and used a web-app called wordle to make a word cloud of it. Actual manifesto (below) is still under-construction but from this word cloud you can see what stands out is what is important to me. Guidelines for the Ethical Cartographer Go open-source. Using open-source technology in your own work helps make the tools of the trade better and more accessible to others. I still run into people, including University professors, who have never heard of Quantum GIS, the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) for Geographic Information Systems (GIS). If we are to make map making more democratic we need to help spread awareness of these open-source tools and promote their use. Use crowd-sourced and open data. OpenStreetMap (OSM), NYC Open Data, Twitter, Flickr and other sources of crowd-sourced and open spatial data are proving to be more useful at times than ‘official’ data sets. ‘Official’ data-sets, such as the U.S. Federal government’s TIGER dataset, are improved upon by the crowd as the users of OSM correct errors to them; the spread of disease is monitored from geotagged tweets; or Flickr users tag their geocoded photos with place names which Flickr then uses to assist with defining place boundaries. Teach yourself. So much of the work being done in the world of cartography, data-visualization and web-development is experimental. People are learning these new tools by diving into using them, mashing them and breaking them; not through signing up for classes at universities. Develop a peer network of like minded open-source geo enthusiasts. The more people you know who are doing work similar to yours the better. Having peers you can ask questions to can be extremely helpful when you’re stuck on a design problem or grasping a technical skill. Join a local Geo <your city here> Meet-Up group or start one where you live. Challenge yourself to do different projects. Step outside your comfort zone, take risks, fail. Eric Rodenbeck, the founder of Stamen Design, says he failed twice when first attempting to start a research based data-visualization design studio. Now Stamen is at the forefront of this type of work and collaborating with a wide range of clients and organizations. Teach others. We are all here to learn from one another. Take time to help others learn whether it’s giving some one on one advice in person or over an email or by hosting a workshop or presentation at a conference. Make the field more inclusive. Speaking of conferences, go to them. You’ll meet a lot of interesting people, learn about other work people are doing, expand your peer network and become inspired. Two cartography and spatial data related conferences to go to are State of the Map and the North American Cartographic Information Society, they meet annually. Work with a community, whether it be a neighborhood, school children, or online group on a mapping project. We can learn a lot about a place and its geography from people who don’t identify as “professional” cartographers or GIS specialists. Everyday people have expert knowledge of their experience of place. Participatory mapping helps make cartography humanistic and deconstruct its imperialist roots. Spend time away from the computer to learn about places. Walk, bike, travel to places you haven’t been. Visit exhibits whether it’s a map library or gallery opening. If you have the chance look back at how cartography used to be done. Look to see where people are taking it currently and how it can be improved upon and diversified. Experiment with analog tools. Make hand-drawn mental maps with yourself, friends and neighbors. Create interventions that ask people from a neighborhood to map their space and what’s important to them or to make the “invisible visible.”	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1063
__label__cc	0.744954	0.255046	IMF says Nigeria’s economy improving IMF HQ The International Monetary Fund, IMF, says the Nigerian economy is recovering with increased Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in 2018 and falling inflation at the end of 2018. The Executive Board of the IMF stated this in its report at the conclusion of the Board’s consultation with Nigeria, according to a statement issued in Washington, DC by a spokesperson for the Fund, Lucie Fouda. IMF said: “Nigeria’s economy is recovering. “Real GDP increased by 1.9 per cent in 2018, up from 0.8 per cent in 2017, on the back of improvements in manufacturing and services, supported by spillovers from higher oil prices, ongoing convergence in exchange rates and strides to improve the business environment. “Headline inflation fell to 11.4 per cent at end-2018, reflecting declining food price inflation, weak consumer demand, a relatively stable exchange rate and tight monetary policy during most of 2018, but remains outside of the central bank’s target range of 6-9 per cent. “Record holdings of mostly short-term local debt and equity and a current account surplus lifted gross international reserves to a peak in April 2018, while the three-times oversubscribed November 2018 Eurobond helped cushion the impact of outflows later in the year”. IMF said, however, persisting structural and policy challenges continue to constrain growth to levels below those needed to reduce vulnerabilities, lessen poverty and improve weak human development outcomes, such as in health and education. The bank said a large infrastructure gap, low revenue mobilisation, governance and institutional weaknesses, continued foreign exchange restrictions, and banking sector vulnerabilities were dampening long-term foreign and domestic investment and keeping the economy reliant on volatile oil prices and production. “Under current policies, the outlook remains therefore muted. Over the medium term, absent strong reforms, growth would hover around 2½ per cent, implying no per capita growth as the economy faces limited increases in oil production and insufficient adjustment four years after the oil price shock. “Monetary policy focused on exchange rate stability would help contain inflation but worsen competitiveness if greater flexibility is not accommodated when needed. High financing costs, on the back of little fiscal adjustment, would continue to constrain private sector credit, and the interest-to-revenue ratio would remain high. “Risks are moderately tilted downwards. On the upside, oil prices could rise, prompted by global political disruptions or supply bottlenecks. Bold reform efforts, following the election cycle, could boost confidence and investments, especially given relatively conservative baseline projections. “On the downside, additional delays in reform implementation, a persistent fall in oil prices, reduced oil production, increased security tensions, or tighter global financial market conditions could undermine growth, provoke a market sell-off, and put additional pressure on reserves and/or the exchange rate,” the Fund said. The Executive Directors, in their assessment, welcomed Nigeria’s ongoing economic recovery, accompanied by reduced inflation and strengthened reserve buffers. They noted, however, that the medium-term outlook remains muted, with risks tilted to the downside. In addition, long standing structural and policy challenges need to be tackled more decisively to reduce vulnerabilities, raise per capita growth, and bring down poverty, they said. Directors, therefore, urged the authorities to redouble their reform efforts, and supported their intention to accelerate implementation of their Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. They welcomed the Nigerian authorities’ tax reform plan to increase non-oil revenue, including through tax policy and administration measures. They stressed the importance of strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, including through additional excises, a comprehensive Value Added Tax reform, and elimination of tax incentives. Securing oil revenues through reforms of state owned enterprises and measures to improve the governance of the oil sector will also be crucial, they said. Directors highlighted the importance of shifting the expenditure mix toward priority areas. They welcomed, in this context, the significant increase in public investment but underlined the need for greater investment efficiency, while also recommending increasing funding for health and education. They noted that phasing out implicit fuel subsidies while strengthening social safety nets to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable would help reduce the poverty gap and free up additional fiscal space. With inflation still above the Central Bank target, Directors generally considered that a tight monetary policy stance is appropriate. They also urged ending direct Central Bank intervention in the economy to allow focus on the central bank’s price stability mandate. Directors commended the authorities’ commitment to unify the exchange rate and welcomed the increasing convergence of foreign exchange windows. They noted that a unified market based exchange rate and a more flexible exchange rate regime would support inflation targeting. Directors also stressed that elimination of exchange restrictions and multiple currency practices would remove distortions and facilitate economic diversification. They welcomed the decline in nonperforming loans and the improved prudential banking ratios but noted that restructured loans and undercapitalised banks continue to weigh on financial sector performance. Directors also recommended establishing a credible time bound recapitalisation plan for weak banks and a timeline for phasing out the state backed asset management company AMCON. Directors urged the authorities to reinvigorate implementation of structural reforms to diversify the economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. They pointed to the importance of improving the business environment, implementing the power sector recovery programme, deepening financial inclusion, reforming the health and education sectors, and implementing policies to reduce gender inequities. Directors welcomed improvements in the quality and availability of economic statistics and encouraged continued efforts to address remaining gaps, including through regular funding. EU to grant UK citizens visa free travel after Brexit The misfortune awaiting Ganduje, by Rayyan Alhassan	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1067
__label__wiki	0.534651	0.534651	Georgetown Law National Equal Justice Library (NEJL) Websites documenting the histories of legal aid and defender organizations in the United States (permalinks) Event: UDC Law Review 2014 Symposium April 4, 2014: Overcoming Barriers to Economic Opportunity in America Today Renewing the War on Poverty Fifty Years Later UDC David A. Clarke School of Law 4340 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Room 518 The Honorable Thomas E. Perez Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor 22nd Annual Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. Lecturer In declaring the War on Poverty fifty years ago, President Lyndon Johnson summoned the Nation to eliminate “barriers to full participation in our society” and strive to give each and every American a “fair chance to develop their own capacities.” In recognizing the Fiftieth Anniversary of that bold but unfinished task, the UDC Law Review has gathered leading policy and legal experts for this full-day symposium that explores new ways to combat the root causes of poverty in the U.S. today that continue to impair economic opportunity and mobility for many Americans. The Symposium broadly addresses barriers to economic equality and mobility in contemporary America, and ways to overcome those barriers. Noted policy and legal experts will present papers and ideas in discussion panels focusing on the following areas (some panels subject to modification): Access to Justice for the Poor (estimated start time: 5:00 p.m.). Featuring: * James S. Sandman, President, Legal Services Corporation * Peter B. Edelman, Director, Georgetown Law, Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy; * Jonathan M. Smith, Chief, Special Litigation Unit, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice; * John C. Brittain, Professor of Law, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law Inequality in Education, Health Care and Housing, including the impact of unaffordable housing on families of the District of Columbia (start time to be determined and precise speakers subject to possible modification). Featuring: * Edgar S. Cahn, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Law, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law * Marta Beresin, Staff Attorney, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless * Helen Frazer, Associate Dean for Law Library, and Associate Professor, University of the District of Columbia David A.Clarke School of Law The Impact of Debt on Economic Mobility, including the effect of bankruptcy laws on American consumers, and proposals to address the growing problem of debt in America (start time to be determined and precise speakers subject to possible modification). Featuring: * The Honorable Judge Stephen S. Mitchell, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia (RET.) (Invited) * James Tsai, Attorney and Policy Professional Proposed Changes in Welfare Policy, the need for income supplements to enhance living standards, and creating more opportunities for poor and low income individuals to join the economic mainstream. (start time to be determined and precise speakers subject to possible modification). Featuring: * Aleta Sprague, Esq., Policy Analyst, New American Foundation, Asset Building Program * Spencer Rand, Clinical Associate Professor, Temple University, Beasley School of Law * Joy Moses, Attorney and Policy Professional Community Development and the Need to Broaden Access to Capital with emphasis on wealth-sharing and worker-owned pilot projects, the role of public benefit corporations and social enterprises, and examples of recent community economic development initiatives. (start time to be determined and precise speakers subject to possible modification). Featuring: * Alicia Plerhoples, Associate Professor & Director of the Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic, Georgetown UniversitySchool of Law * Steve Dubb, Research Director, The Democracy Collaborative, University of Maryland * Louise Howells, Professor of Law & Director of the Community Development Law Clinic, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law The Symposium will conclude with remarks delivered by The Honorable Thomas E. Perez, Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor, this year’s David A. Clarke School of Law’s Annual Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. Lecturer. Additional Symposium program details forthcoming at http://www.law.udc.edu/event/2014Symposium This entry was posted in Events, General on March 7, 2014 by Katharina Hering. ← My recollections of working for Neighborhood Legal Services in Washington, DC, in the mid 1960s Reflections on a Bibliography, Fifty Years Later → National Equal Justice Library Pat Allott Silbert donates graphic art work to the NEJL Memo to OEO Campaign Staff about Poor People’s Campaign Demands, May 3, 1968 Recording of Gary Bellow teaching session on “Supervisor as Teacher” CLINT BAMBERGER A Giant of the Legal Aid Movement and His Journey from Corporate Lawyer to Poverty Lawyer New Jersey Legal Services Publishes 50 Years Advancing Justice for its Anniversary Edgar Cahn on New Thesis on the History of Poverty Law Henry Freedman on Please help the NEJL with photo identification from 1968 Conference on Welfare Law in NYC, part 1 Katharina Hering on Clinton Bamberger Dies: The Loss of an Icon FRANK N. JONES on Clinton Bamberger Dies: The Loss of an Icon Defender materials Future of Legal Services History of Legal Services In re Gault anniversary International Legal Services LSC anniversary NEJL acquisitions NLADA Oral history interviews War on Poverty anniversary Poverty Law Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity Richard Zorza's Access to Justice Blog Half in Ten Center on Poverty and Inequality National Center for Access to Justice	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1076
__label__wiki	0.685612	0.685612	Tag: Jealousy and scandal By Bluestocking Belles In Jude Knight, Teatime Tattler “My dear, the most delicious scandal from Cape Town,” said Lady Laura Hardwick, picking up the missive from her brother. Her dearest friend, Miss Delilah Sutton, laughed. “How can that be, Laura? One doesn’t know anybody in such a forsaken place.” Laura raised both brows. “Lieutenant Lord Cecil Hardwick, the third son of the Marquess of Trentwater, is not precisely a nobody,” she scolded. Delilah made a quick save. “I hardly think your brother is writing scandal about himself, and you have told me yourself that no-one else of consequence is posted there. That is a scandal, if you like, that a man like your brother is not given his own ship, and a more suitable posting.” Laura’s eyebrows returned to their normal position and she picked up the letter. “Quite so. But listen to this.” She looked up again to meet her friend’s eyes. “The man in question is the fourth son of the fourth son of an earl, so nobody of consequence, but Delilah, we know the lady!” Delilah leaned forward with all the enthusiasm Laura could desire, as Laura skimmed through the letter, turning from one sheet to another. “Hope you are well. Off to sea tomorrow. Not much to amuse. Ah. Here we are.” She grinned at Delilah, drawing out the moment. “Are you listening?” Laura nodded. “I’ve told you the youngest Redepenning is a great favourite here. One presumes it is through his parents’ influence he has already made captain. His mother’s father was an admiral, you know, though not one of our kind of people. His own father is a crony of Prinny’s, of course. Every one knows he made Brigadier-General, yes, and picked up his barony, by lifting elbows with Wales.“ Laura skipped a few more lines. “The next bit is about how Father doesn’t help him. Ah. Here’s what I was looking for.” “Redepenning lives with a Batavian native woman whom he bought off his old Captain years ago when they were both in the East. Word is she’s dying, so when another woman moved in a few weeks ago, we all thought he was making a start on training up his replacement mistress.” “No,” Delilah said, the ‘o’ on a long drawn descending note. Laura grinned again, and went on reading. “It was much more scandalous than that. The woman is actually his wife, a lady by the name of Euronyme Redepenning. Do you know her?“ “We do!” Delilah exclaimed. “We’ve both met her, Laura.” “Yes, I know. Now shush. He has more to say, and you won’t believe it.” Laura turned back to the letter. “Apparently, and I heard this from Mrs Redepenning myself, so you need have no doubt it is true, Redepenning’s wife has come all the way to Cape Town to nurse his dying mistress, and adopt his little yellow bastards. What do you think of that?“ “I cannot believe it,” Delilah gasped. “She will be shunned. The little children will be outcasts.” Laura shrugged. “I daresay the Redepennings think they can make Society dance to their tune.” Her eyes gleamed and she bared her teeth. “What a pity if poor Mrs Redepenning returns to London to find that everyone already knows what she has done, and their minds are already made up.” Delilah was alarmed. “Oh, Laura, do be careful. She is a favourite of the Duchess of Haverford.” Laura glared at her friend. “Are you going to help me? Or not?” Unkept Promises Book 4 in The Golden Redepennings series She wants to negotiate a comfortable marriage; he wants her in his bed “… oaths and anchors equally will drag: naught else abides on fickle earth but unkept promises of joy.” Herman Melville Naval captain Jules Redepenning has spent his adult life away from England, and at war. He rarely thinks of the bride he married for her own protection, and if he does, he remembers the child he left after their wedding seven years ago. He doesn’t expect to find her in his Cape Town home, a woman grown and a lovely one, too. Mia Redepenning sails to Cape Town to nurse her husband’s dying mistress and adopt his children. She hopes to negotiate a comfortable married life with the man while she’s there. Falling in love is not on her to-do list. Before they can do more than glimpse a possible future together, their duties force them apart. At home in England, Mia must fight for the safety of Jules’s children. Imprisoned in France, Jules must battle for his self-respect and his life. Only by vanquishing their foes can they start to make their dreams come true. My next novel, Unkept Promises, has just gone to the proofreader and is now on preorder. Read on for an excerpt. See my book page for the previous three books, and The Golden Redepennings web page for more about the series. And all my novels are on 50% discount at Smashwords this month. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TXXK53N/ His little wife had grown. Not ‘up’ exactly. She was still a tiny creature, her head no higher than his chest, but no-one would take her for a schoolgirl now! Was it the modern fashions that gave her curves he’d not seen seven years ago—not a lush endowment but decidedly female? Annoyed with her though he was, he could not deny that his body responded to hers, as if something primitive within him rejoiced in the link formed by their long-ago wedding and yearned to set seal to his claim. A physical lust. That was all. It could be ignored. But the change in her was not only physical. She had been an endearing mix of child and adult. Her isolated life as the only child of a reclusive scholar had given her a wisdom and maturity beyond her years and the innocence of a much younger girl. Now she was a woman. Confident and in charge. Which was extremely irritating, since she had placed herself in charge of his house! As he allowed his two daughters to drag him back upstairs and show him and Dan around their domain, he had to concede she was competent. No. More than competent. He couldn’t complain about the changes in the nursery—new paint, shelves instead of trunks for books and toys, new furniture—sturdy painted furniture that would withstand much more activity than the rejects from the rest of the house that had been there before. “Sit in Ibu Mia’s chair, Papa,” Ada commanded. Marsha scoffed. “Not Ibu Mia’s. Papa is too big. Sit in Hannah’s chair, Papa.” “Is Hannah looking after you while she is visiting?” Jules was not above finding out his wife’s intentions from his children, if he could. “Hannah is not visiting. Hannah is our new nurse,” Ada explained. She was dragging his duffel bag from where Dan had dropped it by the door. Marsha offered her morsel of information. “Hannah used to be nurse to our cousin Daisy, but Daisy has a governess now, so Hannah came to be our nurse.” “And to look after Ibu Mia,” Ada corrected. “Hannah said Lord Henry said Ibu Mia could not travel all this way on her own. Is Lord Henry our grandfather, Papa? Hannah says he is.” “Yes, sweetheart,” Jules confirmed. “Lord Henry is my father, so your grandfather.” Father had approved this trip, had he? He had never been happy about Jules’s irregular living arrangements, Jules was sure of that, though his letters were devoid of any criticism. Susan, Jules’s sister, was more direct in her letters, castigating him for leaving his wife for so long. They probably sent Mia to bring Jules to heel. But he wouldn’t be leashed by her or anyone else, either. He pulled the first object from his duffel: a mancala board in carved wood, with stones in bright colours to play the game. “How pretty!” Ada marvelled. “Look, Marsha. Look at the carvings. What does it do, Papa? Who is it for?” “This is to share,” Jules warned, “and Dan will teach you how to play the game.” Next, he pulled out a skipping rope each. One of the men on the Advantage had made the brightly painted wooden handles, sized for small hands, and the ropes fed through a hole in the butt of the handle, so they could be lengthened or shortened to suit the height of the user. The girls fell on them and wanted to try them out immediately, but settled quickly when he suggested that Hannah would expect them to skip outside, and he had not yet emptied the duffle. Two of the maids carried in trays with glasses of milk for the children, plates of scones, bowls of jam, and a pot of coffee for Jules. He waved them to the table while he distributed the strings of beads he’d purchased in the market at Toamasina. “May I serve you a scone, Papa?” Marsha asked. “I shall pour Papa’s coffee,” Dan insisted. “I know how he takes it.” Ada’s face fell, and Marsha must have noticed, because she gave the prepared plate to her sister. “You shall take this to Papa, because you helped make them, too,” she said. Jules’s smile must have said how proud he was, for his shy daughter blushed while the bold one climbed on his knee and instructed him on the fine art of scone-eating. The girls set aside the book each he gave them for reading later, but when the bundle of silk scarves and the handful of pretty combs for their hair emptied the duffel, they forgot about their milk and scones for the pleasures of dressing one another’s hair, and parading the results in front of Dan and Jules. Jules kept looking to the door, but Mia stayed away. He was disappointed, and annoyed with himself for the emotion. She had charmed his mistress, his daughters, and his servants; was well on her way to charming his son. She would not find him such an easy conquest. Though, to be fair, most of what he’d had against her had evaporated. Now he’d had time to calm down, he could not object to Mia moving Kirana from the room next to his own, with only one small window, to the top floor at the far end of the wing, with windows on all three sides, though he wouldn’t have called the room over hot. It was, after all, still winter. Though the Cape Town winters were very mild by English standards, Kirana was used to the heat of Ceylon and India. Still, the difference in temperature and the freshness of the air spoke for itself, and Kirana’s praise for Mia was genuine. The whole house had the Mia touch. The surfaces gleamed. Every corner was scrubbed and clean. The windows sparkled. Since Raquib and Jwala had returned to India, and Kirana’s illness left her without the strength to supervise the servants, he’d had to ignore cobwebs and dust in remote corners, because it upset Kirana when he spent the first few days of every leave chasing the servants to do their work. Even if Mia was overstepping her mark by taking over the house he kept for his mistress—whoever heard of a wife doing such a thing? —he couldn’t deny the results were pleasing. But she had still dismissed a pregnant maid to fend for herself in a port town where men outnumbered women four to one. And she was still here when she ought to be in England.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1081
__label__wiki	0.678201	0.678201	Anti-allodynic effect of intrathecal processed Aconitum jaluense is associated with the inhibition of microglial activation and P2X7 receptor expression in spinal cord Jihoon Yang†1, 3, Keun Suk Park†2, Jae Joon Yoon2, Hong-Beom Bae2, 3, Myung Ha Yoon2, 3 and Jeong Il Choi2, 3Email authorView ORCID ID profile For their analgesic and anti-arthritic effects, Aconitum species have been used in folk medicine in some East Asian countries. Although their analgesic effect is attributed to its action on voltage-dependent sodium channels, they also suppress purinergic receptor expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats with neuropathic pain. In vitro study also demonstrated that the Aconitum suppresses ATP-induced P2X7 receptor (P2X7R)-mediated inflammatory responses in microglial cell lines. Herein, we examined the effect of intrathecal administration of thermally processed Aconitum jaluense (PA) on pain behavior, P2X7R expression and microglial activation in a rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model. Mechanical allodynia induced by L5 SNL in Sprague-Dawley rats was measured using the von Frey test to evaluate the effect of intrathecal injection of PA. Changes in the expression of P2X7R in the spinal cord were examined using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. In addition, the effect of intrathecal PA on microglial activation was evaluated by immunofluorescence. Intrathecal PA attenuated mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent manner showing both acute and chronic effects with 65 % of the maximal possible effect. The expression and production of spinal P2X7R was increased five days after SNL, but daily intrathecal PA injection significantly inhibited the increase to the level of naïve animals. Immunofluorescence of the spinal cord revealed a significant increase in P2X7R expression and activation of microglia in the dorsal horn, which was inhibited by intrathecal PA treatment. P2X7R co-localized with microglia marker, but not neurons. Intrathecal PA exerts anti-allodynic effects in neuropathic pain, possibly by suppressing P2X7R production and expression as well as reducing microglial activation in the spinal cord. Aconitum jaluense P2X7 receptor The Aconitum plants have shown analgesic effects in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.[1, 2] They also have been used in folk medicine for analgesic and anti-rheumatic effect, and for neurologic indications in Eastern Asia.[3] Aconitum, used without any processing, can cause serious toxicities such as cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Therefore, aconitum plants are generally detoxified through thermal processing before their use. Despite the traditional use of this plant for analgesia, the detailed mechanism attributable to its effect remains unclear. Blockade of voltage-dependent sodium channels of neurons is considered the primary mechanism underlying the analgesic effects Aconitum plants.[4–6] However, spinal glial cells also play a significant role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain in addition to the involvement of neurons.[7, 8] Interestingly, lappaconitine, one of the alkaloid components of Aconitum plant species, was shown to suppress the expression of purinergic receptor in dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats with neuropathic pain.[9] If the processed Aconitum plant inhibits the expression of purinergic receptor on microglia, it is possible that it may inhibit microglial activation, thereby contributing to the attenuation of neuropathic pain. Supporting this hypothesis, a previous in vitro study demonstrated that Bullatine A, a diterpenoid alkaloid of the genus Aconitum, suppressed adenosine triphosphast (ATP)-induced P2X7R-mediated inflammatory responses in BV-2 microglial cells.[10] Indeed, activation of the P2X7R expressed on resting microglia is important for microglial activation in neuropathic pain [11–13]. This study was designed to examine the effect of intrathecally administered processed Aconitum jaluense (PA) on pain behavior and changes in the expression of P2X7R and microglial activation in an L5 spinal nerve ligation model (SNL) in rat. All experiments were performed in accordance with the International Association for the Study of Pain guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research. The protocol (CNU IACUC-H-2013-19) was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Animal preparation Male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 225–250 g were housed in a room maintained at a constant temperature of 22–23 °C with an alternating 12 h light/dark cycle. Access to both water and food was provided ad libitum. Intrathecal catheter implantation and neuropathic pain model A polyethylene-5 (PE-5) catheter was implanted into the intrathecal (i.t.) space for experimental drug administration as described previously.[14] Under general anesthesia using sevoflurane, a PE-5 catheter was introduced through the atlanto-occipital membrane and advanced caudally 8.5 cm to the level of the lumbar enlargement. Any rat with a neurological deficit after catheter implantation was killed immediately with an overdose of inhalation anesthetic. Animals were housed in individual cages following surgery. After a recovery period of five days, L5 SNL was performed as described previously.[15] Briefly, the left L5 spinal nerve was isolated adjacent to the vertebral column during sevoflurane anesthesia and tightly ligated with a 6-0 silk suture distal to the dorsal root ganglia. Preparation and administration of experimental agents Processed Aconitum jaluense (PA) was obtained from the Plant Extract Bank (PEB) at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. Aconitum jaluense is one of the Aconitum species found in remote mountainous regions of the Korean peninsula, and it has been used for Korean folk medicine.[16, 17] The root of Aconitum jaluense was boiled in water at 100 °C for 150 min, followed by filtering and yield testing. After the extract was concentrated and dried at 75 °C, it was stored in a vacuumed bottle prior to use at -4 °C. The extract was dissolved with saline immediately before administration. I.t. administration was performed using a hand-driven, gear-operated syringe pump. All drugs were delivered in a volume of 10 μL, followed by an additional 10 μL of normal saline to flush the catheter. I.t. injection of PA was performed daily beginning from day 3 through day 7 following SNL. Behavioral study By applying calibrated von Frey filaments (Stoelting, Wood Dale, IL, USA) having buckling forces between 0.41 and 15.2 g to the hind paw of animals, the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) with 50 % probability was obtained using the up and down method, as described previously.[18] Mechanical allodynia was defined as having a PWT less than 4 g. Animals that did not show mechanical allodynia following SNL were excluded from this study. On the day of the experiment to determine the acute effects of i.t. PA, rats were randomly allocated into experimental (PA; 10, 30, 100, and 300 μg, N = 8 per group) and control (saline, N = 8) groups. PWT was measured for 3 h at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min following a single i.t. administration of PA or saline. The chronic effect of i.t. PA (300 μg, N = 8 per group) was also evaluated in another set of animals, who were injected daily for five days beginning from day 3 to day 7 after SNL; the PWT was measured 10 min before and 30 min after each injection. All experiments were performed by investigators blinded to treatment conditions. The spinal cord was rapidly removed by hydro-extrusion under inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane (N = 7 per group). Lumbar enlargement of L4 –L6 was obtained, immediately frozen and stored at –70 °C. Collected tissue samples were homogenized in lysis buffer containing a mixture of protease inhibitors. Protein concentrations were determined, and aliquots (10 μg) were loaded and run on 12 % sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) gel, and electrophoretically transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. Blots were blocked with 5 % non-fat milk in Tris-buffered saline (pH 7.5) containing 0.1 % Tween 20 for 1 h, and incubated overnight at 4 °C with rabbit anti-P2X7R (1:1000; Millipore). After washing, blots were incubated with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit IgG (1:1000; Cell Signaling, USA) for 2 h at 4 °C, developed in enhanced chemiluminescent solution (Millipore) for approximately 1 min, and exposed onto film. Densities of specific P2X7R bands were using a computer-assisted imaging analysis system and were normalized against corresponding β-actin (1:1000; Cell Signaling) levels as a sample loading control. Determination of P2X7R expression by RT-PCR The expression of P2X7R mRNA in the spinal cord was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, N = 7 per group). On days 3, 5 and 7 after SNL, ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord was obtained from the lumbar spinal enlargement, and total RNA was extracted with RNAiso Plus (Takara Bio, Japan). RNA yield was determined by measuring the absorbance at 260 and 280 nm. RT-PCR was performed using a PrimeScript RT-PCR Kit (Takara Bio) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Total RNA (1 μg) was reverse-transcribed for 60 min at 42 °C, and PCR amplification was performed for the P2X7R for 34 cycles of denaturation (95 °C for 1 min), annealing (65 °C for 30 s) and extension (72 °C for 1 min). For GAPDH, amplification was performed in 23 cycles of denaturation (95 °C for 30 s), annealing (55 °C for 30 s) and extension (72 °C for 30 s). PCR products were separated on 1.5 % agarose gels and made visible using SYBR safe DNA gel stain. Band intensity was measured by densitometry, and relative values of the P2X7R to GAPDH were calculated. Primers coding for rat P2X7R and GAPDH were designed as follows: P2X7R, forward 5’-AAT GAG TCC CTG TTC CCT GGC TAC-3’ and reverse 5’-CAG TTC CAA GAA GTC CGT CTG G-3’; GAPDH, forward 5’-GGC CTT CCG TGT TCC TAC C-3’ and reverse 5’-CGG CAT GTC AGA TCC ACA AC-3’. Rats were deeply anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of a mixture of ketamine and xylazine (4:1, 0.7 ml/kg), and perfused transcardially with 200 mL of 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), followed by 300 mL of 4 % paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). After the perfusion, lumbar enlargement segments were harvested (N = 4 per group) and post-fixed in the same perfusate at 4 °C for 6 h. Tissues were immersed in 20 % sucrose solution for 12 h and then in 30 % sucrose solution overnight until they sank to the bottom for cytoprotection. After snap-freezing, transverse sections (20 μm) were obtained using a cryostat. All sections were blocked with 3 % normal goat serum in 0.3 % Triton X-100 for 2.5 h at room temperature. Sections were subsequently incubated with rabbit polyclonal antibody against P2X7R (1:200, Millipore) or mouse monoclonal antibody Iba-1 (microglial marker, 1:200; Abcam, UK) for 4 °C overnight. Antibody binding to tissue sections was visualized with a mixture of goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (1:1000; Invitrogen, USA) or goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated with Alexa Fluor 594 (1:1000; Invitrogen) for 2 h at 37 °C. Sections were rinsed in 0.01 M PBS and cover slips were applied. For double-label immunofluorescence, spinal cord sections were incubated with 3 % normal goat serum for 30 min at room temperature. Sections were subsequently incubated with rabbit polyclonal antibody against P2X7R (1:200; Millipore) at 37 °C for 1 h, and then 4 °C overnight. Antibody binding to tissue sections was visualized with FITC labeled anti-rabbit IgG conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 for 1.5 h at 37 °C. Sections were then incubated with 3 % normal goat serum and mouse monoclonal anti- Iba-1 (1:200; Abcam) or mouse monoclonal anti-NeuN Ab (1:1000; Millipore) for 1 h at 37 °C. Bilateral images were captured with a fluorescence microscope at 10–60X. Acquired images were imported into Adobe Photoshop software for image presentation. Images were then converted to gray scale and analyzed using Image J software. After drawing an outline on the dorsal horn gray matter, fluorescent intensity was obtained using the same outline for each image and was subtracted by background intensity. Data are expressed as the means ± standard error of the mean (S.E.M). Dose-response data are presented as a percentage of the maximum possible effect, calculated as follows: (post-drug PWT – post-injury baseline PWT)/(cut-off PWT – post-injury baseline PWT)] × 100. We used one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction for data analysis, but performed Krulskal-Walli's test followed by Dunn's post hoc test for immunofluorescence and unpaired t-test for data on the chronic analgesic effect of i.t. PA. Results were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05. Acute single i.t. PA treatment produced a significant anti-allodynic effect in SNL animals in a dose-dependent manner compared with control (saline) group (Fig. 1). Its effect peaked within 30 min (MPE 65 %), then decreased, and lasted until 3 h after i.t. treatment. Daily i.t. PA for five days attenuated the mechanical allodynia compared to the control group (Fig. 2). Interestingly, the PWT measured before i.t. PA on days 5 and 7 was also significantly higher than the corresponding control group, indicative of a chronic anti-allodynic effect of i.t. PA. Acute effects of intrathecal (i.t.) processed Aconitum jaluense (PA) on the hind paw withdrawal response to von Frey filaments following spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Time course of paw withdrawal threshold (a) shows an increase in PWT in animals treated with i.t. PA, which peaks within 30 min. The anti-allodynic effect lasted 3 h following i.t. PA. The percentage of maximal possible effect (b) of i.t. PA was 65 % at a dose of 300 μg. N = 8 per each treatment. P < 0.05, P < 0.01 vs. saline Chronic effects of intrathecal (i.t.) PA on allodynic response to von Frey filaments following spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Each group received i.t. PA (N = 8) or saline (N = 8) once daily for 5 days. ‘Pre’ and ‘Post’ on the x-axis represent the PWT measured 10 min before and 30 min following i.t. PA injection, respectively. P < 0.05 vs. corresponding PWT of the saline group measured prior to injection Protein levels of spinal P2X7R gradually increased in SNL animals compared to naïve rats, and peaked seven days after SNL. Its increase was significantly attenuated in animals treated with daily i.t. PA (Fig. 3). In addition, mRNA expression of P2X7R was determined to significantly increase on day 7 after the injury, which was obliterated by i.t. PA treatment (Fig. 4). a Changes in P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) expression in the spinal cord ipsilateral to the SNL by Western blot analysis. Bar graphs depicting the relative intensity of P2X7R expression show a gradual increase in P2X7R levels in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord. b Effect of intrathecal (i.t.) administration of PA on P2X7R expression in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord. Representative blots showing the expression of P2X7R and GAPDH on day 7 following SNL. Intrathecal injection of PA or saline was performed from days 3 to 7. The increase in P2X7R in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord was significantly blocked in animals treated with i.t. PA (300 μg). N = 7 per group. P < 0.05 vs. naive a Increased expression of P2X7R mRNA in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord following L5 SNL. Gel panels show RT-PCR products from the spinal cord of naïve rats on days 3, 5 and 7 following SNL. P2X7R mRNA is significantly increased after SNL compared to naïve animals. b Intrathecal (i.t.) administration of PA blocked the increase in P2X7R mRNA expression in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord on day 7 following SNL. N = 7 per group. P < 0.05 vs. naive Immunoreactivity to Iba1, a microglial marker, was significantly increased in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn on day 7 after SNL, indicative of microglial activation. In parallel, immunoreactivity to P2X7R of the ipsilateral dorsal horn was significantly increased compared to the contralateral dorsal horn. Daily i.t. PA significantly reduced changes in immunoreactivity to Iba-1, as well as P2X7R (Fig. 5). In addition, P2X7R co-localized with Iba-1, but not Neu-N, suggesting that expression of the increased mainly on microglia, rather than neurons in the spinal dorsal horn of SNL animals (Fig. 6). Intrathecal (i.t.) PA attenuated the increase in P2X7R and Iba-1 expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord seven days following L5 SNL. P2X7R immunoreactivity (green) was increased on the ipsilateral side (b) compared with the contralateral side (a). Expression of Iba1 in microglia (red) within the dorsal horn was significantly increased on the ipsilateral side (f) compared with the contralateral side (e). Both the increase in immunoreactivity to P2X7R and Iba-1 were attenuated by i.t. PA treatment (c, g), which was analyzed and depicted by bar graphs showing mean fluorescence intensity (d, h). N = 4 animals/group for all bars. Scale bar, 25 μm. *P < 0.05 vs. SNL/PA Representative sections double labeled for anti-P2X7R (a, e) with anti-Iba1 (b) or anti-Neu-N (f) of the spinal dorsal horn on day 7 following L5 SNL. Right photographs (d, h) show amplified images derived from white open squares in merged images (c, g), indicating that P2X7R is expressed exclusively in microglia. Scale bar, 25 μm This study demonstrated that the PA exerts anti-allodynic effects and suppresses microglial activation, as well as the expression of P2X7R on microglia in the spinal cord in neuropathic pain rat model. Over 250 species make up the genus Aconitum plant, which belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. Previous studies have reported several beneficial effects of PA that are associated with its traditional use as an herbal medicine. It has been used for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and neurological effects [2, 4] However, the adverse effects and undefined mechanisms limited its use as a medicinal drug.[19, 20] Aconitum jaluense is one of the Aconitum plants found in the Korean peninsula, and has been used for analgesic effect and alleviating inflammatory symptoms of arthritis.[16, 17] In addition to its traditional use for reducing inflammation and producing analgesia for arthritis, it also attenuated the allodynic response in an animal neuropathic pain model in the present study. Several mechanisms underlying these effects of Aconitum have been proposed; activation of spinal k-opioid receptor, inhibiting the growth of sympathetic sprouting in dorsal ganglia, and down regulation of purinergic receptors.[9, 21] However, the voltage dependent sodium channel is considered a primary target for the analgesic and side effects of Aconitum plants.[4–6, 19] Therefore, the anti-allodynic effect of i.t. PA shown in the current study could be attributed to its action on the sodium channel on neurons in the spinal cord. Previous studies demonstrated that the nociceptive behaviors in acute and inflammatory pain models, including hot plate test and carrageenan model, decreased in animals treated with processed Aconitum plant. [6, 22] In the current study, i.t. PA produced not only acute, but also chronic anti-allodynic effects following daily i.t. treatment beginning on day 3 after SNL. The intensity of allodynia was reduced on days 5 and day 7 even before i.t PA administration. The mechanism of the chronic effect remains unclear, but its action on the sodium channel on neuron may not be the sole mechanism responsible for the anti-allodynic effect. As shown in the current study, daily i.t. PA significantly blocked both increase of P2X7R expression and microglial activation. This finding suggests that the anti-allodynic, in particular chronic effect is associated with the effect of i.t. PA on microglia and P2X7R. Meanwhile, it is known that glia, as well as neurons in the central nervous system, play a critical role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain.[7, 8] Many studies have suggested that microglia in the spinal cord are activated in response to peripheral nerve injury participating in the pathogenic mechanisms of neuropathic pain.[23, 24] The current study demonstrated that the pretreatment with PA significantly attenuated the activation of microglia which occurs in response to peripheral nerve injury induced by spinal nerve ligation. Inhibition of microglial activation could be caused by direct effect of PA blocking sodium channel or purinergic receptor on microglia. However, the attenuation of microglial activation might be caused indirectly, possibly by blocking the interaction between neurons and microglia.[7, 8] The sodium channel blocking effect could have resulted in less intense firing of neurons involved in peripheral nerve injury, and subsequent inhibition of activation of microglia.[25, 26] The causal relationship between anti-allodynic effect of i.t. treatment of PA and microglial activation should be further explored to elucidate the mechanism underlying its anti-allodynic effect. Purinergic signaling is one of the key players in microglial activation and its interaction with neurons.[27, 28] Limited information has been provided regarding the role of the purinergic receptor in the analgesic effect produced by Aconitum plants. P2X3 receptors are known to be involved in producing analgesic effect of lapaconitine, a type of aconitum alkaloid.[9] Lapaconitine downregulated the P2X3 receptor expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons in a chronic constriction injury rat model, suggesting that some of principles of Aconitum have a substantial effect on puringergic receptors, in particular, P2X ionotropic receptors. The expression of P2X receptors on microglia is mainly confined to P2X4 and P2X7Rs.[11] In the present study, the expression of P2X7R was observed in microglia, but not in neurons. A previous in vitro study also investigated the effect of the genus Aconitum on the function of microglia using the BV-2 microglia cell line, in which Bullatine A, an alkaloid of Aconitum, inhibited ATP-induced BV-2 cell death and apoptosis and inflammatory responses by suppressing P2X7R expression.[10] In the current study, overall expression of the P2X7R in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn was significantly attenuated by i.t. PA, compared to control animals in which P2X7R expression increased gradually following the ligation of the spinal nerve. Previous experiments also have shown that P2X7R is expressed mostly in microglia which was activated in response to injury.[12, 27, 29] These findings suggest a direct effect of i.t. PA on microglia resulting in suppression of P2X7R expression. The result of current study warrant further investigations on the active analgesic ingredients of Aconitum jaluense and its possible pharmacologic actions on purinergic receptors, including P2X receptors. Intrathecal (i.t.) PA exerts both acute and chronic antiallodynic effect in neuropathic pain induced by SNL. Microglia activation and expression of P2X7R in the spinal cord are inhibited by i.t. PA, and these effects may contribute to antiallodynic effect of i.t. PA. This study was supported by a grant (CRI 13902-23.4 and CRI 16030-1) of Chonnam National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. JY and KSP designed and performed experiment and prepared the manuscript. JJY, BHY, MHY participated in data analysis and experiment design. JIC conceived this study and participated in experiment design and manuscript writing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors declare that no competing financial interests exist. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Chonnam National University Medical School approved the experiment protocol (CNU IACUC-H-2013-19) of this study. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea Xu H, Arita H, Hayashida M, Zhang L, Sekiyama H, Hanaoka K. Pain-relieving effects of processed Aconiti tuber in CCI-neuropathic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103(3):392–7.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar Li M, He J, Jiang LL, Ng ES, Wang H, Lam FF, Zhang YM, Tan NH, Shaw PC. The anti-arthritic effects of Aconitum vilmorinianum, a folk herbal medicine in Southwestern China. 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It’s a story most Americans have never heard of and shines a new and disturbing light on the role of the United States in the creation of communist Vietnam, and their treatment of the indigenous tribes that fought for the CIA’s Phoenix Program. Johnnie Walker dominated Saigon’s War profiteering, Black Market, Money Laundering, and Drug Trafficking for all the major Vietnamese Crime Lords Generals in Saigon, as well as for South Vietnam’s President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, and Air Marshall /South Vietnam’s VP, Nguyễn Cao Kỳ. His astounding metamorphosis from criminal mastermind to Vietnam’s ‘Oskar Schindler’ began in 1968 when he discovers that Washington intends to abandon his friends and former MAT Team CIA Phoenix program Montagnards, “The Yards”, fighters that he’d fought side by side with as a MAT Team Advisor in Pleiku. He loved “The Yards” and the War Orphans the Yards took care of, and he was going to make sure he did the “Right Thing” for them. It was an amazing turnabout for the once money-hungry Walker, because even though he did not begin his journey as a hero, by the time the war was winding down, he became one. He used his cunning to bend the system to help him and his over 600 Yards and 100 Orphans escape Vietnam. He was strong in the face of constant danger and double-cross, and he placed the well-being of The Yards and Orphans above his own well-being. Based on real historical events, the suspense and intrigue of the story carries larger-than-life qualities and heightened reality. It’s about 90% historical basis and 10% creative license, but it adds up to 100% spellbinding story. It has more political intrigues, more suspense, more intense psychological analysis, and more technological know-how than anything Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum could fantasize about. And it has something else besides: It’s based on a true story, depicts the courage and shrewdness of an unlikely savior, a man who is a flawed mixture of hedonism and decency and who, in the presence of unutterable evil, transcends the limits of his own humanity, and the pragmatic triumph of good over evil, a triumph in eminently measurable, statistical, unsubtle terms. Set in his adopted hometown, Saigon, Vietnam, where he spent over six years, American Gangster – Operation Beaucoup Dinky Dau, is the book that Steve Murphy has been building up to for his whole career. From its opening fusillade to its astonishing conclusion, it’s that rarest of literary creations: a book that combines spectacular elegance of craft with a kinetic wallop as fierce as the Monsoons and Tsunamis bringing torrential rains to the Pearl of the Orient. March 9, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Murphy/e/B071G1JJ5N/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 They were here before us. They are here now. They will be here when we are gone. January 27, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXT7HSH Broken Childhood, Mended Dreams (The Misadventures of Jimmy Lee) The Autobiography of Jimmy Lee. Jimmy Lee has led some sort of life! He had a start in life few would have survived; he was taken into care at three years old and by the time he was eleven he had moved home ten times and attended nine different schools. His early adolescence was hard by any standards. At fourteen, he ran away to join the Royal Navy and was sent, along with 2000 other boys, to the notorious HMS Ganges at Shotley, in Suffolk, a training establishment where a harsh regime held sway. He had the misfortune to be placed under the care of two particularly brutal instructors, prone to drunkenness, whose continual bullying and abuse proved too much for his emerging free spirit. Jim fought back and deserted on numerous occasions. Among his many punishments, he suffered ‘cuts’, a particularly brutal form of naval punishment. The next six years passed with regular naval detentions in the Royal Naval Detention Quarters, Portsmouth, involving exhausting routines and solitary confinements, which ended with a twelve month sentence in the infamous HM Military Prison Corradina, Malta, after which he was dismissed from the Service and returned to civilian life. Then his troubles really began! October 6, 2018 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999628411 SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth Winner of 20 book awards, SHOT DOWN is set within the framework of World War II in Europe and recounts the dramatic experiences of each member of a ten man B-17 bomber crew after their plane, piloted by the author’s father, was knocked out of the sky by German fighters over the French/Belgium border on February 8,1944. Some men died. Some were captured and became prisoners of war. Some men evaded capture and were missing in action for months before making it back to England. Their individual stories and those of the courageous Belgian people who risked their lives to help them are all different and are all remarkable. Even before the dramatic battle in the air and the subsequent harrowing events on the ground, the story is informative, insightful, and captivating. Prior to the fateful event, the book covers the crew’s training, their journey to England, what life was like on base as well as in London and the English countryside, and the perils of flying combat missions over occupied Europe and Germany. Through personal letters, oral and written accounts, declassified military documents, and interviews – all from people who took part in the events that happened over 70 years ago (even the German Luftwaffe pilot who shot down the Susan Ruth) – the stories come alive. Adding to the feeling of “being there”, are more than 200 time period photographs interspersed throughout the book. To add background and context, many historical facts and anecdotes about and surrounding World War II are entwined throughout the book so that the reader has a feel for and understanding of what was occurring on a broader scale. SHOT DOWN is an account about brave individuals, featuring pilot Howard Snyder, set within the compelling events of the greatest conflict in world history. October 2, 2018 http://bit.ly/ShotDownBook We Won’t Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy An American family in crisis and how they deal with it. An aging WWII veteran with dementia, a pregnant daughter bein stalked by her meth using boyfriend, and a preteen becoming a teenager are what we see. Behind the scenes, a greater crisis is gathering as an old enemy of one of the family gets ready to take revenge from his post as manager of a security firm contracted to the NSA. By the end of the story you will be wondering who has your information and what are they going to do with it. Available in both Kindle and paperback. August 21, 2018 https://smile.amazon.com/Wont-Forget-You-Mr-McGillicuddy-ebook/dp/B01LYZIM1Z/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_1405964225?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8 The Warramunga’s War The Warramunga’s War is a sweeping narrative of the friendship that forms between a young Australian army officer, Jamie Munro, and an educated half-caste Warramunga aboriginal NCO, Jack ‘Jacko’ O’Brien, during the Syrian campaign against the Vichy French in World War II. Jacko rescues a wounded Jamie after which they are conscripted in Cairo by MI6. Here, Jamie and Jacko learn about the seamy side of war in counterespionage as they track down German spies. The principal fictional characters interact with actual historical figures and events throughout the story. As the desert war escalates to the west of Cairo, the MI6 team confuses the enemy with misleading radio messages using German codes and using local entertainers as undercover agents. On one of his day leaves, Jacko meets a beautiful young Syrian-French girl and a strong romantic bond forms between the two during his time in Cairo. Following the end of the desert war, Jamie and Jacko are assigned to wartime intelligence work in Southeast Asia. After the end of the Pacific war, they initiate the Darwin operations of the CIS, the Commonwealth Investigation Service. On the trail of two suspected wartime German agents, they discover the agents have formed a dangerous criminal gang with an individual they had known during their time in Cairo. The tracking skills of the Warramunga are needed to finally catch up with the murderous gang in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. August 12, 2018 https://www.amazon.com/Warramungas-War-Greg-Kater/dp/0648160742 Reprobation Are you one of the elect? Dr. Helen Hope is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgement, and the destiny of humankind. She is also a Calvinist nun, her life devoted to atoning for a secret crime. When a body is found crucified on a Liverpool beach, she forms an unlikely alliance with suspect Mikko Kristensen, lead guitarist in death metal band Total Depravity. Together, they go on the trail of a rogue geneticist who they believe holds the key – not just to the murder, but to something much darker. Also on the trail is cynical Scouse detective Darren Swift. In his first murder case, he must confront his own lack of faith as a series of horrific crimes drag the city of two cathedrals to the gates of hell. Science meets religious belief in this gripping murder mystery. August 3, 2018 https://mybook.to/reprobation Craving (Steel Brothers Saga Book 1) After being left at the altar, Jade Roberts seeks solace at her best friend’s ranch on the Colorado western slope. Her humiliation still ripe, she doesn’t expect to be attracted to her friend’s reticent brother, but when the gorgeous cowboy kisses her, all bets are off. Talon Steel is broken. Having never fully healed from a horrific childhood trauma, he simply exists, taking from women what is offered and giving nothing in return…until Jade Roberts catapults into his life. She is beautiful, sweet, and giving, and his desire for her becomes a craving he fears he’ll never be able to satisfy. Passion sizzles between the two lovers…but long-buried secrets haunt them both and may eventually tear them apart. June 29, 2018 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FWPZQRY A Moment To Love: (A Whistle Stop Romance, book 1) Welcome to Whistle Stop…where anything can and most likely will happen. The notorious cowboy meets his match… Cord Lawson instantly distrusted the young woman in a smart suit who’d just arrived in Whistle Stop. She was very pretty and clearly a city girl—but with memories of his failed marriage still darkening his mind, he’s determined to steer clear! But she’s sniffing around his land—land that has been in his family for generations. Alexis Greer had one mission—close the deal on the Lawson ranch; without it, her father’s land development company would go bankrupt. But the word around town is to keep clear of Cord and to stay away from his precious land. However, determination was Lexi’s middle name. She just had to keep on trying to breach Cord’s barriers, to appeal somehow to his head and heart—even if it put her in danger of losing both of hers…to him. June 29, 2018 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RPLREWE/ Get BmiBooks Mobile App Get It From Google Play Christ 3ye Alch3my: The Rising Stars of the Apocalypse The Origin of Spiritual Transfiguration It is in daylight savings time that the shining 1 in the 7th day has come out from the darkness of midnight into the 10th age of light. The enlightened stars and hands of time shall move forward with and in the hour/1 to be saved, as the last day of the weakened is a new day to become strengthened through your 5 combined elemental senses. The knowledge which comes shining in from enlightening wisdom is passed down through the hand of time. It is Atomic lighting enlightenment, which alters the al-chemical imbalance in the mind-3ye, transfiguring you into a shining enlightened moral, immortal figure of spirit-mental gold. Alchemy is within all living transfiguring things, as this is the natural growth of which brings fourth TRU metaphysical change. Those living Christ/crowned-anointed souls-minds who spiritually know the Lord-word, have seen the alchemic metamorphosis in this new day & age of spirit-mentally transitioning into the shining enlightened 1’s. June 29, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578506874/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1560196986&sr=8-1 Imagine a world where everything you grew up with is gone. No adults, no internet, no rules. The world is facing the deadliest virus ever known. When the KV17 virus kills everyone above the age of seventeen, life becomes a battle of survival for the children left behind. Seeking to escape the escalating violence in the city, two sisters, Lexi and Hadley flee to the Australian outback. Finding sanctuary in the small town of Jasper’s Bay, they soon realise it is far from safe, as a gang of lawless teenagers terrorise the town. Caught in a bitter feud leading to betrayal, deceit and murder, the girls must quickly uncover who their enemies are, and who they can trust. In a world drastically changed from everything they once knew; can the sisters and children of Jasper’s Bay learn to adapt? Can they maintain control of their town, and protect it from those who would destroy it? Book One in the YA Seventeen Series Winner of the New Apple YA horror/Sci-Fi award June 26, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Seventeen-Australian-post-apocalyptic-drama-Book-ebook/dp/B07QL9VRRX/ An Englishwoman in America From 1950s Britain to Donald Trump’s America, no-one is left unscathed. How are Britain and America divided over subjects such as language, culture, humour, health, sport, government, gun law, religion, patriotism, and even sex? Find out in Olga’s scintillating – but essentially humorous – account of why her love for America was first kindled, followed by her views on life in NY, Florida, New England, Arizona, Nevada and California. Lastly, Olga has added a hilarious guide, where her pin-point wit nails just how the Americans and British do things very differently. Hold onto your hats! June 25, 2019 http://mybook.to/anenglishwoman No Dark Clouds First written while living in India (as a motion picture script) interacting with beggar children, then subsequently a church musical, R.W. Nelson has now penned No Dark Clouds as a Christian, historical fiction novel. No Dark Clouds. An Epic Biblical Fiction – An Educational Biblical Study If you were living in Biblical Israel as a youth or teenager at the time of Christ, No Dark Clouds brings forth the raw emotions of what a personal encounter with Jesus might have been like. If you were a slave, Roman soldier, Pharisee, even Barabbas or King Herod; R.W. Nelson, presents the reader a possible glimpse of their lives during the Passion Week, trial, and crucifixion. If you were in Jerusalem on Resurrection Sunday, this fictional novel enriches the life-changing effects of that day in the lives of Pilate, his wife Claudia, the Disciples, Cleopas, even the High Priest Caiaphas. No Dark Clouds brings forth a perspective of the Greatest Story ever told, that (hopefully) will motivate the reader to enhance their own personal encounters and life-changing effects of a Risen Lord. June 22, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/No-Dark-Clouds-R-Nelson-ebook/dp/B07KWCQ6R3/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=No+Dark+Clouds&qid=1561218059&s=books&sr=1-1 The Power Of The Wellnsburgs’ Swords The historical series, fiction, novel of 5. volumes 6×9 inch for the young generation and everyone who likes a lot of fun, adventurous, intrigues etc. It’s from the 17. century when the glory of the Three Musketeers was still alive. www.erikaphamlet.com June 20, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Erika+P.+Hamlet&ref=is_s Shadow Legion When former Roman Legion Legate Gaius Marcus Linneus is reduced in rank to Centurion and banished by Emperor Marcus Aurelius to Tripolitania in Northern Africa, he finds his new command, a Shadow Legion, a reduced century of dishonored legionnaires, as much punishment as his dishonor. Castra-Augustus, a small fort in the southern Sahara, is under attack by an unseen enemy who takes soldiers at night, leaving only shredded clothing. He is determined to vanquish this enemy to regain his lost honor. Gaius discovers an ancient city carved from solid rock half-buried by shifting sands. When Rashid, who claims to be a Berber salt merchant, arrives just after two more legionnaires disappear, Gaius questions him and learns the name of the ancient city – Hamad Rus, home of the Kashites who once lived East of Eden. Their long-time enemies, the Inyosh, the undead Children of Lilith, had driven the Kashites west into Northern Africa millennia earlier. Casting a spell to destroy the Inyosh, the Kashites had instead changed them into formless wraiths that killed to obtain blood for their god, Nergal. Now, the Inyosh have awakened, and Rome is at risk. June 19, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T6HRQV2/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=shadow+legion&qid=1560884361&s=books&sr=1-8 I Go Thru: Breaking Through With Expert Power “Chris Harris understands not only what it takes to achieve expert power, but also how to connect others to their experiential power through the challenges they overcome. Best of all, Chris understands that true expert power must be built on the foundation of character, integrity, and trust. I Go Thru is a must read if you want to take your life to the next level.” —Tom Ziglar, CEO of Ziglar Inc. What’s Your Expert Power? Some people believe that the easiest journey is the one with the fewest obstacles along the way. However, it’s the adversity that we experience throughout our lives that provides our greatest growth, development, and fulfillment. If we can muster the courage and persistence to “go thru” these obstacles while maintaining a positive mental attitude, we will find our unique expert power on the other side. I Go Thru combines conventional wisdom with inspirational stories from the author’s personal life experiences and perspective and is told with authentic transparency. The purpose of this book is to help you connect with your unique expert power—to break through obstacles and achieve your goals. June 18, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/GO-THRU-Breaking-Through-Expert/dp/1097336301 Reflections for the future Reflections for the Future: Reflections on my life and life lessons . Good day to all fellow book readers! I would like to share with you the Amazon.com link for the first book I have published. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T25DSLX Please take the time to read it and give me your views. I would be grateful if you can leave reviews of the books on the Amazon site. Bobby Varghese June 16, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T25DSLX Faeries of Saizia Zäria and Avery, two teenage faeries seeking adventure, get more than they bargained for when they start spying on the elves of Eerie Hollow. They discover why the elves are making delectable chocolates in the forest only to be captured by their adversary, Thordon who threatens them into taking on a quest. They run into more trouble while crossing through The Perilous Forest when they meet a witch with her own agenda. Their only hope is to locate an ancient faerie sanctuary they’ve only heard of in legend. Secrets are revealed about Zäria’s parents, which leaves her conflicted and forced to make some tough choices. Just when the fae think their troubles are over, the kingdom of Saizia is in danger of being destroyed. Will Zäria and Avery be able to get help on time? How will they defeat the evil Thordon? Inspired by the author’s children, Faeries of Saizia is a unique bedtime story that will instill a love for reading, love for nature, and belief in life’s endless possibilities. June 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Faeries-Saizia-Tonya-L-Chaves-ebook/dp/B07JQ2D7JP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=faeries+of+saizia&qid=1560440639&s=gateway&sr=8-1 The Mourning Islands As a veteran of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, Talmon Bonnett usually holds his PTSD at bay. When a wealthy couple hires him to spy on Rusty Wing, the man responsible for building the Mourning Island’s new resort, Talmon injects himself into Rusty’s inner circle. Lying about his intentions, Talmon gets to know Rusty’s troubled fiancée Claire, his sinister Cuban first mate Santos, and Marlene, Rusty’s alluring sister. Talmon and Marlene begin a torrid affair; then someone is murdered, and Talmon learns that two Cuban mobster brothers are the money behind the resort. Talmon forces the couple to divulge the real reason they hired him. Everything is connected to the murder, Rusty’s circle, the mobster brothers, and Claire’s vanished father, who might know something vital. Talmon’s lie threatens the life he envisions with Marlene. Violence erupts because of a dispute between the brothers, with Rusty’s circle as targets caught in the middle. Talmon desperately seeks Claire’s father, while the two brothers maintain their collision course. The Mourning Islands is an electrifying story that fuses mystery, passion, and tragedy against the serene beauty of Florida’s coast. May 31, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Mourning-Islands-Douglas-Wells-ebook/dp/B07QC27YLD SUPPOSE WE A surreal science fiction novella with unique concepts. A ship crashlands on a faraway planet, but the natives are a million years ahead of Earth, so they ignore the humans. How does the four-man (two of each) crew attract attention, survive the strange environment and discover the real purpose of their secret mission payload? Possibly the first novella with a vegan main character, written by a long-time vegan and set on a vegan planet. Plenty of room for arguments among the mixed-diet crew though! May 29, 2019 https://mybook.to/SupposeWe An American Story: My Family and Yours An American Story: My Family and Yours, is not only an American story, but a worldwide story—a story that shares the emotions, fears, experiences and challenges every family in the human race can relate to. It underlines the idea, that a human problem is a world problem because the world suffers from it in some way—sometimes visible and sometimes invisible. Humanity shares the same emotions, hardships and successes because it lives in a human vacuum—a vacuum that loves, hates, forgives, suffers and dies. Families work together and families work against each other, but when faith and love conquer thought, they forgive each other and move on. My family, is only a representation of your family, and collectively, we are a microcosm of the world family. This is why you can and will relate to this book. The author’s pain becomes your pain, and her joy makes your heart overflow. You will see faith, courage and inner peace lived because it identifies with your faith and courage. As you read, her family will be replaced by your own personal experiences with your family. Special Price @ Amazon Link: May 28, 2019 https://booklocker.com/books/9639.html Concession Street Mysteries Eliza Malkins, printer at the Kingston British Whig newspaper, is secretly in love with reporter Alex O’Shea. Although they are best friends with a shared passion for many things, including the mystery novel Alex is writing, Eliza would never dare to voice her feelings for fear of being rejected due to her unique anatomical makeup. Their relationship takes an unexpected turn when, while on assignment in Ottawa, Alex encounters a vulnerable young woman who has escaped from confinement in her own house. The further he is drawn into the mysterious young woman’s world, the more compelled he feels to protect her from the dark forces that seem to be draining her life right before his eyes. Before he can enact his plan to rescue her, however, he finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery that seems like it came right out of one of the novels he enjoys, with one significant twist: he’s the primary suspect. Desperate to help her friend, Eliza sheds her identity as a woman and takes on the persona of Timothy Fairlight, detective. Her investigative skills are put to the ultimate test as she seeks to save her beloved from the hangman’s noose. Not only that, for the first time in her life, her identity as intersex becomes an asset rather than a liability. May 27, 2019 http://www.ralphfsmith.com Anticipating Sunrise Aubrey is a beautiful, intelligent, young woman who operates a thriving fruit stand at a local Farmer’s Market while also running the family farm that was left to her after her parents were killed in an accident. She also knows how to handle a man—any man. Jack is a ruggedly handsome intriguing man who talks in riddles when he is not being brutally honest about how he thinks and feels. He is also a successful writer who doesn’t care about his fame. They are textbook opposites of each other. They meet while discussing the price of blueberries. Can these opposites attract and find love before the next sunrise? This collection of stories includes “Anticipating Sunrise” and eleven more stories of love and romance that take you from the aisles of your local supermarket to the merciless shifting sands of time. Go find your passion. May 23, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QDPWLBJ Claimed by Nicolai When Abby Harris takes her faithful German shepherd out for a hike in Oregon’s beautiful mountains, getting abducted by aliens isn’t even a blip on her radar. Her trusty can of bear spray and pocket knife aren’t much help against the seven-foot monsters who swoop in out of nowhere to transport her to a ship in space. Nicolai Nekbet is Crown Prince for the House of Nekbet on the planet Raiden. Unable to bear healthy children with females of their own species, Raiden warriors must hunt for a bride outside their own world. Nicolai has his heart set on a human even though their planet is protected by an ancient species called Laizahlian. When he sees the tall blonde-haired beauty out in the mountains with only a dog by her side, he knows he must have her. With Abby safely on his ship, Nicolai injects her with his shaprata, his essence. His shaprata will change her on a cellular level, making them compatible for procreation, but he must still work hard to win her heart. If she rejects their union, it could easily mean his death. May 18, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Claimed-Nicolai-Raiden-Warriors-Book-ebook/dp/B07R24YW7P/ The Suicidal Wounded Child (English Version) / El Niño Herido Suicida (La serie de heridas mortales™ nº 2) (Spanish Edition) Have you ever contemplated Suicide? Author JohnEgreek encounters a synchronistic chance encourter with a woman he did not know, during an airplane ride from Honolulu Hawaii to Los Angeles International Airport. They discover she has multitude of Wounded Children residing within her psyche. As a result, she learns that suicide is a temporary solution to an overriding problem. By reading this book, you will learn what went through the mind of Eleni at very moment she was about to pull the trigger. The thoughts she had, most likely are similar to the thoughts that go through the minds of the millions of people on earth who think suicide is the solution to their problems. With so many people in the world committing suicide these days, learning about the Wounded Child is a significate step towards begue sean similares a los pensamientos que pasan por la mente de millones de personas en la tierra que piensan que el suicidio es la solución a sus problemas. Con tantas personas en el mundo que se suicidan en estos días, aprender sobre el Niño Herido es un paso significativo hacia el inicio del proceso de curación. Por lo general, existen razones externas por las que alguien se suicidaría y, ¿quién sabe lo que están pensando en el momento en que lo hacen? Escuche el diálogo que el autor tiene con Eleni, quien aprenderá que curar a varios niños heridos también curará al herido suicida Niño. ¿Qué dirá y qué debería hacer si decide curarse? Este es el Libro Dos de La serie de Heridas Mortales ™”El Cambio siempre es posible”.inning the healing process. There are usually outlying reasons why anyone would commit suicide and who knows what they are thinking at the moment when they do?Listen to the dialog that the Author has with Eleni, who will learn that healing her various Wounded Children will also heal The Suicidal Wounded Child. What will she say and what should she do, if she chooses to heal?This is Book Two of The Mortal Wounds Series ™ ¿Alguna vez has contemplado el suicidio? El autor JuanEgreek encuentra un alentador sincrónico de oportunidades con una mujer que no conocía, durante un viaje en avión desde Honolulu Hawaii al Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Ángeles. Descubren que tiene multitud de niños heridos que residen dentro de su psique. Como resultado, aprende que el suicidio es una solución temporal a un problema primordial. Al leer este libro, aprenderá lo que pasó por la mente de Eleni en el momento en que estaba a punto de apretar el gatillo. Los pensamientos que ella tuvo, lo más probable es q Link: https://amzn.to/2Hp6AwM May 17, 2019 https://amzn.to/2M5EL1h Wisdom from the Wounded Healer (English) / Sabiduría del Sanador Herido (La serie de heridas mortales™ nº 1) (Spanish Edition) Have you ever wondered if each of us has an identifiable “Life Purpose”? Award-Winning and Best-Selling Author JohnEgreek has been asking that question since he was nine years old. Now 68 years old, he never would have dreamed that it would be revealed to him as he was writing the climax to his first book, “Grandma’s Secret Blessing, A Memoir with a Twist.” Shifu Gagan Sarkaria, during a life-map reading says, “John, you realize you have lived this horrible life, filled with hate, anger, guilt, fear and sorrow with a father who has hated you since the very first day you were born and still hates you today, is for a higher reason, don’t you?” Two weeks after her words, Astrologer Cindy Roggeman tells him, “Your natal chart reveals that you were born in the House of Chiron, home of the Wounded Healer.” Soon after healing 31 wounded children buried deep within his psyche, he awakes one morning with a message from the Divine. The message he hears is well understood. He is told that he is to write The Mortal Wounds Series ™, a culmination of books presented to him from the Divine to be written as the healing stories of the Wounded Child. Most of the world would raise doubt that this is a calling, but Author JohnEgreek has put the Law of Action to work. Wisdom from the Wounded Healer is Book One, a beautiful two-hour short read which is the introduction to The Mortal Wounds Series ™. As a Wounded Healer the author takes on the cherished, yet divine role to bring these stories to life. With guidance from the Divine, it is his intention that Readers and Wounded Children around the globe will come to recognize, that they too have or have had a Wounded Child hidden deep within their psyche. Stay tuned for Book Two in the series, known as “The Suicidal Wounded Child,” and future stories to unfold in the weeks and months to come. ¿Alguna vez se ha preguntado si cada uno de nosotros tiene un “Propósito de vida” identificable? El autor galardonado y más vendido, JuanEgreek, ha estado haciendo esa pregunta desde que tenía nueve años. Ahora, con 68 años, nunca hubiera soñado que se le revelaría cuando estaba escribiendo el clímax de su primer libro, “La bendición secreta de la abuela, una memoria con un toque”. Shifu Gagan Sarkaria, durante una lectura de un mapa de vida, dice: “John, te das cuenta de que has vivido esta vida horrible, llena de odio, ira, culpa, miedo y tristeza con un padre que te ha odiado desde el primer día que naciste y todavía te odia hoy, es por una razón superior, ¿no es así? ” Dos semanas después de sus palabras, la astróloga Cindy Roggeman le dice: “Tu carta natal revela que naciste en la Casa de Quirón, hogar del curandero herido”. Poco después de curar a 31 niños heridos enterrados profundamente en su psique, se despierta una mañana con un mensaje de lo Divino. El mensaje que escucha es bien entendido. Se le dice que debe escribir The Mortal Wounds Series ™, una culminación de los libros que se le presentaron de lo Divino y que se escribirán como las historias de curación del niño herido. La mayor parte del mundo dudaría de que esto sea una vocación, pero el autor JuanEgreek ha puesto en práctica la Ley de Acción. La sabiduría del curandero herido es el libro uno, una hermosa lectura corta de dos horas que es la introducción a The Mortal Wounds Series ™. Como un sanador herido, el autor asume el apreciado y divino papel para dar vida a estas historias. Con la guía de lo Divino, su intención es que los Lectores y los Niños Heridos de todo el mundo reconozcan, que también tienen o han tenido un Niño Herido escondido en lo profundo de su psique. Manténgase atento al Libro Dos de la serie, conocido como “El niño herido suicida”, y las historias futuras que se desarrollarán en las próximas semanas y meses. May 17, 2019 https://amzn.to/2VLKkX0 Thought Gazer – The Ydron Saga Volume 2 Everyone who touches you transforms you, if only a little. But if you enter their minds and think what they have thought, in effect do what they have done…how complete will that transformation be? If Peniff had been born an ordinary man, his family would be safe—safe as anyone can be in a land torn apart by war. It is his singular gift, however, that causes his wife and children to be imprisoned and held hostage and him to be used as a tool. Caught up in a struggle between opposing warlords and refusing to play the game, Peniff elects to take the moral high road. This is the story of a man, in all other ways ordinary, rising above his fears to do what he must. Can he free his family before his betrayal comes to light? Moreover, what will he become before his journey is over? Thought Gazer, the second volume of The Ydron Saga, the first book of the prequel trilogy to Awakening, can be read as a standalone. “Thoroughly imaginative, with an eloquent writing style and characters that live and breathe on the page. Thought Gazer will definitely make you think.” ~ Paul Kane – bestselling and award-winning author of Before, Arcana, & Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell “Bolton weaves a marvelous mix of characters into a thoughtful, complex fantasy… become a Bolton fan.” ~ Jean Rabe, USATODAY Bestselling author May 15, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Thought-Gazer-Ydron-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B07H5T9QXD It’s been over eight years since Karen suffered the tragic loss of her brother, a death for which she still blames herself. Since then, she’s managed to shove away the pain and guilt, somehow slowly building a new life far from Easley. But she always knew the time would come when she’d be forced to leave Southern California and go back to her hometown, staring truth in the face again. Could Karen have prevented James’ death? Was it truly her fault, and could she ever forgive herself, all the while living in the shadow of her mother’s and father’s own mistakes? Finding James is a heart-wrenching story about love, loss, addiction, faith and hope with a twist that will touch every reader. May 15, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Blaha/e/B07NTYLSDZ Another miserable day in an ordinary life…until now Dylan is miserable, mourning his mom’s death, and drowning in debts. He has a mysterious key from his mother—supposed to reveal hidden secrets—but he has no idea what or where they are. Until an attorney shows up and turns his life upside down. He’s invited to meet his grandparent—one he grew up believing dead. Soon after he arrives at the Mirror Estate, he begins hearing voices, seeing visions and feeling watched. As he begins to unravel secrets, his visit turns deadly. Unlock “The Secrets” now. The suspense novelette is a prequel to the upcoming Mirror Estate series by S.L. Fon. May 14, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RP24HXY The Deadlier Sex What makes women become merciless serial killers? Is it love, hate or jelousy? Or is it all three? May 14, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Deadlier-Sex-Steve-Lawson-ebook/dp/B07N1QX2G9 Dragons in the Clouds “Dragons in the Clouds” is filled with action, danger, loyalty, and hope. The ruling king of Albion orders the total annihilation of all living dragons. A wizard who has befriended a family of Dragons grants them the spell of weightlessness. The wizards then tells his Dragon friends to hide up within the cover of the clouds. An evil apprentice who also has dragons hidden. Also gives them the magic spell. Now enters a widowed mother and her young son whom has also befriended a young dragon. All three finds themselves in danger as a battle between the two groups of Dragons begins for control of the skies. All this and more happens in the most exciting Dragon story ever told May 10, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dragons+in+the+clouds+-+david+blair&i=digital-text&fbclid=IwAR1IJRav99Szx48pq9_QZeXq4MvjgNdxlfteG_7XFaylMVRA_o5ckk7aWNY&ref=nb_sb_noss The Heart Of A Mother The love of a mother, whether you’ve never had it, have it, or miss it, affects us all in a million different ways. Nine talented authors: Best-sellers and Award-winners, bring you BRAND NEW, suspenseful and romantic, short stories in this awe-inspiring novel, The HEART of The Matter: A Mother’s Love. These nine stories are sure to make you smile, laugh, cry, and fall in love. They’ve stirred in a diverse collection into this anthology! There is sci-fi, contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, and many more… Something for everyone! May 6, 2019 http://books2read.com/u/mY157Y Going The Distance: The Adventure of Marnie Bennett Ride along on a life-changing adventure with Marnie Bennett. Losing her mother at the age of 16, and left all alone in foster care, she sets out to look for the father she never knew. Knowing it is a long shot, she meets and rides along with two Bikers who assist her in her quest to find her father. There’s excitement and wonder as she travels the road searching for the father she never knew. May 1, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/179765702X Missing in rural Georgia for three days, travel blogger Brian Keane is found with no memory of his lost time. What he does have, though, is a digital recorder containing interviews with eleven people whom he does not remember talking to. Each person tells the story behind their reason for singing their chosen song at Karaoke Night, with each tale a little more twisted than the one before. What becomes clear through these interviews is that the people of Redfield, Georgia are connected in ways they could never have imagined. Brian Keane may have zero recollection of those lost three days, but through his transcripts, he stumbles upon the true story of one creepy little Georgia town and the Karaoke Night where the songs always remain the same. April 29, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Karaoke-Night-John-Watson-ebook/dp/B07R5BVWX3 Secure Desire–A Chase Group Story Will Ian and Cassie get their second chance at love, or will her secret destroy them both? When Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Ian Chase returned home disillusioned after a brutal tour in Afghanistan, he assumed the helm of the private security company he co-founded with his brother. A brief encounter with the unavailable art historian Cassiopeia Ellis left him smitten, and now, six years later, an unexpected second meeting proves his feelings for her still linger. Six years was a lifetime of hell for Cassiopeia. Now an FBI Agent, Cassie is plagued by nightmares and fear. Seeing Ian again only serves to confuse her further. Her heart tells her one thing, but her brain overrides her feelings. Can she afford to trust a man again? Is she damaged beyond repair? When tragedy strikes, it’s up to Ian to uncover what Cassie is hiding before her secret takes her life. Will her desire to protect him destroy them both? And can they get their second chance at love? April 17, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PVX96S5/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb The Children Of Time Wattys Award Winner – nearly two million readings in portuguese version across the trilogy on Wattpad. What mysteries are hidden beyond the stars? While most of the youngsters are concerned with faculty, friendships and even girlfriends, Nìcholas spends his hours with his head out of orbit; literally. Nicholas never had a father and he is sad because of this. His dream is to know the space. the course of Astronomy, he feels better among gaseous bodies, supernova stars and black holes, dreaming in one day to unravel the great enigmas of the Universe. Until a mysterious girl enters the classroom … And Nícolas discovers, excited, that he finds his own star. Zara is her name, the one whose hair looks like rays of sun, the only one capable of wringing the air – and the voice – of the young protagonist of this story. And, against all possibilities, something arises between then. But do not think that this is a teenage romance like so many that you have read, because Zara, contrary to what Nícolas thinks, is not what it seems. Coming from an unknown galaxy, she has a mission: To attract Nicholas and take him to her planet, alive. At any cost. The success of her mission depends not only on her future, but on everything she believes in … including the future of humanity. When the truth appears, Nícolas is wrapped in a web of lies and intrigue that goes beyond everything he dreamed of. Between telekinetic powers, time gaps, and scientific data, space folds, revealing that the aliens we know are closer – and more like us – than we imagine. Dive with Chaiene Santos in this dizzying story, in which the author was able to unite, with perfection, incredible theories about the future of humanity. You will be surprised with this series, which is the most read in Wattpad in the science fiction category (Portuguese). Check and get ready to change your concepts. April 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Children-Time-Chaiene-Santos-ebook/dp/B00LYJORGO/ref=sr_1_4?__mk_pt_BR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=D3GQ2CJFX9G3&keywords=chaiene+santos&qid=1555179581&s=gateway&sprefix=chaiene+s%2Caps%2C289&sr=8-4 Ito’s Dream In 2093, small-town North Wales, Destry Warwick discovers that being different finally has its advantages. As the techno-bubble world ends, she is yanked off the sofa and propelled across the country, on a quest to Megacity London against diabolical adversity to discover why and to save the world. In a future where everyone is permanently connected to the Importal™ network by devices embedded in their heads, Destry, a young, movie-watching layabout and her best (and only) friend Weasel, an aged, paranoid Rastafarian, are dragged out of their mundane schedule of debauchery by the end of all things. Being un-Importaled™ they are the only ones in Spamlington that survive the breakdown unscathed. They are accompanied by Derek, her father’s solicitor when Weasel saves him by rebooting his brain, which is not entirely successful. They take off in Destry’s deceased father’s taxi cab, following his enigmatic instructions and using items that he left for them in his will. Over-protected by her father, Destry is thrust into an ecologically damaged, technologically twisted world she never knew existed. April 4, 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PBHZHPP Walls of Sakaret Alsed has known nothing beyond the enchanted walls of Sakaret. None of the citizens of the ancient hidden city have seen the outside world since their home was sealed over two millennia ago. But an outsider named Jeresa, on a mission to save her people, shatters Sakaret’s isolated bliss as Alsed and his friends become entangled in a sinister plot set into motion by a psychotic demigod bent on vengeance. Few of the citizens of Sakaret will rise to the challenge of trying to save a people they’ve never known. Those that do will face unimaginable terrors that most will not survive. Guided by a mysterious stranger, hunted by a sadistic predator, and besieged by an army of assassins and swarms of the undying, Alsed and Jeresa must survive the bloody path that will lead them and their companions to the ultimate confrontation. The only small hope of success requires that Alsed be reborn, becoming something the world has never seen, and changing the fate of nations forever. April 3, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1644245612/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Q-qPCb3MM4YTV This is a story about a brave woman who Time travels to the 16th century. She had suffered a great loss in her own time, and goes on a journey to find her grandfather with the help of his friend, to bring him home to her grandmother. In her search, she experiences many different events, some traumatically and some in triumph. She also finds love unexpectedly and has a hard decision to make. April 2, 2019 Amazon.com search under Kelly Scandizzo The Persistence of Memory Book 1: Deja vu When superheroes fall in love, anything can happen. Daniel Hecht doesn’t belong in this century. Catapulted into the present from 1943, he’s out of place and out of touch. Still, he was the American war hero called “Lionheart” and his heroism has followed him into the modern world. He now leads an underground group of superpowered misfits, but the misfit he keeps turning to is Nina Asher. Nina has a vast knowledge of history, yet no idea who she is or where she’s from. She has become the target of dangerous creatures that have appeared all over the world. As she and Daniel work to decipher an ancient, cryptic myth, they experience flashbacks to things that never could have happened. They are falling in love, but there’s something they’re sure they need to remember, and it’s keeping them apart. The key to saving the world may begin with the act of remembering. “Janowsky has the ability to create a gripping narrative which is rich in details and shines with romantic intrigue.” –Prairies Book Review March 27, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Persistence-Memory-Book-D%C3%A9j%C3%A0-Vu-ebook/dp/B07P5GF4FH/ Stories of Global Citizens What happened when Angela lost her birth certificate? Why did it take Hans 54 years to tell the truth to his son? How did Farzad end up being stateless? Why did Charlie decide to walk from Denmark to Tanzania? What was life like for an American soldier in Germany? How did Murat avoid being deported? What were the things that surprised Michael in Belgium? How did Rasa meet her boyfriend? Ridvan Cinar has spent the last 10 years living in 5 different countries and travelling frequently. He has met great people, of a kind that he would characterise as global citizens. These people have taken a step forward, out of their comfort zone and have moved abroad. Their reasons have been manifold: to look for better opportunities, to seek refuge, to search for happiness, to reunite with their loved ones, to improve their career, to experience another culture and to volunteer. He has been delighted to listen their stories and could not keep his amazement at their experiences to himself. It was time to share these fascinating stories with you. Stories of Global Citizens presents a collection of 32 interviews carried out between 2016 and 2018 with people living abroad. From Americans living in Germany and Poland, to Mexicans living in Austria and Brazil. From Colombians living in USA and Turkey to Canadians living in Thailand and Germany, and many more. The interviews reflect on their stories with insights into culture shocks, their motivations to move abroad, funny experiences they have had and thoughts on what is going on back at “home”. While reading these interviews, you will be surprised, amazed, at a loss for words, saddened, sympathetic, and you will find a little bit of yourself. March 24, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PYY15GK Rise the Phoenix: Show Me Where Forever Dies Rise the Phoenix is a story of when everything seems lost and that seems left is despair and helplessness a new bright glory can come when people start to come together and believe. When a group of complete strangers find themselves at the doorstep of a retired ministers house after a series of devstating earthquakes strike thier hometown, he and his wife welcome all into thier home, as if they were expecting them. After all the people have gatherd in his home the minster warns them that they must leave Charolette and go further inland because the ocean will soon flood. The minister and a young boy named Dylan become close as the days pass on the long and sometimes difficult journey. Dylan is slowly and reluctantly becoming the leader of the group. As his role grows more important his growing love for Sarah a girl in the group his own age becomes more challenging. When they arrive in a new community and join with other survivors the scope of the damage to the earth is realized and the people find themselves as center of the the final war, the war between heaven and hell. This new community must do everything they can to defend themselves from the onsaulght of satan’s army. In-between battles Dylan struggles with is unrealized love of Sarah and the battles he faces with his own inner demons as well as the demons that visit him at his weakest moments tempeing him to turn on those he sworn to protect. March 23, 2019 https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Rise-the-Phoenix Outlaw, Come Home It is often the lowest road that leads us home! Cattle rustler and gunslinger Benjamin Hunter lived for only one reason: to thwart Deputy Marshal David Miller. Leader of an outlaw gang, he set out on a few daring escapades which soon dragged him and his men down an unexpected road. Before he knew it, the lawman’s daughter and granddaughter were involved, and bloodthirsty bounty hunters were on their trail. Set in the early 1870s in the Colorado territory, this is a story of surrender and hope, where unconditional love leads the way home. March 20, 2019 http://covenantbooks.com/books/?book=outlaw Chasing The Orchid Chasing the Orchid is a story of a man, Chris, who had a traumatic accident as a child that caused him to be a little less than a man’s man. His inner conflict with his father caused much emotional trauma. He is a successful business man in rural Mississippi married to Black Southern woman. He is an atheist and she is a southern Baptist. But things are about to change for Chris, when he suddenly finds out that his wife, Tory, is profoundly unhappy with her life and is often the subject of bigotry and racism. They move to LA to find acceptance and fulfill Tory’s dreams, but the traumatic memories of his childhood accident suddenly resurface, setting in motion a chain of events that he is powerless to explain or to halt and he finds that he has traded Tory’s nightmare for one of his own which is much worse. Their relationship falls apart and Chris heads to the Everglades to confront his nightmare! This story has many aspects that set it apart including interracial relationship, differing religious beliefs, the south vs. LA nightlife, and the deep swamps of the Everglades. Chasing the Orchid will leave you guessing what is real and what is an illusion. Witness a man reach his breaking point and find out if love will see him through his nightmare. Can he find a way to deal with his past before it is too late, or will the events escalate and culminate in a shocking conclusion? March 18, 2019 https://amzn.to/2ue8MQt Wake Up White America For the record, this is not a “John Parker hates white people” book. Anybody who knows me at all knows that to be the farthest thing from the truth. This book is meant to spark (if you so desire) an open, honest and painfully true conversation about the most polarizing subject in American society; Race and Racism. My hope is that after reading it (both white people and black people alike) will seek to find common ground and understand that we do have two different cultures and that we can “disagree without being disagreeable.” If we are to succeed as a country in the future, it is time that everybody “got comfortable being uncomfortable” PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY ON AMAZON.COM March 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/179601947X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AesICbH45QDDG Secrets Out He wanted to be my secret and so did she. They wanted me quiet, wanted me pinned, wanted my insides, wanted me to bleed. The secret is out! Only this time it is not just mine. If I’m going to tell it, I’m telling it all. I just hope they are ready for what is to come! March 11, 2019 http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/secretsout Walk on Fire, 7 Ways to break patterns of Self doubt This book is about Mastering self-doubt and understanding the process of developing an intentional conscious harmony of the mind. The benefits of this publication are as follows: It will allow you to start learning how to uncover the deeply rooted thought patterns and limiting beliefs that have prevented you from getting ahead with your goals in life. You will obtain effective techniques about rewiring your mind in order to pursue your life more courageously. You will have opportunities to apply your personal knowledge to your own circumstances so you to can manifest better thoughts patterns about yourself and achieve clarity daily moving forward. March 4, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Fire-Break-Patterns-Self-Doubt/dp/1729614353/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=walk+on+fire+tariro+masocha&qid=1551666046&s=books&sr=1-1-spell Temptation Rag: A Novel 5-stars from READERS’ FAVORITE Book Reviews “An emotional and page-turning story of passion, ambition, and desire.”–MEGAN CHANCE, bestselling author of Bone River and Inamorata A striking and deeply human portrait of racial and gender inequality in ragtime-era New York City from the author of The Beauty Doctor, Finalist for the 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award, 2017 AZ Literary Awards, and a Medallion Honoree of the Book Readers Appreciation Group Seventeen-year-old May Convery, unhappy with her privileged life in turn-of-the-century New York City, dreams of becoming a poet. When she meets the talented young Mike Bernard, an aspiring concert pianist, she immediately falls in love. But after their secret liaison is discovered, neither is prepared for the far-reaching consequences that will haunt them for decades. As Mike abandons serious music to ruthlessly defend his hard-won title, Ragtime King of the World, May struggles to find her voice as an artist and a woman. It is not until years after their youthful romance, when they cross paths again, that they must finally confront the truth about themselves and each other. But is it too late? The world of ragtime is the backdrop for a remarkable story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness. From vaudeville’s greatest stars to the geniuses of early African American musical theater, an unforgettable cast of real-life characters populates this richly fictionalized historical saga. March 4, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Temptation-Rag-Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard-ebook/dp/B07HYJMTXX/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= DeadSpace Insurrection The book follows the events in DeadSpace 3. Isaac Clarke is awakened on a unitology space ship and discovers that the Earth has been infected by the Necromorph mutation and the Church is engaged in an orbital war against EarthGov. the book has 80.000 words, 250 pages and it’s free. My email address is in the book purchase link, if anyone is interested, drop me a line, and i will send the pdf to you. March 3, 2019 dan_alexdj@yahoo.com Lightwarriors Charlie MacLeod, a young and beautiful girl, was gifted at birth with the power to set the world alight; a power she neither wants nor can easily control. A victim of tragedy, Charlie is adopted by David and Catherine McAuliffe, a young couple with similar god-like powers who only wish to live a quiet, normal life. Events quickly spiral out of control as Charlie is marked for death by the NSA, and later pursued by another, far more dangerous entity that seeks to exploit her power for its own dark ends March 1, 2019 http://www.books2read.com/b/Lightwarriors Legend of the Sword Bearer: Tempest Chronicles Book 1 Steve’s days are numbered. The illness has consumed him. Would this stranger’s offer give him a second chance? It looks like a game. Looks can be deceiving. Paul Nelson, the CEO of Tempest Inc, has developed another world and he’s ready to send in another consciousness. This time, though, things are different. Those that came before have caused some troubles and his world is in peril. For Steve, it’s a last chance. He’s got nothing to lose. And who knows, it might be fun? As a warrior named Abalonious, his body gone, Steve must adapt, learn, and grow to survive. But this world isn’t exactly as advertised. There’s a darkness coming. It looks like fun will have to wait. And there’s a secret nobody wants to talk about. Will Steve piece together enough to live? If you like unforgettable fantasy heroes, pop culture references, epic battles, and immersive gaming worlds, then you’ll love this LitRPG adventure. “To sum it up, Jeremy took a Fantasy, SciFi, and a gaming idea, and mashed them together skillfully, pushing Legend of the Sword Bearer to the same quality of Ready Player One. We at NeoLeaf Press give this book our Gold Recommendation and rate it 5 out of 5 stars.” -NeoLeaf Press February 18, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MTQLN5F When the Sun Blinked On the morning of October 08 2015, Alpha Intercontinental Flight AHA 113 was approaching Cape Town International Airport at 09:15 in the morning. It had originally departed New York the previous night on schedule. From New York it traveled to Dubai and after its regular stop for refueling and fresh catering etc, it departed Dubai and fourteen hours later, approaching Cape Town and due to touchdown in the next ten minutes, simply vanished from both visual sight and radar. It was not the only disappearance of aircraft in the surrounding space. But, it is the one I know about. Flight AHA 113 was never seen or heard from again, despite extensive rescue efforts mounted. No wreckage was ever found, no traces of luggage were ever seen. It was as if Flight AHA 113 had simply never existed. But … Flight AHA 113 had existed. It did in fact crash into the sea, close enough to land that while 237 passengers perished either as a result of the crash itself or trying to make it to shore, 28 survivors eventually made it to safety. This is their story told through the ‘When the Sun Blinked’ 3 book series. When the Sun Blinked : Search for the Truth When the Sun Blinked : The Soldiers When the Sun Blinked : The Lions February 18, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/When-Sun-Blinked-Search-Truth-ebook/dp/B076M15479/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535720077&sr=8-3&keywords=when+the+sun+blinked The Promised One Follow Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on a riveting adventure as they narrowly escape the clutches of King Herod and proceed on the harrowing journey to Egypt. While based on biblical facts, this fictional account of Jesus’ early years on this earth allows readers to join the holy family through some of their most difficult journeys. The descriptive text will make you feel as if you were an eye witness to history as our world transitioned from before Christ (BC) to the year of our lord, Anno Domini (AD). February 17, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NP8PQHX?pf_rd_p=c2945051-950f-485c-b4df-15aac5223b10&pf_rd_r=2VJJ0FB1JVE2XJDHJMDW Hearts Set Free “…a soaring historical epic…Jess Lederman has given us unforgettable characters…” –WisePath Books Hearts Set Free weaves together three tales of men and women who journey from the darkness of doubt to triumphant faith and from the ache of loneliness to everlasting love. In 1930, the rag-tag riffraff of a railway stop called Las Vegas need a fighting man to shepherd their tiny church after their pastor is murdered. Might David Gold, a washed-up boxer and Bible-school dropout who fights as the Pummelin’ Preacher, be the answer to their prayers? At the same time, Luke, a native Alaskan boy, is on a quest to find his father, who has abandoned his family for a beautiful woman his mother vows to kill. Little do mother or son imagine that their journey will take them to a small town in Nevada where demons and angels walk among men. In 2011, Science Cable T.V. producer Tim Faber is determined to prove that mankind has no need of God, while his lover, Joan Reed, strives to regain the faith of her youth. They’re bound for Las Vegas to meet with a 99-year-old man who holds the key to a mystery they must solve–and answers that will forever change their lives. Hearts Set Free is a coming-of-age story and love story, with strong female characters and historical figures (including Jack Johnson, Georges Lemaitre, and Bugsy Siegel) who interact with an unforgettable fictional cast. “…a riveting ride…Christian fiction fans will enjoy this book.” —BlueInk Review “…uplifting and compelling…a powerful and inspiring novel.” —Foreword Clarion Reviews February 10, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Set-Free-faith-glory-ebook/dp/B07M92742L/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549826183&sr=8-2&keywords=Hearts+Set+Free The God Process Memoir of Miracles The God Process is a Memoir where the reader gets to discover again why faith matters. In the mystery of our soul we find our hope, our miracles and the why we pray. The God Process spans four generations and Ethereal messages… Angels, premonitions, near death, the answers to prayer and in this Whisper that speaks. When we stop, look back, look in and look up, the Whisper comes. The desires of our heart become grounded in our prayers and it is here that we see this movement of God in all our lives. In the depths of our soul comes the why we are here and what it is that God is trying to do. Although I am Christian and I see my life lessons from my faith, The God Process is inspiring to all readers. https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-god-process http://www.thegodprocess.com/ February 4, 2019 https://www.amazon.ca/God-Process-Memoir-Miracles-ebook/dp/B01MCYT2QB IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Rising from the Ashes of the Sonoma County Wildfires Read the real stories of real people who survived the Santa Rosa Fire Storm. These accounts are not interviews, These are accounts written by the people themselves: In Their Own Words. Grab a box of tissues before you begin reading. You will need it! February 4, 2019 http://santarosarising.com Green Kitty- Stories Grandma Still Remembers Called a book for all ages, Green Kitty was written for children ages 8 to 12 to help explain Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and is both entertaining and educational. It was a finalist for both USA Book News “Best Books 2011” and “International Book of the Year 2012” in children’s fiction, and is filled with true, laugh-out-loud animal antics. Green Kitty will please any child who loves their pets and parents will enjoy reading it out loud to younger children. It is a series of stories within a story with a grandmother that recalls old anecdotes, mostly about family pets, for a visiting grandchild. The grandmother has recently been placed into assisted living due to her dementia and their bond grows stronger through the visits despite the illness. Helpful information about Alzheimer’s disease is deftly woven into the work. Green Kitty will capture the imagination of both boys and girls. Overall the books shows what true family love is all about. January 31, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Green-Kitty-Stories-Grandma-Remembers/dp/1545571414 Winter’s Sting From the moment Alana met him, she knew her life would never be the same. For the universe never allows a dream to go unanswered, but remember be careful what you wish for. You might just get more than you expect. January 29, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07N5D9C3N All those Tears we can’t see This is my second book called “All those Tears we can’t see” which addresses a lot of topics – immigration, opportunity, spirituality, myth, wisdom, class, customs, poverty, corruption and physical assault in India. It is a story of India and USA. The book displays these two countries under microscope so that we can see clearly the differences between beliefs and way of life in each country and began to understand the challenges immigrants face. It was difficult and traumatic for Samantha (The immigrant in my book) to leave everything behind and start a new life where the language, culture, traditions, morals, beliefs and everyday way of life are totally foreign. To assimilate into a new country while still retaining one’s culture and beliefs, as Samantha puts it that it is her destiny to come to this wonderful country to serve her even though it is not her country. “All Those Tears We Can’t See” is also a story of a first generation Indian-American girl and how she figures out her life and finds out that she has love for both sides of her cultures. We follow Monica, who believes that she is all American at heart, even though both her parents are Indian. Although she loves both her parents and respects their beliefs and their customs wholeheartedly, there is a cultural gap that seems to never fill. Samantha and Monica both like the Spirituality, wisdom, music, dance, cousin and ancient culture in India but do not like many customs like dowry system, corruption in all level, poverty and marriage system. When English left India many families still followed the English culture in their household. Now the modern India brought many technologies to enhance middle classes wealthy life. The fragile and loving relationship between daughter and mother broken over interracial relationship with an American boy named Brandon because her mother feared that her Bengali culture will be lost. To understand her mother better Monica now a journalist undertook a remarkable journey to India from her job assignment in finding out about her mother’s root that resists all American value and culture. In India, Monica, thought she had found her own identity as an American, as she describes it “she is all American in heart” but she was partially wrong. She fell in love and felt attachment, and was fascinated by Indian people and their spirituality. Later when she faced physical assault (based on 2012 gang physical assaults in Delhi, India) everything went upside down for the whole family and Samantha chooses the ultimate justice for her daughter. What will happen now? Can Monica go back to America and share her new found love with her mother and Brandon? Will she even get the chance? With all those tragedies there was a silver lining in this book when Samantha realizes that love between two people had no boundaries. She made a big mistake by pushing her daughter to think like her eastern belief but Monica has grown up with western belief and morals. Would Samantha embraces and accepts Brandon who was Christian as her own family by breaking her predefined set of value about race and religion? January 26, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/All-Those-Tears-Cant-See/dp/1641821922 Hellhound Bound It’s a helluva job, but someone has to do it. And for Rhune it’s a small price to pay for his past sins. He’s taken a new name and a somewhat normal life, except at night when he transforms into a hellhound to take souls to the City of the Dead for purgatories legions to deliver them to Hell. For fifteen centuries he’s lived in happy solitude until Hanna, a paralegal with the most amazing eyes, rear ends him in the small town of Rio Morden. He’s seen those eyes before, but it’s been years since the last time. Now she’s all grown up and involved in a murder trial that has its sights set on her becoming its next victim. What’s a hellhound to do? Surely not fall in love—and certainly not with a Dreamwalker. And is that all she is? Mix in a diabolical lawyer and his lover, some Voodoo magic, and it’s a recipe for mayhem and murder. Can Rhune keep Hanna safe, or is she destined to be Hellhound Bound? Hellhound Bound is a Supernatural Thriller. January 26, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Hellhound-Bound-D-Thomas-Jerlo-ebook-dp-B07JQ5CHHC/dp/B07JQ5CHHC/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid= Game Piece Detective Barry Marshall hunts for a hardened serial killer with the ultimate endgame, one intended to strip Marshall of everything he holds dear—his career, his wife Erin, and his reputation. Unbeknownst to Marshall, the killer had dated Erin years ago, and seeing Marshall with her pushes him over the edge. Determined to punish Marshall for stealing his beloved, the killer plays a deadly cat-and-mouse game of murder. As the body count rises, Marshall is forced to face his worst nightmare. January 26, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HLCBG6J The Empty Light of Secrets Three Novellas in One Book. Check out the review at the Online Book Club. https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=81318&fbclid=IwAR0dk1WiPp22JNbUkw9u4mPFNm0iMf5UAmdGKmNOLkIlu3ii2m-x4Ds_b4g January 19, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Light-Secrets-hidden-things-ebook/dp/B07DXBHWT4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1547929340&sr=1-1&keywords=the+empty+light+of+secrets Screamer: Never, ever steal from a banshee A stolen artifact. A lethal banshee. A murderous demon. A giant fairy hunter who hears voices in his head. And a mysterious redhead with an otherworldly agenda. Then it gets complicated. Doesn’t every love story? Screamer is an international sci-fi thriller! January 16, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692184945 Where it all Began: Manx Cat Guardians Origins The King of the otherworld, Manannán, witnessing changes to how the love between those who chose differently was being accepted, intervened. Wanting the world to have love and hope eternally, ensuring that soulmates connected without restrictions regardless of the person they chose to love, he created the Manx Cat Guardians. Maximillian, born in the eleventh century, King of his kind, he struggled to always follow the rules King Manannán had laid down. Given no choice about his destiny like his fellow guardians, he’d been granted a Wiccan guide to aid him. Never having had any problems with his past charges, Maximillian finds himself struggling to get his current charge, King Óláfr the Black, to accept his soulmate Magnus, a lowly servant. The connection is strong between them, but the changing times that Manannán witnessed and the introduction of Christianity had Óláfr struggling to accept his soulmate. Ignoring the dire warning from Christina, his Wiccan guide, about interfering, Maximillian finds himself creating ripples from his actions with untold consequences that cause devastation. As he is left to wander this earth, his role irrevocably changed by his actions. He must now ensure promises that were made are honoured, no matter the length of time that passes. Can he help fulfil those promises made by another without breaking the rules again? Or will the souls searching for love be destined to never find each other? January 8, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FB15VDP/ref=series_rw_dp_sw The Vampyre Blogs – One Day At A Time “The Vampyre Blogs – Coming Home” introduced a new cast of characters to the Para-Earth Series. This anthology answers and raises questions about their backstories and relationships. What otherworldly threats has the Professor dealt with? How did Nathan’s altered self affect his service in the Civil War? What other mysteries linger on Nathan’s estate? What did a German like the Professor do during WWII? Who are some of the other people Nathan has met over his unnaturally long life? Are Nathan and the Professor the only ones who’ve had close encounters with Para-Earth beings? These and more, including the return of certain characters from “The Bridge” and “The Ship” will be explored within these pages. January 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Vampyre-Blogs-Anthology-Para-Earths-Para-Earth-ebook/dp/B07KMN78B2/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1543770174&sr=1-2 The Vampyre Blogs – Coming Home In 1861 sixteen year old Nathaniel Steward joined the 7th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment to help end slavery and preserve the Union. Before he left, Nathaniel promised his little sister Isabella that he would not let the war change him… he was wrong. While serving the Union Army, Nathaniel found himself fighting on many battlefields. But his toughest fight took place on a parallel version of Earth (a Para-Earth) where evolution took a very different turn. Although he managed to get back to his own world, this particular battle leaves him so altered there was no going home. For now he needed to drink blood, sleep in the ground, and avoid sunlight. Today, after 150 years of wandering and touching the lives of others, he is finally coming back to claim his family mansion which has stood empty for decades. But unknown to Nathaniel, his homecoming will not be as lonely as he anticipates. For someone has been waiting all this time to welcome him back. But, there is another who wishes to meet up with Nathaniel again as well. A creature he faced in that Para-Earth, back in 1862, has found its way into this world and has caught his scent. Now it is drawing closer to his hometown, bent on his destruction. For this foe knows he is the only force that can stop it from enveloping this world and its dead. January 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Vampyre-Blogs-Coming-Home-Para-Earth-ebook/dp/B01MDO8SLO/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546917288&sr=1-7 Infinite Possibilities – A Spiritual Awakening Infinite Possibilities – A Spiritual Awakening is Bill Geringswald’s attempt to put our beautiful world back on track. Bill Geringswald’s chief role in life has been to identify issues in companies and put them right. With this book, he puts that experience, knowledge and skills to work for the world. We all know that this world needs fixing. However, there’s a distinct lack of blueprints for us to follow. But, when you put Bill Geringswald’s business experience to work on the world’s issues, Infinite Possibilities – A Spiritual Awakening is what you get. He poses that well-known theory, that we have the tendency to do the same things over and over again, but expect different results and realises how insane this notion is. In Infinite Possibilities – A Spiritual Awakening Bill Geringswald’s covers four areas: Foundations – Life Passages: In human terms, we need to understand the world we experience has been created by man’s free will. Today’s events serve as a ‘push-back’ to our collective consciousness. We can reverse it anytime we choose. Inner Workings – Generational Slide: Every day our perceptions and decisions based upon them bring about the lifestyle we experience. What we empower in the world, we become. Infrastructure – A Kaleidoscope: Everything we experience acts as a guiding message from God. When following God’s guidance, all is possible. Here, I’ll provide a plan of action for our nation’s future. Choices—Empowering Prosperity: Each one of us can choose to focus on specific events to happen in our lives. Our choices draw people and situations into our lives. When in God’s will the extraordinary becomes ordinary. Buy this book if you want humanity to get back on track. January 6, 2019 https://www.bewleybooksplus.com/ipas-bg The Certain Hope Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins. January 6, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Certain-Hope-C-Jackson/dp/173295920X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546741091&sr=8-1&keywords=the+certain+hope+by+e+c+jackson The Plainview Lottery EDITORIAL REVIEW- Which line stood out from all the others in the book? “He once confided in me that he would prefer to die standing up.” The reason for this, he was told, was “So the world would know that I managed to stay busy on my last day… or that I died trying.” In the end, Percy Miller got his wish. The book The Plainview Lottery by Markas Dvaras is an interesting read. I found this book very reminiscent of a young adult novel I read many years ago called The Wish Giver by Bill Britain. In both stories, the authors are trying to teach the reader a lesson on human behavior. Each time the easiest route turns out to be the one of most peril. The book starts off with the introduction of mysterious strangers to a nearly perfect town. The strangers introduce a new concept, the lottery. The lottery slowly wheedles its way into everyone’s lives and brings the town to its knees creating litter, layoffs, and laziness. The town never discovers the origin of the strangers or how they were able to do what they did in the time period given. As predicted with any lottery, no one wins the enormous pile of gold and overnight the men and gold disappear. The town slowly returns to normal with a greater appreciation of what they had. The connections between the last two chapters or short stories mostly point out and reinforce those lessons that were learned and that the reader may have missed. I did find that Dvaras’ overuse of the verb ‘was’ weakened his prose just a bit. This story took a hard look at society as a whole and how “we are the generation that would rather just sit there.” -International Review of Books How Could a Lottery be a Mistake? Welcome to Plainview– a town with everything going for it, and with none of the problems one would expect to see in a typical American town. No poverty, no homelessness, no unemployment– not even a litter problem. But all that changes when five mysterious strangers show up in the town square one day, pulling a wagon-load of gold bars behind them. They’re going to run a lottery for Plainview, with the gold as the grand prize. With little discussion, Plainview readily agrees– and that’s the first in a series of hilarious mistakes. Is the Lottery a Scam? Now meet James Henderson– he’s an award-winning journalist for Plainview’s local paper, The Plainview Review. He suspects they are being swindled after he notices there are no winning numbers being drawn. Yet the residents of Plainview are becoming obsessed, and soon start losing their jobs while focusing on the gold bars. Can James prove anything for his article? Can he stop his hometown from succumbing to “Lottery Fever?” Does it even matter? A satire on economics and the human condition, The Plainview Lottery will have you rethinking how money is supposed to work. January 5, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQZWSEK I’m Not Ehrynn Rose The body was not hers, and there was the possibility her life could be in jeopardy. Not feeling well, Nadia Logermeyer, a twenty-eight-year-old dental assistant living in New York City, lies down to rest, only to wake up in the hospital…in Houston, Texas. In someone else’s body. With someone else’s name. And with someone else’s husband. She has no idea how or why she’s now Ehrynn Rose, or why Ehrynn tried to take her own life. All she knows is that as soon as she’s able, she needs to return to NYC to find out what happened to her own body. But that’s not the worst of it. She’s falling in love with Nash Rose, Ehrynn’s husband. Unfortunately, the couple are in the midst of a sticky divorce, and her claims of a body switch are only making things more complicated. She’s not Ehrynn Rose, but it’s quickly getting to the point where she’d give anything to be her. It isn’t until she discovers the real reason why she tried to commit suicide that she realizes the danger isn’t over yet. July 15, 2019 http://lindamooney.com/EhrynnRose.htm In Times Of Violence Young Adult Edition In Times of Violence MC Romance Young Adult Edition Jade had been sheltered most of her life. Living in an isolated village with only sex and drugs to entertain. Her mother is an alcoholic and her father doesn’t give a damn. Her only way out is to beg her Aunt to allow her to stay as a guest in their London house. Jade meets fate head on in the form of Marcus, president of the Tyrants MC. She finally finds a family that loves and respects her and they are not BLOOD. Nothing comes easy to Jade and she is forced to fight to keep her title and status. Then just when life starts to go right, one-night changes everything. ˃˃˃ A raw emotional story about love, betrayal and sacrifice. “In Times of Violence had an addictive storyline. I actually got up in the middle of the night to finish reading it. I loved Jade, although I don’t fully understand her or her motives.” “Do not miss this book. Jade, Marcus and Dylan will bring out the feels.” “Remember it’s not always blood relatives that make a family!” ˃˃˃ From the Author In Times of Violence is very special to me. Some parts of the book are taken from my own experiences as a young adult. This coming of age story needed to be told. It was thanks to S.E.Hinton’s The Outsiders, that In Times Of Violence was written. I hope you enjoy the book. Order and start reading now http://bit.ly/ITOVYAE July 14, 2019 http://books2read.com/ITOVYAE Strange Roads Steven Lloyd has brought together his most acclaimed stories in one collection. Strange Roads includes: The Wooden Box, When Darkness Falls, Brothers, Where There Be Dragons, The Wallet, The Fight of the Century and an excerpt from his forthcoming novel Dogwood Summer. Also includes an introduction by John Paul Allen and interviews with the author. July 14, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Roads-Steven-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B01NB9HLDN/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=strange+roads+by+steven+lloyd&qid=1563076838&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Brush with Murder In book #1 of this series, a little-known artist, living in a loft in Soho, is obsessed with his beautiful neighbor across the street. Ben observes her as she comes and goes in her daily life. She never fails to chat up the elderly neighbors sitting on the stoop. Too shy and reclusive to ask her out, Ben watches and then paints her, from memory, again and again. Suddenly the police are at his door. His goddess, his dream woman is dead and the police like him for the crime. But upon further investigation there are other suspects that are just as likely to have murdered her. Detectives O’Roarke and Garcia sift through the forensics, motives and physical evidence and at first glance it seems that all the evidence points to this strange, young artist who is obsessed with the beautiful actress. But as the detectives immerse themselves in her lifestyle and daily routine, it turns out that the victim has more than one secret. July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Brush-Murder-World-1/dp/1727528697/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=brush%2C+sugarek&qid=1563029934&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Caribbean Assassin They waited for him to returned to his room two of them, as the Caribbean Assassin opened the door one of them charged at him like a raging bull uttering words “You kill my woman, you must die tonight you fucking bastard.” The Caribbean Assassin stepped out of the way and with a well timed punch to the man’s neck sending him into the frame of the door. The sound of bone against metal as the man shoulder and side of his head hit the frame knocking him out. The other came from behind the door swinging a knife and nicking the Caribbean Assassin on the shoulder as he tried to get out of the way at the same time bringing his size 14 right foot kicking the man on his ass sending him across the room, enough is enough thought the Caribbean Assassin, he drew his weapon silencer already attached and put two bullets into the man with the knife July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H3P5NB5/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07H3P5NB5&linkCode=as2&tag=sagsr75-20&linkId=d0e5b31c7eba9b4a80c19dbb612f2f7e Harry Heron: Savage Fugitive In Harry Heron: Savage Fugitive, Book 4 of the Harry Heron Adventure Series, Harry and Ferghal lead a band of fugitives of the Fleet in a battle against the Consortium on Planet Lycania inhabited by the very canine-like Canids. There are three things you need to know about Harry Heron and Ferghal O’Connor: 1.) Born in the late 1700s, they catapulted through time and space from the gun deck of the HMS Spartan during a sea fight with the French in 1804 to the starship NECS Vanguard in 2204. 2.) Best friends since their boyhood in Ireland, they’re smart, savvy, and fearless, as loyal to each other as they are to the British Royal Navy and the North European Confederation Fleet. 3.) A juggernaut of wits, wit, and boundless energy, they show the twenty-third century how it’s done when it comes to outwitting the Consortium, navigating any type of ship, and harnessing artificial intelligence to their keen advantage. July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Heron-Savage-Fugitive-Patrick-ebook/dp/B07HP7JCYP/ref=pd_sim_351_4/132-2008370-1746744?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07HP7JCYP&pd_rd_r=2a336091-a599-11e9-8b3f-05565185fef1&pd_rd_w=iw6uv&pd_rd_wg=PWy3Q&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=HXD28TXZT6BTJ4DSS28V&psc=1&refRID=HXD28TXZT6BTJ4DSS28V Harry Heron: No Quarter In Harry Heron: No Quarter, Harry Heron and his best friend Ferghal O’Connor are cadets at Fleet College, eager to master their skills in preparation for commissioning to a ship. They’ve barely stepped foot on campus when they realize they’re targeted and sabotaged at every turn, but this doesn’t stop them from exuberant participation in the Sailing Regatta, the Gun Run, and the usual flirtations and hijinks of college life. Meanwhile, the Consortium, supporting the Johnstone Group, does everything in its power to keep them from testifying at an enquiry to expose Johnstone’s questionable research practices that nearly killed Harry in their secret laboratory on the planet Pangaea. No quarter given, none asked, Harry and Ferghal overcome every obstacle with youthful vigor and optimism, intelligence and training, and prove valuable to the Fleet as junior officers of the NECS Leander in the ongoing struggle against the Consortium. July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Heron-Quarter-Patrick-Cox-ebook/dp/B077K5WJW4/ref=pd_sim_351_4/132-2008370-1746744?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B077K5WJW4&pd_rd_r=d4e1247f-a597-11e9-835d-e5e435a3ed81&pd_rd_w=1rP1X&pd_rd_wg=dLhdv&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=9TW90K0E7X6SFD0FW2SB&psc=1&refRID=9TW90K0E7X6SFD0FW2SB Harry Heron: Into the Unknown A freak accident on board the HMS Spartan during a sea battle with the French navy in 1804 catapults Midshipman Harry Heron and his shipmates Ferghal O’Connor and Danny Gunn four hundred years into the future, landing them on the NECS Vanguard, flagship of the World Treaty Organisation Fleet. While Captain Blackwood and Major Heron sort out the mystery and determine whether the young men are alive or dead, Harry and his friends are faced with the challenge of learning new roles aboard a spaceship. Just as they have found their footing, they are called upon to assist the Fleet in a rescue mission on the planet Pangaea, giving them the opportunity to prove that their unique skills from the past are still very relevant in the far distant future. July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQLGRDO A fantasy detective adventure, with characters from Camelot as time travelling detectives. Merlin is a good looking woman and madly in love with Arthur and they elope, but that’s only the start of the story. Tertia, Unita, Merlin’s apprentices, and Marlene, her sister, know what they want to be… detectives with a difference. Bored with the lack of opportunity in 5th century Camelot they start up the Temporal Detective Agency and use the great Merlin’s Time Portal to relocate from Camelot to the 21st century mostly because the cases are more interesting, but also because the toilet facilities are so much better. Things start slowly until one Sunday morning Tertia finds herself replacing Nelson’s statue in Trafalgar Square, involved in the thefts of the Koh-i-noor diamond and the Mona Lisa. The Agency follows the trail to South Wales in 1734 where they come up against a gang of vicious smugglers and ruthless ship wreckers led by their deadliest and most unlooked for enemy. Help comes from an unexpected source, but the Temporal Detective Agency’s first case could prove to be their last! July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Temporal-Detective-Agency-ebook/dp/B019J0USZS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1563016206&sr=8-1 Trouble With Swords The 2nd in the Temporal Detective Agency series. When Arthur’s sword Excalibur is stolen the Temporal Detective Agency is called in to protect not only Arthur and Merlin, but to stop a very clever and cruel person from destroying Camelot itself. To make things worse, this time the TDA has no idea who they’re fighting. Marlene’s plan takes Tertia and Unita to Rome, Egypt and even to a meeting with Shakespeare, before confronting their enemy in the Coliseum. But first, if the Agency is to succeed, Arthur must die…. and Merlin and her King have to agree. If they don’t, Camelot will be doomed and History itself could be changed. That’s the trouble with swords! July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019KET9UI/ref=series_rw_dp_sw A Victim No More Precious was a victim once, now she’s a survivor. The book is transparent so that victims can know that they can make it today and so that survivors would know they don’t have to be embarrassed, ashamed, or alone because they’re not the only ones. If you are a victim, survivor, an advocate, if your situation is questionable and you don’t know if it is heading toward Domestic Violence this is a must read 📚. #AVictimNoMore #domesticviolence #domesticviolencesurvivor #domesticviolenceawareness #survivor #overcome #Godfirst July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Victim-No-More-Precious-Swain-Peaks-ebook/dp/B07PK3D22V/ Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key CLASSIC EPIC FANTASY: Belthazar, a demon lord imprisoned for over a thousand years by the Diveneans of old, covets one thing: his freedom. Using his minion, Isafel, and an evil imp spawn called Ilio, they must find an object that will set him free. With underlords scheming to take the throne and demons roaming freely throughout Etharia, it’s a race against time. Who will be the first to find the Kruthos Key? July 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Prisoner-Kruthos-Key-Book-ebook/dp/B071CSM33G Controlling Shelly Fagan Her parents told her the baby died. They lied… Shelly Fagan loved Chris Johnson—she promised him she would love him forever. Shelly also loved Philip Gerard, the father of her two sons. Chris knew and loved Shelly Fagan, the girl. Philip loved Shelly Fagan, the woman the girl became. But Shelly the girl was still there, trapped inside. Shelly Fagan unexpectedly learns her son’s upcoming Little League tourney will be held in St. Francis, Indiana—the same small town—where she was forced into a convent at age seventeen. Now, at age thirty-six, Shelly discovers the shocking truth about what really happened, and the fact her parents lied and allowed her to believe their lies for the past eighteen years. Controlling Shelly Fagan is a debut novel from Olive Dunn that will take readers on an emotional journey of a young woman whose life has been dominated by secrets and deceit. It is about growing up in a small southern Indiana town during the sixties. And it is about discovering what really controls us—the love in our hearts, the people close to us, the generation we are a part of, our religious beliefs, and the roles we take on as adults. Controlling Shelly Fagan – A gripping emotional story that will stay with you. You grow up—but you never forget. You can’t forget. July 9, 2019 https://amzn.to/2x28oWN X-Troller Emotionally scarred and physically weary, Dwan is ordered to go forty-seven years into the past in a last ditch effort to find the one man who can help her fight the monsters created decades ago by a company called Lambruchet. Monsters that have since devastated mankind and the world. Eli Voight has been battling the Lambruchet demons ever since the company had his father killed. As the first Troller, he’s made it his duty to bring down the creatures and find a way to permanently stop them. He’s skeptical of Dwan’s claim that she’s from the future. But her skill is undeniable, and her presence becomes an all-consuming passion for the man who had pushed aside any thought of a personal life in his quest to drive the demons to extinction. Dwan never expected to fall and fall hard for the emotionally unapproachable soldier. Worse, she knew what kind of death lay ahead for Eli, which meant there could never be a future for them. Together, they must fight to take out the monstrosities, or else Earth as it is will cease to exist. And the Earth that could be, Dwan’s world, will only hold a future of horror and hopelessness. Warning: Contains living nightmares, impromptu dentistry, great beef stew (with real meat), screwed DNA, deadly broom handles, a shave and a haircut, coded writing, and two people fighting against a future that gives mankind only two more decades to exist. July 8, 2019 http://lindamooney.com/XTroller.htm Over 1000 years in the future, the world is a very different place: Creatures of myth and legend are commonplace. Magic and technology have merged to become one. And no dream is too impossible to touch in a world born anew and ready for adventure. Lucius Caine is an ex-IPD detective turned freelancer, who receives a job from the crown prince of the empire. The job? find out who killed the prince’s mentor and why. Joined by one of the best and most colorful group from rogues, from the Clear Isles to the city of Russt, Lucius will journey across the empire and beyond, finding out secrets and conspiracies that will threaten the very foundation of the empire. Can he solve this mystery? And maybe get paid doing it? July 8, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GMY4GHF The Edge of Epoch: the Fatal Choice of Humanity You never read it! New book “The Edge of Epoch: the Fatal Choice of Humanity“. This book is real dead water, without the acceptance of which the miracle of revival will not happen. Dear friends, If you want to understand what is happening in the world in almost all important areas of life, then this book is for you! This is the quintessence of sacred knowledge! Why does human development go in a certain way? Who is the main director and planner of these processes? What is happening in the USA and where are the origins of the migrant crisis in Europe? What are the prerequisites for the success of models of developed countries? Who really governs US, Russia and Ukraine? Why is education, upbringing, culture and science degrading? Who benefits from religious obscurantism around the world? Is interracial mixing safe for offspring? How can science and religion be combined? Where to look for traces of Vedic culture and the Slavic-Aryan Empire? What are the 7 Laws of Hermes Trismegistus? What is the Law of Time? What are the laws of ethics? And what can we do in this situation? You will find answers to all these and many other burning questions in this book … The book is a hologram where through the waves of a cyclical World with the help of vague (mystical) and strict (scientific) thinking, laws of the visible and invisible world, the whole versatility of the Universe is iridescing from the deep antiquity to the heavenly future. This gives an opportunity to holistically, fully and adequately see the real picture of the world order. And “those who understand the trends is difficult to knock out of the way” (Allen Welsh Dulles). This is the book that you should definitely read !!! I will be glad to your reviews on Amazon !!! English and German version in the Kindle format on Amazon. More detailed : http://isedworld.org/en/2019/04/25/book-by-stanislav-dubikovsky-the-fatal-choice-of-humanity-in-3-languages/ July 2, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Stanislav-Dubikovsky/e/B07RTZYVW1?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000 Neurosurgeon Dr. Tykill Harrison vowed never to have children after being sexually abused while in the foster system for fear that he may one day become like his abuser. While attending a conference he encounters a mother and her daughter. Upon discovering the woman is forced to give up her child because she is dying a voice from his past reminds him of what may await the little girl. In his attempt to save her he finds himself fighting against the demons of his past in order to protect her from them. Will he end up being her knight in shining armor as he hoped? Will he end up being the monster under her bed as he feared? Reader Discretion Advised: This book depicts vivid descriptions of sexual abuse of children in order to convey the mental and physical suffering from the child’s perspective. July 1, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1731443730/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Orrora Deep in the heart of New York City, a killer is stalking a select group of individuals. A killer whose M.O. matches a series of murders that have been going on for more than eighty years. Orrora Dalca is brought in by the U.S. Government to identify and find this murderer…but there’s a problem. Orrora is hiding a dark secret. And although she’s met with the task of finding this killer, she must also hide that person’s identity from ever becoming known. Joel Powers produces independent horror films, and he gets many of his ideas by tailing the police when he gets wind of an unusual homicide. When he encounters Orrora at one of the crime scenes, there is something about her that draws him inexorably to her. These cases intrigue him, as does the girl. But the more he uncovers, the more he isn’t sure he wants to put the pieces of this puzzle together. Determined to see her again, he does everything he can to learn all about her, not realizing there will be a price to pay for his curiosity. July 1, 2019 http://lindamooney.com/Orrora.htm Peace in the Valley: For Me, Some Day In this book, we will explore the effect that consumer culture has on our way of life by telling the story of a girl named Jennifer who was born in the peak of this culture, and how she escaped its grasp when she became a woman. A consumer culture is a culture that is oriented around the consumption of goods. In this culture, it centers your status, values and activities on what you consume. We will discover the history and the origins of this culture and how it spread across the world to affect our lives to this day. Learning how this culture came to be will allow us to understand how it affects us. Then we will learn the negative effects that living in such a culture has on a person. How it can harm our lives, our mental wellbeing and help us lose our individual identity. From that point, then we will look at various strategies a person can follow to reduce the impact that living in a consumer culture has on them. Here we will discover how to overcome the obstacles and challenges that existing in a consumer culture will present. These strategies will help us find our inner peace and happiness. This book is not only an educational book on consumer culture, but it is also the story of a girl named Jennifer and how consumer culture affected her life and how she overcame those effects. June 27, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SJFT2F4?pf_rd_p=2d1ab404-3b11-4c97-b3db-48081e145e35&pf_rd_r=BS09ZF0T0W82788A5001 . . . turn onto Chincoteague Road. . . just past the rockets at the NASA Visitor Center, open the car windows. The road bends to the right and a massive horizon opens up. Breathe in the smell of the marsh. Get ready to be home – for the first time, or forever.”A Year on the Tump” unveils the seasons of life on Chincoteague Island – the wonder of its natural surroundings, its hearty down-to-earth people, and life in a small community. Told with artistic imagery and humor, where the sights and sounds of the front porch are more intriguing than television or the internet, Daniel Thomas takes the reader to a place where everyone knows your name, or at least your business.For newcomers, here is an introduction to a magical place surrounded by water and sky. For Teaguers, Come’ere’s and Been-heres who think they know the Tump well, you might just reconnect with all that makes the Island HOME. June 27, 2019 http://www.danielpturnerthomas.com THE CAPTAIN’S GIFT Historical novel, fiction, series of 5 volumes for teens/ everyone, from the 17th century when the glory of the Three Musketeers was still alive. THE BOOKS OF THE FATES Historical novel, fiction, series of 5 volumes for the young generation and everyone.. CLEVER AS A SHERLOCK HOMES An adventurous thriller for teens/ everyone with plenty of humor etc. KATARINE AND HER INTRIGUES Historical novel, fiction of 5 volumes from the 17th century when the glory of the Three Musketeers was still alive. The Inner Lover Valerie Harms “To thrive, love depends on the imaginative use of solitude.” If you have been uncomfortable about the intensity of your feelings for someone, crushed because they don’t feel the same way, or especially critical of your partner, then you will benefit from this book. Understanding why we are passionately attracted to certain people can lead us to the “Inner Lover,” a creative aspect of our own nature. The images, feelings, and fantasies that are aroused when we fall in love—in brief encounters and lasting bonds, in requited and “impossible” relationships—are the keys to hidden potentials within ourselves. In this book, Valerie Harms presents techniques of journaling, dreamwork, and imaginal dialogues to guide the reader on an adventure of self-discovery in which the powerful energies of love may be transformed into creativity and fulfillment. Valerie Harms is the author of ten books and a creativity counselor. She has led writing and Intensive Journal workshops at centers around the country, plus Canada and Greece. She worked on several projects with the diarist Anais Nin. A graduate of Smith College, forseven years she was a project editor at the National Audubon Society. Learn more at www.valerieharms.comand on her Facebook & Twitter pages. The Inner Lover was first published in 2000. Now it is available as an ebook for $3.99 or aPOD title for $8.99, published by the Authors Guild Back in Print program. The book is distributed by the Independent Publishers Group (IPG) and is available from Amazon.com, BN.com, and your favorite bookstores. Retailers may order from Ingram or Baker & Taylor at the standard discount. Author interview — http://jamesstrecker.com/words/?p=980 Video link — https://youtu.be/cvEpvMHXZd4 Reading questions provided on request Blurbs from readers & workshop participants: “Harms tells us not to disengage from others, but how to use our attractions to discover and develop our inner potential. A warm, empowering book.” ~ Robert A. Johnson, author of He, She, We, et.al. “I am simply swept away with admiration for your approach. What you offer is a new paradigm for how I think emotionally. Thank you for your deeply challenging work.” “You have given me the answer to questions that have painfully bothered me for a long time.” “Your message is so healing.” “I admire the openness of your soul to the life-enhancing power of relationships.” “I just cannot tell you how much you have helped me.” The Reluctant Empress is a YA Space Opera. A young girl, poor and desperate, sells the only thing she has to save her family. In doing so she sets herself on a path of danger, death and, hope. June 25, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Empress-Teresa-Howard/dp/194712840X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YJXE0W0MKZCW&keywords=the+reluctant+empress+by+teresa+howard&qid=1561471674&s=gateway&sprefix=The+Reluctant+Empress+by+%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-2 Jexx He couldn’t die without her, and he wouldn’t die with her. Not if she had anything to say about it. The tide has turned in a centuries’ long war, and the Intergalactic Military has been tapped to step in and lend a hand. Sent to assist the Bo’Estrons, Captain Jelia Linh and her crew find themselves under immediate attack and in a fight for their own lives. The rescue goes wrong, and ironically Kaxx must save the ones sent to aid them, but he isn’t expecting the feelings the female captain invokes. The tingling sensation he gets when he touches her. It couldn’t be…could it? He’d missed his chance long ago. The mission to help find the missing crewmembers is proving futile, as they’re all being picked off one bunker at a time. The battle is heating up, and it’s no longer about protecting their own. The Bo’Estron are fighting back, but with the Varnarians teaming up with the Hojinths, do they stand a chance? War. Betrayal. Enemies. Allies. Saviors. Mates. Torn between duty and love, two become one. June 24, 2019 http://lindamooney.com/JEXX.htm The Beauty in Darkness: A Vampire Story On the night of her twenty-ninth birthday, Edrea is brutally murdered. She awakens in her San Francisco studio as a bloodthirsty vampire with no memory of her death. Now undead and with newfound immortal powers, she fights to hold onto her humanity in the face of great darkness. In a seemingly interconnected reality, her guilt-stricken mortal sister, Rena, embarks on a dangerous quest in search of Edrea, whom is believed is merely “missing.” As they follow their individual roads through life and the un-death, Edrea and Rena learn not only that their sisterly bond is stronger than they thought, but also that their family shares a dark secret that connects both of them to a mysterious quantum world. This not-so-ordinary vampire tale will draw you into a journey of love, loss and self-discovery, and intrigue you with a scientific and philosophical theme that will keep you wondering until the end … and maybe even after that. June 21, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Darkness-Vampire-Story-ebook/dp/B01IAQMHOC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In the Promised Land As a young nun at the Corpus Christi Home for Girls, Marva Garcia has always leaned on the Everlasting Arms for wisdom and strength to meet the day-to-day challenges of mentoring delinquent girls. But when her beloved adoptive father is killed during a Muslim coup, Marva sees her orderly world crumbling around her. As she tries to make sense of all this, Marva is increasingly drawn to another pair of arms that had been there for her all along. Can she love a man and still love God? June 21, 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DF5VYKC Nick & Wanda’s Intricate Love Story Nick and Wanda broke up seven years ago. One day, they meet again on O’Connell street. The spark is reignited instantly, but Nick is married and Wanda has a boyfriend. And there is a dark reason why Nick broke up with Wanda and he doesn’t want her to know about it. So what do you do when the love you feel is strong, but so much has happened in the past seven years? Can they overcome whatever secrets lurk in the shadows? Is love enough to move past all these issues? June 20, 2019 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/944537 Beauty’s Alien Beast As an intergalactic cop gifted with psionic abilities, Maurra instinctively went to the Ellinod’s defense when she saw the immense and bestial-looking alien being attacked by a group of vicious Kronners. Little did she know what the Kronners had planned for her and the Ellinod until she woke up naked in a cell inside their ship. And it wasn’t long before she found out a translation device had been implanted against her spine, debilitating her and making her helpless with pain whenever she tried to use her psi powers. Neither she nor the Ellinod had any idea how twisted their captors were, but they soon discovered that she and the beast were at the mercy of someone who expected them to “entertain” his “customers”, and entertain them well regardless of the consequences. June 17, 2019 http://lindamooney.com/BeautysAlienBeast.htm I AM POWER This book contains divine affirmations, words of vibrational healing that come from within and from my other metaphysical books. These collections of affirmations and quotes are also from the responses of testimonials of those that affected the readers in profound ways that released them from their self-imposed prisons, spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. People don’t thoroughly realize that their words create their reality but the power of words do. People wonder why their lives don’t bring about a peace and a cohesiveness that they see happening to others around them. They read books and books about abundance and prosperity and listen to hundreds of audio books but still don’t get it. They don’t get that the intention they put behind their words, the force and focus behind their words and thoughts create the undesired or desired end. My intention is to help you see what you really want to see in your life and not what you don’t want to see. June 17, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/AM-POWER-Divine-Powerful-Affirmations/dp/1877945234 The butterfly Bee lady part 2 and…. the Butterfly Bee lady and the Bee The Butterfly Bee lady, is a trilogy about the first magic and how it changes the lives of the characters in the story. A natural magic created by creatures that dwell beneath the ground used at first to protect the world’s wonders of nature and then later for their own survival. How they tried to use this magic to better their lives, and bring peace with the dragonflyers. It doesn’t go as planned and our planet and the creatures upon it began to change. Part one, The Butterfly Bee Lady and the Bee is only part of the story. Belliza was once a Dragonfly queen along with her twin sister Sindeena, but by a shift of fate Belliza was changed by the magic into the very first butterfly. Her life journey takes her through secret magic worlds that stretch through time until a meeting with Bramley Bee in this book. Through this story begins a new journey. Bee the daughter of the butterfly bee lady is revealed and her path begins and the amazing characters she meets and also the villains. Those who want to take from her the secret magic, the living pollen crystal stone and use it for themselves. Her story is about the changes she goes through and the realization of who she is and the power she holds. A power greater than time itself. This story exposes the realities of her life and the repercussions of the path she takes and that of her mothers, when you play with nature’s magic something will happen beyond your control. What will the future now hold for Bee and her companions and the demons who pursue her, who’s world will it eventually take them to, or is it the magic itself that is controlling its own destiny and if so where does it want to go? Bee, the daughter of the Butterfly Bee Lady – first introduced in The Butterfly Bee Lady and the Bee – continues her journey in this new tale by ig Oliver. During her adventures, Bee meets a wide range of fascinating characters, many of whom become her new companions. All the while she finds herself pursued by malevolent forces who want to take away her secret magic: the living pollen crystal stone. As she undergoes many changes, Bee begins to understand who she is. She realises that she holds an awesome power; one greater than time itself, over which she may have no control… June 17, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Bee-Lady-Part/dp/1528901274/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RQ00KUPQM4R5&keywords=the+butterfly+bee+lady+part+2&qid=1560779749&s=gateway&sprefix=the+butterfly+Bee%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1 Pendragon’s Princess To win a woman’s heart, one must have a dragon… He is the last of his kind. King Rhydderch Pendragon guards his secret: that he rules the last dragon in the kingdom. But when his dragon falls ill, he cannot figure out what ails her. As Rhyder’s wedding day draws near, he’s apprehensive about retrieving his betrothed. And with the recent murders in his kingdom, there’s no time to woo his princess. As the youngest daughter of King Raedwald Baldach, Katriona is the only one who can save their kingdom from embarrassment. When her sister runs away rather than wed the dragon prince, Katriona is substituted as Pendragon’s bride. Now grown and with druid blood in her, Katriona accepts her destiny, especially when his forlorn emotions beckon her heart. Rhyder vaguely remembers meeting Katriona at their betrothal, but their reunion sparks unexpected passion. When Katriona reveals a secret of her own, she does more than claim his heart. Is love the answer to his dragon’s plight and PENDRAGON’S PRINCESS’ acceptance? June 14, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RWQPS41 One day to remember forever, one trip to last a lifetime. Life has a way of throwing you curve balls. Dirty laundry, bad boyfriends, and a car breaking down. I thought I had been dealt the worst cards possible my senior year of college, then I got the call that would change it all. My brother had tried to kill himself and I had to get to him now. Jeremiah is my only hope. I have a secret, and I don’t know how to tell Georgia. She’s been my best friend since I started college, but this could change everything. When she calls me and asks for a ride when her car breaks down, I don’t expect the interception we have to face. We only have today to create a Snapshot that will last a lifetime, or change our paths forever. June 14, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RZDH2YB ALMIGHTY ALLMACHTIG Just before the outbreak of World War II, Fabienne, a young German girl flees her abusive, widowed father and takes a job, caring for disabled children in a home on the outskirts of Berlin. When Jurgen, a young soldier, turns up on the doorstep of the home, asking if he can take Fabienne to the local dance, the women running the organisation agree, against their better judgement. Soon the young couple are in love. With the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party, comes persecution of anyone seen to be “inferior to the German master race”. This includes children with disabilities and Fabienne and the women flee the Nazi wrath, taking the vulnerable children with them on an epic journey across Germany. Some will survive the Nazi punishments, others will not. But in the background is her relationship with Jurgen. Will he stay loyal or betray her to his masters in the Nazi party? When she hears that her father is in jail, awaiting the death penalty for murder, she is forced to come out of hiding to visit him and make her peace. The risk is enormous, but in doing so, Fabienne learns some extraordinary news, which changes the course of her life. June 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1912639734/ Charming: The Complete Crown and Daggers Series COMPLETED BOXSET OF THE CROWN AND DAGGERS SERIES! Charming – The Captain – The Prince Nothing ever exciting happens at the Ball. Certainly there are lovely ladies and preening lords, but for Kit, it would be so much simpler to forego the entire event and be knocked senseless dueling than dance another waltz. At least that was until she walked in. Ella thought the night might be perfect to kill herself a prince. Dance, drink, smile for the crowd Easy enough to slip a knife between the ribs and be home before midnight. But the prince wasn’t what she was expecting; and the maiden was unlike any other he’d met. Caught between duty and romance, prophecy and adventure, can two people find a way to be together when city walls stand between them? One waltz at a ball. One trip of a slipper. One Prince. And one Assassin. This is not your childhood Fairy Tale. June 13, 2019 http://hyperurl.co/CharmingCmptSrs Rich Mom Poor Mom – How I Made Money? This is a very controversial, brief simple book without long boring introductions, reveals to you how rich people keep you poor, exposing to you why money gurus never show you real ways to get rich. It also teaches you real tried methods to get our of poor – average person life. It shows you real methods rich people use to stay rich. How the author as well has changed his life from barely able to pay bills to a financially free person. If you want to learn how to trade stocks properly without gambling or if you have tried many ways to get rich whether it is trading stocks, being an affiliate to some company or even other trials. This books is for you, it gives you the bottom line so you don’t keep searching more for “How can I make money” stuff online again. It will work as well on developing your thinking and the way you see life. June 13, 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S5HFMXD Joe Dexter – Prisoner Zero Due to new weapons and technology, a power-hungry organization took control of Earth in 2150. The clone research has produced something evil which the world has never seen before. But an event in 2016 could change everything! This book is about the future. What if humanity had not learned anything from the history? What would the world look like? Could a little resistance group with the help of two time travelers from 2016, save the world, humanitarianism and the future? The book covers several topics like time travel, new technologies, patriotism, solidarity and that we must learn from the history. Otherwise if we don’t, history will repeat itself and maybe it`s going to be worse than ever before! “A really interesting and exciting book, written by a Mars One Astronaut candidate about the future of humanity and what happens if we learn nothing from our history! Read it!” Andrea Rohpeter www.prisonerzero.ch www.gefangenederzukunft.ch June 12, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ST59CC6 The Trunk In the not too distant future, the human population is nearly wiped out by an alien invasion. Six years after the initial attack, Emlee Dow isn’t too worried about the continuing alien presence any longer. It’s the few humans left who pose a greater threat. Food and supplies are hard to come by, making survival an ever increasing struggle. Luckily, she finds refuge in an undiscovered basement room, containing enough supplies to last weeks. Feeling full and relatively safe, Emlee decides to rest while she can. She wasn’t expecting her world to be turned upside down when she woke. Or for the already upside down world to be flipped right side up, pre-destruction. Thrown into the past, she meets Mykail, and has only days to convince him she’s not crazy before history repeats itself…or is it the future? In these difficult and trying times, it’s hard to know who to trust. Just when you find someone, they’re lost just as quickly. Can love be found again in the future? Or is it a thing of the past? June 10, 2019 http://lindamooney.com/TheTrunk.htm Panayiota Two teenage sisters, growing up in the Plaka district of Athens, Greece. Their parents keep a taverna, where there is music and dancing regularly. Life seems idyllic, and the girls can’t think of anything that they ought to worry about, except for having a good time. The only problem is, this is the late 1930’s, and things are about to change in ways they could never have imagined. An old woman lies dying in a hospice in the UK. She has an incurable cancer and is in the early stages of dementia. Yet, in her lucid moments, she wants to tell her story, before it’s too late and her secrets are lost forever, to the only person who will listen. That person is her nephew, a retired accountant who has the time to sit and keep her company during her long, lonely, final days. Panayiota was a teenager when the Germans walked into Athens in 1941. How she ended up in a hospice in the UK is the subject of an extraordinary tale, during the telling of which her nephew will learn things that will shake what he believes about his family and himself to the very core. June 9, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Panayiota-John-Manuel/dp/0244451559/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1560081246&sr=8-1 Strong Women Game Changers Batter Up! This book is about my life as a teen mom and a minority and fatherless daughter living on top of it in lower-income neighborhoods. I used life tools to get ahead after becoming a widow with two small children after their father past away. I was just 30 and he was 32 at his passing. My son was 11 and my daughter was 4 years old at the time. But I guess what I saw in my grandmother and mother who also were teen moms and fatherless daughters taught me that I could do this on my own but it would not be easy. They had also come from very low-income towns in Puerto Rico. The reason my mother moved to the United States with my three sisters and I was to give us a better chance of progress and a better life. The title is what I associated as a young girl that always watch people enjoying baseball games and I watch as the batters got all the intention and actually hardest job as the pitcher was hiding his pitch within his mitt! Just like life throws you curve balls that you do not see coming but when you do you batter up and hit your hardest to get that HOME RUN! For everyone in your team aka family & friends are watching you see what you do when you are on that base and by yourself awaiting that hardball that will come at you. Once you do get to hit it you better want a home run or at least a ball through the middle to get to run out your bases and maybe if you are a good enough runner you can slide home or at best third base in other words maybe become rich or at least well off in to say it not in baseball terms. I decided to write this book not only for my grandkids to have when I am gone but to help other women especially young Latinas that need the motivation to stay focused that they can be powerful empowered women even if life has thrown them down they can dust it off and keep trying and not give up! I feel that Teen Mom is a great show to show what to do and not do but also they are scripted a bit and get checks to do the shows and it helps them financially but in real time not every girl or teen gets that opportunity and also the show has parts that are edited in life there are no white out or chalk erasers thou you may get do-overs and sometimes not always. In some of these shows, some have dads that help out plus the producers & directors. In my story my dad was gone when I was 2 years old and no he did not pass away but separated from my mother. June 8, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Women-Game-Changers-Batter/dp/1095054252 Unwanted by Knox Tolbert My grandson wrote this book about his life and what he went through being raised by his grandparents as his biological parents are Addicts.And the pain and hurt and the bully and he went through and all he wants to do is help other kids and adults to show them they can get positive out of all the negativity June 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/154626941X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bJ10CbJQJB7GN Ca Anger Management Control Your Anger! Steps to Control Your Emotions, Be Free From Anxiety and Stress, Build Emotional Intelligence, Improve Self-Control, Increase Self-Discipline, and Build Awareness This Anger Management: Control Your Anger guidebook is a handy guide on anger management. The book provides invaluable insight into the problem of anger management. It outlines strategies that help you understand, accept, and deal with your anger, build self-control, increase your self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and become a self-assured, calm, poised, self-aware, and wise individual who knows how to deal with his/her emotions as well as those of others, someone capable of successfully navigating through the different emotional phases of life. June 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SR59BC8?fbclid=IwAR2gfVqLelQjBsb786lYHilC-7ZcrwommnqjNDFACyFRBc8PNWP2iiMjr2E BE WISE AND DON´T DIE PREMATURELY FROM ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: A Brief Preview * When bacteria infect our body and successfully multiply, they begin to kill or disrupt normal cell functions, making us sick a weakened defense can prove dangerous and fatal. * Previously manageable bacteria have mutated, giving rise to antibiotic-resistant strains in the absence of antibiotics, either the persons defense (system immune) destroys the bacteria or if not the infection can prove fatal. * By 2050, these bacteria will kill more people than cancer. * The pharmaceutical industry is not developing new antibiotics to cope with the rise of resistant bacteria.YOU can take practical measures to fortify your immune system to fight these bacteria. June 6, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K6Y47G5 Poplar Hill by Stephen Ramey Glines Wilderness House Press book review by Toby Berry in U.S. Review of Books “The Depression and the War colored the rest of our lives, my whole generation.” Kitty Stevenson resided in Germany before WWII as an American socialite, a woman somewhat oblivious to the worst of the Nazis, as if seeing it too closely prevented its clear focus. She managed to leave Nazi Germany on the last boat to New York, arriving just days before the Germans invaded Poland. Now, in Nova Scotia, Canada, she is dying of heart failure, determined to tell her life story to her best friend. This story inside of a story lets readers get to know the delightful main character, Stevenson, when she is both young and old. Glines skillfully weaves the two stories together. Seamlessly, readers go from the 1930s to the 1990s as Stevenson lives her daily hospice life and her memories aloud. World War II historical fiction has been written in many forms, but penned from the perspective of a naive, young American woman is unique. Likewise, end-of-life stories are plentiful, but from the calm, matter-of-fact, optimistic Kitty Stevenson’s perspective, readers get a taste of the scene as “splendid altogether,” at least in a bittersweet way. Poplar Hill is a northern rural area not far from Halifax, and the descriptions of the rough life and energy it takes to exist up there is a story in itself. “Rescuing Kitty Stevenson had become a county-wide effort…The highway department was going to get the causeway open…then start on Scotch Hill…with two plows and five salt trucks.” Wartime choices made, secrets, guilt, and living life like you mean it are all themes explored in this deep novel. But it isn’t just the “what” but the “how” that makes this book exemplary. A truly professional writer touches deeply, and when Glines describes Stevenson’s bedside last breaths, a tissue box is highly recommended. June 6, 2019 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/poplar-hill-stephen-ramey-glines/1130713013?ean=9780982711590 This Side of the River Addiction is a serious matter and Jason is slowly learning that lesson. Jason Young is the newest member of the Riverside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center, which is just about as terrible as it sounds, if you ask him. He doesn’t see why the judge sentenced him to the podunk town of Escape, Colorado. The center is outside of town near Crimson Ridge, cut off from the outside world, because no one wants to be associated with it. He may only be there an agonizing 6 months until he turns 18, but that doesn’t make it any better. He just hopes it’s bearable. Everything begins to change once he meets Tabitha Blackwell. She’s been there for a few months now, having spent her 17th birthday cooped up between the walls of the girls’ cabin. She talks about finally being free and one day getting away from Riverside. There’s a dark side to her that Jason’s drawn to, but sometimes a person’s dark side isn’t what you think. Their inner demons may be similar, but it’s difficult to tell whose are screaming louder. June 3, 2019 https://amazon.com/author/elizabethkathleenstone Blachart Action! Adventure! Space opera! Mykl d’Angelo, skipper and owner of the loderunner Pegasus, had fallen on hard times – and he’d just had the worst day of his life in that field. Due a minor misunderstanding, his crew had stolen the “Short Shit” – the ship’s only shuttle, leaving him and two others behind to crew the ailing (and now understaffed) loderunner on their own. As if that weren’t bad enough, just a few hours later, the rickety old ship literally lost its stardrive in the middle of the middle of nowhere. To add insult to injury, Mykl’s two remaining crewmen were killed in the explosion. Marooned alone in deep space, Mykl d’Angelo counted his blessings, offered prayers to any gods who specialized in miracles, and prepared to await (A) seemingly unlikely rescue, or (B) a lingering death. In the meantime, as though in answer to d’Angelo’s pleas, a starship of the Imperial Space Fleet had been dispatched to investigate the mysterious silence of a remote starbase nearby. Rescue takes place, but at a price – taking into consideration Mykl d’Angelo’s past service in the Fleet – and his not insignificant knowledge and experience of Corsairs, he quickly finds himself re-activated in an advisory capacity. Proceeding at full alert, the Antares prepared for the worst – that is, the probability that the lost starbase had been attacked and destroyed by Corsairs… space pirates who dominate the space lanes and whose bloody choke-hold on interstellar trade overshadowed the last 100 years of Human history. Seemingly by sheer coincidence, their paths cross with a legendary and fearsome Corsair – a man whose name sent shivers running down the spines of lesser men. Blachart… Blachart the Bloody. “Blachart” is book 1 in the Galaxii Series by Christina Engela. June 3, 2019 http://www.christinaengela.net/product/blachart-by-christina-engela/ Black Sunrise Cindy-Mei, who until recently had been Agent Winter, C.I.A. – that’s Colonial Intelligence Agency – had been one of their best agents… that is, until they threw her out for coming to work in a dress. After that disappointing and sudden end to what had been a promising career, Mei rewarded herself with a long relaxing vacation in the outback to celebrate her gender reassignment and her new start in life. The first stop on her journey turned out to be a little backwater planet called Deanna… As a third-rate colony in the Terran Empire, Deanna had more than its fair share of dull moments… Dull – but also definitely weird… Deanna orbited a star called Ramalama – and if you think that’s funny, Deanna’s two moons were called Ding and Dong, respectively. (This was a local joke.) When a single Ruminarii Hammerhead – the first seen by Humans in over eighty years, arrived to invade the small backwater Terran colony of Deanna, rather than cowering in their basements or running away, the ordinary people of Atro City headed to the spaceport to meet the aliens when they landed – and grabbed anything remotely resembling a weapon on the way out the door! As bombs fell on Atro City, Cindy-Mei found herself in exactly the right place at the right time – but what should she do? She’d hoped to put her violent and somehow depressing past behind her, but now it seemed her new beginning (and her holiday) were going to have to wait! The Gimp were back, and this was no time to be a sissy! She faced seemingly insurmountable odds in the midst of panic, hysteria – falling sherry – and people hiding under furniture! What would she do? Thankfully, with the assistance of an alien walking, talking plant called Fred, a local bounty hunter called Beck the Badfeller – and the Skeggs Valley Dynamite Fishing Club, she wouldn’t have to find out alone. “Quite simply, Christina Engela is one of the best voices in sci-fi right now and to not read her work would be to miss a treat!” – Mark Woods, author of Time of Tides and Fear of the Dark. “Black Sunrise” is the first book in the Quantum Series by Christina Engela. June 3, 2019 http://www.christinaengela.net/product/black-sunrise-by-christina-engela/ The Call from Within Deborah is a reader and writer of animal lives. She thinks people need to search in their souls and find the sacred place where inspired movement begins as a force to be reckoned with. As she addresses the staggering debacle of animal rights, Deborah brings readers to the edge of their seemingly fluid existence, bringing to attention the ability everyone has to change and respond to her plea to “save them all.” Readers will experience the character’s imperfect life, her struggle for hope, and her regret of past negligence. Her light-filled spirit will nonetheless bring the truth to bear as she finds the freedom and opportunity to heal and to save all those lives; all worth living. Deborah is an image of humanity in bloom. Beth A. Nigro graduated with a Masters Degree from Fordham University in New York, where she studied Animal Rights. She wrote an essay, “The Gulf Between Us: An Essay on the Separation of the Human and Non-human In Western Philosophical Thought,” that addresses Animal Rights and its connection with Feminist descriptions of the origin of dualist thinking and its role in the perception of animals and other Others. May 31, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Call-Within-Beth-Nigro/dp/164426563X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Beth+nigro&qid=1559309482&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Enduring Love No one ever truly realizes the power of their love, until love is tested and they have to endure things unimaginable and sometimes hurtful. And if the truth is declared, no one wants to but… Sometimes we find ourselves standing in the test of love and this is exactly where Priscilla Marshall finds herself. Married to Steven since she graduated college, together they were the perfect couple. Both making successful business moves, both loved their choices, but one had a secret that could change their lives. Priscilla, now forced to make a plan to secure her future, finds out that a plan without God involved is not a plan at all because “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). What will God use to make this woman’s plan come full circle with His own, and after the test, will they find that they truly do have an Enduring Love? May 29, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Enduring-Love-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07B8X7RVY Falling in Crying Out This story is about drug addiction. How it controls your thoughts, your body, your life, and leaves you nothing to fight back with. Your mind will go to any lengths, no matter how depraved, to obtain what your body requires. It will show you doors and how to open them, doors that lead to wickedness, corruption and wanton decadence. Doors that lead you to the very bottom, to the very lowest points of life. To the point where you believe your only option is to overdose. For the eighteen years that I was a junkie, I reached that point several times. My story involves sex scenes, many different illegal activities, police there informers and gangland stories, deaths and murders. Scenes from life in jail. Betrayals. And above all, the unbelievable lengths that junkies will go to to feed their habits. May 29, 2019 https://www.amazon.com.au/Falling-Crying-Out-Bonnie-Lee-ebook/dp/B077FD9GNP Sabastian’s Curse When everything you know doesn’t make sense anymore; who do you trust? After her partner was killed while she was on vacation, D.C. Detecc tive Catherine Richards, vowed to solve his murder. Little did she know that soon she would be the one on trial for a crime centuries old. Her accuser, Sabastian Mulacay, is a powerful man and used to getting his way. Soon she is thrust into a world of ancient druids and mystical powers. Will she be able to persuade this beast of a man of her innocence using her detective skills? Or will she have to resort to more feminine tactics? Trying to clear her name will be one of the most challenging things she has ever faced but if she succeeds it could be the most rewarding. When Sabastian first met Catherine he knew she had a Viking spirit but he felt the lure of a familiar evil. Will he be able to finally bring justice to his clan and crush the witch forever? Or will his enemy destroy what’s left of him and his heart? May 27, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1097356167/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3 Learning The Hard Way He had just turned seventeen, but Joey Bird had been serving time off and on since he was thirteen, arrested for assault, assault with a weapon, assault against a police officer, and breach of conditions. Living in Winnipeg, young Joey had survived being initiated into a gang against his will, being homeless and sleeping outside in all kinds of weather, and feeling the rejection of his family, friends and community. But nothing could have prepared him for the moment when his friend was shot in the head and killed while sitting just centimeters away from him. May 27, 2019 https://goldrockpress.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Flearning-the-hard-way The Warrior’s Guide to Successful Sobriety When you’re battling addiction you are literally at war. It’s a war that is waging within yourself. It’s a dangerous war and it’s a deadly war. It’s also a war that’s difficult for most people to understand, unless they’ve been through it themselves. Ths book will help anyone who is battling addiction. It is also a benficial resource for family members, friends and loved ones to learn more about addiction, and gain tools they too can use for their own recovery process. In this book, Dr. KJ Foster outlines a new and provocative conceptualization of addiction recovery, which is based upon personal experience with addiction, and professional experience working with thousands of individuals and family members struggling to overcome addiction. Dr. Foster’s Warrior Theory outlines and defines Four Warrior Phases of Addiction Recovery and Six Essential Elements of POWER. The key to all recovery is in learning what provides you with POWER and what depletes you of POWER. It is all about the POWER! May 27, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/WARRIORS-GUIDE-SUCCESSFUL-SOBRIETY-EMOTIONAL-ebook/dp/B07S5YDDQ5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=kj+foster&qid=1558978511&s=gateway&sr=8-1 His Lady’s Answer The Johnson Brides Book 2 Hannah had lived through hell. Finally free and able to care for her little family, danger lurks just on the edge of her happiness. Can she learn to trust a stranger to give her all she never knew she wanted? Jared Johnson was on a cattle run, again, when he stumbles upon a lady that could be the answers to all his dreams. She just must accept that Jared will answer all her unspoken questions. May 26, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/His-Ladys-Answer-Johnson-Brides-ebook/dp/B07RL5BK2N His Angel’s Destiny The Johnson Brides Book 1 Lord Adam Johnson is the eldest, the protector and the rock for the Johnson family. He knows his place and accepts his life. His next title? Perhaps a guardian angel. Jenna is scared, alone and pregnant. Having lived her life without a loving family, tragedy strikes and she finds she has to make a choice; run, give up or trust that she truly has a guardian angel. May 26, 2019 http://www.amazon.com/Cristal-G.-Varner/e/B07RSFHLZ4 Open Secrets of Life checkout my piece that gives insight. I wholistically looked into spiritual ordeals and brought to light the hidden that need to be demystify. It is a motivational book that touch all ramifications of life, volume one. May 23, 2019 https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-action/us/dualbookshelf.marketplacelink/B07RLFQ341 Ruby Rain The grass is always greener on the other side. Two women will find out just how wrong they both are. One longs for freedom, the other just wants her loneliness to end. But what will happen to them once those wishes come true and what lengths will they go to have these wishes granted? May 22, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Rain-S-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07JB3RCX6/ Susan & Friends Susan & Friends is a work of fiction, Contemporary Romance. Susan Applebaum is a no-nonsense businesswoman and along with her four beautiful friends that make up the Bosom Buddies group. These beautiful ladies take us on a thrill, with the activities in their love lives and their sexual encounters.https://amzn.to/2YD4Shb May 21, 2019 https://amzn.to/2YD4Shb Child of Obsidian Obsidian is an unconventional assassin in the 21st century. Living a life of obscurity, she must find the balance between murder and holding on to the man of her dreams. When her child is born, she is swept into an underworld of elusive beings known as the Shadows, where a beautiful stranger makes promises of grandeur for her and her son. May 20, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Child-Obsidian-Michaele-ebook/dp/B07JMT9FL6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=child+of+obsidian+A.+Michaele&qid=1558387356&s=books&sr=1-1-spell The Secret of Sunrise Mountain In the tradition of Craig Johnson’s “Longmire” mysteries comes a new epic series. 1998 – someone or something is stampeding widower rancher Joe Mack’s cattle killing precious cows and calves and threatening his livelihood. The local sheriff won’t help. He relishes punishing Joe for “ruining” his life, so Joe is forced to take matters into his own hands. When his friends are beaten up and shot, his new gal nearly killed, Joe finds himself in the middle of a war with mercenaries with the deadly possibility of losing everyone and everything he holds dear hanging over his head. May 20, 2019 https://amzn.to/2FkEdBc Spirit Wind A call from a ghost hunter changes Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s vacation plans. Instead of going to the coast, she and her husband are headed to Tehachapi to investigate a haunted house and are confronted by voices on the wind, a murder, and someone out to get them. May 20, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Wind-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries/dp/1092112081/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Spirit+Wind+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1556631664&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull Grandma’s Secret Blessings, A Memoir with a Twist Take a ride with JohnEgreek as he journeys to the Old Country in fulfillment of a childhood promise made to his grandparents, the Patriarch and Matriarch of his family. His travels take him to a former communist country, once run by a dictator who in 1967 declares their Motherland,Atheist. His grandmother, insightful and deeply spiritual guides him throughout his lifetime as he himself opens to the reality of something higher than himself. What happens along the way is a surreal journey and a deeply rooted experience. Travel with him and his pseudo family, as they discover the avenue to his soul and the recipe to Grandma’s Secret Blessings, bestowed upon him while she is alive and long after she is gone. Hidden in a document revealed to him sometime after his trip to the Old Country, he finds the key that unlocks the door to the hidden ability to “transcend and go beyond.” The journey of life is at times is a rocky road,sometimes endured by such things as relationship issues, health issues,monetary issues, and his case, a father who hates him from the very first day he is born and a son who walks out of his life with no explanation from either of them, as to why? There are hidden elements behind the experience that he calls, “Life.” This book is for anyone who is teetering on the edge of disbelief that there is something higher than their greatest expectations as to why things happen to them. “Beware of the Temptation to view yourself, unfairly treated,” a key element to a life of the “Poor me syndrome.” Everyone at some time or another will lose a loved one,but death is not the end, it is the beginning and they do find a way to speak to you from beyond. Make no mistake, this book will open your eyes as you discover the magical recipe to Grandma’s Secret, Blessings and you, too, can use them to heal your heart and find the avenue to your soul. May 17, 2019 https://amzn.to/2Wa7kOC Nubes de Abril Novela de ❤️,Humor, Seducción, Pasión y Locura. ¡Para los q manejan el lenguaje de la visualización, es un guion de película! #Amazonbook May 17, 2019 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005USA6TC/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk JUDGEMENT OF SOULS 3: Kiss at Dawn ALREADY BEING SCRIPTED FOR A FORTHCOMING MOVIE. JUDGEMENT OF SOULS is a Paranormal Romance/Gothic horror in which a naïve pure-blood Vampire is tossed into the mortal world. Rachel meets Daniel, a nightclub owner and his group of friends and after Daniel’s best friend is murdered by Max, (her ex-lover), becomes embroiled in the search for an ancient vampire artifact. Rachel tries to fight off her feelings for Daniel, even siding with her Vampire friend Arun to think again about Daniel’s involvement, but he’s her love and she’s going to protect him, no matter what. A 300 year old quest. A secret religious organisation. Revenge – vampire style. http://www.amazon.com/Judgement-of-Souls-ebook/dp/B006QFPHJC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top http://www.amazon.co.uk/Judgement-of-Souls-ebook/dp/B006QFPHJC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328965289&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Margarita-Felices/e/B007BHDIVS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 http://www.facebook.com/JudgementOfSouls3TheKissAtDawn May 16, 2019 http:/www.amazon.com/Judgement-of-Souls-ebook/dp/B006QFPHJC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top 90 Day to a Glass Half Full Lifestyle The Power of Daily Affirmations Chris Edwards was born in Shawneetown Illinois and spent his formative years around Nashville, Tennessee. He presently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Chris is a recognized proponent of the cultural arts, a strong business leader and a political activist for equality in human rights and LBGTQ+ causes. Chris has traveled to 46 countries and enjoys the diversity of cultures. Chris has led divisions of large public companies, assisted with the growth and support of social enterprises and served on boards of several non-profits. Chris is recognized as a mentor in teaching those around him the skills of positive self-esteem and to enjoy the ups and downs of life experiences. Chris’s new release has ranked in the Amazon top 100 in “Self Esteem Self Help” and in “Self Help Short Reads”. May 15, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Days-Glass-Half-Full-Lifestyle/dp/109752938X/ May 14, 2019 http://www.walkingspiritually.com/ravenquest/ravenquest-books/ Summer the Magic blanket Summer: it’s a time of heat waves and sunburn, idle days and restless nights. What better place to spend a warm, magical summer than on a beautiful Greek island? Enjoy the blue ocean waves, the pebbly beach, the singing of mermaids, and a fresh, juicy watermelon in Summer: The Magic Blanket The seasons teach us patience . . . you can’t hurry the changing of the leaves, the melting of the snow, or the ripening of the fruit. I would love to have fresh almonds year-round, but that is not possible. Nature and the Seasons teach me patience. Patience is a marvelous quality, and good things come to those who have patience. This is a lesson we can learn from the Seasons and a valuable lesson to teach our young ones. May 10, 2019 http://www.hummingbirdpublications.com/product/summer-the-magic-blanket/ The Truth About White Supremacy, Sexism, and Mind Control in America Take a journey through America to unearth the truths behind white supremacy and sexism in society. Delve into the deepest and most fascinating secrets behind racism and sexism—the secrets they do not want you to know and may not realize. Examine the origins and progression of racism, sexism, relationships in America, and the science and psychology behind what is real and what is an illusion. Discover how mind control is the weapon of choice to keep certain groups in power and others in the dark and oppressed. This book gives different perspectives from the physical to the metaphysical. Finally, we explore astonishing revelations about why we are here, who we are, and how to heal and evolve to a higher spiritual level. Explore the mind-blowing revelations and proven facts that will challenge the way you think about people, life, and the universe. Though this book focuses on America, its breathtaking discoveries can be applied everywhere, and with anyone around the world. The Truth About White Supremacy, Sexism, and Mind Control in America has won the Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Award and received numerous 5-star reviews from Reader’s Favorite. May 10, 2019 https://amzn.to/2HedUtY Child at Heart An anthology book of Five magical children’s stories: Featuring, firstly Holly Christmas the little girl who’s wish for a happy Christmas looks unlikely in becoming true, until something magical happens to her in the village Church. Secondly, Penny and a talking rag doll, Poppy Pigtails become destined to be friends after waking up together in the middle of the night. Thirdly, The Truth Fairy who magically appears from nowhere to help Katrina mend her lying ways. Fourthly, The Tree of Mirrors and a dog named Duke come to Abby the dumb girl’s rescue in changing her life for the better. Finally, In The Chime of Angels two teenage youngsters Sophia and Sam find some dirty old Angel Chimes on a rubbish dump and literally fall into the magical world of Paradise Falls which changes their lives forever. May 10, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/CHILD-AT-HEART-BLACK-WHITE/dp/1549873237/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=terry+sewell&qid=1557490607&s=books&sr=1-10 I’m Not Finished Loving You: Desiree’s Story Desiree is an intelligent and beautiful young woman but she fell in love with the wrong guy. After finding out she was pregnant with his child, she found out just how wrong he really was! She tried to move on with her life but unbeknownst to her every new acquaintance, accident, and injury she will encounter is somehow connected to her ex-boyfriend who vowed to finish what he started. May 10, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1524572993/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_Dfo1CbTMHTTEG THE JEWEL OF VISHNU Before the time of the great pyramids, on a lost continent at the edge of the world a mysterious boy searches for his mother in a desperate race against time. He carries her amulet, forged long ago in the stars by a God. But all divine gifts come at a price. Finally, a young adult fantasy novel with an all Indian cast, set across the mystical landscape of Kumari Kandam, India’s Atlantis. For lovers of Indian historical fantasy fiction, The Jewel of Vishnu is part one of an explosive three book, young adult series like no other. May 9, 2019 https://amzn.to/2JavQJg The Belle Stalker Belle Stark has struggled to conquer crippling fears since being attacked by a maniac. Despite the efforts of countless cops, her stalker continues to roam free. When Belle discovers her lover’s mutilated body spread over the furniture, she becomes the prime suspect, but she’s certain her attacker is to blame.With no where else to turn, Belle seeks help from her ex-husband, homicide detective Mike Cranston, the one person she swore she would never let back into her life…or her heart. In their hunt for answers, the two uncover more than a lunatic: a supernatural underworld hides beneath the tall skyscrapers along with a secret that could bring the city to its knees. Faced with a terrible choice, Belle surrenders herself to the hands of a monster, and Mike must solve an ancient mystery before it’s too late to save her… May 8, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Belle-Stalker-Minnette-Meador-ebook-dp-B07QW48WRB/dp/B07QW48WRB/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid= Ranni And Her Miraculous Adventures. This is a diverse and modern book, detailing a rabbit of Indian descent. She undertakes adventures with her friend, Susie, and many other animals and humans. A lovely story for children of all ages. May 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ranni-Her-Miraculous-Adventures-Allen/dp/1912078929/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=1CP42PHMQFZWR&keywords=ranni+and+her+miraculous+adventures&qid=1557249421&s=gateway&sprefix=Ranni%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1-fkmrnull The Three Mysterious Tales The stories are based on legends, plus true and real events. May 7, 2019 https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-three-mysterious-tales-ricko-dupri-sample/1130528148 Bigfoot Untold The story is based on real experiences and true encounters with Bigfoot. May 7, 2019 https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/bigfoot-untold-ricko-dupri-sample/1130050303 Dagger’s Dilemma: Not Lady Like series There’s nothing more important to Dagger ‘Dag’ Jackson than her job. She lives for the thrill of being the deadliest hitwoman walking the streets, as she gets to work side by side with her two best friends. Plus, working for the most dangerous and powerful woman in the city has its perks…as long as you follow the rules, and Dagger does just that… Until Luca. When Luca steps into Dag’s life, everything is turned upside down. Life, as she’s always known it, is abruptly disrupted and has her questioning everything. The once untouchable assassin finds herself vulnerable, in the worst way. Meanwhile, in the streets around her, a powerful danger lurks and threatens to rip apart the town she fights to protect it. Suddenly, the deadliest woman in the city has more to fear, and so much more to lose. May 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RJY8CX6/ Gorillaz In The Bay Gorillaz In The Bay 1 & 2 now available on Amazon. CLICK HERE NOW!!!!! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949138445/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_xIPQCbC40D6GG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R95FJX4/ May 7, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R95FJX4/ Avenging Angels is a mystery/suspense novel that focuses on a group of professionals working in the field of children’s protection. The core group of friends consists of Detective Carrie Gill and a handful of social workers who adopt the name the Karma Klub. Each member of the group either discusses wanting to inflict harm on perpetrators of child abuse, or have strong motivations to inflict retribution for victimizations in their past. Beginning with the murder of one the most notorious child abusers (fictional) in history,Kate Montalvo, one by one, other perpetrators of child abuse are murdered, or mutilated, after they’ve been discussed during the weekly happy hour, KarmaKlub, meetings. The crimes mirror the abuse that the victims endured, but with a lethal, or near lethal, conclusion. May 5, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BVDRWD2 Never Before Seen CONVERSION PERSUASION TECHNIQUES: Selling, Marketing, Recruiting, and Advertising with Actionable Applications ARE YOU FRUSTRATED with your AD Spend NOT paying off for you? More than EVER, our ATTENTION SPAN has decreased to a mere few seconds. Therefore, it is Crucial that we TAP into the SUBCONSCIOUS MINDS of your 4 PROSPECT TYPES We can this by OPENING PANDORA’S BOX : ATTRACT their Core Essence CAPTURE through CopyWrite Hypnotism Mesmerize by KEEPING their INTEREST Receive a CONFIDENT “YES” to your OFFER Using NEVER BEFORE SEEN NEUROSCIENCE PSYCHOLOGY: . YOU can through your marketing advertisements and put an END to the STRUGGLE of a Decrease in Sales and Recruiting. With a Personal and Team Building Quiz with Fully Elaborated Assessments>; you can have HIGH CONVERSION RATES over your competitors. Your competitors will definitely be wondering what you’re doing differently! YOU’LL BE ABLE TO TELL THEM: CONVERSION PERSUASION TECHNIQUES With a 12 Year Study, I have used the very same Neuroscience Psychology to land in the Top 2% of the 20% in the Financial Sector and also positioning myself into the Top Sales Manager across Canada. I AM HERE TO OPEN PANDORA’S BOX and let you in on what has been kept from the Business World! ALL throughout these pages, you’ll also find ACTIONABLE APPLICATIONS, that you can use “Word for Word” towards your own Advertising. Your Author has Disabled DRM for your Marketing Needs. Also, available in Paperback. May 5, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/author/learntosucceed Avalanche of Love Back Lands magazine for outdoor enthusiasts has featured Robin Hawke and her outfitting business several times. When her friend, Josie Whittle, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, asks Robin to take a group of writers and photographers out for a week Robin is happy to do it until she finds out that one of the writers going on the trip has never even been camping, let alone gone on a multi-day hike. After getting fired from a business magazine, her life in ruins, and forced to go home to Colorado where her father has her under his thumb, Marianne Jones is lucky to be writing for anyone. Her new boss at Back Lands magazine, Josie, insists Marianne go out on a weeklong hike with some other writers and photographers from the magazine. The only hiking Marianne does is at the mall and she’s never been camping, so she is not happy about this trip. Marianne makes Robin mad before the hike even starts, and Robin assumes Marianne is just another snooty socialite forced to work by her parents. Both women try to ignore the sparks flying between them on the trails in vain. These two women with nothing in common, except broken hearts, are thrown together by fate. Can they find common ground, or will tragedy take away the chance for them to find out what they could have had? May 5, 2019 https://www.amazon.com/Avalanche-Love-M-Tudor-ebook/dp/B07R8XPMJS/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=avalanche+of+love&qid=1557069475&s=gateway&sr=8-1 The Tarot and the Mysteries of Love & Sex ttp://www.lulu.com/shop/mel-j-fleming-ii/the-tarot-and-the-mysteries-of-love-and-sex/ebook/product-22550609.html I wrote this book to show that the divine nature of Tarot can be used to perform readings, on the issues of Love, Sex, Romance, and relationships. The meanings of all 78 cards were specifically made out in that respect, so when you draw cards, each has its own unique sexually oriented character. Can be used with any spread you choose to use. The book is easy to read, and most decks, with the exception of animal based decks Comes in either hardback, or PDF file. http://www.lulu.com/shop/mel-j-fleming-ii/the-tarot-and-the-mysteries-of-love-and-sex/ebook/product-22550609.html May 3, 2019 http://www.lulu.com/shop/mel-j-fleming-ii/the-tarot-and-the-mysteries-of-love-and-sex/ebook/product-22550609.html HOLMWOOD When a young white girl and black boy are found sexually tortured and murdered side by side on the notorious HOLMWOOD estate, racial tensions reach an all time high. With the top brass putting the pressure on the Edmonton Special Crime Group to up their game, everyone knows the SIO of this latest case will have their work cut out. It falls to DI Peter Moone to step up and take the lead on a case muddied by local racist groups and drug dealers, and one that could lead to the end of the Edmonton Special Crime Group forever. Moone soon comes to realise that his case, and an investigation led by an old flame, DI Sonja Field, are connected. This leads them both into a world of snuff films and a wall of silence on the estate that they somehow have to break… or watch the Edmonton team finally fall from grace. May 3, 2019 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QZLP66Q	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1083
__label__wiki	0.644044	0.644044	Ever since season 3, Once Upon a Time has adapted a “split season” approach in order to allow a more “gap-free” airing of episodes. While this idea seemed quite good when ABC was selling it since the “momentum” of the series was sometimes broken due to random stretches without new episodes. However, 2 years of this format has shown that it does not work very well. It leaves the series feeling rather fractured and quite honestly, 11 episodes is not “long” enough to fully flesh out meaty storylines (especially with the extensive characters in the Once universe). The writers have good concepts/ideas, but all of the half-seasons have felt rather disappointing and half-baked. Season 3A (Neverland/Peter Pan) was extremely slow-paced and season 3B (Oz/Wicked Witch) was more hype than substance. What about season 4A and 4B? Season 4A: Frozen I adored Frozen, so I was quite ecstatic at the glimpse of Elsa during season 3B’s ending and looked forward to seeing how the Frozen characters/world would be incorporated. Overall I thought Once did a fantastic job translating the animated movie into the “real” world. Elizabeth Lail was spot-on as cute/funny Anna and she honestly had the best lines; I was less impressed with Georgina Haig as Elsa, but grew to like her. The highlight casting though was Elizabeth Mitchell as the Snow Queen; she was an absolute scene-stealer with her gripping performance. I was quite sad to see Mitchell go. Story-line wise, season 4A was the most coherent, balanced, and well-written arc of all the half-seasons. While certain aspects of the story were rather forced/unexplained, as a whole it had plenty of surprise, fun, and excitement. It brought new life to the show and actually made it feel rather fresh again. I really liked Emma’s friendship with Elsa and it helped to develop Emma’s character into accepting her magic. The blending of the original Snow Queen fairytale with Frozen was quite creative. The main complaint that I have is that the Frozen characters dominated too much of the screen time and I got rather tired that most flashbacks were based in Arendelle or involved Anna/Elsa. What I loved about the Once flashbacks from other seasons (as I did with LOST) was that each episode would focus on a different character/story that would tie in with “current” events, which kept things fresh. Season 4B: Queens of Darkness/Heroes & Villains Similar to season 3B’s Wicked promotional tactic, season 4B was full of hype for the incorporation of Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella de Vil into the Once world. Consequently, the “Queens of Darkness” was more superfluous than anything else. I still do not understand how they originally banded together in the Enchanted Forest and they did not live up to their “threatening” name. Worse, they were all under-developed (with the exception of perhaps Ursula who at least got a “complete” story, but her end was too abrupt) and did not meet any potential. The most enjoyable “Queen” was Cruella, who had delicious zingers and Victoria Smurfit gave her great sass; her lone flashback was arguably Once‘s darkest and most chilling episode. I really hope we have not seen the last of Kristin Bauer van Straten because Maleficent’s story remains so incomplete. I was under the impression that we would see more of Aurora/Sleeping Beauty, but we only got one scene. For all of her talk, Maleficent seemed rather powerless and was always so easy to defeat that it was laughable. I also did not like her “upgraded” costume (which seemed to borrow from Angelina Jolie‘s costume from Maleficent). I was always under the impression that the “Author” storyline was a ruse for the characters (namely Regina) to realize that there is no “magical being” that grants happy endings and life is all about choices and consequences. I thought the quest to find such an “Author” was a futile one. How disappointed I was to learn that there truly was an Author who does have the power to “change” things. Fortunately, in the end, the message of the “Author” storyline was indeed that the characters write their own stories and that the “evil Author” who had such “powers” to change fate had gone astray in his duties. Season 4B is probably Once‘s worst writing thus far. There were too many inconsistencies, too many incredulous plot/character devices to invoke twists/shocks, lack of character development, and just felt terribly disjointed. It seemed to be an array of action rather than trying to tell a coherent story. Here are my main complaints: – The constant “hero” and “villain” labels/speeches felt very forced and contrived. I hated it. While I understand that this has always been the underlying theme, but having it repeated over and over again was overkill. If there’s one thing the Once writers need to improve on, it’s that they need to show and not just tell. – I did not think the “twist” with Charming and Snow carrying a deep, dark secret was needed or credible. They had interesting gray layers already! How could they reach Glinda if their hearts were not “pure” in season 3B? – The immense “fear” that Emma would turn dark was ridiculous. Again the characters seem to act according to the plot rather than maintain their characterizations. – There are so many phenomenal existing characters and so many unfinished/untold stories that I really don’t understand why the writers forsake them for the inclusion of even more characters. It is like they are too greedy for a large cast and end up underutilizing most of them (or they just disappear). – Belle is the worst treated “main” character. She was so good in season 1 with her strength and she is supposed to be intelligent and “book smart”, but the writers continuously make her brainless and spineless. It is so frustrating to watch her and Emilie de Ravin‘s acting is going downhill. Also, Will & Belle were a waste of time; the fact that they were dating came out of nowhere. Are we supposed to believe Belle moved on in 6 weeks? They also had no chemistry. I am praying that season 5’s Belle will be better (and she should be with Rumple having to overcome life without any power/darkness). I really do like Belle & Rumple, but she is just so badly written as of late. – The “villain” Hook is far more interesting than the love interest/background he has become. While 4B was weak, the two-hour finale offered some hope. The “alternate” world was rather fun and reminded me of LOST‘s season 6 parallel timeline. The “Author” storyline came to a satisfying conclusion and I really liked how Snow summarized what a “villain” makes (someone who forsakes others for their own happiness). The tremendous sacrifice that Emma made to fulfill her promise to Regina of giving her a “happy ending” was so touching. The growth and strength that Regina displayed when she stopped believing in a cursed “fate” and instead faces things highlights her multi-season journey – she is the best written, most layered, and most consistent character of the show. Lana Parrilla is also the best actress on Once with her nuanced and multi-faceted performace (just see the finale where Ginnifer Goodwin seemed rather fake/stiff as Evil Snow while Parrilla was convincing as a tragic bandit). The seeds are definitely planted for some interesting storylines next season. Something needs to change with Once… and soon. Either they need to get rid of the half-seasons or they need to have an “end-date”. At this point, I am not sure where the series is going. While I continue to love it because of the great “core” characters and for those genuinely magical moments, the creative spark and excitement from season 1 seems to have fizzled. It has so much potential and so many seeds they can sow that I find it frustrating they pursue lesser plots. I am cautiously hopeful that season 5 can improve and am curious to see what will become of Emma being the new “Dark One” and with the new quest to find Merlin. Posted in TV Reviews and tagged ABC, Cruella de Vil, Dark Swan, Elizabeth Mitchell, Frozen, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Maleficent, Once Upon a Time, OUAT, Prince Charming, Snow Queen, Snow White, Ursula, Wicked on May 11, 2015 by Thanh. Leave a comment	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1088
__label__wiki	0.749326	0.749326	Tag Archives: Cranbrook Foundation “Smoking and Coking”: The Kingswood Senior Cabin In March 1940, Kingswood girls were invited to party at Cranbook School’s senior cabin. (George Booth had given the boys the gift of the senior cabin in December 1927.) While the girls had known about the cabin, their visit really brought home the fact that they did not have one to enjoy for themselves. Spearheaded by then sophomore, Mary Adie ‘42, the Kingswood girls began to push for their own cabin. Henry Scripps Booth supported the idea and was the architect. The cabin had an open floor plan with a fireplace, bathroom, and a small kitchenette. Bench seating lined the window wall that looked out over the brook. The Cranbrook Foundation paid for the structure which cost $2392. The Kingswood School Board of Directors felt that student involvement would help stimulate class and school spirit, and that the cabin would provide an informal respite from the rigors of the school day. The girls raised money and paid for furnishings themselves (from Sears), and even made curtains to decorate the space. Each successive senior class left their mark by adding something to the décor. Mr. Wentz made a wrought iron screen for the fireplace which featured the Kingswood seal. Mrs. Dow contributed a combination radio-Victrola which was very popular as it played twelve records simultaneously! And eventually, the girls even got a telephone. View of the Senior Cabin (left) with the Western Playfield Shelter, 1963. Courtesy Cranbrook Archives Once the plan was approved, a location was determined. Then Headmistress, Margaret Auger stated: “I thought I was very clever” when she sited the cabin on the edge of the Kingswood School grounds – close enough where there could be adult supervision, but far enough away so it did not seem as if the faculty was spying on the students. Ground was broken November 19, 1940, and the girls had a housewarming party May 9, 1941 with juniors and the outgoing seniors. The party became an annual “right of passage” which transferred the rights to use the cabin from one class to another. The cabin was so popular that initially there was a column in The Clarion called “Cabin Close-ups!” Kingswood Seniors hanging out, Feb 1957. Notice the décor. The cabin was used for a variety of leisure activities. Bridge club was held on Wednesdays, which was the only time that girls were allowed to smoke on campus. Auger’s smoking rule was that students could smoke cigarettes at the cabin, but only on Wednesdays, when faculty member Josephine Waldo was there to supervise. (She, by the way, was a smoker herself). The catch was that if Auger found out that the girls smoked on any other day of the week, she would close the cabin. By far, one of the best parts was that the girls could drink cokes – by the case full! During exam weeks, girls took study breaks at the cabin and revived themselves by “smoking and coking.” In 1964, smoking at the cabin ended when Michigan State law outlawed cigarette smoking for minors under the age of eighteen. Smoking and Coking, Dec 1952. Courtesy Cranbrook Archives. As time went on, various updates and changes were made to the cabin. However, by 1966, the foundation of the building had begun to erode. In the early 1980s, the cabin was only used as a restroom facility for Kingswood School outdoor events, end of year parties for the Girls Middle School field hockey team, and by Academy of Art students as a space to build the models for the Design in America: The Cranbrook Vision 1925-1950 exhibition. The cabin faced increased neglect. There was not enough interest or funds to maintain or repair it and it in the mid 1990s it was demolished. The boys’ Senior Cabin still stands today. Archives/Historic Properties/Kingswood School/Schools Author: Leslie S. Edwards/Cranbrook Archives/Cranbrook Foundation/Henry Scripps Booth/Kingswood School A Place Where Art and Science Meet Some of my favorite blogs, such as My Modern Met, capture the connections between science and art. At Cranbrook, the intersection of these two worlds often occurs when I delve into a research request. I recently found myself in this happy place as I discovered information about the Mary Soper Pope Memorial award, while researching botanist Emma Lucy Braun. Cranbrook Institute of Science awarded the medal to Braun in 1952. First award of the Mary Soper Pope Memorial medal, 1946. From L-R: Marshall Fredericks, Gustavus D. Pope, George Booth, Franz Verdoorn (recipient), Robert R. McMath, and Robert T. Hatt. Photographer, Harvey Croze. Mary Soper Pope (1872-1940) was the wife of Gustavus Debrille Pope (1873-1952). Gustavus Pope, a Detroit manufacturer and humanitarian, was among many things the director of the Detroit Museum of Art, president of the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts, a Cranbrook Foundation Board of Trustees charter member, and a board member of both the Cranbrook Academy of Art and the Institute of Science. In 1946, the Trustees of the Institute announced the foundation of the Mary Soper Pope Memorial medal to be granted as often as the Board deemed desirable for “noteworthy and distinguished accomplishment in the field of plant sciences.” The award was a memorial to Mary Soper Pope as a tribute to her “thoughtful nature, her quiet yet inquiring spirit, and her constant pleasure in the beauty of growing things.” The Institute Trustees commissioned sculptor Marshall Fredericks (1908-1998) to design the medal. Fredericks taught at Kingswood School and Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1932 until he enlisted in the armed forces in 1942. According to correspondence in the Cranbrook Institute of Science Director’s Papers, this was Fredericks’ first commission since his return from service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Air Forces. I love Fredericks’ design. On the obverse, the medal bears the figure of a woman holding a delicate seedling before the eyes of a child. The reverse is a profusion of vegetal growth and in it a chameleon. Marsall Fredericks sketches, ca 1946. The 3” diameter medals were cast in bronze by the Medallic Art Company in New York. The Committee of the Mary Soper Pope Memorial medal agreed on the following principles: 1) the medal should be given for noteworthy and distinguished accomplishments in plant science, 2) the medal may be given in any field of plant science, 3) the medal should be given in different fields of plant science, 4) the medal should be given without limitation (nationality, race, creed, and academic career or position), and 5) the medal is to be given at any point in a person’s career. Mary Soper Pope Memorial Award. (T.2014.1.19) With these principles in mind, the Institute awarded the medal to seventeen scientists between 1946-1970, including botanist Emma Lucy Braun, ecologist William Vogt, and soil scientist, Edgar T. Wherry. While I enjoyed the initial research about Braun that led me to reading about this award, I loved following the Detroit and Cranbrook connections between art and science. Archives/Arts and Crafts/Cranbrook Academy of Art/Cranbrook Institute of Science/Kingswood School Author: Gina Tecos/Botany/Cranbrook Foundation/Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts/edgar t. wherry/emma lucy braun/franz verdoorn/gustavus d. pope/Marshall Fredericks/mary soper pope/Medallic Art Company/plant science/robert mcmath/robert t. hatt/william vogt The Swans of Cranbrook For many decades, Kingswood Lake was graced with the elegant beauty of imported mute swans. Mute swans (which have orange beaks and a distinctive nob on their forehead) are not native to Michigan or even North America. Around 1870, mute swans were imported from Europe to the U.S. to adorn city parks, zoos, and large estates. In 1919, the first pair of mute swans was introduced to Michigan in Charlevoix County and by 2010, there were more than 15,500 mute swans throughout the state. While white swans are visible in Cranbrook photographs as early as 1931, we do not know if these were imported European mute swans. The first pair appears to have arrived at Cranbrook in the early 1950s, and by 1955, a news article described eight new arrivals as a “majestic flotilla of white swans.” They joined the “old-timers” who were less than pleased with the newcomers, and in fact, spent a good deal of time hissing at them with outstretched necks. Swans on Kingswood Lake, 1953. Courtesy Cranbrook Archives. Mute swans (which are not really mute) feed primarily on water plants, and can eat up to eight pounds a day! This large appetite for aquatic vegetation can reduce wetlands for native wildlife species. Since swans must have open water at all times in order to survive, Cranbrook Foundation staff either had to open up ice for them, or provide a waterfowl shed for safety. The shed was equipped with a deep bed of straw and a large tub of water. Waterfowl Shed, 1999. Courtesy Cranbrook Archives. While swans are highly intelligent, they can sometimes attack people–especially those who come close to their nesting habitats. At Cranbrook, there are no reports of swans endangering people, but there are reports of swan endangerment. Several times over the years, swans, especially the cygnets, were killed by dogs on campus. In 1974, Robert Bowen (then director of the Institute of Science) appealed to Cranbrook to help minimize the risks to swans and allow the parent birds to raise their young as unencumbered as possible. This meant making sure that the swans had a clear path to the middle of the lake in order to escape from predators. Swan to ‘duck’ limelight at Cranbrook. Oakland Press, Jul 20, 1980. While it is not known exactly when mute swans were first introduced at Cranbrook, nor when the last pair was purchased, we can say with certainty that they share in our storied history and continued to survive at Cranbrook for more than forty years. Archives/Cranbrook Educational Community/Cranbrook Institute of Science Cranbrook Foundation/Kingswood Lake/mute swans/robert bowen/swans/waterfowl A New Identity In May 1930, the Cranbrook Foundation voted to appoint a board to oversee the development of the Cranbrook Institute of Science (CIS) and to design a building for the Institute’s programs. Initially, CIS was a department within the Foundation, but by Dec 1931, George Gough Booth concluded that it had proven itself such an important unit in the Cranbrook educational group, that it should no longer be an activity of the Foundation. It became a separately organized trust which held title to the land and buildings and operated its programs independently. In Dec 1935, then-CIS Director, Robert T. Hatt, wrote to well-known painter and illustrator, Rockwell Kent. Hatt had been drawn to a volume of Kent’s bookplates that he had in his collection, and asked him if he would create a new seal for the Institute. By Feb 1936 Kent submitted his final design to Hatt, stating, “it is entirely unlike both what you originally suggested and the sketch that I submitted.” Rockwell Kent’s final design for the CIS emblem, 1936. In the CIS sixth annual report, Hatt described the new seal: “the triangle is the basic geometrical figure. The two figures looking respectively upwards at the stars and downwards at the earth represent the field of Science as both extensive and intensive.” Rockwell Kent created bookplates for the Rochester (NY) Public Library, Joseph Kennedy, the Library of Congress, and many others. Kent was also a prolific illustrator. His work includes well-known editions of Moby Dick, Candide, Leaves of Grass, the Canterbury Tales, and Beowulf (among others). In addition to Kent’s enduring design legacy at CIS, his gift of archaeological relics from Greenland in 1937 was the first material from that area to be accessioned into the Institute’s collection. Archives/Arts and Crafts/Cranbrook Institute of Science Author: Gina Tecos/bookplates/Cranbrook Foundation/emblem/Greenland/illustrator/Robert Hatt/Rockwell Kent Photo Friday: Coming to Light The Institute of Science photograph collection (1929-1995) is a treasure trove of fascinating images, taken by various Institute of Science staff during the course of their field research. Many of them document places that have become popular northern Michigan summer vacation destinations. Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse, Jul 1929. W. Bryant Tyrrell, photographer. Courtesy Cranbrook Archives. This photo was taken by naturalist W. Bryant Tyrrell who was employed by the Cranbrook Foundation in 1929 as the director of the first natural history museum, then housed in what is now known as the Academy of Art Administration building. Tyrrell worked with Brookside School students, taking them on nature walks around campus and teaching them how to build bird houses. He also taught general nature study to Cranbrook School students. Tyrrell’s field work, primarily in Michigan, led to the formation of several Institute of Science collections from which he was able to prepare exhibitions. The W. Bryant Tyrrell Photograph Collection can be found at the Washington D.C. Community Archives. For a history of the Thunder Bay Lighthouse, see: http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/huron/thunder/ Archives/Brookside School/collections/Cranbrook Institute of Science/Cranbrook School/Images Author: Leslie S. Edwards/Cranbrook Foundation/summer vacation/thunder bay island lighthouse/W. Bryant Tyrrell Transcontinental Threads: Maja Andersson Wirde One of my favorite parts of my job as an archivist is assisting researchers with locating materials in our collections. Often times a scholar will visit here with a set plan for their research project, and pre-conceived ideas about what they might find here or how the materials in our collections will support their thinking. One of my personal pleasures is when the researcher finds something new or surprising in our collections that changes their course of action. This is exciting on many levels – for them as well as for me! In August 2015, Swedish author Marie Andersson visited Cranbrook to study the work of the Swedish weaver Maja Andersson Wirde (no relation) in preparation for a monograph on the life and work of Wirde at the request of Wirde’s family. Wirde (1873-1952), an accomplished weaver and textile designer, was asked by Loja Saarinen to come to Cranbrook in 1929 and oversee the operation of Studio Loja Saarinen which was established to design and produce all of the textiles for Kingswood School Cranbrook. As many researchers before her, Marie Andersson found her visit to Cranbrook Archives to be a revelation, and she recently wrote to me that “the Cranbrook chapter became an important part of the book, much more than I thought before I visited you.” Maja Andersson Wirde (standing) with Loja Saarinen, Studio Loja Saarinen, ca 1930. Detroit News photograph, Courtesy Cranbrook Archives. Prior to coming to Cranbrook, Maja Andersson Wirde had been employed by Handarbetes Vänner (The Friends of Handicraft) in Stockholm from 1907-1929. Her textile designs were represented in international exhibitions including Stockholm (1909 and 1930), Malmo (1914), Gothenburg (1923), and Paris (1925). However, according to Marie Andersson, Wirde’s “time spent at Cranbrook must be looked upon as the most important period” in Wirde’s life as an artist, and she created some of her most significant work while here. So, what did Marie discover at Cranbrook Archives? Comparing photographs and documents from our collections with images of watercolor sketches from museums and archives in Sweden, Marie and I spent two days of “fantastic co-operation” in order to uncover the extent of Wirde’s contribution to the history of textiles at Cranbrook, particularly Kingswood School. Watercolour sketch by Maja Wirde (1873-1952), Collection of Smålands Museum, Växjö, Sweden. The rug for Reception Room III (Rose Lounge) in situ, Kingswood School, 1932. George Hance, photographer, Courtesy Cranbrook Archives. Prior to Marie’s visit, Wirde was known for her work as the shop supervisor at Studio Loja Saarinen, the weaving instructor at Kingswood School, and for her designs for several rugs and textiles for Kingswood School, including the fabric for the dining hall chairs and most notably, the large rug for the Green Lobby. However, Loja Saarinen was given credit for the rest. Now, Cranbrook can tell a more inclusive story – for we discovered that it was Maja Andersson Wirde who designed the majority of the textiles for Kingswood School – eleven rugs for lobby/reception halls, all of the curtains and rugs for the dormitory rooms, as well as curtains for the dining hall, study hall, and library! In addition, she designed rugs for the Academy of Art, Saarinen House, and George Booth’s Cranbrook Foundation Office. While the book, “Trådar ur ett liv: textilkonstnären Maja Andersson Wirde” was published pirmarily in Swedish, there is a translation of the chapter on Cranbrook in the back, and the book features numerous images from Cranbrook Archives. We are so excited to be able to tell a more comprehensive story not only about the objects in our care, but also a key individual in our rich history. Archives/Arts and Crafts/Cranbrook Academy of Art/Cranbrook Art Museum/Cranbrook House/Historic Properties/Kingswood School/Objects/Schools/weaving Author: Leslie S. Edwards/Cranbrook Foundation/George Hance/green lobby/Handarbetes Vänner/Loja Saarinen/Maja Andersson Wirde/Marie Andersson/rose lounge/rugs/Saarinen House/smalands museum/Studio Loja Saarinen/sweden/textile design From the beginning of Cranbrook’s history in 1904, place names at Cranbrook have evolved and changed. Once the Booths turned the original mill pond into a lake, they named it first Glassenbury Lake (after Glassenbury, England), then it was known as Cranbrook Lake for a very short time, and ultimately Kingswood Lake. The man-made Jonah Lake (or Lake Jonah as it is also known) was originally called Lake Manitou. Brookside School was originally called Bloomfield Hills School and Cranbrook School was Cranbrook School for Boys. Although Brookside School retains its name, since 1985 when the boys and girls schools merged, they are jointly known as Cranbrook Kingswood Schools. Building names have also changed, often due to an alteration in use or sometimes because they were dedicated to an influential or long-time faculty member. The Garden House became the Cranbrook Pavilion and is now St. Dunstan’s Playhouse. The Cranbrook School academic building became Hoey Hall after former Headmaster Harry Hoey and what was originally called the “Arcade” is now known as the Peristyle at the Cranbrook Art Museum. Lyon House was first called Stonelea (after its owner Ralph Stone, a long-time friend of George Booth), then Belwood, then the Kyes House before being acquired by Cranbrook. And even Cranbrook Educational Community is not our first name. In 1927, the Booths established The Cranbrook Foundation as the legal and financial entity that oversaw the then six institutions: Brookside School, Christ Church Cranbrook, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Cranbrook Institute of Science, Cranbrook School, and Kingswood School. So, what is really in a name? How do we name our campus buildings and landmarks going forward and what legacy will we be imparting with them? That said, I wish you all a Happy New Year! Or should I say Bonne année? Feliz Año Nuevo? Or maybe Xin nian kuai le? (And thank you Stefanie Dlugosz-Acton for getting me thinking about names at Cranbrook!) From the Virginia Kingswood Booth Vogel Papers. Author: Leslie S. Edwards/Belwood/Bloomfield Hills School/Brookside School/Christ Church Cranbrook/Cranbrook Art Museum/Cranbrook Foundation/Cranbrook Institute of Science/Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School/Cranbrook Lake/Cranbrook Pavillion/Cranbrook School/Garden House/George Gough Booth/Glassenbury Lake/Harry Hoey/Hoey Hall/Kingswood Lake/Kingswood School/Kyes House/Lake Jonah/Lyon House/names/new year/Ralph Stone/St. Dunstan’s Playhouse/Stonlea The Fascinating Notebooks of John Buckberrough John H. Buckberrough (1874-1955), an immigrant from Ontario, Canada, was a civil engineer for the Cranbrook Foundation from 1927 until he retired in 1955. As described by Henry Scripps Booth: Buckberrough, a slight man of medium height, started working for Swanson and Booth as that firm’s sole employee two years before Cranbrook officially employed him. That was in the firm’s tiny architectural office located in the below-road-level room of the Ram House section of Brookside’s buildings. … He became one of the first employees of what was known as the Cranbrook Architectural Office in January 1927. … Over the years he was chief surveyor, planned most of the pump rooms, transformer vaults and underground systems, kept copious notes and made detailed plans regarding changes which not only proved increasingly valuable in solving complicated problems but put to shame those who were later supposed to fill his shoes. In addition to numerous architectural drawings that bear his signature, Buckberrough’s legacy in the Cranbrook Archives is 10 calfskin engineers’ field books, chock full of drawings and notations, covering 1926-1955. Courtesy Cranbrook Archives Descriptions and diagrams of Cranbrook property, heating and plumbing data for Cranbrook buildings, data on Cranbrook roads and lakes, drawings of pump houses, sidewalks, lighting layouts and water lines can be found in the notebooks. Here are some examples: Bridge at Kingswood Lake, 1938. Column design for fireplace in Cranbrook House living room. The Archives’ staff often finds valuable information in the notebooks, which is used for campus restoration and renovation projects including the recent restoration of Cranbrook School Quad. Little did Buckberrough know how valuable his meticulous note-taking would prove to be. Though a search for information requires a careful page-by-page hunt, it’s a pleasant change from the impersonality of electronic resources. – Cheri Y. Gay, Archivist Author: Cheri Gay/Brookside School/civil engineer/Cranbrook Architectural Office/Cranbrook Archives/Cranbrook Foundation/Cranbrook School/drawings/George Gough Booth/Henry Scripps Booth/J. Robert F. Swanson/John H. Buckberrough/notebooks/Ram House Photography: The Art of Our Time Cranbrook Archives/ Mary Ann Lutowski Papers. Most people at Cranbrook have heard of Harvey Croze (1904-1973). From 1944-1970 he served as the primary photographer for the Cranbrook Foundation. During his tenure here, he produced thousands of photographs, ranging from sculpture and architecture to photographs of school athletics, parties, dances, and any number of other events. He was particularly beloved by the Cranbrook Kingswood students for his jovial personality and sense of fun. He even wrote a song called the “Cranbrook Waltz” in 1953. Croze was born in Houghton, Michigan. Short and stocky, he sported a big, black mustache and a Leica camera. A former long distance swimmer who tried out for the 1938 Olympic team (but did not make the cut), Croze was a painter, actor, and Dominican Republic sugar plantation supervisor before photography became his profession. He studied modern design and photography with Nicholas Haz, took a photography course with Laszlo Moholy-Nagy at the Chicago Institute of Art, and studied photographic techniques with Ansel Adams in Colorado. He acquired his photo processing skills when he worked as an apprentice in the darkrooms of Chrysler and General Motors. And, he served on the executive committee of the Auxiliary War Photographer Service where he shot publicity photographs for the Red Cross and the service men at the USO centers during World War II. The third of the Cranbrook Foundation staff photographers, Croze was hired in Dec 1943 as photographer and operating manager of the Cranbrook Photo department. Located in the basement of the Academy of Art Administration Building, the department provided a convenient service to the institutions and in order to provide photographs for press releases, the photo department was available 24 hours/7 days a week. Not only did Croze take photographs and process them with his assistant Agnes LaGrone, he also taught photography to Academy of Art students and ran his own photography business on the side, primarily catering to Cranbrook-related artists. During his 27 years at Cranbrook, Croze photographed many well-known celebrities including Carl Sandburg, Frank Lloyd Wright, Basil Rathbone, and General MacArthur. Cranbrook Photo Department, 1940. Richard G. Askew, photographer. Croze was also nationally recognized for his photographs and exhibited at the Detroit Historical Museum, the Flint Institute of Arts, and the Smithsonian as well as numerous one-man shows here at Cranbrook. In 1945, he won fourth prize in the San Francisco International Color Slide Salon and in 1960 was awarded a prize in the U.S. Camera magazine photo contest. In June 1970, Croze’s impending retirement as well as financial deficits of the department led the Cranbrook Foundation to close the photography department. The photographic files were transferred to the Cranbrook Archives where they remain today. –Leslie E. Edwards, Head Archivist Archives/Images Author: Leslie S. Edwards/Cranbrook Academy of Art/Cranbrook Foundation/Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School/Henry Croze/photography	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1089
__label__cc	0.626786	0.373214	Free Will Astrology: Aug 17, 2017 Aug. 17-23 By Rob Brezsny Thursday August 17, 2017 04:53 pm EDT LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "If you love someone, set them free," said New Age author Richard Bach. "If they come back, they're yours; if they don't, they never were." By using my well-educated intellect to transmute this hippy-dippy thought into practical advice, I came up with a wise strategy for you to consider as you re-evaluate your relationships with allies. Try this: Temporarily suspend any compulsion you might have to change or fix these people; do your best to like them and even love them exactly as they are. Ironically, granting them this freedom to be themselves may motivate them to modify, or at least tone down, the very behavior in themselves that you're semi-allergic to. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In 1892, workers began building the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. But as of August 2017, it is still under construction. Renovation has been and continues to be extensive. At one point in its history, designers even changed its architectural style from Neo-Byzantine and Neo-Romanesque to Gothic Revival. I hope this serves as a pep talk in the coming weeks, which will be an excellent time to evaluate your own progress, Virgo. As you keep toiling away in behalf of your dreams, there's no rush. In fact, my sense is that you're proceeding at precisely the right rate. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In accordance with the astrological omens, I hereby declare the next two weeks to be your own personal Amnesty Holiday. To celebrate, ask for and dole out forgiveness. Purge and flush away any non-essential guilt and remorse that are festering inside you. If there truly are hurtful sins that you still haven't atoned for, make a grand effort to atone for them with gifts and heart-felt messages if necessary. At the same time, I urge you to identify accusations that others have wrongly projected onto you and that you have carried around as a burden even though they are not accurate or fair. Expunge them. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): How many countries has the United States bombed since the end of World War II? Twenty-five, to be exact. But if America's intention has been to prod these nations into forming more free and egalitarian governments, the efforts have been mostly fruitless. Few of the attacked nations have become substantially more democratic. I suggest you regard this as a valuable lesson to apply to your own life in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Metaphorical bombing campaigns wouldn't accomplish even 10 percent of your goals, and would also be expensive in more ways than one. So I recommend using the "killing with kindness" approach. Be wily and generous. Cloak your coaxing in compassion. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You know about the Ten Commandments, a code of ethics and behavior that's central to Christianity and Judaism. You may not be familiar with my Ten Suggestions, which begin with "Thou Shall Not Bore God" and "Thou Shall Not Bore Thyself." Then there are the Ten Indian Commandments proposed by the Bird Clan of East Central Alabama. They include "Give assistance and kindness whenever needed" and "Look after the well-being of your mind and body." I bring these to your attention, Sagittarius, because now is an excellent time to formally formulate and declare your own covenant with life. What are the essential principles that guide you to the highest good? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Here's a definition of "fantasizing" as articulated by writer Jon Carroll. It's "a sort of 'in-brain' television, where individuals create their own 'shows' imaginary narratives that may or may not include real people." As you Capricorns enter the High Fantasy Season, you might enjoy this amusing way of describing the activity that you should cultivate and intensify. Would you consider cutting back on your consumption of movies and TV shows? That might inspire you to devote more time and energy to watching the stories you can generate in your mind's eye. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 43 cartoon stories, the coyote named Wile E. Coyote has tried to kill and devour the swift-running flightless bird known as the Road Runner. Every single time, Wile E. has failed to achieve his goal. It's apparent to astute observers that his lack of success is partly due to the fact that he doesn't rely on his natural predatory instincts. Instead, he concocts elaborate, overly-complicated schemes. In one episode, he camouflages himself as a cactus, buys artificial lightning bolts, and tries to shoot himself from a bow as if he were an arrow. All these plans end badly. The moral of the story, as far as you're concerned: To reach your next goal, trust your instincts. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You temporarily have cosmic permission to loiter and goof off and shirk your duties. To be a lazy bum and meander aimlessly and avoid tough decisions. To sing off-key and draw stick figures and write bad poems. To run slowly and flirt awkwardly and dress like a slob. Take advantage of this opportunity, because it's only available for a limited time. It's equivalent to pushing the reset button. It's meant to re-establish your default settings. But don't worry about that now. Simply enjoy the break in the action. ARIES (March 21-April 19): "To disobey in order to take action is the byword of all creative spirits," said philosopher Gaston Bachelard. This mischievous advice is perfect for your use right now, Aries. I believe you'll thrive through the practice of ingenious rebellion never in service to your pride, but always to feed your soul's lust for deeper, wilder life. Here's more from Bachelard: "Autonomy comes through many small disobediences, at once clever, well thought-out, and patiently pursued, so subtle at times as to avoid punishment entirely." TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Congratulations! I expect that during the next three weeks, you will be immune to what psychoanalyst Joan Chodorow calls "the void of sadness, the abyss of fear, the chaos of anger, and the alienation of contempt and shame." I realize that what I just said might sound like an exaggeration. Aren't all of us subject to regular encounters with those states? How could you possibly go so long without brushing up against them? I stand by my prediction, and push even further. For at least the next three weeks, I suspect you will also be available for an inordinate amount of what Chodorow calls "the light of focused insight" and "the playful, blissful, all-embracing experience of joy." GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The coming days would an excellent time to celebrate (even brag about) the amusing idiosyncrasies and endearing quirks that make you lovable. To get you inspired, read this testimony from my triple Gemini friend Alyssa: "I have beauty marks that form the constellation Pegasus on my belly. I own my own ant farm. I'm a champion laugher. I teach sign language to squirrels. Late at night when I'm horny and overtired I may channel the spirit of a lion goddess named Sekhmet. I can whistle the national anthems of eight different countries. I collect spoons from the future. I can play the piano with my nose and my toes. I have forever banished the green-eyed monster to my closet." CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your education may take unusual forms during the coming weeks. For example, you could receive crunchy lessons from velvety sources, or tender instructions from exacting challenges. Your curiosity might expand to enormous proportions in the face of a noble and elegant tease. And chances are good that you'll find a new teacher in an unlikely setting, or be prodded and tricked into asking crucial questions you've been neglecting to ask. Even if you haven't been particularly street smart up until now, Cancerian, I bet your ability to learn from uncategorizable experiences will blossom. Free Will Astrology: Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2017 Article Sunday November 19, 2017 07:17 pm EST 11/19/2017 7:17 pm 'You are primed to cultivate an unprecedented new embodiment of mature, robust love.' \| more... Free Will Astrology: Nov. 23-28, 2017 Article 'Without becoming rude or irresponsible, thrash around to see what interesting surprises you can drum up.' \| more... Free Will Astrology: Nov. 9-15, 2017 Article Monday October 30, 2017 05:24 pm EDT 10/30/2017 5:24 pm 'Maybe at no other time in many years ... have you been in quite so favorable a position to explore paradise right here on earth.' \| more... Free Will Astrology: Nov. 2-8, 2017 Article 'Make sure you guard and revere your distinctiveness.' \| more... Free Will Astrology: Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2017 Article Thursday October 26, 2017 12:26 am EDT 10/26/2017 12:26 am 'Repeating yourself too much can be debilitating.' \| more... Search for more by Rob Brezsny	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1090
__label__cc	0.684344	0.315656	Creativeworld 2018: the showcase of the DIY world All key players to take part New street-art special show with Akim Walta Creativeworld is unparalleled. It is the biggest and most international platform for the hobby, crafts and artists’ requisites sector. With their portfolios of brand-name products, our exhibitors cater for all important segments of the market. Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, Michael Reichhold, Creativeworld Director Creativeworld, the world’s leading trade fair for the hobby, crafts and artists’ requisites sector, is a business venue, order fair, innovation hotspot and trend platform in one. To be held in Halls 4.1 and 4.2 of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre from 27 to 30 January 2018, it will bring together over 300 manufacturers from all over the world. Then, key players and newcomers will present the latest products from the DIY market to trade visitors from home and abroad. “Creativeworld is unparalleled. It is the biggest and most international platform for the hobby, crafts and artists’ requisites sector. With their portfolios of brand-name products, our exhibitors cater for all important segments of the market”, says Creativeworld Director Michael Reichhold, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. Product diversity at Creativeworld: all key players represented in 2018 Creativity and handicrafts are more than a hobby. They are a trend for every generation. Making and painting things promotes children’s motor skills and intellectual development. Adults pursue the trend to colouring-in or hand-lettering to find a counterweight to the stress of modern life. Handicrafts are popular among senior citizens because they help maintain fitness, encourage communication and offer an infinite range of opportunities. In a nutshell: creativity is booming and, with it, the Creativeworld trade fair. All leading manufacturers have now signed up for Creativeworld 2018. The hobby and handicrafts product segment is represented by renowned exhibitors such as Creative Company from Denmark, Sissix-Ellision Europe from the United Kingdom and German manufacturers Buntpapierfabrik Ludwig Bähr and Eberhard Faber. In this segment, visitors will find all products for making-it-yourself, from paints, via felt, to handicrafts books. Buyers will find wool and yarns for knitting, crocheting and embroidering, as well as fabrics for sewing, in the handicrafts and textile crafting product segments. There, the exhibitors presenting their innovations include Stafil and Rodomonte Scali from Italy and Hotex from Germany. In the decorative handicrafts the exhibitors include Artemio from Belgium, Efco from Germany and Glorex from Switzerland. The range of products on show stretches from ribbons and decoration articles, via florists’ materials and gift-wrapping materials, to mosaics. From the world of graphic arts and artists’ requisites, registrations have been received from, for example, Colart International from the United Kingdom, Royal Talens from the Netherlands, Pebeo and Clairefontaine from France and the German companies Edding, Marabu, Lyra, C.Kreul and H. Schmincke. At Creativeworld, they will be showing an extensive range of high-grade paints and papers, including brushes and easels, as well as coloured pencils and street-art articles. In the latter case, manufacturers such as Montana Cans from Germany, Montana Colors and NBQ from Spain will be showing their latest colours and materials. Also at Creativeworld, trade visitors will find leading, internationally renowned full-range suppliers, such as Rayher Hobby, Rico Design, Max Bringmann and Hobbygross Erler. Creativeworld a magnet for the sector’s top decision makers Every year, Creativeworld attracts more than 8,600 trade visitors to Frankfurt am Main – 66 percent of them from outside Germany in 2017. Over recent years, the leading trade fair has developed into the foremost magnet for top decision makers from the sector’s wholesale and retail trades. This applies equally to DIY markets and garden centres, the internet and mail-order trade and commercial consumers, such as art academies, educational institutes and care facilities. Products such as creative and handicrafts materials in user-friendly sets form an interesting supplementary assortment for toy and book shops, for food retailers and drug stores. More and more buyers from these segments are using Creativeworld as an order platform. “For specialist retailers in particular, it is important to test the latest techniques and materials. And Creativeworld gives them the opportunity to try out products so they can present the products and techniques professionally to customers in their shop and offer well-founded advice”, says Michael Reichhold. Creativeworld events: modern, informative, innovative and trendy Creativeworld is inspiring, lively and future oriented. There, trade buyers can be sure of finding everything the creative heart desires. At the exhibitors’ stands, they can test, paint, cut, design jewellery, wrap and hold discussions with colleagues. Moreover, in the extensive complementary programme of events, the most innovative products are singled out for awards, the latest trends revealed and exciting subjects, such as street art, demonstrated. Street art is trending and has gained an increasingly large following over recent years. Creativeworld is expanding this segment because it offers a variety of new opportunities for the retail trade. “We are developing a special show on this trendy subject in cooperation with street artist Akim Walta. Our aim is to present products and materials, and to show retailers how to position street-art products in their shops and, therefore, attract new target groups. The individual creative segments are growing together and offering a variety of synergistic effects for the trade”, says Michael Reichhold. Trade visitors are invited to test the products for themselves and try out the various techniques at the Street Art special show in Hall 4.2 and at the workshop in the Creativeworld Forum. The Creativeworld Forum in Hall 4.2 offers a wide variety of workshops on new techniques and materials, as well as product demonstrations. There, visitors can anticipate a varied programme of events at no extra cost daily from 10.00 hrs throughout the fair. The Forum will also be the setting for the presentation of the Creative Impulse Awards, which Messe Frankfurt gives in collaboration with Hobby Art magazine. From November, manufacturers can enter their innovative products for the coveted awards in four categories (Creative Product, Creative Tool, Complete Set and Creative Book of the Year). All entries will be on show in a special exhibition in Hall 4.2 on all days of the fair. An absolute must for all manufacturers and visitors is the Creativeworld Trend Show in Hall 4.1 where the designers from Stilbüro bora.herke.palmisano, present the latest techniques and products on behalf of Messe Frankfurt. In three Trend Worlds, they show what the coming DIY season has to offer and, at the Trend Show Workstation, visitors can craft and test the various trends. The Creativeworld complementary programme of events has something for everyone. And anyone looking for even more creative input is sure to be successful at the exhibition stands where international manufacturers present their latest products and encourage visitors to try them for themselves. Detailed information and images can be found on the internet at creativeworld.messefrankfurt.com	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1091
__label__cc	0.593847	0.406153	Tag Archives: 1000 Steps by Dayna 8 Comments One Tree Hill & the 1000 Steps, Dandenong Ranges National Park – 2 March 2014 Just because you’ve done something once before, doesn’t mean you can do it again – without directions, at least. Which is how we came to be walking by some very nice houses on Kia Ora Parade (with some other locationally challenged walkers) wondering which turn we should/shouldn’t have made to get to the 1000 Steps. But lets rewind a bit and I’ll explain… It’s not long now until we’re off to Wilsons Prom to walk down to the lighthouse. My office day job provides, as you might imagine, ideal training for a 20-24km hike (probably to be repeated 3 days in a row, unless we’re too knackered on the middle day). The slightly downhill 3km walk home of an evening has also really helped to boost my confidence. Even so, we though a bit of extra practice wouldn’t go astray. We’ve been meaning to go back to One Tree Hill and the 1000 Steps for quite some time. The last first and last time we were there was before the ‘new’ Lyrebird track was (re)opened. Today seemed like a good day. Pity neither Stephen or I remembered to pick up Glenn Tempest’s “Daywalks Around Melbourne” in case we couldn’t remember which track to take, based solely on our memories of our walk from a couple of years back. This section of the Dandenong Ranges Nation Park must be one of the most visited of Victoria’s parks. The 1000 Steps car park at the bottom of the hill (Fern Tree Gully end) is very large, but always full. I’ve never been by and not seen cars parked for hundreds of metres up the sides of the road. As suggested by Glenn Tempest, we have always (that is to say both times now) parked at the top at the One Tree Hill car park. Compared to the crowd at the bottom, it’s like hardly anyone seems to know about it. And yet it’s only about 100m (if that) from the end of the 1000 Steps track. Go figure. Car park at One Tree Hill Just a small section of the packed 1000 Steps Car Park (not the clearest photo, I grant you) Just going up and down the 1000 Steps (or Lyrebird) track with half of Melbourne’s population (well, not quite half) is not our idea of a great afternoon, so we like to extend the walk so we can look around, enjoy the bush and get to clock up 10km without collapsing (as I think could be on the cards if we did the same distance just going up and down the ‘Steps). So after finding a park (not hard), changing into our hiking boots (there’s a convenient seat nearby), we walked to the top of the hill to start our walk along Tyson Track. It’s pretty steep going down, even if it doesn’t look it in the photo. One Tree Hill Picnic Ground – there’s also car parking outside the gate. Can’t say you weren’t warned Walking up One Tree Hill One of the huts at the top of One Tree Hill Heading down Tyson Track The bush down the western slopes of One Tree Hill is drier, with less understorey than in the lush and protected gullies, and with grasses as the majority of the ground cover. Numerous tracks crisscross the park. Some follow a level grade as much as possible, and some tracks are very steep (through not as steep as the Telecom Track in Walhalla, thankfully). The tracks are generally wide, gravel-surfaced and well maintained, and it’s not unusual to come across a number of other walkers or hikers and there are signs of mountain bike riders using the tracks, too. In fact, this section of the National Park reminds me of Toohey Forest, just south of Brisbane. Tyson Track – Despite the shade, you still need to wear a hat Outlook Rd – Typical bush covering the western hillsides View Track – Gravel paths are great until they get steep and shallow – then it’s like marbles on concrete. It’s steeper than it looks. View Track – This is actually much steeper than it looks. We were glad we didn’t slip down here Arbor Track – Didn’t expect to come out at Himalaya Road… Google maps calls Himalaya Track “Hatherly Grove” as that’s the name of the street at the other end – as we found out Belview Tce – You’ll pass plenty of other people from barely shod casual walkers, to fitness fanatics, to bushwalkers like us Something I’ve never seen in Toohey’s Forest though is one of these fellows, who was just to the side of The Boulevard (track) as we tried to find our way back up to Belview Terrace. Echidna in defensive mode Having descended from the top of the hill, walked some streets while slightly ‘locationally challenged’, climbed almost the whole way back up again while doubling back due to a poor choice of track at Himalaya Road, we eventually found the path we originally intended to be on (Belview Tce). Slightly surprised at the appearance of a police 4wd coming up the track (yes, the paths are that wide and no, I doubt they’d need to put it in 4wd to get up that track… well, maybe to get around some of the corners lower down) we continued down hill again until we reached the 1000 Steps car park and picnic ground. There are public facilities there and even a cafe now. Cafe at 1000 Steps/Fern Tree Gully picnic ground Now, I understand and fully support the principle that what you take into a national park you should also take out. That’s good, proper and the responsible thing to do. But when you buy something at a cafe, you would expect them to have a rubbish bin, wouldn’t you? Apparently not in this case. Again, I understand why – they don’t want to attract birds/possums/rodents etc and encourage unnatural habits – but there’s not even an inside bin. Which isn’t to say that the cafe staff don’t dispose of rubbish left on tables by people who ‘didn’t see’ the signs… Anyway, we took our rubbish with us – it’s not like there was a lack of space in our backpacks! And so here we were. The infamous 1000 Steps (of which I hear there are somewhat fewer than 1000 – I wasn’t counting though). Last time we battled our way up the old, narrow, steep, slippery track with half of Melbourne’s population who are trying to get fit and a couple of bus loads of tourists on top of that. What was the new track going to be like? Start of the 1000 Steps I think I’ve been told that groups preparing to walk the Kokoda track come here to train. Have I mentioned that the old track is steep? The recent works done around this lower end of the park really emphasise our history on the Kokoda Track. There are information plaques along the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk – aka the ‘old’ 1000 Steps track – but with the human traffic it can be hard to take it in. Having large, dedicated areas down the bottom that you can read before or after your climb seems a good idea. It also gives you something to reflect on while you’re struggling up the hill. One of the new Kokoda Memorials at the start of the 1000 Steps And here it is – the spilt. Lyrebird (new 1000 Steps) on the left, the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (aka the ‘old’ 1000 Steps) on the right. Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (aka 1000 Steps) vs Lyrebird Track (aka the new 1000 Steps) We came to try out the new path, so that’s what we chose. I was surprised at the number of people still heading up the old path. It hasn’t been wet lately – I wonder if that makes a lot of difference? You won’t catch me going up there in the wet. Even with a handrail, those old, mossy, sloped steps do not make me feel safe. In comparison, the steps of the new track – though not as wide as we’d expected – are level, deep and moss free. The new path is 700m longer than the old one (2.5km vs 1.8km), although both are rated as ‘Steep’. And since you get a choice between stairs and path on the Lyrebird Track, after a short while I found the track was definitely easier! As long as you keep to the one line and be aware that you’re sharing the path, it’s pretty good. But still quite a way up. And these signs along the way don’t help. I’ve no idea what they’re measuring. The track is 2.5km long, but the post at the top says 15oom… it’s not elevation – the top of the track is not quite 500m above sea level. Looking back down the hill It’s a popular place to be 750m? To or from what? I didn’t know the top was just at the top of this rise There’s always a crowd at the top Mission accomplished we left the sweaty masses behind and wandered up the last 100m (if that) of the track back to the One Tree Hill car park. By this stage lunch on top of the hill was sounding really nice (we only stopped for a quick snack at the cafe below) and as previously mentioned, there are open and sheltered picnic tables as well as BBQ’s and facilities up top here too. Full circuit One of the shelters at One Tree Hill Picnice Ground Fortunately not a total fire ban day today – this was taken walking out of the park Unfortunately I’m still having issues with embedding our Garmin details, but if you’re interested in a good walk around the Dandenongs, please check it out here – and don’t forget to take a copy of your walk directions with you! Categories: Weekend walks \| Tags: 1000 Steps, bushwalk, Dandenong Ranges NP, daywalk, echidna, Fern Tree Gully, fitness, getting lost, Glenn Tempest, Hiking, Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, Melbourne, One Tree Hill, Parks Victoria, picnic grounds, training \| Permalink. Thank you for riding with me October 26, 2016 Brompton World Championship Final – London, 2016 August 7, 2016 Open Day on ‘THE NEW’ Spirit of Tasmania October 27, 2015 Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Series 3 Costume Exhibition at Rippon Lea Estate September 19, 2015 Crunching the trails at Lake Mountain, Victoria – 2 August, 2015 August 8, 2015 ‘Meet at Cow Up A Tree’ – Melbourne Brompton Club ride, 26 July 2015 July 27, 2015 A Winter Holiday in Hobart – June 2015 July 12, 2015 Melbourne Brompton Club ride to the Melbourne Tram Museum – 27 June 2015 July 5, 2015 Melbourne Brompton Club – Ride to St Kilda Pier – 31 May, 2015 May 31, 2015 The Inaugural Ride of the Melbourne Brompton Club May 3, 2015 Categories Select Category Adelaide Brisbane Brisbane Botanic Gardens Brompton (Folding Bicycle) Costume Exhibitions Hike Holiday Long Weekend New South Wales New Zealand Photography Snowshoeing Tasmania Uncategorized Victoria Victoria Walhalla Weekend Drives Weekend walks Who Knows What "The Finest Walk in the World" Adelaide Adelaide Hills Bass Strait Baw Baw National Park beach Black Cockatoo Cottages Blue Mountains Brompton Bush walk bushwalk bushwalking Clinton River Clinton Valley Corner Inlet Dandenong Ranges day walk daywalk Department of Conservation DOC drive-by photography Dunkeld echidna Echo Point Echo Point Lookout elevation profile exhibition fagus Federal Pass Walking Track Ferns Fiordland folding bike forest Gippsland Glamping Grampians Growler Creek Hike Hiking Hobart holiday Jamison Valley Katoomba koala Lighthouse Lighthouse accommodation Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Mackinnon McKinnon Melbourne Melbourne Brompton Club Milford Sound Milford Track Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Mitre Peak MONA Mt Erica museum National Rhododendron Gardens National Trust NewZealand New Zealand Norman Beach NSW NPWS Oberon Bay Oberon Bay Walking Track Olinda Parks Victoria photography Phryne Fisher Quintin Lodge Rippon Lea Estate RM Williams Royal Mail Hotel South Australia South East Point Spirit of Tasmania spring Sunrise sunset Sutherland Falls Tasmania Telegraph Track The Prom Thompson River Three Sisters Tidal River Tramping Ultimate Hikes Victoria Walhalla waterfalls Wilsons Prom Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse Wilsons Promontory Lightstation Wilsons Promontory National Park wombat Yanakie Yarra Ranges National Park	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1109
__label__wiki	0.632738	0.632738	- Any -2004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019 Euan McGraw Monday, October 17, 2016 - 10:32 Questions Top100 DJs 2004 - Euan McGraw - 2016-10-17 10:32 Submitted by Euan McGraw on Mon, 2016-10-17 10:32 A relative newcomer to the Top 100, Marlo Hoogstraten is already a bona-fide member of the international trance fraternity, thanks to his background in the trance underground. This eventually saw him graduating to headliner status at trance stages around the world, signing with Armada Music, and DJing regularly alongside Armin van Buuren. However, one of his long-running dreams was to launch his own concert-style arena shows in his homeland of Australia, and MaRLo made this a reality in 2016. His Altitude tour launched to considerable success, seeing him touring the country to sellout crowds with a cast of vocalists in tow that included Emma Hewitt and Christina Novelli, plus his own hand-picked warm-up DJ in the form of Ruben De Ronde. “It was the absolute biggest stand-out of the year for me, an absolute dream come true,” MaRLo tells DJ Mag. "To have all of the events completely sell out was not only a highlight of the year, but of my entire career. Everything about it, from the amazing guest vocalists, the whole production of it and of course the crowd, it made these events some of the best that I've ever played.” ANGUS PATERSON What have been the new frontiers for you this year? “Taking the next big step by launching my own concert-style shows Altitude, which feature live vocals, top-notch production and extra-long extended sets.” Is electronic music taken seriously enough as an art-form? “I think so, yes. It's on the radio, and the clubs, festivals and arenas are all packed. What a time to be alive.” What’s the best new bit of DJ/production technology, and why? “Rekordbox is a game changer as a DJ, it’s so easy and quick to organise all your music in the one place. From the production side, mainly the fact that computer hardware has got so fast that you can pretty much run unlimited channels and effects without the project crashing.” If you had to switch your style to another genre, what would it be? “I’d make music for video games, film and TV, but if I was forced to change it up as a DJ then I'd probably play something fun and summery, so I get booked at all the daytime beach clubs. It would be nice to have my nights and mornings back for a while.” As a fan, what is the top price you would pay to see yourself DJ? “I make and perform music that I love to share with other people... It's too abstract to imagine going to see yourself play.” What can be done to prevent drug-related deaths at dance music events? “Drug-testing, and a better sense of caring for your fellow partygoer. If you see someone going too hard, offer them water, have a chat to them... be a community, and look out for each other.” How can we increase diversity in dance music? “I think the scene is super-diverse as it is, but there’s always room for even more diversity! I think the scene is mostly a big, friendly, welcoming community.” W&W Axwell & Ingrosso Alesso R3hab Nicky Romero VINAI Florian Picasso Jack U Fedde Le Grand Vintage Culture Coone Brennan Heart Andrew Rayel Top 100 DJs Andrew Rayel Felguk Radical Redemption Dannic Da Tweekaz Firebeatz Tujamo Laidback Luke Vicetone Martin Jensen Netsky Carl Nunes Sam Feldt Miss K8 Jay Hardway Zatox Showtek Daddy's Groove Martin Solveig DJ Feel	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1124
__label__cc	0.517868	0.482132	Ballina goes feral – it’s time to bring back the pineapple cake Many, many years ago, Ballina achieved some notoriety in the industry when some wag made a pineapple cake to farewell a colleague. But not just any pineapple cake, as well as being quite delicious, it also made everyone feel remarkably good that afternoon. Yes, the pineapple cake had been enhanced with some local herbs. Illegal herbs, of course. But the gig was up because people thinking their work was hilarious that afternoon was a decidedly uncommon sight at Ballina - where the staff was used to working under- staffed and often under-appreciated. We mentioned in our special HR Award issue in December that there must have been something in the water up the far North coast because there had been a bit of a frenzy amongst some general managers about the nine day fortnight. Maybe they thought the nine day fortnight, like daylight saving, would fade the curtains. Still, out of the pineapple cake and into the water maybe - paranoia can be a side-effect … Now, Ballina GM Paul Hickey is not your pineapple cake kind of bloke. Busy heading up a Council that struggles to make ends meet, he is perfectly placed as a bean counter to pursue those wasted dollars. He is also nine day fortnight phobic, a condition not treatable by local illegal medication or, it seems, by logic or commonsense. Over the past few months we have had four issues with Ballina. First, he unsuccessfully tried to strip a nine day fortnight arrangement from the building surveyors’ team. The problem was that in his memo terminating the deal he conceded “that each of you has made the current flexible working arrangement work and I do appreciate your efforts in this regard.” Unusual, to say the least, to try to remove something when you concede that it’s working but he wanted to do it because of the “significant morale and equity issue” of others not having the arrangement. And as every short-sighted manager knows, if you have different employment conditions, the best way to create the same arrangement for everyone is to move everyone to the less preferred conditions to shut up those complaining. He has now “temporarily” withdrawn the notice of termination. Second, he made life hard for one of our members who is a parent with child care arrangements that could only really be satisfied if she worked a shorter day by taking a 30 minute, rather than one hour, lunch. Damn these mothers at work, they apparently have some rights this century! Then he let her take a 30 minute lunch. Third, he made life hard for a member on maternity leave wanting to return to work under the nine day fortnight working agreement she had worked under for four years preceding the maternity leave – a formal Working Agreement, drafted by the Council, that provided it could only be terminated if “demonstrated that the customer service or operational requirements are not being achieved”. The Council, having allowed the nine day fortnight to continue for four years was clearly not able to terminate it for these reasons and, after proceedings in the Industrial Relations Commission, accepted a recommendation of Deputy President Harrison for our member to return to work under the nine day fortnight for 6 months to determine whether there were any customer service or operational problems. Put up, or shut up, really. Finally, he thought it made sense to remove the Christmas/New Year concession leave which the Council had provided every year, without fail, from at least the 1940s “to partly compensate administration, office and technical staff are unpaid overtime during the year.” A dispute we filed was conciliated by Deputy President Harrison in Sydney on 7 March. The GM and HR Manager flew down for the day (when you are trying to save the cost of three days pay to the salaried staff, sometimes you have to spend some money to do that) and we found the GM's rationalisation of the decision confusing. Again, he claimed there were people unhappy that they work longer for nothing than others (and they would rather get no days off at Christmas and New Year if that means those that don’t suck as hard miss out too), the Council had reduced income and needed to make some savings and there was an accountability issue about the equity of the three days and because it wasn’t three days off for the equivalent of three days worked, it was too imprecise. The dispute resumes in Ballina on 8 May. Because we couldn’t understand the GM’s argument, we agreed that the Council would commit it to writing and Deputy President Harrison recommended that the Council and the unions “exchange information” to allow conciliation to better take place on 8 May. All we wanted was a series of dotpoints to better understand the decision and be able to focus in our response but what we’ve got so far is six affidavits from witnesses supporting the removal of the entitlement (including sadly from one of our members) and a 79 point submission by a Sydney barrister which the Council will rely on. A bit “up yours” to us and the Commission because it means that they are ready to arbitrate if they don’t get what they want in the conciliation and that, to us, sounds like duress and intimidation. But because the primary obligation under the Industrial Relations Act is to get the parties to reach agreement, we (and the other two unions in support) will do what was intended on 8 May and try to reach some agreement. We hope commonsense can prevail. The GM is down three nil against us so far and, despite the six affidavits and 79 points from their barrister, he still hasn’t addressed why the Council thinks that it no longer needs to recognise those additional hours worked voluntarily like they have for the past, at least, 70 years. How much do you want for nothing, Paul? Hard to choose, clowns or dunces, but it was all the Board’s fault Well, bring in the clowns, because it was the BPB itself, and not any of its staff, that was responsible for the contract requiring the identification by councils of the accredited certifier of a particular application. No one really knew where the Building Professionals Amendment Regulation 2013 came from. Local Government NSW (the new name for the Local Government and Shires Association) didn’t know anything about it, neither did we, and neither, it seems, did anyone else. Usually we would get a letter from the BPB advising us of initiatives that might have an impact on our members. This happens because the BPB understands that the overwhelming majority of accredited certifiers are working in local government and it makes sense to get depa into the tent rather than leave us outside. They did it on 19 March with an email to which was attached correspondence about proposed changes to CPD and the Code of Conduct, requesting our input, but for some reason they didn’t do it with the proposed legislative changes conveyed to everyone, without warning, in the BPB Bulletin of 14 March. Check it out yourself and make a submission – BPBulletin 22 March. The Board thought it made sense to establish contractual arrangement between individual private certifiers and an applicant and a contractual arrangement also between “the employer of an accredited certifier” and an applicant. At least we assume they thought it made sense, because no one has given us any information at all other than what was contained in the 14 March Bulletin. The BPB has always operated under the illusion that you can create a level playing field on “certification” activities regardless of whether those functions are carried out by an accredited certifier operating alone, a certifier operating in one of the businesses providing the services, or a Council. But of course you can’t do that because the businesses providing the services are solely focused on those sort of services but councils are qualitatively different organisations with a scope and range of activities well beyond the limited role of those handful of businesses employing certifiers. And no businesses employ the number of accredited employees that councils do - 23, for example, at Blacktown and a significant number of councils with more than 10. But none of those organisations were asked about the impact of requiring the identification of the name and accreditation number of any employee who is proposed, at the date of the contract, will carry out certification work under the contract”. They should be asked now. This proposal affects all those councils which don’t provide one employee for the whole job and, given that the ICAC likes the idea that one person NOT carry out all the “certification work under the contract”, we are entitled to ask how much pineapple cake the Board had eaten that day? Something really mind-altering must’ve happened to come up with such a bureaucratically unworkable, time-wasting and frustrating initiative. And one where uncharacteristically the industry parties with an interest in the effective provision of these services were not consulted before the new clause 19A was introduced. It’s almost like the Board wants to frustrate and distract local government rather than assist. Neil Cocks is off on a secondment in the Department at the moment and the Acting Director of the BPB is a Dr Gabrielle Wallace. Apparently she has been a building surveyor somewhere or other over the years and we chased her up last week because we hadn’t heard anything back after our email exchange with Neil on 15 March. Here is her response: From: Building Professionals Board [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.] Sent: Thursday, 4 April 2013 2:15 PM To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject: Written contracts Dear Ian As you noted in our discussion this morning, the last BPBulletin (26/2/13) contained information on the commencement of the EP&A Amendment Act 2012. It contained interim advice on written contracts, an information sheet and 2 Q&A papers. The second Q&A paper has details pertaining specifically to councils. Please note there are 3 template contracts, including one for councils. Page 3 of the information sheet noted changes to section 73A of the EP&A Act and clause 19A of the BP Amendment Regulation 2013. The links to the legislation are available under More information on page 4 of the information sheet. As discussed, we are shortly to release a third Q&A which should address further concerns. Dr Gabrielle Wallace A /Director Building Professionals Board PO BOX 3720 PARRAMATTA NSW 2124 We know that many of you responded to our email telling us that we were right, how hopeless the BPB was and we should jam it right up them, but there is no substitute for the BPB being overwhelmed with your responses, rather than sending them to us. They think we are trouble anyway, so it’s better for councils to be pursuing them about putting this regulation on hold until such time as there is an opportunity for the industry to discuss it with the BPB. Send responses to LG NSW as well. 19A should be amended to leave councils out entirely or to treat them differently. And as much as we all would like to meet with them, on this occasion they should leave the pineapple cake at home. Random testing finds no evidence of illegal drugs - anti-drug zealots now on medication Shock results: Drug and Alcohol Trial finds nothing at the same time as Fair Work Australia sets some guidelines Uh oh, who'd have thought? In a result which won't surprise those who thought drugs and alcohol at work were not a problem in local government, but will surprise those who believed that they were, the trial of the Industry Guidelines on alcohol and other drugs found no employees tested positive for illegal drugs and only one tested positive for alcohol. This result explains why the overwhelming majority of councils are not interested in developing drug and alcohol policies and are certainly not interested in the wasted time, effort, cost and aggravation of random testing. The Industry Guidelines were developed cooperatively by the Local Government and Shires Associations and the three local government unions – the United Services Union, the Local Government Engineers Association and depa - in 2010 and 2011. It was the first time agreement had been reached between the employer and employee organisations over an area of policy which had been studiously avoided or, if dealt with at all, randomly and inconsistently developed. As far back as 2006 depa had been encouraging the LGSA and the other unions to reach agreement on drug and alcohol policies that would discourage the introduction of random testing. This is a reaction to news first revealed in a Sunday newspaper that Kempsey had introduced random testing without consulting with the unions. Fair Work Australia rejects urine testing again and sets other important guidelines In parallel with the Industry Guidelines trial, two of the local government unions, the USU and APESMA (the Federal organisation of the LGEA) were involved with other electricity industry unions in a significant test case at Endeavour Energy. The case was heard before Senior Deputy President Hamberger in Fair Work Australia. The Senior Deputy President had already established precedents about the importance of a random testing regime in industries that provide significant amounts of dangerous work (like electricity and mining, for example) using a testing method which actually detected impairment at the time the testing was carried out. Electricity is one of those industries where the unions agree with the concept of random testing because everywhere you go there is 1 million volts waiting to zap you. This meant the obvious choice needed to be saliva testing, rather than urine testing, which fails to detect impairment at the time of the test but gives you a great idea of what people been doing in their own time over preceding weeks. The Endeavour Energy case set the following precedents which will be fed into the review of the Industry Guidelines next week: any PCA/alcohol testing should use the Motor Traffic Act differing prescriptions, oral testing is preferred to urine testing for a variety of privacy and accuracy reasons and, there should be no obligation on employees to disclose prescription medication prior to any testing. These three principles will confront Upper Hunter on the method of testing, Coffs Harbour in particular on the "one size fits all" PCA testing and quite a few councils believing it is appropriate for employees to disclose their medication regardless of privacy. Any testing regime that requires people being medicated for depression, hormonal changes, gender reallocation, sexually transmittable diseases or other treatments which are none of the business of the employer, needs to be resisted at every opportunity.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1126
__label__cc	0.708664	0.291336	Ask the Right Question Written by Ben Heard, Founder and Executive Director, Bright New WorldPosted on February 8, 2013 February 9, 2013 33 Comments Yes, wind is cheaper. Provided your expectations are lower. Well, it makes a great headline. “Renewable energy now cheaper than new fossil fuels in Australia” Vive la Revolution! From now on, fossil fuels will not be built, renewables will because they are cheaper! Hurrah!!! This headline comes from new analysis from research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance who have found “electricity can be supplied from a new wind farm at a cost of AUD 80/MWh (USD 83), compared to AUD 143/MWh from a new coal plant or AUD 116/MWh from a new baseload gas plant”. This may have caught people by surprise, not just that the wind is cheap(ish) but that the new fossil is costly. But if you have already spotted the flaw, you get a star. This analysis, and the breathless headline accompanying it, are a great demonstration of how to be correct and irrelevant all at the same time. These figures compare the cost of electricity production between: Marginal costs of introducing incremental new wind, which will be intermittent with capacity factors around 30% Marginal cost of introducing new modern coal, which would be baseload and quite large, with potential capacity factors above 85% Marginal cost of introducing new baseload gas, which would be combined cycle plant, again quite large, again with potential capacity factors above 85% All three produce ostensibly the same product (electricity), but they do not provide the same service. A new wind farm, with the well understood intermittency does a poor job of meeting our requirement for baseload, being the minimum electricity demand required at all times. If you want to compare these sources fairly, you need to set them the same challenge, namely that of providing baseload. That’s what we did in Zero Carbon Options. The challenge was to replace two small coal plants of 740 MWe in South Australia, with success defined as reliably producing 4,650 GWh per year. We compared a renewable option as proposed by renewable proponents with a nuclear option. It is when you ask renewables to respond to this specific challenge that the full story is revealed. The renewable option could not be wind only, as that fails the reliability test. It was a hybrid proposal of solar thermal with storage (760 MWe) and wind (700 MWe). So that’s 1,460 MWe to replace 740 MWe. The capital cost is horrendous at over $8 billion, most of which is the solar thermal. The price of electricity is telling: wind cheapest, then nuclear, then miles of daylight, then solar thermal. The renewable option had 2,810 GWh of the electricity coming from solar thermal at (low estimate) $250 MWh, and 1,840 GWh coming from the wind at (low estimate) $90 MWh. So the average cost of the electricity production was $186 MWh. As you can see, that is way, way higher than either the coal or the gas as priced by Bloomberg. Even with this, the reliability test was poorly addressed. The level of storage was unspecified, but this solar thermal proposal had a capacity factor of 40%. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and two intermittents don’t make a baseload. To get a higher capacity factor would mean more storage, which would mean more cost. The bigger you scale this, in trying to replace many different baseload plants in many places, the more the ancillary costs mount, as the ability to move huge quantities of power over great distances becomes critical for reliability and stability. The nuclear option performed much better, with about half the capital cost, very high capacity factor, no question mark on reliability and electricity for (low estimate) $101 MWh. That is to say nothing of the advantages in lifespan, land use, water security and material consumption. 2x 728 MWe CANDU units from Qinshan, China. Unit 1 went from concrete pouring to criticality in 51.5 months. This could be readily reduced to 48 months with capital costs cut by 25%. Click the image to read about this The point here is not that wind is cheap, expensive, good or bad. It’s that replacing old baseload with new baseload is costly, no matter the tech, but the renewable pathway is most costly of all. If we are serious about replacing our aging fossil baseload with zero-carbon alternatives, then we need all options on the table. If Bloomberg New Energy Finance are serious about informing, not exciting, they will provide a fuller picture next time. Update: This piece has sparked quite a bit of discussion. Lots of folk seem to want to say I am wrong, or argue that I will be in time. Bloomberg have taken note. Their lead clean energy researcher offered this over Twitter… …which is of course my point. Where is the discussion of the “low pen(etration)” in the article? The price at “low penetration” means the price if we don’t build too much, and don’t try to use it to fill the role currently filled by coal and combined cycle gas. This makes their comparison entirely redundant. So it may be “news for most ppl”, but if we want an intelligent energy conversation then “most ppl” should be given the complete picture. Try this headline: “New wind power at low penetrations cheaper than new baseload fossil in Australia” Subtly different, but now it is actually in context, informative and useful in building understanding of energy. Like what you see? Please subscribe to the blog, Like Decarbonise SA on Facebook and follow Ben_Heard_DSA on Twitter. Posted in RenewablesTagged climate, coal plants Previous Entry The problem with Abstract thinking Next Entry Time to go against the Flow Barry Brook says: I wonder where SA goes from here if they increase installed wind capacity from 1200 MW to 1800 MW with the Ceres wind farm (possibly backed up burning straw!). I understand SA wind penetration has hit 33% for periods but averaged 24% in 2012. However that high penetration is made possible by RET assisted interstate exports and the flexibility of 44% gas fired generation. Industry insiders seem to think the east Australian gas price will double by the time LNG export from Gladstone gets into full swing http://www.coolibahconsulting.com.au/TiP/2013/02/05/gas-power-prices-a-poll-2/ If we hit the national RET before 2020 there is no guaranteed market for all this wind power unless it makes up a low cost portfolio of generation. That is no mandate to take more windpower when Vic brown coal power should still be available for $70 a Mwh or whatever. I think SA has enough windmills and should think of some other energy choices. For example the ability to export baseload when the rest of Australia needs it. Albert Rogers says: It is high time that people realised that the only sustainably renewable technology is in fact the ability of a suitably designed reactor to renew the supply of fissile nuclides, using neutron capture by uranium-238 or thorium-232. The former produces fissile plutonium-239, the latter, using an element three times as common as uranium, produces uranium-233. Neither one of these, if operated for civilian energy, produces bomb-grade material. Both consume all the trans-uranic isotopes, and create amazingly small quantities of nuclear fission waste, some of which even decays to useful stable elements like neodymium. Hydro-electricity is exceedingly useful for spinning reserve, and emits no greenhouse gases. It is the only energy of solar origin that currently produces significant amounts of reliable energy. But any person who cares about the life cycle of migratory fish, knows that the environmental impact of dams is quite serious. What baffles me is that my fellow environmentalists do not seem to suspect that the impact of wind turbines upon flying wildlife could easily be as bad. So far as I can ascertain, measured in proportion to the delivery of useful power, it is considerably worse. And the visual impact alone is horrible unless you have the most boring landscape imaginable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there is no such thing as a ‘boring” landscape. Hydro is not very good for spinning reserve at all. Hydro just cant quickly speed up and slow down. That flowing water has huge momentum. If you disrupt its momentum too fast you get a water hammer. Natural gas jet turbines are the best units to supply spinning reserve and regulations as they have the ramp rates. It is also very, very seasonal. Proteos says: Depends on where you live. On flatlands, hydro is of the run-of-the-mill sort. So completely relies on the seasonal water flow, especially in dry countries like Australia. But once you have some mountains, it becomes impossible to beat with dammed lakes: you can get ~1GW in 2 minutes. You can also do this with a pumping station and a hill. Makes sense, and yes pumped storage is well known. We have big stored hydro in NSW mountains of course, gets a bit iffy in drought years! New Amazon hydro has surprisingly low capacity factors due to seasonality. The problem here is that wind has an edge: it is the cheapest renewable, and meets little to no opposition in most countries. So for utilities, the most alluring mix is probably something like gas+wind or coal+wind, where wind acts as a fuel saver about 1/3 of the time. Of course, complete decarbonisation is not achieved in that case. But in fact, it’s the proposition against which nuclear power is tested, be it in terms of cost, or popular opposition. To make matters worse, most electricity systems are not vertically integrated, which means the costs of intermittency are not internalized. If wind is cheap enough (or subsidized), some firms will just go around building wind turbines, while some other companies will then claim (and obtain) capacity payments for their fossil fuel plants, because, let’s face it, fossil fuel plants have the lowest capital cost when it comes to spinning reserves. I do not have any solution to this predicament. Robert Wilson says: The BNEF report reads more like a piece of PR spin from the renewables industry. Some of the statements however beggar belief, e.g. “New wind is cheaper than building new coal and gas.” I am not fully aware of the situation in Aus, but the UK needs new capacity in the next few years to meet annual demand peaks. Quite clearly wind cannot do this. So, it is incredibly disingenuous to say new wind is cheaper than coal and gas. If wind cannot do what the coal and gas plant is required to do then it is absurd to say it is cheaper. It’s like train taking me half to London, but costing me less than one that goes the whole way. There’s also the horrid headline: “RENEWABLE ENERGY NOW CHEAPER THAN NEW FOSSIL FUELS IN AUSTRALIA.” This is referring to wind, and wind only. Based on Michael Liebrich’s quote this seems to be a narrative they want to peddle. But it helps no one. The costs of renewables vary massively, with oneshore wind much cheaper than every other non-hydro. Saying renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels is simply a recipe for bad policy making. The other big problem with this narrative is that these people seem unwilling to put their money where their mouth is. Similar claims come out of the UK constantly, that wind is cheaper than gas. Yet, suggest reducing wind subsidies and they go off in a rage. The straightforward problem here is that fossil fuels are cheap, and these efforts to make it seem otherwise are really just getting in the way of serious attempts to change this equation. I could not agree more. My big problem with this piece is that it is not moving Australia forward to a more informed discussion, but rather building expectations that will then be rebuffed by experts like network planners, who will then be accused (again) of being somehow anti-renewables or “dinosaurs” , and the useless merry-go-round of ignorance continues… Ben McCombe (@BenMcCombe) says: “RENEWABLE ENERGY NOW CHEAPER THAN NEW FOSSIL FUELS IN AUSTRALIA.” Reminds me of headlines such as “Renewable energy to become world’s second-largest power generation source by 2015” It’s great when you can count hydro, biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and wave as a single source yet split up fossil fuels into separate categories. Makes it seem so much better than reality. The spin from the 100% renewables crowd is astounding. I have very smart friends who are usually very good critical thinkers fall to pieces on this topic. They stoop to the very same tricks climate skeptics use yet are blithely unaware that they do so. Now, if the headline had instead been this: “New wind power at low penetrations cheaper than new baseload fossil in Australia” I could have endorsed it 100%! The difference is not big, yet it is huge. This headline would actually inform, and invite analysis and understanding that reflects the reality of the way energy systems work! But they did not go with that headline, which makes me query the impartiality. I think a lot can be inferred from what BNEF defines as “Sustainable Energy” in this report: http://www.bcse.org/factbook/pdfs/BCSE_BNEF_Sustainable_Energy_in_America_2013_Factbook.pdf Astonishingly natural gas and biofuels are both in there. Nuclear is not. The report, like the Australian wind one, is packed full of spin. Just look at the final 3 pages, where they produce a graph of the percentage renewables and gas make to total nameplate capacity in US, Canada, China and Germany. Anyone with basic knowledge of electricity generation knows this is totally meaningless. The only reason for doing it is to make renewables and gas seem to be generating more electricity than they are. My only conclusion here is that they are just spinners for the industries they have clients in, and not producing “quantitative and objective” reports as they claim. Their reports should be stamped buyer beware. That’s very disappointing, but pretty consistent with what I felt needed to be critiqued by this post. Those calling themselves analysts need to do better. It seems like “agitators” is a more accurate description for BNEF. Reminds me of these choices words I had for renewables advocates last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYWl9KtX-8I The issue of capacity payments would not arise if wind and solar did not get preferential treatment but had to bid unsubsidised prices that cover their average cost. Recently we’ve seen spot prices on the NEM hit an unbelievable $12,000 per Mwh http://m.news.com.au/QLD/pg/0/fi1821948.htm While the trendy wind build continues and solar panels remain a middle class fashion statement the open cycle gas plants have become like gold mines. At some point consumers must ask if it could be done cheaper. In SA’s case energy must have been part of the ‘input costs’ that put the kibosh on the Olympic Dam expansion. That project was meant to hire thousands of people but is now laying off staff. In the UK, DECC finds nuclear to be the cheapest low emission technology on a straight LCOE basis in it’s most recent assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/65713/6883-electricity-generation-costs.pdf And that’s based on FOAK EPR costs. 2012 estimates are: CCGT Gas: 80p/kWh Nuclear: 81p/kWh On-shore Wind (All UK): 93p/kWh On-shore Wind (England and Wales): 104p/kWh I remain skeptical of claims that wind is cheaper than nuclear in any universal sense. Pingback: In Australia, Wind Power Is Already Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels, And Solar Is … : Solar Company USA Does anyone have the full BNEF report? They do Nuclear analysis too. Personally I think it’s a bit brash to label BNEF the way they are being above before anyone has seen the full report. To slide down that slope ends up in Gundersen and Busby land. Be a shame if that happened. I’ve read a few articles analysing this report, and they appear to have points. But until a full report is seen…it’s just assumptive. At the end of the day, in Australia Nuclear has no LCOE. No investment bank will touch it with a 10-ft barge pole as it is illegal. That needs to be a major priority, all the tools are there. How long has it been since I wrote/organised a petition and had it sent to my local representative? Because if you meet a certain criteria petitions can be tabled in Parliament. I wonder if the Bloomberg piece has made a crucial omission by not adding the value of the LRET payment to the raw sale price of wind generated electricity. A couple of days ago the LGC was worth $33 per Mwh and if I understand correctly it is paid separately to any NEM transaction. http://ret.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/For-Industry/Liable-Entities/buying-stcs-lgcs If I’m right about the mechanism then if new wind can be sold for $80 we need to add $33 to get $113. That’s more like the price of new nuclear with 90% capacity factor. Notice if you browse the website the 1997 baseline swiftie with the LGC system. That’s so highly dependable 1960’s built hydro gets nothing. I’m eager to see a forthcoming report by Deloitte on how to supply water, energy and other services to new mines and extractive industries in west and north of South Australia http://www.eyreregion.com.au/images/stories/PDFs/Joint%20Press%20Release%20-%20RMIP%20(2).pdf Slight problem the person signing the cheque for the study is federal infrastructure minister Albanese, I recall him saying words to the effect ‘nuclear power is absolutely not needed in Australia’. It seems we’ll have ore crushing plants operating at 2 am powered by solar panels. More likely by our old favourite coal even if it’s 1,500 km away. Pingback: Ben Heard: “New wind power at low penetrations cheaper than new baseload fossil in Australia” « SeekerBlog Ben this is my latest comment to Giles Parkinson re the Bloomberg claims at http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/graph-of-the-day-how-fossil-fuels-lose-out-to-wind-and-solar-94119#comment-38200 Giles, you know I have raised this before but one has to question how Bloomberg determined the “coal” band for each of these graphs. The future increases for coal are going to be largely based on the carbon price as the cost of building the plants and O&M costs in Australia are probably not going to rise that much over time. The BREE estimates for the non-coal options are largely the same as Bloomberg’s. But they are very different for coal. BREE estimates the cost for new black coal plants without a carbon price at $84/MWh and $95/MWh for brown coal. To get the Bloomberg range for 2012 of $146 to $240 for coal means a carbon price of at least $51/MWh. At a volume weighted emission intensity for new coal plants of 0.85 t/MWh and a known carbon price of $23/t gives a carbon price of $20/MWh not $51. Based on BREE estimates the coal range for 2012 should be between $102 and $119/MWh depending on the coal mix using a carbon price of $23/t. Wind is around $116/MWh so lower than brown coal but not black coal. The only explanation I can come up with is that Bloomberg has assumed new coal plants will cost between $126 and $220/MWh without a carbon price. These figures are between 40% to 140% higher than BREE – which beggars belief. The error appears to have been repeated in other years. By 2030 Bloomberg has coal between $190 and $300/MWh in real 2012 AUD (the cost of the plants will not increase) so again the only reason is an increasing carbon price. For simplicity, let’s assume the volume weighted emission intensity for black and brown coal has risen to 1 t/MWh. We need a carbon price of between $95 and $205/t based on BREE plant costs to get the Bloomberg range. The Treasury estimates a carbon price of $55 in 2030 so the Bloomberg plant costs must have risen to between $135 and $245 in real terms – which beggars belief even more! Here’s a number of uncertain factors about future fossil LCOEs 1) Combet concedes the carbon price may fall not rise http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/combet-told-to-redo-figures-on-carbon-tax/story-fn3dxiwe-1226577741729 however 2) if the 2015 ETS eventuates EU type offsets will be limited to 12.5% of an emitters liability. 3) should generous cash and free permits be factored in? Especially for brown coal. 4) a policy of mandated high penetration wind power will mean coal plants generate fewer Mwh to spread their fixed costs. 5) industry insiders tip the east Australian gas price to increase from $5 per GJ to $9+ after Gladstone LNG export commences. 6) an Abbott victory may make the official carbon price $0 but direct action may impose an implicit price, as yet unknown. It would be so much simpler if wind and solar stood on their own merits without preferential treatment. Well, it might be nice if all energy sources had to do that. God only knows fossil fuels have had and continue to have their share of handouts, including apparent windfall gains from our carbon price as you point out. Martin, thanks for re-posting here. That’s great analysis, and easy to follow. The conclusion I am left to draw is that BNEF are not only misleading in their comparison, they are flat out, terribly wrong in their analysis. Between my high level piece, Tristan Edis’s considerations at Climate Spectator and the issues you have raised above, there seem to be real problems with both the work and the way it has been presented. The work has traveled far, but it also seems to be getting seriously interrogated, and that’s a good thing. Perhaps not sufficiently by Giles Parkinson. Yes, well… quite. Pingback: Gilding a Weak Argument Against Nuclear \| Decarbonise SA Pingback: AETA Model Update: Key Findings for Nuclear \| Decarbonise SA Pingback: Nuclear and renewables in the name of national interest \| Decarbonise SA	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1133
__label__wiki	0.875988	0.875988	Demi Lovato Paints Over Love In ‘Heart Attack’ Video Lovato blackens at the thought of heartbreak in Chris Applebaum-directed clip, the first visual from her upcoming Demi album. Need a lesson in staring down love? Demi Lovato is warding it off with her newest video for “Heart Attack,” and she’ll do anything to stop those mushy feelings from sinking in. The Chris Applebaum-directed clip, which premiered on E! on Tuesday (April 9) night, begins with an intense glare from Lovato as she prepares for battle and puts her defenses up. She emerges from a pool of thick, black paint, saturating her features while she sings the opening lines of the powerful track. Before things get too dark, shots change and we see Demi smirking and flirting before a white backdrop. She looks fresh-faced and natural, with shimmery eyes, rosy cheeks and pink lips. But as she raises her hands, the black comes back, graphite covering her fingers and forearms. “You make me glow,” her voice soars over the slow-churning bass. “But I cover up, won’t let it show.” Masking her radiance, her dark handprints start to cover up her body, like leftover ink from reading a newspaper. Demi curls up her hands, emotion bubbling up and swelling within. She winces and wrenches out the buildup to the chorus, a visible fury gnawing from inside. As the music drops, Lovato transforms into an aggressive rocker. Her jet-black hair is windblown despite being in a stale garage. Her three-piece band grinds out the jam behind her with their amps stacked up under fluorescent lights and their cords circling the ground Demi stomps on. Paint the color of gunmetal drips down her white backdrop, as the singer is in full-force, fighting off her crush’s magneticism. The video’s different versions of Demi offer simultaneous harmony and ad-libs as the song ends. The clip delivered the same type of edginess Demi teased before, and now, fans can see the singer’s black-dipped hands in a new light. “I’m taking on a different look this time around,” Lovato told MTV News in February. “I feel like I have my own thing going, like rocker-chic sophisticated, just a different kind of fashion style this time around.” And even though she’s putting her defenses up in “Heart Attack,” one of the song’s producers, Jason Evigan, half of the Suspex, says that Demi’s diving headfirst into her new style, which will shine through on her next album, Demi, out May 14. “She’s one who is so not about just trying to be what’s on radio,” Evigan said. “She’s a total original soul. She just wants to make what moves her. And if it moves her, she loves it.” VIDEO: Heart Attack (Official Music Video) Demi Lovato at Good Morning America	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1139
__label__cc	0.581403	0.418597	Week 10 Preview It’s getting frantic in college women’s soccer as teams fight for spots in conference tournaments, and there are plenty of Aussies whose teams are right in the hunt but haven’t quite secured their spot yet. By far, the most fascinating game of the weekend will be the match between Hofstra and Drexel, where Emily Hulbert and Emma Heckenberg will face off as Emily’s Hofstra side look to secure first place in the Colonial Athletic Association, whilst Emma and Drexel just look to make the conference tournament. Murray State (Nyomi Devine, Harriet Withers) This week: v SIU Edwardsville – 7:00am, Saturday October 24; v Eastern Illinois – 5:00am, Monday October 26 Murray State secured a place in the Ohio Valley conference tournament last week as they moved to 7-0, and this week they continue their march towards the conference regular season title and top seed in the conference tournament. Playing two of the lower teams in the conference, the Racers look likely to pick up two more wins and secure first place this weekend. Ironically, it could be against last year’s co-champions SIU Edwardsville that the Racers claim the title. It has been a rather alarming fall from grace for the Cougars as they have won just five games this season and sit in 8th place in the conference. Eastern Illinois are having an even worse season. With just three wins all season and only one in conference play, the Panthers are rooted to the bottom of the league table and are rated as one of the lowest 20 teams in the nation. With Nyomi Devine and the Racers’ defence covering things superbly at the back, Harriet Withers and the rest of the Murray State strikeforce could have a field day in each of these games. Wyoming (Alisha Bass, Annika Clayton, Jessie Gentle, Georgia Rowntree, Candace Sciberras) This week: v Boise State – 8:00am, Saturday October 24; v Utah State – 6:00am, Monday October 26 It’s been a slightly lacklustre conference slate for Wyoming, but they have two eminently winnable games this weekend before their final day rivalry game against Colorado State next week. The Cowgirls need to win these games too; they are currently out of the conference tournament spots and losses to either team this weekend will mean one less team that Wyoming have even a mathematical chance of leapfrogging into a spot. As with most teams in the middle of the pack at this time of year, both of Wyoming’s opponents, as well as the Cowgirls themselves, have had a real problem with inconsistency, so it may just be a matter of who shows up on the day in these games. Expect all four Aussies who are available to play big parts in both games as they step up into roles that belie their youth in a side with no seniors on the roster. This week: at Northeastern – 9:00am, Saturday October 24; at Hofstra – 4:00am, Monday October 26 Drexel move into their final two matches of the regular season needing wins if they are to reach the conference tournament, but they may have left their run a bit late as they face two of the toughest teams in the Colonial Athletic Association. Northeastern are defending conference champions and right in with a shot at winning again as they sit just one win off the lead coming into the final weekend. The Dragons’ second match will be even tougher, as an Aussie v Aussie matchup featuring Emma Heckenberg and Emily Hulbert sees Drexel take on conference leaders Hofstra. Ironically, if Drexel do win both of these games, they could not only reach the conference tournament, but knock Hofstra from top seed for the conference tournament. Hopefully we see Emma Heckenberg get some solid minutes this weekend, especially because it would be great to see two Aussies coming up against each other. This week: v Samford – 10:00am, Saturday October 24; v Chattanooga – 5:00am, Monday October 26 East Tennessee State slipped slightly off the pace in the Southern Conference with two losses last week, but are still right in the mix when it comes to getting a good seed for the conference tournament, which is what it’s all about at this time of year. First up, the Buccaneers take on top side Samford. This will be the biggest challenge that the side have faced in about 6 weeks, with Samford having not conceded a goal in conference play this season, comprehensively dealing with all of their opponents so far. To say Chattanooga will not be as tough is stating the obvious, but they are sitting second-bottom in the league, so East Tennessee State should have little trouble winning that one. Isabel Hodgson suffered a twinge to her knee last week but was given the all clear to carry on so expect her back playing 90 minutes this week. This week: v Delaware – 10:00am, Saturday October 24; v Drexel – 4:00am, Monday October 26 Hofstra secured a conference tournament berth last week, and this weekend they go on the hunt for the top spot as they take on lower sides Delaware and Drexel. Delaware are the epitome of a middle of the road team, with a 7-7-2 record so far, scoring 24 goals and conceding 26. Hofstra’s strength has definitely been their attack, scoring 37 goals so far this season, which makes them the 14th highest scoring team in the nation. This means that despite conceding 21 goals, the Pride remain a solid chance to win even when they do concede. The match against Drexel will be yet another Aussie v Aussie matchup this season, as Emily Hulbert takes on Emma Heckenberg, although as that will be Hofstra’s senior night, minutes will almost certainly be limited for Emily in that game. Alabama State (Shelbi Vienna-Hallam) This week: v Texas Southern – 11:00am, Saturday October 24; v Prairie View A&M – 5:00am, Monday October 26 Alabama State copped a bit of a hiding at the hands of Mississippi Valley State in their last match, so they’ll be looking to bounce back against two teams who are chasing them for a top 3 spot in the SWAC. Texas Southern currently sit seventh in the league, so a win not only gives them a chance to jump up the table, it may also secure their spot in the eight-team conference tournament, so they’ll be hungrier than ever to pick up a win. Assuming Alabama State can come out with the same desire, they should still be able to deal with Texas Southern in this one. Prairie View A&M will be a slightly tougher challenge. The two sides appear on paper to be quite well-matched, with Prairie View A&M perhaps being favourites despite Alabama State’s better conference record. These sides could meet again in the first round of the SWAC tournament, so this game could be a good barometer for the future. Shelbi Vienna-Hallam picked up a goal last week against Alcorn State, and her ability in front of goal may prove pivotal this weekend against some tougher opponents. Colorado (Kahlia Hogg, Alex Huynh) This week: at UCLA – 12:00pm, Saturday October 24; at USC – 5:00am, Monday October 26 Colorado are out of the title hunt in the Pac-12 after other results went against them in midweek, but the Buffaloes still have pride to play for as they travel to Los Angeles for matches against UCLA and USC. UCLA were expected to be one of the favourites for the national title, but most observers severely underestimated the effect that graduating a class that included six now-NWSL players (including W-League players Sarah Killion, Abby Dahlkemper, Megan Oyster, and Caprice Dydasco) would have on the side this year, and they actually sit at 6-7-1 now, a far cry from the last two years, and a record that even sees Colorado sitting above them overall. Still, with dismal away record and UCLA’s solid home record, this will still be a tough one for the Buffaloes. They then take on USC, who are coached by Keidane McAlpine, who coached Aussie defender Rachael Doyle at Washington State. USC will be expected to win this one as they continue their march towards the national tournament, but this is the Pac-12, where every team has real quality. Besides, there’s nothing a team that’s out of the hunt loves more than playing spoiler for a big team, and hopefully Colorado can do that to the Women of Troy this weekend. Alex Huynh was a deflection away from her first goal last weekend (although she did force an own goals), so hopefully she can go one better this week whilst also keeping things tight at the back. This week: at Radford – 9:00am, Sunday October 25 With eight teams qualifying for the Big South conference tournament and Winthrop sitting in 10th place, the Eagles could really do with a win to give themselves a chance to sneak into the field. Fortunately, this week they take on bottom team Radford with a win possibly seeing them move up two or three spots in the league after a midweek loss to Liberty slipped them down the standings slightly. Winthrop have found it tough to score goals all season, scoring just 13, but Radford have given up 30 in their 16 games. This will be by no means an easy win for Winthrop, but the lure of a tournament spot against a team that has really nothing to play for should be enough for the Eagles to get them over the line. Look for Jai Jackson to continue to play the majority of minutes, if not the full 90, as her role within the Winthrop side has grown in recent weeks. Creighton (Anastasia McCleary) This week: at Xavier – 4:00am, Monday October 26 Creighton fell out of contention for the Big East conference tournament with a midweek double overtime loss to Butler, but the side can still finish on the right side of .500 if they finish with wins this week against Xavier and next week against Georgetown. The Bluejays should have little problem dealing with Xavier if they play to their ability, although both sides have managed just two wins each in conference play, and one of those was against Villanova, a side who appear to be challenging the NBA’s 76ers for the title of worst team in Philadelphia. Creighton’s non-conference record was far better though, and it is probably more a case that Creighton are the best of the teams that have dropped away from the pack in the Big East. Anastasia McCleary had 44 minutes against Butler in midweek and hopefully that continues as the Aussie senior looks to finish her college career on a high. This week: at VCU – 4:00am, Monday October 26 A midweek loss to Duquesne put Massachusetts dangerously close to the cut line for the Atlantic 10 tournament, and things aren’t poised to get easier for them this week as they take on second-placed VCU. The Minutewomen will almost certainly have to pick up at least two wins to reach the conference tournament, which considering their final three opponents will mean two upset wins. It wouldn’t be their first upset win in conference play, though, as they have already defeated La Salle earlier in the season, who now sit two places above them in the league standings. However, VCU are the equal top scoring team in the conference, so it will be up to the Massachusetts defence to stymie their attacks. Laura Johns has come off the bench regularly, but has played as many minutes as some starters, so it will hardly be a bad thing if she starts on the bench again in this match, as has been common this season. This week: v Maine – 5:00am, Monday October 26 With Stony Brook playing UMBC this weekend, Albany are guaranteed a conference tournament spot, but there is still massive incentive for the Great Danes to get a win in this game against Maine. A win will send Albany above Maine in the conference standings, and potentially into 2nd spot and a bye into the semi-finals of the six team tournament. It won’t be easy though, especially as Maine themselves could clinch top spot if they win and other results go their way. The game is in Albany though, where the home side have won 4 of 6 games this season. Maine, on the other hand, have won just 2 of 7 away. It could be a frantic final day in the America East conference, and this game will be just one to watch. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though Claire Urquhart will feature. Southeast Missouri State (Jenna Collingridge, Maddy Cornell, Siena Senatore) This week: v Tennessee Tech – 5:00am, Monday October 26 Top spot in the Ohio Valley conference will not belong to Southeast Missouri State as it did last year, but they are well and truly in the hunt for second spot with two games to play. A win this weekend against Tennessee Tech will put the two sides even on points, but they will still be relying on other results if they are to still be in the hunt next weekend. One thing is for sure: if Southeast Missouri State win this game, they are in the conference tournament. A loss won’t be devastating to their hopes, but it will leave them sweating a bit. Neither side in this one has remarkable records at home or away, and the Redhawks are coming off a draw against a similarly rated team to Tennessee Tech in the form of Morehead State in midweek, so expect this one to be tight. Maddy Cornell has been the surprise starter of the Aussies recently, with Jenna Collingridge still coming off the bench, but Siena Senatore’s appearances have been limited lately. Washington State (Tia Gavin) This week: v California – 7:00am, Monday October 26 Washington State came within a minute of snaring a draw against #4 ranked Stanford in midweek, and for their weekend fixture they face the team from the other side of San Francisco Bay as California come to town. The Golden Bears stuttered early in conference play, losing their first two games (including against Aussie-laden Colorado), but rebounded to win five in a row and be firing on all cylinders at the right end of the season. Another performance like the one they put in against Stanford would put the Cougars right in the mix in this one though, and a win would not be surprising at all as the Cougars try to put themselves in position to jump California in the back end of the season. Tia Gavin had 29 minutes and almost scored against Stanford (a teammate reached the deflection to put it home just in front of Tia), which is a lot more than the 3 she had in the Cougars’ last game as she continues to be an impact player, which will no doubt continue to be the case against California. Author LachyPosted on October 23, 2015 October 24, 2015 Categories Uncategorized 2 thoughts on “Week 10 Preview” Lella Senatore says: Love these posts! Thankyou! Btw Siena has an injury to her ankle from a week ago. Thanks Lella! Sorry to hear that! Next Next post: Week 10 Wrap	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1142
__label__wiki	0.939126	0.939126	Tag: Tessa Calabria Australians in NCAA Division I women’s soccer scored 22 goals and tallied 26 assists in 2018. However, 11 of those goals and 16 of those assists came via players who will not be returning to college in 2019, either due to graduation or other reasons. Despite a comparative lack of attacking output among the returning players, there are a number of players who are yet to regularly add their names to the scoresheet that could yet have breakout seasons and provide memorable moments this year. College Matildas takes a look at four players and one duo that could all make significant impacts for their teams in 2019. (Featured Image Credit: Bill Dally/ISIPhotos.com) Demi Koulizakis (Texas Tech) Koulizakis came on in leaps and bounds in her junior season, and with a number of spots opening up in the Texas Tech front line, the senior from Sydney now has her best opportunity yet to cement a spot in the starting lineup. Already named Texas Tech’s Most Improved Player in 2018 by her teammates, the versatile attacking player now has the chance to show that last season wasn’t simply a one-off, with three spots in the midfield and front line up for grabs. .@Demikouli puts on the 🎩 to bring us win #️⃣3️⃣ of the spring!#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/doE9Zr6VCx — Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) April 18, 2019 Koulizakis’ outstanding spring form has her in the box seat to nail down a starting berth after finishing the campaign with four goals and an assist, including a hat-trick against Lubbock Christian. Furthermore, the senior’s cause will hardly have been harmed by spending her offseason playing in the NPLNSW competition for a Sydney Olympic side featuring the likes of Matildas midfielder Teresa Polias as well as a number of players with W-League experience. Beattie Goad (Stanford) Three seasons at Stanford playing a supporting role behind some of the most talented players to pull on a Cardinal jersey means Goad has served an unusually long apprenticeship, but the opportunity has now presented itself for the Victorian to serve as an integral part of the starting lineup. Goad has started in 24 of her 64 appearances for Stanford, and last season tallied 2 goals and 3 assists, both career highs for a single season as the Cardinal returned to the College Cup as defending champions before falling to eventual champions Florida State in the semi-finals. 6️⃣4️⃣ appearances on The Farm & counting for @beattiegoad. 👌👌👌 #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/QiNk37yHZo — Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) May 1, 2019 What position the senior fills remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that Goad can become a mainstay of the Stanford starting eleven in her final season, and if she does indeed fill an attacking role, the Victorian will have plenty of opportunities to both tee up teammates and score goals herself. Tessa Calabria (Nicholls State) Injury restricted the junior college transfer to just 6 appearances in 2018, but Calabria comes into her final season of collegiate soccer looking to make up for lost time in a Nicholls State side that could really use her goalscoring prowess. Having scored 25 goals and contributed 16 assists during two years at Iowa Lakes Community College, Calabria knows not only how to find the back of the net, but tee up her teammates, which in turn could help her develop a key partnership with fellow Australian Kristy Helmers, who will be itching to return to the goalscoring form that saw the senior tally 6 goals in her freshman season. With Western Australian senior Shauni Reid also expected to spend time up front, Calabria’s return could be the catalyst for the Australian trio to return Nicholls State to a similar level that the program found itself at in the days of Australian midfielder Jess Coates, who helped the Colonels to their last winning seasons in 2013 and 2014. Alyssa Van Heurck (La Salle) A defender by trade, Van Heurck made the move into a wide attacking role in her first season at La Salle and took to the change like a duck to water. Although the majority of her appearances were cameos of 15-25 minutes, Van Heurck eventually six starts in her freshman season, tallying a single goal and playing in excess of 40 minutes in the final two games of the campaign. Whilst a couple of more experienced players are returning this season after missing 2018 due to injury, there remain a number of positions open in the La Salle starting eleven, and Van Heurck is certainly in the running for a more prominent berth in the rotation. Even if the Western Australian isn’t able to nail down a starting berth, 2019 could serve as an excellent setup year as the Explorers will again need to replace a number of seniors in 2020. Caitlin Pickett & Indianna Asimus (Wyoming) Pickett and Asimus both featured regularly for Wyoming in their freshman seasons in 2018, but with the loss of a couple of key pieces of the Cowgirls’ attack, the Australian duo will become even more crucial as the team from Laramie looks to turn last year’s Mountain West Conference regular season title into a conference championship and secure an NCAA Tournament berth. Both of Pickett’s goals in 2018 came in sudden death overtime, and whilst those clutch plays are always welcomed, the sophomore will be counted on to improve upon that number to keep the Cowgirls flying high in 2019. That's a W!!! Take a 👀 at Caitlin Pickett's game-winner in the final 20 seconds of double OT!#OneWyoming #GoWyo pic.twitter.com/NYPxk8iOq1 — Wyoming Cowgirl Soccer (@WYOSOCCER) September 29, 2018 Meanwhile, Asimus is yet to tally a goal or an assist, but having made nine starts last season and averaged 47 minutes per appearance, the Wyoming coaching staff obviously have faith in the sophomore to emerge as an offensive weapon going forward. Whether that translates into tangible returns remains to be seen, but if Asimus and Pickett both fire this season, Mountain West Conference defences are in a world of trouble. Author LachyPosted on July 3, 2019 Categories Season PreviewsTags Alyssa Van Heurck, Beattie Goad, Caitlin Pickett, Demi Koulizakis, Indianna Asimus, Tessa Calabria1 Comment on Reloading: Six Aussie attackers set for breakout seasons (Featured Image Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations) As was the case in 2017, we saw 30 Australians take to the pitch in NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer this season. Although the season didn’t end with a national champion for the first time in three years, there was still no shortage of players enjoying outstanding campaigns in a thoroughly entertaining 2018, with both familiar faces and new stars putting on a show. (33 Australians were on rosters at the end of the season. However, Caitlin Cantrill, Laura Farrelly, and Grace Watson-Carr did not feature this season and as such are not featured below.) Indianna Asimus (Wyoming) Team Record: 12-4-4 (Mountain West Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 20 games, 9 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Indianna Asimus enjoyed a solid first college season. (Photo Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations) Indianna Asimus may have been the lesser used of the four Australians on the Wyoming roster, but nonetheless the freshman had enough of an impact for the Cowgirls to suggest that her playing time will increase going forward. Asimus started each of the final five games of the season, and although the freshman didn’t manage a goal, she did rattle off seven shots in the final two games. That alone is evidence in itself that Asimus found herself in good positions, which will serve her well over the next three seasons, particularly as she looks to snag one of the positions left by the six graduating seniors from the 2017 team. Gaby Bentley (Old Dominion) Team Record: 8-7-4 (Conference USA Quarter-Finals) Stats: 14 games, 2 goals, 0 assists An impact player off the bench for much of the season, Gaby Bentley may not have started every game but gave just as much as many of the starters for an Old Dominion side that once again found itself in the Conference USA Tournament before being knocked out in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive season. Although her general play was solid throughout the season, Bentley also doubled her scoring output from last season, tallying two goals for the season. With a number of midfielders graduating after the 2018 season, Bentley may just find herself in the starting lineup on a more regular basis in her senior year. Lorena Bugden (William & Mary) Team Record: 6-10-1 Stats: 5 games, 1 start, 0 goals, 0 assists Having spent her first season at William & Mary recovering from injury, new issues plagued Lorena Bugden in her sophomore year with the Tribe, culminating in just five appearances in a tough season on both a personal level and for the team. Under a new coach for the 2018 campaign, Bugden earned a start in one of her appearances, but the injury problems curtailed what could have been a promising season that may have set the sophomore up for the next couple of seasons at William & Mary. As it is, Bugden will have to hit the ground running in 2019 in order to put together the kind of season she is capable of producing. Jodie Burchell (Towson) Stats: 14 games, 7 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists Freshman Jodie Burchell took a while to establish herself in the Towson side, but once she did, she latched onto her spot and eventually entrenched herself as a member of the starting lineup. Despite playing just 14 games, all of Burchell’s seven starts came in the last eight games of the season. Although the freshman came up with only a single goal in her 485 minutes on the pitch, Burchell was able to fashion chances on occasion, finishing with 10 shots for the season in a solid first campaign in college soccer. Stats: 6 games, 1 start, 0 goals, 1 assist Although it was a disappointing season for Nicholls State, things began promisingly for Tessa Calabria, starting her first game and playing more than hour in two of her first three appearances before picking up an assist against Alcorn State in the first game of September. However, that would be the last time the junior college transfer would feature in 2018, as injury reared its ugly head and forced the South Australian out for the remainder of the season. However, Calabria will return next season and the Colonels could certainly use her presence as despite scoring 17 goals, 7 of those came from senior Francesca Curteis, and that production will need to be replaced if the team is to improve on this season’s three wins. Sarah Clark (Chicago State) Stats: 8 games, 4 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Sarah Clark’s first season in Division I after two successful seasons at Lassen Community College looked promising as the Queenslander made four starts in her first eight appearances for the struggling Cougars. However, Clark’s season ended prematurely after those eight appearances, which spelled trouble for a Chicago State side that could have used all the help it could get as a winless streak dating back to August 2018 continued throughout the season, reaching 33 games. Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Stats: 20 games, 20 starts, 4 goals, 2 assists Wyoming needed a leader in midfield following Alisha Bass’s graduation after the 2017 season, and Annika Clayton stepped up to fill the void left by her fellow Australian superbly. Four goals and two assists certainly comprised a tidy return for the midfielder, but statistics alone do not paint the picture of Clayton’s importance to her team. Whether pulling the strings in midfield with her passing or making a marauding run forward, the midfielder’s ability to impact the game in a number of ways was vital to the Cowgirls securing a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title and finishing with 12 wins and 4 draws in their 20 games. Clayton also received a Mountain West All-Conference Second Team nomination for her performances throughout the season, just reward for an outstanding campaign. Congratulations to @annika_clayton on being selected for the Mountain West 2nd Team All-Conference! #OneWyoming #GoWyo pic.twitter.com/ZGSPQXtFUh — Wyoming Cowgirl Soccer (@WYOSOCCER) October 29, 2018 Kiri Dale (Hawaii) Team Record: 9-6-1 Kiri Dale enjoyed another solid season for Hawaii, settling into a position in the starting lineup for the majority of the campaign. The Rainbow Wahine narrowly missed out on their first conference tournament berth, but nonetheless even being in contention represented a vast improvement on their dismal league finishes since moving to the Big West in 2012. Dale finished the season with three complete-game performances in among several other high-minute games, tallying a pair of assists for the season as well as 9 shots in her second season at Hawaii but her first with fellow Australian and College Matildas legend Rachael Doyle as part of the coaching staff. Isobel Dalton (Colorado) Team Record: 13-4-3 Stats: 12 games, 0 starts, 0 goals, 1 assist As has been the case for the majority of Isobel Dalton’s time at Colorado, the senior midfielder found herself just outside the regular rotation of players throughout the season, limiting both her appearances and playing time. However, despite a lack of opportunities, Dalton was still able to exhibit her class in midfield and come up with the occasional memorable moment, including a scintillating pass that split the Oregon State defence for the final assist of the senior’s college career. Having played in both the W-League and the English Women’s Super League before heading to college, Dalton’s next move will be one to watch if the former Brisbane Roar player does choose to extend her footballing career. Lauren Featherstone (North Dakota State) Team Record: 9-7-0 (Summit League Semi-Finals) Seeking a fresh start at North Dakota State after redshirting her only season at Central Connecticut State in 2017, Lauren Featherstone had what could only be termed as a frustrating year as injury conspired to limit the redshirt freshman to just 10 games. When she actually got the chance to play, Featherstone looked at home for North Dakota State, earning two starts before enduring a three-week break midway through the season and eventually being limited to mere minutes on the pitch by the end of the campaign. However, if Featherstone can overcome her injury problems, the Macarthur Rams product can certainly become an integral part of the North Dakota State lineup going forward. Jessie Gentle (Wyoming) Stats: 20 games, 20 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists Alongside classmate and fellow Aussie Annika Clayton, Jessie Gentle has been an integral member of the Wyoming lineup for much of her time in Laramie, and nothing about that changed in 2018 as the senior terrorised opposing wide players both in attack and defence. Like Clayton, Gentle started every game for the Cowgirls in 2018 as the experienced Wyoming side put together the first 12-win season in program history whilst also securing a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title. A dynamic combination of athleticism and skill led a number of outstanding performances for Wyoming, culminating in a career-high three assists for the season and a second goal of the senior’s career, which came alongside an assist in a 3-1 win over Colorado College. Team Record: 21-1-1 (Pac-12 Champions, NCAA College Cup Semi-Finals) Beattie Goad has become an integral part of the Stanford side. (Photo Credit: Stanford Athletics) Beattie Goad has seen decent playing time throughout her time at Stanford during what could only be termed as a golden era for the program, but this season saw the junior’s impact on the side become far more significant. Starting the first five games of the season as injuries opened up a spot, Goad started 9 of her 24 appearances and finished with multiple goals and assists in a season for the first time in her career. Whilst Stanford may have fallen short of repeating as champions after a 2-0 loss to eventual champions Florida State in the College Cup semi-finals, Goad’s season could only be termed as a successful one as she proved herself to be an integral part of one of the best teams in college soccer. Tenille Harberger (Nicholls State) Having redshirted her first year at Nicholls State in 2017, Tenille Harberger finally saw her first playing time for the Colonels this year, seeing limited playing time in three games in what was a tough season in general for the team. The midfielder from Mackay was afforded just 21 minutes of playing time in those three appearances, and will no doubt be hoping to increase that playing time in her junior year in 2019 as Nicholls State look to improve on their three wins this season. Emma Heckenberg (Drexel) Team Record: 7-7-5 (CAA Quarter-Finals) Rarely has a player appeared more willing to do whatever is required to get her team a win than Emma Heckenberg, and that has served the senior well. Heckenberg saw 16 starts in her final year of college soccer, the most of any of her four years at Drexel. Ready and willing to slot in wherever required, Heckenberg carved out a spot as a vital member of the backline with a handy ability to deliver a set-piece, much like Monique Iannella at Hofstra. That set-piece ability delivered four assists, with two of those coming in a 2-1 over St. Joseph’s and another on the game-winner in a victory over Charleston. Whilst Heckenberg was never a player that received massive plaudits, replacing a player of her ilk will prove no small task for Drexel in 2019. Kristy Helmers (Nicholls State) After a solid first couple of seasons that saw Kristy Helmers regularly start for Nicholls State, 2018 saw the Canberra product come off the bench in the vast majority of her appearances in a side that struggled for goals for much of the season. Helmers started just four games and rarely played more than half a game, resulting in a diminished return of just two goals after scoring three in 2017 and six in her freshman year of 2016. However, those two goals were good enough for second-highest on a Nicholls State team that scored just 17 and saw 7 of those come from one player. Sandra Hill (Grand Canyon) Team Record: 6-13-2 (WAC Quarter-Finals) Fresh off making her debut with the Cambodian national team during the off-season, Sandra Hill returned to Grand Canyon for her sophomore year and made a similar impact to what she had done in 2017. Hill certainly looks to have benefitted from having a year under her belt, looking far more composed on the pitch in 2018, and also managed to pick up her first collegiate goal with an absolute worldie in her side’s WAC Tournament quarter-final loss to Utah Valley. After starting 9 of her 15 games in 2018, Hill will no doubt be hoping to ensure that both of those numbers sit closer to 20 in her junior season, and if her development continues, there is no reason that can’t happen. Isabel Hodgson (East Tennessee State) Team Record: 8-12-0 (Southern Conference Semi-Finals) Stats: 20 games, 19 starts, 4 goals, 1 assist Isabel Hodgson will be tough to replace for ETSU. (Photo Credit: Dakota Hamilton/ETSU Athletics) A star of the East Tennessee State side from the moment she stepped on the field in Johnson City, Isabel Hodgson once again enjoyed an outstanding season, finishing the 2018 season as the program’s record holder for total appearances. Despite playing a defensive role for the Buccaneers, Hodgson was still able to tally 4 goals and 2 assists, her best return since the 2016 campaign in which the South Australian was utilised in an attacking position, to help her team to a Southern Conference semi-final berth as East Tennessee State atoned for a poor non-conference season by finishing third in the league table. Hodgson has already made her next career move, signing with Adelaide United for the remainder of the W-League season, joining other Australian former college players Laura Johns, Dylan Holmes, and Kahlia Hogg. Monique Iannella (Hofstra) Team Record: 16-6-1 (CAA Champions, NCAA Tournament Second Round) The only thing more lethal than Monique Iannella’s defensive presence is her ability to whip in a pinpoint ball from a corner, and the senior demonstrated both with aplomb to help lead Hofstra to a second consecutive CAA title and another NCAA Tournament appearance. In a side teeming with international players, Iannella was just one of many imports playing a vital role as the Pride rolled through the CAA Tournament before demolishing Boston College in an upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Interestingly, although Iannella’s ability from a corner is renowned, the majority of her assists came in other ways, proving her versatility as a player. Three of these came in one game against Towson, all of which came from open play as the former Melbourne City followed up 2017’s six assists with five more in her senior year. Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) Stats: 17 games, 17 starts, 5 clean sheets, 1.248 GAA, 0.788 save percentage Claudia Jenkins has been La Salle’s saviour on many occasions. (Photo Credit: Greg Carroccio / Sideline Photos) After spending the 2017 as backup to senior Larisa Zambelli, Claudia Jenkins made the goalkeeper position her own in 2018, proving to be a more-than-reliable option between the sticks for La Salle. Jenkins’ save percentage and goals against average numbers put her in the top half of goalkeepers in the nation, but those numbers could have been far better if not for an early-season flurry of penalties and own goals that at times left the sophomore on a hiding to nothing. Forced to make almost five saves per game, Jenkins stood tall in a tough season for La Salle, who came back to the pack in a massive way after winning the conference title last season as the Explorers looked to replace three defensive starters who had graduated after the 2017 season. Demi Koulizakis made her first starts since 2016 this season as the junior’s vast improvement became impossible to ignore after a slightly down season in 2017. Koulizakis’ minutes fluctuated wildly throughout the season, but demonstrated her class with a technically sublime finish in the team’s 6-0 win over Florida International, the junior’s only goal for the season. Impressively, the junior played 100 minutes in the Red Raiders’ shootout loss to Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and the fact that Koulizakis has forced her way into increased playing time in a team that is performing just as well as in previous seasons may be the most promising outcome of all from this campaign. 🏆 Team Awards 🏆 Most Improved: @Demikouli #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/BqR2oJPMwD — Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) December 10, 2018 Ashleigh Lefevre (Illinois) Cameos off the bench were the order of the season for Ashleigh Lefevre, who made 15 appearances for Illinois in her freshman year, but never saw more than 40 minutes of playing time in any one game. Often used at the back end of the first half to give starters an extended halftime break, Lefevre nevertheless managed to maintain a spot in the rotation, and was able to make her first tangible mark on a game with her first career assist in the Illini’s 5-0 win over SIU Edwardsville early in the season. Having been afforded limited opportunities in her freshman year, Lefevre will no doubt be hoping to build on that going forward to become an integral member of the Illinois starting lineup in 2019. Teagan Micah (UCLA) Team Record: 17-3-2 (NCAA Tournament Semi-Finals) Teagan Micah was a vital cog in the UCLA side. (Photo Credit: Rand Bleimeister/UCLA) Firmly established as one of the nation’s top goalkeepers, Teagan Micah came up in a massive way for UCLA on a number of occasions this season as the Bruins followed up last year’s national title game appearance with a run to the quarter-finals. Playing behind the Bruins’ outstanding defence meant Micah didn’t always have a ton of work to do, but regularly stepped up when called upon. This was most evident in the crosstown derby against USC, in which the junior made 8 saves in the Bruins’ overtime victory, including an acrobatic tip over the bar with just two seconds to play on a shot that would have otherwise won USC the game at the last possible moment. A concussion midway through the season may have kept Micah out for a few games midway through the season, but nonetheless it was another outstanding campaign for one of the top Australian players in college. Shelby Milton (Saint Francis) Team Record: 8-9-3 (Northeast Conference Runner-Up) Once again it was an impressive year for Saint Francis, but also one that saw Shelby Milton receive but limited opportunities for the Red Flash in her final campaign with the team. Despite starting against Duquesne early in the season, even that game saw the defender play only 17 minutes as not one of Milton’s seven appearances saw her play more than 37 minutes. It was the same story that had panned out in each of Milton’s previous seasons at St. Francis, who started games in all three of her seasons with the team but never played more than eight games in any one campaign. Freyja Murray (Akron) Team Record: 8-10-2 (MAC Quarter-Finals) It was a frustrating season in terms of playing time for Akron freshman Freyja Murray, who saw playing time in three early-season games, totalling just 64 minutes of action in her first year with the Zips as those three games turned out to be her only appearances in her freshman year. Unfortunately, it looks as though 2018 may be Murray’s only season with the side, with social media posts suggesting the former Northern Tigers defender may be leaving the program. Caitlin Pickett (Wyoming) Caitlin Pickett came up big in a couple of overtime thrillers. (Photo Credit: University of Wyoming Media Relations) Caitlin Pickett started her college career in whirlwind fashion, coming off the bench to score an overtime winner in just her second game against Utah Valley. Although that goal comprised half of the freshman’s season tally, the other goal Pickett scored was even more thrilling, coming 16 seconds from the end of overtime in a vital win over Utah State that helped Wyoming on the way to a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title. Impressively, Pickett started 19 games in her first college season, appearing at home in the Wyoming lineup, and looks set to form an integral part of the Wyoming attack alongside fellow Australian and classmate Indianna Asimus. Sam Roff (Fairleigh Dickinson) Team Record: 6-10-3 (Northeast Conference Semi-Finals) Sam Roff’s stat line may look as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, but offensive output has never been the junior’s job as a member of the Fairleigh Dickinson backline. The Knights finished in the top four in their conference for both shutout percentage and goals against average, testament to Roff and her defensive teammates’ strength as a unit. Although Fairleigh Dickinson fell in the NEC semi-finals, Roff’s work this season did not go unnoticed as the junior picked up a second consecutive All-Conference First Team selection to solidify her place as one of the top defenders in the league. Congratulations to Stasi, Sam, Noam and Maddie on earning All-NEC honors!! 🏅🏅🏅🏅👏👏#uKnighted pic.twitter.com/wu5F9OyIGi — FDU Women's Soccer (@fduws) November 2, 2018 Kate Swartwout (Western Carolina) Team Record: 8-8-2 (Southern Conference Quarter-Finals) Stats: 16 games, 3 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist Kate Swartwout showed plenty of scoring ability before making her way to Western Carolina, and those attacking instincts showed this season as the junior picked up the first goal of her college career in the Catamounts’ 2-1 loss to Chattanooga in October. Whilst starts were once again not forthcoming for Swartwout, the versatile junior retained a role as an impact player off the bench, appearing in 16 games in a middling season for the Catamounts that saw the team reach the conference tournament but fail to pick up a win, falling to Furman in the quarter-finals. With seven seniors on the roster this season, there will certainly be chances for Swartwout to become a regular starter in 2019 as she looks to end her college career with a flourish. Claire Urquhart (Albany) Team Record: 14-7-2 (America East Champions, NCAA Tournament First Round) After starting 8 games in 2017, 2018 saw a drop in Claire Urquhart’s playing time in her senior year, with just seven appearances and no starts forthcoming in the Queenslander’s final season in Albany. Urquhart did enjoy a third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years, but unfortunately did not receive any playing time in the Great Danes’ 5-1 loss to South Florida in the opening round, rounding out a career in which she had been seemingly vastly underutilised throughout. Alyssa Van Heurck made the most of a positional switch. (Photo Credit: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos) Known more as a fullback in her time prior to college, Alyssa Van Heurck found herself pushed up the pitch into an attacking wide role, and made the most of the switch to tally 17 appearances in her freshman year. Although the Western Australian started just six of those games, Van Heurck could regularly be called upon to provide a spark off the bench, tallying her first college goal in a 24-minute stint against UMBC in just her second college game and rattling off 3 shots in just 22 minutes against St. Bonaventure later in the season as her emergence as an integral part of the rotation became apparent. College Matildas End Of Season Awards Player Of The NCAA Tournament: Teagan Micah (UCLA) Freshman Of The Year: Caitlin Pickett (Wyoming) Sophomore Of The Year: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) Junior Of The Year: Beattie Goad (Stanford) Senior Of The Year: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Goalkeeper Of The Year: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) and Teagan Micah (UCLA) Defender Of The Year: Monique Iannella (Hofstra) Midfielder Of The Year: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Forward Of The Year: Caitlin Pickett (Wyoming) Breakout Player Of The Year: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) Most Consistent Player: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Top Goalscorer: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) and Isabel Hodgson (ETSU) – 4 Goals Most Assists: Monique Iannella (Hofstra) – 5 Assists 2018 College Matildas Player Of The Year: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) Author LachyPosted on December 14, 2018 December 10, 2018 Categories HistoryTags Alyssa Van Heurck, Annika Clayton, Ashleigh Lefevre, Beattie Goad, Caitlin Cantrill, Caitlin Pickett, Claire Urquhart, Claudia Jenkins, Demi Koulizakis, Emma Heckenberg, Freyja Murray, Gaby Bentley, Grace Watson-Carr, Indianna Asimus, Isabel Hodgson, Isobel Dalton, Jessie Gentle, Jodie Burchell, Kate Swartwout, Kiri Dale, Kristy Helmers, Laura Farrelly, Lauren Featherstone, Lorena Bugden, Monique Iannella, Sam Roff, Sandra Hill, Sarah Clark, Shelby Milton, Siena Senatore, Teagan Micah, Tenille Harberger, Tessa CalabriaLeave a comment on 2018 End Of Season Wrap 2018 Week 3 Wrap One of the biggest weekends for Australians in college in recent memory transpired this week, with four players tallying goals, another six registering assists, and a number of others putting in solid efforts to round out what was a simply mesmerising set of performances across the board. (Featured Image Credit: Jim Shorin/ISIPhotos.com) You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who had a better weekend than Beattie Goad, with the junior proving instrumental for Stanford as the #1 side in the nation extended their winning streak to 26 games. The Cardinal had to work for it in both games, being outshot by BYU in their opening game of the week but nonetheless finding their way to a 2-0 win, with Goad being credited with an assist on the game’s opening goal. The junior then came up with the opening goal in Stanford’s second game of the week against Minnesota, hitting a shot from the edge of the area into the far bottom corner and out of the goalkeeper’s reach. However, Stanford would by no means have the game their own way as Minnesota forced overtime before the Cardinal escaped with a winner early in overtime. 22' \| #1 Stanford is on the board midway through the first half courtesy of @beattiegoad after @teganmcgrady9's cross in the box caused trouble for the Gophers' defense. 🌲: 1 UM: 0#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/st0E8kb86b — Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 2, 2018 Claudia Jenkins also enjoyed an outstanding week, playing a vital role between the sticks in La Salle’s 2-1 overtime win over Colgate. Jenkins faced six shots on target, making an impressive five saves, with each and every one of those proving crucial as the Explorers only managed to equalise in the final 15 minutes after giving up the opener just after the hour mark. The La Salle side didn’t mess around in overtime, as although it took them seven minutes to create an attacking chance, they scored with their very first to clinch the golden goal win and move to 4-1 through their first five games. Alyssa Van Heurck came off the bench for La Salle in the win, playing an 8-minute cameo. Isabel Hodgson returned to the scorers list for the first time in 2018 as the South Australian looks to improve on last season’s return of two goals, burying the winner in East Tennessee State’s win over USC Upstate. In a fairly even contest that saw each team register 10 shots, Hodgson’s close-range finish in the 19th minute proved to be the difference as the Buccaneers put a four-game losing streak behind them to pick up their first win of the season with the 1-0 result. Unfortunately, a far tougher Charlotte side proved to be too much to handle for ETSU in their second game of the weekend as the Buccaneers fell to a 3-0 defeat, with Hodgson tallying one of the team’s three shots. 19': GOAL!!! Isabel Hodgson heads one in off an assist by Elena Pisani after Fiona Dodge's corner and the Bucs lead 1-0! #ETSUTough pic.twitter.com/kuRDHhF0US — ETSU Women's Soccer (@ETSUWSoccer) August 30, 2018 Teagan Micah and UCLA endured a tough road trip to Florida with national team stars Hailie Mace and Jessie Fleming away representing the US and Canada respectively, but the Australian goalkeeper still managed to notch a career highlight even as the Bruins could only come away with a draw and a loss from their two games in the southeast. UCLA opened the weekend with a 0-0 draw against Florida, and although Micah had just the one save to make, that save was enough to see the junior register the 20th clean sheet of her career in just 51 appearances, equating to just under 40% of Micah’s appearances resulting in clean sheets. Ironically, Micah came up with six saves against Florida State in the team’s second game of the week, but the Bruins fell to a 4-1 defeat as the Seminoles peppered the UCLA goal with ten shots on target. FINAL – UCLA 0, Florida 0 in OT. Teagan Micah earned her 20th career shutout in the scoreless tie. Next up is a matchup at No. 4 Florida State on Sunday.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/CcXfMpagGy — UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) September 1, 2018 Gaby Bentley’s goal against Towson last week proved to be no fluke as the South Australian tallied her second goal of the season, although Old Dominion fell to George Mason in their only game of the week. Bentley scored the opener in the 40th minute, capitalising on a rebound to tap the ball home from close range. But George Mason equalised early in the second half before finding the winner 16 minutes from fulltime to send the Monarchs to their first loss of what has been a solid season to this point. Monique Iannella has been delivering assists to teammates from the moment she transferred from Texas to Hofstra, and nothing changed this week as the former Melbourne City player again played a part in the build-up of a Pride goal. Needing a solid start against Fordham as they looked to put together a dominant performance for the first time since their win over Bucknell, Iannella was credited with the assist on Lucy Shepherd’s opener in the third minute as Hofstra found themselves 2-0 up inside 20 minutes before running out 3-1 victors. Unfortunately, things were far tougher against #6 Virginia, who registered 27 shots to 2 on their way to a 5-1 victory. Emma Heckenberg appears to be joining Iannella as a threat whipping in corners after delivering two almost identical assists in Drexel’s 2-1 victory over St. John’s. The first came in the 11th minute as Kiera Hennessy looped a header off Heckenberg’s delicious ball in over the goalkeeper’s head to nestle in the back of the net, before repeating the dose 17 minutes later in a similar fashion. St. John’s gave themselves a late chance with an 88th minute goal from the spot, but Drexel managed to hold on for the 2-1 victory. The Dragons followed that victory up with a 1-0 overtime win over Maryland, with Heckenberg and the Drexel defence holding the Terrapins to just two shots on target before the Dragons came up with a 94th minute golden goal to take their winning streak to three games as part of a four-game unbeaten run. Hennessy with another header!#GoDragons pic.twitter.com/UTQBTzwuaq — DU Women's Soccer (@DrexelWSoccer) August 30, 2018 Kristy Helmers and Tessa Calabria have found minutes slightly difficult to come by so far this season, but the attacking pair pressed their claims for increased playing time after delivering for Nicholls State this weekend. Whilst Helmers tallied a single shot in the Colonels’ 2-1 thrilling overtime win over Jackson State, that had nothing on the performances the Aussie pair turned out in a 6-0 demolition of Alcorn State. Helmers was given the start and tallied four shots, scoring the opener in the 8th minute, whilst Calabria tallied five shots and added an assist in just 21 minutes off the bench as Nicholls State rattled off 36 shots on the way to cruising to a dominant victory. Ashleigh Lefevre also made a case for more playing time off the bench after coming up with an assist in Illinois’ win over SIU Edwardsville. The Illini, already on a high after securing an upset 2-1 win over #14 Oklahoma State, came out firing against their in-state foes, scoring in the first minute and heading into halftime up 3-0. Lefevre tallied her assist on the fourth goal of the game 12 minutes after the break, teeing up Kelly Maday for the junior’s third goal of the season as Illinois cruised to a 5-0 demolition of the Cougars. Jessie Gentle is one player who has no need to fight for increased playing time, with the senior one of the first names on the team sheet for Wyoming, and this week the Woolgoolga product came up with her first tangible production of the season as Wyoming picked up a 2-1 win over Idaho State. With Wyoming up 1-0 going into the second half, Gentle delivered the assist on what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 49th minute as the Cowgirls went up 2-0 before Idaho State made things interesting with a goal in the 82nd minute as the game ended 2-1. Finally, we had yet another Australian make their NCAA Division I debut this week as Chicago State’s Sarah Clark made her first appearance since transferring from Lassen Community College. Clark came off the bench for the Cougars in their 2-0 loss to Eastern Illinois, playing 21 minutes to see her first action in the top level of college soccer. Complete Results: Akron (Freyja Murray) This week: drew 2-2 with Indiana State; defeated Youngstown State 6-0 Freyja Murray did not feature in the draw with Indiana State, but played 13 minutes off the bench in the win over Youngstown State. This week: defeated Iona 2-1; lost 2-0 to Buffalo Claire Urquhart did not feature for Albany in either game this week. Chicago State (Sarah Clark) This week: lost 6-1 to SIU Edwardsville; lost 2-0 to Eastern Illinois Sarah Clark did not feature in the loss to SIU Edwardsville, but came off the bench to make her NCAA Division I debut against Eastern Illinois, playing 13 minutes. Colorado (Isobel Dalton) This week: defeated UTSA 4-0; defeated Iowa State 3-1 Isobel Dalton came off the bench in both games this week, registering a single shot in her 9 minutes of playing time against UTSA, before playing 19 minutes in the win over Iowa State and again tallying a shot. This week: defeated St. John’s 2-1; defeated Maryland 1-0 (OT) Emma Heckenberg started both games this week, playing 84 minutes and delivering the corners that resulted in both Drexel goals against St. John’s, before playing the full 94 minutes in the overtime win over Maryland. This week: defeated USC Upstate 1-0; lost 3-0 to Charlotte Isabel Hodgson started both games this week, playing 65 minutes and scoring the only goal in ETSU’s win over USC Upstate, before registering a single shot in 76 minutes in the loss to Charlotte. This week: lost 4-0 to Cleveland State; defeated Kent State 2-1 Sam Roff played the full 90 minutes in the loss to Cleveland State, before coming off the bench to play 63 minutes and register two shots on target in the win over Kent State. Georgia Southern (Hannah Allen) This week: lost 1-0 to Stetson; defeated Davidson 1-0 Hannah Allen did not feature for Georgia Southern in either game this week. Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill) This week: lost 2-1 to UTEP; lost 2-1 to UTSA (OT) Sandra Hill did not feature for Grand Canyon in either game this week. Hawaii (Kiri Dale) This week: defeated Saint Mary’s 2-1; defeated Pacific 5-0 Kiri Dale came off the bench against Saint Mary’s registering a shot in 47 minutes of action, before getting the start in the win over Pacific and playing 48 minutes. Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson-Carr) This week: defeated Fordham 3-1; lost 5-1 to Virginia Monique Iannella started both games this week, playing the full 90 minutes and tallying an assist in the win over Fordham before playing 84 minutes in the loss to Virginia. Grace Watson-Carr did not feature for Hofstra this week. Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre) This week: defeated Oklahoma State 2-1; defeated SIU Edwardsville 5-0 Ashleigh Lefevre came off the bench in both games this week, playing five minutes in the upset win over Oklahoma State and delivering the assist for Illinois’ fourth goal during her 20-minute cameo against SIU Edwardsville. La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck) This week: defeated Colgate 2-1 (OT) Claudia Jenkins played the full 97 minutes and made five saves in La Salle’s 2-1 overtime win over Colgate, whilst Alyssa Van Heurck came off the bench to play 8 minutes. This week: defeated South Alabama 1-0 Caitlin Cantrill did not feature for LSU in the win over South Alabama. Marshall (Laura Farrelly) This week: defeated Eastern Kentucky 2-1; lost 3-1 to Ohio Laura Farrelly did not feature for Marshall in either game this week. Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Tenille Harberger, Kristy Helmers) This week: defeated Jackson State 2-1; defeated Alcorn State 6-0 Kristy Helmers came off the bench in the win over Jackson State, playing 29 minutes and tallying a single shot, before getting the start in the demolition of Alcorn State, slotting home her first goal of the season in 60 minutes of playing time. Tessa Calabria played just 10 minutes off the bench against Jackson State, but registered five shots in 21 minutes and tallied an assist in the win over Alcorn State. Tenille Harberger did not feature in either game this week. North Dakota State (Lauren Featherstone) This week: lost 1-0 to Northern Colorado; lost 1-0 to Drake Lauren Featherstone came off the bench to play 29 minutes against Northern Colorado, but did not feature in the loss to Drake. Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley) This week: lost 2-1 to George Mason Gaby Bentley finished with Old Dominion’s only goal in 28 minutes off the bench as the Monarchs fell to a 2-1 defeat. Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore) This week: lost 5-0 to Arizona; lost 4-0 to Arizona State Siena Senatore did not feature for Southeast Missouri State in either game this week. St. Francis University (Shelby Milton) This week: defeated Binghamton 3-0; drew 0-0 with Bucknell Shelby Milton did not feature for St. Francis in either game this week. This week: defeated BYU 2-0; defeated Minnesota 2-1 (OT) Beattie Goad started both games this week, playing the full 90 minutes against BYU and delivering an assist on Stanford’s opener, before again playing a complete game against Minnesota and scoring the Cardinal’s opening goal in the 2-1 overtime victory. This week: lost 1-0 to Boston College Demi Koulizakis came off the bench for Texas Tech in the loss to Boston College, but saw just 10 minutes of playing time. Towson (Jodie Burchell) This week: lost 1-0 to Bucknell; lost 3-1 to Utah State Jodie Burchell came off the bench to play 12 minutes in the loss to Bucknell, but did not feature in the loss to Utah State. This week: drew 0-0 with Florida; lost 4-1 to Florida State Teagan Micah picked up the 20th clean sheet of her career against Florida, making a single save, before making six saves in the loss to Florida State. This week: defeated Campbell 1-0 (OT); drew 0-0 with Navy (match shortened due to lightning) Kate Swartwout came off the bench against Campbell to play 18 minutes and register a pair of shots, before playing the final 10 minutes against Navy as the match was called after 72 minutes due to lightning with the score at 0-0. William & Mary (Lorena Bugden) This week: match v South Carolina cancelled due to inclement weather; defeated Liberty 2-1 (OT) Lorena Bugden did not feature for William & Mary in the win over Liberty. Wyoming (Indiana Asimus, Annika Clayton, Jessie Gentle, Caitlin Pickett) This week: defeated Idaho State 2-1 All four Australians started the game in the win over Idaho State, with Jessie Gentle providing the assist on Wyoming’s goal in the 48th minute in a 75-minute effort. Indianna Asimus tallied three shots in 57 minutes, whilst Annika Clayton also had a trio of attempts in her 80 minutes on the pitch, with Caitlin Pickett playing 62 minutes. Player of the Year Points: 3: Beattie Goad (Stanford) 2: Emma Heckenberg (Drexel) 1: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle) Author LachyPosted on September 4, 2018 September 4, 2018 Categories Match ReportsTags Ashleigh Lefevre, Beattie Goad, Claudia Jenkins, Emma Heckenberg, Gaby Bentley, Isabel Hodgson, Jessie Gentle, Kristy Helmers, Monique Iannella, Teagan Micah, Tessa CalabriaLeave a comment on 2018 Week 3 Wrap A number of Aussies came up with some utterly clutch plays to help get their teams over the line, with the performances of goalkeepers Teagan Micah and Claudia Jenkins a highlight. But it was Annika Clayton coming up trumps at the other end, banging in two goals to round out a stunning comeback win in Wyoming’s opener against South Dakota. (Featured Image Credit: Greg Carroccio / Sideline Photos) Annika Clayton was the undoubted star of the week as the senior continued the trend of Australian midfielders banging in goals for Wyoming following the graduation of Alisha Bass after the 2017 season. Down 2-0 just after halftime, Clayton scored the game-tying goal in the 64th minute. The Cowgirls scored just two minutes later to take the lead, before Clayton rounded out the victory, doubling the lead with just over 15 minutes to play. The Cowgirls found the going slightly tougher in their home opener against Utah Valley in their second game of the week, but managed to eke out a 1-0 overtime victory to preserve their perfect start to the season, with newly arrived Geelong freshman Caitlin Pickett picking up the winner in overtime to tally her first college goal in just her second game. Newcastle freshman Indianna Asimus also featured in both games of the first week of her college career, starting against South Dakota before coming off the bench against Utah Valley. La Salle pair Claudia Jenkins and Alyssa Van Heurck also enjoyed an excellent first week of the season, with Jenkins perhaps pulling out the moment of the week in the Explorers’ 1-0 win over Syracuse. With the Explorers up a goal after Madison Bower’s early strike, Syracuse were gifted a chance to equalise after a foul in the box resulted in a penalty for the Orange. But Jenkins stood tall to deny penalty taker Taylor Bennett and maintain her side’s lead, with the Explorers holding on to secure the 1-0 victory, with Van Heurck playing 24 minutes off the bench in her first college appearance. Claudia Jenkins with the PK save!! pic.twitter.com/7FTcflIm7p — LaSalle W. Soccer (@LaSalle_WSOC) August 16, 2018 Alyssa Van Heurck (Photo Credit: Greg Carroccio / Sideline Photos) The Explorers enjoyed a far more comfortable victory in their second game of the week against UMBC. Jenkins once again kept a clean sheet, making four saves, whilst Van Heurck picked up the first goal of her college career as the Explorers jumped out to a 4-0 lead before halftime on their way to a comprehensive 5-0 win, scoring on all bar two of their shots on target to start their campaign to return to the NCAA Tournament on a high. Teagan Micah also came up big between the sticks as UCLA laboured in putting Long Beach State away in their opening game of the season. Although the junior made just two saves, they proved to be vital as the Bruins scored the only goal of the game with just two seconds left on the clock as Hailie Mace managed to beat the goalkeeper with the last kick of the ball for the 1-0 victory. Pro tip: Get you a keeper like @TeaganMicah. Another pro tip: Tune in to watch the No. 2 team in the nation rn ➡️ https://t.co/ZhZuI5ezsa#Pac12Soccer \| @UCLAWSoccer pic.twitter.com/ObUwMUnXvb — Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) August 18, 2018 Beattie Goad made a solid start to her junior year as Stanford dismantled UC Davis 5-0 on the road in the opening game of their title defence. The two-time W-League champion secured a starting berth for the Cardinal, playing 79 minutes and putting the ball on a plate for Tierna Davidson to head home Stanford’s second of their five goals as the defending champions outshot their opponents 20-1 in the dominant victory. 19' \| 2-0!!! @tierna_davidson leaves no doubt with a thunderous header off of @beattiegoad's inch-perfect cross from the left. 🐴: 0#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/XppsgipM2I — Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) August 17, 2018 Finally, we saw six players make their Division I debut this week, with Ashleigh Lefevre, Tessa Calabria, and Lauren Featherstone joining the aforementioned Alyssa Van Heurck, Indianna Asimus, and Caitlin Pickett in seeing their first minutes at the top level of college play. Lefevre and Illinois led North Carolina early in the piece, but were ultimately chased down by the Tar Heels in a 3-1 loss, but the Illini had clearly grown in confidence and used that momentum to secure a come from behind win over #3 Duke, with Lefevre coming off the bench in both games to see over an hour of playing time across the weekend. Calabria got the start in her debut against North Dakota in a 3-0 loss, playing 61 minutes, but came off the bench in Nicholls State’s loss to Grambling State, registering a pair of shots on target in her 46 minutes in the Colonels’ 1-0 defeat. However, Featherstone’s debut was the most pleasing to see from a neutral standpoint, with the redshirt freshman having been through injuries, an academic redshirt in 2017, and a last-minute transfer in her 12 months in college before finally seeing her first playing time, tallying 20 minutes of action off the bench in North Dakota State’s 4-1 win over Green Bay. This week: lost 2-1 to Morehead State Freyja Murray did not feature for Akron in their loss to Morehead State. This week: defeated Arizona 1-0; defeated New Mexico State 3-1 Claire Urquhart did not feature for Albany in their win over Arizona, but came off the bench to play 46 minutes in the Great Danes’ victory over New Mexico State. This week: drew 2-2 with Youngstown State; lost 3-1 to Cleveland State Sarah Clark did not feature for Chicago State in either game this week. This week: defeated Air Force 3-0; drew 0-0 with Colorado State Isobel Dalton came off the bench to play a solitary minute in Colorado’s win over Air Force, but did not feature in the draw with Colorado State. This week: drew 1-1 with Rider; lost 2-1 to Rutgers Emma Heckenberg did not feature for Drexel in the draw with Rider, but came off the bench to play 33 minutes in the loss to Rutgers. Isabel Hodgson played the full 90 minutes in East Tennessee State’s loss to George Mason. This week: defeated Marshall 1-0; lost 1-0 to Providence Sam Roff picked up where she left off last season, playing the full 90 minutes in both of Fairleigh Dickinson’s games this week as the Knights’ stingy defence conceded only a solitary goal over the course of the weekend. This week: lost 3-0 to Florida Gulf Coast; lost 3-0 to Chattanooga Hannah Allen did not feature for Georgia Southern in either of the Eagles’ games this week. This week: lost 2-1 to Gonzaga (2OT); lost 1-0 to Washington State (OT) Sandra Hill did not feature for Grand Canyon in either game this week as the Lopes fell to a pair of heartbreaking overtime losses. This week: lost 4-0 to Texas A&M; defeated Bowling Green 1-0 (OT) Kiri Dale did not feature for Hawaii in the loss to Texas A&M, but came off the bench for a 20-minute cameo in the Wahine’s overtime win over Bowling Green. This week: defeated Bucknell 1-0; lost 1-0 to Fairfield Monique Iannella came off the bench in both games this week, playing 39 minutes against Bucknell and registering a single shot on target in 51 minutes in the loss to Fairfield. Reserve goalkeeper Grace Watson-Carr did not feature for Hofstra in either game this week. This week: lost 3-1 to North Carolina; defeated Duke 2-1 Ashleigh Lefevre came off the bench in both games this week, playing 40 minutes against North Carolina and 36 minutes in the upset win over highly-rated Duke. This week: defeated Syracuse 1-0; defeated UMBC 5-0 Goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins kept a pair of clean sheets to start the season, playing all 180 minutes and coming up with a penalty save in the win over Syracuse. Alyssa Van Heurck came off the bench to make her first two college appearances, playing 24 minutes in both games and tallying La Salle’s fourth goal in the 5-0 win over UMBC. This week: lost 2-1 to Villanova (OT) Caitlin Cantrill did not feature for LSU in their overtime loss to Villanova. This week: lost 1-0 to Fairleigh Dickinson; drew 2-2 with Army This week: lost 3-0 to North Dakota; lost 2-1 to Grambling State Tessa Calabria started against North Dakota to make her first collegiate appearance, registering a single shot in 61 minutes. Calabria came off the bench against Grambling State, tallying 2 shots in 46 minutes, both of which were on target. Kristy Helmers came off the bench in both games, playing 26 minutes against North Dakota and 14 minutes against Grambling State. Tenille Harberger did not feature for the Colonels in either game this week. This week: match abandoned v Wisconsin due to weather; defeated Green Bay 4-1 Lauren Featherstone finally made her long-awaited collegiate debut, playing 20 minutes off the bench and tallying a single shot in North Dakota State’s win over Green Bay. This week: drew 1-1 with East Carolina; defeated Mount St. Mary’s 3-0 Gaby Bentley came off the bench for Old Dominion to play 20 minutes or so in the draw with East Carolina, before starting against Mount St. Mary’s but only playing 13 minutes. This week: lost 2-1 to Evansville Siena Senatore did not feature for Southeast Missouri State in their loss to Evansville. This week: drew 2-2 with Radford; lost 3-2 to Canisius (OT) This week: defeated UC Davis 5-0 Beattie Goad started for Stanford in their win over UC Davis, playing 79 minutes and delivering the assist on the Cardinal’s second goal. This week: defeated New Mexico 2-0; defeated Pepperdine 1-0 Demi Koulizakis came off the bench in both games this week, playing 32 minutes and registering two shots against New Mexico before playing 39 minutes and tallying a single shot on target in the upset win over Pepperdine. This week: lost 2-1 to South Florida (OT); lost 2-1 to Stetson Jodie Burchell did not feature for Towson in either game this week. This week: defeated Long Beach State 1-0 Teagan Micah played the full 90 minutes between the sticks for UCLA in the win over Long Beach State, keeping a vital clean sheet with two saves as the Bruins scored the game-winner with just two seconds remaining. This week: lost 3-0 to Kennesaw State; defeated UNC Asheville 1-0 Kate Swartwout got the start against Kennesaw State, playing 62 minutes before coming off the bench against UNC Asheville to play 18 minutes. This week: lost 2-1 to Maryland; lost 2-1 to Dayton (OT) Lorena Bugden did not feature for William & Mary in either game this week. Wyoming (Indianna Asimus, Annika Clayton, Jessie Gentle, Caitlin Pickett) This week: defeated South Dakota 4-2; defeated Utah Valley 1-0 (OT) Annika Clayton was the saviour for Wyoming in their opening game, scoring two goals in the Cowgirls’ comeback victory before playing 78 minutes in the overtime win over Utah Valley. Caitlin Pickett tallied the overtime winner against Utah Valley in a 53-minute effort after playing 63 minutes against South Dakota, whilst Indianna Asimus started and played 40 minutes against South Dakota before making a 24-minute cameo off the bench against Utah Valley. Jessie Gentle also started both games, playing 45 minutes against South Dakota and the entire 93 minutes in the win over Utah Valley. Player of the Year Votes: 3: Annika Clayton (Wyoming) 1: Teagan Micah (UCLA) Author LachyPosted on August 21, 2018 August 21, 2018 Categories Match ReportsTags Alyssa Van Heurck, Annika Clayton, Ashleigh Lefevre, Beattie Goad, Claudia Jenkins, Lauren Featherstone, Teagan Micah, Tessa CalabriaLeave a comment on 2018 Week 1 Wrap 2018 Player Previews 30 players will represent Australia in NCAA Division I women’s soccer this season, including 2017 national champion Beattie Goad at Stanford and national runner-up Teagan Micah at UCLA. However, with players such as Georgia Rowntree, Alisha Bass, Harriet Withers, Nyomi Devine, Emily Hulbert, and Paige Hayward having now graduated, it is almost a new era for College Matildas. Claire Urquhart (Senior, Defender, Albany, Brisbane) Claire Urquhart was finally given a more extended run in the Albany side in her junior year, playing 12 games in 2017, compared to her seven total appearances in her first two seasons. The senior’s ability to slot into either midfield or the back four helped Urquhart in finding more opportunities last season, and with a number of defensive starters returning in 2018, it may again be the case that Urquhart finds herself splitting time across a number of positions. The Great Danes finished with a 6-11-1 record in 2017 and were knocked out in the first round of the America East tournament, but have scheduled a tough non-conference slate in 2018 that should leave them battle-tested and ready for an improved charge at a conference title this season and a return to the NCAA Tournament following 2016’s appearance in which they fell 4-2 to Connecticut in a tough first-round matchup. Lauren Featherstone (Freshman, Midfielder, Central Connecticut State, Sydney) Shelby Milton and Lauren Featherstone will face each other in conference play in 2018. After redshirting her first year at Central Connecticut State, Lauren Featherstone comes into her first year of collegiate play with a year of experience under her belt. What effect this has on the Sydneysider’s play remains to be seen, but there is no doubting that not having to settle into college life whilst playing her first season will be an added positive for Featherstone. Already earmarked for a starting position in the CCSU midfield, Featherstone will still have to ensure she earns that spot in preseason, but it shapes to be an exciting year for the versatile midfielder. CCSU return the majority of players from last year’s Northeast Conference tournament semi-final team, meaning that this year shapes to be one of their best chances at a conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Isobel Dalton (Senior, Midfielder, Colorado, Sunshine Coast) Having played in just 7 times for a total of 86 minutes in 2017, Isobel Dalton will certainly be hoping that her senior year brings more playing time at Colorado. The Buffaloes return the majority of last season’s midfield, but as always there will be some new opportunities opening up with a couple of players graduating after the 2017 season. With a pair of NCAA Tournament berths in the last two seasons, both of which ended in second round defeats, there is no doubt that Colorado will be looking to, at the very least, reach the Sweet 16 in 2018 and finally get over that hurdle. Emma Heckenberg (Senior, Defender, Drexel, Melbourne) Heckenberg started her career at Drexel up front, but has eventually found her niche in the backline, forming part of a stellar Dragons defence that conceded just five goals in conference play. The Victorian was limited to 13 appearances last season, but if she can remain fit in 2018, expect to see Heckenberg as a mainstay in a back four where stability will be vital given former goalkeeper and program stalwart Christiana Ogunsami graduated after last season. Having reached the CAA championship game in 2016 and semi-finals last season, Drexel will once again be gunning for a spot in the conference tournament in a generally tough and evenly-matched conference. If the defence remains as strong as in 2017, there is no reason that can’t happen. Isabel Hodgson (Senior, Defender, East Tennessee State, Adelaide) Isabel Hodgson will be looking to help ETSU return to 2016 form. (Photo Credit: Dakota Hamilton) Isabel Hodgson has played just about every position bar goalkeeper in her three years at East Tennessee State, and whilst she has been successful in every one of them, it appears that fullback will be her position going forward as the Buccaneers look to rebound from a 2017 campaign that saw the team finish with a 6-12 record and a dismal 0-8 road record. Hodgson was one of a pair of Australians in Division I to score more than one goal last season, proving that whilst her chances may not be as plentiful as when she was playing in a more advanced role, the South Australian still has the ability to get forward and join the attack when the opportunity presents itself. Sam Roff (Junior, Defender, Fairleigh Dickinson, Canberra) One of the first names on the team sheet for Fairleigh Dickinson, Sam Roff has been among the best defenders in the entire Northeast Conference throughout her two seasons in New Jersey. Fairleigh Dickinson finished third in the NEC for average goals conceded per game in 2017, but the majority of those goals came during an extremely tough non-conference slate that set the Knights up for a conference season that saw them reach the conference championship game before falling to Shelby Milton and St. Francis in a shootout in the decider. Roff was rewarded for her outstanding performances in 2017 with a selection in the Northeast Conference All-Conference First Team, and with still two years left in her college career, the Canberra product could yet become one of the greats of the Fairleigh Dickinson program. Hannah Allen (Freshman, Midfielder, Georgia Southern, Brisbane) Listed as a forward for Georgia Southern but certainly able to play multiple positions, Hannah Allen joins an Eagles side looking to continue its upward trajectory, having improved from 6-10-1 in 2016 to 8-9-2 in 2017. Having played at school level under Brisbane Roar W-League coach Mel Andreatta, Allen has no doubt benefitted from that elite coaching and will now look to force her way into the team as part of a slightly large 30-player Eagles squad. Sandra Hill (Sophomore, Defender, Grand Canyon, Canberra) Sandra Hill will be looking to further cement her spot in the Grand Canyon side. (Photo Credit: Michael Rincon) Although Sandra Hill won 2017’s College Matildas Freshman of the Year award, there is certainly plenty more to come from the Grand Canyon fullback. Fresh off her first appearances for the Cambodian national team at the AFF Championship, including an appearance against the Young Matildas, Hill returns to Arizona with priceless experience under her belt. Having made a reasonably decent 13 appearances in her freshman year, Hill will no doubt want to increase her playing time in her sophomore season, and with three of Grand Canyon’s eight defenders in their freshman season this year, Hill is now one of the more experienced players in the backline in just her second year of college soccer. Kiri Dale (Junior, Midfielder, Hawaii, Mullumbimby) Kiri Dale took a risk last season by transferring from Iona to the much more highly-rated Hawaii, but the move paid off in spades as the versatile wide player secured a spot in the Rainbow Wahine’s rotation. Dale made an instant impact in 2017, coming up with the assist on an overtime golden goal in the very first game of the season. That was Dale’s only assist of the season, but the Iona transfer made her mark in other ways, making 11 starts and 17 appearances for a Hawaii team that finished 6-10-1 but whose progress was hindered by a 1-6-1 conference record. If the Rainbow Wahine can improve that conference record, it will make for a vastly improved season and 10 wins is by no means out of the question. Dale will also not be the only Aussie at Hawaii this season, with former Washington State star and Matildas representative Rachael Doyle joining the program as an assistant coach. Monique Iannella (Senior, Defender, Hofstra, Melbourne) Monique Iannella’s ability to deliver crosses could prove vital for Hofstra this year. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Heisler) 2017’s College Matildas Defender of the Year, Iannella has proven herself to be a weapon at both ends of the pitch for Hofstra. Her ability to whip the ball in, particularly from corners, led to six assists last season, whilst her defensive prowess has rarely, if ever, been called into question during her time with the Pride as the team gave up just 14 goals in 21 games last season on the way to an NCAA Tournament appearance in which they were somehow forced to travel to Auburn for their first-round game, where they fell 1-0. Hofstra’s senior class in 2017 was absolutely stacked with talent, so the onus will now be on the likes of Iannella and her own senior class to lead the Pride and ensure that the team remains among the top sides in the Colonial Athletic Association. Ashleigh Lefevre (Freshman, Defender, Illinois, Melbourne) The most accomplished of the seven new additions to the list of Australians in Division I, Ashleigh Lefevre is also the only freshman joining a power conference team in 2018. A member of the Young Matildas side that finished 3rd at the 2016 AFF Women’s Championship, Lefevre tallied a goal in the side’s 20-0 demolition of Timor-Leste in that tournament before returning to play 25 games for Alamein FC in 2017’s Victorian NPL competition. The versatile defender returned in 2018 to play 12 games before heading to Illinois. The Fighting Illini finished with just five wins in 2017, their second straight season finishing below .500, but with the vast majority of the most integral parts of the starting lineup returning, the team looks to be on the upswing. But with six seniors graduating, many of whom started at least a few games, there will still be plenty of minutes up for grabs for Lefevre in her senior season even if she doesn’t secure a starting berth from day one. Claudia Jenkins (Sophomore, Goalkeeper, La Salle, Adelaide) Jenkins spent her freshman season playing the backup role as La Salle stalwart Larisa Zambelli saw the vast majority of minutes between the sticks for an Explorers side that won two consecutive overtime games to win the Atlantic 10 title and reach the NCAA Tournament in 2017. With Zambelli’s graduation following the 2017 season, Jenkins is now the only goalkeeper on the La Salle roster with any college experience whatsoever as the Explorers look to make a return trip to the national stage. La Salle kept clean sheets in all but three conference games last season, and return the majority of starters in defence, whilst at the other end, sisters Madison and Maci Bower combined for 21 goals last season to ensure those solid defensive efforts wouldn’t go to waste and both will return for their senior seasons in 2018. Alyssa Van Heurck (Freshman, Defender, La Salle, Perth) Alyssa Van Heurck becomes the second Australian on the La Salle roster this season, making the move from Perth to join the Explorers alongside Claudia Jenkins. A product of the Football West NTC program, Van Heurck will bolster a strong La Salle defence that returns most of its starters, but only five experienced players. With La Salle’s success in 2017 built on defence, Van Heurck, like Jenkins, will be expected to help maintain the team’s level at the back in 2018 as the versatile defender looks to slot straight into the lineup. Siobhan Longmore (Junior, Midfielder, Lamar, Busselton) Siobhan Longmore joins a highly successful Lamar side after two years in junior college. A versatile defensive player with the ability to get forward from the back, Longmore joins a Lamar side that bulldozed its way through the Southland Conference in 2017. Whilst this will be the Busselton product’s first season in Division I, Longmore is no stranger to the world of college soccer, having played the last two seasons at Dodge City Community College in Kansas, and clearly did enough to draw the attention of the coaches at a program that is clearly on the rise after winning 18 of their 23 games last season and battling #6 seed Texas A&M all the way before falling to a 1-0 defeat in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Caitlin Cantrill (Junior, Midfielder, LSU, Canberra) After featuring 12 times for LSU as a freshman, Cantrill managed just three appearances in 2017 and competition for playing time will be just as fierce in 2018 in a squad with 13 listed midfielders including freshman sensation Abbey Newton, who was recently named Florida’s Gatorade Player of the Year. The junior will be hoping for a return to the kind of playing time she saw in her freshman year, and LSU could do with not only Cantrill but all players firing on all cylinders as they look to hit double figures for wins for the first time since 2015, a season in which the roster featured former Western Sydney Wanderers and current Utah Royals defender Alex Arlitt. Laura Farrelly (Freshman, Midfielder, Marshall, Central Coast) Hailing from the same club as former College Matildas Freshman of the Year, Tia Gavin, Laura Farrelly joins a Marshall side looking to make some vast strides in 2018 after finishing 5-11-1 in 2017, missing the Conference USA tournament in the process after collecting just three wins in league play. Although Farrelly is primarily an attacking midfielder, the Manly United product can slot into a variety of positions in the centre of the park, and in a team overflowing with midfielders, that versatility could prove to be the ace up Farrelly’s sleeve that secures her more playing time than a player that is only comfortable in one position. With two senior midfielders in the starting lineup this year, 2018 may very well be Farrelly’s proving ground in an attempt to secure one of those spots that will open up in 2019. Tessa Calabria (Junior, Forward, Nicholls State, Adelaide) Tessa Calabria joins Siobhan Longmore as junior college transfers joining the Division I ranks this season, and the pair will face off at the top level as Calabria makes the move to Nicholls State, a Southland Conference foe of Longmore’s Lamar side. Calabria becomes the third Australian at Nicholls State, alongside Kristy Helmers and Tenille Harberger, continuing the pipeline from Australia to Thibodaux. Having established a reputation as an outstanding goalscorer during her time at Iowa Lakes Community College, the Nicholls State faithful will be hoping that this transfers to the Division I level for a team in severe need of improved scoring in 2018 after finishing 265th of 335 teams in Division I for total goals in 2017. Kristy Helmers (Junior, Forward, Nicholls State, Canberra) Kristy Helmers will once again lead the line for Nicholls State. (Photo Credit: Misty McElroy) Helmers comes into the 2018 season as one of just two returning Australians to have scored more than one goal in 2017. However, the Canberra product will be hoping for a return to 2016’s output of 6 goals rather than last season’s 3 goals as the Colonels struggled to find the back of the net as a team in 2017, tallying just six goals in conference play. The team will no doubt be helped by the fact that 12 of their 19 games in 2018 will be played at home but will have to make sure that home advantage counts after finishing 2-5 on their own patch in 2017 despite registering a 4-6-1 record on the road against many of the same opponents they will face in 2018. Tenille Harberger (Freshman, Midfielder, Nicholls State, Mackay) Having redshirted her first season in Thibodaux, Tenille Harberger will now look to make an impact on the pitch in 2018 after a year easing into college. Now one of three Australians on the Colonels roster, Harberger will be tasked with providing midfield service to her countrywomen in Tessa Calabria and Kristy Helmers, but will have to earn her spot on the pitch in a roster stacked with midfielders. With no less than 13 players on the roster listed as midfielders, Harberger will have to carve out her own spot in the rotation, perhaps with a view towards taking a spot held by one of the senior midfielders once they move on in 2019. Gaby Bentley (Junior, Midfielder, Old Dominion, Adelaide) Gaby Bentley barely saw any playing time in her freshman season, but 2017 was a vastly different affair as the sophomore midfielder developed into an integral part of the Old Dominion team. Having appeared in just two games in 2016, Bentley finished with a single goal in her 17 appearances in midfield for an Old Dominion team that finished with a 9-5-4 record, a slight improvement on their 7-12 record in 2016. Whilst the Monarchs will have to replace C-USA Defender of the Year Jackie Stroud and starting goalkeeper Krista Moisio, who both graduated after the 2017 season, most of the team’s other starters return, including Bentley, who comes into this season as one of the more experienced midfield players for the Monarchs. Having finished 6-2-2 in conference play last season, Old Dominion will no doubt be seeing this season as the time to make that final jump to secure a conference title and make an NCAA Tournament appearance. Siena Senatore (Senior, Defender, Southeast Missouri State, Canberra) Senatore had a year away from the game due to injury in 2017 after a solid first two seasons at Southeast Missouri State, but now returns to shore up the Redhawks’ defence in her senior season. The only Aussie on the roster following Maddy Cornell’s graduation after the 2017 season, Senatore’s return is a timely one as the Redhawks feature only five pure defenders on the roster, although two other players have been known to slot into the backline. Having been just about ever-present in the Redhawks lineup prior to her injury, if Senatore can return to the form she showed before her absence, it will be a significant advantage for a team that finished 8-8-4 last season but was let down by their play on the road, finishing 1-5-4 away from Cape Girardeau. Shelby Milton (Senior, Defender, St. Francis, Wollongong) Shelby Milton and St. Francis secured the Northeast Conference on penalties last season, delivering the team an NCAA Tournament berth in the process. However, the defender out of Wollongong was rarely sighted on the pitch for the Red Flash, playing just six games and 233 minutes, although two of those appearances were starts. There will be a spot opening up in the backline at St. Francis in 2018 though, as captain and NEC All-Conference First Team selection Allison LaDuke recently graduated. If Milton can return to the form that saw her feature in 19 games in 2016, that spot could certainly become hers in 2018 as the Red Flash look to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. Beattie Goad (Junior, Midfielder, Stanford, Melbourne) Having won a national championship in 2017, Beattie Goad and Stanford will be gunning for back-to-back titles and they will come into the season among the favourites after returning the vast majority of their title-winning team from last season. On a personal level, Goad will no doubt be hoping to secure more playing time than she managed in either of her first two seasons. Whilst the Victorian played in the majority of the games in both of her first two seasons, much of her playing time came in short stints, resulting in about 40 minutes of action in most of her appearances. There aren’t many spots opening up in the starting lineup for the Cardinal, so Goad will have to do plenty in preseason to earn a starting spot, where the junior’s improving versatility may prove to be another asset. what a sweet sweet feeling #nationalchampions ⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/j57ofT5nkJ — BeattieGoad (@beattiegoad) December 4, 2017 Demi Koulizakis (Junior, Midfielder, Texas Tech, Sydney) ‘Vastly underutitlised’ would probably be the most accurate way to describe Demi Koulizakis in 2017. Having played in 18 games in 2016, Koulizakis was afforded minimal playing time her sophomore year, with most of her 10 appearances allowing her far too little playing time to have any realistic chance of impacting a game. The forward stocks aren’t quite as overflowing at Texas Tech this season, but the Red Raiders do return a number of starters from 2017 in attacking roles. Whatever the case may be with regards to Koulizakis’ playing time this season, there is no doubt the Red Raiders could use some more goals, scoring multiple goals just three times in their nine conference games in 2017 as the team finished with a 9-7-3 record and a first-round exit in the Big 12 conference tournament. Jodie Burchell (Freshman, Forward, Towson, Gold Coast) A club teammate of former Colorado and Troy star Alex Huynh at Souths United in Queensland’s NPL competition, Burchell’s addition to the Towson lineup brings the number of Colonial Athletic Association teams featuring Aussies to four, alongside William and Mary, Drexel, and Hofstra. A target player with the ability to hold the ball up, Burchell has made 16 appearances for the third placed Souths United in Queensland’s NPL competition in 2018, scoring two goals in the process with most of her appearances coming as a substitute in the last 20 minutes. Towson struggled last season, finishing with just five wins and a fairly dismal 2-6-1 conference record, scoring just 6 goals in their Colonial Athletic Association schedule. With senior Maddie Bove taking 5 of the team’s 14 goals with her after graduating following the 2017 season, the onus will be on Burchell and her fellow forwards to not only make up that deficit, but add a few more in an effort to improve on last season’s record. Teagan Micah (Junior, Goalkeeper, UCLA, Brisbane) Having reached the College Cup championship game in 2017 before going down to Stanford in a classic at Orlando City Stadium, only one ending will suffice for Teagan Micah and UCLA in 2018: lifting the NCAA Championship trophy on the final day of the season. Micah has been all but ever-present between the sticks for the Bruins for the last two seasons, establishing herself as one of the better goalkeepers of her class in the process and a vital piece of the UCLA lineup. The Bruins lost a number of players to graduation after last season, but return a stacked team featuring recent US national team debutant Hailie Mace, bona-fide Canadian national team star Jessie Fleming, and a range of US youth team players in front of Micah as they look to make another run to the championship game in 2018. When you make a save in PKs to help send your team to the #WCollegeCup final! pic.twitter.com/ouBZCQzwsU — NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 2, 2017 Kate Swartwout (Junior, Defender, Western Carolina, Gold Coast) A starter in six of her 17 appearances in 2017, Kate Swartwout will no doubt be hoping to convert more of those appearances into starts in her junior season. Primarily a defender, Swartwout’s height is a particular advantage in the backline, standing at 6 feet tall, a full two inches taller than any other player on the Catamounts roster. However, there is more to Swartwout’s game than standing tall and heading away crosses. Solid on the ball with a history of playing multiple positions during her younger years, the Gold Coast-born but North Carolina-raised junior has tallied an assist in each of her first two seasons in college. Western Carolina came from the clouds to reach the final of the Southern Conference tournament in 2017 before falling to UNC Greensboro in the final, with that run hopefully serving as a launchpad for this season. Lorena Bugden (Freshman, Midfielder, William & Mary, Sydney) Lorena Bugden spent her first year at William & Mary recuperating following a serious knee injury, and returns to a vastly changed program as head coach John Daly retired and Australian assistant coach Vanessa Mann took the head coaching job at UMBC. It was a disappointing season in 2017 for the Tribe as an 8-10-2 record saw the team’s 36-season streak of winning records snapped. The former Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder has been preparing herself well for the season, spending the winter regaining her fitness playing for APIA Leichhardt in the New South Wales NPL2 competition. Whilst she may not have been able to play in her freshman year, Bugden still has as good a chance as any player of securing solid minutes in 2018 as an inexperienced Tribe midfield looks to step up in a roster that features just four seniors and a total of eight upperclassmen, two of which are goalkeepers. Annika Clayton (Senior, Midfielder, Wyoming, Sydney) With the graduation of Alisha Bass and Georgia Rowntree after the 2017 season and Jemma House’s transfer to Nova Southeastern, Annika Clayton is now one of just two Australians on the Wyoming roster. Bass and Rowntree were two of the undoubted leaders of last year’s Cowgirls side, and as a senior, Clayton will no doubt be expected to step up to fulfil that role to some degree in 2018. The senior’s role in midfield will no doubt consist more of providing service to the frontline than creating her own chances, but nonetheless, Clayton will surely be hoping to improve on last season’s tally of a single goal as the Cowgirls look to replace the six goals that Aussie pair Alisha Bass and Jemma House tallied last season which represented one-third of the team’s total scoring for the season. Wyoming finished last season on a five-game losing streak that dropped them from 6-4-2 to 6-9-2, missing out on the Mountain West Conference tournament in the process, and ensuring the same thing does not happen again will be paramount in 2018. Jessie Gentle (Senior, Forward, Wyoming, Woolgoolga) Jessie Gentle forms the second half of Wyoming’s Aussie duo alongside Annika Clayton, and with both players in their senior season, we may be looking at the conclusion of an extended era of Aussie presence in the Cowgirls’ squad. However, Gentle, like Clayton, is an integral member of the Wyoming side, so the Australians are unlikely to go quietly into the good night. Able to play in any wide position, Gentle has been utilised both on the front line and as a wingback in her time at Laramie and has performed admirably in all positions. Although scoring hasn’t been Gentle’s forte, tallying just one goal in her three seasons, the Woolgoolga product did pop up with two assists in 2017 to move to four for her career, and a further increase in that number would surely go a long way to helping Wyoming improve on last season’s 6-9-2 record. Author LachyPosted on July 13, 2018 July 13, 2018 Categories Season PreviewsTags Alyssa Van Heurck, Annika Clayton, Ashleigh Lefevre, Beattie Goad, Caitlin Cantrill, Claire Urquhart, Claudia Jenkins, Demi Koulizakis, Emma Heckenberg, Gaby Bentley, Hannah Allen, Isabel Hodgson, Isobel Dalton, Jessie Gentle, Jodie Burchell, Kate Swartwout, Kiri Dale, Kristy Helmers, Laura Farrelly, Lauren Featherstone, Lorena Bugden, Monique Iannella, Sam Roff, Sandra Hill, Shelby Milton, Siena Senatore, Siobhan Longmore, Teagan Micah, Tenille Harberger, Tessa CalabriaLeave a comment on 2018 Player Previews The Road Less Travelled: Siobhan Longmore’s Journey To Lamar How does a player from the coastal town of Busselton, Western Australia wind up in south-east Texas at Lamar University? If you’re Siobhan Longmore, it takes a long and winding road that detours through not one, but two junior colleges, and a little bit of guidance from your family. We caught up with Siobhan to find out more about the Dodge City Community College transfer’s journey to this point. On the back of a glittering junior career that included state representation and a move from Busselton to Perth to continue her development, Siobhan Longmore has spent the past two seasons as an integral part of the Dodge City Community College women’s soccer team. (Yes, that’s Dodge City as in the term ‘get the hell out of Dodge.’) However, it wasn’t a truly smooth ride to get there in the first place as the Western Australian originally planned on playing at another school altogether. “My sister, Ariana, was a freshman at Dodge City, and I was originally going to a school in Georgia called Georgia Military College. I got there, and it really just wasn’t what I expected and hoped it to be,” Longmore explained. “So the coach at Dodge City, Tim Romanello, took me in and I came here basically because my sister was here. She’s now graduated and she’s playing in California. So pretty much it’s because of my sister that I came here.” Ariana’s presence at Dodge City may just have saved Siobhan’s career, because it wasn’t long before she was ready to leave Georgia and head back to Busselton, her college career over even before it started. “I was going to come home three days into it; I hated it. It wasn’t what I was told it was going to be, so I was going to pack my bags and leave,” Longmore revealed. “But my family’s very supportive, they never want me to give up. My sister’s my biggest fan, I’m her biggest fan; she just said, ‘Nope, you’ve got to give it a chance.’ And I’m glad I did because I’ve made so many friends, and it’s just been amazing.” But why attend a junior college in the first place? Longmore received interest from four year schools, but her sister’s guidance and the chance to play from the outset made the prospect of using her first two years in the US to set herself up for Division I all the more enticing. “When I first got recruited, I got a lot of emails from four year schools. But my sister was at a community college, and she pretty much said ‘Listen, it’s going to set you up for a four-year, it’s going to give you the experience,’” Longmore explained. “For most incoming freshmen going to a four year university, it’s hard to get playing time. It was good at the community college, I mean, I played every game and I feel like it definitely has developed me to go to the next level.” Longmore was certainly thrown in the deep end at Dodge City, though. A centre back throughout her junior years, then-Dodge City coach Tim Romanello had different plans for his newest player, moving Siobhan into a new position from the outset in what proved to be an inspired decision. “He was an amazing coach, practices were different every day, I learnt so many new things. Honestly, I moved to America to play as a centre back, and the first day I got to America, he put me in as a centre midfielder, and I loved it,” Longmore explained. “I played centre midfield for the last two years, and it’s just developed my game. I’ve created so much more skill and strength and speed that I never had before, that I didn’t know I could have.” “Over the last two years I’ve gained so much speed that I didn’t know I had. I’m not the best with foot skills, but I’ve got them there, and I have a very strong shot from the left side. I’m very competitive – if someone passes me, I’ll get mad about it and it’ll never happen again.” “So now I’ve been recruited to play left defender (at Lamar), which is good because I’m left-footed and I love defence, and I also love attacking, which is what I can do in that position.” However, the chance to play a certain position is never the be-all and end-all when it comes to recruiting, with many other factors coming into play. Hailing from a coastal town, Longmore craved a return to a beachside setting, but clearly there were other factors at play, including the opportunity to play for a team that coach Steve Holeman has turned from a 2 win team in 2016 to conference champions in 2017. However, it wasn’t Holeman who recruited Longmore, but one of his assistants. “My whole recruiting process didn’t go through him, it went through the assistant coach Henry (Zapata), I knew the background and how (Holeman) has carried the team to be conference winners. I just think it’s amazing how you can turn around in one season. But my whole recruiting process went through Henry, and he was so good, and very open and honest about everything,” Longmore explained. “We were talking for about a month and a half. I was going to go out and visit, but with school and stuff I couldn’t, and it got to the point where just after Christmas, I actually told him that Lamar probably won’t be a place for me. “He came back, he offered me a full scholarship, and he pretty much made it sound like everything I wanted it to be. I have family in Texas, so at that point we took the drive up there, and I looked at the campus, and I absolutely loved it. I saw the soccer field, and I’m actually going up there in about three weeks to meet the team and watch them play one of their spring games, so I’m really excited.” “When I came in as a sophomore, I said to everyone, ‘I am going somewhere on the beach, I don’t care where it is!’ I put it out there to schools in California and Florida, and, there was a school in Florida that I was going to go to, but Lamar came up and it was the best option for me.” So what does the future hold for Lamar’s newest Australian? The junior certainly has big dreams, with one eye on entering the professional ranks following her two years at the top level of college soccer. “I’m staying in America for the summer, so I’m going to be training hard, and after the two years, I know that this is big to say, but I really want to get picked up by the Houston Dash. I guess that’s kind of the dream, so I have to go hard from start to finish,” Longmore explains, slightly shyly. “But you know, if I was to come home, I would hopefully try to get into the Perth Glory team. I’ve tried that before, but then I’ve developed so much as a player, like I didn’t even know I could develop that much. But I definitely want to continue soccer, I want to keep playing at the highest level I can.” Interestingly, Siobhan will not be the only Australian junior college transfer to be playing in the Southland Conference, with Iowa Lakes Community College transfer Tessa Calabria joining fellow Australians Kristy Helmers and Tenille Harberger at Nicholls State. The pair even faced off in a junior college match last season, with both sides featuring a number of Australians. “We actually have a photo together! We we played against them at the start of the season, and one of the other girls who plays on the Iowa team, I went to school with her and lived with her when I went to John Curtin College (in Perth). So it was kind of a big reunion there, and then we got together and there were four Australians on the team. I was like, ‘Let’s take a big photo of all the Australians!’. There’s another Australian on my team, my roommate, who’s also from Busselton, so we have a photo of about six of us, which was cool.” Madeleine Duncan, Tessa Calabria, Sienna Scully (all Iowa Lakes CC), Siobhan Longmore, and Keeley Milner (both Dodge City CC) “We’ve been in contact, we’ve been talking about it, and she told me that’s where she was going to go, and I said that’s awesome, we’re going to be playing against each other. I love playing against other Aussies, and even when I’m at basketball games and I see Australians on the other team’s roster, after the game I go up to them, I give them a hug, we have such good chats, it’s so cool.” Author LachyPosted on March 4, 2018 March 4, 2018 Categories Interviews, UncategorizedTags Kristy Helmers, Siobhan Longmore, Tenille Harberger, Tessa CalabriaLeave a comment on The Road Less Travelled: Siobhan Longmore’s Journey To Lamar JUCO transfer Tessa Calabria becomes Nicholls’ third Aussie The Australian contingent at Nicholls State has grown to three, with junior college transfer Tessa Calabria joining Kristy Helmers and Tenille Harberger in Thibodaux. A forward out of Adelaide, Calabria spent the past two seasons at Iowa Lakes Community College, helping the team to 15 wins during her stint with the program. A First Team All-Region selection in 2016, Calabria also received an All-Tournament Team selection following her performances in the 2016 NJCAA Region XI tournament, which included a hat-trick in a 5-0 quarter-final win over Dakota County Technical College. Nicholls State struggled to score goals in conference play last season, an area in which Calabria excelled during her two seasons in junior college. The South Australian scored over 20 goals in her two seasons in Iowa, establishing herself as one of the Iowa Lakes side’s most potent attacking threats due to her ability in front of goal. Having scored just five goals in Southland Conference play and picking up only 3 wins in 11 games last season, the Colonels’ faithful will be hoping that potency can transfer to the Division I level, and in the process turn a couple of losses into draws or wins. Calabria will no doubt be expected to shoulder at least part of the goalscoring load left by the graduating Emily Werenskiold, who was equal second-highest scorer on the team with three of the Colonels’ 16 goals in 2017. With fellow Australian Kristy Helmers now entering her junior year with the program, Nicholls State fans will surely be hoping that the new pair of Australian attacking players can form the same link that Helmers did with Colonels legend Jess Coates prior to Coates’ graduation following the 2016 season. Calabria is the second JUCO transfer to join a Division I team this year, alongside Lamar’s Siobhan Longmore, who joined from Dodge City Community College in Kansas. The pair actually faced off last season, with both Calabria and Longmore tallying 3 shots and 2 shots on target in a game that Dodge City won 2-1. The pair will now face off at least once in each of the next two seasons, with both Nicholls State and Lamar playing in the Southland Conference. Author LachyPosted on March 1, 2018 March 1, 2018 Categories RecruitingTags Jess Coates, Kristy Helmers, Tenille Harberger, Tessa CalabriaLeave a comment on JUCO transfer Tessa Calabria becomes Nicholls’ third Aussie	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1143
__label__wiki	0.651947	0.651947	Business News Digital Legal Top Stories Google fights landmark Canadian anti-piracy ruling in US court By Chris Cooke \| Published on Friday 3 November 2017 Earlier this year the Canadian Supreme Court ordered Google to delist a tech company’s entire website worldwide as the conclusion to an intellectual property infringement dispute that began in British Columbia. Although not a music case, the music industry widely welcomed the decision, as it set a precedent that Google could be forced to delist copyright infringing websites entirely and a global basis. Google, which had already delisted the offending site on its Canadian search engine, insisted that the court’s worldwide injunction set a very dangerous precedent indeed, arguing that the Canadian Supreme Court’s order might interfere with free speech rights in other countries. The judges hearing the case rejected those arguments, saying Google’s concerns were at best “theoretical”. So this week Google rocked up to an American court with the US constitution’s First Amendment in hand to test the theory. The British Columbia case was a dispute between two tech companies called Equustek Solutions and Datalink Technologies Gateways. The latter was accused of infringing the IP rights of the former. When the British Columbia courts started to side with Equustek, Datalink moved its operations out of the province to a location unknown. Which is why Equustek started to demand Google should stop listing its IP infringing rival, given the Canadian authorities were no longer in a position to take direct action against Datalink. But, Equustek argued, the nature of the internet meant that Google delisting Datalink would only resolve the problems with its IP pilfering competitor if that happened on a global basis. Given that Google would only go through with any delisting at all if ordered to do so by a court, Equustek needed judicial support for such global action. And it got it. It was that part of the ruling that record industry trade body Music Canada most liked. When the Supreme Court backed the forced global delisting of Datalink back in June, it said the ruling was “a crucial development given that the internet has largely dissolved boundaries between countries and allowed virtual wrongdoers to move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in search of the weakest enforcement setting”. However, having lost the battle in Canada, Google is still fighting the ruling in the Equustek case, this time in the US. Yesterday the web giant’s legal reps argued in a Californian court that the ruling conflicted with the freedom of expression rights contained within the First Amendment, and that the Canadian Supreme Court had no right meddling with the American constitution. And – with neither Equustek nor the Canadian courts present yesterday – Google’s arguments seemed to get a positive hearing. According to Courthouse News, Google’s lawyer Margaret Caruso argued: “This is about whether a trial court in a foreign country can implement a law that is violative of the core values of this country … imagine if we got an order from North Korea that said we could not publish anything critical of Dear Leader. Imagine if Russia doesn’t like what people are saying about Putin. It would be very dangerous to deny relief in this instance”. Noting that the Canadian judges had dubbed Google’s free speech concerns as “theoretical”, reckoning that courts in other jurisdiction would ultimately side with Equustek in its dispute with Datalink, Caruso stated yesterday: “Google now turns to this court, asking it to declare that the rights established by the First Amendment and the Communications Decency Act are not merely theoretical”. The federal judge hearing Caruso’s arguments should rule on the matter imminently. READ MORE ABOUT: Datalink Technologies Gateways \| Equustek Solutions \| Google	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1152
__label__wiki	0.6347	0.6347	Male characters, Stubs, Dragon Quest XI party members, Human watch 04:42 'Dragon Quest 11' Beginners Guide: Hendrik Do you like this video? Japanese name グレイグ Rōmaji Gureigu Title(s) General Class Champion Race(s) Human Family Unknown Hendrik is a character from Dragon Quest XI. He is a champion knight of the Kingdom of Heliodor. Hendrik is a tall and powerfully built older man with sharp features and blue-green eyes. He has shoulder-length light purple hair with a single strand hanging over his face, as well as a goatee. As champion knight, Hendrik wears an ornate suit of black plate armour decorated with gold edges over chainmail and a black pair of trousers. There is an insignia of a golden two-headed eagle, the symbol of Heliodor, emblazoned on the front of his breastplate. He wears a long black cape with red lining, which is attached to his armour and he carries a two-handed sword on his back in a scabbard. As a party member, he wears a full-length blue draughtboard tunic over a long-sleeved mustard shirt and black mail, complemented by dark brown leather gloves and boots and secured with a wide leather belt about his waist. The buckle has a sun design engraved. He slings his scabbard over his right shoulder. Hendrik is known for his strong sense of duty and loyalty to his kingdom, and he is unrivaled in swordsmanship. He has defeated countless monsters in the service of his kingdom and is willing to lay down his life to protect his lord. Stern, serious, and steadfast, Hendrik is not one to question a superior and seldom displays emotion. Nevertheless, he is an impassioned and compassionate man who always seeks to do justice to those for whom he serves. He holds closely to a code of honour instilled in him from an early age. Though generally composed, when Hendrik's emotions surface, they are intense. Even so, he does not shy away from dangerous situations. He has a particular weakness for women as Rab does, but his nature makes this difficult to exploit if not for his devotion to Jade, whom he considers his charge though she is more than capable of asserting (and fighting for) herself. A spoiler draws near! Click 'show' to display, otherwise run away! Hendrik was raised early in the reign of King Carnelian alongside Jasper, who would become both his best friend and chief rival. The two practised daily, and shared many a tall tale by evening. Each aspired to become the finest knight in the realm; and while Jasper was arrogant, narcissistic, and a gossip, Hendrik was the complete opposite: dutiful, steadfast, and determined to excel in all that he did for king and country. These traits would earn him many honours through the years, and he would become Heliodor's champion before the events of the main story. Hendrik was an escort for Carnelian and Princess Jade on the night of the Colloquy of Kings sixteen years ago, making him present in Dundrasil around the time of the Luminary's birth. He is not seen until monsters begin to lay siege to the kingdom. As King Irwin fends off a gang of demons to secure safe passage for Eleanor, Jade, and the newborn child, Carnelian comes into the dungeons to find Jade. He is soon possessed by a sinister presence (later revealed as Mordegon) and orders Hendrik to go after the child, believing the boy to be the "Darkspawn". As is duty, Hendrik agrees to the order. The Luminary and the others already escaped; of the four caught in a follow-up assault, three survived. The following years saw Hendrik winning more battles, but never finding the Luminary. Duty-bound to a corrupted king, Hendrik and others are present when Carnelian orders the Luminary sent to the castle dungeon. He earlier imprisoned a man named Erik for his roles in a series of thefts that included the Red Orb. Upon learning of the Luminary's hometown, Carnelian orders the village of Cobblestone destroyed and its residents killed. While Jasper is keen to go through with the executions, Hendrik is not; and he holds them there, providing according to the needs of each. Hendrik pursues the Luminary and his party through much of the quest, first seen trying to capture the two escaped prisoners as they break for the Door of Departure at the far eastern edge of the realm. The situation reaches a turning point at the ruins of Dundrasil when Hendrik catches up to the party. Jade, exiled since the fall of the kingdom, assists the Luminary in fending him off. Hendrik breaks off his attack when the pair has him outmatched, but he vows vengeance. As the party reaches Sniflheim, Hendrik once again catches up to them. Searching for a way to dispel the curse freezing the city over, the Luminary enters the Hekswood in search of the witch that laid the curse. Instead, he finds the guardian beast Jörmun and defeats it. With Jörmun vanquished, part of the seal on the snow-witch Krystalinda has broken, and she attacks both the Luminary and Hendrik. It is here that Hendrik realises he may be pursuing the wrong person. At the Heart of Yggdrasil , Hendrik arrives with Jasper and Carnelian to seize the power of the great tree. Mordegon leaves the king at this time, entering into Jasper and creating an impenetrable dark aura. The party falls, and Hendrik takes a desperate shot to fell his former comrade, but fails. Having stolen the Luminary's powers, Mordegon sets the stage for the World Tree's destruction. In the months since the Fall, Hendrik has gathered survivors to the field formerly occupied by Cobblestone, now The Last Bastion, and has led able men in battle against Mordegon's monsters. When the Luminary arrives at the fort, Carnelian, now free of enthrallment, orders men to prepare for an assault from the north. Hendrik arrives with more survivors, and the Luminary is asked to meet him on the front lines. Though each has his reservations given their past, the two team up to beat back a phalanx of undead soldiers led by a Headless Honcho. Carnelian calls both to his tent, as he now sees a window to retake Heliodor and restore the day-night cycle that has lacked since the Fall. To do so, the pair infiltrates the castle via its sewer network and dungeons. Hendrik himself is in awe of the devastation, as even the stairways leading to the throne are in shambles. With the aid of an Yggdrasil root, the Luminary discovers a secret conduit to the upper floors in the castle's kitchen. Reaching the throne room, the pair finds Jasper, who sits on Mordegon's behalf. After a confrontation filled with Jasper's rage and jealousy. he summons the first of Mordegon's Spectral Sentinels, the undead Tyriant, to finish them off. Even with the power of illusion at his command, Tyriant falls, and the ruined castle is liberated. After the victory celebration, Carnelian praises the warriors for their efforts and sends the pair to Mount Pang Lai, where they might find more clues to Mordegon's defeat. At the king's behest, Hendrik is ordered to accompany the Luminary on his travels. With some reluctance, he does just that. Hendrik's new role as the Luminary's personal bodyguard affords him the chance to travel the world as never before, imparting his insight into world affairs as well as his strong sword-arm. The princess he once fought to protect may still be alive as well. World of Lost Time Hendrik joins the party in urging the Luminary not to turn back time as he may once again be an enemy; but the latter does so nonetheless. In so doing, the Luminary and his companions face Jasper once more. The Luminary's Sword of Shadows dispels Jasper's powers and defeats him, shattering the dark orb he carried. Hendrik and Carnelian arrive a few steps too late. Hendrik is both shocked and relieved that his sworn enemy has ferreted out the true traitor of Heliodor. He prepares to avenge Jasper, but is called off by the king who, still possessed by Mordegon, waits to capture the Sword of Light. Before he can, another entity pulls Carnelian away from the sword. He then invites the heroes back to the castle to celebrate the Luminary's return. All seems well until night falls, when Carnelian sneaks into the guest chambers for a second pass at the Sword of Light. Once again, the dark force pulls him back as he grabs the weapon. When the party confronts Carnelian, he vanishes and returns to his throne room. Hendrik enters as the party readies for battle. Carnelian convulses, and Mordegon materialises before them all, prompting a final confrontation with the wizard. After his tormentor's defeat, Carnelian orders Hendrik to join the party, that he may fight a new foe with Erdrea in its grasp. Thou hast defeated the spoiler. Hendrik is a powerful tank with his access to axes, swords and greatswords providing offence, and shields for defence. He learns several devastating attacks fairly early in his skill trees, so it would be prudent to walk through Axes, Greatswords or Swords, then Shields. The Heroism tree concentrates on stat boosts, but high SP requirements make it difficult to access until late. Hendrik's true strengths bear out only if the player chooses to extend into the World of Lost Time; doing so adds the Fraternity tree, which gives the player access to Forbearance. When coupled with Immense Defence, Hendrik can "take one for the team" in difficult fights. v · e · dDragon Quest XI Playable Characters Hero • Erik • Veronica • Serena • Sylvando • Rab • Jade • Hendrik Jasper • Tyriant • Avarith • Gloomnivore • Booga • Alizarin • Gyldygga • Auroral Serpent • Indignus • Mordegon • Lord of Shadows • Calasmos Towns and Cities Cobblestone • Heliodor • Downtown Heliodor • Hotto • Gallopolis • Gondolia • Warrior's Rest Inn • Octagonia • Dundrasil • Puerto Valor • Lonalulu • Nautica • L'Académie de Notre Maître des Médailles • Phnom Nonh • Sniflheim • Arboria • Angri-La • Havens Above Accessories • Accolades • Materials • Fun-Size Forge recipes • Armour • Characters • Bestiary • Headwear • Items • Important items • Minor Characters • Quests • Shields • Skills • Spells • Walkthroughs • Weapons Beta and Unused elements Retrieved from "https://dragonquest.fandom.com/wiki/Hendrik?oldid=156659" Dragon Quest XI party members	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1154
__label__wiki	0.56494	0.56494	General Authors Guidelines (PDF) All issues Volume 1 (2014) EPJ Applied Metamaterials, 1 (2014) 5 Full HTML EPJ Applied Metamaterials https://doi.org/10.1051/epjam/2014004 2 Initial physics ... 3 Optics contributions 4 Electromagnetics contributions ... 5 Active and ... EPJ Appl. Metamat. 2014, 1, 5 Metamaterials: The early years in the USA Richard W. Ziolkowski* Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA * e-mail: ziolkowski@ece.arizona.edu; ziolkows@email.arizona.edu Published online: 8 July 2014 Metamaterials are artificial materials formed by embedding highly subwavelength inclusions in a host medium, which yield homogenized permittivity and permeability values. By design they offer the promise of exotic physics responses not generally available with naturally occurring materials, as well as the ability to tailor their properties to specific applications. The initial years of discovery emphasized confirming many of their exotic properties and exploring their actual potential for science and engineering applications. These seed efforts have born the sweet fruit enjoyed by the current generation of metamaterials scientists and engineers. This review will emphasize the initial investigative forays in the USA that supported and encouraged the development of the metamaterials era and the subsequent recognition that they do have significant advantages for practical applications. Key words: Artificial dielectrics / Double negative materials / Epsilon negative materials / Metamaterials / Mu negative materials / Plasmonics © R.W. Ziolkowski, Published by EDP Sciences, 2014 Artificial materials have had an enormous impact historically. Well-known examples include the beautiful 13th century stained glass windows in Notre-Dame Cathedral and La Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, their colors originating from plasmonic effects arising from various metallic inclusions in the glasses. In the late part of the 19th century, Jagadis Chunder Bose published his work on the rotation of the plane of polarization by man-made twisted structures, which were indeed artificial chiral structures by today’s definition [1]. Karl Ferdinand Lindman studied artificial chiral media formed by a collection of randomly-oriented small wire helices in 1914 [2]. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the work of Kock [3], for example, explored artificial dielectric light-weight microwave antenna lenses for satellite applications. To understand the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft re-entry communication blackout periods, the “bed of nails” wire grid medium was introduced in the early 1960’s to simulate the propagation of waves in plasmas [4]. Artificial electric and magnetic materials were at the heart of the stealth aircraft programs in the 1980’s and beyond. Similarly, the resurrected interest in artificial chiral materials in the 1980’s and 1990’s (see, e.g., [5]) arose from their potential applications as microwave radar absorbers. Ziolkowski at the University of Arizona (UAz) was contacted in July 1999 by Prof. Rodger M. Walser, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), about an invitation-only DARPA Workshop to be held in November, 1999. These are the kind of events in which the participants have the chance to influence a call-for-proposals (CFP). I quite naturally agreed to participate. I was invited because of our artificial atom/molecule investigations and their applications to radar absorbing materials (RAMs) and smart skins (surfaces that could change their characteristics in response to an interrogating signal) [6–11]. These efforts had already led to our studies on how one might use these artificial material models to realize absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) in finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations [12–15]. They were “physical” realizations of the (at the time) revolutionary perfect matched layer (PML) ABCs [16]. Walser released the general invitation in September 1999 stating: “DARPA is interested in gathering information concerning the area of artificially constructed materials, or Meta-materials, which possess qualitatively new responses that do not occur in nature”. This was the first time I had seen the phrase “Meta-materials”. As he did in a later paper [17], Walser explained at the workshop that the choice of name came from the desire to achieve material performances “beyond” the limitations of conventional composites. The workshop program consisted of an Applications Section [18] and a Materials Modeling and Processing Section [19]. Drs. Stu Wolf and Bill Coblenz of DARPA/DSO (Defense Sciences Office) and Dr. Valerie Browning, who was at NRL and coming on board at DARPA at the time, ran the workshop. The presentations were an interesting mixture of results on electromagnetic bandgap structures and complex media. The workshop led to an eventual DARPA MURI (Multi-University Research Initiative) CFP (MURI Call for Proposals: Topic 33, Electromagnetic Metamaterials) in 2001 whose stated objective was: “To model, synthesize, characterize, and develop new synthetic metamaterials which exhibit properties that can be used in a wide range of applications spanning the electromagnetic spectrum”. The winning proposal was entitled “Scalable and Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Metamaterials and Devices”; the team consisted of several well-known talents [20]. Dr. Browning later described her new program on Metamaterials at the DARPA Tech 2002 meeting by saying that [21]: “A metamaterial is an engineered composite that exhibits superior properties not observed in nature or in the constituent materials”. I believe that it is an interesting historical observation that the term “metamaterials” was truly introduced into the community because of a DARPA funding opportunity. 2 Initial physics and engineering proof-of-concept efforts Much of the effort in the early metamaterials period in the USA, like elsewhere in the world, emphasized investigating and proving the exotic physics properties of metamaterials. The first negative index and then negative refraction investigations and experiments were performed at UC San Diego (UCSD) [22–25]. At the same time, the seminal applications paper on the “perfect lens” concept appeared [26]. Full-wave vector simulations and a detailed analysis of double negative (DNG) metamaterials confirmed their negative index properties [27]. One very important precursor to these experiments was the IEEE MTT special issue on electromagnetic periodic structures [28]. Several notable papers were included that emphasized artificial magnetism. The split ring resonator (SRR) was introduced by an Imperial College-GEC-Marconi team [29]. Structured surfaces that act as artificial magnetic conductors (AMCs) were introduced by UCLA teams: the mushroom surface type [30] and the frequency selective surface (FSS) type [31, 32]. Given the timing on all of these papers in relation to the DARPA workshop, they clearly had a significant impact on the outcome of the above mentioned DARPA MURI CFP. The excitement about metamaterials at the time became contagious. Since the original artificial magnetic experiments were in the microwave regime and given the potential of a perfect lens, the physics/optics community quickly tried to push the concepts up to optical frequencies. A special issue of Optics Express with Pendry as its Guest Editor summarizes some of the thrusts at that time [33]. These included advances in simulating the propagation in and scattering from DNG media at UCSD, ISU, and UAz [34–36]; advances in superlens technologies at UCLA [37]; refinements of the negative refraction experiments at Boeing [38]; reports of yet more exotic phenomena by Penn State University [39], MIT [40], and Purdue University (Purdue) [41]; and illustrating DNG phenomena can be obtained from electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structures by a MIT-Imperial College team [42]. A metasurface at telecom frequencies based on SRRs was reported by the collaborative team from Iowa State University, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and FORTH in Crete [43]. This Soukoulis-Wegener-led collaboration has led to numerous contributions to the successful development of optical metamaterials [44, 45]. However, this team pointed out earlier that because of kinetic inductance effects, SRR-based unit cells would not reach visible frequencies [46] and suggested an alternative approach [47]. A University of New Mexico and Columbia University team proposed yet a different architecture [48]. The first demonstration of metamaterials in the visible, which employed a fishnet structure, was reported in [49] by the ISU-Karlsruhe team. Shalaev reviewed the state-of-the-art in [50] and his Purdue team officially reached visible frequencies with their fishnet structure in [51]. The Nanophotonics Group at Purdue with their outstanding fabrication capabilities in the Birck Nanotechnology Center has continued to push DNG effects further into the visible regime. Shalaev and Boardman organized another OSA focus issue on metamaterials published in 2006 [52]. On the West coast, Zhang moved from UCLA to UC Berkeley in 2004 and established the NSF Nano-Scale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC). They have demonstrated and verified many of the hypenlens and superlens concepts [53–55]. They made one of the first examples of a superlattice optical metamaterial [56]. They have demonstrated plasmon lasers at visible frequencies [57]. In the South, Scalora at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and his collaborators have considered numerous aspects of DNG media and subwavelength focusing [58]. On the East coast, Engheta at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) had been involved with complex media for many years. He developed a variety of RAMs based on bi-anisotropic materials [59]. It has been demonstrated by many groups now that the Ω-medium he introduced [60] can be designed to exhibit DNG properties [61]. He also has introduced and developed the paradigm of Metatronics [62–64] and with Alù, whose is now at UT Austin, considered how basic antenna concepts can used successfully to design and analyze nano-antennas and their properties [65, 66]. An important aspect to note about the first wave of discoveries in the early days was the controversy surrounding negative refraction and perfect lensing [67–73]. While such discussions can be healthy, they tend to be distracting, impacting both progress and effort levels. Nevertheless, Dr. Browning recognized the importance of the debate. Because one of the issues was the impact the size of the negative index wedge may have had on the original experiments, she asked the Boeing Phantom Works (now Boeing Research and Development) team [74] to construct a larger version which was tested successfully by several independent laboratories and was highlighted in [75]. She also held a workshop at DARPA in 2003 [76] to which both critics and proponents alike were invited to discuss metamaterial issues such as negative refraction. A second DARPA MURI CFP on metamaterials later occurred in 2004. 4 Electromagnetics contributions While the concept of artificial magnetism at optical frequencies captured the attention of the optics community, it was, as noted above, not new to the engineering electromagnetics community. Other aspects of metamaterials, however, were of immediate interest to the microwave community. The original negative index experiments exhibited performance characteristics that were not acceptable for practical microwave applications. However, Ziolkowski demonstrated in [77] that low-loss DNG bulk metamaterials could be designed to be matched to free-space. Engheta ascertained how (extremely) electrically small resonant cavities could be realized with matching DNG metamaterials with double positive (DPS) materials [78]. Ziolkowski employed this concept, for instance, to achieve highly subwavelength, ultra-thin laser designs [79]. It was also recognized that planar metamaterials were possible by employing transmission line concepts. In particular, two-dimensional transmission line metamaterials were realized simultaneously at the University of Toronto [80] and at UCLA [81]. Both groups also recognized that the metamaterial approach provided the first means for scanning a leaky wave antenna (an array formed by a periodic arrangement of DNG unit elements) from the backfire, through the broadside, and to the endfire directions [82, 83]. Furthermore, it was reported by different UCLA groups [31, 84] and by a team from the European Space Agency and the University of Navarra [85], that electromagnetic band-gap structures could impact the performance of antennas and arrays of them. To get the word out about these exciting developments, Engheta and Ziolkowski organized special sessions associated with metamaterials at the 2002 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, June, 2002. They solicited contributors there and issued a call for papers as the guest editors for the first IEEE special issue on metamaterials. This issue, which was sponsored by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation (AP) Society, was published in October 2003 [86]. A second special issue was published in April 2005 with Itoh and Oliner as the Guest Editors [87] and was sponsored by the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT) society. The AP-S issue included several topics reported by USA groups who continued to contribute into the second half of the first decade of metamaterials. The first paper by the UAz group on metamaterial-based electrically small antennas appeared in it [88]. Several years of their metamaterial-inspired antenna efforts were summarized in [89]. They also developed a bulk metamaterial AMC (with no ground plane) to realize a low-profile antenna system [90]. The first paper by the UPenn group on cloaking (transparency or scattering cancellation) and tunneling also appeared in it [91]. They have continued their contributions to the development of cloaking approaches [92–94]. An HRL team introduced a tunable version of the Sievenpiper mushroom surface to achieve beam steering [95]. Other antenna contributions included the UCLA realization of low profile antennas using EBG ground planes [96] and the investigations of lowering the mutual coupling between antenna elements in arrays [97]. Their continued efforts have been compiled in the book [98]. Another low profile antenna system introduced by an Arizona State University-Etenna Corp. team took advantage of the high impedance mushroom surface as an AMC [99]. A University of Michigan team led by Volakis used topological optimization to design a metamaterial to improve the bandwidth of a patch antenna [100]. After his move to Ohio State University, Volakis has used a variety of metamaterial constructs to enhance various antenna performance characteristics [101–103]. Another University of Michigan team led by Sarabandi also has investigated a variety of metamaterials and their antenna applications [104–107]. A NIST-Boulder and UC Boulder team reported the proper characterization of meta-surfaces [108, 109]. They have worked with several collaborators to continue to refine their approach for a variety of meta-film constructs [110–112]. Like Eleftheriades’ U Toronto group, the Itoh-Caloz UCLA team used transmission line metamaterials to achieve numerous microwave engineering devices and antenna systems since their inception. For instance, the U Toronto group reported a compact phase shifter in [113]. In the MTT special issue, the UCLA team, which became the UCLA-Montreal University team in 2004, reported a compact diplexer [114]. A summary of several of their antennas was given in [115]. A summary of various metamaterial-based antennas was given by UCLA in [116]. Yet another IEEE special issue, highlighting both the microwave and optical regimes, was guest edited recently by Eleftheriades and Engheta [117]. Several more summary papers of the metamaterial efforts reported by many USA and international groups can be found in it. The second DARPA MURI on Metamaterials started in 2005 [118] and was led by the Boeing Phantom Works team. While several of its outcomes were mentioned topically above, it also led to some of the electrically smallest single negative (SNG) and DNG unit cells produced to date. The experiments confirmed the designs; a low loss DNG bulk metamaterial was realized at UHF frequencies [119, 120]. 5 Active and extreme contributions Important classes of metamaterials that I would like to highlight in closing are those involving active elements and those which exhibit extreme properties. Several have garnered enormous attention both technically and generally in recent years. Active molecules were reported in [9–11], for instance, for smart skins; but the idea of using active inclusions to develop broad bandwidth metamaterials was emphasized by Tretyakov at Aalto University in [121]. Active metamaterials (i.e., metamaterials formed by introducing gain devices such as transistors or operational amplifiers into their inclusions and, hence, unit cells) for RF frequencies have been designed by a team at Duke [122]. These principles have been used by them to realize lossless magnetic [123] and non-reciprocal [124] microwave metamaterials. Non-Foster elements to achieve dispersionless, wide bandwidth and superluminal effects in metamaterials have been studied by Hrabar’s team at the University of Zagreb [125–127]. Superluminal waveguides based on non-Foster circuits have been reported by Sievenpiper’s UCSD group [128]. Nonlinear metamaterials, emphasizing the SRR type of elements, have been investigated extensively by Kivshar’s University of Canberra team [129–131]. The SRR-type unit cells augmented with non-Foster elements also have been reported for other metamaterial-inspired structures by teams at Northeastern University [132] and Rome Tré [133]. By introducing non-Foster circuit elements into their metamaterial-inspired antenna designs, the UAz team has overcome several basic physics bounds on small radiators to realize electrically small, efficient, broad impedance bandwidth and high directivity systems [134–138]. The U Toronto group has also reported non-Foster augmentations of antennas [139] and has considered alternative designs for non-Foster circuit implementations [140]. Because of the presence of active elements in all these metamaterial-inspired structures, there is a need to understand their stability in practice. While the various individual groups have provided stability analyses of their components, more general considerations have been reported by a team from the University of Carlos III de Madrid and the University of Zagreb [141] and a Queen Mary University of London team [142]. Several successful uses for active metamaterials in the THz regime have been reported by the Boston College (BC)-Boston University (BU) team [143]. While many of these lower frequency applications have added performance enhancements, the concept of introducing gain into metamaterial structures to overcome the losses associated with their constituents has become critical in the optical domain. Whether it is optical metamaterials, core-shell nanoparticles or plasmonic-based devices, the losses associated with their metal constituents is unforgiving. Gain is a possible enabling technology to significantly improve the possible applications of metamaterial structures in the visible. For example, the Purdue team originally recognized gain was a path to a high figure of merit in [144]; they demonstrated a lossless visible metamaterial in this manner in [145]. The UAz team has considered over coming losses in the visible with gain in metallic-dielectric core-shell nanoparticles. While they demonstrated the possibility of core-shell nano-lasers [146] and active epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) meta-surfaces [147], collaborations between the UAz, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have extended these designs to demonstrate super-resonant scattering [146, 148], gain-enhanced metamaterial-inspired nano-antennas [149], and active quantum jammers [150]. It should be added that loss compensation with gain is also intimately connected to the coupling between metamaterial and the gain medium. Without sufficient coupling, no loss compensation can happen, nor can the transmitted signal be amplified. Therefore, it is of vital importance to understand the mechanism of the coupling between the metamaterial and the gain medium. The issue was tackled in the papers from the ISU-Karlsruhe [151, 152] and Imperial College London [153] teams. One metamaterial topic that has garnered enormous attention since 2006 is cloaking. The Duke-Imperial College team first reported their cloaking success in [154], based on their transformation optics (TO) approach [155]. Whether you are of the Klingon-Star Trek or Harry Potter ages, this work was exciting and has greatly stimulated efforts in the electromagnetics, acoustics and elastic communities worldwide. Another related concept at the other extreme is the perfect absorber reported by a BC-Duke collaboration [156], which has initiated a flurry of papers considering numerous designs and potential applications. One aspect of the TO or the UPenn scattering cancellation/transparency approaches to cloaking is the need to have metamaterials whose material properties are extreme, i.e., either close to zero or close to infinity. The high impedance surfaces realizing AMCs (i.e., they act as ENZ or permittivity-to-infinity metamaterials) or their duals are further examples. The UPenn team has employed the ENZ concepts effectively to achieve a variety of super-coupling effects [157, 158]. An interesting related issue with the transmission line metamaterials is the fact that in their balanced condition, the propagation constant β = 0, which means the index of refraction is zero. Consequently, the wavelength and phase speed are infinite at the point between which the transmission line is left-handed or right-handed [159]. This behavior led to the concept of infinite wavelength resonances and devices [160]. On the other hand, the UAz team recognized that since one can tune the permittivity or permeability to any value one would like and since matching is important for any source or scattering problem, one could consider making a metamaterial with both its permittivity and permeability being zero, i.e., a matched zero index metamaterial [161]. It was recognized that with a zero-index medium, one could achieve high directivity sources or could tailor phase fronts to any desired shape. The UPenn team illustrated how one could perform similar operations with ENZ metamaterials [162]. Indeed, exploiting extreme properties to control wave-matter interactions continues to be an active area of investigation. A number of very interesting linear and nonlinear properties are being discovered and reported. Fascinating applications has been uncovered and a variety of them are being pursued currently. The early years of metamaterials took the science and engineering communities by storm. I have tried in this paper to provide some additional perspectives and details about the work done in the USA during this time period. Many more of the early technical accomplishments were captured in the first three metamaterial reference books [163–165]. While the early years emphasized understanding the basics, the following years began a transition into potential and actual applications. The interest and level of activity of the first decade of metamaterials has been sustained and has even increased going into the second one. However, the metamaterials community is now faced with the need to demonstrate the usefulness of its work to society by succeeding in the development of useful current and future applications. Maybe we should call them meta-applications – those beyond what we could have only done with the old ideas and materials of the previous century. It will be a great pleasure to watch more of the discoveries and developments in metamaterials and meta-applications unfold in the pages of this new journal, EPJ AM. First, I would like to thank Prof. Yang Hao, EIC of the EPJ AM, for his very kind invitation to me to share with you some metamaterial history in the USA for this inaugural issue. 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Metamat. 2017, 4, 11 Balanced gain for a square metaloop antenna EPJ Appl. Metamat. 6, 3 (2019) Editor-in-Chief: Yang Hao (UK) - Editorial board	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1165
__label__cc	0.745413	0.254587	EduCheer! Free Samples and Examples of Essays, Homeworks and any Papers Absolutely free The full versions Fast relevant search Life on the Blueberry Farm Filed Under: Term Papers Tagged With: Science, Science: Sociology Being a New Jersey public school teacher for thirty-four years meant that I had to find summer employment to supplement my mediocre yearly income. Since schoolteachers are “contracted” employees they are not eligible to collect unemployment benefits during their ten-week unpaid summer vacations. In fact teachers don’t receive paid vacations at all! My job predicament allowed me to find and explore many different alternative occupations that I wouldn’t have dabbled in if I had been in a profession that demanded a twelve-month -commitment and a corresponding twelve-month-remuneration. In 1965 and 1966 I worked on my father-in-law’s four hundred- acre fruit and vegetable farm on the White Horse Pike (Route 30) in Elm just outside Hammonton, New Jersey. I drove a forklift, loaded tractor trailers, spent many hours in the packinghouse’s cold storage and generally helped manage the growing, harvesting and shipment of peaches, nectarines, apples, sugar plums, zucchini squash, corn, peppers and tomatoes, for they were the principal crops raised on White Horse Farm. My father-in-law was a tough Sicilian taskmaster and we often didn’t see eye-to-eye in regard to personnel management and our colliding philosophies pertaining to ordinary day-to-day operations were often at different ends of the thought spectrum. From 1968 to 1981 I co-owned and operated Dealers Choice, an amusement arcade doing business under the Atlantic Hotel at 410 South Boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland. People (mostly tourists with money to burn) would come into the establishment and play poker machines that were activated upon the drop of a dime into a slot, and if they obtained a hand of “Jacks or Better” the customer received a coupon of different values depending on whether the hand was a pair, two pair, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four of a kind or a fabulous straight flush. If a rare Royal Flush occurred the player was entitled to “Choice of the House,” which constituted the top-value-prizes ranging from a giant stuffed animal to a blender, a roaster oven, a desk radio or an electric frying skillet. The arcade also featured “money pushing games” like Flip-A-Winna, Splash Down and Pot of Gold where the player would insert a dime or a quarter and moving arms would push the inserted coin against a pile of similar coins. The object of the “Money Pushing Games” was to force coins to accumulate and then fall down a chute. Let’s say if seven coins fell down the appropriate opening seven tokens would be won and would be ejected into the winning tray situated below where the player was standing. Each token was equal in value to a ten-cent coupon won on the poker machines thus making the coupons and the tokens compatible in terms of monetary exchange. The Essay on Coins and Paper Money Will Soon Be Replaced by Credit and Bank Cards ... have developed a certain emotional bonding with paper money and coins. Coin collectors for example will inevitably get hurt after entire ... these can not entirely replace the traditional money exchange. Paper money and metal coins have long been used as a medium ... replacement of traditional money and coins. In conclusion, modern monetary exchange has certainly ... From 1972 to 1981 I also co-owned the New Horizon Gift Shop on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where the enterprise specialized in applying decals to tee shirts using a hot heat transfer machine. And for four summers I was also a partner in an arcade business called Wheel and Deal on the Atlantic City Boardwalk near Missouri Avenue that was similar to the Ocean City, Maryland operation. Wheel and Deal lasted until legalized gambling was passed for the New Jersey resort. My two partners and I lost our lease as competition for boardwalk space heated up and when prospective casinos began buying up strategic real estate all over the Queen of Resorts. So from 1977 to 1981 I was hopping back and forth like a neurotic jackrabbit from New Jersey to Delaware to Maryland riding the Cape May-Lewes Ferry delivering and shuttling around merchandise for the three independent summer operations. In 1982 and ’83 I returned to White Horse Farm to give the place (and my obstinate father-in-law) a second chance but the aging man stubbornly refused to relinquish any authority so I again bolted from that Hammonton, New Jersey business and began managing an almost defunct farm market a mile west down Route 30. Much to my father-in-law’s chagrin in three short summers Pastore Orchards Farm Market was miraculously transformed into the busiest and best retail produce outlet on the busy highway. The Term Paper on Animalism Vs Marxism In Animal Farm ... affairs are conducted from the house. Napoleon seeks refuge in the house and rarely comes ... take over the Jones house that was pronounced a museum after the humans were expelled from the farm.Most of the business ... that the communists created (5). Conclusion George Orwells Animal Farm gives and excellent representation of the events that happened around ... From 1987 to 2003 I diligently worked the hot summers as a field manager for Atlantic Blueberry Company, the largest cultivated blueberry farm in the world. The farm owned by the Galletta Brothers and Sons actually consisted of two pretty massive plantations. The main farm called the Weymouth Division was located just east of Hammonton and was comprised of eight hundred and fifty acres growing the luscious blue fruit and eight miles away on Route 322 (the Black Horse Pike) the Mays Landing Division of Atlantic Blueberry sported five-hundred and fifty acres. All the berries harvested on the smaller farm were transported by large company trucks from the Mays Landing plantation to the Weymouth Farm to be packed and then shipped by tractor’ trailers all over continental United States and Canada. Atlantic Blueberry was a massive operation growing anywhere from twelve to fifteen million pounds of the blue fruit (depending on seasonal crop volume) in an eight week harvest season. The biggest problem with blueberries is that the crop is very labor intensive. A hundred men could operate a fourteen-hundred-acre peach farm but a fourteen-hundred-acre blueberry operation required anywhere from fifteen hundred to two thousand pickers a day during the height of the season. It was impossible for Atlantic Blueberry Company to house that many workers on their properties. The Weymouth Road camp accommodated three hundred Mexicans, a hundred of which worked in the packinghouse and in the bulk house next door while the remaining two hundred men picked with the “Home Gang,” which was supervised by brothers Mike and George Estrada, Puerto Ricans that had started as pickers back in the ‘60s and who had eventually been promoted to lower management positions. Mike and George each have small houses on Farm #1 and they and their families live rent-free as permanent year-round employees. And the smaller Mays Landing camp houses approximately two hundred and fifty men, all of whom’ pick berries on that scenic plantation. Juan Lopez (Lopey) and Ephraim Torres, long-time Puerto Rican employees, had the chore of overseeing the “Home Crew” and the prodigious harvests at the Mays Landing Division. The Term Paper on Hundred Work Workers Labor Capital ... exceed demand, resulting in lowered wages.But since only one hundred appear, and since I, the manufacturer, need only that number ... that of administration and exploitation. But isn't administrative work also productive work No doubt it is, for lacking a good and ... the inevitable periods of unemployment which often cruelly interrupt his work, as well as by the unforeseen accidents and illnesses which ... Because the combined farms only housed four hundred and fifty pickers Atlantic Blueberry had to contract with “Day Haul” crewleaders that could provide addition farm labor. Modesto Flores (a mild-mannered long-time Puerto Rican employee) and I managed the “Day Haul” pickers at Plantation #1 and I was the Weymouth Road farm’s liaison to the “outside crewleaders” and had authority over their respective gangs. In the mid-1980s the outside gangs were mostly Oriental with pickers (commuting from Philadelphia in vans and Farm Labor Transport buses) of Laotian, Cambodian and Vietnamese origins all possessing “green cards” showing that they were “legal resident aliens.” The Oriental crewleaders possessed names like Bunyan Yang, Lu Vang, Vang Kusanni, Inxay Pathatogong, Chia Lin, Muoa Lo, Khammy Pathong and Yang Lo. One black gang at the Mays Landing Farm still remained from the 1950s and it was commandeered by a woman crewleader, Frances Dantzler, also called “Miss Frances” by her obedient underlings. But in the mid-1970s area Puerto Ricans that had started out working on the local South Jersey peach and blueberry farms had found employment and more lucrative paying jobs in other industries and this left a giant agricultural work force vacuum that needed to be filled. Soon an abundance of Mexican crewleaders and their followers began appearing in the early 1990s and these new groups rapidly replaced the Oriental gangs that had previously fulfilled the farms’ labor needs. The Laotians, the Cambodians and the Vietnamese pickers had been sponsored by their crewleaders, who practiced a modern type of indenture system. The employees labored for their crewleaders for seven or so years and then migrated to and assimilated into factory jobs, construction work, fish canneries, lawn care services and toiling in nurseries. Most of the Oriental blueberry pickers had traveled early each morning in “Farm Labor Transport” buses and in vans thirty miles from Philadelphia to begin work on the New Jersey blueberry farms at 6 a.m. The Term Paper on Farm Work Cesar Workers Chavez ... on behalf of the United Farm Workers and said, "Every day in California and in other states where farm workers are organizing, Cesar Chavez ... , especially the terrible suffering of the farm workers and their children, the crushing of farm worker rights, the dangers of pesticides, and ... 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? He said, Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that ... The Mexican crewleaders that replaced the Orientals in the 1990s had names like Hermann Castro, Juan Bravo, Mario Valesquez, Francisco Fuentes, Tomas Aguire, Margarito Gonzalez, Marco Rodriquez, Carlos Lopez, Olegario Garcia and Marco Sanchez. Most of the Mexican pickers come to Atlantic Blueberry on yellow school buses hired by the company to transport them up to the Weymouth and Mays Landing farms from Bridgeton and Vineland, New Jersey, communities where most of the Mexican pickers temporarily reside. This is a win-win situation for all parties involved. The farm benefits because the workers now arrive safely to work on state inspected school buses that have the proper insurance coverage. The school bus company benefits because their drivers now have summer employment and the bus owners can generate additional revenue when schools are not in session. The “outside Day Haul” crewleaders like the new school bus transportation method because they save the expense of having their own “Farm Labor Transport” buses that had in the past required costly gas, maintenance and high insurance and inspection expenses. My responsibilities at Atlantic Blueberry were manifold and the farm owners had amusingly dubbed me “the Director of Documentation.” Each “Day Haul” picker had to fill out a federal I-9 Form (Immigration Paper) proving that he or she was legally eligible to work in the United States. Many of the older Orientals and Mexicans were illiterate and could not read or write so the crewleaders would fill out the I-9 for them and I would check the forms to make sure that the information was correct before approving and collecting them. For example, a social security number on the I-9 would have to have nine numbers and an alien green card cited as an official credential eight or nine digits. For pickers that were U.S. citizens, a bona fide state driver’s license and a valid school I.D. or a recently updated voter registration card had to also be included. The federal I-9 forms were a real challenge to keep track of because pickers would often get on different yellow school buses and travel to different South Jersey farms and work for other crewleaders from day to day so the daily work force was continually changing. The Weymouth Farm would have anywhere between five hundred and a thousand “Day Haul” pickers show up at the south-end dirt parking lot every morning and the Mays Landing Farm anywhere between three and eight hundred prospective day workers waiting in line at the front gate to hook up with a crewleader and then be admitted onto the property at 6 a.m. The Essay on Animal Farm Leaders And Good Workers However Snowball In the book Animal Farm there are many characters that are strong leaders, and good workers, however Snowball, a strong willed pig, stood ... Jones, the only human with a fire weapon on the farm. Snowball is shot by Jones, but pulls enough strength from ... A crewleader would usually have anywhere from fifty to one- hundred-people that he or she would bring to Atlantic Blueberry. Another duty I had besides keeping track of the ever-challenging I-9 forms was monitoring and collecting daily pay slips. Every “Day Haul” picker was paid cash by his boss (the subcontracted crewleader) in the farm’s parking lot after the workday had been completed. At the end of each afternoon every crewleader had to fill out a pay slip contract (on a triplicate form) for each worker with the worker’s name, social security number, home address, date, hours worked, time in and time out, units picked and total daily wage jotted down. The white copy went to the field worker’, the yellow copy to the farm’s main office and the pink copy was kept by the crewleader. The following morning or afternoon I would come to the crewleaders’ fields (Atlantic Blueberry Company had over a hundred and twenty separate fields) and check each worker’s yellow form to ascertain that everyone made more than minimum wage. Then I would drop off the crewleaders’ yellow copies to the farm’s main office on Weymouth Road, County Route 559 for Farm #1 or to the Mays Landing Division Farm office on Route 322. Checking each Day Haul worker’s yellow pay slip was necessary because the pickers were all paid by piecework or “units picked” and not by hourly minimum wage (the pickers that lived in the camps on the two farms were paid by weekly Atlantic Blueberry checks). The piecework system was good for all parties concerned because it provided incentive for the Day Haul workers to fill flats fast since they were not paid by the hour and thus they could make more than minimum wage if they hustled (around forty-two dollars for an eight hour work day would have been the minimum wage daily salary). Most pickers earned between fifty and a hundred dollars a day on piecework being able to fill thirty-three trays to make a hundred dollars. Some conscientious swift-handed pickers earned over a hundred and thirty dollars a day. The Essay on Farm Experience ... I was ready for an other visit to field. While crossing through field I saw workers were working at their best concentration at ... I had to write to my friends also about my farm experiences.Well I would like know from your side about ... Hi! Today I wish to share my farm experience with you. Last month I visited farm fields several times. There I got an opportunity ... Each picker was distributed a plastic picking basket attached to a cord, which the field worker was required to wear around his or her waist. Usually two full picking baskets could constitute a “full red picking tray,” which was equivalent to a “flat” of twelve pints when brought to the packing house by one of the crewleader’s drivers. When two red picking trays were completed the picker would carry the “two flats” to the crewleader’s field truck and then the worker was given a ticket for each flat by the driver. Each “movie ticket” (with the crewleader’s color code and name printed on it) represented one flat’ picked and the worker was later paid three dollars and twenty-five cents for each tray filled. The farm would pay the crewleaders three seventy-five for each tray picked so each “gang master” made on-the-average fifty cents a tray, with some of the bigger crews during the height of the season picking over two thousand flats a day for their ambitious bosses. The crewleaders were also accountable for maintaining quality control in their assigned fields. The blueberries on their trucks destined for the packinghouse had to be hard and not green. Each flat when brought to the field truck had to be inspected by the driver and by his loader to make sure it was acceptable to take to the packinghouse. After that standard had been met a picking ticket for each red tray was then handed to the worker, who would redeem his or her total tickets at the end of the day in the dirt parking lot for cash, which was (according to New Jersey Law) disseminated by the employee’s crewleader. The farm provided each “outside Day Haul crewleader” with two box trucks. The crewleaders’ drivers would circle their fields until four skids of forty-nine trays on each had been loaded onto one of the two farm trucks. Then the berries were driven to the packinghouse where each skid would be picked up by forklifts and put on a scale for weighing. If the weight did not conform to a specified standard then the crewleader would be docked “deducted” trays from his percentage of making fifty cents a tray, so the workers were constantly reminded to pick hard berries and to fill their red trays so that their bosses made a decent profit. At the packinghouse each skid was labeled with the crewleader’s name, Field Number and Blueberry Variety and then the berries were transported and temporarily held in the farm’s cold storage, which for blueberries had to be maintained at forty-two degrees (conversely a peach farm cold storage would be set for thirty-two degrees). When the packinghouse production crew was ready to pack the berries from the cold storage, a forklift driver would take the skid of forty-nine red trays (neatly stacked seven flat by seven high) to one of ten conveyor belts on production lines. Next each red tray was carefully dumped onto a moving belt. Four sorters on each working line would take out the soft berries and the green ones to again ensure quality control. A weighing device would then insert the exact number of berries to make a standard satisfactory weight for each filled plastic pint. Another machine would then automatically close each lid on each plastic pint. Then the pints were trafficked to one of ten rotary tables at the end of each packing line and next the finished product was hand inserted into a handsome company shipping flat neatly containing twelve pints each. The flats were then stacked on skids and immediately loaded onto tractor’ trailer refrigeration trucks to be shipped and transported all over continental United States and to Canada. When the berries arrive from the field the packinghouse’s un-loading dock and accepted in terms of weight for each skid, the packinghouse manager gives the crewleader’s driver a yellow receipt for four skids (usually 196 red tray flats). Late in the afternoon the crewleader takes all of his “yellow slips” to the farm’s main office and a secretary adds up all the receipts and then issues a farm check to the crewleader. The field boss then goes to either the Hammonton or Mays Landing bank and cashes the farm check, getting the money to pay his or her people at the end of the day in the farm parking lot. Of course the following morning or afternoon I would visit each crewleader in his assigned field and check and collect the yellow copies of the pickers’ daily contracts. Another duty I had as a field manager was filling our and checking working papers for children between the ages of twelve and sixteen that showed up on the farms each morning as part of a crew. These kids were sorted out each morning and not allowed to pick until proof of the proper documentation had been obtained. Even if Asian kids had Pennsylvania working papers or if Mexican children had working papers from another state, those documents were not valid in New Jersey. I had to make sure that each new arrival had an authentic birth certificate or alien card along with a social security card and an available parent to sign the working papers. Then I would transport the kids to either Hammonton High School for the Weymouth Farm or to Oakcrest High School for the Mays Landing Farm to get their credentials officially certified. Since the school’s main offices weren’t open on weekends kids that came with working papers completed and registered on Saturday or Sunday could not go into the fields to pick. And kids under the age of twelve were ineligible to perform labor for wages and were not allowed to work at all and had to remain in the parking lot until quitting time. I also drove a bus for the Weymouth Farm. Modesto Flores and his son Willie (the farm’s parking lot guard) would have each crewleader line his or her people up in single file at 6:30 each morning and four buses would transfer each “gang” to their designated picking fields. First the “Home Gang” had to be transported from the camp to their field and I would assist Mike Estrada driving his bus accompanied by my bus, good old faithful “Number 54.” After the two hundred home crew pickers were efficiently deployed to their assigned field I then drove white Bus Number 54 to the dirt parking lot where I joined the other three buses in transporting the eight hundred or so “Day Haul” pickers to their respective fields. A crew could not go into a field without its crewleader present or a state registered crewleader’s agent wearing an appropriate state-issued badge. Usually I would make six or seven bus excursions each morning. The crewleader would assign two pickers to each row in a particular field. The two workers would stand on either side of the row and together pick each bush thoroughly. When a crew had finished picking a field I (“Unit 13”) would be called on my radio and I would quickly transport the workers from let’s say Field #14 to Field #48, which might be over a mile away. Then at the end of the work day I would again drive white Bus Number 54 around the distant fields and pick up tired works at various waiting stations near irrigation pumps on the main gravel roads and courteously return them to the parking lot where they would be paid by their bosses. Usually each field was picked three times by hand at eight-day intervals. These are the berries that are sorted and packed in the packinghouse and then sold to the “fresh market” grocery stores. After the third hand picking by the crews large farm machines are deployed to do the fourth picking. The machine-picked berries are generally smaller and of less quality and they are taken to the farm’s bulk house where they are graded by hand sorters and then frozen and packed in either ten or twenty pound boxes (for the better grade) or in fifty gallon steel drums for the lesser grade “fourth picking fruit.” The frozen machine picked blueberries are ordinarily sold to large food processors and subsequently used for pies, muffins and jams. My final responsibility as an Atlantic Blueberry Company field manager in charge of crewleaders was to represent them if they received citations for alleged violations from Inspectors from the New Jersey Department of Labor. Citations received might involve an under-aged child working in the field, a child found in the fields between the ages of twelve and sixteen without working papers, a pay slip discovered with a stated salary that did not conform with minimum wage laws, a crewleader without a badged agent in his field or inadequate insurance on a van taking workers to the farm. Usually the New Jersey state inspectors would visit each farm three times a summer and twice each summer they would stop the buses carrying workers to or from the farms at certain checkpoints on the area highways to look for violations. The federal labor inspectors would check the I-9 Forms along with other requirements and would visit the two farms once each summer. A crewleader’s day might have some significant downsides too. On rainy days the people could not work in the fields and all must go home disappointed without earning any pay. Sometimes it rains at noon and the workers only make a half-day’s wages. But some gang bosses manage to compensate for their rainy day losses by running food businesses that sell meals to their workers from their own food trucks roaming around out in the fields. The Weymouth Road Farm’s parking lot at the end of the day seemed like a combination of a carnival food bizarre and an amateur sporting event in progress. Tomas Aguire’s wife and brother and Francisco Fuentes’ wife would sell tacos and burritos from their enclosed food trucks, Ricky’s Tacos and Franco’s Tacos respectively. Other relatives of crewleader’s would set up shop and vend food, chicken, cold soda, snacks and clothes from various homemade stalls or improvised benches and tables set up along the parking lot’s perimeter. In the meantime children would play impromptu games of touch football and soccer in the center of the huge dirt parking lot until the crewleaders finally arrived with their cash payrolls. Then everyone would quit their preoccupations and get in line to receive their daily wages. In 2003 (my last year at Atlantic Blueberry) the Weymouth Farm had an empty field next to the parking lot seeded and management installed soccer nets to allow for crews to compete against each other in friendly competition. And a baseball field still existed on the Weymouth plantation where Puerto Ricans from Farm Number #2 would play softball (and sometimes hardball) against its rival home field opponents. I had witnessed and experienced some rather amusing and crazy things during my eighteen-year-tenure at Atlantic Blueberry Company. One July morning in the mid-1970s a black man and woman pulled up to Field 29 on Weymouth Road where a Mexican crew was picking. The gentleman asked me if any black crews were on the farm. “No!” I politely answered. “The only black crew belongs to Frances Dantzler over at the May Landing Division Farm. Her pickers call her Miss Frances.” “What’s your name?” the man requested. “John!” I stated. “I’m the field manager in charge of crewleaders here!” I proudly added. “Well John, could you give me directions to the other farm you mentioned?” the concerned fellow asked. “This woman wants to work.” I provided accurate directions to the Black Horse Pike Farm and later that afternoon when I arrived there to pick up the yellow pay slips Miss Frances, a Bible toting chapter and verse quoter and a notorious stern disciplinarian accosted me at the guard’s gate situated between the parking lot and the plantation. “John, what’s the big idea of you sending that woman over here to my field this mornin’?” Miss Frances demanded. “The man she was with asked me if I knew of any black crews working and yours was the only one,” I innocently and defensively replied, “so naturally I explained to the guy how to get to the Mays Landing Farm.” ‘Well John, for your information that black man was a lousy pimp and the lady that wanted work was a prostitute!” Miss Frances chastised. “The next time someone wants to work for me please call Lopez on the radio so that I can meet them at the parking lot gate. I’m a faithful churchwoman John! I’m sure you know that! I don’t tolerate no guff, drinking, drugs or sex in my field from anyone! Ya’ hear what I’m sayin’!” “Yes Miss Frances!” I answered with embarrassment and regret showing all over my crimson face. Once I was driving a New Jersey state inspector around the enormous Weymouth Farm to show him that portable bathrooms had been placed next to all fields being picked that day. No sooner did I finish boasting to the examiner how organized and efficient the farm was having six portable toilets on six different wagons that Modesto Flores would move around the mammoth farm to new fields. Soon the state inspector and I observed something that rendered itself as being rather humiliating to me. An old Mexican was washing his arms and face splashing murky water onto himself from an irrigation canal while a companion was urinating into the same canal only three feet from the first farm laborer. “That’s a serious violation!” the Inspector yelled as he began jotting down notes describing the incident. “But both men are only ten feet away from the portable toilets!” I angrily hollered back in defense of Atlantic Blueberry’s integrity. “It’s not our fault if these uneducated workers don’t have or use common sense!” “Regardless John!” the Inspector maintained in an austere tone of voice. “All your workers must be advised of the law and how it applies to them. That’s why we require sanitary facilities with sinks and toilets in the fields. And no worker can be more than a quarter of a mile away from the portable toilets!” “Those two men were only ten feet away from the portable bathroom!” I vigorously argued. “How can the farm be responsible for individual irresponsible behavior?” “That’s for you, Modesto and the Galletta family to figure out!” the incensed Inspector shot back. “I won’t give the farm a citation this time but I assure you next time I will!” Another time I got into a heated argument with a young State Inspector in a field at the Mays Landing Farm. The over-aggressive inspector had found fault with a Cambodian kid’s working papers and brought the matter to my attention. “The school principal did not sign on the line at the bottom!” the inspector insisted. “The kid has an invalid working paper.” “Look!” I snapped back showing a degree of anger. “There are two kinds of working papers. The first kind is for kids from twelve to sixteen that pick berries out in the field. The second kind like the one you have in your hand is for kids sixteen to eighteen that work near machinery, like any kid working up in the packing house. Obviously the school made a mistake by issuing the wrong working paper to this boy. He needed to be given the field working paper that does not require the principal’s signature and not the packinghouse working paper that does.” The young inspector became quite perturbed that I knew something about his job that he didn’t. He pointed to his New Jersey Department of Labor badge hanging around his neck, which looked exactly like a regular policeman’s shield. “I’m the authority out in this field!” he boisterously and sanctimoniously hollered in my face. “And I know exactly what I’m doing!” ‘This guy is trying to badger me!’ I sarcastically concluded. As the callow inspector was busily writing out the (crewleader’s) citation for having a kid with an incomplete working paper a nasty fistfight broke out around fifty feet away. Two Cambodian roughnecks began brawling and then thrashing around in the bushes. “Aren’t you going to break up the fight?” I yelled at the already rattled inspector. “Now’s the time to use your badge and exercise your authority!” “That’s your job and not mine!” he volleyed back. “You’re supposed to be the field boss here!” I shook my head in disgust and called over the radio for emergency backup. Lopez showed up with six huge Puerto Rican associates and thanks to farm security order finally was restored and prevailed. On another occasion I was driving past “the Aqueduct” (also called “the Artesian Well”) that fed water into the Weymouth Farm’s main “grand canal.” Laotian young men had killed a twenty-foot-long black snake and were standing on opposite sides of a smaller irrigation ditch using the dead serpent as a rope in a weird game of tug-of-war. Suddenly four vernal Laotians on the losing side of the deceased snake lost their equilibrium and then plunged into the shallow-water irrigation ditch below. Another time I had come across a group of Cambodians that were roasting a small animal on a makeshift rotisserie. I decided to stop my truck and chat with them for a moment. “What’s that you’re cooking?” I asked. “Looks pretty delicious!” “Raccoon!” a young fellow answered. “Want some?” “Not really!” I laughed in total disbelief. “Where did you get it?” “Up on the highway!” a second kid replied while pointing out to Weymouth Road. “Probably run over by a truck!” “That animal might have rabies,” I warned. “What’s that?” the first Cambodian kid asked. “It’s a bad disease!” I cautioned. “Make sure you roast that animal really good before you decide to eat it!” Then one day in July of 2000 I received a call on my radio from Modesto Flores to drive out to Field 39 (Blue Crop variety) and transport a Cambodian to the dirt parking lot. “Is he sick?” I inquired over the radio. “No,” Modesto said. “Willie just called me over the radio and said that the guy ya’ gotta’ take to the gate is the owner of a car that just turned over in the parking lot.” “How did it turn over?” I inquired. “According to Willie the driver had borrowed the car from the guy you’re taking from Field 39,” Modesto explained. “The guy was drunk and my son Willie wouldn’t let him drive the car into the fields, which isn’t allowed anyway! And then to harass Willie, the crazy guy started drivin’ the car in circles real fast and then hit some soft sand and turned over! Serves him right!” “Does the guy I’m gonna’ take to the parking lot know any English?” I asked. “No!” Modesto yelled into his receiver. “And don’’t try tellin’ him anything either! We’re gonna’ kick them both off the farm as soon as I get down to the parking lot myself!” I picked up the puzzled owner of the car along with a friend and taxied them one mile down main elevated gravel roads to the dirt parking lot. During the lengthy ride the two Cambodians were conversing with each other in their native tongue and I could tell by their expressions and by their gestures that they were wondering what the present in-progress excursion was all about. A funny thing happened on the way to the parking lot (sic, forum). When we finally reached our destination the owner of the white Toyota automobile noticed his vehicle resting upside down in the white sand and much to my astonishment the owner loudly yelled at the top of his lungs, “What the hell! Oh shit!” ‘At least he knows five words of English!’ I thought with a smile decorating my facial features. When I first began working at Atlantic Blueberry in 1986 I was basically unfamiliar with the various fields and their immediate environments. High reeds, weeds and grass would grow between certain fields and several times I assumed that roads continued from one field to another and then suddenly on at least six occasions I found my truck plummeting into small canals or into irrigation ditches. Then I would call Modesto on Farm #1 or Lopez (Lopey) on Farm #2 over the radio to come by and drag me out of my entrapment using sturdy chains as towlines. But one time in the early eighties I had a really close call. I confidently and nonchalantly drove my empty bus #54 up Puerto Rican Avenue (local farm reference) on Farm #1 to “the Columbian Highway” (another local farm jargon term) that wended through a woods.’ The dirt and gravel trail led to seven distant and remote blueberry fields (located above Creek Road) that bordered on the Atlantic City Expressway. I was directed to help Mike Estrada bring the “Home Gang” to Field Number 14 (The Funny Field). Two buses doing the job could make the transportation of two hundred men a lot easier with fewer trips back and forth for the Home Gang foreman. At the end of “the Columbian Highway” was a wicked right angle curve that only a very skilled bus driver could negotiate. I cautiously and slowly approached “Deadman’s Curve” in my white #54 bus and after getting half way around I feared that I had not sufficiently cut the angle. I panicked and then gingerly backed up, not realizing that my right front wheel was passing over soft sand. The bus began sliding to the left and I feared that my vehicle was going to topple over into a large canal. Luckily the bus stopped its slide down the rugged treacherous slope but then the front door couldn’t be opened because it had become embedded in sand. Furthermore the bus’s hood and engine had tilted sideways and motor oil had leaked out and gotten onto the hot engine causing fire and smoke to escape. “I’m trapped inside!” I distressfully yelled to Mike and George Estrada over the radio. I attempted squeezing out one of the side windows of the old refurbished school bus but my body was too big and bulky. I tried escaping out the back door but it was rusty and would not open. Meanwhile smoke billowed and fire raged out from the bus’s very hot motor. Then I remembered that there was an axe under the driver’s seat and I was about to smash my way out of the back door when an alert Mexican managed to open the hood and throw handfuls of sand inside, thus effectively smothering the fire. A farm front-end-loader was summoned and it dragged the bus out of its precarious entrapment. Once back on level ground I finally was able to open the door and thank my rescuers. ‘Thank heaven that the bus wasn’t jammed with fifty screaming hysterical Mexicans!’ I solemnly thought. In the summer of ‘99 a tremendous-sized septic truck came rumbling onto Farm #1 to empty and service the several dozen portable toilets strategically stationed between various fields being picked. Apparently the in-a-hurry driver was behind schedule and he was speeding in the monster vehicle down the parking lot entrance road, which was elevated eight feet or so above parallel canals that existed alongside the hard gravel road. All of a sudden the immense truck’s right front wheel hit a soft spot and before the speeding driver could steer the out-of-control “Honey Wagon” in the opposite direction the vehicle’s great weight made it skid and then wildly flip sideways down into the right-ride canal. I was the first responder on the scene and I stopped my vehicle on the gravel road, fearing that the septic truck driver had been killed, seriously injured or was unconscious. “Hey, are you okay?” I yelled down into the canal. “Please answer me!” No response was forthcoming so I figured I should radio for help. After a third holler I noticed a hand and then a body slowing emerging from the driver’s side of the cab, which was partially submerged in water so to me the fellow appeared exiting from a submarine hatch. The disoriented but unscathed driver climbed sideways out of the vehicle’s open window and a half hour later two large farm bulldozer operators collaborated to extricate the massive septic truck from the brackish-water canal. Luckily for the truck’s navigator on that particular morning the ditch was not filled to its seven-foot-deep capacity. On the Fourth of July in 2002 Modesto Flores summoned me over the radio to come to Field Number 23 (Duke Variety) in a hurry and to bring several large sheets of cardboard and a blanket from the office “on the double.” I immediately sped my truck towards the packinghouse. “What’s wrong?” I nervously asked into my radio. “What’s going on Mo?” “A Mexican lady is having a baby and you and me are gonna’ be the doctors until an ambulance arrives!” Modesto screamed in a panic-oriented voice. I rushed to the office, obtained the aforementioned blanket, threw two sheets of cardboard in the back of my company truck and raced out to Field Number 23. Dr. Modesto was in the process of delivering the baby and its head was already sticking out of the woman’s womb. I laid the cardboard down and handed Modesto the blue blanket. “Quick John!” Modesto ordered as I gazed in amazement at the spectacle before me. “Go out on Weymouth Road in front of the packinghouse and wave down the ambulance that’s been called. Have them follow you to this field!” I did as instructed and when the Hamilton Township emergency paramedics arrived I led them to the scene of confusion. When the rescue squad unit’s vehicle came to a halt I noticed that the baby had already been delivered by Dr. Modesto’ and that the infant was being cuddled in its mother’s arms with the umbilical cord still attached. The woman and her newborn were immediately conducted to a nearby hospital to receive professional care. ‘Thank God they’re weren’t any complications!’ I thought. “Modesto has performed a minor miracle!” My daily routines with Atlantic Blueberry Company were conducted from mid-June to August 1, the length of the main blueberry harvest. The company raised over twenty varieties of berries with Dukes, Bluettas and Blue Crop being the most popular and abundant varieties. Many of the varieties were developed on Farm #1 under the supervision of the Agricultural Department of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. In fact the Duke name originated from Arthur “Duke” Galletta,” one of Atlantic Blueberry’s founders. The large and hearty Dukes had replaced the early-season Weymouth and Collins varieties that were popular and prevalent in the 1950s, ‘60s and early ‘70s. The last variety’ of the season were the Elliotts, a tart berry used mostly for making pies and jellies. The Elliotts were handpicked a second time around August 10th and then machine picked a final time thereafter. My workday started at around 5:30 a.m. and lasted until 5:30 p.m. seven days a week for eight action-packed consecutive weeks. I only had off when it rained since the pickers couldn’t work in the field, which in total amounted to around six days each summer. And I drove my company truck between the two farms and through dirt fields with dusty roads putting on an average of eighty miles on the odometer each and every day. The crews of various nationalities had to be kept in separate fields far apart from each other in order to avoid conflicts. The Laotians didn’t mix too well with the Vietnamese, who also had problems with the Cambodians. And the Mexicans didn’t get along too well with the Guatemalans, and several times while driving around “troubleshooting” I had to send out a “Mayday” for help to break up altercations that would instantly flare up. In a matter of five minutes twenty farm trucks would converge on the scene of alarm to calm matters down. Two crewleaders that hated each other were Laotians Inxay Pathotagong and Khammy Pathong, who both claimed to speak ten languages including Chinese, English and Cambodian. Inxay (pronounced “In-sigh”) claimed to be a tank gunner in Laos during the time of the Vietnam War and Khammy (pronounced Ka-my) claimed that Inxay was nothing more than a flunky foot soldier and jeep driver working for him when Pathong was a Captain in the Laotian Army. I tended to believe Khammy’s version of their Southeast Asia relationship because I knew that Inxay started out at Atlantic Blueberry as a field driver and loader for Khammy and then after gaining experience demonstrated his propensity for free enterprise and started his own crew and became a “gang leader” on his own initiative. That for all intent and purpose explains the tremendous rift and fundamental animosity between the two strong-minded individuals. Both Khammy and Inxay always wore paramilitary clothing and heavy combat boots and had gold-framed front teeth showing in their mouths. The two carried knives concealed inside pocket sheaths that dangled from their waist belts. And with the strange farm environments having plenty of canals, ditches, high reeds, thousands of blueberry bushes and military jets from the nearby Pomona National Guard Air Base (located right next to Atlantic City Airport) practicing flight maneuvers above Atlantic Blueberry (with all of the Oriental and Mexican pickers peering up at the A-10 Warthog jets) the place actually at times seemed like a foreign country to me. The Galletta family made sure that they assigned Inxay to Farm #1 and Khammy to the Route 322 Mays Landing Division to keep the two dedicated enemies eight miles apart from one another. Inxay would often hop up on the back of a pickup truck in Farm #1’s dirt parking lot and violently yell out instructions to his scared workers in his native language as if he were Pol Pot or a formidable military general laying out battle plans to his hundred intimidated troops grouped below and around him. But Khammy once told me that he had worked closely with the CIA in Laos during the Vietnam War and that Inxay had never had the opportunity or the courage to shoot or kill anyone. “Did you ever kill anyone?” I respectfully and warily asked Khammy. “Yes, I kill many, many people!” Khammy tersely answered. “Did you shoot them with a rifle or pistol?” I sincerely inquired. “No!” Khammy curtly replied. “I kill at least a hundred people with my knife!” the maniac indicated as he removed his sharp weapon from his belt sheath and exhibited it to me. “I cut their throat like this!” he exclaimed as he gestured menacingly while wielding his knife. “Okay Khammy, I believe you!” I remarked with great apprehension and feigned admiration. “Now you’re living in America so please put your knife away.” Khammy had at least twenty-five red-bandanna Bloods working in his crew, which consisted mostly of a South Philly’ Oriental street gang whose tattooed members looked both fearsome and gruesome. One day at around 5 p.m. a New Jersey State Trooper followed a gang member off of Route 322 into Farm #2’s parking lot with his patrol car’s overhead red lights flashing. No sooner did the trooper come to a halt when twenty or so Blood’ Cambodians surrounded his patrol vehicle and the thugs began throwing cherry bombs and firecrackers onto and underneath the cop’s car. The young trooper panicked and called for backup and in a matter of three minutes at least twenty State Trooper and Hamilton Township Police cars converged on the parking lot to successfully quell the disturbance. One day vindictive Khammy surprisingly showed up on Farm #1 and drove out to Inxay’s field, took out a rifle and hostilely began shooting at his prime foe. Inxay fled for cover inside a field of tall blueberry bushes. The State Labor Inspectors had heard about the incident and issued five citations to Khammy citing the rifle confrontation along with other more minor outstanding labor-related violations the wily crewleader had accumulated. “Look Frank,” I told the Chief Inspector before Khammy’s hearing inside his partitioned office in the State of New Jersey Hammonton Labor Building, “this crazy guy Khammy is not wrapped too tight. Don’t trigger him off or else he might have a flashback to Laos during the Vietnam War and then become volatile and uncontrollable! In fact,” I elaborated, “Khammy confided to me that he had personally slit at least a hundred people’s throats back in Laos and had mercilessly killed them without showing any conscience or remorse!” “Look John,” the Chief Inspector calmly answered, “he’s in the United States now and the rule of law prevails here. And besides,” the Chief Inspector bragged, “I myself was in the U.S. Army and I know how to defend myself if it is necessary!” The scheduled hearing commenced in a placid manner for the first ten minutes but when Khammy learned that the State of New Jersey was going to fine him five hundred dollars and revoke his Crewleader’s license, the dysfunctional Laotian felt threatened and was provoked to take action. Khammy stood up and much to the Chief Inspector’s astonishment and consternation removed his sharp knife from his belt sheath and then almost instantaneously lunged at the Chief Inspector, who spontaneously fled the room as if he were a rattled rabbit while I stupidly and foolishly wrapped my arms around Khammy’s shoulders to prevent him from pursuing after his newly-declared adversary. But I must confess that Khammy had excellent discipline over his crew of Bloods, who all feared him worse than they feared either a hundred’ Los Angeles or South Philly’ blue bandanna Crips. His pickers always sent quality berries to the loading dock and his pay slips were always done correctly with hardly ever an error to be found. Khammy was organized and conducted his field as if it was a sophisticated military staging area, but the State of New Jersey and its Labor Department Inspectors viewed the dangerous and unpredictable cold-eyed surreptitious Pathong as if he were an FBI “Most Wanted Criminal.” In the winter of 2001 Khammy and three henchmen slipped into a Philadelphia factory where Inxay was managing a work crew and maliciously jumped his avowed rival, wantonly beating Pathatogong up badly. Police warrants were issued for Khammy’s arrest and the last I have heard of him the itinerant maverick is reported to be a fugitive from justice hiding out in either Alabama or Mississippi operating a fish store. The following summer Inxay (with his characteristic mercurial temper) had a disagreement with one of the owners of Atlantic Blueberry Company and the temperamental crewleader was promptly dismissed from the farm. Rumor has it that the Laotian now is the proprietor of an Oriental food store in West Philadelphia and his somewhat reputable new business caters to former Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian Jersey blueberry pickers. I presume with a degree of certainty that Khammy Pathong is not one of Inxay Pathatogong’s current steady customers. Similar Papers Farm Experience Hi! Today I wish to share my farm experience with you. Last month I visited farm fields several times. There I got an opportunity ... coming from the mint. I saw that while walking through fields I had reached the mint farming area. All the atmosphere ... Animal Farm Essay ... killing of other animals on Animal Farm until that day.The animals thought they remembered a ... of the farm. A week or so later the sheep returned. That day they noticed ... lower animals and take control of the farm, by showing the steady increase of the ... Quail farm ... chicken meats. This case study is conducted at Montoya Quail Farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Montoya. It is located at ... back then quail eggs were just sold in the streets, bus terminal, Chinese restaurant and schools. Quail (coturnix coturnix) commonly ... Animal Farm 22 ... sure that none was left in the field.In the second to last section I ... spread the word about the rebellion to other farms. The horses are placed here for their ... Squealer is very use full on the farm especially to Napoleon, because Squealer in the ... ... bed with sheets. As time passes lots of people around farms have heard about this animal farm. Mr.Jones tries to get other ... the animals. They went with out eating for about two days before they did anything. Finally they got mad and when ... Essay On Animal Farm ... is the pigs did not work on the field; they were making plans, giving speeches, ... introducing the myth about enemies of the farm. Eventually, the category of enemies comprised ... it urged animals to unite for the day when Rings shall vanish from our noses ... Types of Papers Homeworks School works American Art biology Book Reports Business chemistry computers Creative Writing Crime Culture Economics economy Education Employment English Ethics Family Films Finance Food Health History History Other india Language Literature Management Marketing medicine Miscellaneous music Philippines Philosophy Politics Poverty Psychology religion School Science Social Issues Sociology Story Technology war Writing All Papers Are For Research And Reference Purposes Only. You must cite our web site as your source. Copyright © 2019 , EduCheer.com	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1172
__label__wiki	0.587045	0.587045	Oxxy plans to set up India’s largest hospital chain Oxxy, one of India’s leading healthcare networks, is planning to set up the country’s largest hospital chain and make its mark across country’s metropolitan cities. Oxxy describing about its venture ByGod Hospitals in an statement said that the ByGod Hospitals has aggregated over 20 hospitals in the National Capital Region and is now planning to expand in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Describing about the company’s vision and its future plans, Pankaj Gupta, Founder, Oxxy, said, “The vision is to become India’s largest hospital chain by end of this year.” Stressing further on the standards of ByGod Hospitals, Co-founder Sheetal Kapoor said,” A patient will always find certain standardisation at ByGod Hospitals such as a personal guide, clean toilets, and bedsheets, transparency of rates and free parking. ByGod Hospitals are different as they give patients accessibility to search across different medical streams and look for doctors with the right qualification and experience.” “Patients can make an appointment online and can access records from anywhere in the country. To make the journey of the patients interesting, they would get free wi-fi connection for the entire duration at the hospital,” she said. Commenting on the company’s mission, she added, “Our mission is to build the largest transparent hospital chain which is affordable for patients of every status. We aim in providing an accessible and convenient process flow for all the patients to book appointments and financially plan their tests/ treatment or surgery in advance.” Scientists develop device to detect bacteria in minutes Centre approves Genomics Laboratory in Allahabad University	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1174
__label__cc	0.550556	0.449444	Let's Talk +92 51 111 11 1818 Sales Enquiries Register Your Interest The heartbeat of Eighteen is the Club, a modern masterpiece with a central location overlooking the 18-hole championship course. It is the home of golf at Eighteen and will also be the social and entertainment hub of the development. Offering scenic views of the lakes and fairways, it is a favorite spot for dining, drinks at sunset on the rooftop terrace, a range of leisure activities or simply as a place to unwind. Other sporting facilities include a cricket pitch, squash courts, a sports hall, swimming pool, pro shop, yoga studio and a cigar lounge. The Square at Eighteen provides residents and visitors alike with exclusive high-end shopping and dining centred around a welcoming, open-air square. The selection of stores and restaurants has been curated to provide options for a range of tastes and needs, from exclusive fashion retailers to those catering to more everyday purchases, from full-service gourmet dining to casual spots for drinks or coffee. Split over three levels, The Square is the perfect spot for couples and families to dine, shop or take a relaxing stroll. The Resort at Eighteen offers premium standards that residents enjoy in a five-star boutique hotel. Limited to just 150 rooms, it provides the privacy and personal service expected from the world’s finest hoteliers. With a spa, gym, exquisite dining options and an event space capable of hosting and catering 1,000 guests, The Resort at Eighteen is unlike any other facility in the twin cities. The Clinic offers Eighteen residents both emergency and non-emergency medical facilities onsite and just moments away from their homes. With a fully equipped A&E unit, inpatient and outpatient wards, and a wide array of specialists, The Clinic is prepared to handle all medical issues directly within the development. World Class Luxury Living in Pakistan Within Close Proximity to Islamabad New Airport Get Your Home, Back Home Villas Apartments Toll Free +92 51 111 11 1818 2nd Floor, Razia Sharif Plaza, Blue Area, Islamabad - Pakistan. [email protected] +92 51 111 11 1818 © Eighteen 2019. All rights reserved. Designed & Developed by IO Digital	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1175
__label__cc	0.624323	0.375677	Jesse Klaver: be a movement for change in Europe GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver at the Groen Congress in Mechelen, Belgium. Photograph: © European Green Party Support for the Dutch GreenLeft party (GroenLinks) surged in local elections last week. It is now the biggest party in 13 towns across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam and Utrecht. GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver spoke to the European Greens about the big win and how it could be replicated across Europe.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1182
__label__wiki	0.529066	0.529066	Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” Crowded Kitchen Players is excited to announce our June show and the Lehigh Valley area premier of the comedy thriller: Adapted by Patrick Barlow From the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock Directed by Ara Barlieb The 39 Steps won Tony and Drama Desk Awards, 2008 and the BEST NEW COMEDY Lawrence Olivier Award, 2007! The 39 Steps is an incredibly fast-paced and inventive comedy adapted from Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller with a small group of actors playing over 150 roles while romping from London to the Scottish Highlands and back. June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 &18 at 8pm June 5, 12 & 19 at 2pm at McCoole’s Arts & Events Place Tickets: $18 – Adults, $14 – Seniors, $8 – Students (Cash or Check Only)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1183
__label__wiki	0.60261	0.60261	Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation v. Talukders Inc. et al. (19-cv-11369). Fantastic Sams accuses former Georgia franchisee Talukders of continuing to use Fantastic Sams’ trademarks following termination of the franchise agreement. Talukders became a franchisee in 2017, when it purchased the salon of a Sams franchisee. As part of the franchise agreement, Talkuders would be permitted to only offer, use and sell products and services that were prescribed or approved by Sams. According to the complaint, Fantastic Sams terminated the franchise agreement for cause when it discovered that Talukders was operating “unlicensed medical spas” in the franchised salons. Rather than cease using the registered marks, Sams asserts that Talukders transferred ownership of the salons to co-defendants Paula Gomez and Michelle Scott, who continue to use the “Fantastic Sams” marks or a “Fantastic Salon and Spa” mark that is asserted to be confusingly similar. Fantastic Sams asserts trademark infringement, unfair competition and breach of contract, and seeks specific performance on the contract claim. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on June 21, 2019 Categories Complaint, Contract, TrademarkLeave a comment on Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation v. Talukders Inc. et al. (19-cv-11369). Epstein v. Miller Brothers Furniture Inc. (19-cv-30082). John Epstein again sued Miller Brothers Furniture for copyright infringement related to the unauthorized use of promotional material he created for the company. Epstein had filed suit in April, alleging breach of contract in addition to copyright infringement, and Miller Brothers counterclaimed with interference with advantageous business relations and unfair competition claims. Epstein sought to add a second registration by amended complaint, but subsequently withdrew the amended complaint because the second registration had not issued prior to the initial filing of the complaint. This new complaint alleges infringement of both the new registration and the registration that was asserted in the original complaint, meaning the first registration is being asserted in both cases (although joinder of the two cases would resolve that issue). As with the initial case, this case is before Judge Mastroianni. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on June 20, 2019 Categories Complaint, Copyright, MastroianniLeave a comment on Epstein v. Miller Brothers Furniture Inc. (19-cv-30082). Uniloc 2017 LLC v. Paychex, Inc. (19-cv-11272), Akamai Technologies, Inc. (19-cv-11276) and athenahealth, Inc. (19-cv-11278). Uniloc 2017, a non-practicing entity affiliated with the original Uniloc, sued Paychex, Akamai and athenahealth, accusing each of infringing a pair of patents relating to the management and distribution of application programs to target stations on a network. The patents originally belonged to IBM, and have an odd chain of title through the PTO’s assignment page – it appears that Uniloc assigned a security interest in the patents to Fortress Credit Co. in 2014 without having first obtained title from IBM – that assignment (to Uniloc Luxembourg S.A.) was executed in 2016. The patents each claim priority to a December 1998 filing, so both have expired. The cases are all before Judge Stearns. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on June 19, 2019 Categories Complaint, Patent, StearnsLeave a comment on Uniloc 2017 LLC v. Paychex, Inc. (19-cv-11272), Akamai Technologies, Inc. (19-cv-11276) and athenahealth, Inc. (19-cv-11278). Nike, Inc. v. Puma North America, Inc. (18-cv-10876). In 2018, Nike sued Puma on seven patents related to knitted uppers for athletic shoes, and subsequently added another three newly-issued patents. Puma sought inter partes review on five of the patents and moved to stay the case pending resolution of these IPR’s, asserting that it would file another two IPR requests as soon as the rules permitted (i.e., no sooner than nine months after issuance). Judge Sorokin denied Puma’s motion to stay, noting that Puma had failed to seek post-grant review despite being in a position to do so, and that the PTO had not yet actually instituted any of the requested IPR’s. His denial was expressly based “on the present record,” suggesting that he would consider a follow-on motion when the remaining requests are filed and the PTO has acted on them. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on June 11, 2019 Categories Inter Partes Review, Patent, Sorokin, StayLeave a comment on Nike, Inc. v. Puma North America, Inc. (18-cv-10876). Rain Computing, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. (18-cv-12639). Judge Stearns denied Samsung’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, agreeing that the complaint meets the Twombly “plausibility” standard because it states the patents alleged to be infringed and the acts by which they are allegedly infringed. Rain Computing asserts that Samsung’s delivery of their apps to end user devices via an app store that requires registration and subscription to use, which are asserted to infringe Rain’s patent directed to methods and systems for delivering software to client terminals based on a subscription service. Judge Stearns held that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, even as explained by Twombly, “do not require a plaintiff to plead facts establishing that each element of an asserted claim is met.” This holding seems to be inconsistent with a pair of prior D. Mass. cases (Rampage v. Global Graphics, Judge Burroughs, and Sunrise Techs. V. Cimcon Lighting, Judge Gorton) that held that a patent plaintiff “must allege that defendant’s product practices all the elements of at least one of the claims of the subject patent.” It will be interesting to see whether Samsung will challenge this decision down the road. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on June 6, 2019 Categories Motion to Dismiss, Patent, StearnsLeave a comment on Rain Computing, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. (18-cv-12639). Minden Pictures, Inc. v. Kate-Den, Inc. (19-cv-11216). Minden Pictures accuses Lynn company Kate-Den, which does business as “Dennis the Mennis Pest Control,” of willful copyright infringement and violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Minden asserts itself to be the premier provider of rights-managed wildlife and nature stock photographs, including photos taken by Michael Durham. Minden says that Kate-Den uses Durham photographs on its website, removed the copyright management information associated with the photographs, and have failed to respond to cease and desist letters from Minden. The case is before Judge Zobel. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on June 3, 2019 Categories Complaint, Copyright, ZobelLeave a comment on Minden Pictures, Inc. v. Kate-Den, Inc. (19-cv-11216). Egenera, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc. (16-cv-11613). This case involves allegations that Cisco infringed patents related to configuring, deploying and maintaining enterprise and application servers. Earlier in the litigation, the court determined that one of the patents was directed to ineligible subject matter, and Egenera dismissed a second without prejudice following institution of inter partes review. The court held a three day bench trial on the sole issue of whether Peter Schulter, an Egenera employee, should have remained listed as an inventor of the sole remaining patent-in-suit. Schulter was removed as an inventor after Egenera relied on an internal document that predated his being hired to swear behind prior art in the IPR (which, as it turns out, was not instituted with respect to the patent). Judge Stearns found that his removal was improper. He noted that none of the named inventors, including Schulter, reviewed the internal document before signing the declarations that accompanied the change of inventor petition, instead relying on Egenera’s management and counsel that the removal of Schulter was proper. Later, the court construed the term “logic to modify said receiver to transmit said modified messages to the external communication network and to the external storage network” as a means-plus-function limitation. After reviewing internal documentation, including reviews of Schulter, the court determined that Schulter contributed to the means identified in the specification that were swept into the claim by means of 112(6). Judge Stearns identified passages in the specification that were taken from a state-of-development document authored by Schulter that post-dated Schulter’s employment and to which he contributed. Judge Stearns further considered testimony from one of the other inventors that the last-state-of-development document that pre-dated Schulter’s employment did not include information contained in the patent. Further, Egenera hired Schulter specifically to work on the servers covered by the patent This evidence was sufficient to overcome Schulter’s testimony that he was not an inventor, which was not corroborated by any contemporaneous evidence. As the court had already determined that judicial estoppel prevented Egenera from seeking to re-add Schulter as an inventor, the patent was deemed invalid, closing the case. Author dmassiplitigationPosted on May 24, 2019 Categories Inventorship, Stearns, TrialLeave a comment on Egenera, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc. (16-cv-11613).	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1189
__label__cc	0.698549	0.301451	KDE Libs Hackers to Meet for KDE Four Core Submitted by Thiago Macieira In another event in the series of meetings leading to the KDE 4.0 release, the developers of the core libraries will meet in the Norwegian woods (this bird has flown) from July 1st to July 7th. This meeting, co-sponsored by Trolltech and SUSE, is labelled KDE Four Core, as it is intended to be the direct successor of the KDE Three Beta and KDE Three meetings, that led to the refining of KDE releases 2.0 and 3.0 respectively. But, unlike those, this meeting is only one in a series of "KDE Four" meetings, that started with KDE Four Multimedia. KDE Four Core has been organised by the Technical Working Group and aims at stabilising kdelibs, kdebase and the new module kdepimlibs and to lay foundation to the porting and development of the KDE 4.0 applications. For this reason and to create a group with coherent focus, the number of developers invited was limited to 24, selected among those who are most active in the porting efforts of the target modules. The meeting has been timed so that most of the new technologies are in the Subversion repository already, but sufficient time is left for other meetings before the final "sprint", which is expected to happen during the aKademy 2006 hacking sessions. There is no doubt that Suse still support KDE :) By JC at Mon, 2006/06/26 - 5:00am Novell & KDE They'd better do that, because a lot of users (at least in the home/desktop area) prefer SUSE exactly because of the good KDE support this distro offers. Nevertheless, with 10.1 I have to say that quite a lot of ex-Ximian techologies become core components of SUSE. Which is, IMHO, not always desirable. You have to install more and more Gnome/Mono/whatever stuff. And not all that technology is really ready for the real world (see the desaster of the Red Carpet based packet manager stuff in 10.1). Therefore I'm really glad, as a devout SUSE user ;-)), that they still go strong for KDE. Re: Novell & KDE In 10.1 you can use all YaST package manager parts (including online update) without having Mono-based zmd installed/running. 10.2 will have again an update notification applet which doesn't require zmd (either susewatcher-zypp [1] written by Duncan Mac-Vicar or [2] with libzypp backend) and likely also non-Mono using sophisticated package management command line utilities. [1] http://lists.opensuse.org/archive/opensuse/2006-Jun/0526.html [2] http://en.opensuse.org/KDE_ZMD_Updater_Applet great, as all new (gtk and/or mono based) tools in Suse 10.1 just plain suck. the update applet only gives some errors, beagle is just dog-slow - i wish Novell would just fire all gnome-related hackers. It is a waste of money, I think suse 10.1 clearly shows that. They did nothing to integrate the new tools with Yast, and are duplicating loads of work. Sorry, but its just plain silly. And the bad thing about it: you'r right! Package-management is unstable and extremely slow. To slow for productive usage. (I don't recommend openSuSE 10.1 for this reason) Beagle also is slow. Although if beagle get's some fine-tuning, it may become better. I also tried banshee. Well - a lot of hype it seems. Although it's a nice application, it's speed is bad also. So my conclusion is that mono-based applications currently tend to be slow... You're dead right I'm afraid. Look at the Google Summer of Code person doing a KDE applet for ZMD. He was suitably impressed by what kdelibs had in there, and neither Novell or Suse or him needed to put any effort into doing that. Look at the resources that Novell are expending on Mono, GTK, low-level Gnome components and applications as well and you can tell how it's all going to end. It's like Microsoft with open soyrce software. Granted, it's Novell's choice, and what their managers get flashed in front of their faces, but it is merely one of the milestones that will sink them (and Suse unfortunately). By segedunum at Fri, 2006/06/30 - 5:00am I tend to agree with superstoned, though it looks pretty much like flaming if you post such a opinion online ;). So I personally wouldn't use hihs harsh words... IMHO all this Ximian stuff looked great on the paper, but the technical merits never quite matched their marketing. SUSE 10.1 (and, to state that, I don't bash the distro as a whole, I am still a SUSE fanboy ;) was a proof for this. I am glad to hear that a) SUSE still backs KDE and b) that some design decisions seem to be re-evalued. Nevertheless, there is still some Gnome Bias in SUSE, if you see, how many Gnome/GTK-dependencies some packages require. (Example: If you want to try out the "desktop agnostic" xgl, you get a whole Gnome install in dependencies). 'Example: If you want to try out the "desktop agnostic" xgl, you get a whole Gnome install in dependencies' Well, in their defense here, there's really no point in trying out xgl unless you have a window/composite manager that takes advantage of it. So far, the only such program is compiz, which has been built with the Gnome desktop in mind. All the configuration is done through gconf, which is Gnome, and requires Gnome apps if you want to configure it well. Further, the only working window decorator is the gnome one. There's no way to test drive Xgl in a purely KDE setting, at least as of yet. By Dolio at Mon, 2006/06/26 - 5:00am > (Example: If you want to try out the "desktop agnostic" xgl, you get a whole Gnome install in dependencies). That's a simple packaging problem: just move gnome-xgl-settings (which pulls in gnome-control-center and hence "the whole GNOME") into a compiz-gnome sub-package. Such splitting has be done before, like for Beagle in 10.1. This might be true. To be honest, I really don't need XGL - I just wanted to play :-). However, in many cases I have the strange feeling that nowadays I'm overly forced to install Gnome components with SUSE (no Gnome bashing intended - I just made the decision to use KDE). When I go through the list of installed packages I always wonder "why do I need gnome-vfs and stuff like that"? (I guess it's often because of OpenOffice, to be sure.) And AIGLX? By Jim Der at Mon, 2006/06/26 - 5:00am well, it was harsh, but if you've been seriously bitten by these things... I expect more from suse. they HAD a great track record, until Ximian chimed in - at least, that's how it seems to me. Yeah, that is what is my problem, too: I was used to buy, yes, really buy, every single version of SUSE since 5.something. For this money (not too much money, admittedly) I got a very well designed, smoothly running distribution, which - for my use - was always better than all other distros on the market at the given time. All was coherent, I could always laugh at the kind of Unix-archaic problems users of other distros had - and KDE was always the default and a good choice. But SUSE 10.1 fails to fulfill the quality criterias that I'm used to apply to SUSE distros - and disturbingly, mostly it is because of the integration of Gnome/Ximian technologies. This is no flaming, this is the way I see it as a longtime SUSE user. And, but this is another flamewar, I would gladly pay a few bucks every half year to get the (controversially semi-free but always ahead-of-the-pack) SUSE distribution of old times back :(. I completely agree. It seems they threw out the “if it ain't broke, don't fix it” for politics. Sad, as SuSE was about technical workmanship before politics :( Maybe (I hope) they'll correct their course for the next release. If I learnt that those ximian employees were looking for jobs, I'd feel something between relieved and happy... By hmmm at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am > Sad, as SuSE was about technical workmanship before politics :( Yeah, and Ximian is all about politics. Not a good match. I've tried to use every single version of Evolution for almost 10 years now and i have yet to see it work for 15 minutes of real life use. Where's the quarantee that given 10 more years it would work at some point? What is the amount of $$ that will make it work? Will it ever make it without some serious G rework? Some things in Kontact are arguably more arcane to use, but it generally works well enough for daily use [ with exchange connectivity being the biggest usability concern ] no matter which distribution and/or setup you run it in. If Kontact would only have had fraction of the money that evo has had.. That said, all comments here about SUSE 10.1 seems perfectly valid to me - luckily, 10.1 is the first SUSE distribution in years I didn't pay for, as it wasn't too hard to see what was coming. It has been extremely annoying to hack around all the zmd issues it has. By Anonymous Coward at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am "I've tried to use every single version of Evolution for almost 10 years now and i have yet to see it work for 15 minutes of real life use." Umm, it was only started at the tail end of 1999. Ever think that the problem is not Evolution, but yourself? Many people have no problem getting it to work for more than "15 minutes of real life use". You clearly just suck. By bob at Fri, 2006/06/30 - 5:00am "Umm, it was only started at the tail end of 1999." Almost ten years. "Ever think that the problem is not Evolution, but yourself? Many people have no problem getting it to work for more than "15 minutes of real life use". You clearly just suck." Depends. Circa 2001 Evolution was just about OK as an e-mail client, because I used it full time. However, the way that it's been expanded since then to incorporate things like groupware functionality has been a bit of a disaster. The software just doesn't have the ability to grow gracefully. It's always running on empty. So, go write an email to Novell and tell them. Tell them, that as an long time costumer, a paying long time costumer, you are disgusted by the way Novell treats KDE and how the Ximian stuff destroyed the reasons to use Suse. Be open! Tell them! If you don't they will continue with that. And we really don't need another gnome-centered distribution. If I want to be treated like a noob or eternal noob or idiot (nothing wrong with noobs, but gnome's target audience does more and more look like the 'I need instructions to find my ass' crowd) I can use ubuntu... By nrgman@gmx.de at Sat, 2006/07/01 - 5:00am But please note: "_This project is not supported by Novell_" So the community tries to iron out Novell's bad decisions... which is good, but it would be better if Novell would make better decisions... By AC at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am It's not supported at the moment, but who knows what will happen? Duncan is a Novell employee and the Google SoC projects are of course also mentored by Novell employees. By Anonymous at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am The default is Gnome They aren't going strong for KDE "When companies come to Novell and say, 'I want to build a fantastic KDE application' on SUSE Linux, we say, 'that's great'. When they want to build a Gnome application, we say that's great again. But when companies come to us and say 'what should I do?' now we can give them them answer. Before we couldn't - we'd say 'you choose' and that's not really helpful. So now we can the default is Gnome." http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=artic... Re: The default is Gnome The interviewed is a monkey aka Ximian employee, they have been known to lie about Novells GNOME commitment in the past. By carewolf at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am "The interviewed is a monkey aka Ximian employee, they have been known to lie about Novells GNOME commitment in the past." Well, that's really your problem if you want to lie about the reality of the situation. The guy is director of Marketing for Open Source and Linux at Novell and that's official company policy. > The guy is director of Marketing for Open Source and Linux at Novell Small correction: he WAS director of marketing for open source and linux at novell. I think he left some weeks ago already. By monkeypoo at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am Nevertheless, he said this words as an official representative. So his statements don't loose their meaning just because he quit. As long as there is no other official representative of Novell saying something else, they are official company policy. But since he quit, it seems as if his own views did not match those of Novell as a whole. By ale at Thu, 2006/06/29 - 5:00am As nobody knows why this guy quit (or was quit), your conclusion is not necessarily right, but only one of several possible reasons. By Lcc at Fri, 2006/06/30 - 5:00am And a fat lot of good it's going to do Novell as a whole, attempting to make that kind of politically motivated decision over a desktop that doesn't amount to a hill of beans in their current circumstances. And let's face it, it's not based on technological merits. It's based on politics. One other thing to note with regards to Novell's involvement with KDE is that all of the PR material on Novell's web-site about Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop is gnome-based as is all the documentation. They have basically relegated KDE to the backburner. I think they are sincerely hoping that it will just go away. I have deployed KDE countless times and know that this decision is a politically motivated move and has little to do with the overall software quality of the KDE project. In fact, it is sad that the Ximian guys seem hell-bent on destroying KDE out of spite. In the recent past, I attended a free software lecture by Miguel de Icaza in Barcelona only to hear him spout venom for over half an hour about how terrible KDE was and how Gnome was the BMW desktop and KDE was a Yugo. Really freaking sad! I think communities are built on trust and I simply do not trust these guys anymore. By Gonzalo at Wed, 2006/06/28 - 5:00am All the documentation? Please check your 'facts': http://www.novell.com/documentation/beta/sled10/ I don't know who is trolling here... As it has been said again and again, Novell has NOT (yet?) banned KDE. So your link showing some KDE related documentation doesn't prove anything at all. (You probably will even find e.g. lpd-docs somewhere on the Novell site, even if they have long switched to cups as printer spooler. Thus the availabilty of documentation doesn't mean anything at all.) But fact is - and are you a SUSE user? - that they send out very mixed signals concerning the future course of their distro. And sometimes there are pretty big gaps between some official statements and the reality in the current distro. By AC at Thu, 2006/06/29 - 5:00am Can't there be a single posting without your drivel following up? :-( Well, as you pick out single, isolated points of other people's complaints and try to invalidate them with arguments (which mostly unfortunately miss the point and don't prove anything), that doesn't seem to surprising to me. If you completely forget about this discussion here, you might nevertheless have noticed that on IRC, mailing lists, news sites and so on the number of complaints on the way SUSE is heading has risen _significantly_ since Novell took over and especially since 10.1 has been released. Much more than the usual, unavoidable "SUSE sux, everything was better in former times" noise level. The noncritical "SUSE rulez" fanboys, on the other hand, have become a bit more hushed. And concerning the point that one Ex-Ximian employee has left Novell: You might have noticed that all the times people leave companies without this affecting the corporate policy. And even if this is so, I can very well remember that also quite a number of veteran SUSE hackers have left Novell in the last months... "They have basically relegated KDE to the backburner. I think they are sincerely hoping that it will just go away." For Icaza, I'm afraid not. The desktop situation is not going to change, just like it hasn't for the past six or seven years. In fact it has changed - KDE has got more popular. They may want to jump on this enterprise desktop fantasy world they've perpetually been in, but there it just isn't going to happen. "In the recent past, I attended a free software lecture by Miguel de Icaza in Barcelona only to hear him spout venom for over half an hour about how terrible KDE was and how Gnome was the BMW desktop and KDE was a Yugo." He's done it in lots of places, particularly those that might threaten the crap he's come up with. The DotGNU project has had many such run-ins with him. It really is very, very said, and when you put your side of something he then tries to cast you as a bit of a zealot and that he's somehow 'above it all'. Very sad, and a very strange individual, along with his mate Nat Friedman (and he's attracted a fair share of criticism from many quarters - http://natslies.blogspot.com/). Always thought Icaza was strange, and having seen him live a few times I now know he is. Wouldn't like to discuss anything or work with him. SuSE seems without direction. I am a SUSE user. I have been a SUSE user since version 6.1. I use KDE. I like it when KDE is supported by companies selling Free Software and related solutions. I am therefore pleased by Novell choosing to support the KDE Four Core conference, even if the decision came from within the SUSE division. I am a bit surprised and confused by Novell's decision to publically declare Gnome the default desktop on their new SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and accross many press releases, and then to maintain the employment of several KDE related developers and promoting KDE conferences. I am not at all willing to be anything but thankful for the support of KDE. I do wish however that what was being said by Novell representatives was clarified a bit in regards to KDE and Gnome, especially when compared to behavior. As for SUSE 10.1, I feel it has some very rough edges. The package installation capability as available by default was quite bad by most accounts. I agree with those sentiments. SUSE 10.1 though was an unofficial beta. It was the beta for the upcoming SLED 10. SUSE 10.1 provided Novell a great platform to test package management and upgrade changes, XGL, several of the new Gnome applications (banshee, F-Spot, ...), etc. Considering the ammount of heavy development going on at Novell around Linux, this was a neccessary step to ensure that the new SLED will be most likely to meet expectations in the enterprise. Also, remember that this was the first version that was done within the openSUSE system from start to finish. Right now the openSUSE team is working to complete the build service which will make the entire process more versitile and robust, but I'm sure there will be issues along the way. All of this is about taking risks and growing. Now to Trolltech, I say thank you. Thank you for QT and your other projects. Thank you for sponsoring KDE and KDE conferences. Thank you for paying the wages of KDE developers (Aaron Seigo comes to mind). To everyone not listed in my above rant who works on KDE and will be at KDE Four Core, thank you for your efforts, have a great conference. Blog please. -aodhagan By aodhagan at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am Re: SuSE seems without direction. Yes, openSUSE ist considered a beta version for the enterprise SUSE. That's OK for me. But they should clearly label it as such. I installed 10.1 at a friend's computer, who wanted to try out Linux, and I naively trusted that 10.1 would simply be a logical improvement over 10.0. The mess with the package management and other inconsistencies (NetworkManager, Beagle making the machine unresponsive etc.) drove my friend - no Linux geek obviously, but otherwise quite experienced with computers - away from Linux within a few days (OK, at least to MacOSX and not back to XP ;). Considering that many users, espacially in Europe, might try to switch to Linux with the traditionally userfriendly SUSE distro... Novell is on the best way to destroy the reputation of SUSE. Lection: You definitely can't roll out a distro with a completely f***ed up package management! That's a core component! I don't have the link here, but I remember a Novell bugzilla entry about one of the many package management related bugs, where the developer in charge closed the bug, because he could "only" reproduce it on one out of his five (or such) development computers. This sloppy attitude is exactly what SUSE did not have in former days. Problem is, that Ximian guys are running the Novell Linux department. Hey, if Novell is heading for the enterprise desktop, that's OK and probably a wise decision, but why the hell is e.g. a new MP3-player (banshee) relevant for this strategy? Why are ressources wasted for something like that? Quite obvious because somebody wants a alternative to KDE's amarok. But a MP3 player has nothing to do with enterprise desktops. Just to add to the rant... but I'm hoping that either SUSE comes back to senses (you might see this sponsoring of the KDE meeting as a sign) or Kubuntu is able to take its place... > Yes, openSUSE ist considered a beta version for the enterprise SUSE. It's not. And for sure not because SUSE Enterprise is based on every third or fourth release of it. > Problem is, that Ximian guys are running the Novell Linux department. I doubt that. Former Ximian managers like David Patrick have already left Novell. > It's not. And for sure not because SUSE Enterprise is > based on every third or fourth release of it. Maybe an Alpha then? > I doubt that. Former Ximian managers like > David Patrick have already left Novell. Others haven't, so your point is right but inconclusive. By aac at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am > Maybe an Alpha then? Please troll elsewhere... c'mon, it's sad, but he is right. After upgrading my suse 10.0 laptop, things got worse in almost every aspect. I've not been able to install any software, the upgrade tool gives cryptic errors. Sorry, but 10.1 is a disastrous release, while 10.0 was already worse than the 9.x series. By superstoned at Tue, 2006/06/27 - 5:00am I don't know if you are a SUSE user. Only in this case you could maybe take part in this discussion, if not, it is you who is trolling... I think this discussion is not misplaced here, as this dot news article once again shows Novell's strange ambiguity concerning the SUSE distribution. Not only, but especially, concerning the desktop question. Go for Ximian/Gnome, but give the KDE community some hope sometimes in order not to drive away all the old customers maybe? Many long time users of SUSE are simply wondering what is going on. Considering the fact that SUSE was always the distro I could wholeheartedly recommend, recent releases have been significant steps backward. Not only because of the desktop question, but also in terms of software engineering quality. Sometimes it seems like only some committed Novell employees keep alive not only KDE, but also the traditional SUSE spirit, against corporate policy. Clarification of this impression still pending. > Clarification of this impression still pending. I couldn't agree more. Facts with SUSE are that: - any sense of direction seems completely missing (marketing gives mixed signals and does NOT indicate what the company is aiming for) - software engineering quality has dropped significantly - amount of software produced has went through the roof (they try to do everything and the kitchen sink) This sure sounds like a best possible way to destroy a company. Given a mess like this, why would anyone buy SUSE? What is it good for? > I don't know if you are a SUSE user. Only in this case you could maybe take part in this discussion As you can see I can take part in this discussion without you knowing who I am and without your accreditation. If you don't understand the "two desktops, GNOME being the default" message I cannot help you. My guess is that you would rather like to see KDE development, shipping and support stopped at Novell to see your conspiracy theories proven. As a SUSE user, following the relevant mailing lists, you would know what the discussion is about. So I didn't intend to insult you, I just wanted to point out that the core of the discussion is maybe better understandable for SUSE users. It's not only the desktop question, it's the general lack of coherency and quality of SUSE since Novell took over. As a longtime user of SUSE one has become accustomed to quite high standards. OK, in every release there where one, two minor annoyances (mostly fixed soon thereafter), but recent versions show a really dramatic decrease of quality (still better than many others, though). Concerning conspiracy theories: Well, the citations of Novell managers have been posted often enough, even here in this thread. Reading them leaves the users pretty disoriented as how to Novell will pursue its distribution. That's no conspiracy, that's fact. And based on the facts, the average annoyed SUSE user is allowed to make his speculations as to what the reasons for this chaos are... I think he ( and I) would like to see KDE as the default, as it used to be, when Suse was a REAL distro ( and arguably, the best). To address your previous assertion of the ximian mgmt having left, I think he was referring to the fence-crossers. They are still there and are converting everyone else. I think you are either too stupid to know the truth or you know it and are trolling KDE boards. I have met RH developers ( I live in Raleigh, NC) - I know how they feel about KDE and what RH and other gnome proponents would like to do to KDE. I have already made up my mind - if Gnome is the sole desktop remaining on linux, I would rather use windows. By vm at Thu, 2006/06/29 - 5:00am And I think that the guy behind "AC", "ac", "aac" and "Anonymous Coward" is in reality a developer of a with SUSE competing distribution... who cares ? At this time, I wouldn't worry about competition among linux vendors - the opportunities are plenty and they haven't even scratched the surface. I think that the problem with linux on desktop is that the US morons have banded together to push the $hitty gnome over KDE for years. Eventually gnome might become 'good enough' but OS-X and windows would have moved on. No customers are clamouring for gnome or even linux on desktop. The intertia and momentum heavily favours windows. Heck, even apple hasn't been able to capture a bigger slice of the desktop - do you think people give a $hit about gnome, or for that matter, KDE ? There MIGHT have been a chance for linux if, 5 years ago, RH, Sun and others threw their resources to make KDE better. Perhaps, even buy QT and make it O.S. as they did with open office. But stupidity seems to reign rule among m$ competitors. By vm at Fri, 2006/06/30 - 5:00am Would the comments be more plausible to you if they would have been posted as "Paris Hilton", "Linux Torvalds", "Albert Einstein" or so ;)? Wouldn't make any difference, because anybody can take on any name to post here, so you could consider taking the nick "AC" more honest... ;). Apart from that I think your conspiracy theory is complete and utter nonsense. I'm trying very hard to image Redhat, Ubuntu, Debian and Mandriva software engineers spending their time at dot.kde.org in order to smash SUSE - but I just can't ;). Another possibility is that the complaints here about the direction Novell is pushing SUSE conatin some grain of truth?! By Another AC at Fri, 2006/06/30 - 5:00am As you say, anyone can pick the name they want and post with it... and obviously it is more honest a true AC that a false "Bill Gates"... so here I am... feeling the rechiest man in the world for a sec or two... BTW... I will take advantage of this opportunity and tell everybody a little secret... M$ (The company that I rule) sucks... we keep on top just because we have a LOOOOT of money, we pay hardware folks to make things as obscure as possible for you linux folks and to make almost impossible to get any piece of hardware working on Linux... And remember, we pay a GOOOODDD deal of money to Corel so they stop the development of CorelDRAW suite for linux!!!! Jejeje, I RULE THE WORLD!!!! PD: To probe my identity, I attach a photo of myself! :P By Bill Gates at Sat, 2006/07/01 - 5:00am >> Maybe an Alpha then? > Please troll elsewhere... I'm not trolling at all. It's just a matter of logic. The guy's proof of non-beta was flawed. And please excuse my language and only mind the matter. Not all (bad) jokes are trolls. By aac at Wed, 2006/06/28 - 5:00am	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1192
__label__cc	0.697989	0.302011	AT&T Unix PC This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) The 3B1 (also known as the PC7300, or Unix PC) was a Unix workstation computer originally developed by Convergent Technologies (later acquired by Unisys), and marketed by AT&T in the mid- to late-1980s. Despite the name, the 3B1 had little in common with AT&T's other 3B-series computers. 3B1 / PC7300 / Unix PC Convergent Technologies Professional Computer 5¼-inch floppy disks, optional quarter-inch cartridge tapes AT&T Unix v3.51 Motorola MC68010 with custom Memory management unit clocked at 10Mhz 512KB to 4MB RAM Optional 10MB, 20MB, 40MB, and 67MB hard drives 720x348 pixel resolution Keyboard, 3-button Mouse Hardware configurationEdit Exterior of the AT&T 3B1 10 MHz Motorola MC68010 (16 bit external bus, 32 bit internal) with custom, discrete MMU Internal MFM hard drive, originally 5 MB, later models with up to 67 MB At least 512K RAM on main board, expandable via expansion cards 3 expansion slots Monochrome green phosphor 10-inch (250 mm) monitor Internal 300/1200 bit/s modem PC7300Edit The initial PC7300 model offered a modest 512 KiB of memory and a small, low performance 5 MB hard drive. This model, although progressive in offering a Unix system for desktop office operation, was underpowered and produced considerable fan and drive bearing noise even when idling. The modern-looking "wedge" design was innovative, and in fact the machine gained notoriety appearing in many movies as the token "computer."[citation needed] AT&T 3B1Edit A later enhanced model was renamed "3B1". The cover was redesigned to accommodate a full-height 67 MB hard drive. This cover change added a 'hump' to the case, expanded onboard memory to 1 or 2 MB, as well as added a better power supply. Operating systemEdit Video of an AT&T PC7300 booting AT&T PC7300 compiling and running a C program The operating system is based on Unix System V Release 2, with extensions from 4.1 and 4.2 BSD, System V Release 3 and Convergent Technologies. The last release was 3.51. Programming languagesEdit SMC BASIC RM COBOL RM FORTRAN LPI FORTRAN LPI Pascal (programming language) LPI C (programming language) SVS FORTRAN SVS Pascal AT&T BASIC GNU C++ dBASE III Application softwareEdit SMART System (Office Suite) dBASE III (DBM) Informix (DBM) Oracle (DBM) Multiplan (Spreadsheet) Word processorsEdit AT&T Word Processor Crystalwriter WordStar 2000 Samna Word WordMarc SMART Word Processor GamesEdit Klondike [1] Mahjongg [2] UtilityEdit HoneyDanBer UUCP package. Various Shells: Bourne, C, and Korn SPICE/NUTMEG (circuit simulation tool)[3] The StoreEdit The Store is a public domain software repository which was available for all 3B1 users.[4] Expansion CardsEdit DOS-73 8086 co-processor card running MS-DOS, which could be fitted with an 8087 math co-processor chip. This board was designed and built for AT&T by Alloy Computer Products of Framingham MA. RAM card could be added using 1 or 2 MB RAM cards (up to a maximum of 4 MB) EIA/RAM combo cards contained extra RAM and two RS-232 serial ports. Dual EIA port card StarLAN 1Mbit/s LAN card Ethernet 10 Mbit/s LAN card VoicePower card allowed for the capture and digital recording of voice conversations. Tape drive card provided interface for 23 MB MFM Tape Cartridge Drive. Expansion chassis card was hard-wired to Expansion Chassis (with five added slots) NetworkingEdit StarLAN – 1 MB/s local area network typically used in star format. 3B Computers AT&T 6300 Plus DEC Professional (computer) IBM RT PC IBM System 9000 AT&T Leapfrogs IBM WIth the Unix PC., InfoWorld, April 15, 1985, pp. 15–17 The AT&T Unix PC, article from BYTE magazine Volume 10 Number 05: Multiprocessing (May 1985), pp. 98–106 comp.sys.3b1 FAQ AT&T 3B1/7300 (UNIX PC) Information AT&T UNIX PC at old-computers.com http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/att/3b1/ http://www.unixpc.org ^ http://unixpc.taronga.com/games/ ^ http://unixpc.taronga.com/comp.sources.3b1/volume01/ ^ http://unixpc.taronga.com/misc/ ^ http://unixpc.taronga.com/STORE/ Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AT%26T_Unix_PC&oldid=899559122"	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1197
__label__wiki	0.902762	0.902762	I Am a Singer (Chinese TV series) For the recent season, see Singer 2019. Find sources: "I Am a Singer" Chinese TV series – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article has an unclear citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. (May 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. Please help by spinning off or relocating any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against Wikipedia's inclusion policy. (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) I Am a Singer (Chinese: 我是歌手; pinyin: Wǒ Shì Gēshǒu) is a Chinese reality show broadcast on Hunan Television. It is based on the Korean show of the same name. Each week seven talented and well-known singers perform for a selected audience, who vote for their favorites. The singer with the fewest votes is eliminated and another singer joins the competition the following week, with the lineup of artists constantly changing throughout the series.[1] I Am a Singer logo (Chinese) Chinese: 我是歌手; pinyin: Wǒ Shì Gēshǒu Hu Haiquan (Season 1 (except Episode 2 and Grand Finals) and 2 (Semi-Finals, 2014 Biennial Concert)) Chen Yufan (Season 1, Episode 2) Sha Baoliang (Season 1 Grand Finals), He Jiong (Seasons 1-2 Finals, Season 4-), Wang Han (Seasons 1-3 Finals) Phil Chang Yu (Season 2, Episode 1–10) Liao Fan (Season 2, Breakouts) Leo Ku (Season 3, Episodes 1-7) Sun Nan (Season 3, Episodes 8–11 and Breakout), Shen Mengchen (Season 3 Biennial Concert) Hacken Lee (Season 4, Episodes 1–11) Kim Ji-mun, Su Yunying, Chao Chuan, Shin, Daichin Tana, Guan Zhe, Elvis Wang, Wang Yang, Joey Yung, Jeff Chang (Season 4 Breakout) Liu Ye (Season 6-) Angela Chang (Season 6, Episodes 1-12, Breakouts) Wu Tsing-fong (Season 7, main competition) Hong Tao (Season 7, Pre-challenge Face-off) Theme music composer Kubert Leung Original language(s) Standard Chinese No. of series 84 (13 presumed) Hong Tao Production location(s) Chang Sha 2 hour 10–20 minutes HBS: Hunan Television 576i (16:9 and 4:3) (SDTV), 1080p (HDTV) 18 January 2013 – Korea: I Am a Singer The program was first taped on 10 January 2013 and premiered on 18 January 2013. In 2016 the program's name was changed to Singer (Chinese: 歌手; pinyin: Gēshǒu), and the rules of the competition were changed to eliminate a singer in each episode.[2] The seventh and recent season of I Am a Singer, entitled Singer 2019, began filming on January 4, 2019, premiered on January 11, 2019 and ended on April 12, 2019.[3] Competition rulesEdit Each round of I Am a Singer had seven initial singers (eight in Seasons 4 and 5) who performed for a 500-member audience each week. The order that they performed was determined through ballot or based on prior performances, depending on each week. Each audience member then cast votes for the top three singers of their preference, and these votes were tabulated to determine each singer's placement for the night. Since season 7, with the implementation of Electronic voting (which was conducted thrice throughout the show), each scores accounted a 50% weightage towards final results. The competition was usually divided into four or five rounds, each consisting of usually non-elimination "Qualifiers" and "Knockouts". The votes for both rounds were combined and the singer who ranked last was eliminated from the competition. Eliminated singers were entitled to a Returning Performance on the next show and a chance to return to the competition via the Breakout Round, though eliminations could also be cancelled if another singer chose to withdraw from the competition, or if any contestant was given a bye due to health conditions. At the end of each round, a new singer would take the place of the eliminated/withdrawn singer and the competition cycle would repeat until the last knockout round (dubbed "Ultimate Knockouts") was completed. At the end of the episode a table was usually shown to indicate the rankings. As part of the "2+1" format introduced in Season 3, the "Challenge" round followed each Knockout round, where the number of rounds was usually one less than that of Knockout rounds. A new singer (dubbed as "Challenger") would substitute for an eliminated singer during the start of the round, and was given a challenge in which the singer was required to beat a majority of the singers (finishing within top four or better) in order to stay in the competition. If the challenger fails, he or she would be automatically eliminated; otherwise the remaining singers were eligible for elimination which was decided on which singers received a lower count of votes. Unlike Knockouts, the votes for the Challenge round were factored independently of other votes. Season 5 replaced Qualifiers with Challenge rounds immediately after the first Knockouts, to accommodate two substitute singers coming to the competition (one of which was a challenger). Season 6 temporarily revised the format, where the challenger enters the competition during the Knockouts and had to avoid last place on their first week in addition to finishing in the top four on the second week (in a combination of both Knockout and Challenge rounds); failing either challenge eliminated the singer immediately. However, in Season 7, due to the season-exclusive Pre-Challenge Face-off (see twists below), the challenge round format was reverted to the season 3 to 5 format, with the challenger winning the face-off immediately facing the Challenge round. The round after the Ultimate Knockout round was the "Breakout" round (called "Revival" round in Season 1), which featured eliminated singers (except for withdrawn singers) performing for a chance to reinstate in the competition and take part in the finals. In Season 1, all of the remaining singers were exempt from this round, leaving eliminated singers to compete for the only one spot in the Semi-Finals. Starting in Season 2, any remaining initial singers were exempt while the other singers had to participate the Breakout round to vie for the number of spots, which was determined by how many initial singers were exempt, in order to complete the sever-singer lineup (with the exception of season 5, with the number of finalists briefly increased to ten). The outcome was decided on which singers received a higher count of votes; singers who were successful on the "Breakouts" were qualified in the Semi-Finals or Grand Finals, while the losers were permanently eliminated from the competition. The last stage of the competition, the Finals, was usually divided into Semi-Finals and the live-broadcast Grand Finals (dubbed as "Winner of Battle"), held on two separate nights. The finalists had to sing from two to three songs (one duet and one or two solo performances), with audience voting for their performances in-between each round. For the first two seasons, the scores were weighted in favor of the final performance (30%–30%–40%), but subsequent seasons used the sum of the votes cast to determine the winner of the season (Season 6 factored only the final round instead of combined votes). The host usually announced the top candidates as "Ultimate Winner Candidates" before revealing the winner of the season. Since Season 2 (except for Season 7), a live-telecast Biennial Concert was featured to showcase the best singers of the season plus selected singers from former seasons. TwistsEdit Pot LuckEdit The viewing audience voted online for "Pot Luck" songs featured during episode 8 of Season 1. Meanwhile, each singer chose three songs which he or she did not want to sing. If the audience picked one of these songs, the singer could choose another. Pot Luck did not return after Season 2. TiebreakersEdit If the lowest combined scores were tied after an elimination round, the eliminations were postponed to the following show; the singer who received a lower vote would be eliminated regardless of overall placement, while elimination (if applicable) went ahead as normal. The first tiebreaker happened in Season 4, when two singers were tied for seventh place during the first elimination round. Hosting RolesEdit Hosting Roles were introduced in Season 3, where singers may be elected to be the show's host in addition to contesting at the same time, with the role managed by his or her manager. The role would be vacated once the singer was eliminated, and would be replaced by another singer. There were no hosting roles in Season 5, as well as in the finals. Returning performancesEdit These were exhibition performances which showcased the singers who were eliminated the previous week. Since Season 2, singers who voluntarily withdrew from the competition without performing have not been eligible for Returning performances. Singer VotingEdit Singer voting was introduced in Season 3 and removed in Season 6. Following the performances the singers could make predictions on which three singers would get the most audience votes. Guessing correctly could entitle a singer to a small advantage in the next round. These predictions were not tabulated into the final results. I Am a Singer – Who Will ChallengeEdit An online spin-off, I Am a Singer – Who Will Challenge, was produced during Season 4. The online viewing audience would cast votes for potential contestants of the broadcast show. Pre-audience VotingEdit Pre-audience Voting was introduced in Season 6 as a twist on Singer Voting. Midway through the program, when only four singers had performed, the audience members were asked to make early predictions (one vote for electronic voting) on which three singers would receive the most votes after the remaining performances of that episode. Like Singer Voting, Pre-audience Voting does not count towards the tally and has no impact onto the outcome of the competition (with one exception). Due to the implementation of electronic voting which allowed scores to be factored, the Pre-audience Voting was removed in Season 7. National's Recommended SingerEdit An online spin-off, titled National's Recommended Singer was held during Season 7. On certain time periods throughout the season, potential singers can audition and must be able to turn up for the show's arrangements set by the producers[4]. Qualified singers will then face a public vote to select a singer who will face off against a Challenger during the Knockouts in a Pre-Challenge Face-off (not broadcast on television). Unlike regular Challengers, results were done separately from other contestants (this vote was separate from the final result); the singer will qualify as a regular Challenger if he or she wins the face-off, otherwise he or she will be eliminated in addition to being ineligible to participate in the Breakouts, similar to Withdrew singers.[5] SeasonsEdit As of 2019, seven seasons have been broadcast, as summarised below. Premiere Date Finale Date No. of contestants Other Finalists [B] 1 18 January 2013 12 April 2013 12 13 Yu Quan Terry Lin N/A Winnie Hsin Huang Qishan Julia Peng Aska Yang Zhou Xiao'ou Only season to feature Pot Luck. 2 3 January 2014 11 April 2014 12 14 Gary Chaw Jason Zhang Phil Chang Bibi Zhou Introduced new Breakout round format and Biennial Concert. 3 2 January 2015 3 April 2015 13 14 Han Hong Tiger Hu Sitar Tan Sun Nan Introduced Contestant Hosting roles, Challenge Rounds and Singer Voting, and replaced weighted finals percentage with combined votes. 4 15 January 2016 8 April 2016 14 14 Jeff Chang Hwang Chi Yeul LaLa Hsu Lao Lang Hacken Lee Joey Yung First season with eight initial singers, and an online spin-off I Am a Singer – Who Will Challenge. Sandy Lam Dimash Kudaibergen Diamond Zhang Tia Ray Jason Zhang Series renamed to Singer Only season to feature returning singers from previous seasons, and first season to have an increased number of finalists. Hua Chenyu Tengger Angela Chang Henry Huo James Li Only season to feature modifications of Challenge round lasting two shows, Pre-audience Voting, and first season to feature midway eliminations in Breakout round. 7 11 January 2019 12 April 2019 17[C][D] 14 Liu Huan Wu Tsing-fong Super-Vocal finalists Yang Kun Chyi Yu Gong Linna Polina Gagarina Introduced Electronic voting feature, online spin-off National's Recommended Singer, and online voting (semi-finals only). 8 January 2020 TBA ^ Prior to Season 2, there were two "Ultimate Winner Candidates", hence there were no third-place singers. ^ Singers are listed in order of finish, or alphabetically if they were not given any ranking (starting from second round finalists). ^ The total number of contestants include three National's Recommended Singers, and losers of Pre-Challenge Face-off (which singers were ineligible for Breakouts). ^ One more singer was added on the last minute due to a contestant injury before the final elimination round of the competition. RatingsEdit See also: I Am a Singer (season 1) § Ratings, I Am a Singer (season 2) § Ratings, I Am a Singer (season 3) § Ratings, I Am a Singer (season 4) § Ratings, Singer 2017 § Ratings, Singer 2018 § Ratings, and Singer 2019 § Ratings This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2018) International BroadcastEdit Hong Kong TVB Jade 2013-2016 TVB Window 2015-2016 Aired reruns of I Am a Singer (Chinese Season 2) Taiwan GTV Variety Show 2015-present United States Sky Link TV 2016-present Simulcast Malaysia Astro Quan Jia HD 2016-present Simulcast Brunei 2018-present Singapore MediaCorp Channel U 2014-present Aired reruns of past seasons Commercial segments were edited out and advertorial logos (except for the title card) were pixelated E City 2016-present Simulcast Kazakhstan Khabar Agency 2017 Only broadcast the finals; Dubbed in Kazakh language. Many video-sharing websites, notably YouTube, had also released episodes on the Mango TV's official channel. Since Season six, English Captioning were added in the episodes. ^ ‹See Tfd›(in Korean)Description of Program, MBC, Retrieved on November 15, 2011 ^ 賀雅佳 (15 December 2016). 《我是歌手》更名《歌手》競演卻比此前任何一季都激烈 (in Chinese). people.cn. Retrieved 15 December 2016. ^ "《歌手》发声明辟谣不实阵容名单：以官宣为准". 新浪娱乐. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018. ^ "自荐踢馆，《歌手》2019还能这么玩？". 信息时报. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019. ^ "刘宇宁以超过146万票胜出". 山西晚报. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019. Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Am_a_Singer_(Chinese_TV_series)&oldid=901602584"	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1198
__label__cc	0.661704	0.338296	Wasp Or Hornet Stings Wasp or hornet stings are common, especially during the warmer months when people are outside for longer periods of time.The stings can be uncomfortable, but most people recover quickly and without complications. Wasps and hornets are equipped with a stinger as a means of self-defense and the stinger contains venom (a poisonous substance) that’s transmitted to humans during a sting. While a bee can only sting once because its stinger becomes stuck in the skin of its victim, a wasp can sting more than once during an attack. As the stingers remain intact. However, even without a lodged stinger, wasp venom can cause significant pain and irritation. Hornets have stings used to kill prey and defend hives. Hornet stings are more painful to humans than typical wasp stings because hornet venom contains a large amount (5%) of acetylcholine. Individual hornets can sting repeatedly; unlike honey bees, hornets and wasps do not die after stinging because their stingers are very finely barbed (only visible under high magnification) and can easily be withdrawn and so are not pulled out of their bodies when disengaging. The toxicity of hornet stings varies according to hornet species; some deliver just a typical insect sting, while others are among the most venomous known insects. Single hornet stings are not in themselves fatal, except sometimes to allergic victims. Multiple stings by non-European hornets may be fatal because of highly toxic species-specific components of their venom. The stings of the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) are among the most venomous known, and are thought to cause 30–50 human deaths annually in Japan. Between July and September 2013, hornet stings caused the death of 42 people in China. Asian giant hornet’s venom can cause allergic reactions and multiple organ failure leading to death, though dialysis can be used to remove the toxins from the bloodstream. The majority of people without sting allergies will show only minor symptoms during and after a wasp or hornet sting. The initial sensations can include sharp pain or burning at the sting site. Redness, swelling, and itching can occur as well. Normal local reactions: You’re likely to develop a raised welt around the sting site. A tiny white mark may be visible in the middle of the welt where the stinger punctured your skin. Usually, the pain and swelling recedes within several hours of being stung. Unless you’re allergic, most stings can be treated at home. Large local reactions: “Large local reactions” is a term used to describe more pronounced symptoms associated with a wasp or bee sting. People who have large local reactions may be allergic to wasp stings, but don’t experience life-threatening symptoms, such as anaphylactic shock. Large local reactions to wasp stings include extreme redness and swelling that increases for two or three days after the sting. Nausea and vomiting can also occur. Find out what’s happening in your body during an allergic reaction. Most of the time, large local reactions subside on their own over the course of a week or so. Let your doctor know if you have a large local reaction after a wasp sting. They may direct you to take an over-the-counter antihistamine medication (such as Benadryl) to reduce your discomfort. Having a large local reaction after a wasp sting one time doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll react to future stings in the same way. You could have one strong reaction and never show the same symptoms again. On the other hand, a large local reaction could be the way your body routinely responds to wasp stings. Try to avoid being stung to prevent these uncomfortable symptoms. Anaphylaxis following a wasp sting: The most severe allergic reactions to wasp stings are referred to as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis occurs when your body goes into shock in response to the wasp venom. Most people who go into shock after a wasp sting do so very quickly. It’s important to seek immediate emergency care to treat anaphylaxis. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to wasp stings include: Severe swelling of the face, lips, or throat Hives or itching in areas of the body not affected by the sting Breathing difficulties, such as wheezing or gasping Dizziness Sudden drop in blood pressure ightheadedness loss of consciousness Nausea or vomiting diarrhea Stomach cramps *weak or racing pulse Complications: In rare cases, wasp stings can contribute to complications involving the nervous system. A report published in the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health examined unusual cases in which a pediatric patient experienced muscle weakness, pupil dilation, and motor aphasia following a wasp sting. (Motor aphasia is the impairment of speech and writing abilities.) The patient’s problems were precipitated by a blood clot that was caused by a severe reaction to a wasp sting. These particular complications are extreme and highly unlikely to occur. Mild to moderate reactions: You can treat mild and moderate reactions to wasp stings at home. While treating your sting at home, you should: 1.Wash the sting area with soap and water to remove as much of the venom as possible. 2.Apply a cold pack to the wound site to reduce swelling and pain. 3.Keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection. 4.Cover with a bandage if desired. Use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion if itching or skin irritation becomes bothersome. Baking soda and colloidal oatmeal are soothing to the skin and can be used in the bath or through medicated skin creams. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can manage pain associated with wasp stings. Antihistamine drugs, including diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine, can reduce itching as well. Take all medications as directed to avoid potential side effects, such as stomach irritation or drowsiness. You should also consider getting a tetanus shot within several days of the sting if you haven’t had a booster shot in the last 10 years. First aid differs based on what type of creature has bitten or stung you. People who are allergic to wasp venom are also allergic to hornet stings. Allergic reactions are commonly treated with epinephrine (adrenaline) injection using a device such as an epinephrine autoinjector, with prompt follow-up treatment in a hospital. In severe cases, allergic individuals may go into anaphylactic shock and die unless treated promptly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornet https://www.healthline.com/health/wasp-sting ← Ant stings Swollen knee & pain →	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1200
__label__cc	0.535116	0.464884	Tag Archives: Plastic bottle Present Position of FDA About BPA Risks In a shift of position, the U.S. FDA is expressing concerns about possible health risks from bisphenol A, or BPA, a widely used component of plastic bottles and food packaging. The agency declared BPA safe in 2008. But the FDA now has “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.” The action is another example of the drug agency becoming far more aggressive in taking hard looks at what it sees as threats to public health over the past year. In recent months, the agency has stepped up its oversight of food safety and has promised to tighten approval standards for medical devices. Concerns about BPA are based on studies that have found harmful effects in animals, and on the recognition that the chemical seeps into food and baby formula. Nearly everyone is exposed to BPA, starting in the womb. Dr. Sharfstein said the drug agency was also re-evaluating the way it regulates BPA. The substance is now classified as a food additive, a category that requires a cumbersome and time-consuming process to make regulatory changes. Dr. Sharfstein said he hoped its status could be changed to “food contact substance,” which would give the F.D.A. more regulatory power and let it act more quickly if it needed to do so. New York Times January 15, 2010 New York Times FDA Articles New York Times May 14, 2009 FDA Investigating Health Hazards of BPA in Plastic Bottles, Food Packaging (shoppingblog.com) FDA: Update on Bisphenol A for Use in Food Contact (medicineandtechnology.com) Federal officials call for more study on bisphenol A, found in plastics (seattletimes.nwsource.com) Limit infants’ use of Bisphenol-A products, FDA says (cnn.com) Health Agencies Express Concern Over BPA (nlm.nih.gov) FDA investigating BPA in food packaging (americablog.com) Protect children from hazardous chemicals (seattletimes.nwsource.com) 6 Ways to Minimize your Family’s BPA Exposure (+FDA Update) (fooducate.com) This entry was posted in Chemicals & Minerals, Health Alert, News on Health & Science and tagged Bisphenol A, BPA, Food and Drug Administration, Food packaging, Infant formula, New York Times, Plastic bottle, Public health on February 13, 2010 by Mukul.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1201
__label__wiki	0.600959	0.600959	See It in Action: ‘First-Ever Guided’ Bullet That Can Change Direction Mid-Flight Could ‘Revolutionize Rifle Accuracy’ Anti-Hunting Activists Up In Arms Over Photo Of Steven Spielberg Next To ‘Poor Dead Animal’ Watch Something That Happens to Millions of Drivers a Year but Is Rarely Caught on Camera A new bullet being developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency can change direction mid-flight to track down its target. The agency released a video late last week showing the “first-ever guided .50-caliber bullets” being tested in the field. “DARPA’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) program recently conducted the first successful live-fire tests demonstrating in-flight guidance of .50-caliber bullets,” a press release on DARPA’s website said. “This video shows EXACTO rounds maneuvering in flight to hit targets that are offset from where the sniper rifle is aimed.” “EXACTO’s specially designed ammunition and real-time optical guidance system help track and direct projectiles to their targets by compensating for weather, wind, target movement and other factors that could impede successful hits,” it added. The EXACTO program aims to “revolutionize rifle accuracy” by assisting military snipers who are “acquiring moving targets in unfavorable conditions, such as high winds and dusty terrain commonly found in Afghanistan,” according to its website. DARPA is the research arm of the Department of Defense. Source: The Blaze	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1204
__label__wiki	0.679829	0.679829	← Tiger Burning Bright ON THIS DAY: July 29, 2016 → Word Cloud: RACE Posted on July 29, 2016 by wordcloud9 by NONA BLYTH CLOUD Elizabeth Alexander. The name may sound familiar. If I say “the inauguration of President Barak Obama,” a lightbulb might go off, because she was there, reading her poem for that momentous occasion, “Praise Song for the Day.” Elizabeth Alexander (1962 — ) was born in Harlem, but as a child in a politically active family, she grew up in Washington, DC. Her mother, Adele Logan Alexander, is also a writer, and teaches African-American women’s history at George Washington University. Her father, Clifford Alexander Jr., is a former U. S. Secretary of the Army and and former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission chair. Her brother Mark was a senior adviser to the Obama presidential campaign and a member of the president-elect’s transition team. Alexander as a toddler went with her family to the 1963 March on Washington to hear Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “Politics was in the drinking water at my house,” she said, describing her childhood. Almost every family has at least one relative who never quite fits in with the rest, but Alexander’s Great-Uncle Paul was a pretty extreme case. Sometimes I think about Great-Uncle Paul who left Tuskegee, Alabama to become a forester in Oregon and in so doing became fundamentally white for the rest of his life, except when he traveled without his white wife to visit his siblings— now in New York, now in Harlem, USA—just as pale-skinned, as straight-haired, as blue-eyed as Paul, and black. Paul never told anyone he was white, he just didn’t say that he was black, and who could imagine, an Oregon forester in 1930 as anything other than white? The siblings in Harlem each morning ensured no one confused them for anything other than what they were, black. They were black! Brown-skinned spouses reduced confusion. Many others have told, and not told, this tale. When Paul came East alone he was as they were, their brother. The poet invents heroic moments where the pale black ancestor stands up on behalf of the race. The poet imagines Great-Uncle Paul in cool, sagey groves counting rings in redwood trunks, imagines pencil markings in a ledger book, classifications, imagines a sidelong look from an ivory spouse who is learning her husband’s caesuras. She can see silent spaces but not what they signify, graphite markings in a forester’s code. The one time Great-Uncle Paul brought his wife to New York he asked his siblings not to bring their spouses, and that is where the story ends: ivory siblings who would not see their brother without their telltale spouses. What a strange thing is “race,” and family, stranger still. Here a poem tells a story, a story about race. She got her B.A from Yale. Then her mother said to her, “That poet you love, Derek Walcott, is teaching at Boston University. Why don’t you apply?” Alexander originally entered studying fiction writing, but Walcott looked at her diary and saw the poetry potential. Alexander said, “He gave me a huge gift. He took a cluster of words and he lineated it. And I saw it.” Racism in America isn’t just a Southern thing, and the loneliness of a college student away from home is universal. Fortunately, no region, or group or religion has a monopoly on kindness to strangers. Boston Year My first week in Cambridge a car full of white boys tried to run me off the road, and spit through the window, open to ask directions. I was always asking directions and always driving: to an Armenian market in Watertown to buy figs and string cheese, apricots, dark spices and olives from barrels, tubes of paste with unreadable Arabic labels. I ate stuffed grape leaves and watched my lips swell in the mirror. The floors of my apartment would never come clean. Whenever I saw other colored people in bookshops, or museums, or cafeterias, I’d gasp, smile shyly, but they’d disappear before I spoke. What would I have said to them? Come with me? Take me home? Are you my mother? No. I sat alone in countless Chinese restaurants eating almond cookies, sipping tea with spoons and spoons of sugar. Popcorn and coffee was dinner. When I fainted from migraine in the grocery store, a Portuguese man above me mouthed: “No breakfast.” He gave me orange juice and chocolate bars. The color red sprang into relief singing Wagner’s Walküre. Entire tribes gyrated and drummed in my head. I learned the samba from a Brazilian man so tiny, so festooned with glitter I was certain that he slept inside a filigreed, Fabergé egg. No one at the door: no salesmen, Mormons, meter readers, exterminators, no Harriet Tubman, no one. Red notes sounding in a grey trolley town. 2. ELLINGTONIA — from Omni – Albert Murray “So much goes on in a Harlem airshaft. You hear fights, you smell dinner, you hear people making love. . . . You see your neighbor’s laundry. You hear the janitor’s dogs. . . . One guy is cooking dried fish and rice and another guy’s got a great big turkey. . . . Jitterbugs are jumping up and down always over you, never below you.” — Duke Ellington I might have jitterbugged at the Renaissance ‘room, thrown upside down by some zoot-suited don in a vicuna coat, smell of Barbasol— I might have been a barfly with her wig turned ‘round. I conjure smoke-blue clubs from family tales, names, like “Do Nothing ‘til You Hear from Me.” Duke’s square-toed leather shoes, his droop-lid eyes, his— This is a black and tan fantasy. Not shoes, not conjure, shaving cream, cologne. “Tootie for Cootie” unafraid of rhyme. Bold music, bold as sunflowers. Rhyme is real. Blow smoke rings when you say “Mood Indigo.” In the long, appalling history of white cruelty to people of color, the true story behind the “Hottentot Venus” is not the worst, but its very public nature crept over me gradually, and the haunting horror of Alexander’s poem has stuck in my mind. A woman of the Khoikhoi people of southern Africa, called Saartjie Baartman in Afrikaans, was pressured into allowing herself to be displayed for money in 19th century freak shows in England because of her large posterior (Steatopygia) Though not a slave, she was very poor, and lived in conditions little different from those around her who were. In 1810, she was promised a share of the profits by her employer, a free black man (Cape designation for someone of slave descent) named Hendrik Cesars, and his partner, Alexander Dunlop, a Scottish doctor, and that she could come home as soon as their debts and expenses were paid. But she died in 1815 in Paris, after she had been taken over by another man who then illegally sold her in France in 1814 to an animal trainer. After her death, her body was dissected and its parts, including genitalia, put on display, originally labeled as if she were some sort of ‘missing link’ between ape and man, at the Paris Museum of Man. In 2002, after a prolonged public outcry, her remains were at last repatriated to her homeland. That Saartjie Baartman was the best-known La Belle Hottentot, but there was at least one other, only makes the story more awful. — from The Venus Hottentot There is unexpected sun today in London, and the clouds that most days sift into this cage where I am working have dispersed. I am a black cutout against a captive blue sky, pivoting nude so the paying audience can view my naked buttocks. I am called “Venus Hottentot.” I left Capetown with a promise of revenue: half the profits and my passage home: A boon! Master’s brother proposed the trip; the magistrate granted me leave. I would return to my family a duchess, with watered-silk dresses and money to grow food, rouge and powders in glass pots, silver scissors, a lorgnette, voile and tulle instead of flax, cerulean blue instead of indigo. My brother would devour sugar-studded non- pareils, pale taffy, damask plums. That was years ago. London’s circuses are florid and filthy, swarming with cabbage-smelling citizens who stare and query, “Is it muscle? bone? or fat?” My neighbor to the left is The Sapient Pig, “The Only Scholar of His Race.” He plays at cards, tells time and fortunes by scraping his hooves. Behind me is Prince Kar-mi, who arches like a rubber tree and stares back at the crowd from under the crook of his knee. A professional animal trainer shouts my cues. There are singing mice here. “The Ball of Duchess DuBarry”: In the engraving I lurch toward the belles dames, mad-eyed, and they swoon. Men in capes and pince-nez shield them. Tassels dance at my hips. In this newspaper lithograph my buttocks are shown swollen and luminous as a planet. Monsieur Cuvier investigates between my legs, poking, prodding, sure of his hypothesis. I half expect him to pull silk scarves from inside me, paper poppies, then a rabbit! He complains at my scent and does not think I comprehend, but I speak English. I speak Dutch. I speak a little French as well, and languages Monsieur Cuvier will never know have names. Now I am bitter and now I am sick. I eat brown bread, drink rancid broth. I miss good sun, miss Mother’s sadza. My stomach is frequently queasy from mutton chops, pale potatoes, blood sausage. I was certain that this would be better than farm life. I am the family entrepreneur! But there are hours in every day to conjur my imaginary daughters, in banana skirts and ostrich-feather fans. Since my own genitals are public I have made other parts private. In my silence I possess mouth, larynx, brain, in a single gesture. I rub my hair with lanolin, and pose in profile like a painted Nubian archer, imagining gold leaf woven through my hair, and diamonds. Observe the wordless Odalisque. I have not forgotten my Xhosa clicks. My flexible tongue and healthy mouth bewilder this man with his rotting teeth. If he were to let me rise up from this table, I’d spirit his knives and cut out his black heart, seal it with science fluid inside a bell jar, place it on a low shelf in a white man’s museum so the whole world could see it was shriveled and hard, geometric, deformed, unnatural. Notes: Sadza is a Southern African cornmeal dish. When Barack Obama asked Elizabeth Alexander to compose and read a poem for his Presidential inauguration, she followed in the footsteps of Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. While “Praise Song for the Day” was harshly reviewed by literary critics as “too much like prose” and her delivery as “undramatic,” the poem became a bestseller after it was published as a chapbook. Praise Song for the Day — A Poem for Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each other’s eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair. Someone is trying to make music somewhere, with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum, with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice. A woman and her son wait for the bus. A farmer considers the changing sky. A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin. We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed, words to consider, reconsider. We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of some one and then others, who said I need to see what’s on the other side. I know there’s something better down the road. We need to find a place where we are safe. We walk into that which we cannot yet see. Say it plain: that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of. Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign, the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables. Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself, others by first do no harm or take no more than you need. What if the mightiest word is love? Love beyond marital, filial, national, love that casts a widening pool of light, love with no need to pre-empt grievance. In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, any thing can be made, any sentence begun. On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, praise song for walking forward in that light. As Elizabeth Alexander says in Ars Poetica #100: I Believe, a poem she wrote for her students about poetry: …Poetry (and now my voice is rising) is not all love, love, love, and I’m sorry the dog died. Poetry (here I hear myself loudest) is the human voice, and are we not of interest to each other? “Race” from Antebellum Dream Book, © 2001 by Elizabeth Alexander, Graywolf Press – https://www.poetryfoundation.org/resources/learning/core-poems/detail/52118 “Boston Year” from The Venus Hottentot, © 1990 by the Rectors and Visitors of the University of Virginia, Graywolf Press – https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/52116 “2. Ellingtonia” from Omni-Albert Murray, © 1990 by the Rectors and Visitors of the University of Virginia. Graywolf Press — https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/52114 “The Venus Hottentot” from The Venus Hottentot © 1990 by the Rectors and Visitors of the University of Virginia, Graywolf Press — https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/52111 “Praise Song for the Day” © 2009 by Elizabeth Alexander, Graywolf Press (chapbook edition of Praise Song for the Day — https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/52141 “Ars Poetica #100: I Believe” from American Sublime, © 2005 by Elizabeth Alexander, Graywolf Press – https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/53005 Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poets/detail/elizabeth-alexander#poet Washington Post Book Review: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/poet-elizabeth-alexanders-memoir-of-love-loss-art-and-glorious-food/2015/04/29/7d0a2540-eda8-11e4-8abc-d6aa3bad79dd_story.html NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/us/politics/21poet.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&_r=0&mtrref=en.wikipedia.org&gwh=816A7F85BEDECDC371D94B016D9BA9BF&gwt=pay Southern Spaces: https://southernspaces.org/2009/natasha-trethewey-interviews-elizabeth-alexander Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Alexander_(poet) The Venus Hottentot,University Press of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA), 1990. Body of Life,Tia Chucha Press (Chicago, IL), 1996. Antebellum Dream Book,Graywolf Press (Saint Paul, MN), 2001. American Sublime,Graywolf Press (Saint Paul, MN), 2005. American Blue: Selected Poems,Bloodaxe Books (Newcastle, UK), 2006. (With Marilyn Nelson, young adult poems)Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color, Front Street Press, 2007. (With Lyrae Van-Clief Stefanon)Poems in Conversation and a Conversation, Slapering Hol Press, 2008. Praise Song for the Day, Graywolf Press (St. Paul, MN), 2009. Crave Radiance: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010, Graywolf Press (St. Paul, MN), 2012. The Light of the World, Grand Central (New York, NY), 2015. The Black Interior: Essays,Graywolf Press, 2004 Power & Possibility: Essays, Reviews and Interviews, University of Michigan Press, 2007 The Light of the World: A Memoir, Grand Central Publishing, 2015 Selected Awards and Honors Elected to Pulitzer Prize Board: http://www.pulitzer.org/news/elizabeth-alexander-elected-pulitzer-prize-board 2015 Schomburg Medal 2007 Inaugural Recipient, Jackson Poetry Prize 2005 American Sublime shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize 2002 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship 1996 Founding member of Cave Canem 1992 NEA Creative Writing Fellowship Jazz sticker Sitka Spruce Boston trackless trolley 1950’s Men’s dancing shoes French Hottentot Venus poster Inauguration day, Alexander at podium Elizabeth Alexander Word Cloud photo by Larry Cloud About wordcloud9 Nona Blyth Cloud has lived and worked in the Los Angeles area for the past 45 years, spending much of that time commuting on the 405 Freeway. After Hollywood failed to appreciate her genius for acting and directing, she began a second career managing non-profits, from which she has retired. Nona has now resumed writing whatever comes into her head, instead of reports and pleas for funding. She lives in a small house overrun by books with her wonderful husband and a bewildered Border Collie. View all posts by wordcloud9 → This entry was posted in Poetry, Word Cloud and tagged Barak Obama, Duke Ellington, Elizabeth Alexander, Hottentot Venus, Inauguration, Museum of Man, RACE, Saartjie Baartman. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Responses to Word Cloud: RACE Some clubs insisted that Billie Holiday wear dark makeup to darken her skin. Managers didn’t want a female singer with skin light enough to appear white under the spotlight on stage with obviously black musicians. When she sang ‘Strange Fruit,’ many white patrons walked out during the performance. wordcloud9 says: Segregation was so pervasive, so taken for granted, it’s sometimes hard to imagine in 2016 – we have made progress, but still have so far to go.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1206
__label__wiki	0.725226	0.725226	6 Fashion Collections Inspired by Film Fashion designers have long borrowed from the themes, settings and costumes of their favorite films when designing collections, some more directly than others. Alex Travers Fashion designers have long looked to film for inspiration. But how does a designer make a movie reference his or her own? Splatter a shot of Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" on a sweatshirt? Oh no! But that’s exactly what Bobby Abley did for his first solo spring 2015 collection in London. Still, there are many designers -- the talented Mr. Thom Browne, the devilish Miuccia Prada -- who use elements from familiar cinematic experiences to enhance the power of their presentations. That’s it for explanation. I’ll let the pictures do the talking. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" / Thom Browne Fall 2014 The dystopian fable "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" was released three months before Thom Browne showed his fall 2014 collection, and it must have instantly caught the designer's eye. That's perhaps not surprising -- Trish Summerville's costumes for the film got a great deal of media attention leading up to its debut, and Browne's shows have often played on dark themes of violence and female empowerment (or lack thereof). "The Little Mermaid"/Bobby Abley Spring 2015 When MAN finalist Bobby Abley showed smirking Disney icons on neoprene-y sweatshirts, I had to grin as well. There’s not much thought behind this kind of fast fashion, but all praise to Albey for flagrantly displaying his Disney fanboy side. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" / Anna Sui Fall 2014 A Wes Anderson movie is a feast for the eyes, one so mouthwatering you’ll want to lick the screen. Which is why countless designers admire the director and study his palette if they’re craving rich, edible hues for the season. "Valley of the Dolls" / Dsquared2 Fall 2014 Dsquared2 finds most of its fun in fashion detours: tiki bars, psych wards, artists’ studios, high school proms… show sets that tend to hint-hint, wink-wink at a film or a time period, or at least provide a context to help portray a collection's message. It was Mark Robson’s "Valley of the Dolls" that appeared to influence Dean and Dan Caten’s fall 2014 Dsquared2 show, which burst with sex symbols. "Muholland Drive" / Prada Fall 2013 A few months ago, I loaned a friend my copy of "Muholland Drive," David Lynch’s intoxicating film, and her “How the f*ck could you like that?” response still doesn’t surprise me. In fact, many people despised that movie. The New York Observer called it “a moronic and incoherent piece of garbage.” But the fashion pantheon loves Lynch, a director who isn’t afraid to trade clarity for cerebral chaos. His movies are like those vivid dreams we all have and don’t quite understand but can’t wait to tell everyone about the next day -- similar, in fact, to Prada's fall 2013 show, with its cryptic set and eerie score that oozed mystery. "Vertigo" / Ralph Lauren Fall 2014 "Vertigo," much like fashion, is a film about romantic obsession. And that’s exactly what was on Ralph Lauren’s mind for his fall 2014 show, which used a gray palette to paint images of mysterious Hitchcock blondes, looking as if they just emerged from the San Francisco fog. PradaBobby AbleyAnna SuiRalph LaurenThom BrowneDSquared2 Fashion and Hollywood Come Together for amfAR Inspiration Gala Valentino, J.Lo and Liza with a Z. Fashion's Most Stylish Guys Give Mark Zuckerberg an (Almost!) Hoodie-Free Makeover for Facebook's IPO Mark Zuckerberg is having quite a month. The Father of Facebook just turned 28, bought out Instagram for $1 billion and is now facing the most lucrative point in his career: Going IPO on Friday. We’d offer him a congratulatory “poke” but sadly, that option’s no longer available. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the IPO acronym, it stands for Initial Public Offering-- meaning that the company will finally be open to stock holders where the likes of Wall Street—-and even you!—- can purchase a part of the social media company. But with the estimated $100 billion that’s supposedly coming his way, we’re wondering whether the Harvard dropout will invest in a new wardrobe. Will he finally change out of his usual uniform consisting of dowdy college hoodies, sweat-drenched Adidas shower flip flops, and tattered baggy jeans, into something more uh, dapper? Better yet, the question posed is this: Can all the money in the world transform someone from HTML geek to sartorial chic? Fashionistas can only hope! To give him an extra boost, we’ve enlisted the help of several fashion experts from designers like Carlos Campos, Alan Eckstein from Timo Weiland and Simon Kneen of Banana Republic, to editors from GQ and Esquire, to buyers and the likes to see what kind of advice they’d shed onto Silicon Valley’s hottest star. And regardless of whether he takes our suggestions or not (note to Marky Mark: you really, really should!), happy IPO Day! We’d definitely like to send you a congratulatory poke soon—- this time, live and in-person. A Look Back at the Most Surprising Points of Inspiration from Fashion Month With every new collection comes a fresh slew of movies, eras, and art that has aided in the fashion designer's creative process and we found a few of them for you. So skip the hours spent reading show reviews and click-through for this Fashion Month Spring 2014 recap. By Lilah Ramzi 9 Looks We Loved From Day 7 Of New York Fashion Week Including Yeezy, Thom Browne, Ralph Lauren and more. By Fashionista	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0000.json.gz/line1216

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