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__label__wiki	0.529754	0.529754	Visit ulster.ac.uk Ulster University REF About REF What is the REF and why does it matter? The four UK higher education funding bodies allocate around £2 billion per year of quality-related research funding to UK universities with the aim of supporting a dynamic and internationally competitive UK research sector. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system used by the funding bodies to assess the quality of research in UK higher education institutions and to inform the distribution of these funds. The REF replaced the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), last conducted in 2008. As well as informing funding allocations, the REF provides accountability for public investment in research, demonstrates its benefits, and provides important reputational yardsticks and benchmarking information about the research performance of UK universities. The REF matters because it affects both our income and our reputation. Every six years, institutions are asked to submit examples of their best research to be assessed by a team of academics and industry experts. The REF2014 was carried out in 36 subject-based units of assessment (UoAs). These expert sub-panels - comprising 898 academics and 259 research users - carried out the assessment. The sub-panels worked under the guidance of four main panels, producing a sub-profile for each element (outputs, impact and environment) which was combined into an overall quality profile. Information on equality and diversity in the REF can be found here. The three key elements The REF will focus on assessing three elements, which together reflect the key characteristics of research excellence: The quality of research outputs is the main element of assessment (60%). The impact of research considers the effect of the research on the economy, society, public policy, culture and quality of life (25%). The vitality of the research environment considers the research strategy, infrastructure and environment, including research income and research degrees awarded (15%). The overall quality profile The primary outcome of the assessment is to award an overall quality profile to each submission, showing the proportion of the submission that meets a series of quality-starred levels. For REF2014 these starred levels were defined as: Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which falls short of the highest standards of excellence. Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Quality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work. Or work which does not meet the published definition of research for the purposes of this assessment. The above definitions may change when REF 2021 guidelines are published. Further information about REF 2021 can be viewed at www.hefce.ac.uk/rsrch/ref2021/. Impact for REF Stern Review Webinars by HEFCE HEFCE Archive © Copyright Ulster University	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595189
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By Michelle Hoffman \| 09 August 2017 \| Español \| Français \| عربي Agadez resident Bashir transported people to Libya for 17 years. Since 2015, when this activity became illegal, he has been struggling to find alternatives sources of income to feed his family. © UNHCR/Louise Donovan AGADEZ, Niger – Bashir grew up in this maze-like outpost perched on the edge of the Sahara, and his knowledge of city and desert made him a successful human smuggler taking people over the searing border to Libya for years. “People seek me out,” he says. “I’m the guarantor of their safety because they’ve come to me.” Before 2012, when strongman Muammar Gaddafi still ruled Libya, he said his clients were focused mainly on going to Niger’s northern neighbour to work – not travelling onward. “Libya was just fine. People could make even more money in Libya than in Italy,” Bashir said, recalling that many of his customers would phone him a few years later, once they had saved enough earnings, to arrange the return journey home. Now, it is widespread insecurity in Libya that has increased the risks for his clients – and triggered a clampdown on the business that earned him a living for 17 years. People smugglers in Niger need new line of work In 2015, largely in response to pressure from EU governments, Niger passed a law cracking down on operators helping those travellers, mainly from West and Central Africa, cross into Libya. In return, the EU has offered more than €2 billion in aid to help the region – also including other priority African countries – on issues ranging from security to economic development. Faced with the new law, which punishes people who facilitate the illegal crossing into Libya, Bashir traded in his illicit occupation last October for a new life. Now he helps smugglers like himself to prepare for a career change. He and colleagues have helped hundreds of them to put together proposals seeking promised EU funds which are earmarked for financing business ventures and skills training for those in the smuggling trade. The initiative funds projects of up to US$2,700 for individuals, or US$7,200 for up to four individuals working as a group. “We’re a bit hopeful because the Niger government came to us. They brought us in, and have discussed this directly with us. We’ve told them all our problems,” he said. For centuries a hub in an international trade in gold and salt, and later a site for desert tourism, Agadez has more recently become a centre for smuggling and trafficking in guns, drugs and – above all – desperate refugees and migrants. But the crackdown on human smuggling comes at a cost for the whole country, which ranks 187th out of 188 spots on the UNDP Human Development Index. With a vast swathe of territory to control and a desperately poor population, it has a difficult job both playing gatekeeper and finding an economic alternative for a boom industry. "We’ve lost our work. We’ve lost our lives – because this was our life. This is what put bread on the table.” Bashir warns that smugglers need a real solution to abandon the economy that has provided them with a lifeline. “We don’t know how to do anything else,” he said. “Can’t you see? We’ve lost our work. We’ve lost our lives – because this was our life. This is what put bread on the table.” In Niger, where 46 per cent of people survive on less than US$2 a day, a driver who transports people to Libya can make US$4,000, even US$5,000 per trip. But now, to stay on the side of the law, many who have lived off the economy are being forced to find new ways to survive. But not everyone. Though it has been forced underground by the law, signs of the smuggling business are easy to see in Agadez. The city bustles on days before convoys of trucks head into the desert as smugglers stock up on fuel and provisions. Money changers, wire transfer services, mobile phone dealers – selling satellite phones for coverage in the remote desert – dot city streets. Young men hang out at the bus station in Agadez, hoping to connect with migrants as they arrive. Human smuggling is a key economic activity in the city in Niger, despite a government crackdown in 2015. © UNHCR/Louise Donovan The bus station in town teems with passengers arriving in the evening with scheduled appointments with their smuggler agents. And, in Agadez’s more dangerous quarters, behind the low mud walls of some well-guarded compounds, the migrants and refugees wait for their time to travel – sometimes trapped inside under lock and key for days. Aklou Sidi Sidi, the first vice president of Agadez’s regional council, said that during boom times up to 700 vehicles, with up to 30 people packed into each, would ride into the desert each week, generating revenues for the main transport agent, the driver – and others. “But I haven’t even mentioned the owners of the hidden compounds, I haven’t mentioned the motorcycle taxis, or the people who exchange currency, or the money wire transfer services,” he added. “There are those who sell kits for the migrants. All of these people live by this activity. And today this activity has stopped because it has become illegal. So there absolutely must be a replacement solution.” Sidi Sidi acknowledges the international assistance, but says it falls short. He claims EU aid offered for job retraining and kick-start businesses can cover only about 200 people while, he says, more than 6,000 people are involved in the human smuggling trade in the city. Related news and stories On a trek to safety, Somalis risk all in Libya Nigerian widow opens her doors to Cameroonian refugees Live Blog: World Refugee Day is held amid record displacement Global forced displacement tops 70 million The friendship of a lifetime Older Colombians and Venezuelans take care of each other under the same roof Emergencies portal Report fraud or abuse	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595190
__label__cc	0.628006	0.371994	Let's get you logged in Email Address ✱ Password ✱ Please fill mandatory fields Let's get you signed up First Name ✱ Last Name ✱ Choose password ✱ Confirm Email ✱ Looks like you already have an account. Please log in instead. #unilodgers @unilodgers #Student #Guide #Life #Living #Experiences #University #Motivation #Stories Book Now, Pay Later, Free Cancellation! Refer your Friends & Get Richer Help me with booking +91-11-408-49115 #Student#Guide#Life#Living#Experiences#University#Motivation#Stories UNILODGERS Book Now Find a room hassle-free on Unilodgers. Compare hundreds of verified properties and choose the one that fits your needs. You can book instantly without providing a credit/debit card or bank account information. Pay Later A student support specialist will be allocated for your booking. You will be sent a room confirmation, a lease agreement and payment details. 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Login Continue Browsing Norman-ok View all properties in this city 2900 Oak Tree Avenue, Norman, OK 73072, United States View Map No. of rooms: 0 2900 is top quality student housing near the University of Oklahoma, in a convenient location just minutes from campus. Enjoy a spacious apartment offering a complete lifestyle, including a 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour study lounge, resort-style pool & hot tub spa, fire pit, volleyball court and full basketball court. Enjoy the use of a private shuttle bus to campus and resident social events. Bar-be-que (BBQ) Area Courtesy Patrol Volleyball Court Lounge Area Outdoor Courtyards Onsite maintenance Secure Door Entry Price Also Include Electricity Bill 3 Bedroom 3 Bathroom Apartment 3 Bedroom 3 Bathroom Apartment is a well-structured apartment that comes with private bedrooms, private bathrooms, a shared living area and a shared kitchen that comes with all modern amenities. Move-in 16/Aug/19 Move-out 31/Jul/20 Per month US$425 Total US$ 5100.00 Please confirm your Move-in and Move-out dates Move-out date Sofa and side chair 4 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Apartment is a well-structured apartment that comes with private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, a shared living area and a shared kitchen that comes with all modern amenities. Skype Viewings 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Apartment- Shared 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Apartment well structure apartment that comes with private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, shared a living area and a shared kitchen that comes with all modern amenities. 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Apartment- Private Room Details Room Photos Select Tenancy to book: 12 Month (16/Aug/19 - 31/Jul/20) US$425 per Month (US$ 5100.00 total ) Unilodgers Offers on this Room: Unilodgers offers on this Room Three payment options are available – One installment – Is due on August 1. Two Instalments – Due on August 1 and January 1. Twelve Instalments – Due on the 1st of every month. Payment is accepted via - • Personal check, money order, or cashier’s check. • Credit card online through our Resident Portal. Service fee may apply.* • Have your financial institution automatically deduct rent from your bank account each month. • Online using your resident portal free of charge! Q. What does it mean to have an individual lease? Individual leasing means that each person is only responsible for their portion of the common areas and their bedroom. If your roommate ends up not coming back for the spring semester, you’re not responsible for their payment. Q. What is included in the rent? Rent includes utilities (water, sewer, and trash pickup), extended cable, Internet, washer & dryer. Q. Do you allow pets? Yes, pets are allowed. Q. Do you have a roommate matching system? Yes, roommate matching system is available. Q. Is there insurance coverage in the event of a fire, theft or natural causes? Does my lease provide coverage for my belongings? Insurance will not cover your personal belongings. Q. What furniture is provided? The building is fully furnished with a full-sized bed, a large desk and chair, and dresser. The living area comes with a comfortable couch, chair, coffee table, end table, TV stand, and barstools. The kitchen comes fully equipped with energy efficient appliances, a refrigerator, dishwasher, and washer & dryer. Q. What if I need to break my lease or don't return for the spring semester? The lease is binding and cannot be broken. If you cannot stay after signing your lease, you will need to re-let. Please call for further information. Q. What do I need to bring to my new apartment? Bedding, bedroom furniture, common area furniture, toiletries., dishes/cookware are some essentials that you are required to carry along. Q. How do I receive mail and packages? Your mail will be delivered to your apartment’s mailbox. 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For more details read our Privacy Policy. Book in a group Book in a group of 3 or more and get £ 50 shopping voucher per person. Choose the room type you want to book Select 3 or more people and click on book now Complete your booking form and provide details of group mates Unilodgers offers on this property I accept the Terms and Conditions and I would like to receive updates via email from Unilodgers. Trusted by students worldwide. Students from over 150 countries used Unilodgers 1.1 million times in last 1 year. Starting university – an introvert's guide 9 Useful apps for students – we bet you didn't know! Unilodgers on Facebook Picnics are best done in summers. Grab a food basket, few chilled ciders and..... If you're feeling like it's been a long week in the middle of Tuesday then..... Let's Socialise © Unilodgers	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595192
__label__wiki	0.776283	0.776283	Feb. 27, 2002 / 12:41 PM Joe Bob's Drive-In: 'Destination Vegas' JOE BOB BRIGGS, UPI Drive-In Movie Critic of Grapevine, Texas There's just something about a strawberry-blond corporate attorney in a shoulder-pad Armani suit fleeing from hit men through the Mojave Desert with a pump-action shotgun pointed at her hostage that says to me, "Hey, you've come a LONG WAY, baby." Jennifer Sommerfield is the little cupcake-with-a-deadly-weapon who tears off through the sagebrush when her law firm sends killers to get rid of her because she knows too much about their plan to destroy all the rainforest and turn it into grazing land for the world's largest hamburger chain. She had to know something was up, though, because her boss is RICHARD LYNCH! Has there ever been a movie in history in which Richard Lynch wasn't a devious killer? Ever since he burned his face, he's been pretty much the personification of Infernal Sleaze. At any rate, this fast-paced little chase flick is called "Destination Vegas," and the poster says it all: "She's young. She's an attorney. She's packing a 12-gauge shotgun." She's also packing one of the lamest romance subplots in B movie history. She still carries a torch for a yuppie schlub in her law firm who we all KNOW is a wuss, which makes it all the easier for her to get heated up for the kind attentions of a convicted armed robber named "Texas" she picks up in a diner by shoving her shotgun between his legs. (She wants his car, not his legs.) In fact, she does a whole heck of a lot of shotgun-pointing. There's hardly a five-minute stretch in which she DOESN'T point the shotgun in somebody's face, quick-pump it, fire it, hoist it, or just slouch with it resting on her shoulders for that Fashion Week Gun Moll Look. Fortunately, the four actors involved in the high-octane gunplay are such bad shots that we get thousands of rounds of gunfire and a whole heck of a lot of bobbing and weaving and bumping on the empty two-lane highway, resulting in smashed-up vehicles that miraculously continue to run. Of course, the fact that two killer hit men are just minutes behind them doesn't stop our two romantic misfits from pulling into an auto graveyard and sexing it up on the hood of a rusted-out truck. Two sequences later, they're making that classic drive down Fremont Street in Vegas, where all the lights reflect off their cracked windshield as they seek last-minute justice and the ultimate consummation of their open-road magic-hour lust. Call it "L.A. Law Meets Natural Born Killers." Eight dead bodies. Two breasts. Bottle to the noggin. Bathroom-door hand-crunching. Hubcap to the face. Face-kicking. Multiple hails of gunfire. Two carjackings. Four motor vehicle chases. One crash and burn, with fireball. Aardvarking. Junkyardvarking. Gratuitous Robert Z'Dar, star of "Maniac Cop," as . . . a maniac cop! Shotgun Fu. Drive-In Academy Award nominations for Richard Lynch, as the corporate attorney sleaze ball, for laughing as he says "Kill her"; Jennifer Sommerfield, as the carjacking shotgun-toting junior partner, for knowing exactly how to use her legs; Stephen Polk, as the sleaze boy-in-training at the law firm, for saying, "It's my morality that makes you hot for me"; Claude Duhamel, as the scruffy ex-con along for the ride, for saying, "This may sound silly, but do you mind if I touch your legs?"; Tom Badal, the best performance in the movie, as the droll but icy hit man Daniel ("Don't call me Danny"); and Paul Wynne, the writer/director, for doing things the drive-in way. Three stars. Joe Bob says check it out. "Destination Vegas" Web site: silverlinepictures.com. (To reach Joe Bob, go to joebob-briggs.com or e-mail him at JoeBob@upi.com. Snail-mail: P.O. Box 2002, Dallas, Texas 75221.)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595196
__label__cc	0.610591	0.389409	From fine dining to food courts, culinary adventure awaits in Charleston, SC As much as I love getting away to Charleston, S.C., it can be agonizing in one respect: I can't decide where to eat. From fine dining to food courts, culinary adventure awaits in Charleston, SC As much as I love getting away to Charleston, S.C., it can be agonizing in one respect: I can't decide where to eat. Check out this story on Tennessean.com: https://www.tennessean.com/story/travel/2018/01/28/fine-dining-food-courts-culinary-adventure-awaits-charleston-sc/1059807001/ Tracey Teo, For Nashville Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK — TENNESSEE Published 10:00 a.m. CT Jan. 28, 2018 Sean Brock is a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef Award. Samuel M. Simpkins Chef Sean Brock designed a multi-course tasting menu at McCrady's restaurant in Charleston, S.C.(Photo: Andrea Behrends ) In an intimate dining room at McCrady’s restaurant in Charleston, S.C., I sat in one of the 12 prized seats that surround a sleek, U-shaped counter with a view of the action in the open kitchen. The staff was laser-focused on every detail of each dish that comprises a posh, multi-course tasting menu designed by James Beard award-winning chef, Sean Brock. Tweezers in hand, they huddled together over small plates like surgeons performing a delicate operation, meticulously placing every edible flower petal and piece of parsley. Each dish looked like a work of art, and I eagerly waited for the parade of delicacies to begin. As much as I love getting away to this charming port city, it can be agonizing in one respect: I never know where to eat. More to the point, I have eaten so many delicious meals in this food-centric Southern destination over the years, I find myself in a dilemma. Should I repeat the culinary experiences I loved, or should I try something different? I can’t bear the thought of missing my favorite Low Country staples like shrimp and grits, roasted oysters and barbecue, but I don’t’ want to overlook the unexpected flavors and concepts that pop up here like kale at a farmer's market. OK, it’s not “Sophie’s Choice,” but it’s enough to keep an epicurean awake at night. In between tours of antebellum mansions, a horse and carriage ride along cobblestone streets and a cruise of Charleston Harbor, I was always thinking of my next meal. In the end, I decided to open myself to new experiences. Like a brave pioneer, I set out determined to report back my findings of an unknown territory to my people. Of course, brave pioneers probably didn’t wear their favorite little black dress to do their exploring like I did at McCrady’s, Brock’s flagship restaurant that helped skyrocket him to culinary rock star status years ago. For my purposes, it qualifies as “new” because of his recent re-imagining of the overall dining concept as a tasting menu that showcases the flavors and ingredients of the South, but with a global perspective acquired from his travels. Kitchen staff at McCrady's in Charleston, S.C., carefully plates dishes that are part of a new tasting menu. (Photo: Wesley K.H. Teo) By the time I tucked into a small plate of aged, grilled beef with a side of faro-stuffed cabbage, I was no longer thinking of past meals, but fully engaged in the present one. As a seafood lover that lives in a landlocked state, I was delighted by a course of briny clams followed by shrimp, and then thinly sliced cobia on a bed of fresh corn the color of sunshine. Brock, who now calls Nashville home, said the innovative menu was partly inspired by his time in Japan, where he gained a new understanding of how dishes could flow harmoniously over a lengthy meal without leaving the diner feeling like a stuffed turkey by the end of it. Husk Nashville chef Sean Brock turns kitchen into his stage He eschewed old-school ideas about serving courses in a preordained order and decided to serve them according to what his finely-tuned palate told him was right. “I started becoming interested in this concept of a dish as a song and the tasting menu as an album,” Brock said. “I would play track one and keep playing until I was certain each song flows into the next.” Some dishes took dozens of tries to perfect. Take the cobia served with matsutake mushrooms and green peanuts, a different version of the cobia I enjoyed. It started with Brock’s vision of creating a white dish that was mundane on the plate, but tantalizing on the palate. His staff peeled countless peanuts, cooked lots of fish and fretted. Brock’s frustration grew with each failure. The phrase, “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” took on new meaning. “It was the most intense I’ve ever been in the kitchen,” he says.” I would shake my head, and my team would run. They didn’t know if the plate was going to go flying.” Eventually, Brock got over the idea the dish had to be snow white. What saved it was a dot of liquefied lovage, a dark green herb with a strong celery-like flavor. It was just the spark of intense, unexpected flavor Brock was looking for. I know more about eating than cooking, so I felt privileged I got to enjoy the fruits of this talented chef’s labor. Workshop is an upscale food court with rotating vendors in Charleston, S.C. (Photo: Wesley K.H. Teo) Not all of the delicious food in Charleston involves fine dining. Some of the best roasted oysters I’ve ever had were consumed in a converted gas station, so when I heard about Workshop, a unique food court that opened on upper King Street last May, I had to check it out. It’s a laboratory of sorts for burgeoning chefs and entrepreneurs who want to try out their culinary experiments without the financial risks of a permanent establishment. A fully equipped kitchen is provided, and the rent is based on sales. I was happy to be a guinea pig. There’s a rotating roster of five restaurants, so that perfect taco you eat today may not be there tomorrow. Juan Luis serves Mexican food at Workshop, an upscale food court with rotating vendors in Charleston, S.C. (Photo: Wesley K.H. Teo) Ethnic cuisine has never been Charleston’s culinary strength, but it’s plentiful at Workshop. After exploring my options, with included Mexican and Korean food, I stopped at Pink Bellies. Not so long ago, Pink Bellies owner Thai Phi was selling his Vietnamese fare from a food cart near the campus of the College of Charleston. He thought it was time to take his business to the next level, so he set up his wok at Workshop. I ordered a bowl of garlic noodles piled high with tender pulled pork and garnished with red onions. I’ve always relished the complexity of flavors in Vietnamese food — salty, sweet, citrusy, spicy goodness all perfectly balanced in one dish. Garlic noodles are a popular dish at Pink Bellies, a restaurant at Workshop food court in Charleston, S.C. (Photo: Wesley K.H. Teo) But what was this mysterious ingredient swirled inside the bowl? Parmesan cheese? Are you kidding me? I love cheese of almost any variety, but I thought Parmesan had no business crashing my Vietnamese party. I scowled at the bold interloper, but after tentatively slurping up a tangle of noodles with my chopsticks, I welcomed the cheese like it was the guest of honor. It was further proof that being open minded about food in Charleston usually has its rewards. Of course, now I’m in a pickle. On my next trip to Charleston, do I go back to McCrady’s and Pink Bellies or do I try something new? 86 Cannon: This boutique inn is in the up-and-coming Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood. 86 Cannon St., Charleston, S.C. 843-779-7700, 86cannon.com McCrady’s: 2 Unity Alley, Charleston, S.C., 843-577-0025, mccradysrestaurant.com Workshop: 1503 King St., Charleston, S.C., workshopcharleston.com Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/travel/2018/01/28/fine-dining-food-courts-culinary-adventure-awaits-charleston-sc/1059807001/ Memorial Day 2019: What Tennesseans need to know as they hit the road All the nonstop flights from the Nashville airport Downtown Nashville hotels: 13 places to stay A leisure trip to Detroit? Really? Yes, really. St. Louis's iconic arch reopens for July 4 Travel: Charleston combines Southern charm with coastal appeal Jan. 6, 2019, 2:50 p.m.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595198
__label__cc	0.63875	0.36125	Burka Blog Dan Patrick Admits That the Fight With Cities is Partisan “The only place Democrats have control of is our cities, and they’re doing a terrible job.” R.G. Ratcliffe https://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/dan-patrick-admits-fight-cities-partisan/ Photograph by LM Otero/AP Photo Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick dropped the façade Friday. It turns out that the Texas Republican leadership’s war on cities is not just about local taxes, anti-discrimination policies, or sanctuary cities. These policy battles are a partisan fight to erase the last bastion of Democratic control—the big cities of Texas. On Varney & Co., a week-day talk show on the Fox Business Network, Patrick touted the national gains Republicans made in state legislatures and governor’s offices during the Obama administration. “During Obama’s reign, almost a thousand Democrats were defeated running for the local state Houses and state Senate and governors and lieutenant governors. In fact, out of the 45 lieutenant governors, which I am one of, of course, 32 are Republicans,” Patrick said. “We own the turf state by state, and Texas leads the way. We set the conservative example that other states follow.” Then, answering an unrelated question from host Stuart Varney, Patrick cast the policy debates between the states and the cities as a partisan fight between Republicans and Democrats: “People are happy with their governments at the state level. They’re not with their cities. By the way, Stuart, there’s something going on that you really need to focus on. And that is, our cities are still controlled by Democrats. Where do we have all our problems in America? Not at the state level, run by Republicans, but in our cities that are mostly controlled by Democrat mayors and Democrat city councilmen and women. That’s where you see liberal policies, that’s where you see high taxes, where you see high street crimes. Look at New York, look at Chicago, look at…go around the country. So the only place Democrats have control of is our cities and they’re doing a terrible job.” Varney engaged Patrick briefly in a discussion of President Trump’s immigration policies, but again Patrick brought the issue back around to Democratic mayors. “We passed an end to sanctuary cities in Texas. And again, we’re being sued by Democrat mayors in Texas,” he said. “. . . We have to stop sanctuary cities, secure the borders, and make America great again by having people come over who want to be part of us.” The crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities, Senate Bill 4, was passed by the Legislature in regular session and will take effect September 1. The law will punish local law enforcement officials who do not fully cooperate with federal immigration requests, while also giving local law enforcement officers the power to ask people they stop to prove their citizenship. So far, the cities of Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio have joined a federal lawsuit filed May 8 by the border town of El Cenizo and the League of United Latin American Citizens, to block the law from taking effect. Although not a party in the lawsuit, the Mexican government also filed a sworn statement with the court asking that the law be blocked. Still, sanctuary cities are far from the only local defiance the Lege wants to squash. In the current special legislative session, Governor Greg Abbott prioritized several bills to crack down on local government policies, from restricting tax increases and annexation of land in extraterritorial jurisdictions to overriding local ordinances on the cutting of trees. Shortly before the session began, Abbott appeared at a Bell County function and described Austin and Travis County as opponents of freedom. “As you leave Austin and start heading north, you start feeling different,” Abbott said, according to the Austin American-Statesman. “Once you cross the Travis County line, it starts smelling different. And you know what that fragrance is? Freedom. It’s the smell of freedom that does not exist in Austin, Texas.” Although Abbott has never explicitly stated his intentions to defang local government, the discord between the governor and city leaders hasn’t gone unnoticed. Seventeen mayors sent Abbott a letter last month asking for a meeting on the issues he was putting before the Legislature: Recent reports project that the largest cities in our state will increase in population by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years. People are moving to Texas cities because we are home to strong job markets and places where they want to live and raise their families. To prepare for this rapid growth, we must continue to have the tools to manage our budgets, improve infrastructure, provide critical services like public safety and pass policies reflective of local resident priorities. Harmful proposals such as revenue and spending caps, limiting annexation authority and other measures preempting local development ordinances directly harm our ability to plan for future growth and continue to serve as the economic engines of Texas. Earlier this week, Abbott met with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer, McKinney Mayor George Fuller, and Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman. Most mayors in Texas are chosen in non-partisan elections, but Price, Williams, Cheney, Fuller, and Zimmerman have past histories as Republicans. The suburban mayors who met with Abbott told the Dallas Morning News they tried to convince the governor against pursuing a “one-size-fits-all solution.” Mayor Cheney, of Frisco, said his city analysis of the Abbott-Patrick tax plan showed that it actually would have caused the city to have higher taxes over a ten-year period, while Zimmerman, of Sugar Land, said there’s no way to have property tax reform without overhauling the public school finance system. The Republican cities were told by Abbott that a statewide tax cut would not be needed if all cities managed budgets as they did theirs. (To break the code, Republican cities will just have to take a hickey so the statewide Republicans can stick it to the big Democratic cities.) In the past several election cycles, the only place the Texas Democratic voting strength has been growing is in the major cities. Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio all go Democratic. Last year, Patrick’s son Ryan lost his district judge seat in Houston to a Democrat, who is now presiding over the criminal trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican. Up to this point, the state’s Republican leadership has been able to portray all of these actions against the cities as a mere public policy dispute. But in his statements on Fox, Patrick laid bare their intention. It’s a partisan fight between the Republicans who control the state and the Democrats who control the cities—and those Republican suburbs might just be collateral damage. Sign up for the Armadillo Weekly dispatches from the middle of the road of Texas politics. The Armadillo (Weekly) Texas politics from the middle of the road WUSRPH If Dannie Scott really feels that way—-and hates the idea that the voters get to choose things of which he does not approve—why doesn’t he stand up and be honest and ABOLISH elected local government? As long as you let those pesky, ignorant voters decide you are going to get things Dannie won’t like. So, let the legislature appoint local prefects to run things….That way he can be certain it will always be done HIS WAY. John Bernard Books This may be the dumbest post ever. You cease to amaze me…. txasslm >> “This may be the dumbest post ever.” Oh, really, now, JBB. You’re no piker in the Dumb Post Dept. Yours are right up there with the President’s. Did the Troll slime by and say something? “This user is blocked” are such nice words. Hay you ol commie has does it feel to be spewing so much hot air…and realize no one is listening……again I sorry did you get your feelers hurt, did you think yours was the dumbest….. More accurately, what he wants is to abolish any party other than his own. When I was a kid Americans took pride in the fact that our country had free elections, unlike some other nations. It’s insane that today’s GOP has so much in common with the authoritarian regimes of the 20th Century. That’s what happens when you believe that God (Franco & Dan Patrick), the nature of man (Hitler) or the laws of history (Marx, Lenin) are “on your side”…when that happens no one who disagrees with you has a “right” to anything, much less to choose their own course. Sure it partisan, democrats have never been challenged before and they are upset. “How dare they” 1. cap taxes 2. with hold funding to sanctuary cities 3. yada yada yada….. Followed by a chorus of “do you know who we are?” Yes we do you’re not in charge anymore, Lt Dan is…. pwt7925 Lt. Gov. Dan Maduro Texas Publius Texas has over 1,200 cities. How many of those does Dan Patrick think are actually Democrat-run? Guarantee you it’s a vast minority of them. As for the rest, maybe the reason they’re run by Democrats is that their population is majority Democrat. Dan Patrick is opposed to representative government. He’s not even ok with Republican government (eg, Straus). He only supports dictatorial government by those who agree with him. History’s trash bin is full of the rise and fall of types just like him. donuthin2 The problem is not Dan Patrick, it is us, the voting public that buys into his idiocy. Dulcecstephens Rich46a Google is paying 97$ per hour! Work for few hours and have longer with friends & family! !ai76d: On tuesday I got a great new Land Rover Range Rover from having earned $8752 this last four weeks.. Its the most-financialy rewarding I’ve had.. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don’t check it !ai76: ➽➽;➽➽ http://GoogleFinancialJobsCash376HomeForm/Pay$97/Hour… ★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★:::::!ai76l..,… We are watching the end of the dem party: “Judicial Watch lays out the specifics: “[T]here were more total registered voters than there were adults over the age of 18 living in each of the following eleven (11) counties: Imperial (102%), Lassen (102%), Los Angeles (112%), Monterey (104%), San Diego (138%), San Francisco (114%), San Mateo (111%), Santa Cruz (109%), Solano (111%), Stanislaus (102%), and Yolo (110%).” The letter notes that the percentage in L.A. Country may be as high as 144%.” http://www.breitbart.com/california/2017/08/05/judicial-watch-warns-california-11-counties-voters-voting-age-citizens/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social dems will never win another election. Its been almost 30 years in Texas and the rest of the country is catching on. As Lt Dan and Guv Abbott leads the charge. Must look like battle of San Jacinto all over again for dems. Gov. Mark White has died……I admit I often had differing feelings about White…..being on the opposite of most of the issues when he was Secretary of State under Gov. Dolph Briscoe, through his years as Attorney General and the John Hill-Briscoe campaign of 1978…..Although I worked for his election as governor against Bill Clements in 1982 (anybody but Clements). I still saw him as more of a perpetual campaign who did not understand the meaning of the first six letters of his title (govern) than a courageous leader…BUT my views changed when the State was facing a major fiscal crisis when he stood up and, despite the political odds against it, called on the Legislature to enact the necessary taxes declaring “vote for it…and blame me”…..Which, of course, the voters promptly did by defeating him for re-election…But, he had proven that, when the times required it, he could follow the lead of Sam Houston and do right and risk the consequences…..It is a shame there are not more like him. Did you see where Gov. Abbott says that the special session is going to make Texas a better place? Well, considering that there less than 10 working days left and not a single bill has passed both chambers, that is going to take a lot of doing…..unless, of course, he means that it will make Texas better by not doing any of the 20 things he has demanded of it. This is the Dallas Morning News’ scorecard of where Abbott’s issues now stand: http://tinyurl.com/ycqo72pv Kozmo Abbott and Patrick are such swine, they make me miss (well, almost) Perry and Dewhurst. Julio Fuentes The people in the big cities are mostly recipients of various tax payer subsidies, so of course they are going to vote Dimocrap. And word to Dan Patrick. They don’t give a damn if their leaders are corrupt and incompetent, because THEY are exactly the same. Politics no different than life. You get EXACTLY what you deserve Could you please describe these “various tax payer subsidies” on which big city folks are so dependent? It would be good to know what they are since most of us don’t seem to be getting all these extra benefits and certainly want our share? YOU get what YOU deserve; I deserve better. So do all honest citizens. SeeItMyWay Good news! A showdown is coming. This ought to be something special. The four of the six major cities in TX are Dem controlled, I believe. Most Repub’s have moved to the suburbs, and median incomes have fallen, costs have gone up, old infrastructure needs repair, bond debt is out of wack, and pension programs have been poorly structured and managed. Per capita debt is enormous. Arlington is an exception. This said, how in the world does Patrick think the state is doing such a better job of managing money? Someone please tell us. He and the rest of his band are just as good at obfuscation, misdirection, voodoo accounting practices and can kicking as any I’ve watched the last several decades. Straus either knows he is going to get killed, but go out admirably, or he knows something we don’t. Maybe he thinks the silent majority is a little more attuned to this pending street fight, and feels that the business guys and heretofore unheard are going to grab their weapons and vociferously back him up when crunchtime comes. Either way…I don’t want to miss it. You should read the long article on Abbott and his hopes for the session in the Austin A-S today…..He lays down a direct threat to get involved in the primary elections of the legislators who don’t bend to his wishes….and does not rule out even opposing Straus’ re-election to the House and/or as speaker. I think the man is having delusions of his own importance….At least I hope so. I caught wind of it in QR. Battle royale brewing. Abbott has gotten way too big for his britches, but $40+ million in the bank pays for lots of propaganda. I’m hoping for a Humpty Dumpty moment where he finally hacks off so many teachers, public service employers, Hispanics and moderate conservatives that they actually get out and vote…and like I’ve said before…that Big Business actually throw big money into a dark money PAC to counteract the messages that Empower Texans with the aid of Wilkes brothers, Dunn’s and others $ is funding. You can only defeat someone with someone else….And there does not appear to be anyone anywhere near the horizon who could defeat Abbott in the General Election (whether Dannie Scott could beat him the GOP primary is a question)……So dream on….The overwhelming odds are that Abbott will win a second term as governor…and that at least 90% of your “moderate” and “November Republicans” will vote for him. If you need any more reason to be downhearted, pick up a copy of the latest edition of The Economist and read the article entitled Fox poxpuli on page 22. The fact that 45% of the GOP in a poll FAVOR giving the courts the power to SHUT DOWN a news media outlet that publishes “stories that are biased or inaccurate” (only 20% oppose it) and that 40% of the GOP DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT should be enough to take the skip out of your step. I understand the anger, but don’t agree with the majority in the poll. If you cannot, or will not, admit to gross media bias than you are an ideologue and not the independent thinker you profess to be. I loved Huckaby’s dressing down of the media corp the other day. She clicked off verifiable facts regarding the Clinton’s stinky dealings with the Russians which put the Trump’s unverifiable rumors and imuendo to shame. People know this; the Repub’s question why; the Dem’s ignore it Telling. Of course, there has been media bias as long as there have been media…..If you think it is bad today you should take a look at what the papers were like back in the days when the First Amendment was written…..It makes most modern media (not including Fox) look totally fair and accurate. But, again accept for a handful of outlets and particularly the Fox-types of both the right (of which there are more) and the few on the left, there is much less bias today. As to the Hillary and Russia story…It has been reported…In fact, you’ve referred to it several times….but it is no where near THE STORY that the Trump-Russia story represents. As far as anyone can determine, no member of the Clinton campaign AND ESPECIALLY TWO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY willfully and gleefully attended a meeting with what they were told in advance was a RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT agent to conspire (which is what it would have been had they gotten the information) with the Russians to influence the election of the President of the United States. The fact that they KNEW it was supposed to be Russian agent on behalf of the Russian government is no “unverifiable rumor and innuendo”. IT IS A CLEAR STATEMENT IN THE E-MAIL to which Jr. jumped with joy…… If the Clintons did something wrong with the Russians, it should be reported (and the allegations have been) and, if there was anything criminal involved, they should be prosecuted. BUT even you have to accept that it is a much, much smaller story than the Trump case….and that alone justifies it getting less coverage. We just don’t see things the same way. Surprise! Suprise! One major newspaper in the entire country investigated and reported on all the facets of the Russian uranium deal, and one major network. Having two greehorns jumping up and down over a promise of trash on Hillary from the Russian’s doesn’t surprise me, nor hack me off, near as much as the history of selling influence the Clinton tag team put on foreign governments. I guess a lot of people see it my way over yours. That is not a big surprise. A lot of Republicans…..who, as you may remember, got nearly 3 million LESS votes last November. Oh, I like the moves Trump has attempted to make; I dislike his childlike proclivity for feeling a perpetual need to “strike back” at any and all criticism. I like the agenda; I don’t think much of the General. BCinBCS JJ (SeeIT), I applaud your active participation in the political field, especially Texas politics but I denounce your swallowing right-wing propaganda such as the uranium deal without doing any fact checking. When Republicans became obsessed with the uranium deal and it was brought up in BurkaBlog, I researched the facts and posted them here. It’s disheartening that my work to find the truth had no effect on you. Many news outlets did investigate and report on the sale of uranium and discovered that there was nothing wrong with it and that Hillary had absolutely nothing to do with it. Not sure where you got your info. I got mine from a series of pieces in the NYT. Not the source I would normally turn to for dirt on Dem’s. Why would the Clinton’s home state newspaper with a historically liberal leaning position, publish numerous articles on this subject over an extended period of time? I did a quick google search and found Snopes did a thorough job on the Clinton/uranium sale controversy. It mentions the NY Times article. Here is some of what Snopes stated: “The Uranium One deal was not Clinton’s to veto or approve: Among the ways these accusations stray from the facts is in attributing a power of veto or approval to Secretary Clinton that she simply did not have. Clinton was one of nine cabinet members and department heads that sit on the CFIUS, and the secretary of the treasury is its chairperson. CFIUS members are collectively charged with evaluating the transaction for potential national security issues, then turning their findings over to the president. By law, the committee can’t veto a transaction; only the president can. According to The New York Times, Clinton may not have even directly participated in the Uranium One decision. Then-Assistant Secretary of State Jose Fernandez, whose job it was to represent the State Dept. on CFIUS, said Clinton herself “never intervened” in committee matters. Despite transfer of ownership, the uranium remained in the U.S.: A key fact ignored in criticisms of Clinton’s supposed involvement in the deal is that the uranium was not — nor could it be — exported, and remained under the control of U.S.-based subsidiaries of Uranium One, according to a statement by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission…” http://www.snopes.com/hillary-clinton-uranium-russia-deal/ I’m not going to do another deep dive into this non-controversy because, as with the first time I presented the facts, you and other conservatives will choose to believe what you want rather than the facts. You don’t have to do “another deep dive”. If your first one took you to Snoopes, it tells me everything I need to know. Ah, okay, you’re an “alternative facts” believer, so I’ll play your game: You prove to me what Hillary did does not comport with the facts that Snopes, Fact Check and just about every other source claim. Be specific because, if you can prove wrongdoing, you will be responsible for sending Hillary Clinton to jail. “Alternative facts”??? Google “Clinton’s/urarium”. You will find a long list of NYT’s pieces scattered over several years. The timelines and facts are undeniable; the personal interpretation of these facts are open for discussion. We’ve never had one. You choose to go to Snoopes for verification and final comment. Anyone who does that is a rube. Do me a favor…Google and read. If it was FOX or Brietbart breaking this story, and publishing multi-year pieces on this story, I might buy your position. The fact that the NYT’s has always been the mover on this speaks volumes to me. Pull your damn head out. “Do me a favor…Google and read.” No, bull$hit, you prove your point that something illegal or nefarious took place. I presented much more information than just Snopes when I originally covered this topic before the election. You made the accusation; you back your accusation with proof. “The timelines and facts are undeniable; the personal interpretation of these facts are open for discussion.” Binary facts are not open to interpretation and I don’t know what you mean by the “timeline”. I suspect that this is another example of you blindly “interpreting” facts to fit your preconceived notions. Never mentioned Abbott the candidate; it was about Abbott and who he is threatening to defeat for Speaker and district races with his mouth and his money. The only time anything like your Humpty Dumpty dream has taken place in Texas for many, many years was Mark White’s win in 1982 which, by the way, was helped by a major effort led by Lloyd Bentsen and Bill Hobby, a recession which was blamed on the GOP, blacks almost terrified by the threat to the VRA (which we told them Regan would kill) and the fact that Clements had done such things as express a wish for a hurricane to clean oil off of the beaches……And, I might note, as soon as White did some of the kinds of things you are advocating, Clements came back with the standard GOP myths of “overspending, over taxed” and defeated him. And here I thought King Rick was a piece of work — King Abbott is making the former wannabe monarch look like an amateur. Things may be breaking….The House is actually going to debate a SENATE BILL on Monday…..speaking of which: I used to have a reputation for being a fairly good legislative analyst. In fact, the late long-time Secretary of the Senate Betty King told me she I was the best she had ever seen….but I guess with the passage of time and my being away from the daily business of the Legislature my mind and skills have deteriorated so much that I can no longer analyze proposed legislation. I say that because I have just tried to read (and understand) the House Committee Substitute for SB 6, the anti-municipal annexation bill that is up for debate in the House on Monday, and totally struck out. I even tried the bill analysis, which is, in theory, supposed to explain things to us common minds but still had no luck. As such, could someone who is still actively involved in writing, reading or understanding legislation please tell me just what this bill does? Could you also tell me how the “closed bracket” of cities it creates is constitutional? And, could someone reveal just who is the owner of a 5,000 sq. ft. business that does seasonal business who wants to keep operating for 20 years after being annexed despite some existing legal barrier to him doing so and what kind of a stick does he/she/it have to justifies a special provision just for them in the bill? (See Section 2) I have been informed that the mysterious seasonal business in a 5,000 sq. ft. building that wants a 20-year exemption from any zoning, safety and other requirements after annexation are FIREWORKS companies. Believe it or not…Despite the concerns I expressed yesterday in a preceding posting (see directly below) on SB 6, the anti-annexation bill, about my apparently having lost my ability to analyze legislation, it now appears that I STILL HAVE IT as bill, the bill was knocked of the House Floor by a point of order based on the question I had raised about the unconstitutionality of the “closed brackets” it established to define which cities would be covered by different sets of its provisions…..Boy that make me feel good. On Aug. 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announced he would resign following damaging revelations in the Watergate scandal. One national tragedy ended on an Aug. 8…….is it too much to hope that another might too? I believe that it is short-sighted to wish removal from office for Comrade Trump/Bannon since his replacement will be the even more conservative Mike Pence who would be much more competent at passing the RWNJ agenda. There is something to what you say….but consider the fact that, at least, Pence might understand why sometimes we have to ignore the words—if not the actions—of nations like North Korea. Trump, on the other hand, looked like he was almost quivering in sexual frenzy when he was threatening North Korea with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”. He, as John McCain noted, does not seem to understand what Teddy Roosevelt was talking about when he said “Speak SOFTLY, but carry a big stick” . Trump, instead, seems to believe that sounding TOUGH is the ONLY way to handle any matter. The possibility that he might have to backup what he says seems to be beyond his comprehension. The fact that all that fire and frenzy would probably result in the horrible deaths of hundreds of thousands of people—including many, many thousands of our alleged South Korean allies—also does not seem to bother him. He, of course, would be safe in some secret bunker if it comes to that…Too bad millions of others (other than his family) would not be invited to join him. The US has repeatedly pledged that it will never (again) be the “first user” of nuclear weapons in any conflict….but, then, The Most High Donald has several times suggested that he does not believe in that policy. He has even questioned “Why have them it you don’t use them?” The answer, of course, is that we have then so that we won’t have to use them…but then Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) is probably too subtle of a policy for Trump…Since he refuses to read it probably wouldn’t do any good to direct him to what Ronald Reagan had to say about such things….but he probably thinks that Reagan was “weak”…… Anyone who wants to read an informed description about how a war with North Korea might be fought and how it would turn out should read this piece from The Economist. http://tinyurl.com/y7vam8tk Kim and The Most High are beginning to look more and more like two little would-be-bullies in a second grade school yard exchanging “I’m tougher than you” threats back and forth….The only problem is those kinds of exchanges after a while one of the two pushes the other one and then things go badly from there. I doubt Kim will do more than talk (he knows how much he has to loose), but I’m not so sure about the child in the WH. Trump is now a risk to humanity. Anyone still defending him or their own vote really isn’t worth the effort. It is speculation. It is the future. Prognostication is something you have never been good at, based on my years here on BB reading what you predict. You are a great historian. Stick to sharing the past with us. P.S. We don’t have to use nukes to do a real job on NK….but any job would probably wind up with hundreds of thousands of casualties….and end up with the Chinese “intervening” as they did in 1950 to keep us and the South Koreans away from their border. What happens then? You have a point but I suspect that there would be overwhelming push-back by the military and the Congress, not to mention the American people, if Comrade Trump/Bannon decided to start a nuclear conflict with North Korea. Unfortunately the President Comrade Trump/Bannon versus President Pence choice is a lose/lose proposition any way that it is dissected. I agree that there would be some “pushback”, however, I fear that is likely to come AFTER Trump has taken acts that have already killed thousands…Trump, unlike the two Bushes in Iraq, I doubt that he would go to the Congress for any sort of authorization….but rather would strike first and ask later. There was an attempt in Congress recently to block that by toughening the rules on what kind of presidential actions can be taken without prior authorization, but, as I understand it, those were left out of the final bill. Those kinds of controls could be reconsidered If he continues to make statements like this one and it appears he is actively making preparations to go to war….but would the GOP pass them? Absent such laws, I would also not count on any pushback by the military beyond telling him–again and again–what he is thinking about is bad policy…..but, when he, as president makes a decision, I suspect they will go along…..which is the tradition in this country. As to the public reaction, as long as the American casualties were limited, I think a large proportion of his base would more than cheer such an action as showing that “America is great AGAIN”…as, after all, what a few hundred thousand Koreans….when most of them probably cannot find it on the map. Yea, there’s always that but I have faith that the military would delay action while leaking his plans as a way to stop such craziness – a larger version of their reaction to his transgender tweet where they have, essentially, ignored it. chriscolumbus Abbot & Costello are the 2nd biggest enigma/puzzle of my political life, the 1st being the Drumpf. These kind and perhaps more importantly the kind who put them in office are leading us backwards, into the wilderness. How much can you claim and not provide proof? You can say that Hillary farts toxic waste and Comrade Trump/Bannon farts unicorn odored rainbows but I’m not gonna accept it until you at least quote someone with authority who has seen it happen. Don’t make a claim if you can’t back it up and especially don’t make a claim when it’s wrong. Wonder why the Clinton’s didn’t sue the NYT’s for slander? They haven’t sued the NYT for the same reason that they haven’t sued anyone over all of the other crazy-ass accusations that have been repeatedly investigated and found without merit. Try and get that big wad of stink bait on a treble hook dislodged from your puffy lip. The liberal heralded NYT’s stated fact in chronological order in numerous pieces over a period of months. Your rags came back with nothing to dispute what the NYT’s stated; they just poo-poo’d the coincidences, as if there was no connective flow to them. These were published for the true believers to latch onto and get them to stick their heads back into the sand. No sense carrying this further. Go get your lip treated. Yes, JJ, dealing with you is a waste of time. You refused over and over again to provide any proof or supporting evidence to back your incorrect implication that Hillary Clinton did something wrong or nefarious in the sale of uranium to a company owned by the Russians. You accuse me of swallowing stink bait because I defend a position that has facts and information to back it while you stubbornly bite down on false claims that you cannot prove (because there is no proof). This discussion could be settled easily if you and conservatives like you would not blindly adhere to indefensible positions. When your only rebuttal to truth is to call it fake, you have already lost the debate even if you do not know it. I’ll let other decide about the fact issue. You think to NYT’s statements were lies? That the chain of events as stated were wrong? No one else has that I am aware of. What they are disputing is how all the pieces fit together. In fact, like you, they insist they don’t. My position is that “if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck…”. “You think the NYT’s statements were lies?” WHAT NYT STATEMENTS? All you have done is claim that the New York Times made some statement about some problem that Hillary had with the uranium sale. If you claim it, document it! Look, you really aren’t carrying yourself very well here. I not “claiming” the NYT’s published a series of articles on the ties between the Clinton Foundation, the Russians, a Canadian billionaire and Sec of State Clinton; I am emphatically stating that they did. All one has to do is Google “New York Times Clinton’s Russians uranium articles” and all the links readily pop up. Quit being petulant; go do your homework. The articles are loaded with facts and a timeline. No, JJ. If you make a claim, it is your responsibility to document it. It is not my responsibility to do research to prove your claim. You should know this. If you want to claim that Hillary did anything wrong or nefarious in the sale of uranium to the company owned mostly by Russians, then cite links to your evidence. Start here: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrBT8VhqY9Z7p8AVQFx.9w4;_ylu=X3oDMTE0dWVpZWM2BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDVUkyRkJUM18xBHNlYwNzcg–/RV=2/RE=1502616033/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nytimes.com%2finteractive%2f2015%2f04%2f23%2fus%2fclinton-foundation-donations-uranium-investors.html/RK=1/RS=esU5vnRJMybH34QjAHI9_jtxGqg- https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrBT8VhqY9Z7p8AVAFx.9w4;_ylu=X3oDMTE0bGhyaDE4BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDVUkyRkJUM18xBHNlYwNzcg–/RV=2/RE=1502616033/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nytimes.com%2f2015%2f04%2f24%2fus%2fcash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-as-russians-pressed-for-control-of-uranium-company.html/RK=1/RS=3Z9Sv5UcNHHvvt2UK8LzwY1j1Ao- Rita Clements, The Power Behind a Governor, Dies at 86 U.S. Immigration Director Threatens to Jail Elected Officials in Sanctuary Cities “Will Rap 4 Weed” and Other Independent Candidates for Governor You Probably Won’t Hear About Again in 2018 The Republican Tax Bill Likely Will Add to the Coming Explosion in the National Debt Ken Paxton Rules That Licensed Handgun Owners Can Bring a Firearm to Church Enjoy Your Eight-year, Temporary Federal Tax Cuts Updated: Ted Cruz Scores a Victory on Funding for Private Schools University Presidents Say Tax Reform Policy Will Hurt Texas Higher Education By Gregory L. Fenves and Danny J. Anderson Blake Farenthold Withdraws from Re-election But Will Likely Remain on Ballot	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595201
__label__wiki	0.814167	0.814167	thebestofblackpool BLACKPOOL JOINER WINS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2nd October 2018 A 20-YEAR-OLD from Blackpool has been earmarked for a bright future in the construction industry after being named Redrow’s Regional Apprentice of the Year 2018 for Lancashire. Matt Willis has impressed his peers with his high levels of enthusiasm and willingness to go that extra mile in all areas of work as an apprentice joiner. Hands-on experience had been gained supporting Redrow’s construction of new homes around Lancashire, including the build of family homes in Tabley Green, Preston, The Hedgerows in Clayton-le-Woods and Pear Tree Meadows, Astley. Matt’s commitment to quality whilst working with Redrow has helped him on his way towards netting a hat-trick – gaining a full-time role with Redrow contractors, Leyland-based DNA Construction, earning an NVQ Level 3 in Joinery and now winning a prized apprentice accolade. Matt Willis, an award-winning apprentice with Redrow, working on-site at its Pear Tree Meadows development in Astley, Greater Manchester The unassuming former Blackpool & The Fylde College pupil said news of his award had come as something of a surprise. “It’s not really sunk in if I’m honest but of course, it’s just great news,” he said. “There are a lot of people I have to thank for helping me, including Redrow – who have given me so many opportunities to get out and about and develop. I’d also like to thank DNA Construction who I am working with now at a number of Redrow developments.” Matt will now focus his attentions on longer term career objectives to work towards becoming construction site manager. Anne Collard, who has been Matt’s apprenticeship-coordinator for Redrow (Lancashire), feels Matt has all the right attributes to realise his ambitions. “Matt has worked very hard over the last couple of years and we believe he has a very bright future ahead of him,” she added. Redrow’s first ever national apprenticeship awards was recently held at Jury’s Inn, Hinckley in Leicestershire, where Matthew was officially crowned Apprentice of the Year in the Lancashire category. Each regional winner was put forward for a national prize, with apprentice painter and decorator Courtney Baker-Edwards, from Redrow’s South West division, winning an overall award. Redrow offers a wide range of apprenticeships, including carpentry, electrical, bricklaying and plumbing, as well as office-based apprentices in a variety of administration, technical and commercial roles. Around 15% of Redrow’s total workforce are apprentices or trainees and Redrow has been a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer for the last five years. For more information on becoming an apprentice with Redrow, see the website: www.redrowcareers.co.uk/apprentices Issued for & on behalf of Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) by Active PR. Press information from Gary Vyse, tel: 07730 021 963, email: garyvyse@activepr.co.uk or contact Linda Bright tel: 07710 020026, email: linda@activepr.co.uk Richard H FESTIVE MAGIC PLANNED FOR POULTON CHRISTMAS EVENT The winner of Hillstart free prize draw is.. We are thebestof Blackpool, to contact us call now... Blackpool business directory Events in Blackpool Local information for Blackpool Blackpool news & updates Blackpool member offers	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595207
__label__wiki	0.988787	0.988787	5 powerful, butt-kicking tips from Rachel Hollis' new book 'Girl, Stop Apologizing' In "Girl, Stop Apologizing," Rachel Hollis encourages readers to go for it. Here are five tips from the book to get you motivated. 5 powerful, butt-kicking tips from Rachel Hollis' new book 'Girl, Stop Apologizing' In "Girl, Stop Apologizing," Rachel Hollis encourages readers to go for it. Here are five tips from the book to get you motivated. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2019/03/07/rachel-hollis-new-book-girl-stop-apologizing/3028861002/ Erin Jensen, USA TODAY Published 9:57 a.m. ET March 7, 2019 \| Updated 1:33 p.m. ET March 7, 2019 'Girl, Wash Your Face' author says influencers need to be honest with their followers. (Sept. 14) AP What does the author of "Girl, Wash Your Face" want us to do now? Her new advice is, "Girl, Stop Apologizing." Following last year's motivational work (which sits at no. 3 on USA TODAY's top 100 books of 2018), Rachel Hollis, a writer, motivational speaker, podcast host, businesswoman and mom of four, has written a new book, "Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals" (out Tuesday). In an approachable style, Hollis encourages readers to go for it in the book broken down into three parts: "Excuses to Let Go Of," "Behaviors to Adopt" and "Skills to Acquire." "The worst thing I can imagine is that you might die with that potential still untapped inside of you," Hollis writes in the book's introduction. "And so I wrote this book ... as encouragement, as a field guide, and also as the wind that fans the flames of your what if spark so that it turns into a wildfire." Here are five tips from "Girl, Stop Apologizing" to get you motivated. More: Chic Media founder Rachel Hollis: How I became a motivational powerhouse for women The cover of "Girl, Stop Apologizing" (Photo: Harper Collins Leadership) 1. "Talents and skills are like any other living thing – they can't grow in the dark." Reflecting on her decision to actually bring her dream of creating a platform to help improve women's lives to life, Hollis recalled a time when she used to keep her wants tucked away, and the danger that poses. "I kept these secret dreams locked up nice and tight where nobody could consider them weird or judge me for them," she writes, "and where, by the way, they'd never truly see the light of day or have a chance to manifest." 2. "A goal is a dream with its work boots on." Hollis explains the difference between a goal and a dream, as she sees it. "A goal is a dream you've decided to make real. A goal is a destination you're working toward instead of an idea you're only considering or hoping for," Hollis writes. "Hope is a beautiful thing and an incredibly valuable tool to help keep us motivated and inspired about the possibility for the future. But let's be very clear on this point: hope is not a strategy ... You've got to be intentional, and you've got to decide right now that you can be whoever you want to be and achieve whatever you want to achieve." Later, Hollis writes of the permanence of goals: "Really, truly chasing down a goal changes not just that specific aspect of your life but how you approach life on the whole. Forever." Author and businesswoman Rachel Hollis (Photo: The Hollis Co.) 3. "You aren't going to find the time to pursue your goals; you're going to make the time to pursue your goals." Hollis drives home: "You are in control of your schedule." "Girl, the question is never, Do you have enough time?" she says. "The question is, How are you using the time you have?" Hollis suggests readers make a timeline of their weeks and figure out how to devote five hours a week to their goal. 4. "You are enough. Today. As you are." Hollis had words for those who aren't going for their desires because they are focused on what they believe they lack: "Stop beating yourself up for being on the beginning side of yet, no matter what age you are. Yet is your potential. Yet is a promise. Yet is what keeps you moving forward. Yet is a gift, and you are enough to get to the other side of it." 5. Aim for being centered instead of focusing on a work-life balance. Hollis believes "Work-life balance is a myth." She instead puts her energy toward being centered. "Centered means that you feel grounded and at peace with yourself," she says. "Centered means that you can't be knocked off balance regardless of how chaotic things become. If I prioritize myself and make sure I"m centered, then everything else runs smoothly ... even when it's running at a hundred miles an hour!" More: Amanda Seyfried says motherhood made her rethink taking roles with 'nudity or sex' More: Here are the top 10 children's books according to USA TODAY's best-selling books list 100 Best celeb photos of February 2019: Lady Gaga, Kendall Jenner, Princ... The Oscars, Grammys and Super Bowl were just a few of the events that made February a star-studded month. Here, Lady Gaga got emotional backstage after winning her first Academy Award. Click through to see what else your favorite celebs were up to this month. MATT SAYLES/AMPAS VIA GETTY IMAG Kacey Musgraves performed in Nashville on Feb. 27. Jason Kempin, Getty Images Meanwhile in London, Brie Larson snapped a selfie with a fan at the UK premiere of "Captain Marvel." Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images for Disney Her co-star Gemma Chan posed for cameras. Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images for Disney And the two of them had a sweet moment on the red carpet. Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images for Disney More co-stars posed on the red carpet, including Jude Law... Jeff Spicer, Getty Images ...Lashana Lynch... Jeff Spicer, Getty Images ...and Samuel L. Jackson. Jeff Spicer, Getty Images During Paris Fashion Week, Gigi Hadid attended a party for Prada. Kamil Zihnioglu, AP Back in California, Kristen Chenoweth spoke during an event at the Paley Center for Media. Kevin Winter, Getty Images And "Fresh Off the Boat" stars Randall Park and Constance Wu celebrated the show's 100th episode. Andrew Toth, Getty Images Chloe Grace Moretz attended the premire of "Greta" in Hollywood on Feb. 26. Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic Brie Larson posed on the red carpet of the 91st Academy Awards. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Michelle Yeoh wowed in a sheer and metallic gown. Dan MacMedan, Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY NETWORK Jason Momoa arrived with Lisa Bonet and reminded us that hair scrunchies make for excellent accessories. Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY NETWO Billy Porter wowed in an elaborate tuxedo gown. Richard Shotwell, Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Ashley Graham and Gemma Chan snapped a selfie. Neilson Barnard, Getty Images "Black Panther" co-stars Letitia Wright and Danai Gurira posed together. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Rachel Weisz arrived on the red carpet. Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY NETWO Adam Lambert and Queen's Brian May opened the award show. Kevin Winter, Getty Images Directors Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron walked off stage together. Matt Sayles, AMPAS HANDOUT via USA TODAY NETWORK Spike Lee celebrated after "BlacKkKlansman" won for best adapted screenplay. Robert Deutsch, Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK Bette Midler performed "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from "Mary Poppins Returns." Chris Pizzello, Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP "The Favourite" star Olivia Colman smiled during her acceptance speech for best lead actress. Robert Deutsch, Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK "Roma" director Alfonso Cuaron and actress Yalitza Aparicio hugged after the film won for best foreign language film. Chris Pizzello, Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Kacey Musgraves smiled backstage... Handout, A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images ...before introducing a contender for best original song from "Ballad of Buster Scruggs." Robert Deutsch, Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper performed the hit song "Shallow" from "A Star is Born." Robert Deutsch, Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK Barbra Streisand introduced best picture contender "BlacKkKlansman." Chris Pizzello, Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Mike Myers and Dana Carvey reprised their iconic "Wayne's World" characters to introduce "Bohemian Rhapsody." Kevin Winter, Getty Images Congressman John Lewis and Amandla Stenberg stand backstage before presenting. Matt Sayles, AMPAS HANDOUT via USA TODAY NETW Chris Evans and Jennifer Lopez smile backstage. Handout, A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images Awkwafina and John Mulaney high-five while presenting the award for best animated short film. Chris Pizzello, Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Rami Malek looked a little overwhelmed backstage after winning best lead actor for "Bohemian Rhapsody." Matt Sayles, AMPAS HANDOUT via USA TODAY NETW Julia Roberts presented the award for best picture, which went to "Green Book." Kevin Winter, Getty Images Party time! Chrissy Teigen and John Legend posed together at Vanity Fair's Oscar party. Gregg DeGuire, FilmMagic Isla Fisher was one of many celebs to attend. Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images As was Halsey, with a bright red 'do. Tony Barson, FilmMagic Paris Jackson also attended... Axelle/Bauer-Griffin, FilmMagic ... as did "Queer Eye"s Karamo Brown. Daniele Venturelli, WireImage Selma Blair also attended, making her first major public appearance since announcing she had been diagnosed with MS. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Jennifer Lopez was also in attendance. Tony Barson, FilmMagic "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" star Lana Condor was, too. Daniele Venturelli, WireImage As was Kendall Jenner, in an ultra-revealing gown. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin, FilmMagic Kate Beckinsale posed with an enormous train. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin, FilmMagic Paris Hilton attended another Oscars event: The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. Karwai Tang, WireImage "The Masked Singer" judge Nicole Scherzinger also attended. Karwai Tang, WireImage And so did "The Masked Singer" contestant Rumer Willis. Phillip Faraone, FilmMagic Caitlyn Jenner posed for cameras. Tommaso Boddi, Getty Images for IMDb And Tiffany Haddish busted a move. Phillip Faraone, FilmMagic Cara Delevigne posed outside Dior's Paris Fashion Week show. Thibault Camus, AP Jennifer Lawrence was there, too. Thibault Camus, AP Jon Stewart visited Capitol Hill on Feb. 25 to speak with lawmakers about the compensation fund for victims of 9/11. Jacquelyn Martin, AP Across the pond, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan met some four-legged friends while visiting Morocco … Samir Hussein, WireImage ... snacked during a cooking demonstration from one of Morocco's best chefs... Pool/Samir Hussein, WireImage … and later cleaned up nicely for a meeting with King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Yui Mok, AP Honorees Regina Hall, left, KiKi Layne, Amandla Stenberg and Jenifer Lewis attended the Essence Black Women in Hollywood awards luncheon at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Feb. 21 in Los Angeles. Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence Lewis had some fun posing with her larger-than-life cut-out. Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence "Glee" alum Amber Riley performed for the Essence partygoers. Rich Polk/Getty Images for Essence On Feb. 19, "Private Practice" actress Kate Wash hosted the Costume Designers Guild Awards at The Beverly Hilton, appearing onstage dressed as Glinda the Good Witch from "The Wizard of Oz." Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Arriving on the carpet, Walsh sported a much different look. NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE Glenn Close, a favorite to win the best-actress Oscar on Feb. 24, received the Costume Guild's spotlight award. Amy Sussman/Getty Images for CDGA "Black Panther" costume designer Ruth E. Carter, center, received the career achievement award. She posed with Danai Gurira and Halle Berry. Amy Sussman/Getty Images for CDGA Duchess Meghan made a surprise visit to New York for a star-studded baby shower attended by Serena Williams, Amal Clooney and her former "Suits" co-star Abigail Spencer. Here, she exits New York's Surrey hotel Feb. 19, one day before the fete. Kevin Hagen/AP Her sister-in-law, Duchess Kate, donned a gorgeous, multi-tonal blush dress for a gala dinner in aid of Mentally Healthy Schools at London's Victoria and Albert Museum on Feb. 13. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Feb. 12, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, showing off her baby bump in a white high-neck Calvin Klein dress and a coat by Amanda Wakeley, were snapped while visiting London's Natural History Museum. ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE Oscar winner Tilda Swinton brought along her daughter, actress Honor Swinton Byrne, while promoting "The Souvenir" Feb. 12 at the Berlin Film Festival. FELIPE TRUEBA/EPA-EFE While promoting his Hulu reboot of "Catch 22" Feb. 11 at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in LA, George Clooney laughed at the idea that he and wife Amal would serve as godparents to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's child. Although they attended the royal couple's wedding, the father of twin toddlers said, "I have enough (expletive) to deal with – literally." Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP Daniel Radcliffe talked to TV writers about "Miracle Workers" on Feb. 11. The new TBS series, which stars Steve Buscemi, imagines heaven as an "Office Space"-style corporation. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Turner Cardi B channeled Boticelli's Birth of Venus on the Grammys red carpet on Feb. 10. The rapper showed up with estranged husband Offset, with whom she says she is "working things out." Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY Jennifer Lopez made a rare appearance on USA TODAY's worst-dressed list for her Grammys look, which included a white Ralph & Russo gown with a crystal-encrusted collar and bejeweled, wide-brimmed hat. Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY Janelle Monae put a geometric spin on the fascinator with her Grammys red-carpet look. Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY Country singer Kacey Musgraves, who would go on to win the album-of-the-year Grammy for "Golden Hour," got an assist with her Valentino gown. Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY Dolly Parton was surrounded by Maren Morris, Katy Perry, Little Big Town, Miley Cyrus and Kacey Musgraves for a "9 to 5" sing-along at the country music legend's Grammy tribute segment. Robert Hanashiro Canadian rapper Drake collected a Grammy for "God's Plan," only to be cut off mid-speech ROBYN BECK, AFP/Getty Images Anderson .Paak let son Soul Rasheed hold his Grammy for best rap performance. FREDERIC J. BROWN, AFP/Getty Images Lady Gaga rocked out in a sequined jumpsuit during her performance of "Shallow." The track from "A Star Is Born" won two Grammys, including pop duo and song performed for visual media (that show's equivalent to the best-original song Oscar). ROBERT HANASHIRO/USA TODAY Hours earlier and an ocean away, Gaga's co-star and director Bradley Cooper accepted the BAFTA equivalent of that award in London. In addition to thanking her, he gave a shout-out to girlfriend Irina Shayk for putting up with him while he "tried to make music in the basement for a year." Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Duchess Kate wore a stunning ivory, one-shoulder gown by Alexander McQueen to the BAFTA Awards, accompanying Prince William, who is president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Her gown featured feathery flowers on her shoulder and Grecian-style silky pleats. Tim Ireland/AP Katy Perry went full cowgirl at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Dolly Parton on Feb. 8. Rich Fury, Getty Images for NARAS Metro Boomin and Gunna sent a message of support to 21 Savage during their Feb. 11 appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" after the British-born rapper was detained Feb. 3 by ICE in his adopted hometown of Atlanta for overstaying his visa. Andrew Lipovsky/NBC That night, Stephen Colbert made "Last Week Tonight" host and fellow "Daily Show" alum John Oliver feel like a beauty queen. Scott Kowalchyk, CBS Deadly Games, indeed: Alfredo hurled knives at wife Anna during the Feb. 11 episode of "America's Got Talent: The Champions." Jordin Althaus/NBC The ladies of "Big Little Lies" reunited Feb. 8 at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Los Angeles to promote the show's second season. From left: Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic for HBO Fox News anchor Bret Baier discussed his harrowing Montana car accident with "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert on Feb. 6. On Jan. 22, Baier's Jeep slid through a stop sign during a family ski trip. "Thanks to a man driving by named Zach, who stopped and helped, we were able to climb out of the flipped car," Baier later said in a statement. "And thanks to the first responders and Montana Highway Patrol – we made it to the hospital quickly." Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Ricki Lake revealed herself as The Raven during the Feb. 6 episode of Fox's "The Masked Singer." The 50-year-old, who rose to fame in the original 1988 film version of "Hairspray," told the Television Critics Association that, "the hardest part of this job has been keeping my mouth shut." Michael Becker/Fox "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert conducted his Feb. 4 interview with organizational guru Marie Kondo on the floor. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Actor Liam Neeson did damage control in a Feb. 5 interview with "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts, one day after British newspaper The Independent published an interview in which the "Taken" star said that decades ago, he went looking to kill a black person as revenge for the rape of a loved one. Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC Adam Levine was joined by featured performers Travis Scott, center, and Big Boi of Outkast during Maroon 5's Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta on Feb. 3. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Levine went shirtless during the Super Bowl halftime show, giving birth to a meme in which less-ripped men bared their own torsos and scrawled their home states on their bellies. TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/Getty Images Scott crowd-surfed during the halftime show. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images Chris Pratt posed with his character at the Feb. 2 premiere of "The Lego Movie 2" in Los Angeles, though photographers and celeb-watchers would probably have preferred to see fiancee Katherine Schwarzenegger by his side. NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE Lady Gaga attended a luncheon for Oscar nominees on Feb. 4. Steve Granitz, WireImage Bradley Cooper posed before the event. Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images Their "A Star is Born" co-star, Sam Elliot, was also there. Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images Laura Dern posed for photographers... Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images ...and later had a chat with Rachel Weisz. Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images To be a fly on that wall: Regina King and Mahershala Ali laughed together inside the nominees luncheon. Danny Moloshok, Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP Martin Short attended AARP's Movies For Grownups Awards on Feb. 4. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Glenn Close did, too. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2019/03/07/rachel-hollis-new-book-girl-stop-apologizing/3028861002/ USA Today's Best-Selling Books List Elin Hilderbrand The Hidden Power of F*cking Up	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595218
__label__wiki	0.599114	0.599114	Cédric Charlier Preview By Elisabeta Tudor AFTER leading Cacharel's creative team for four seasons, Cédric Charlier goes his own way today, presenting his debut eponymous womenswear offering at 5pm, and thereby kicking off Paris' autumn-winter 2012-13 ready-to-wear season. SEE A PREVIEW OF THE COLLECTION "I'm just very happy to be on my own now," Charlier, acutely aware of the current round of fashion musical chairs, told us. "Cacharel was a great step of my career, but having the possibility to gain total creative freedom is just irreplaceable… I'm glad that Massimo Ferretti [head of Aeffe, Alberta Ferretti's production and distribution company] continued to trust in my work and gave me the opportunity to produce my own line. I am acutely aware that this type of recognition and support is pretty rare." SEE ALL THE LATEST CATWALK SHOWS HERE Charlier's new collection reveals a hidden side of the designer: you'll find the playfulness of feminine and masculine clothing codes, as well as the vibrant prints that you'd know from his time spent at Cacharel, but Charlier's new identity is more mature and yet twisted - there is no space left for overly-romanticised Lolita-looks. Cacharel Appointments By Lauren Milligan According to this bold state of mind, the designer opts for a sombre yet sophisticated autumnal colour palette - going from dark green and bordeaux, to midnight blue, sheer black and plain white, with occasional hints of iridescent copper and a few bright, abstract, painterly prints. His patterns have also changed: while keeping the masculine attitude of his previous womenswear creations, Charlier opts for a more fitted silhouette, embracing the female body with every single back, breast and waist dart, by redrawing every curve of a woman's shape. SEE CHARLIER'S COLLECTION FIRST, HERE "My goal is to fully express femininity, to breathe through it in my own way," he told us. "This said, I don't work with thematic ideas from one season to another; I only have a few images in mind, the type of inspirations that build a starting point without necessarily dictating a tone. For this collection, I thought about Helmut Newton's picture of Charlotte Rampling. It was a particular one, originally commissioned by Playboy Magazine in 1973. I simply liked its aesthetics: she was all about freedom and daring without any commitments - and yet it isn't a clichéd, over-empowered picture of a woman. It's about boldness and fragility at the same time - both fused together make a woman sublime." Click back tomorrow to see the Cédric Charlier show pictures. YOU SHOULD SEE: How you can get all the catwalk pictures first... YOU SHOULD SEE: All the action to look forward to in Paris... arrowdown gallery-expand Nadia Morganistik The New Nina Ricci Under Rushemy Botter And Lisi Herrebrugh By Liam Freeman A Lesson In Simplicity With Jil Sander's Lucie And Luke Meier The Chic Sisters Behind Cult Bag Brand Manu Atelier On Branching Out Into Footwear By Hattie Crisell What’s Next For Eckhaus Latta After Their Breakthrough Year? By Max Berlinger	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595222
__label__cc	0.733897	0.266103	Celebrating Five Years of Service! Wagenseller Law Firm is celebrating its five year anniversary. It was on November 1, 2004 that we opened our doors and established our goal of becoming the preeminent boutique real estate litigation firm in Los Angeles. After practicing with several large national law firms, Laine Wagenseller opened the firm to provide individualized attention to clients and to develop a practice based on the highest standards. Since then we have been fortunate enough to work with great clients on complicated real estate and business lawsuits. Some of our accomplishments include: · Chasing Sub-Prime Lenders. We sued two California mortgage lenders and forced a six-figure settlement after winning a writ of attachment and a motion for sanctions. · Specific Performance On A Purchase Option. Our warehouse tenant fought its landlord to exercise its option. We won a summary judgment for specific performance, forcing the landlord to sell the warehouse to our client. · Corporate Shareholder Lawsuit Dismissed During Trial. After the first day of trial by a partner/shareholder against the other partner and the corporation, the plaintiff dismissed the case for a waiver of costs. · Appeals Court Upholds Expunging of Lis Pendens. In what amounted to extortion by lis pendens, a purchaser of a 57-unit townhome complex filed a lawsuit and recorded a lis pendens against the property. We moved on behalf of the developer to remove the lis pendens and to impose sanctions against the plaintiffs. The court granted our motion. After we won in the trial court, plaintiffs appealed. The California Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court. · Industrial Tenant Agrees to Stipulated Judgment. We brought suit on behalf of an industrial warehouse landlord against a shipping company based in St. Louis. We were able to negotiate a monthly payment plan and back that up with a stipulated judgment for the full amount of the rent owing plus attorneys fees. If the tenant failed to pay, our client would get immediate judgment without the need for trial. Our client ended up getting paid everything and we avoided the costs and delays of trial. · Litigation Across The State. We recently represented an Italian retail chain in five lawsuits throughout the state of California. The litigation involved many of the major U.S. mall owners. · Real Estate Investor Lawsuit Dismissed. Our real estate developer client was sued by a 50% investor for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and other claims. We fought the claim aggressively and plaintiff eventually dismissed the claim for nothing in return. · Family fights! We have handled a number of sister v. sister partition disputes over apartment buildings in which they were co-owners. · Partnership Fights! Similar to family disputes, we have helped a number of partners in litigation with their partners. These partnership lawsuits have included real estate partnerships, co-owners, manufacturing companies and corporate shareholders. Visit our website at www.wagensellerlaw.com for more information on the cases we handle and the clients we serve. Trial Victory in Ventura Laine Wagenseller won a corporate shareholder trial in Ventura County Superior Court. Mr. Wagenseller spent two weeks in trial in a case where the plaintiffs—minority shareholders in the corporation—alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, involuntary dissolution of the corporation and accounting. Plaintiffs alleged that our client diverted $160,000 of corporate money into the client’s account in the corporate pension plan, that our client paid over $150,000 to his family members as compensation that was really ‘disguised dividends’, and that our client misrepresented that he would be shutting the corporation down in 2003 but that he continued doing business and kept the money. We put on evidence that the $160,000 pension contribution was determined by an actuary hired by the pension administrator and that our client had no involvement in setting the contribution amount. We also established that the family members had all worked for the corporation over the course of the last thirty years and that they had each earned the money paid to them. The court held that there was no evidence that the pension contribution was improper, that the family members were all paid for work performed, that plaintiff should have established any accounting irregularities at trial but did not and that there was no basis for a dissolution. We are pleased with this victory for our client. A large portion of our practice deals with partnership, shareholder and co-owner disputes relating to properties and businesses. Partner and Family Fights: What Do You Want? When you get involved in a partnership, co-owner or family fight over property or business, stop, take a breath and think about the outcome you seek. Is it really better to fight to the death or let loose a scourge of pestilence on your sister? Would you rather burn down the property than pay your partner even one dollar? Would you prefer a year of litigation and thousands of dollars in attorneys fees over relinquishing even one bit of control to your co-owner? Part of our job is not only analyzing the legal issues and fighting in court, but also exploring possible resolutions. Sometimes an impartial voice can help you to see the forest through the trees. We can also point out the problems that you do not foresee in your case. And, if necessary, we’ll go to trial for you to fight for your interests. 52nd Annual YMCA’s Good Friday Breakfast On April 2, 2010, we hosted a table at the YMCA’s 52nd Annual Good Friday Breakfast at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown. Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca spoke about the importance of religion in his life. We had the pleasure of having nine successful business leaders in our community at our table. Not pictured here were Darrin Kennedy (Colliers International) and Tom Lagos (Colliers International). 3rd Annual Cocktail Party On May 19, 2010, we held our 3rd annual cocktail party at Cafe Pinot along with 8 other co-hosts as shown above. Special guest Councilwoman Jan Perry shared a few words on the importance of sponsoring inner-city kids to summer camp. The event kicks off our 6-week campaign to send underprivileged children to the YMCA’s summer camp. Send a Kid to Camp Dear Clients and Friends, Wagenseller Law Firm has made it a goal to raise money to send inner-city children to YMCA’s summer camp in Big Bear. Children who have hardly experienced the outdoors will spend a week of their summer at Camp Whittle learning leadership skills, building positive relationships, and gaining confidence in their abilities. Last year, we raised close to $10,000 for the Send a Kid to Camp Campaign. We hope to top it this year. The following is simply a suggested donation amount. We ask that you donate whatever amount you are willing and capable of to continue our annual goal to send as many inner-city children to camp. Message from Laine T. Wagenseller 2010 has been busy for us. We have already completed two trials and signed on a number of new clients. We have also kicked off our annual campaign to raise money to send inner-city kids to camp in Big Bear for a week with the downtown YMCA. For the next month we are asking you to make a donation so that we can send as many kids to camp as possible. Our giving to others gives us meaning, fulfillment and abundance in our own lives. My sincere thanks to the many of you who have already given. We also want to know how we can serve you. Our goal is to become the preeminent real estate law firm in Los Angeles. Let us know your goal and how we can help you reach that goal. Let me know who you would like to meet so that you can get closer to that goal. I look forward to catching up this summer. In the Works: Cases We Are Working On · We were successful in getting the service of a summons and complaint on our Florida-based telecom client quashed, meaning the case was dismissed so that it could be pursued in Florida. Our client bought some chemicals from a Chatsworth-based company and, when a dispute arose, the chemical company sued in L.A. Superior Court. We argued that our client was not subject to a California court’s jurisdiction and won. · We are representing an Italian retailer in commercial unlawful detainers across the state as it tries to reach an agreement with the various mall owners in response to the economic difficulties in the retail sector. · We have been retained to represent two brothers who are facing a partition action by their younger brother over two apartment buildings in which they each own a one third interest. · Two investors have hired us to investigate their $600,000 investment in two properties where the partner secretly took out an additional $300,000 in loans on the properties and used the money personally. · A downtown industrial developer client has asked us to represent them in a claim by the general contractor for unpaid bills and cross-claims for construction defect. · We are representing a shopping center owner in a lawsuit over an exclusive use clause. Finding Your Meaningful Purpose in Life… We believe that all of us are here for a reason and that reason is something greater than ourselves. We all have certain desires and pursuits in life, such as ensuring our security and caring for loved ones. But when you move beyond the day-to-day pursuits of life, what moves you? What higher purpose calls you? Meaningful purpose has been defined as “a contribution to the world that uses your whole self fully and gives your life passion, fulfillment, and meaning through dedication to something larger than yourself.” Your meaningful purposes does not necessarily change the world. It could be something very close to home such as raising kids who become productive members of society. On the other hand, your meaningful purpose may involve trying to change the world. If you’re having trouble thinking about what your meaningful purpose is, try writing your eulogy. That’s right; start at the end and work backward. Imagine your funeral is taking place and you’re hovering above. Your best friend is eulogizing. What is he or she saying about you and your life? More important, what do you want your best friend to say about your life? Kind of scary, huh? As you continue to observe, how many true friends can you spot in the audience? How many people did you connect with in your life that would go the distance for you and be there for you? If you have one or two true friends like that, then you have one or two more than most people. Also ask yourself, what will people remember about me 100 years from now? What lasting legacy will I leave? — from Tested In The Trenches by Ron Carson and Steve Sanduski News and Happenings… · Duke University’s President Brodhead was in Los Angeles for an event at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, which Mr. Wagenseller attended. President Brodhead and the Dean of the Engineering School spoke about what advances the University is pursuing in engineering. · USC Law profiled Laine Wagenseller in an article entitled “State of Play” in the school’s Fall 2009 Law School Magazine. See our website for the article. · Laine Wagenseller attended his 20th reunion at Duke University in April. · Laine Wagenseller attended the annual Ronald Reagan dinner at the Reagan Library. Governor Mitt Romney was the featured speaker. Mrs. Reagan also attended. · Eric Kramer of Structure PMG, an Orange County-based property management firm, and Laine Wagenseller spoke to the brokers at Marcus and Millichap’s downtown Los Angeles office about dealing with delinquent tenants. Visit structurepmg.com for more information about Eric and his company. · Laine Wagenseller will be traveling to Uganda this summer on a short term mission trip with Embrace Uganda. The group will help a village in western Uganda with medical, dental, spiritual and day-to-day needs. www.embraceuganda.com. · Nadine Watt and Andrew Jameson hosted Georgetown University Professor Tony Arend at their home for a talk on challenges facing the U.S. in foreign policy, which Laine Wagenseller attended. · We hosted a table at the Boy Scouts Los Angeles Council Business Leaders Breakfast. Our guests included: Alan Weakland (Paul Hastings), Corey Spound (Jones Lang LaSalle), Dave Ridgeway (Marcus & Millchap), Jim Huang (BRC Advisors), Kris Raney (Morgan Stanley), Matthew May (May Realty Advisors), Roger Stevenson (Bedrock Consulting/Builders) and Steve Bram (George Smith Partners). Many people have been asking us: Who is a good referral for Wagenseller Law Firm? Our business is based on our personal relationships and we are very thankful for the referrals that our friends send us and the people they introduce us to. Our clients are people and businesses with commercial real estate issues—lawsuits, leases and business concerns. We also represent many businesses in all of their legal needs. Good introductions are property owners, real estate professionals, business owners and investors. We would like to find out who your ideal clients are and who you would like to meet.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595225
__label__wiki	0.879596	0.879596	Surf City grapples with how to replace sand washed away by Florence By Chelsea Donovan and Clint Bullock \| January 18, 2019 at 12:36 PM EST - Updated January 18 at 7:49 PM SURF CITY, NC (WECT) - Leaders in Surf City are weighing options on how to replace the thousands of cubic yards of sand that was lost after Hurricane Florence swept through the area. Hundreds of people flocked to Town Hall for Friday morning’s town council meeting where officials revealed that an estimated 1.8 million cubic yards of sand was washed away from Surf City’s coastline by the storm. Of that total, 1.3 million cubic yards was lost from the beach, while 470,000 cubic yards was stripped away from the dunes on the south end. “I have been studying beach nourishment for 22 years. we have had property here for two decades and we lost property back in Bertha and Fran so this is important,” said Surf City Resident Jack Solak. Town officials said Florence’s erosion impact was similar in scope to what was experienced during Hurricane Fran in 1996. Contractors with TI Coastal LLC presented town council with some options on what to do about the severe erosion. The price tag for those options ranged from $18.7 to $87 million. Surf City has $11.3 million set aside in a fund for beach restoration work. Councilman Donald Helms made a motion to spend $5 million to fix dunes on the north and south end of the town. The board voted unanimously to pass the motion. About two dozen residents registered to speak during Friday’s town council meeting including resident Beata Lornic. “I own three oceanfront properties to enjoy and for rental, and those properties took a large hit, one was condemned, and we have negative berm left,” said Lornic. She expressed concerns on getting a project started immediately as the state of the beach could affect the upcoming tourist season. “For many of us that own property, tourist season begins March 1,” said Lornic. “We need to figure out what we can tell tourists, because if we don’t explain what is happening on the beach, they will see it and won’t come back.” Some expressed their concerns about how long the project would take and wanted council members to try and partner with nearby coastal communities to help fund the shoreline restoration. “Immediately we need to do some hauling in like today or tomorrow or next week,” said Solak. “We need to go ahead and build up a small dune to protect the rest of the sand from falling in and losing more homes.” A possible tax rate hike to pay for the project was also a concern from some citizens who spoke at the meeting. No timetable was set on when the first dune replenishment project would begin. Copyright 2019 WECT. All rights reserved. Chelsea Donovan Chelsea Donovan is excited to be back in television news after a brief hiatus! After graduating from East Carolina in 2004 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Chelsea signed on as a producer at WITN-TV in Greenville. NC Clint Bullock was born in Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) but was raised in Southeastern North Carolina in the tiny town of Tabor City. After graduating from UNCW (Go Seahawks!) in 2002, he started his career in news at WECT as a production assistant before becoming a full-time video editor. Nearly a third of ER visits during Hurricane Florence were for this preventable reason A report recently published by the CDC looked into what caused visits to the hospital last fall during Hurricane Florence. Kendall McGee Flesh-eating bacteria yet to reach North Carolina Bryant Reed No ‘manpower’: California city bans gender-specific words in code Second suspect in Bladen County child abduction arrested Jim Gentry and Clint Bullock Tony Castleberry	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595229
__label__wiki	0.680297	0.680297	Articles about: “uspcc” 43: The United States Playing Card Co. The United States Playing Card Co. (USPCC) represents an amalgamation of all the major American card-makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries American Skat These decks were produced in various grades for the German immigrant population and feature the German eagle and the German and American flags intertwined. There were two versions: one with German faces and one with American faces. Anheuser-Busch Army & Navy This deck is commonly known as the “Anheuser-Busch Spanish-American War deck”, issued at the end of the war. Army & Navy No.303 Over the years eight different Aces of Spades were used with this brand and the Joker was also modified several times. The brand was eventually phased out in 1931. Army No.303 The Joker is particularly persuasive, whilst the Ace of Spades has a battle scene involving artillery, with Navy ships in the distance and the statue of the goddess of Freedom in the middle. Atlantic Playing Card Co Atlantic Playing Card Co., Inc. promoted Bridge Ensemble boxes and companion accessories. Baggy Clown Joker Evolution of American Bank Note Co's “Baggy Clown” Joker Bible Game “Fireside Bible Game” (No.1124) published by The Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, USA, 1899. Bicycle Butterfly Bicycle Butterfly playing cards from RSVP Magic with artwork by ‘Lotrék’ and printed by USPCC, 2012 Bicycle Civil War Deck The Civil War Deck designed by Jackson Robinson, 2017. Bicycle Heritage Bicycle Heritage playing cards by the United States Playing Card Company, 2012 Bicycle No.808 The famous Bicycle playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885 Bicycle No.808 - page 2 The famous 'Bicycle' playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885. They were hugely successful and became the most well-known brand in the world. Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition 1st edition of famous Bicycle Playing Cards printed by Russell & Morgan Printing Co., Cincinnati, 1885. Bicycle Seconds Bicycle 808 Seconds playing cards manufactured by The United States Playing Card Co, Cincinnati and New York, USA, with offices also in Windsor, Canada and London, England. “Breaking Bad” fan deck designed by Albino Dragon and manufactured by the USPCC in 2014 Cabinet No.707 Early decks were presented in linen finish slip cases with the Statue of Freedom inside a Spade suit symbol and the words ‘U.S. Playing Cards’ and ‘The Russell & Morgan Co., Cincinnati’ printed or embossed on the front. Capitol No.188 “Capitol No.188” was first introduced during the Russell & Morgan Printing Company era in c.1886 and carried through into the U.S.P.C.C's catalogue after 1895. Circus No.47 “Circus No.47”, first issued in 1896. The staid old Kings, Queens and Jacks have given way to various well-known ring masters, clowns and queens; dashing circus designs. Indeed, the clown Jacks are only a short step away from Jokers! Congress No.606 Congress Playing Cards were first produced by the Russell & Morgan Company in 1881 as the finest and most expensive of their brands. Diamond Playing Card (DPC Ltd) Elvis Presley playing cards published by The United States Playing Card Company, c.2002 Gibson Playing Card Co Gibson Playing Card Co., Cincinnati and New York Historic Boston and Vicinity Historic Boston and Vicinity Souvenir Playing Cards, 1909 In Castle Land The Game of ‘In Castle Land’ (No.1113) published by The Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, 1896. Jumbo Bridge 88 Cards with jumbo indices were introduced in 1895, and were given the subtitle '88'. Over the years a variety of Jokers were used, often taken from other brands. McDonald’s Playing Cards McDonald’s playing cards by the United States Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, c.1997 Monarch Bicycle The company advertised themselves as “The Monarch King of all Cycles” with the lion's head motif inside a bicycle wheel. Naipes No. 71 Los Leones National Card Co. The National Card Co. was formed in c.1886 by Samuel J Murray, who as a young man had worked in England in Charles Goodall's playing card factory. In 1881 he moved to Cincinnati and became an employee of Russell & Morgan playing card manufacturers. In 1886 he left Russell & Morgan and moved to Indianapolis to establish the National Card Company. “Nationalities”, the people of many nations, published by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, c.1897 Navy No.303 The second edition of 1883 has slightly larger indices and a more simplified Ace of Spades showing two sailing ships. New Era No.46 “New Era No.46”, based around European fashions, was soon followed with “Circus No.47”, “Hustling Joe No.61” and “Ye Witches No.62”. No.4 Special Whist No.4 Special Whist (American Skat) playing cards made by the Russell & Morgan Printing Company, 1889. No.500 Playing Cards No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910 Norwood #85, c.1909 The deck features a colourful Ace of Spades and Joker, decorated Aces, unique courts and two beautiful back designs featuring fine art paintings. Panama Canal Souvenir Souvenir of Panama playing cards by USPCC 6th Edition produced in 1923 Panama Souvenir 1908 1st edition of Panama Souvenir playing cards published by U.S. Playing Card Co., 1908 Panama Souvenir Playing Cards Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926. The design of the cards varied between editions, and different 'fact' and map cards were also included. Perfection Playing Card Co. Tip-Top No.350 playing cards manufactured by Perfection Playing Card Company, Philadelphia, c.1887 Playing Cards manufactured by The US Playing Card Co for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru Playing cards manufactured by The US Playing Card Co for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru, 1920s - 1950s The game of Population was first published by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, USA (a division of United States Playing Card Co), in c.1896 Russell, Morgan & Co The distinctive Ace of Spades features the Statue of the Goddess of Freedom, based on the bronze statue designed by Thomas Crawford (1814-1857) that, since 1863, has crowned the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Squared Faro #366 Squared Faro #366 by Russell & Morgan Co. was issued in 1887 Stage Playing Cards, 1908 This beautiful deck features an oval half-tone photo of a theatre star on each card, many of them legendary names, along with their autograph beneath. The border artwork consists of a different coloured floral pattern for each suit. The back has a decorative panel with theatre masks. “STAR WARS Episode 1” playing cards printed by U.S. Playing Card Co., c.1999 “Strange People” card game produced by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, 1895. Timothy Curtis Art Timothy Curtis Art custom Bicycle playing cards, 2018. Imagery of slightly eccentric tourists sightseeing in Egypt, or perhaps in the Alps, appears on the back of the box, the Ace of Spades and the Joker.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595235
__label__wiki	0.707844	0.707844	Marcela love Sorry, no definitions found. You may find more data at marcela. Of her remaining children, her son, Francisco Javier, lives in the U.S. and daughter, Ana Marcela, is married to a talented, modern artist in Mexico City. The art of Sherie Stokes Sourelis The traveller answered that the same morning they had met these shepherds, and seeing them dressed in this mournful fashion they had asked them the reason of their appearing in such a guise; which one of them gave, describing the strange behaviour and beauty of a shepherdess called Marcela, and the loves of many who courted her, together with the death of that Chrysostom to whose burial they were going. The traveller answered that they had encountered that morning with those shepherds, and that, by reason they had seen them apparelled in that mournful attire, they demanded of them the occasion thereof, and one of them rehearsed it, recounting the strangeness and beauty of a certain shepherdess called Marcela, and the amorous pursuits of her by many, with the death of that Chrysostom to whose burial they rode. The Second Book. V. Wherein Is Finished the History of the Shepherdess Marcela, with Other Accidents The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Part 04 Vitalio Oversized '' Marcela '' Tote - Purple, Blue or Mocha Tan We Blog A Lot '' Marcela's co-worker, Jim, explains that the simple church program will feature a councilman's son, Greg, who had been falsely accused of criminal activity, "Mrs. Cain said. QCOnline Metro News At the time, Marcela Goglio, a programming associate at FSLC, expected they would open the floodgate for foreign films. For Foreign Films, the City Shrinks	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595236
__label__cc	0.562108	0.437892	Articles About Resources Course Shop Log in Articles About Resources Course Shop About The World of Lucid Dreaming What started as a small blog in 2008 has slowly turned into the thriving hub that is the World of Lucid Dreaming. Today we are the world's largest and most popular website dedicated to the art of lucid dreaming - with over 300 articles and 4 million visitors each year. If you're a professional looking to connect for non-suspicious reasons, please use our contact page. Chris Hammond - Chief Lucidity Officer Chris is the editor around these parts and that means he's responsible for this website. He likes to wander through the bush lands of Australia, stroking his chin and pondering upon life's many dualities. A lifelong martial artist and mindfulness practitioner, Chris is fascinated by lucid dreaming as a vehicle for self introspection, self improvement and creativity. He still remembers his first consciously invoked lucid dream, which involved the careful inspection of a giant, inert rubber 'weeble' - covered in tiny little rubbery antenae. After invoking lucidity and recovering from the shock, he thought of no better way to interact with his newly uncovered subconsicous mind than kicking it! To this day he still remembers the feeling of the rubber impacing on his toes - as real as anything he ever experienced - and proving that he had the power to wilfully enter the realm of dreams. Funky! Check out his author bio Rebecca Turner - Founder The year was 2008. After quitting my job as a journalist in London, I moved to New Zealand and had that uncomfortable feeling that I wasn't doing anything useful. So I decided to start a website - a place where I could write about lucid dreaming and consciousness and all the gooey stuff in between. WOLD started small, but quickly snowballed. Today, it receives millions of international visitors, all with the common goal of experiencing the exhilaration of lucid dreaming. To find out more about what she's upto, just pop over to her author bio Discovering lucid dreaming was a life-changing process for us. It evolved our perception of reality and consciousness. It gave us new ways to explore our identities, to find freedom and inspiration, to create music and digital art, to solve problems and develop muscle memory - even to develop characters for fiction. We hope you choose to join us on a scientific approach to one of the most exciting mental skills that you can learn. To wake up in your dreams and discover another world within. The WOLD team PS - If you're interested in learning how to lucid dream, check out Rebecca's lucid dreaming course. This contains 30 illustrated tutorials, interactive quizzes and meditation audios to help you master the art of dream control. One way to have more frequent lucid dreams is to keep the idea firmly on the brain every day. It's called dream incubation. Follow us on social media for more frequent lucidity jogs: WOLD Forums Copyright © 2008-2018 World of Lucid Dreaming. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595237
__label__wiki	0.537472	0.537472	Urban Challenge WAN Awards Click image to expand Wonderkamers 2.0, Municipal Museum The Hague Kossmann.dejong has developed the concept and design for the entirely refurbished Wonderkamers (Wonder Rooms) in the Municipal Museum The Hague, just like they did for the original display in 2005. The Wonderkamers, especially focused on teenagers, present visual art, architecture, fashion, and craft and design in a surprising way. The renewed display is the result of three years of intense collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of educators, game designers, media specialists, filmmaker and stage-set, lighting and sound designers. Interactivity is fully integrated into this 2.000 m2 new exhibition. Visitors are invited to play the ‘Wonder Game', a physical and virtual three-dimensional game in which the visitors are given the lead as exhibitions makers. The floor plan of the Wonderkamers, which comprises thirteen rooms around a central art depot and a Miniature Museum at its core, changes during the game into an interactive spatial board game. Like real curators, the participants will be tested on their knowledge, creativity, and alertness. By playing the game with the use of a specially developed tablet (the Wonder Guide) people can navigate through the Wonderkamers. Thereby, every room has been designed around a different theme. You can, for instance, dance the Boogie Woogie together with Mondrian, take part in a fashion show, or learn how to determine the value of artworks. The better you perform, the more artworks you can collect for your own virtual room in the Miniature Museum. At the heart of the Wonderkamers is the Miniature Museum situated: in around 200 tiny rooms hundreds of original miniature artworks are exhibited, made by top artists from across the world (from the Ria en Lex Daniëls collection). When visitors have completed the Wonder Game they can add and design a virtual room in this Miniature Museum themselves. In the end, your own museum room will be officially inaugurated and you are crowned as curator. For the refurbishment of the Wonderkamers, Kossmann.dejong tried to reuse the existing rooms and facilities as much as possible. The new interactive tools and equipment are custom made to integrate into the existing space. Moreover, to ease the use and save energy, all the computer servers and lighting facilities communicate with each other via an advanced ShowControl system. Brand: Interior Project Category: Interior Civic Buildings Religious building Keywords: Kossmann.dejong Wonderkamers 2.0, Municipal Museum The Hague The Hague Inspiring bars, restaurants, clubs and cafes for leisure time These entries reflect the wide diversity of design... The one-off designs: not your regular homes Entries in the large and small one-off homes provi... Cathedral of the Holy Cross: $26 million restoration The largest Roman Catholic church in New England w... Adaptive Reuse: innovation while protecting heritage These entries combine imagination and ingenuity fo... Design in education: from first steps to furthering careers 2019 WAN entries reflect the diverse approaches to... Want to submit your project to World Architecture News? WAN Network About WIN WAN	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595238
__label__wiki	0.932952	0.932952	Turks living in Germany build school in Nigerian village Hansa Association founded by Turks builds school for children receiving education under mango tree in Gbessa village Turks living in Germany built a school in a Nigerian village, south of the capital Abuja. The Hansa Association, founded by Turks living in Frankfurt, helped build the school in the village of Gbessa, where the children had been receiving education under a mango tree for the past eight years. In Nigeria, some 13.2 million children do not have access to schools due to security problems and economic reasons. Adam Said Ali, a teacher of the school told Anadolu Agency: "We used to teach in a small madrasa due to financial difficulties. When the number of students increased, the madrasa was not enough so we started to conduct our lessons under a mango tree in the garden." Ali said that Turks visited the village in January and decided to build a madrasa, adding: "Fortunately, they did not only settle for a madrasa, but also built a school." Hundreds of students enrolled to the new primary school for the next school year, he said. "We Gbessa residents thank the Turks as much as we can. We have nothing to offer to them other than our prayers. May God bless them." he added. Dogan Gokmen, chairman of the Dar'ul Erkam Foundation in Nigeria, stated they built a mosque and well in the area previously and the people asked us to build a school for children. "We have completed the construction of the school and the madrasa part of the building is now operational," said Gokmen, stating that the madrasa will serve people from all ages. Gokmen thanked the Hansa Association for covering the expenses of the school compound and expressed his hope that the cooperation will continue. #Germany, Ukraine’s Zelensky to travel to Turkey for holiday Fire in Notre-Dame 'deeply upset us': Turkish president Missing footballer Emiliano Sala's plane wreckage found Italy and France: War of words between two colonialists Hopes fade away for missing footballer Emiliano Sala	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595239
__label__wiki	0.676684	0.676684	Turkey's energy minister considers resignation Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yildiz said he will discuss with the prime minister the call for his resignation from 13 opposition party members Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said on Thursday that he is considering his resignation in response to the opposition party's call for him to step down. Speaking at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey's budgetary meetings, Yildiz said, "It is reasonable for an opponent party to call for my resignation. I want you to know that I am considering resigning. I am a man of principles and I submitted my resignation to the ministerial cabinet when the mine accident occured in Soma." Yildiz said he will share the call for his resignation from the 13 opposition party members with the prime minister, adding that at present resigning is an easier option. Turkey had two major mine accidents recently. 301 people died in the Soma mine accident on 13 May 2014 in the city of Manisa and on October 28 and 18 miners were trapped after a coal mine was flooded in the Ermenek district of Turkey’s Karaman city. #Taner Yıldız, #turkey mine disaster 'Turkey always safe and friendly for Germans' Turkey seeing to own interests in buying S-400, says VP 'Turkey committed to moving women forward in all areas' Turkey deals big blow to Daesh in February EU-Turkey meeting to be held in Brussels	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595240
__label__wiki	0.790978	0.790978	Are elephant tranquilizers involved in Ohio's heroin overdose spike? Cincinnati PD:1 dead, 60+ overdoses in 2 days By: WCPO Staff <p>File photo of carfentanil courtesy WEWS</p> A wave of heroin laced with animal tranquilizers inundating southwestern Ohio may be to blame for a rash of more than 60 overdoses in the course of just two days this week. "This is clearly going to... kill a lot of people," said Tim Ingram, Hamilton County (Ohio) Health Commissioner, in a July 15 news conference where they urged addicts to get help and stop using heroin before it's too late. Ingram's words may have proven to be prophetic. Ingram was speaking of carfentanil , an opioid 10,000 times more potent than morphine. CNN reported Thursday that carfentanil "is used commercially to sedate large animals, such as elephants. About two milligrams can knock out a nearly 2,000-pound African elephant." These deadly heroin mixtures have proven resistant to time-tested forms of overdose treatments like Narcan . Some situations require more than one dose to reverse their deadly effects, and others require victims to be placed on an IV for even a chance at survival. "I've got to say to whoever pushed this out on the street, this was the wrong thing to do," said Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan, head of the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition. “You now have the full and undivided attention of the Hamilton County Coalition Task Force, which includes local, state and federal agencies, and I can tell you we'll all be working with the Cincinnati Police Department to see who pushed this out on the street." Police said they believe more than one dealer is involved. At least one is giving it away for free, District Three CPD Capt. Aaron Jones said. "Of the victims (Tuesday) that would talk to us and were honest in telling us where they received this heroin from, it’s from several different people ... from several different areas," Jones said. "Some of those were given almost as what we call testers - 'Try this out and if you like it, you can get a hold of me.'" Cincinnati usually sees about four overdoses in an average day, according to CPD Lt. Steve Saunders, so figures topping 60 overdoses in just two days are alarming. Heroin Overdose Deaths in the United States \| HealthGrove Dr. Kimberly Cook, director of animal health and conservation at the Akron Zoo, warned Cleveland's WEWS -TV of the risk of even handling an ultra-potent opioid such as carfentanil, let alone ingesting it. "It's an incredibly dangerous drug," Cook said. "We're concerned that even a drop could get in an eye so we wear eye protection. We wear long sleeves. We wear gloves." The risk of harm is not confined to those who intentionally use carfentanil, Cook said. It can also be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, meaning its deadly effects could reach family members of users, passersby who discover drug paraphernalia and even emergency responders. WCPO reporters Tom McKee and Ashley Zilka and WCPO web editors Marais Jacon-Duffy, Abby Anstead, Sarah Walsh and Austin Fast contributed to this report.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595241
__label__cc	0.664862	0.335138	The Mountain West News Bureau Wildfire Smoke Creates Unhealthy Conditions Across The Mountain West By Amanda Peacher • Jul 31, 2018 Air quality in Boise to the Treasure Valley ranks from moderate to unhealthy, due to smoke. Sensitive groups should stay inside. Courtesy Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Originally published on August 6, 2018 1:31 pm We want to hear YOUR questions about wildfire. Click here to submit your question to the Wanna Know Idaho podcast. Fires across the West are creating a lot of smoke. That means poor air quality in many parts of our region. Click 'play' to hear the audio version of this story. If you live in Boise or Salt Lake City, you’ve probably noticed a gray film over the summer sky this week. Smoke from fires as far away as California is blowing into the Mountain West. That means some groups have to be careful because of unhealthy air quality. Chris Smith is with Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare. He recommends parents keep young kids indoors. “Infants and young children actually suffer more from smoke because they breathe a lot more air for their body size than adults do, plus their airway respiratory systems are still developing,” Smith says. The elderly, people with heart or lung conditions, and pregnant women should also avoid breathing in the smoke. If you don’t have air conditioning, Smith recommends spending time at libraries or movie theaters that do. “If you’re at home, keep your windows and doors closed,” he says. There’s no exact prediction for when the air will clear—that depends on how long wildfires carry on, and when we get strong winds from the east. To check the status of air quality in your community, visit this link. Find reporter Amanda Peacher on Twitter @amandapeacher. Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, Yellowstone Public Radio in Montana, KUER in Salt Lake City and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado. Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio. To see more, visit Boise State Public Radio. wildfire smoke The Ancient Memories of Microbes (And How They Could Heal Forests After Fire) By Melodie Edwards • Jul 20, 2018 Melodie Edwards In the last few years, researchers have discovered the earth is literally filled with microbes, those little single-celled critters we sometimes call germs. They’ve even been found living as deep as the earth’s core. And they say these microbes could help us gain access to thousands of years of knowledge. Now scientists at the University of Wyoming want to use those layers of ancient history to help us recover from wildfires as the climate warms up. Simulating The Weather Created By Fire In New Study By Erik Neumann • Jul 30, 2018 A recent study is helping researchers understand the role of wind in the largest forest fires. Lack Of Data On State Spending For Natural Disasters Could Be Costly By Maggie Mullen • Jul 26, 2018 A new report from The PEW Charitable Trusts said most states aren’t tracking how much they spend overall to deal with natural disasters. University Researchers Welcome New Robot To Help Process Microbe Samples Melodie S. Edwards / Wyoming Public Radio It’s year two in a major project to catalog the microbes of Wyoming, and now University of Wyoming scientists have a robot to help them do the job. Giant Firefighting Aircraft Is Based In Colorado, But Has Yet To Fight Fires In That State By Rae Ellen Bichell • Jul 9, 2018 One of the world’s biggest firefighting aircraft is based in Colorado Springs. But it's fighting fires in California right now, rather than in the Mountain West.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595244
__label__wiki	0.674745	0.674745	COUNTRY+PEOPLE » So that we can bring you closer to the beauty and traditions of our region as well as of our neighbours in Germany, the Principality of Liechtenstein and Switzerland we have compiled a few ideas for sightseeing outings. We will gladly arrange the outings for you, or do you have any special wishes? Would you like to see some other places of interest in our region? If you wish we can arrange this programme to be carried out within the framework of a Pre- or Post-Convention. Simply just tell us what we can do for you! HALF-DAY OUTINGS » EXCURSIONS TO LIECHTENSTEIN » ORGANISED EXCURSIONS BY BUS » SPECIALS » Half-day outings (2 – 4 hours duration) Rappenloch Gorge & Alploch Gorge (Dornbirn, A) These twin gorges are two of the largest in Central Europe and have been slowly carved out of the rugged limestone by the flowing waters of the River Dornbirner Ach over hundreds of thousands of years. Today a series of adventurous walkways lead through these wonders of nature, passing extraordinary rock formations. These safe and well-signed walking trails are an ideal excursion destination for World Gymnaestrada participants. www.rappenloch.at Image: © Dornbirn Tourismus Karren Cablecar (Dornbirn, A) For those wanting to rise above it all, the Karren mountain is just the thing. In less than five minutes the cable car transports its passengers to a height of 976 metres. From the summit station, there are fabulous views of the Rhine Valley, to the Swiss mountains and across the German border. On the twelve metre long Karren ledge, the visitor has the feeling of standing on almost nothing and experiencing close up the surroundings. The Panorama Restaurant delivers what it promises, allowing simultaneous indulgence in panoramic views and excellent food. In addition, the Karren is the starting point for numerous walking and hiking trails. www.karren.at Image: © Dornbirner Seilbahn GmbH Art Gallery Bregenz – KUB (Bregenz, A) The KUB, a building with an unmistakeable architecture for exhibitions of international contemporary art, opened in 1997. www.kunsthaus-bregenz.at Image: © Matthias Weissengruber \| Kunsthaus Bregenz Pfänder - the mountain at the lake (Bregenz, A) The Pfänder Mountain (1,064 m high) is the most well-known lookout point of the Lake Constance region. The spacious panorama cable car will take you to the top in just six minutes. The walk to the Alpine wildlife park and around the eagle observatory starts near the restaurant Berghaus Pfänder. 80 persons per cabin, 928 persons per hour www.pfaenderbahn.at Image: © Petra Rainer \| Bodensee-Vorarlberg Tourismus GmbH Festspielhaus (Festival Hall) Bregenz –Stage on the Lake (Bregenz, A) Get to know the world’s largest stage on a lake. In 2019, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera »Rigoletto« is on the programme and with the romantic setting of the sun on the lake, this will surely enchant the spectators. The Bregenz Festival is only a five minute walk from the Casino Stadium where the Large Group Performances will be held. www.festspielhausbregenz.at Image: © Karl Forster \| Bregenzer Festspiele inatura – Interactive natural history museum (Dornbirn, A) Nature, humans and technology. inatura museum in Dornbirn offers something for everyone, and does this in a particularly unusual way, because here touching is expressly encouraged. The main focus is on trying, playing, experiencing and understanding. The journey takes you through the different habitats that are characteristic of Vorarlberg: mountain, forest and water. In the final section of the museum, we go beyond the realms of possibility and in the truest sense of the word, go inside ourselves. inatura makes it possible to actually visit our bodies. www.inatura.at Image: © inatura – Erlebnis Naturschau Jewish Museum (Hohenems, A) The Jewish Museum documents the history of Jews who lived in Hohenems, their religious and daily life in a mainly Catholic region. www.jm-hohenems.at Image: © Dietmar Walser \| Juedisches Museum Hohenems Schattenburg Castle Museum (Feldkirch, A) Hugo I of Montfort started building the Schattenburg Castle around 1200. It still gives a good insight into the world of the early 16th century. The gothic castle chapel is beautifully decorated with frescoes. A number of works of art from local and other artists can be found in the former quarters of the stewards. www.schattenburg.at Bregenzerwälder Cheesehouse (Andelsbuch, A) The Cheese house that opened in May 2001 is the place where you can experience shopping and local cuisine at the same time. It is a very interesting and eventful way from milk to the »birth of a cheese«, when the cheese-maker lifts the cheese in the cloth out of the cheese vat. You will enjoy the delicious flavour of these famous Alpine and mountain cheeses even more once you have seen how they are made. For groups from 20 to 55 persons www.kaesehaus.at Image: © Das Bregenzerwälder Käsehaus Spezialitäten GmbH Boat trips on Lake Constance and a visit to the Isle of Lindau (D) You reach the charming town Lindau on the island, within a few minutes on a passenger ship of the Lake Constance white fleet. Enjoy a concert on the promenade or wander through the narrow streets and alley ways of the old town. The Bodensee-Schifffahrt (Lake Constance passenger-ship company) offers round trips or special boat trips (boat trips at dusk, three-countries boat trip, summer night boat trip, etc) www.bodenseeschifffahrt.at Image: © Vorarlberg Lines Mountain Distillery Löwen Home in the mountainous region and always keeping the tradition in view. We are happy to welcome you in our mountain distillery, built in 1886, in the rear Bregenzerwald. Take a look over the shoulder of our master distiller in his daily work and see how the fragrant mountain herbs give rise to noble spirits, fine liqueurs and spicy herbal specialties. Be advised in the adjacent "Lädele" in detail about the natural specialties of the mountain distillery and taste whatever you like. www.bergbrennerei-loewen.at Von Hugo bis dato – Palais Liechtenstein (Feldkirch, A) Feldkirch is celebrating its 800th anniversary. „From Hugo to date“, an exhibition hosted at the restored Palais Liechtenstein, spanst he entire period from the city’s origins to its contemporary challenges, focusing on borders, humanism and meaningful life. Impressive insights into Feldkirch and its prospects are guaranteed. www.feldkirch800.at Bild: ©Ulf Hiessberger Excursions to Liechtenstein Liechtenstein: Half a day mountain experience Enjoy the beautiful Liechtenstein mountain area. The mountain village of Malbun lies in the Liechtenstein Alps at 1600 metres above sea. You will take the chairlift up to the mountain hut Sareis where you’ll have a breath taking view to the alps of Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. After a walk to the village of Malbun you will take part at famous birds of prey show. Learn more about this offer ... Liechtenstein: Half a day in Vaduz Explore the capital of Liechtenstein. The city train takes you on a ride through Vaduz. You will see the most important sights. After that you will learn more about the 300 year old history of the Principality of Liechtenstein at the Liechtenstein National Museum. Liechtenstein: Explore the Principality in one day Liechtenstein might be small in size but has a lot to offer. You will start in the north with a delicious farmers breakfast. Afterwards you will explore Vaduz by city train and get to find out more about Liechtensteins history in the Liechtenstein National Museum. In Balzers you have the possibility to find a real castle on the hill – Gutenberg Castle. Liechtenstein: Daytrip from Vaduz to Malbun Enjoy the bustling life of Liechtensteins capital Vaduz and the beautiful mountainscape the alpine village Malbun. Explore the capital of Liechtenstein. The city train takes you on a ride through Vaduz. After that you will learn more about the 300 year old history of the Principality at the Liechtenstein National Museum. At the mountain village of Malbun you will take the chairlift up to the mountain hut Sareis where you’ll have a breath taking view to the alps. After a walk to the village of Malbun you will take part at famous birds of prey show. Organised excursions by bus All prices given are based on a 50 seater bus. Prices valid as from February 2018 (subject to changes in 2019). In case there are not enough passengers for a certain route, smaller busses may be used (subject to availability) or alternatively smaller groups may be put together. Silvretta-High Alpine Road (Montafon, A) The Silvretta Hochalpen Strasse (Silvretta High Alpine road) – is not just world famous because of its numerous breathtaking curves: It is one of the destinations of this most varied and interesting bus journey that takes us almost through the whole Province of Vorarlberg. But first the journey leads us via Feldkirch and Bludenz to Schruns in the Montafon Valley, where in 1925 and 1926 the famous American writer and Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway enjoyed his ski holidays with his friends. Schruns is also the place, where he wrote »Fiesta«, his first successful novel. Only a few kilometres to the south lies Partenen – and here the famous Hochalpenstraße begins, only 18 kilometres long we »climb« up in our bus an incredible 1,000 metres to the final altitude of 2,000 metres to the so called »Bielerhöhe« with its magnificent view of the major peaks and glaciers of the Silvretta mountain range – and here you can see Vorarlberg’s highest mountain the Piz Buin. (3,312 m). The Silvretta is an extraordinary mountain range – it has in fact two faces. The larger part of the massif is on the Swiss side. But for mountaineers and tourists the Austrian part is the more popular and well-known. The highest peak of the Silvretta is Piz Linard, which is also in Switzerland and can only be climbed from there. From the mountaineers point of view the Austrian part with its very large glaciers is much more attractive and most of the Alpine huts providing catering and accommodation are also on the Austrian side. Some parts of the Swiss side seem to be very far away and difficult to reach. It’s difficult to believe but it is true: On the Silvretta reservoir there is a motor boat and you can enjoy a boat trip at an altitude of 2,000 metres and that is an absolute record in Europe. If you wish you can book a round-trip on the boat (optional) – and from this lake the view of the peaks surrounding the lake is even more impressive. The journey afterwards down through the Tyrolean Paznaun valley is as beautiful as the journey up to the Vorarlberg mountains. The Paznaun valley became tragically famous a few years ago because of the many massive snow avalanches – but today there is nothing to remind us of this natural disaster: the beautiful villages of Galtür and Ischgl are flourishing as never before. The return journey is over the Arlberg Pass, one of the most important alpine passes which have been used by the Romans and many crowned heads of state to go from east to west and from west to east. Full-day bus reservation: € 850,– Silvretta road toll: € 4,– (p.p.) Image: © Achim Mende \| Silvretta-Hochalpenstraße Around Vorarlberg (A) Vorarlberg has many different faces: majestic mountains, lovely valleys and wide spaces. This big »Around Vorarlberg« excursion gives you a real comprehensive impression of the »Ländle«. (Ländle or small country is the name the locals call this province). Half-day bus reservation: € 595,– Image: © Dietmar Walser \| Vorarlberg Tourismus Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Wattens, A) Wattens is a small town in Tyrol, where the world-famous crystal-glass manufacturer Swarovski and the unique Crystal Worlds are situated. To mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Austrian Swarovski Crystal Company in 1995, the famous Austrian artist André Heller was commissioned to design a virtual museum around the theme crystal at the company headquarters in Wattens. Together with renown artistes like Brian Eno, Susanne Schmögner, Paul Seide and others, André Heller created a kaleidoscope of magic with nine inspirational chambers of wonder inside an artificially built water-spouting giant. Since then the Swarovski Crystal Worlds has become one of the biggest attractions in Austria and with approximately 500,000 visitors per year it is now the number two museum after the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. This outstanding success led to the creation of another seven Chambers of Wonders in 2003. We return to Vorarlberg via Inntal, Landeck and Klostertal. Full-day bus reservation: € 1,200,– + entrance fee: € 17,– (p. p.) Image: © Swarovski Kristallwelten Mainau Island (D) A place with links to the Swedish royal family and an unforgettable ambience changing its appearance and colours with the seasons, a »feast of flowers« for your eyes! Explore the parks and gardens, nature and botany of the island with all your senses: enjoy the palm trees, oranges and other exotic treasures and the orchid show in the palm house. The butterfly house, the largest in Germany, is an Eldorado for those who love butterflies. Bus reservation to max. six hours: € 625,– + entrance fee: € 16,50 (p. p.) Image: © Achim Mende Zeppelin Museum (Friedrichshafen, D) The Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen has the world’s greatest collection of objects concerning the history and technology of airships, from its beginning up to the new Zeppelin NT. The museum’s main attraction is the reconstruction of a 33 metre long section of the LZ 129 Hindenburg where visitors can actually walk through. + entrance fee: € 8,– (p. p.) Image: © Michael Fischer \| Zeppelin Museum Säntis-Cablecar (Appenzell, CH) Ride to the top of the Säntis mountain (2,052 m) in a modern cable-car and enjoy the breathtaking panorama view. A very special attraction is a visit to the exhibition »Mountain and Rescue« (admission is free) as well as »Säntis – the Weather« or the Säntis / Schwägalp Nature Discovery Park with its high moor and a great variety of rare mountain plants and animals. + cablecar: € 27,10 (p. p.) Image: © Säntis-Schwebebahn AG King’s Castles (Schwangau / Bayern, D) King Ludwig II – he was a great romantic but also an important and committed reviver who was always misjudged during his lifetime. Only in the last few years historians have become aware of the true significance of this monarch. Like no other monarch he was filled with ambition and did not hesitate to put the bulk of his private wealth towards the building of Königsschlösser in Füssen, which are now world famous. The journey itself from Vorarlberg via the German Queralpenstraße (a well-known alpine road), past Oberstaufen, a famous spa, along the big Alpine lake, the Alpsee to Immenstadt, Wertach, Nesselwang and Pfronten, it’s a wonderful and romantic experience. After a bus journey of about two hours we arrive in Füssen at the foot of the King’s palace »Neuschwanstein«, which attracts millions of people from all over the world each year. According to a letter to Richard Wagner dated 15th May 1868, King Ludwig II wanted to have the castle ruins »Vorderhohenschwangau«, rebuilt »in the true style of the ancient German knight’s castle«. Ludwig II was motivated to build this castle by early plans of his father and especially after his journey in 1867 to Eisenach where he visited the Wartburg together with his brother Otto I, King of Bavaria. The Knights’ Baths and the Minstrels Hall of the Wartburg were used as leitmotifs. It was not only the architecture and art of the German Middle Ages that inspired Ludwig II, but also the Moorish culture that had developed in Spain as well Richard Wagner’s world of old German sagas. The architect Eduard Riedel also had to process ideas based on stage sets designed by the Munich scene painter Christian Jank. The huge building site »fed« a whole region for two decades: Virtually every day at least 200 masons, bricklayers and other labourers and craftsmen worked on the site – this figure does not include all the suppliers, shops, etc. Official statistics of the years 1879/1880 prove that an enormous amount of building material was used: 465 tons of Salzburg marble, 1,550 tons of sandstone, 400,000 bricks and 2,050 cubic metres of timber for the scaffolding. The Neuschwanstein castle can only be visited by participating in a guided tour (languages German or English) – it takes about 35 minutes (165 steps up and 181 steps down). In addition to that you can also visit the castle using an Audio-Guide. This also takes 35 minutes and the languages available are Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Slovenian , Russian, Polish, Chinese, Portuguese and Hungarian. After a lunch in Füssen we travel back to Vorarlberg via Kempten, Isny and Lindau. Image: © Thomas Wolf Abbey Library St. Gallen (CH) – UNESCO list of global cultural heritage sites The Abbey Library of the former Benedictine monastery of St Gall is one of the oldest libraries in the western world. The library was built between 1758 and 1767 as a reading and study room for the monks and is the most beautiful rococo hall in Switzerland. There are over 150,000 books in the library but its real treasures are the 2,000 manuscripts and incunabula dating back to the 5th century. The library is of inestimable importance to the entire world of art and history. Image: © Sandro Reichmuth \| St. Gallen Rhine Falls Schaffhausen (CH) The largest waterfall in Europe, offers a spectacular natural showpiece to visitors and is worth a visit at all times of the year. You can combine watching the Rhine falls with a boat trip or you can observe this attraction from a footpath which goes around. The Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen is open all year around and there is no admission fee. Image: © Rheinfall Pilatus Railways (Lucerne, CH) The famous Swiss town Lucerne on the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne), is the starting point of the unique »Golden round-trip« experience a romantic boat trip over the Vierwaldstättersee (90 min.). The ascent with the world’s steepest cog and pinion railway up to the Pilatus Kulm mountain (30 min.), the »silent« ride on the aerial cableway (5 min.) and return to Lucerne with the panorama gondola (30 min.). Image: © Pilatus Bahn Glacier Express (Chur, CH) Travel through the majestic high Swiss Alps from Chur to Zermatt in the slowest »express« train. The train will take you in an unhurried fashion from highlight to highlight with a splendid view of crystal clear mountain lakes and majestic glaciers to Zermatt, where you can admire the incredible Matterhorn mountain (4,478 m) with your own eyes, after a journey of almost six hours. Travelling over the Oberalpaß 2,033 m and 291 bridges. Enjoy a night in Zermatt and return the following day to Chur (good choice of over-night stays in Zermatt). Journey to Chur and return:€ 850,– + ticket from: € 188,– (p. p.) Image: © glacierexpress.ch Luxury steamboat trips on the »Hohentwiel« (Lake Constance) Enjoy the unforgettable experience of a steamboat trip on Lake Constance in the classic style of the 1900s. This package includes lunch, adventure and gourmet trips with live music. Enjoy the idyllic scenery of Lake Constance and the fabulous ambience on the ship. Bus reservation to max. four hours: € 450,– + boat rent Sightseeing flights with the Zeppelin (D) More than 60 years after the end of commercial aviation with Zeppelins the Zeppelin NT was re-built in Friedrichshafen. Enjoy the fascination of this flight from a bird’s-eye view in the largest operating airship in the world today. Cabin capacity: twelve passengers. + zeppelin ticket from: € 245,– (p. p.)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595247
__label__wiki	0.806083	0.806083	Marantz UD9004 review Expensive, for sure, but the Marantz UD9400 is one of the most talented universal players we've tested Tested at £5000.00 The best Blu-ray all-rounder yet, although the price means it's only for the fortunate few. Still, let's hope this is a pathfinder for cheaper but equally flexible players to follow Fabulous picture and home cinema sound genuinely musical, high-end stereo sound strong spec superlative build Nothing, so long as you can afford it We've seen premium Blu-ray players before, but never one as costly as Marantz's new UD9004: this £5000 'Universal' player, able to spin Blu-ray, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD and CD, is rivalled in scale, price and build only by Denon's equally substantial DVD-A1UD, which we've yet to test. Now we fully understand that some of you will never come to terms with the Marantz's huge pricetag: even some within our own ranks found it an almost insurmountable obstacle, regardless of the UD9004's considerable talents and desirability. So let's address the thorny issue of value head-on: while we're confident this is one of the finest Blu-ray players we've tested, it'd be fair to say that it isn't five times better than the best £1000 decks, such as Sony's exceptional BDP-S5000ES. But listen to it, spend time with it, enjoy what it has to offer, and such simplistic value judgements simply cease to be relevant. Fact is, the UD9004 is more than good enough to satisfy the needs of the fortunate few willing to spend this much money on any audio/video component. Prodigiously talented player In fact, it's one of the most talented Blu-ray players we've tested yet, chiefly because aside from its considerable movie talents, it's also a superlative music source. And that, of course, is precisely what Marantz set out to achieve with the UD9004. Although fully fettled to meet the latest standards in Blu-ray – unlike many high-end designs, it's Profile 2.0 enabled, complete with an Ethernet port and a SD card slot to provide the necessary memory capacity for BD-Live downloads – the Marantz looks and feels more like a high-end CD player. It's huge, its massive 19.2kg chassis dwarfing most Blu-ray contemporaries: lavishly machined slabs of zinc, copper, aluminium and steel abound, each material combining to deliver the optimum durability, stability and interference-rejection. Every fascia button feels fit to last a lifetime's usage, and as is typical of products in this price class, the disc-loading mechanism operates in serene silence, providing eloquent testament to the thorough – and thoroughly expensive – engineering lurking within. No expense spared on the spec Internally, the UD9004 is hi-fi-like too, its design sharing audio circuitry and key components with Marantz's superb SA-7S1 SACD/CD player, including a three-section, copper-plated chassis that separates audio, video and power circuits to cut down on internal interference, HDAM-SA2 amplifier modules for all channels and a gigantic toroidal transformer encased in its own copper shroud. No expense has been spared in digital decoding or processing, either: the UD9004 features twin 32-bit SHARC chipsets for accurate multichannel audio decoding and processing, plus top-spec audio 32-bit/192kHz audio DACs from AKM for both stereo and surround use. Output terminals are predictably extensive too, the Marantz featuring dedicated XLR-outs for stereo listening, plus 7.1-ready RCA analogue outs to support its onboard decoding of DVD-Audio and SACD (in stereo or multichannel) plus all forms of DVD-Video and Blu-ray audio. It can even be configured to deliver HDMI audio and video signals separately should you wish, thanks to its twin HDMI outputs – so you can run pictures (and only pictures) directly into a projector, with audio (and only audio) going to your AV receiver, in theory to the benefit of sound quality. A superlative musical source It'd be a surprise, after all this build-up, if the Marantz didn't deliver the sonic goods, but it does – in spades. As we said, it's a superlative music source, its balance sounding uncannily similar to the audio-only SA-7S1. Connected via XLR connectors into our reference system, the UD9004 is composed, assured, effortless and genuinely delightful: it polishes the top-end of some harsher discs, for sure, but never at the expense of accuracy or absolute detail. Interestingly, switching to the RCA connectors helps address that a little in our reference system. With SACD, voices have outstanding character and presence, as Dylan's endlessly memorable Sad Eyed Lady Of the Lowlands gloriously highlights, and even a brasher, punchier CD poses few difficulties, the Marantz thundering through The Prodigy's frenetic Warrior's Dance with formidable depth and infectious power. Only timing leaves us with any cause for concern, although it's certainly not poor – just not quite as razor-sharp as the best Cyrus has to offer. But by way of compensation, the Marantz offers a crucial advantage over its British rivals, and over most other high-end CD player rivals – it can play Blu-ray discs, too. Plays Blu-rays to an exemplary standard And it can do so to a very high standard. Aided by 14-bit/297MHz Analog Devices video DACs and the widely revered Silicon Optix Realta HQV video processor, the UD9004 is able to conjure a wonderful picture, with a lustre and depth that eclipses even terrific Blu-ray players such as the previously Sony BDP-S5000ES. With Blu-ray discs such as Wolverine and The Dark Knight, the Marantz's picture is blessed with glorious richness and variation in texture, while even older, less-spectacular DVD transfers are stable, crisp and appropriately polished. Film sound is equally striking, whether you decode onboard to the Marantz's analogue outputs or stream audio digitally via HDMI: in every sonic aspect, from detail retrieval to realism, steering accuracy to sheer power, there's much to admire here. We began by acknowledging that some of you will never be able to come to terms with the Marantz's pricetag, and we can't conclude without covering that ground once again. It's a spectacular achievement You'll have noticed how much of our review has focused on the UD9004's musicality, and with good reason: we've come to the conclusion that the Marantz isn't so much a high-end Blu-ray player able to play CDs as a high-end CD player able to play Blu-rays. And judged on those terms, it's a spectacular achievement: in essence, you're getting a Marantz SA-7S1 plus a top-quality Blu-ray player thrown in for free, and all in one (admittedly big) box. If you can afford it, it's well worth the money. See all our five-star Blu-ray player reviews Manufacturer Website Address http://www.marantz.com Brand Name Marantz Product Type Blu-ray Disc Player Manufacturer Marantz Manufacturer Part Number UD9004 Product Name Marantz UD9004 Product Model UD9004 Audio Formats SACD, MP3, WMA, DVD Audio, CD-DA, WAV, AAC Features BD Live Number of Discs 1 Dual-Layer Media Supported Yes Dimensions 16.3 cm (H): 44.1 cm (W): 40.9 cm (D) Scanning Modes Progressive Scan Video Formats BD Video, DVD Video, DivX 6, AVCHD, DivX HD Memory Card Supported SD	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595248
__label__wiki	0.586694	0.586694	Zenovia introduces Airhome wireless audio system By Pete Hayman 2014-11-27T09:41:08Z News Zenovia Electronics claims to have developed the definitive alternative to "boombox in every room" audio solutions with the introduction of a new integrated wireless system for the home. Airhome is being targeted at the premium end of the market, with the system available to buy from Zenovia's online store for renovators, electricians, custom installers and home builders. Logan Jacobs, CEO and co-founder of Zenovia Electronics, said that Airhome is designed as system that neither takes up too much space, nor requires the expertise of a technician. MORE: Multi-room audio – everything you need to know Airhome connects wirelessly to in-ceiling speakers using Apple AirPlay and wi-fi technology, giving you the chance to stream tracks from your Apple device to all rooms of your home. Jacobs said: "We sell high quality music in every room, minus the clutter. We imagined a home where the room literally comes alive with music and we designed a system to do just that. "Airhome enhances and amplifies your life soundtrack very intimately within the walls of your home, never intruding, always responding when you simply press play." The Amp40 "activates" one room of your home and costs $340, while the Amp5.1S delivers 5.1 sound for a home cinema at a cost of $440. The Airhome5 wired hub has a $699 price tag. At present, Airhome is engineered and certified for the North American market alone and not available to UK customers. But the company has confirmed it is "working on certificiations for additional global markets". MORE: Awards 2014 – Best multi-room systems	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595250
__label__wiki	0.965784	0.965784	No-deal Brexit warnings multiply as Trump praises PM candidate Boris Johnson May 30 2019 06:48 PM International Bangladesh Trump Brexit warnings Boris Johnson praises no-deal PM candidate Reuters/London * Hammond: no-deal Brexit would imperil economy * US President Trump praises PM candidate Boris Johnson * Election, referendum options still alive * UK car production slumps Britain's finance minister on Thursday warned those in his party vying for Prime Minister Theresa May's job that a no-deal Brexit would endanger the economy, as frontrunner Boris Johnson earned praise from US President Donald Trump. May's departure deepens the Brexit crisis as a new leader, who should be in place by the end of July, is likely to want a more decisive split, raising the chances of a confrontation with the EU and potentially a snap parliamentary election. Johnson, the bookmakers' favourite to succeed May, has said the United Kingdom should leave the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal. Finance Minister Philip Hammond disagreed. ‘We need to get the spectre of a no-deal exit off the table,’ he told the BBC. ‘Leaving with no deal would be a very bad outcome for the economy.’ In Washington, ahead of a state visit to Britain next week, Trump told reporters he had great respect for Johnson and considered him a friend, but declined to say he supported him to succeed May. He also praised anti-EU campaigner Nigel Farage, of the rival Brexit Party. Hammond, underlining his view on a no deal, indicated he could be prepared to vote to collapse his party's government if he felt it was heading in the wrong direction. The United Kingdom was supposed to have left the EU on March 29 but its politicians are still arguing over how, when or even whether the country will leave the club it joined in 1973. That political failure caused car production to collapse last month as factories shut down in expectation of a Brexit that never came, according to data published on Thursday. No deal means there would be no transition so the exit would be abrupt. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said that could be akin to the 1970s oil shock. May's government has repeatedly warned of the disruption a no-deal Brexit would cause for everything from pet tourism to the import of crucial medicines and supply chains that criss-cross Europe and beyond. Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the danger of such an outcome had risen with May's departure announcement, and pledged to do everything he could to stop it. Brexit supporters admit there may be some short-term disruption but that in the long term the United Kingdom would thrive outside what they cast as an undemocratic and excessively bureaucratic project dominated by Germany. Trump's national security adviser John Bolton told reporters in London that the president would do whatever he could to help Britain with Brexit, downplaying its long-term consequences. ‘You know America declared its independence once - we made out okay,’ he said. LEADERSHIP AMBITIONS Eleven Conservative lawmakers to have declared they are running for May's job. Hammond, asked if he could be a candidate, said his Brexit views had made him unpopular with some sections of the party but did not rule out entering the contest to argue his case. ‘I hope this contest does not degenerate into a competition to see who can make the biggest spending or tax cutting pledges,’ he said. ‘The Conservative Party has a very strong reputation, well deserved, for being fiscally responsible.’ Ireland's foreign minister said the EU would not renegotiate a withdrawal agreement with the next British prime minister, but that there would be ‘scope for new thinking’ on the wider Brexit package. Nevertheless, May's successor will be bound by most of the constraints that saw her fail three time to get parliamentary backing for an exit deal, leaving open the option of a national election or a second referendum to resolve the country's future. Labour is also divided over what happens next. Corbyn said on Wednesday any new referendum could not be a simple re-run of the 2016 Remain or Leave vote. Rare wolf killed in Bangladesh after first appearance in eight decades Bangladesh officer held for failing to probe teenager's harassment claims Bangladesh charges 16 people for burning schoolgirl to death Bangladesh fishermen protest two-month ban on fishing Bangladesh arrests suspected IS militant back from Syria Bangladesh kills two suspects linked to 2016 Dhaka cafe attack Bangladesh orders schools to set up anti-harassment units Protests in Dhaka after schoolgirl burned to death Bangladeshis protest after sexually assaulted girl burned to death	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0037.json.gz/line1595264

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