question stringlengths 14 1.69M | answer stringlengths 1 40.5k | meat_tokens int64 1 8.18k |
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Insurance for the care sector cannot simply be bought off the shelf. Your risks are unique and to avoid any gaps your cover has to be tailored to the services that you provide and the<|fim_middle|> designed specifically for the care sector. As one of the UK's largest independently owned insurance brokers, we use our enormous buying power to give you access to leading insurers. This keeps the quality of your cover high and your premiums competitive.
Access to Markel Law Hub – an online legal information service.
Towergate Insurance Brokers is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited. Registered in England No.4043759. Registered Address: Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. | people that you care for.
At Towergate we provide a thorough review of your needs before going on to source specialist business insurance policies | 26 |
A perfect storm is the expression used to describe the cumulative effect of a combination of events which result in an event of greater magnitude, and it feels like one is brewing as the MiFID II deadline draws closer.
As 3rd January 2018 approaches, full clarity on implementation-related questions may not arrive until the summer from National Competent Authorities (NCAs), which will leave banks with a shortened timeframe to enact any subsequent change. I've highlighted a number of key focus areas for navigating the MiFID II storm.
MiFID II introduces reference data requirements across the current counterparty, product, book and instrument reference data streams, whilst also introducing requirements for employee reference data.
To implement MiFID II reference data requirements across these areas focus needs to be directed towards data governance, in particular in ensuring that data validation rules and controls are consistent and business wide. Moreover, with Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) and Instrument Identification Numbers (ISINs) becoming mandatory for those trading under the MiFID II regime, increased scrutiny must be placed on reference data governance to support the front office's pre-trade controls.
Furthermore, the size and complexity of investment firms often leads to a complex web of operational systems. The key to an efficient, scalable and suitable reference data solution will be predicated on connecting counterparty on-boarding systems, new product approval systems and financial instrument reference data systems, and more importantly for MiFID II, capturing and collating regulatory data, whether directly from the NCAs or the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Ensuring synchronisation across these solutions will be paramount to servicing downstream data consumers.
Once firms have built their solution for capturing and managing reference data, they need to focus on MiFID II's enhanced trade and transaction reporting requirements. MiFID II increases the transaction reporting fields from 23 to 60+, includes a wider range of products, and introduces the requirement to identify the persons (Trader's National Identifier) and any computer algorithm (Algo) within the investment firm that is responsible for the investment decision and the execution of the transaction. The much discussed systematic internaliser challenge also adds to the implementation complexity of trade and transaction reporting.
With this increased complexity, timely production of an end to end testing strategy and plan is central to being able to evidence that a firm will be ready to deal with the size and scale of the MiFID II transaction reporting requirements. With the FCA, for example, declaring a 3rd July start date for industry testing, now is the time to be planning for this in detail.
Whilst MiFID II is undoubtedly one of the biggest changes the industry has ever faced, there are currently several others of a significant, if not equivalent, magnitude. The UK is still unclear on the impact of Brexit on the financial services sector, with clarity not expected until Theresa May progresses further into exit negotiations with Brussels. Furthermore, other regulations such as SFTR (Securities Financing Transactions Regulation), FRTB (Fundamental Review of the Trading Book) and the potential repeal of aspects of Dodd-Frank by the Trump administration will also be stretching banks' change teams to the limit.
Given the volume of change, there are a number of actions I believe firms should be taking now to prepare for MiFID II compliance.
Firstly, there will be a squeeze on qualified regulatory change resources and so organisations must act now to secure them to implement their MiFID II programmes.
Secondly, firms must quickly establish their list of impacted systems; define their data requirements and work hard to ensure that synchronisation can<|fim_middle|> improve out-dated processes and create operational efficiencies.
Firms must act appropriately now to comply with MiFID II. When the squalls have died down, regulators will be keen to inspect the storm damage.
The final sprint for FRTB… are you prepared? | be achieved across systems.
Thirdly, the ever-shortening timeframes should be appreciated and acted upon. The industry must not allow the press or public uncertainty to dictate their change agenda; rather, they should be aligning the programme plan with the end to end testing strategy now, to head into industry testing on the front foot.
Finally, firms should consider how MiFID II requirements overlap with other impending regulation (e.g. SFTR for transaction reporting), to ensure the solutions they implement are not bespoke to one regulatory use case. Banks can take the opportunity to adopt consistent change approaches that are able to identify regulatory overlaps, and use them to | 129 |
Located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., on America's Main Street between the White House and the U.S. Capitol and adjacent to the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, The Newseum — a 250,000-sq. ft. museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits.
The Museum exterior's unique architectural features include a 74-ft.-high marble engraving of the First Amendment and an immense front wall of glass through which passers-by can watch the museum fulfilling its mission of providing a forum where the media and the public can gain a better understanding of each other.
The Newseum features seven levels of galleries, theaters, retail spaces and visitor services. It offers a unique environment that takes museum-goers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made.
The Newseum features 15 main exhibition galleries exploring news history, electronic news, photojournalism, world news and how the media have covered major historical events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Newseum's largest gallery — built around the museum's collection of more than 30,000 historic newspapers — traces more than 500 years of news and includes five theaters that explore specific themes.
Through interactives,<|fim_middle|>st Orientation Theaters and the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Big Screen Theater with a 100-foot-long video news wall, are spread throughout the Newseum, offering visitors a variety of diverse viewing experiences. | artifacts and exhibits, this gallery dramatically establishes the modern-day relevance of the five freedoms — religion, speech, press, assembly and petition — guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Visitors can watch television news and compare press freedoms in more than 190 countries. A major storyline of this gallery is the dangers reporters face around the globe while reporting the news. Dramatic icons — including a bullet-riddled, armor-reinforced pickup truck used by reporters and photographers in the Balkans — illustrate the dangerous conditions in which journalists often work.
Devoted to the history of electronic news, this gallery features a timeline tracing milestones in the growth of radio, television and Internet news; an exhibit on newsman Edward R. Murrow; a digital news center that looks at how technology transforms journalism, "citizen journalists," convergent newsrooms and mobile journalists; the theater screens "A Lighter Look at the News," featuring clips from the John Stewart Show, Colbert Report, and late night television with Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Visitors can see 80 newspaper front pages from around the world, enlarged and updated daily, and have electronic access to more than 800 front pages. The adjacent terrace features an exhibit on the history of Pennsylvania Avenue and offers an unparalleled view of the U.S. Capitol building.
This gallery contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalism ever assembled. Visitors can view a Newseum documentary in which photographers explain their craft and can access an electronic database that will feature 1,000 images and 15 hours of video and audio compiled from interviews with 68 Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers.
Perhaps the first permanent museum exhibit devoted to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, this gallery looks at how the media — in New York and Pennsylvania, at the Pentagon and around the world — responded to one of the biggest news stories of the century, through Sept. 12 front pages, artifacts and a Newseum documentary that features journalists' accounts of their reactions that day.
Featuring one of the largest collections of original Berlin Wall sections outside of Germany, this gallery examines the role of the media in the 30-year history of the wall.
The Journalists Memorial is a sweeping, two-story glass structure that includes 2,007 names of journalists who died while reporting the news from 1837 — Elijah Parish Lovejoy of The Alton (Ill.) Observer — through 2009. Each year, the Newseum will rededicate the memorial, adding the names of journalists who died on the job during the previous year.
This gallery explores a wide range of media issues with displays on breaking news, media trends, news-event anniversaries and top photography. The Newseum's first major changing exhibit, "G-Men and Journalists: Top News Stories of the FBI's First Century," features some of the biggest cases — and dramatic evidence — from the FBI's first 100 years, including the Unabomber's cabin, John Dillinger's death mask and the electric chair in which convicted Lindbergh baby kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann was executed. The exhibit will be on display through December 2010.
This gallery features books and documents that help illustrate and illuminate the origins of freedom of the press. The oldest of the 19 works dates back more than 500 years to a 1475 printing of Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica," a masterpiece that fused philosophy and theology. Other great works on display include a 1542 printing of the Magna Carta, Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," and a 1787 first pamphlet printing of the U.S. Constitution. The documents are preserved in low light, but sections of each are readable on interactive monitors through state-of-the-art page-turning software. The materials are on loan from the Remnant Trust.
Considered a 3-D social network, this 2,500-square-foot gallery contains the latest in digital technology to place visitors at the center of the news revolution. Interactive experiences illustrate the evolution and progression of global media.
In this 7,000-sq. ft. interactive gallery, visitors can select any of 48 interactive kiosks or experiences where they can immerse themselves in the many roles — photojournalist, editor, reporter, anchor — required to bring the news to the public. The gallery features eight "Be a TV Reporter" stations that allow visitors to choose from a variety of video backdrops, take their place in front of the screen, read their report from a TelePrompter and see themselves in action.
The centerpiece of the Ethics Center is the Ethics Table, a unique "group interactive experience" that challenges two teams of players to correctly answer a series of ethical questions and be the first to fill in the front page of their team's newspaper.
The Newseum is one of the most technologically advanced museums in the world. The Newseum ordered 100 miles of fiber-optic cable to link up-to-the-second technologies that include electronic signage and interactive kiosks, two broadcast studios, 15 theaters and a 40-by-22-foot high-resolution media screen. Venues include: Knight Studio and the Knight Studio on Pennsylvania Avenue, Walter and Leonore Annenberg Theater, Pulliam Family Great Books Gallery, HP New Media Gallery, and the NBC News Interactive Newsroom. In this 7,000-sq. ft. interactive gallery, visitors can select any of 48 interactive kiosks or experiences where they can immerse themselves in the many roles — photojournalist, editor, reporter, anchor — required to bring the news to the public. The gallery features eight "Be a TV Reporter" stations that allow visitors to choose from a variety of video backdrops, take their place in front of the screen, read their report from a TelePrompter and see themselves in action.
Fourteen other theaters, including three Hear | 1,244 |
CM.com Acquires E-Commerce Customer Service Provider RobinHQ.com
CM.com, a global conversational commerce provider, has reached agreement to acquire e-commerce customer service provider RobinHQ.com. The customer contact software of RobinHQ.com is a new addition to our suite of mobile first conversational commerce solutions.
Suzanne Caron
Fast-growing RobinHQ.com, which made it to the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 in 2018 and 2019, currently serves more than 100 medium-sized and large e-commerce companies in the Benelux. Its SaaS-based high margin business generated a recurring revenue of approximately €2 million in 2019. Dutch-based RobinHQ.com was founded in 2011 and has a team of 20 F<|fim_middle|> global leader in cloud software for conversational commerce, has completed the acquisition of Consumer AI technology company Building Blocks. | TE that will join CM.com.
Jeroen van Glabbeek, CEO of CM.com: "RobinHQ.com offers us additional high value functionalities for customer contact centers as well as an extended customer base for enhanced up and cross-selling opportunities."
Patrick Speijers, CEO of RobinHQ.com: "Combining CM.com's Conversational Commerce solutions with our software, creates a highly competitive customer service SaaS product for any customer that sells online. In addition, the scale and international footprint of CM.com provide the support we need to realize and accelerate our international growth ambitions."
The acquisition complements our Mobile Service Cloud solution for customer contact centers. The global contact center software market is expected to reach $72.3 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of approximately 20%.
Our customers across the globe already have access to various in-house developed software tools, including the advanced AI Chatbot software tools we added earlier this year via the acquisition of CX Company. We will enrich this suite of tools with the contact software of RobinHQ.com. This includes state-of-the art skill-based routing, automated tagging, live chat, and co-browsing possibilities to optimize customer journeys.
The founders of RobinHQ.com will remain with the company and are fully committed to execute the international growth strategy. To express their long-term commitment the acquisition is paid via a combination of cash and shares. For this purpose, CM.com will issue €1.5 million in ordinary shares at closing.
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Juniper Research ranks CM.com, a global leader in cloud software for conversational commerce, as a leader in the Contact Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) market.
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CM.com, a | 592 |
tv 150th Anniversary of the Senate Appropriations Committee CSPAN July 22, 2017 3:20pm-4:01pm EDT
as a public service by america's cable television companies, and is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. year marks the 150th anniversary of the senate appropriations committee. next, betty koed reflects on the committee's history. senators thad cochran and patrick leahy also speak at the program. held in the kennedy congress room on capitol hill, this is about 40 minutes. everyone.ening, i am a trustee of the u.s. capital historical society. welcome to our celebration of the 150th anniversary of the senate committee on appropriations. this committee traces its origins to 1816, making it one
of the first standing committees established by the senate. it is also one of the most powerful committees, and one of the largest. we are so grateful to the generous donors who helped make this evening possible. , independentca community bankers of america, , leonardoor america l , and mr. terry ehrman. thank you all so much for making tonight possible. we will begin the evening with the presentation of the colors and the pledge of allegiance. please rise.
> >> i pledge allegiance to the<|fim_middle|>, vice chairman of the committee, several current community in -- committee members, including barbara mikulski, former chairwoman of the comm ittee. and i saw suzanne collins. thank you for joining us. we also have several former staff directors, and i would ask that you stand to be organized. english, charlie hoy, keith kennedy, terry lehrman, jim orhart, and frank sullivan. in our keynote speaker, dr. betty koed. [applause]
we are so pleased that you could be part of our celebration. senator daniel and away was an important force on the senate appropriations committee for many years, as a ranking member and a chairman. the senator passed away in 2012, but we remember his quiet demeanor and outstanding leadership. , irene, captured his esteem for this committee and his colleagues in a letter that we would like to share with you this evening. i invite charlie lloyd to read the letter. [applause] >> the letter is dated june 20 8, 2017. dear friends, good evening and a
low half -- and aloha. i wish i could join you this evening as you come together take commemorate the 150th anniversary of the senate appropriations committee. i am working in japan this week at an out of country event which caused me to miss this occasion. i congratulate the historical society on what i am sure will be another successful and enjoyable evening. i extend warm wishes to senator thad cochran and senator pat leahy, chairman and vice chairman of the senate appropriations committee, who are spearheading tonight's event. my late husband worked closely with both senator cochran and senator leahy, and he considered them very good friends. they, along with dan and many , represent strong
leaders in the u.s. senate who have represented the appropriations committee with distinction. their ability to work across the aisle and forge common ground is legendary, and an inspiration that is still remembered by many . they found ways to support important projects for a nation that remain significant to this day. one of dan's most cherished times in the senate was his chairmanship of the committee from 2009 until his passing in late 2012. i thank you for remembering him in asking me to share brief remarks. as tonight's event highlights the 150 years since the senate appropriations committee was created, it is important to recognize those that have
developed the committee into one of the most powerful in the senate, and to reflect on how the appropriations committee can continue to work towards partisanship and appropriations that will -- towards bipartisanship and appropriations that will support the country now and in the future. i'm impressed by the work of the u.s. capital historical society. , ia former museum director am most appreciative of the work of the society to organize education programs, symposia, and tours. for your hard you work and dedication in ensuring that the archives of the capitol building and u.s. congress are preserved and shared with future generations. thank you for including me in tonight's celebration, and my warmest wishes to the continued
success of the u.s. capital historical society. with best regards. [applause] >> what a wonderful tribute to this great committee and its leadership. thank you. the role of the appropriations committee is spelled out in the constitutional requirement that appropriations must be made by law before any federal funds can be spent. in the early years, spending bills were sent to ad hoc committees and later to the finance committee. frustrated by the lack of coordination between appropriations laws and the spending actions of the executive department, the senate in 1850 passed rule 30. tied appropriations directly to spending for
specific programs. to the present day, congress and the senate appropriations tomittee have taken steps centralize the process of allocating funds, getting congress greater oversight of federal spending. to further streamline the process in the 100 10th congress, the house and senate appropriations committees agreed to a common subcommittee structure. today, the authority of the appropriations committee is unquestioned. the stature of the committee is reflected in its meeting room, one of the most beautiful rooms in the capital, designed and decorated by constantino remedi. we thank the committee for assembling a talented, bipartisan staff who have contributed to the effectiveness of the committee, and for outstanding leadership throughout its long history. congratulations to 150 years of
service. [applause] it is my distinct pleasure to present the chairman of the senate appropriations committee, senator that cochran. senator cochran needs no introduction. all of us feel we know him. he has represented the state of sincesippi in the senate 1978. me.tor cochran, please join [applause] sen. cochran: i assume i am going to make remarks.
[laughter] i was not given many suggestions about what i should do or say. but, because this is such a i am going to read the speech that my staff members wrote for me. [laughter] sen. cochran: i am grateful for -- i have observed her as a member of the staff and the product she has produced.
when you heard the appropriations committee, a lot of names of important people trickle down, including pat friend.y good john was a marvelous person. served with distinction on the committee. from watching him and jamie whitten from the house side when he was chairman, there was a brand new kind of upwardly in the time ofan really testedich all of us in the u.s. senate. the traditions are powerful here . i knew from watching folks like john stennis and jamie whitten and the appropriations committee greats, it could be a
influence in times of distress, offortune, but also in times -- in times that are designed to of the united states senate and its appropriations committee. i have been very fortunate to work alongside people like i mentioned, and many others who are dear friends. also must admit that i have benefited enormously from the association with so many staff members who carry on the rules of thend senate and the appropriations committee in particular. i feel grateful to be selected
for whatever this is. it has not been clearly defined exactly, but i like it, and i appreciate it very much, and i thank all of you to the air to -- tos in our celebration be here to help us in our celebration that the historical society has organized and prepared. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, senator. i now invite the vice chair, senator patrick leahy, to say a few words. like senator cochran, senator leahy is well known to all of us as a senator and as the guy with the camera. instagram.him out on he served in the senate since
1975, representing the state of vermont. senator leahy. leahy: thank you so much. friend.hran, my dear i think of the people i have served with on the senate , allpriations committee good friends from both parties. of course, senator cochran is one of the closest friends i have in the senate. all the chairs were good friends. also, my dear friend barbara mikulski, who is chair. -- who was chair. [applause] i was going to step
aside and have her be chair because the first woman to be chair of it, the longest-serving woman in the history of congress , k mandated. -- came and did it. we are all friends, both parties . we work things out together. how important that was. --also recognize the fact and i love seeing some of these pictures and seeing senator magnuson, another person i ,erved with, all the others makes me realize that i have been here for a bit of time. [laughter] sen. leahy: but i just do what chuck tells me to. [laughter] sen. leahy: the fact is, we all
work together. we recognize the power of the purse is one of the most important tools congress has. checks and balances are in the power of the purse, and that is , to overseee senate the executive and judicial branch. the appropriations committee is where we translate the priorities of a nation, everybody in the nation. business.y is not a we don't invest in order to make a profit or a dollar for a dollar. we invest in areas where we think the government should take a leave, invest in the areas where the government makes a difference. we invested half of our
infrastructure, our national security, our science, a research. what we do to make sure the new does notn coming up have to sit through class hungry , make sure they can eat healthy, make sure we have resources, make sure we invest in research that can cure cancer. we make sure we define what we are as a nation. no committee does this more than appropriations. as the most junior member of the senate, i remember going to mississippi's senator to say that we have nobody from new england when john pastore he left to be on appropriations. jim, and thad
remembers jim very well. i said i don't want to just talk, i want to get things done. said, boy, this is not a partisan thing. this is where we work. you are a workhorse, not a show horse. we will put you on their. the years i have served with thad cochran. we have traveled together, we have worked together. he is still a friend, even it turned out -- were the coldest days we ever had. [laughter] sen. leahy: he said he did not know that they could get 20
below zero. i said it will get colder tomorrow. [laughter] sen. leahy: but i'm glad to be here. i have fought long and hard for appropriations. i look at the men and women in both parties who have served their. i wanted to be an appropriations. i am proud to be here with you today to celebrate this. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, senator. bottle yourould bipartisan spirit and send it everywhere. [laughter] our keynote speaker this evening, betty koed, is the historian of the senate.
she is the third person to hold the position and the first woman. has an extraordinary talent for telling stories, all the details, about of who have served their. betty, we look forward to your comments, knowing we will learn greating new about this institution. please join us. [applause] thank you. i am delighted to be here. the senate reaches an important milestone in its history. the committee on appropriations turned 150 years old, and now i am going to magically distill 150 years of community -- a
committee history and to about 12 minutes. well, that's not really possible . but i will cover a few highlights and share a couple of stories, and i am also going to take note of a little-known milestone in your committee's history. for its first quarter of his injury, the senate operated without permanent standing legislative committees. instead it rip -- it relied on temporary committees. 1816, having created nearly 100 of these ad hoc committees, the senate decided on something more permanent. in december of 1816, it created 11 standing committees, including judiciary, foreign relations. however, it did not create a committee on appropriations. over the next five decades, the finance committee handled most appropriations, but that overworked committee and its poor overworked chairman struggled with haphazard funding requests from the executive agencies.
agency to appear frugal, directors often understated their funding needs to the house of representatives. in the final days of the session -- of the senate, they would plead for emergency funds. the threat of suspended operations usually convinced congress to replenish the coffers. if agencies ran a surplus, they would spend it any way they pleased. by the 1860's, senators realized they needed to gain better control over the appropriations process. the civil war has vastly expanded federal spending. in fact, in 1865, expenditures d the billion-dollar mark for the first time in our national history. the lack of centralized control also played the president's advantage, and the executive often spent millions without first securing any congressional
appropriations. in other words, by the end of the civil war, no less than the power of the purse was at stake. senator henry anthony of rhode island proposed a new committee for spending bills. the senate agreed and passed subsequent legislation to regulate out such funds would be used. committeeg, this new that came senate powerhouse, led by strong chairmen. the appropriations committee reached new heights of influence during the senate's gilded age. not surprisingly, the senators who did not serve on the committee began to complain. did this upstart committee have too much power? the chairman of the legislative committee as well as the executive agency said yes, and they looked for ways to rest
back to power. in the 1890's, senators curtailed the jurisdiction of the appropriations committee, giving control over spending in certain areas like agriculture, military affairs, and pensions back to the legislative committees. committee chairs were delighted, but with no centralized control over the process, the committee's ran amok, spending increased with little or no ability. in 1921, prompted by war related costs that had pushed annual spending to more ability than $5 billion a year, congress passed the budget and accounting act. signed by president warren g. harding, the law required an annual budget by the president, created an accounting office, the bureau of the budget, and led to the establishment of permanent subcommittees for appropriations. the passage of that bill was just the beginning. in implementing the new law,
chair and francis e warren of wyoming -- chairman francis e warren of wyoming shapes the committee.he he introduced legislation to centralize the appropriations process. he also included in his rule that required appropriations bills and in the midst such bills be referred to the committee on appropriations. this established the broad jurisdiction enjoyed by the committee today. since that time, the appropriations committee has continued to evolve as its duties and workload have been amended by subsequent legislation. the biggest change came in 1974 with the budget act, which the house and senate budget committees along with the congressional budget office. again, the appropriations committee remained intact. in the 1980's and 1990's, new elements were added.
but you all know that history better than i do, because you lived it. today, one hundred 50 years after its creation, the senate committee on appropriations -- creation,after its the senate committee on appropriations continues to be an influential voice in national policymaking. of course, that does not mean the appropriations process has always been easy. at times, it has been downright testy. for example, on a hot day in august of 1950, as the senate continued to work past its scheduled adjournment date, tempers inside the committee got as hot as the scorching sun was outside. the senators began to show signs of overwork, observed newspaper columnist jack anderson. sessions are growing longer and tempers are getting shorter. among the confrontations that had caught jack anderson's i was
a battle between two avails best loan curmudgeons, kenneth mckellar and clarence cannon. n of thee the chairme senate and house appropriations committees, and for years they had argued bitterly over federal spending. that battle climaxed in 1950, a gavel bashing, name-calling clash between 81-year-old mckellar and 71-year-old kennan was broken up just short of physical violence, noted the washington post. while meeting in congress, senator mckellar had sharply commented on his personality, using language peppered with words like "blind" and pig-headed." -- " he said, i've taken all that i
can take. in the nick of time, the post reporter reported that a staff member grabbed cannon and seized the gavel from mckellar. police was restored for a moment -- peace was restored for a moment. later, another chairman fought so bitterly with old clarence cannon that the two houses of congress had to establish neutral ground. like mckellar, hayden was an old hand at appropriations. with 50 years of service behind him, his skills had earned him the labeled a third senator from every state. notable- but it is length of service had not prepared him for clarence cannon . in the house since 1923, cannon knew his way around bicameralism its. this was a -- bicameral
disputes. this was a battle on capitol hill. the agencies are going broke, wrote a reporter in 1962, just because two members of congress keep yelling at each other. for months, cannon and hayden delayed legislation while arguing over seemingly petty issues. the press dubbed it the battle of the octogenarians, but underlying this was a dispute as old as congress itself -- was the senate truly the upper house? fueling the argument was a long simmering resentment of the senate's general layer of superiority, an attitude which has resulted in some rather high-minded practices. for example, for two centuries, all congress committees had been shared by senators, and such meetings had always been held on the senate side of the capital. in 1962, the house decided to challenge this old custom of
senatorial privilege, leading the charge was appropriations chairman clarence cannon. defending the senate's prerogative, perl hayden. cannon informed hayden, and he refused to make the trek to capitol hill for congress meetings. he insisted to senators would have to walk to the house side at least half the time. further, he demanded he be allowed to chair have to conquer -- half the conferences. hayden conquered that the senate negotiate half of all appropriations bills. the stalemate lasted months. meeting after meeting produced no agreement. the appropriations process remains stalled well past the end of the fiscal year. finally, perl hayden -- carl hayden called for a truce. meetingsted a special
to be held on neutral ground, and he turned to mike mansfield for a solution. needless to say, mansfield was anxious to end the battle. he searched for a proper meeting place. finally he found ef-100, a small, nondescript meeting room located in the exact center of the capital. i even agreed to have it surveyed, mansfield explained, so that the conference table would not be as much as an eighth of an inch to one side or another. agreed to meet in conference, but stood firm on his demands to cochair in some of the meetings. , and probablysis urged on by mansfield, carl hayden relented. government operations returned to normal. pundits dismissed the battle as a tempest in a teapot. more of student -- more astute
observers recognized that this battle was another chapter in the ongoing struggle over the shared constitutional duties of the house and senate. finally this evening, i want to highlight an important, but mostly forgotten, milestone in the committee's history. since 1867, about 300 senators have served on the committee. of those, and mayor doesn't have been women. -- a mere dozen have been women. the first was made, who joined in 1953. in 2012, senator barbara mikulski, the second woman to serve on the committee, became the first woman to chair. those are both major milestones in senate history, and here is one more. way back in 1911, a woman served as chief clerk to the committee on appropriations. her name was leona wells.
she joined the senate's clerical staff in 1901 and remained on the payroll for 25 years. i believe her to the first woman to hold the top committee position in the u.s. senate. born in illinois in 1867, wells moved to wyoming when she turned 21 because the young suffragists could vote in wyoming. there, she met senator francis warren, whose patronage brought her to washington. senator warren appointed wells to the clerical staff. when he became chairman of appropriations in 1911, he brought wells with him, giving her the position of chief clerk, although it appears that the senate never gave her that official title. at the time, leona wells was unusual, a well-paid professional woman on capitol hill. in fact, she was so unusual that she attracted attention from the press. leona wells is probably the most
envied women in government service, reported "the boston globe." not only did she earn a good salary, "to the globe" noted, but she was the first woman to be placed in charge of affairs of a big committee, while scouting new territory for female staff. but one area remained off-limits, the senate chamber. when chairman warren was on the floor doing committee business, wells had to wait outside. male community clerks -- committee clerks freely entered the chamber, but the senate was not ready to admit a female staffer. instead, wells waited just outside the chamber and kept the door and inch or two in jar so she could hear what was going on inside. wells is largely forgotten now, but her service on the appropriations committee opened a door so whether wo -- so
other women could come in. has been an all-too-brief summary of the history of the appropriations committee, but i hope it will serve as a reminder, just like francis warren or perl hayden or even leona wells, all of you are part of the history of the committee on appropriations. thank you. [applause] for youryou, dr. koed, thoughtful remarks. as a token of our appreciation,
we want you to have this scarf. [laughter] featuring the work of constantino remedi. dr. koed: thank you. it is gorgeous. [applause] is the's interesting colors reflect the true colors uncovered by the conservators orstoring the corrido where it was prized. chairman cochran invites chairman leahy -- don't leave yet. [laughter] please join me at the podium. we have gifts for you as well. we present each of you this historic print. it is called "the view from washington city," 1871,
reproduced from the washington kiplinger collection. the principal or accumulated by the kiplinger family over 90 years. we hope you will treasure this piece of history. [applause] like to thank the u.s. capital historical society for entrusting me with the job of an eeing this event. this concludes our program. please enjoy the reception. [applause]
announcer: you're watching american history tv, all weekend, every weekend, on c-span3. like us on facebook theext on c-span bookshelf, use of students is undercover agents. she is the author of patriotic betrayal. this discussion was recorded in 2015 at the university of journalism. >> karen has had a long career. she was part of the boulder citycouncil in boulder colorado,
<div class="tv-ttl">150th Anniversary of the Senate Appropriations Committee<div>CSPAN July 22, 2017 3:20pm-4:01pm EDT</div></div>
To mark the 150th anniversary of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Historian Betty Koed reflected on the committee's history. Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the committee's Chair and Vice Chair, also spoke.
People: Betty K. Koed
Sponsor: U.S. Capitol Historical Society
Leahy 8, Us 8, U.s. 8, Mckellar 4, Clarence Cannon 4, Hayden 4, Wyoming 4, Leona Wells 3, Barbara Mikulski 3, Patrick Leahy 3, Thad Cochran 3, America 3, Washington 2, The Appropriations 2, Jack Anderson 2, Francis E Warren 2, Betty Koed 2, Perl Hayden 2, Carl Hayden 2, Constantino Remedi 2
Uploaded by TV Archive on July 22, 2017 | flag of the united states of
america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. .> please be seated several distinguished guests have joined us this evening. senator that cochran, chairman
of the cochran, chairman appropriations committee, senator patrick leahy | 70 |
Q: How to send UTF-8 command line data from PHP to Java for correct encoding I am trying to pass a UTF-8 string as a command line parameter from PHP to a Java program.
When I view the string in the PHP debugger, it show correctly: Présentation
Yet when I look at the<|fim_middle|> into \3f \3f (two ASCII question mark chars).
During my searching here on stackoverflow I saw a warning not the use literals (e.g. "Présentation") and once I backtracked the data to the caller it became evident that the issue involved the actual call to exec().
Hopefully another new to Unicode processing can benefit from this information.
Thanks for everyone's input which pointed me in the right direction.
| arg[0] data in the Java debugger (and the returned value passed back to the PHP program) I see: Pr??sentation
I have tried the Java code below and neither ISO_8859_1 nor UTF_8 return the proper results.
I've looked here on stackoverflow (Translate UTF-8 character encoding function from PHP to Java) as well as other sites and still cannot make
sense at what I am doing wrong.
Everything seems to work find in PHP yet Java is doing something right from the start with the data that looks like it needs perhaps additional processing after or before I call the code below.
This is my first go at dealing with international characters. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Edit: I am debugging on Windows remotely - the PHP and Java are being run on an Ubuntu system. But since the PHP code and Java code called from the PHP code reside on the linux based system, there should not be any issue with Windows command line Java and UTF-8. I had read here on stackoverflow that was an issue for some in the recent past.
byte[] test_str_1 = args[0].getBytes(StandardCharsets.ISO_8859_1);
System.out.println(test_str_1);
byte[] test_str_2 = args[0].getBytes(StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
System.out.println(test_str_2);
A: The problem has been solved using the solution provided here:
Unicode to PHP exec
Everyone's help got me on the right track. It was indeed a locale issue, but not at the OS level. Instead it was with PHP's locale.
Another user had a similar issue and it was fixed with by adding the following code to the PHP script before executing the command line that calls the Java program:
$locale = 'en_US.utf-8';
setlocale(LC_ALL, $locale);
putenv('LC_ALL='.$locale);
So now, in the Java code, when I view the args[0] param, that is now displayed correctly and also the processed text stored in a file and then sent back to and received into the PHP script properly. It took a bit of looking up the byte values, corresponding UTF-8 encodings, and the like before I could start to see the issue was that PHP was translating what was a correct string just before exec, into a different string during the exec() call. During this call the UTF-8 \0xc3 0xa9 bytes for "é" (Unicode \u00E9) | 523 |
X-ray Telescopes Find Evidence for Wandering Black Hole
Submitted by chandra on Tue, 2016-10-04 13:27
Astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-<|fim_middle|>
NASA Blogs
Smithsonian 2.0
NASA 360
GLAST (Fermi)
Cosmic Log
This site was developed with funding from NASA
under contract NAS8-03060. | Newton X-ray observatory to discover an extremely luminous, variable X-ray source located outside the center of its parent galaxy. This peculiar object could be a wandering black hole that came from a small galaxy falling into a larger one.
Astronomers think that supermassive black holes, with some 100,000 to 10 billion times the Sun's mass, are in the centers of most galaxies. There is also evidence for the existence of so-called intermediate mass black holes, which have lower masses ranging between about 100 and 100,000 times that of the Sun.
Both of these types of objects may be found away from the center of a galaxy following a collision and merger with another galaxy containing a massive black hole. As the stars, gas and dust from the second galaxy move through the first one, its black hole would move with it.
A new study reports the discovery of one of these "wandering" black holes toward the edge of the lenticular galaxy SDSS J141711.07+522540.8 (or, GJ1417+52 for short), which is located about 4.5 billion light years from Earth. This object, referred to as XJ1417+52, was discovered during long observations of a special region, the so-called Extended Groth Strip, with XMM-Newton and Chandra data obtained between 2000 and 2002. Its extreme brightness makes it likely that it is a black hole with a mass estimated to be about 100,000 times that of the Sun, assuming that the radiation force on surrounding matter equals the gravitational force.
The main panel of this graphic has a wide-field, optical light image from the Hubble Space Telescope. The black hole and its host galaxy are located within the box in the upper left. The inset on the left contains Hubble's close-up view of GJ1417+52. Within this inset the circle shows a point-like source on the northern outskirts of the galaxy that may be associated with XJ1417+52.
The inset on the right is Chandra's X-ray image of XJ1417+52 in purple, covering the same region as the Hubble close-up. This is a point source, with no evidence seen for extended X-ray emission.
The Chandra and XMM-Newton observations show the X-ray output of XJ1417+52 is so high that astronomers classify this object as a "hyper-luminous X-ray source" (HLX). These are objects that are 10,000 to 100,000 times more luminous in X-rays than stellar black holes, and 10 to 100 times more powerful than ultraluminous X-ray sources, or ULXs.
More information at http://chandra.si.edu/photo/2016/xj1417/index.html
-Megan Watzke, CXC
Disclaimer: This service is provided as a free forum for registered users. Users' comments do not reflect the views of the Chandra X-ray Center and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
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The Big Chandra Picture
X-rays Spot Spinning Black Holes Across Cosmic Sea
Gearing Up for Chandra's 20th
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X-Rays Help Prove Some Galaxies are True Relics of the Ancient Universe
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Formal Education | 850 |
Take a deep breath and relax. Our busy lives are full of stress and an endless stream of electronic distractions, with constant communication making it seem like we can never escape to find some peace and quiet. Meditation is ancient means of achieving some modern peace of mind. It can be done in groups or alone, in studios or out in nature. If the idea of serenity and inner calm doesn't convince you to start meditating, we've listed the top 10<|fim_middle|> and outer beauty. By meditating, we are letting fresh oxygen in and out of our respiratory system when focused. This eliminates the buildup of bad toxins and aid in releasing chemical and/or hormonal imbalances. Also, a good meditation practice increases blood flow circulation to the surface of the skin, creating a nice subtle glow for the face.
Overall health benefits: Studies show that meditation can lower blood pressure, help cardiovascular and immune systems regulate better, and also can help prevent arthritis, fibromyalgia, depression in mothers to be, anxiety and panic disorders, and get better sleep at night.
Meditation can be practiced anywhere and it is free: The best thing about meditation is that you can practice it anywhere at any time, by finding a quiet space at work, school, home, or even in your car. It is recommended for beginners to begin training at home where you are most familiar with everything around you then as your practice grows, you can learn to put your focus anywhere. Also, meditating is free! There are no costs to meditation as long as the effort and focus are put in, you can enjoy all the benefits of meditation!
Daily meditation can help you relaxation and stress reduction. Reduction of anxiety helps in expanding immunity. Practicing different effective meditation methods can enhance immunity and keep you healthy condition. | health benefits of meditation for you here.
Aids in clearing busy minds: In a fast driven society, our minds can often be cluttered with so many things going on in our lives, it's hard to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings and people in the moment. By practicing meditation, it can help you slow down time and de-cluster all the worries, thoughts, and stresses.
Helps create acceptance "within yourself and others": In a society that can be driven by social groups, it can be hard to find yourself in this world. Meditation can help create acceptance about yourself and remove the stigmas of trying to be perfect or putting pressure on one's self. It allows you to be relaxed in a safe zone where you can be yourself.
Promotes emotional well-being: If you are a person who worries often, stresses, or maybe even suffers from depression, studies show that meditation can improve that current state and increase more optimism and relieve mood tensions.
Increases happiness: Meditation is a powerful tool that allows you to tune into your inner consciousness that is not always present. We all lead busy lives, balancing work, school, and maybe even a family. It can be hard to be present in the moment and taking quiet time out encourages you to submerge yourself in the present moment and be self-aware of things that you could achieve with the right mindset.
Reduces stress: We all stress out sometimes, and can feel overwhelmed. Meditation can be a great way to ease the lateral and medial prefrontal cortex- easing our stress levels. This area of the brain is the rational and logical perspective of the mind; regular meditation has been shown to improve the stress receptors in a Harvard Study.
Improves concentration: The act of sitting still itself requires a lot of focus on the mind, so over time it should also improve your concentration whether at work, school, family, or just in between balance of all things. Better concentration means better attention on what you might be lacking in your personal or social life. Buddha is one of the most influential pioneers for mindfulness meditation, where he is known to have meditated under the Bodhi Tree for 7 days without moving.
Contributes to a healthier lifestyle: Here at HFR, we believe a healthy lifestyle leads to a happy lifestyle. Meditation can encourage other healthy habits and attributions such as eating healthier, exercising, and it's also great for the mind.
Beauty benefits: We can try all the beauty products and face creams out on the market, but there are benefits to meditation that truly enhances both inner | 512 |
Home Children's Non Fiction DK Guide Space
DK Guide Space
By: Peter Bond
Giá khuyến mại 90.000₫
Publisher: D K
Paperback / Good - 90.000₫
If you're a space fanatic, you'll love this big guide to all things astronomical. All the heavenly bodies in our solar system--all nine planets and their moons, comets, asteroids, and the sun--are shown in amazing photos and illustrations that give you a feel for what they're like up close. You'll also find out about objects<|fim_middle|>, and radio telescopes listening for alien broadcasts. DK Guide to Space is filled with color photos of cool things like Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Mexican Hat galaxies, and the freeze-dried food astronauts eat. It's a great reference for space nuts.
Author: Peter Bond
100 Facts Venom
Miles Kelly
Usborne Peep Inside The Jungle
Oxford Picture Dictionnary
Jayme Adelson Goldstein | far away from our little planet, like distant stars, nebulas, and galaxies, with telescope images and incredible facts. For instance, did you know that Eta Carinae is the weirdest star known to science? It's being torn apart by constant explosions, and it's the only star known to emit natural laser light! You'll find out how a star is born, how it dies, and how galaxies full of stars fit into the universe. The last part of the book tells the story of human efforts to learn about space, from rockets and shuttles to space stations, satellites | 121 |
Hinder, 'Intoxicated' – Exclusive Lyric Video Premiere
Hinder are back with a new album, When the Smoke Clears, due out this week, and the band is set to play this year's Loudwire Music Festival in June. Now, they've teamed with Loudwire to premiere the lyric video for their new song "Intoxicated" (watch above).
"We're really excited to partner up with Loudwire to bring you the unveiling of our new single 'Intoxicated,'" state the band. "The song is a heavier side to Hinder, yet still melodic and we<|fim_middle|> Rock, Songs, Videos | can't wait for fans to hear us perform it live on our upcoming tour!"
As you can hear, the song is a driving track with gritty guitar work and heavy drumming that push the cut forward. Meanwhile, new vocalist Marshal Dutton belts lyrics about a poisonous relationship as the "Intoxicated" words scroll across a television screen.
Dutton, a onetime co-producer for the band, took over on vocals, officially replacing former frontman Austin Winkler. Nolan Neal appeared on the song "Hit the Ground" that arrived last fall, but was only an interim replacement for the group.
"Intoxicated" will appear on Hinder's When the Smoke Clears album. The disc is due tomorrow, May 12, via The End Records and you can currently pre-order it via the band's PledgeMusic campaign, as well as Amazon or iTunes or as part of a bundle package at The Omega Order. Or if you just want to get the single, it's available here.
Look for Hinder on tour this spring. As previously mentioned, you can catch them in June taking part in the inaugural Loudwire Music Festival. For tickets, click here.
Listen to Hinder's 'Rather Hate Than Hurt' Song
Filed Under: Hinder
Categories: Exclusive, Loudwire Music Festival, News, | 268 |
Sports CV
Escola Hermida
ES // EN
6th in Mt Ste Anne World Cup (Canada)
This was where the Multivan-Merida rider became World Champion 6 years ago. It is a course where he has always done well and that has always taken all his potential because, as he says "this is pure mountain bike".
Today's race was his most consistent competition of the last 12 months: "I felt very strong, with a lot gas in the climbs. When I was facing a tough section, I<|fim_middle|> to continue on that line.
www.neorgsite.com
Tweets por @Josehermida | would stand out of the saddle and push really hard. All the hard work done in the last two months was visible in the World Championships and it was there again today. I am very happy and with the confidence to see that we're doing things in the right direction".
José has started n the top 20 and has remained there during the first minutes of the race, although "we were all very close together and we had to walk in some of the first climbs. But I'm happy with how I managed that initial effort" .
From there, the Catalan rider has been passing riders performing a very similar pace a the leaders, just a few seconds away from a podium where he has been so many times in this venue. "I've tried to get on the podium, but I've been just a few seconds away from it. The pace was good and my ambition too, but it has not been possible. Still, the 6th spot is a result that gives me peace and confidence that we are doing things right. Now we face a very hard week of training before a few days of assimilation prior to the competition at the Olympic Games", Hermida commented.
In 15 days Jose faces a new challenge, his fifth Olympics, a race in which he has won a silver medal, finished fourth twice and also got a 10th place. 20 years of Olympic competition without being out of the top ten. In Rio de Janeiro he will give it all | 300 |
UAE: The Power of the Desert
AIRVŪZ STAFF NOTE :
Top contributor PaulVlad used a DJI Mavic Pro drone to create this remarkable aerial video of the desert of<|fim_middle|> also an enthusiast of geography and history, and loves writing about all of the amazing places where AirVuz community members fly. | the United Arab Emirates. It was taken around Al Madam, which is a small town in Sharjah, one of the emirates which makes up the country. As you'll see from this video, this is serious sand dune country. It's part of the so-called Empty Quarter, the largest contiguous desert area in the world. The desert covers much of the Arabian Peninsula.
<iframe src="https://www.airvuz.com/videoPlayerEmbed/5a3d92d237228c61dd0fd652?autoplay=false" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Description: Nature always takes what's rightfully hers, and eventually wins! Morning before the rain in Al Madam desert, Sharjah, where this village has sunk under the sand...
nationalgeographic
aerialdrill
unitedarabemirates
Staff Note by
Mike Israel
Mike Israel is the founder, President and CEO of AirVuz, LLC. He is an avid drone enthusiast and RC pilot. He is | 211 |
Byrnes & Kiefer has been around since 1902. They have had steady growth and an expansion of their product line to include a variety of baking supplies and baked goods. Currently, Byrnes & Kiefer has a selection of 300 artisan bakery products. All of their facilities are SQF Level 2 certified through their SQF Food Safety Management System. They are committed to providing customers with safe food products and are Kosher certified.
Godshall's Quality Meats began as a butcher shop in 1945, but has quickly grown into a company with two major facilities in Pennsylvania. They are dedicated to supplying premium meat specialty items to their customers and takes pride in their state-of-the-art facilities. Godshall's takes the green initiative wherever they can, including facilities powered by solar modules, and a zero landfill program.
J&J Snack Foods was established in 1971 with only 8 employees. Today, they are a leader and innovator in the snack food industry. They provide unique and niche snack foods and beverages to their retailers. This includes the invention of the Funnel Cake Fries, which were created for Rutter's. Some brands of their many products include ICEE, The Funnel Cake Factory, Minute Maid, Dogsters, Slush Puppies, and Oreo Churros.
In 2005, Lifestyle Foods began with creating a better salad with greater visual appeal and longer lasting than an ordinary salad. Today, Lifestyle Foods has expanded beyond salads to offer a full solution for healthy and convenient grab-and-go eating, including entrees, salads, sandwiches, snacks, and sides. Extended shelf life, quality ingredients and the lifestyle look (thoughtful packaging) is what sets Lifestyle Foods apart.
Mom's Wholesale Foods is a family-owned and operated business dating back to 1979. Their products are distributed to more than three states. Mom's Wholesale Foods is USDA inspected and one of only a few Pepperoni & Cheese Rolls in the country. They believe in and support local charities by donating thousands of dollars in food to local causes and donated pepperoni rolls to Texas in 2017 during Hurricane Relief Efforts.
R.W. Sauders began in the 1930s during the Depression Era. Today, R.W. Sauders is still family-owned and operated. Their hens produce about 1.5 billion eggs each year. They are committed to raising happy, healthy hens in cage-free, organic farms. This increases the quality of their eggs. R.W. Sauders works with around 120 farmers, many of which are family-owned and operated. Quality control is extremely important to R.W. Sauders.
Sea Watch International was founded in 1978 and has been a major clam supplier. They are recognized as the largest harvester and processer of clam products in the world. Sea Watch International has multiple Green Initiatives, including Carbon Disclosure Project, Water Recycling, and Alternative Energy Sources. All Sea Watch manufacturing facilities undergo many audits performed by various government agencies to withstand their standards.
Snyder's Lance merged in 2010, however Snyder's of Hanover began in 1909 and Lance, Inc. was founded in 1913. Snyder's Lance has a passion for quality and will never compromise on the quality of their products. They also have a passion for the communities and believe in supporting the communities that support them. Some of their brands include Kettle Brand, Cape Cod, Snack Factory, Pop-Secret, and Emerald.
TastyKake started in 1914 as the Tasty Baking Company, which baked and delivered individually wrapped snacks cakes daily. Today, TastyKake has merged with Flower Foods and brings snack cakes to retail stores all around the country. TastyKake is a green bakery. One of their biggest green initiatives is their building earning LEED Silver certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
York Ice Company is one of the oldest, family owned, continuous operating ice companies in the United States. It started out in 1872 as a conjoined ice delivery and ice cream making business. They are currently run by their fifth and sixth generation. Today, their ice is being delivered by refrigerated trucks to keep up with the demand. York Ice has a long standing tradition of serving the community's needs and adapting to change.
Bimbo's Bakeries story began in 1994; however, some of their brands and products go back to the late 1800s or early 1900s. Today, Bimbo Bakeries operates more than 60 bakeries throughout the United States. They currently have over 10 different brands. Some of their iconic brands are Thomas, Sara Lee, Entenmann's, Maier's, and Stroehmann. Their purpose is to build a sustainable, highly productive, and deeply humane company.
Since 1935, Deli Brands of America has been using the same old-world family recipes to produce their high quality corned beef, roast beef, pastrami, and many other products. Deli Brands of America is a family-owned company in their fourth generation. Their goal is to provide superior meat products that are backed by committed support and services that contribute to the success of their customers.
Henry's Seafood has been supplying their customers with fresh seafood for over 30 years. They have partnered with Rutter's to customize their own crab cakes. They pride themselves on delivering the taste of the Eastern Shore. Henry's Seafood uses Maryland crabmeat from one of the oldest crab picking house in Cambridge, Maryland, the JM Clayton Crabmeat Company. They offer a variety of products that emphasize on quality and value.
Kraft Heinz became a company after a merger of their two companies in 2015. They are the fifth highest food and beverage company in the world. They are committed to investing in world<|fim_middle|> 2012, which will allow them to make their chocolate in Hershey, PA for the next 100 years.
Kunzler & Company was founded in 1901 by Christian Kunzler, a German butcher. They are currently on their fourth generation of the family operated business. Kunzler & Company worked with Rutter's to create the Bacon-Wrapped Cheddar Dog, which was exclusive to Rutter's for a few months. Kunzler & Company is incorporating efforts to use less energy by working with the Pennsylvania Power & Light Utilities and Strategic Energy Group.
Mike's Nut Shop has been a family-owned business for over 115 years. They are owned by Paul and Paula Stoeckle. The original Mike's Nut Shop was located on West College Avenue in York, but was destroyed in an explosion in March 2007. Their focus is on healthy and fresh snacks, which is why their recent, newly designed logo to showcase nuts and leaves. Mike's Nut Shop employs around 10 people in York County.
In 1973, Pellman's began in the family kitchen of Bill and Ruth Pellman. Their goal is to make quality products for their customers. Pellman's spends many hours on perfecting new products. All of their products are made from scratch, so there are no mixes or shortcuts. They only buy the best ingredients and maintain consistent quality. Pellman's makes a variety of high quality products including cheesecakes, tortes, pies, and cakes.
The pork items offered by Rutter's are largely sourced and produced from pork raised by the nearly 4,000 pig farmers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Which is the 12th largest pork producing state in the US and raising approximately 1.3 million head of pigs. The National Pork Board in conjunction with PA Pork Producers Council want to thankRutter's and its customers for supporting your local pig farmers.
Rutter's Beverage Company's story began in 1921 when milk was sold for 8 cents per quart and on a horse-drawn wagon. Now, Rutter's Beverage Company distributes products throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Their products have grown from being just milk to teas and juices as well. The Rutter's Beverage Company's milk comes from various local farms in the Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland regions.
Smittie's Soft Pretzels have been a family run business since 1934 when Lester Smith and his family would sell his pretzels door-to-door. Today, Smittie's is owned by the third and fourth generations of the Smith family. They give their customers real taste, made with real ingredients, and real quality. Smittie's Soft Pretzels offers soft pretzels, pretzel rolls, pretzel bites, and various holiday specials, like flowers for Mother's Day.
T&L Distributing Co.'s story began in 1985 as a meat snack distributor. Today, they are a company specializing in non-chocolate candy, nostalgic candy, nuts, and meat snacks from all over the country. T&L Distributing Co. has their own top quality beef top round jerky company, called Black Beard Beef Jerky, and a candy company specializing in unique candy, called Kelly's Candy Kitchen. They regularly donate to the Northampton Area Food Bank.
Winter Gardens Quality Foods has been a family owned business for over 40 years. They have dedication to quality, integrity, and consistency for all their products. Winter Gardens produces more than 250 different products using local produce and regional ingredients. They are FDA, USDA, and SQF certified facilities. Additionally, Winter Gardens maintains a complete HACCP program and conducts extensive pathogen monitoring.
Not all brands and products available in every location. See store for details. | -class brands and long-term value creation. They are also committed to reducing their environmental footprint and protecting the planet's natural resources for future generations. A few of their brands include, Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, and Jell-O.
Martin's has grown since they started in Harry and Fairy Martin's kitchen in 1941. Today, Martin's distributes snack foods from New York to North Carolina. They are committed to being a sustainable company by using plant waste and oil in multiple recycling processes. Additionally, as a family owned company, they take pride in giving back and serving others through product, service, and monetary contributions.
Nabisco dates its founding to 1898. They are currently a subsidiary of Mondelez International. They currently operate the largest bakery in the world with their plant in Chicago. This location also employs more than 1,200 employees and produces an estimated 320 million pounds of snack food each year. Some of Nabisco's products include Oreo, Nutter Butter, Swedish Fish, Belvita, Ritz, Trident, Honey Maid, and Wheat Thins.
Red Truck began in 2012 when owner Richard Criswell decided to create a healthier, non GMO, flavorful beef jerky for his sons. After a few years, McCormick reached out to Red Truck to create a new Red Truck Old Bay flavored jerky. Since then, Red Truck has created new beef jerky flavors with McCormick Grill Mates, including Montreal and Brown Sugar. Red Truck employs approximately 10 employees in their main distribution facility.
In December 2000, Shaffer Venison Farm opened their modern processing plant. This helps them control the quality of their venison from the farm to the customer. Shaffer Venison Farm is a family owned and operated venison and elk processing plant. They are committed to high quality venison and elk products free of growth hormones or other chemicals. Shaffer Venison Farm's animals are given a diet of natural foods and minerals.
Spring Glen Fresh Foods has been serving the Pennsylvania area since 1942. They started out making baked goods for many neighbors and the community, but have since grown into a wholesale company providing quality, hand-prepared food products. Spring Glen Fresh Foods is a part of the Hanover Foods family. The recipes they use today are the same as they were over 75 years ago with quality, fine ingredients.
Tulkoff started as a family produce stand in the 1930's. One of their biggest sellers was their homemade horseradish. This lead to Tulkoff's business growing into one of the nation's largest food manufacturers of horseradish products. Today, Tulkoff is in the third generation of the family ownership. They recognize the importance of food safety and quality standards and participate in the Global Food Safety Initiative.
Boyer Candy Company was founded in 1936 by brothers Bill and Bob Boyer. They originally produced candy in their mother's kitchen as a way to increase their income during the Depression Years. They pride themselves on being kosher, gluten free, and American made. Today, Boyer Candy Company produces multiple types of candies including Mallo Cups, Dark Mallo Cups, Peanut Butter Cups, Smoothie Cups, and Triple Twist Pretzels.
Garrett Valley is a family owned and operated company since 2001 and is a third generation, proudly independent company. They are dedicated to crafting only the finest all-natural and organic meats. Garrett Valley's products are all free of antibiotics, nitrates, nitrites, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. They only use humanely raised animals and only works with farms that raise their animals in a stress-free and free-to-roam setting.
Hershey's recipe hasn't changed since its creation by Milton Hershey in 1894. Hershey's created a line called Simple, which is Hershey's Milk Chocolate with only simple ingredients and never any artificial flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners. They completed a major expansion at their facility in Hershey in | 838 |
I walked passed the mirror and pulled my pants higher; they were feeling a little tight that day and all I could think about was how I better start working out and watching what I eat. The kids were laughing and playing in the playroom and I sat down on the couch to finish folding laundry. Again, I adjusted my pants as I sat down because I felt uncomfortable; my stomach was hanging over, they felt tight on my thighs, and then I started to get angry at myself. Angry for not making time to work out, angry for not eating balanced meals, and angry that I was letting it bother me so much.
I finished folding the laundry and sat down on the couch to check my phone. I started scrolling my Facebook feed and came across a very moving post about motherhood. For some reason, any post about motherhood makes me cry these days. It brings so many emotions to the surface that I can't even explain or didn't even know I felt. But this post talked about what a lot of posts do; that within the blink of an eye, children are no longer children. It encouraged us to embrace it while we can and be thankful for every moment, even the tough ones. As I sat there with tear stained cheeks and a lump in my throat, my daughter came over and climbed up to lay with me. And that's when it hit me.
My body carried this little person for 9 months. My body nourished this person for 23 months. And prior to her, my body carried<|fim_middle|>.
Want to make a change? Do it. But don't forget the real reason you're in that position in the first place. And then go over to your little reasons, kiss them, hug them, and thank them for making you a mom.
« When opinions become offensive. | and nourished her brother too. The same body that I was getting upset about and obsessing over. I only mentioned two times but I had pulled those jeans up multiple times that day and beat myself up over the fact they felt tight. And said over and over again in my head how I needed to make changes and how I didn't feel good about myself. All while forgetting that my two beautiful children helped mold the body I have today. And although I don't always love it and can make lifestyle changes to work on it if I want to, at the end of the day, it has already done incredible things by bringing them into this world.
I put my phone down and closed my eyes as I rubbed her back and held her tight. And as I sit here and type this, watching her roll around on the floor way passed her bedtime, I'm not even mad she's still awake. Because it's these moments, these extra moments I get to spend with her during the day that I cherish. There's time for discipline and there's time to just relish in the fact that they're only little for so long. Our bodies and our health are important but so is the fact that we made human life with them. That our jean size and how we look in a bathing suit matters from a health standpoint, but at the same time, our bodies are a depiction of the very miracles we've created.
I've always obsessed over body image and weight as I think a lot of other women have. We compare ourselves to other women we see on TV, movies, online, other blogs, and people we see out in public. But most of the time it's just how we feel inside. We want to be a certain weight because it makes us feel good about ourselves. But shouldn't motherhood also make us feel good about ourselves? It's important to be in shape and healthy but it's also important to recognize bodies are different after kids. And that we shouldn't beat ourselves up about that. Need a good reminder? Look at your little ones.
Remember how it felt to hold their tiny little bodies and hear them take their first breath. Remember how it felt to watch them rollover for the first time. Remember how it felt to watch them take their first steps. Or say their first word. Or say "I love you" for the first time. Because when you think of all of the wonderful things your body may have "sacrificed" in order to have those moments, you won't be so fixated on how you feel in your jeans that day | 521 |
<|fim_middle|>ery appearance without drying out the dish. | This dish was plonked gruffly before me on a table in a dark and lurky harbourside establishment. Surrounded by hostile-looking Moroccan pirates, I really did not expect to eat one of the most delicious dishes of my life. I've christened it after the town of its origin.
You will need 1 small frying pan. I would also note that adult spinach is preferable here, not only for its stronger taste, but also because the same amount of baby spinach will fry away to weedy patheticness.
Get each prawn ready by peeling the shell away. Make an incision down the back and hoick out the black intestine and discard. Roughly chop the prawns and put to one side. Wash the spinach free of beasties, by all means life-guarding any that appear to be poor swimmers. If the stalks are particularly fibrous, snap them off and discard. Bunch up the spinach and chop it roughly. Cut the stalk base from each tomato, criss-cross the other end and cover in just-boiled water for 30 seconds. Tip away the water and peel off the skins. Chop the tomatoes roughly, but not too large, taking care to save the seeds and juice. Peel and finely chop the garlic.
Take the frying pan and dry-fry the cumin seeds over a medium heat until their aroma comes to the nose, by which time they will be nicely toasted. Now add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, followed quickly by the spinach. It will crackle and pop as you add it. Turn in the pan, adding fresh leaves as you go until it is all in and wilted. Now add the tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice and a good amount of salt and black pepper. Cook together fairly rapidly, stirring occasionally, making sure that the contents don't stick and burn. You want to get rid of an obviously wat | 386 |
As veterans of the magazine business, we've done extensive research over the years, and we know your eyes flicked to that score box down there before they made it up to these words. We also figure you're probably tutting over a set of cans picking up that sort of score. That's too low a price for them to be audiophile quality, and too high a price for them to be reasonably affordable, right?<|fim_middle|> could change the way you listen to music. Games aren't the 1MEJH0006's wheelhouse, given the lack of mic, but that acute frequency distinction makes them a great choice if you need to keep your ears on your environment. | Yes. You're absolutely right. Heck, let's list some more of their flaws while we re in the mood: The cable's a touch too short, there's no built-in mic, the meaningless "Hi-Res Audio" logo is on the box as some kind of enticement for the unaware—the list goes on.
But 1More's remarkable headphones deserve every ounce of praise we can pour on them. Even getting them out of the box is an experience; proper packaging making way for an included carrying case, then the cans themselves—heavy, solid, and pretty damn beautiful, with the correct orientation marked on the inside of each earcup in inch-high letters, so you don't have to squint for a tiny icon in order to get your stereo orientation straight. The rear portion of the cups is. judging by its perfectly striated pattern, milled straight out of anodized aluminum, and it's far from the only metal component on display. While there is plastic, it's used as a complement rather than a structural centerpoint. The headband is stainless steel, the earcup pivots are metal, and fold inward with a solid clunk when it's time to stow them; these are headphones that are built to last.
And what sound. 1More's marketing trumpets triple drivers in the form of a 40mm graphene dynamic driver, a ceramic tweeter, and a bass reflector. That last one is, technically, a bit of a fudge: Bass reflectors aren't really active drivers, more tuned ports or, in this case, a cunningly constructed membrane placed behind the main driver, and behind the transparent window on the cans' outer shell. But 1More has clearly got the hang of the tuning part of things inside these closed-back enclosures. The sound stage is wide; it's woody, crisp, subtle, and brash in equal measure, leaving everything from top to bottom distinct and definable. There's great separation on offer, and while the output isn't completely flat (getting a little pushy toward the bass end. and often very bright on the treble), it's very pleasant. Transformative, even—it | 447 |
--mirror (or -m) can be used as a shortcut for -r -N -l inf --<|fim_middle|> port 8080, hence http://localhost:8080/ will serve the top level of the working directory tree. Hit Ctrl-c to stop.
if you want to bind to something other than port 8080.
Tagged python, http, cli, one-liner, ops and tool.
to create a single-file backup of the entire repository.
Tagged git, backup, one-liner, ops and tool. | no-remove-listing which enables infinite recursion and preserves both the server timestamps and FTP directory listings.
-np (--no-parent) can be used to limit wget to files below a specific "directory" (path).
Tagged wget, linux, http, one-liner, web, backup, tool and ops.
Many web frameworks and template engines will defer the generation the HTML version of a document the first time it is accessed. This can make the first hit on a given page significantly slower than subsequent hits.
Tagged wget, linux, http, one-liner, performance, web, tool and ops.
Port numbers less that 1024 are considered "privileged" ports, and you generally must be root to bind a listener to them.
Now requests to port 80 will be forwarded on to port 3000.
Tagged linux, networking, iptables, one-liner, http, tool and ops.
The flag -S (or --chop-long-lines) will cause less to truncate lines at the screen (terminal) boundary, rather than wrapping as it does by default. You can then scroll horizontally (with the arrow keys, for example) to view the full lines when needed.
Tagged bash, linux, one-liner and cli.
Find duplicate files on Linux (or OSX).
You probably want to pipe that to a file as it runs slowly.
Line 1 enumerates the real files non-empty by size.
Line 2 sorts the sizes (as numbers of descending size).
Line 3 strips out the lines (sizes) that only appear once.
For each remaining size, line 4 finds all the files of that size.
Line 6 sorts that list for easy comparison.
Line 7 compares the first 32 characters of each line (the MD5 hash) to find duplicates.
Line 8 spits out the file name and path part of the matching lines.
Some alternative approaches can be found at the original source.
Tagged linux, one-liner and ops.
shuf is (in my experience) a little known GNU utility that selects random lines (or bytes) from a file.
selects three words at random from the words dictionary.
Tagged linux, one-liner and tool.
Find large files on Linux.
is probably a better alternative than any of the following (for the systems that support it).
This finds files at least 1 MB in size and then sorts them by size. Change M to G for files at least 1 GB in size.
du -h * | egrep "^[0-9.]*(M|G)"
Of course, you could use du without the -h to get file sizes by the default block size rather than the human-readable 12.4M or 16K, etc.
E.g., the following command strips alpha characters from the second (tab delimited) field.
Tagged linux, awk, tool and one-liner.
Tagged linux, sed, tool and one-liner.
Tagged python, json, cli and one-liner.
$ python -c "import json,csv;print json.dumps(list(csv.reader(open( CSV-FILENAME ))))"
The Python SimpleHTTPServer module makes it easy to launch a simple web server using a current working directory as the "docroot".
By default, each will bind to | 676 |
Forms and audits are not exciting are they?
having a fully customisable online system that will save you money, time and stress IS exciting!
Our friends at TradiePad have put together a review of iAuditor.
iAuditor allows you to custom build any type of form or audit you could think of. It can replace all of the old duplicate and triplicate books that Tradies have relied upon for decades and opens up a whole heap of powerful tools to increase the quality and accessibility of the data you gather in the field. Photos, signatures, multiple choice options, smart fields and built in logic. You're only limited by your imagination.
Used by millions of people around the world for everything from timesheets to safety audits, site diaries to variation forms. Being<|fim_middle|> of job/project management systems don't allow.
Of course, if you don't have the time, patience or skills to pick up this app and learn it, TradiePad can help you build the templates you need and train you how to use them to their potential. Contact them on murray.s@tradiepad.com.au..
Audits are super simple to use but building the templates can be a little tricky until you understand all of the tools and functions. | completely customisable means you build it to do what you want it to do and make it fit into your existing operations and workflows. The perfect app to provide the data gathering templates a lot | 37 |
A divorce shouldn't mean the end of your small business, but if divorce is imminent, then your business is at risk.
Aside from the anxiety, you may also be facing financial turmoil. Whilst you'd prefer to be focusing on growing your business, it's more likely that your business will be impacted by the divorce and the financial implications might be very serious.
You will need to invest time and effort meeting with lawyers, gathering documentation about the business structure and finances, which is likely to lead to further questions about the businesses practices and P&L. Often both parties will seek to engage their own independent financial experts and seek separate valuations, which can be a time consuming and ultimately expensive process.
Staff moral may also be<|fim_middle|>LawPath help you connect with a divorce Lawyer free of charge.
Learn what happens to your social media accounts and other digital assets after you die.
How Can I Re-register a Company That's Been Deregistered?
Expanding your business to another State is a brave leap, but it involves more than simply crossing state lines. Read everything you need to know here. | impacted with uncertainty that divorce can bring. The future of the business is often a water-cooler discussion and the level of conflict between spouses can be so high it impacts staff, loyalties are questioned, productivity undermined and even customer relations can be damaged.
Once valuations have been completed and both parties have a clearer view of the financial position, decisions will need to be made about the business and its ownership structure. If the business is wholly owned by a family trust, it is likely this will cause more complications. Therefore, it's important that you and your spouse understand the tax implications both now and in the future so that you can plan for the future of the business should a divorce-driven settlement be the final result.
If you are a small business owner, what are some practical steps you can take to prepare your business in the event that you ever need to separate or divorce?
LawPath specialist Damin Murdock of MurdockCheng Legal Practice says "there are ways to prepare and minimize the impact on your business, ahead of any unfortunate divorce or sale of your business".
Maintain accurate and up to date financial records at all times.
Consider establishing a family trust without your spouse being a beneficiary of the trust and then establish a corporate trustee to hold the shares of the family business for the benefit of the family trust.
If you have a question about the impact of divorce on your business ask Damin or a LawPath Lawyer a question now.
| 290 |
Bearded Theory announce first bands for 2017 | FESTIVALPHOTO
Bearded Theory announce first bands for 2017
Bearded Theory are delighted to announce that seminal British rock act Skunk Anansie, and punk duo Slaves will headline the Pallet (Main) stage, on the Friday of their 2017 festival, taking place once again at Catton Hall in South Derbyshire over the late May Bank Holiday.
Fronted by the legendary Skin, Skunk Anansie will be the the first female fronted band to headline Bearded Theory`s Spring Gathering. They are also the first band BT organiser saw headline his first festival back in 1999 when they headlined Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage.
Talking ahead of their appearance the band said "Stoked to be headlining Friday at Bearded Theory. This festival is crazy good and we are looking forward to smashing it".
Radio 1 favourites Slaves have just secured their second top 10 album with "Take Control" going to number 6 in October. Their debut album 'Are You Satisfied' charted at number 8 last year, and we are delighted to have finally bagged them after a few years of trying and beating off stiff competition for their signature
In no day or order, Skunk Anansie and Slaves are joined on the Pallet (main) Stage by alternative rock/punk band The Alarm, Bearded Theory legends New Model Army, Pauline Black fronted Ska legends The Selecter, punk stalwarts Goldblade, seminary hip-hop act Sugar Hill Gang & Furious Five, festival favorites Ferocious Dog, indie rockers Kassasin Street, folk band Flight Brigade, indie band The Mocking Jays and ska act Jaya the Cat.
The beautiful Woodland Stage will be headlined on Friday by multi-million selling Britpop survivors CAST. Saturday will be headlined by Northern Ireland singer songwriter FOY VANCE, who<|fim_middle|>ans) £12.50 (Parking). Booking fees apply. | recently supported Ed Sheeran and had him guest on his album "Joy of Nothing". Sunday will be closed by Sheffield's finest and festival friends REVEREND & THE MAKERS who specifically requested to make a Woodland Stage appearance. Jon from Reverend & the Makers said ""If festivals were judged on vibe alone then Bearded Theory is the best in the world and we cannot wait to close the 10th anniversary"
Joining these amazing headliners on the Woodland are heavy rockers TESS OF THE CIRCLE, dub punk band SMILEY & THE UNDERCLASS, folk act ROVING CROWS, Bhangra rockers KISSMET, Ska punkers DEFEKTERS, modern folk band MAIA, cow punk legends PRONGHORN who will be celebrate their 25th year anniversary in 2017, American pop rock act WHEATUS make a return to BT, heavily underrated indie band GARY J ARMSTRONG resurfaces after a hiatus, folk band BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND, singer songwriter and long-term Levellers collaborator REV HAMMER, Irish rock and roll band HOT SPROCKETS and rock band SON OF PRIMO . We still have a few bits to sort but it's shaping up rather nicely.
Line-ups for all other stages will be announced in the near year.
As a massive thank you to all our loyal festivalgoers who have Bearded Theory on its journey this far, Thursday's "bonus" Pallet stage line-up will feature virtually the entire 2008 Saturday Main Stage bill! As such we welcome back Bearded favourites DREADZONE (LIVE), 3 DAFT MONKEYS, TARANTISM, TRUE DECIEVERS, HOBO JONES & THE JUNK YARD DOGS, GAIL and FREEDOM to help celebrate our 10th anniversary year. Please note Rev Hammer is playing on the Woodland instead.
With the majority of the main stage line up for Saturday and Sunday (including both headliners) still to be announced, there are still many more surprises to come in due course - bear with us!
Bearded Theory's Spring Gathering returns after an absolutely incredible, sold out event in 2016, which received universally positive reviews; Louder Than War boldly stated that "Bearded Theory is by a distance the best medium sized festival in the country".
The press accolades have also been echoed by the music industry, and Bearded Theory are delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted for both Best Small Festival (which Bearded Theory won in 2013), and Best Family Festival at this year's prestigious UK Festival Awards.
Tickets for Bearded Theory's Spring Gathering 2017 are on sale now via www.seetickets.com, or by calling the box office on: 0871 220 0260.
Details of Bearded Theory's innovative payment plan, plus full T&C's can be found at www.Beardedtheory.co.uk
New additions planned for Bearded Theory 2017 include a Cinema Tent, an expanded line-up of music on the Thursday and a new late night 'disco' in the Maui Waui tent.
Once again, Bearded Theory's unique Festival School will be returning. Enrolments to the Festival School will go live on September 10th at 9am. Please note that you will need your ticket reference number before enrolling your child. The Festival School can assist in taking your child out of education without being fined. For full details please see the website.
Bakewell's independent Thornbridge Brewery will continue their successful relationship with Bearded Theory, once again running the on-site bars and bringing with them a wide selection of Ale's and Ciders at exceptionally reasonable prices.
Tickets are priced at £105 (Adults), £55 (Under 16's), £25 (Under 12's). Under 6`s are free (ticket is still required). £35 (Camperv | 836 |
Lately, I have been blessed (or cursed) with unrelenting work from my best clients. Working 7 days a week for the last couple of months has taken its toll. Memorial Day weekend was a 3-day break with a hunt test for Tooey. But other than that, I haven't taken a break while producing hundreds of images for a shoe and sportswear company here in Oregon.
The real saints in this process have been the dogs. No field work, no vigorous exercise; just watching me work. So today, the whole crew took off for a morning to play on Sauvie Island and its water.
This photo sums up what Tooey and Cooper thought getting out of the house and the simple pleasures of just being outdoors and being a dog.
Carlin, at 17 weeks, knows little about the activities that await him as an adult Irish Water Spaniel. He initially looked on with amazement, as Tooey and Cooper swam and retrieved non-stop.
So to get him into the game, we pulled out a puppy size retrieving duck, dragged it along the ground, and tossed it into the lake. At first, he was not sure what to do, but then his retriever gene kicked in, and that was all he needed.
Carlin looks like<|fim_middle|> in a couple of weeks, and I'm not sure what we'll do. Perhaps we'll just go to the first day, see how it goes, and then decide. | he will be a suitable water dog as he made his first delivery to hand (in exchange for cheese), and this was his first deep water swim as well.
Carlin, at 17 weeks, weighs in at 30 lbs. His potential as a field dog is showing through nicely.
With long swims for the adult dogs, and lots of running through the pastures practicing recalls, the dogs slept nicely on the way home. The case of cabin fever has been broken.
I was reminded of this photo of Martyn Ford and his dogs, which I took on October 17, 2012. Martyn knows what he's doing, having been for many years both an accomplished field trainer and a professional conductor.
Russ does a pretty good Martyn Ford imitation, doesn't he?
Well, after just over a month, Tooey's JHU title has shown up on the AKC's website.
Cooper has this seven-year-old habit of dropping a ball several feet away from his target person, and then running to a spot even farther out. There he waits for the person to pick up the ball and throw it.
For the most part, neither Russ nor I pick the ball up until it's at our feet, and so over a period of several minutes, Cooper will run up to the dropped ball, bring it maybe a few inches closer to the person, and then run off again. After a wait, he'll again come pick up the dropped ball, drop it a few more inches closer, and then run off again. Eventually, the ball will appear at the person's feet, but it takes a while.
Sometimes I think that this is a longitudinal experiment Cooper has designed to see how close he has to get the ball to the person before that person will throw the ball. At the very least, this is a game that Cooper has made up, and he loves playing it.
But it turned out, he wasn't stealing it. Instead, he ran to Cooper, dropped the ball about eight inches away from Cooper, and then pushed it toward Cooper's feet. Experiment interrupted, Cooper grabbed the ball, and started the routine again. And again, Carlin picked it up and brought it to Cooper. Not too close to Cooper, of course. Cooper can be grumpy.
It could be that Carlin is just returning the ball — "Here, Cooper, you dropped this." That would be sweet.
But there is another interpretation. Carlin so wants to play with Cooper. Carlin is usually polite, and understands that Cooper won't put up with being jumped on and having his ears pulled, the way Tooey will let him do. But when Cooper runs in the yard, Carlin runs along, just behind. When Cooper sniffs along the fence, Carlin trails after him.
So here's what I think. I think maybe Carlin is trying to add a new rule to Cooper's game, so that Carlin can play it, too.
Two points makes a line, but perhaps not a trend.
Today's was our — Cooper's and mine — first successful second-day RAE leg. He's gotten 7 previous RAE legs, but none of them were on the second day. Our two previous second days were confounding and humiliating, but up until today, not successful.
But today, Cooper kept both his body and his brain in the Rally ring for both the Excellent and Advanced runs. We came out of the Excellent ring with an 88, and Advanced with an 89. The scores today were not as high as yesterday's. Cooper had to work harder at staying focused, and as one handler put it, today's judge's pencil was sharper than yesterday's judge.
But who cares? Cooper did it, and I was, and am, so very pleased with having earned his 8th RAE leg (out of 10 required), and on a second day.
What a way to end the day. We both came home exhausted and happy.
The fact that I had a colonoscopy yesterday might explain a few things about our rally runs today.
Like the fact that when reading the course map for Excellent before the walk through, I completely missed the fact that there was a Stand Dog, Leave Dog, Down Dog exercise (station 9).
Or that when we got to the Novice-level sign for Call Front Finish Right (station 17), Cooper did an extra sit. I wondered for a second why he did that, and only then realised that I'd given him a Sit command. We repeated the station.
Sheesh. The anaesthesiologist had promised on Friday that all the drugs would be out of my system by run time on Saturday.
With all that, we got a very generous 91 in Excellent.
The only other thing was that the judge used that same Call Front Finish Right exercise in Advanced, and Cooper anticipated that I would give that extra sit command, so he sat. We repeated that exercise again, and got out of the Advanced rally ring with a 95.
I was very pleased. And it was warm and sunny, so I took Cooper for a short swim in the nearby Molalla River.
Wonder how we'll do on Sunday?
He jumped both jumps, even the Send to Jump exercise, which he failed yesterday.
He did not jump out of the ring, like he did at IWSCOPS Specialty last August.
He mostly stayed with me on the Serpentine.
For the rest of the run, his brain was gone. Just gone. He was looking around, wandering away, not responding when I called him. No sense of teamwork at all.
He was distracted. I was humiliated. The judge gave us an NQ.
We didn't even try the Advanced course.
I think I see a pattern here, though. So far, we have tried two-day RAE runs only twice, and both times, we qualified on the first day, but on the second day, Cooper's brain left his body, and we failed.
We are entered for a two-day trial | 1,235 |
When you hear of an adjustable bed, what comes to your mind is the increased level of comfort. Now, we've got you covered because we've gathered the top two best brands of adjustable bed bases for you. Unlike in the past ten years, these beds are now available at friendly prices that won't break your bank. And with the convenience of online shopping such as from amazon.com, they are much more accessible and affordable too.
The accessibility and affordability have brought about an increased number of them available in every household globally. These bed bases have garnered point's enough to rank them among the top rated and best sellers. But, let's get an in-depth understanding of what an adjustable bed base entails. An adjustable bed base isn't just for enhancing sleep, but it has tons of health benefits. By allowing you to customize the sleeping position, this equipment offers a satisfying comfort you can never imagine.
Equally, for those who are already suffering from neck and back pain, an adjustable bed can help in relieving the pain without facing a lot of hassles. And if you are a victim of snoring, these beds can help in alleviating the problem. Thanks to the adjustable design that allows the adjustment of head position. This position is also great for people who have asthma.
Also, you can elevate the legs level to prevent swelling in the feet. Similarly, these beds help those with hip or leg pain getting in and out of bed. These are just some few benefits offered by the adjustable bed bases. You should also be on the lookout for the zero-gravity option, lighting options, wireless remote control, and pre-programmable options.
Not all beds will offer these wholesome features, but it should have several of them to increase the sleeping comfort and convenience. The engineering of the bed should also upgrade the sleeping comfort. Some top-rated models boast of micro hook retention, pillow tilt articulation, and adjustable legs among other excellent factors. Also, most of these beds are collapsible and weigh about 15 pounds and some feature caster wheels for easier relocation.
If you want to experience ultimate comfort and full body support, Fashion bed group adjustable bed base is outstanding pick. Featuring excellent engineering, the bed base has some<|fim_middle|> easy to set bed in your favorite position.
In summary, bed bases are great ways of enjoying unmatched comfort. Their design enables high sleeping customization to increase the general comfort. Therefore, there is no need to continue experiencing discomforts. | of the features that everybody needs. The full body massage brings perfect relaxation. Furthermore, the bed and feet can be adjusted to desired angle. For people who experience, back pains and snoring, it is now easy to alleviate these conditions by altering body sleeping positions. With a wireless remote control, it is easy to operate the bed while 2 custom programmable functions enable setting favorite sleeping positions. In like other bed bases, this has locking casters for easy movement.
Do you want to have great relaxation? It is not a hard task, the real solution is getting abed base and enjoy multiple sleeping positions. This Queen Size bed base from Leggett & Platt is among the best adjustable bed base. The construction entails strong frame with soft upholstery. The fame together with strong legs enhanced with locked casters enables to support up to 600 pounds. With adjustable head and feet sections, the bed base delivers comfortable relaxation depending on your preferred position. The backlit wireless remote control delivers easy operation when adjusting the head and feet tilt. Moreover the quiet motor delivers outstanding body massage.
The Serta motion perfect LII is a perfect and upgraded bed base to increase your sleeping experience. Amazingly, it gives your sleeping experience a boost hence ensuring all related complications are over. Whether back pains, pressure points and heat spots. It perfectly designed to deliver outstanding feet articulation with preset position enabling full body relaxation. The whispering 6 massage function gives the body proper massaging for a relaxed feel. For safety, the bed base comes with Velcro straps to keep mattress in places hence avoiding slipping. The wireless control and Bluetooth connectivity enables integration with smartphones.
Experience outstanding sleep combined with comfort by getting Classic brand bed base. It is an outstanding choice that improves your bedroom lifestyle hence perfect for every sleeper. Designed with programmable adjusting seeping positions, you can give your head the required elevation. Furthermore, the 3-speed head and feet massage soothed you as you relax. With adjustable legs, it is possible to regulate the height while mattress holding rail prevent movements. The massage motor is quiet while USB ports enables charging your devices. It is an ideal electric adjustable bed base for wide applications like watching TV, lounge and zero gravity.
There are no more hassles when looking for perfect comfort and full body support. This Idealbed 8 inch mattress and adjustable bed base bring all you want into your home. The high engineering and firm frame gives it ability to deliver sure support when relaxing. Moreover, with lockable caster wheels, it means that moving is a one second job. On the other hand, it has programmable position and massage features that enable different head and feet orientation. The incorporated heavy duty mattresses designed to be ideal for multiple sleepers without causing pressure built up. It offers full body massage, and easy to use wireless remote control.
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A Foot Step Away
A celebration of the amazing diversity of Britain's countryside through a selection of wild walks within reach of Britain's cities
Join us as we take a journey across the United Kingdom to celebrate the amazing diversity of some of the best wild walks within reach of Britain's cities. From the seaside bustle of Bournemouth and the nearby Jurassic coastline to the industrial skyline of Derby and the beauty of Dovedale gorge you can always find somewhere just a Footstep Away.
Bournemouth x The Jurassic Coast
Bournemouth's 7 miles of beaches culminate at it's iconic pier, an emblem of the cities status as an English tourist mecca. But as well as buckets and spades Bournemouth stands as a gateway to a much wilder coastline experience – the Jurassic Coast. One of only five World Heritage status natural sites in the UK, the Jurassic Coast is an extraordinary place with a unique landscape of arches, sea stacks and beautiful white beaches carved out by the power of the sea. The south west coast path is recognised as one of the countries finest walks. High on the white cliffs with the sun setting into the English Channel the Jurassic Coast is a place that defines the 'Best of British' landscape.
Cardiff x Brecon Beacons
Described by the Lonely Planet as 'one of Britain's leading urban centres', Cardiff is a place of real character, with its rejuvenated waterfront area buzzing with the national art and culture.
Welsh culture and character are equally reflected in the beautiful countryside surrounding Wales's capital city, none more so than the majestic hills and wooded valleys of the Brecon Beacons national park. The forests here are pockets of mystery, with hidden waterfalls, secret glades and days of stunning walking to be had.
Glasgow x Loch Lomond
With it's port heritage, thriving art scene and beautiful gothic and Victorian buildings Scotland's biggest city Glasgow has built a reputation as an international cultural centre.
Glasgow is also the gateway to the internationally renowned landscape surrounding the 24 mile<|fim_middle|> cathedral quarter.
Or within half an hour you can be exploring the unique Derbyshire countryside. At its heart the river Dove carves it's way through the White Peak culminating in the grand Dovedale gorge. Limestone pinnacles, caves and arches are dotted along the bubbling river and whether you are teetering across stepping stones or scaling a riverside peak to take in the vista Dovedale offers a classic slice of uniquely English landscape. | long Loch Lomond. The largest loch in Scotland is rimmed by the dramatic Trossachs, which include 21 Munros. These are amongst the most accessible high peaks in Britain yet offer truly wild terrain. Exploring any of these peaks will live long in the memory.
Derby x Dovedale
Derby is Britain's most central city and historical home of the UK's porcelain and silk industry. You can sample such fine living sipping afternoon tea in the Cities | 99 |
It almost sounds too good to be true. Some of Hollywood's most popular actors — Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal — are all teaming up for a heist movie.
In Netflix's Triple Frontier, this who's who of actors portray a group of former Special Forces operatives who reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. Having previously undertaken dangerous missions for their country, this time they're doing it for their own gain. But when events take an unexpected turn, things quickly start to spiral out of control, testing their loyalties and their moral code.
Directed by Academy Award nominee J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year) and co-written by Chandor and Oscar winner Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker), the film is a gritty, new heist thriller featuring some of Hollywood's best. The trailer debuted Sunday night during an NFL game, but EW has an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the cast on set.
"We're really fortunate to have a cast that gelled together so well<|fim_middle|> comes down to brotherhood and camaraderie and feeling a sense of place in the world," says Hunnam. | ," Isaac says in the footage.
Throughout the clip, many of the cast reflect on playing Special Forces operative and the level of commitment and intensity such a role requires. "It really | 36 |
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Home Events Emergency Forum Aims to Prepare Residents for Devastating Fire
<|fim_middle|>Are Orindans prepared for a catastrophic fire? And if so, how prepared are they?
Those seem to be the most pressing questions on people's minds these days, and they were the topic of a recent emergency preparedness forum led by key players who could provide answers.
In a hall packed with more than 70 attendees, the forum focused on the worst-case scenario for a wildfire in Orinda. Hosted by the Orinda Association, the May 23 forum featured Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Fire Chief Dave Winnacker, Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel and Duncan Seibert, program manager of Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team and chair of the Lamorinda Emergency Preparedness Commission.
"The threat that we are primarily concerned about is a catastrophic regional wildfire emanating out of the wilderness of the Briones watershed to our north, carried by a Diablo wind in the fall, a north or northeast wind," said Winnacker. "Those winds are not necessarily characterized by high temperature, which is something of a misnomer in the public's perception. Ambient temperatures are not a critical element in fire spread. Low humidity and high winds are."
Typically, Diablo winds occur in the fall, but due to climate change, the winds are now preceding the rainy season. "Last year, when the Camp Fire burned, that area was expected to have five inches of precipitation as of that date. Had those sparks come off those power lines after three, four or five inches of precipitation had fallen for the season, they would have landed in a puddle and there wouldn't have been a fire," said Winnacker.
Using Orindan John Radke's work with the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and UC Berkeley data, MOFD created models of fires starting at Bear Creek Road and Happy Valley at the eastern end of Briones Reservoir with 30 mph winds and low fuel moisture.
"What that model shows is in about four hours most of Sleepy Hollow and the Downs would be consumed by fire and the primary evacuation route from the Downs will be impacted by direct flame impingement and therefore be closed to traffic. That's a pretty scary scenario," said Winnacker. "So the next thing done, armed with 37 years of data that goes down to the individual species of vegetation, is to make recommendations for mitigation work within 30 feet of the shoulder on both sides of Bear Creek Road."
With all conditions being equal, the new model shows that the fire will not jump Bear Creek. "What would have been a catastrophic fire running through about 1,000 homes in North Orinda and down through Sleepy Hollow instead becomes an interesting column of smoke and the loss of some grass range land that will regrow with the onset of the next rains," said Winnacker.
This second model is what MOFD, the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Contra Costa Fire Department are working toward with the North Orinda Fuel Break. "This will create an interruption in the continuity of the fuel on the northern edge of the district that will buy us time to prevent a fire from spreading into the populated areas that we are concerned with," said Winnacker.
However, the North Orinda Fuel Break only addresses the ground component of fire. Fire also spreads through three-dimensional ember paths, flaming objects that can be blown miles in advance of the main body of the fire.
"When those embers come to ground, if they land on receptive fuel beds, a pile of leaves, on a lot with dead grass, a gutter that's filled with some form of dry matter, it can create a fire in its own right which can grow to be just as dangerous as the main fire. There is no fuel break that can stop the spread of three-dimensional ember paths," says Winnacker.
The only way to stop the spread of three-dimensional ember paths is to create defensible space. "Every resident must do defensible space work both to remove fuel immediately adjacent to your house, which will elevate the ground component, but also along your entire property. The entire parcel has to be cleared so that if an ember lands, it is less likely to start another fire."
The process of making your home defensible is straightforward. "Take a lap around your house right next to the perimeter and foundation. Check if there are accumulations of dead grass, dried leaves, dead or decadent plants such as rosemary. With those sorts of things next to your house, you are creating conditions for a fire to start right next to your house," said Winnacker. "No matter what your house is made of, if there is direct flame impingement on it, eventually it will burn."
The next step is to go around your house a second time, but looking at the eaves. Are there collections of dead materials, specifically pine needles and leaves in the valleys of your roof and your gutters. If you have those on your roof, you are creating a second fuel bed on your house itself. That's not a fire that we're going to be able to put out under these circumstances," adds Winnacker. Most of the qualities that make plants drought resistant also make them very dangerous from a fire standpoint.
Nagel spoke about the Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS). CWS is one of the nation's most modern and effective all-hazard public warning systems. It uses a countywide telephone notification system, in addition to Twitter, Facebook and email to alert residents to possible hazards. In the event of an evacuation, "this is what we use to tell you to go. You need to sign up for it. It's a simple process. You go to the website, you click on the buttons and fill out the information. It's that simple," said Nagel.
As of May 21, 25.4 percent (4661 registrants) of Orinda, 22.5 percent (3614 registrants) of Moraga and 17 percent (4062 registrants) of Lafayette had signed up for the system.
"Another way to look at this is 75 percent are not, so we will continue our efforts in stressing the importance of our ability and method of communicating to you," said Nagel.
In addition to CWS, Nixle (www.nixle.com) also aids emergency services in getting alerts to people. "We use Nixle for road closures, police activities, and when the fire district does controlled burns. There's 9,347 texts and 3,369 emails for Orinda signed up on Nixle," said Nagel. "The population of Orinda is about 20,000, so we have some work to do and we will keep at it."
Seibert focused on emergency preparation – what can be done now to make recovery from a disaster easier. He helped write the Lamorinda Resident's Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation, which every Orinda resident should have received in the mail. "Critically important for all of us are the evacuation pages," said Seibert.
These pages of evacuation tips include sections on what to do now, what to do when there is a red flag warning and what to do at the time of evacuation. "Do the things you can do now that you won't be able to do when you need them done. Do them now because you have lots of time now. You won't have lots of time when there's a fire," added Seibert.
The first thing to do is get a go-bag ready and place it near your car so you can grab it on the way out and have your essentials: ID, credit cards, some cash and important documents like medical prescriptions. "For animals you have to do the same thing. Your animals need their essentials: medications and a little bit of food," said Seibert.
Another thing to think about is your insurance – do you have enough insurance to cover time out of your home in the case of a disaster? Seibert says, "How many days out of your home will the insurance pay for you to stay in a hotel?
In the big wine country wildfires, they haven't even started reconstruction on a lot of those homes. The people in Paradise will be out of their homes for three to four years. "Could you afford to pay for a hotel for three to four years while your home is being rebuilt? Your insurance will probably pay for 18 months to two years. Check your policies," added Seibert.
When there are red flag warnings, plan accordingly. "Don't leave your car in the garage if there's a red flag warning. If you have a gate, open the gate and leave it open," said Seibert. "Park your car in your driveway heading out to the street. You don't want to be backing out into a line of traffic. You want to go forward into it. It's much safer and much easier. Make sure you have 3/4 of a tank of gas because gas stations without power can't pump gas."
In the case that your home is destroyed, you will have an easier time if you have photographic proof of your possessions. "Take your cell phone and walk through your house and photograph everything. Take a video and talk to it. Say 'that grandfather clock came from my parents, they bought it in 1908' and so forth," said Seibert. "That's how you prove that you had it so your insurance will cover it. If you can't prove you had it, it becomes very dicey."
"The conditions that have created historically bad fires on a periodic basis are now a recurring annual event," said Winnacker. "Our exposure to the potential of one of these large scale fires is here and it's here to stay."
For more information, visit www.mofd.org, www.lamorindacert.org, www.cwsalerts.com, and www.nixle.com. A video from the evening is available for viewing on the MOFD and Orinda Association websites.
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Gallery: Painting With Wool, Photographs and Paintings of Bay Area Beauty
Free Wildlife Festival at Wagner Ranch Nature Area Set for April... | Emergency Forum Aims to Prepare Residents for Devastating Fire
David Dierks
(David Dierks, photographer)
The Orinda Association hosted an Emergency Preparedness Forum with (L-R) Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel, Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team program manager Duncan Seibert and Moraga Orinda Fire District Fire Chief Dave Winnacker
Missed it?
A video from the evening. "Emergency Evacuation Preparedness in Orinda," is available for viewing on the websites of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (www.mofd.org) and The Orinda Association (www.OrindaAssociation.org) or viewed below.
| 135 |
You have a condition called heart failure. Once you have heart failure, flare-ups can happen. Below are signs that can mean your heart failure is getting worse. If<|fim_middle|>Gaining weight is often the first warning sign that heart failure is getting worse. Gaining even a few pounds can be a sign that your body is retaining excess water and salt. Weighing yourself each day in the morning after you urinate and before you eat, is the best way to know if you're retaining water. Get a scale that is easy to read and make sure you wear the same clothes and use the same scale every time you weigh. Your healthcare provider will show you how to track your weight. Call your doctor if you gain more than 2 pounds in 1 day, 5 pounds in 1 week, or whatever weight gain you were told to report by your doctor. This is often a sign of worsening heart failure and needs to be evaluated and treated before it compromises your breathing. Your doctor will tell you what to do next. | you notice any of these warning signs, call your healthcare provider.
Your feet, ankles, or lower legs get puffier.
You notice skin changes on your lower legs.
Your shoes feel too tight.
Your clothes are tighter in the waist.
You have trouble getting rings on or off your fingers.
You have to breathe harder even when you're doing your normal activities or when you're resting.
You are short of breath walking up stairs or even short distances.
You wake up at night short of breath or coughing.
You need to use more pillows or sit up to sleep.
You wake up tired or restless.
You feel weaker, dizzy, or more tired.
You have chest pain or changes in your heartbeat.
You have a cough that won't go away.
You can't remember things or don't feel like eating.
| 164 |
I was a volunteer at the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games in 2002, and have enjoyed visiting the Olympic venues in my own back yard. When we visited Lake Placid, New York, I was excited to see how Lake Placid's venues would compare. We visited on a weekday early in the summer season, so not everything was in full swing. We missed out on some things, but we had the venues to ourselves and enjoyed opportunities that we wouldn't get another time.
We found that Lake Placid is a time capsule of Olympic history, nestled inside the beautiful green Adirondack Park and chock full of charm. It has half the population of Park City, and is hours away from the nearest big city. In 1980, there were only 38 events in 10 sports, compared with 98 events in 15 sports in 2014.
Here are the Olympic venues you can visit in Lake Placid.
This is where the Miracle on Ice hockey game happened in 1980. This was a game between a powerful team from the U.S.S.R. and the underdog U.S. team, played at the height of the Cold War. The United States won the game and went on to win the gold medal. The arena was not in use during our visit, so we explored it at leisure. At other times, you can watch a game or skate on the ice yourself.
The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is also housed in the Olympic Center arena. It is small – just one room – but it is packed with Olympic history. One corner is dedicated to the 1980 U.S. hockey team. The 1932 and 1980 games are museum's showcase, but we also found displays featuring medals, torches, posters and mascots of all the Olympic Winter Games, including Salt Lake City!
Ask for the Olympic Alphabet Search when you go. It's a scavenger hunt that helps families get the most from the museum. When kids complete the booklet, they receive a medal. It's a great Olympic sites souvenir.
I decided that ski jumpers must be a little insane after staring down the jump at Lake Placid. An elevator ride to the top is included in the Olympic Sites Passport. From the top of the ski jump you can also enjoy gorgeous panoramic views of Lake Placid and the Adirondack mountains.
The Lake Placid Freestyle Hill is also located here. You may get the opportunity to watch athletes twist, turn and flip on skis into the pool all summer long. An experience I'd like to try another time is Extreme Tubing, where visitors can tube down the ski jump landing hills at speeds up to 50 mph!
The bobsled, luge, cross country and biathlon events were held at the Olympic Sports Complex. The Olympic Sites Passport includes a short bus tour of the bobsled/luge/skeleton track. The track is used by Olympians for training and still hosts international competitions. It was not in use that day and I was surprised and delighted when our bus driver offered us the option of walking on the track all the way down at the end of the tour.
You can ride a wheeled bobsled or try the biathlon course at this venue for an additional fee. The Olympic Sports Complex is a good place to find hiking, mountain biking and cross country ski trails, as well as Olympic history, souvenirs and lots of photo ops.
Whiteface is the resort where the downhill skiing events were held. During the winter, you can ski the same slopes as the Olympians. There are a lot of fun things to do during the summer as well. Hiking, mountain biking, scenic rides and more await the adventurous.
The Olympic Sites Passport includes a scenic ride to the top of Little Whiteface on the Cloudsplitter Gondola where you'll be treated to more fantastic views of the Adirondack Mountains. It also includes a round of disc golf. You can drive the Whiteface Veteran's Memorial Highway to the summit of Whiteface and enjoy views from the castle. It would make a great picnic destination.
Lake Placid and Whiteface host event and festivals year-round. Watch for Oktoberfest and the Flaming Leaves Festival this fall. Both are family-friendly events with good food, music and activities amid the fall colors of the Adirondacks. Admission to both events is included in the Olympic Sites Passport. Learn more about these and future events at www.whiteface.com/events.
Where: In and around Lake Placid, New York. All venues are located in, or a short drive from Lake Placid.
When: Year-round, though hours may be limited and not all venues may be open every day during the spring and fall. The Veterans Memorial Highway will be open weekends only through October 5, 2014 due to construction.
How much: $35 for an Olympic Sites Passport, which allows one-time access to each of the Olympic venues, plus a 20% discount on many of the activities, such as bobsled rides and Extreme Tubing. Admission to single venues can also be purchased. Updated July 2015.
How long: At least an hour at each venue, plus travel time. You may spend up to a full day exploring Whiteface.
Disclosure: My family received complimentary Olympic Sites Passports so that we could experience Lake Placid's Olympic sites and review them for other families. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.
Planning a trip to Lake Placid?
I love Lake Placid. We haven't been in a while though – we'll have to get back there soon!
It was cool. Being familiar with Park City, it was interesting to see how much more accessible everything is in Lake Placid.<|fim_middle|>, who is related to ski jumpers, that they are indeed a little crazy.
I really enjoy visiting Olympic Parks. Thanks for the tips! | It's much smaller and more rural. The Olympics have changed a lot over the years. Also, I received confirmation from my PR contact in Lake Placid | 31 |
Watch Taylor Swift Play Four Songs 'How I First Wrote Them' on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert
"Wow! This is a lot of people in a tiny office!" Taylor Swift said as she walked into her NPR "Tiny Desk Concert," which was released today. One of several intimate sets she's performed around the release of her latest album, "Lover," she called the NPR series "one of my favorite corners of the Internet" and took advantage of the situation: "I just decided to take this as an opportunity to show you guys how the songs sounded when I first wrote them."
This, "It's just me," she joked. "There's no dancers, unfortunately," She performed a four-song set of songs from the album from behind NPR Music chief Bob Boilen's desk, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar and piano: "The Man," "Lover," "Death by a Thousand Cuts," and, from "Red," "All Too<|fim_middle|> BBC's Radio 1, played a song at Manhattan's historic Stonewall Inn as well as a 10-song, full-band set as part of Amazon's Prime Day in New York over the summer. She also appeared on "Saturday Night Live" earlier this month.
Swift will play a full stadium tour next summer, although just four of the dates will be in the U.S.
Tags NPR taylor swift
Couple transform £200k derelict barn into £350k eco holiday home and rent it out for £50k a year – The Sun
Are Milo Ventimiglia and Alexis Bledel Still Friends? | Well." Watch it below.
In recent months, Swift gave an acoustic performance on | 16 |
HomeNewsFeaturedElection 2017: Questions for City Council Candidates: Affordable housing and public comment
October 13, 2017 NeighborhoodView Featured, News 0
The 2017 Malden City Council elections are approaching. The Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. A preliminary election on Sept. 19 determined the final candidates.
To help Malden voters decide on which candidates to support, a group of citizens organized by Prisco Tammaro, a Malden resident, in partnership with local media, developed a series of "Quality of Life" questions for City Council candidates.
The questions were sent to the candidates in August with instructions on how to respond. The questions ranged from issues of affordable housing to development, grant writing and bike trails.
This week's questions are about public comment periods before City Council meeting and affordable housing.
Public participation in "Townhall Meeting" by Norman Rockwell — a classic American image.
This is the fifth and final installment. For previous questions and answers, see links at the botton of this page.
Would you support a public comment portion before all City Council meetings, but after any special guest<|fim_middle|>, Challenger
Offer incentives to keep units affordable: 1) Create an affordable housing plan; 2) Form community partnerships to build affordable housing 3) Make new developments have 10%+ affordable units.
Peg Crowe, Ward 1, Incumbent
Paul A, Condon, Ward 2, Incumbent
John P. Matheson, Ward 3, Incumbent
Malden also satisfies 40B §20 since 1.5% of its land has affordable housing. It can also be satisfied with a housing production plan by 2020.
Candace L. Julyan, Ward 3, Challenger
Yes. I believe new projects need to have a strong affordability component, such as 15% affordable units in a mix proportionate to the development.
Ryan J. O'Malley, Ward 4, Incumbent
An Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance requiring a portion of moderate and affordable housing units in future residential developments would
help protect seniors and long-term Maldonians.
Barbara M. Murphy, Ward 5, Incumbent
David Camell, Ward 6, Non-Incumbent
Implement a policy stating all new housing projects must include sufficient affordable housing units. Affordable housing works best when fully integrated with all neighborhoods.
Jerry Leone, Ward 6, Non-incumbent
1. Yes
2. NR
Neal Anderson, Ward 7, Incumbent
Community Preservation will dedicate 10% of annual funds to affordable housing. Additionally, I would be willing to consider zoning modifications to address affordability issues.
Scott Ciccone, Ward 7, Challenger
Along with Malden residents, I oppose any plan to increase our population size beyond 65,000 because doing so would drain city resources.
Jadeane M. Sica, Ward 8, Incumbent
As City Councilor, I have supported the creation of a housing plan (in progress) which positions
Malden to be proactive with HUD in addressing affordable housing.
Richard J. Correale Sr., Ward 8, Challenger
Note: Candidates Peter Anastasia, Ward 8 Challenger, Joseph S. Gray, Ward 6, Non-incumbent, and Jennifer Lynn McClain, Ward 3, Challenger, did not receive enough votes in the Sept. 19 preliminary election to advance.
Previous Quality-of-Life Questions
Sept. 15: Candidates' answers to questions about future development at the former Malden Hospital site
Sept. 22: Candidates' answers to questions about the Northern Strand Bike Trail.
Sept. 29: Candidates' answers to questions about water quality.
Oct. 6: Candidates' answers to questions about marijuana sales and grant writers.
The deadline to register to vote in the Municipal Election is Oct. 18, 2017. For general information, please see: http://www.cityofmalden.org/vote
To check your registration status, click here https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx
To find out where you vote, please see http://www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA/bal/MyElectionInfo.aspx
Photos for this feature were taken from the City of Malden website and candidates' social media sites, where available. Featured photo image from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/2962616203/in/photostream/
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The Malden man behind the Pledge of Allegiance
The Road to Morocco from Malden: Into the Sahara
ELECTION 2019: Questions for the Candidates: Week 4 of 5 – Housing Needs
October 13, 2019 priscotammaro Education, Featured, News, Uncategorized 3
By Prisco Tammaro The 2019 elections in Malden are approaching. The Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. To provide Malden voters with information, Neighborhood View is running a series of "Quality of Life" questions and answers with the city council and mayoral candidates. Suggestions for questions were provided via Facebook on a Malden (MA) Politic's poll; 10 questions were formulated by the moderators in consultation with Neighborhood View and sent to all candidates. Each candidate was given 150 words to respond to each question. Every effort was made to reach out to every candidate. Below are answers to Question 7 and 8 which focus on housing needs in Malden. Please note: all opinions here are those of the candidates and Neighborhood View has not checked the accuracy of these comments. See links for previous questions at the bottom of this page. QUESTION 7: What percentage of units in new developments would be allocated to affordable housing? MAYOR – Incumbent – GARY CHRISTENSON Several communities have adopted inclusionary zoning to leverage the […]
Malden River clean-up raises awareness of local environmental issues
July 12, 2021 Kamila Rodrigues Education, Featured, News, Uncategorized, Video 2
By Kamila Rodrigues As global citizens push back against climate change and North America experiences its hottest June ever, members of the Malden community are finding ways to clean up and care for the Malden River. During the school vacation week in April, Urban Media Arts (UMA) partnered with Friends of the Malden River, a citizens group committed to drawing the Malden River back to vibrant, civic life, and Malden Catholic High School students for a river clean-up at River's Edge in Medford. This hybrid (in-person and virtual) program, which will continue in a similar way for one later the summer, was run by UMA's Amanda Hurley and Masio in collaboration with Karen Buck of the Friends of the Malden River, who is also a Malden River Works representative. The participants included Malden Catholic 3rd year students Sharieff Andrews, Amy Nguyen, and Frederika Noel. The students met with Masio and Amanda on April 20 for an orientation. They discussed the virtual component of the student media program, which would include virtually editing a public service announcement together. They also discussed the in-person component […]
September 29, 2017 NeighborhoodView Featured, News 2 | , similar to the School Committee?
Question 2: According to state records, 10.2% of Malden's housing is affordable. If the city's rate of affordable housing drops below 10 percent, the state's Ch 40B law will take effect and allow developers to build residential units well beyond Malden's zoning restrictions as long as they offer 25% of those units at affordable rates. What would you suggest Malden do to prevent this from happening?
Note: NR indicates No Response.
Dave D'Arcangelo, Councilor At-Large, Incumbent
1. No
2. Our community must decide how much affordable housing stock we want, and whether our shared vision is to stay above the Ch 40B limit.
Debbie A. DeMaria, Councilor At-Large, Incumbent
Mandate all future developments adhere to the 10.2% affordable housing requirement when applicable. We must remember all our residents (seniors, young families, etc.)
Craig Spadafora , Councilor At-Large, Incumbent
1) increase affordable home ownership 2) Limit growth of new units. Communities under 10% affordable housing, allow developers to skirt virtually all local zoning bylaws
Stephen P. Winslow, Councilor At-Large | 276 |
Data#3
More efficient onboarding with 98% fewer clicks.
Data#3 transforms HR contract processes using Adobe Sign integrated with Salesforce.
Employees: More than 1,100
Head Office: Brisbane, Queensland
www.data3.com.au
Reduction in contract processing clicks
Adobe Document Cloud ›
Adobe Sign ›
Improve inefficient contract processes
Secure signed contracts faster
Reduce employee onboarding time
1,200+ completed contracts in 4 months
20 hours saved per week in administrative time
Decreased employee onboarding<|fim_middle|>, printing two copies, and then mailing them via express post, including a return envelope. This could take days or even weeks to come back, depending on where the employee was located or if they were transitioning to their new role. Without fail a critical part of the paperwork, such as Tax File Number or bank account details, would be missing, stalling the process. Now those fields are mandatory in the electronic process.
"With approximately 20 to 30 roles open at any one time, the amount of physical paperwork to manage was getting out of control," explains Macknish. "Any change to a contract would require another version of a document, which resulted in onboarding delays. In some instances, contracts would go back and forth 10 times before finalising. We've now had a record of an employee being sent and returning a contract within 2 minutes, all fully recorded and auditable."
Joel Richards, Team Leader – Salesforce at Data#3, explains, "Our onboarding process is now just one click and the documents are sent for e-signature. At the same time, the integrity of data coming back to us is accurate."
Prior to implementation, sensitive personal information such as bank account details and Tax File Numbers would come in via post or email and be processed by several people before being saved and forwarded to payroll—an approach that could jeopardise security. Adobe Sign gives Data#3 the ability to restrict access to sensitive data to those with a specific business purpose to access it.
For example, personal details can be entered by candidates, and information only becomes visible to the appropriate department where access to the information is needed. This helps ensure the security, compliance, and privacy of sensitive data under the relevant government data privacy acts.
Adobe Sign also offers the ability to recall and send an updated contract. This simple process helps ensure everyone has the latest version of the contract. Plus, Adobe Sign enables Salesforce to automatically trigger actions such as the inclusion of an attachment for superannuation.
"Adobe Sign has given our customers a better experience."
Adopting Adobe Sign also benefits Data#3's job applicants by enabling them to electronically sign employment contracts on mobile devices from anywhere at any time.
"Adobe Sign has given our customers a better experience," says Phillips. "Previously, contracts had to be manually processed and signed. Now, with the ability to sign on mobile devices, there's no need for printing, verification, manually signing, or meeting up to better secure contracts."
Use of Adobe Sign produced another unexpected benefit, enabling Data#3 to check if a client's insurance is still valid and avoid having a project stalled at an inopportune moment.
For instance, the company has some contracts requiring a client to have his or her own insurance. The resourcing and HR teams can now automatically trigger a reminder for the client to update details regarding the end date, and if the project extends beyond that date, the team can send a note via Adobe Sign to refresh insurance details. All the client has to do is fill in the details and everything is automatically updated.
As an ICT company at the forefront of the industry, it's important for Data#3 to embrace technology that improves the experience of all staff. This is also reflected in the company's win of The Australian Business Awards for Employer of Choice (EOC) in 2017.
Adobe Sign has removed the majority of paper processes from the recruitment and HR divisions of Data#3, enabling the company to remain highly competitive in the world of ICT services. The heightened efficiency has resulted in saved time and money, as well as empowered Data#3 to respond quickly to new opportunities. The clear success of implementing Adobe Sign means there are other processes for Data#3 to reevaluate and apply a fresh digital approach to outside of the resourcing division and HR department.
Let's talk about what Document Cloud can do for your business. | time
98% reduction in contract processing clicks from 92 to just 2
"Adobe Sign gave us the ability to be immediate in our engagement and onboarding of employees."
Janelle Phillips
General Manager - People Solutions, Data#3
With information and communications technology (ICT) services now more vital than ever to running a successful organisation, the seamless sourcing and onboarding of ICT professionals is essential. As leaders in the design, deployment, and management of business technology solutions, Data#3 understands the importance of rapidly filling open positions with talented people.
Competition in this field is fierce, so Data#3 is continually on the lookout for anything that can deliver an edge. In the past, the company encountered obstacles while trying to preserve efficient contract processes. Its resourcing business found the contract lifecycle frequently congested with paperwork, slowing the onboarding process and intermittently causing missed opportunities.
Integrating Adobe Sign, an Adobe Document Cloud solution, with Salesforce, Data#3's resourcing division is now able to onboard full-time employees and contractors much faster and at a lower cost.
"We wanted to improve the efficiency of the number of employment contracts issued daily to speed up processing," explains Janelle Phillips, General Manager - People Solutions at Data#3.
Traditional, paper-based contracts were a slow and laborious process. The HR team would manually email a contract, and the employee prospect would have to print, sign, scan, and email it back. Sometimes they would have to mail contracts. The whole process could take several days. "Now our contract processing has been reduced from 92 steps down to just 2," says Phillips. "This means when we have short-term contractors, we can issue the employment contracts and then track, integrate, and finalise them for our recruitment division. We have seen dramatic improvements in handling information and processing."
"Our ability to hire quicky has improved tenfold. When there's a hot candidate in an active market, you have to move quickly."
Tash Macknish
Group Manager – Organisational Development & Human Resources, Data#3
Similarly, the need to act quickly to get staff onsite was challenging due to manually processing employment documents. "We work in a contingent labor market, so it's critical to put resources onsite quickly," explains Phillips. "Manual contract processing was ineffective when needing to onboard someone to be onsite in 24 hours."
Data#3 quickly realised that more efficiencies could be gained by implementing similar processes in Human Resources for its own full-time employees.
According to Tash Macknish, Group Manager – Organisational Development & Human Resources at Data#3, "Our ability to hire quicky has improved tenfold. When there's a hot candidate in an active market, you have to move quickly."
"Our onboarding process is now just one click and the documents are sent for e-signature. At the same time, the integrity of data coming back to us is accurate."
Joel Richards
Team Leader – Salesforce, Data#3
Automating contract processes
By implementing Adobe Sign, Data#3 overcame many of the issues slowing processes in resourcing. According to Phillips, "Adobe Sign gave us the ability to be immediate in our engagement and onboarding of employees."
When onboarding staff, the process is significantly reduced by substituting printed paperwork with the more effective digital process using Adobe Sign integrated with Salesforce. Now all employment contracts are received via Adobe Sign, saving Data#3 20 hours per week in administrative time, while saving money through reduced paper storage and records management.
In addition, the inclusion of mandatory fields and field validation has almost eliminated a person's chance of making errors when completing paperwork, meaning incidents of missing information have been reduced to virtually zero.
In the past, the company would make a verbal offer, and then create the paperwork. This meant filling in the details online, replicating the information, spell-checking | 793 |
NUMBER ELEVEN: STAR TREK DISCOVERY
by Will | Dec 29, 2017 | COUCHPOTATO
Star Trek: Discovery is an odd show; its<|fim_middle|> Akiva Goldsman certainly changed the feel of the show but, like Prometheus, somewhere inside is a great show just bursting to get out.
By abandoning the overfamiliar, (syndication-friendly) episodic style in favour of longer story-arcs, Discovery broke many of Star Trek's rules.
Yet, unlike The Last Jedi, which subverted established ideas by killing them, Discovery improves every idea. Star Trek fans wax lyrical about The Original Series – which in my humble opinion is the only incarnation that deserves plaudits – but they forget everything that came after it was unwatchable.
"I can hear you, Clem Fandango"
Where The Next Generation and its successors failed, Discovery succeeds by trying outlandishly brave storylines. The targograde creature fuelling the ship's ability to jump anywhere in the galaxy is fantastic, as is the Klingon subplot missed by many "fans" because they'd rather ush their fearful, alt-right agendas than ya know, actually pay attention to the plot.
Jason Isaacs' Captain Lorca being a warmongering, double-crossing bastard is unlike anything in Star Trek history and I think he may actually be the Mirror Universe version of himself.
The back nine kicks the series off again in the first week of January and I believe the crew are going to wake up in the Mirror World we first saw in The Original Series, so you better hold on to your space potatoes as we're going for a ride.
Star Trek: Discovery returns to CBS on Sunday, January 7th, 2018 | may delays and staff reshuffles have had a detrimental effect and we've ended up with a product that is hugely uneven… but I have faith it will find its feet in the latter half of the first season.
Showrunner Bryan Fuller handing the reins to | 50 |
Book suggestions for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
More Happy Than Not
A gargantuan, mind-altering comedy about the Pursuit of Happiness in America set in an addicts' halfway house and a tennis academy, and featuring the most endearingly screwed-up family to come along in recent fiction, Infinite Jest explores essential questions about what entertainment is and why it has come to so dominate our lives; about how our desire for entertainment affects our need to connect with other people; and about what the pleasures we choose say about who we are. Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy, Infinite Jest bends every rule of fiction without sacrificing for a moment its own entertainment value. It is an exuberant, uniquely American exploration of the passions that make us human - and one of those rare books that renew the idea of what a novel can do.
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Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2004 Winner of the Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year Souls cross ages like clouds cross skies . . . Six interlocking lives - one amazing<|fim_middle|>21 Similar Books
@similarbooksto
Special thanks to The Movie DB, IGDB, Amazon and Google books. | adventure. In a narrative that circles the globe and reaches from the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future, Cloud Atlas erases the boundaries of time, genre and language to offer an enthralling vision of humanity's will to power, and where it will lead us. *Please note that the end of p39 and p40 are intentionally blank*
From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day and When We Were Orphans, comes an unforgettable edge-of-your-seat mystery that is at once heartbreakingly tender and morally courageous about what it means to be human. Hailsham seems like a pleasant English boarding school, far from the influences of the city. Its students are well tended and supported, trained in art and literature, and become just the sort of people the world wants them to be. But, curiously, they are taught nothing of the outside world and are allowed little contact with it. Within the grounds of Hailsham, Kathy grows from schoolgirl to young woman, but it's only when she and her friends Ruth and Tommy leave the safe grounds of the school (as they always knew they would) that they realize the full truth of what Hailsham is. Never Let Me Go breaks through the boundaries of the literary novel. It is a gripping mystery, a beautiful love story, and also a scathing critique of human arrogance and a moral examination of how we treat the vulnerable and different in our society. In exploring the themes of memory and the impact of the past, Ishiguro takes on the idea of a possible future to create his most moving and powerful book to date.
Evan Mandery
Shortly before his wedding, the unnamed hero of this book is visited by a man who claims to be his future self and who tells the hero he must not marry the love of his life, Q. At first the protagonist doubts the stranger, but then becomes convinced of the authenticity of the warning and leaves his financée. More appearances by future selves give other warnings until the only constants in the protagonist's life is his love for his New York City home and his former fiancée Q.
After enduring his father's suicide, his own suicide attempt, broken friendships, and more in the Bronx projects, Aaron Soto, sixteen, is already considering the Leteo Institute's memory-alteration procedure when his new friendship with Thomas turns to unrequited love.
Interweaves story and dream, past and present, and philosophy and poetry in the sardonic and erotic tale of two couples--Tomas and Teresa, and Sabina and her Swiss lover, Gerhart
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Opinion Vital Signs: 35 extraordinary years. What the float of dollar bought us
Floating the Australian dollar back in 1983 was a leap into the unknown. Here's how it has served us well.
Australia floated the dollar in 1983, ensuring its price would be determined by buyers and sellers rather than the Reserve Bank and Treasury. Image from Shutterstock
If a week is a long time in politics, then 35 years must be an eternity.
35 years ago, on Monday December 12, 1983, the Hawke-Keating government announced the<|fim_middle|>
But there are other big reforms in prospect. On issues from climate change to tax reform to immigration, it is important to get the underlying settings right.
As could have happened with the dollar, the costs of getting them wrong could be enormous.
Richard Holden, Professor of Economics and PLuS Alliance Fellow, UNSW
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Vital Signs: The times they-are-a-changing for the RBA | Australian dollar would be floated.
That is, the prices set by willing buyers and sellers would determine the value of the dollar in US cents rather than decisions made at occasional and later daily meetings of Reserve Bank and Treasury.
Even by the mid-1970s the huge amounts of cash sloshing around international markets had made it hard to pick the right value.
Too expensive a dollar would mean Australians couldn't get access to the foreign exchange they needed.
Too cheap a dollar would make imports expensive.
Yet floating it was not a white flag.
It was a bold decision – former RBA governor Glenn Stevens once described it as "one of most profound economic policy decisions in Australia's modern history" – and one that set the stage for the 27 years of uninterrupted economic growth that began less than a decade afterwards.
It gave us a giant shock absorber
Since it floated, the Australian dollar has bought as much as US$1.10 (in July 2011) and as little as 47.75 US cents (in April 2001).
At first glance that looks like a whole lot of instability. In fact, the opposite is true.
Each time the Australian dollar falls, it makes the products we produce cheaper for overseas buyers, and it makes them cheaper for us compared to overseas products.
After the mining boom ended and overseas buyers of our minerals had less need for our currency, the Australian dollar slid from US$1.10 to US$0.70.
As it happened, other Australian exporters and businesses gained a new lease of life, smoothing the adjustment and creating other homes in other parts of the economy for the labour and other resources that had been devoted to mining.
The floating dollar was just as useful as the mining boom was ramping up.
As foreign buyers tried to get hold of the Australian dollars they needed to pay for our minerals, the dollar climbed, making life harder for other exporters and firms that competed with imports who ceded labour and other resources to mining.
The higher dollar made imports cheaper, meaning we didn't need to make as much, and pushing down inflation in order to give even Australians not connected with mining a higher standard of living – effectively spreading the benefits of the boom.
Australian businesses were also able to import as they couldn't before – everything from earth-movers to robot production lines to personal computers –investing for the next boom.
It was an automatic stablisation that could never have been achieved by bureaucratic price-setting.
Even if the bureaucrats had known what prices to set, the political pressures they would have faced from manufacturers lobbying for a low dollar, and retailers and consumers lobbying for a high one, would have made the process agonising.
Political food fights make for bad economic policy. The floating dollar enables politicians to duck them, blaming "the market".
Then we freed the Reserve Bank
It was a bit the same with the Reserve Bank. Until the mid-1990s it needed to consult with the Treasurer before moving interest rates.
Its declaration of independence, in a document countersigned by the newly appointed Treasurer Peter Costello in 1996, opened the way for it respond to shocks – such as the financial crisis of 2008 – without involving politicians.
The Treasurer does no more than ask it to keep inflation low (2-3% pa) while keeping employment and economic growth sustainability high. The rest is up to the Reserve Bank.
Because it is less likely than the government to succumb to political pressure, its resolve to do these things isn't doubted. It has been able to embed low inflationary expectations in a way the government might not have been able to, making disastrous wage-price spirals a thing of the past.
And while there is an important debate about what the right monetary policy framework should be in a post-2008 world, there is little debate that Reserve Bank independence is crucial for implementing it.
The world's fifth most traded currency
Australia is the world's 15th to 20th largest economy – depending on how it is measured – but it has the fifth most traded currency.
As I noted in a report for the US Studies Centre and American Chamber of Commerce, the Australian dollar is globally relevant. It is increasingly used as a proxy for Asia and for commodity currencies.
The Australia-US dollar pair is the fourth most traded pair in the world. That wouldn't be possible without a freely floating currency.
It's about more than vanity. Much of the funding that Australian banks need comes not from deposits but from overseas capital markets. It allows them to lend as needed, unconstrained by the extent of their deposits.
They wouldn't have that access to overseas capital markets unless the Australian dollar floated; unless it was always possible to find a price at which they could bring in overseas funds.
Bob Hawke and Paul Keating's floating of the dollar was a one-off. It can't happen again.
Geoff Pryor cartoon depicting Paul Keating, Bob Hawke, Opposition Leader Andrew Peacock and deputy John Howard. National Library of Australia | 1,032 |
The Classique 6<|fim_middle|>. A company that was efficient and kept me informed about despatch and delivery so it all went very smoothly. Thank you" | Light Glazed White doors are a stylish yet light weight internal door and are perfect for painting. Our white moulded doors have additional flaxboard strips to both sides and the centre rails (where applicable) this adds weight to the door. Polystyrene pads are inserted between the the panels to aid stability.
These doors feature a flush beading, giving an understated and clean look.
Supplied with a textured, woodgrain finish.
"Great Door perfect fit did the job delivery on time will certainly use you again."
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"A good door | 166 |
Classic Remarks 3: Is "Romeo and Juliet" a tragic love story or ironic comedy?
Is Romeo and Juliet a tragic love story or an ironic comedy? Should we take the play seriously when its protagonists are so young?
Having not the time to read the play again and do the sort of long, hard analysis I used to struggle over in college, I beg you to accept my quick thoughts on this matter, jotted down in the subjective and haphazard way that memory brings them to me.
I have always taken Romeo and Juliet as a tragic love story, sharpened and livened with both comedy and abundant irony. I do not view it primarily<|fim_middle|> better leads them to forsake the hateful feud between their families; the worse leads them to have too little thought for the consequences of their actions, leading to the deaths of some of their friends, and eventually of themselves. | as an ironic comedy. That is, I do believe we are meant to take the story seriously.
The tragedy is certainly very serious, ending as it does in several unnecessary deaths and provoking enough sober reflection as to end a long and bitter feud between two callous and political families. And the love story is deadly serious to the lovers, whatever we may think of their immaturity and age. Indeed, their immaturity and age are what allows them to act so single-mindedly on their passions, for better and for worse. The | 107 |
Each year about 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, adding to the 30 million Americans who are living with diabetes every day. And one in three American adults have prediabetes, although 90 percent of them don't know it.
While type 2 diabetes is linked<|fim_middle|> age from 18 to 90 years old—learn how to change their behavior so they can better manage their diabetes. Incorporating the seven core diabetes-self-management behaviors, the DECIDE program facilitates adherence and maintenance by teaching patients problem solving as a key skill for behavior change and for incorporating self-management activities into their everyday lives.
Using a cloud-based platform, DECIDE delivers this clinically-validated online program to patients anywhere, on any device, at any time.
DECIDE was developed from years of research and clinical application by Felicia Hill-Briggs, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., a clinical psychologist, behavioral scientist, and professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is a nationally recognized expert in diabetes self-management and diabetes population health improvement. Her research has earned scientific awards as well as honors for improving community health and wellness.
Learn more about the benefits of the Johns Hopkins act2 and DECIDE programs. | to age, race and family history, research also shows that the risk of developing prediabetes increases when an individual is overweight or physically inactive.
Although we can't change our age, race or genes, we can change our lifestyle habits. And that's good news for employers, who pay about $7,900 annually to cover an employee with diabetes: lifestyle change programs can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 50 percent.
Johns Hopkins has developed two lifestyle-change programs: one helps individuals prevent type 2 diabetes and the other trains them to self-manage their diabetes.
act2 is an interactive, year-long support and engagement program that empowers those at high risk of developing diabetes. The program enables participants to take charge of their own health and well-being, with the support of trained coaches.
The goal of DECIDE (Decision-making Education for Choices In Diabetes Everyday) is to help individuals—ranging in | 187 |
Celebrate country & rural<|fim_middle|>Whether you're interested in keeping a couple of chickens in your garden or a window box of herbs, right through to making a living from a large piece of land with pigs, sheep & cattle, the West Sussex Smallholders Association & Kent Smallholders will both be at the show with their fabulous stands offering support, practical advice & products to purchase. Both are thriving groups with members from all walks of life with different levels of experience who come together in their respective associations to share their experiences & know-how to help anyone start & develop their interest in smallholding. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet, share & discuss your experiences with them.
Cattle, sheep, poultry, llamas, alpacas & other small animals can be found in our Robins Animal Building. Pop along to say hello, give them a pat on the head & perhaps even purchase one to take home with you. Craft stands ranging from homespun yarns to handmade wooden furniture will also be at the show along with a wide range of vintage vehicles including agricultural machinery such as tractors, ploughing machines, mowers ; commercial vehicles, pre & post war cars, motorcycles & stationary engines for you all to enjoy.
We'd love to see you at the show, please visit www.smallholdershows.co.uk for more information & to purchase advanced tickets. | living in a fun, friendly, entertaining & informative environment with The Smallholders & Country Show on Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July.
Now in it's 30th year, The Smallholders & Country Show in Ardingly is an independent family run show to find anything you could want for your smallholding, small farm or large garden. Whether you are an experienced Smallholder, enthusiastic gardener, or simply take a keen interest in rural life, our show is a lovely day out for you & the whole family… including the dog! Join us over the weekend to experience the best of what the local countryside has to offer.
There is a full program of rural related family entertainment, including a Main Arena with exhilarating displays of canine agility from The Essex Dog Display Team, Huxley's Birds of Prey in full flight, Big & Little's hilarious horse display, Tractors & Vintage Machinery demonstration plus a medieval reenactment from The Far Isles Medieval Society.
The Lurcher & Companion Fun Dog Show is a great spectacle & open to any dog that visits the show. Think you have the most handsome pup? Or dog with the best movement? Then enter your beloved friend into any of the classes which will be judged by our dog experts with rosettes (and treats of course!) being awarded to the best in show. Live music, kids amusements, circus workshops, horse & wagon rides, have-a-go archery, Food Hall, shopping stalls & more should help to keep everyone in the family entertained.
Expert advisory & training groups are on hand for talks & demos on a variety of countryside, farming & smallholding issues for all levels of smallholder. The Small Farm Training Group (SFTG) aims to enable you to learn better farming, smallholding & horticultural skills through a series of enlightening taster talks that will be taking place over the weekend.
| 387 |
Cyber Attack Takes Down Computers in South Korea, Motives and Culprit Unclear
By Larry Greenemeier on March 20, 2013
The cyber attacks against several South Korean television stations, banks and insurance firms on Wednesday may not have been crippling or widespread, but their timing further fuels concerns over who is launching such attacks, what constitutes "cyber warfare" and how should countries react to such online aggression.
The malicious software—or malware—used in the attack interferes with antivirus and other security software and can wipe the contents of a computer's hard disk as well as drives attached to or mapped to the infected computer, according to a blog post by Symantec, a cyber security researcher and software vendor. The malware then forces the infected computer to reboot, which it cannot do because its files have been wiped, rendering the device useless. The attacks prevented some bank customers from using their debit and credit cards, although South Korea's government<|fim_middle|> to start being more sophisticated about how we talk about cyber 'attacks' and cyber 'war,'" says Peter Singer, director of The Brookings Institution's Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence.
Just as law enforcement would not place a mugger, a terrorist, a spy and a soldier in the same threat category because they all might use the same technology—gunpowder—cyber incidents should be carefully evaluated, Singer says. Even if North Korea were involved in Wednesday's attack, "harassing South Korean Web sites is something very different than Chinese hackers stealing intellectual property," he adds. "Both are bad, but very different bads."
Larry Greenemeier
Larry Greenemeier is the associate editor of technology for Scientific American, covering a variety of tech-related topics, including biotech, computers, military tech, nanotech and robots.
Credit: Nick Higgins
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By Christine Gorman on March 21, 2013 | agencies or critical infrastructure were not impacted. Currently, investigators have no indications of the source of this attack or how the attackers infiltrated the victims' computers.
The malware attack follows North Korea's accusations last week of U.S.-led efforts to attack that country's Internet servers, on top of the increased rhetoric implicating China in cyber attacks directed at the U.S. Yet analysts and officials have not linked these latest cyber attacks to North Korea, and the malicious software used does not appear to contain any novel attack methods that would strike fear into the South Korean institutions targeted.
Investigators often have difficulty locating the origin of cyber assaults because the attackers tend to evade detection by breaking into poorly secured computers and using those hijacked systems as proxies through which they can launch and route attacks worldwide.
Still, any investigation into Wednesday's attacks will likely assess the attacker's motive as a means to develop an appropriate response. Is a cyber attack an act of aggression, or is it merely provocative, on par with a country testing weapons within its own borders, as North Korea did last month with its underground nuclear weapons test? "From a foreign policy perspective, we haven't come to grips with what different cyber activity signifies," says Daniel Castro, a senior analyst with the tech think tank Information Technology & Innovation Foundation.
For instance, the alleged attacks by China on U.S. firms strongly indicate "that China is interested in stealing intellectual property," Castro says. Aside from "cost and embarrassment" to the South Korean victims for fixing the compromised computers and having the attacks made public, there does not appear to be any lasting damage, he adds.
Instead of being intimidated, the companies victimized are more likely to pour additional resources into the cyber defenses. Says Castro: "The attackers didn't come up with a novel way of damaging their adversaries, and the attacks don't show any strength of cyber military capability."
South Korea has faced serious cyber threats in the past—in particular the 2011 and 2009 attacks attributed to North Korea (although they denied involvement)—this most recent incident must be put in perspective. "We need | 422 |
Facebook would consider partnering with Google on connectivity projects
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he would "love to work with Google" to help connect more people to the internet, in an interview with Bloomberg.
Zuckerberg (pictured) believes "Connecting everyone is going to be something that no single company can do by themselves… People need to be able to search and find information."
Facebook has been working on drones and satellite technology to develop "new platforms for connectivity on the ground, in the air and in orbit", as part of its Internet.org initiative to make the internet available and affordable to unconnected people, while Google's Project Loon involves solar-powered transmitters attached to helium balloons to provide internet access to the developing world.
Zuckerberg has said he wants to spend billions on the project without expecting returns, at least in the short term.
With more people getting online, both companies can benefit from each other's initiatives.
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1353 No Matter the Cost: Part 2 /index.php/content_page/item/1353-no-matter-the-cost-part-2
Whateley Independent Fiction (WhatIF)
No Matter the Cost
By Camospam, Wendy K and Gabi.
A Non-Canon Whateley Academy tale.
Arkham Research Centre (ARC)
Ken Tallman sat in the waiting room reading a copy of Field and Stream, he checked the cover: September 1988. "Oh well, at least it's current," he mumbled. He'd already undergone a so called 'interview', which proved to be an intense mentally exhausting session with an ARC Psychiatrist and Psychic.
Marcus Johnson was still being interviewed. Roche had been taken into another room at the same time as Ken, he must be into at least his second hour so far. Ken was still trying to sort through the bizarre questioning he had undergone for what he estimated to be an hour. He was asked many times, and in different ways about his association with Cameron.
This whole intervention business, they claimed, was orchestrated to free them from any mental conditioning; as if he was a cultist or something. "They insisted Outlook had done something to control him."
"Did I look into his eyes?" That was the question they asked that brought the whole picture into focus. They wanted to determine if I had been brainwashed. The mental probing left Ken's brain itching, he was irritable because he couldn't figure out how to scratch it.
If Ken was honest with himself, it was good to have his decisions and actions scrutinized. How else could he be sure he hadn't been compromised; how does anyone know if they are under someone else's influence? But Cameron? Not Cameron! He was a decent kid.
Ken hated to admit it, but he wondered if maybe he had been the victim of manipulation. For as long as Ken had been sitting there reading the magazine he hadn't even turned a page yet, and the itch was still annoying him. He just wasn't sure anymore. Trust psychics and psychologists to turn your brain inside out leaving you scratching your head.
The door to an interview room opened and Roche stepped out followed by two doctor types in white jackets. Best Ken could tell, everyone who had been detained had been stripped and put into these… pyjama's might be the best description. They were better than those wretched hospital gowns that left your butt flapping in the breeze, but not by much.
Roche gave Ken a nod of acknowledgement and came to join him. Roche stopped to peruse the magazine selection on the table and had just selected a copy of Better Homes and Gardens when a voice broadcasted through the building "Red Alert, containment breach!"
One of the doctors, a guy named Richmond, proclaimed, "Gentlemen, remain calm. ARC personnel have been trained to handle any emergency, just sit tight and this will be over soon."
This could go sideways on so many levels observed Ken. He'd mentioned as much during his interview, cautioning them about exceedingly powerful individuals … such as these kids who warranted special attention. ARC had separated them: putting them into isolation for observation. A recipe for disaster on a grand scale for a group of kids who relied on each other.
Ken's time with Cameron and his further assignment in the States; to learn about the dynamics of super groups, had taught Ken much about the need to handle the 'super' individuals with delicacy and diplomacy. Simply because hurt on that level had a boomerang effect.
"Tapioca? You're eating Tapioca at a time like this?" shouted Timothy, standing in the doorway in disbelief!
"I didn't know there was a bad time for good Tapioca," puzzled Lynn, as she scooped more onto her spoon.
"Would you say it has honey, or did they use caramel?" asked R.E.D, ignoring anything which would distract from her delight.
"It has real vanilla, and it tastes soo yummy," Lynn said around a spoonful.
"Perhaps one shouldn't imbibe Tapioca for breakfast?" questioned R.E.D. sizing up her now empty dish, the buffet table, and the newly arrived threesome who might have designs upon the remaining contents of the highly prized dessert bowl.
"But it's after lunch time," assured Lynn.
"Oui, but our friends here are just getting up now," reminded R.E.D.
"Yah, who could sleep through all that racket out in the hall … so what did you guys do?" pondered Lynn, as her attention diverted to the three newcomers.
"We escaped, they had us locked in yucky separate rooms, so we busted out," informed Charlotte.
"Us too, but was it really necessary to put this place on high alert?" quizzed Lynn. "We've been waiting here for an hour without setting off any alarms."
"We weren't willing to sit around doing nothing!" blustered Timothy.
"We weren't doing nothing - we had lunch," R.E.D. calmly stated.
"It's okay, you three are here now," conceded Lynn. "It just messes with the timetable somewhat." As if reviewing a mental checklist, Lynn began handing out assignments; "Swift; please ensure the kitchen is cleared out of people. Everyone is supposed to be on a break, but we best make certain nobody's left in there. Take anyone you find into the hallway and release them. Flambé, can you secure all the doors into this area by welding them shut?"
"We don't want hostages?" wondered Timothy.
"We are the hostages - remember? They kidnapped us!" established Lynn, getting nods of agreement.
"So what's the plan?" Asked a curious Excelle, worried she'd missed something important.
"It's simple, we hold out here and wait for them to capitulate. As it is, the first person will be coming through that wall of windows in a couple minutes," Lynn revealed.
"Are you saying you don't know who it will be?" asked Rachel, attempting to grasp how precognition worked; her Psychic ability was being scrambled when trying to get a read off the girl.
"There are four possibilities: Ella, Ken, a security guard with a shotgun, or Mrs. Carson," said Lynn trying to explain how different paths diverge.
"So?" snarked Rachel in retort, not seeing any difference between them.
"The outcome changes depending upon who comes to us first."
"Which is best?"
"What? I have to rank them now?" objected Lynn. "Okay - fine … Ken is our best bet, the security guard the worst. The others are kinda equal."
"Can we sweeten the odds in our favour?" wondered Rachel, not certain if precognition could be used that way.
"Maybe … Charlotte, can you open up a window?" politely asked Lynn.
"No problem." The Exemplar girl picked up a heavy metal frame chair and lobed it through one of the windows.
"These are sliding doors, couldn't you have tried opening one?" complained Rachel.
"You wanted an open window, you got an open window," said the junior sister defiantly.
"Yes, thank you. I could have expressed my intentions better," sighed Lynn. "Can everyone come over here, it will lessen the anxiety of our visitor if we're together and in plain sight.
Elizabeth Carson took a couple steps back from ARC's entrance door to get a better look at the building, she was trying to decide between kicking down the door, or finding another way in.
A sheepish notion hit her. How long has she been teaching her kids to 'think before you act', and not let an adrenaline rush take over and lead you down a dead-end street. Liz shuddered when she realized her first response had been to take matters into her own hands rather than let ARC handle it. It was one of the fundamental lessons Whateley tried to install into the kids.
A war of conflicting emotions raged within her. She had sent out a notification that an unruly group had left Whateley. Liz regretted that she called the group renegades, singling out one of them, Outlook, as a threat.
She recoiled at the possibility she had instigated this situation at ARC if it involved those kids. She couldn't shake the feeling she was sticking her neck into a noose of her own creation. Guilt gnawed on her bones like a hungry dog.
Mrs. Carson had previously stifled the idea she was accountable. She felt she was the victim here. Whateley Academy had been endangered and she would defend it; so when Eloise had rebuffed her it put a different spin on her thinking and Liz's mind was reeling.
It had taken a lot of meetings with the schools department heads to root out the basic problems and get everyone to focus on the school as a whole unit, not only their own little empires. It was a lack of communication between the departments that created the cracks Outlook fell into.
Blame is a fickle mistress, it gets spread like a firecracker in a bag of dog poop… 'Lord where did that come from?' wondered Mrs. Carson - ah! An old Halloween prank from back in the day.
The headmistress reanalyzed how Whateley Academy was run. She plugged the holes she'd found, filled the cracks, and reopened lines of communication between departments. As the chief administrator it was her responsibility. However, getting everyone to buy in on the school's interests first, and not be focused upon self serving goals and pursuits would take time.
The hardest part had been admitting that she, as headmistress, had dropped the ball. The drive over here provided the time she'd needed for a moment of realization, and the injustice of her failure stung the heroine.
The school had failed Cameron Burke, and that was coming back to haunt her. The school was being sued, she had been served the papers by lawyer Emit Paulson, who was far too pleased with himself when they met. Outlook was litigating not only with her, but also the entire board of Trustee's.
As well, Eloise's little bombshell about Whateley's relationship with the Medawihla had been an eye-opener. Because of her mistake Whateley Academy was at risk on many fronts. Whoever dealt this lousy hand stacked the deck giving all the aces to Cameron Burke.
Liz realized the first time she had actually met Cameron Burke<|fim_middle|>. Eight against one are not good odds."
"Arkham has their own people, it wouldn't be right to steamroll over them. And it's Nine! There is a Were with them," revealed Elizabeth.
"Liz, Have you ever tangled with a Were before?"
"No, only verbally, which is more than enough. What I'm really worried about is that she might have an ability. Look online, see if there's any reference to a Pantheress and a Golden Eyed Man."
"I found something under Native American folklore, a tale about a farsighted chieftain and a mighty hero leading the people to victory, It has many tellings but that seems to be the basics."
"Farsighted? Does that mean precognition?" stammered Mrs. Carson with a degree of worry. She had battled a Pre-Cog before and the memory of that day never faded. His ability had let him know exactly what Liz would do before she even did it - thereby countering every move Liz made until she was reduced to becoming a mere plaything to the villain. Ms. Miracle had been beaten badly that day, that prospect wasn't something Elizabeth wished to re-visit.
Eloise had mentioned that Cameron was seen as a hero to the Were, it sounded like he found a way to defeat the Voodoo Wolves, a way that didn't involve killing them.
"It's not too late for you turn around and come home," advised Amelia, aware of Mrs. Carson's feelings about Pre-Cogs.
Liz knew she had little chance of winning today if it came to a fight, that is if her worst fears and the intel she'd just gotten proved true. But oftentimes just showing up was worth more than winning. An honourable loss can hold just as much importance when fighting for your morals and beliefs, when you're fighting for what's right its the might of conviction that wins.
Cameron Burke sat on the edge of his cot, it was the only piece of furniture the small cell had. The young boy had fought the urge to leave already, but he hadn't found any sign of his friends yet, and that hung like a proverbial 5 ton weight waiting to fall on him. How would the Roadrunner get outta this one?
Outlook worried what repercussions might befall his friends if he tried anything, it wasn't like a locked door could stop him, however getting out of this pit could prove difficult. No, his concern was about Lynn and his friends, but particularly Lynn. It was getting hard to think about anything but her, he wanted to spend every minute of every day with her, talk with her about everything. He'd even settle for talking about nothing if it meant he could be with her. Besides, that single kiss wasn't enough, the memory of it lingered on his lips, and he wanted more.
But Lynn acting so nervous around Cameron before … maybe, maybe she regretted being around me, she got what she needed done and now it was goodbye. The sadness that filled Cameron made breathing hard, maybe being locked up was easier than talking to her, maybe he'd lost her like he had his family.
Before, in the restaurant she had said, 'I'm sorry'. She knew this would happen, but didn't prevent it … why? If she cared … why?
Cameron couldn't decide if he was more scared of being with Lynn or losing her.
What he did know was that; 'Why?' Is an exasperatingly annoying question, and it just keeps coming:
Why was Lynn so distant?
Why did Lynn allow me to be captured?
Why was I put in a cell instead of being experimented on, or tortured?
Why did Dr. Brentwood show up right after the drugs wore off?
Wait! That last why … maybe they have me under surveillance. I didn't see anything in the cell - but that doesn't mean...
While standing and stretching, he did a scan of the hallway beyond the one-way glass wall, sure enough, the light fixture outside his cell had a miniature camera. Cameron altered his vision to enable looking into the camera's circuitry, after severing a wires connection within the camera it resulted in the camera dying. Cameron allowed a hint of a smile to form, let the games begin.
Cameron was sick and tired of the drab stone walls, he opened the small space up, making it square, then materialized wood using it to create a cozy looking log cabin. He blocked off most of the wall of windows with logs until all that remained was a nice sized picture window.
He needed a decent washroom, a toilet in the middle of the room wasn't acceptable, so he shaped a doorway and began disintegrating rock, burrowing deeper into the cell's back wall creating a hallway. He made a nice large room to one side for the toilet and sink, adding in a mirror and counter. Since he was at it, he fabricated a big walk in shower and beside that a massive stone soaker tub.
As Cameron pushed the hallway he'd formed outward, he came across something entirely unexpected. He discovered a seam of gold in the rock. Chasing the gold deposit, he ended up exposing a long length of tunnel. It became a large enough hollow to make a long swimming pool ideal for swimming laps. Plus he established a big flat open area to do some exercises, which seemed an appropriate addition.
Cameron decided that having a bedroom, a space suitable to put a decent bed would be nice, not that he wanted to stay long, but he might as well be comfortable. So across the hall from the washroom he opened up another room, and after making a pedestal, he set onto it one of the big extra plush beds from Warehouse.
He held to the rustic log cabin theme throughout and he felt calmer as it reminded him of his time with Marcus and Grace when they stayed at Jasper.
After pulling a huge leather recliner chair from Warehouse into the cell's original space as a finishing touch, Cameron sat down to watch the anticipated fireworks. As he waited, he checked how much gold he had accumulated, he had mined just shy of 200 pounds, a tidy sum at current exchange rates.
The small basket in the elevator shaft was returning on the cable once again. This time, as before at lunch time, there was just a single occupant with a service cart. Outlook remained sitting in his chair, he checked his stores and decided he could spare some popcorn. Noticing just how tight space was on the lift, it dawned on Cameron that they mustn't have been able to get anything better than foldable cots to sleep on down here.
The man pushed his service cart off the confining lift, came up the hallway to the light outside Cameron's cell and commenced assembling a ladder. The man in coveralls proceeded to take the light fixture apart. It was a grand performance to make it look like he was changing a light bulb rather than checking on the disabled camera.
Cameron scanned the man looking for any clues and deep inside his wallet found a security card, it was MCO! Nickolas Turcotte wasn't an agent but a technician. During the time Nick was working he repeatedly glanced over towards Cameron in obvious nervous disbelief, the boy was sitting in an impossible chair, in a most unlikely room.
Cameron didn't give any indication he'd noticed Nick in the hallway. The boy dipped his hand into his bowl of popcorn, happily munching away while reading his book.
The technician finished repairing the camera after considerable consternation and difficulty, he was preparing to pack up his gear when Cameron went to the window and closed the curtains he had hung during construction, thereby blocking anyone - or anything from looking in at him.
Arkham Research Centre
Lady Astarte took to the air assuming the classic pose with one arm held forward and a bent knee; she climbed slowly upward to rise above the two story wall, scanning the facility for an access. She remembered there was a central courtyard adjacent to the cafeteria. It might be an easy place to gain entry, or at least she could hopefully find out more about what was happening.
After circling some of the above ground building comprising part of the ACR facility, she alighted onto a walkway within the courtyard. Her arrival stilled the advance of an armed security officer who retreated to a safe position. Elizabeth scouted her options; all the glass doors were closed and there were scant revelations about what had transpired. However, one window had been smashed out so she stepped closer to investigate.
As she neared the open window it was apparent a metal chair had shattered the floor to ceiling glass. The projectile had been flung with such force that it had come to rest a good thirty feet away.
Stepping on the glass fragments was unavoidable unless she flew. However, taking an aerial position could be construed as threatening, so she remained earth bound as small pieces of glass crunched underfoot. The experienced heroine prepared herself for an imminent attack as she looked in. The room was an eating area adjacent to the facility's kitchen, tables and chairs situated throughout, a buffet table and drink dispenser set to one side.
Near the back corner of the room at a table sat three youths, two girls and a boy. Another girl stood close by, leaning against the back wall behind them. The fifth, another girl - younger than the others was sitting on the table beside them swinging her legs. She recognized them as the very group who had been with Outlook at Whateley's gate.
"Mrs. Carson, please come in. We'd like to speak with you," called a voice from within the building.
Elizabeth performed another quick survey of the room as she entered, no one else was present. Curious, there had been three adults with Outlook, one was standing beside him while the others remained in the van, yet no sign of Outlook or the adults. Where were they? No Arkham staffers either?
"There's coffee or tea if you'd like, some of the desserts are really good," offered the seated girl in the middle. The Psychic, she'd surmised from her assessment.
"Tea would be nice," smiled Mrs. Carson trying to stay calm and placid in her mind and body. It wasn't that she was thirsty, but better to build a cordial relationship than refuse hospitality.
Before she even finished that thought, she had a plate in her hand, a tea bag was steeping in a cup of hot water, and on the plate were two squares, one lemon the other chocolate. No one had moved from what she was able to detect. The Speedster, no way was he just a Level 4.
A chair had been positioned in front of the table, it was a classic interrogation format, but Mrs. Carson lingered beside the buffet to doctor her tea before taking the strategically placed seat. It wasn't an ideal arrangement, but at least she could keep an eye on each of them.
"Shall we commence with introductions?" asked the headmistress.
"We can dispense with that formality. We know you've been briefed, and you've deduced who we are … what we're capable of," revealed Perspicacious.
"I see. What about the others? Cameron doesn't wish to dirty his hands with an interrogation?"
There was a quick glance shared between the two seated girls: the Pre-Cog and the Psychic; the Psychic was the spokesperson, a logical choice. "You expect us to believe you don't know where Outlook is?"
"He's not with you?" Puzzled Mrs. Carson, his not being with them at ARC was an entirely unexpected turn of events, Elizabeth had figured she would be speaking with Outlook, this entire venture had become so much worse.
"We were separated," provided the black haired girl who shared features with Eloise Donner. "He was put into a different vehicle."
"He wasn't brought here with the rest of you" deduced Mrs. Carson as worry replaced hope. "You don't know his whereabouts?"
The Psychic, Perspicacious, answered, "We are not in contact with him."
This wasn't good, she had walked into the lion's den and was going to get shredded. By contacting the authorities, the headmistress hadn't meant to break them up. She just tried to prevent a manipulated half cocked group of children who didn't know any better from going off to get killed. Mrs. Carson honestly didn't know where Outlook had been taken, or who might have gotten their clutches on him, but she had been the one to sic the dogs on him.
"She doesn't know where he is either, but she's the Judas who turned us over," blurted Rachel to keep the rest informed on revealed details.
The tall redhead stood upright in anger, and scowled, "You had no right! We didn't do anything wrong!"
"You have every reason to be upset with me," confessed Mrs. Carson.
"Upset does not even beginning to describe how mad I am," the Energizer's eyes took on a tinge of bright scarlet. Her hair pulsed in rapid waves that traveled down its length. It also looked as if smoke was coming from her clothes, the sleeves of the institute's pyjamas bursting into flames.
"Take it easy, deep breaths Flambé, let her explain," calmed Lynn, receiving a 'harrumph' for her efforts as the girl patted out the fire like this sort of thing happened all the time.
"I am obligated to provide a warning about potentially dangerous individuals who leave Whateley. When you left, I didn't know what you might be capable of … you had just fought a war at my school," pleaded Mrs. Carson.
The enraged girl closed her eyes and breathed deeply trying to tame her rage, it wasn't happening with ease.
"We did you no harm, heck - we protected your school," complained Swift, upset over being maligned.
"I know that! … Now. At the time, I could only assume that you had been mentally usurped and used to suit Outlook's agenda."
"That's the problem when you assume, It makes an ASS out of U and ME," chirped Charlotte.
"Excelle! You're not helping," snapped her big sister cutting the young girl off.
"No, she's right," admitted the headmistress. "My conduct was injudicious. Whateley Academy is my responsibility. When I perceived it to be under threat you took the brunt of my frustration. I'm sorry for lashing out at you, I acted out of fear without regard to the facts."
"We appreciate that you came to speak candidly with us. But, as you're aware, all our friends aren't here. Until we can regroup are you willing to help us locate the others?"
"I have influence with a number of the people at Arkham, I can act as a mediator for the release of hostages if you like."
"You've already helped enough!" scowled Flambé at the suggestion.
Rachel winced at the harsh words, but needed to diffuse the angst, "That's kind of you, but we're here because of you, we don't trust you."
"I meant I could negotiate with you, for release of your hostages."
"We've taken no prisoners, we only incapacitated people - and those are recuperating as we speak."
"I thought …" stammered Mrs. Carson.
"What? That we had brutally taken over this place to force our will, begun torturing and killing people, exacting vengeance for your misdeed?"
"Not exactly," voiced Liz, concerned at having her thoughts exposed.
"That is what you felt us capable of," revealed Rachel. "The truth is, we are the hostages. If you were serious in your offer to help Mrs. Carson, let our captors know that we want to be reunited and free to leave."
"Or?" asked Mrs. Carson, to better understand the terms of the mediation.
"How long do you imagine this place can go without food? I can detect 300 people nearby; so many hungry mouths to feed with no kitchen!"
"I have your word you haven't harmed anyone?"
"They experienced only dizziness and nausea, after a little rest they'll be fine. We did disarm them which is to be expected after all."
"Very well, I will speak to Arkham on your behalf," commented Liz, feeling a wave of relief at how this was turning out. She started to rise from the chair…
"Before you go, would you answer another question?" spoke the Were.
The heroine's nerve endings sparked, expecting the worst. "Shoot," she replied, not even realizing the implications.
"Why do you hate Outlook?" asked the Pre-Cog. Well, that was a loaded question! The headmistress dropped back into the chair, but stared at the ceiling for a moment, collecting her thoughts and feelings before speaking.
The Psychic tilted her head slightly as she looked intently at the woman in the hot-seat, curious to hear the answer.
"I admit, I wasn't happy about being charged with child abuse. That could have ruined my career, destroyed everything I've spent my whole life working for. But I don't hate him."
"Then why refuse to admit him to Whateley? Put him in detention?"
"Gods! That was a mistake! When he was in my office, I thought he was someone else … it was the worst mistake I've made; not turning around to look directly at him. But … when he spoke I heard another student's voice, the reflection on my window was of someone else. I can't understand it."
"So you admit to heaping torture upon Outlook, and then couldn't be bothered to check up on him."
"He never came back to the office! I didn't know about his situation. How could I be expected to fix something I didn't know was broken?"
"You slammed the door in his face so hard he couldn't come to you. Or anyone else at your school for that matter."
"He should have stepped up for himself, maybe talked to his parents."
"You mean the parents who have been dead and buried for eight years?"
"I shouldn't have said that."
"No! You shouldn't have. But it shows that you've failed to understand the first thing about Cameron! He doesn't want to be a burden to anyone, he's trying to be an adult, and adults don't come crying to mommy for help - they solve their own problems."
"But he isn't an adult, an adult would have asked for help."
"You can't be serious! Most adults are too full of themselves to ask for help. Or they're too scared that they don't measure up to their peers."
"He didn't give us a chance."
"A chance? A chance like the one you gave Cameron?" The words left Lynn's mouth as she choked back a sob. "Cameron tried to live under the conditions you stipulated, for three months he tried, he wanted so badly to impress you, to show the world he wasn't a quitter," the Were's emotions broke as tears trickled down her cheeks, "… but Whateley just kept yanking the rug out from underneath him. Now he's suffering from the wounds you inflicted!" Lynn used a napkin to dab at the tears running paths down to her chin.
"I wouldn't … I didn't know … I screwed up," commented the headmistress, as the implications of the matter came into focus with the full weight settling upon Elizabeth's shoulders.
"What would you have done if Cameron had been here?" Sought the Were.
"I'd like to try and apologize to him, admit my mistakes, even if that scuttled our defence in court."
"Had you at any time even considered giving him a hug and saying, 'I'm sorry'?"
Tears now streaked down the heroine's face, "No, I hadn't thought that would be possible."/p.
"Then you sorely underestimate Cameron."
The elevator had been busy, it had made three trips in short order. Cameron calculated the shaft's depth based on the turn-around time; a half hour round trip, give or take. Using the speed of travel of the metal basket on the cable, it was 1100 feet up; up to heavens knows what.
Outlook could only see through 200 feet of a solid object before his vision would get obscured. Maybe if he stood at the bottom of the shaft he might figure out more…
He couldn't worry about that right now though, his foe had amassed three people at his door. They were preparing to make a forced entry.
A canister was being connected to his cell's air supply, they wanted him knocked-out. The wheeled dolly with restraints they had brought down meant that whatever had caused them to be cautious before was no longer preventing them from becoming aggressive, and that didn't look to be pleasant.
Surprisingly, it seems nobody remembers that a prison cell can keep people out just as well as it keeps people in. Cameron heard the additional hiss in the ventilation from the canister. He gathered the gas as it slowly entered his cell, putting it into a prepared vessel in Warehouse, then waited as the three agents outside his door counted down the time it would take for the gas to render him unconscious.
In preparation, the three donned face masks. Then at the GO signal the code to unlock the door was entered: One, Three, Seven, Nine, Five, Five. Cameron put the code to memory. Meanwhile, the three goons were stymied since the door didn't budge. Not that it could move, Cameron had affixed the metal all around the former opening.
Two crowbars were used to try and jimmy the door open, to no avail. After an argument, one of the three climbed into the suspended cage basket to get hauled up. The other two kept trying to force the door, it was a valiant albeit fruitless endeavour.
When the basket returned, the third man had brought an acetylene torch with him and all three helped wheel the torch over. Then the torch was lit and they began to try cutting through the door.
The cutting didn't go as planned The door's metal didn't even get hot so it could melt due to Cameron absorbing the heat, not that the three outside the door could determine that. Their frustration mounted at the inability to collect a prisoner.
All three men had been sweating from the labour of trying to open the door and the additional effort that wearing facemarks required didn't make the task easier. Cameron was surprised by the sudden sequence of events outside his door, the acetylene torch slipped out of one of the mens hands, the flame cut across the gas canisters hose, an explosion burst outward hurtling the men against rock walls.
Cameron was unharmed hidden inside his protective cocoon, that wasn't the case for the men outside who took the brunt of the blast. Exposed skin was burned, broken bones, cuts and contusions. The men were a mess those still concious writhed on the floor in agony.
The explosion caused the elevator basket to become wedged, twisting it in the tight shaft. Help would not be coming down anytime soon.
Black smoke rolled from the hallway up into the shaft, the air was clearer near the floor but the thick smoke at the ceiling dimmed the lights making the prison hallway dark.
Taking some of the knockout gas that had been intended for Cameron, he placed a small amount of the gas it into each of the men's lungs. There was some coughing, but very quickly they all succumbed and lay motionless.
Cameron once again shorted out the camera surveillance feed so no-one could watch, even if the smoke blocked visibility. Cameron dissipated the doors restraint allowing it to retract into the wall, he then entered the hallway outside his cell. The youth conducted an assessment of each of the injured men. The masks they wore had protected their faces from burns, and filtered the smoke, but it restricted being able to gather breath.
Of all the men, the one closest to the explosion had suffered the most damage, his impact against the wall had broken seven ribs, each breath was a gulping / gasping affair. Cameron layered his sight and began to weave broken bone together. Once the man's chest began to rise in a steady rhythm, Cameron looked for other problems, closing gashes to prevent blood loss.
The next man had taken a bad blow to his head, a clear liquid ran out from an ear. Repairing the internal damage allowed the man to visibly relax, Cameron reset the dislocated shoulder and tended to his broken arm. The two men had fallen into a tangled heap, so Cameron dragged them out of the small alcove into the hallway and laid them out flat on the floor.
The last man had been thrown clear of the blast, having bounced off a wall and landed away from the others. He had been winded, both his arms and a knee cap broken, with a long scratch down his side. After mending the breaks and ensuring no serious blood loss would endanger him, Cameron propped him against a wall to help him breath easier.
Going into the kitchen Cameron found some bandages in a first aid kit, and after soaking them in water he placing them on the worst of the burnt skin. There were no more life threatening injuries, time and a doctor's care would suffice. Cameron felt no need to do more for them, but he would still keep them unconscious.
Since he was out, Cameron decided to check out his surroundings, taking a look up the elevator shaft. It ended 1123 feet up at a set of sliding doors with a winch and cable spool positioned above. Cameron's vertigo had his head spinning, the boy didn't get along well with heights.
Walking down the hallway Cameron looked into each of the cells to see who else was being held prisoner down here, checking up on his roomies to make sure everyone else had faired well in the explosion.
Two of the cells held avatar mutants, each hosting wraiths. These weren't overly powerful spirits but neither of them could be counted on as possible allies. They had enough sense to stay laying down and had avoided any harm.
The third occupied cell held another mutant, a scruffy looking middle aged man without distinguishing features to identify him. He had a minor psychic rating that Cameron couldn't place. He too was unharmed.
The fourth cell's windows had been boarded up, but a few of the boards had been displaced, however: within - it was unmistakable, a corrupted Were. The black filth oozed as it covered over them. Cameron watched as the dark rolled and churned as it sought a means to escape confinement. It paced around the cell for what must have been the millionth time.
How someone had managed to capture it was almost as good a question as, 'What was it doing here?'
The sneaky red fox's entry into the dining room through the broken window almost escaped notice. However, Lynn's senses picked up the quiet movement and tracked the fox with her cat tuned eyes. The fox snuck behind a chaise lounge along the far wall.
Lynn called out, "Hi Ella!"
All eyes turned to see the Were girl as she relaxed on a lounge chair. "Can't leave you alone for a single minute," Ella complained, wearing a smile as she acknowledged each of the youth by looking directly at them in turn, satisfied that they were whole and healthy.
"Good to see you too," countered Lynn. "What have you done with my brother?"
"We split up in Dunwich; Allan's following Cameron's scent. He wanted to come after you, but my dad and I convinced Allan he should look for Cameron while the trail was still warm."
"So your dad?" "Oh! He's outside teaching some dud of a Fudd security guard that no season is fox season."
"You've arrived just in time, Now that we've got two Oberons, this is going to be like having your cake and eating it too," gushed Lynn, giving the other Were girl a hug.
"We've got some cake over here too, if you're hungry," announced Swift. He filled another plate at the buffet table, reaching over Charlotte who was also at the table.
"He's got the attention span of a doorknob, that one," noted Ella in a soft mocking voice.
"Keep something shiny with you," suggested Rachel, as she joined the Were's in conversation. "Tim has a big heart but his brain gets ahead of his feet … and mouth."
"I meant no harm," back-pedalled Ella.
"None was taken, my brother can be a doofus, but he's my brother," admitted Rachel.
"I get what you're saying," confided Lynn, "Allan can be the same way."
"I don't know, Allan's kinda nice," hinted Ella.
"Does the battle ready warrior have a conquest in mind?" exaggerated Lynn by raising her hand to her mouth as if shocked.
"I wouldn't go that far," stated Ella trying to dismiss her involvement.
"Really, and how far would you go?" asked Lynn, now becoming protective of her family member.
"I'm interested, I mean Allan's a nice guy and all, but I don't think I could commit to anything. Not yet anyway," admitted Ella.
"Your duty as Oberon is foremost to your heart," observed Lynn taking on her farsighted glaze. "Yet you wonder what your life might be like afterwards."
"Of course there's that, and I've never really given much thought to the whole boyfriend / girlfriend thing. But I guess priorities change," mulled Ella.
"Okay, I'll promise you something: when the battle is over, I'll tell you what your future will be. Just don't send Allan any mixed signals, he might look all strong and wonderful on the outside, but he's been through a lot and has a lot of healing to do."
"I like that he's got a vulnerable side, it makes me feel needed," mentioned Ella, but her nod of agreement sealed the pact.
"What about your dad? How is he doing?" asked Lynn mostly out of curiosity, and also because the current topic bordered on trying to determine her brother's life.
"He won't talk about it, he's afraid to show any weakness."
"Is he up to a fight?" Lynn's question was direct; she said what she did for a specific reason.
"Are you kidding? He's ready to tear a strip of anything that casts a shadow."
"Will you introduce us?" requested the Pantheress.
"Just a sec." Ella moved over to the open window and motioned for someone outside to enter. "Dad, this is the Pantheress, Lynn Franklin. My Lady, I present to you Ulrich Oberon, my father."
The man dropped to his knee and bowed his head, not even daring to look at Lynn. The others in the crew watched with amazement as the scene unfolded. Lynn had to grab Ella to prevent her from taking a knee also.
"Oberon, I am pleased to meet you. I believe you are familiar with my mother, Theresa Donner," Lynn said while motioning for him to rise.
The man stuttered as his memory stirred, "Theresa Donner, the Medawihla Panther who wouldn't accept the mantle."
"My mother couldn't fulfill the role, it wasn't the right time."
"Theresa only had two children; son's, there was no daughter. The Pantheress couldn't have come through her."
"Granted these clothes are not very becoming, but I am most definitely female, and I certainly know who my mother is," advised Lynn.
"But the Pantheress cannot be an Outcast, she must lead the people, an Outcast cannot be chief."
"And so your sins catch up with you; you dug up a Golden Eyed Man to suit your template, tried forcing Mom to marry him, and entirely forgot to give heed to the prophecies intent."
"No!" cried out the man as he reeled back trembling at the accusation.
"I should disembowel you where you stand, but the truth is Ulrich Oberon, I need your help to find Cameron Burke, we've no time to lose!"
End Part 2 | was at Whateley's front gate where she berated him in front of his friends and accused them of being mindless drones. She let her aggravation get the better of her, and fixing the escalated situation didn't bode well.
It had been an established policy to let the local authorities know when potential trouble was leaving Whateley, but Elizabeth had overstepped that protocol's boundaries. Instead of just the police, she contacted Arkham as well, telling them about a situation involving mind control. Worst of all, she also called the MCO - out of spite.
Standing in front of ARC with the building in lock-down, Elizabeth Carson was frustrated to the point where she was ready to cry. How had everything gone so wrong?
Not knowing, on top of not being able to do anything about the situation was driving her crazy, so Mrs. Carson dug into her purse to retrieve her cell phone.
Amelia Hartford picked up on the first ring. "Liz, how's it going?"
"Amelia, ARC is in lockdown, tell me everything you can about Outlook and his associates!"
"Just a minute, I'm accessing Outlook's online presence. Cameron Burke's school file is incomplete as you know; no MID, and no powers testing results. His application does list enhanced sight, energy absorption and molecular rearrangement. I haven't heard of that ability before … does that make him some kind of Manifestor?" questioned Ms. Hartford.
"I don't know," confessed the Headmistress. "Had Cameron been attending classes we might have been able to figure it out; I'm sure the Lab would have been ecstatic to test something new."
"Other than that, Cameron is affiliated with the RCMP and on a diplomatic posting. I will keep digging," assured Amelia.
"We have old school records for Marcus Johnson, he's called Timbre, he's a Level 3 Siren and Level 1 Gadgeteer. He took boxing, fencing, and wrestling as extracurriculars, graduated in 96, added Amelia.
"Dr. Hewlett created a research file on Flambé. Let's see, her name is Rhododendron but prefers R.E.D. Can't say as I blame her. Oh Liz! Don't let that girl touch you, she's a Level 6 Energizer, her hands can get extremely hot and she's able to emit searing lightning like energy streams. She's also a Level 3 Exemplar, she isn't a Rager, but she gets hotter when upset. Not someone to take lightly."
"Got it, don't get the Energizer mad," confirmed Mrs. Carson. "She could burn the place to the ground if left unchecked."
"Let's see what else I can find? Here we go! Ken Tallman, base line human, RCMP officer assigned to something called Special Investigations, sharpshooter among other merit awards."
"Another RCMP, Al Koenig, uses Roche de Boule which translates to rolling rock. So he's a Brick, obviously. MID classification has him between a Level 3 and 4."
"Now this is interesting, a pair of twins and their younger sister, not much to go on, their records have been sealed by Child Services. But I have accessed their visitor packets." "Swift is a Level 4 Speedster, his name is Timothy. Rachel, the other twin, is called Perspicacious; Level 3 Psychic. And their thirteen year old sister Charlotte goes by Excelle, she is an Exemplar / Energizer mix … power levels unconfirmed due to her age since she only has a temporary MID. She's a Booster! That's just not … Liz, forget the power ratings I gave you."
"What's wrong?" Intoned Mrs. Carson. "Youre not telling me something."
"Dr. Hewlett tagged Excelle's file, he's begging that Whateley keep that kid on campus. If I understand his reasoning, a booster amplifies abilities by increasing the link to other planes of existence, the theorized source of everyones powers. And I quote "To be able to study a booster is like finding the holy grail." I've never seen the good doctor so impassioned.
"Sure, dump another load onto my shoulders why don't you?"
"Let's face it Liz, these kids … all of them, need Whateley! Heaven knows who will try to get their hooks into them, use them to whatever ends. If we just let them go, without teaching them how to survive, we might as well have signed their death warrants."
"Wouldn't Gunny Bardue love to pit a group like this up against the Grunts," mused Mrs. Carson.
"Now Liz! ... You hung up your cape to give the next generation the benefit of your experience, So don't tell me you're thinking of engaging in some aggressive negotiations?" humoured Amelia.
"Is that what they're calling it nowadays?" asked Mrs. Carson.
"I heard it called that someplace Liz." "Hopefully we can resolve this peacefully like adults," confided Mrs. Carson.
"Says the Lady who wrangles mutant teenagers all day," tossed in the assistant headmistress.
"Hope for the best, plan for the worst. That was a motto Champion used to say to me all the time."
"I could dispatch a Whateley Security team to you, they could be there within a half hour | 1,112 |
A: Bettina, doubt is normally a fantastic part of our human psyche, because it helps us assess situations to avoid physical or emotional pain. It is kind of a safety valve for us when assessing an opportunity. For some of us, doubt can quickly grow out of control and either paralyze us or slow us down enough that we miss an opportunity. On the<|fim_middle|> the mind to work for you instead of against you.
With practice, you will make a shift in how doubt influences your behaviour and allows you to make better and better choices throughout life. | flip side of the equation, if you jumped at every opportunity that came along, you might make some less-than-ideal decisions.
Healthy doubt keeps you safe, while unhealthy doubt robs you of taking advantage of good opportunities. The source of your doubt may be somewhere in your childhood (a parent or other influence installing a belief around being cautious), but that is the realm of working with a psychologist, which you may want to look into if you are curious. In the meantime, you can prepare yourself for the next time doubt wells up in you and potentially hinders you.
This can be done through meditation, or simply sitting down and thinking about this exercise. Consider consciously that doubt can keep you safe, so be grateful that it is present within you. At the same time, think of it like an overly sensitive smoke detector that you are often fanning innocent smoke away from. Prepare for the next situation of doubt and plan for it by consciously making an advantages and disadvantages list for the opportunity at hand. If the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, then go ahead. If the disadvantages win, stay put. After that situation passes, you can look back and ask yourself if that process worked and how you might tweak it for the next time. In this way, you are conditioning | 254 |
Cryptocurrencies by Tina Hamilton November 26, 2021
The most successful traders in the world are not given birth to those innate abilities, and they learn how to be successful in their engagements. It is possible to become a successful trader with TurboXBT, a synthetic digital asset trading platform that is growing in popularity, owing to its guaranteed instant payouts at a high Return on Investment of up to 90% per trade.
Despite the relative<|fim_middle|>.
What Makes Banxso the Right Platform for Investors?
Jamie Dimon Says JPM Coin Could Find Consumer Use One Day
by Kevin Hermann March 1, 2019
Goldman Sachs: Bitcoin Is 'Fabulous' Needs Solid Backing From US Government Before We Approve Cryptocurrency
by Robert McPherson May 2, 2019 | newness of the exchange, it offers a number of outstanding features that puts it on the radar as a prominent trading platform for the next generation of traders.
Unlike many gambling platforms that promise money doubling, trading on TurboXBT demands clear strategies, risks, money management skills, and many more. While TurboXBT pays and rewards its users handsomely, it requires work in order for anyone to maintain success trading therein.
Want to Trade Successfully on TurboXBT? Here's How
It should be understood that it is humans that designed financial markets, and any hope of attaining expertise in any of the industry's niches must require adequate research. Adequate reading of market fundamentals, the study of techniques, the impact of macroeconomic policies on specific markets, and more are essential deal breakers for professional and successful traders.
Research is the number one recipe on the journey on how to become a successful trader on TurboXBT. The platform lets anyone place UP or DOWN contracts on synthetic assets tracking the price of indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and foreign exchange, all within a very short time span. Research into the factors that drive the movement of these four market areas that TurboXBT supports is crucial and recommended in understanding the price actions that will be seen on the platform.
It is also a must for all traders, especially new ones, to understand the TurboXBT platform in its entirety. There is a provision for users to understand how the TurboXBT exchange works through the Demo Account that accompanies every registered account. This demo account comes with a $1,000 fund through which users can place trades in a bid to understand exactly how the platform works. The losses and profits are not real, but they help prepare the trader ahead of the actual trades involving cash.
The most successful traders on TurboXBT are those who utilize every of the platform's resources, as mentioned above, as well as the resources on its Blog page. This helps in the recommended research and helps keep users up to date with the features introduced on a daily basis.
The emergence of TurboXBT also offers other features, including a reliable platform uptime (99.9%) which largely helps users pick the tiny changes in the market per time. Since every platform has its unique models, attaining good success on TurboXBT may also involve participating in the platform instituted Revenue Sharing program. While this is not mandatory, traders who have a sizable following online can use this program to rake in lifetime income of up to 50% from their referee as long as the user will keep trading on the TurboXBT platform.
In all, successful traders identify the general risks and customize their approaches to solving them. As a rule of thumb, investing or entering into short-term contracts on the TurboXBT platform, irrespective of the promising ROI, should be done with disposable funds or funds that you can afford to lose.
Part of the mission of creating the TurboXBT platform is to help build an ecosystem of successful traders. Based on this, the exchange encourages community collaborations of its users through its social media platforms. The idea is simple when traders have room to interact and discuss events shaping the market, many gain more insight to improve on their future trading engagements.
The recommendations to help anyone become a successful trader is non-exhaustive, and users who wish to build a career in trading must develop personal strategies and ideologies to help them maintain stellar performances the majority of the time.
Tina Hamilton
Tina Hamilton is a full-time journalist at CryptoLeed with a year long experience in cryptos and trading. She has passion for writing for blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. She strongly believes that blockchain is revolutionary technology and it's use cases will help us to advance our future | 750 |
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that Nigerians are under obligation to protect their votes to stop the desperate APC Federal Government from rigging the 2019 General Elections.
Governor Wike said that the APC Federal Government is now in a panic mode and they are working with security agencies and INEC to rig.
He spoke during the Abua/Odual Local Government Area PDP Campaign Rally at County State School, Abua Central on Tuesday.
"APC are afraid because they know that Atiku Abubakar will win fair and square. Therefore they are planning to use the security agencies and IN<|fim_middle|> peace has returned to the area due to the investments of the Rivers State Governor.
Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Mr Daniel O. Daniel said that the people will always stand with the State Governor . He said that they will speak with their votes.
Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Marshal Uwom said that the Local Government Area is determined to deliver all PDP candidates.
Rivers State Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri said the governor's achievements will speak for him during the elections. | EC to rig. It will not work.
He said due to the national rejection of the APC, the party is plotting to cause crisis in order to manipulate the electoral system.
He said: "All they are doing is to cause crisis because they are not popular. We want free and fair elections.
"These elections, there will be no room for manipulation . If anyone hits you , hit back. Follow them bumper to bumper. APC is desperate, but we will not allow them".
Governor Wike assured the people that he will flag off a key road project in the area once the people overwhelmingly vote for Atiku Abubakar and other PDP candidates.
He expressed happiness that the State Government's investments in peace and security have yielded results in Abua/Odual Local Government Area .
The governor took out time to praise the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Marshall Uwom for his consistency. The governor said that Uwom will remain relevant in the state's political terrain.
Rivers State PDP Chairman , Bro Felix Obuah said the flagbearers of PDP in the area have the capacity to continue the develop process.
Obuah presented flags to the PDP Candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District, Mrs Betty Apiafi, Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency PDP Candidate , Solomon Bob and Abua/Odual State Constituency PDP Candidate, Solomon Kirife.
Speaking, PDP Candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District, Mrs Betty Apiafi said Governor Wike has transformed the area with key projects and programmes.
PDP Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Ken Wariboko said that Governor Wike is in the area for the celebration of his second term.
He said that the Local Government Area is ever intact for the PDP and Governor Wike. He said the people of the area are happy that | 390 |
We have a huge range of posters in stock, browse through our range of music, film, gaming, sport posters and much more.
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From gift boxes to pint glasses, 3D mugs to hip flask sets, we've got the gift for you.
Want to protect your poster or print? We have a huge range of purpose made poster frames as well as other frames for standard print sizes to add a touch of class to your wall<|fim_middle|> UKs leading supplier of brand licensed posters, prints, gifts, merchandise and poster frames. We stock thousands of posters, gifts and accessories from the world's biggest names in music, film, TV, gaming, sport, anime and more. Whether you are looking for the latest trending brands of the moment or for classic brands such as Harry Potter or Batman, we have a huge range.
Besides our enormous range of current and classic poster images, we also stock thousands of ready to hang framed prints with many hard to find collectable images. We also have a great range of affordable poster frames and print frames with generous discounts for buying in quantity. We also have an ever growing, innovative, gifting range that includes fantastic branded gifts for the whole family including thousands of mugs, glassware, gift boxes and many pocket money accessories such as travel pass or card holders, badges, dog-tags, lanyards and more. Let us do the thinking! | .
Steelbooks! - What are they and how to frame them?
GB Posters is the | 19 |
Home › Spotlight on Prunella Scales › Mapp & Lucia: The Complete Series (1985-1986)(DVD)
Mapp & Lucia: The Complete Series (1985-1986)(DVD)
The complete first and second ITV series featuring social schemers Lucia (Geraldine McEwan) and Mapp (Prunella Scales). Despite appearances to the contrary, the two genteel ladies will stop<|fim_middle|> Connection'; 'Lobster Pots'; and 'The Owl and the Pussycat'. The second series sees Lucia continue to outwit her 'friend' Mapp, aided and abetted by the toupd Georgie Pillson (Nigel Hawthorne), in the following episodes: 'The Winner Takes It All'; 'Change and Change About'; 'Lady Bountiful'; 'Worship'; and 'Au Revoir'.
Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
6 Plays By Alan Bennett - Complete (DVD)
Hobsons Choice - 60th Anniversary Edition [1954] (DVD)
The Ghost Of Greville Lodge (DVD)
Great Canal Journeys: Series 1-5 Boxset (DVD)
After Henry - The Complete Series [1988](DVD) | at nothing to bolster their position amongst their community's elite. The episodes from the first series are: 'The Village Fete'; 'Battle Stations'; 'The Italian | 33 |
Permanent or<|fim_middle|>140. | temporary role - both considered.
Vision for Education is seeking to appoint a Year 4 Teacher to join our successful supply teaching team and to work in a local primary school in Cambridge. This is a full-time primary teaching role, covering a Key Stage 2 class which will commence in Sept 2019 (or April is possible).
The desired Year 4 Teacher will be working in a class of just under 30 pupils, with a wide range of ability levels. This role would be suitable for both NQTs and experienced Teachers, but the school would ideally like someone who has recently taught in a similar class.
This is a 'Good' school which has high standards and expects the best provision for the children under its care. The School is based in central Cambridge, has excellent facilities and has parking.
Apply today via this website, or for more information about this role and other opportunities across Vision for Education, please contact Nigel on 01223 608 | 199 |
We chose the Forty-Eight® because we wanted a low custom bike to turn into a mean café-style bobber. We had a pair of 883 Iron-wheels sitting around, that we used for a lighter and different look. Together with our painter we wanted to match up the brass collection H-D accessories that is used on the bike with a color that would be a little different. We went with a paint called "Mocca" and painted some parts matte and tank and side covers in glossy finish. We added racing stripes and our "84" sign, that stands for ProBikes year of birth, H-D:s number in the alphabet and of course "48" backwards! Our partner for<|fim_middle|> covers, pivot covers, derby cover, timer cover, air cleaner insert, fuel cap, shifter peg, fork nut covers and handgrips.
Additional parts: RSD exhaust (modified) and pulley cover. Headlight grille. Custom turnsignals (LED) in front and taillight/ brakelight/ turnsignals by Kellermann in rear. Burly brand café tail section, upholstered by Lejonkulan and painted Mocca and stripes.
Fabrication: Visor brackets, tanklift, coil bracket, heat shield, license plate bracket, leatherwork, 883 wheels made to fit and painted to match paintjob. Cam cover shortend and reworked.
Paint by Mats at Ivves Custom Paint (our painter): Color "Mocca" with white racing stripes, 1970 Sportster logo and the number "84" on side covers, Matte "mocca" on brake calipers, rocker covers and coil bracket. Racing stripes on the tinted visor. | leatherwork "Lejonkulan" helped us to upholster the café-style seat that we used, and he chose orange stitching to match the 1970 Sportster tank logo. The clip-on handlebars and rear set foot controls along with the striped visor gives the bike a "racy" look. RSD Tracker exhaust system is added with a bronze exhaust wrap and our handmade stainless heat shield. The stock tank was raised, fender struts were cut off and the ignition coil was relocated with a fabricated bracket.
We at H-D Stockholm really like the result and hope that the audience does too!
Harley accessories: Clip-on handlebar, rear set foot controls, customized front visor, 1970-style tanklogo. SE hiflow kit, sparkplug wires and Supertuner. Diamond black brakeline, Brass collection: axle | 177 |
I<|fim_middle|> | really love dressing the girls over the holidays. It may be the only time of year where the we all can agree on what they are wearing. So when Bright Star Kids offered to send me shirts to review, I jumped at the chance. The girls and I sat at the computer and they each got to pick out a design from a great selection of holiday images. We added their names in and ordered.
They arrived quickly and are so adorable. Both shirts have the feminine puffy sleeves and the designs are so sweet. They are perfect for holiday get-togethers, since people always seem to get the girls confused with each other.
In fact, I would love to order these for all the kids who attend my annual Christmas party. That way we know who is who!
The wall stickers provide a unique and personalized gift for the kiddos in your life.
Love me some Bright Star Kids!
Those are so cute! Especially fun that the girls can pick them out themselves. | 196 |
IPL 2022: 'We need RCB to start losing as well', Warner highlights difficult road for DC to reach playoffs
Delhi Capitals have won four out of their nine games so far.
By Salman Anjum - 04 May, 2022
Delhi Capitals (DC) are not having the best of times in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite having a star-studded squad, they have failed to maintain consistency in the tournament.
The Rishabh Pant-led side has won four out of their nine games so far and is occupying seventh place on the points table. They need to pull their socks up if they have to fancy their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
On the eve of their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), DC opener David Warner said they will have to win their remaining five games while checking out RCB's results in order to secure a top-four berth.
See Also: "We got to perform as a batting unit as well"- DC skipper Rishabh Pant after loss to LSG
"Moving forward from where we are, we've obviously got to win every game to make it to the finals. There's a strong competition, two teams we have got to come against - Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are pretty much similar points to us," Warner quoted as saying by PTI.
"We could get that upper hand if we beat Sunrisers. We then go into the top four, but obviously, we need RCB to start losing as well. It's quite a congested table, but<|fim_middle|> have to do it, training and just get ready for the game."
Sharing the experience of opening alongside Prithvi Shaw, Warner said: "We've got off to a good start. In the last match, we've fallen cheaply, both of us, and that can happen in this game because we have to play that high-level brand of cricket in the power play."
He highlighted the role of the top three batters in the team and how at least two of the three getting big runs is making a difference.
"I think the most important thing is myself or him (Prithvi Shaw) or Mitch (Mitchell Marsh) scoring an 80 or 90 or even a hundred if we can, to post good totals or chase down big totals, and that's the key.
"I think that's the focus for every other team. The teams who are doing well are scoring big runs at the top of the order. And, two players are actually scoring big in the games, they are the ones that you really need to shine to win these games," said the Australian cricketer.
IPL 15 IPL 2022 DC Delhi Capitals David Warner IPL
IPL 2022: Sandeep Sharma thanks 'sticky wicket' for PBKS win over GT; Miller rues regular loss of wickets
IPL 2022: 'Cannot look too far ahead'- CSK coach Michael Hussey on playoffs chances
IPL 2022: WATCH – Faf du Plessis expresses surprise over MS Dhoni's reappointment as CSK captain | exciting for the rest of the tournament," he added.
The veteran opener acknowledged that the Capitals are in this position due to their failure of closing games while chasing.
"I think if you look at the results, we've just missed out when we are chasing those big totals. We have managed to get so close, but they are the ones that hurt you."
Speaking ahead of the game against his former team, Warner expressed, "My thoughts are like every other game, just keep going through your processes till you | 101 |
Latest Motoring Articles
Preparing for Winter Driving
Clean Your Windscreen!
Is a vehicle taxed and insured?
Parking Issues
Although the sun is still shining, the chilly mornings are starting to creep in. Richard Gladman, IAM RoadSmart's head of driving and riding standards, has put together some tips to prepare you for the colder weather that's nearing us.
It's important to keep the windscreen clean. Try to get scratches, abrasions and chips fixed as colder temperatures can make the damage worse. Keep the windscreen washer topped up with a more concentrated screen wash mix to ensure<|fim_middle|> about Parking
Vehicle Break-ins
Driving and Flooding | it doesn't freeze in action. And don't forget your de-icer
Check your tyres. The legal limit of a tread depth may be 1.6mm but anything under 3mm will see a potential fall off in grip and braking performance. If long-term cold weather is forecast, and you can afford it, invest in a set of winter tyres approved by your car manufacturer. Don't follow urban driver myths of reducing the tyre pressure to get more grip – it simply doesn't work
Set up a pre-winter check list. List things that need to be checked such as the car battery, bulbs, wiper blades and electrics. You don't want to be stranded in a cold car in the middle of night waiting for the recovery team to get you up and running again. Take a look at our set of tips of the eight essentials to carry in your vehicle
Dress appropriately for the weather. It may be surprising but too many drivers dress based on a working car heater. If it breaks or you are stranded you can easily be caught cold
Start to plan for the really bad weather with a survival kit in the boot. Spare clothes, a torch, mobile phone charger, some emergency rations such as water, chocolate and a tow rope and shovel to help yourself and others.
Richard said: "Winter is unpredictable but Highways England and your local authority are already planning for it by building up their salt stocks and getting the snow clearing equipment out of storage. If they are getting ready then why shouldn't you? With a little bit of preparation you can avoid getting stuck and adding to the problems that bad weather can bring."
IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK's largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart's courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.
To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com
A traffic officer has warned of the dangers of driving unroadworthy vehicles after a woman was convicted of killing her disabled cousin.
Hayley Sterna, 51, was driving a Peugeot van south along the B1052, Brinkley Road, at Westley Waterlees, on 4 January when she hit Chris Clements who was riding in a wheelchair close to the road.
Mr Clements, 40, of Beech Croft, Brinkley, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but died the following morning.
Following a police investigation, Sterna, of Braefield, Somersham, admitted causing death by careless driving because she had driven with a dirty windscreen, causing her to be dazzled by sunlight.
However, she was yesterday (29 August) found not guilty of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving after a jury at Cambridge Crown Court concluded her driving had not fallen "far below" the standard expected.
Today, she was sentenced at the same court to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, disqualification from driving for two years with an extended retest and 200 hours' community service.
Sergeant Simon Goldsmith, who investigated, said: "This case shows the potentially devastating consequences of driving a vehicle that is not fit for the road.
"It would not have taken long to clean the windscreen and replenish her washer fluid but Sterna made the tragic decision not to.
"Driving is something many of us do every day and it can be easy to forget we are in charge of a potentially lethal weapon. It's crucial everyone regularly checks their vehicle is roadworthy, particularly during autumn and winter months when road conditions are likely to be worse."
During the trial, the court heard Mr Clements was walking his dog when the collision took place at about 2.25pm.
Forensic collision investigations showed Sterna had not cleared her windscreen during her journey, having run out of screen wash.
She also failed to clean the screen or add screen wash despite having a two-and-a-half hour break and after the collision she said she had been dazzled by sunlight through the windscreen.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite has welcomed new speeding fines for excessive speeding. Under new guidelines, fines for drivers caught doing 51mph in a 30mph zone or 101mph on a motorway will start from 150% of weekly income, rather than the previous level of 100%. Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite said: "Every death or life changing injury which happens as a result of speeding is one too many. These incidents have devastating consequences for the victims and their friends and families, and the community. I am fully supportive of the new fines."
Now that the tax disc is no more it can be difficult to check if a vehicle is taxed.
Click to check whether a vehicle is taxed via a government site here.
Click to check whether your own vehicle is insured here
Click to check whether someone else's vehicle is insured in the event of an accident here
This photograph, taken by Ken Creed, demonstrate how pressure on limited parking spaces can lead to drivers leaving their vehicles in locations which cause danger to others.
What does the law say
Read this article for information on parking law.
All | 1,230 |
Down in Sunny Dania Beach, Florida, something quite refreshing is rumbling within the trade – a wholesale facility brought to us by Hydra Aquatics International and Tony's Vault that focuses on the wellbeing and health of livestock as opposed to simply turning a profit. Many wholesalers have a tendency to do what could be considered "flipping" livestock – they get in an order of fish/corals and have it available for sale within days. This means many of the beautiful specimens you see at your local fish store were most likely halfway across the world just a few days ago, swimming (or slowly building a calcium carbonate skeleton) along, minding their own business. They've then likely been bagged, boxed, air-freighted, un-boxed, un-bagged, acclimated for a day or two just to be bagged, boxed and air-freighted, then go through the unpacking and acclimation process all over again at your local retailer. Clearly this can be a stressful situation for the animals, resulting in a high rate of loss for both re-sellers and customers. Hydra and Tony's Vault, a division of Vargas Reef Enterprises, have been working in conjunction to offer a gentler option, holding livestock for a minimum of two weeks before releasing it for wholesale. The result? Hardier, happier, healthier fish and corals less prone to disease and parasites. The whole operation will remain relatively small for the time being, a "boutique", if you will (sorry, ladies, no shoes), focusing on quality rather than quantity and turnover. This coming Saturday, January 17, 2015, Hydra Aquatics International will be launching their grand opening, where their facility will be open for tours to the public. While unfortunately you won't be able to make any purchases, you'll be<|fim_middle|> the art filtration from companies like Bashsea) as well as ogle the gorgeous livestock from Bali, Australia, The Philippines, Fiji, Hawaii, Indonesia, Africa and other sustainable areas they'll be offering. | able to get a peak at their sleek, streamlined systems (with state of | 15 |
Below is a trailer and a list of special showings of the new film Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with the Future, the first-ever documentary about the "Father of Space Art" and the winner of two Best Documentary Awards: Comic-Con (San Diego) and the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival. Space artist Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986) was also an architect that worked on the Chrysler Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, and became a special-effects matte artist in Hollywood. In a 1944 Life Magazine article, his breath-taking illustrations of planets in our solar system ignited a desire in readers to explore "The Final Frontier." His futuristic paintings went on to appear in countless science fiction magazines and books. So impactful were his illustrations that he is credited with helping to inspire America's Space Program.
Following the screening, a Q&A will take place with Producer/Director/Writer Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. Joining him will be Co-Producers Ron Miller, renowned space artist and author of more than fifty books about art, science and space, and Melvin Schuetz, Bonestell historian and author of A Chesley Bonestell Space Art Chronology. Dr. Michael Neufeld, a Senior Curator of the Space History Department at the National Air and Space Museum, will moderate the Q&A.
A Q&A will be held after the screening with Douglass M. Stewart, Jr., Christina Dikas (Senior Architectural Historian at Page & Turnbull, Inc.), Robert E. David (Architect and Photographer), Wyn Wachhor<|fim_middle|> Ben Burtt and photographer Robert E. David. This screening is open to the public.
A Q&A with Producer/Writer/Director Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. and film participant Robert E. David will take place after the screening. Free admission. | st (Author of The Dream of Spaceflight), and Filoli's Head Curator and Collection Manager Julie Bly DeVere. This event is open to the public. Chesley Bonestell created the designs for Filoli while working for architect William Polk. This entire property is now a part of the National Trust. Guests at this screening will receive a glass of champagne, and Chesley's original drawings of Filoli will be on display. An added bonus is that the grounds and gardens will be in full bloom at this time of year!
Location: Vintage House 264 First St. East, Sonoma, CA 95476. A Q&A with Producer/Writer/Director Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. will take place after the screening. Joining him will be two of the film's participants: Oscar-winning Sound Designer | 174 |
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Gaydon
Andy Palmer on board today as Aston Martin CEO
Tags: Gaydon, Corporate, People
by Neil Allison
Aston Martin's workforce welcomed the company's new CEO today as production paused briefly for the arrival of Andy Palmer on his first day on the job.
> Back to home
Dr Palmer, a British-born chartered engineer, chartered manager and businessman with 35 years of automotive industry experience, started his tenure by introducing himself to assembled staff of the Gaydon, Warwickshire headquarters and production facility. Palmer then asked them to pose for a photograph for Twitter.
<|fim_middle|> the following languages: -
Aston Martin embarks on landmark world championship motorsport programme
Lagonda Vision Concept - A new kind of luxury mobility
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro makes world debut at Geneva Show
AM Magazine Online
Vanquish S Ultimate Super GT
Aston Martin News | As the new Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd., Palmer, 51, assumes operational responsibility for all aspects of the Aston Martin business. He will lead the company in its next phase of technology and product creation, succeeding Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin's CEO for the past 14 years.
He described joining Aston Martin from Nissan as a decision of the head and the heart and promised to lead the brand forward into a new era of growth.
Palmer said: "Being asked to lead Aston Martin, an iconic brand with tremendous global recognition and potential, was an opportunity impossible to refuse. Together we will create the next generation of Aston Martin products for the future."
Palmer started his professional career in 1979 aged 16, as an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited (UK). After six years with Austin Rover, he joined Nissan in 1991 and went on to a 24-year career culminating as Chief Planning Officer.
In 2012, Palmer was named the automotive industry's most influential British executive by Auto Express, and in 2013, the world's third most influential Chief Marketing Officer by the CMO Influence Study, conducted by marketing firm Appinions for Forbes magazine.
Palmer was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the British automotive industry.
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This article is available in | 309 |
Today we're reading Proverbs 27:14-27.
If you leave your ice cream bowl on the counter, it will warm up to room temperature and melt. If you leave your coffee on the same counter, it will cool off to room temperature as well. Left alone, things drift toward mediocrity. That's how the world works.
It's also how business works. In verses 23-27, Solomon urges farmers to pay close attention to their flocks and herds (v. 23) because things that are valuable decay without routine maintenance and careful attention (v. 24).
Likewise, if you pay attention to things that are valuable and cultivate them, you will prosper (vv. 25-27). These are helpful instructions for us to consider as we come to the end of 2017. Are there areas in your life that you've stopped paying attention to? Anything that is<|fim_middle|> like a garden. It doesn't need constant, intense attention, but consistent, proper attention. If something is wilting but hasn't died yet, you can often restore it with the right kind of attention. Take a few minutes now and think about your walk with God, your personal health and growth, your family, your work, and anything else that comes to mind. What in these areas needs attention? What kind of attention and how much? Learn what "the condition of your flocks" is, then "give careful attention" to them. They will pay you back benefits in the future (vv. 25-27). | drifting, coasting, lacking your attention? Whether you realize it or not, those areas are drifting toward mediocrity or worse. That's the bad news.
The good news is that much of life is | 42 |
Category Archives: Animals and turbines
Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Cost Benefit, Direct Effects, Environment, harm to wildlife, Health, Uncategorized, Unite the Fight!
No wind turbines on Great Lakes
April 19, 2019 mum4kids 1 Comment
Wolfe Island Wind Turbines
Boating Industry|April 9, 2019
MBIA urges boaters to voice their opposition to wind turbines in the Great Lakes
The Michigan Boating Industries Association, along with environmental groups, boating associations, and property owners are urging boaters to raise their voice in opposition of the proposed Icebreaker wind power turbines in Lake Erie.
Nicki Polan, executive director of MBIA says: "MBIA is not opposed to alternative sources of energy. But, regarding wind farms in our Great Lakes, we find far too many unanswered questions and documented risks to the health and aesthetics of these unique and often times fragile bodies of water. We stand opposed to plans such as the one being considered in Ohio now and we encourage all boaters and boating businesses to join us in communicating this to Ohio."
Michigan borders on four of the five Great Lakes including a large portion of Lake Erie. Many Michigan residents' boat on Lake Erie, and many Michigan businesses and citizens live and work along its shores.
Only 2.5% of the world's water is fresh water, and 20% of that is coming from the Great Lakes.
"Building wind turbines in Lake Erie will threaten clean water, boating access, one of the world's best perch and walleye fisheries, bird migration, the safety and health of coastal residents, and so much more," said Polan.
The initial goal of the Icebreaker plan is to place 6 wind turbines, with a final goal of 1,200 wind turbines in Lake Erie, costing an estimated $24 billion.
"Wind power has proved to be very high cost with low return," said MBIA Board Member Jim Coburn of Coburn & Associated in Macomb, Mich. "Many wind turbine projects in the U.S. and overseas have been abandoned because of this. Why this is even being considered in our Great Lakes is beyond me."
The case against turbines is extensive, including the fact that exploding and burning turbines can be commonplace. Each turbine contains over 400 gallons of industrial lubricants in their gearboxes.Gearbox seals are known to fail and will leak oil into the waters below. But when they burn there is no way to reach and extinguish them. As the 300-foot turbine blades burn, they create toxic emissions polluting the air and waters below.
Source: Boating Industry
Animals and turbines, Destruction from turbines, Direct Effects, Environment, harm to wildlife
White-Tailed Eagle Collision with Industrial Wind Turbine
April 5, 2019 mum4kids 1 Comment
"A wind turbine located at northern Hokkaido, Japan with a high risk of bird strikes was monitored using a webcam surveillance system that was activated during the daytime every day from December 2013 to March 2014, which was the wintering season for the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). A collision carcass of the white-tailed sea eagle was observed at the wind turbine on January 29, 2014 at 15:00. On analysis of the recorded data, we found that the moment of the collision was captured by both cameras."
Turbine strike of White-tailed Eagle January 29, 2014
(Video 13 seconds length)
Unser Dorf hat Zukunft? Oder werden unsere Dörfer zerstört?/Our village has a future? Or are our villages destroyed?
(Video 4:59 minutes)
Animals and turbines, Direct Effects, Environment, harm to wildlife
Avoidance=Habitat Loss
March 30, 2019 mum4kids 1 Comment
Wind industry in damage control over avian deaths and significant adverse environmental impacts of avoidance of essential ecosystems such as migration corridors. Reading spin below it begs many questions least is how do dead raptors, birds and bats killed by wind turbines "learn"?
For a sobering reading of industry generated reports (self counted and self reported) of avian kills at wind facilities submitted to a voluntary data base please review: Bird Study Canada
Freedom of information requests made by citizens in Ontario demonstrate industry reported kill rates are much worse: Bird-Bat-Mortality-SUMMARY
Journal for the Energy Transition|March 5, 2019|Benjamin Wehrmann
Many migrating birds have learned to avoid potentially deadly wind turbines, but this behaviour equals a loss of habitat for the animals, researcher Ana Teresa Marques and others write in the Journal of Animal Ecology. "Soaring birds are among the most affected groups with alarming fatality rates by collision with wind turbines and an escalating occupation of their migratory corridors," the researchers write. They equipped 130 migrating black kites with tracking devices to trace their travel routes at the migratory bottleneck of the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco — an area that is crucial for many bird species and which is also used for wind power production — and found that the animals fly about 700 metres around the turbines, effectively reducing the area available for the birds to migrate by up to 14 percent. "Authorities should recognise this further impact of wind energy production and establish new regulations that protect soaring habitat," the researchers write.
Wind power in Germany has seen increasing resistance in recent years not least due to its possible negative effects on wildlife. Germany's Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) recently said that more attention had to be given to the impact of renewable power development on habitats and species. "An ecologically sound renewable roll-out is possible," BfN president Beate Jessel said. Environmental NGO Nabu estimates about 100,000 birds in the country could be killed by rotor blades each year. To put this figure into perspective: Environmental organisation Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND) says that about 18 million birds in Germany die every year by crashing into windows.
Source: Journal for the Energy Transition
Griffon Vulture hit by wind turbine in Crete (Video Duration: 5 minutes 54 seconds)
Wind turbines cause functional habitat loss for migratory soaring birds
Ana T. Marques; Carlos D. Santos; Frank Hanssen;Antonio‐Román Muñoz;Alejandro Onrubia;Martin Wikelski;Francisco Moreira;Jorge Manuel Palmeirim;João P. Silva
First published: 14 February 2019
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12961
Wind energy production has expanded to meet climate change mitigation goals, but negative impacts of wind turbines have been reported on wildlife. Soaring birds are among the most affected groups with alarming fatality rates by collision with wind turbines and an escalating occupation of their migratory corridors. These birds have been described as changing their flight trajectories to avoid wind turbines, but this behaviour may lead to functional habitat loss, as suitable soaring areas in the proximity of wind turbines will likely be underused.
We modelled the displacement effect of wind turbines on black kites (Milvus migrans) tracked by GPS. We also evaluated the impact of this effect at the scale of the landscape by estimating how much suitable soaring area was lost to wind turbines.
We used state‐of‐the‐art tracking devices to monitor the movements of 130 black kites in an area populated by wind turbines, at the migratory bottleneck of the Strait of Gibraltar. Landscape use by birds was mapped from GPS data using dynamic Brownian bridge movement models, and generalized additive mixed modelling was used to estimate the effect of wind turbine proximity on bird use while accounting for orographic and thermal uplift availability.
We found that areas up to approximately 674 m away from the turbines were less used than expected given their uplift potential. Within that distance threshold, bird use decreased with the proximity to wind turbines. We estimated that the footprint of wind turbines affected 3%–14% of the areas suitable for soaring in our study area.
We present evidence that the impacts of wind energy industry on soaring birds are greater than previously acknowledged. In addition to the commonly reported fatalities, the avoidance of turbines by soaring birds causes habitat losses in their movement corridors. Authorities should recognize this further impact of wind energy production and establish new regulations that protect soaring habitat. We also showed that soaring habitat for birds can be modelled at a fine scale using publicly available data. Such an approach can be used to plan low‐impact placement of turbines in new wind energy developments.
Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Health, Stray Voltage
Cows are dying & humans are sick since Nozay wind opened
Since the opening of the Nozay wind farm, cows are dying and humans are sick
25 mars 2019 / Thibault Dumas (Mediacités)
(Original article in French)
Nozay, Northern France
Animals dying, sick men, two farmers on the verge of financial asphyxiation … Since the installation of a wind farm in 2012 in Nozay, between Nantes and Rennes, state services are clueless in the face of effects secondary as alarming as unexplained. A situation that preoccupies the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Nozay (Loire-Atlantique), report
In a steady whirring, the blades of wind turbines crack the air, a hundred meters overhanging pastures. The west wind blows and the sky comes alive on this winter Wednesday, around Nozay (Loire-Atlantique), along the N137, which connects Nantes to Rennes. At the foot of eight turbines running at full speed, prefectural orders pile up, nailed to wooden posts. " It's sure our story is a crazy story ," sighs, looking right into the eyes, a local farmer. On the side of the prefecture of Loire-Atlantique, it concedes, through the voice of its secretary general, Serge Boulanger, " [ we ] are in front of an atypical situation, for which we must find explanations ".
This " crazy story " today affects dozens of inhabitants of four neighboring municipalities (Nozay, Abbaretz, Puceul, Saffré) and strikes two farms mainly [ 1 ] , installed around wind turbines. " We are going to burst in every sense of the term, financially or at the level of our health ", alarmed the farmer Céline Bouvet, 44 years old, as determined as exhausted by five years of a Kafkaesque fight led to his side. counterpart Didier Potiron, 50 years old. Neither is described as " anti-wind " . They even declined all the offers of service of collective opponents.
" The chronological coincidence with the construction work and then the start-up of the wind turbine is disturbing enough to justify further investigations "
French farmers say their cattle are dying from electricity generated by wind turbines, solar panels
The Blaze Toledo|March 27, 2918
Animals and turbines, Shadow Flicker, The problem with Wind Turbines
Hidden Dangers of Wind Towers
Dear Publisher:
On Jan. 12, after a big snow, I was feeding my 83 feeder calves as I've done every day since I weaned them in October. I was also sorting out a few as I planned to sell the majority the next week.
It was in the late afternoon and the sun was shining on the snow. All of a sudden the calves stampeded out of the feed lot, hitting the gate, breaking off the corner posts and flattening another fence. By the grace of God I was out of the way or I'd been fatally injured as the stampede was quick and fast. The calves calmed down and came back to eat, but soon stampeded again. This time I noticed the cause. Since the sun is lower in the winter and the wind turbine was just barely turning, a big black shadow from the wind turbine blades was quietly and slowly moving up behind the calves on top of the snow, spooking them. One was killed and two were crippled.
Besides the loss of these three calves, I will have the expense and labor of fixing my fences when the weather is fit. I noticed the same thing happening again with the shadow. Conditions have to be just right – snow on the ground, sun low in the sky, and a light breeze from the southwest slowly turning the turbine blades. Since the calves I had confined in the lot before had been sold, there wasn't a stampede. In the "Successful Farming" magazine, February 2019, there's the article, "Ways to Stay Safe While Handling Cattle" by Libby Eiholzer, Specialist. In it is stated, "Cattle also have poor depth perception, which can cause them to be nervous in the dark, around shadows, and skittish of foreign objects."
I have fed and sorted cattle on this concrete floor for over 50 years and have never had a problem with them stampeding. I had nothing to say about this wind tower causing the problem as it isn't on my land, but I shouldn't have to take this loss. I feel this is an injustice to me as I was here long before the wind turbine. I can't get insurance coverage on my cattle for this type of loss as it is a man-made hazard. I raise cattle on my land without infringing on the rights of others and I believe this should be the same with those who produce energy.
Iowa agriculture has an exemption to county zoning in the Iowa Code (Iowa Code 335.2). Yet a few years ago I was threatened by the Madison County Zoning Commission that I could be fined $750.00 a day. They wrote that I must obtain a county permit, something I didn't need under the Iowa Code as a farmer erecting a farm shop to be used for farming purposes on a farm zoned for agriculture.
The wind tower southwest of my farm was erected on land zoned only for agriculture and which never has been rezoned. This tower was also erected without notifying me of any hazards it might cause. The stampede as a result of the wind tower shadow could have caused my death or the death of a helper, since it was an unforeseen occurrence. The shadow from the tower blades will be a hazard to me and any future owners of this farm as long as the wind turbine is in its present location.
The only solution that will correct this situation is the removal of the turbine.
Art Knutson
Letter published| Winterset Madisonian, Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Animals and turbines, Destruction from turbines, Direct Effects, Environment, Green Energy, harm to wildlife
Green Job~ Carrion Collector
Looking for work? Need a job?
Wanna work in the clean green, environmentally sustainable renewable energy field? Gotta a lead on a job for you!
Wildlife Field Technician – 19400000926
Tetra Tech Inc. is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide. Our reputation rests on the technical expertise and dedication of our employees—17,000 people working together across disciplines and time zones to provide smart, sustainable solutions for challenging projects. We are proud to be home to leading technical experts in water, environment, infrastructure, resource management, energy, and international development. Tetra Tech combines the resources of a global, multibillion-dollar company with local, client-focused delivery in 412 locations around the world. We offer competitive compensation and benefits and are searching for innovative people to join our teams.
Tetra Tech, Inc. is currently seeking a Wildlife Field Technician working as an avian and bat fatality monitor near Minot, ND. Field work for this part-time position includes working 35-40 hours every other week in spring, summer, fall, and once each month in winter.
The field work begins mid-March 2019 and continues through March 2020, with the possibility of a second year of surveys. Fatality monitoring applicants must be willing to commit to 3 full field days every other week, including daily travel to and from the field location. The technicians will be responsible for their own housing throughout the study period.
The primary responsibility of this position is to implement a post-construction fatality monitoring program at an operational wind facility
The program is inclusive of fatality searches, adhering to standardized protocols as trained, and keeping detailed datasheets
Candidates who have previous field experience with birds and/or bats are preferred
Candidates must be able to walk for extended periods of time, be able to effectively handle exposure to weather extremes, and interaction with bird and bat carcasses
Field technicians may work independently and must be able to communicate and coordinate effectively with other field crew members, Tetra Tech supervisors, and site management
Field Technicians will be required to follow all wind facility-specific and Tetra Tech safety protocols and will be expected to provide their own suitable footwear (reinforced-toed hiking boots) and weather appropriate field gear
Salary will be commensurate with experience
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION:
Bachelor's degree in natural resources, wildlife management, wildlife biology or equivalent degree preferred
Individuals currently seeking degree and/or other enthusiastic workers are encouraged to apply
Good bird and/or bat identification skills for species in the region
Prior field experience with wildlife
Must be able to work independently and with others, and interact positively with project managers, clients, and landowners
Experience with 4×4 vehicles, valid driver's license and clean driving record
Valid driver's license is required
Skilled use of topographic maps, GPS units, and other field equipment
Must be able to follow instructions from manager and collect precise and thorough data
Must be able to work with electronic data collection protocols and data submission timing requirements
Must be skilled with communication, have the ability to maintain positive attitude and to accept guidance and constructive criticism
Investigation into driving record will be conducted upon hire
Driving record must meet standards set to operate motor vehicle on behalf of Tetra Tech
Background check will be conducted on final candidates
Candidates must be able to pass drug screen prior to employment
READ at Source
Animals and turbines, Cost Benefit, Destruction from turbines, Direct Effects, fighting big wind., harm to wildlife, Media stories...
Lake Erie ecosystem under threat by off shore wind turbines
August 12, 2018 mum4kids 1 Comment
The Blade|By:Steve Pollack|August 11, 2018
Proposed Icebreaker wind project is not what it seems
It is hard to know where to start dissecting the slick spin-doctoringrecently published in The Blade's Op-Ed pages by LEEDCo, the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp., which wants to erect North America's first freshwater offshore wind-turbines in central Lake Erie off Cleveland.
So-doing would reach far beyond the scope of a newspaper "op-ed." Beth Nagusky, LEEDCo's director of sustainable development, is a master at cherrypicking and parading obscure statements as a fait-accompli. Her contentions about the goodness of the proposed six-unit Icebreaker Wind power-generation project, some seven miles offshore, lie between premature and erroneous.
RELATED: Turbines are part of a clean energy future for northern Ohio
They are a masterful act of dissembling, distraction, distortion, and deception. Perhaps "MisLEEDCo" would more appropriate.
Ms. Nagusky has posited that Icebreaker's towering turbines would kill few birds and bats, a claim that simply does not hold up under scrutiny. This is shown clearly for anyone who assesses it thoughtfully.
LEEDCo is betting on the glitter of such buzz-<|fim_middle|> just a "windustry" spin-doctor's selective fantasizing.
Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Contracts Cancelled, Cost Benefit, Destruction from turbines, Direct Effects, ERT Appeal, fighting big wind., Green Energy, Health, Lack of municipal power in planning
Fairness for the people
July 28, 2018 mum4kids 1 Comment
OP ED: Who deserves fairness and equity?
By Gary Mooney|The Times|July 25, 2018
Since 2007, County groups and individuals have been fighting wind turbine projects in PEC on environmental, human health, cultural heritage and economic grounds. We are grateful that the PC government has taken decisive action to cancel wpd Canada's White Pines wind project.
In a recent open letter to Premier Ford, Dr. Hartmut Brosamle, CEO of wpd AG, asks for reconsideration of the government's decision to cancel White Pines, because the cancellation is causing the company "serious damage through no fault of its own". Some comments are appropriate regarding fault.
wpd Canada and, by extension, its German parent wpd AG, have exhibited major failings or faults with regard to their pursuit of the White Pines wind project:
WRONG LOCATION
wpd originally chose a location that is the last stretch of undeveloped land on Lake Ontario, on a major bird migration route, much of it within an Important Bird Area. This area is home to multiple endangered species, including Blanding's turtle and little brown bat. As well, the South Shore is an area of significant cultural heritage value, dating back to UEL days.
wpd instructed its sales agents to sign up landowners to host wind turbines secretly, with no notice to the community, and required those landowners to agree to nondisclosure of contract terms.
BIASED CONSULTANTS
wpd hired consultants who provided it with incomplete and flawed reports to legitimize the project, especially with regard to environmental issues and cultural heritage concerns. Citizens' groups and individuals had to hire their own lawyers and consultants and launch appeals costing about $700,000 to present the other side.
wpd ignored the results of a 2012 plebiscite in South Marysburgh Ward, where the project is located. Ninety per cent of those who voted (turnout similar to that for municipal elections) rejected wind turbines in their ward.
NO ENGAGEMENT
wpd never engaged in a real two-way dialogue with the community; instead it proceeded most of the time as if the County was unpopulated.
wpd ignored the position of PEC Council, which declared itself in 2013 to be an unwilling host to wind turbines.
wpd failed to deliver 75 per cent of the contracted capacity required by its FIT contract, and failed to meet contract deadlines.
UNDERESTIMATION
wpd underestimated the resolve of local groups to protect County residents, the natural environment and cultural heritage, and the many County residents who funded their efforts.
PROVINCIAL ELECTION
wpd ignored the fact of a coming provincial election and an anticipated change of government to one opposing the Green Energy Act and wind turbine projects.
RECKLESS DECISION
wpd made a reckless decision to proceed with construction of the downsized project without final approval by IESO. Wpd is the author of its own misfortune.
Via the Green Energy Act, the Liberal government suspended democracy as regards renewable energy development and, for nine years, completely ignored the wishes of citizens and municipalities. The PC government was elected in part because of its willingness to listen to the people.
Despite all of the failings listed above, Dr. Brosalme asks for "fairness and equity" for wpd. How many such failings are necessary to disqualify wpd from reconsideration of the government's decision: only one? maybe three? even all ten?
We in the County have been seeking fairness and equity regarding wind turbine projects for more than a decade, involving many thousands of hours of volunteer time. It's the government's choice, and we are grateful that it has made a choice "for the people".
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the strong support that Todd Smith has provided to our community and our cause since he became MPP in 2011. It's been good to know that he's had our back at Queen's Park.
Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Children Affected, Contracts Cancelled, Cost Benefit, Environment, Green Energy, Ontario Wind
7 Steps to Repeal Green Energy Act
Mother's Against Wind Turbines Inc. (MAWTI), is calling for an immediate moratorium on the operations of current wind energy facilities in the province and the cessation of approvals of future projects. We have prepared the following brief which has been delivered to the Premier Doug Ford, as well as mailed to all MPP's with a portfolio and a mailed copy was also sent to each MPP that is an assistant to a minister with a portfolio.
Please consider our document and distribute as you determine.
7 Steps to Repeal Ontario's Green Energy Act 2009- MAWTI
Adverse Health Effects, Animals and turbines, harm to wildlife, Health, Noise
International Wind Turbine Noise Conference 2019
June 1, 2018 mum4kids 1 Comment
Enercon Wind Turbine- Niagara Wind located in Southern Ontario
2019 Theme and Subjects
When: June 12-14, 2019 Where: Lisbon
Consolidating our Knowledge
In 2019 we would like to devote a part of the conference to consolidating what we know. As Bo Sondergard said when I suggested that to him "there is no single point in time, our knowledge is always on the move". That's true, but I think it would be a good time to try to pull together, perhaps in literature reviews, what we know about:
Annoyance and other effects on people
Predicting background noise level
Amplitude Modulation
Modelling Source Noise
And, of course, what we don't know – so where the research energy should go next.
Otherwise, we still want general papers and here are a few areas where more work is required:
Does background noise vary with seasons?
How well does background noise mask turbine noise?
Small turbines – they can be as much a problem as large.
Cyclical Pitch Control. Can it help reduce AM or overall sound power?
How do meteorological conditions affect propagation?
More dose response tests on turbine audible noise to allow us to produce more robust regulations.
More ways of reducing trailing edge noise.
And, of course any other subjects that are useful to further the knowledge of Wind Turbine Noise.
Dick Bowdler
More Information: International Conferences on Noise 2019 | words as "economic impact, jobs, and clean energy" to substantiate its stance that somehow the pre-construction research on Icebreaker's impact is all said and done and we can gleefully ride off into a lovely green-energy future. Wrong.
It claims that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared the project a low risk to birds and bats. Wrong again. The Service ruled that the project only posed a low risk to a few particular endangered species. It rejected the initial Icebreaker environmental assessment (EA), citing several insufficiencies in regard to birds and bats. The final EA has yet to be filed. No one, including LEEDCo, has seen it yet.
Among other unsettled issues, the required technology to monitor post-construction bird and bat mortality simply does not exist. And additional studies, including meaningful radar studies of migrations through the turbine zone, should be mandatory.
In its sugarcoating, LEEDCo ignores saying that the initial six units are just the tip of the iceberg. If the Ohio Power Siting Board and related agencies give the green light, this project opens a Pandora's Box to hundreds or thousands more turbines on Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes. Any negative impacts would be magnified by orders of magnitude.
The state of New York has issued a moratorium on offshore wind for just such considerations, as has the province of Ontario, which alone has put 1,250 proposed offshore Erie wind turbines "on hold" while it assesses Icebreaker deliberations. Do you think that the giant Fred Olsen Renewables, of Oslo, Norway, would bother with building just six units here? The big money lies in hundreds. A proposed "buildout" after Icebreaker may run to 1,600 turbines.
So this really is not just six little old turbines and a few dead birds and bats. The migratory pathway and wintering grounds of millions of birds, and migratory bats as well, lie in the paths of a potential phalanx of towering 500-foot rotors. Out of sight, out of mind, is no justification.
LEEDCo is counting on the public not bothering with facts. Ms. Nagusky singled out Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) for its criticism of poor, incomplete science that LEEDCo's hired-gun consultants have proffered about unknown and likely devastating impacts of arrays of offshore turbines. This in the heart of what the National Audubon Society and BirdLife International has declared a Globally Important Bird Area.
The Ohio Power Siting Board staff has attached a daunting list of conditions to its preliminary analysis. Last October, contrary to LEEDCo pretentions, the USF&WS argued that a still-unapproved environmental assessment is insufficient. Instead a more serious, detailed, environmental impact statement should be drawn. Yet LEEDCo proselytizes incorrectly that a waffling preliminary assessment means that Icebreaker is clean and green.
BSBO's analysis has been dogged over many months. Its conservation committee includes a professional engineer, an environmental law attorney, and no less than three lifetime professional wildlife and fisheries biologists. Contentions down Cleveland-way that the anti-LEEDCo campaign is an animal of the beleaguered coal industry is just another distraction. The project needs to stand on its own scientific merits, not smoke-and-mirrors……
This project should be stayed unless or until it can assure minimal wildlife impacts based on the most rigorous science. The public should thoughtfully educate itself on the project before forming opinion. Icebreaker is the first small wave in a floodtide. Read the record, not | 738 |
French-German design student Geraldine Spilker has developed a process of binding ashes with resin, creating a tactile object from cremated remains (+ slideshow).
In response to a recent increase in the number of cremations, Geraldine Spilker's project, Memento – After Time Elapsed, provides an alternative way to keep ashes that could replace the traditional urn.
"The choice of what to do with ashes is very limited," said Spilker. "They are put in the ground, scattered or preserved. In the latter case, they will be put in an urn – an alien object, most commonly made from synthetic material."
She proposes creating a small tactile object that can be held and interacted with, made from the ashes of the deceased bound with resin.
The object is completely biodegradable<|fim_middle|> cope with grief for the first time.
Spilker intends to develop the project to offer a solution for human remains too. | , so the remains can be returned to the earth when the family is ready.
"Memento makes it possible to hold, caress and carry around the ashes," Spilker said. "It moves away from the static existence of an urn, to a gentle dynamic of picking up, touching, playing and observing."
"The abstract shape permits the grieving ones space for interpretation and imagination," she added. "It provides more options in the processing of loss."
Spilker developed the idea and prototypes while studying at Design Academy Eindhoven.
So far she has worked with the ashes of animals, and believes the project helps children who have lost pets | 127 |
Lew Wasserman
lew-wasserman-450x600.jpg
Date of Birth: March 23, 1913
Date of Passing: June 03<|fim_middle|> Wasserman in the Hall of Fame Garden.
Lew Wasserman Hall of Fame Induction 1996
Lew Wasserman: Hall of Fame Tribute | , 2002
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
More about Lew Wasserman at:
Hall of Fame Tribute
Lew Wasserman was an American talent agent and studio executive, in a career spanning more than six decades.
He became a booking agent for the Music Corporation of America (MCA). Under Wasserman, MCA branched out into representing actors and actresses in addition to musicians and in the process created the star system, which drove up prices for studios. As an agency, Wasserman's MCA came to dominate Hollywood, representing such stars as Bette Davis and Ronald Reagan.
Lew Wasserman was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1996.
No Nominations | 1 Honor
Hall of Fame - 1996
Lew Wasserman, as Honoree
The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more
Plaque of Lew | 192 |
<|fim_middle|> Earth Mover's Distance for estimating how well a true ordinal distribution is estimated by a predicted distribution.
| Q: Appropriate divergence measure for a distribution over ordinal values I would like to measure the divergence (or, more appropriately, symmetric difference) between two distributions $P$ and $D$. In general, you could consider using a measure like Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD). However, consider the case in which we are attempting to judge our predictions of the distribution of scores for an olympic diver. If the scores are out of 5, and the true distribution is $[0, 0, 0, 1.0, 0]$, then a guess of $[0, 0, 0, 0, 1.0]$ is much better than a guess of $[1.0, 0, 0, 0, 0]$. However, to a measure like JSD or Kullback–Leibler, these guesses are equally bad, since the distribution is assumed to be over categorical outcomes as affirmed here.
Are there any accepted ways of comparing these distributions given the assumption that the distribution is over items that can be considered to have an ordering? Simply smoothing the predictions would have this effect to some degree, but that would require adding more parameters (i.e., smoothing strength) and I'm not sure how valid it would be.
A: The earth mover distance could do the trick. Informally, it considers distributions as a piles of dirt. The dirt can be moved, with an associated cost given by the amount of dirt moved times the distance it's moved. The distance from distribution A to distribution B is the minimum possible cost of moving dirt to transform A into B.
A: One paper you can check is https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=2911451.2914749 ; the authors indeed use the | 377 |
What is better WordRake or GrammarCheck? If you're getting a tough time deciding on the best Grammar Checker Software product for your circumstances, we suggest that you do a comparison of the available software and discover which tool offers more advantages. For example, here you can review WordRake (overall score: 6.9; user rating: 88<|fim_middle|> test dozens of various products, so we came up with a list of recommendations that you may find useful. Our top selections for the Grammar Checker Software category are: Ginger Software, Grammarly, Reverso.
No Grammar Checker Software will be able to cater to all the requirements of a business. While key functionalities of WordRake and GrammarCheck are obviously a priority you should also carefully examine the integrations supported by each product. In many cases you will already be making use of some other B2B software in your company and it's always more beneficial to select services that integrate well with each other. With that approach you will be able to be certain of a reliable exchange of data between your teams and apps, which can really reduce time spent on migrating between one service and the other. | %) vs. GrammarCheck (overall score: 8.4; user rating: 100%) for their overall performance.
You can even see which one provides more tools that you need or which has more suitable pricing plans for your current situation. Using a clear table to match their features will significantly boost the chances of finding the appropriate product for your company. Take a closer look at other aspects of the software for example if it's easy to use, flexibility, scalability, and pricing terms.
We know that not all people have the time to | 110 |
Design poufs are very versatile pieces. They can serve as seat, footrest and also as side table. Maybe that's why they are so popular right now. Certainly, if you want your home or your establishment to be up with the<|fim_middle|>, it is upholstered in real denim, simulating the jeans design, turning it into our most original pouf. Find the one that best suits your personal taste in this section, and take advantage of our discounts. | latest trends in decoration, this is an element that cannot be missed in your home decoration.
In SuperStudio we have an interesting variety of models, varying from a classical to modern style, upholstered, soft or rigid models or made of hard plastic materials for use on terraces or pools. Indoor, they can be useful to save space. Outdoor, they are very practical as they may be moved easily from one place to another and they also provide a fun and unique touch.
For the lovers of the 60s retro chic style, the Cúbicopouf would be the perfect choice. The reticular form of its upholstery reminds us of the famous Mies sofa. It is available in two colours, white or black, and also in two different sizes, to suit your needs. If you love the feeling of a slight spongy sinking when sitting down, the Cube2 pouf is the ideal one for you. Smooth and soft, but stable at the same time. The outer fabric is leatherette and you can choose from three colours: white, red and black.
For outdoor use, we recommend the Taffy model. It is made of neoprene and polyethylene, the best combination to withstand inclement weather and extreme temperatures. If you mix several of them, the result will be much more attractive, bringing vitality and freshness to the environment. Other outdoor options are the Moma Low and Chubby Low poufs. Both are made of polyethylene resin, a very resistant material and light at the same time. This allows continued use almost whitout deterioration. In addition, their lightness allows floating in the water so they are perfect models if you have a pool.
Finally, we can not forget one of the most outstanding models of our collection: the Jeans Stool. The interior structure is made of MDF chipboard to provide stability. It is then coated with high density foam for additional comfort. And finally | 391 |
But now, a new study published in the journal BMJ Open might change all that: Researchers found that people actually lost weight while eating pasta.
The whole point of the study was actually to determine whether or not pasta made people gain<|fim_middle|> dietitian who was not affiliated with the study. "But it does show that pasta is not the devil and can be part of a balanced diet."
So, unfortunately, your dreams of blissfully noshing on pasta for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and losing a bunch of weight are probably not going to come true.
Also, it's super important to note that the study participants didn't overeat pasta. Instead, they stuck to smaller servings, which they probably mixed with other things. "When you use a cup of cooked pasta and add in a lot of veggies and some fish, it's a very satisfying meal," says Julie Upton, R.D., and co-founder of Appetite for Health.
If you love pasta but have been nervous about eating it lately, Upton recommends doing this: Try to keep your plate of pasta as one-half veggies, one-quarter pasta, and one-quarter lean protein. If you can do that, you should be good to go. | weight. So researchers analysed 32 randomised control trials of about 2,500 people who ate a low glycemic index (GI) diet, consuming pasta instead of other forms of carbohydrates.
In case you're not familiar with it, the glycemic index is used to rate how quickly foods impact your blood sugar levels. High GI foods generally include things processed or simple carbs like white rice, white bread, and potatoes; healthier foods like milk, fruit, lentils (and yes: pasta) are considered low GI. Low GI foods keep you fuller longer, while high GI foods will leave you craving a snack way faster.
The participants ate about 3.3 servings of about a half cup of pasta on average each week. Over 12 weeks, they lost a little more than a pound on average. Not a ton—but hey, a pound is a pound.
There's a catch, though. The researchers point out in their conclusion that eating pasta as part of a low GI diet is likely what helped these people lose weight—not the pasta alone.
"I don't believe that pasta is the reason people in these studies lost weight and reduced their BMI—it is much more likely that having dietary support and knowing someone was going to judge you on your size/weight motivated these individuals to stick to their diets," says Gina Keatley, a | 273 |
Hurry! Class sizes are limited - sign up today!
Here then<|fim_middle|> notice. | is this month's list of classes. Please visit the class description page on the menu above to see all of the many other classes that we offer. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced beading and jewelry making classes in every medium to suit every level and every learning need. In most cases, no experience necessary!
Drat! Do your and our schedules pass like ships in the night? We'll try to fix that - Just call to today to see if we can arrange a private class as no extra charge. Contact us if you see a class that hasn't been on the schedule in a while - we'll do our best to fit it in!
Registration is easy - just call, or stop in to save your seat - 484-524-8231. Class fees are due at time of reservation. Class materials ie: beads and findings are to be purchased from Buttercup Beads, at time of class. Tools and staples like needles and Fireline may be brought to class. If you have been buying your beads at Buttercup, then of course you may bring them into class. The only exception is if a Kit is indicated - Kits must be purchased for class when stipulated. Thank you for adhering to our class policies.
as well as the dates, times, and fees for each class.
Andrea Mazzenga's Classes are always open!
Call the store to schedule a private class!
Open Beading Soiree - 6pm - till?
Hey, we get it - schtuff happens.
Our Official Class Cancellation Policy.
We understand that once in a while "schtuff happens" that may make you need to cancel attending your fantastic class. We're sorry that these types of things insist on interfering with your beading world and please know that we understand and will certainly miss you in class.
Give us a head's up. So here's what happens if (gasp!) - you (or we) need to cancel a class: In order to compensate for our teacher's professional time and travel fees, class fees cannot be refunded. We will however, happily reschedule you into an alternate class date or time as long as you give us a full 48 hours advanced | 452 |
Which way makes it colder inside? Do "min" and "max" refer to temperature or to the amount of work done to reduce the temperature?
Also note how the numbers on the dial increase in the opposite direction to the min/max labels. All in all, a well-designed control if your goal is to confuse people and sabotage their food.
For a while I've been having trouble with food in my fridge freezing, and I decided to do something about it – only I found I'm not sure what to do. Knowing engineers, my guess is that 9 is coldest, but it really should be warmest – or the dial should just be labelled "colder" and "warmer" instead of using numbers.
The user manual may or may not reveal the answer, but I don't have it.
Today had three things in it: Shopping, the ROM and one last dinner with Nav.
Remember all those stores I was reminiscing about the other day? I revisited a bunch of them today, without my camera bag so I could go inside.
I'm happy to report that the World's Biggest Bookstore is still pretty good – it hasn't degenerated into a gift card store like Chapters has. Still two large floors packed with books, books, books. It definitely is one of the biggest brick-and-mortar new-book stores in Canada still.
The Silver Snail is also still excellent. They've got a good selection of new and old comics and action figures, but the real highlight is the busts and statues they have on display – very expensive, but amazing. There were several variations on life-size Alien heads, a cutaway Millennium Falcon to scale with the old Star Wars action figures (of which they had many for sale), and best of all, some of Dr. Grordbort`s steampunk rayguns.
Active Surplus is not as diminished as I had thought. They no longer have a storefront, but what they do have is stairs leading to a second-floor store that is still at least two thirds the size of what they used to have. Plus it`s much better organized, so they may actually have more stock<|fim_middle|> Winnipeg, and made the mistake of driving downtown at rush hour. Aggravating. Got a room for the night, then got a dessert from Baked Expectations at the recommendation of a co-worker – and boy was it good. I will get more desserts there tomorrow, the next day and on my return trip. | now – and they also have a second location now on top of it. This store is an electronic nerd`s dream. I grabbed a basket and walked every aisle, tossing anything that looked interesting in my basket. I ended up spending well over $100 on random interesting junk, and could easily have spent more had I more time.
I went to check out Toby`s Famous Eatery, one of three restaurants claiming to inherit the mantle of my old favorite, Toby`s Good Eats. As a test, I had their Buster Brownie – the classic hot fudge brownie with ice cream dessert I love so much. It was good, but nowhere near as good as it used to be.
I was going to go check out Bakka Books as well, but time was getting short so I skipped it.
Due to time constraints, I concentrated on the two most interesting exhibits – paleontology and minerology, but also took a quick pass through the rest. Assorted photos follow.
the paleo exhibit is really something – it gives a dramatic reminder of just how big some of these extinct critters really were.
Got together with Navtej one last time, and he took me to his favorite Indian buffet – the Tandoori Flame in Brampton. It was great. The food was at least as good as my favorite Indian place out west, and there was a much greater selection here. I tried a bunch of new things. Nav made me try their white pumpkin desert – it looks like an ice cube. Unbelievably sweet – I couldn`t finish a single bite without setting off my coma alert warnings. I don`t think I have ever tasted anything so sugary – not even pure sugar or honey comes close.
Back on the road tomorrow. I`ve had a nice break from driving and am ready to resume my journey now, and I`ve done everything I wanted to do in Toronto.
Not a terribly eventful day; just a short drive to Winnipeg, where I plan to spend two nights as there are some museum type things I want to do there.
Just grass, sage and trees – almost no mid-size shrubberies.
I like this area. When we were shopping around for our farm, my mother and I looked at property near here. I thought it was neat that it was basically just small trees growing out of sand, and there was sand everywhere. Obviously we didn't buy the place since it would have been impossible to grow anything there, but it was neat anyway. I found the iron foot of an old claw-foot bathtub near a ruined house on that property, and it might still be in our shed on the farm to this day.
Continued on to | 543 |
Maggie Nelson & Matt Sharpe
Sunday Apr 29, 2007 6:00PM This is a past program
Maggie Nelson is a poet, essayist, and scholar. Her books include collections of poetry: Shiner, The Latest Winter, and Something Bright, Then Holes; and a mixed-genre narrative about the 1969 murder of her aunt<|fim_middle|>This series is made possible, in part, with support from Bronya and Andrew Galef.
ALL HAMMER PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE FREE
Public programs are made possible, in part, by major gifts from the Annenberg Foundation and Mimi and Werner Wolfen. Additional support is provided by Laura Donnelley, Bronya and Andrew Galef, Erika Glazer, and an anonymous donor.
New American Writing: Maggie Nelson & Atsuro Riley
Tuesday Jun 8, 2010 7:00pm
Maggie Nelson
Tuesday Nov 29, 2016 7:30pm | entitled Jane: A Murder. Matthew Sharpe is the author of Nothing Is Terrible and Stories from the Tube. He has taught at Columbia University, Bard College, and New College of Florida, and is the writer in residence at Bronx Academy of Letters.
NEW AMERICAN WRITING
A series of contemporary fiction and poetry readings organized by Benjamin Weissman, author of two books of short fiction, most recently Headless, and professor of creative writing at Art Center College of Design and Otis College of Art + Design.
| 105 |
HomeMeat & PoultryMaple Leaf Foods Releases 2019 Sustainability Report
Maple Leaf Foods Releases 2019 Sustainability Report
Maple Leaf Foods Meat & Poultry July 8, 2020
MISSISSAUGA, ON – Today, Maple Leaf Foods, Inc., (TSX: MFI) announced the release of its 2019 Sustainability Report, outlining the company's key programs and achievements during the past year, as well as future initiatives and priorities supporting Maple Leaf Foods' purposeful journey to be the most sustainable protein company on earth.
In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods continued its commitment to sustainability and made meaningful progress, including becoming the first major carbon neutral food company in the world and setting science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets. Maple Leaf Foods' commitment to the environment comes from a recognition that producing nutrient-dense protein takes resources, and the company has a responsibility to replenish the environment in equal measure.
"At Maple Leaf Foods, we are continually working toward more sustainable food production and a more sustainable food system, including addressing the significant environmental and social challenges facing society," said Michael McCain, President and CEO. "This view of shared value is critical to a sustainable planet and a sustainable, thriving company. We are committed to being that kind of company in our quest to be the most sustainable protein company on earth."
Maple Leaf Foods' sustainability program is built on four guiding pillars – Better Food, Better Care, Better Communities and Better Planet. Highlights from the 2019 report include:
Maple Leaf Foods believes "you manage what you measure" and when it comes to food safety and quality, the company has an intense focus on measuring its performance. In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods exceeded its performance goals in both its Food Safety Incident Rate (by 53%) and its Quality Incident Rate (by 15%) These results reflect dedication and commitment to our Food Safety Promise from our manufacturing facilities
Maple Leaf Foods' values extend to how the company treats animals it raises or sources. By the end of 2019, Maple Leaf Foods had transitioned approximately 50,000 sows (77%) to an advanced open housing system and installed enrichment and toys in 90% of its nursery and growing pig barns. Training is also a critical part of building a strong animal care culture. In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods developed an animal care certification program for its employees and by the end of 2019 all employees who handle live animals had completed the Animal Care training module.
In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods continued its long-term commitment to advancing sustainable food security and supporting the 4.4 million Canadians (12%) that face food insecurity. By the end of 2019, Maple Leaf Foods contributed more than $2.3 million to initiatives working to advance food security and donated more than $1.6 million of<|fim_middle|> offset programs, visit:
About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods is a producer of food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf®, Maple Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural Selections®, Schneider's®, Schneiders® Country Naturals®, Mina®, Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®, Lightlife®, Field Roast Grain Meat Co.TM and Swift®. Maple Leaf employs approximately 13,000 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Supporting American Flower Industry
COVID-19 Hit U.S. Meat, Poultry Plant Workers Hard in April, May: U.S. Report
Beef Quarterly Q3 2019: Momentum is Building in Sustainable Beef
Rabobank Meat & Poultry August 29, 2019
Strong beef demand in China, with imports in 1H 2019 up by more than 50% YOY, and trade uncertainty – including the US-China trade war, Brexit, and new Mercosur access to the EU – are the dominant themes in global beef, according to Rabobank's Beef Quarterly for Q3 2019. …
good natured and Gourmet Fresh Produce Company, Girl & Dug Farm, are Rooted in Sustainability
good natured Products Inc. Produce June 20, 2022
good natured Products Inc., a North American leader in plant-based products, is pleased to welcome gourmet fresh produce grower, Girl & Dug Farm as a customer embracing sustainability via earth-friendly packaging from good natured®, made from annually renewable, 99% plant-based materials. …
CHEP U.S. Receives EcoVadis' Gold Sustainability Rating
CHEP Produce September 1, 2022
EcoVadis recently announced that CHEP U.S., a Brambles company and a global leader in supply chain solutions and sustainability, received the EcoVadis' Gold medal for 2022. This ranks CHEP U.S. within the top 7% of all large companies in its industry for its corporate social responsibility efforts, after just two years of participating in the EcoVadis assessment. … | healthy food products to organizations that reach those in need.
The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security, a registered charity governed by an independent Board of Directors, made investments in three new projects in 2019 – including two national programs and one across the territories and northern Canada – in support of its goal to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030.
Better Planet
Leading in sustainability is a company-wide initiative that encompasses every aspect of Maple Leaf Foods' business. In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods became the World's First Carbon Neutral Food Company by aggressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in high-impact environmental projects to offset emissions that could not be reduced. The company is also the only food company in Canada to set science-based targets to reduce emissions in alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. These targets require that Maple Leaf Foods continue to reduce its emissions as the company grows and will help identify opportunities to meet the company's ambitious goal of reducing its environmental footprint by 50% by 2025.
To learn more about sustainability at Maple Leaf Foods, visit:
mapleleaffoods.com/sustainability
To learn more about Maple Leaf Foods brands, visit:
mapleleaffoods.com
To learn more about Maple Leaf Foods' carbon | 269 |
Board Structure
About the Major
Penn<|fim_middle|>. | State's actuarial science major was founded in 1973 by Dr. Arnold Shapiro in the Department of Mathematics. By 1990, the degree had expanded to have an actuarial science major within the Insurance Department of the College of Business Administration (today, this is the Risk Department in the Smeal College of Business). The two majors had over 90 juniors and seniors between them!
Early on, a great deal of emphasis in the actuarial courses was placed on communication, stressing particularly the conceptualization of mathematical and statistical concepts. This excellence in teaching continued through the turn of the millennium, and Penn State was rewarded with the distinction of a "Center of Actuarial Excellence" in 2011, becoming just the 21st school to receive such a designation. The distinction officially recognizes actuarial science programs for their degree curriculum, graduate count and quality, faculty composition, appropriate integration of courses, connection to industry, and research and scholarship.
The Major Today
Today, there are three paths to major in actuarial science: Actuarial Mathematics, Actuarial Statistics, and Actuarial Science. Across the three majors, Penn State graduates over 200 aspiring actuaries every year! Provided through the Penn State are 1) the courses needed to satisfy the professional Verification by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements and 2) courses designed to help you pass five of the preliminary professional examinations in the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS), which one needs to be an actuary.
After the actuarial science major was established, it quickly grew. In the early 1990s, the large major had only one professor, and it needed help supporting its students. Who came to the aid of the students? The students themselves! Students organized the Actuarial Science Club as an active organization for the academic and social interaction for Penn State actuarial students. Working directly with the department, the club flourished and has continued helping actuarial students.
The Club Today
One of the most important responsibilities of the Actuarial Science Club today is the organization of the Actuarial Science Career Fair. The student-run fair brings together over 150 students and about 30 companies each year, spanning industries from insurance to consulting. As a result of a successful career fair, The Club is able to financially support its students, offering exam reimbursements and study materials. Additionally, the club hosts workshops, events, and speakers to supplement coursework and provide additional career-focused development. We strongly encourage all first-year students to become involved with the Club to ensure successful development of essential career skills | 552 |
Welcome to St. Mary<|fim_middle|>. Our inpatient and outpatient addiction and mental health services provide the most extensive behavioral health service choices in the region. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1903, and as a member of Ascension Health since 2002, St. Mary's is dedicated to improving the health of the community with special attention to the poor and underserved. By addressing the spiritual, social, emotional and physical needs of our patients, we strive to provide an exceptional patient experience and a model community for our associates and medical staff. | 's Healthcare, Amsterdam. We offer a continuum of services designed to fulfill the total healthcare needs of the community, while being the lowest cost provider. In addition to our 100 bed acute care hospital, we have a 160 bed nursing home, a 10 bed acute physical rehabilitation unit and a comprehensive network of primary and speciality care centers conveniently located in two counties | 78 |
ARE YOU BORED with your current fitness routine? It may be time to kick your way to one of the hottest workouts around. Kickboxing, also referred to as boxing aerobics and cardio kick-boxing, is a hybrid of boxing, martial arts and aerobics that offers an intense cross-training and total-body workout. It blends a mixture of high-power exercise routines that strengthen the body and mind, decrease stress and hone reflexes while increasing endurance and cardiovascular power. While kickboxing's roots are in full-contact fighting, it has found a safe and very<|fim_middle|> leg into your target. Strike with either the outside edge of your foot or your heel.
Don't forget to wear loose clothing that allows freedom of movement during your kickboxing workout and drink plenty of water. And most especially, don't forget to apply the best workout makeup that lets you sweat and lets your skin to breath but doesn't clog your pores and stays your skin healthy. If you don't know that kind of makeup that giving you that way, click here to go to Fitcover homepage. | effective niche in the fitness community.
Many people are drawn to kickboxing because it increases self-esteem while burning an average of 500 to 800 calories an hour, as opposed to the 300 to 400 calories typically burned by the average hour-long step aerobics class. But before you kick down the door to the next class, take time to consider some of the basics of this sweat-intensive workout.
Keep in mind that many clubs may not offer classes that are based on progression. Even if your current routine features a hearty combination of cross-training workouts, you may want to take it easy at first, then build as your body adapts. For this reason, an hour-long session may not be the wisest choice for someone who isn't used to this level of concentrated activity.
Remember, adequate warm-up and close attention to proper technique are paramount. Classes should begin with basic stretches and a light cardio-vascular warm-up such as pushups and jumping jacks. A typical aerobic kickboxing routine involves a series of repetitive punches alternating with hand strikes, kicks and then a combination of all three. The repetitions help participants focus on proper technique while engaging several muscles groups and getting a fierce cardiovascular workout. After the main section of the routine, stretches and floor exercises are commonly performed as a cool-down.
And of course, you should ask your instructor about their training. Cardio kickboxing is a combination of martial arts and aerobics, and employs different techniques from a "pure" martial arts class. Many teachers may have boxing or martial arts training, but may not have the appropriate class experience or be properly certified by an organization such as ACE. Finally, once you understand the basics of this stress-relieving, total-body workout, you can kick your way to a new level of fitness.
• The Roundhouse Kick - Starting from a basic stance (side of body facing bag, knees slightly bent, shoulder-length apart), lift your right knee and point it just to the right of your target. Pivot on your left foot as you extend your right leg. Kick the target with the top of your foot.
• The Side Kick - From the basic stance, pull your right knee up toward your left shoulder. Pivot on your left foot as you snap your right | 460 |
As a teaser for and invitation to his new<|fim_middle|>. | album, The Raging Sea, British singer songwriter Mark Mathews releases new single Black Heart Down, a song to get the feet moving and spirit bouncing. It is a song which does not startle yet needs little time to spark an energetic response to its boisterous rock 'n' roll.
Half Spanish on his Mother's Side and Northern Irish from his Father's, Belfast bred Mark and his family was moved to the East End of London by his actor Dad, leaving a home town "heavy with stories of death and guns." Mark's musical tastes and heart was inspired, amongst other things, by the discovery of Sgt Peppers in his Mum's vinyl collection and a freebie tape titled Sixties Mania that came with a box of Kellogg's cereal. The emergence of Oasis was the trigger for Mark to pick up a guitar and write songs. Embracing the sounds and songwriting craft of other artists such as The Beatles, The Kinks, The Band, and Ryan Adams too, his music passion and career was soon a full-time involvement.
Since that start, Mark has gigged, toured, and busked around the world, been voted one of the best artists in London by readers of the Metro newspaper, and been awarded first place in the Indie International song writing competition and nominated for 2 Indy Music Awards for best live act. Either solo or with his band, Mark Mathews' Late Night Players, he has shared stages with the likes of Andy Fairweather-Low, Frank Turner, Nigel Clarke (Dodgy) Luke Toms, The Draytones, and Dan Le Sac. With a quartet of EPs and a trio of singles also under his belt, Mark is ready to nudge even broader attention with The Raging Sea, and its lead, the highly enjoyable Black Heart Down.
The single has ears cupped in a melodic hug straight away, the alluring acoustic start matched in potency by the darker hues of the bass. They are quickly joined by the strong and inviting tones of Mark, his vocals continuing the warm beginning yet holding an edge and intensity which is soon seeping into the catchy chorus and the overall drama of the track. Continuing to stroll along, the song shares an expressive nature in sound and emotive character in heart whilst infectiously taking feet on a lively ride.
There are seemingly no major landmarks or striking elements to the song yet is as memorable and captivating as you could wish, carrying a craft in songwriting which alone sparks a want to hear more and indeed Mark's new album.
Black Heart Down is released April 25th as too is The Raging Sea on iTunes | 531 |
El Mas del Moro és una masia al terme municipal de Batea (Terra Alta) inclosa a l'Inventari del Patrimoni Arquitectònic de Catalunya. Per accedir-hi cal circular per la pista de terra d'Algars<|fim_middle|>ula a un vessant, té un petit ràfec de lloses de pedra. També hi trobem a pocs metres una petita bassa afonada al terreny amb les seves parets recobertes de pedra picada amb esglaons per baixar.
Notes
Edificis de Batea
Patrimoni monumental de Batea
Masies de la Terra Alta | a Caseres -seguint el traçat del riu- i deixar-la per agafar el camí secundari de la Vall d'Antubés i posteriorment (més o menys 1 km) deixar-la per un altre camí encara més secundari a mà esquerra que puja fins al mas. Petit mas fet de pedra picada amb carreus a les cantonades i obertures. Dues plantes cadascuna d'elles amb accessos independents per mitjà d'una porta adovellada amb arc de mig punt, al pis superior s'accedeix per una escala de pedra exterior. Coberta amb te | 151 |
jihav<|fim_middle|>willed manmukh cannot even taste the subtle essence of the Lord.
But if he is blessed with the Lord's Kind Mercy, then he obtains the subtle essence of the Lord. | ā har ras rahī aghāi .
guramukh pīvai sahaj samāi .1.
har ras jan chākhah jē bhāī .
tau kat anat sād lōbhāī .1. rahāu .
guramat ras rākhah ur dhār .
har ras rātē rang murār .2.
manamukh har ras chākhiā n jāi .
haumai karai bahutī milai sajāi .3.
nadar karē tā har ras pāvai .
nānak har ras har gun gāvai .4.3.7.
My tongue remains satiated with God's elixir.
The Guru-ward drinks it and merges into the spiritual bliss.
then how can thou be enamoured of other relishes? Pause.
Under Guru's instruction, keep thou enshrined this Name-Nectar in the heart. Pause.
They who are imbued with God's elixir, abide in divine bliss.
The perverse person can taste not Lord's Nectar.
He acts in ego and suffers great punishment.
Nanak obtaining the Lord's Nectar, one sings God' praise.
My tongue remains satisfied with the subtle essence of the Lord.
Under Guru's Instructions, keep this subtle essence enshrined in your heart.
The self | 292 |
Today, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi received the Life-Time Achievers Award for Conservation from<|fim_middle|>ish future generations". | the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA).
"In celebration of the WESSA's 90th anniversary of Caring for the Earth, we are delighted to present the Honourable Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi with one of 90 Lifetime Conservation Achiever Awards. As humanity moves into the 21st century, one is left wondering just what we are doing to planet Earth, our only home. Despite this, a few dedicated individuals have dedicated their lives constructively to the conservation of planet Earth", said WESSA Director Jim Tailor.
"I dedicate this award to all who work for the environment," said Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi, on receiving the WESSA Life-time Achievers Award for Conservation. She continued to say that, "the environment is about people's lives. We have to care about air, water and biodiversity to nour | 187 |
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan – Thompson Remodeling is a design/build residential remodeling firm that has been serving Grand Rapids and the surrounding area for 33 years. Our award-winning firm is recognized as an industry leader on the national, regional, and local levels.
*Services Provided* We specialize in three areas: 1) Design/Build projects including kitchens, bathrooms, additions<|fim_middle|> project. Very pleased with the outcome.
They were very considerate and professional in all of our dealings.
The whole group appears to function well as a team and support each other whenever necessary.
Their responsiveness to questions and problems was quick every time. We also appreciated the follow-up to ensure our satisfaction.
The people and the quality of work at Thompson Remodeling are top-notch! It slowed things down a bit when they lost the Project Manager during our project, but they recovered very well and maintained a high level of professionalism.
There were a few items that we were not satisfied with, but contacted Thompson, and they were professional and addressed all concerns.
Our designer, and the follow through of the owner. Both were kind, sought out feedback, and addressed any concerns without question.
Clear communication as the project advanced, good conversation as small issued arrived. Finished product is great and minimal issues along the way in a house that is over 100 years old.
More about Thompson Remodeling Inc.
As a GuildQuality Guildmember, Thompson Remodeling Inc. relies on our customer surveying to help them deliver an exceptional customer experience.
We have surveyed customers on behalf of Thompson Remodeling Inc. in Grand Rapids, MI; Ada, MI; East Grand Rapids, MI; Lowell, MI; Rockford, MI; Byron Center, MI; Alto, MI; Grandville, MI; Kentwood, MI; Belmont, MI; and 20 other cities in Michigan.
In this report, Thompson Remodeling Inc. has published a summary of the customer feedback they've received since they joined GuildQuality in October 2007. In that time, 138 out of 183 customers (75%) responded to a GuildQuality satisfaction survey, with the most recent response in March 2019.
Thompson Remodeling Inc. surveys all of their customers shortly after the completion of work, and their feedback appears in the summary on this page.
If you are a Thompson Remodeling Inc. customer, and if Thompson Remodeling Inc. completed work for you after October of 2007 but you haven't yet received a survey, please let us know.
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Enter the confirmation code from your mailer and publish your review of Thompson Remodeling Inc.. | , basements, outdoor spaces, and garages. 2) High-end Handyman Service for our past clients. 3) Green Remodeling projects for clients who are dissatisfied with their home's energy & resource efficiency, comfort, durability, and want their home to support a healthier lifestyle and become part of sustainable housing.
Our designer was amazing. The tile person was amazing. There is where the amazing stops. An 8 week project turned into 6 months! We felt forgotten and that we were a back burner project with no priority.
Two people were exceptional, Stephanie and Bryan, they were both very helpful and patient at all times. If we need any remodeling done again I hope they would be available. It all went so well after the apprehension we had going into the | 159 |
Young Justice (2019) #1 [Review]
Posted on January 12, 2019 by Walt
Seven Crises
Script: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Patrick Gleason
Colors: Alejandro Sanchez
Letters: DC Lettering
Cover: Gleason & Sanchez
Associate Editor: Jessica Chen
Editors: Mike Cotton & Andy Khouri
Group Editors: Brian Cunningham & Mark Doyle
I wasn't going to get this. I vaguely remember it being announced, as well as seeing SOMETHING about these Wonder Comics and thinking hey…yet ANOTHER new imprint to not get into!
As to the property itself–the title Young Justice–I remember ads for the World Without GrownUps or whatever back in 1998 or so, and the premiere of the original Young Justice ongoing series. I mostly missed out on that at the time–I was getting a lot of Marvel at that point (with the Heroes Return titles) and mainly just the Superman titles from DC, offhand. The END of that Young Justice series (and Titans) came in the Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day mini-'event', which I picked up just after my OWN graduation day from college. The event led away from Young Justice and Titans and into two "new" series–a new iteration of Teen Titans and Outsiders, both of which I followed (getting in at #1 for lengthy runs) up to Infinite Crisis or so. I dove deep into DC continuity just after Young Justice. So I never had the nostalgia of the title or the particular iterations of the characters. When the animated series was out, I enjoyed the first several episodes, but lost track of it due to episode scheduling (as I do most animated series, it seems). So I had no huge attachment there to the title, either.
But somewhere along the way between this series being announced and this issue's release, I found out (online) that Tim Drake would be Robin again, and that "my" Superboy–Connor Kent–the one introduced during 1993's Reign of the Supermen–would be back. Seeing Superboy in particular on a cover image, I was "sold."
Maybe the first thing about this actual issue to note is the hefty $4.99 price point. I tend to DESPISE $4.99 #1 issues, particularly because of the way I feel that Marvel has abused the practice over the last few years. This issue felt thicker, though, and I'm more forgiving toward DC (though they have squandered a lot of the goodwill they earned from me with Rebirth). It is an extra-sized issue, with 30 story pages (an extra 1/3 content for the price of 1/4), so the "value" is technically there.
We open the issue on Gemworld, with someone relaying information about seven crises and Earth. We then jump to Earth, and a young woman's arrival in Metropolis. This is Jinny Hex…new to the big city. As she's dealing with having been pulled over for a busted taillight on her vehicle…agents of Gemworld invade, causing quite a ruckus. Jinny finds herself face to face with Robin (Tim Drake) and seems rather awe-struck. A flashback shows us an interaction between Tim and Cassie Sandsmark minutes earlier, also in Metropolis, as the two catch up briefly before Tim leaps into action with the invasion. Joining the action is Impulse–Bart Allen; he is clearly excited to be in action and interacting with the others while facing the invasion. Before long, Wonder Girl joins in as well as a Green Lantern Ring Construct…and Bart declares that Young Justice is back! It looks as if the heroes may have prevailed, and then they're caught up in some sort of energy, and Robin comes to on Gemworld facing Amethyst…while Impulse finds himself facing a certain missing teammate to end the issue.
This issue provoked a reaction in me that I haven't had in awhile from any comic, and that I don't know entirely how to describe. But to try…in short, I flat-out enjoyed this comic, I loved seeing Tim referred to as Robin again, and something about these characters–even though I lack a huge amount of context for the grouping–really hit my nostalgia buttons. Perhaps because this is the first time it seems Tim Drake has properly–without likelihood of reprint revision–been referred to as Robin since 2009 or so. Perhaps it's seeing Connor Kent Superboy again for the first time since at least 2011. Perhaps it's that this feels like something from before the New 52, period.
Likely all of the above and that the issue was just…FUN. I mean, an invasion, the destruction of property and all that…sure, that's not something to celebrate, but this IS a comic book, and we're not beaten over the head while reading about the destruction itself or how it's impacting some random character or bystander. We just get heroes in action, and saving people, and no real focus on dark, grim, gritty stuff.
I know I've had issues with Gleason's art in the past–I think to the point that I even came to dislike seeing his name on stuff; it was a sign that I would likely dislike the art. His art won me over a bit during the Rebirth run of Superman; and maybe I'm just so thrilled to see Robin and Superboy again, but I really dug the art on this issue! Gleason's style seems very well-suited for this sort of frenetic fun and the energetic nature of much of the issue–from Robin laying into Gemworlders to Bart completely enjoying himself in action…and even working in more serious stuff without coming off with stylistic things that'd get me complaining on some principle. There are several double-page spreads, and other than the "Young Justice is BACK!" bit, I could do without them. I tend to feel that most double-pagers are "cheats" and go by way too quickly for taking up multiple full pages, lowering the "value" in terms of per-page story content.
Story-wise, this seems like a pretty good first issue. I'm not at all current on Tim Drake stuff, nor Bart or Cassie; I vaguely recall something about Jinny being in a Walmart-exclusive comic, but she comes off as fresh and new here, as does Teen Lantern; I also lack any real familiarity with Amethyst and Gemworld except that they exist. But I was still able to enjoy the issue, with everyone getting introductions or otherwise at least being named on-page…no need to go online to hunt down "who" someone was or be left scratching my head. (And the lettering had a great touch, working character names in as logos in a way that doesn't seem to be used much lately and reminds me quite a bit of '90s comics). This isn't a perfect story by any means…I didn't really "get" the invasion or anything much from that–it was more incidental, an excuse for "big action" and something to bring the characters together, to get stuff from Point A to Point B and such. That it included these particular characters being pulled together, though…it worked for me.
This is certainly no done-in-one issue, and it really only serves so far to move pieces around to begin to move toward whatever the full story will eventually be. The issue is significant in itself as a single issue for bringing the characters together (if only certain characters in virtual cameos) and being the first time we've seen several in years–or at least, seemingly years. But this is just the opening chapter of a serialized graphic novel, that presumably will be the standard-ish 6 issues in length.
There's a certain on-page authenticity to the various characters, that both looks and feels like what I'd expect of a Bendis-helmed comic. His work can be hit or miss for me, but this issue is definitely a hit. I got this for the characters involved, and was not disappointed. That Bendis is the writer is incidental to me, and something I'm fine with, based on this issue. Whether that holds for future issues remains to be seen! But for now, I'm definitely onboard for this title in particular…and having thoroughly enjoyed this, I may even consider checking out the other Wonder Comics titles.
If you're a fan of Tim Drake, Bart Allen (at least as he was pre-2003), early Connor Kent Superboy, and so on…this is definitely worth jumping in on. Especially if you've been "away" from the characters for awhile or not staying current with DC's continuity. This does not feel like it relies on anything else going on…it's just the world these characters inhabit and them coming together and working together. This is not spinning out of some other event or title…no prologue in Detective Comics or one of the Justice League titles or some other mini-series. And even if you're not specifically a fan of a specific character in a particular role, if you enjoy teen heroes, enjoy seeing Robin/Wonder Girl/Impulse/etc. together in a title…I'd say this is worthwhile to check out.
I have every intention myself of picking up the next issue, and if I enjoy it the way I did this issue, I may be onboard for awhile!
Filed under: 2019 posts, 2019 Reviews, DC, DC Universe, Young Justice | Tagged: Alejandro Sanchez, Andy Khouri, Bart Allen, Brian Cunningham, Brian Michael Bendis, Cassie Sandsmark, comic books, Comic Reviews, comics, Connor Kent, DC, DC Comics, DC Lettering, Impulse, Jessica Chen, Jinny Hex, Mark Doyle, Mike Cotton, Patrick Gleason, reviews, Robin, Seven Crises, Superboy, Tim Drake, Wonder Girl, Young Justice | 2 Comments »
ForgedBy4: The Man of Steel (2018) #1 – A New Era Begins
Posted on May 31, 2018 by Walt
The Man of Steel (2018) #1 – A New Era Begins
Man of Steel Part 1
Pencils: Ivan Reis
Inks: Joe Prado
Art (pp21-22): Jay Fabok
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover: Reis, Prado, Sinclair
Editor: Michael Cotton
Group Editor: Brian Cunningham
Published by: DC Comics
Cover Date: July 2016
This is a good point to jump in if you've not been following Superman stuff for awhile, and especially if you are a fan of Bendis' writing. As said above, I'm a Superman guy–so in that regard, I wasn't going to pass this up. For what this issue and mini-series are…I think it's well worth picking up…and this six issue "event" seems like it will definitely be cluing us in on what to expect when the ongoing series come back. That said, there's not really enough to this to "only" get this issue–one pretty much needs to commit to the entire 6 issues. I'm on board, and I'll be interested in my own thoughts on it once all 6 are out.
Full Article posted over at ForgedBy4!
Filed under: 2018 posts, Forgedby4 | Tagged: Alex Sinclair, Brian Cunningham, Brian Michael Bendis, Cory Petit, DC Comics, Ivan Reis, Jay Fabok, Jessica Chen, Joe Prado, Man of Steel, Michael Cotton, Superman | Leave a comment »
Action Comics #1000 [Review]
Posted on April 19, 2018 by Walt
From the City That Has Everything
Writer/Artist: Dan Jurgens
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Color: Hi-Fi
This is the "primary" story of the issue–a sort of stand-alone "finale" to Jurgens-and-Co.'s run the last couple of years and 45-some issue run. We open on a narration/captions of Jon Kent and Lois talking, against imagery of Superman battling a Khund warship. Jon's worried his Dad won't get here in time, as Lois reassures him he'll be here. As Clark arrives, Lois reminds him that people just want to thank him. We see that they're at a Thank You, Superman presentation in the park–Metropolis has gathered to try to offer thanks to Superman, though knowing they can't begin to cover it. Amidst various testimonials of how Superman has impacted and saved folks, Clark keeps thinking he sees further traces of a Khund invasion…perhaps just looking for an excuse to get away from this presentation. Eventually, the crowd gets to see Superman fly into action, as Clark can't ignore his senses. He finds Wonder Woman, who reveals that there was indeed a major Khund incursion…but it's been handled. By everyone. Even his fellow heroes are fans, and thank Superman for his role in everything. Without him, none of them would likely be there.
On its surface, this is a rather cheesy story of little substance. There's some presentation to honor Superman, and he's avoiding it. Then, alllll the other heroes are there as well, because they wish to honor him, too.
Neat and simple, right? Evocative of classic Silver Age stories (to me), and not terribly deep.
But back to "on its surface."
See, this is the 1,000th issue of Action Comics. 80 years of Superman. This is a major event, a one-issue spectacular. An anthology of sorts with numerous shorter stories making up the whole. It's a standalone issue, something that draws from and can influence other stuff, but it's not truly coming off any To Be Continued… message. It's (as an issue) not leading directly into anything. It's expected that this will be read where the previous few issues, or dozens of issues, or even hundreds of issues, have not been read.
There's loads of "meta" to this–as a story, and as part of the issue.
This Superman–Dan Jurgens' Superman–comes from a take on the character where Clark Kent is the man, and Superman is a "mask." This Superman is Clark Kent…who does what's right because it is right–not to show off, not for accolades and recognition–and is actually rather uncomfortable being the center of attention. And we get to see that…as we get to see a bit of Lois' personality. She teases him for trying to get out of the ceremony, but we come to see that she's the one that spearheaded the gathering of the heroes, and helped coordinate with Batman and the others to "cover for" Superman, so that he could have this day, this event. We also see Jon, the son, both AS the Son of Superman and as a kid. Not fully understanding everything going on, loving his dad but not sure if he'll make it, and an eagerness to stand in for him, recognizing the importance of the situation and wanting to live up to the family tradition.
I knew going in that Norm Rapmund was involved with the art…and I was loving the art all through the story. There was something extra familiar about it, though, that had a slight smile trying to escape me as I read it, but I couldn't quite place it. Until I looked consciously at the credits for the story and realized why the art seemed that much more familiar and was evoking such a reaction in me: Jurgens on the pencils. Of course! Regardless of conscious realization in words, on sight I had recognized the (somehow UNexpected) presence of work by probably my favorite Superman artist!
Superman reluctantly accepts the recognition…somewhat awkwardly. The final spread with all the heroes and fans and such…metatextually, real-world…without Superman, there probably would NOT have been any of these other heroes. Certainly nowhere near as many, and probably not even a comics industry.
This story is a send-off of sorts from Jurgens–capping off his run, as well as recognizing and thanking Superman.
And for one such as me–a 30-year-fan of Superman, introduced to him when I was but 7 years old–this is a powerful piece, meaningful and deep, and moving…and if one has to put a one-off story as a capstone to a run, that stands alone and evokes the past, has elements from the run, but isn't beholden to it and all that…this does it well, and is a worthy opening to Action Comics #1000!
Never-Ending Battle
Story and Words: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Patrick Gleason
Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
This story opens with a rather hellish, red-tinged image of Vandal Savage having Superman engulfed in some sort of red energy and alien machinery. The narration is Superman, speaking to Lois, apologizing for being sidetracked on the way home–he's late. Basically, Savage tried to blend Superman with the past, trapping him and leaving the future open for him (Savage) to rule without Superman's interference. So we get a bunch of pages evoking some key eras in Superman's history, as we know it in the real-world; but in-continuity the character himself acknowledges that despite the familiarity, he knew it was impossible to have been there in the 1930s, for example. These are all full-page images with the "voiceover" going along with them…not necessarily tied exactly to the image whose page the words are on, but particularly for those familiar with the history of the character and the stories/eras being referenced, the words take on additional (and deeper) meaning than they might otherwise. And the story ends with a shot of Superman standing at a table with a lotta candles (one can assume there are probably around 1,000 of 'em!), Lois and Jon on either side, a "Happy Birthday" sign strung up behind, and even Krypto in the foreground, as we celebrate Superman's 80th birthday, and the 1,000th issue of Action Comics.
Normally I would not care for this sort of story. Had this been a 15-page sequence in an otherwise-20-paged issue of something (especially if at a $3.99 price point) I would be disappointed and annoyed. Even as one of the longest stories within this issue, it's still a "mere" 15 pages, and as such, even this sequence is a relatively small portion of the entire issue. As a "short story" in this "anthology" issue of numerous creators…it works quite well. We have a basic story–Superman faces a villain, is flung throughout time, makes it home safe. This reminds me of other stories I've read, and feels rather familiar, like it's a sort of "trope" at this point–where you can have a numerous-issue "event" of a character being thrown through time, or it can be just a casual backdrop "referenced" but not really the point of a story.
Here, this does both: it's a sort of casual-ish "reference" thing…but the pages as we go through show Superman through the decades–Gleason's imagery evoking the general "style" and depiction of Superman through the decades. One page reminds me loosely of the Superman vs. Superboy issue from early in the Byrne era; the next is a familiar image from Miller's Dark Knight Returns (and signed by the artist after Frank Miller). There's a page with the black-costumed, long-haired Superman fighting Mongul, with Steel and Superboy in the background, in reference to the Death and Return of Superman…Reign of the Supermen. There's a page with a version of Zod, the pointy-crystal Fortress of Solitude in the background, and a Superman trapped in the pane of glass version of the Phantom Zone. There's even a page showing the Kingdom Come Superman facing Magog, a mushroom cloud in the background with several of the other heroes. And there's a page showing the New 52 Superman breaking through a wall, shifting to the black-costume, bearded Superman of Jurgens' Lois and Clark, shifting into the Rebirth costume, into the Reborn costume, punching Savage out.
This is an appropriate celebration of Superman, of how (ultimately) he easily overcomes situations, fights through whatever is thrown at him, and that Tomasi puts as Superman's words: "Each and every time stream, in the end, led home…to my family."
Tomasi and Gleason being the primary creatives the last couple years on the named Superman title that has run alongside Jurgens' Action Comics, this is a highly-appropriate story to cap off that run, to share in this issue, and to celebrate and acknowledge the rich history of the character. I often find I'm not overly thrilled with Gleason's art–just a personal issue due to comparing it so often to art I prefer–but here, particularly for the time-tossed pages, it shines excellently.
An Enemy Within
Script: Marv Wolfman
Art: Curt Swan
Inks: Butch Guice, Kurt Schaffenberger
Color & Production Assist: Hi-Fi
I appreciate the history of Wolfman with the Superman character, as well as the very fabric of the history of DC Comics in-continuity and out; ditto the importance of Curt Swan as one of THE Superman artists. That said…I did not really care much for this story.
Basically, we have narration from Superman as he's halfway across the world dealing with a Brainiac threat, while we're shown a hostage situation involving a principal and one of his students. From the narration, we get that the principal is being mind-controlled by Brainiac, and that Superman is facing the villain…but that action all happens off-panel, concluding with a single image of Superman, that may be recycled from a previous publication. The story is simple, has potential, but for me, personally–especially stacked against the Jurgens and Tomasi stories in this issue, and against numerous episodes of Law and Order: SVU I've been watching the last few weeks, it just doesn't really hold up in a way I particularly care for.
It's not a horrible story, and the art is solid in and of itself…I respect the inclusion here, but other than the "inclusion" aspect, I just don't really care for this one.
Storytellers: Paul Levitz & Neal Adams
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Dave Sharpe
This is an interesting, short piece, where Superman shows up to the roof of Lexcorp Tower, and he and Lex talk over a game of Chess…and I'm reminded strongly of the Xavier/Magneto imagery from the Fox X-Men films. Luthor springs a trap of animated Kryptonite chains that wrap around Superman…before the hero straightens, flexes, and bursts the chains with an orange background obviously reminiscent of the Kryptonite Nevermore! from the original Superman #233. Superman reveals that he's got a Mother Box with him that temporarily prevented the Kryptonite radiation
This is another short piece that I don't particularly care for. I like the concept well enough, and it reminds me (as said) of the Xavier/Magneto stuff…and the more I think on it, I realize there's also a bit of that Batman/Joker meeting from The Killing Joke in here, too.
Adams is another whose work I appreciate, whose place in comics history I appreciate…but I just can't get into his Superman art. I didn't stick with The Coming of the Supermen, I didn't care for an Action Comics variant I had from some "Neal Adams Month," and his Superman in general looks rather "off" to me here.
As this is "only" a 5-page story, though, it's not horrible; but I might have liked a prose version a bit better, as I dig the story much, much more than I do the art.
Story: Geoff Johns & Richard Donner
Artist: Olivier Coipel
Special thanks to: Matt Wilson
Letters: Nick Napolitano
This is an interesting story that seems to be set in the '30s; the color palette and general art style certainly gives it a rustic, "period piece" look that fits very well with the story being told. A busted-up car is brought into a shop, and when the mechanic tries to get its story from the owner, the tale is a little bit "out there"–all this damage caused by one man? One man lifted it and smashed it against some rocks, apparently. We then move to the owner–Butch–noticing a colorful figure…that of the "man" who smashed his car. Superman chats with him, showing compassion and having come to "understand" more of Butch's "side" of things, and leaving him with the notion that even having made mistakes, one can choose to make their life count for something, choose to make something of themselves, better the lives of others rather than doing harm.
I'm sure I would have realized pretty quickly that this is a sort of "sequel" to a big part of Action Comics #1; but this benefited SO beautifully from my having just re-read the Superman story from that first issue, and being probably THE freshest-in-mind Superman story for me prior to this 1000th issue.
This Superman feels very much like the "modern" Superman, though; less of the rough 'n tough version from that first appearance. But it works, and makes for an interesting piece overall. Especially when one considers just how heinous Butch's crime was–kidnapping a woman for rejecting him…and one could likely predict at least a couple likely outcomes of such action.
I haven't cared a lot about the Johns/Donner stuff–particularly the Last Son of Krypton, and Escape from Bizarro World stories, even as those are (now) a good dozen years in the past. I didn't care for them at the time as part of a seemingly-overly-overt rewriting of Superman away from the version I'd grown up on and back to more of a Silver/Bronze Age version. But this single story, I liked; the modern art showing the classic original Superman, with the feel of the contemporary Superman…and this being both a continuation/sequel and yet even if one doesn't know or connect that context, it works very well as a singular, one-off bit…
And of the "shorts" in this issue, I think this is one of my favorites.
The Fifth Season
Script: Scott Snyder
Art: Rafael Albuquerque
Color: Dave McCaig
Letters: Tom Napolitano
I'm not quite sure what to make of this piece. In a way, I think something to it is "over my head," perhaps..in a way that I definitely do NOT care for in my comics.
Superman arrives at the Smallville planetarium to find Lex Luthor, who has found the "Eye of Xotar" and Chronos' "Time Scissors"–that together can be used to literally erase any genealogical line from history. Given this is Luthor…obviously, that'd be Superman's line, the House of El. As the two muse over their shared past, and the present situation, we see a flashback to Luthor's early days in Smallville, where we also see that a potentially fatal accident that could have killed Luthor was prevented by a young Clark Kent–Superman as a boy. We also get a bit about a "fifth season," between Winter and Spring, when the weather can be wildly unpredictable…which seems to be a statement of the story itself. Luthor intended to wipe Superman from history, but maybe discovered that it was Superman that had saved him, and so opted not to.
This isn't a horrible story, but as said, something about it just feels like it might be over my head, needing extra consideration, disproportionate to its size in relation to the rest of this issue. The art also isn't horrible, but not really to my liking. On the last page particularly, I don't care for the depiction of the "S" shield…its top and bottom seem way too thin compared to the middle, especially compared to the "standard" licensed version I'm used to, that I tend to hold mentally as the "standard" to which the various takes on the "S" are compared.
This also plays on Luthor and Superman having known each other as kids–something that was NOT part of the story I grew up on, and so I'm a bit biased against it. Still, knowing that and seeing what's being gone for here in a way, I'm ok with the story, but won't single it out as a favorite or such.
Then there's the narration in the background speaking to the idea of Sol, our sun, eventually expanding: "…and eventually, the sun will eat our Mercury…and then Venus…and then Earth. And then, our time…ends."
Which seems almost intentionally to lead into the next piece:
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Clay Mann
Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: John Workman
Superman kneels, scooping up some coal from the ground and squeezing it into diamond. He stands and we see blazing fire all around, amidst his speaking. It's been BILLIONS of years, and Earth is finally about to be swallowed up by the red giant Sol has become; no matter that Superman had apparently pushed the entire planet of Earth out of its orbit, it still finds itself being consumed. And Superman speaks to his long-dead parents–Jonathan and Martha Kent–as he says goodbye for the final time. He's got to let go–of them, and of Earth itself. After five BILLION years. Somehow, Superman, and Lois, and Jon, have been essentially immortal, thanks to (apparently) an "Eternity Formula." He speaks of them, as he forms the diamond into a specific shape. He tells his parents "I miss you. I love you. Every day. It doesn't matter how long it's been. It's still every day." And as the planet burns up and wee see the grave plate reading:
JONATHAN & MARTHA
BELOVED PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS
YOU GAVE US HOPE
Superman leaves with the words "We're all stardust fallen. And so we look to the sky. And we wait to be reclaimed. Good-bye, Ma. Good-bye, Pa. And thank you. For everything."
This is an odd sort of story. While we can consider that the ongoing story of Superman is not one that's gonna end anytime soon; while we've had stories of Superman surviving into the far future–thousands, even millions of years…to consider that he'd live another five BILLION years seems a bit out there for me. It changes the character. It's best not to dwell on.
The point is: to the end of the Earth–literally–Superman has been shaped by his parents. He's continued to live. He's lived his life. He's gone on–but that doesn't mean that he's forgotten. The love of his parents–his adoptive parents, the REAL parents he actually knew–they molded him into who he became, and that's NOT something that changed with time. Their brief moment with him lasted through time, a huge legacy, outlasting the planet itself.
But on a smaller level, this speaks in an abstract sort of way to anyone who has ever lost loved ones. Wondering at the futility of visiting a grave, of speaking to those gone before, and I'd say to how even a year can feel like a lifetime, several years like countless lifetimes, when separated from the loved ones.
And on a "meta" level, Superman has outlived this planet, outlived all those lives…as he outlived his creators, and has and likely will outlive so many others.
On the literal level, this reminds me of an old story of an ancient Supreme or Mr. Majestic (I believe written by Alan Moore) (edit: yeah, I'm pretty sure that was Wildstorm Spotlight: Mr. Majestic #1: a story called The Big Chill.) recalling a world he once spent time on…he thinks its name had begun with 'E'.
On the general level, that abstract level…this just speaks to the heart and I got choked up contemplating loss to come and what that'll mean to me personally; and teared up considering losses I've already experienced. In a way, this had no reason to hit me like it did; yet, this is its own deeply personal, powerful piece…certainly worthy of being a Superman story, and well worth its inclusion in this issue!
Writer: Louise Simonson
Artist: Jerry Ordway
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
This is another 5-page "short." Clark is trying to finish a story, with Perry and Jimmy standing by, noting they're 5 minutes to deadline, with Printing already giving hell for holding the presses. Even as Clark points out he's nearly done, he's hearing cries of distress, and jumps from his seat to go into action, while Perry tells him he has five minutes. Superman stops a runaway train; saves Bibbo; stops space debris from crashing to Earth, and still makes it back to the Planet to finish his story. But turns out in being so focused on that, he didn't even consider the impact he just had, saving numerous people, maybe much of Earth…that the story he WAS working on is nothing compared to the story of Superman's recent super-feats.
This is a neat piece, and as with others in this issue of Action, not one I'd care much for as an entire issue, but as a "backup," as a piece included in this issue, I really like it. And with Louise Simonson writing and Ordway on art, it's one that's hard to beat, having such positive memories of both creators' work in the '90s on my early Superman comics.
And the idea of Clark Kent, Reporter, working, having to deal with stuff as Superman and still make his deadline is not new, but it works well here…and the fantastic art just makes it a beauty to behold.
I enjoyed this for that, and its relative timelessness.
Actionland!
Script: Paul Dini
Pencils: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Inks: Kevin Nowlan
Colors: Trish Mulvihill
Letters: Josh Reed
What would a big, giant Superman comic be without Mr. Mxyzptlk? This is a short story showing an amusement park take on Superman and his history, where visitors get to "ride" in a replica of the ship that bore baby Kal-El away from Krypton; lift a tractor like little Clark in Kansas, witness Superman performing super-feats, view other heroes that served with Superman, as well as villains that were fought, and then the way things ended, with Superman… sacrificing himself…giving his life…the ending? The scene we've been seeing is a reality of sorts from Mxy, who just can't quite figure out how he'd like to see the story of Superman end, even though he himself has the power to blink him out of existence with hardly a thought.
I think my initial thought–that it's "fitting" to have Mxy get a story in something like this–comes from the Newstime special after the death of Superman, where there was some throw-away piece referencing the character, sort of explaining his showing up during all that, and yet not having an actual issue til well after the return.
Story-wise, I'm not overly enamored. It's a solid enough piece with an interesting premise. Structurally, not a bad story. I think I've just kinda felt put-off to Mxy stuff after Superman: Reborn and being reminded of stuff from Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? recently. It has its merits–a glimpse at parts of Superman's origins; shows us Mxy himself and reminds us he's around and his powers, and that he can be "just" an imp messing with Superman without wanting to truly destroy him. I just didn't singularly like this story that much.
Art-wise, this is solid, and though Dini has plenty of pedigree himself, having a new Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez story is quite appealing on principle. I can't say I'd recognize the art on sight, but knowing Garcia-Lopez has significant association with Superman, this certainly deserves its place in the issue!
Faster Than a Speeding Bullet
Writer: Brad Meltzer
Artist: John Casaday
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
This was an interesting story, touching on elements that I don't often think of with Superman stories. A gunman with a hostage prepares to pull the trigger…while from a significant distance, Superman's flying as fast as he can to the scene. We get Superman's inner thoughts as he zips toward the gunman, even as he pulls the trigger and the bullet begins to move, as Superman does the math and everything remaining as-is, knows he will not make it in time. Yet, it turns out while he was focused on the gunman, the hostage was shifting, which bought the extra fraction of a second Superman needed to get there, and he saves her. He compliments her on her bravery, that she could be Police, and flies off.
The story here does a good job with building tension as Superman tries to get to the scene. All too often we have the imagery and stories of Superman getting somewhere JUST in the nick of time to bounce bullets off his chest, or pluck them from mid-air, mid-movement before they strike their intended target…but we rarely get something from his point of view, where even he might realize he will be a fraction of a second too late. We get a positive ending here, though, as the woman–Lila–shifts to resist her attacker and Superman is able to save her.
I was not expecting a Meltzer piece, but he's another name that I feel certainly deserves his place and involvement with the issue…if not for prior Superman work, then for his real-world involvement with stuff–helping bring attention to the Siegel house, helping bring about the Superman display at the Cleveland airport, and other involvement with folks preserving the history of Siegel and Shuster and all that.
The art isn't bad…and actually, is quite good–overall. There's just something to the way Casaday does Superman's face that seems really "off" to me. It looks like someone else's face, a stranger's face, is pasted onto a body with "a" Superman costume. Where some artists' Superman is recognizable just by the face, I wouldn't be able to look at the faces in this story and just form those know this was Superman.
For another "short," I can't really complain beyond that about this one!
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Outside of the number, I'm sure this story is one reason for a lot of people to pick up this issue: it offers a prologue to a prologue to a mini-series that itself will lead into the ongoing story in the continuation of this title and rebooted-numbering fifth-volume of Superman. This piece kicks off Bendis' work on Superman…and does so with a beaten, bloodied Superman crashing through what looks like a cave wall, and on zooming out, we see a couple more hits as he smashes through the ceiling and out the side of the L-shaped Lexcorp tower, and then hits a road so hard he bounces a few times, destroying pavement, vehicles, and storefronts. Bystanders of course whip out cellphones to take photos/video of the fallen hero, while they try to drag Superman behind a counter. They comment on him wearing "the red shorts" again (rather than the cosmetic change being just there). Some giant creature with a huge battle axe is after him, and after taking a huge punch and repeated jabs from the just-arrived Supergirl, hits her once, taking her outta the fight (sending her flying toward the huge globe of the Daily Planet). Maggie Sawyer and the SCU shows up, though their weapons do nothing to the creature. There's more discussion from further bystanders of him having "the shorts" again, and the creature continues to get the best of Superman, continuing to physically beat the crap out of him (so to speak), and a simple energy-blast wave-of-the-hand takes a just-returning Supergirl back out of the fight. Transforming the handle of the axe into a sword, he seems to plunge it with a splash into Superman's chest, as he claims to be wiping out remaining Kryptonians, finishing the job he started when he destroyed Krypton.
Once upon a time, Jim Lee was just about my favorite Superman artist–perhaps behind or tied with Jurgens and Ed Benes. But here, I just don't care for the art. I'm sure part of it is the coloring…this seems "dark" and "grim and gritty" especially compared to the rest of the issue, and feels out of place visually with the rest of the issue.
Ditto on the story side–this beating, this violence and Superman just being pummeled and beaten and such, and Supergirl coming off as completely ineffective as well–is sickening after so many happier, brighter, celebratory bits.
Sure, this is a new villain, but we don't even get the name here. We just get nothing but fight. Superman himself points out he hasn't gotten a name, and the villain accuses him of stalling, rather than giving his name. And sure, on one hand, it would be old-style, stereotypical monologuing or such to just give a name at that point…typically, the villain would be depicted in a large panel with a logo-style word balloon declaring his "cool"-sounding name and such, so instead he calls Superman out for stalling, and on a technical level, I guess this is good to get away from the typical.
I don't like that we're thrown into the middle of a fight like this, that we end on a cliffhanger, when the entire rest of this issue has been self-contained one-off stories and whatnot.
Surely we could have started on a brighter note, seen a bit of a different status quo or perspective maybe hinting at this villain's coming or some such. I don't know–but based solely on this 12-page piece, I'm not looking forward to the upcoming Man of Steel mini, and I'm suddenly quite concerned about what to expect from Bendis' run, where until now I've been content to "wait and see" and been fairly optimistic. I suppose I'll now have to "wait and see" what we get in the DC Nation #0 issue and go from there.
I guess it's appropriate enough in its way to launch Bendis' run with this issue…and yet despite assurances to the contrary, the part of me that suspects his "coming" heralded the end of Jurgens' and Tomasi's runs feels like they should have had more pages to play with in this issue, and Bendis could launch with DC Nation or The Man of Steel (after all, the last time, one creator (Alan Moore) ended the previous Superman, and it was the interstitial mini-series Man of Steel where Byrne's stuff started.
This is 12 pages of what's likely a multi-year, dozens-of-issues run by one writer, so ultimately may not be indicative of what to expect on the whole and long-term…but for just these pages, and to come after such positive stories for the other 60+ pages…this just seems out of place and inappropriate for something as celebratory as a 1,000th issue…especially seeing nothing but Superman take a beatdown outta nowhere.
Overall Thoughts on the Issue As a Whole
I've looked forward to this issue for a long time. In some ways, I've probably looked forward to it for nearly 30 years, ever since the first issue I ever owned of the title (#651). At the least, I'm sure I wondered at a comic making it to #1,000 during the Doomsday! and Funeral for a Friend stuff, and the years following, as Adventures of Superman hit #500, Action hit #700, Superman (vol. 2) hit #100, and so on. I certainly wondered about it seven years ago when DC announced what came to be The New 52, that every single title including Action Comics and Detective Comics would be restarted with a #1. Though I still feel that Action making it to #1,000 technically needs an asterisk denoting the 1-52 sequence (there are no issues numbered 905-956) from the New 52 run. But I give DC a "pass" on that, as it was only one "hiccup" in the numbering. Given cover dress, paper condition, and literally the pricing should anyone actually find a copy of the original issues 1-52, one just needs to add 904 to the issue number to know what the issue is in that sense. There have not been numerous iterations where multiple hundreds of issues here, a hundred issues there, another several dozen issues, a mini-series, and a couple of less-than-20-issues runs suddenly add up to a big number. Number-wise, there's virtually no reasonable confusion.
When Rebirth was announced, when it was announced that Action Comics and Detective Comics would get their original numbering back, and that Action Comics (especially) would indeed get to make it to #1,000, I jumped back in. And all these issues and almost two years later, here we are. I feel like this issue is a sort of reward, an attained destination, a prize that's been driven toward since Action Comics #957 back in 2016.
A few months ago, there was some definite ambiguity as to formatting and such for the issue and what to expect for the issue. Part of me thinks this should have been even bigger, included even more–both in the way of original stories as well as reprints. But the companion hardback collection Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman handles a lot of that–with essays and reprints of stories both for characters and creators tied to Superman, and Action Comics itself. I was also a bit curious about what the issue's story would be, or if it would be an anthology/"jam" issue.
Back in the 1990s there were periodic special issues such as The Wedding Album that were key, integral chapters in the ongoing Superman story unfolding in the actual, ongoing titles; though this would be an actual numbered issue, I'd wondered if this would have any singular through-story that just happened to have a bunch of different artists and maybe some narrative structure allowing for different writers to leave a mark on the story.
Obviously what we got was 15-page chunks of the two main creative teams of the ongoing titles, and then 8 more stories/contributions, and a 12-page launch sequence from the new writer coming onto stuff.
As with my excitement for Rebirth and Action Comics #957, I bought this digitally, and I bought this in-print, and I'll gladly buy the hardcover edition that I believe will be out this Fall. I also ordered the "Decades Variants" through DCBS, and will be getting the 1,000 covers poster, which will be an excellent, appropriate addition to my comics space.
This is an issue that rightly deserves the "celebration" that variants offer. There are artists who may not otherwise have had involvement with the issue, who get to be associated with Action Comics #1000 if only with a variant. And as the first American comic book to make it to #1000…it's more than worthy. 80 years of continuous publication of a comic titled Action Comics is nothing to sneeze at. I'm among the first to complain and gripe and grouse about variants, and will continue to, where they merely cheapen stuff and are "abused" (really, does a #17 or a #81 or a #962 truly deserve a variant? What makes such numbers special if they're just another issue?) But this 1,000th issue deserves the added recognition, the "fun" of certain variants…especially what I've seen of the "Decades" variants, that bring back the logo style and even the DC logo of each decade…the DC Bullet I grew up on is back with several of the issues, and even the "swoosh" logo gets some love with the 2000s variant.
$7.99 for a single issue is a bit much in most cases. This is squarebound and has 81 story pages with no ads between stories nor interrupting any stories, and the cover is a stronger cardstock…so this is absolutely worth its price for the physical product as well as the content it contains.
None of the stories seem to specifically continue from anything; nothing I'm aware of comes off of a To Be Continued; and other than the Bendis segment leading into stuff out of/after this issue, that's still 69 or so pages that stand alone quite well, neither requiring previous reading nor requiring subsequent reading. This is well worth getting just for itself; a 1,000th issue; a standalone, celebratory Superman issue. Perhaps it's an endpoint; maybe it can be a starting point; it's definitely an excellent one-off, special thing.
I highly recommend this to any Superman fan or anyone interested in checking out some Superman content, period, and especially if you don't want to commit to anything ongoing or long-form.
Filed under: 2018 posts, 2018 Reviews, Action Comics, Action Comics, DC, DC Rebirth, DC Universe | Tagged: 1000, Action Comics, Actionland, Alejandro Sanchez, Alex Sinclair, An Enemy Within, Brad Meltzer, Brian Michael Bendis, Butch Guice, Carlos M. Mangual, Chris Eliopoulos, Clark Kent, Clay Mann, comic books, Comic Reviews, Cory Petit, Curt Swan, Dan Jurgens, Dave McCaig, Dave Sharpe, DC, DC Comics, dc entertainment, Faster Than a Speeding Bullet, Five Minutes, From the City That Has Everything, Geoff Johns, Hi-Fi, Jerry Ordway, jim lee, John Cassaday, John Workman, Jordie Bellaire, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Josh Reed, Kevin Nowlan, Kurt Schaffenberger, Laura Martin, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Louise Simonson, Marv Wolfman, matt wilson, Neal Adams, Never Ending Battle, Nick Napolitano, Norm Rapmund, Of Tomorrow, Olivier Coipel, Patrick Gleason, Paul Dini, Paul Levitz, Peter J. Tomasi, Rafael Albuquerque, Richard Donner, Rob Leigh, Scott Snyder, Scott Williams, Smallville, Superman, The Car, The Fifth Season, THe Game, The Truth, Tom King, Tom Napolitano, Trish Mulvihill | 2 Comments »
Uncanny X-Men #600 [Review]
Posted on November 6, 2015 by Walt
Art: Sara Pichelli, Mahmud Asrar, Stuart Immonen, Kris Anka, Chris Bachalo, David Marquez, Frazer Irving
Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger, Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin
Colors: Marte Gracia, Jason Keith, Chris Bachalo, Frazer Irving
Cover: Chris Bachalo
Lettering & Production: VC's Joe Caramagna
Assistant Editors: Christina Harrington, Xander Jarowey
Editors: Mike Marts and Mark Paniccia
Published by: Marvel
Cover Date: January 2016
Writer: Mary Jo Duffy
Penciler: George Perez
Inker: Alfredo Alcala
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Cover Art: Paul Gulacy
Associate Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor: Dennis O'Neil
The first X-Men comic I clearly, consciously remember getting is Uncanny X-Men #300. The costumes, the characters, the cover–it fit the then-current animated series on tv that I was getting familiar with, and had a nice shiny cover to draw extra attention (to say nothing of being a thicker cover physically, making for a durable<|fim_middle|> more "key" tie-ins to the overall Secret Wars as it deals specifically with ending the Ultimate Universe. (After all, Secret Wars is kicked off by the Ultimate and 616 Universes as the final two in existence, merging).
This seems like a very strong issue for a tie-in reading experience, and well worth getting if you're following Secret Wars. It also seems likely to be a good story overall for putting the lid on the Ultimate Universe, fairly friendly even to readers like me who haven't really read any of the Ultimate books for years. You could certainly do a lot worse than this issue!
Filed under: 2015 posts, 2015 Reviews, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: Battleworld, Brian Bendis, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Robinson, Comic Reviews, comics, Cory Petit, Emily Shaw, Justin Ponsor, Manny Mederos, Mark Bagley, Mark Paniccia, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Scott Hanna, Secret Wars, Spider-Man, ultimate spider-man, Ultimates | Leave a comment »
Uncanny X-Men (vol. 3) #1 [Review]
Posted on February 18, 2013 by Walt
Penciler/Colorist: Chris Bachalo
Inkers: Tim Townsend, Jaime Mendoza and Al Vey
Associate Editor: Jordan D. White
Editor: Nick Lowe
I've been looking forward to this debut issue for a number of weeks now…pretty much since I learned this third volume would focus on Cyclops, Magneto, and their group of mutants; particularly after getting a taste of things in the pages of All New X-Men.
The issue has a framing sequence, of a man in shadows speaking with SHIELD about Cyclops, explaining why the mutant leader needs to be taken down. In the "core" of the story, we see Cyclops' group continuing to reach out to new mutants, and facing off with a group of sentinels–something that once would have been little trouble for Magneto in particular–but the veteran mutants' powers have been altered due to the recent Phoenix incident…and they struggle to "re-learn" how to use their own powers while looking to train the newly created mutants. The revelation of the shadowed man's identity is a bit of a twist, sure to introduce further conflict, but not entirely surprising.
Story-wise, there's plenty of potential for this title. While I'm not a fan of the "villainization" of Cyclops, for what times I've "checked in" on X-stuff over the past few years, this current place the character is in seems rather logical and makes sense, given everything we've actually seen the character go through–losing his wife, seeing the vast majority of the mutant population wiped out, struggling to protect what mutants remained against a world that still feared/hated them, finding hope and finally seeing a return to numbers and being in a position to reach out to these new mutants now from the start, proactively acting to solidify their place in the world.
I missed out on the re-introduction of Magneto, but have thoroughly enjoyed seeing his place with the X-Men of late; and it's his character growth and evolution that has struck me almost as much as Cyclops'. That these two men–once bitter enemies–are now working together says a lot for both of them; and I'm interested in seeing where their alliance goes.
Again…there's plenty of potential for this title.
Visually, however, I am extremely disappointed. From the start, I'm put off entirely by Cyclops' "new costume" (mask). Going to the red on the outfit doesn't bother me so much as wrapping red bands around the face as an "X" where the visor has always been. Maybe the X will be explained/become apparent as we learn more about Cyclops' modified powerset…but visually it's an atrocious look that I don't like one bit. If I don't like the redesign of Cyclops' headpiece…I don't entirely mind Magneto's–though his is far from ideal as well, seeming to fit a more abstract, stylistic imagery that reminds me of how the character might be depicted in a nightmare interpretation (see 1993's Wolverine #75).
As far as the issue's art in general…just a couple pages in–having initially ignored the credits page–I stopped in my tracks. "This is Bachalo, isn't it?" I thought to myself. Flipping back to the credits, I confirmed that–though in this case, recognizing an artist's work in and of itself is no positive. I'm not a fan of the visual style, and often have trouble trying to truly follow the action, what's actually going on.
Despite the stylized take on the characters, for the most part they don't look all that bad; and the double-page introduction of the sentinels reminds me of what I think is a similar shot from 2004's Astonishing X-Men #1, and is fairly impressive–perhaps simply for the "space" the image has to breathe. In the introduction of the new mutant the group was after, though, I had no idea what was going on, what his powers were, or were doing–I sorta figured out a bit from just reading and the extra curiosity, but it really put me out of the story.
So while the story holds up and leaves me fairly interested yet in where things go–the art is a near-complete turn-off for me. The "AR" stuff holds zero interest–I've been "burned" too many times with the smartphone app having trouble actually loading whatever it's trying to load, and it seems that more often than not, all I get is a transition from "pencils" to the "finished image"–something I have virtually NO INTEREST in…while the AR content might be intended to be "bonus" or "add value" or such to the issue, being more annoying than not with so little worthwhileness, I don't even bother anymore…even for writing a review.
This is yet another relaunch–the 2nd Uncanny X-Men #1 in 18 months. Where the original numbering was scrapped to put Uncanny and Wolverine and the X-Men on "equal footing" numbers-wise…THAT logic has been thoroughly scrapped now as well.
Worst of all, this is a $3.99 book, and presumably will be mostly double-shipping…which is a pricing strategy I just cannot keep up with. Priced at $2.99 I would give this a few issues; but as-is, I tried this first issue, and I have every intention now of passing on subsequent issues, at least so long as I'd be paying "full price." I'll simply have to keep an eye out for these in bargain bins, snagging a collected volume (if still interested by that point) from Amazon, or "going digital" should these fall under a 99-cent sale from Comixology.
Filed under: MARVEL, Marvel Now!, Uncanny X-Men | Tagged: Al Vey, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo, Comic Reviews, Cyclops, Jaime Mendoza, Joe Caramagna, Jordan D. White, magneto, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, New Revolution, Nick Lowe, Tim Townsend, Uncanny X-Men, x-men | Leave a comment »
All-New X-Men #1 [Review]
Posted on November 15, 2012 by Walt
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 4/5
Art: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
Filed under: All-New X-Men, cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Now! | Tagged: All New X-Men, Beast, Brian Michael Bendis, Comic Reviews, Cory Petit, cxPulp, Cyclops, Jordan D. White, magneto, Marte Gracia, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Nick Lowe, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, x-men | Leave a comment »
Avengers vs. X-Men #12 [Review]
Posted on October 3, 2012 by Walt
Art: 4/5
Filed under: Avengers vs. X-Men, Avengers vs. X-Men (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: Adam Kubert, avengers, Avengers vs. X-Men, Avx, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Eliopoulos, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, Cyclops, Dark Phoenix, Ed Brubaker, Hope, Jake Thomas, Jason Aaron, John Dell, jonathan hickman, Justin Ponsor, Laura Martin, Lauren Sankovitch, Mark Morales, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Matt Fraction, Nick Lowe, Phoenix, Tom Brevoort, x-men | Leave a comment »
Story: 2.5/5
Filed under: Avengers vs. X-Men, Avengers vs. X-Men (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: avengers, Avx, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Eliopoulos, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, Cyclops, Ed Brubaker, Jake Thomas, Jason Aaron, Jim Cheung, jonathan hickman, Justin Ponsor, Laura Martin, Lauren Sankovitch, Mark Morales, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Matt Fraction, Nick Lowe, Olivier Coipel, Phoenix, Tom Brevoort, x-men | Leave a comment »
Avengers vs. X-Men #3 [Review]
Posted on May 5, 2012 by Walt
Filed under: Avengers vs. X-Men, Avengers vs. X-Men (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: avengers, Avengers vs. X-Men, Avx, Brian Michael Bendis, Captain America, Chris Eliopoulos, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, Ed Brubaker, Jason Aaron, Jim Cheung, John Denning, John Romita Jr., jonathan hickman, Laura Martin, Lauren Sankovitch, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Matt Fraction, Nick Lowe, Round 3, Scott Hanna, Tom Brevoort, Wolverine, x-men | Leave a comment » | , high-quality issue to hold).
Several years later I picked up #400, and then years after that 500–though I hadn't kept up with every issue of the title.
So again now, I bought #600 despite not being entirely current on the title (and overlooking the multiple reboots between the last legitimately-numbered issue and this) because of having bought the last several 100-issue round-number issues when they came up. Some 22 years after getting #300, here I am with #600.
My understanding is that this is Bendis' final X-Men issue, as far as being the driving force behind the main X-books. Despite catching up a fair bit on Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men recently via Marvel's Digital Unlimited, I'm still a bit out of the loop on whatever's transpired between where I left off there and stuff immediately prior to Secret Wars and the Last Days stuff. But I do know the characters and the bulk of recent stuff in the most general of terms.
This issue finds Beast (Hank McCoy) experiencing an "intervention" by his teammates, forcing him to confront what he's done of late–with emphasis on having time-traveled to bring the original X-Men into the present where they're now stuck. Amidst the intervention/confrontation, we get some flashes to a number of smaller interactions–"original" Jean wants to leave the group for awhile; "original" Bobby confronts current Bobby on repressed feelings; Kitty, Colossus, and Illyana catch up with each other, and so on. Meanwhile, we also see Scott Summers' recent dream to fruition…and it proves to be just a bit different than we've been led to believe.
We also get a lengthy "backup story" by Perez, a solo Iceman thing, that while it looks good does not feel particularly relevant nor current. It seems set in the early 1970s, though it feels like a more recent piece. The art is very good–I usually do enjoy Perez' art–though I don't entirely appreciate the black-and-white instead of color. Perhaps it was intended this way, maybe it was a stylistic choice, but that contributes to it not feeling like it belongs in this issue.
The main feature's story is solid enough, and though it doesn't feel like an ongoing issue but more like a one-shot, it works decently enough as itself, as what it is. At the same time, I'm not thrilled at what appears to be Bendis trying to cement several key points just before taking off, like he has to solidify or shoehorn in some stuff to force subsequent writers to address things or leave Bendis' work to be an absolute character element. I do definitely approve of the supposed conclusion of the Cyclops arc, and hope to see stuff picked up on, that it'd "redeem" the villanous element applied to the character over the last several years.
Visually…while I appreciate the CONCEPT of letting a bunch of artists work on the issue as "the" big anniversary issue…I can really do without it. The shifting visual styles is distracting and draws attention to stuff in a way that takes away from the otherwise-natural shifting nature of the story, giving us some smaller character moments while addressing the larger overall confrontation with Beast.
I definitely enjoyed Perez' work on the Iceman story…but it's such an unrelated thing that I'm honestly resentful at its inclusion, at this issue being over-priced at $6 over the "standard" $4 just for the story's inclusion. Better a $3.99 issue without it than $5.99 WITH. That said, the story would work as some bonus/extra cheap attraction, as it really has nothing to do with current continuity, and has no likely/obvious ongoing elements to contribute to stuff, other than being a '70s-looking/'70s-sounding story.
The main story's art was distracting…and I was reminded how recognizable and unwelcome (to me) Bachalo's art is amidst it all…especially for the cover. It's also very disappointing that the cover looks like it's half of or one of several "panels" of a larger image, without even a wraparound…only a bunch of variants.
I bought this issue personally for being the anniversary issue, being the actual high-number or "legacy-numbered" issue. That's for the personal element of having got #300 off the shelf, and each subsequent 100-numbered issue. In and of itself, if you have followed Bendis' X-work, you'll want to pick this up. Otherwise, this is quite skippable for whatever will be 'current" moving forward. Outside of whatever closure you'd get having followed this series, and/or All-New X-Men, I'd suggest skipping this and waiting for whatever nearest #1 most directly follows and grabs your attention.
Filed under: 2015 posts, 2015 Reviews, MARVEL, Marvel Now!, Uncanny X-Men | Tagged: 600, Alfredo Alcala, Beast, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo, Christina Harrington, Comic Reviews, comics, Cyclops, David Marquez, Dennis O'Neil, Frazer Irving, George Perez, Ice Man, Janice Chiang, Jason Keith, Joe Caramagna, Kris Anka, magneto, Mahmud Asrar, Mark Irwin, Mark Paniccia, Marte Gracia, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Mary Jo Duffy, Mike Marts, Paul Gulacy, ralph macchio, Sara Pichelli, Stuart Immonen, Tim Townsend, Uncanny X-Men, Wade Von Grawbadger, x-men, X-Men 600, Xander Jarowey | Leave a comment »
Ultimate End #1 [Review]
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Production Design: Manny Mederos
Cover: Mark Bagley
Assistant Editors: Chris Robinson, Emily Shaw
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Published by: Marvel Comics
Despite missing the first two issues (to this day 14-some years later I've had to rely on reprints for my personal collection) I had jumped into the Ultimate universe basically at its start, with Ultimate Spider-Man #3, and I believe I finally got to read the first two issues initially in a Mighty Marvel Must-Have edition. As such, seeing as how–after several false-starts on the "end" of the Ultimate universe–the ending is finally here, I couldn't pass this up. And like I started with Ultimate Spider-Man with the single issues, so, too, I found it fitting to follow the single-issues here as well.
This triggers plenty of nostalgia for me from the cover, which utilizes the original trade dress of the Ultimate books–the two solid-color bars down either side of the cover with a skinnier image between. The Ultimate End logo looks familiar, though I think the font is slightly "off" from some of the other Ultimate _______ logos; and of course we have the Battleworld banner across the top and the Secret Wars stamp marking this as part of the overall Secret Wars 2015 event, specifically the Battleworld class of tie-ins. I had noticed an alternate cover with the Miles Morales Spider-Man costume, that looked like the original Ultimate Spider-Man #1 cover that I almost chose over the standard cover. However, never having acquired an original USM #1, I stuck to my guns on getting just the standard/main non-variant cover for this.
We open on (a) Spider-Man tangling with a Serpent Squad, putting him into interaction with Cloak, Dagger, and a Spider-Woman. We then shift to a huge gathering of heroes that seems made up of a mix and combination of "616" characters and "Ultimate" characters. Spidey joins in as everyone is debating the fault and situation itself they all find themselves in, before the party is further crashed by Thors.
Simply opening the book and reading, I was actually expecting the Miles Morales Spider-Man, so was surprised to see a classic-costumed Spidey. Further, this seems to be a Peter Parker Spidey, suggesting he's either the 616 Spider-Man or another. The issue has a prologue and then jumps to "3 weeks ago," and references a white portal/other world, so as a cursory read-through I'm not certain on the timing and how much the characters know of where they are and if that was pre-incursion or what; I have not kept up on any Marvel the last several years until Secret Wars #0 and 1. So what may be totally obvious to readers following along was not to me.
Still, knowing the basic premise, that didn't bother me much…I recognized the various characters overall. Whether this was actually Battleworld as I assumed or a flashback to the universes still being separate isn't a huge deal to me. Story-wise this worked well enough and had a familiar "feel" stylistically. The art of course is familiar, and Bagley's work is just as good now as I recall from when I was following the Ultimate Spider-Man series with his art.
This is only the first issue of–I believe–five, so there's by no means a complete story here. We're introduced to stuff, mostly, with a little bit of background/flashback given; this is clearly a first chapter of a larger singular story within the Secret Wars/Battleworld stuff. As I expected that going in and did NOT expect some one-off single-issue tale, I'm fine with that; I also went into this with the expectation that I'd enjoy it and that barring some huge disappointment or negative factor, I wasn't going to bail on the series just from whatever this single issue held.
I enjoyed the issue overall–story and art, and appreciated the mix of nostalgia and new. I do look forward to the next issue and want to see where things go. I bought this because of my own history with the Ultimate books; though I suspect this may be one of the | 2,118 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Media & Journalism Class of '22
Newsroom Intern (Summer 2020)
Raleigh News & Observer
Based out of Chapel Hill and Charlotte, N.C.
Assistant Photo Editor (formerly)
The Daily Tar Heel
Editor-in-Chief (formerly)
Ingress Magazine
Born in Charlotte, N.C., to a family of Cambodian refugees<|fim_middle|> stories, I picked up a camera and fell in love. Upon enrolling at UNC-Chapel Hill, I continued to pursue a career in and foster a passion for photojournalism.
My work has been featured in The Daily Tar Heel and The Associated Press as well as used by private organizations and I continue to tell the stories of extraordinary and impactful lives of the ordinary people behind the headlines.
Read my resume.
Dustin Duong, Freelance Photojournalist
available in North Carolina
For work inquiries, please contact me:
dustind.ingress@gmail.com
All content property of Dustin Duong. Please contact before using images for any purpose. | , I was always drawn to self-expression but it wasn't until I attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference in high school that I discovered that I wanted to devote my life to journalism.
There, Brian Lamb, founder of C-SPAN and one of several speakers over the course of the week taught me something valuable: that every person has a story; it's just a matter of sitting down, asking them and listening.
Sometime after experimenting with
various mediums and means of sharing | 97 |
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What UFOs Mean for People Don't Trust Science
"I have thought all the known quantities over in the case of these objects and arrive at a not too unreasonable answer. The answer is that these objects are unknown, definitely and positively."
So said a U.S. Air Force sergeant in 1953, trying to explain to investigators (and, I suspect, to himself), what he had seen, standing on a roof on an August night, watching three well-lit, color-changing objects fly by. His statement, which can be read on Project Blue Book Archive, a site devoted to supporting "serious UFO research," gets at a fundamental misunderstanding of the people who believe in UFOs—that they are anti-science.
In a recent paper published in Public Understanding of Science, Greg Eghigian, an associate professor of modern history at Penn State University, traces the history of ufology and its relationship with mainstream science, arguing that the mistrust between the two was not because ufologists were ignorant about science. And his analysis holds lessons for understanding other beliefs that run counter to scientific evidence.
Take the Air Force guy—maybe he was an<|fim_middle|>s has been on the decline since the 1990s, once the Cold War ended and its attendant anxieties about nuclear weapons and surveillance faded a little. But the history of ufology offers some insight into the nature of this mutual mistrust, that could have implications for other forms of mistrust in mainstream science.
"Most ufologists have been especially sensitive to the fact that scientific cynicism toward them seems to point to a hierarchical asymmetry at work," Eghigian writes.
People with any sort of scientifically unsupported belief—anti-vaxers, climate-change deniers, believers in ESP—may feel they're not being heard, that their concerns aren't being addressed. Scientists may feel that their concerns don't deserve to be addressed, that giving any attention to these incorrect ideas gives them too much legitimacy. So the trust between science and the public can curdle in places.
As my colleague Emma Green smartly noted in her recent piece on anti-vaxers, mistrust in science can come from "the monolithic power of science as a source of cultural authority," to say what is worthy and what is not worthy of attention, what is so and what is not so, what is right and what is wrong. Science is the best tool we have to make these kind of judgments, but it's only a tool. It's not a set of facts that are stamped "true" for all eternity. New discoveries can override old ones—there's always the possibility that we can learn something new, and it will change everything. It's at least conceivable that someday there might be good evidence for out-there beliefs, like that aliens are visiting, or have visited, Earth—even though there is no such evidence today.
According to a 2015 Pew report, 84 percent of scientists reported as a major problem that the "public doesn't know much about science." That may be true, (though another 2015 Pew survey found that Americans did fairly well on a quiz of basic scientific concepts). But it's also possible that some ufologists and others who mistrust mainstream science do understand it, they're just hoping that it will eventually confirm what they already believe.
Tagged Ancient Alien Theory, Area 51, The NASA Connection, Ufo.
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2 thoughts on "What UFOs Mean for People Don't Trust Science"
Beyond The Unknown says:
i love your content, hope you visit my blog and check out mine!
powermjp says:
Thanks so much, I have checked our your site and I like it, the Easter Island post was v interesting.
Blog at WordPress.com. Ancient Alien | amateur ufologist, or maybe he was just a person who saw something in the sky he couldn't explain, but he hardly seems to be spouting blind, irrational belief. Rather, he seems to be trying for a Sherlock Holmesian deduction—he's reviewed the "known quantities" and is trying to arrive at the most logical answer he can, which is that "this was something that I have never seen before or since."
Many ufologists, Eghigian says, have tried to go about their inquiries logically and systematically, usually by one of two methods. They would either come up with ways to code reports of UFO sightings so they could be statistically analyzed, or they would do detailed case studies.
"These folks were trying to do what scientists do," he says. "They were trying to model and mimic all the trappings of scientific practice."
But from the beginning, mainstream science was not welcoming to hypotheses about UFOs, especially not that they could be extraterrestrial in origin. When the first reports of disks and strange lights in the sky appeared in the years after World War II, several governments did collect and analyze these stories. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency theorized that they could be foreign weapons, or maybe a mass hysteria, ("midsummer madness," officials said in 1952) that could be another kind of security threat.
A few academics engaged with the UFO question (the University of Colorado psychologist David Saunders came up with a widely-used coding system, for one), but not many. For the most part, academia saw the study of UFOs as illegitimate.
This viewpoint was solidified when a University of Colorado commission on UFOs released a report in 1968, writing "nothing has come from the study of UFOs in the past 21 years that has added to scientific knowledge." After that, though not solely because of it, the U.S. Air Force stopped studying UFOs, and with the notable exception of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), the natural sciences mostly left aliens alone, too.
But the human sciences started to take an interest starting in the 1970s (though there had been a few studies in earlier decades), not in identifying the flying objects but in identifying what made people believe in them. I asked Eghigian if it changed at all the nature of the mistrust between the two groups, that ufologists had finally started to get attention from mainstream scientists, but it was their persons rather than their hypotheses that were the objects of study.
"It's a good question to ponder," he says. "Offhand my initial instinct would be to say that all it did was to reinforce a sense of frustration."
"I do think it's very interesting," he adds, "that the phenomenon of talking about alien abduction by and large really only takes shape and gets any kind of momentum in the 1970s and 1980s … Once academic science starts to talk about believers as subjects for experimental investigation or clinical analysis that's when you start to see more strings of reports of alien abduction, which tend to involve what? Human experimentation."
So while it would be wrong to say that ufologists were anti-science, they had plenty of reason not to trust scientists and scientific institutions. Being written off as delusional, and only interesting because you're delusional is surely frustrating. And the "institutional isolation" of ufologists, Eghigian writes, "has only served to reinforce their view that academic and political authorities are, at best, narrow-minded or, at worst, engaged in a deliberate attempt to hide information."
The secrecy with which the U.S. government and others conducted their initial UFO investigations, while understandable considering their worries that the objects were a national security threat, may have only made believers think there was something to hide.
This sort of actual, intentional secrecy is likely rare, but there are plenty of barriers to understanding that to the right (or wrong) mindset could read as suspicious. For one, many academic journals aren't open access, so the layperson researching on Google likely wouldn't be able to read the scientific studies for themselves. And even if they could, the statistical methods and jargon scientists use in their writing could be hard to parse.
For example, "in the natural sciences, the way you instruct is basically through mathematics, and forms of mathematics that are absolutely inaccessible to the vast majority of us," Eghigian says. "That's, I think, relatively natural. Perhaps it's downright unavoidable. But for the general public, that impenetrability of being able to know how to look under the hood—that creates problems. That may not to us academics look like secrecy but to others it does seem like we have our own secret language."
And then there's the fact that if you were to ask a scientist about UFOs, or whether vaccines are unsafe, or how to explain a case of seeming telepathy, chances are they'd "consider it professionally silly to even engage in this," he says.
Not that scientists should be under any obligation to re-consider ideas which plenty of study has already found no evidence to support. But if lay people are occasionally guilty of not trusting scientists, so too are scientists guilty of not trusting lay people. Interest in UFO | 1,077 |
Who of the BHIC family is member of the '1 million dollar club'? Who has taken a flying start and has already raised more than 1 million capital? Meet the members of the 'Million Dollar Club' of the BlueHealth Innovation Center.
The Limburg start-up FibriCheck has developed an app that can detect cardiac arrhythmias at an early stage by placing a finger on the camera of the device. In 2017, FibriCheck raised one and a half million euros to expand abroad.
This start-up came out a<|fim_middle|>.65 million euros for market expansion.
Oncomfort was founded by clinical psychologist Diane Jooris and financial expert Gérald De Patoul. To speed up the sales of its solutions, the company raised 1.65 million euros from a group of private investors and Mario Huyghe was appointed CEO. | research project of the Mobile Health Unit and Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg (ZOL). BlueHealth Innovation Center has encouraged us to look beyond the research setting, says Jo Van der Auwera, co-founder Fibricheck. In 2014 we attended a coaching program at BlueHealth (then MIC Flanders). This contributed to the selection for the Grants4Apps accelerator from Bayer HealthCare in Berlin.
LindaCare specializes in digital healthcare, specifically in solutions for telemonitoring chronic patients. In January 2018, LindaCare raised 7 million euros to take a leading market position in Europe and the United States.
The idea of LindaCare has grown out of a hackathon that we organized in Genk in 2013. It is fantastic to see how an idea can become a successful organization during one of our hackathon weekends.
Administration is a burden for patients, doctors, nurses and other medical staff. That's why LynxCare built the Lynx CareMonitor® software: artificial intelligence that makes automatic file processing, follow-up and care insights possible.
In 2016, Dries Hens and Georges De Feu founded LynxCare. It is going very fast for this start-up because a year after the founding they raised > 1 million euro financing and opened an office in San Francisco.
"Thanks to BlueHealth's partners, we are able to work with medical data in a hospital environment, and for us that know-how is the perfect door opener for practical case studies," according to Dries Hens CBO of LynxCare.
Pridiktiv has developed into.care®. A smart and mobile platform that enables people in the healthcare sector to work better and more efficiently. In this way they spend less time on paperwork and other administration. The company raised 1.5 million euros to further improve into.care® with artificial intelligence and to look abroad.
"Thanks to BHIC, we have been given so many opportunities to highlight who we are and what we do in order to validate our product-market fit," says Jeroen De Backer CEO / Founder into.care® by Pridiktiv.
Read here the article that has published about Pridiktiv in Trends.
UgenTec specializes in the development of software for automatic analysis of DNA results. This start-up was founded in April 2014 by Wouter Uten and Tom Martens. UgenTec is one of our starters from the very beginning.
In 2013, Wouter followed our acceleration program to sharpen his business model, marketing, communication and financial aspects. Meanwhile, the organization already has more than 40 employees. In 2018, UgenTec raised 7.5 million euros and recently an office was opened in the United States. UgenTec has partnerships with top 10 leading diagnostic companies and laboratories.
Ontoforce makes software that enables large amounts of data to be searched quickly and efficiently. With their platform, pharmaceutical and biotech companies can quickly access their internal data and add it with public data. This way the development of medicines can be accelerated. The company was founded in 2011 by Hans Constandt.
Ontoforce collected 8.5 million euros in three times from the investors Imec, PMV and LRM, the tech entrepreneurs Torsten Osthus and Luc Vauterin, the Colruyt family and the biotech investor Annie Vereecken. BlueHealth Innovation Center helped Hans Constandt with his pitch and storytelling.
Fight pain without heavy medication. Interventions without bringing a patient under complete anesthesia. This is possible, proves Oncomfort, by using virtual reality and psychological techniques. In 2018 Oncomfort raised 1 | 777 |
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Home » Project Reports & Profiles » Best Business Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir- Identification and Selection of right Project, Thrust areas for Investment, Industry Startup and Entrepreneurship Projects
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Best Business Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir- Identification and Selection of right Project, Thrust areas for Investment, Industry Startup and Entrepreneurship Projects
Agriculture & Horticulture: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
Agriculture Sector of Indian Economy is one of the most significant part of India. Agriculture is the only means of living for almost two-thirds of the employed class in India. About 65% of Indian population depends directly on agriculture and it accounts for around 22% of GDP. Agriculture derives its importance from the fact that it has vital supply and demand links with the manufacturing sector. The agriculture sector of India has occupied almost 43 percent of India's geographical area. Agriculture is still the only largest contributor to India's GDP even after a decline in the same in the agriculture share of India
Paddy, wheat and maize are the major crops of Jammu & Kashmir. Barley, bajra and jowar are cultivated in few parts. Gram is grown in Ladakh. The horticulture industry in Kashmir has become the safeguard of rural economy in the State, providing job facilities to the thousands of people directly and indirectly. The major horticulture items are apple, pear, cherry, walnut, almond, peaches, saffron, apricot, strawberry and plum. About 80 per cent population of the State depends on agriculture. The area under orchards is 242 lakh hectares. The State produces fruit worth Rs 2,000 crore annually including export of walnuts worth Rs. 120 crore. Jammu and Kashmir State has been declared as Agri Export Zone for apple and walnuts. Market Intervention Scheme has also been launched for improving quality fruit for export by ensuing proper grading.
The State is suitable for growing variety of flowers since it has perfect agro-climatic conditions. The floriculture industry in the State offers a good source of supply to the domestic and international market. There is potential for this activity to be propagated on a commercial basis.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES:
In India, agricultural trade policy is a part of a larger food and agriculture policy regime that seeks to maintain food self-sufficiency while providing income support to the agricultural sector and poor consumers. The Government of India (GOI) uses a variety of policy instruments in attempting to achieve these goals, including:
• Domestic subsidies to inputs, outputs, transportation, storage, and consumption to reduce producer costs and consumer prices
• Border measures such as subsidies, tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff measures to protect domestic producers from import competition, manage domestic price levels, and guarantee domestic supply.
Handicraft: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
India is one of the important suppliers of handicrafts to the world market. The Indian handicrafts industry is highly labour intensive cottage based industry and decentralized, being spread all over the country in rural and urban areas. Paintings, furniture, sculptures, artificial jewellery, animal figures, figurines of deities and idols, baskets, and many more items have been complimented as the pride of India. The Handicrafts Sector plays a significant & important role in the country's economy.
Handicraft is the traditional industry of the State and has been of crucial importance given its large employment and export potential. Some of the items of industry are papier-mache, woodcarving, carpets, shawl making, embroidery etc. The handicrafts industry, particularly the carpet industry, has been a source of substantial foreign exchange. It provides employment to about 3.40 lakh artisans. The number of industrial units has also gone up. Jammu has Urban Haats, while a similar Haat is being commissioned in Srinagar. An Export Promotion Industrial Park has been established at Kartholi, Jammu. A similar Park is being set up at Ompora, Budgam. A pashmina dehairing project assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is coming up in the Leh industrial estate of the State.
During the Xth Plan the Government of India has implemented seven generic schemes in the central sector for holistic growth and development of handicrafts sector in the country. The Sub-Group on handicrafts recommended six generic schemes for development of handicrafts in the country to be implemented during the 11th five year plan. The schemes recommended for implementation during 11th five year plan are as under:
Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana: This scheme aims to promote Indian handicrafts by developing artisans' clusters into professionally managed and self-reliant community enterprise on the principles of effective member participation and mutual cooperation. The thrust of the scheme is on a project based, need based integrated approach for sustainable development of handicrafts through participation of crafts persons.
Livestock: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
Livestock sector plays a critical role in the welfare of India's rural population. It contributes nine percent to Gross Domestic Product and employs eight percent of the labour force. 70% of livestock market in India is owned by 67% of small, marginal farmers and by the landless. 60% of livestock farming labor is provided by women and more than 90% of work related to care of animals is rendered by womenfolk of the family. Indian Livestock is reared in close human proximity where they form component of the life system of the people. Cows, buffaloes, bullocks, mule and donkeys are not just utility animals, but also companions at work for the toiling poor who rear them alongside their own dwelling. India has 53% of world Buffalo population and 15% of world Cattle population. In terms of sheep population, India ranks fifth after Australia, China, Iran and New Zealand.
In Jammu and Kashmir, animal husbandry plays a significant role as 0.13 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) of the state is contributed by this sector. The state has a precious wealth of livestock in form of cattle-buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry, etc. The cattle and poultry amongst all the livestock are considered the most important tool for the development of the rural economy. The production of pashmina shawls and other animal products like carpets, shawls and blankets of Kashmir earn handsome foreign exchange for the nation. Therefore livestock industry in the state has vast scope for development rendering quick economic returns.
The Indian government has collaboration and policies to provide guidance for a more holistic planning, implementation and monitoring of animal husbandry projects.<|fim_middle|> and production of quality soaps, shampoos, hand and body lotions and creams. It is used to treat skin diseases like scrofula indolent, ulcer, sores and ringworms. Neem is used externally for ringworm, eczema, psoriasis, lice, fungal infection as well as for painful joints and muscles. The cosmetic use of Neem oil includes the fighting of acne and pimples as well as improving skin elasticity. As a whole it is a good project for entrepreneurs to invest. ? Few Indian Major Players are as under • Agro Extracts Ltd. • J S P Oils & Fats Ltd. • K G N Agro Internationals Ltd. • Morinda Overseas Inds. Ltd. • Mother Dairy Food Processing Ltd. • Vrundavan Agro Inds. Ltd.
Plant capacity: Neem Oil : 5 MT/Day, Neem Cake as By Product : 42 MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 75 Lakhs
Precipitated Calcium Carbonate - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue
Sizing Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC)—also known as purified, refined or synthetic calcium carbonate. It has the same chemical formula as other types of calcium carbonate, such as limestone, marble and chalk: CaCO3. The calcium, carbon and oxygen atoms can arrange themselves in three different ways, to form three different calcium carbonate minerals. The most common arrangement for both precipitated and ground calcium carbonates is the hexagonal form known as calcite. Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a manufactured form of calcium carbonate, is made by first hydrating high-calcium quicklime, and then reacting the resulting slurry or "milk-of lime" with carbon dioxide. The resulting product is extremely white and has a uniformly small particle size. It has numerous uses, most notably in the paper industry. With the trend in papermaking toward using the alkaline over the acid process, PCC is being used increasingly as a filler and coating pigment for premium quality paper. The trend is to produce PCC in slurry form at satellite plants located near the paper mills, using commercial quicklime, although it is also produced and sold commercially. PCC is used to enhance the brightness, color, smoothness, and bulk of the paper, replacing more expensive paper pulp. Approximately 75% of worldwide PCC production is used for this purpose. According to GIA, Global market for Calcium Carbonate is projected to reach 94 million tons by 2018, driven by the rising consumption in paper and plastic industries and the growing demand for PCC and GCC in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) is an inorganic mineral that finds extensive use as functional and commercial filler in plastic, paper, rubber, coatings, light chemicals, and architectural materials, among others. Growth in the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) market would be driven by the increasing number of paper mills and rising demand from plastics sector. Any entrepreneur venture into this field will be successful. Few Indian Major Players are as under • Citurgia Biochemicals Ltd. • Dewan Rubber Inds. Ltd. • Fimakem India Ltd. • Genus Prime Infra Ltd. • Gulshan Polyols Ltd. • Gulshan Sugars & Chemicals Ltd. • Lime Chemicals Ltd. • Niraj Petrochemicals Ltd. • Samana Plastic Ltd. • Searsole Chemicals Ltd. • Shyam Textiles Ltd. • Thirani Chemicals Ltd. • U P Lime-Chem Ltd.
Plant capacity: 25 MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 715 Lakhs
One Lac / Lakh / Lakhs is equivalent to one hundred thousand (100,000)
One Crore is equivalent to ten million (10,000,000)
T.C.I is Total Capital Investment
Caution: The project's cost, capacity and return are subject to change without any notice. Future projects may have different values of project cost, capacity or return. | Following plans have also been made:
• Also, the government has planned to assure a sound Natural Resource Management (NRM) Sphere co-ordination and implementation at country level for SDC.
• Create / enhance synergy between the activities of the Livestock production and Dairying (LPD) and Sustainable Land Use (SLU) sectors
• Enlarge the scope for new and innovative interventions and for support to technical development and technology transfer.
• Promote and support validation, documentation and dissemination of experiences in order to contribute to the process of knowledge management in SDC and Inter cooperation (IC) and to strengthen inputs for policy and strategic dialogue with partners and actors in the NRM Sphere
Tourism: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
Tourism in India is the largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. The tourism industry in India is substantial and vibrant, and the country is fast becoming a major global destination. India's travel and tourism industry is one of them most profitable industries in the country, and also credited with contributing a substantial amount of foreign exchange. Indian Tourism offers a potpourri of different cultures, traditions, festivals, and places of interest.
Jammu and Kashmir is known as crown of India, adheres varieties of cultural, religious spots, adventure and sightseeing activities. It is famous for its towering snow clad mountains, bubbling streams, transparent and sparkling lakes, flower meadows, colourful orchards and rare fauna. All such features of Jammu and Kashmir have always attracted numerous tourists from all over the world. Tourism has emerged as an important and one of the major contributors to the State's economy. There are various places of tourist attraction in the State which are being visited by both foreign and domestic tourists. Kashmir Valley is described as the paradise on earth. Chashmashahi springs, Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Dachigam, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Amarnath shrine in the Valley, Vaishnodevi shrine and Patnitop near Jammu and Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh are important tourist destinations. Ladakh festival in September and Sindhu Darshan in June are popular events. However, efforts are being made to support houseboat owners and develop village tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
In order to develop tourism in India in a systematic manner, position it as a major engine of economic growth and to harness its direct and multiplier effects for employment and poverty eradication in an environmentally sustainable manner, the National Tourism Policy was formulated in the year 2002. Broadly, the Policy attempts to:-
• Position tourism as a major engine of economic growth;
• Harness the direct and multiplier effects of tourism for employment generation, economic development and providing impetus to rural tourism;
• Focus on domestic tourism as a major driver of tourism growth.
• Position India as a global brand to take advantage of the burgeoning global travel trade and the vast untapped potential of India as a destination;
• Acknowledges the critical role of private sector with government working as a pro-active facilitator and catalyst;
• Create and develop integrated tourism circuits based on India's unique civilization, heritage, and culture in partnership with States, private sector and other agencies; and ensure that the tourist to India gets physically invigorated, mentally rejuvenated, culturally enriched, spiritually elevated and feel India from within.
Sericulture: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
Sericulture, the technique of silk production, is an agro-industry, playing an eminent role in the rural economy of India. Silk-fibre is a protein produced from the silk-glands of silkworms. Of the total production of 2,969 tonnes of silk in India, as much as 2,445 tonnes is produced by the mulberry silkworms, Bombyx mori. India is the second largest producer of raw silk after China and the biggest consumer of raw silk and silk fabrics. An analysis of trends in international silk production suggests that sericulture has better prospects for growth in the developing countries rather than in the advanced countries.
Kashmir has been famous for its silk production since ancient past. Rajtrangni of Kalhana, Mahabharata and Ramayana establish that the sericulture was being practised in Kashmir from times immemorial. Jammu and Kashmir produces the best quality Bivoltine Mulberry silk in the country due to its longer length better strength and shine mainly because of conducive climatic conditions. However out of total production of cocoons every year only 20-25% is being consumed within the State and the rest is exported. The estimated production of raw silk yarn is 92000 kg annually. As against this the State is importing spun silk as an item of raw material for different manufactures without clicking our conscience that the better silk could have been exported to others besides catering to the needs of the home industry.
There are several centrally sponsored schemes for promotion and development of sericulture sector, through which Government of India has been undertaking different activities like:
• creation of sericulture related infrastructure;
• development of nurseries and farms;
• expanding plantation areas;
• providing technical know-how to the rearers in production and marketing of cocoons;
• skill up-gradation and training programme, etc.
Fisheries: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
Fisheries sector occupies a very important place in socio-economic development in India. It has been recognized as a powerful income and employment generatoras it stimulates growth of a number of subsidiary industries and is a source of cheap and nutritious besides being a foreign exchange earner.
The State of J&K has a unique topography which divides the State in to 3 distinct agro climatic zones viz. the tropical Jammu Division, the temperate Kashmir Valley and the cold arid zone of Ladakh. The State is bestowed with the natural water resources spread over an area of about 0.40 lacs hectares existing in the shape of cold water torrential streams, Lakes, Rivers, Sars, Springs, Reservoirs besides about 250 high altitude Lakes. While the Jammu Division offers potential for development of Warm Water Fisheries, certain areas in the Districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch also offer potential for the development of Cold water Fisheries and Mahaseer Fisheries. The Kashmir Valley including Ladakh region offers great potential for development of Cold Water Fisheries and the indigenous Icthyofauna.
During the 10th Five Year Plan, emphasis was laid on the strengthening of the infrastructure existing in the shape of Fish Farms, Hatcheries, and other allied infrastructure. The Department has achieved break-through in cold water Fisheries and Food Fisheries. Fish Farming has been successfully introduced in the private sector under the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Package and in this direction 454 units have been set up to provide employment avenues to the educated unemployed rural youth. During the Annual Plan 2009-10, the department has identified major thrust areas for overall development of fisheries in the State.
These include:-
i. The existing infrastructure will be further strengthened. Under this programme, emphasis will be laid to increase the hatching and rearing capacity of existing Fish Farms and Trout Hatcheries.
ii. Development of Recreational Fisheries by way of setting up of an Aquarium at Srinagar and completion of phase 2nd of Aquarium cum Awareness centre at Bagh-i-Bahu Jammu.
iii. Extensive survey of areas especially in newly created districts will be conducted for establishment of new fish farming units of both Carp and Trout.
iv. Sport Fisheries will be further strengthened and new trout streams will be established in the State particularly in Jammu division to increase the scope of trout angling in the State.
v. Propagation of fish culture in private sector
vi. Development of endemic fish fauna/hill stream fisheries.
vii. To provide better marketing facilities for the fishermen.
Waste management and recycling: Project Opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir
Rapid industrialization last few decades have led to the depletion of pollution of precious natural resources in India depletes and pollutes resources continuously. Further the rapid industrial developments have, also, led to the generation of huge quantities of hazardous wastes, which have further aggravated the environmental problems in the country by depleting and polluting natural resources. Therefore, rational and sustainable utilization of natural resources and its protection from toxic releases is vital for sustainable socio-economic development.
SMC has introduced dumpers replacing open collection sites in many areas but the dumpers are not colour-coded and no segregation of waste is carried out at source. Total waste generated is about 375 MT/day (within SMC limits). House-to-House collection of municipal solid waste is being undertaken in 25% of households in Srinagar city through Srinagar Municipal Corporation and some Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Waste is being collected from hotels, restaurants, office complexes and commercial areas whereas slums in some areas are not provided with sanitation facilities. Waste from slaughter houses, meat and fish markets, fruits and vegetable markets which are bio-degradable in nature are not managed separately instead are dumped at the landfill site.
National policy on waste management is set out in the October 1998 policy statement on waste management- Changing our Ways. It outlines the Government's policy objectives in relation to waste management, and suggests some key issues and considerations that must be addressed to achieve these objectives. The policy is firmly grounded in an internationally recognised hierarchy of options, namely prevention, minimisation, reuse/recycling, and the environmentally sustainable disposal of waste which cannot be prevented or recovered.
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Precipitated Silica from Rice Husk Ash - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities
Rice husk is an agricultural residue easily available in rice producing countries. India is a major rice producing country, and the husk generated during milling is mostly used as a fuel in the boilers for processing paddy, producing energy through direct combustion & or by gasification. The rice husk contains about 75% organic volatile matter & the balance 25% of the weight of this husk is converted into ash during the firing process, is known as rice husk ash (RHA). This RHA in turn contains around 85%–92% amorphous silica. Silica is one of the valuable inorganic chemical compounds. It can exist in gel, crystalline and amorphous forms. It is the most abundant material in the earth's crust. Silica is the major constituent of rice husk ash. With such a large ash content & silica content in the ash it becomes economical to extract silica from the ash, which has wide market & also takes care of ash disposal. Precipitated Silica (also called particulate silica) is composed of aggregates of ultimate particles of colloidal size that have not become linked in massive gel network during the preparation process. Precipitated Silica soluble silicate solutions are of fine controlled particle size & porous in nature. Precipitated silica powders have a more open structure with higher volume than dried pulverized gels. Precipitated silica is used as filler for paper & rubber as a carrier & diluents for agricultural chemicals, as an anti caking agent, to control viscosity & thickness and as a cleansing agent in toothpastes & in cosmetics. Precipitated silica also finds its applications as anti caking agents in food industry & as thermal insulators. Precipitated silica is perhaps the best not black filler and reinforcing agent used in rubber industry especially for the production of silicon rubber. Precipitated silica market is fragmented and major portion of the global market share is constituted by regional players. Therefore, precipitated silica market has high price sensitivity. Moreover low capital investment has increased the threat of new entrants in the market mainly in the developing economies. There has been surge in investment by major players in the emerging economies. Thus, Precipitated Silica from Rice Husk Ash as an entrepreneur, offers an exciting opportunity to you.
Plant capacity: Precipitated Silica: 5 MT/Day,CaCO3 (by product):10.3 MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 437 Lakhs
Working capital: - T.C.I: Cost of Project: Rs 660 Lakhs
Return: 24.00% Break even: 55.00%
TMT Bar - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue, Plant Economics
Steel is a generic name for a group of ferrous metals which due to their abundance durability versatility and low cost are most useful metallic material known to mankind. TMT Bars are re rolled bars from Ingots/Billets. TMT Bars can be described as new-generation high strength steel having superior properties such as weldability, strength, ductility and tensile strength, which meet the highest international quality standards. Thermo Mechanical Treatment (TMT) process for reinforcement bars is opening up new vistas in composite RCC, the re-enforcing steel is the costliest constituent (30 To 40% Per Cu. M. of concrete). TMT Bars have excellent ductility and higher fatigue strength, which make them suitable for structures and foundations that are subject to dynamic and seismic loading. They also possess excellent weldability because carbon is restricted below 25% and are resistant to fire hazards with no loss of strength up to 300 degrees Celsius. Better bendability also makes them easily workable at site and they are used in a wide range of applications. Thus, due to demand it is a good project for entrepreneurs to invest. Few Indian Major Players are as under • A S R Multimetals Pvt. Ltd. • Aadhunik Steels Ltd. • Anil Special Steel Inds. Ltd. • Ankit Metal & Power Ltd. • Apple Sponge & Power Ltd. • B M W Industries Ltd. • Chamundi Steel Castings (India) Ltd. • Concast Bengal Inds. Ltd. • Crystal Cable Inds. Ltd. • D S C Ltd. • Faridabad Investment Co. Ltd. • Hans Ispat Ltd. • Hira Ferro Alloys Ltd. • Jai Hind Wire Rod Mills Ltd. • Jai Raj Ispat Ltd. • Kohinoor Steel Pvt. Ltd. • M S P Steel & Power Ltd. • Mauria Udyog Ltd. • Mohan Steels Ltd. • P L G Power Ltd. • R K K R Steels Ltd. • Rathi Steel & Power Ltd. • S K M Steels Ltd. • S M C Power Generation Ltd. • S P S Steels Rolling Mills Ltd. • Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd. • Sujana Metal Products Ltd. • Tata Steel Processing & Distribution Ltd. • Vikash Metal & Power Ltd. • Viksit Engineering Ltd. • Vinayaga Infra (India) Ltd. • Vinayak Steels Ltd. • Welspun Steel Ltd. • Welspun Tradings Ltd.
Plant capacity: TMT Bar: 125 MT/Day • Scraps: 6MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 730 Lakhs
Working capital: - T.C.I: Cost of Project: Rs 1675 Lakhs
Clinker Grinding for Cement - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue
Cement is an inorganic, non-metallic substance with hydraulic binding properties, and is used as a bonding agent in building materials. It is a fine powder, usually gray in color that consists of a mixture of the hydraulic cement minerals to which one or more forms of calcium sulfate have been added. Mixed with water it forms a paste, which hardens due to formation of cement mineral hydrates. Cement is the binding agent in concrete, which is a combination of cement, mineral aggregates and water. Concrete is a key building material for a variety of applications. In the manufacture of Portland cement, clinker is lumps or nodules, usually 3-25 mm in diameter, produced by sintering limestone and alumino-silicate during the cement kiln stage. Clinker is the main ingredient in cement. These hardened granules are obtained by firing a mixture of approximately 80% limestone and 20% clay to a high temperature. The most commonly used cement in the world is Portland cement, which is formed at high temperatures that chemically combine the ingredients into new components, including calcium silicates and calcium aluminates. When the cement clinkers are ground with approximately 5% gypsum, they form Portland cement. These compounds allow cement to set when combined with water and to form strong bonds that can withstand pressure, water immersion, and other elements. Cement Clinker is an intermediate product used in manufacture of Portland and Blended Cements in Cement. Portland cement clinker is ground (usually with the addition of a little gypsum, that is, calcium sulfate dehydrate) to a fine powder and used as the binder in many cement products. As a whole it is a good project for entrepreneurs to invest. Few Indian Major Players are as under • A C C Ltd. • Almora Magnesite Ltd. • Ambuja Cement Eastern Ltd. • Ambuja Cement Rajasthan Ltd. • Ambuja Cements Ltd. • Anjani Portland Cement Ltd. • Barak Valley Cements Ltd. • Bheema Cements Ltd. • Bhilai Jaypee Cement Ltd. • Birla Corporation Ltd. • Cement Manufacturing Co. Ltd. • Century Textiles & Inds. Ltd. • Chettinad Cement Corpn. Ltd. • Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. • Dhar Cement Ltd. • Gangotri Cement Ltd. • Greygold Cements Ltd. • Gujarat High Tech Inds. Ltd. • Gujarat Sidhee Cement Ltd. • Hemadri Cements Ltd. • K C P Ltd. • Keerthi Industries Ltd. • Khalari Cements Ltd. • Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd. • Malabar Cements Ltd. • Mangalam Cement Ltd. • Meghalaya Cement Ltd. • My Home Inds. Ltd. • N C L Industries Ltd. • Namo Cements Ltd. • Narmada Cement Co. Ltd. • C L India Ltd. • Orient Cement Ltd. • P R Cements Ltd. • Ramco Cements Ltd. • Ramco Industries Ltd. • Rashmi Cement Ltd. • Rishi Cement Co. Ltd. • Sanghi Industries Ltd. • Saurashtra Cement Ltd. • Shaktiman Cements Ltd. • Shiva Cement Ltd. • Shree Cement Ltd. • Shree Digvijay Cement Co. Ltd. • Shri Hariganga Cement Ltd. • Snhehadhara Industries Ltd. • Sparta Cements & Infra Ltd. • Sri Vishnu Cement Ltd. • Srichakra Cements Ltd. • Tata Chemicals Ltd. • Trinetra Cement Ltd. • Ultratech Cement Ltd. • Vinay Cements Ltd. • Virgo Cements Ltd. • Visaka Cement Industry Ltd. • Zuari Cement Ltd.
Plant capacity: Clinker for Cement: 100 MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 436 Lakhs
Leather Bags and Wallets - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue
Leather is considered as a symbol of fashion, uniqueness, trend and styles. The demand for quality leather products as well as accessories never ceases among the consumers. Individuals that are style sensitive and elegant always want to enhance their overall appearance by preferring quality leather products. Use of leather goods is increasing day by day. Now-a-days fancy leather goods are being used by the people of even remotest area of country, because lifestyle has been changing very fast. Fancy leather products are durable and beautiful to look at in comparison to other similar products. People use shopping bags to carry things to home, which they purchase from market. Different material like cloth, nylon, plastic etc are used for manufacturing of bags. But they are less durable and lack aesthetic appeal. Leather can be used for manufacturing high quality shopping bags to carry grocery, cloth, cosmetics and other such similar items. Most of the women used leather hand bags in India. The raw material availability is high in Tribal areas of AP and Orissa state. The industry depends on taning industry. The Indian leather industry is the 8th largest foreign exchange earner for the country. The product variation covers: (a) semi and finished leather, (b) footwear and footwear components, (c) garments for ladies and gents, (d) handbags for ladies and gents, (e) wallets, diaries and cardholders, (f) gloves and fashion accessories, (g) tableware, (h) upholstery (for houses, offices and vehicles), and (i) luggage and portfolio bags. Handbags, footwear and leather garments have the largest export growth potential in the leather sector, according to a study undertaken by the Export-Import Bank of India. Any entrepreneur venture into this field will be successful. Few Indian Major Players are as under • A V Thomas Exports Ltd. • Beekay Niryat Ltd. • Cheviot International Ltd. • Crew B O S Products Ltd. • Euresian Equipments & Chemicals Ltd. • Gujarat B D Luggage Ltd. • Indo Korea Exports Ltd. • Sanyo Impex Ltd. • V I P Industries Ltd. Cost Estimation Capacity • Business Card Case : 100 Pcs/Day • Accordion Wallet : 100 Pcs/Day • Billfold Wallet Type 01 : 100 Pcs/Day • Billfold Wallet Type 02 : 100 Pcs/Day • Billfold Wallet Type 03 : 100 Pcs/Day • Passport Wallet : 100 Pcs/Day • Money Clutch : 100 Pcs/Day • Wash Bags : 100 Pcs/Day • City Bags : 100 Pcs/Day • Laptop Backpack : 100 Pcs/Day • Business Document Briefcase : 100 Pcs/Day • Business Laptop Briefcase : 100 Pcs/Day • Business Triple Compartment Bags : 100 Pcs/Day • Weekender Bags : 100 Pcs/Day • Wheeled Luggage: 100 Pcs/Day
Plant capacity: - Plant & machinery: Rs 28 Lakhs
Water Treatment Chemicals (Antiscalants and Membrane Cleaners) - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of reverse osmosis and nano-filtration plant over the past ten years. There has also been a proliferation in the variety of feed sources used, including seawater, surface waters and, increasingly, effluents of varying qualities. Not surprisingly, therefore, is the parallel increase in the degree of scaling and fouling, resulting in the need for not only novel preventative antiscalant products in the field, but also new and improved cleaners where deposition has occurred. An essential part of the ability to correctly select and apply the most appropriate products lies in the development of laboratory analysis and predictive tools. Fouling potential is an inherent characteristic of membrane module design. The high membrane packing density required for good production rates results in low voidage for feed water flow. However, this need not result in detrimental performance. Fouling has been widely documented and researched since the first commercial use of membrane separations. It is important that this subject is addressed because membrane replacement is a considerable expense in the operation of an RO plant. In the case of large municipal and industrial systems, this cost can be prohibitive. Pre-treatment systems for RO plants are designed to produce a feedwater with a reduced fouling potential by removing potential fouling species prior to membrane treatment. Common foulants include: Calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate scales, Organic matter, Iron, Colloidal material, Bio-film and microorganisms, Silica, Natural humic and fulvic acids. Fumaric Acid Polymers are used as Antiscalants. The synthesis of the fumaric acid polymers follows a novel process that avoids the insolubility and low reactivity of fumaric acid in free radical reactions and that produces the polymer in high yield.
Plant capacity: Capacity Antiscalants: 5MT/Day, Membrane Cleaners: 5 MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 88 Lakhs
Restaurant with Microbrewery - Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Trends, Market Research, Survey, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue, Plant Economics, Working Capital Requirement, Plant Layout, Cost of Project
A restaurant is simply a place to have food outside your home. It is smaller in size than a hotel as it does not have accommodation facilities. It is an establishment that serves the customers with prepared food and beverages to order, to be consumed on the premises. The term covers a multiplicity of venues and a diversity of styles of cuisine. The one and only feature of a restaurant is the kind of food and/or beverages it serves to its customers. There are all sorts of restaurants in all cities of the world ranging from budget to very expensive ones where international cuisine is served and the ambience is great. Some restaurants also serve alcoholic drinks for which they obtain a license from the administration. Some are specialized restaurants where a particular cuisine is served such as Chinese, Italian, Thai, Japanese, and so on. Restaurants range from unpretentious lunching or dining places catering to people working nearby, with simple food and fixed menu served in simple settings at low prices, to expensive establishments serving expensive speciality food and wines in a formal setting. In the former case, customers usually wear casual clothing. In the latter case, depending on culture and local traditions, customers might wear semi-casual, semi-formal, or even in rare cases formal wear. Typically, customers sit at tables, their orders are taken by a waiter, who brings the food when it is ready, and the customers pay the bill before leaving. INDIA is one of the world's largest producers as well as consumers of food. Changing food consumption patterns of India's population is expected to not only increase consumption volume in absolute terms to US$230 billion but also shift people's diet qualitatively towards richer, processed foods, which will force increased commodity requirements. The industry players say that they are observing a healthy business growth in the Millennium City and there are areas where the business has observed an exceptional response. Thus, due to demand it is a good project for entrepreneurs to invest. Few Indian Major Players are as under • A G S Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. • Au Bon Pain Cafe India Ltd. • Dodsal Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. • Forbes Facility Services Pvt. Ltd. • Green Dot Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. • Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. • Koti Resorts Ltd. • Lakeview Clubs Ltd. • Market City Developers Pvt. Ltd. • Mayur Leather Products Ltd. • Mount Shivalik Inds. Ltd. • R T C Restaurants (India) Ltd. • Speciality Restaurants Ltd. • Wah Restaurants Pvt. Ltd.
Plant capacity: Restaurant (Veg. - Non-Veg.): 150 Nos/Day, Beer: 330 Pitchers/Day, Alcohol : 100 Nos/Day, Fresh Fruit Juice: 500 Nos/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 189 Lakhs
Cattle Feed - Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue, Plant Economics, Cost of Project
The principal feed resources for animal consumption in the country are crop residues like straws of wheat, rice and other cereals and stovers, which are very poor in feed value. Even these are in short supply. These are supplemented to some extent by relatively better quality fodders like cultivated leguminous and non-leguminous fodder grasses and concentrates. The latter are formulated largely from agro-industrial by-product and forest wastes and small quantities of low-grade cereals with the present stock of feed and fodder resources available in the country, it is impossible to meet the nutrient requirements of even the present day low-producing cattle and buffaloes. Such a situation is bound to aggravate difficulties in the feeding of better producing livestock such as cross bred lows in exploiting their full genetic potentiality for early growth, better reproduction and higher milk production. Foods are the basic need of every one, similarly feed for cattle's is also very important and necessary as well. Without this, no one can live as well as good nutritive meal increase the productivity as well as the growth of an animal. Thus, the requirement of good cattle feed is always exists and it will further increase with the increase in population of cattle's. Therefore, it is a good project for entrepreneurs to invest. Few Indian Major Players are as under • Agro Tech India Ltd. • Amrit Feeds Ltd. • Anirudh Foods Ltd. • Annam Feeds Ltd. • Baramati Agro Ltd. • Gajanan Extraction Ltd. • Goldmohur Foods & Feeds Ltd. • Graintec India Ltd. • Hanuman Minor Oils Ltd. • Hatsun Agro Products Ltd. • Indian Potash Ltd. • Khandesh Extraction Ltd. • Kumar Food Inds. Ltd. • Kwality Feeds Ltd. • Kwality Ltd. • Lakshmi Energy & Foods Ltd. • Maheshwari Solvent Extraction Ltd. • Piccadily Agro Inds. Ltd. • Puri Oil Mills Ltd. • S K M Animal Feeds & Foods (India) Ltd. • Sakthi Beverages Ltd. • Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Ltd. • Sree Tulasi Solvent Extractions Ltd. • Vegepro Foods & Feeds Ltd. • Vimal Dairy Ltd.
Plant capacity: 100 MT/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 277 Lakhs
Aluminium Collapsible Tubes (Printed) - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities
A collapsible tube is defined as a cylinder of pliable metal that can be sealed in such a manner that its contents, although readily discharged in any desired quantity, are protected from contact with air or moisture. Products so packaged must flow under pressure low enough not to damage the tube. Collapsible tubes are widely used as handy flexible packages for pastes and semi-liquids. As the tube is flattened out to expel its contents, the capacity of the tube is proportionately reduced without the introduction of air and the material in the tube does not suffer any deterioration. These are fabricated readily, and are strong enough to withstand processing, they are light in weight, easy to handle, and fairly cheap. They can be handled on high speed machines. This type of cans are properly sealed after filling the measured quantity, to keep the customer's faith on sealed material sealing also prevents dusting and other bad materials to mix with the product. Collapsible tubes are made from aluminium, tin coated lead, or lead tin alloy by cold extrusion. They consist of three parts, the main tube, a shoulder to one end of which a screened nozzle with orifice is fitted, and a molded cap to close the orifice, sometimes application of various design are attached to the nozzle with the help of mechanical or hand operated filling machines, the end is sealed by folding and crimping. Collapsible tubes were initially introduced for packing artists oil color. However, now its use has spread for packing a wide variety of products. These tubes are used for filling tooth paste, shaving creams, ointment and inks, etc. It is hygienic, non-toxic and non-absorbent and has a high heat transfer rate. Consequently, aluminium is an ideal tubing material for several process industry applications. Aluminium tubes look attractive in its natural state and its appearance can be further enhanced by a variety of finishes. In the packaging sector, aluminium is used in foils, cans, collapsible tubes and bottle caps. Hence, globally, the growth of the packaging industry hinges on growth in sectors like foods, beverages, and medicines. Any entrepreneur venture into this field will be successful. Few Indian Major Players are as under • Perfect Containers Pvt. Ltd. • Oriental Containers Ltd. • P Chhotalal Group • Deep Packaging Pvt. Ltd • Collapsible Tube Corporation • Gulati Extrusions Pvt. Ltd • Almin Extrusion • Patel Extrusion Group
Plant capacity: Aluminium Collapsible Tubes (Printed): 2,00,000 Nos/Day Plant & machinery: Rs 608 Lakhs
Neem Oil - Manufacturing Plant, Detailed Project Report, Profile, Business Plan, Industry Trends, Market Research, Survey, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Feasibility Study, Investment Opportunities, Cost and Revenue, Plant Economics
Azadirachta indica (Neem) tree belongs to the Meliaceae family. It is a multipurpose and an evergreen tree, 12–18 m tall, which can grow in almost all kinds of soil including clay, saline, alkaline, dry, stony, shallow soils and even on solid having high calcareous soil. It is native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaya, Indonesia, Japan, and the tropical regions of Australia. It thrives well in arid and semi-arid climate with maximum shade temperature as high as 49°C and the rainfall is as low as 250 mm. It can be raised by directly sowing its seed or by transplanting nursery-raised seedlings in monsoon rains. It reaches maximum productivity after 15 years and has a life span of 150–200 years. Planting is usually done at a density of 400 plants per hectare. The productivity of Neem oil mainly varies from 2 to 4 t/ha/yr and a mature Neem tree produces 30–50 kg fruit. The seed of the fruit contains 20–30 wt% oil and kernels contain 40–50% of an acrid green to brown colored oil. Neem is an omnipotent tree and a sacred gift of nature. Neem tree is mainly cultivated in the Indian subcontinent. Neem is a member of the mahogany family, Meliaceae. Today it is known by the botanical name Azadirachta indica (A. indica) A. Juss. Neem has been used extensively by humankind to treat various ailments before the availability of written records which recorded the beginning of history. Since prehistoric times, neem has been used by humankind. The internal medicinal uses of Neem include malaria, tuberculosis, rheumatism, arthritis, jaundice and intestinal worms as well as skin diseases. It also has alternative (increases vitality) properties. The oil is NOT normally taken internally - but as a decoction made from the leaves. The extract of Neem leaves has also demonstrated significant anti-diabetic potential. Neem oil is acried, yellow, bitter in taste and has a disagreeable garlic like odour. It is best used in pharmaceutical and pesticides industry. It is used as antifeedant, repellant, insecticide and growth disruptor. Refined neem oil is used for manufacture of technical oleic acid, stearic acid | 8,015 |
As I was looking around for interesting articles on the craft of writing fiction, I stumbled upon this list that is comprised of seven points William Faulkner made throughout his teaching that help tremendously with writing. I felt that every point made stuck with me and made sense. There were three points in particular that really stood out to me since<|fim_middle|> from other writers" is a point I wasn't expecting to see but is an issue I think about frequently. Today in writing and all areas of academia we strive to be unique and stray from similar ideas in fear of begin accused of plagiarism. Faulkner says that a writer "takes whatever he needs, wherever he needs, and he does that openly and honestly because he himself hopes that what he does will be good enough so that after him people will take from him…" This quote makes so much sense to me and makes me feel like although plagiarism certainly does exist, there is still a line between stealing verbatim and simply using ideas or themes because you as a writer are inspired. Writing is an art and art is meant to be shared, the fact that someone wants to base ones writing off of yours should be flattering and not taken as something being maliciously stolen due to lack of creativity.
The final point that stood out to me was number seven, "Don't make excuses." This point is pretty self-explanatory, but reassuring and effective nonetheless. It's easy to come up with excuses not to write and let life get in the way of working on your craft. The point Faulkner makes here is that there are no legitimate excuses, you can always find time to work on your writing if you truly want to be a writer. Sometimes it can be difficult to take time away to focus on writing since it's such a demanding task, but if it's truly a passion and necessity in your life then you will make time to become a better writer.
I hope you take the time to read the article, it's short but all the points are inspiring and helpful. | they were aspects of writing that I think about often and appreciated that someone could provide some answers.
The first point, "Take what you need | 28 |
Fire development alums set for third round of 2017 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
By Ted Bryant @ted_bryant
More than 20 players with Chicago Fire development remain alive in the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship following the tournament's opening two rounds of play over the weekend.
This year's semifinals and final will be held December 8 and 10 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. Read more below on how the opening weekend results played out for alums of the Chicago Fire Academy, Indiana Fire Academy and PDL squad and what it will take to get them closer to the 2017 College Cup trophy.
For brackets, broadcast schedules and more information on the 2017 NCAA College Cup, visit NCAA.com.
No. 1 seed Wake Forest
Top overall seed Wake Forest took down Columbia 1-0 in their tournament opener on Nov. 19. Junior midfielder Brad Dunwell -- who played 20 games and assisted four times for the Demon Deacons -- went 90 minutes in the midfield during the win. They'll now look to up-end Butler in the third round of play on Saturday, Nov. 25.
No. 2 seed Indiana
Big Ten Defender of the Year Grant Lillard gave the Hoosiers a lead they would not relinquish in heading home the first of what turned into a 3-0<|fim_middle|> redshirt sophomore Ryan Clark. | rout of Old Dominion on Sunday. Lillard, defenders Rece Buckmaster and Andrew Gutman, and redshirt freshman Spencer Glass each represented the Fire development pipeline in the win. They'll now face New Hampshire in the third round on Saturday, Nov. 25.
The Hoosiers entered the 2017 postseason loaded with key contributors from Fire development channels. Joining the above named players, Indiana Fire Academy product Thomas Warr picked up two goals and three assists in 17 appearances as a freshman forward. Other squad regulars with Fire ties include junior midfielder Jeremiah Gutjahr and freshman goalkeeper Jacob Gruber.
No. 3 seed North Carolina
ACC First-Team and Midfielder of the Year selection Cam Lindley and 2017 Third-Team All-ACC defender Mauricio Pineda both went the full 90 for the Tar Heels in their opening round 2-1 victory over UNC-Wilmington on Sunday, Nov. 19. Pineda scored the goal that stood up as the game-winner, smashing home his team's second in the 56th minute.
Mauricio Pineda (56') adds to @UNCmenssoccer's advantage over UNCW, 2-0. #NCAASoccer
LIVE on WatchESPN: https://t.co/46QJY4wprA pic.twitter.com/J3vLehkEZR
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 20, 2017
They'll now take on SMU in the third round on Saturday, Nov. 25.
No. 7 seed Michigan State
Junior Ryan Sierakowski opened the scoring just five minutes into his team's tournament opener, giving the Spartans a hot start in what became a 3-0 victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday, Nov. 19. Defender Connor Corrigan went 75 minutes in helping preserve the clean sheet. They're now set to face 10-seed Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Senior forward Mark Segbers was a key figure in the Badgers' opening pair of victories this postseason. Segbers assisted in his team's 4-1 opening round victory over Illinois-Chicago, before one-time Fire Academy competitor Michael Catalano scored the only goal in a 1-0 overtime victory over 12-seed Notre Dame on Sunday. The win gave the Badgers their first trip to the NCAA's round of 16 since 1995, setting them up for a tilt with fifth-seeded Akron on Sunday, Nov. 25.
Seniors Bennett Kim and Eric Dick and sophomore Derek Sutton went the distance in the Bulldogs' victories over Lipscomb (2-0) and 16-seed VCU (3-2) in the tournament's opening weekend, with freshman Joel Harvey additionally making a 28-minute cameo against Lipscomb. They're now set for a third round matchup against top-seeded Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 25.
That quartet was a part of six Indiana Fire products that made up this year's Butler squad, which also included redshirt junior Nolan Schloneger and | 665 |
Influence of ageing on circadian rhythm of heart rate variability in healthy subjects
BACKGROUND: The analysis of the circadian rhythm of heart rate variability (HRV) represents a relevant physiological tool to assess the vagal system. However, the influence of age (mostly >75 years) on HRV is not widely known.AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of age on HRV, particularly in the elderly and to identify a model of this relationship. The study was carried out by examining linear and nonlinear parameters extracted from HRV, including individuals over 75 years for which there is no research available.METHODS: Data from 140 healthy subjects were sex matched and divided into young (young group: 15-39 years old), adult (adult group: 40-64 years old) and senior (senior group: 65-90 years old) groups. 24-h Holter monitoring was used and several HRV parameters were extracted from time, and spectral and nonlinear analyses were examined.RESULTS: Time-domain parameters, mainly standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) and number of successive differences of intervals which differ by more than 50 ms, presented significant differences between the young group and the other two groups during the 24-h period, while normalized spectral parameters (LFn, HFn and low frequency/high frequency), as well as nonlinear parameters, mainly beta exponent and fractal dimension, showed significant difference between the senior group and the other two groups. All these parameters showed a similar circadian rhythm with significant differences between the mean day and night values, especially in young and adult group cohorts. Moreover, a parabolic relationship between these parameters and age was highlighted with an opposite trend over about 60 years compared with younger people.CONCLUSION: A progressive physiological autonomic imbalance is present in ageing. The inverse trend in the relation between HRV parameters and age found in the senior group could be mainly due to a faster fluctuation of RR. This should be considered when studying changes in the cardiac autonomic nervous control.
Titolo: Influence of ageing on circadian rhythm of heart rate variability in healthy subjects
ACCARDO, AGOSTINO
MERLO, MARCO
SILVERI, GIULIA
Del Popolo, Lucia
Dalla Libera, Luca
RESTIVO, LUCA
CINQUETTI, MARTINO
CANNATÀ, ANTONIO
SINAGRA, GIANFRANCO
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The analysis of the circadian rhythm of heart rate variability (HRV) represents a relevant physiological tool to assess the vagal system. However, the influence of age (mostly >75 years) on HRV is not widely known.AIMS: The aim of this study<|fim_middle|> group and the other two groups during the 24-h period, while normalized spectral parameters (LFn, HFn and low frequency/high frequency), as well as nonlinear parameters, mainly beta exponent and fractal dimension, showed significant difference between the senior group and the other two groups. All these parameters showed a similar circadian rhythm with significant differences between the mean day and night values, especially in young and adult group cohorts. Moreover, a parabolic relationship between these parameters and age was highlighted with an opposite trend over about 60 years compared with younger people.CONCLUSION: A progressive physiological autonomic imbalance is present in ageing. The inverse trend in the relation between HRV parameters and age found in the senior group could be mainly due to a faster fluctuation of RR. This should be considered when studying changes in the cardiac autonomic nervous control.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): http://dx.doi.org/10.2459/JCM.0000000000001048 | was to evaluate the influence of age on HRV, particularly in the elderly and to identify a model of this relationship. The study was carried out by examining linear and nonlinear parameters extracted from HRV, including individuals over 75 years for which there is no research available.METHODS: Data from 140 healthy subjects were sex matched and divided into young (young group: 15-39 years old), adult (adult group: 40-64 years old) and senior (senior group: 65-90 years old) groups. 24-h Holter monitoring was used and several HRV parameters were extracted from time, and spectral and nonlinear analyses were examined.RESULTS: Time-domain parameters, mainly standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) and number of successive differences of intervals which differ by more than 50 ms, presented significant differences between the young | 187 |
You'll think you died and went to heaven when you taste this chocolate caramel tart. Decadent; with a caramel and honey nut layer.
More easy homemade dessert recipes at the end of the page.
This delicious recipe is from Dorie Greenspan's cookbook "Baking - From My Home to Yours."
QUICK NOTE: You have to work quickly once the sugar caramelizes, so you should have all the ingredients for the caramel measured out and at<|fim_middle|> it out.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes (no longer than that), then keep the chocolate caramel tart at room temperature until serving. | hand before you start.
Also have a medium heatproof bowl at hand to hold the hot caramel.
Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, sprinkle 3 tablespoons of white sugar and when it melts stir it with a wooden spoon and add another 3 tablespoons. When that sugar is melted, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. The sugar in the pan may already have started to color and that's fine.
Stir in the corn syrup and boil until it reaches a deep caramel color. If it starts to smoke, don't worry because that's normal.
Stand back from the skillet and stir in the butter and salt (if you are using it) because the caramel will bubble furiously and may spatter. When the butter is in, add the warm cream - the caramel will bubble furiously again.
Lower the temperature just a bit and let the caramel boil for 2 minutes. The caramel should be at 226 degrees if you want to check it. Pour the hot caramel into the heatproof bowl and set aside.
To make the ganache for this chocolate caramel tart, put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream to a boil and pour half over the chocolate and let it sit for 30 seconds.
Whisk mixture together in small circles (very gently) starting in the middle of the bowl and working your way out into larger circles. Pour in the remainder of the cream and blend it in with the chocolate using the same circular motion.
When the ganache is smooth and shiny, stir in the butter piece by piece. Don't stir the ganache any more than you must to blend the ingredients - the less you work it, the darker, smoother and shinier it will be. Cover the ganache with plastic wrap and form a tight seal; set aside.
To assemble, us a small spatula and stir the peanuts into the caramel. If the caramel has cooled and is too thick to spread easily, gently warm it in a microwave in 3 second increments.
Spread the caramel mixture over the bottom of the tart shell; you will have a thin layer. Chill for 15 minutes to set.
If the ganache has thickened and is no longer pourable, warm it in 3 second increments in a microwave. Rap the bowl to break the surface bubbles and pour the ganache over the caramel and jiggle the pan to even | 483 |
Come to Niseko, both in Autumn and Winter.
We would like to express our heartfelt sympathy for all those affected by the recent earthquake that happened on September 6th.
We would also like to thank all those who expressed<|fim_middle|> Niseko Area has bounced back and power as well as other necessities have all been returned to normal. Our many restaurants and hotels have also returned to normal operation.
As always the leaves are beginning to turn and are beginning their autumnal show across the mountains. Also, in this time, the bountiful harvest Niseko has come to be known for will come into its own. We hope that you all get enjoy it for yourselves.
And once the leaves have fallen the snow shall soon follow. And a layer of powder snow will be there to welcome you.
So please, do come down to Niseko and experience everything is has to offer for yourself. We look forward to seeing you all.
Copyright c niseko kankouken All Rights Reserved. | concern for Niseko, Kutchan, and Rankoshi in the aftermath of the earthquake. Thankfully, the | 22 |
The NIRSA Flag Football Editorial Board was<|fim_middle|> information, please contact NIRSA Senior Director of Operations Mary Callender.
Nicole Green is currently the Assistant Director of Recreational Sports at University of Michigan and Chair of NIRSA's Flag Football Editorial Board. | established to review and edit the NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules Book & Officials' Manual, which is edited biannually. The current membership of the Editorial Board can be found on the NIRSA website.
Applications are currently being accepted for six open positions on the Editorial Board. Each role is for either a two-year term (May 1, 2019–April 30, 2021) or a four-year term (May 1, 2019–April 30, 2023).
Additional details regarding the qualifications, responsibilities, and term lengths for each position may be found online.
If interested, please complete the application by Wednesday, January 16 and make sure to also email your professional resume to Editorial Board Chair Nicole Green. Serving on the Editorial Board is just one of many fantastic leadership opportunities currently available to NIRSA members.
For more | 185 |
TMC Named Military Friendly Employer
TMC Transportation, the leader in flatbed transportation, announced today that it has been designated a 2013 Military Friendly Employer� by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs. Companies earned the designation via the same<|fim_middle|> the driving forces, David has embraced several roles within the company including being a trainer for four years and a recruiter for new students.
"David is definitely a devoted company driver," says his Fleet Manager Glenda Miller. "He spends time helping other drivers with safety and securing loads while out on the road, for TMC and other companies." Read More
TMC Employees Raise Money for Wounded Warrior Project
TMC Transportation, the leader in flatbed transportation, announced today that they will donate $10,000 to Wounded Warrior Project.
During the holiday season TMC employees raised funds for Wounded Warrior Project totaling $4,000. The company also donated $1 to Wounded Warrior Project for each like on their Facebook page up to $6,000. Read More | data-driven survey and methodology as the previously released Top 100 Military Friendly Employers� list. Read More
David Wheeler Named Driver of the Quarter
David Wheeler, a TMC company driver for more than 18 years, came to TMC after being a driver in the Army. Since his switch from the armed forces to | 68 |
The Edges of Film
Asia the Mighty, Asia da Rude: Places of Plenty: The 8th Far East Film Festival of Udine
Greek Cinema, Texts, Histories, Identities by Lydia Papadimitriou & Yannis Tzioumakis
La Baie des Anges
Oshii, Mamoru
"The ragged end of nowhere": Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946)
Notorious (1946) is widely known as one of Alfred Hitchcock's most lucid and pure works, emblematic of the auteur's take on suspense and love, and his simplified, stylised cinematic storytelling. Its synopsis is straightforward: a spy pushes the woman he loves into sleeping with the enemy to retrieve secrets. But one of the film's greatest ironies is that it is one of the muddiest of Hitchcock's films to interpret.
In black and white, with the barest dialogue and economical camerawork, Notorious declares its ambient anxiety from the very start. We open with an extreme close-up of a newsman's camera, and immediately we are put at hazard – someone is being watched and hunted. Next we peer through the panels of a Miami courtroom door from the point of view of one of the media vultures, as John Huberman is convicted of treason against the United States. He remains faceless, but his protestation rings clear: "You can put me away, but you can't put away what's going to happen to you and this whole country. Next time! Next time we are going to…" With that warning he is silenced by his lawyer, but a sense of foreboding is set. It is 1<|fim_middle|>2014/08/inside-around-and-about-notorious/
4. Ken Mogg, The Alfred Hitchcock Story (London: Titan Books, 1999), p. 114.
Notorious (1946 USA 100min)
Prod Co:RKO. Prod: Alfred Hitchcock Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Scr: Ben Hecht Phot: Ted Tetzlaff Ed: Theron Warth Sound: Terry Kullum, John E Tribby, Clem Portman.
Cast: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Leopoldine Konstantin.
The Madman in the Attic: Gaslight and the 'Psycho Dandy'
Mother (Mikio Naruse, 1952)
Lauren Carroll Harris is a PhD candidate at UNSW and the author of 'Not at a Cinema Near You: Australia's Film Distribution Problem' (Platform Papers, 2013). She is a contributing editor of Metro and has been published in Studies of Australasian Cinema, Guardian Australia, Meanjin, Bright Wall/Dark Room, Documentary, Big Issue and Junkee.
Melodramatic Postwar Confessions: Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini's La Paura (1954)
Christopher Weedman
Three Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman: The Criterion Edition of Stromboli, Europe '51 and Journey to Italy
Greg Gerke | 946: the Second World War is over, the Cold War has commenced, and the world is in flux.
The subject of the news cameras – trained as rifles upon their marks – is Huberman's daughter Alicia (Ingrid Bergman). Her notoriety is twofold: her father is a war criminal, and she is a drinking, partying, good time girl. As she refuses the reporters' questions, we overhear a conspiratorial exchange between two shady suits in the background, "Let us know if she tries to leave town." Though this is an archetypal Hitchcock film, Bergman's Alicia is not the archetypal Hitchcock woman, most popularly characterised as cool, withholding and unknowable. Bergman brings a warmth, vulnerability and frankness to the role of the hunted woman. But like Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, we suspect Bergman may be tougher than her male counterpart, despite the fact that she becomes steadily disempowered as the film progresses.
That counterpart is Cary Grant's Devlin, a smooth American spy who becomes caught in a "strange love affair" with Alicia and convinces her to move to Rio de Janeiro to work for his agency. Only after they become involved do they realise the true nature of her assignment: to seduce suspected Nazi Alex Sebastian and betray his political secrets. Most painfully, Alicia and Devlin must maintain a charade of cordiality in the wake of their forced breakup and the growth of his animosity toward her. A neat subversion of a typical Hitchcock setup arises: not the wrong man, but the wronged woman.
Notorious was initially advertised as a melodrama, a genre that relies on the delineation and advocacy of clear moral ground. Though it borrows many syntactical camera moves from that genre (the rhythm of single close-ups and medium close-ups between the lovers when they quarrel, two-shots when they are in harmony), Notorious takes a remarkably compassionate and nonjudgmental view of Alicia's supposed waywardness. It is this generous depiction that forces the audience to feel her dread, and invokes atmospheric doom. Generically mixed, Notorious is a thriller with an emotional core with which to connect – a wartime spy film with a pure love story at the centre. While the suspense is created by stretching out time and zooming in on objects of symbolic significance (a key, a wine bottle), Francois Truffaut saw the love torn aspect of the film as a triangle in which two men adore the same woman (1) – a classic melodramatic premise. At his most pathetically controlling (despite the fact he is controlled by another woman already, his mother), Sebastian asks Alicia if she is with any other man. She responds, "There is no-one." Sadly, this is true at the time: she believes Devlin is lost to her. This simple exchange says much about how Hitchcock underscores a typical generic setup with intricately psychological, neurosis-laden character dynamics.
Love triangles aside, we might also read the film, as Adrian Martin does, as a tale of couples' miscommunications (2). How easily a few unsaid words divide Alicia and Devlin (in this way Notorious directly continues the concern of Hitchcock's preceding film, Spellbound [1945] whose premise hinges on a slip of the tongue) and how we've all been guilty of this. Upon receiving the awful news of her proposed mission, Alicia is stark with Dev: "Do you want me to take the job?" But he refuses to respond frankly. The next day the plan is sparked into action, and her new life of rented jewellery and enforced relationships begins.
Before her fake marriage and after her father's verdict, Alicia declares, "I don't have to hate him anymore. Or myself." Hitchcock protagonists are often caught in a black hole of delusion and denial, but with this comment Alicia marks a rather unusual Hitchcock theme of self-acceptance and liberation from self-loathing, even as the past holds stubbornly on. At first she is free in Brazil with Devlin, pledging (relative) sobriety: she is no longer a "no good girl". But her freedom cannot last, and unfeeling men force her into unthinkable compromises, yet she is judged all the same. "Why won't you believe in me," Alicia pleads to Dev. "Just a little. Why won't you?" Sebastian's mother lays perhaps the lowest blow in this respect, telling Alicia, "You resemble your father very much". Alicia's redemption is bound up with another man, Devlin, who finally admits, "I was a fat-headed guy full of pain."
Today Notorious reads as an indictment of the terrible things women are forced to do and then judged for, rather than a moral tale of punishment for 'unfeminine' behaviour. The film is easily understood as a story of cowardly men. First of these are the US agents who are happy to let an endangered woman do their dirty work for them ("We want someone who's good at making friends with gentlemen"). Second is Devlin, who refuses to admit his feelings for Alicia and then pushes her into a fraudulent relationship (with a fascist, no less), and whose characterisation relies on Grant bouncing obnoxiousness against his suave, charismatic screen presence. Finally is his competitor, the frightened villain Sebastian, initially a slimy character who becomes rather pitiful as he fails to fight his fate amongst his fellow Nazis.
It is far too easy to watch a film and extract its moral themes through the lens of your own ideological framework: that might be one of cinema's greatest tricks. The multiplex readings viewers and scholars have taken from Notorious are only made possible by the core strategy of switching the narrative's vantage through the camera's point of view (3), starting with the reporters, before moving between the three leads, and ending with Sebastian. This swaying character subjectivity means we align ourselves naturally with the one we relate to most strongly: the attachments are more personal than usual. As such, the shifty nature of Notorious (including its slippery gender politics) is structural. This explains why the film's life is not over, and we will continue to renovate its secrets for some time.
1. Francois Truffaut, Hitchcock (London: Panther Books, 1969), p. 202.
2. Adrian Martin, "Inside Notorious," Senses of Cinema (January 2000) http://web.archive.org/web/20060219075111/http://sensesofcinema.com/contents/00/3/notorious.html
3. Adrian Martin, "Inside, Around and About Notorious," 16:9, (August 2014) http://www.16-9.dk/ | 1,414 |
This summer of 2015 marks the fourth year of Marcus Ginyard Basketball Camp, we couldn't be more proud to continue to share our motto, Having Fun Getting Better! Every year we have been honored to share this message with more and more young campers. We take great pride in<|fim_middle|> Basketball Camp was held in two separate locations: Week 1 in Alexandria Virginia at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School and Week 2 in McLean Virginia at The Langley School. News concerning Marcus Ginyard Basketball Camp 2016 will be available at www.MarcusGinyard.com/Camps in the coming months.
View photos from camp here!
Marcus Ginyard (born May 8, 1987) is an American professional basketball player from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ginyard has played 7 seasons of professional basketball in Europe since graduating, and is now playing in Macedonia for the top team KK Rabotnički. | the culture we have created within our camp, emphasizing hard work, sacrifice and teamwork while showing them the importance of having fun and enjoying the game of basketball.
We listened to popular music during stretching, inspired impromptu dance offs, and organized various skills challenges with cash prizes, all in an effort to create an electric atmosphere to learn the game of basketball. In addition to learning fundamental skills such as dribbling, passing and shooting, campers learned the importance of having a positive attitude and working together as a team. It has always been a goal to help each camper to grow as a player and a person.
This year marked the first summer that Marcus Ginyard | 133 |
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Pretrial Spotlight: Sacramento County Probation Pretrial Program
Sacramento County is one of 16 counties in California that was awarded a Pretrial Pilot Program through the state's Judicial Council. With resources awarded through this innovative pilot program, the Sacramento County Probation Department (Probation) created a Pretrial unit in 2019.
Probation's pretrial program gives individuals who have been arrested greater access to pretrial release on a case-by-case basis. This is a major shift from previous practices, where defendants, unless they had resources to make bail, were often held in jail prior to arraignment before a judge.
In January 2020, Sara (her real name withheld for privacy reasons) found herself in a distressing situation: while battling substance abuse, she was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and child endangerment. As a<|fim_middle|>, Diverse Officers Focused on Collaborative Safety for All
California Probation officers are diverse and highly educated professionals with over 72% of probation officers identifying as non-white, and 51% are women, the majority have four-year degrees, and over half of probation departments have employed former system-involved individuals.
California Probation is educated and trained to help protect communities by carefully balancing justice-involved individuals' need for accountability along with their need for the help and hope required to safely leave the justice system permanently.
This is California Probation PDF
Contact CPOC | result, Sara lost custody of her daughter. It is especially in situations like this where the pretrial pilot can support positive outcomes.
Utilizing individualized determinations for Sara's safety and well-being, the court allowed her to be released from jail to participate in Probation's pretrial program. As part of her release agreement, Probation and Child Protective Services established certain conditions and directives for Sara to abide by. Monetary status did not play a role in the decision to grant Sara pretrial release.
By allowing pretrial release with appropriate monitoring and reporting requirements, Sacramento County empowers the accused to establish and build positive ties with the community thereby improving their circumstances through access to critical resources that would not be available to them in jail.
Under the new pretrial program, individuals like Sara are able to maintain jobs and ties with their families and support systems, receive substance abuse counseling, mental health treatment, and housing support as well as other forms of assistance.
In addition to providing direct benefits to defendants, Probation's pretrial program has improved operations and monitoring at the courts and in the community through instituting a cutting-edge, automated, paperless process that reduces waste and relies on current data. This innovative process allows Probation to more quickly process pretrial releases in real time – meaning less time spent in jail for the accused and improved jail population management.
As of May 3, 2021, Probation reports that, on average, 87.6% of those released on pretrial are successful. Using an evidence-based approach, Probation's pretrial release program sets participants up for success by replacing the old system of imposing unrealistic and over burdensome requirements with direct monitoring and court date reminders to help the participant make it to court and avoid any new arrests. If an individual is convicted, Probation takes their performance while on pretrial monitoring into account when making sentencing recommendations.
Because Sara remained out of custody while participating in Probation's pretrial program, she was able to access resources for substance abuse treatment and mental health services while working towards reunification with her daughter. She reported for weekly office visits as directed, attended all Court dates, did not violate any laws, secured employment with Amazon, and created a stable home environment for her family.
In March 2021, Probation asked the court to decrease Sara's monitoring level to court reminder phone calls only. Most importantly, Sara regained custody of her daughter, and has continued moving toward lasting positive change.
Notification October 8, 2021
This is California Probation
Equity in Gender | 520 |
Small-leaved, strong-fl<|fim_middle|> elegant lettuces I've ever seen. Perfect for pots or any prominent patch in the garden.
A lovely mini Cos lettuce which has now outdone 'Little Gem' in our trials for sweetness of taste and crunch and slowness to bolt and so replaced it.
Grow this and you will be picking it all summer long; this cut-and-come-again lettuce is slow to bolt and is great in a salad mixed with other leaves. | avoured basil which is easy to train to look brilliant in containers.
The classic blue-flowered borage to decorate Pimms, summer drinks and puddings. Brilliant for pollinators and an excellent edible flower. Freeze flowers in ice cubes, or wilt the leaves for a sauce for pasta and stuffing for ravioli.
Cucumber 'La Diva' is a brilliant mini cucumber, the size of a large cigar. This is perfect for crudites. My children love this, quartered lengthways for dipping into smoked mackerel pate and humus. It's an easy-to-grow, absolutely delicious and prolific variety.
Brilliant so-called 'Tetraploid' dill variety, loved for its dark green leaves and slowness to bolt, so ideal for the herb and veg garden.
A beautiful and elegant leaved kale variety, which is also tender, so ideal for salads.
Delicious in salads, dressings and infused in boiling water as a tissane. More of us should grow this for summer harvest and with stem ends seared for 10 seconds, it makes a lovely foliage filler for the vase.
Lettuce 'Descartes' is one of the most handsome and | 248 |
I have been in the education business as a teacher and administrator for over 35 years. Twenty plus years ago I had the incredible, memorable experience of working at Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California with a unique, talented group of students as the Assistant Principal of Student Activities. One of my assigned roles in that position was meeting daily with the elected student government officers to facilitate the planning of their various activities and to provide them with the opportunity to learn and exercise various leadership skills. Cory Cullinan (Dr. Noize) was the Student Body President at that time. At the age of seventeen he was poised, clear thinking, intelligent, and gregarious with a keen sense of insight and humor. Our meetings were fun (sometimes almost hysterical) yet we accomplished a great deal under Cory's leadership. We established a pattern of week long Homecoming Activities the current student government uses as a template to this day. We sponsored workshops and training seminars to better engage the increasing minority population at our school. Under Cory's guidance being involved in student government was perceived as the 'cool' thing to do. School Spirit became the norm at Los Altos High School.
Last week my small elementary school in San Bruno, California had the rich experience of a Dr. Noize assembly. From the onset of the program to its conclusion the students were engaged, delighted, and involved. Cory still displays a high level of spirit, energy, and gregariousness that is highly infectious. It is one week later and the students continue to ask when Dr. Noize will return.
The substance of the assembly, the electronic and digital generation of music based upon the whimsical character, a monkey named Phineas McBoof, although the intended purpose of the program, is not what the students have stated or perhaps even understood was the intended<|fim_middle|> encourage you to include Dr. Noize (Cory Cullinan) in your repertoire of entertainment audiences. He will become a highly sought after booking. If you need further information or wish to discuss my experience with Dr. Noize, do not hesitate to call or send me an email. | learning experience. Their perceptions include fun, energy, their excited involvement, and the observance of a talented individual. The younger students just laughed and laughed. The older students laughed as well but they also were 'hooked' by the technology devices Dr. Noize used to engage and entertain them.
I | 61 |
Whether in<|fim_middle|> of the slow burn. | "Breaking Bad" or "Better Call Saul," one of Vince Gilligan's signature traits as a storyteller is his ability to slowly build to a big reveal through patient scenes that leave us guessing. We saw this in action again Monday night on the season 3 premiere of "Better Call Saul," which was largely devoted to showing us how Mike Ehrmantraut hatched an elaborate scheme.
After fleeing from a failed attempt to kill Hector Salamanca in last year's finale — and discovering a note on his car with the word "Don't" written on it — Mike's signature paranoia kicked into high gear. He raced to a junk yard where he completely dismantled his car in search of a tracking device. After all, it's the only way anyone could have known he was out there trying to kill Hector.
Through this entire process, Mike doesn't say a word: The show illustrates Mike's search through Gilligan's signature montage scenes, and leaves the audience to fill in the blanks. After searching through every possible square inch of every component in the car, Mike finally found what he was looking for: a tracker concealed in the cap of the gas tank.
That's when Mike came up with a brilliant plan: run out the battery on the tracker by hooking it up to a handheld radio, and replace it in the gas tank with a tracker of his own. This way, when the person who planted the original tracker showed up to replace it, Mike could switch on his own bug and use it to track whoever sent the note.
The person behind the tracker has yet to be revealed — though all signs point ultimately to infamous chicken magnate Gus Fring, whose return to Albuquerque was heavily promoted in the run-up to this week's premiere. Whateve Mike learns, "Better Call Saul" showed the trademark slow pacing and willingness to keep cards close to the chest that Gilligan and his team have become known for, respecting the audience's ability to read between the lines and trusting them to know that something big is coming at the end | 413 |
When we joined up for the Creative Closet series to highlight fringe in fashion, I didn't realize that I actually didn't own anything with fringe. Nothing. Nadda. Not even a little whisper of fringe on anything in my closet. How could that be? It's an incredibly fun way to add some life into any outfit, and I was completely missing out!
Thanks to limited shopping opportunities on our tiny island, I had to get creative. A few minutes on Pinterest and I found my answer. A gorgeous, and oh-so-easy diy fringe necklace! All you need is an old t-shirt (preferably one that is really soft), a chain or piece of leather, and some scissors.
Tip: For the chain, I bought a super long piece of brown leather from a beading store. It cost a grand total of $4 and the extra amount allowed me to ensure that I could adjust the length of the necklace once it was complete. It's always better to have too much than not enough!
Cut off the bottom seam of the shirt and discard. Then cut one inch strips across the shirt, going from seam to seam. The more strips you cut, the fuller your necklace will be. For this look, I used approximately one-third of the t-shirt.
Once all of the strips are cut, cut off the side seams from each strip and discard them. This will turn one strip into two separate strips.
Now that you have all of your strips, give them a stretch. This will make the fabric curl into itself, giving the strips a more rounded look.
Tip: The softer the fabric, the more the fabric will curl. Check out the before and after photo below. The top is before stretching the fabric, and the bottom is after. What a difference!
Take the piece of chain or leather and start knotting the strips onto it. For this look, I did a very simple Lark's Head knot. Start from<|fim_middle|> link up and hope to see you Thursday.
This looks so cute and easy. It would be a great craft for little girls, too!
What a great idea Elizabeth! This is a perfect craft for kids! | the centre of the chain and add pieces on alternate sides. This will ensure you have an even amount of chain left on both sides.
Make sure the knots are done the same way every time, creating a uniform look. Once all of your knots are complete, try the necklace on and cut off the chain at the desired length.
The last step is to trim off any uneven pieces. You can trim straight across, or you could create a beautiful "V" shaped necklace.
Tip: Because the fabric has a lot of stretch to it, the pieces may not maintain their length. If you want to do a "V" shape, I would recommend using a stiffer fabric, such as suede.
And voila! Your fringe necklace is complete! How easy is that?
Do you have any fringe in your closet?
It looks great and really super easy to make!
Thanks Marina! If I found it easy, anyone can do it, lol!
I love this–looks like a really fun and easy-to-make project 🙂 Also I love how festival fashion and everything boho is back in style. But that might just be because it speaks to my inner hippie 🙂 thanks for posting! Hope you had a great weekend!!
Charlotte, it's super, duper easy! Embrace your inner hippie!
What a cute necklace! This is a DIY I'm going to try!
Wow that is so cute! I only have fringe on my purse and it is so cute. I need to add more fringe to my life. Thanks for the easy tutorial!
Thanks Raquel! I love a good fringe purse too! Check out our post last week on how to create your own with another easy DIY!
This would be a great idea with some of the shirts in my giveaway pile.
That's the best pile to dig from for this project!
You are killin' it with cute DIY accessories lately!
Very cool project! I've made some t-shirt jewelry myself before, but none of this style. I like the look of this necklace, and especially the color. Great tutorial!
Thanks Michelle! I'm intrigued by the idea of more t-shirt jewelry!
Thanks Alexandra! It's crazy how easy this necklace is to make!
This sounds like such a easy project. I need to see if I have any old tee to give this a try – thanks for sharing! Thank you for joining TBT Fashion | 481 |
El taoisme o daoisme és un dels tres grans corrents de pensament de la Xina pels volts del , basat en l'obra atribuïda al savi Laozi (o Lao Tse) i anomenada Daodejing, «El Clàssic del Camí i la seva Virtut». (en xinès: 道家, en pinyin: Dào jiā, «escola del Tao»)
A partir del , també es va desenvolupar com a religió (道教, Dào jiào), però no es va estructurar veritablement com a tal fins al . Posteriorment, entre d'altres, encara es va mesclar amb elements del confucianisme i del budisme.
El taoisme és una varietat de tradicions filosòfiques i religioses associades que han influït en les persones de l'Àsia oriental durant més de dos mil·lennis. També van influir notablement en el món occidental, en particular a partir de la seva difusió al . La paraula 道, Tao (o Dao, segons la norma de romanització), es tradueix aproximadament com a 'camí' o 'via'. El concepte conté molts significats abstractes i espirituals que estan presents en la religió tradicional xinesa, i també en l'àmbit filosòfic.
L'ètica taoista fa èmfasi en les Tres joies del Tao, que són: moderació, compassió i humilitat. Mentre el pensament taoista se centra generalment en la natura, en la relació entre la humanitat i el cosmos (天人 相应), la salut i la longevitat i, també, en el wu wei (acció enfront de la no-acció). L'harmonia amb l'univers, o la font del mateix Tao, és l'objectiu, el referent de moltes directrius i pràctiques taoistes.
El respecte cap als esperits dels ancestres i els vuit immortals és habitual en el taoisme popular. El taoisme organitzat diferencia la seva activitat ritual de la de la religió tradicional, que alguns mestres taoistes (daoshi) consideren una degradació del taoisme. Al llarg de la història de la Xina, l'alquímia (que inclou la neida), l'astrologia, la gastronomia, el budisme zen, diverses arts marcials xineses, la medicina tradicional xinesa, el feng shui i diversos estils de qigong han rebut la influència del taoisme i han incorporat aspectes del seu pensament i de la seva pràctica.
Definició
Existeix un debat sobre com pot ser categoritzat el taoisme. Livia Kohn el divideix en les tres categories següents:
Taoisme filosòfic (pinyin: daojia 道家). És una escola filosòfica basada en els textos del Dao De Jing (道德 经) i el Zhuangzi (庄子);
Taoisme religiós (pinyin: daojiao 道 敎). És una família de moviments religiosos organitzats que tingueren el seu origen en el moviment dels Mestres Celestials de la darreria de la dinastia Han. Més tard, va incloure les sectes de l'Ortodòxia (zhengyi 正 一) i la de La realitat completa (quanzhen 全 眞), grups que clamaven un llinatge taoista que es remuntava a Laozi (老子) o a Daoling Zhang, a la darreria de la dinastia Han.
Taoisme tradicional. És pròpiament la religió tradicional xinesa.
Aquesta distinció es complica per dificultats en la interpretació hermenèutica que pretén categoritzar les escoles taoistes, les sectes i els diversos moviments. Alguns especialistes creuen que no hi ha distinció entre daojia (taoisme filosòfic) i daojiao (taoisme religiós). Segons Kirkland, «la majoria dels especialistes que han estudiat seriosament el taoisme, tant a Àsia com a Occident, per fi han abandonat la dicotomia simplista de daojia i daojiao, la del «taoisme filosòfic» i «taoisme religiós».
Hansen diu que la identificació del taoisme com a tal es va realitzar per primera vegada a principis de la dinastia Han, quan la daojia va ser identificada com una sola escola. Els escrits de Laozi i Zhuangzi foren vinculats entre si durant la dinastia Han en virtut d'aquesta tradició única, i no amb anterioritat. És poc probable que Zhuangzi estigués familiaritzat amb el text del Daodejing. A més, Graham creu que Zhuangzi no s'hauria identificat com un taoista, una classificació que no es planteja fins a una època posterior a la seva mort.
El taoisme no entra estrictament sota el paraigua o la definició d'una religió organitzada, com es pot fer amb les tradicions abrahàmiques, ni tampoc pot ser entès simplement com l'origen o una variant de la religió tradicional xinesa, ja que una gran part de la religió tradicional xinesa s'allunya dels principis i les bases dels ensenyaments taoistes. Robinet afirma que el taoisme pot ser comprés molt millor si s'observa més com una forma de vida que com una religió. Henri Maspero va assenyalar que molts especialistes del taoisme el consideren com una escola de pensament que tenia com a centre de la seva recerca la immortalitat.
Denominació
En català, com en altres llengües occidentals, les paraules daoisme i taoisme són objecte d'una controvèrsia sobre el tipus de romanització que cal escollir. L'arrel de la paraula xinesa 道 'camí', 'via' o 'ruta' es transcriu com a tao, si es romanitza seguint l'antic sistema Wade-Giles, i dao d'acord amb el modern sistema pinyin. En terminologia lingüística, el terme taoisme o daoisme és un calc semàntic que prové d'un manlleu lingüístic a partir de la paraula xinesa tao o dao (道 'camí', 'ruta'; 'principi') i el sufix natiu «-isme». Els debats, de vegades acalorats, sobre l'ús preferencial per una o altra denominació, taoisme versus daoisme, impliquen diversos àmbits i disciplines com la sinologia, la fonologia, els manlleus lingüístics i, fins i tot, la política.
Hi ha partidaris de pronunciar el terme amb una de les dues transliteracions, o . El fenomen succeeix en altres països occidentals; així, un bon exemple es pot observar en el món anglosaxó. El taoisme es pronuncia més com a , però els oradors anglesos no es poden d'acord si ha de ser o . En teoria, tant el terme tao del sistema Wade-Giles com el dao, que indica el pinyin, s'articulen de manera idèntica. En aquest sentit, es va publicar un llibre titulat The Tao Jones Averages (Les mitjanes del Tao Jones, un joc de paraules amb el nom de l'índex Dow Jones i la qüestió del tao i del dao), que il·lustra aquest debat lingüístic i fonètic.
En la parla, el tao i el taoisme es pronuncien i , de la lectura d'un lenis xinès no aspirat, feble, i la consonant oclusiva . En l'anàlisi lexicogràfica, apareixen diferències entre l'anglès americà i l'anglès britànic en la pronúncia del terme daoisme. Un estudi dels principals diccionaris anglesos publicats a Gran Bretanya i als Estats Units dona que les glosses més comunes són taoisme en les fonts britàniques i en les dels Estats Units.
Fonaments
El taoisme estableix l'existència de tres forces: una de positiva, una altra de negativa i una de tercera, conciliadora. Les dues primeres s'oposen i es complementen simultàniament entre si. Són el yin (força expansiva, negativa, femenina, humida, passiva, indirecta...) i el yang (força constrictiva, positiva, masculina, seca, activa, directa...). La tercera força és el tao, o força superior que les conté.
L'equilibri entre les dues primeres forces entranya la igualtat de les seves manifestacions considerades d'una manera abstracta. Per això, el taoista no considera superior la vida sobre la mort, la construcció sobre la destrucció, el plaer sobre el patiment, el que és positiu sobre el que és negatiu, o l'afirmació sobre la negació: en cada cas, els dos conceptes aparentment contraris només són les dues cares d'una sola i única cosa.
El tao, segons Laozi i els altres filòsofs taoistes, és quelcom que no pot ser abastat per cap forma de pensament humà. Per a aquest quelcom no existeix cap<|fim_middle|> Prebish, Charles. Buddhism: A Modern Perspective (Penn State Press, 1975). .
Robinet, Isabelle. Taoist Meditation: The Mao-shan Tradition of Great Purity (Albany: SUNY Press, 1993 [original en francès del 1989]).
Robinet, Isabelle. Taoism: Growth of a Religion (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1997 [original French 1992]).
Segal, Robert Alan. The Blackwell Companion to the Study of Religion (Blackwell Publishing, 2006). .
Schipper, Kristopher. The Taoist Body (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993 [original French version 1982]).
Schipper, Kristopher and Franciscus Verellen. The Taoist Canon: A Historical Companion to the Daozang (Chicago: University of Chicago, 2004).
Sharot, Stephen. A Comparative Sociology of World Religions: virtuosos, priests, and popular religion (Nova York: NYU Press, 2001). .
Silvers, Brock. The Taoist Manual (Honolulu: Sacred Mountain Press, 2005).
Slingerland, Edward Gilman. Effortless Action: Wu-Wei as Conceptual Metaphor and Spiritual Ideal in Early China (Oxford University Press, 2003). .
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Vegeu també
Cent escoles de pensament.
Enllaços externs
Episodi de la sèrie Merlí dedicat al taoisme. | nom, ja que els noms deriven de les experiències i circumscriuen -i per tant, limiten- les significacions. Finalment i per necessitat de ser descrit o expressat, se'l va anomenar «tao», que significa camí (recte o virtuós) que condueix a la meta.
Quan Laozi parla del tao, procura allunyar-lo de tot allò que pugui donar una idea de quelcom concret. Prefereix enquadrar-lo dins d'un pla diferent de tot allò que pertany al món tangible. Diu: «Existia abans del Cel i de la Terra». És la matriu de la creació i font de tots els éssers. El tao tampoc no és temporal o limitat; és impossible definir-lo, mirar-lo o escoltar-lo; el tao és el no-ésser.
Símbols
El símbol taijitu (yin i yang) i el ba gua 八卦 (vuit trigrames) estan associats al simbolisme taoista. Gairebé totes les organitzacions taoistes fan servir el símbol del yin i el yang, que també es podria anomenar de Confuci, neoconfucià o panxinès. El yin i el yang tenen una forma d'«S», amb el yin (negre o vermell) a la dreta. És fàcil veure aquest símbol com a decoració taoista en banderes d'organitzacions, logotips, paviments de temples, o cosit en hàbits sacerdotals. Segons fonts de la dinastia Song, té el seu origen cap al . Anteriorment, el yin i el yang se simbolitzaven amb un tigre i un drac.
Els temples taoistes fan onejar banderes quadrades o triangulars. Típicament, caracteritzen textos o diagrames místics i estan destinats a complir diverses funcions incloent-hi la provisió d'orientació als esperits dels morts, per a portar bona fortuna, incrementar la capacitat de viure, etc. Altres banderes i pancartes poden ser els dels déus o ells mateixos com a immortals.
A vegades, també es mostra una ziga-zaga amb set estels, representant el Carro Gran (o l'equivalent xinès, el bushel). En la Dinastia Shang, es considerava el Carro Gran com una deïtat, mentre que durant la Dinastia Han, es considerava un camí qi del déu circumpolar Taiji.
Els temples taoistes al sud de la Xina i Taiwan també es poden identificar per les seves teulades, que mostren dracs xinesos i fènixs fets amb peces ceràmiques de molts colors. Són símbol de l'harmonia del yin i el yang (amb l'au fènix com a yin). Un símbol relacionat n'és la perla encesa que es pot veure als sostres d'aquest tipus, entre dos dracs, així com la pinça d'un Mestre Celestial. En general, però, l'arquitectura taoista xinesa no té característiques universals que la distingeixen d'altres estructures.
Pràctiques
Dieta vegetariana
La dieta taoista fomenta el dejuni i vegetarianisme.
Rituals
En determinats moments, no es menja com un sacrifici als esperits del difunt o els déus, com durant el Festival Qingming. Això pot incloure també el sacrifici d'animals, com porcs i ànecs, o de fruita. Una altra forma de sacrifici implica la crema de bitllets funeraris o notes per al banc de l'infern, amb la suposició que les imatges que hi ha als papers reapareixeran com un element real en el món espiritual. En altres moments es pot dur a terme una dieta vegana o un dejuni total.
També en certes festes hi ha defilades al carrer. Són activitats al carrer que inevitablement impliquen focs artificials i carrosses cobertes de flors amb radiodifusió de música tradicional. Sovint també inclouen balls del lleó i balls del drac; titelles ocupats per humans, xamans que tallen la pell amb ganivets, Bajiajiang maquillats de diminois que practiquen el kung-fu en guàrdies d'honor, i palanquins portant imatges divines. Els diversos participants no es consideren actors, sinó posseïts pels déus i esperits.
Endevinar el futur amb mètodes com l'astrologia, o l'Yijing, i altres formes d'endevinació, ha estat considerat durant molt de temps una motiu tradicional de persecució de la pràctica taoista. Els mèdiums sovint són membres d'algunes sectes. Hi ha una distinció acadèmica i social entre formes marcials de mèdiums (com tongji) i el que escriu l'esperit, que sovint es practica a través de l'escriptura sobre planxa.
Salut física
Un element recurrent i important del taoisme són els rituals, els exercicis i les substàncies que busquen alinear l'espiritualitat d'un mateix amb les forces còsmiques, emprendre viatges espirituals o millorar la salut física i així ampliar la vida i idealment tendir a un punt d'immortalitat. Un mètode característic per buscar la longevitat és la pràctica de l'alquímia. Des de les primers documents taoistes, com el Taiping Jing i el Baopuzi apareixen fórmules alquímiques per aconseguir la immortalitat.
Nombroses tradicions d'arts marcials, particularment les de la categoria de Neijia (com T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Bagua Zhang i Xing Yi Quan) encarnen els principis taoistes, i alguns practicants consideren el seu art com un mitjà de practicar taoisme.
Societat
Partidaris
El nombre de taoistes és difícil de calcular, a causa de les diverses definicions del terme taoísme. Segons una enquesta sobre la religió a la Xina de l'any 2010, el nombre de les persones que practiquen alguna forma religió tradicional xinesa és d'uns 950 milions (70% dels xinesos). Entre aquests, 173 milions (13%) pràctica alguna forma de taoisme tradicional. Més enllà d'aquests, 12 milions de persones han fet alguna iniciació formal al taoisme, o s'hi han adherit.
La majoria de les persones xineses i molts altres han estat influïts d'alguna manera per la tradició taoista. Recentment, hi ha hagut alguns esforços per reviure la pràctica del taoisme. El 1956 es formà l'Associació Xinesa Taoista, i es va aprovar oficialment el 1957. Es va desmembrar durant la Revolució Cultural de Mao, però es va restablir el 1980. La seu de l'Associació és al Baiyun guan, o Temple del Núvol Blanc, de la branca Longmen del taoisme Quanzhen.
Des del 1980, molts monestirs taoises i temples es van reobrir o reconstruir, la majoria pertanyents a les escoles de Zhengyi o Quanzhen. Per aquestes dues escoles, l'ordenació de membres s'ha tornat a permetre de manera oficial. Tanmateix, «el govern xinès prefereix el model de celibat que... el clergat Quanzhen», mentre que el «clergat Zhengyi sovint és casat i resideix a casa.»
La literatura taoista i l'art ha influït les cultures de Corea, Japó i Vietnam. El taoisme organitzat sembla que no acaba d'atraure un gran nombre de no seguidors no xinesos en l'actualitat. A Taiwan 7,5 milions de persones (33% de la població) s'identifiquen com taoistes. Les dades que es van recollir el 2010 en estudis demogràfics de Hong Kong i Singapur indiquen que, respectivament, el 14% i l'11% de les persones d'aquestes ciutats s'identifiquen com a taoistes.
Art i poesia
La història xinesa està plena d'exemples d'art influenciat pel pensament taoista. Pintors notables influïts pel taoisme n'hi ha com Wu Wei, Huang Gongwang, Mi Fu, Muqi Fachang, Shitao, Ni Zan, T'ang Mi, i Wang Tseng-tsu. Les arts taoistes representen les diverses religions, dialectes i temps que generalment s'han associat amb el taoisme. L'art taoista antic va ser encarregat per l'aristocràcia, però també professors i adeptes a aquesta religió s'han compromès amb les arts.
Aspectes polítics
A diferència del Confusianisme, el taoisme afavoreix l'anarquisme filosòfic, el pluralisme i es manté passiu al govern de torn. Laozi ha estat citat com un exemple primerenc del liberalisme. D'altra banda, la política mai ha estat un assumpte principal dins taoisme.
Relacions amb altres religions i filosofies
El termes tao i te són religiosos i filosòfics, que comparteixen el taoisme i el confucianisme. L'autoria del Daodejing o Tao Te Ching s'assigna a Laozi, que tradicionalment es reconeix que fou un mestre de Confuci. Tanmateix, alguns estudiosos creuen que el Daodejing va sorgir com una reacció al confucianisme. Zhuangzi, en la seva Història del pensament, en resposta als conflictes ètics entre moistes i confucianistes, situa Laozi com a pas previ als moistes pel seu nom i als confucians per la seva implicació.
Els primers textos taoistes rebutgen els supòsits bàsics del confucianisme, que es basaven en rituals i en l'ordre, a favor dels exemples que seguien l'impuls «salvatge» de la natura i l'individualisme. Els taoistes històrics desafiaven la moral convencional, mentre que els confucians consideraven la degradació de la societat i impulsaven la necessitat d'una orientació ètica forta.
L'entrada del budisme a la Xina s'ha caracteritzat per la interacció i el sincretisme, amb el taoisme en particular. Originalment vist com una mena de «taoisme estranger», les escriptures del budisme van ser traduïdes al xinès usant el vocabulari taoista. El budisme Chan va ser particularment modificat pel taoisme: la integració de la desconfiança de l'escriptura, text i fins i tot el llenguatge, així com els punts de vista taoistes d'abraçar «aquesta vida», la pràctica especialitzada en «cada moment». El taoisme va incorporar elements budistes durant el període Tang, com ara monestirs, el vegetarianisme, la prohibició de l'alcohol o la doctrina de la vacuïtat, i va recollir les escriptures en l'organització tripartida. Alhora, el budisme Chan va créixer fins a convertir-se en la major secta del budisme xinès. Christine Mollier va arribar a la conclusió que un nombre de sutres budistes que es troben a l'edat mitjana a Àsia oriental i Àsia central va adoptar molts materials d'anteriors escriptures taoistes.
Rivals ideològics i polítics durant segles, el taoisme, el confucianisme i el budisme va influenciar-se profundament entre si. També comparteixen uns valors similars, com abraçar una filosofia humanista, posant l'accent en el comportament moral i la perfecció humana. Amb el temps, la majoria de xinesos es van identificar en certa manera amb les tres tradicions alhora. Això es va institucionalitzar amb l'escola neoconfucianista, síntesi de les tres precedents.
Mirza Tahir Ahmad, el quart califa de l'comunitat Ahmadia islàmica, en el seu llibre Apocalipsi, explica que la racionalitat, el coneixement i la veritat taoistes es veuen en la seva forma més primitiva com una religió monoteista revelada per Déu als profetes, amb un missatge que, a poc a poc, s'ha deteriorat al llarg de molts segles i ha esdevingut el que es veu avui en dia. Pel que fa a això, es relaciona el taoisme i altres religions tradicionals xineses amb les modernes religions tradicionals, com el judaisme, el cristianisme i l'islam.
També van escriure força sobre el taoisme Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel i Arthur Schopenhauer.
Taoisme a Catalunya
A Catalunya, al juliol del 2014, hi havia cinc centres taoistes. Això, malgrat la important presència de població xinesa al territori, ja que la religiositat d'aquesta comunitat s'expressa sobretot de manera familiar i privada.
Notes
Referències
Bibliografia
En català
És la primera feta directament del xinès al català i amb fidelitat a l'original.
Altres llengües
Carr, David T. & Zhang, Canhui. Space, Time, and Culture (Springer, 2004). .
Chan Wing-tsit. A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy (Princeton, 1963). .
.
. Llibre útil per a obtenir una visió completa del pensament xinès.
Demerath, Nicholas J. Crossing the Gods: World Religions and Worldly Politics (Rutgers University Press, 2003). .
Dumoulin, Heinrich, Heisig, James W. & Knitter, Paul. Zen Buddhism: A History (India and China) (World Wisdom, Inc, 2005). .
Eliade, Mircea. A History of Religious Ideas, Volume 2. Traduït per Willard R. Trask. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984.
Fasching, Darrell J. & deChant, Dell. Comparative Religious Ethics: a narrative approach (Blackwell Publishing, 2001). .
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions: An Encyclopaedia of the World's Faiths (I.B. Tauris, 1997). .
Goodspeed, Bennett W. The Tao Jones Averages: A Guide to Whole-Brained Investing (E. P. Dutton, 1983).
Graham, Angus. Disputers of the Tao (Open Court, 1989) .
Hansen, Chad D. A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought: A Philosophical Interpretation (Oxford University Press, 2000). .
Hucker, Charles O. China's Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture (Stanford University Press, 1995). .
Jones, Richard H. Mysticism and Morality: a new look at old questions (Lexington Books, 2004). .
Keller, Catherine. The Face of the Deep: A Theology of Becoming (Routledge, 2003). .
Kim, Ha Poong. Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching With a New Translation (Xlibris Corporation, 2003). .
Kirkland, Russel. Taoism: The Enduring Tradition (Routledge, 2004). .
Kohn, Livia, ed. Daoism Handbook (Leiden: Brill, 2000).
Kohn, Livia. The Daoist Monastic Manual: A Translation of the (Nova York: Oxford University Press 2004)
Kohn, Livia & LaFargue, Michael, ed. Lao-Tzu and the Tao-Te-Ching (SUNY Press, 1998). .
Komjathy, Louis. Handbooks for Daoist Practice. 10 vols. Hong Kong: Yuen Yuen Institute, 2008.
Kraemer, Kenneth. World Scriptures: An Introduction to Comparative Religions (Paulist Press, 1986). .
LaFargue, Michael. Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching (SUNY Press. 1994) .
Little, Stephen; Shawn Eichman et al. Taoism and the Arts of China (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2000).
Mair, Victor H. The Columbia History of Chinese Literature (Columbia University Press, 2001).
Mair, Victor H. Experimental Essays on Chuang-tzu (Hawaii, 1983) .
Markham, Ian S. & Ruparell, Tinu. Encountering Religion: an introduction to the religions of the world (Blackwell Publishing, 2001). .
Martin, William. A Path And A Practice: Using Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching as a Guide to an Awakened Spiritual Life (Marlowe & Company, 2005). .
Martinson, Paul Varo. A theology of world religions: Interpreting God, self, and world in Semitic, Indian, and Chinese thought (Augsburg Publishing House, 1987). .
Maspero, Henri. Translated by Frank A. Kierman, Jr. Taoism and Chinese Religion (University of Massachusetts Press, 1981).
Miller, James. Daoism: A Short Introduction (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2003).
Mollier, Christine. Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China. (University of Hawai'i Press, 2008). .
Moore, Charles Alexander. The Chinese Mind: Essentials of Chinese Philosophy and Culture (University of Hawaii Press, 1967). .
Pas, Julian F. & Leung, Man Kam. Historical Dictionary of Taoism (Scarecrow Press, 1998). .
| 4,512 |
Here I am. Still not much to say. I get up early. I go to work. I come home. I putz. I watch tv. I eat. I watch more tv. I go to bed.
I DO want to make an effort to at least go to YOUR blogs. I can comment there. I'm just lacking in posting inspiration, but I blogged so HARD for so LONG, it really isn't a surprise to me. I know that once I retire, I'll have plenty of time to come up with things to say.
I just don't much, now.
I'll try and post at least a couple of times a month, though. Now to just start fitting your blogs back into my routine. That's the more important step. I do miss you guys!
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on March 27, 2018 by Silver Willow.
I don't miss the days of going to work. Hang in there!
Good to hear from you via post.Not much on TV down here to watch, so I crochet and sometimes watch Netflix.Happy Easter.
That sounds<|fim_middle|> The going to work part is what kills the day.
Glad when you check in if nothing more. I think we all go through cycles of waxing and waning blog inspiration.
Right now I'm in a pretty dry spot for blog inspiration, too. I feel like everything I start to write has already been done.
I love being retired! still plenty busy just doing all kinds of different things.
It's your blog, you can blog when you want to. Think there is a song like that. I seriously doubt I would be blogging if I still worked. Whenever, don't stress it.
Hope Arizona was wonderful! You'll write when you feel inspired.
What we blog about and how much we blog changes over time.
we had a fabulous time! We even met up with a realtor to start to develop a relationship, and saw some homes. The path is clear! Thanks for asking!
Miss both your blog and your visits, my friend!
i'll be back soon, to your blogs, I promise!
I write blogs in cycles. Sometimes I can't think of anything to write about. Other days there's so much that I just schedule them to go up later. | so much like my life any more. | 8 |
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PRESSURE and COOLING: Optional HPP20-4 pressure pump and reservoir for operating pressures above 7kg/cm2 (100 psi). Pump includes gauges for fluid level and pressure | 157 |
Ever since I became a mum, I've got this crazy idea in my head that I must be more creative than usual, because, well, I have a standard to set for the li'l brat. And I could fail at a lot else, but not at creativity, for that's so high on my list of Things To Always Do/Be. It's also one of those qualities I hope my<|fim_middle|>, there's the satisfaction of having spent one day less ordinary than usual. | son will have lots of, and not ignore because he's too man to be creative.
So, I've been pinning DIY projects with a vengeance on Pinterest, my favouritest go-to site for everything these days! And I got down to executing one for Easter, though I've never celebrated Easter except during my school years in a convent when we would buy chocolate or coconut flavoured sugar Easter eggs that tasted horrible, but looked so pretty to us kids. Last year, a friend got very colourful and slightly better testing Easter eggs from Delhi as a gift for Arjun, who was too tiny then to even get attracted to how they looked. And we got invited, for the first time, to an Easter dinner. Anything that's not part of your ordinary life becomes sort of exotic, so it was for us.
I was pretty pleased with the results. Not bad, eh? My son loved these little Easter eggs, though I'm sure he couldn't care less if they were eggs or balls, and carried the basket around the house for a good couple of hours, before he bored of them and turned his attention to more fun stuff!
They'll probably be flattened to putty soon enough, because I'm not trying to shield them from his curious hands — after all, I made them for him. Even then, I've inspired myself to try more stuff. For now | 276 |
SFU Stadium
A Fine Balance
The opening of the new SFU stadium is the culmination of a vision that was born alongside the founding of the university. Ever since the concrete bleachers in the original development plan were deemed too costly, the campus has been void of this critical community-building space. Recognizing that athletic events only occur 20 days out of the year, our intent was to design an outdoor gathering space for both formal and informal uses, providing a variety of gathering and viewing opportunities to allow students the freedom to enjoy events as they decide. The natural slope from the athletics complex down to the field was the perfect location for the new stadium with 1,823 formal seats and over 300 informal seats to enjoy events and socialize at Terry Fox Field.
The expansive cantilevered roof, which covers over half the seating, integrates a press box at the terrace level with washrooms, service spaces, and the football locker room located below.
Client: Simon Fraser University
Size: 29,881 square feet
The warmth of wood from the canopy contrasts the concrete of much of the surrounding campus.
"Whether you see the place in the rain, a beautiful sunny day, or if it's at night…it just looks awesome."
― JAMES BREMNER, PROJECT MANAGER, CAMPUS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
The ramp not only provides accessibility but also offers an alternate seating and gathering space.
A Magical Experience
The primary design element is the cantilevered roof canopy over the centre section of seats. Respecting the dominance of the adjacent Lorne Davies Complex, the canopy form is syncopated with its rhythm. To emphasize the viewing experience for the spectators, the structure was deliberately minimized, and all of the services are integrated into the canopy. The intent is to make the canopy as thin as possible to create the impression that the expansive cantilever floats above the seats. With unobstructed views out to the field and into the stands, our design creates a magical experience for both spectator and athlete.
Unobstructed views out to the field make for a magical spectator experience.
Custom pins, rods, drains, and yokes allow the beams
to cantilever 16-metres over the stands.
Making the Magic
Heavy snow loads, large CLT soffit panels with integrated systems, and tight clearances to the adjacent sports complex made engineering, fabrication, and installation of the roof structure particularly challenging. The canopy design pays respect to the athletic and cultural feats that will be viewed on the field. Incredible amounts of practice and training are behind the moments of brilliance spectators will witness on the field. The same sense of magic is captured in the canopy. How can something so large seem to float above the stands?
Massive 22-metre (72 foot), 13-tonne (29,000 pound) box girder beams cantilever 16-metres (54 feet) over the stands supporting the floating roof structure. Stainless steel 228 mm (9 inch) pins and 76 mm (3 inch) rods anchor the beams at their tails and their tapered design allows them to disappear from view creating the impossibly thin look of the roof when viewed from the field.
Gathering Places
We designed the Stadium to create a new type of public space on campus. On event days, it is a performance venue that supports a range of viewing experiences, including formal seating for those who want to focus on the game and areas for socializing for those who like to mingle. Outside of event days, it becomes a south-facing outdoor seating area to view athletic or cultural<|fim_middle|> Well-Being | events that supports building community on campus. The covered formal seating under the canopy provides weather protected outdoor space for club or social gatherings, the uncovered formal seating being smaller in scale provides an alternate space, and the terrace, informal ramp seating, and adjacent spaces offer other options for the campus community.
The floating canopy, press box and variety of seating and gathering options create an opportunity for community-building on campus.
The new locker room for the football team is not only a gathering point, but also a place to celebrate the history and tradition of SFU football.
Elevating the Athlete
To attract and retain athletic talent, the university wanted to enhance the offering to their student athletes. Nested beneath the fans in the stands, a new locker room facility provides the football team a premium space to gather and prepare for competition and provides the university with a new recruitment tool when approaching prospects.
Jana Foit
Vancouver Studio Designers Win Award in 2020 Global Design Competition
News Perspectives
For Well-Rounded Student-Athletes, Sports Facilities That Support | 213 |
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